ImagineFun- Actually, I have no clue on how long this is going to be ^^"
Do not own Death Note!
Near spun around in his chair boredly, studying the blinking screens. It had been months since anything interesting happened and even that wasn't saying much. They hadn't found out anything more since their creation. He was working on a plan, his toys scattered on the table.
"Mr. Rester?" He called over his shoulder to Anthony, his alias now Anthony Rester.
Rester was by his side in a moment. "Yes, sir?"
Near liked him and his willingness to do whatever Near asked of him. He had come to an understanding with Rester, giving him the sense he had someone who was truly on his side.
"Could you please get me something to eat? I'm beginning to get a bit hungry." He requested.
Rester nodded and left the room, coming back a few minutes later with an apple. Near took it appreciatively and sank his teeth into the red skin. While he chewed, he contemplated possible courses of action before finally settling on one.
"John McEnroe, could you come over here?" He stopped spinning and turned around to face his agents.
John walked over to him, looking bemused. Near said, "I want you to fly to Japan and ask for the notebook."
"Huh? I'm just supposed to ask for it? What if they refuse?" John sounded even more confused.
"If they refuse, then we will find other ways to get the notebook. I believe Kira still has access to it. Still, maybe if you ask politely, they will hand it over to you. Please head over there right away; I've already set up a flight for you."
John scratched his head, but nodded. "Alright." He walked out of the room.
Mason asked, "That's your plan?"
"For now, yes. McEnroe will have a mic on him so that we may hear what he is saying once he gets to Japan. I want to get a feel of the police there before I decide anything else. If all goes according to plan, we may even be able share information with them. Right now, we have to wait." Near rolled over to his table and began to stack up dice.
He didn't move from his spot until thirteen hours later when McEnroe contacted Rester.
"Sir, McEnroe's waiting in the office of the director of the NPA." Rester said.
Near grabbed a headset and placed it on his head. "Thank you, Rester. Now, we just listen in."
Near listened to McEnroe introduce himself to someone who wasn't Directer Takimura. McEnroe paused to hear Near.
"It's okay." Near affirmed.
"Yes, that's fine. Forgive me, but the Japanese police has proven itself unreliable. In order to solve the Kira case, we ask that you hand the notebook over to us."
The other man suddenly snapped, "So it was the FBI who kidnapped the Director, is that it?! Where have you taken him?!"
Near raised an eyebrow and fingered his hair. Beside him, Rester and Gevanni, another agent, exchanged a look of surprise.
"What are you talking about?" McEnroe sounded like he was struggling, his voice indignant.
"Don't act like you don't know! Kidnapping is a serious criminal offense!"
"What would the FBI gain by kidnapping the director of the NPA?!"
"And how do you know about the notebook?!"
"What the hell is going on?" Rester asked from beside Near.
Near didn't say anything at first, frowning slightly. "It would seem that the Director has been taken by someone. Specifically, someone who wants the notebook. Alright, Commander Rester..."
Rester looked at him. "Hmm?"
"Pass this message through our agent. Suggest to the Japanese police we would like to assist in recovering the director of the NPA. We'll take the notebook when the opportunity arises." Near stated.
Rester nodded. "Roger that. Attention, this is headquarters. We have new orders for you."
Near continued to finger the lock of hair. He had a strong hunch on who it was who kidnapped the Director. He felt a slight twinge of annoyance. Only Mello would be that reckless. Still, he was relieved to an extent that Mello was still alive and in fact working on the case.
It seemed no sooner had they come to an agreement, Rester informed him that Takimura had been killed. He had been working on a match tower and didn't falter even as he heard the news. It wouldn't make sense for Mello to kill his own hostage, so safe to say, Kira did it. Which also means, Kira is on the police force as they were the only ones except for us to know about the kidnapping. Takimura's death is rather useful...
"I see. By whom?" He was curious to see if his agents would come to the same conclusion as he did.
"By whom?" Rester repeated in confusion. "Why, the kidnappers of course."
"It would be interesting if Kira killed him." Gevanni thought aloud. Near was pleased.
"That's a very good point. The Japanese police would be unable to make the trade with the hostage dead, saving Kira's interest. And if it is Kira, we can narrow down our list of suspects significantly. By the way, Commander Rester, have you been able to locate his whereabouts?"
