Thank you to everyone reading this story. I hope you continue to enjoy it. Special thanks to Sonar, Kwest82, and Atreyuu for reviews. Also, I realized after I sent it, that I forgot to apologize to Kwest for the late reply. I'm sorry. I will make those replies in a more timely fashion.

A/N Sorry about the late update. One, life got a little complicated for a bit and Two, this chapter was difficult to write…which is ironic because it's short and not much happens. It's like a set-up chapter for things to come and still bridging back to the plot. The next chapter will be better…I promise.

Just a little note about Near and questions. I don't place question marks for Near, since when he asks a question it sounds like a statement. I say he asks when it's a question, but leave off the '?' so it reads like a statement. However, it seems that I did make mistakes in the last chapter, and I hopefully caught them all and reuploaded it. I also put a note in for Near and the reason I wrote it that way. Sorry for the confusion.

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note, not the anime or the manga. Death Note belongs to Ohba and Obata. I also do not own Death Note Another Note: The LABB Murder Cases.

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Chapter 25: Dance

MADIE'S APARTMENT

*Living Room*

'How long does she plan on staying in the bathroom?' Light wonders, sitting on the couch. He's been listening to Ryuk laugh for five minutes, and it is starting to get on his nerves.

"Notice anything?" Ryuk asks, laughing harder, his eyes glowing with knowledge.

Light is about to ask Ryuk what he's talking about when Ryuu stops him. "Don't say anything."

Light glances at the Shinigami, who is sitting crouched down in a chair. Ryuu stares back at him, and cocks his head slightly.

"Why do you have to go and ruin my fun?" Ryuk pouts, looking at Ryuu.

"Because if Light begins to talk with you, then whoever is listening in will know," Ryuu answers, nonchalantly.

Light's eyes widen slightly at those words. 'Someone's listening in? Is it K? It has to be, but why would K suspect Madie, if he doesn't suspect me of being Kira. This means he was lying through his teeth. Bastard! I knew he suspected me more than he let on. He used the opportunity to place surveillance in her apartment. I can't talk with her here about what happened in England. Wait, does he know she was in England? Was he able to trace her, did he watch her, and then place surveillance here to monitor her when she came back?"

"I thought you weren't taking any sides," Ryuk says to Ryuu.

"I'm not," Ryuu answers. "I'm merely pointing out the obvious."

"If you say so," Ryuk says. "But pointing out that someone is watching is helping."

"Your laughter was the opposite," Ryuu states, turning his eyes on Ryuk. "I doubt Light would have noticed the cameras, or talked with you, had you not been laughing. I was only returning the situation back to its original state."

'I have to get Madie out of the apartment before she lets something slip. I doubt she would have noticed anyone following her while she was window shopping, but if she managed to complete her job, then K might have evidence on her. I have to find a way of getting her to give up ownership of her Death Note, regardless. For now, the first thing I have to do is find out how many cameras there are and how the cameras are set up in this place.' Light tears himself from his thoughts to focus more on the two Shinigami. Instead of staring at them though, he stands up and walks around the room. He finds a note pad and pen lying on the counter separating the living room from the kitchen, and begins to write.

"Why would you do that?" Ryuk asks.

"I have no intention of my presence altering any events. I am here only to watch," Ryuu answers. "I don't care who wins."

"Really," says Ryuk. "I thought maybe you liked that human of yours."

"I could say the same for you," Ryuu replies. "You've been in the human world for quite awhile now."

"Light has been providing me with entertainment," Ryuk says, grinning.

Light walks over to Ryuk, with the notepad in his hands, and stands beside him. He looks down at what he has written, coughing lightly to catch Ryuk's attention.

Ryuu watches closely as Ryuk looks down at Light and says, "I'm not telling you where the cameras are Light. If you want to know, I suggest you look for them yourself." Ryuk's eyes widen as he reads.

