A/N: Okay we're back for the all new chapter of the final battle. Sorry I lied about the quick update but this one was for some reason it was harder to write for me (try writing a DN fic sometime!). Remember, your criticism and questions are always welcome, so review. Now, on with the story!
Chapter 2: Last of the Ls
"How was that, Liror?" Pride spun his chair around to face the Shinigami behind him. Its face was a skull with empty eye sockets and razor sharp teeth. The body was the muscular build of a human with red flesh; he wore a cloak with the hood up. Liror was slouched over as he stood before Pride.
"Was that really necessary? The human world will be in uproar soon." He asked as Pride removed his mask and threw it to the side.
The boy just laughed, "Yes. Your right, there will be an uproar. But all that is necessary to ensure that Kira's eyes are definitely on me now. Now we are ready to put my plan into action. Soon the world will be against Kira completely." He moved over to a wall completely covered by computers and other equipment and sat in the spinning chair in front of it all.
"We just asked you to get rid of Kira, not reveal the existence of the Death Notes to every human on the planet." Liror said walking over to stand behind Pride.
"Every Wammy orphan to go after Kira has wound up dead so it's time we redeem our bad name. Now, to blow Kira out of the water. Where are the others?" Right on time, there was a knock on the door and five people filed into the room one after the other. Three of them were followed by a Shinigami.
Pride didn't even turn to greet them. Instead he played with his black hair, "Is everyone here?" the seventeen year old asked. Two of the shorter orphans removed their masks which symbolized drama and comedy (one side sad, the other happy except both had a mask that had the same two sides but in different orders), one a boy and the other a girl, "Yep yep!" they replied in unison. Both had a Shinigami the boy had a female and his twin had a male.
One of the occupants of the room took off a jaguar mask. Underneath was the face of a dark-skinned girl. The seventeen year old smiled, "Greed and Envy have been hyper all day. Their teeth are going to rot out if all they ever eat is candy." At that moment her cell phone went off. Everyone except Pride looked at her. Pride covered his eyes with his hand, "Lust, I thought I told you to stay inside until we had a plan." He said, before nibbling on his thumb.
Lust flipped open her phone, the Shinigami behind her giggled at what he saw on the screen. She turned it off and closed it, "Being all cooped up may be your style but it's not mine." Lust snapped, "Our photos have been destroyed and no one can find our names. We have the advantage over Wrath."
Pride turned to look at the twins who stood smiling at him. He drew his legs up into his chair L-style. "While it may be true that our names can't be seen by Kira…Envy, Greed, can you see my life span?" Both shook their heads still grinning, the boy whispered into his sister's ear, both gave an excited screech and ran over to the man laying in front of the TV camera.. "What about Gluttony? Can you see his?" For the first time, everyone's attention was shifted to a chubby boy who sat on the floor with his hand in a potato chip bag, completely oblivious to the rest of the group. His red, one-eyed demon mask lay a short way away. He, unlike the others, had no Shinigami. The twins both nodded and then went back to moving the dead man's arms around wildly.
"He may not have much longer if he keeps eating like that." Pride commented. "The whole strategy behind having the twins make the eye trade is that they are ten and the youngest of us. They most likely, have the longest time to live." He explained, "What the Shinigami have told us is true, even with the Shinigami Eyes, you can't see the life span of a human with a Death Note. This means we must avoid appearing on TV or being caught on camera. I would also be wise to stay away from well populated areas."
"I thought you said Wrath couldn't see our life spans." Lust said crossing her arms. There was the sound of a bag being balled up then Gluttony stood up with much effort. He cleared his voice, "He means the second Kira, second Wrath, whatever. Clearly the original is infatuated with the thought of being the god of his new world. He would want to live as long as possible to maintain rule for several years. The only way to do so and have the ability to see his enemies' names is to have someone else make the trade. The only one to make the trade was the second Kira."
"First things first." Pride said looking at them all, "Who has made the trade?" The twins raised their hands. The only other person clutched his notebook to the chest of his black trench coat with one hand and raised the other. "Sloth too?" The one called Sloth nodded his greasy head of long, black hair.
"This can be used to our advantage. Gluttony, are you willing to do the trade?" Pride asked.
"And WHO'S Death Note will he use to do it?" Lust demanded, already knowing the answer.
"I thought that would be obvious. We need one more person willing to give up half their lifespan to take down Kira. Unless you are able to do that, I ask that you please pass ownership to Gluttony." Pride finished, and turned back to his computer.
"I'll do it." Lust turned angrily to the fat boy as he went on quietly. "I know how important getting Kira is to Pride. I'll help any way I can."
"You don't have to do it. It was only a possible strategy; I shouldn't have included you all in my own personal fight." Pride turned back to them all with a mournful expression. "If any of you are afraid to die, then I urge you to leave. I only ask that you leave your Death Note, if you don't, I cannot guarantee your safety."
Gluttony shook his head, "I've been friends with you for as long as I can remember. I knew the risks when I offered my help. I'll stick with you to the end, who's with me?"
The twins nodded enthusiastically while Sloth muttered an agreement. Lust looked resentful before sighing harshly and growling, "Fine! He can have it, but I'm keeping a few pages for myself."
"Then, I'm correct in assuming you have already used the Death Note?" Pride asked.
"Shut up know-it-all!"
Pride smiled wryly, "Yes, we already know from the Shinigami that if you give up the Death Note after having used it at least once, you will lose all memories pertaining to the Death Note. It's only natural that you would keep a few pages for yourself. However…" Pride's smile disappeared, "I would like you to keep as many as fifty pages in case the notebook is somehow taken. The chances of this happening are very slim, but it is a possibility. Preparations need to made. Sloth will make the first move, are you ready to move?"
