Near marched to the elevator, his mind brimming with thoughts. His mum is alive, and they're going to save him. Near with the help of Matt, Mello, and L along with the Merikh Task Force will save his mother, the man who's looked after and protected Near when he needed it. When Near arrived at Wammy's still covered in the filth he'd been living in that past year, his parents only acknowledged his existence when their friends came around, forcing him to dress up and act like a happy family before discarding him once more to shed at the bottom of the garden, filled with dirt, rubbish and spiders. Near wasted his days drawing in the dirt, coming up with games to play, equations to solve and anything else which could keep his mind occupied until night-time fell where he'd forage through the bins for something to eat, Near couldn't risk stealing directly from the house, scared of what his so-called parents might do if they realise their neglected son was taking food at night. Even though he'd survived as long as he has, Near was still knocking on death's doors when Wammy found and rescued him.
When he arrived at Wammy's a place, that is a haven for him. A home where he didn't need to fight every day to survive. He still couldn't accept that this was real. For him, even time he closed his eyes, he prayed that when he woke up again, he wouldn't be back in the shed, that these last few days hadn't been a dream brought on by an illness. And as days turned into weeks and those weeks became months, Near woke up every day at Wammy's. Wammy's is his home, Light is his mother (Near was still debating whether or not he saw L as a father figure) and he would do anything to get him back, to return home and pretend these last few days never happened.
Near bypassed the door, even though L had stayed put for the last four fours, Near highly doubted that he actually went to sleep but to his surprise he found L curled up in a ball his head buried in a pillow (Near could only assume it was Light's). A part of him didn't want to wake him up, everyone knew L slept poorly, his insomnia keeping him up most nights and the small moments of rest were precious to him, but Near knew that L would go mental should they leave him out of it. After all, one look at L and you could see how badly he took Light's kidnapping. Near wouldn't want to be left out of this, and whilst most would consider him cruel, Near didn't have it in his heart to turn around and leave him.
He walked over to the bed and gently shook L's shoulder. The detective woke up instantly, like a switch flicking from asleep to awake in a matter of seconds.
L opened his mouth to speak but Near beat him to it, "We've found mum."
Beyond felt himself practically vibrating in his own skin as he and Matsuda rushed back to headquarters. They'd found Light, they'd found his best friend! He could hardly believe it, after how hectic the past days had been to know that they were finally one step closer to saving Light and getting him far away from the grubby hands of Merikh. The task force was all congregated around the main computer desk when they arrived. On one screen was a live video of Light.
He looked, well, worse for wear is putting it kindly. His skin's black and blue, there were bags underneath his eyes, his complexion was now pale instead of the usual caramel colour it normal is and looking closely Beyond could see broken bones pressing against Light's skin. Beyond felt sick, seeing his best friend in such a horrid condition. Beyond has seen the horrors of this world and it never affected him before, hell he's murdered people and attempted to end his own life and it's never affected him. Yet seeing this, looking at his best friend in this state. It set something off inside Beyond, an overwhelming urge to throw up.
No one should ever treat Light Lawliet like this, no one at all. When Beyond gets his hands on Merikh, he'll kill them. Beyond doesn't care about justice; he doesn't care about giving the families of Merikh's victims closure. He wants vengeance; he wants to force Teru and Higuchi to experience everything they've put his best friend through. He wants to prologue their suffering and when they beg for death, Beyond wouldn't give it to them until they experienced everything his best friend experienced and then some more. When it's time to end their pathetic existence Beyond wouldn't kill them quickly, he'd prologue it as long as he could, forcing them to watch the other man die slowly and painfully. Beyond Birthday wants Merikh to realise that they messed with the wrong man.
"With Kira's location uncovered, we need to plan carefully. We can't go in guns blazing. Merikh could've set up traps and surveillance to monitor the cabin, but we don't know what they are. We need to be smart and diligent. Capturing both Merikh's alive is our top priority," L said as he came down the stairs with Near in toe.
