(Nigel's POV)

I enter the room to see it almost deserted, with only eight agents remaining, I recognize them all almost immediately.

Yatsuk Okada. At 21, he's the youngest officer left, and despite being the most unpopular officer in the task force, he's extremely talented at outside-the-box thinking and openmindedness. I also notice that he's growing his hair longer, although I doubt that'll become a really important plot point later.

Steve Mungalo. A 28-year-old detective, raised in the outback and with an accent to match. Blond hair, green eyes, overall English ancestry. Out of all the agents remaining, he's also the one I've known for the longest.

Aivenawa Shinoda. 34 years old. A short man with an even shorter temper, takes his job very seriously. Cold, blue eyes pierce into the very soul of anyone he looks at, and not a strand of his black hair is facing in any direction except backward.

Moorga Jimboomba. At 55 he's the oldest remaining investigator (besides possibly L and/or Q). One of the last victims of "the stolen generation", Moorga never found his parents ever again after being forcefully removed from them as a child, and that somehow lead to him wanting to join ANPA.

Lastly there are agents Clovis, Marco, Maes and Red, who I know very little about as they're the newest agents aside from Okada. What I do know is that the four of them seem to be very tightly-knit together and work much better among themselves than with anyone else.

Okada is the first to acknowledge my entry.

'Great to have you back, chief.'

'… So we're down to the nine of us? Everyone else is gone?'

'Yup.'

'Those bastards! They're all fired!'

'But didn't you say yesterday that-'

'SHUT UP OKADA!'

'Just to let you know I have great faith in you nine staying behind.'

'So what do we get?' Asks Okada.

'… What do you mean?'

'What do we get for staying here?'

'Umm… my trust.'

'That's all?!'

'Well what do you want from me, a fucking pony?'

'Actually a pony sounds good right now. Can I get one too?'

'Really, Marco?'

'Yes.'

'Oh for fu… fine. You can have a fucking pony.'

Aivenawa then objects.

'Uh, wait just a minute. L said he has great faith in us, but we don't have faith in L. We can't trust him!'

Maes agrees. 'We've decided to risk our lives to get Kira, L. You ought to know what that means. We're totally exposed. But you just order us around without ever showing your face. We'll go after Kira, L, but we can't work with you. It's not just us. The public doesn't trust you either. People are turning against you.'

Red is next to join the rant. 'What do you expect? If people say its L's fault Kira almost killed over a hundred investigators, who can deny it? Plus there's this "Death Note" thing which is making the public even more suspicious!'

I decide to step in. '…It's true that a number of criminal psychologists have suggested that L is Kira, in other words, they're saying that L has a split personality. Think about it. The FBI, CIA, MI6, CPB, Mossad and all the other acronyms were brought in by L. And then Kira shows up on stage, threatening to kill them all. L would have known the identities of all those agents. And that's not all! If you consider everything that's happened so far as being orchestrated by L, it all suddenly makes sense. The fact that he never shows himself to anyone, and that he's a genius who can solve any crime, only makes that theory more convincing. L… If you want to work with us and help us catch Kira, how about coming here to the task force in person?'

'Yeah,' Agrees Aivenawa, 'If you show yourself to us and promise to be a part of the team, we'll trust you. We'll cooperate with you.'

'Aww do I have to? I have Hotmail, we could email.'

'No, we want to meet you' I respond.

'Facebook? I have Facebook!'

'No.'

'Skype?'

'No!'

'Twitter?'

'For god's sake can we come to your house?!'

'Party at L's house! Woohoo!' Marco's declaration is followed by enthusiastic cheers from around the room.

'… Please keep what is about to happen a secret among the eleven of us.'

'Huh? What? What's about to happen…?'

'I would like to meet the nine of you who have my trust as soon as possible. Do not speak of our meeting, or having met me, or what we will be doing, or anything really, to anyone who is not in the room now. That includes anybody in ANPA, your families, or your friends. Please leave the ANPA building to discuss whether you can swear to the above, and whether you can trust me. Only those who agree to work with me in this investigation shall return to the room, and I will send further conditions for our meeting to this computer.'

(Okada's POV)

It's convenient that the area outside the ANPA building is deserted. As far as I can tell we're out of eyeshot of any security cameras, so it should be safe for us to talk now.

'So, what should we bring with us? Oh, I think we should bring a chocolate cake!'

