Chapter Twenty-Seven

We act quickly. Mr Aizawa calls the fire department while I put in word with the local police, using all the basic words I can in Japanese and English to get them to come, especially with a spare forensics kit. Finished, I pull out of the car and walk closer to the burning building and kneel beside Martha. On all fours, she heaves deep breaths, as if she's about to vomit but I know the real reason she suffers. Mello and Takada.

While rubbing her back, I study what I can of the burning building, wondering how the fire got started in the first place. If the firefighters don't arrive in time, any evidence we can collect at the crime scene may help us only slowly. That, somehow, becomes my concern. It's enough Martha's suffering, I can't afford to suffer with her. Not yet.

'I'm okay,' she finally says, 'thanks.'

'The police and firefighters are on their way. We can take over now.'

'Alright.'

'You okay to drive?'

'Yeah.'

'Alright.'

I help her up back to her car. Once I'm confident she's okay, I let her drive away, returning to the base of the burining church. 'Is your friend okay?' Light asks.

'Yeah. She's fine. I'm—sorry, Light.'

Silence.

I glance at him, studying his stoic face. Nothing seems to be fazing him but that could be a front. The possibility that he himself arranged for Takada's death crosses my mind. For now, I choose to ignore it. Logically, there's no way he could have done it without Mr Aizawa noticing and the Notebook remains in custody back at HQ. He might have access to one so his best chance would be to instruct Mikami to do something. Which he would have to do through Takada, normally. Was there a chance that she was prepared to keep Kira alive? If there was, then this is even more sick and twisted than I thought. As my eyes wander to the crime scene, I notice Light's bleeding hand. Taking it in mine, I inspect the cut; a small, almost dried dot noticeable on his index finger, some drops staining his white sleeve. 'What happened?' I ask.

'I cut myself on the way here.'

'I didn't know that you were quite the klutz.'

'Please,' he scoffs, 'even the great knife-wielder has had her moments.'

'Fine. Whatever makes you feel better.'

'Okay.'

Turning to the blaze, I lose all sense of humour. It doesn't make sense. The possibility that Takada killed herself is there, but it also doesn't match her desire to spread the word of Kira. There's nothing in her that should have wanted to die. Kira must be responsible for her death. God or not, anyone can kill his/her own disciple for some tiwisted personal or long-term gain. But for a disciple as devoted as Takada to turn against her master by committing suicide? That makes no sense. She finds out her ex-boyfriend is Kira, which I'm sure made her fall in love with him more, and both Light and Martha have hinted at it multiple times; the only way she vould have died is if Kira killed her. She would be protecting nothing if she committed suicide to protect Kira, even she knows that. No, the only explanation is that Kira killed her.

The police and the firefighters finally arrive. Although Light and Mr Aizawa insist that I be near them while the police head the investigation of the bodies, I insist on being part of the team. I need to inspect these bodies, or what's left of them, myself and though I'm not a field analyst, some of my experience in the lab should come in handy. Walking into the doused building, seeing the charred bodies stops me in my tracks. A long, tall body burned beneath the remnants of what looks like a blanket. The walls of the trunk of the truck surround us, previously white now crisp in black soot. The body in front of me was Kiyomi Takada. I rush around to the front of the turck. A thin boyish body sits criped by the flames, but I recognise the thin hair on his head like it was a wig. Mello. Unexpected tears drown my face. One touch might not turn either body into complete ash, but my hands remain at my side. I don't want to have them both around longer. Takada was the enemy, Mello the unlikely ally, and neither deserved to die.

I watch a police officer, with the help of a medic, carefully moves Mello's body out of the driver's seat. Small parts of the body chip off but the flesh remains intact. I take that as permission to inspect him. The medic, who thankfully knows enough English, helps me to pass through sets of evidence that help determine the cause of death. Onsight, it appears that both died from the fire, but Mello must have already been killed somehow before the fire struck. That's the only way Takada could have retrieved her phone in order to call Light. However, I know that I can't find anything else right on the spot and will have to wait for the autopsy to come in. I ask the medic to keep in touch before joining Light and Mr Aizawa. Quietly, I slip into the backseat of the car, Light and Mr Aizawa in the front, and barely enjoy the long silent ride back. My head spins with questions and theories regarding the circumstances of their deaths. By the time we make it, the news of Takada's death plays on NHN. For the rest of the evening, it's all the news covers, one channel after another. The stability of the Kira killings, meanwhile, continues. Mikami doesn't seem fazed by Takada's death. Even so, it almost becomes a relief following him up than listening to anything else.

