Life Note

by CosmoK13

Summary: Five years after the death of Kira, we follow a college student, Lamore Nosaka, who picks up a white notebook with the words 'Life Note' written on it. What could this mean?

21. Chapter 20

Summary: The group meets up with Near, the successor of L, and they try to get his help.

Chapter 21 Episode 20: Successors

"You've changed quite a lot, Laura," the albino smiled at her.

"And you as well… Near," Laura added.

"Near…" Lamore mumbled the name that Laura had addressed him as. That name sounded so familiar, and yet for some reason, it was blocked off from her. The group got a good look at the one behind the card towers. He had long white hair and gray eyes with sharp bags underneath. He wore a white, long-sleeved pajama top with light blue pajama bottoms. Now that Lamore thought about it, he looked almost similar to Ryuzaki, but more of a white version.

"Wait, that's the guy who was behind all of this?" Seiko raised an eyebrow. "He doesn't look threatening."

"He looks harmless to me," Aoi agreed.

"Trust me, you don't know the kind of things he's done and what he can be capable of," Light told the two girls as he tried to quiet them down.

"Those are funny words coming from you, Light Yagami," Near stated, "especially after everything you've done in the past."

"What's he talking about?" Lamore asked as she turned towards Matsu.

"I'm just as lost as you." Matsu shrugged.

"While it is nice to see you, Laura, it's a shame we had to meet under these circumstances," Near repeated to Laura.

Laura crossed her arms and looked at the albino. "Why are you doing this, Near?" she asked in a cold tone. "Why have you taken Lamore Nosaka and Mako Katsu?"

"I'm sure by now you should know why," qas all he said.

"Last time I checked, the police were not involved in the Tenshi case and I have heard no news or rumors about any organizations trying to capture Tenshi. So why are you leading this group?" Laura pointed out.

"Because the Task Force wanted me to take on this case," Near answered.

"Take on the case?" Lamore blinked. "Wait, how can you even work on cases? Are you some detective?"

Laura turned back to look at Lamore and she started to explain. "In a way, yes. Lamore, this is Near, and he is currently known to the world as L. Or, rather, the successor of L."

"Wait… he's the guy that replaced the legacy of L?" Lamore blinked. Now that she thought about it, Lamore remembered Laura's childhood and the story of Kira vs. L almost a year ago. How Kira killed off the original L but L's successor was able to get back at Kira. Though Laura never mentioned the name of the successor… but she did tell her who Kira originally was… Light Yagami. Lamore froze a bit as she turned her gaze towards Ryuk. Didn't this Near guy address him as Light Yagami? And remarked him about the terrible things he has done? What was going on here? Then another thought popped into her head. "Wait...if he was to succeed L...does that mean you and him were…"

"Yes," Laura nodded as she went on. "Near and I were from Wammy House. And…" Laura turned back to look at the albino again. "He is also one of my 'brothers'."

Lamore blinked as Laura used that term. Remembering the story she told that January about the people she met at the orphanage and how they had raised her. Lamore had to admit that it was very touching, and yet she never thought she would be seeing a part of that story now as she looked at the albino.

"Wait, I thought you said your brothers died!" Matsu blurted out.

"I never said all of them were deceased," Laura corrected. "One of the four did survive. Though I did not give any identification, I can assure you that he is the one that lived through the reign of Kira."

"You've told your colleagues about your home?" Near questioned.

"I told Matsu and Net because I wanted to give them some personal information to develop trusting matters. Also, I see no reason why it would be a big deal since that was so long ago. Some things should be buried in the past," Laura answered.

"And you told Lamore Nosaka as well… Was it because she was your suspect?" Near questioned.

"You are partially correct, but a bit misinformed."

"Hold on! Just what are you talking about now?! What is it with you all and this Tenshi Case?!" Lamore questioned as she started to lose a bit of her patients. "Laura, I thought you were done with it already!"

"Lamore," Laura stopped her as she stared at her again. "I'm afraid we both are not done with it."

"We?" Lamore raised a brow. "Why am I involved in this? And how?"

"So, it is true isn't it?" Near muttered.

"I'll explain everything to you, but you will have to cooperate with us," Laura offered. She knew that Near was calm and stable and was very intelligent up to her level. Still, he had a cunning personality as well and would seem the type to do anything to win. Still, he was childish at times and she knew that she could persuade him if she had the information he was looking for. And she seemed to have been one of the few people that he would actually allow to get close to him.

He stared at Laura for a moment, seeing her serious and vacant expression. Knowing full well that she was going to use her relationship with him to her advantage. He placed his remaining cards back at the pile and answered. "Alright, tell me everything and we'll reach a bargain." Near promised.

"Are you sure about this?" Light questioned Laura. Since he knew he was not on the best of terms with the people here, he had a bad feeling that if things did not go well, he could very well consider himself dead at this point.

Laura looked back at Kira and even though she wouldn't show it, felt some sympathy towards him. "If we are going to get him to be of assistance we will need to tell him everything. Just let me do the talking for now and don't speak unless spoken to. That goes for the rest of you as well," Laura addressed towards the rest of the group. They all nodded in understanding. She turned back to Near and began. "I don't know how much data you have on this case, so I will start at the beginning." Laura moved her hands to reach into her back. A few clicks were heard and many of the group saw that the Task Force and SPK members had their guns out and pointed at Laura. She did not flinch, and paused in her movements. She looked at Near and as if through a language with only looks, he understood her. Near motioned with his hands for them to lower their weapons and let her proceed. Hesitantly, the six did as they were told and let Laura continue. She reached into her back pocket and took out two white notebooks. She held them out for everyone to see. "These notebooks are the cause of Tenshi and the source of their powers." She began to explain. Near and the other members looked at the notebooks in awe and nostalgia. Laura lowered them and went on. "In order for everyone to be on the same page, I must give these notebooks to the captives. Then I will have them explain the rest to you." Once again, Near nodded. Laura turned back and walked up to Mako and Lamore as she held onto the white notebooks. "The two of you will need to hold onto these notebooks until I say so. Once you grab them, you will understand everything."

"I dunno about this…" Mako muttered to himself.

"If it will help us get out of here, then we have to do what Laura says," Lamore told the blond. Mako looked back at her and nodded. He would do anything for Lamore, especially if it meant saving her life. The both of them reached out their hands and each grabbed the notebook that Laura presented them with. They grasped the paper and Laura let go of the notebooks so that they could use both of their hands to hold it. They looked at the white cover for a moment and nothing happened at first.

Lamore's body suddenly shook and her head pounded. She held in a gasp as imagines suddenly coiled in her head. She could see herself and events from the past year that had to do with this notebook. The power it held, what she did with it, how it affected her and everyone else around her. The flashbacks came to her in less than a minute. Mako received the same treatment. He remembered why he was so obsessed with Lamore and how he wanted her to notice him as a Tenshi supporter. His memories came back quicker than Lamore's since he did not have the Life Note as long as her. When they had recollection of their memories, Lamore bowed her head as she clutched onto the Notebook for dear life while Mako only looked from the white cover, to Lamore then all around him then he looked at Laura.

"I take it you remember everything by now." It was a statement from Laura, not a question.

Lamore looked up at Laura as she blinked rapidly. For a minute, she didn't know what to say. But it all made sense now. Why she was here. Why these people got involved. Why she was doing what she has been doing for the last year. And what she needed to do now. She straightened her posture and nodded at Laura. "Yes," She answered.

"Very well...then I forfeit my ownership of both Notebooks." Laura stated. She looked behind Mako and Lamore and saw Hana and Hiro floating behind them. Both Seimeigami's nodded, transferring ownership back to the original owners. Now that that was done, they could get on with the rest of their explaining.

"So, that means these two are the ones who have been bringing back people," Aizawa noted.

"And with a notebook as well. It's the Kira Case all over again." Gevanni muttered.

Lamore seemed a bit cautious as the members of this building stared at her and Mako as the two of them held the Life Notes in their hands. She should had expected some prejudice from these guys of what she had done. Still, there was no real reason to be scared. They were at an impasse at the moment and if she could convince them to help the group out, they could go free. "It's alright." Lamore turned her head to see Laura who stared at her. "Just tell them everything and we'll figure out the rest afterwards." Lamore knew how calm Laura was being. That meant she knew that there was a way out of this mess. She just hoped that it wasn't a slim one. Lamore nodded as she looked at the raven.

"What do you want to know first?" Lamore asked the group. The members looked at one another as if they had no idea what they wanted to ask. There were so many questions they had no idea where to start. Should they ask about the Notebook first? Or should they question Lamore and Mako about the Tenshi matters? What about L and Light? Was anyone thinking how it was possible these two dead men were up walking around in flesh and blood? Lamore could see that the group was just as confused about the matter as she thought they would be. She should try to start simple. "This is called the Life Note." She said as she held up her Life Note for them all to see again. "As you can probably guess, it has the power to bring back anyone who has died as well as cure them of their cause of death. All you have to do to is write the full name of the person and their cause of death as well as picturing their face, within sixty seconds, they will come back to life as if nothing happened to them."