'For the last time Okada, this isn't a party! It's more of a "uniting together against Kira" thing.' The chief responds.

'Sooo… should we bring him a cake, or not?'

'I think we should bring cookies. Chocolate-chip cookies.'

'No, Marco! Caramel-chipped ones are better!' Clovis objects.

'Well, since we're the police it goes without saying that at least one of us should bring doughnuts.'

'Good point, Moorga. So we all agree to meet L?' The chief asks.

I answer first. 'Well, I really trust him and I really think that to solve this case, we need to have him on board.'

Aivenawa quickly objects. 'What, so he can use us and get us killed? And if he's really cracked all those hard cases alone, why would he be willing to show himself now, when we're down to just nine people? How much help would we be?'

We all turn to the chief to hear his response.

'… L made it clear from the very start that he would need help from the police to crack this case, what if we look at it this way? L was waiting for this to happen.'

'For what to happen?'

'There were people in the task force who didn't trust L, from the very start. Then we had detectives quit the case, one after the other, and under the circumstances, L couldn't trust the task force.'

'So you mean, L was waiting for the task force to be reduced to just those who were willing to risk their lives? And who trusted him, and who could be trusted by him?'

'Yes.'

…

…

I suppose I'll break the silence first.

'… I do trust him. I'd like to work with him.'

'Me too…'

'Let's visit L!'

(Nigel's POV)

'As I was saying, we must relocate everyone left to a secret location. Q, show them the directions to… the L lair.'

'Did you hear that? We're going to a secret lair! That means we're gonna be, like, superheroes or something! What'd'ya say, chief?'

'Well,' I respond, 'I call Batman because I sound like Christian Bale, and that means you, Okada, are Robin. Now we just need Moorga to be the Hulk, Clovis to be Thor, Aivenawa, you can be Ant-man and you, Red, you can be wonder woman. As for-'

'I am now in a room in the Commonwealth Hotel.'

'I thought you said you were in America?!'

'Every few weeks, I will move to a new hotel nearby. I would like the task force office in the ANPA building to serve as a front from now on, with my hotel room serving as the de facto center of the investigation. Of course, this is a defensive measure to prevent Kira from learning what I look like, and I realize this means I will have an unfair advantage over all of you in that regard. However, this is as far as I am able to go at this point in order to gain your trust and work with you on this investigation. If you are able to cooperate with me on these terms, please split into two teams and come to my room by 11:30PM on December 4, leaving at least a 30-minute interval between the two teams. Q will hand you a memo with my room number. I'll be waiting… Remember, over the course of this case some of you may die, but that is a sacrifice I am willing to make.'

(L's POV)

Kira, I think that right now, we're even in how far we've closed the distance between us. But the clue I've managed to get was obtained by sacrificing the support of even the most loyal foreign intelligence agencies. So I'll do this. I'll show myself to others as L for the first time. Somehow, you will find out about these secret meetings, and you'll close in on them. That's what I'm counting on.

Bring it on. Even if you get a look at my face, you can't kill me without knowing my name. And even if I find you, it would be extremely risky for me to kill you without first being absolutely certain that you are Kira, which means I would have to either catch you in the act, or nail down hard evidence. Either way, this war won't end until someone wins. And as for the task force? Heh, I'll use them all up, and throw them away like trash when it's over!

Making your bold threats the other day has got to have put you on the defensive. What are you thinking right now?

(Rugo's POV)

'A leading businessman narrowly avoided death today after his would-be hitman was caught and apprehended before successfully pulling of the man's assassination. The assassin in question is the 16-year-old teenage mafia sniper known as Viper Scott. She was accompanied by several other mafia agents, all of whom escaped the scene and avoided identification. Viper is now being held…'

I briefly turn my attention away from the TV to re-read the final sentence of Chris' entry into the Death Note last month.

She dies of a heart attack 30 minutes after her arrest is publicly broadcast.

Turning back to the TV I, mention "You know, its funny how red, white and blue represent freedom… until they're flashing behind you, right Chris? … Chris?'

As I turn around I see something very different from the cheerful, excited Chris I normally see. Instead he's curled up in a ball on the bed, facing the wall and making a faint weeping sound. Shit, how didn't I see that?

'… Chris, are you crying?

…

... But you said it yourself, she was someone who deserved to die…

…

Please say something, talk to me. I really don't want to see you like this…

…

Take a deep breath. This is not the time to be emotional.'