"When they took Kira, it was probably the spur-of-the-moment decision. Likely, they didn't have a proper plan or location to take him. We could easily sneak up and surround the cabin without Teru and Higuchi noticing," Near said.
"What about Merikh's Shinigami? It might sense us approaching and telling them. The Shinigami with Amane is very loyal to her, whether it's by choice or because it's bound to her via the Death Note, we're not sure. What if it warns them? For all we know, they'll kill Kira and flee without us noticing. Surely after these few days they've made countless plans of escape should we find them," Aizawa said. Beyond sighed, the Shinigami was a loose cannon, this being any normal investigation. They could go in quickly and quietly to arrest Merikh, but they couldn't be sure what the Shinigami would do.
"It won't," Matsuda whispered; his eyes trained on the ground as he spoke. Everyone's head turned to look at him.
"What? What are you talking about, Matsuda?" Chief Yagami snapped. Why he was still here Beyond didn't know. Had it been his decision, Chief Yagami would've been thrown out of the task force the second he started undermining Light and L. Beyond hated the man, he didn't trust anyone in the task force and acted as if his word was right and law. Beyond didn't stand anyone who believed they were better than others just by existing.
"Touta, what do you mean?" Beyond asked. His face softened as he looked at the other man.
"After the trial, the Shinigami approached me. He said he's surprised anyone found the death note in Teru's bag and how he knew we faked B's death, but Teru didn't know we were using an alias. The Shinigami said he would tell Teru how he isn't of Merikh side or the polices he's simply a spectator. The Shinigami said this was all happening because he's bored and how in the Shinigami realm there wasn't much to do, he thought dropping the death note in the human world would bring him a source of entertainment. It knew my name and told me B's. We're both still alive so, they're some worth to what it said. The Shinigami didn't go back to Teru and Higuchi and tell them about the fake case and undercover cops at the trial," Matsuda explained. Beyond stared at Matsuda in shock. He knew his real name all this time and never said. Beyond stared seeing Matsuda in a whole new light, yes, their heart to heart a few days ago brought them closer together, but Matsuda truly saw the good in people, he kept B's name a secret from the other members of the task force to protect him. If word got out of his real name, it could put him in danger should Merikh learn the names of people on the task force, then they can slowly pick them off, one at a time. God Beyond wanted to kiss this man, he didn't deserve this, he didn't deserve the treatment he got from the other members of the task force, they constantly looking down at him, believing him to be stupid when in fact, Matsuda isn't stupid he's just inexperienced and every time he tries to help or put his own thoughts forward, they're shot down. The NPA officers don't help him grow, don't help him see the mistakes he's making. Instead, they shout and belittle him at every mistake he makes. When this case is finished with Light back with them safe and Merikh put behind bars, then Beyond wants to take Touta away from these people, to keep him safe and to help him see the abuse he suffered at the hands of his colleagues.
"WHAT! AND YOU DIDN'T THINK TO MENTION IT!" Chief Yagami shouted. Matsuda shrunk into himself, and that was it. Beyond has had enough with this man. With his fist clenched, Beyond slammed it into Chief Yagami's nose, enjoying the crunching sound it made as his fist collided with it. Chief Yagami screamed, clutching his nose with his hands as blood poured out of it.
"You don't listen to us, do you?" Beyond said calmly. "You're not in charge of this investigation. In fact, you have been no help at all in finding and capturing Merikh. All you've done is bitch and whine like you've got nothing better to do. Please, Mr Yagami, tell me, who worked out that Merikh operated in Japan? The answer L. Who revealed which region in Japan Merikh, lived? You guessed it, L again. After being brought into the investigation, who help apprehend the second Merikh? If I remember correctly, it was Kira and myself. You may have been there, Mr Yagami, but you were no help. Again, I'm certain you complained about what happened as if Kira or I had any control over what happened that day. Whilst investigating the Merikh Case by themselves after the death of those FBI agents, who worked out that Merikh can kill in other ways? It's Naomi Misora. Which leads to who figured out Merikh is two people and they in fact had another set of victims they were targeting and in fact, were using the large deaths of criminals to cover it up? Who used this knowledge to narrow down the list of suspects until there were clearly two candidates to being Merikh? I'll give you time to answer this one, Mr Yagami."
