"You've been contacted? By who?" It was a normal enough occurrence, when someone wanted L on their case. This had to be different, though, didn't it? Watari walked quickly down the hallway, a panicked step that worried L.

"I've had correspondence with twelve world leaders." Watari paused and swallowed, an effort to keep the monotone he always spoke in. "They figure someone's killing all of their top criminals." L stopped just inside the door as Watari continued to the computer inside, firing it up. Another deep breath, and his adoptive father turned to face L.

"In the last eight hours, sixty-three of the world's most dangerous and deadly prison inmates have died due to heart attacks." L wandered farther into the room. Connections lit up like fireworks in his head as he sat next to Watari. Near, Matt, and Mello peered in at Watari and him from the doorway, but L couldn't find it in himself to care.

He gazed at the laptop handed to him, a name, photograph and personal information for each dead criminal listed, from places all around the world. America, Britain, Japan, China, Germany, Russia…. The list went on and on.

"And they assume they're murder victims?" Mello, always outgoing, had appeared behind L. Watari nodded.

"Because it has to be a person, doing this." The room went quiet as L spoke. "No virus could be picking on someone's moral standings… Watari, has anyone died who seemed to be wrongfully accused? Or perhaps those who were made to do things against their will?" The tapping of keys filled the room as L and the kids still outside the door waited for an answer.

"Not from the names I've seen." L swallowed.

"Matt, I've got a job for you." Mello looked slightly miffed as his friend joined them in the room, leaving Near outside. "I want every single detail of Beyond's day today—meals, visitors, anything." The boy nodded, taking his own computer to start his research. Because not only was Matt a hell of a good detective for his age, he was an even better hacker.

"What I think you'll find interesting, L, is this." The screen was once again turned to the detective, who took the computer into his lap. He would think it was all bogus, perhaps some kind of ploy, if he hadn't just witnessed a serial killer die right before his eyes. No, this was happening, if only he knew how….

"Kira?" L scanned the page—it seemed to be a fan page of sorts, for the killings, or the homicidal instigator of all of this. People's real thoughts come out on the internet, where they have the promise of anonymity… where they could support the killing of criminals with no repercussions. "It seems the general public has come to the same conclusion as I," L mused aloud, mostly for the benefit of Mello and the others. With all this information at his fingertips, L once again felt in control. "This is clearly the act of a person, or being… this entity named Kira."

"You mean, you think someone has the power to subject a person to a heart attack?" Mello asked, peering over L's shoulder at the screen. "How is that possible?"

"I don't know." Mello frowned behind him. It wasn't often L 'didn't know'.

"Perhaps it's some kind of drug?" Near suggested, following his brother inside. L frowned, shaking his head.

"That wouldn't guarantee a heart attack, and there would be traces inside the victim's body." It just didn't make sense. "I think I'd like some time alone with this. Near, would you finish up with my current case? You can use my persona." Near, surprised, nodded hesitantly. L had never completely given a case to the boy before, a sign that this mystery was especially concerning to L. Matt caught on to the look on Near's face, the atmosphere in the room.

"Alright, c'mon you guys, let's go." He shepherded the others out of the room, carrying the computer with one hand while the other fell to Mello's back to lead him away. "I'll send you everything I find." L nodded, a grateful glance sent the boy's way.

Watari, after a moment, followed them out. And then L was left in darkness once again. However, with the exhilaration of a new case running through his blood, L couldn't seem to mind.

The mystery of these heart attacks seemed impossible to solve. Therefore, a true test of his abilities had arisen. It was things like this that L couldn't help but love. It was the reason he was a detective.

Not to mention, the case had gotten rid of BB for good—problematic for the case L had given to Near, but it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulders when he had realized he would no longer have to worry B would break out and come back. He was too smart for a villain, in L's opinion. A freak of nature disposed of.

L worked diligently over the next few days, fuelled by sweets and solitude. He contacted all the world leaders, informing them he was on the case. He checked the times of death, pictures, places… all relevant.

Near joined him on the third day to bring him some more cake and ask how he was doing. "Good." L didn't turn from the computer, but let Near sit down next to him after depositing his sweets. The cake was his favorite, vanilla with strawberry filling, and looked homemade. L took a fraction of his mind to wonder if Mello had been baking again: a funny thought, to see the boy in an apron, frosting a cake. Although he was happy to have the sweets, he couldn't help but wonder if the children knew how serious this case was, if only because there was no logical way it could be occurring. L gratefully took a bite of the cake, which, although a little dry, had the best frosting he had ever eaten. "How is your work on the Jameston Case?" Near smiled softly, pulling at his hair.

"Almost done. Mello's been helping me with it." A real smile split across L's face at this. He had always hoped the two of them would become a team, and now it seemed he was one step closer to victory. The small boy cleared his throat. "How about you? Any breakthroughs?" A split second of thought, and L decided to indulge him.

"I still can't find how these deaths are occurring, but I don't think I can focus on that. That information may come with time, so finding the person behind this has to be our top priority." Another bite of frosting fuelled the detective to say more. "This Kira was sloppy in their first few kills... the world's major criminals were exhausted in just a few days, which makes me think whoever has this power has just gained it, and is using it childishly." L paused. He wanted to hear Near's thoughts on this assumption. His dark eyes swept over L's papers, a frown on his lips. A reflection of the computer screen was bright in his eyes.

"So we've got a reckless and homicidal maniac on our hands." A thumb pulled on L's bottom lip as he pondered Near's point of view for a moment.

"Perhaps…." L frowned. "For now, I have to think of a way to provoke them."

Near, to L's relief, left him alone after that. Matt sent him Beyond Birthday's files: as predicted, there was nothing abnormal about the day.

L hadn't changed clothes in over a week, but he didn't care. Watari did, Near did, but it wasn't them he was worried about.

