I don't own Death Note

Chapter 53 Meeting

I made my way back to the motel, still in shock from the unexpected thank you from Near. He was always chastising me for being reckless or making unintelligent decisions which made it even stranger. I just put my life on the line without obtaining any solid proof Mikami was Kira and he had thanked me. Maybe…he had thought I was brave? I shook my head to myself. No that wasn't it. Near didn't admire bravery. I decided to riddle it out later.

I opened the door to our rooms only to be greeted by a furious Mello and a worried looking Matt. "Where the hell were you," Mello spat out dangerously his hands shaking. He was really making an effort to restrain himself. He body was held taut to make an effort not to hit me. If I had been Matt, he probably would have already punched me in the face. "Do you know how close we were to thinking you had been caught? You could have compromised the whole fucking operation."

"Teru Mikami is the new Kira."

That completely derailed him. "What?"

"Mikami is the new Kira," I repeated relieved he no longer looked close to killing me.

"How do you know?" he pressed eagerly.

"Near has a guy tailing him and I was able to interact with him and get in his house. I wasn't able to get any solid proof, but Near's working on that now. He'll call when he finds anything," I explained.

"Fucking idiot," Mello muttered gruffly hitting the side of my hide a little more roughly than he would normally. "Matt." Matt had been monitoring the tension between the two of us apprehensively, but snapped to attention when Mello said his name. "Get everything you can on this Mikami guy. Maybe we can finally get ahead of the bastard."

"Right," Matt answered, scrambling for a laptop.

"Rei, record everything you remember."

I nodded and began adding to my notes. Mello leaned back in a chair with a chocolate bar with a self-satisfied expression.

The cat hadn't just eaten the canary.

No. He had eaten the whole God damn menagerie.

It had been a little more than a month since I had encountered Mikami, but I hadn't fallen back into the depression I had suffered from before. Mello and Matt hadn't given me a chance.

Mello had some sort of plan brewing in his head. He would send me out to take pictures of as buildings or certain streets and then monitor them to find when they were most busy or who frequented the areas a lot. Normally he would send Matt out on these sort of odd jobs, but Matt was preoccupied with monitoring Misa and the task force even more closely with the added duty of watching NHN when they featured Takada speaking for Kira.

Mello himself spent a lot of time on his motorcycle; following the patterns he had me record. I didn't quite understand why he was doing it. He followed a few routes in particularly obsessively. I eventually found out he was memorizing the lights and how they synchronized as well as how long they displayed each signal. He passed this information on to Matt, but neither of them would explain why to me when I asked.

I was puzzling over this again when Mello returned after another ride. "Fifteen, twenty-two, eighteen, forty-one," Mello said to Matt who nodded, memorizing the information. "Any word from the bastard?"

"Not y-" I was interrupted by my ringing phone. I briefly looked at the number, entertaining the notion that anyone but Near would be calling me. "It's Near," I announced before answering. "Hello."

"Miss Yagami, we have confirmed that Mikami is X-Kira."

I pulled the phone away from my ear. "Mikami is X-Kira," I said with a grin. "Anything else?" I asked back in the phone only to have it snatched from me by Mello.

"Near," he said flatly.

There was a pause where I assumed Near was speaking.

Mello laughed humorlessly. "So you know what I'm planning?" He nodded to himself. "I expected as much."

I looked from Matt and Mello noticing how they were both so somber. Mello wasn't tense or holding himself stiffly. If anything he appeared to be relieved, like a great weight was being removed. But Matt…Matt just seemed sad.

"Then you'll know what I need you to do?" Mello sighed in appreciation. "Good." Mello hung up, tossing the phone at me.

"We're done babysitting," Mello said not looking at me. "Near's taking you."

"What? Why?" I asked.

"We can't use you anymore," he said simply.

"Bullshit," I retorted sharply.

Mello scowled. "You're leaving. That's fucking final." He crossed his arms. "Matt get her stuff."

"I'll get it myself," I snapped avoiding the look of pity Matt had on his face. Instead I glared at Mello who returned it with a similar intensity, before stepping into my shitty bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I glowered at the floor for a moment trying not to feel like a teenager who had just been punished.

I pressed my palm to my face, banishing the feeling. These were L successor's. They trusted me, now I need to trust them. The rationalization calmed me and allowed me to pack without seeing red.

I stepped back out, this time my expression blank. Matt looked slightly relieved to see I was no longer angry. Matt opened the door to escort me to Near, but I found myself pausing halfway out. I ran my fingers along the ribbon that was still tied around my wrist. I quickly spun around and marched up to Mello who leaned back when I brought our faces close together. M

"I'm trusting you, okay?" I asked pointing a finger at him. "And you're forbidden to do anything stupid, like blowing yourself up."

