notes/warnings

+ swearing.

+ implied past abuse.

+ may contain tea and giant skeletons. but not necessarily in the same mouthful.

Change

As soon as they get back to the office, Takada makes tea. She seems to want to keep busy. Naomi sits on a chair as instructed, folds her arms, and waits.

Tea is a complicated sort of beverage. From beginning to end, it involves growing plants, picking leaves, drying leaves, crushing dried leaves, boiling water, steeping tea, pouring tea, and possibly adding milk and sugar.

It seems like a ridiculous amount of effort to put into something that doesn't even taste of apples.

Naomi pretends to pray under her breath. She's a damn good little actor, and Ryuk is thoroughly impressed. He wonders whether she'll win out over Takada in the end.

Of course, that's the ultimate question, isn't it? The decisive factor in Takada's fate. To get out of hell, some people have to win. Others have to accept defeat. Or save a life. Or realise the error of their ways. Or renounce evil, whatever the hell that's supposed to be. Or come to terms with their own insecurities. Or fall in love. Or fall out of love.

Honestly, he doesn't know how the queen keeps track of all of them. They're just like ants, really. Teeny, tiny, ants. Occasionally-adorable, occasionally-fascinating, apple-producing, human-shaped ants. With valuable life spans and the ability to really screw up their own lives, and intelligence, and...

Okay, maybe they're not really like ants.

Takada comes back with two mugs, and Naomi accepts hers and drinks from it without hesitation. She can't display any sort of caution, of course. Mistrusting Takada will only make her suspicious.

Rae hasn't come with Naomi. It's almost as if Rae is avoiding him.

Nah, couldn't be. Ryuk is a fun guy to be around. Rae must be busy elsewhere, that's all.

"Thank you, my...Kimiko."

"Think about what you just said, and then don't say it again," Takada warns. She's on edge. She must like Naomi, at least a little bit. Or maybe she's just planning on killing her. Or maybe she's having a bad...nose day? Hair day?

Ryuk is no expert on humans. Can't predict 'em to save his life. He learned that much while he was with Light.

"Oh," Naomi gasps, and presses a hand over her mouth. "I'm...I'm so sorry. How rude, to imply ownership of...oh, forgive me."

She hangs her head miserably.

"Drink your tea," Takada tells her, rolling her eyes. "And stop being so dramatic. Did you not come here to pray?"

"Yes," Naomi replies meekly, peering up through her fringe. "I was going to pray for myself, that I might be healthy once more. But I think I've changed my mind. Tonight, I want to pray for you."

Takada looks distinctly uncomfortable.

"Do you honestly think I need your prayers?" she asks sternly.

"I think we all need Kira's help," Naomi replies earnestly. "And...well, I wish you could be happy. What you are doing right now is important and amazing, but you look so sad. I want to do what I can to make sure things get better for you."

"Things will be better when Kira returns."

"Then it's the perfect thing to pray about," Naomi says decisively. "You."

"Do what you want," Takada chokes, tipping her head forward to hide her face. "You have ten minutes left here. I have...other engagements tonight."

"Of course," Naomi replies warmly, pretending not to notice.

You're good, Ryuk thinks. Light's lucky he killed you straight away, or you would have been a serious rival. Maybe even more serious than L himself.

And then, fondly, he wonders what Emma would think of her.

Nothing happens.

Naomi prays and smiles and drinks her tea, and leaves. And nothing happens. She doesn't try anything. She doesn't say anything. She doesn't do anything.

Takada can't explain why that bothers her, but it does.

L aches from sitting in the same position for days on end. His head throbs from lack of sleep.

He can't sleep. If he sleeps, Light might come back.

He knows he is irrational about Light, but then, Light was always irrational. Implausible. Impossible powers, impossible timing, impossible luck. If he breaks out of hell, it will be at the most beneficial moment possible.

Of course, L is already in a weakened state just from the extended surveillance. If he were Light, he'd choose now. Right now. While L is struggling to concentrate, and baffled by the hell god, and frightened and mostly unarmed.