"Is that all?" Ide sarcastically questioned.

"There is also a being attached to the Life Note. All you have to do is touch the Notebook and you will be able to hear and see them."

"A being?" Rester questioned. Lamore presented her Life Note to the group and Mako followed her movements. It was Aizawa, who was the bravest of the group, that took a step forward and took the Notebooks from both. He looked around and his eyes soon landed on both Hana and Hiro. At first, Aizawa held in a gasp as he looked at the two humans that were not there a second ago. Then he saw that they had weird clothing on. Lamore saw how Aizawa was reacting and knew that he could see the beings that once owned these Notebooks.

Aizawa turned back to face Lamore as he held out the white Notebooks. "How long have you had this?" He asked her in a stern voice.

Most people would have been caught off guard by the way this police officer was accusing Lamore of using such a device. But Lamore took a deep breath and answered honestly. "Over a year now. And I've been using it since." She admitted.

"I got mine last spring in case you were going to ask me." Mako added.

"But I was the original one and I've had my Notebook for a longer period." Lamore pointed out.

Aizawa looked at her and could see in her eyes the honesty and sincerity that were held within those doe brown orbs. He could remember during that same month when she got this Notebook how she was trying to look for her friend and research about the Kira case. He could not believe that a girl so young and innocent as herself would get involved in a mess like this all because of a Notebook with godly powers. It was funny how history can repeat itself. Aizawa turned back and started to pass the two white covers to the rest of the Task Force and the SPK members so they could see the two Seimeigami for themselves. Lamore felt like taking a breather, but she could not let the air out yet. They were not even close to being done with this yet. Lamore did have one question on her mind before she had to continue. She turned back at the albino, Near, and in a calm yet stern voice, "If you don't mind me asking, why did you get involved in this case?"

Near looked up at Lamore with his gray dull eyes and could understand her curiosity. So far, with all the information she was giving to the group, it was only fair he would give some to her as well. Besides, she had the right to at least know why they had targeted her to begin with. "I didn't want to get involved in this case at first." Near admitted. "Aizawa told me that on November 28th, a girl by the name of Lamore Nosaka entered the Kyoto Police Station to fill out a missing person report. I didn't really see it as an L case until he showed me the picture of the one who was missing as well as the name."

"So, you knew it was Laura right away?" Lamore asked.

"After I got the clues. I kept a close eye on the city to see if I could locate her. That was until Aizawa called me again and told me that Lamore Nosaka came to the Tokyo Police Station to gather information on Kira for a report." Near added.

Lamore and the others turned back to face the one with the beard who nodded. "I had Mogi follow Lamore-chan as she went out with this Laura girl for a few days. He saw no suspicious activity between the two of you but we had to make sure." Lamore turned to face the tallest member of the Task Force as he stared at her blankly. She was followed for a while and she had not noticed. Did they really suspected her that much? Then again, she supposed anyone who showed up twice to the police for help relating to Kira would make them approach her.

"I also followed you when you went to Winchester, England." Gevanni added as he looked at Lamore. Lamore jumped at that part. The only reason she went there was to go to the Wammy House and learn more about L. Did that mean that they knew what she was up to when she went there? How long have they been investigating her? And how much information did they have on her?

"Have you been stalking me for the past year?" Lamore sounded a bit more concerned than confused.

"We've taken a few breaks, but yes." Near admitted. "It was mostly due to the fact that Laura hung around you as well as the fact that you had wished to gather data on Kira and went to Wammy House. So, naturally, we wanted to know what you were doing with the data. After all, you were a high suspect for being Tenshi." Lamore had to admit, he was right about her being Tenshi. The female brunette looked at Light and L who both stared at her. They knew that she was going to be honest since that was who she was. Near looked back at the two then back and Lamore. "What exactly were you planning on doing with that data?" He questioned.

Lamore straightened herself and tucked her hair behind her ear. "To answer your question, it was mostly because of Laura's heart and my curiosity." Lamore stated. "Laura was the first one to approach me on the Tenshi case. She thought that I was a suspect and so she and I started to spend time together. She then told me why she wanted to know who Tenshi was and why she wanted to know of their powers. I told her that the Life Note had limits, such as the time you can revive someone before they are too far gone. So, I went another route. My original idea was to try and reincarnate L and Light Yagami. I figured that way they could start over and live a new life. So I had to go to the Police Station and Wammy House to gather that data. Then I met up with Laura again and I did everything that needed to be done for reincarnating people. But...something went wrong…

"Instead, their ghosts appeared before us and we had to keep an eye on both of them. We figured out why the process didn't work, it was because they were killed by a Death Note that when they were brought back by a Life Note, their spirits were confused on what would happen to them."

"That doesn't explain why the two of them are here in flesh and blood now." Rester pointed out as he looked at Light and L.

"We were able to strike a deal with the Seimeigami Queen and Shinigami King. In order for the two to have a second chance, I have to resurrect the same number of people that Kira killed. In the meantime, L and Light would have to serve as our guardians. So if anything happened to me or Laura, then they would end up going back to the Nothingness."

"Should we honestly believe that?" Ide questioned with a bit of hostility.

"Whether you believe me or not is up to you. But I would assume after everything you all have seen, you would at least see a bit of the truth. Either way, it happened and that is one of the main reasons why I'm using the Life Note." Lamore explained.

"And what about before?" Near interrupted as he now had the Life Notes in his hands and could see both Seimeigami. Lamore turned back to him and took a deep breath.

"Because of my beliefs." She began. "When I first got the Life Note, I didn't know what to think. Even after I tested it and saw for myself how real it was, I was panicked. I thought about getting rid of it at first. So I went to the police to ask for their help. But then I saw you in a meeting, or rather you behind a computer," Lamore gestured towards Near. "You guys said that anyone caught with a notebook would be found and punished by death. I had assumed you meant the Life Note and that was why I left the station and distanced myself from the police until I had to get some information. The longer I kept the Notebook and the more I was experiencing death by loved ones, I kept using it. The more I used it, the more I saw how happy the people were when they could spend more time with their family who were almost taken from them. I guess I was amazed at how much better people were with this, that I had to keep it to use it. To save lives and spare people from death so they can be with their friends and family. I just...I just wanted people to try and see that life can give us great gifts. I'm not special in using this power, I don't deserve such praise because of this Notebook. I was just at the right place at the right time when I got it. If I had known so many people would suffer because of this Notebook, I would have never used it. But I will say that since I've used it, I've seen those that are happy with the outcomes. So in a way, I do not regret getting this power."

Near stared back at her questionably. "So, you're saying you are not upset with using this Notebook to play god?"

"I never wanted to gain anything by using this Notebook other than seeing loved ones be reunited with their deceased ones. And I do apologize for causing you all so much trouble because of me and my actions. But, I made a promise to give these two a second chance and I am going to see it through!" Lamore gained more and more passion and determination as she kept standing her ground and looking at Near. At this point, she was not afraid to speak the truth, in fact, she wanted to speak her mind. "Look, I'll accept any punishment you have to give me. But right now, there are people that still need Tenshi and two of them are in this very room."

'You really have a strong passion as Tenshi, Lamore Nosaka. I can see why Aizawa wanted to keep an eye on you. Still, if you are willing to accept your punishment then even you have human limits.' Near mentally noted.

Lamore expected Near to say more to her, and she was ready. However, Laura stepped forward and took over. "Near, with all due respect, there should be no reason that your team or the Japanese Police should get involved in this."

"What?" Aizawa gasped in a bit of annoyance. "What gives you the right to tell us where we can and can not investigate?!"

Laura glared at Aizawa in a way that meant death. "Because I was the first one to investigate this case." Laura declared. "And the last time the Police Force got involved in a supernatural case, it took them years to solve with the sacrifices of their own members and they had to rely on other investigators just to bring it to a close." Aizawa was about to say something, but his face went down. She did have a point. "As far as I am concerned, this case has nothing to do with you."

"It has everything to do with us!" Ide protested. "Have you forgotten that this girl resurrected a criminal that caused mass genocide for six long years?!" He gestured at both Lamore and Light.

"But that was Kira's doing! I brought back Light Yagami!" Lamore defended.

"And at any rate, Light Yagami has not even thought about such acts since he has been brought back. We've both made sure of that." Laura assured. "And at any rate, if Lamore knew that this would have been the result of what would happen to him, I would never allow this nor would she have gone through with it."

"So, you're saying that you're going to allow this girl to keep resurrecting people she deems worthy?" Halle, the only lady of the team, accused.

