Chapter 24: Shinigami

"Hello?" Miya said stepping away from the monitor as L had Watari connect him to the director of the NPA.

"Miya, sweetheart, I'm sorry. That was out of line," Miya's mother instantly began apologizing. "I should not have said that earlier."

"Busy mom," Miya said quickly before clicking the phone shut. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself. She could hear L making the arrangements to have Matsuda and the interviewer be switched with the dummies and recordings that had been prepared, and finally she was focused enough on work to turn around.

"So then, Light," L was saying, standing up in his chair. "What's say we go and join the fun as well?

"Yeah," Light agreed as L made his way around to where Misa was.

"I'm coming too," Miya said. Light looked at her skeptically.

"Sorry to say anything, but you're pregnant," Light pointed out. Miya rolled her eyes.

"Geez, is every guy under the impression that pregnant women can do nothing for nine months but sit at home?" she asked sarcastically.

"Ah Light," L chuckled. "Funny you'd make that assumption, but no, at Miya's stage she can do nearly anything. It is perfectly safe for her to travel, which means she can certainly join us in the helicopter." Miya furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"You actually read a book about pregnancy?" she asked. "I thought you were joking! When did you even find the time?"

"I'm very time efficient," L replied as he handcuffed Misa. "I'm sorry to do this Misa but I'm going to have to make sure you're restrained for a while." He wasn't joking either, as the handcuffs were just a small part of the restraints that now held her to the chair.

"What?!" Misa protested. "But that's...stop joking around!"

"Bye Misa!" Miya taunted cheerfully as they all left the room. She couldn't help it! Misa had annoyed her every chance she got and so Miya couldn't let the opportunity to be obnoxious pass her by. L looked back at her disapprovingly.

"Miya, don't taunt her," he scolded.

"Oh, like you didn't want to!" Miya defended. He smiled just the slightest as they continued to their means of travel.

"I didn't realize you could pilot a helicopter," Light said once they were off the ground. "That's incredible!" Light and L were in the front, L at the controls, and Miya was in the back, next to Watari. This was another rare moment that Miya got to see him and she hoped she would have the chance to get to know the only other trusted person in L's life a little better when this was all over.

"Well, you can figure it out with intuition," L said casually as Miya watched the very sweet old man arm himself with some serious weaponry. L's statement caught her off guard however.

"I'm sorry," Miya interjected. "Did you just say you're flying this helicopter on intuition? As in you've never flown one before? Because knowledge and intuition are totally different…"

"Higuchi isn't going to Sakura TV," Light pointed out, completely ignoring her. "He's headed the wrong way."

"Don't worry," Watari assured her. "Ryuzaki is an expert in many things without even trying."

"True…" Miya agreed as L continued.

"Based on his route I'd say he's going to the Yotsuba main office." Miya couldn't help but notice how hot he looked in his microphone headset as he paged Weddy. This was totally the wrong time to be distracted, but she found herself almost drooling. "Come in Weddy. Have you removed absolutely everything relating to Matsuda at the Yotsuba headquarters?"

"Yeah, why is he headed there now?" she responded. "Isn't that convenient? That should give me more than enough time to go ahead and meet up with Mr. Yagami to set up the ambush." Light was observing Higuchi's location, and soon he paged in his father.

"Dad, Higuchi's left Yotsuba. He's on his way to Sakura TV. He'll be there in less than fifteen minutes. Are you ready?"

"I don't need my son asking if I'm ready," Mr. Yagami replied. "Of course I am." Mogi's voice was the next to be heard. Miya wondered just how many communication lines they could possibly have going at once.

"We've arrived at Sakura TV," Mogi reported. "We're moving into position." Miya waited anxiously. Things were getting really intense and so when Mogi's voice finally buzzed in, Miya jumped in surprise.

"L, Higuchi has a gun on him. The chief's been shot! Higuchi's escaping!" Miya gasped, jumping to the worst possible conclusion, when thankfully Mr. Yagami spoke.

"I'm alright," he said. "Sorry Ryuzaki. If we pursue him right now we can still catch him. Hurry."

"This is bad," Light said, his eyes fixed on the screen. "He's escaped from Sakura TV."

"This leaves us no choice," L said. "We'll have to move in and apprehend him. Watari are you ready?"

"Yes," Watari replied. Miya was amazed by this old man who was holding the gun like an expert. He was much more intimidating than Miya had originally thought.