So how should he do it?

It would be best to disguise himself as a police officer supporting the case. No! Light will believe that L will be suspicious of all police officers and their offspring.

Or will he know L's not that easily damaged?

No, it would have to be a police officer. He'll track L using L's own contacts. Hell, maybe he'll pose as a detective and get in touch with Buzz, and they can...

Maybe he is Buzz.

Dear god. That...that would make sense. Buzz knew about the Kira case. Buzz knew about Light.

So, Light will pose as a detective, and track down L. One day soon, L is going to look out the window and see that horrible, expressionless, schoolboy-ish face staring back at him. And laughing.

And then...then Light will kill him.

No.

Then Light will come up against a ten-foot wall of skulls that has a vested interest in L staying alive.

L allows himself a tiny smile. Rae is kind of his hero, in a way. The Shinigami would deeply resent that thought, but it's true. Someone saving his life because it benefits them is still someone saving his life, as far as he's concerned.

But.

If everything that is happening now truly is controlled by the hell-god, then what? Is it the hell-god's will that Light return? That Light kill him, stop his heart, drop him out of his chair again and laugh?

Rae isn't stronger than the hell-god. No, the hell-god is obviously capable of controlling anyone he chooses. If Light finds him while Rae is with Naomi, L will have no way of contacting his Shinigami. No way of asking for help.

Is he going to die, all alone, bent double in this tiny van?

"I give it four days," Rae announces, arrogantly flopping onto the seat beside him. "Naomi is an excellent actress. With her charm and my brains, we should have Takada trusting her absolutely within four days."

"That is excellent news," L replies, pushing his fears aside. "Please tell Naomi that I am very pleased with her progress."

"Will do," Rae agrees, and then side-eyes him carefully. "You're still going through your paranoid phase, huh?"

"What?"

"Your face is slightly paler than normal," Rae explains. "And you aren't eating anything. That means you're having a hard time. Still panicking about the god of hell?"

"What will I do if Light comes back and you aren't here to stop him killing me?" L asks quietly.

"That won't happen," Rae snorts, and then reconsiders. "I'm sure that won't happen. Why should that happen?"

"I mean, I'll die, of course. Again. I just don't want it to be in front of him. Or because of him. I don't want him to have that again."

"You're babbling," Rae says coldly.

"And...and what will you do? The challenge will be passed on to someone else. You won't even miss me," L finishes, glumly.

Silence reigns in the car for a few seconds.

"Shut up," Rae snarls. "Why would you even say that? Why should I miss you? Why would you expect that of me? I'm a Shinigami. And I hate you."

"I know," L replies. "But I don't hate you. And...and I am tired."

He can say anything he wants, to Rae. It hates him anway, it's going to leave him soon regardless, and the others won't believe anything it says about him. He might as well complain. He's never allowed to complain.

"You could try sitting like a normal human being," Rae says, a strange, soft fury in its voice.

"And make myself even more vulnerable?"

"You're not the one in danger."

"I will be when he comes back."

"Oh, for god's sake," Rae says darkly. "He's not coming back."

"You know nothing of hell," L reminds it. "Why should you claim to know that?"

He studies the Shinigami intently for a moment. It seems strangely uncomfortable.

"What? Because it's...it's common knowledge, that's why. Because-"

"Could it be that you're trying to make me feel better?" L wonders, shoving his thumb into his mouth.

"You know, I don't even know why I talk to you any more," Rae tells him angrily. "From now on, I'm going to ignore everything you say that isn't directly related to this case."

It disappears in a flurry of movement. The car is suddenly a very quiet place. The air seems too heavy. With anticipation, maybe.

L feels inexplicably lonely.

"Yes," he whispers, to no one in particular. "You do that, my friend."

"There is no ring on your finger," Takada comments, trying to sound as disinterested as possible. "I take it there is no Mr Penber?"

Not that she will know if Naomi is lying. There is no way to know whether the name over someone's head is married or maiden.

