I do not own Death Note

Chapter 47 Irritation

Matt steadied me as I got off the plane; my legs shaky from the long flight. My hands had stopped trembling, but I was dizzy.

"Here." Matt pressed a water bottle and bag of M&Ms into my hand. I stared at him blankly. "You need sugar," he explained. "Meeting Near is going to be an event and he'll be more impressed if you can fight back."

"Right," I answered taking a swig of water and crunching a handful of the colorful candies in my mouth. I swallowed, noting the hollow feeling in my stomach. He grinned and we maneuvered through the thick crowds, fighting our way outside.

We immediately were assaulted by a cloud of smoke. I wheezed and my eyes watered, while Matt winked and inhaled deeply. I winced at the noise level and Matt hailed a cab.

"When talking with Near, there are a few things you need to keep in mind," Matt said as he pulled open the cab door. "Ladies first." I slid in, Matt following behind me. He reached into his pocket and drew out a crumpled piece of paper and gave it to the cab driver.

"Near likes to test people," Matt continued, taking some M&Ms. "He'll be rude, degrading, and try to trick you out of information." Matt popped the candy in his mouth. "He'll try to piss you off and if you just sit there at take it, he's gonna lose all respect for you and brush you off. If he does piss you off, which seems to be his specialty, argue back. Yell if you have to, screaming is encouraged, and physical violence while not encouraged, is not exactly discouraged either."

I tried to take this all in. "So…act like Mello?"

Matt grinned. "Act EXACTLY like Mello."

"This is unbelievable," I muttered standing outside the massive building.

"What?" Matt asked, a cigarette between his teeth.

I shook my head. "Just the entire idea of this. L. Successors. All of it. It's really only hitting me now. Not to mention how long I've been out of all this."

"I hope you can contemplate all that while finishing your candy, because you're not tackling Near until I'm sure you won't pass out."

"That's unnecessary. I'm fine." And I was, except for the vertigo that kept hitting me at random times.

"Eat your damn candy," Matt said calmly, taking a drag of the cigarette.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm finished."

"Good." Matt straightened from where he had leaned against the building, dropping his cigarette and grinding it under his heel. "Then into the fire we go." Matt pulled out a cell phone and hit a few buttons, nodding to himself. "Alright, we're in."

"You hacked in?" I asked.

"Of course. There's no chance in hell he's letting me in." He grinned and pulled open the door. "Ladies first.

I stepped inside cautiously, unsure if some alarm was going to go off. Maybe some bars coming down over the door. I turned around an eyebrow raised when no sirens sounded off with flashing lights. Matt was just smirking in the doorway.

"Impressive, eh?"

I rolled my eyes again. "Yes. Very."

"Just having a little fun. Come on." Matt nodded towards a hallway. "This way."

We both sobered and started down the hall. I was immediately struck by how clean everything was. The walls, ceiling, and even the floor were a crisp pristine white. I looked back behind us to see scuff marks as well as ash left on the tile. I briefly wondered if that would count against me. Matt didn't seem concerned and dragged his feet almost purposefully.

We reached the end of the hall and Matt threw the door open. "Ladies first," he said for the third time. I nodded and stepped inside.

Click.

To find eight guns drawn and aimed at me.

Damn.

Matt sauntered in after me. He cheerfully raised his hands above his head. "Hey, Near."

There was pause. "It seems that means of restraint are not necessary for the situation," a disinterested voice said. My brow furrowed when I heard the sound of wheels. "Please put away your guns."

The agents reluctantly did so, and moved out of the circle they had formed around Matt and I. Matt lowered his hands and stuck them in his pocket, an easy-going smile on his face. I looked towards where I had heard the voice come from and saw what looked like a small boy sitting in the middle of the floor.

He was dressed in large white oversized pajamas that made him appear like he was drowning in the fabric. The white matched his hair, which he was currently curling around a finger, and his skin which made him appear albino. This theory was disproved however by his dark eyes. The black looked out of place on such a young face. He was playing with toy cars, which explained the sound of wheels.

I wasn't shocked in the slightest. Not after meeting L. And not after seeing the intelligence in Near's eyes. They carried the same element L did when he was trying to riddle me out.

"Am I to assume you will not be introducing yourself to me anytime soon?" Near asked in a bland voice. I twitched at his tone.

"Rei Yagami," I said dryly shooting Matt a dirty look. He winked back at me.

"And what is your business here?"

"Kira. I'm here to help you catch Kira," I said fiercely, not taking my eyes off him.

"I'm afraid I will have to decline your generous offer."

I bit my tongue, repressing the urge to lash out blindly. I needed to be able to counter this before I went flying off the handle. It did sting though; to be denied this when I needed to redeem myself.

