I do not own Death Note

Chapter 48 Aggravation

"What?" I asked my mouth going dry.

Near shot me a condescending look. "Director Takimura of the NPA was kidnapped."

"I heard you the first time, I was just hoping it would make more sense this time around," I said venomously.

This didn't fit at all, but if Near was mentioning it, it had to have some sort of connection to the Kira case. But what would Light have to gain from this? As far as I knew, the Director was oblivious to the existence of the notebook and knew only the bare minimum about the case. He would hardly pose a threat to Light; unless he was being removed in order for Light to have a Kira sympathizer in a position of power. But it was too soon for that; there was still too much dissension in the world.

I shook my head. "It doesn't match Kira's current MO. It's not subtle enough for him. He wouldn't target the NPA so obviously," I said in confusion.

"You are correct. I do not believe this is a strategy employed by Kira. Instead, I believe there is a third party who is aware of the existence of the notebooks," Near agreed, seemingly impressed that I could string a reasonable conclusion together. Or at least the look of scorn was gone from his face and he was behaving like a professional.

"Someone else who knows about the notebooks? Mello?"

Near nodded. "Perhaps. It is a sound theory to say the least."

"And what do you propose we do?" I asked, my voice absent of barbs or sarcasm for once.

It blinked at me, his stare owlishly reminiscent of L's. "We do not do anything. Neither party knows we have any knowledge about the kidnapping whatsoever. It would not be wise to show our hand to the enemy."

"We're not going to do anything?" I asked in mild disbelief.

"Do you have any suggestions?" There we go. I was wondering when he was going to begin mocking me again.

"Infiltration; collaboration with Mello or even the task force! I don't know; anything's better than just watching!"

"Perhaps once the situation develops more, but we cannot be the first to approach. If we make any sort of suggestion to assist one another, they well immediately suspect an anterior motive; and in this instance, their suspicions would be well founded," Near argued placidly.

"Then have someone infiltrate the task force! If it's necessary, I could even do it! I know exactly what to say to make them doubt Li-"

"I heard your father speak for the first time today, Miss Yagami." I froze. "We had an agent wired and inquiring about the notebook. He seemed like a good man." I stared at him in confusion, clueless as to where he was going with this. "I doubt he would support your suicide mission."

I flinched. "Shut up," I said weakly. I closed my eyes, breathing deeply. "But you're right. He wouldn't agree and announcing where I am to Light like that would be just as good as jumping off a building. We need a more subtle approach than that. Is there any way you could drop hints that I've met and spoken with you?"

"Possibly," Near answered, consideration in his voice. "But not during the present time. No, for now we wait and see how everything unfolds."

"Fine," I agreed. "But don't keep me in the dark."

"Near, we've just received a report that the director of the Japanese Police Agency has been killed," a man I had come to recognize as Rester said.

"I see. By whom?" Near asked.

"By whom?" The question seemed to flummox Rester. "Ah, the kidnappers, of course. Who else?"

"It'd be interesting if it turned out to be Kira," another underling muttered, Gevanni, I believe.

I would have interjected already if Near hadn't made me swear to keep quiet in exchange for being allowed in the main headquarters.

"That's a very good point. The police won't be trading their notebook if a hostage is dead, so protects Kira's interest. And if it is in fact Kira, I can narrow down on our list of suspects significantly."

I rolled my eyes. Near was still set in stone on researching other suspects despite the evidence I had provided.

"By the way, Commander Rester, have you been able to determine his whereabouts yet?" Near inquired holding up a photograph.

It was of a young boy. He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't scowling either as Matt had led me to believe he would. His hair was cut rather girlishly; the blonde strands framing a slender face and blue eyes.

"Not yet. We were able to confirm that he left the institution four years ago, but nothing beyond that," Rester answered.

"Very well. That clinches it," Near said to himself.

"What?" Rester asked.

"It's Mello, right?" I asked quietly. "Mello's behind the kidnapping. You've already traced the location of where the director was, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"It was L.A. wasn't it? That's where Matt said he was going."

"That is not a proven fact, merely a theory."

"Near, stop being difficult. Mello is in L.A., most likely with some sort of organized crime if he's going around kidnapping people. He'll need the muscle. A powerful gang at the very least," I continued. "Are we making a move or not?"

"No. We still need more information. If it truly is Mello, he will have anticipated this move from Kira and will use his back-up plan."

I raised an eyebrow and straightened from where I was slumped over a desk. "And that would be?"

"I believe we had an agreement you would remain silent."

"So what you are telling me is that Kira killed Takimura, not the kidnappers?" the director of the FBI asked. His name was Maison, and he had been looking at me in confusion for the entirety of his time at headquarters.