But still. Naomi would never dare lie to her.

"No, my lady," Naomi replies softly. "I have never felt the desire to make such a commitment to a mere mortal. My only vows are for my religion."

"Kira," Takada translates. "Yes, that is...that is right."

Naomi gives her an uncertain little smile, and goes back to resting her head against the table. She seems to be quite ill today.

The death note does not make one omniscient. Takada cannot cure the diseased, or save the dying, or bring peace to the suffering.

Still, that won't matter. The death note is power. Power enough to become a god. Or a goddess. Who could ask for more?

Kira isn't the benevolent sort of deity that Naomi prays to. In a way, Takada almost pities her. She's so confused. And earnest. And weak.

"And you, my lady?" Naomi ventures. "No Mr...er, Kimiko?"

Takada lets herself laugh out loud at that comment.

You really do know nothing. Perhaps I was a fool to ever suspect you.

"In the first world, Kira and I were partners," she says simply, and smirks.

Yes, that's right. Poor, sad, washed-out little Misa, who thought she was engaged to Light. Poor, silly, stupid little girl. Only I was intelligent enough to be his partner.

But in all those years, little Misa, you never noticed how much he despised you.

You deserved everything you got.

She and Light had conversed long into the night, every night, for so many weeks. That hotel room will always be amongst her fondest memories.

He held such derision for Misa. For so many people. The evil, the stupid, and the ordinary. Of all the people in the world, Light had only ever spoken of Takada as his intellectual equal. The rest of the population were just...sheep.

Oh, well, he spoke of L's intelligence, too. But L was the enemy. Is the enemy again. Light will be thrilled to find that Takada has taken care of him.

"Oh!" Naomi exclaims, her eyes widening. "Oh. Of course. I should have guessed that."

Takada stops smiling to herself and regards Naomi intensely.

Why should you have guessed? What do you know about me?

Is it possible that you might work for L and still have been willing to give your life to protect me?

"Why do you say that?" she asks, coldly.

Naomi looks away quickly.

"Well, he's Kira, isn't he?" she says, matter-of-factly. "He can have his choice of anyone he wants. Why wouldn't he choose the most beautiful woman in the world?"

"Are you all right, toots?" Ryuk asks gleefully. "You haven't stopped pacing since Naomi left. And by 'left', I mean, 'you sent her away really suddenly and while sounding sort of mad'. I'm starting to think-"

"Shut up, Shinigami!" Takada snaps. "Why does she say these things? What does she want?"

"How would I know? I'm a god of death. I don't understand people. Why don't you just ask her what she wants?"

"Because I don't know what I want her to say, that's why!" Takada replies sharply. "Oh, god, she's taking advantage of me. Joining my disciples now, when Light isn't here. When I'm alone. She saved my life. She made me safe. Why is she doing this?"

"Look, if you're sick of her, you still have a death note," Ryuk points out, prising open the fridge. "Just saying."

"I can't kill her," Takada tells him. "God, she's already ill. What if she dies? What will I do then?"

"You're attached to her," Ryuk decides. "Hey, golden delicious! I didn't even think they were in season at this time of year."

"It's not wrong, to want to have someone for yourself, is it?" she asks. "I'm just using her. Light used Misa. It should be okay."

"Well, that'ff true. Iff you don' get Ligh' back, then whatff the poin' in doing what heef wantf, righ'?"

"You are disgusting," Takada says primly. "And you are dribbling apple juice all over the floor. But you do have a point. I ought to put myself first. I'm not choosing her over Light. I'd just be choosing her over...over this. Over loneliness. If she is so obliged to protect me, she'll be useful to my goal."

"Righf!"

Takada turns away from her munching Shinigami, and regards her reflection in the elaborate mirror hanging above her sink.

Am I really that beautiful?

How can you say that, when you know nothing of me. Nothing of what I want, or how I feel or what I remember.

Or what I've been through.

Oh god, what I've been through.

But you. You're so noble. So noble, and so desperate to look after me.