"May I ask why?" I shot back, my voice sarcastic. Near still refused to look at me.

"Your prolonged absence for one matter. You were to contact us at the most, a few days after L's death. It seems to lead clearly to the conclusion you were shaky in your resolve to catch Kira. I'm not wont to allow you to have access to any of my files or information."

I bristled. "My 'prolonged absence,' as you so eloquently put," I spit out, "was against my will. You'll have to forgive me, for being forced to be unconscious by my supposed family!"

Near finally looked up, his eyes meeting mine. I felt slightly vindicated at seeing the curiosity in his eyes. The interest withdrew again and he looked back at his toy cars, picking one up and flying it through the air.

"I will not allow a civilian to work on this case." He looked back up at this, his true message clear.

I will not let you slow me down.

"I have information on the case. I was on the original task force! I have suspects, theories, limitations on Kira's power," I listed. I tapped the side of my head "It's all in here! I know how Kira kills! I know who he is!" I was shouting now, all my frustration pouring out.

Near looked riveted. He wasn't looking away now. His cars lay on the ground forgotten. His hand which had once been tangled in his hair lay limply on his lap.

"And who is Kira?" he challenged.

I hadn't realized I was breathing hard until that moment. The roaring in my ears stopped.

"He's my brother," I said finally, my voice no longer sounding harsh. "Kira is my brother," I said even more softly. "He's a killer, and he killed L," I continued. All eyes were on me now. "I need to bring him to justice."

Near was silent for a moment. Slowly, he began to twirl his hair again.

"Emotion has no place here. You will not be able to control yourself. Your emotions will rule you, and you will expose us."

I shook my head. "That's not true. And even if it were, you need me."

Near seemed to consider this for a moment. He locked eyes with me again.

"You will tell me everything you know. You will make a record of anything to do with the Kira case, as well as a detailed description of Kira. You will be kept under constant surveillance. You will agree to this."

"Fine," I said defiantly. I chose to ignore how he ordered me rather than asked.

"Miss Lidner, take Miss Yagami to the interrogation room."

A tall blonde woman nodded and roughly gripped my upper arm and dragged me away from Matt. I looked back and he mouthed, "Good luck!"

I was taken into a room that would have made any police station proud. It included the required uncomfortable chair and matching metal table as well as the customary bottle of water that would helped provide critical psychoanalysis.

"I don't know you brought her here, Matt."

I smirked to myself. Near's voice came over the speakers. Matt must've turned on the microphone.

"Because L told me too. That's why you're letting her stay right? There's hope for you yet, Near. Look at you being all loyal to the House."

"You're mistaken, as usual. She will simply provide vital information. Nothing more."

"Oh, of course not. You took in L's girl because she simply has information. Come on, it's the Wammy pride."

"…to think L would have fallen prey to such an emotion."

"You mean love? Just proves he's human, eh? Now go on and do your whole aloof act on Rei. I doubt it will work as well after hearing this conversation.

"…"

"Bye, Near. BYE, REI!"

"Bye, Matt," I said with smile.

There was an uncomfortable pause before I heard Near's voice again; this time with a voice filter.

"I believe you have information for me, Miss Yagami."

"Where would you like me to start?"

"This is your room," Lidner said not bothering to even look at me. It seemed like that was the norm here.

I stepped inside and tried not to cringe. Everything was white (not that I expected any different), and the effect was rather blinding, as the lights were on. It was sparse; furnished only with a bed, a chest of drawers, and a night stand. There was a door that I assumed led to a bathroom and there were the lights that were in the ceiling, but otherwise there was no decoration.

"Thanks," I answered.

Lidner ignored me. "Near wants that report as soon as possible," she said shutting the door behind her.

I sank down on the bed and stared at the floor for a few moments. I tried to sort out exactly what I was feeling right now.

Exhausted; both physically and mentally of course. There was still a spark of anger, diluted from the earlier heat and fire I had felt, but still present all the same. But there was also a sort of peace; tranquility. A weight had been taken off my shoulders.

A small smile crossed my face and I shook my head, sighing. I reached down into my bag and began to unpack. I left my clothes, but instead withdrew the key still tied to the white queen, placing it on the nightstand. I ran my finger along the red ribbon once, before looking back to the one on my wrist. It was fraying at the ends, but still the same vibrant red it had been when I had tied it in my hair.

Next came the diary, which I didn't open, but did hold I in my lap for a long time. I felt very old. An elderly woman looking back through trinkets and memories of first love. But I suppose I was old. Old for a girl who still felt eighteen anyway.

I pulled out my laptop, pulled my hair back, and began to type.

"This is useless."