"Lamore is nothing like Kira." Laura stated a bit dangerously. "She has done nothing but give everyone a fair chance of starting over. She is a good human being whom you do not find often in this world. She took pity on me and empathized with my pain. She even saw the good side of Kira and was willing to give him another chance. She has never thought about using the Life Note for her own personal gain. And she would rather give up her life at any moment than watch her friends suffer. So if you dare compare her alter ego to such a vile, pathetic excuse for a monster such as Kira, than perhaps it is you that should not even bother to waste any air."

Halle took a step back and kept her terrified eyes on Laura as she only glared at the rest of the members as they did not even bother to speak up. Even the others were a bit scared due to the fact how threateningly persuasive she was just now. Lamore thought that it was kind of her to defend not just her, but Light as well, which she hadn't really done up to that point. Light, on the other hand, was still frozen in place as her words dripped like venom from her mouth. Though her intentions were pure and she was only trying to help them, Light could see that she meant business when she or at least her friends were threatened. Her glare alone had a distinct desire for death. Almost as if she was willing to kill. That alone made Light shake in fear knowing that Laura probably had some murder instincts in her. L was fairly impressed by how tall Laura was standing her ground. He was not surprised she was doing a good job, and the fact that she resorted to verbal violence. The one thing that he did fear though, was the idea that it could become physical.

"You're right." Near stated. Everyone turned back to look at him as he got up to his full height and walked over to Laura. (Light was actually surprised that he could even use his legs.). He didn't realized how tall Near had gotten over the last few years as he stood in front of Laura and presented both Life Notes to her. She took them from him and the two locked eyes with one another. "Like I said, I didn't want to get involved with Tenshi. Still, it is clear that after the actions that Tenshi did, it seems there's more to this case than before. Especially since it relates to what we worked on years ago. But from what I can see it seems you have everything under control. Still, we want to know more about this Life Note ordeal. So, if it is alright, we will keep observing you."

"And only observing?" Mako raised a brow in question.

"I assure you, we will not detain you any longer. But if we do have any questions about the Life Note or the Seimeigami, we will contact you." Near stated.

"That sounds fair. In fact, if you like, you can keep one of the Life Notes here and ask the Seimeigami attached to it any questions you have. They will be honest with you. Will that be okay with the two of you?" Lamore asked the two Seimeigami's.

"If this will release you and Mako, I am willing to go along with it." Hana assured.

"So am I." Hiro agreed.

"Are you sure you don't mind giving us the Life Note?" Near questioned.

"It's the least I can do after your group did save us from those Kira-Followers back there and for letting us go. Besides, I only need one, anyways."

"In that case, you can have mine." Mako decreed. "I'm still going to maintain ownership, but Hiro will find his way back to you so you can ask him anything."

"If I must." Hiro muttered as he crossed his arms. He was only going through with this so Mako could be safe, still, he didn't like the idea of constantly going back and forth from Mako's side to this headquarters.

"Thank you for your corporation. And I apologize for scaring you and any harm we have caused to you and your friends." Near told Lamore.

Lamore only smiled at him. "Don't worry about it. Honestly, we're better off with you than we would have been had we stayed at that church. And we managed to get everything sorted out in the end. Though next time you do bring in a suspect for an investigation, might I recommend not strapping them to a wall next time?"

"Again, I'm sorry." Near repeated. "If you like, we can escort you all out and bring you back home. It's the least I can do."

"Thank you." Lamore bowed to him.

"Gevanni, you and Halle can see the group out. The rest can stay here so we can figure out this Life Note." Near ordered.

"Understood." Gevanni agreed.

"Thank you for your understanding, Near." Laura told the albino. "I'll be sure to take care of everything from here." Near only gave her a curt nod towards her. Laura looked back as Halle and Gevanni were gathering the group up and herding them out the door. Laura turned back to Near and crossed her arms. "It was nice to see you again. I only wish it could have been under different circumstances."

"Yes," Near agreed. "But nonetheless, I am grateful to see you again. And I'm sure we'll see each other again soon."

"I would like that." Laura nodded with a slight smile as she went to join with the others as they headed out of the room. She walked side by side with Lamore as they headed down the hallway. "Are you doing alright?" Laura asked the female brunette.

"I've been through worse." Lamore admitted sarcastically. "I'm just glad that all got resolved."

"We shouldn't see Near or the others as threats anymore. But I wouldn't call them allies just yet." Laura reminded her.

"You handled that situation very well. I'm impressed." Lamore admitted.

"Well, Near and I do have a history together." Laura tucked her hair behind her ear as she turned away from Lamore. As if embarrassed by her wording of the matter. "I'll explain a bit more when we are given the chance." She promised.

---

"Man, does it feel good to be out again!" Mako stretched his arms as they stepped off the train in Kyoto Station. Gevanni and Halle had devised a system for the group to take all the way back to Kyoto as soon as possible. It took them over three hours just to get back, but it was worth it knowing that the climax was over for them.

"I was kind of worried that we wouldn't be able to see the sun again." Lamore sighed in relief. "But it was all thanks to you guys that we made it out." Lamore turned to face Light, L, Laura, Matsu, Net, Seiko, Aoi and Hana.

"Well we were only following your plan up until Near took you and Mako away." Seiko reminded her with a smile.

Lamore crossed her arms and looked at the two girls with a stern look. "Speaking of which, the two of you will have a lot of explaining to do." Aoi and Seiko looked at Lamore and down at the ground with a bit of sadness. "I'm not mad at you two, really. I'm grateful that you were able to help out and because of you both, you sped up the investigation. But you really should have just stayed on the sidelines and let the grown ups handle it. You two could have been hurt and you both are still so young. Do you have any idea what I would have done if you would have gotten killed?"

"We're sorry, Lamore." Aoi apologized.

"We just wanted to help you." Seiko added.

"Come on, Lamore, go easy on them. They did prove that they could take care of themselves back there." L told Lamore.

"And I'm not gonna lie, there are a few things I want to ask you concerning Seiko." Light muttered to Lamore.

"Well, what's done is done and what matters is we all were able to get out safely!" Mako decreed. "I say we celebrate this victory together! What do you all say?"

"You might want to reschedule that victory party Mako. We still have a lot to settle before we even celebrate anything. For starters, you have to go to your manager and come up with an excuse as to why you went missing." Lamore pointed out.

"She's right," Halle agreed. "Don't worry, we'll handle the explanation and make sure not to get all of you involved in it."

"Mako Katsu, we'll escort you back to your productions to be on the safe side." Gevanni added.

"I'm sure you have lots of work to get caught up on. Once things settle down, we can go on a date if that's alright with you." Lamore promised.

"Of course, my darling!" Mako smiled at the very idea. Lamore only giggled and Light scoffed as he turned his head away from the two. "Goodbye, then, my dear~!" Mako proclaimed as he and Halle and Gevanni headed away from the group. Lamore turned back to the others after the three left.

"I better get going myself. I have a lot of explaining to do with my grandparents and friends. Not to mention, I have a lot of work to get caught up on." Lamore stated.

"Is there anything you want us to do?" Laura asked.

"Can you bring Aoi back home and Seiko to the orphanage? I'd do it myself, but-"

"No, I understand. It would be better if you go on your way quickly." Laura assured. Lamore nodded with a small smile towards her.

"I'll escort you." Light declared. Lamore looked back at him for a moment then he went on. "Just in case someone might try to make a move on you. After the stunt those goons pulled on you and Mako a few days ago, we should be on our guard."

"Right, we'll see you later then." Lamore waved at the group as she and Light headed their ways.

*The borrower of the Life Note will not be followed by that God of Life, nor can they do the bond with said God of Life either.

*If the owner of the Life Note dies while the Note is being lent, the said borrower can either chose to keep the Note or let it die with it's original owner.

A full day had passed after the incident with the Task Force and SPK. For the most part, everything seemed to be normal again for the group. They were able to settle back to the lives they held. It almost seemed as if the last few days were just a manifestation of a nightmare from the fear that Lamore had when she got the Life Note. Despite how far away it seemed, everyone knew that it still happened. Though some were trying to focus on their lives once again.

Lamore walked down the campus ground with Yuki and Asagi as the three of them were chatting. "So, Mako ended up dragging me along to one of his concerts for a special anniversary present for Tenshi." Lamore had explained the story she had come up with to give her an alibi as to why she was gone the last few days. She had told her grandparents and they had believed her and now she was explaining it to her friends.

"So he pretty much guilt tripped you into it." Yuki teased. Lamore rolled her eyes at that comment. She knew that many people, especially at her college, knew about her relationship with Mako Katsu and some were giving her a hard time because of it. Lamore knew that they were jealous of her, and she never presented it or showed it off. Really, she didn't care what the others thought. At least her friends were able to understand and could joke on a certain level.