Chief Yagami glared at the smirk on Beyond's face as he looked down at his imagery watch on his wrist and pretended to count down the seconds.
"Times up Mr Yagami, the answer is, of course, Kira. Let's continue, who in this room went undercover to confirm that Teru is Merikh, let me help you with this one since you could not answer the others, one is a ruggedly handsome strawberry jam loving man, another is a stunning ex-FBI agent who can kick your ass twelve different ways and last, he's an underappreciated, yet competent gorgeous detective who needs support and guidance to grow as a detective, not constant belittling. I'm sure you've already guessed it's myself, Misora and Matsuda. Who links up with each description I'll let you decide for yourself? Obviously, I'm the stunning ex-FBI agent. I mean, have you seen my ass?" Beyond said before slapping his ass whilst smirking. L just rolled his eyes at his brother.
"Moving on, after the kidnapping of Kira, who tirelessly started searching, knowing that time was limited in finding Kira before Merikh killed him. Everyone in this damned building but you. You who threw a tantrum like you're a toddler and sulked in the corner when you didn't get your way. You, Mr Yagami, who has been no help in this investigation. All you've done is undermine people and made them feel worthless, and I'll no longer listen to your prattle. You said the Matsuda should've said something about the Shinigami. He did. He spoke with me before we found out about Kira's kidnapping. However, because of the events that happened after that conversation, we didn't have any time as a team to discuss it because we were busy looking for Merikh and Kira. A simple and rather irrelevant conversation with Merikh's Shinigami will not help us. All we know is we can approach the cabin without the risk of the Shinigami alerting Merikh, that is all," Beyond snapped.
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT! DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM? I AM THE MOST IMPORTANT DETECTIVE IN THE NPA! I WON'T STAND HERE AND…" Mr Yagami started, but he was quickly cut off.
"Mr Yagami shut the hell up!" L finally snapped, "I've kept you on for this long because we need every person. We could get to solve this case and find Merikh and now Kira. However, as my brother has said, you have undermined everything we have done. You haven't supported this Merikh investigation rather than hindered it. I will no longer standby and effectively ignore your attitude and behaviour towards my family, my husband and now my colleagues. We have warned you not once, not twice, but three times about what will happen if your attitude doesn't change, and you haven't listened to us. You are, effectively immediately, of this case. Watari will show you out. Don't think about returning, Mr Yagami. The second you are off our premises, Watari will wipe your access code for this building. I will also inform your superior at the NPA of your behaviour and let him deal with you. The Merikh case is nearly at the end. You are no longer needed here. Good day Mr Yagami."
During Beyond's confrontation, Watari had appeared at the top of the stairs. Finally, leaving the surveillance room, he keeps himself hidden within. No sooner had L spoken, had Watari marched down those stairs, grabbing Mr Yagami's arm and ungracefully pulling him from the building. Mr Yagami left shouting and cursing, blaming anyone and everyone for the punishments he brought upon himself, but it doesn't matter now because he's gone, and they can focus their attentions on finding Kira and stopping Merikh's reign of terror once and for all.
"Now with him out of the way, let's save Kira," L said and for the first time in days, a smile appeared on his brother's face.
The sun rose hours ago, or maybe it just set. He wasn't sure all he knew was that neither Higuchi nor Teru had visited him for at least twelve hours, which was concerning. They visited like clockwork to beat the name from his lips; they'd never deviated from this schedule. If they didn't want to raise any more red flags with their friends, they wouldn't. For all Light could deduce was they somehow were still attending work in some shape or form whilst keeping their distance from the Merikh Task Force. If they deviated from this schedule, then something must have happened, and Light doesn't think they've been arrested, L would be here, his children and Beyond would've rescued him by now. L, Beyond and Mello wouldn't let ethics and human rights stand in their way of getting him back. They'd choose Teru; he'd break first. Teru's weak-willed and would never withstand being tortured. Higuchi's more robust; he would last much longer, but torture isn't the way forward to getting answers from him. For Higuchi, you need to trick the answers out of him, make him say something he didn't mean to. He's arrogant and prideful, which would bring his downfall.