At the last sentence, Near held up an old photo of Mello from when he was around twelve. Ever since he suspected Mello had a part in the kidnapping, he asked Rester to see if he could find him.
"No, nothing beyond him leaving the Institution four years ago." Rester replied, his hands folded neatly behind his back as he gave his report.
"Very well. That clinches it." He glared at the photo with disdain. He was irritated by Mello's disregard of getting rid of every photo in existence of him. His emotions still were getting the better of him.
"Gevanni, please tell Mason to come here so that I may relay to him our findings." He requested.
"Yes, of course." Gevanni pulled out his cell phone and dialed Mason's number. After a few moments of ringing, he said, "Director Mason, Near wants to speak with you. Please some to the surveillence room."
Near parked his chair in front of the dartboard he had Gevanni set up. He wasn't very good at them when he was talking, but he needed the distraction from Mason's piggy eyes. He found them to be a bit unnerving. Mason entered the room a few minutes later and Near brought him up to speed, aiming a dart as he did so. He threw it and it bounced to the floor.
"So you're telling me it was Kira who killed Takimura and not the kidnappers?" Mason demanded.
"I'm simply putting it forward as a possibility. If it turns out to be true then Kira is getting his information via the Japanese police."
A little more to the left. The dart clattered to the floor, bouncing harmlessly off the corner. He could feel Mason's eyes boring into the side of his head, but he chose to pretend he couldn't feel it. It was quiet in the room for a few heartbeats before Mason's phone rang. With a sigh, he took it out of his pocket and opened it.
"Yes?"
"This is L." Near looked over at the sound of the scrambled voice.
Mason gaped at his phone in astonishment before covering the speaker to mutter to Near, "I don't believe it. It's L."
Near didn't respond, too angry hearing that scrambled voice. It was mediocre at best compared to the true synthesizer L had used.
"I've already heard what Investigator John McEnroe, or rather Larry Connors, had to say to Deputy Directory Yagami in regards to the notebook and the Kira case. Will you help us with the investigation and avenge Director Takimura's murder?"
Near picked up another dart while Mason said, "I see. Well-"
Near held out his pale hand, balancing the dart upwards between his index and middle finger. He still didn't look at Mason. "Pass me the phone."
Mason did so without hesitation. Near hooked it up to his own voice scrambler and flicked the switch to turn the scrambler on. He put the phone to his ear. "I'm pleased to meet you at last, 'L Number Two'."
"'Number Two?' What do you mean by that? Who is this?" Even through the scrambler, Near could tell the imposter was upset.
"There's really no point in trying to hide it. We are a new organization known as the SPK, or the Special Provision for Kira. We were established to find and capture Kira without the help of L. Furthermore, seven of our top members know of L's death. As for myself, I am at the center of the SPK. You can address me as N." Near kept his tiny smile to himself. He hoped this L would be interesting.
He paused to let what he said sink in before adding, "I told you that we wouldn't rely on L, but that's a bit of an understatement. The FBI and CIA have explicitly asked that I take control of this investigation and not you. Having said that, we are outraged by the murder of the director of the NPA and feel something must be done. After revealing the information, I believe there's a possibility solving this case may end with Kira in handcuffs. as such, I am willing to lend you my full support."
L didn't say anything and Near smirked. He asked patronizingly, "Is something wrong, L?"
"N-no. It's just that following the death of Takimura, Deputy Director Yagami's daughter was kidnapped and we believe the same person is responsible. He's arranged for a trade in Los Angeles."
Near tilted his head to the side. "A trade? The girl for the notebook, I assume."
"Yes."
"I understand. I'll have a team on standby in L.A., but for now they will be working on a need-to-know basis. Also, I can look at the city via satellite." Then, a thought struck him. "Or...on second thought, I'll let you have full control on this L." He hung up abruptly and handed the scrambler to Rester and Mason his phone.
Rester asked, "Near, is it really safe to leave this in the hands of the fake L. He hasn't had any success catching Kira so far."
Near rolled his head. His neck was beginning to get stiff. "I'm aware of that. That's why it's a good idea. It means it'll be an opportunity to take advantage of him. Of course, saving people's lives is more important, but as the SPK, our primary goal is clear. We get the notebook and capture Kira once and for all."
He remembered the dart he had in his hand and aimed once more. More to the right this time. He let it go and watched it strike dead center.