"Not really, I thought it would be kind of exciting so I went anyways." Lamore assured. "I had a lot of fun."

"Man, you should have invited us." Yuki moaned as she placed her hands behind her back.

"Sorry, but Mako wanted this to be a special event between the two of us." Lamore explained.

"Oh~, I get it!" Yuki smirked as she looked at Lamore. "He wanted to take the relationship to the next level… to the bedroom, right?" She snickered.

Lamore felt a blush heat up in her face and she only shook her head and looked at Yuki. "We both agreed that we wouldn't be doing such things until we had gotten serious with our relationship! We haven't even been going out for half a year now and he's been doing everything to try and take the next steps."

"But he seems to want only you, Lamore." Asagi reminded. Lamore sighed, as she was right about that. But these two didn't know the real reason why Mako had fallen head over heels for her at first sight.

"He's a good guy," Lamore stated. "Really, he is. He's been treating me like a princess ever since we started dating. It's just… I dunno. Maybe he's not that intelligent and we can't hold real conversations. He always agrees with me. Or maybe he smothers me too much like a child would to their favorite toy when they are scared. We have different goal sets and our jobs and careers are on different paths. I just don't feel a spark when I'm around him."

"Well, you can't help your charm. All the boys in high school pretty much flocked to you, and yet you rejected every single one of them after a few dates." Asagi pointed out.

"Maybe you just aren't into men." Yuki shrugged. Both Lamore and Asagi turned to looked at their friend in question. "What? It's 2019, I think at this point everyone gets educated about stuff like sexuality and attractions."

"Yuki, be serious." Lamore sighed. "It has nothing to do with that at all. I just don't feel anything when I'm around him."

"If you are unhappy with him, then why bother keeping up your relationship?" Asagi questioned.

Asagi did have a point. Really, Lamore didn't feel anything for him. And it was hurting the both of them, more for her, to keep lying to him like this. She had been meaning to tell him about her true feelings, but she just didn't know how without coming off as cruel. Besides, he had been a very useful adversary ever since he found out her secret and has been helping her reach her goal. In fact, she had promised herself that she would be with Mako if they ever made it out of that situation alive. She got that memory back after she gained her Life Note again. But what else could she do? She had promised, and she never broke promises. But, even if she didn't love Mako, who could she love?

"Look, don't let your relationship with Mako worry you so much. Eventually you'll figure out what needs to be done in the end. You always figure that out. And whatever decision you make, there are bound to be others behind you who will support you." Yuki told Lamore.

The brunette smiled at her friend. She was right, Lamore usually found a way to get by and make everyone happy. Especially when she got the Life Note, she had kept that moral. She was sure things would turn out well for everyone in the end.

"You're right. I'm probably just worrying over nothing." Lamore turned forward to see someone familiar. She looked to see the female raven sitting on her legs reading one of her thick books. She looked as if she had been waiting for a while.

The other female turned back to her and waved with a small smile. "Lamore!" She lowered her hand and became serious then. "How's it going?"

Lamore looked at Laura for a moment, knowing she wanted to talk to her. The brunette turned to her two friends and gently smiled. "Yuki, Asagi, can we hang out later? I need to talk to Laura."

"Of course." Asagi nodded as she and Yuki began to travel in the direction they came from.

"See ya later." Yuki waved goodbye at Lamore as she did the same. Lamore then walked up to go and stand face to face with Laura who only stared at her with her black eyes that held some life in them.

"Did I interrupt you from your friends? I'm sorry." Though she didn't sound sorry to many in her monotone voice.

"It's fine." Lamore assured. "Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Not just me. Ryuzaki and Ryuk wanted to meet us during break at the earliest. And since you have one right now I decided to wait for you to pass on the message." Laura explained.

"You know you could have just texted me like normal people do." Lamore sighed, a bit annoyed.

"I didn't know how often you check your phone. Also, I could not risk anyone else seeing the message and meeting up with us instead. Besides, I have only just arrived here ten minutes ago and they were still working on a few things." Laura explained. She got off the bench and closed her book. "Well, then, we better get going."

"Yeah," Lamore nodded as the two of them began to walk towards the campus. Laura led on since she knew where they were going. As they began their travel, Lamore thought of a conversation. "Actually, I kind of wanted to talk to you. About… um… him…" Lamore began, as she was not too sure if she should call him by his name, or at least the name he went by.

"You mean Near?" Laura asked without looking back.

"Yeah." Lamore answered. "I just wanted to know about him."

"I could have sworn I told you about him during the anniversary of Matt and Mello's death." Laura spoke out loud.

"Yeah, you did. It's just… well, yesterday was the first time I've actually met him and the first time in a while since you've seen him again right? I just wanted to know if anything has changed." Lamore rephrased. "I barely know much about your brothers, even Ryuzaki. I just can't help but be curious about the people that raised you all those years ago." For a moment, they walked in silence. And Lamore wondered what Laura was thinking right now.

"Personality wise, nothing has changed with Near." Laura finally spoke. "His appearance differs than the last time we have met though that is to be expected. He is just as distant as he was when I first met him. Though his communication skills have improved, I am not too sure about the social part."

"He also didn't really seem that emotional. Now that I think about it, he sounded almost like a robot." Lamore noted.

"He was like that when I met him. That part hasn't changed either." Laura added.

"Well, at least now I know where you get it from." Lamore smiled.

Laura turned to face her and raised a brow. "What exactly do you mean, "get it from"?"

"Oh nothing~!" Lamore rolled her eyes as she snickered. Laura shook her head and dropped the topic. At least Lamore now knew where Laura got her cold exterior from. Obviously she picked up a few traits from her brothers and it seemed clear some of them had a larger impact on her than the others. Still, the fact that Laura was able to bargain with him so easily must have proved their relationship with one another. They clearly went way back.

The two girls entered into the office of the Hideki brothers where Light and L were waiting for them. "I see the two of you are in here instead of the classroom." Lamore noted as she and Laura entered.

"We figured this room would give us more privacy than the classroom." L explained. Since there were so many professors as it was, and they were relative according to their records, the university thought they could just give a single office to both of them. Somehow, they were able to keep the peace together and not kill each other in the small space, which surprised even the girls. Then again, they've had this job for almost a full year now and they were already doing a good enough job to be getting a reputation. Lamore had to admit, she was pleased to see how hard working the two of them were with creating a new life for themselves. Maybe they were final able to put away the past and find a new path. But speaking of paths, that reminded Lamore of something.

"So, what is this about?" Lamore asked. "Why did you want to met up with us?"

"Well for one, we wanted to see how you were doing. After the whole event that happened to you the past few days." Light explained. "We just wanted to make sure you're doing alright."

"Oh…" Lamore blinked. She should have known they would want to know how she was adjusting back to her...somewhat… normal life again. It was sweet of them to think about her well being, especially after many of the horrors she had to go through. Though she was not too worried, especially with her plan. Even though the whole Near and Task Force thing happened, they were still able to get out of there. She looked up at everyone and put on a smile. "Don't worry, I'm doing fine now. I was able to convince my friends and grandparents that I went with Mako to a concert to honor the anniversary of Tenshi. They were able to buy it right away. My grandpa was a bit hesitant to believe me, but since he was sure I was safe, he was alright with it."

"And what about Mako?" L asked.

"I haven't heard anything from him yet. But I heard that he's going to be doing a few performances later this week, which means his life is getting back to normal as well."

"Then it looks like the two of you are alright." Laura noted.

"It was all thanks to you guys. If you hadn't shown up, then we probably would have been in a worse state than now." Lamore noted.

"Well it was your idea and resources that got us at a certain place." Light reminded her.

"Yeah, but you were pretty much on your own when you guys left the church in search for me and Mako." Lamore reminded them. "It warms my heart knowing that you guys care about me so much, you're willing to put aside your differences to save me." She teased.

"Speaking of which, there is still one final matter that needs to be put to rest." L interrupted. Lamore turned to him looking serious now. "That was mostly why we really wanted to call you here. It has to do with the Kira Follower's."

"Kira Follower's?" Lamore repeated.

"The group that kidnapped you and Mako and held you captive on suspicion of being Tenshi."

Lamore blinked as she remembered the group that abducted her and Mako and had planned on sacrificing them to their god, Kira a.k.a Light Yagami. She didn't really know what happened to them though because Gevanni took her and Mako away before the group could get there to even attempt to save them. "What exactly happened to the group?" She had to ask, having a sinking feeling that she already knew the answer.

"We were exposed and forced to fight our way through survival. The church caught on fire and burnt what was left of the Followers and the building." Laura answered. "No one as far as we know survived."

"So all of them are dead?"