By the next day, as we have our late morning tea, the news discusses a different take on Takada: 'What I really want to know is who's going to be Kira's next spokesperson,' one anchor says. 'Kira's message still needs to be spread, and someone's gotta do it.'

'The death of newscaster Takada was a horrible tragedy,' says another, 'but I can't help but think that if she was that careless, she couldn't have taken her position as Kira's spokesperson that seriously.'

'It needs to be said,' yells an enthusiastic TV host, 'this is not a woman's job. Kira! Please make me your representative.'

'No!' snaps the new head of Sakura TV, 'give the honour to Sakura TV again.'

I cover my mouth, 'I think I'm gonna be sick.'

'Disgusting,' Mr Ide scolds.

'Yeah, I know,' Mr Matsuda agrees, 'I mean, they just announced her death, and it's already started. Every TV station airing its own segment on who should replace her.'

I'm just glad she's not here to listen to this.

Beep, beep.

Oh gods!

'Hello, L.'

'Yes?' Light responds.

'I don't mean to keep bothering you, but with regards to our meeting—I wanted to confirm that we're stell set for the 28th at 1:00 pm, alright?'

'Yes.'

'Very well. The 28th. The day after tomorrow.'

'Right.'

'So, the day after tomorrow, huh?' Mr Matsuda says. 'Finally! Isn't getting exciting?'

'Not really,' I mutter.

'I—I can't help but wonder what Near wants to show us,' Mr Ide ponders.

What I'm honestly worried about is the possible arrival of Mikami. With those eyes, he's sure to spot me and Martha from a mile away and we'll both have to show up at this meeting time. We can't hide it from him anymore than we could hide it from the Shinigami when we didn't even know it was important. Mikami may jump and say something to Light. There'll have to be some way we're going to conceal ourselves. But I can't come up with a plan on my own and without Light finding out. Martha said that Near's taken this into account, I just hope that he knows how much of a jeopardy he's placing us in. Oy! Of course, my main concern is how to kill Kira on the day of the meeting. On his terms, I have a pretty good feeling that he'll be prepared to win. From the beginning, it's always been a game, between Kira and L. He thought he can win with L's death. Kira's tried to stay one step ahead of anyone who picked up where L left. Tomorrow, any wrong move would probably get us all killed. The miracle is if it falls into the right place and we end up getting justice on our side.

Between now and the 28th, I must prepare myself mentally and physically. Near chose me to continue this path for a reason and I don't believe it has to do with my skillset alone. I glance at the calm boy beside me. the marque on his neck hasn't disappeared. The mission, his destiny, have not changed in the eyes of the Saint. I've tried to, multiple times, but reasonable obstacles kept getting in the way. Being in a foreign land, my power here has its limitations. It must be the Saint's way of telling me that this isn't a task I can arrogantly pursue. It must be a lesson in the learning, something that uncovers more answers as I go. For as long as I can remember, I have dealt with Death in numerous ways: I am not now nor will I ever be afraid of its power. It's a power that courses through me and I've harnessed it for as long as I've been doing this job. But it has also taught me the strongest lesson about Light. Even now, there is so much he doesn't understand about Death, but I wonder: is the one that judges by Death truly the least understanding? Is he also the most fearful of Death?