Rice

Yogurt

Udon

Kombu

Grapefruits

Eggs

Tomatoes

Sushi

Apples

Pineapple

Peas

Leeks

Egg plant

Salmon

"You're going to get me more apples if I look for the cameras," Ryuk says. "What's that on the list? What is a pineapple? Is it juicy like a regular apple?" Ryuk licks his lips. "I want to try this pineapple."

"I think that's all I have to get at the grocery store," Light says, looking like he's talking to himself. Light turns and walks back over to the couch, where he sits back down. He tears the piece of paper off the notepad, folds it, places it in his pocket, and places the notepad on the coffee table in front of him.

"This isn't fair," Ryuk whines. "You never told me about pineapples before. I want to try one." Ryuk looks down at Light, who ignores him, and continues, "The only way you're going to get me one of those pineapples is if I help you. Fine, I'll find the cameras for you, but you better buy me a lot of apples and pineapples." Ryuk begins to search the room for all the cameras.

Ryuu watches the scene in fascination. Ryuk is bouncing around the room looking for every single camera, as Ryuu wonders, 'Is this what happened before? For apples, the Shinigami searches for every single camera. No wonder Light was able to maneuver around the cameras I had installed. It appears that gods of death, or at least this one, do indeed love apples.'

*Bathroom*

K stares at herself in the mirror. 'Damage control,' she thinks, opening her cell phone and beginning to text a message…D/C MNM NO

She sends the message and is about to close her phone, knowing that Halle won't contact the boys until she says so. Just as she's about to close the phone, it vibrates. She looks down at the incoming message and opens it. 'Shit!'

B w MNM

'B's talking with them right now. Wonderful! I should just go put a bullet in Light's head and be done with it,' K thinks. Then she shakes her head. 'No, that wouldn't be fun, plus I don't have a gun on me.' She takes a breath, and sends another message…RUFKM…NVM…URG2MNM…B HF

K snaps the phone shut and places in her pocket. She then flushes the toilet, and turns the sink on. 'At least the boys will be busy with B for now. Next problem, Light and the cameras. I have to get him out of the apartment before he says something and then notices the cameras. I need to buy some time before Light figures it out.' She turns off the faucets, takes a breath, and walks out of the bathroom.

Entering the living room, she spots Light on the couch, and says, "Airplane rides are just horrible. The vacation was nice, but if I never have to ride in another airplane, I can die happy."

Light stands up from the couch and prevents Madie from sitting down. "I was thinking about taking you out to eat. I know airline food is just terrible, so you must be hungry."

"There are cameras in your apartment," speaks up Ryuu.

Madie looks around and notices how Ryuk seems to be franticly searching for them, and glances at him as he phases through the wall, entering her bedroom. She focuses her attention back to Ryuu and notices the small smile. 'You would enjoy this,' she thinks, 'but at least I don't have to find a way of getting Light out of the apartment.'

"I know this perfect little place not far from here," Light continues.

"That sounds wonderful," Madie says, smiling up at Light. "I am a bit hungry."

"Great," Light says. "We should get going, before your jet lag sets in." 'Or,' he thinks, 'you say something to give us away.'

Light and Madie are walking out the door, when Ryuk flies up behind them. "I don't know if this K's going to be as amusing as the others. There weren't even any camera's or listening devices in bathroom. In fact, there are only a total of ten cameras and listening devices, plenty of blind spots for passing notes and what not. I would say K isn't nearly as methodical as L. Probably won't pose much of a challenge for you at all. I still want a lot of apples for that Light, just because there wasn't that many, doesn't mean I don't get apples…and don't forget the pineapples."

Light smirks at Ryuk's words. 'So, K isn't L's predecessor, but just another successor and a poor one at that. Apparently, he didn't rank high at Whammy's to be this sloppy. I just wish the Nursery Rhyme Slayer was this stupid,' he thinks. 'I need to get both of them out of my way.'

Madie doesn't need to turn around to know that the smile on Ryuu's face just got a little bigger. 'I just have to find a way to work this to my advantage,' Madie thinks. 'I'd thank the boys, if I didn't have to yell at them for this. Seriously, ten cameras. What exactly were they supposed to, besides causing a headache?'

