(Chris' POV)

Luis Alfredo Garavito Cubillos

Pedro Alonso López

Pedro Rodrigues Filho

Gary Leon Ridgway

Joan Vila Dilme

Donald Harvey

Robert Bales

Fernando Hernandez Leyva

Henry Okah

Hibatullah Akhundzada

Abubakar Shekau

Futoshi Matsunaga

Junko Ogata

Abu Mohammad al-Julani

Ebikabowei Victor-Ben

Serhiy Fedorovich Tkach

Satoshi Uematsu

Qasim al-Raymi

As I'm writing my phone buzzes and I pull it out of my pocket. It's a text from Viper.

'So what do you think is happening?'

'With what?' I reply.

'Surely you must've heard by now, that criminals all over the world are dying of heart attacks?'

'Oh, yeah I've heard.'

'So what do you think is happening?'

'Well, I think they're all dying of heart attacks.'

'No shit Sherlock! No seriously.'

'Well, to be honest I haven't come up with any solid theory on what's happening yet' I reply as I continue to write.

'It's really starting to throw a wrench into the mafia's plans.' Well what'd you expect? A minute passes and I get no reply, so I put my phone back and finish filling out the page.

Okay, that it for today. 50 names. I must say, this is a lot easier than I-

'GUTEN TAG!'

'AHH WHAT THE FUCK?!' I reactively try to jump backwards, tipping my chair over and falling to the floor.

'Seriously, you shouldn't sneak up on people like that. You almost scared me. Would it really kill you to knock first? Who are you, anyway?'

Looking up, I can get a good look of who it was who had startled me. I can't quite tell where his coat ends and his wings begin, if that even is a coat he's wearing. He has dark hair and light skin, and looks like he's not much older than I am. Then again, looks can be deceiving sometimes.

'Wait, so you were surprised when I came in without knocking, but you aren't surprised that A FUCKING SHINIGAMI IS STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU?!'

'Well yeah, I figured this belonged to a Shinigami so I'm not surprised.' Although I am surprised that he looks so human, unlike the Ryuk or Rem that I was expecting.

'You know what, that was an awkward introduction, how about we start over. I am Rugo, a god of death.'

'I am Chris, a teenage okatu.'

…

…

'So you found my Death Note!'

'No its, no its mine.'

'No, that Death Note you are holding originally belonged to me.' Well, looks like there's no point arguing. I bring my chair back upright and sit down.

'So, I assume you want it back?'

'What? No, I've just come down to Earth to watch what happens. It can be awfully uneventful in the Shinigami realm...'

'Wait seriously?'

'Ja.'

'So just to be clear, this device that I now hold in my hand contains more destructive potential than every nuclear weapon on the planet combined, and you're letting me keep it?'

'Ja.' Without thinking I jump up and restrain the Shinigami in a hug.

'OMG YOU'RE SO NICE! THANK YOU SO MUCH SHINIGAMI!'

'Please, just call me Rugo.'

'Okay.'

'And don't get too excited, I'm not going to help you any more than necessary.'

'So like Ryuk?'

'What?'

'Wait, you haven't heard of him?'

'Umm… I don't think so. Who's he?'

'Well, Rugo, here in the human world we have a popular manga and anime series called "Death Note". Have you heard of it?'

'No, but I assume it involves a Death Note.' Well thanks, Captain Obvious.

'Well, to summarize, it's a story about a Japanese boy who gains a Death Note from a Shinigami, and who attempts to rid the world of evil, kind of like a cross between Jesus and Batman.'

'Wait, I thought humans didn't know about Death Notes or Shinigami.'

'We do, but only as fictional topics. Of course, this,' I reply, holding up the notebook in my right hand ', proves otherwise, as does your existence. Still, I am curious about how this exact phenomenon could be described in a Japanese story.'

'Perhaps another human gained a Death Note and wrote up a story around it without actually using it themselves.'

'That's probably the most likely option. If it's true it must mean that the existence of the Death Note is known to the original creators of the manga, at the very least. They could become a problem.'

'So, enough about that, what are you doing with the Death Note?'

'Why, isn't it obvious? I'm going to follow in the footsteps of my fictional counterpart, and save the world!'

'Umm, what?'

'Riddle me this, Rugo…'

'I hate riddles.'

