Chapter 15: Dissent

"What do you mean you don't know where they are?!" Drevan cried into the phone. Taro, on the other end, flinched.

"I've been spying in that bakery that they show up at fairly often. They haven't been there in at least a week." he explained. Glancing at Ryuk, he added, "They could just be staying at home. I don't know where they live."

Drevan glared at the cordless phone resting in speakerphone mode on his coffee table. This conference call was not going the way he had expected. "And what happens, Taro, if they've left the country? What if they have a way to contact the current L? What happens then?"

"Drevan, it's not the end of the world." Mizuki's voice came through dryly. Himeko's joined it, adding, "We understand where you're coming from, but I think you're overreacting. They don't know that much about us. Other than Taro and maybe Emi, I don't think they know that the rest of us exist."

Emi came over, sitting down beside Drevan. "Taro, you mentioned me in their presence, right?"

"Yeah… I didn't mean to." Taro said guiltily. He liked it better when Emi was in charge. That week that Drevan had been in America was great. There was something about the man that gave Taro the chills. Almost like a Shinigami, but different. There was an air of darkness around him that Taro didn't like.

"Well…" Emi reasoned. "They can't get far on just that. How many Emi's are in Japan, after all? More than they could possibly check. And they don't know about Drevan, Mizu, Meko, or Teil. I think we're relatively safe for the time being."

Drevan sighed. "In any case, Taro, keep an eye out for them. Let Emi and I know as soon as they show up again. We need to keep an eye on them."

Teil had been silent up until this point, preferring to listen to the others debate. Finally, with a glance at Zellogi, his Shinigami, he said, "I don't understand why we can't just kill them."

Emi smiled, not surprised at the question. It was a very Teil-like thing to ask. Very to-the-point. She said quietly in response, "Teil, we can't do that because it would be murdering innocents. They aren't even anyone important. Not anymore. He's not L. He's merely a person who happens to know more than he should." She glanced at Drevan, who nodded. "If we kill them… Attacking the original L was the biggest mistake that the First Kira ever made. It destroyed his image of justice. If he were truly justice, he would have allowed the FBI and L to live, continuing his work despite them. It would have been worth the risk of being caught if he truly had a noble goal in mind. That is our goal. We will not harm innocents."

She could almost imagine Teil sulking on the other end. This was confirmed when he said sullenly, "But if he was Kira, then he murdered those FBI people, and the original L. Doesn't that make him a criminal? And I heard from Taro that the original L tortured people to try for a confession."

"Taro?" Emi asked, puzzled.

His voice sounded sheepish over the phone. "That's what Ryuk said."

Emi sighed. "No, Teil. We can't punish them for a past life. That wouldn't be fair." Drevan smothered a laugh, recovering quickly when Emi glanced at him. Sitting up and leaning over to the phone, he said firmly, "Taro, just keep an eye out for them. Teil… don't do anything rash."

Good-byes were said all around, and Drevan hung up the phone. Emi slid down the couch to peck a kiss on his cheek.

"It'll be okay." she said. "We're safe." She got up, nodding towards the door. "I'm going upstairs. I think Shidoh's outside. See you later?"

He nodded absently, watching as she left the room. She had accepted his invitation to come live with him. It was a medium-sized house in the suburbs just outside of Tokyo. Drevan sighed, falling backwards to sprawl on the couch as Kinddara, the Shinigami possessing him, floated through the wall.

Kinddara Guivelostain was a vicious Shinigami, to say the least. She was far more inclined to kill humans than the other lazy Shinigami in their realm. She stared down at Drevan, who stared back up at her, completely unfazed.

"You aren't going to kill them?" she asked.

"No. Not yet, at least." he muttered. Kinddara scoffed.

"I will never understand the amount of thought you put into things, Dealer!" she said. Drevan sat up, his eyes glinting.

"Humans killing people and Shinigami killing people are very different." he said softly. Then, sharper, "Don't call me that, Kinddara."

"Why? Humans would have no idea what it means."

Drevan frowned. "While I'm flattered, I'm also not worried about humans. I'm more concerned with another Shinigami hearing that. Someone like Ryuk, who might tell Taro, who would obviously share it with everyone…" He rolled his eyes. "So help me…"

"You are no fun, Dealer." Kinddara said, just to antagonize him. Drevan scowled.

"I said not to call me that. Anyway, a more immediate problem than the reincarnations of certain troublesome people from the past is Teil. Damn maverick. He's going to do something stupid. All it is now is a matter of getting rid of him before he compromises the plan." He glanced at the Death Note, his notebook that shined a bloody crimson in the light. Teil Miura. It would be so easy. But there would be awkward questions to answer if he did it without provocation. Let the foolish baka do something stupid first. "He thinks he can do whatever he wants, and that is the type of thinking that will get all of us exposed."

"So kill him. It shouldn't be a problem for you, Dealer."

"DON'T CALL ME THAT! NOT UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO –" Drevan stopped abruptly as he heard Emi on the stairs. He wasn't even really sure what he was going to threaten the Shinigami with. She had no addictions, like Shidoh and his chocolate or Ryuk and his apples. He couldn't wound or kill her either. Losing his temper would do no good now. Empty threats abandoned for the moment, he turned his attention to Emi.

"Is something wrong?" she said, sticking her head in the door, her expression worried.

"It's nothing." he said, attempting to be reassuring. "Kinddara and I were having a small argument."

"Oh." Emi stared at him a moment. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." He smiled at her, and she reluctantly nodded. But as she walked back up the stairs, she couldn't help but wonder…

What are you not telling us, Drevan?

Drevan waited until she was gone again, before glaring at Kinddara. He walked over and picked up his Death Note. Like Taro's, his had all the rules printed in it in neat handwriting. Ryuk's, if he remembered correctly. He flipped it open, looking over the section on ownership.

"Six, Kinddara?" he asked quietly. The Shinigami nodded, knowing what he was asking, the same as the other fifty times he had asked.

"Only six. The seventh would have no power." She blinked. "You're still obsessing over that last rule."

Drevan smirked. "That's the one that would get me what I want. All I have to do is set up the circumstances for it to take effect."

"They will be upset."

"They can go screw themselves and die for all I care. Although, it wouldn't do to have them die without me around…" Drevan grinned wickedly. "L can't stop me. The reincarnations can't stop me. And as for the Shinigami…" He glanced at Kinddara. "What are they going to do? Kill me? I might just as easily kill them in return. That I would like to see… Possibly like the apocalypse. When the Death Gods die…" Kinddara was glaring at him with murder in her eyes. He raised his hands in surrender, saying, "Kidding. Obviously there's no way to murder a Death God, is there? You'd have to fracture every rule in the book, human and Shinigami."

Kinddara frowned. "Watch yourself, Drevan Ricter. Shinigami are not kind to threats. You should know this, Dealer."

"Kinddara, DON'T…"

"I am making a point." she growled. "If ANY of this misfit group should know the consequences of what you are planning, it is you."

Drevan looked at the carpet. "Of course." He looked back up. "But, all the more reason not to fear death, right?"

Kinddara growled, but said nothing, walking through the wall and out, possibly to find Shidoh. Drevan laughed, an honest, ringing laugh. Everything was going how he intended. At this rate, it would be over before they even found where the reincarnations had gone to. Just as well. The less interference, the better.

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Dear, dear Drevan. I do like him. And OH the questions you'll all have now! Joy!

Next chapter is one I promised artsfan a long time ago, a 'secret' origin chapter for all of my villains. Don't expect major revelations, but a little bit of backstory never hurt anyone. :) I have to get it done first, though. It's long.

Now you all have a reason to get up Monday mornings. :) Hugs!
Li