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WHAMMY'S HOUSE

Mello's voice is heard through the speakers. "If K is with Light Yagami right now, then who are we talking too?"

B sits in front of the computer, his hand hovering over the microphone. "That would be a good question, Mello. Wonder how you'll take the answer?"

Halle stands beside B, her cell phone in her hand. She looks down at the message that K sent and shows it to B.

B looks at the message and laughs. "I had a feeling that's what she would say."

"But why is she telling you to have fun?" Halle asks. "Wouldn't it make more sense to allow them to think I was the one talking to them? After all, I'm the one who has been talking with them since January."

"Since she wants you to pick up Rester and Gevanni, and go with them to the boys, I'm guessing not. Mello all ready stated that he doesn't like to be manipulated and I doubt Near would appreciate being manipulated. Chances are, they'll figure it out eventually, but for now I think K's main objective is to get you out of Whammy's. After this little screw up, the chance of Light sending her back to England to finish the job is almost nonexistent," says B. "Anyway, I get to have more fun with Mello."

"So, I'm just supposed to babysit," Halle says, narrowing her eyes.

"Well, I wouldn't use that term around them, but yea," says B. "You and the rest of the SPK can keep an eye on them, and hopefully stop them from doing something stupid."

"Guess I should call Odin up and let him know I'm coming," Halle says, sighing and walking toward the door, "plus make arrangements for the trip. You can finish up here?"

"Of course," B says, smiling. He watches Halle leave the room and turns his attention back to the monitor. Mello is standing in the middle of the room, Near sits on the chair, and Matt has earphones on, listening to the sounds from Madie's apartment.

B clicks the microphone and asks, "Who do you think you're talking too?"

"If I knew that, I wouldn't have asked," Mello states. "I know you're not K, since she just walked in with Light Yagami. So, who are you?"

"I'll give you a hint," B says, his smile widening. "I'm a very charismatic, charming, daring, and sexy person."

Both Mello's and Near's eyes widen at those words. "Beyond Birthday," Mello says.

"I believe I all ready stated that isn't my actual name," B says, sighing. "Why don't you just call me B?"

"You are a murderer," Near states.

"I was not aware of that," B says. "Thank you for pointing that out."

Near narrows his eyes, while Mello says, "But this means you and K are working together."

"Yes, yes it does," B says calmly. "I really am impressed with how quick you catch onto little details like that. Does that bother you, Mello? That K is willing to work with a murderer."

"Yes," Mello says. "That means that not only is K aware of the fact that you are the one committing those murders in Japan, but that she is fine with it."

"This from the boy that joined the mafia," says B. "Would it help you to know that each of the victims is being chosen carefully?"

"What do you mean," asks Near.

"These wonderful eyes I have," B says. "These eyes that allow me to see the date of death for every person I look at. The people who have died were all destined to die. I am only setting things right."

"They are all destined to die," Mello says.

"Do you actually believe that," Near states.

"Believe what?" B asks. "That I am setting things right. Probably not, but it is better than killing individuals who are destined to live, don't you agree?"

"Murder is murder," Near states, twirling his hair.

B sighs. "You deal too much with black and white Near. The entire world is filled with shades of grey."

"Do you mean that those people were destined to die on the day you killed them, like in the LABB case?" Mello asks.

"No," B says. "These individuals were destined to die before the day I killed them. There are thousands of people in the world who have lived beyond their date of death…all thanks to Kira."

The door opens and Halle walks back in. "All set," she says, when B lets go of the microphone.

"Guess we should get going," B sighs. "I was having fun too."

"Thanks to Kira" Near states.

"Kira kills people," Mello states. "How does that help others to live longer?"

"Sorry," B says, clicking the microphone again, "but I don't have time to explain. It seems that thanks to you, I have to go pick up some people. You may remember them…the SPK."