'Look, the justice system society uses is broken. No matter how horrible you are or what you do, if you know the loopholes, you can get away with just about anything. Take Hillary Clinton for example. Her crimes should be landing her in prison for the rest of her life, if not giving her the death penalty, yet she's still set to be America's next president. Or Benjamin Netanyahu, who uses religion and past events as an excuse to perform mass genocide and various other atrocities on his nation's religious and ethnic minorities, and call anyone who points out said atrocities to be anti-semitic.'

'Huh…' Something I said makes him twitch slightly, but I can't tell what.

'The point is, I plan to rid the world of this evil, to tear down the veil of lies, deception and propaganda that so many wrongdoers hide behind, and replace it with one of transparency and true, hopefully incorruptible justice. I will create a new world where peace and prosperity will replace fear and hatred… and I…'

'Yes?' With the sun shining behind me and epic music starting in the background, I answer.

'I WILL BECOME THE GUARDIAN OF THE NEW WORLD!'

'Oh, step back bitches, we've got a wannabe badass over here!'

'Really all I want to do is create a world that isn't completely controlled and overrun by evil people.'

'So you want to be the only evil person left?'

'I understand that many people consider the term "evil" to refer to any act of killing another human. If that's the case, then… To defeat evil, I shall become an even greater evil.'

My explanation is cut short by a knock at the door.

'Hey, can you do my science homework for me? I've got a party I need to go to in like five minutes.'

Under gut instinct I assume Rugo will be invisible to Indy as if he were a Shinigami from Death Note, and open the door.

'Hey, Indy, what's the subject?'

'It's just molecular genetics.' The fact she doesn't notice Rugo seems to prove my theory.

'Well, for that I can help you out, but I'm not doing it for you.'

'Fine,' she replies, sitting on my bed next to the Shinigami.

'Oh, Chris, I forgot to mention that if anyone touches the Death Note that you've fucking left open on your desk, they'll be able to see me and you'll be found out.'

Oh shit I forgot about that! But how can I move the notebook without Indy seeing? I'll have to get her out of here.

'Hey, Indy, I think mum's going to vacuum in here soon so can we sort this out in your room?'

'Oh, sure.' Well that was easy enough.

A few minutes pass as Indy tricks me into doing her homework for her. I can't exactly blame her, since she's got her HSC and all which is probably taking up her time and energy. Reentering my room I lock the door behind me again.

'Okay, you're back! So what were you saying earlier?'

'Well, Rugo,' I continue, remembering his name, 'my main task for the last three days has been to set up a system of crime-recording websites such as news sites and databases from all over the internet, as well as a working schedule to go through them all each day. I'm going to keep the number of names I write at a constant fifty per day, to make things easier to keep track of and because it was the initial killing speed of my fictional counterpart.'

'Counterpart? Like from that Death Note thing you mentioned?'

'Yes… actually, Rugo, since our current situation parallels the series so closely, perhaps you should read through the manga and watch the anime yourself to get all up-to-date on everything. I should probably re-read and re-watch it too, just to make sure I'm not missing anything important.'

'Well, I suppose I don't exactly have anything else to do. So I'm guessing you have a plan for what happens when the world realizes that someone's doing all this?'

'Yup. I'll even try to get myself a cool nickname… Kira.'

'Kira? Is that from the thing as well?'

'Yup. And since Death Note's popularity per capita is highest in Japan, I made sure that most of the names I wrote on my first two days of killing were Japanese, so there's no way the connection won't become blindingly obvious-'

'Oh, by the way, are you going to eat that?'

I look down to see a potato chip in my left hand. Have I been holding it this entire time?

'Wait, so you can eat potato chips?'

'There are only 3 ways a shinigami can die in the human world: by running out of lifespan, by extending the lifespan of a human they have feelings for, or by killing a human by means other than a Death Note. So really we can eat just about anything. Oh, and speaking of capabilities, why aren't you changing the death conditions of any of these people? All you're doing is writing names.'

Tossing the potato chip at Rugo, I answer.

'Because I have no reason to. If I don't specify the cause of death, that person dies of a Heart Attack. So at the rate I'm going at, people will realize that someone's behind all this. I'm going to make the whole world know I'm here, that somebody is passing righteous judgement on those who cannot belong if peace and stability are to exist. And with the knowledge of this anonymous figure, people simply won't commit crimes anymore, at first since they won't want me to kill them and then later on when society itself readjusts to prevent criminal activity from taking place. And, over time, the world will begin to change into a better place. In theory at least.