"Light," L said, holding out a gun between his index finger and his thumb. "I think you should hold onto this for self defense. This is Kira we're after."

"No thanks. Firearms aren't allowed in Japan," Light responded, denying the weapon.

"You know, I'm sure your father would say the exact same thing," L said.

"I'll take it," Miya said quickly. "Sorry but law or no law, if Kira comes at me, I wanna be prepared."

"Please be careful," L said, turning around quickly and handing her the weapon. Miya held it for a moment before deciding she didn't want it. It just felt too official, and it was a bit scary. She set it in a safe spot beside her just in case, but she sure hoped she wouldn't have to use it. She looked down on the highway to see Higuchi's car being blocked off by a load of police cars.

"What's happening?" Watari wondered, obviously caught off guard. "I thought we told the police not to get involved with the arrest?"

"We did," Miya said.

"The only one who would do this is…" Light said.

"Yes, you must be right," L agreed.

"Aizawa," Miya said blankly, looking down at the scene. The spotlight from the helicopter shown down on Higuchi's car, obviously sending the trapped man into further panic. He tried to drive away, but was blocked off and instead swerved into the wall. Miya winced and turned away at the crash.

"Stay back! Stay back or I'll shoot! I swear!" Miya heard him say. She looked back down to see Higuchi holding a gun to his own head. The next thing Miya knew, Watari had fired a shot right at Higuchi's gun, sending it flying from his hand. He had nothing left to do as the cops corned him.

"It's over," Light said.

"Yes, it's over," L agreed.

"Finally," Miya breathed, standing up and placing her hands on L's shoulders. Though as she leaned down and kissed him on the cheek, she felt certain that this chase for Kira was definitely not over.

"Higuchi, how are you able to kill people?" L was demanding from the helicopter. "Tell me." L, Miya, Light, and Watari had watched from the helicopter as Higuchi was surrounded and forced to get out of the car with his hands up. He was then handcuffed, blindfolded, and given a headset through which he could hear L. Miya could hear the frustration in L's voice as he spoke. She knew he wanted more than anything to know how Kira was able to kill. L poured coffee as he continued. "If you're not going to talk, I'll use whatever means necessary to get it out of you."

"The notebook…" Higuchi finally admitted. Miya furrowed her eyebrows. Was he talking about the one he'd written in at Yoshida?

"Notebook?" L repeated.

"You probably won't believe me but I've got a special notebook. If I write someone's name in it while thinking of their face, that person dies." Miya was surprised by Higuchi's answer. Was this case honestly taking a turn to another realm?

"Mr. Yagami," L commanded.

"Yeah, I found it," Mr. Yagami's voice buzzed in. "It was in one of the compartments of Higuchi's bag. He has written a lot of names in it but there doesn't seem to be anything else unusual about it."

"Is Higuchi bluffing?" Miya wondered. It was then that Mr. Yagami started screaming. Miya whipped her head to the side to see him out the window lying on the ground.

"What's wrong with him?" Miya said, slightly panicked. "He's freaking out!"

"What is it Mr. Yagami?" L asked curiously.

"It's...a monster!" Mr. Yagami managed to choke back.

"Please calm down," L said. "Don't panic. Remember, you're not currently armed to defend yourself." Mr. Yagami looked so freaked out, and Miya was starting to feel afraid herself. What was going on?

"Uh...uh yeah right, of course…" the chief's voice said. Miya looked out the window as Mogi approached. He looked calm for a moment as he spoke to Mr. Yagami before starting to scream as well.

"What is happening?" Miya gasped, coming around to where L sat. She found herself scared for some reason and so she managed to slide herself into the pilot's seat right next to him. She wasn't sure how she managed to fit, as the helicopter didn't have much room to begin with, but having L right beside her made her feel a little better.

"Don't worry," L muttered to her as Light spoke.

"Mogi, what's wrong?"

"That thing…" Mr. Yagami sputtered. "It seems...only people who have t-touched the notebook can see...this, this monster…"

"What do they mean 'monster'?" Miya wondered with wide eyes.

"Please bring the notebook over to the helicopter," L instructed.

"Uh…okay," Mogi said, standing up carefully and walking toward the helicopter. He leaned in the window and passed the notebook over Miya to L. "Here it is Ryuzaki." L grasped the thin black notebook between his fingers and shifted his glance to where Mr. Yagami and Mogi had been. "It really is...a Shinigami," he said quietly. "They really, do, exist…" Miya gasped. A Shinigami? They'd been discussing the possibility, but really? She had to find out for herself. L was obviously lost in thought, so Miya reached out hesitantly and touched the notebook, which she noticed had the words 'Death Note' scrolled across the front. She then slowly turned to look out the window.