But Light knew not to get his hopes up; too much time has passed. L would be here if they'd captured Merikh as if Light's thoughts had magically summoned them. The cabin door swung open, and in stormed Higuchi, with Teru trudging behind him.
"I've had it with this bastard. He won't tell us L's name willingly, then he'll tell it to us unwillingly," Higuchi said. His back turned as he stared intensively at the death note, his eyes gleaming over the rules as if they will part the sea and give him the answers he so desperately seeks.
"And how do you think we can achieve that? You said it yourself; he's won't talk. You can't trick him into telling you L's name," Teru said, visibly confused and concerned that his partner had finally lost it.
"That's not the only way to get him to talk. I can't believe we didn't think about it before." An enormous grin broke out on Higuchi's face as he shut the death note and threw it at Teru, "You're going to make the Shinigami Eyes deal. You'll see this bastard's name, and we can write it in the death note. We have 6 minutes and 40 seconds to write details of the death where we put that he'll tell us L's name and location before having a heart attack. We can then deal with L and the other threats before announcing to the world our success."
Teru looked as horrified as Light felt; he didn't think either Teru or Higuchi would make the Shinigami Eye deal trade with Amane mentioned. Light thought he'd be safe until L and the others rescued him; now, it didn't seem as likely.
"Why me? I don't want to sacrifice half my remaining lifespan for the eyes. We're meant to live long lives to rule over our new world," Teru shouted.
"It was your idea to kill criminals. You're the one who found the notebook and tried it out in the first place. This makes this your responsibility," Higuchi argued. "Times wasting Mikami. The task force could be upon us any second now. We need to kill this bastard and L before they find us. Or are you willing to risk all our hard work creating this new world simply because you don't have the balls to make the sacrifices needed? L will capture us and kill us; all our hard work will be for nothing. The crime rate will rise, and innocent people you vowed to protect will start dying again."
Teru looked torn as he stared down at the death note in his hands. Light wanted to say something, anything which would prevent Teru from taking the eye deal, but Light was speechless for once. Anything he said would convince Teru it'll be evidence that Light knew L's name or at least location.
"For our new world," Teru muttered before looking at nothing. Still, Light knew. He's known all along that a Shinigami would be here, utterly invisible to his eyes unless he'd touched the death note. "Ryuk, I want to make the Shinigami eye trade."
The room went cold, and Teru's eyes glowed. Light knew he was seeing things, but it was like Teru's eyes flashed red as he turned to face him for a second. Teru's eyes shoot up to look above his head and look at his name, his real name. He's screwed. There's no chance that L could rescue him. He's dead; his husband will die. Those on the task force and other criminals will surely die now. Merikh had access to the Shinigami eyes.
"Goodbye, Light Lawliet," Teru smirked as he lowered the pen to a page of the death note. Light closed his eyes and waited, waiting for the name of his beloved to spill from his lips. For the inevitable end of his life to come because dying wasn't what he feared, he's welcome death any day of the week if it meant protecting L and his family, but the true torture he'd experience would be speaking the love of his life's name to his enemy and bringing L's death, but nothing happened. L's name didn't spill from his lips. There wasn't a tight pain in his chest. Opening his eyes, Light could've sworn he saw two guardian angels standing in front of him. The one, a blonde, had his fists raised as he faced Higuchi, whilst the other, a black-haired angel with crimson eyes, held the death note in his hand.
"B, Mello," Light croaked, his voice sore and this throat dry.
Beyond grinned, dumping the death note onto Light's lap, he turned to face Teru, who's still on the ground from the initial impact. Beyond cracked his knuckles before clenching them into two fists, "Hey Lightie. We've got a five-minute head start on the others. Now let's have some fun."