His scowl transformed into a smirk. "Like I'd ever do something fucking stupid like that," he answered flicking my head.

"Good," I said back with narrowed eyes. Matt was smiling now when we left. "Seriously, Matt," I muttered. "Don't let him get himself killed."

"I'll do my best."

"Miss Yagami," Near greeted, currently sitting on the floor. For once, he wasn't occupied by any sort of toy and was looking straight at me as he spoke. "We've been waiting for your arrival."

I blinked and peered around the room. Near's "we" was just Rester and himself.

"Gevanni is still tailing Mikami, I presume. Where's Lidner?" I asked.

"Miss Lidner is currently employed as a bodyguard for Kiyomi Takada. We found it a much more effective way to keep track of her movements as well as when she meets with Light Yagami," Near explained, still focused on me. He lazily pulled a curl on his temple.

"So why were you waiting for me?" I pressed, slightly unnerved by Near's sudden polite air.

Possibly sensing my discomfort, Near glanced away. "We're contacting your brother," Near said by means of an explanation. "Due to the matter we will be discussing, your presence will be appreciated."

"Which would be?" I pressed in frustration, holding back sarcasm.

"Organizing a meeting between the task force and SPK."

I stared back in shock. This meant Near had Light pinned. That Light was going to be caught and declared Kira. This was all going to end.

"You have proof," I asked almost hesitantly, as if somehow the circumstances would have changed due to my discovery of them.

"Not at the present, but at the time the meeting will take place, yes."

I felt relief flood my body. It was going to end.

"Call him," I said as a reply.

"Very well then."

Near made a motion for Rester to begin the call. Rester handed me a pair of headphones and I slipped them on.

"L," Near greeted

"Yes, this is L. What is it, Near?"

"I would like to meet you," Near responded abruptly, not caring to break the subject more gently.

"What?"

I couldn't help but smirk slightly at Light's surprised tone. Granted it was out of character for Near to organize something of this nature, but it had been for L to appear before Light as well.

"There is something I must show you pertaining to the Kira case," Near continued not allowing Light to recover.

" But, don't you suspect me of being Kira? Do you really think it's wise to reveal your face to me?"

Light's tone quickly switched to mocking one to attempt to counter the bombshell Near had dropped on him.

That's true. I cannot show you unless I reveal my face. Furthermore, the very act of showing my face will prove something. And that will bring this case to a close." Near allowed himself a small cryptic smile.

"All right, fine. As far as I'm concerned, the sooner you realize you are wrong about me, the better."

I could imagine Light's eyes narrowing in slight irritation as he answered. He was barely managing to keep a civil tone at the moment. He wasn't comfortable with Near making a move of this magnitude unexpectedly and it was very apparent. The task force should be feeling suspicious of all the tension he was emitting as well as how he was trying to act as if Near and L were on separate ends of the playing field.

"I'd like to lay out some ground rules for the meeting,"

"We are willing to go along with whatever you want."

"First, I would like to have all the investigators from both teams be present.
In other words, everyone who is chasing after Kira should be gathered together to take part in the meeting," Near began.

He reached for a box and began pulling out an assortment of finger puppets, obviously meant to represent all those involved with the case.

"I understand. That's not a problem."

"As I mentioned before, there are a total of four members in the SPK, that's including myself," Near went on as if Light hadn't interrupted. "All of us would be there. Besides our team, we'll also bring along Mr. Mogi, who's currently staying with us. As for Misa Amane, she would be released right before we meet. She'll not be told where we are going. You can come and meet us once you confirm that she's been safely released. Is it acceptable?" Near asked after listing the terms. As he mentioned each person he grouped them according to their allegiance or flicked them over.

There was a pause as Light considered the demands.

"Near, I understand. I have a team of five investigators including myself. Of course, Mogi is with you at the moment, so aside from me, there would be only three people."

"Very well, that's fine. Now, as for our meeting place.…" Near stopped speaking for a moment in order for Rester to pull up a photo. "'Daikoku Wharf.' There's a warehouse on the outskirts of the Southeast side and it's been abandoned for some time. It's known as 'the Yellow Box.' I've already taken a liberty of purchasing it. If this arrangement is fine with you, then we'll use it. One more thing," Near added. "This meeting cannot take place unless I have your word that someone will bring the notebook."

"Wait, why the notebook?"

"It's quite simple." Near picked up a small plastic notebook to match the set of puppets. "If your entire team leaves HQ to meet me, then there'll be no one left behind to guard the notebook. I can promise you this; I will make no attempt to steal it. In fact, I won't even try to touch it.
As long as Mr. Aizawa can confirm that is the genuine notebook, I'm willing to place my faith in that and would accept his word."

"Huh? All right."

It was Aizawa who responded this time.