For the first time since she the death note came to her, Kiyomi Takada wants to tell someone about her recent past. She wants Naomi to know about Big Jason, and what he does to people.

She wants Naomi to hate him. She wants Naomi to defend her.

She wants.

"You know, I'm no expert on humans, but Kiyomi was doing some serious repressing and rationalising back there."

"Tell me about it," Rae replies, with dignity. "It's almost pathetic."

Ryuk tries not to snicker out loud.

He doesn't want to get punched again, after all.

Leah waves both of her arms around in the air, in a bizarre-but-enthusiastic expression of victory.

"Look at all this information! Naomi, you are a godsend. There must be thousands of police files here!"

Naomi smiles indulgently.

"Just remember to be careful. And to log out before six o'clock this evening."

"Got it," Leah replies, and flashes a thumbs-up at her. "Kimiko will be pleased with us."

They've been poking through Bryce's files for the past day and a half, and Leah seems to get excited every time they uncover a new folder. It's almost endearing. Naomi doesn't mind working with Leah. She's an interesting woman, actually. She's honest and loud, and seemingly kind. Naomi wonders whether she even knows the truth about Takada's goals. She doesn't seem the type to worship Kira. She seems the type to just want to enjoy her life.

Then again, who knows what lies Takada has told? Or what lies Light might have told, when he was still alive in the first world. Kira apparently gained thousands and thousands of followers in the time between L's death and his own. It's not surprising that ordinary, unjaded people have been drawn to him as much as the bigots, the sociopaths, and the anger-riddled.

"What are we even supposed to be looking for?" Naomi asks curiously. "I mean, back in my day, the senior officers made it clear that they hated everything to do with Kira, so I can understand that they might oppose us. But I was under the impression that no-one had really noticed the movements of our Lady."

She tips her head to one side, mimicking L's thinking position.

"Although that FBI agent knew who she was, didn't he?" she muses. "I suppose someone must be after her. It makes me sick just thinking about it."

"You're sick all the time, honey," Leah points out brightly.

"I know. But she and Kira are trying so hard to protect innocent people, and make a good world, and then these...these...people are trying to stop them."

"Humans, as a species, kind of suck," Leah says sagely. "But that's okay. Things are supposed to be better in the second world. Justice will prevail."

Maybe you really do believe in Kira, Naomi thinks, suddenly achingly sad for this woman. Light is no god. Light is an evil megalomaniac. He killed the good alongside the bad without a second thought. And in the end, all he wanted was to be great.

Not justice.

Not peace.

Just power.

Look at what you've done, you stupid little boy. Look at what you've done to everybody.

"You're right, of course," Naomi replies. "I wish I knew what our Lady's plans were. I feel like I'm fumbling in the dark, trying to help but not really knowing what I ought to do. I'm glad I managed to assist you in breaking into the police database."

"You fret too much," Leah replies with a grin. "Trust in Kimiko. She'll bring Kira back. She's an amazing woman."

"Yes," Naomi says emphatically. Takada might be listening, after all. It wouldn't do to miss a chance to make her pulse race.

Because according to Rae, she's definitely starting to fall.

And Rae ought to know.

And Naomi wishes she didn't feel so much like Light, tricking innocent people into loving him, breaking hearts and minds and bodies all over the place. But Naomi's doing this to stop Light, and that makes it okay.

L makes people fall for him without malice or intent, without even noticing at all. She wishes she were more like him.

"So, do you think that Kira can really kill people just by thinking about it?" Leah asks conspirationally. "Or do you think he can just move too fast to be seen? I always fancied the idea of him zooming around through the air, carrying a giant scythe."

"I'm sure we mere mortals could guess for a million years, and still not be able to comprehend the powers of a god," Naomi replies.

"Oh yeah," Leah mutters. "Of course."

"Did you get the picture I sent?" L asks softly, his phone dangling from his forefinger and thumb.

"Yes, L," Watari replies courteously. "The quality is below average, as you know, but the software matched the face with ninety-five percent confidence."

