DEATH NOTE

THE OTHER SIDE

The Beginning

December 1st, 6:00 pm, local time. I'm just getting home from my new job at Interpol. It's been a really long day and normally I'd get home earlier, but traffic had been hell.

Feeling more than a little tired I fiddle with my keys to my small apartment. Once I manage to unlock the door and open it I feel my body immediately relax. Home; though not much, is probably the only thing that can make me relax. My apartment, being one of the only things that I own is only a place to sleep. It's not horrible, but it's not amazing either. My bathroom is extremely small and the hot water either doesn't work at all or scalds me. My upstairs neighbor has a nasty habit of constantly dropping things made of glass.

As I open my door I give a sigh and kick off my work heels. I close the door behind me and head toward the fridge, tossing my keys and cellphone into a bowl on the counter. Traffic gave me a killer headache and I need caffeine now.

I always keep my fridge stocked with soda, normally I buy the twelve packs and stick the whole box in my fridge and take them as I need them. Without much effort or even really looking I grab one out of the fried, open it and down about half in less than five seconds.

People always call me an addict, but honestly I don't give a damn and if I wanna drink a soda or four after a long day of work then I'm gonna do it and other people can "can it". Pun intended.

With soda in hand I head toward my room until my phone rings, I check my skirt pockets but then remember how I had thrown it in the bowl with my keys. With an aggravated huff I turn and run to answer it, careful not to spill my can.

"Hello?" Unfortunately you can hear my irritation and exhaustion in my voice.

"Hello Samn, this is L." My heart nearly stops and I set my soda on the counter, leaning back next to it.

"Hi…" My voice sounds foreign to me.

"Are you at all familiar with the Kira Investigation?" His voice is synthetic and robotic not only in sound but also in emotion.

"The Kira Investigation? I don't know many of the details, but I know of the recent strings of heart attacks in Japan." I adjust myself, almost knocking over my drink.

"It's a case that I've taken an interest in and I'd like to solve it as quick as possible before any more lives are taken. I would like you to join me, I believe that an extra brain for input could be beneficial and if you decide to do so you could be a vital part of our team."

I'm speechless. One of the greatest detectives in the world has just asked me to help him on a case. Despite being speechless a thought pops into mind.

"Why me?"

"You are a skilled investigation, yes?" It's not really a question, but I answer it anyway.

"Yeah, I guess."

"So do you accept my offer or not?" He doesn't sound very enthusiastic or reassuring, but I want this cases, I want to meet one of the greatest detective int the world.

"Yeah, I'll do it."

"Great. Thank you." He doesn't sound grateful, but he doesn't sound much of anything. "Because of current circumstances I cannot tell you any information about the case over the phone, but please pack your belongings and someone will arrive at 8:00 to pick you up." I check my watch; it's already 7:30. "Any other questions will be answered in due time." Before I can even protest or ask how he knows where I a, or how he even got my number he hangs up.

I hit the end button on my phone and take a deep breath. I'm going to meet L, one of the greatest detectives in the world, other than Eraldo Coil and Deneuve. My mine is racing, but I hear tin hit the counter.

"Son of a bitch!" I spin around and try to quickly pick up my can before anymore spills along the counter. I grab some paper towels and try to clean up the mess. Just like me to be overly cautious 'bout something, but then do the exact thing I was being careful not to do…I

I finish cleaning up my mess then head to my empty room. Well its not necessarily empty, I have a dresser and a mattress on the floor, and a suitcase, and then there's that safe in the closet…

The exhaustion is setting in and the caffeine has not. I work at filling my suitcase semi-comsciously with my belongings. I'm careful to add my sketch pad and the necessities. Y'know, toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine products… I'm not sure when I'll be coming back so I just shove a bunch of stuff in there. It doesn't take long, I'm new in my apartment and don't really feel the need to dress like I'm in a fashion show so I don't have many clothes because I don't go shopping often.

I check my watch; 7:45, plenty of time to spare. I drift to the back of my closet where my safe calls home. My combination is my birthday, 4-13-82. The contents of said safe are some of my most prized possessions. I kneel down then slide so my butt is on the floor but my legs are still bent in an

'I'm-not-gonna-show-you-my-underwear' ladylike position. The safe makes a mechanical unlocking noise and creaks as it opens. I take a breath and begin to sift through the physical memories.

First is an old sketchbook, I can feel a smile creep across my face as my heart fills with warmth. I flip through it, looking at my lifelike sketches of my previous companions. I close the book and set it back down picking up an oval shaped locket with a planet like engraving. I open it and an orb like hologram of pictures and moving images appears. I look at the pictures of my old friend and the boat we were stuck on. The work was tough, but in the picture we're both smiling. The picture changes to the ceremony night and my chest tightens, I wish I never had to leave.

There's more in the safe, but as I go to put the locket away I glance at my watch and see that it's 8:00, I sit back on my knees and begin to put everything back, closing the safe after.

I sigh and hear a knock at my door, it startles me an I fall back hitting my head on the wall behind me. "Oooowwiiiee" I rub my head and go to stand as there is a second knock. I quickly walk over to answer it and rub the back of my head again as I open the door a crack.

An old man is a suit, tie, and bowler hat is standing there. He tips his hat to me.

"Hello, you must be Miss Crisis. I'm Watari, HE sent me to escort you." I smile and nod. HE is most likely L, there's no way anyone else in this building would know about that phone call….Besides, the old man seems okay…

"Yeah, that's me, just let me get my suitcase. Feel free to come in." I wave him in and walk to the other room to get my stuff. The suitcase isn't that heavy and it has wheels so it doesn't take long, as I come back I notice a strange look on Watari's face. Pity? Recognition? The look changes immediately to a smile as he makes eye contact with me.

"Is that all Miss?"

"Not exactly, but I think this is all that I'll need." He nods and reaches out to take my suitcase butler style. I shake my head. "It's alright, I got it." He smiles and steps out into the hallway. I leave the suitcase there a moment going over to the bowl to grab my keys, phone, and then turn off any lights on my way back. I put the suitcase in the hall and look at my apartment one last time before I lock the door and leave it in darkness.

If you took the time to read this I want to thank you. This story is one I've worked on for a while on 'loose leaf' and it holds a special part in my heart. There are many part to it and because of stuff that happens later on I have decided to rate it as such, I don't want some young kid reading something they shouldn't. Death Note is my all time fav anime and I am one of the L fangirls so I think you can see where this is heading, but just stick around because this is the side you never saw in Death Note, this is the side of blue justice, this is The Other Side.