A/N: Now I really need to move the events along.

At this stage, I always start worrying whether or not it'll fit. It fit last time though, so hopefully this time too…

Blank Note

26. Bend

Koji was envisioning his so-called best friend broken into several bite-sized pieces.

Sadly, Takuya would more likely bend than snap; he was just that kind of person. Bantering with him often led to a wounded pride on his own part, and even if he was better at martial arts (having some professional experience under his belt, unlike the brunet), the puppy-dog eyes managed to get him every time.

That didn't stop him from whacking Takuya on the head when he found his hand and pants wet and his best friend in his brother's room.

It only clicked after that that Takuya was in Koichi's room with Koichi…and both of them were alive.

'What is going on up there?!' Satomi's voice – sounding entirely too amused, though also a little confused – floated up the stairs.

Koichi had, with a small flush on his cheeks, turned back to his drawing.

Takuya, naturally, peeked over his shoulder. 'That's so cool,' he exclaimed.

A little concerned now, Koji peeked as well. It wasn't the Ryuk look-alike…but it did appear to be a Shinigami.

'That's Sidoh.' Ryuk was laughing again, and Koji hoped nothing showed of it in his body language.

'Is it some sort of a demon? No, Koji said you're working on the old Kira story, so it must be a Shinigami.' Takuya sounded very triumphant.

Koichi, without missing a beat with his drawing, replied much the same as Ryuk…without the maniacal laughter.

27. Like

'Sidoh,' Takuya repeated out loud. 'Interesting name, but I don't remember him in the news reports.'

'Shinigami were only mentioned in one report,' Koji pointed out, relieved for the safe water but annoyed they had come back to the topic so quickly. Takuya's distraction technique was failing fast…and he didn't even realise it.

Though it was still interesting how they were both still in the room.

'You're supposed to be immune to Takuya's charm,' he complained out loud.

Koichi, still busy trying to get his thoughts onto paper, ignored him. And fair enough, Koji mused too. It wasn't as though he had said anything reply-worthy.

He wasn't sure Takuya's capacity four causing distractions was a good idea though…but Koichi, after the initial surprise, didn't seem to particularly mind his presence…

He'd ask him later.

Actually, he wouldn't. No doubt that would turn into a cross-examination of himself, and that was something he would like to avoid at all costs.

'Sidoh said the thirteen day rule is fake,' Koichi suddenly said. At Takuya's bemused expression, Koichi continued: 'Kira's weapon: the Death Note.'

'As in a notebook that kills people? That's so…' Takuya struggled for the right word. 'Anti-climatic.'

Neither of them appeared to notice the shock in Koji's eyes, nor the cackling of Ryuk when he noted his leash had been frayed.

Koichi still seemed too preoccupied to explain further, eyes darting between the screens he had open on his laptop (courtesy of Teruo's research) and the pad in front of him (and probably inside his mind as well), so he just blindly leafed out the drawing of the inner cover of the Death Note for Takuya to take.

Accurate too, since there had been photos on the police archive.

'Any human whose name is written in this notebook shall die,' Takuya read aloud. 'Man, no wonder this wasn't released to the public. Who'd believe it?'

He sounded like he did though, and that confused both twins…even if they were both absorbed in other matters.

28. Mistake

Koji couldn't believe what he had just heard.

The thirteen day rule's a fake!

It was just – it was just –

'Well,' Ryuk commented from behind him. 'I guess that part of the game's up.'

Unfortunately, Koichi and Takuya were more than in hearing shot, and Koji could say nothing to the Shinigami.

And Takuya was still talking. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the fact that Koichi only gave the bare minimum answers and didn't interrupt.

Except it was driving him crazy, and Koji gave in and dragged Takuya down the stairs.

'Hey,' the brunet exclaimed.

'You're distracting Koichi,' was the excuse he gave, though it was probably not true. Koichi could probably have tuned their presence out if he wanted to; he did that a lot whenever their father was around…though he wondered how long it would take their father to realise it was the timing and not the presence that caused that.

Though if it weren't for his work…

'Hey, I didn't know you had work done on the ceiling,' Takuya said suddenly, looking up at the living room's ceiling.

'Huh – what?' That managed to effectively drag Koji from his thoughts. 'What are you talking about?'

'That little glint over there.'

They took a closer look, climbing over the sofa and onto the display cabinets.

That glint turned out to be a video camera.

'That new L's pretty slick, isn't he?' Ryuk cackled. 'Good thing; would've gotten boring otherwise.'

29. Boundaries

Cameras. There were video cameras everywhere. He'd checked his room and the bathroom afterwards, and they had cameras too.

Satomi, who had heard all the commotion in the living room – and even Koichi who had come downstairs for breakfast (apparently having finished transferring head-Sidoh onto paper) – had heard their surprise, and all of them were understandably uncomfortable with the idea.

Takuya blushed red at the thought of his little prank being broadcasted, and Koji could only thank the stars at the sympathetic look he got from his mother were because of said break.

It was making his skin crawl though. He didn't know what he wanted. And Ryuk really was driving him crazy, because he couldn't even think about what he wanted with the Shinigami over his shoulder at every turn.