"That includes my ex-boss, Golbat and your friend, Aiko." Lamore turned back at Laura as she mentioned the name of the bluenette girl whom Lamore knew for a few years. Lamore looked saddened by the fact that not only had Aiko betrayed her, but the fact that her beliefs had caused her her downfall in the end. She respected Kira so much for killing her father, that she wanted to do everything possible to show her loyalty to his cause. Lamore was not against her beliefs, she didn't care what people thought. But if only she could have said something sooner, perhaps she would have been spared her fate. Laura saw the look on Lamore's face as she received this information. "It would not have mattered if Aiko helped out or not, her death day was already decided. Even if she hadn't died by the collapse of the church, she would have died on that day either way."

Lamore stared at Laura and remembered the power she had in her eyes. She nodded in understanding. "Even so, why did you guys want to met me here? What's the purpose of this meeting?"

"That's just it." L stated. "We want to know if you had planned on bringing them back."

Lamore blinked at his statement. Were they trying to convince her about using her powers? Why would they do that? "Well…" Lamore began. "It is Tenshi's job to resurrect people and give them a second chance."

"But does it have to be everyone?" Light questioned.

"Lamore, with all due respect, we think that it would be better if you let those people remain at rest." Laura bluntly stated.

"Eh?" Lamore blinked as she looked at the female raven. "Why?"

"Lamore-chan, please don't take this the wrong way, but we are just thinking about your safety." L tried to assure her. "Those Kira Followers tried to kill you and Mako in order to resurrect their god. If you bring them back, chances are they will only do the same thing again. We were lucky to have gotten you out of there before, but that was because Near was able to save you two. We may not get that break again."

"But…" Lamore began. "I could always erase their memories so they won't remember what they did."

"Then let's say you did do that and still brought them back. That would mean they are likely to repeat the same steps again. They would be able to know about Tenshi again and if they still held onto their beliefs about Kira and his ideals, then they will do anything to bring him back. They will capture Tenshi again, you and or Mako, and they will carry out their plans. Even if you were to erase their memories of that incident alone, it will not solve the problem that they will not stop causing disturbances."

"But what about my motto? How I think that everyone deserve a second chance! I'd be breaking it and what reputation will that give Tenshi if others see that Tenshi is not bringing back certain groups. They will see Tenshi as a basis character like they did with Kira. Not to mention that they could count as victims to be part of the count to Tenshi's resurrections." Lamore kept arguing and protesting not just against L, but the others as well. How dare they try and tell her how to use her powers?! It should be up to her whom she decides to bring back or not. And so far, she had brought back everyone that she saw had died recently. So what if these guys tried to kill her and Mako? They were just confused and they were doing what they thought would appease the one whom they worshipped. After all, so many people were pro-Kira because they agreed with the ideas Kira had in creating a world where crime was extinct and the population consisted of kind and honest people. Even though that ideal world was too far fetched and unrealistic to actually happen, Lamore thought. Still, that didn't stop Kira from going through with his goals and it didn't stop those who supported Kira. Lamore then thought back to Aiko and how she admired Kira for what he did for her, by killing her father. "On top of that, one of them was my friend." Lamore noted bitterly. "I can't go on knowing that she died because of me and I did nothing to save her."

Light looked at Lamore and saw how sad she was when she brought up Aiko. Knowing that a friend of hers had died because she got involved must really bring her down. But Light didn't want Lamore to suffer anymore than she already has. Light walked up to the female burnette and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Lamore, please listen. Kira had his limits, there were things that he couldn't do. And he didn't hesitate to kill innocent people just to try and make the world a better place. I'm not saying he doesn't regret it now, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. And in this case, it's an exception. We as your friends are worried that if this ever happens again, we might not be able to save you like we did before. We're just trying to protect you like you have done for us."

"But they were Kira Followers. Are you really going to let your supporters cease to exist?" Lamore questioned.

"Maybe if I was Kira, no. Kira could have used a lot of support. But the fact that they would have gone as far as to kill you just for Kira, when you have done nothing wrong or gone against Kira, is just unforgivable. I don't want to see supporters like that, especially when Kira doesn't exist anymore. Right now, the world needs Tenshi, Kira had already done his part."

"You're only just thinking of me?" Lamore asked.

"Just Lamore, not Tenshi." Light assured.

"Can't you let your motto go this one time Lamore-chan? Surely no one will notice a few people that are gone. From the looks of the Followers, they did not seem to have any family or friends that would know of their movements." Laura pointed out. "And even if you wanted to resurrect them, their bodies were burnt in the fire."

She did have a point. Lamore knew that if the body was too torn up or was unrecognizable then the Life Note would be ineffective to that person. Though she herself was not there to see the damage that took place, from what she knew from the others, the fire must have been pretty bad. So, she couldn't try to help them. But there had to be a way she could save them without having what happened to her and Mako repeat itself twice. Lamore's brain tried to remember something of the Life Note that would help her, help those Followers. Suddenly, she thought of something. Lamore turned back to her Seimeigami. "Hana, as long as I put 'Reincarnated on said date', that person will be reincarnated instead of resurrected no matter how early they have been dead?"

Hana blinked and thought for a moment. She looked back at Lamore and nodded. "Yes, so long as you say they will be reincarnated as soon as you put their names and causes of death afterwards."

Lamore smiled at that information. Laura looked back at the female burnette and placed her hands on her hips. "So that's what you're planning." She noted.

"You're right, if we bring back the Kira Followers then they will come back after me and Mako. So I won't resurrect them as who they were when they died. Instead, I'm going to reincarnate them into someone new. That way, their bodies will still remain dead, but their spirits will find new homes. They can get new lives for themselves and start over. I'll agree to not bring them back if you allow me to do that." Lamore offered.

"So you're going to reincarnate them instead?" Light questioned. Lamore nodded confidently. He smiled and nodded. "Alright, I think we can reach that compromise."

"That way, it will still count towards your goal and you are saving them in a bigger way than you would have had you just brought them back." L added.

"I'm going to need to know the names and faces of the people that were there. Aiko won't be a problem, but I'm not too sure about the others…" Lamore admitted.

"If you'd like, I could gather that information for you. It's the least I can do." Laura offered.

"You think you can find it?" Lamore asked.

"Knowing Golbat, he probably created a file or a certain document about the Kira Followers. He was a very organized man but needed reminders every so often. So it would not surprise me if he had the information we are looking for. I can not guarantee that I will get all the names, but I'm sure with Net we can gather as much as we can."

"That is all I can ask of you." Lamore told Laura. "Thank you."

"Well then, if that is all we have to discuss, then I better head off then. I have some work on my hands and I'm going to needs Net's help." Laura stated. "I just hope she is up for the task."

"Why wouldn't she be?" Light had to ask. Not that he really cared about Laura's relationships with her colleagues, but he was curious.

"Well, I had to explain to them about you two after we got back to the hotel. When Near talked about Kira and L, they had many questions and I had to answer them." Laura answered.

"How did they take it?" Lamore had to ask her.

"Well, Net is pretty pissed at me for keeping another secret about this case from her. And Matsu is...well… he was just too baffled to even comprehend what we were talking about. Still, I do not blame them for their reactions. It was to be expected considering the last secret I kept from them was related to the Tenshi Case as well. Thankfully Ryuzaki was there, so it helped."

"Matsu had a lot of questions for me and I had to answer them. Luckily he didn't ask too many personal questions right away, so I didn't mind. Not to mention the fact that it would have released some tension between the group." L interrupted.

"I'll give them a few more days and wait until they have calmed themselves before I talk to them again. I think after everything that has happened, we all could use some space."

"Yeah, I think that's the best course of action you can give to them. I'm sure they'll forgive you soon enough. I mean, the two of you have worked together for so many years now, surely a few secrets won't ruin it all." Lamore tried to cheer Laura up with her enthusiasm. Even though she was not fully aware of the relationship between her, Matsu, and Net, she knew enough from the two that they had to respect their privacy as well as their personal life. And they seemed to have been through thick and thin over these years, so she was sure that a bond as strong as theirs would never be broken so easily. Especially since they helped Laura work on the Tenshi Case right after she decided to investigate when they had no clue what they were doing.

"Thank you for your kind words, Lamore-chan." Laura nodded at Lamore. She then grabbed the doorknob and exited the room without so much as a goodbye. Though no one was really hurt by it, since they had to remind themselves that this was Laura they were talking about.

Lamore turned back to face the two guys with a smile. "So, you two are really okay with this, then?" She asked, getting back to the topic at hand.

"It seems to be the only solution we have where everyone gets a share of the winnings." L stated.

"Thanks for understanding. But… if it is alright, there is one thing I want to do as well." Lamore began as she seemed to have a mixture of a sad and yet pleased look on her face. She stared down at the floor and went on. "I want to go back to the church where they died and give them a proper funeral. It's only fair if they are not going to be resurrected. I know what they tried to do, but they are still human and they didn't really know any better."