"What the hell is that?!" she half yelled, pulling her hand back. In front of her eyes was the strangest creature she had ever seen. It was tall, towering over everyone, and looked as though it was made of bones. "Oh my God…" she gasped, turning her face into L's shoulder. If that was a Shinigami, it was more horrifying than she would have thought.

"Ryuzaki, come on, let me see it," Light begged. He took the notebook and was silent for a moment before letting out a huge scream. Miya jerked her head up to see him panting wildly, the notebook in his hands.

"Uh...are you okay Light?" L asked slowly. "I suppose seeing that monster would surprise anyone."

'Yeah it would…' Miya thought. 'But not that much…' Light suddenly looked different to her, but she couldn't pinpoint why. She felt like L was thinking the same thing.

"Ryuzaki?" Light finally said.

"What is it?"

"I wanna check this out," Light continued. "I'm gonna try comparing the names written in this notebook with the names of the victims."

"Huh, oh right…" L agreed. "Yeah that sounds like a good idea." L was staring at Light, and Miya could have sworn she saw Light grin. Something was going on. She turned her attention away from him, however, as L spoke.

"Mr. Yagami, please take Higuchi to the car."

"Uh, right, of course," Mr. Yagami agreed. They began walking to the car with Higuchi, who looked defeated.

"You know, about this notebook, I wonder what we would find if we put it through forensic analysis," Light asked.

"That doesn't sound like you Light," L pointed out. "We both know this thing is beyond science."

"Way beyond science…" Miya said, looking back at the hideous Shinigami before her.

"Yeah, you're right," Light agreed. Higuchi was almost to the car when he suddenly stopped, throwing his head back in pain.

"Ryuzaki, Higuchi's…!" Someone yelled through the intercom. Miya didn't know who it was. She was too shocked to focus.

"What the hell?" Light yelled, voicing everyone's reaction. "What's happening?"

"Hey, Higuchi!" Someone yelled. Mr. Yagami maybe? Miya's head was spinning.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Light demanded. "We can't lose him. If Higuchi dies on us now…!"

"It's impossible...eh, wh...there's nothing I can do," Mr. Yagami replied. "He's already…"

"Dead…" Miya whispered. L was staring out the window in shock, and Miya buried her head back in his shoulder. How did that just happen? They had the notebook right? No…Light had it. But could that mean? No, he never wrote a thing down. There had to be another explanation. A second notebook maybe? That had to be it. Miya lifted her head back up and looked toward the Shinigami whom she assumed must be Higuchi's invisible friend Rem. If there was another notebook, that meant there was another Shinigami. Things were getting scarier by the moment.

"What a long day…" Miya sighed as she flopped down onto her bed, not even bothering to get changed into her pajamas.

"Tired?" L wondered as he appeared in her doorway. Miya gasped and sat back up, her hand to her chest in surprise.

"Please don't scare me like that…" she breathed. "I can't take any more surprises today."

"I'm sorry," L apologized, walking over to her and reaching his hand out to touch her cheek. "Today was full of surprises, wasn't it?"

"Hmm, saw a Shinigami and caught a killer who only has to write people's names in notebooks," Miya chuckled slightly. "Yeah I'd say so…" L bent over further and kissed her forehead before stepping away from her and pacing the room. Miya watched him curiously.

"We should celebrate," she concluded. "You, me, and Noah."

"This isn't over," L said slowly.

"I know," Miya sighed. "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't celebrate the small steps along the way." L turned to face her.

"I think there may be more than one notebook," he said.

"Me too," Miya nodded. "At least two." L smiled slightly.

"Well, it appears we're on the same page here," he said. Miya nodded.

"So ice cream?" she wondered.

"Hmm?"

"I was thinking we should get ice cream," she said. "Sometime soon with Noah." L nodded slightly, and Miya stood up and walked over to him.

"I don't know how many times I have to tell you," she said, reaching out and rubbing his shoulders before sliding her arms around his neck. "You need to relax."

"Ice cream sounds good," he agreed with a sigh. "Where is Noah anyway?" Miya's face dropped and L looked at her curiously. "Something wrong?"

"He's with my parents…" she groaned. "Mom and I kinda got in a fight earlier."

"A fight?" L repeated. "Over what?"