Sloth nodded, "Yes."
Pride also nodded his head, "We need to move base within the next few days to ensure we are not found. The fact that Lust has been outside makes me nervous. We leave tomorrow. Sloth and Gluttony will leave immediately after this to arrive in Japan as planned. Sloth knows what to do to prevent the notebook from falling into the wrong hands seeing as he will have the most dangerous role in the plan. Worst case scenario, he dies in two days and the notebook is taken."
The twins' dropped the body and their eyes got big and watery. Pride and Gluttony lowered their eyes. 'I would have avoided this if I could but this is the only plan I have for now and Sloth volunteered in the first place.' Pride thought. "If things go as I predicted, there is a 65 percent chance that you will die. This being the case, I'll ask again, are you sure this is what you want to do?"
Sloth's reply was another nod. Pride stared at him carefully, "Fine, then move out. If things go accordingly, most of the world will be against Kira soon. Let's do it, for my brother…for L."
Later that day, Light and Misa checked out of the hotel and arrived back at their apartment. Light was quiet the whole trip but Misa was content with the closeness of him. She asked Light what was bothering him but he never responded to Misa's questions so she gave up altogether and snuggled close to him. Ryuk followed close behind their taxi snickering while Misa clung to the object of her affection.
The news about the events that had unfolded earlier in the day was everywhere. Most, if not all, of the news TV stations were playing specials about the secret that was released on air at NHN. Of course on the net debates were being held in chat rooms about what to make of it all. Some thought it was all a hoax; others, anonymously of course, stated firmly that Kira still stood for justice and deserved to be backed for everything he had done for the world.
Sites were popping up all over the internet selling the "killer notebooks" for outrageous prices, but all this was to be expected. "DAMN IT!" Light pounded on his desk as soon as Misa went out. Ryuk jumped in surprise, "He…hey Light…"
"WHAT?" Light turned to face Ryuk; he wore the same expression he had when he had been 'humiliated' by L the first time.
"Sor-sorry."
"Damn, this ruins everything! How did he get five Death Notes? Do you understand how serious this is?" Light asked angrily.
"N-no." Ryuk said, still a little scared.
"They could completely destroy Kira's good image!" Light leaned back in his chair, "I've got to get rid of this threat before they try it. I'm a little wary of contacting the leader of any powerful nation for help on this. Top officials all over the world are afraid of being killed so publicly they will support Kira, but while they say they support Kira on the surface, they will be trying to get rid of me so they can have the notebooks for themselves. If any nation gained control of at least one of them, it would have a substantial advantage over all others. This isn't only about killing criminals anymore. This is about taking the notebooks for myself."
"If I try to contact someone like the president of America, the most I can hope for is a deal in which he will ask for one of the notebooks in exchange for his help. I can't completely ignore the fact that Pride may make the same deal with the person I contact." Light seemed completely calm after having explained all this and Ryuk was relieved by this.
"So what are you going to do?" he asked.
"If I were Pride, I would first gain some allies that would do the eye trade in my place. This means I'll have to give up one of the notebooks to keep up."
"You're going to use Misa again?" Ryuk asked a little surprised.
"Really, Ryuk, I thought you were a little smarter than that. Misa is still well-known in this region. If I use her again, there's the chance she will be seen by a person who has made the trade for Pride. I'll have to use someone else this time. I've prepared a list of candidates for just such an occasion."
Light pulled up a file on his computer while Ryuk watched. In it were several pages of the surveys like the one Mikami filled out. Light took particular interest in one. "This one reminds me a lot of myself." He pulled up another file. "This is research I did to get a better idea of who he was. It really surprised me. What do you think Ryuk?"
Ryuk looked at the page. After a minute he laughed and said, "I can see why: seventeen-year-old senior in high school, hopes to work in the police force, top scorer in the nation and…is that him?"
"Yes."
"He looks a lot like you!" Ryuk laughed, "But isn't he American?" he asked.
"He's a foreign exchange student. It says he was adopted by the hosting Japanese family after his parents were murdered a year ago. His answers to some of the survey questions hint at a strong sense of justice. I'll use him" Light said. "If he is who I think he is, he'll be an even greater ally than Mikami. I'll send the notebook with the rules written in it so that you'll be the one to possess him, so if I'm right it'll be like old times for you. Do this and I'll give you all the apples you can eat later."
Ryuk's mind boggled, as many as he could eat? "Alright Light, but it won't be cheap!" he said happily, "So when do I leave?"
"Now." Light held out the notebook, "All you need to do is make sure he gets the notebook and knows how to use it."
"Okay, just remember your part of the deal Light." Ryuk took the Death Note walked over to the wall, "Later." and slipped through it as if it wasn't there.
"Let's see what you can do, Sam Pyro." Light said looking at the place where Ryuk disappeared.
A/N: Finally done! Yes! Alright everybody, sorry again about the long wait but this is a really tough story to write. I feel like my mind is having a seizure right now…but that could just be the sugar rush. Anywho, in the next chapter I'll be using one of my own characters. I assure you he won't be someone like me, I'm not smart enough to be top in any nation, trust me, ask my friends! I even had to change his personality for him to appear in the fic so yeah…: P. Also I need a new proof-reader (if you couldn't notice my horrible attempt at the originals' personalities or the grammar mistakes) so if anyone's interested just send me an e-mail saying so. Later!