*shoots confetti canon* One more chapter left! *sniffs* It's all coming to an end so quickly I just- *grabs tissues* Let's move on.

Thank you so much for the reviews, and the favs/follows! It really means a lot to me to know that you guys enjoy this story! *grabs more tissues* No, I must stay strong. It's not over yet!

Our conversation with the Shinigami was interrupted by sudden scream coming from the helicopter. I knew exactly who it belonged to which is why I bolted away from the supernatural being.

Rushing to the helicopter, I opened the right door to see what was going on. Light had his head down, trembling hands clutching the notebook. L stared curiously at him from the other side.

"Light?" I was out of breath again. "Are you okay?"

The yelling ceased. Taking a deep breath, Light stopped shaking. "Ryuzaki… I wanna check this out." Swiftly his right hand moved across a keyboard. "I wanna try comparing the names written in this notebook with the names of the victims."

L seemed a little taken back by Light's sudden scream, both of us exchanging glances. "Huh? Oh, alright. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

But something was different. The aura, the atmosphere, Light's calm voice and sudden tactic moves… what happened? "Light, are you sure you're okay?"

He lifted his head from the notebook to flash an award-winning smile. "Yeah Yuki. I'm fine. No need to be worried, just a little scare, that's all." I nodded, hesitant to tear my eyes away from him. Eventually my feet moved again and I found myself back with the others.

"What was that all about?" Beyond wondering, glancing back at the helicopter.

Pursing my lips, I whispered so that only the two of them could hear. "I don't think this war is going to end well. For any of us."

Mr. Yagami and the others began to escort Higuchi to a cop car when something happened. Something bad. Before our very eyes, Higuchi had a heart attack. Crumbling to his knees, he gasped for air until the last breath left him and his head fell back lifelessly.

My first instinct was to glance back at the helicopter. Another coincidence… Light gets his hands on the notebook and not even a minute after, Higuchi dies. But L was watching him the entire time… right?

October 29th, Early morning (Seven days until L's scheduled death)

Back at HQ, everything was calm. Misa was quietly reading a magazine in her room. The Task Force gathered in the main room to look over the notebook. The Death Note. Beyond was on the couch, shoving his fingers in a jar of jam.

Things were calm… but I was on the edge of my nerves. In my hand I had the Death Note, and I was pacing around the room, reading the rules front to back. Rereading and rereading. The wheels in my head were turning, but then they'd stop working. Most of the instructions matched up but… I was at odds with myself over one stupid rule.

"If the person using the note fails to consecutively write names of people to be killed within 13 days of each other then the user will die."

"Wait a second," Matsuda perks up, "if that's true then it means Light and Misa Misa are completely cleared, doesn't it?"

"Shut up Matsuda," I hissed, slamming the notebook on the table. "Is pointing out the obvious the only thing you can do?"

Taken back and a little hurt, Matsuda shrunk. Aizawa came to his defense. "Hey, watch it! What's wrong with you anyway?"

Beyond slipped off the couch, licking and wiping off his fingers on the way, to grab my shoulders and whisper, "Hey, calm down. Don't go crazy and kill anyone, okay?" I know he was trying to be helpful, but I shrugged him off anyway.

I couldn't think straight anymore so I barged out of the room. Storming through the building, I found my way to a large staircase and sat down at the bottom of the steps. It was impossible to clear my head from all the questions and anger swarming around inside.

A voice drifted through the air as I was trying to think. "You seem upset." L. I looked up to see him shuffling towards me, no chain around his wrist. "Are you alright?"

I watched as he crouched next to me on the steps. "Yeah, I'm fine. I think." I pointed to his empty wrist. "Chain Light to Akari again? You know how jealous Beyond gets."

Raising his pale arm in the air, he twisted his wrist and gazed at his hand. "No. Actually, Light and Misa have been cleared of suspicion. They no longer need to be kept under surveillance."

Frowning, I balled my hand into a fist. "That's not what I want to hear right now."

Dropping his arm back to his bent knee, L let us sit in silence for awhile before he spoke again. "Maki seems like an interesting girl." I couldn't help but smile. "Do you know what she said when she hugged me and whispered into my ear?"

I shook my head. "What?"

Scooting closer, he locked eyes with me. "She said that you have a tremendous infatuation with me."

I laughed, rolling my crimson eyes. "I'm sure she used those exact words."

"She did indeed."

"Well then, what a smart little girl." Blushing, I looked away. "She might be telling the truth."

"Might?" Smirking, he leaned over and kissed me gently on the cheek. "I was hoping it was more than 90% correct."

"Hmm… try 100%." I turned to him and kissed him, my hands getting lost in his black sea of hair. His left hand made its way to my neck and his other hand took hold of my back and pulled me closer. When I suddenly pulled away, I brought him in for a warm, tight embrace.

"Have you ever thought about having kids one day?" I asked him, laying my head on his shoulder as we sat.

