B: Yeahh, Light was just being annoying as all. "If it's not a bother"? Pshaw, I'm just pleased you've reviewed, dear~~

Gee, now I'm actually glad I didn't update last week. So much going on. ^

In any case, I hope you enjoy this week's chapter~

Click.

L activated the microphone, thus sealing the connection with the NPA chief. An image of Aizawa's office appeared on the screen, with Aizawa looking into the camera. "What is it, L?" was the chief's greeting.

L paused, tapping a few more buttons. On the other end of the line, the calligraphic L would disappear, instead pulling up a blank box.

"…L?" Aizawa frowned.

L began to type with ease.

Chief Aizawa, I would like to meet you again. Bring the rest of the original task force for a meeting, but do not bring Light or Natalie. Do not tell either of them of this meeting.

I am at the Teito Hotel, in room 721. Keep this a secret among the task force.

Do not tell Near, either, please.

Go to the hotel room two at a time between the four of you… that is, if Ide is willing to join me. If not, then a group of two and one alone; fifteen minutes apart. The first group should leave at 7:45.

I hope to see you soon.

With that, L tapped a key to disconnect.

"Do you think they'll be disturbed when they find me here?" Sam asked the ceiling absently as she waited for the water for the tea to boil. "Nah… not disturbed…. Surprised, maybe…."

L smiled ever so slightly as he stood to prepare. He had cake to slice, considering Roger still hadn't taken to taking care of L's every need food-wise. L would have to work on that…. He knew, though, that he and Roger would never, ever be as close as he and Watari were. When L had first met Watari, he had taken to almost trusting the man by the first day. With Roger, he never really liked him, just as Roger never really liked him in turn, either. He didn't have good manners, Roger believed (even though it was true), and the geezer often thought L was a bit too childish. And as we all know, Roger doesn't like children. He liked insects better. Because that makes sense.

L set his plate of cake on the coffee table in the space in front of the chair where he would be sitting. He then headed to the kitchen area where Sam handed him a fork to eat his cake, just as the water in the teapot came to a boil and the pot began to whistle. L removed the teapot while Sam turned off the burner. Ah, tea.

Yay.

L was plopping the sugar cubes in by the time the first group came: Aizawa and Matsuda. There was a knocking, L called for them to come in as he and Sam got to their feet to greet them, and the door was opened.

"Oh, hey," Matsuda blinked at them while Aizawa closed the door. "Hi, Sam. I didn't know you'd be here." He laughed weakly.

"Yeah, well," Sam shrugged.

"Please get comfortable," said L to their two guests. "We have one to two other guests to wait for. Would you like some tea while you wait?"

Matsuda blinked. "Uh, no thanks…," Aizawa responded.

"Sure," said Matsuda, and L nodded.

He turned and walked to the coffee table where everything was set up. Sam grabbed a teacup from the kitchen for Matsuda, then sat down with the others around the coffee table.

"Wow, Ryuzaki," said Matsuda as he poured himself some tea. "Normally you never offer tea to us…. You just sorta drink it."

L brought his cup to his lips with both hands on the teacup, his eyes dull. "Perhaps I'm feeling generous," he said flatly. He took a sip of his tea.

"What is it that you called us for, exactly?" Aizawa asked, all business.

"That can be discussed the moment Mogi and possibly Ide arrive," L responded, setting his cup back down.

Matsuda blinked twice, eyeing L's hand. He gasped. "Oh my god, Ryuzaki, is that a wedding ring?!" he exclaimed.

Sam hung her head. Figures Matsuda would be the first to notice.

"Yes, Matsuda, it is a wedding ring," L confirmed.

"When was the wedding, Ryuzaki?" Matsuda asked excitedly. "Why wasn't I invited?"

"We told no one about it," L explained bluntly.

"So you eloped?" he inquired, raising his eyebrows. "How exciting!"

"Good lord, Matsuda…," Aizawa uttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Is Sam the lucky girl?" Matsuda asked teasingly, grinning at Sam.

"Yes, that is correct," L responded, picking up more sugar cubes to put into his tea.

"Can I see the rings?" he asked them hopefully, and Sam wordlessly held out her hand, her head still hanging low in hopes of hiding the blush. He looked at hers, with the golden band and blue diamond, and his face lit up. "How pretty!" he cried in delight, then looked over to L's, despite the fact he would not shift his position in order to show Matsuda his own ring. "Oh, they're opposites? Does each color represent one of you?"

"He's blue," Sam mumbled. "I'm gold."

"Oh!" he cried. "How sweet; I can't even take it!" he exclaimed delightedly.

"Matsuda…," Aizawa muttered.

"Is this the news you called us here about?" Matsuda asked the detective.

L gave him what could be constituted as a 'what the hell' face. "Uh, no."

Matsuda blinked a few times. "Oh. But still; that's amazing! I'm so happy for you, Ryuzaki! You too, Sam! Ooh, how exciting! Are you going on a honeymoon, or did you already have one?"