Light stared at Lamore for a moment as no one said anything after her statement. He was not surprised she would want to give those people a proper send off before she could reincarnate them. Lamore was too kind to everyone, even if they tried to kill her. Even though Light could see a few flaws with that characteristic, it just made Lamore who she was. And it wasn't as if doing this action would cause any harm or consequences. It might even help Lamore deal with the fact that she could only reincarnate these people and not bring them back. Light's eyes softened a bit as he looked back at Lamore. "I understand. If you'd like, I could go with you to the church and help you out."

"Thank you, Light." Lamore looked up and smiled at him. Light quickly turned away but he could not get that radiant smile out of his head. Why did he have to have these feelings for someone like her? And yet, why was he not doing anything about it?

Laura walked out of the office that L and Light shared and walked down the hall. Her next class wouldn't be for another hour, so she decided to take the time to go someplace quiet and read. She always thought better in a quiet area, whether it was a wide open space or a closed corner, it didn't matter to her so long as there was as noise as possible. Also, she might as well finish up her book that she was reading while she waited for Lamore. She held it tight in her left arm as she walked down the halls. She had only read up to thirty pages in the first ten minutes, and she still had four hundred and seventy eight pages left until she was done with the novel. She was sure to at least have a quarter of the book left before she had to go back to the next class. She walked out on the campus grounds and looked for a place where she could be alone. She found a perfect spot not too far away from the entrance. She walked onto the grass and sat under a tree, its colorful leaves shading her from the sun. After everything that had happened, the first thing she needed was some time alone to enjoy a good book and drift away from the world for a while. Though things seemed to have been settling down, she wondered how long it would be until something else happened unexpectedly. All she could do was wait and hope that whatever came next wouldn't be as bad as what they had to face last time.

Laura had only read two pages before she was interrupted. Her back pocket on her jeans vibrated as she listened to her ringtone. She took it out and read the contact, thinking it was probably Matsu or Net trying to ask her if she had anymore secrets to reveal. Or it could have been Lamore, Light or L wanting to met up with her again. As she looked at the screen, she saw that the caller was an unknown number. Laura narrowed her eyes at the phone and slide the screen to answer it. "Hello?" She called into the device.

"It's nice to hear from you again, Laura." Laura's eyes went wide as she heard that familiar voice from the other end of the phone.

'Near?' She thought mentally. She regained herself and spoke into the phone again. "Uh, yes. I didn't think you would contact us so soon. Is there something you need?"

"I was going over the Notebook that Lamore Nosaka gave to us yesterday and I have a few questions about the rules that are listed." Near explained.

"If you'd like, I could give you Lamore's number and you call her. I'm sure she will be able to answer any questions you may have should the Seimeigami not give you what you are looking for." Even though Laura was fairly confident that Near could just look up Lamore's number on his own since he was able to get hers. After all, she never gave him her number, so it only proved he was capable of looking for it himself.

"No," Near answered back. "I actually want to ask you these questions. I feel as if it would be more appropriate to ask you rather than Lamore or Mako since we did give them a bit of a scare the last time."

Laura only sighed as she answered back. "Near, don't play humble and innocent. We both know that if there were any questions you had concerning the matter, you would not hesitate to bring in either of the two, fully aware that they are more than okay with answering anything you had to ask them." It was true though, Lamore did say that if they had any questions concerning the Life Note, they could contact her without any worries. And she knew Near well enough to know that he would take certain actions just to make sure things would run smoothly on their end. So the idea of bringing in Lamore or Mako for questioning despite the trauma they went through would not phase him.

"You're too smart, Laura." Near commented. Laura looked back at her phone as Near went on. "You are right, I actually wish to see you again."

"See me again?" Laura sounded a bit flattered at the compliment, though she tried to remain mutual.

"Yes, ever since I found out you were connected with the Tenshi Case, I wanted to see you again, to talk to you. And now, it seems that there is a chance for that since our paths have crossed. I figured we could talk about the case and share data we have collected while...catching up on our lives."

Laura was quiet for a moment as she thought about what Near had said. She felt her heart skip a beat at his suggestion. Out of all her brothers, Near was the only one that had survived the wrath of Kira. And ever since she left the Wammy House, she wanted to see her four brothers again. She couldn't see L afterwards, and she only met up with Mello and Matt for a little while, and yet after the Kira Case was solved, she didn't get to see Near. She had been hoping to meet up with him after he brought Kira in, but she knew deep down that the chances of them ever meeting up afterwards or as Kira was bringing terror to the world were slim to none. And after she left Tokyo to pursue her career in the paranormal and Near took on the role of L, they could never be with each other and had no way of contacting each other. There was no reason to, anyways. They moved on with their lives and they seemed to be fine without them in it. But Laura would always break a little as the days went on when she could no longer be with the family that raised her. It would be nice to see Near again. She had so many questions for him and she had so much to tell him. Laura thought about it and wanted to do it. "Alright, we can meet up tonight if that works for your schedule."

"Yes, that will work. I will send Rester to get you at your apartment and bring you back to headquarters. I want you to be here at around nine so please take the train with him at around six." Near instructed.

"I understand. I'll see you later, then." Laura hung up the phone and leaned into the tree and sighed. She would see Near again after so many years. The two of them could talk to each other like they did at Wammy House. It seemed too good to be true. But Laura had to remain calm and collected, it was just going to be them talking and nothing more. Yet why was she anticipating it with such emotion?

Lamore gathered her things as she finished her last class for the day. She had a class with L as the teacher and she was looking forward to going back to her dorm and relaxing for a bit. Maybe write a few names down and start planning on when she would be going on that trip to the church to hold a funeral for those Kira Followers. 'Let's see...tomorrow is Wednesday, and I don't have any classes on Thursday the 7th...I could probably use that day to go there. The sooner I get there, the fresher they will be and they can be given a proper burial. Also it will be one last thing to worry about and I can put it behind me knowing that I was able to take care of it. I just hope that Laura keeps true to her word and gives me the information I need for reincarnating them.' Lamore thought as she gathered her supplies in her briefcase. As she stood up, she was interrupted from her thoughts.

"Miss Nosaka," Lamore froze after getting up from her seat. She looked to see L standing behind his desk making eye contact with her. "Would you please come see me when everyone is gone, I would like to speak with you." Lamore blinked as she wondered what the former detective would want with her. But, he was the teacher and she had to listen. Lamore nodded as she waited for the other students to exit the classroom. When she was sure that there wasn't anyone left, she headed towards the teacher's desk and looked at L straight in his dead eyes.

"Is there something you need, Mr. Hideki?" Lamore asked as she used his alias. There was a part of her that had hoped that it was school related, but she had to remind herself that this was L and that things were never so simple with him.

"Yes, actually, I was hoping to talk to you about something." L admitted as he filed through a bit of paperwork. "I wanted to know how many free hours you have during the next few days."

"Well, I could give you my class schedule if that will help, but why-"

"Then we can begin your training right away." L interrupted her.

"Wait, training?" Lamore raised a brow.

"Have you ever heard of Capoeira?" L interrupted her again. "It's a Brazilian art form which combines fight, dance, rhythm and movement. Capoeira is a dialog between players - a conversation through movement which can take on many shades of meaning."

"Yes, I know that. I also know that african slaves helped develop the artform in a crucial manner. Many historians claim that the slaves would use capoeira for combat and self defense, but they were able to disguise it due to the fact that the style was like a dance. Many slave owners assumed it was part of their culture."

"If you know the history, then that will make things easier. I believe we can start with the basics tonight if you are free. I can't say you will be a professional of the art within a few weeks but within a month or two depending on how fast a learner you are, you could-"

"Ryuzaki, what is this about?" Lamore demanded to know as she crossed her arms. Even for L this was strange. And trust me, if you had even spent one day with this former detective, that is saying a lot.

L looked back at Lamore and saw that her patience was running out with him. A very common thing between him and his colleagues, he knew that. Lamore should have the right to understand what he was trying to do, so he might as well tell her. He shoved his hands in his pants pocket and looked at Lamore. "I'm going to train you in self defense."

"What?" Lamore raised both her eyebrows as she heard his explanation.

"Ryuk and I talked about it this morning and we felt that you should know how to defend yourself in the event that something similar to a few days ago were to be repeated again." L informed.

"Wait, he's okay with this?" Lamore asked as she was referring to Light.

"Not just him, Laura also agreed on the matter." L admitted. "Lamore-chan, before you object or state your opinion, hear me out. The reason I want to train you is to give you insurance." Lamore's expression changed to confusion now at his words. L looked down at his papers as he went on. "After what happened to you and Mako a few days ago, it confirms that there are people out there that are anti-Tenshi. Or wish to use Tenshi for their own benefits. I never thought how serious the matter would have been until we met the Kira Followers. They weren't hesitant to kill you or Mako to bring back Kira or appease him."

