Disclaimer: Viz owns all things Death Note. You can't sue me if I say that.
Author's Notes: The following is an alternative ending to the Death Note manga and anime. Everything that has occurred in the canon before the final encounter in the warehouse is valid within this story. However, everything that takes place inside the warehouse is my own creation. If there are any spoilers here, then they are the ones that hint at the "official" ending of Death Note. You won't find out the "true" ending by reading Twists of Fate, but you may want to refrain from reading if you haven't seen the "authentic" climax yet and want no idea as to how it plays out.
Also, two things you should know: When words are covered in italics, that means someone is thinking. When words are in bold, that means that someone is yelling at the top of their lungs.
TWISTS OF FATE
Chapter I: Pious
"He has a backup!" Gevanni shouted.
Matsuda lifted his pistol and fired twice, each shot hitting Light Yagami, the man just revealed to be Kira. Each hit was non-lethal (one bullet struck Light's hand; the other pierced his shoulder), but it stopped Light in his tracks nonetheless. For his part, Light screamed furiously in pain before collapsing to the floor.
Everyone but Light stared shocked at Matsuda while he stood in his original spot, trembling, glaring, and making an attempt to control his rapid breathing patterns. Some knew him well, others knew little of him, but their knowledge of him reached a basic consensus: if anything, Matsuda was a young boy trapped in the body of an adult male. He was naïve, gullible, impulsive, friendly, and was willing to believe in the best of people. He was the sort of man who would make a terrific husband and/or wonderful father. However, not many would believe that policing would be the most suitable occupation for a man like Matsuda.
But here he was now, all gung-ho and with a menacing stare that eerily resembled Dirty Harry's. All in the room were astounded by this unpredictable incident. Even Near, who hadn't foreseen this, was slightly surprised.
Before anyone else could do anything, Matsuda marched over to the fallen Light. At first, Aizawa and Mogi feared the worst; Matsuda, disillusioned and irate, was going to kill Light!
"Matsuda, wait! Don't--" Aizawa started before abruptly stopping. A wave of relief came over himself and Mogi as they watched Matsuda pull out a pair of handcuffs, and then crouch down to Light.
"I'm arresting this piece of shit." Matsuda said, as if he were confirming it not just for everyone else, but also for himself. His voice, once so cheerful and care free, had become harsh and commanding. Everyone else in the warehouse realized with little difficulty that it would be best to allow Matsuda to do things his way.
Matsuda remained in his crouching position longer than was required to cuff a criminal. No one heard the metal clink of the handcuffs snapping together. Aizawa's eyes narrowed, sure that he had just heard some faint murmuring between Light and Matsuda.
"Matsuda!" Aizawa shouted, taking a step forward. "What are you--"
No one could stop Matsuda; he was far too fast. In a matter of seconds, he had quickly stood up, spun around, pulled an uzi from the inside of his coat, and sprayed the entire warehouse with bullets. Gevanni, Lidner, Rester, Aizawa and Mogi were pummeled by steel, and blood erupted from their wounds, painting the floor a sickening red.
The carnage was incredibly brutal, but it only took less than a minute for Matsuda to carry out. Before the shooting, there had been nine living, breathing individuals present. Now there were only four: Light, Matsuda, Mikami, and Near, all within the confines of a warehouse smeared with wet blood and intestines.
Matsuda wore a satisfied smirk as he turned back to Light, offered a hand, and then helped him up. Matsuda did not seem worried about what Near or Mikami might do, but his lack of concern was reasonable. Mikami was still aghast as he was before, and Near was far too shocked to do anything.
"Master! Are you all right?!" Matsuda cried as Light winced from his injury. "I did my best to hit you where you said! Did I shoot too--"
"Don't worry Matsuda." Light interrupted, as he gripped his injured shoulder with his free hand. "You did fine. But we'll have to get moving soon, before I succumb to blood loss."
Light looked at Near, and the true, deranged, and vicious smile of Kira spread across his face. Near was still flabbergasted: he wasn't speaking, but rather breathing in short rasps. His eyes were as wide as saucers, and his mouth quivered. Light thought that he looked very much like a small child at that moment, a young boy who had just discovered that humans were inherently evil, that the world was callous, and that God was really Satan all along. Light almost pitied him. Almost.
But this was no innocent boy. This was Near, a super genius who had almost destroyed Light's reign as Kira. He was still the same brat who nearly prevented Earth's salvation. Above all, he was still the same little shit who had dared to insult and frustrate Lord Kira with his insolent schemes, and stall the birth of a new world.
"I have to admit it, Near." Light said as he began moving forward, still wearing his lunatic grin. "That was truly impressive. For a second there, I thought you actually had me!"
Light walked all the way to where Near was, and looked down at his foe. He couldn't help but chuckle darkly at what he saw: Near looked very small in his spot, and Light found his awe-struck whimpering to be comically cowardly and pathetic.
Near had reason to be frightened. He had lost, and thus had failed to spare mankind from the tyranny of a psychotic megalomaniac. For his mistakes, he was forced to stare into the face of the embodiment of pure evil; a demon with terrible red eyes, and a wicked smile that promised pain beyond one's wildest dreams.
"H-How?" Near croaked out, for it had taken him great effort to speak now. "How did…I…you…"
Light's monstrous face did not change for a second as he dug into his holster, pulled out his pistol, and aimed it in between Near's eyes.