Sitting up but still facing away, he replies.

'Look, I know I shouldn't let it distract me from my duties as Kira, but… I actually did have feelings for her, Rugo. I didn't realize it before, but… I do. You know, people seem to forget that I'm not a god, I'm not a demon, I'm still just a human.'

'… Look, we agreed a month ago that on your birthday tomorrow I'd tell you one of the most vital things about humans who use the Death Note, and when I do I think it'll give you some perspective regarding what I know about these sorts of situations. But for now I'll say this: If you begin to regret, you'll dull your future decisions and let others make choices for you. All that's left for you then is to die. Nobody can foretell the outcome. Each decision you make holds meaning only by affecting your next decision. And look, I know that to kill someone that you used to love is such a painful feeling. Trust me, I've been there before. But the bottom line is that if you lose this big game you're playing as Kira, you die. Win and you live. And you can't win if you don't fight!'

I hope that response wasn't too rough. As he turns his head around to see me, I can be assured it wasn't. There are no more tears coming out his eyes, although he still looks terrible.

'… Thank you, Rugo. You know, I feel you're one of the first true friends I've ever had. Listen, can you do me a favor?'

'Sure, what?'

'L probably wants me alive, so he can publicly execute me. If it comes down to it, I need you to kill me to stop that from happening.'

'… Let's hope that never happens.'

'It probably won't. I'm pretty sure I didn't leave any evidence. And anyway, even if he suspects me of being Kira, he can't confirm his suspicions unless he gets his hands on the Death Note… No! I've got to stop thinking like that! I can't let myself be even remotely suspected of being Kira! I've moved around a lot these past few weeks. Did I make any mistakes? And what is my next move? The real battle starts now… actually, the real battle starts tomorrow because I am tired as fuck right now! Actually, the real battle starts the day after because tomorrow's my birthday. I've already packed my school bag for tomorrow and written the days' worth of names along with tomorrow's, so… goodnight!'

(M's POV)

With the sun rising above the New York skyline behind me, I look down again at the terrifying papers in front of me, then up at my subordinates.

'I assume these are just… worst-case contingency scenarios for the results of Viper's imprisonment?'

'Ma'am, we had a very small window of time to verify the outcome, but… this isn't a contingency scenario. This is a report on what's actually happened. Viper Scott has died of a heart attack.'

Slowly removing my glasses and setting them on the glass table next to the papers, I reply, in the calmest voice I can manage:

'Anyone who is not in the top ranks should leave.'

Without so much as a whisper, two-thirds of the people in the room exit, the last one closing the metal door behind them.

…

…

'… YOU IDIOTS! YOU MORONS! THAT IS AN INSULT TO MORONS! WHAT IS THIS SHIT!? I HAVE A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE FUCKING YAKUZA THIS FUCKING AFTERNOON! NOT THE PRESIDENT OF FUCKING ZAMBIA! NOT THE PRESIDENT OF THE FUCKING JANITOR'S UNION! BUT THE PRESIDENT, OF OUR ONLY TRUSTWORTHY ALLY IN THE ENTIRE FUCKING WORLD-'

'-We haven't seen her body so there's a chance she could still be alive-'

'-WETHER WE HAVE THE BODY OR NOT, DEAD IS DEAD! JUST LOOK AT THE REPORTS! IT'S ALL THERE! AND JUST AS WE'RE ON THE BRINK OF UNIFYING AGAISNT KIRA, THIS SHIT HAPPENS?! AT THIS RATE KIRA'S GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST NIUSANCE OUR MAFIA HAS FACED, SINCE STALIN!'

I fall back into my chair, unable to rant at full volume without hurting my throat too much.

'What am I supposed to tell them? That one of my best friends is dead, because my subordinates… are not intelligent enough, to be fucking morons? Look, can you all leave as well?'

As everyone does as told, I look behind to see the sun hiding between the silhouettes of the skyscrapers, marking the dawn of a new day of just trying to keep the mafia together, let alone unifying with the Yakuza. I can also faintly see the glass' reflection of my own face, my blond hair and cold blue eyes shining with a single emotion: Rage.

'Kira. First, you take my father. Then, you start killing my subordinates, one by one. And now, one of my best friends is dead… Very well, have at me then! I'll destroy you! I'll show you despair! The one who will laugh last will be me! Don't worry Viper, you will be avenged. After all, in the end there is no greater motivation than revenge.'