"Recently, yes," he answered in a gentle voice. "I've come to find some kids rather enjoyable."

I smiled. "Some? Like Maki?"

"She is rather a gifted child. I wouldn't mind having a daughter, or son, like her someday." I blushed at the topic of our conversation, but it was inevitable. "And you?"

"I'd love to have a child or two," I replied. "Or three. Or four. I mean, well, three is a good amount. Honestly, I don't care how many I'm given. I love kids."

"Some children are tolerable." Rolling my eyes, I hit him playfully on the arm.

Something tugged at my heart, a question I've been dying to ask him lately. Now was the time. "What are you going to do after this is all over? Where are you… gonna go?"

The detective thought about it, and as he did he twirled my long strands of silver hair. "Hmm, I suppose I will continue solving cases. It is what I'm best at. Overall, my career won't change…" He stopped twirling my hair for a moment. "But having someone alongside me might."

My heart skipped a beat, then another one. I almost couldn't breathe until I had to remind myself. Holding back a smile, I leaned closer to L. "I mean, I personally don't have any plans after this except finish college, but that can be done online. Anywhere with internet. So if someone, for example, asked me to join them as they traveled around the world solving cases then I'd be happy to join that person."

Was that too obvious?

L relaxed and continued playing with my soft hair strands. "When this is finished, I promise to take you with me." His words were music to my ears. "Besides, I'm sure Beyond and Akari don't have plans to separate anytime soon so you don't have to worry about leaving anyone alone."

He was right. Akari had Beyond again. My brother was back. Who knows what they'll do after this is over, but if one things is for sure it's that they'll stay together. We've all been through a lot.

"No matter what happens next," I began, holding L tighter, "you can't die. You have to live. Not only for me, but for Maki. For Beyond and Akari. For Japan. For the world. People need you, L. You… you make the world a better place. You are justice."

Pressing his lips against my forehead, the detective's hand reached for mine and squeezed it tightly. "I will try my best not to die. For you and for everyone who needs me."

I smiled. And I'll try my best to make sure you don't die either.

October 30th (Six days until L's scheduled death)

"Text me once and awhile, okay?" Misa had my phone number on speed dial so I knew she wouldn't hesitate. Besides, by the way this case was going to end up, I'd be seeing her real soon.

As everyone else said their goodbyes to the model, I sighed with pity. Would it be right to lock her up? I mean, she was/is the second Kira… but why do I feel sad thinking about it? Ah crap.

Shaking my head, I turned away from the scene. Right now her memories seemed to be erased, but if L's right and there's another notebook, we can't be too sure that she won't gain them back. At the very least we could pretend to arrest her but instead give her a one-way ticket to Hawaii. That would work, right?

Back inside, Beyond and Akari were trying to get information out of Rem again. "Do you know who the original Kira is?" Beyond asked. "If so, please feel free to describe him."

Light rolled his eyes as I approached. "I don't mean to be ungrateful and all, but your brother is still annoying as ever."

I smiled and sat in the chair next to him. "Yeah, but that's who he is." Giggling, I spun to face him. "Remember our first real date? When you kissed me on my front doorstep and my dad, Beyond, and Akari blew that air horn?"

His face softened as he laughed. "How could I forget? It was one of the most successful first dates I've ever had."

"You nearly crapped yourself when he blew the air horn though," I reminded him with a smile of amusement.

"Did not!" he denied, shoving me playfully. "So… how long has it been since you've babysat Sayu?"

I whistled, thinking back. "Awhile. It was after we, um, you know…" Of course I had to bring our fallout into this. Great job Yuki, make everything awkward.

But this time Light didn't laugh nervously and look away at the memory. Instead, he shrugged it off. "Don't worry, that's the past. Besides, I'd take it back if I knew you were actually going to quit. I had to start watch Sayu myself."

He looked at me with a playfully accusing look, making me roll my eyes. "Whatever. It's not like she's a baby anyways. She's, what, fourteen? Fifteen? Old enough to take care of herself in my book."

"Thank God you're not her mother because with your decisions she'd have set the house on fire by now." I looked at his deadpanned face before we both laughed.

Then I took a deep breath and sighed. "How long has it been since we've been able to talk casually with each other?"

"Too long," he replied quietly.

I opened my mouth to speak again when Akari called to me from across the room. Shrugging a sorry at Light, I hurried over to where she stood away from the Shinigami. "What is it?"

Rubbing her arms, she shivered and glanced over her shoulder toward the others. "I don't like that Shinigami at all. Maybe it's because the thing is unnatural, but something about it is… off. It's not saying everything it knows."

My eyes studied the creature as it stood in the room, it's face formed a disgusted frown. "Well we know it doesn't like humans." I turned back to my best friend and sighed. "Best thing we can do is stay away from it." She nodded and returned to Beyond.

Akari was right to be nervous… as my eyes lingered on Rem I, too, felt the shiver that crawled up my spine.