"They are still alive," Near states.

"Of course," B says. "You didn't think K would allow them to die, did you? Anyway, K seems to feel that reuniting you with them is a good idea. You should know that this will be the last communication by this means. I'm sure K will speak to you directly through the cameras you installed. It has been a pleasure." B shuts down the computer.

"We should get going," Halle says. She picks up the wooden box sitting on the desk.

B looks at her and sighs. "No sense putting it off," he says. "Just let me grab my disguise."

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BOYS HIDEOUT

Mello continues to stand in the middle of the room, as Matt removes the earphones, and lights a cigarette. Matt looks around the room and leans back in his chair.

Near sits in the chair, twirling his hair. "That was rude."

Mello turns and narrows his eyes at Near. "Really Near," he says, his voice rising with each word even though he clenches his teeth. "What exactly was rude to you? Was it when he said you deal to much in black and white, or when he explained that the SPK are still alive?"

"There is no need to be," Near states, turning to stare Mello in the eye, "melodramatic."

"Melodramatic," Mello yells. He takes a step closer to Near. "I'll show you melodramatic; you emotionless little…"

"So," Matt speaks up, exhaling a cloud of smoke, "care to enlighten me on who we were talking too."

Near hasn't moved in the chair, but Mello stops his advance. "We were speaking with B," Mello answers.

"You mean Beyond Birthday?" Matt asks.

"No," Near states. "Beyond Birthday appears to be nothing more than an alias. He requested that we address him as B."

"I see," Matt says, a smirk crossing his face.

"What the hell are you smirking at?" Mello yells, turning his head to look directly at Matt.

"Nothing," Matt says. "Well, that does put 'K's' earlier remarks in a new light, seeing as how B was the one who said them."

Near smirks and begins to twirl his hair.

"Shut up Near," Mello yells, catching Near's expression from the corner of his eye. Mello storms out of the room, and into one of the adjacent room. "You too, Matt," he yells, before slamming the door.

Matt looks over at Near, and Near turns his head to focus on Matt. "It seems that the members of the SPK are also alive, and will be joining us shortly," Near states, ignoring Mello's outburst.

"And here I thought we managed to get you away from your babysitters," Matt says, blowing out a puff of smoke.

Near narrows his eyes. "The members of the SPK were not my babysitters. They are highly skilled agents that I chose specifically to assist with the Kira investigation."

Matt takes another drag of his cigarette. "You say, specifically, chosen, highly, skilled agents; I say overpriced babysitters. Really not much of a difference, considering they assisted you in more ways than the Kira investigation."

Near considers Matt of a moment, and begins to smirk. "Well, if the members of the SPK were my babysitters, now they are our babysitters."

Matt continues to smoke his cigarette, as Near twirls his hair. Both think about the term 'babysitter' and come to the same conclusion. That is exactly why K is sending the SPK there, to keep an eye on them, and prevent them from repeating the camera incident or at least attempt to.

Looking directly at Near, who has a smile on his face; Matt reaches into his pocket and pulls out a coin. "Flip ya for who gets to tell Mello," Matt says, as the sound of something being thrown against the door Mello slammed is heard.

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IN LIGHT'S CAR

Light follows a familiar road that leads further and further away from Madie's apartment. He keeps his eyes on the road, as he plans his next move. 'K shouldn't have been able to place any surveillance inside the car, but I can't take any chances.'

"Light, where are we going?" Madie asks, looking at him.

"There's something I want to show you before I take you to get something to eat," Light answers. "It's right at the end of this tunnel. We'll be there shortly."

Madie just looks at him, as the car slowly leaves the tunnel and proceeds down the road. She can see the city ahead, separated by a river that has a bridge going across it. Light stops the car under the bridge and opens the door. Madie mimics him, and she exits the car. She follows Light to the edge of the river and stops to stand beside him.

"It's quite lovely here," Madie says, "but why are we here?"