(Rugo's POV)

Oh, what a beautiful ceiling… No, seriously, if Chris can fall asleep in mere minutes, why can't I? I mean, sure, I don't need it, and the blankets in this closet make it rather cramped, but I still wish I had some way of quickly passing the time before anybody wakes up. I mean, I could go exploring the area surrounding the Atarashimono residence, as I've been doing for the past month, but after a while even that gets boring and repetitive. Then again, I've only ever passively observed what's going on, I've never tried to stir up some trouble by interacting outside. Hmm, if I'm not asleep in another half-hour I'll try that. But what time is it now? Phasing through the closet door I look at Chris' digital clock. Only a few minutes past eleven, it seems. Huh, on some days he'd still be awake at this time.

Just as I'm about to float back into my makeshift bedroom, I see something out of the corner of my eye. The door, its opening. The window is shut, and I don't feel any wind, so… what could it be… wait, I see a head coming through, and above it I use my eyes to see the name,

India Atarashimono

What's she doing? I thought everyone was asleep! And why's she sneaking in here? Do siblings usually do this kind of thing? Shit, she's belly-crawling over to the bookshelf, where Chris is hiding the Death Note! Should I do something?!

Indy then quickly pulls out her phone, and for a brief moment the entire room is filled with the light pouring out of it before she quickly sets it to its minimum brightness level. Crawling up beside her, I can see that she's texting someone.

Are you sure this texting rig is completely untraceable/untrackable? – I

Yes. It goes without saying that I should be capable of throwing together such a simple modified system. – T

I've just entered Chris' room. I think I'll be able to find the notebook without waking him up. – I

NOTEBOOK?! As in, the Death Note? Does she know Chris is Kira? She must, along with whoever she's texting. This is bad. This is very bad. If she so much as touches the Death Note she'll see me. Should I wake up Chris? No, he said I shouldn't do that unless it was absolutely necessary. But does this qualify as such or not?! Shit.

I can see the Death Note. – I

Before I can react, she reaches in and pulls out the notebook.

…

…

I've got it, it's in my hands now. – I

Can you see a Shinigami? – T

Without giving me so much as a second to prepare, Indy turns around and her deep blue eyes lock onto my red ones. What do I do? Do I say something?

'H… hi.'

At this she silently gasps and turns back to her phone.

I see it, I see the Shinigami. It's literally right behind me. - I

Shit. What does it look like? What is it doing? Can it talk? - T

Very human-like in form, resembles a teenage boy about my age, large black wings, right now it's just standing there, as if it's waiting or something. It can talk, since it just try to say "Hi" to me. – I

Do you think it'll let you proceed with the plan? – T

I'm scared. – I

CAN YOU DO IT OR NOT?! – T

… Let's see. By the way, if I die I'm blaming you. – I

In the quietest way possible, she then slowly tears off a piece from the corner of the notebook's middle-ish page. What is she planning? What is she going to do with that paper? Does she want to confirm that it's real, or does she want the person she's texting to see me as well? Or… is she going to use it on…

I have a piece of the Death Note. I'm going to put the rest of it back exactly where I found it now. – I

Good. Great job getting the piece without waking up your brother as well. – T

What if the Shinigami tells him? – I

Then we're fucked. – T

I'm returning to my room now. – I

Without so much as looking in my direction again, she belly-crawls back out of the room and closes the door. So Indy and some "T" person already know that Chris is Kira, and now they'll be able to see me, plus they have enough paper to kill Chris three times over. I should've done something. This is bad.

(Nigel's POV)

With Okada, Mungalo, Moorga and Aivenawa by my side, we all emerge from the elevator and approach the door to L's room…

L is on the other side of this door…

'Let me do the talking.'

'Okay, chief.'

I walk up and knock on the door.

'Who's there?'

'The police.'

'The police who?'

'Can we "police" ask you some questions? Hahahaha! Also let us in.'

'What's the password?'

'Password?'

'How does everyone… WHO TOLD YOU?!'

'Can we come in now?'

'Only if you answer three questions.'

'Okay.'

'What… is your name?'

'Nigel Blackheart of ANPA.'

'What… is your quest?'

'To hunt down Kira!'

'What… is the capital of Mongolia?'

'Ulaanbaatar.'

'Oh come on! How the hell did you know that?! Fine, come in.'