There is something comforting about computer programs that calculate probabilities. L almost feels as if he can relate to them.

"And the match?" he asks, politely. He always saves his best manners for Watari. No one else has served him so faithfully. No one else tolerates his moods and whims without complaint.

No one else died with him, that day.

No, wait.

She did. Rem did.

Bizarrely, L wishes Watari could have met her.

"She is Jacinta Wedgewood."

"The supermodel," L muses. "I thought I recognised her. What on earth is she doing working for Takada? Surely she has plenty of money and power in her own right."

"Perhaps she has faith?" Watari suggests.

"Yes, perhaps."

"Jacinta is a stage name, of course. Grianna Jones must be her real name, if it is the one that Rae sees."

"Yes, but it doesn't make sense," L tells him, wearily.

"Are you all right, L?" Watari asks gently. "Do you need anything?"

"Not unless you can find me the god of hell," L says tersely. "I think he may be trying to control me."

"Then," Watari says, and L can hear him smile, "he is in for one hell of a fight."

Hells set in the real world are always a little tricky. Hells set around L are rapidly becoming dangerous. She will have to stop using him, soon. He is becoming too strong, even under Jas' considerable influence.

And...she is upsetting him.

Kiyomi Takada, on the other hand, is easy. She's practically falling for Naomi Penber of her own accord. All Jas needs to do is accelerate things, make it all fit, make sure everyone arrives in the right place at the right time, and...

And then Takada must make her choice.

Jas is an impartial being. She doesn't care who falls and who is saved.

Well, mostly she doesn't care. She cares about Mello, maybe, a little, but who wouldn't? He's like a living doll, so bright, so perfect. Who wouldn't want him for their very own? Who wouldn't want him to be happy?

Jas cannot have both of those things, of course. That is the curse of being the hell-god.

She should never have developed feelings for a human.

And even here, even in Takada's hell, the path is not completely clear. Jas used to be better. She used to be able to arrange real-world hells so that no humans died except when they were supposed to.

Now, there is a chance that a lifespan might be cut short. And yet there is no way around that.

Besides, it doesn't matter how incompetent she becomes. She is the only queen there is, and she must rule hell forever. If she falls, if she changes, well.

The world will just have to change, too.

The next evening, two of their five servers shut down, and Takada has to spend a good few hours glaring at various people before they are properly fixed.

Seven o'clock comes and goes. She doesn't kill any criminals, and she doesn't get to sit with Naomi.

They cannot afford any mistakes. Leah believes that one of the accounts linked to Bryce's is heavily guarded. Takada needs to find out what is inside.

Naomi Penber is an incredibly useful woman. With her connections, and Leah's talents, and the sheer manpower of Kira's supporters, they will find L.

And destroy him.

It's been a busy day. Takada drinks a low-sugar, organic smoothie, pulls a robe over her shoulders, writes down the names of a few randomly-selected criminals, pointedly ignores Ryuk, and goes to bed.

Three minutes later, the phone rings.

Fear ricochets through Takada's veins. She sits bolt upright, regarding her phone with open terror.

"Him again, huh?" Ryuk asks. "Damn. He needs a hobby."

She has to answer. If she doesn't answer, Big Jason might come to deliver his message in person. She takes the phone and opens it.

"What do you want?" she asks, as calmly as possible, her palms drenched with cold sweat.

"Good evening," Jason replies, smarmily. "Just wanted to let you know that this Light's family have made some stupid mistakes, and doubled their debt. I've been forced to tighten some of the slack in our arrangement."

Takada's heart thuds in her chest.

"Light's family were good people," she says softly.

"Good people make mistakes," Jason says brightly. "Debt is a tricky thing, little lady."

"Don't call me pet names," she snaps, disgusted. "Light's contract is with me now."

"But Light came to my possession because of his relatives. Unfortunately, you're going to have to work faster. As compensation, I want L dead within a week."

"A week?" she gasps. "That's not...that isn't possible!"