"We are currently busy with the Kira case, Matsuda," L reminded him flatly. "Perhaps we'll go to Italy once this Kira business is over."

"Oh, Italy? What a nice place," he sighed happily. "So when's the baby due?" he teased.

Sam facepalmed. "Oh my god, Matsuda."

"Matsuda!" Aizawa snapped.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," L said simply, and took another sip of his tea. He wouldn't say another word about it.

Matsuda kept rambling to them about their relationship; things like how he needed to be told when there was a baby coming, how L should most definitely never forget their anniversary; those sorts of things. His final words were, "I wonder when Light will get hitched," before there was another knock and L called out for the next guest or guests to come in. Sam giggled a little at Matsuda's last remark as the door was opened. Both Mogi and Ide walked in.

Matsuda eyed L's cake. "…I don't suppose you'll share your cake, too, will you?"

"No."

Matsuda's mouth twitched. "Right…."

"Alright, fine," said Ide as he and Mogi came over to sit down. "I came, even though I don't like L." He eyed L. "Are you L, then?"

"Yes, that is correct," L responded. "But… I suppose you should call me Ryuzaki here. No, please call me Ryuzaki here."

Ide made a sound of confirmation, nodding as he did so.

"Alright, now, what are we here for?" Aizawa asked him. "You're well aware that I'm chief of the NPA now, and can't take much time off."

"Yes, I know," L said. "I called all of you here because I'd like to, if you're willing, to recreate the Japanese Kira Investigation Team."

"But… why aren't Light and Natalie here?" asked Matsuda bemusedly.

"Because, quite simply, I believe both are acting as Kira. If I may, I will lay out what I think about this case thus far."

"Go right ahead," said Aizawa. "I know for a fact all of us have been wanting to know what's been going on."

L nodded slightly. "Kira was vanquished at the Yellow Box Warehouse on January twenty-eighth. Light Yagami, the original Kira, supposedly lost his memories for good. However, Kira acted up again on March tenth, about one month later. As it was determined April fifth, Misa was acting as one of the new Kiras, yes?"

Matsuda and Mogi nodded while Aizawa and Ide made sounds of confirmation.

"This determines that it was not a new notebook that was dropped; rather, it was one of the notebooks that were already a part of the Kira case. There were three notebooks in all involved in the Kira case. One was given back to its shinigami, Sidoh. One was stolen from Mikami by Near and burned. One was kept locked in task force headquarters, and supposedly burned by Near. It was this last one that was likely switched out for a fake by Light, before the meeting at the warehouse. He was Bonded to Natalie; it was possible he was prepared beforehand, already knowing what was to happen through her…."

"But how do we know it's not a new notebook dropped to the same people?" asked Ide. "Those death gods know that Light's going to do a lot of damage considering what he did last time; maybe it's like a game to them and they just want to play around with our world and society. Plus, we locked that thing up tight and were really careful about it."

"Yeah; yeah!" Matsuda came in.

"That would be a possibility," said L, "if it weren't for the conditions needed to be able to drop a notebook to the human world. A shinigami must have a second notebook. And in the Shinigami Realm, a second notebook is hard to come by, especially considering a shinigami is permitted only one notebook by the Shinigami King."

"And how do you know this?" Ide frowned.

"He's got that otherworldly thing going on now," said Matsuda. "He's got that connection thing with Sam, you know."

"Mm…," Ide responded.

"In any case," said L, getting back to his explanation, "as Light is the only one who would act to steal the Note, we know he is involved again."

"…But—" said Matsuda, but L cut him off.

"Misa's involvement proves it. However, Light knew he would be watched, so he had to have someone else judge for him in that first month or so. Takada is deceased, Mikami was detained, and Misa simply couldn't be trusted with that sort of task because she lacked the intelligence for it. The only person with the connection, trust, and intelligence for this job, then, would be…."

"…Natalie," said Aizawa.

"Correct." L stabbed his cake with his fork and took a bite. Sam handed him some papers, and he placed them on the table in front of everyone. "These are the rates of deaths by heart attack from March tenth to now." He pointed to an increase with his fork. "There is where Misa came in," he said. "Mikami escaped jail on April sixth. There was a prison breakout caused by a prisoner named Daichi Kichida. He broke everyone out claiming that he and everyone else would escape, stand against Kira, and live." Sam placed the newspaper article for the jailbreak on the table as he spoke. "Every prisoner supposedly died of a heart attack after running away. Kira may have a motive, but I doubt Kira would kill Mikami, as Mikami had been working for Kira… even though Mikami did betray Kira at the warehouse. Both mine and Near's thoughts deduce that this outbreak was caused by Kira in order to set Mikami free and allow him to judge as well. And, look." He pointed to the increase in deaths on the seventh of April. "One day after the breakout, there is a major increase in kills."