Lamore's eyes softened as she understood how he must have been feeling right now. "Ryuzaki, it wasn't your fault nor was it anyone's. If anything, I blame myself because I put you all through so much trouble and nearly got you and Ryuk confined by the Task Force."

"No, it wasn't your fault." L assured her in a low voice. His bangs were hanging over his face to cover his eyes. "It was the fault of the Kira Followers. Even Ryuk felt bad about what they did to you. And we all know what that must mean concerning his past." Lamore didn't say anything but her face holding empathy gave L the answer. "As for the Task Force, you shouldn't worry too much, it was only a matter of time anyways before someone from our past was able to see us again. Honestly, we should be grateful that it didn't turn out even more worse. Especially for Ryuk, they could have taken him away for what he did all those years ago. But, luckily, Laura and Near were able to strike a deal."

"Yeah," Lamore gained a smile on her face as she held her arms in front of her outfit. "You've raised some intelligent and strong kids. You surprise me every time." She giggled at the last part. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised at how much your successors picked up on you. I mean, Near looks like an albino version of you and Laura looks like she could be your sister. It's not just looks, though, you have calm and collected personalities though you have child like behaviors now and then. I dunno what you taught those kids at the orphanage, but they seemed to be doing just fine now so it worked out for them."

L looked up at Lamore as her face radiated with such passion and purnest. And in a way, as he listened to what she said, she was right. Laura seemed to have been fine after she was sent away from the Wammy House and Near was doing a good job as the successor of L. Near was able to pick up where he left off and he'd defeated Kira. And Laura was able to bring him back to life. Then again, not all of the kids had a great life. Matt and Mello died during the fight with Kira, as he did. He was sure Laura told her about Matt and Mello since they talked about it with Net and Matsu nearly ten months ago. But he was grateful that at least some of the kids came out alright. And though he was not too sure about the other children, he was sure they were doing fine as well. Now that L thought about it, perhaps Lamore could have been a Wammy kid. She was very smart and she could handle pressure and stress when it came at her. But she probably would have been better at being the orphans' mother, seeing as how she was so caring towards children and was willing to help out anyone that needed it. It was because of her personality that L felt a great sense of beating in his heart whenever he saw her. It was the way she looked at someone with her brown eyes, the way her smile could light up any situation, how she could look on the brighter side of things when the odds were against her and how she would rather make sure everyone else is happy around her before she cared for herself. It was this personality, this being, that was given the power of life in her hands. And that power came with consequences. He knew that there would be others who would want to use that power, Lamore had already been in contact with most such as Laura, Mako, and the Kira Followers. It would only be a matter of time before someone else would want her power as well. And what if he nor anyone else would be there to protect her? He didn't want anything to happen to the angel before him. Because if she died, what would happen to that radiation of her smile and those kind brown pools? L could tell that he was not the only one who thought this. Light seemed to have feelings for Lamore, though he would not admit it, and Laura saw her as a sister figure.

"Uh… are you alright, Ryuzaki?" Lamore snapped L out of his thoughts as she leaned in a bit over the desk to look at the former detective. He looked over at her with a look of curiosity and concern written on her face. L shook his head and gazed at her again.

"Forgive me, I was in deep thought. It's an old habit of mine."

"Now that I can understand." Lamore giggled.

"Anyways, about the lessons. I, of course, will be teaching you and I have the perfect place to do it. Laura picked it out herself which will give us room to train and it is not too far away for your locations you go to on a daily basis."

"I don't know about this. I get that you want to try and protect me, but-"

"At least come with me for one session and if you still think you do not need it, then we can cease the training. Let me teach you the basics, at least." Lamore only stared at L for a moment and saw how content he was in teaching her about this art. He was right, perhaps it would be a valuable skill to learn if she was ever faced in that type of situation again. And if going to a few sessions with him would help ease him, then she might as well go with him.

"Alright, I guess a few sessions couldn't hurt." Lamore shrugged.

L smiled at her as he grabbed his papers and placed them in his bag. "Thank you, I'm pleased you agreed. Well then, we shall head out together so I can take you there. I certainly hope that you are a quick learner and very agile."

"You of all people should know more about me since you are Laura's brother and she happened to gather intel on me first." Lamore mocked as she and L walked towards the exit.

---

Laura sat by Commander Rester's side on the train ride to Tokyo. He had come to get her at her apartment complex when no one was there and took her to the station to ride the train they had to get on to get to the headquarters. Luckily Near had already provided the tickets to Rester so they didn't have to worry about paying. The blond had no idea why Near wanted to talk to this girl who was sitting beside him. He tried to understand, but yet he kept drawing a few blanks. While he knew that somehow, the two of them seemed to have known each other at one point and Near wanted to see her again, he could not imagine why he would want to do it now out of any time. It wasn't as if this girl just disappeared off the face of the earth. Surely with a bit of research and sources, Near could have found her location within a few days at the most. Come to think of it, he didn't even know why he was evening meeting up with her in such a formal manner. Rester had known Near for a few years now, and from that he knew that the albino did not get close to anyone very easily. Hell, it took him tests after tests just to get into the provision in the first place. And Near had to do a background check on him as well. So the fact that he was letting this woman in the base with little restrictions on her, after they find out her involvement with not only Tenshi but Kira as well, it baffled him.

Laura could sense that the man beside her was staring at and pondering something about her. Probably having something to do with her and Near. She wanted to say something, but she did not feel it was wise to talk about such things on a public transportation. And why should she judge him anyways? He had every reason to question and be cautious of her. Especially considering that she was on the side of Tenshi and Kira. But she didn't care what he thought, he was just another toy for Near. A piece of his puzzle he needed to complete the picture. Yet somehow she could sense that this man, she looked at him to see his name; Anthony Carter: he was different. He had a few decades to live, and he seemed a very strong individual, and a smart one as well. It made her curious as to why after the Kira case was solved, Near would still have him on the team. Maybe he was so useful, he was worth keeping around for other cases. Or perhaps he had grown fond of Mr. Carter. Either way, Laura stayed quiet for the duration of the trip. She had nothing to say to him anyways, so she might as well just wait until they reached their destination.

Almost four hours had passed and they arrived at the base where the Headquarters of the SPK was located. Rester escorted Laura out of the vehicle he got to transport the two to this building. Laura looked up at the tall building and remembered what L had told her yesterday when they got back. He had informed her about the origins of this building. It was built as a permanent headquarters for the Task Force trying to catch Kira when he was still in charge of the investigation. It was closed down when he and Watari died, so Near must have reopened it again. Though neither knew why the SPK decided to set up the investigation in Tokyo when Tenshi was clearly in Kyoto, perhaps it was because it was the easiest network they could access.

Laura had heard a bit about the Task Force that L worked with during the Kira Case, but she never imagined she would actually live to see the experience first hand. She was going to enter this building again and see Near. Rester led her into the building through the front entrance and the two got into the elevator. It was at this time, that they finally talked for the first time since they met up.

"When we get to the floor, Near will be waiting for you on the last door to the left. He request that you go alone." Rester explained to Laura.

"Are you quite positive that it is wise for me to visit him without being bugged or monitored?" Laura questioned. Though she didn't like the idea, she wanted to see how he would react to the thought that she could pull something on them at any time. The fact that they would let her see Near without having to chaperone her or him must have meant that Near was trusting her completely or there was something else.

"No, there will be cameras and wiretaps in the room, so we will be listening and watching. Still, it would be best if the two of you met face to face alone. Those are his orders." Rester assured. Laura turned her back on him and shrugged. So, they were taking a few precautions, after all. Fine, if Near wanted this, then she will put up with it.

The doors to the elevator slid open and that was her cue to leave. Laura stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hallway to get to the far end where Near would be waiting for her. She remained calm, they would just talk with each other and nothing more. They already had seen each other the day before, anyway, so seeing him again wouldn't be that awkward. She just reminded herself she was seeing an old acquaintance. Yeah, Near was technically like that, an old friend of hers. She had no idea why she would be so nervous or emotional. She had to clear her mind and remain as detached as possible. She shouldn't get too attached to people, she knew the hard way that if she did, it would only be more heartbreaking when they left. She soon stood in front of the door in which Near was behind. She took a deep breath and grabbed the handle of the door. Well, here she goes. She opened the door and entered into the room. To her surprise, it seemed like a hotel room with couches and chairs. There was a large window, but the curtains covered it.

Near was sitting on the floor in his usual position that Laura has seen back at the orphanage. His one leg was to the side while his other was up to his chest. He was working on one of his milk puzzles, though he had not gotten too far on it. He probably only just started. When Laura closed the door behind her, Near looked up from his puzzle and back at her. The only light in the room was from the lamp. Laura held her breath for a moment as the two of them stared at each other for a few minutes. "It's nice to see you again Laura." Near was the first to break the silence between them. Laura held a gasp as best she could but some of it escaped. She shook it off quickly and nodded.