"What did you say?" I asked my voice dangerously low.

Near looked up at me, his expression bored. "I will not repeat myself."

It had been three days since I had arrived. I had wracked my brain for every detail of the Kira case and typed every single god forsaken step down, and I was now being told it was no good.

"Would you mind explaining to the lesser being what the exact issue is?" I said, my voice laced with sarcasm.

Near picked up a handful of dice and carefully began stacking them into a tower. "This is the Kira case transcribed as an officer of the NPA would. That is not what I asked of you."

"You asked me for a damn report, so I wrote you a damn report. Forgive the fact I was unable to read your mind and follow whatever unspoken requirement you deemed necessary for this assignment," I spat.

True to Matt's advice, I was fighting back. What I hadn't suspected though, was for Near to manage to get under my skin so thoroughly. What was really bothering me, was not his demeaning attitude, but the way he looked at me. It seemed like he was treating me just how L would have if we had met in a different time and place. And that rankled me.

"I asked for your report with the impression you would be dissecting Kira along with his strengths and weaknesses, not a half-rate overview of the case I could have hacked from the NPA database. At this point in time, I am less likely inclined to find your deductions true due to your own incompetence. The percent of-"

"Near," I said quietly balling my hands into fists. "Shut up." He looked up; I held his attention once more. "You're not L. Stop pretending to be. How much of what you do and say comes from your own mind? What you are now is nothing but a copycat."

His eyes grew flat, his voice sounding even more dead.

"You mistake me for a child."

I had hit a nerve; crossing an unspoken line.

"No," I said firmly, lifting my chin in defiance. "I mistook you for someone deserving my respect." He had no reply to this. I turned to leave. "I'll fix the report," I said over my shoulder.

I ignored the lights turning off above me. This was a habit of Near's. I wasn't quite sure what it meant, as I was sure it was supposed to a message or taunt of some time, so I usually chose to pretend it hadn't happened. On occasion, the lights turned on and off in quick succession and resisted the urge throw something at one of the security cameras I had found since my stay here.

I eventually stopped working and decided to try and sleep. I felt much better now. The headaches, dizziness, and shakiness had stopped, which led me to believe the symptoms had been from muscle weakness rather than actual withdrawal, or I had simply been very lucky to escape so easily from the hold of addiction. The first sounded more probable.

I shrugged out of my shirt and pulled on the large oversized white one, sleeping over my head and inhaling deeply. It still smelled like him. I closed my eyes and drifted off.

I didn't dream.

"I don't understand why you won't let me contribute," I complained.

I had been confined to my room for almost a week and had finally resulted to hacking my way out. Luckily the door hadn't had a manual lock along with the automated one.

"You are biased and have a personal connection to the case. I am conducting my investigation in my own manner without outside information. Until I am sure Light Yagami is Kira, the case will not move forward in that direction. Miss Lidner, please escort Miss Yagami back to her room," Near drawled, this time pieces of Lego in his hands.

I was not let out of my room until October 8th, 2012.

I had been dragged out by Lidner, who Near seemed to assign to be my keeper. I had been ready to snap at him and demand an explanation from him. The look on his face kept me silent.

"The Director of the NPA has been kidnapped."

~Author's Note~

Near is so mean. Rei is too, but she would have been really mean to L if she hadn't respected him so much. I was trying to imitate the feeling of disgust Light has with Near without making it total hatred. So instead, she thinks him cold and immature.

First of all. Yes. I'm late by two days. I suck, but so do finals. But as it is now summer for me, I will be trying for three or more updates a week. It's time to wrap this bad boy up.

I've just recently found a website that has all the scripts for the anime version of Death Note. This is a girl who's been watching each episode and copying down dialogue. Can you say faceplam?

I've also just become addicted to Homestuck. My favorite kid is John and my favorite troll is Terezi.

THANKS FOR ALL THE REVIEWS!

theawsomesarah: For some strange reason I can't reply to you using the website. I'm really trying to bring the whole Wammy thing together, and for me, it just wouldn't be complete without Matt. Besides, he makes such a good advocate for Rei. Sorry, no resurrection of L, and definitely no death eraser. As it is, I doubt L wants to be resurrected after being dead for almost five years.

AlbinoButterfly: He is quite girly, but I feel his scar counters that. And love never does die.

SaberAmane: Thanks a ton!

World without L is just a word: I agree with you. And I purposefully did that. Light being Kira wasn't just enough motivation for Rei, no matter how hard she pretended it was. So I punched a big hole in her life. It has been my dream to hear L say bloody hell with an English accent. How sexy would that be? I will try to stay awesome ;)

Grrrrrr: Thanks so much for the review! You've been missed!