'The last time I was here, both Misa and my father were with me,' Light thinks, looking around. His eyes glance to the left, where Chief Yagami had pulled the car over, after claiming he was taking both Misa and his son to be executed. 'L really was a bastard.'

Light turns his head so he is looking at Madie. "Since you are being watched, I thought it would be better to not talk in your apartment," he says. "In a restaurant, we may be over heard, and while I'm sure the car isn't being monitored, I thought it prudent to not have this conversation in there."

"I understand," Madie says, looking out over the water.

Light grasps Madie by the shoulders and turns her to face him. "Tell me what really happened in England," he says, gently. "There must be a reason K suspects you."

Madie looks at Light and says, "Nothing. There is nothing to tell. I watched Whammy's House, like you told me too, but I never got any names. In fact, there was no one there the entire time I watched the place."

Light's expression darkens. "Maybe you missed them while you were window shopping," he states. 'If nothing happened, then why is K watching you?' he thinks.

Madie looks crestfallen at Light's words. "I thought it would be better if it appeared that I was just another tourist, so I did tourist things. That way if anyone saw me, I could claim to be lost, or curious about the orphanage." Madie looks directly into Light's eyes and continues. "But I didn't see anyone at Whammy's the entire time. It looked like the entire place was empty. I'm sorry if I did something wrong." Tears start to fall down her cheeks.

Light pulls Madie into a hug. "You did fine," he says. "I know you tried your best. I'm just worried about those cameras in your place. I thought maybe you did manage to finish the job, and K had evidence against you. I'm grateful that you aren't in danger for now."

Light continues to embrace Madie as he thinks, 'Maybe K had spies planted at Whammy's. That could be why K place cameras in her apartment. At least he doesn't have any evidence, and I have to make sure he never gets any. I can't send her back to England now, but that probably doesn't matter. If there was no one at Whammy's for two weeks, then K must have moved everyone. He anticipated that Kira would go after them, and used it as an opportunity to try to trap Kira. That must be why K suspects Madie. She showed up in England and K would know that I was the last one to talk to her before her trip. In the very least, K knows I picked her up at the airport, since I'm sure K would have placed someone to watch her get off the plane, or been there himself.'

Light pulls back from Madie, and gently wipes away a tear from her cheek. "You did everything I asked you to," he says. "Now, we just need to make sure that K doesn't find anything to use against us. You have to be careful. Any small slip could give K something to go on."

"I'll be careful," Madie says. "K won't get anything from me. I promise."

"You have to be very careful," Light says, softly. "Anything little can give K something."

"I will be," Madie says.

"Good, let's go get something to eat," Light says, gently leading Madie back to the car.

As they walk, Light thinks, 'I have to eliminate everyone, but the orphans will have to wait. They could be anywhere in the world. I'll find K first and get him to tell me where he hid them. Then after K is dealt with, I can focus on any other threats.' Light glances down at the back of Madie's head, 'But first things first. I can't allow Madie to use the Death Note. The sooner I find someone to use it, the sooner I can distance myself from her.'

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SAFE HOUSE: PHILADELPHIA

A group of people sit around a table in a large room. Televisions play in the background and computers line against one wall. One man, appearing to be in his early thirties, closes the cell phone in his hand. His brown hair is pulled back in a ponytail and hangs below his shoulders. He reaches up and adjusts the glasses on his face.

"So, who was that, Odin?" asks the man sitting beside him. His short, spiky blonde hair is frosted blue at the tips, and he appears to be about 22 years old. He tosses out two cards, and the dealer replaces them. He takes the cards into his hand, while his pale green eyes cast a curious glance at Odin.

Odin looks down at his cards, his brown eyes calculating as he tosses out one card. "That was H. There's been a change of plans. She's coming to pick up our guests," he says.

"Good," says the woman with black hair, looking about 30 years of age. "That means we can get out of here soon." Her dark eyes cast down at her cards, before she tosses all of them on the table. She takes a cigarette and lights it.