"Well, Noah let it slip that I'm pregnant," she sighed. "And mom started judging me like she knows everything." Miya started to get a little teary, and she pulled away from him. "I have to call them. I told them I'd pick Noah up after work but it's so late. I really don't want to speak to her either."

"I don't understand," L said. "You usually get along well with your parents."

"Yeah well , my mother doesn't usually call me a slut," Miya shrugged. L's eyes widened.

"She called you…"

"Basically," Miya said as a tear rolled down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly. "Sorry, I'm not trying to be a drama queen here. It'll blow over soon." L hesitated a moment before walking over to her and pulling her toward him. Miya buried her head in his chest as a few sobs she'd been avoiding all day escaped her lips. Finally Miya pulled away and wiped her face. "I'm sorry," she half laughed. "Didn't mean to get all emotional on you. It's probably the pregnancy hormones." She reached for the phone, but L took it from her hand.

"Is it me?" he wondered. "Is your mother upset because of me?"

"She just doesn't see what I see," Miya replied. "I think she's assuming it will be like the last time." L nodded slightly and looked down at the phone in his hand. Before Miya could stop him he had dialed a number and held it to his ear.

"Mrs. Yamaguchi?" he said after a moment.

"Um, yes who's this?" Miya heard her mother reply.

"This is Hideki Ryuga," he said. "How are you?" Miya put her hand to her forehead. What was he doing?

"Oh…" she said slowly. "Well, do you happen to know where Miya is? She was supposed to come pick Noah up."

"Yes, that's why I'm calling," L said. "She just got back and was hoping you could keep Noah overnight."

"Yes, that's fine," Miya's mother said. "I suppose you calling means she doesn't want to speak to me?"

"Actually I called for a purpose," L explained. "I intend to make it clear to you of my intentions with your daughter."

"Um…alright, this should be good," her mother mumbled.

"Yes well, I am well aware of what happened with Noah's father, as well as your feelings about me," L informed. "However I would like to assure you that I care deeply for not only Miya, but Noah as well, and I plan to be here for both of them."

"And you're just willing to take on that responsibility?"

"Yes," L answered confidently. "I plan on adopting Noah and being the best father I can for both he and Oxford." Miya rolled her eyes. It was all sounding so amazing up until he mentioned that stupid name. Miya's mother didn't seem to notice it though as she continued.

"Well Ryuga that's wonderful, if you mean it," she said. "But I don't know you. All I know is that my daughter apparently trusts you as well as my grandson. So you just stick around and be a good father like you say you plan to be and everything will be fine with me."

"That sounds reasonable," L agreed, placing his lip to his thumb.

"Okay well, thanks for calling," Mrs. Yamaguchi said politely. "And please," she said, now sounding much less serious. "Tell Miya I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything I said. She's everything to me, she knows that."

"She knows," L assured her. "Nice speaking with you Mrs. Yamaguchi." He clicked the phone shut and handed it back to Miya.

"Your mother is sorry," he said. Miya took it from him and smiled.

"You didn't have to do that," she said.

"Yes I did," L said simply. Miya sighed and ran her hand through her hair, pulling it out of her eyes.

"I guess I'll talk to her tomorrow then," Miya sighed. She stood up and stretched, glancing in the mirror.

"Oh, I need a shower," she grumbled after catching sight of her messy hair. She headed toward the bathroom that was connected to her bedroom, pulling her shirt over her head as she went.

"I'll be here," L said, perching himself on the bed as he watched her go. Miya disappeared for a moment before returning, a mischievous look on her face.

"Aren't you taking a shower?" L wondered as Miya reached him and pulled him off the bed.

"Well…" Miya mumbled before pressing her lips to his, sliding her hands under his shirt. "I've had a bad day and could use some cheering up…" she mumbled against his lips, "And you need to relax, so I figure…" she pulled away for a moment, dragging his shirt over his head. "…why not take you with me?"

She laced her arms around his neck for a moment before sliding a hand down his chest and grabbing the waist of his pants, pulling him backward toward the bathroom without breaking the kiss. They had managed to shed their clothing by the time they reached the shower, which Miya had already started. The steam filled the bathroom as she pulled back the curtain, stepping in and dragging L after her. Miya felt the cold tile wall against her back as L's hot hands grasped her sides. He leaned toward her, the steaming water running off his face and down his chest, closing the space between them. L was fairly certain she had planned this supposedly spontaneous event, but he couldn't say he minded. It certainly was one way to relax.