endNOTE+++----

Part 5: Representations/Expectations

L smiled childishly. It had been way too easy. But an L student? He hadn't been prepared for that. Not at all. It just didn't make sense; where was the sense of justice?

He watched as the blindfolded girl sat in a chamber, restrained heavily. They had made sure she had no idea where she was. She was brunette; slim, clearly young. L spun around in his metal chair absently, the glow of many monitors illuminating him. He didn't care about hiding his voice. She would never hear him again.

L said quietly. "Oka, real name unknown. According to my research, you and Linda left Wammy's and moved to Japan to live with your half-sister Ella Nokinawa." He paused, letting her give an affirmative. She nodded against her restraints. "You lived there for an undisclosed period without incident. However," he paused again, perhaps for effect, "Approximately one month ago, your sister commited suicide by drug overdose. The next morning, you reported the suicide and took her money, returning to the orphanage with Linda." There was a sound of people muttering. "After returning to the orphanage, you and Linda had a TV with 24 hour global news installed. As soon as these things occured... strange things began happening all over the world."

She heard bare feet hitting tile as L walked toward her. "Those strange things incited the fear of Kira the world over, but..." He took a deep breath. "The new Akira mass murderer, distinguishes themselves by making their victims draw an A, within a circle. Followed by the trademark heart attack."

Everyone shivered.

"In light of all this evidence, you are under suspicion of being the new Akira, who has started the slew of new ki--"

"L, sir!"

Oka heard a door open. A man spoke from behind her. "Akira is speaking on TV!!" She heard footsteps, a click, and a news cast playing with the volume high.

"--NAME IS AKIRA, HEIR TO THE THRONE OF LORD KIRA. ALL THE UNRIGHTEOUS FACE MY UNSTOPPABLE WRATH. AN ERA OF DECAY AT THE END OF MY PREDECESSOR'S REIGN COMES TO A STOP, NOW."

Oka's shocked gasp was unnoticed. Linda!! Even with the fuzziness, she recognized her best friend's voice anywhere.

"THE WORLD WILL BOW TO ME, AND ALL SHALL BE FREED WHO GO ON TO AID IN A BETTER WORL--" The TV clicked off. L spoke first. "She is to leave. That was live. I can have the FBI on this broadcast in moments."

"No!" Oka screamed. Everyone in the room went still. "Girl, we are considering your release. We may have made a premature kidnapping." She calmly (though her voice was shaky) said, "I don't want to let Akira escape. He killed my mother." A few tears ran down her face.

There was some hushed words. It sounded like people felt bad for her. Someone said; "L, we've made a big mistake."

Near frowned. Irritated. He had been so sure it would be easy this time... but did people ever listen to him without having it rubbed in their faces? He spun his chair away from the restrained Oka and said "Wherever this broadcast is coming from, the FBI will shut it down. Send her back to Wammy's. I want to be left alone, right now. Except for Gevanni." She heard someone whisper; "We're going now, Miss Oka." and several people stood straight with a dignified "Sir!" in an obvious salute.

L slammed his pale fist on the desk, then the door was closed behind Oka and there was nothing.

When Oka returned to her room the next day, she was heavily guarded. A soldier stood outside her door at all times. Oka wasn't surprised by Linda's absence. The girl had just saved her life... but at what cost?

...One other thing seemed off... what was it?

It hit her like a brick at that moment; No Ryuuk. She jumped up, tore the room apart. "No! NO!" This couldn't be happening.

Linda had taken the Notebook with her, straight into L's hands.