"I know, I know," Jason replies. "That's why I called to offer you one last chance to pull out of this deal without consequence. Leave Yagami with me, and live your own life."

"Fuck you," Takada hisses.

"Take it or leave it, babe."

Light is her world. She cannot 'leave it'. She loves him. And he loves her. Even when he let her burn, when he killed her, when he took her hand and lit that gasoline and lay her down in the burning, scalding hot...

He loves her...

He must.

There's no way, is there? There's no possible way. No, there isn't. She has to believe he loves her. Otherwise, what is the point of her life? Of anything?

So, she must do this for him. She must play right into Jason's hands, one more time.

"You know what will happen if you fail, right?" Jason continues. "I'll want payment for your wasting my time."

"I can imagine," she chokes. "I hate you for all of this. I hate you. One week. L dead in one week."

"Thatta girl," Jason croons. "Our deal is still on, then?"

"Of course it is, you monster."

Naomi wakes to Rae calling her name, and hovering over her crossly.

"Takada's on her way," it informs her coolly. "She's just been on the phone to that Big Jason character. She'll be here in a minute."

How do you know she's coming to my room? Naomi wonders. She knows little about Jason, but he seems to be a motivating factor in Takada's life. She's scared of him, for some reason. And he doesn't seem to have anything to do with Light, which is strange.

Of course, Takada hasn't told her any of this. It's only through Rae's spying that they've found out about Jason at all. Obviously Naomi hasn't reached that level of trust. Yet.

She and Takada didn't have any one-on-one time today. Another missed opportunity. Naomi will have to work extra hard tomorrow.

She wonders what L thinks. She wonders if L is proud of her. She'd like that. Some tiny, childish part of her still wants nothing more than to please her boss.

And Rae won't tell her, of course. Because Rae is a bastard, and also possibly jealous of L talking about anyone else. She doesn't really hate the Shinigami any more. It's hard to hate something that is so small-minded and struggling so hard. And still failing.

There's a knock on the door. Naomi struggles into a vaguely upright position, one hand on the nightstand, the other supporting her throbbing head. She can't just stay in bed. Takada expects her to be vigilant, after all. She's supposed to be the perfect bodyguard.

"Come in," she calls, once she's arranged herself into a suitably defensive pose.

Kiyomi Takada strides into the room, her face pale, her hair tumbling from the clip at the back of her neck.

She's not wearing that much, either, but Naomi suspects that is more by error than design. Takada is clearly terrified.

Naomi allows herself to relax, and sinks back down onto the bed. She needs stability. The world is spinning around her.

"My Lady," she says, steadying her voice. "Kimiko. What is it? What's happened?"

Rae would have warned her if there was a break-in, or a raid, or something equally serious. This must be about Big Jason's phone call.

Maybe she'll learn something.

Takada locks the door from the inside, something that Naomi has never been permitted to do, and then walks over to stand in front of Naomi. She is silent for a few moments, presumably while she decides on what she wants to say.

It's interesting, seeing Takada lose her composure. In a way, Naomi can draw a lot of comparisons between Takada and Rae.

"What's wrong?" she asks again, a little more loudly.

She's just a distressed, over-protective little Kira-worshipper, after all. Completely harmless, and a safe confidante.

"I have new instructions for you," Takada says, finally. "A few days ago, you indicated that you would risk your life to save mine."

"Of course," Naomi replies. "You shouldn't even need to ask!"

Takada tugs a phone from the pocket of her robe, flips it open, and presses a few buttons. Then she passes it to Naomi.

"That is the man known as Big Jason," Takada tells her softly. "He is one of my enemies."

Naomi stares at the photograph on the screen. It's a blurry, amateur-looking shot, obviously candid, and poorly lit. But she can make out a pointy-faced man with short blonde hair and a sparse beard, His eyes are hidden by shadows, and he looks sinister and unpleasant.

Then again, L looks sinister and unpleasant, too. An enemy of Takada's might well be a friend of hers.