"I'm simply putting it forward as a possibility. If it does turn out to be true, then it means Kira must be getting his information from the Japanese Police," Near explained. He was sitting in a chair for once, but he still had one leg bent up, while the other dangled to the floor.

Maison's phone rang. He scowled and checked the caller ID, the frown deepening. "Yes?" he asked gruffly. He paused and looked shocked. "I don't believe it. It's L," he said to us. There was another pause. "I see, well…." He looked flustered.

I grit my teeth and balled my fists. So Light had done it. He really had done what L suspected he would all those years ago. He was both L and Kira. Justice and God.

"Pass me the phone," Near ordered dully, holding his hand out for the cell phone. He took it and attached a voice filter. He placed the now bulky device and pressed it to his ear, but before he switched it on, he offered me a headset. Once I had it on, he flicked the switch.

"I'm pleased to meet you at last," Near paused, a small smirk gracing his normally expressionless face, "L number two."

I smirked as well. Light's wordless shock was gratifying.

"… number two? What do you mean by that? Who is this?"

Light's voice was also disguised, using the same frequency L's had been I noted with some anger, but Light's didn't mask the slight panic his tone had.

" There's really no point in trying to hide it. We are a new organization known as the SPK, or Special Provision for Kira. It was established to find and capture Kira without the help of L. Furthermore, seven of our top members already know of L's death," Near revealed, playing with the curl in his hair.

Light was worried. He didn't dare try to manipulate Near when he wasn't sure of how many cards Near actually held. Seeing Light flounder like this…really was like having L back. But I'm sure Light was having the same exact feeling right now. Of being familiarly trapped, cornered, and entangled.

I hoped he believed L was back from the grave and was ready to finish what he started.

Who was to say it was impossible? After all, he had seen firsthand a god of death.

"As for myself, I am at the center of the SPK. You can address me … as N." Near was smirking again. It seemed to make him look more menacing.

Perhaps Near was L's ghost in some way. It would certainly explain the similarities. But Near had been alive before L's death. Possession, perhaps? Or maybe Near was a demon sent by L. or maybe I was over thinking this. Just because there was proof that the supernatural existed did not mean every legend was true or that everything that frightened me was from the realm of paranormal.

But Near did frighten me I suppose. He had none of the warmth I had seen within L. He was truly distanced from the realm of emotion. If anything, he may have scared me because he could have easily been how L was as a child. And the thought of L staring me so coldly was terrifying to me.

The memory of L was the only thing I had right now. The possibility of it being tainted was enough to shatter my already fragile state of mind; no matter how hard I liked to pretend I was above Light's betrayal.

"I told you that we wouldn't rely on L, but that's an even understatement. The FBI and CIA had explicitly asked that I head up the investigation, not you. Having said that, we are outraged by the recent murder of the director of the NPA and feeling something must be done. After reviewing the information, I believe there is a possibility that solving this case could lead to the arrest of Kira. As such, I'm willing to lend you my full support," Near continued.

He wasn't giving Light a chance to recover. He had undermined Light's authority, expressed his belief Light was incompetent, and had suggested that the USA no longer had faith in L's ability to solve the Kira case.

"Is there a problem, L?"

" No, it's just that following the death of Takimura, Deputy Director Yagami's daughter was kidnapped. And we believe the same person is behind it. He's arranged for a trade in Los Angeles."

I felt myself pale. The kidnapper had sent photographs of the director when he had kidnapped him. There was no way they could have acquired a photograph of me that would convince the task force members I had been kidnapped, so Light was using this as a motivational factor so the task force would be willing to attack the kidnappers. That meant…

They had Sayu.

If it truly is Mello, he will have anticipated this move from Kira and will use his back-up plan.

That was what Near had said. The little bastard knew Mello would take Sayu.

We had worked so hard to keep them safe. We had done everything we could to ensure Kira would not intrude on their lives at all. And now Sayu had been taken. Sayu wasn't stupid. She would realize this had something to do with Kira.

Everything had to do with Kira it seemed.

Near made eye contact with me; an unspoken command.

Do not react.

I stared back at him in accusation, but nodded anyway.

"A trade? The girl in exchange for the notebook, I assume."

"Yes."

"Understood. I have a team on stand-by in LA. But, for now, we'll be working on a need-to-know basis. Also I can monitor the city via satellite." Near paused, reconsidering. "Or…on second thought," he said, his smirk growing, "I'll let you have full authority on this, L."

Near ended the call.

"Near, is it really safe to leave this case in the hands of a fake L? He hasn't had any success in catching Kira so far," Maison asked.