What he worried about was the task at hand, the one he despised most about detective work. He would have to update the police agency soon if he wanted any cooperation from them, but he needed evidence first. Not much, by any means, but just enough to haul them over to his side of the game board. If he gave them too much information, it could lead to two things: they could follow every false lead they found, disregarding L, or there would be a massacre when Kira found them.

That was assuming this Kira would kill an innocent person… but L had a hunch he would. It was a gamble, this game he played—you had to go all in in a situation like this.

If only he could narrow down the place where this murder was, a country, a continent, even, would be better than searching the whole world for one person.

A ping from his computer dragged him out of his thoughts. "Yes, Watari?"

"I have someone on the line for you. Or, rather, on the screen. It's a live text chat, not a call." L frowned at his computer. Text? Who did this person think they were, making up the rules?

"Who is it?" L switched his tab, ready for the incoming file.

"That's just it… I don't know. They've just bypassed my computer." L froze, hands floating in mid-air over his keyboard. Bypassed Watari's computer… this isn't some normal call, then. Maybe it's Matt? Trying to get me to take a break from work?

"Don't send it to my personal computer."

"I don't think I have the option…." His voice suddenly fizzled out as a blank document appeared on L's screen. In the dark of the room, only accompanied by technology, it was a chilling thought that someone could enter his world so carelessly. L waited, watching his cursor blink. Could it be Kira? No, he wouldn't make a move as bold as this… would he?

Words appeared on the screen one by one, the unknown typist in no hurry.

Ah, so I've finally made it to you.

L swallowed, shivered. He shoved a piece of candy in his mouth, blind to the taste as he debated writing a response. Who was this, this person who had invaded his bubble so easily? So quickly?

I understand you are working on the Kira case, is that correct?

It was a direct question, this time: again, L debated whether to answer. A finger tapped on the desk next to him in a nervous movement, toes curled against the seat.

Yes.

Not very talkative, are we?

L brisled, but didn't let the unknown man or woman bate him. At least, not very much.

It's not as if you've given me a name. You've also hacked into my computers, so excuse me if I'm not very friendly.

Calm, cool, collected, that's what L was. That's who he was. The world's top detective! He couldn't, wouldn't be fazed by this. He'd dealt with worse, hadn't he? He had watched someone die just days ago, after all. This wasn't worse than that.

Ah, you're right. I apologize for any stress I may have caused. I'm a detective, you see, not a hacker. I couldn't find another way to get to you.

A detective contacted him about the Kira case. Not many would have the skills or confidence to do such a thing.

You're about to say you work solo, I think. I respect that, you must understand. However, it is to my knowledge that you are still yet to pinpoint where this Kira is operating from.

His knowledge? How were they getting information on him? Was someone in Wammy's spying on him?

And you're saying you know? You have nothing I don't have, detective. If you've figured it out, I have as well.

Well that was rather rude.

L's mouth dropped. He was calling him out on his manners?

It's true you have nearly unlimited resources and a mind better than Einstein's, but there is one thing I know about you that pushed me to contact you, L.

Said man scowled at the computer. Whoever this was irked him in all the worst places.

I know, L, that you're not Japanese. Does it matter? Not much, but enough. I was looking into the origin of the name Kira, wondering if it had any connection to the person themself, you see.

The name… he had considered that, but briefly. Since it was chosen by the public, it didn't seem worth following. And how did this person know he wasn't Japanese? The theory that someone at Wammy's was corresponding with this person hadn't been ruled out, but it seemed far-fetched. He knew some Japanese, enough to get by when you hated talking, and didn't meet people in person. But this detective… were they Japanese? L couldn't trace the signal of the doc, couldn't find a way into it's code.

As a million thoughts ran through his head, he checked the name on google for hidden meanings or clues as fast as he could—not fast enough, however.

You're looking up きら in your search now, I would guess?

L didn't respond.

Nothing's coming up, is it? Only things like clothes and dessert menus. Although I would encourage you to order a Kiratokēro next time you're in Japan, that's not what you're looking for. When words from other languages are brought into Japanese, they're written with a different system. Try searching 'キラ'.

L swore under his breath. Of course. He begrudgingly did so. Immediately, what he was looking for caught his eye. It's derived from the English word 'killer'. He realized. His eyes were pulled back to the screen as more black text scrawled out for him to read.

So why did Japan get first dibs on the name? Here's what I think, although you don't have to listen if you'd rather not. The first killing recorded by the police was Takana Jiro, who was being held in Berwyn prison in Wales. However, a death neglected by the police was a man named Kurou Otoharada (音原田 九郎), who had taken several people, teachers and children, in a preschool as hostages. This was only broadcast in the Kanto region of Japan, yet this man died of a heart attack nearly two days before the killings started en masse.

It made sense. L didn't want to admit it, but it made a hell of a lot of sense.

Who the hell are you?

A long line of silence followed L's impulsive line.

Profanity isn't needed, I assure you. As I said before, I'm a detective. If you want a reference, I've recently solved cases including the Philippines Homicide, Rotchens Heist, and caught the Ōsaka 92 murderer as well.

L didn't know much about those cases. Only that they were done and gone by the time L had time for them. He didn't like to take more than one high-level case at a time, and they had qualified.

I hope I've been helpful. You can contact me at any time through his document, although I have a hunch you might not.

The cursor blinked and was gone, leaving L alone in the dark once again. For a moment, he just sat. Stared at the lines of text as if they might bite him. A moment later, Watari's voice once again filled the room.

"L? What happened?"

"Watari. I want Matt in here, now. Please tell him it's urgent." L couldn't waste time, in the event the anonymous detective tried to remove the document or any traces of a connection from L's computer.

"Yes, right away."

"I'm also going to need a carton of ice cream. Preferably neapolitan."