"What did he do to you?" Naomi asks.

Takada shudders visibly, and pulls her robe tight around her chest. Naomi's eyes widen.

Oh god. He was That Guy? He was the one who made you so afraid of men?

Maybe he really is my enemy, then.

"Details aren't important," Takada tells her tremulously. "He is...well, technically he's a loan shark. He owns people. He lends money, and he collects in a big way. I was used to pay off a family member's debt not long after I arrived in the second world."

"He hurt you, didn't he?"

Takada takes the phone from Naomi and lets it tumble to the bed.

"Yes," she says, simply.

"I'll kill him," Naomi replies, immediately, and she's only half-acting. "I swear, I'll kill him. Dear god, people like him shouldn't even be allowed to-"

"You do not have permission to seek him out," Takada replies coldly. "I did not come here for your sympathy. I can take care of myself. The problem is that now, this man is in possession of our Lord."

"No!" Naomi says, shaking her head violently. "No! That can't be!"

Her head is racing. This is important information. They can use this. If they know where Light is likely to be, then maybe L and the others can get to the place first and ensure that he is never freed.

"That was my reaction, too," Takada tells her, perhaps a little indulgently.

"Well, all is not lost," Naomi says firmly. "If we can reach this Jason character, that means we can reach Kira!"

"If that were possible, don't you think I'd be heading there right now?" Takada asks irritably.

Naomi stares at her.

"For all I know, you could be, my Lady," she replies seriously. "I do not presume that you tell me everything."

"That is as it should be. The truth is it would be suicide to attack Jason openly. I have a deal with him. I must provide him with something in a trade for our Lord."

And, of course, you're not going to tell me your end of this 'trade', are you?

What does he want? A certain number of criminals dead? The note? Power? Revenge?

Good god, is this Big Jason someone we've tackled before?

Could it be that this is why you want L dead so badly, Takada?

It's just a theory at the moment, and one she can't communicate with the others. She'll have to rely on the taps, and Rae's liaising, and L's magnificent brain. She'll have to hope her boss deduces the same set of possibilities. Because Takada wanting L dead out of revenge is one thing, but if murdering L is the only way for Takada to get Light back, then.

Then L had better be really fucking careful, that's what. She's not losing him. She's not losing someone she loves again. She won't stand for being left behind.

"Shit," Rae breathes. "This could be a problem."

"Can I help you make this trade?" Naomi ventures, smiling at Takada.

"You already are. That's what we're all working towards, even as we speak. But I have another task for you, Naomi. As of today, you know things that no other employee knows. Jason doesn't always play fair. It is possible that if I seem to be succeeding in making the trade, he'll try to stop me. I want you to promise me that if he comes here, you will protect me from him. Will you do that, Naomi Penber?"

Takada stares at Naomi as if her answer might be the most important answer ever given. Her hands are knotted together in her lap. She still looks frightened.

Of course, if you really are only going after L in order to save Light, then Jason is our number one enemy, too. Without Jason, you cannot make the trade.

And I have no sympathy for people who terrorise others the way he's obviously terrorised you.

"Of course," Naomi says, letting herself sound slightly indignant. "You only needed to ask. I'll protect you. Of course I will."

Takada exhales, slowly. She seems to crumple in on herself, and Naomi wonders why she's so relieved. Surely she had plenty of other people here to protect her before Naomi came along.

But then, she doesn't trust them, does she? She trusts only Naomi.

And Naomi...Naomi does want to save her. Naomi wants to save everybody, all the time. It's just...not always possible. She can save Takada from Jason, but she cannot save Takada from Light.

Can she?

Takada flops down onto the bed, her head coming to rest on Naomi's shoulder.

"Good," she says quietly. "So you should."

They stay like that for a long time.

tbc

a/n:

+ oh my god only a week late yay go me!

+ thank you. I think this fic has gleaned a few new readers over the past week, and I just want to say that I appreciate all of you who have taken the time to read this far. thank you. you are all lovely.