"I'm aware of that," Near answered, avoiding my glare. That's why it's a good idea.
It means there will be an opportunity to take advantage of. Of course saving people's lives is important, but as the SPK, our primary goal is very clear. We'll work to get to the notebook, and capture Kira once and for all," Near swore.

"Near, can I speak with you?" I asked standing up.

"Of course, Miss Yagami."

Maison looked at me in shock when heard my last name. Near really didn't trust the man with anything, did he?

"Alone," I hissed.

At the word, all the agents reached for their guns as if I were to try and assassinate the runt the moment they left.

"Very well. Please leave us." Lidner looked like she was about to protest and began to draw her gun. "That includes you, Miss Lidner." She relaxed and nodded, but shot me glare as she left.

I didn't waste any time once they were gone.

"You knew they would take my sister," I said quietly. I faced the floor. I knew they would be watching us. I made myself look as nonthreatening as possible.

"I suspected it, yes."

"And you didn't think to tell me?" I asked in a strangled voice.

"I assumed you would be able to deduce it for yourself. It was apparent to Mello that the Yagami's had the most power on the task force. It would only be logical that he would target them. He also would be able to determine that Kira truly was a member of the task force by abducting someone only they would notice the absence of. And then we come to your sister's survival. If Kira is loath to kill her, it will suggest that Kira has some sort of tie to the girl. That you were unable to reach this conclusion yourself only shows L's faith in you was ill-advised from th-"

I lunged. My hand whipped across his face. He blinked in surprise; his hand coming up to cup his reddening cheek.

"Are we human at all to you, Near? Or are we just pawns? Or puzzle pieces? When you look at us, do you see people? Or animals? Stupid, dumb, mute, animals?" I asked him vehemently.

"I hardly see how thi-"

"Near, shut up," I whispered. "I don't need to hear your holier than thou act again. Just answer the question."

He didn't say anything.

"You can't answer can you? Not without your pawns hearing." I sighed and brushed my hair back from my face. "I'm leaving."

I started to walk towards the door. I exhaled heavily and looked over my shoulder, pity in my eyes. "L was human, Near. And when he spoke to us, he saw humans. I'm sorry you can't do the same."

I walked away. I went back to my room and packed quickly. No one stopped me when I left.

I shivered the moment I stepped outside. I rubbed my arms trying to generate some heat.

And now I was back to square one. Even if I made it to Los Angeles, I had no way of contacting Matt. I could let him find me with some sort of stunt, but with Light going there as well, there was no guarantee it wouldn't catch his attention as well. But first, I actually had to get to Los Angeles.

I started walking, my hands shoved deep into my pockets to ward off the chill.

I got out of sight of the building before they attacked. There were two of them; big and meaty.

"Shit," I muttered.

I ducked under them and started to run. I let out a scream when a hand closed around my wrist and kicked out blindly. By some form of luck, I managed to hit the one who had a hold on me in the ribs and he wheezed heavily, but didn't let go.

The other came around and grabbed my other wrist and dragged me into an alley. They each had a hand over my mouth, so I couldn't even scream anymore. I continued to kick out and glare at the pair of them.

"Looks like she gave you some trouble," a familiar voice asked.

"Not our fault the bitch saw us coming," thug A grumbled. "We got her anyway."

"You're not the one who got kicked," thug B complained.

"Call her a bitch again and both of you are out. And you can uncover her mouth now, she won't scream," he instructed. They did so.

"Matt? What the hell are you doing here?" I asked in disbelief.

"Mells wants to meet you. I'd thought we'd have to go in after you though when you didn't come out right away."

Matt cocked his head. "Yeah. Didn't the fluffy brat tell you?"

"No," I said finally. "He didn't."

Had Near wanted me to storm out?

"Well…this is awkward," Matt said rubbing the back of his head in a Matsudaesque gesture. Matt's face dropped its sheepish expression. "But we really do need to move. Unfortunately, Mello is a bit secretive in regards to exactly where the base is so…" Matt held up a syringe.

I stiffened. I finally nodded jerkily. "Sorry," Matt muttered under his breath as he emptied the syringe into my arm.

Everything went black as it had many times before; but this time, by my choice.

~Author's Note~

This chapter really shouldn't have taken this long. I'm confused as to why it took so long to write. Summer distractions maybe? I'm not really sure…

We reached over 900 reviews…excuse me while I go hyperventilate out of sheer joy.

World without L is just a word: Thanks so much!I really am trying to increase Rei's badassery. I PROMISE. I WILL FINISH THIS AS SOON AS POSSISBLE.

AlbinoButterfly: I think Rei will see the other members during the Chief's death.

Anonymous: Here ya go!