Later Misa arrived to talk to Light. For some reason I found myself drawing near to the Shinigami as she watched their exchange on camera. Her eyes were full of concern and interest.

Of course… this was definitely the same Shinigami who was talking with Misa in the bathroom. She knew Misa Amane. And by the disgusted look on her face, she knew Light, too.

November 4th (One day until L's scheduled death)

Crap. Crap crap and a load of crap. I was at his neck once again. Now it was exactly like old times. "Guys come on," I urged, "this isn't a coincidence! After Light and Misa get released, criminals start dying again."

"Yuki, you of all people should know that I'm innocent," Light fought back, arms crossed and eyes full of fire. "I've been with you the entire time!"

"But Misa hasn't," I reminded everyone. They looked around with thoughtful faces. Maybe I wasn't desperate and crazy after all. "With L's theory that there are two notebooks, that means she could be killing again. And has L been wrong on any of his theories before?"

"She could be onto something," Akari helped, looking at the computer screen. "All of the names were broadcast after Higuchi's death so he couldn't have possibly planned them this far."

Light sighed with frustration, rubbing his fingers against his temple. "Aren't you forgetting the rule in the Death Note? Misa went at least 50 days without killing anyone and she's not dead. So that has to rule her out."

I bit my lip, searching for an explanation. "Maybe the rules were fake?"

The brunet rolled his eyes at my pathetic attempt. "That seems like a stretch. A fake? Why would a Shinigami write a fake rule? What good would it gain them?"

"Look," I grunted, staring at Light, "I don't want Misa to go to prison. Honestly, I'm glad she's free and is able to be happy. If it were up to me, I'd have her sent to Hawaii for the rest of her life rather than going to jail. But if people keep dying, if Kira keeps killing, something has to be done about it."

"She's right about that," Matsuda agreed, stepping forward. I was slightly taken back by his willingness to agree with me even after I snapped at him earlier. "This guy's intentionally writing names in the notebook knowing that these people are going to die. Even if we don't plan on publicly acknowledging the notebook the least we can do is execute the killer."

I swear the Shinigami widened her eyes at Matsuda's words. Okay, maybe he didn't paint the best light… but if Rem really did know Misa then I doubt she'd want to see the girl die.

Maybe this was our solution. "But," I added cautiously, "if Misa happened to cooperate with us, she won't be on the worst end of the stick. Since she's only suspected of being the second Kira then all she'd have to do is give us info on the first Kira. He's the one who started all of this."

I made eye contact with Rem in hopes that she'd understand my deal. This Shinigami has the power to kill, right? Maybe she could kill Light for Misa's freedom. I'm sure that as long as the original Kira is dead no one will care about convicting Misa Amane.

"This is all too much," Beyond sighed from the couch. He laid down on it, his legs dangling over the armrest on the end of it. "Can't we just eat some jam and call it a day?"

Akari smiled at her lover and kissed him on the forehead. "If only it were that easy…"

If only…

November 5th - L's scheduled death

Rain pounded down on the city of Tokyo. It truly was a dark and dreary day. Ha, I loved it. Standing near the window in L's room, I gazed out at the scenery around me. Black and grey clouds filled the sky. The methodical sound of rain hitting the city was soothing to me.

I could sit and watch the rain all day. Especially laying on L's bed. His bed was made, but his covers were slightly ruffled. He always sleeps on the top, that is if he ever sleeps. Work seems to drain him, but I know he wouldn't give it up.

As I lied on his bed, alone in his room, I closed my eyes. The sounds of nature and the smell of the bedsheets was enough to get me to fall asleep. I almost did if it wasn't for the voice that struck through the silence like thunder.

"Yukimi Miyoshi." Startled, I jumped and instantly slid off the bed, landing on the floor with a thump. Staring down at me was Rem. Her enormous silhouette consumed the walls as she stood feet from the edge of the bed.

"Oh my gosh Rem," I said breathlessly as I stood up. "You scared the crap out of me." I paused. "Not literally."

"Yukimi Miyoshi," she repeated. Her solemn tone and grim face sent a chill up my spine. Halloween wasn't long ago - she would have made the best jumpscares without a doubt. Just her aura and figure were enough to sent you jumping a mile high, not to mention her hollow and frightening face.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice meek and almost scared.

"It is clear that you understand I personally know Misa Amane. For whatever reason, I will make you a deal."

This was what I was hoping for. Yes! "O-Of course. What kind of deal?" Maybe she'll promise not to hurt any of us if we don't capture Misa, then she can tell us who the real Kira is!

Towering over me, the aura surrounding the Shinigami seemed to darken at her vile tone. "I will not kill you if you do what I say. You must promise to keep Misa safe at all costs, even if it means giving up your own life. No matter what, she will not be convicted of being Kira or the second Kira."

I waited, but she said nothing. That's when the frightening realization hit me.

If I don't do what Rem says, she won't hesitate to kill me.