"No need to be so formal Near. We only saw each other yesterday." Laura assured him.

"Yes, but we barely talked yesterday, which is one of the reasons why I wanted you to come back here." Near stated. "Please, come over here." Near patted the ground next to him and Laura hesitated at first. However, she walked over to him and sat down in her position. She got comfy and looked back at Near again who kept his eyes on her. She saw how much he changed the last time he saw her. His hair was longer, his physical structure was taller, and his bags were similar to L. She was sure that as Near saw her, he could see the significant changes of her appearance. "Tell me, is there anything you would like to drink or eat? I have tea in the cupboard."

"N-No, I'm alright." Laura assured. She wasn't sure she could handle anything in her stomach right now. "You know, it doesn't seem that long ago since we last saw one another." Laura stated.

"Really? From our appearance it seems that time has changed since we were kids. In fact, last time I checked, you used to wear dresses and your hair was at shoulder length." Near observed.

"I guess some things change." Laura shrugged.

"You also had a lot more optimism back at the Wammy House, as well." Near added as he went back to his puzzle. Laura seemed surprised by that small statement he made. She could remember her younger version when she lived at the Wammy House with L, Near, Mello and Matt. Back then, she was ambiguous and had passion for being around her brothers and working on cases with L and learning from her role models. Now, she seemed devoid and arcane these days. Near hadn't changed his personality though, he seemed as emotionless and detached as before. And yet he was able to let Laura get close to him.

"And yet, there are many things that have not changed on your part." Laura joked. "You seem the same since I last saw you. It's hard to believe how well you are living up to the title L. I can see it wears you down at times."

"Nothing I can't handle." Near assured as he placed a piece of the white puzzle with the others. "I've grown used to it. I'm sure you would have done just as good as me if you got this role instead."

"Didn't I say on the phone that modesty doesn't suit you?"

"No, you said not to play humble and innocent. And I'm not playing, I'm simply expressing my opinion. You did an outstanding job when it came to grades back at the Wammy House and you were the first out of all of us to work on a few cases with L himself. Many would have envied you."

Laura looked away for a moment and blushed at the comment. "Well, it shouldn't matter now. I'm no longer a successor. L and you all made it clear the day you sent me away." Her heart tugged a bit as she said the last sentence. She could still remember that day when Watari packed up all of her belongings and she was saying goodbye to L and her brothers as her aunt took her away. Had she known that would be the last time she would have saw them, she would have stayed with them no matter what. But L didn't give her a choice, he forced her to leave. Even though she loved living there and having a family again. In a way, she felt betrayed that they let her go. Yet at the same time, she knew that she could be able to go out into the world again and be a free person. It was every orphan's dream to be able to be part of a family again and live a decent life for themselves. A lot of people would assume she was ungrateful for thinking those thoughts, but it was the truth.

Near turned back to look at Laura as a look of anguish was written on her face now. He himself breathed a sigh and tried to cheer her up. "If it makes you feel any better, we all missed you when you left. It wasn't the same without you." That was honest. When Laura was around, Near got along with Mello and Matt and the four of them had crazy moments with each other. After she left, Mello pretty much resented Near even more and Matt didn't really care anymore.

Laura heard what Near had said about her not being at Wammy House, and it did make her feel better knowing that they did miss her. She missed them as well, even though she wouldn't say it out loud to them. Still, it was nice coming from Near. Laura dug into her jean pocket and took out a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, it was the same picture she had in her room of her at the Wammy House with L, Mello, Matt and Near. All five of them looked happy and no one would have ever guessed that three out of five of them had died. She didn't really count L being alive since technically he still had yet to get his second chance of life again. This was the only memento she had left of her past life, a life that was full of love and innocence. She looked at the young girl in the picture and couldn't even recognize her.

Near saw Laura taking out the picture and lend over her shoulder to take a look. He was a bit surprised to see the Wammy picture the five of them took before Laura left the orphanage. "You still have that photograph with you, even after all these years." Near said with a bit of amazement.

"I've kept it safe with me ever since I left. It was the only reminder I had of you guys as my family. It's hard to believe that this photograph was over a decade ago."

"Thirteen years to be exact. Maybe fourteen, time is tricky to measure because it is always changing." Near noted.

"We were so young back then too." Laura added. "It almost seems like a far off dream or maybe another life. There are times when I wish I could go back to that time and live every single minute of it as if it were my last."

"You loved that place that much." It wasn't a question, but a statement. Near knew how much Wammy's meant to Laura. Everyone knew how much that home meant to her. It changed her and it gave her hope for a brighter future and a second chance. He didn't know what to expect of her after she left. He had been meaning to get into contact with her, especially during the Kira Investigation to warn her not to get involved or to not worry. But he could never get into contact with her, even with the connections. A thought popped into his head and he stood up. Laura watched his action and he looked down at her. How did Near get so tall? "Wait here, I want to show you something." Near walked out of the living room and entered through a door on the other side of the room. Laura watched as he left and waited for him to come back. She wondered what it was he was going to show her. Could it have something to do with the orphanage? The anticipation was almost unbearable.

Near came back through the door and walked back over to Laura, then sat down near her. "I wanted to give you this before you left but it wasn't finished quite yet. I wanted to make it perfect." The albino presented his gift to Laura. Her eyes widened as she saw a plush version of her when she lived at the orphanage. Shoulder length smooth, silky black hair, a violet dress with a black laced skirt and black dress shoes. Her wide eyes that were stitched on were radiating with love. Hesitantly, Laura took the doll from him and held it in her hands to examine it. It was so accurate, it didn't seem like a stuffed doll.

"Near…" She breathed. "It's beautiful. You got all of my physical features down perfectly." She looked back up at him. "You were working on this before I left?"

"Your birthday was coming up, so I wanted to give you a special present. I was skilled when it came to toy making so I thought it would be an appropriate gift for me to work on and for you to have. Then you were going to leave with your aunt, and I couldn't finish it before you left. I kept it with me to complete in the hopes that if we ever crossed paths again, I could give it to you. I just wanted to remind you that even if you grew up, in our eyes, you would have always been seen as our sister."

Laura was speechless. She knew that her brothers cared for her, but she didn't think they would still hold onto their feelings years after they were apart. She knew that L felt the same, he even admitted it after she visited Mello and Matt. But she never thought she would hear those words coming from the one who showed the least amount of emotional affections. Near was a good brother, even if he didn't show it too often. Laura couldn't help but smile at him. "I'm glad you decided to hold onto it. It probably wouldn't have looked that good had you given it to me before I left. I'm grateful that I was able to see it now. But you should have told me we were bringing gifts, I would have gotten you something."

"You did give me a gift, just you being here is enough."

"That was corny, even for you." Laura joked.

"Does that trait not suit me?" Near questioned.

"I will say that it was nice of you to try." Laura shrugged. "Thank you, for everything up till now. I don't know where I would be at this moment had it not been for you and the others."

"It looks like you didn't need us after you left. You seem to be doing just fine now a days." Near noted. The two of them looked into each other's eyes for a moment as the room fell silent. Laura could almost feel the nostalgic atmosphere in the room around them. It felt like they were back at the Wammy House again, sitting in the Common Room and working on puzzles together. It seemed too good to be true, that this moment was happening. Laura wanted to take this moment in as long as she could. She knew that it wouldn't last long, so she would bask in it for as long as she could. Almost as if those soulless gray eyes of his would just vanish from her. She let go of the tension that was building up and let out a sigh.

"What time do you have to be back?" Near asked as he was the first to speak after a while.

"It doesn't matter, honestly my colleagues want some time away from me anyways. Considering I had to explain to them everything concerning Light and L, they are a bit upset due to the fact that I have been lying to them for almost a year."

"You are free to stay for the night then. There's plenty of rooms for you to take."

"Thank you. I appreciate it." Laura nodded.

"In the meantime, we can talk about what you know about the Life Note and catch up on our lives." Near stated as he placed a white puzzle piece to connect the other ones.

Laura picked up a piece from the pile and looked at the puzzle. She figured out where the piece should go and put it in its place. Near watched as she pieced the puzzle together with him and a small smile spread across his lips. "So, what happened when you first got to Tokyo?" Near began.

To Be Continued…

Cosmok13: And that concludes the twentieth episode of Life Note. I want to know what you all as the fans think about Near coming back and if you have any takes such as if Near and Laura are going to be a couple. I'm not saying they are and I'm also not saying they aren't. I'm keeping this information to myself for now because I can not give away any spoilers. But with that said, episode 21 of Life Note should be updated hopefully before the end of December since I'll be getting a Christmas Break here soon. With that said, I'm Cosmok13 and I hope to see you all in the next episode of Life Note.