But you have made a valid point, Rugo. While the worst terrorists, murderers and other violent criminals are dying of Heart Attacks, less hated but equally vile burdens to society such as non-violent religious extremists and pro-war propagandists will be silently removed with illnesses and accidents. And after a long time, people who have changed their ways will do so subconsciously, unintentionally. What was once enforced by my power will become a natural way of life, and eventually the global crime rate will drop to the point where I won't even need to kill anymore. The only people in the world will be good people with good morals and good intentions… umm, Rugo?'

The look on his face has changed significantly, and I can't tell if he's pissed off or just acting serious.

'Chris, Kid, there's something I want you to be aware of here. Make no mistake, more than a few wrongdoers are going to die before the world starts to change, and more than a few wrongly accused innocents will die as well. Their blood's on your hands. Yes they are criminals, they will be prepared to die. But remember, every one of them is a flesh-and-blood person. Every one of them has dreams, hopes, fears, every one of them has a soul. They're not pawns, they're people. Some of them living together like family since their childhoods. This may well be the end of them. Whole families wiped out in moments. Whatever you think your mission is here, you're first and foremost concern is making sure their deaths mean something. Whatever happens you keep that lodged in your mind. Take everything that comes with deadly seriousness.'

'Right. Let's do this.'

(Ashton's POV)

There is a very high level of tension and anxiety at the UN Security Council meeting. Founded shortly after the end of WWII, the organization was a branch of the UN designed to maintain global peace and security. As I enter the room I see the circular table, with representatives from 19 countries sitting in their positions around it. As I'm representing the United States, by default I get the comfiest chair.

From the moment I enter the room I can see how stressed everyone is. Usually we never have anything to talk about at these meetings, and if we do we can just wave it off with "sanctions" or "foreign aid" or something. But now, for the first time ever, we have an enemy that was attacking all of us, and that we can't strike back at. Things are still pretty normal though, and by the time I enter the room, several nations had already started blaming one another, just as usual.

'I swear we have not done nothing!' voices India's representative, having already been accused by Britain.

'Japan?' the British representative asks. We always just referred to people by the countries they were representing so we didn't have to remember names.

'We have not performed the killings!'

'China?'

'这不是我们的'

'Well it's bloody 'ell not ours!' Britain says, before sitting back down.

'I corfess.' Comes a quiet voice from the back of the room. Britain immediately stands back up again.

'Yes North Korea, confess to what?!'

'The kirrer is ours!' And just like that, everyone had just burst out into laughter.

'Þú ert svo sterkur að getur reynt að ná berjast við Sealand!'

'What is so funni?!' And that's when my trusty Secretary of Defense speaks up.

'Alright North Korea, you've had your laugh, now sit down!'

'This has to be Iran!' Saudi Arabia exclaims. 'This killer has decimated both Al-Nusra and ISIL, effectively guaranteeing Assad's victory in the Syrian Civil War! Only Iran would do something like that! This must be a declaration of war!'

'Fine, so let's blow up Iran!' expresses Israel (with a somewhat satisfactory look on his face).

'Бред сивой кобылы!'

'Sorry to interrupt, but that can't be the case,' comes another voice, this time from Canada. 'The way these cardiac arrests are being performed suggests that this is more likely to be a corporate stunt than a government attack. So instead of thinking Iran…' Canada briefly gives a disappointed look at Israel, 'we should be thinking… Google?'

'Fine, then let's blow up Google!' Israel concludes, gaining looks from half the room before getting a response from China.

'你西方国家是如此不成熟-' I should say something before this completely derails.

'EVERYONE SHUT UP!' Never mind, someone's beat me to it.

'Germany?!' Everyone replies at once, locking their eyes onto his.

'WE'VE CALLED THIS CONFERENCE TO SOLVE ONE SINGLE PRESENT-DAY PROBLEM, NOT TO FIGHT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF OUR PAST, AND SINCE I'M THE ONLY ONE HERE WHO SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO RUN A MEETING, WE'LL FOLLOW MY RULES FROM HERE ON OUT! NINE MINUTES EACH FOR SPEECHES, NO OFF-TOPIC CHIT-CHAT, NO INTERRUPTING AND ABSOLUTELY NO GOING OVER THE TIME LIMIT! NOW IF YOU WANT TO TALK RAISE YOUR HAND, BUT DO SO IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT MOCK ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY COUNTRY'S PAST!' Well, I better speak up now. I raise my hand.