"However, I do insist that someone other than L hold on to it. My reasons for making that request should be fairly obvious to you."

"Right, I understand. But I'll be the one who decides who'll hold on to it. Does that sound fair?"

Light was reaching a bit now for any sort of power in the situation.

"Yes, of course. Then, all that's left is to arrange the time and date. Say, three days from now; on the 28th, at 1 pm."

"That's fine by me. The time doesn't really concern us."

I caught the slight smirk in Light's voice. Light wouldn't bluff during something like this so the time must be relevant in regards to Mikami acting as Kira; it must be crucial.

"Well then, 1 o'clock, 3 days from now."

"Sure."

"One more thing, L," Near said quickly briefly meeting my eyes. "It appears something has slipped my mind. The SPK has been working with one other party. We'll call them R, for the time being. Would meeting with them be acceptable as well?"

I felt my heart stop.

There was a distinct pause on the other end. Light had already seen me involved once with the Kira case after L's death; namely while we watched our father die. It wouldn't take him long to guess who R was.

"Of course."

"Very well."

Near ended the call.

"You told him about me," I said still shock.

"You are to attend. It would considered lying if I did not mention your attendance," Near answered.

"Thank you," I said honestly.

Near ignored me instead bringing up a news channel on the monitor.

"I do not believe you will be thanking me momentarily," Near finally responded focusing on the news.

Knowing I wouldn't get a straight answer, I merely let the answer present itself.

And Near was right.

Kiyomi Takada being greeted by fans. A red car with a smoke bomb being shot from the window. Takada being picked up by a motorcyclist.

A chase. An unidentified man is cornered. He is peppered by a hail of bullets. A cigarette was still in his mouth.

The newscast continues late into the night. They have not yet found the motorcyclist.

Dawn breaks. A church is on fire.

Near switches the screen off.

I stare at it still, trying to comprehend the images. At last my mind makes the connection and realizing the circumstances, I know neither of them survived.

"They're dead," I managed to say finally.

"Yes," Near agreed for once not sounding condescending or superior; instead simply stating a fact.

"That's why they sent me here."

"Yes. Matt mentioned something about L wanting you involved with this for a reason. They assumed he would not be pleased if you died," Near responded. "You were not acquainted with them long. Do their deaths matter to you this much?"

"Yes. They do, Near." Surprisingly, I wasn't angry. "Wasn't Mello important to you?" I asked.

"Perhaps, but I can claim to be much more familiar with him that you."

I sighed, fumbling for the right words to make him understand. "Did you have a sense of loyalty to them? To Wammy's House?"

"I would not call it loyalty."

"Near, cut your vague emotionless bullshit. Do you feel anything for them?" I demanded.

"…yes."

"That's how it is for me. I have a sense of loyalty to all of you because L cared about you." I gestured sharply to the screen. "And now that they're dead, it means I fucked up."

Near considered this for a moment. "I will not deny you guilt about this incident," Near began slowly, "but I do not hold you responsible for their deaths. It was a decision they both made and they knew what would most likely result. I knew of their choice and did nothing to stop it." Near hesitated. "If you would like a scapegoat, I will not stop you from casting blame upon me."

I smiled softly at him. "I'm not going to blame you Near." I looked at him in his oversized pajamas, with the rare expression of consideration for another human being on his face. "You really are a little kid sometime," I said with a laugh and I ruffled his hair.

He momentarily looked like he was going to retort shortly how he wasn't a child, but instead chose to allow me my moment of sisterly affection. He stared at me trying to puzzle out what he said to make me behave so warmly towards him.

"I'm going to contact Yagami again and ensure the meeting will still be taking place," he said to break what he must have considered a strange topic in the conversation.

"Okay," I answered noting that Rester was looking at us both strangely as I presumed he had been during the whole conversation. He turned around in embarrassment and began making preparations to call again.

"Hello, L."

"Yes."

"I don't mean to keep bothering you, but, with regard to our meeting …, I wanted to confirm that we are still set for the twenty-eighth at one pm. All right?"

"Yes."

" Very well. The twenty-eighth, the day after tomorrow."

"Right."

In two days, this would all be over.

~Author's Note~

Alright here we go guys, one more chapter and the epilogue after this.

Now a bunch of you were asking about Matt and Mello. I suppose this answers your question.

Short chapter is short. Next chapter should be longer. Possibly the longest and up later today or tomorrow morning.

Fun fact: My birthday is January 28th. Cool, eh?

We are so close to 1,000 reviews man. Sooooo close.

Thanks for reviewing!

Lazy mega chan: Yeah! Of course I'll be around! School sorta stops me from going anywhere.

Grrr: I got mixed reviews on Mikami, "WOW he's so sweet!" or "CREEPER ALERT." I'll come for you soon, B. I promise.

Maggie: Why thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!