Standing behind her is a younger woman, about 24 years old. Her shocking pink hair stands out against her tanned skin and her blue eyes shine. "About time," she says. "I was getting bored."

"Does this mean you out, Callisto," asks the dealer, his eyes shielded by sunglasses.

"Yea," says Callisto, standing up from the table. "Let's go Marrow." She walks out of the room, and the woman with pink hair follows her.

"Now, where are they disappearing too?" asks the blonde with the frosted blue tips.

"Don't know; don't care," replies Odin, standing up also. "I'm going to inform our guests of the change of plans. You could get them something to eat, Dillion."

"Why do I have to get them something?" Dillion asks. "That should be something Callisto and Marrow do."

Odin pauses in the doorway and looks back at the table. "Your funeral," he says, before walking out.

"I guess the game is over, since I have arrangements to make," says the dealer, chuckling.

"Well, what are they here for, Sam?" asks Dillion. "They don't do anything to help with Rester or Gevanni at all."

"That's because they weren't brought in to help with Rester or Gevanni," says Sam, gathering the remainder of the cards. "Their services are more specialized then that."

Dillion raises his eyebrows. "More specialized," he says. "Does that mean…"

Sam looks him, and calmly says, "Yes, that's exactly what it means."

Dillion begins to smile. "Why didn't someone tell me this earlier?" He stands up from the table and walks down the same hallway the women walked down.

Sam watches him go and shakes his head. "Idiot."

Another man walks into the room and notices that Sam is the only one there. "Where is everyone?"

Sam turns to look at the new comer. "Hey, Julian," Sam says. "There's a change of plans. Odin went to inform our guests about them, as H is coming back. Callisto and Marrow went that way," he points down the hall, "and Dillion just went after them."

"Why did he do that?" Julian asks.

Just then, a loud thump can be heard coming form down the hall. The next thing they hear, though they can't tell if it's Callisto or Marrow who's yelling. "What the hell did you just proposition me to do?!"

"What is he doing?" Julian asks, looking at Sam.

"Seeing if he can't get lucky," Sam answers, smiling.

"And why would he think that?" Julian asks, beginning down the hall, as sounds of someone being beaten can be heard.

"I was bored," Sam laughs.

*UnderGround*

Odin walks down the last few steps, and heads down a hallway. There are numerous doors, behind which are locked rooms. He stops at the first door on the right and clicks back the window. "Hey, Rester. You up," he says.

Anthony Rester sits on the bed on the left side of the room. He turns his head and looks toward the door. "Yea," he says.

"Thought you should know," Odin says, "all of you will be returning to Japan soon."

Rester's eyes widen. "You mean we actually get to leave this prison."

"Now, don't be like that," Odin says. "This was for your own protection. If Kira knew you were alive, then that could have caused problems."

"So, what's changed?" Rester asks.

"Honestly, I have no idea." Odin looks directly at him. "I'm only doing what I'm told. Someone will be here in a few hours to pick you, Gevanni, and Linder up and take you to Japan."

Odin moves to shut the window, and Rester jumps up from the bed. "What about Near?" Rester asks.

"I believe you will be reunited with Near in Japan," Odin answers. "He is all ready there." With that Odin shuts the window and continues to the next door where Gevanni is.

NEXT CHAPTER: CIRCUMSTANCE

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A/N Not the best chapter ever, but it will do. I actually don't like this chapter very much, and that may be why it reads the way it does. The problem is…this is the best it will get, and I know the grocery list is weak. I promise the next chapter will be better…and have the Task Force in it. I've missed writing them.

I think my favorite part is the interaction between Matt and Near. There really hasn't been much in the way of those two interacting, and that was the most natural to write. Hopefully, I'll stop torturing Mello soon.

In case you're wondering, I'll list the generations for the new characters. You'll probably see more of them, and yea…each is from Whammy's…even the pervert (just had to make one of them perverted, mainly because I thought it was funny lol)

Second Generations

Odin

Callisto

Julian

Sam

Third Generations

Dillion

Marrow