He almost forgot his brother's remark about the thirteen day rule, until Takuya brought it up again.

Thirteen days. If you'd used the Death Note, you must kill again within thirteen days or die.

Except it wasn't true, and he had…

If those cameras – and his family and Takuya – weren't able to see him, he would have lost control already.

'Koji,' Satomi said worriedly to him, and he almost jumped. Luckily, the kendo practise managed to restrain him. 'You're looking a little pale. Maybe you should have a warm shower before changing out of your pyjamas.' After an awkward pause, she added: 'maybe the public baths then?'

'It's probably for Dad's work,' Koichi unexpectedly threw in. 'The last Kira investigation did the same.'

Satomi was frowning a little. 'If he knew about this, he'll be sleeping on the couch for the next month.'

'He can have my bed.' The elder twin was half-smiling.

'Oh no, he's going to deal with that bad back of his. And aren't you supposed to be in bed now?'

'Huh?' Takuya blinked at them. 'You're going to sleep now? So you stay up all night then? I do sometimes; the birds whistling at night is so cool to listen to, and the cars driving past…hey, Koji? Isn't this were you say I can't listen?'

Koji had taken the opportunity to escape to the showers. The steam would hide him anyway, and maybe the shower would help him think.

And stop him throwing up as well, because his stomach seemed keen on making him do so.

30. Push

Near bit his nails as he watched the video feed. While Stephen had concealed a smile when he saw the hand in the water prank, the albino's own expression hadn't changed in the least, carefully looking for any sign that could pick the new Kira from the crowd.

He found Kousei's sons to be a very interesting pair. The elder one knew too much about the Kira case for him to be comfortable with, but as he hadn't obtained it through illegal means there was nothing to be done. Of course, he could try hacking into the other's computer, but this Teruo (who was doing the illegal work but hadn't exactly done anything detrimental to them and therefore could be noted for future references – as L was always looking for people under the table who could assist him) could easily just send them again.

And Near had to admit, he was finding the other's work fascinating. The Death Note was a simple matter; drawing from a series of pictures it wasn't hard to imagine someone with talent pulling off a reasonable replica. Even the image of Light Yagami was drawn from pictures that had existed over that time…though the end of insanity had not been documented but rather drawn with artistic licence.

No, what was surprising were the Shinigamis. And L's face.

The original L that was. All of them scarily accurate for someone who had never seen them before. Someone who had managed to infer the smallest details from writings and observations documented throughout the four years of Kira's reign and draw them into images that reflected them.

He wasn't sure whether he approved or not of the assignment; that information could be dangerous in the wrong hands, but it was also the perfect way to tell the public the truth without explicitly stating it. After all, fantasy was a role model based on the truth, and the school (whose uniform was hanging behind the door) was approved by the government, even if it worked outside the law.

He wondered if he should investigate the school further; there was a lot of potential there, almost like Wammy's house – which had been threaded after the original Kira had called upon their four best and killed three of them.

But there was no way that boy could be Kira. For one, he knew the thirteen day rule to be fake, and it was quite obvious the new Kira did not. Secondly, he didn't fit the profile Near had crafted in his head; he was an interesting figure, but certainly not an ordinary teen. He hardly interacted with people, and when he pushed boundaries he always caught someone by surprise.

Take the brunet friend of the younger twin. While he may have taken it in stride, both step-mother and younger brother had openly shown shock on their faces.

He looked back at the younger twin, who looked entirely too shocked at the information that the thirteen day rule was false. Entirely too tense for the uncomfortable position he was on…for no doubt the water had been cold, and by the looks of those pants, starched with sugar as well.

But still…

The new Kira obviously knew more about the original Kira than the general public did, but not as much as the police. Someone who only had access to partial information. Someone who had initially appeared to mimic the original Kira, before spreading out of control and then slipping into the thirteen day rhythm. Someone who obviously had found themselves stuck with the thirteen day rule…because the Death Note was really too addictive for someone with a mission of purifying the world like the original Kira.

Of course, if it hadn't been for that large beginning, they might have missed the signs…

He looked at the information about the younger twin. Not what he'd call "ordinary" either, but as he thought about it more, his definition of ordinary was not the one at test here. An accomplished martial artist for one thing. The lone-wolf sort of character, though he did appear to have a few close friends he was often seen around…when he wasn't alone. The frequency seemed to vary, almost like a bell curve hitting the bottom again…which coincided perfectly with the rise of the new Kira.

A disadvantage of being the popular guy at school, for facebook, tumblr and the likes were easily accessible for such information.

That boy was definitely too strained for being around a stepmother who'd been married to his father for three years, a brother who lived on and off with them and a best friend who'd already shown he'd made it past the stand-offish attitude exhibited to strangers.

Near removed his hand from his mouth. 'Tell Halle to remove the other cameras,' he said. 'I think we've found Kira, and this would be the perfect time for us to strike against him.'

If he was right – and he usually was; he was the 3rd L after all – then Kira would be unable to stop them, no matter how much he knew. Not at that moment anyway.

He almost felt sorry for the kid.