'GERMANY RECOGNIZES HIS FRIEND AMERICA!' I stand up and clear my throat.

'US intelligence has come to the conclusion this was not done by any government or corporation. Now the public calls this thing Kira but I call it a violation of our civil liberties, not to mention international law.'

'Then let's blow up Kira! ... What's Kira?'

'WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT INTERRUPTING WHILE SOMEONE ELSE IS SPEAKING?!' Out the corner of my eye I can see several countries trying to suppress their laughter.

'To answer your question, Israel, we don't know who or what,' I answer, 'but its killing thousands of people all over the world. Now these may all be criminals but they are still human lives, many of which are vital for our underground political system! So, what the hell do y'all plan to do about it?'

Everyone in the room just sits there nervously, looking around to see if anyone has any answers.

Then I continue. 'Well it just so happens that we 'ave a little trick up our own sleeve! Meet… L.'

And just like that, the screen behind me turns on to show… the UNSC's Skype page.

'What the hell is this?! I thought we'd have everything set up already!' I state angrily to my Secretary of Defense.

As he is busy setting up a skype call with L, I continue. 'As I was saying, L is our greatest asset in this event. He's supposedly the greatest detective in the world and although his real name and identity are unknown and he plans to keep it that way, he already has the President's full trust and he's agreed to lead this case on his own terms.'

And just like that, the familiar sound of a pending skype call blurts out from behind me, quickly followed by the voice of the only sensible person I'd heard all day.

'In case America hasn't said it already I am the world's top detective I am number one I am the most badass son of a bitch you'll ever live to see! … I am L!'

'I've never heard of you' says Poland.

'Me neither' Germany adds.

'Er það ekki bara bréf?'

L sighs. 'I try. I fucking try… Now before I begin I would like to thank both the International Committee for Universal Protection, and the President of the United States, for giving me their full support.'

'Well he certainly sounds trustworthy,' I hear from Japan, who's quickly interrupted by Britain.

'There's no way some hero will single-handedly-'

'THIS IS WHY YOU DIDN'T GET MY NOBEL PEACE PRIZE!'

'Switzerland WTF?'

'Now tell them what you told me earlier.'

'Well, we all know that there's been a string of murders among the world's worst criminals and terrorists, or as America calls some of them, "moderate rebels".'

'But has it been verified as murder?' Germany asks.

'En effet je ne le trouve très peu probable, il est pas comme cela est une sorte de l'anime ou quelque chose.'

'How could dozens of Heart Attack deaths in the span of a few days be a coincidence? Of course its murder! Seriously France, just go back to making white flags or whatever it is you do these days. But the question is, who could possibly murder that many people over such a wide area simultaneously? My first guess was that this was a carefully orchestrated mass assassination carried out by a large organization, but that wouldn't make sense, since the killings are taking place all over the geopolitical spectrum, with no visible bias at all.'

'Why don't we first ascertain whether this is really murder, or just coincidence?'

'First of all, don't interrupt me while I'm talking, Britain! Like I was saying, the case in front of us is unprecedented in scope and difficulty, and is a monstrous crime of mass murder that must be stopped at all costs, and to state otherwise shall be considered treason! Now in order to solve it, I request the full cooperation of police forces worldwide, with a resolution to that affect passed at the UN General Assembly meeting tomorrow. This "Kira", as the media calls it, will be caught.'

'What makes you so sure you can catch Kira?'

'Well I got a damn better chance than you Poland! Oh yeah, and before I go, I request the participation of the Australian police in particular, also that is where I will set up a base of operations.' This last bit has me completely off guard.

'What the hell are you talkin' about L?! When we agreed to this I assumed it would be all stars and stripes!'

'Please, Ash, the reason I request this is that I strongly believe that Kira is Australian.'

'What the hell makes you think that?'

'I believe I will be able to answer that question very soon.'

'Dammit L, I don't have time for waiting around!'

'Well, you're going to have to, Mr Carter. That is all for today.'

And just like that, L ends the skype call, leaving all us in the room unsure of what to do.