"So Mikami's definitely involved here," Aizawa muttered.

"Yes," L agreed. "It can be said" – he pointed with his silverware to the increase on April twentieth – "that Light started killing again here. This would mean that Light, Natalie, Misa, and Mikami were all killing at that point."

"Then…" said Mogi slowly, eyeing the chart carefully, "…what's that next increase?"

L smiled slightly. "That's just it. It can't be told for sure. However… Mello is in possession of a notebook right now. Therefore—"

"Mello has a Death Note?!" Matsuda cried.

"Please let me finish," said L calmly. He continued, "Therefore, it is possible Kira tried to bring Sierra to his side. However, we'll assume Mello found her notebook – or Sierra gave it to him – and Sierra is now in support of him rather than Kira. With all of this, that means there are currently three Kiras, with Misa deceased and Sierra's notebook now controlled by Mello."

"Wait," said Aizawa, furrowing his brow.

"Yes, Aizawa?" L answered.

"That means, then, that there's gotta be more than one notebook in play here. You said that Light only stole the one that was being kept at the Japanese Kira Investigation Headquarters. How is there more than one notebook, then?"

"Near believes that Ryuk willingly gave up his Note, thus bringing it up to two notebooks. Or rather…" – L smiled again – "…in a way, I led him to believe this. But it's highly likely there are more."

"More?" Matsuda asked weakly. "How?"

"I know more about this world and the Shinigami Realm because of reading the manga from the other world that Samantha comes from, as well as from Samantha's own memories. In Samantha's memories I have taken note of what happens in the epilogue of our story… in which the Shinigami King had taken a liking to apples so strong that a shinigami could trade apples for a notebook. All Kira would have to do is get Ryuk to go to the Shinigami Realm with a supply of apples in order to gain more notebooks. Considering the Kiras are relatively spread out, this would be useful. Instead of two notebooks, I think that there could very possibly be three, four, or even five death notebooks active in this world."

Everyone stared at L. "A…are you serious?" asked Matsuda. "I mean… last time there was just two to worry about…."

"Yes, and it took years for us just to catch that Kira," said Ide, frowning.

"How sure are you about that?" asked Aizawa.

"Over seventy percent," L answered bluntly. "With Mikami a fugitive, it would be hard for the main Kira to reach him. With that, he wouldn't be able to have only pages; he would run out relatively quickly. It's the same with Sierra, if it were, in fact, her acting as Kira. Then, of course, there are the two main Kiras. Therefore, there are at least three notebooks in this world."

"…Oh boy…," said Matsuda weakly.

"Now, Near has assumed the position of taking care of the main Kiras because he simply does not wish to work with me, and after all I have been on other cases lately. But Near nearly failed last time, and besides, who better to defeat Kira than L?" He smiled; a sweet sort of smile this time. "And I, for one, would like to win this time." The smile disappeared. "Near told me I should spend my time working to find Mikami. And I will do that. However, I will also work to catch Kira. For that, I would like all of your help, if you're willing. That is what I have called you here for."

"I'm all for it!" Matsuda agreed immediately.

"I will help," said Mogi.

Ide and Aizawa were frowning.

"No tricks this time, Aizawa," said L, then took a bite of his cake. He swallowed before speaking again. "I will make sure neither of you lose your job, unless it comes to the point where the NPA is purely in favor of Kira again. Until that point, I will ensure that this case is a special case for the task force; one that is important enough to involve the NPA chief. Other police members will think it's a normal case, not the Kira case."

"…Fine, I'm in," said Aizawa, closing his eyes. "Just don't die on us again, Ryuzaki."

"I can assure you that will not happen. Or at least, I should hope not… if I were to die, you see, Samantha would die too."

Matsuda stared at the both of them. "…Oh…." He blinked, then looked to Ide. Mogi and Aizawa were already looking at him.

Ide frowned deeper. "Stop staring at me, all of you." Matsuda looked away hastily. "I'm already here; I've met L – or I guess I should say Ryuzaki – so I guess it's a given that I should join."

"You don't have to join if you don't want to," said L. "I trust you not to give away any information that I have given."

Ide stared at L with his naturally narrow eyes. L was not looking back; he was reaching for his teacup to take another sip. "…I'll join. Not to help you, L, but to catch Kira. I'm a part of all this too, and I want to keep it that way."

"I appreciate all of your help. You may be dismissed; at different times to be safe. For today, I will fabricate the case that the task force will be working on, a confidential case not to be told to anyone, especially Light or Natalie… and Near. Near can't know about this. We are working in secret. Tomorrow we will begin working." He smiled. "And I swear we'll win for good this time."

Such wondrous hope in this chapter.

Fun Fact: I had Sam pegged; perfect depiction in this chapter. She would literally do the actions in this chapter just before I read them to her, in reaction to what happened right before it.
It's a beautiful thing.

Review? For the Task Force!