There is a small window of time allowing me to return to the privacy of my unofficial room. I take my leave, closing the door to the main room and setting up my target practise. Though small in comparison to the gym, the size of the room doesn't bother me as much. I take my time setting up four human dummies for targets in four corners of the room. This is probably the most leisured target practise I've ever done but the leisure is less to relax, and more to make sure my mind is calm and rational. Kira is my target. When the knife hits the chest of the dummy, I'm hitting Kira. I can try not to hit Light. Light and Kira maybe the same person, but Light, I firmly believe, is his own person too. I've seen the evidence that the two, despite the imprint, are not one in the same. What scares me is that, no matter howmany times I told myself this, it wasn't this subtle difference that stopped me from attempting to kill him. I've already accepted that for one to die, both need to be hurt. I place my hand on my chest, massaging the pain away to no avail. The cold silver knife in my other hand should feel like an anesthetic. It doesn't. the pain in my chest doesn't worsen but it was not bearable to begin with. I shoot the first knife into the dummy behind the door, while sitting on the bed. Bull's Eye. The knife of pain strikes again. The next knife goes into the dummy behind the lamp on the far right of the room. It hits the head. Shooting anything into that part of the body will instantly kill a person. It's painless and quick. Kira kills the worst criminals with heart attacks, aiming them to suffer. When it's his turn to die, should he suffer too? Is my asking a sign of my still existent personal grudge? Or perhaps, his death will not be determined by the kills he's made. After all, what good would it do if the killer dies the same way without learning anything? I swing the next knife backward to the right. It hits Bull's eye again. While still looking at it, I throw the final knife backward to the left. It lands in the head. Two Bull's Eyes and two shots to the head. Inconclusive. But it doesn't come without its message: it doesn't matter if you die painfully or peacefully. The end is the end no matter the person. Suffering only belongs to the living.

'Frejda?' the door opens, admitting Light. He pauses, watching me play with the knife in my hand before he eyes the other knives in their respective dummies. 'What the Hell?'

'Target practise. What can I do for you?'

'Nothing. This came for you,' he reveals a yellow folder.

I take it and open it. 'Sacrebleu!'

'What?' Light chuckles.

'It's all in Japanese.'

'Here, let me—'

'Thank you.'

'Let's see,' he flips through the pages, scanning the writing carefully. 'This is the autopsy for Mello and Takada. The medic was able to gather that it was indeed a suicide but not much else. The bodies were burned badly enough to give little information.'

'Is that all?'

'That's the gist, yeah.'

'Alright.' I collapse on the bed with an exasperated sigh.

'This is tiresome, I know,' Light says sitting beside me.

'I just can't wait until all this is over.'

'Yeah.'

After a pause, I sit up and work the courage to ask him something that's been on my mind: 'Did you mean what you said the other day?'

'Sorry?'

'What you said before: "If we catch Kira, he is evil. If he wins and rules the world, then he's justice." Do you mean that?'

He's silent for a bit. 'It's all we can bet on to make sense of all this. This'll end one way or the other and then we will know which is true.'

I thought he might say that. 'You know, I hope, deep down, that Kira understands that what he's doing is evil. Justice cannot be achieved through Death.'

'Why do you say that?'

'I told you this. Death is neither good nor evil. Everyone will face it one day, both the good and the bad. Kira doesn't understand this. I warned that that hubris would be his downfall.'

'You've always had such a unique understanding of Death, Frejda. Where does it come from?'

'I was raised to respect Death and the authority it has on humans. I've never spoken against Kira's killing specifically for a reason. Even so, I hate that killing criminals is his understanding of a clean world. Soon that kind of power will beg for more bloodshed, like it has done in the last few days alone. I'm worried—this has gone too far, even for him.'

'I wonder what the world would look like if it had the same look on Death as you do.'

I shrug. 'Who knows? But I like that there's difference of opinion. The world would be boring otherwise.'

'Sure,' he laughs.

'See?'

His head sinks in what appears to be thought. He looks stressed. I pity him. Almost involuntarily, I take his hand in mine. If I should feel guilty for doing this, I don't. surprisingly, it's as if the Saint himself is telling me I'm meant to feel like this. Martha's words were based on this reassurance. No matter what they've done, what Death is not allowed to judge, we don't have the right to judge.

Light clenches my hand briefly before letting go and standing up. 'Come on. We better get back, especially before you trash the room any further.'

'Well, screw you too!'

The moment I take my seat the next morning, I check on the progress of the Kira killings. As ever, they remain stable, as if in preparation for tomorrow. The TV stations blast with anchors and hosts begging to be Kira's new spokesperson, completely overwriting that Takada was killed just the day before yesterday. The general public seems less concerned with the irony of Takada's and Demigawa's deaths. Then again, even if they knew that Kira had something to do with the deaths of his spokespersons, they probably would dismiss it as a just reason on Kira's part without question. Finding Kira, at this point, becomes both a mindless task and a challenge all at the same time. It hurts that Mr Matsuda and Mr Ide, even in their knowledge of the notepads, cannot put together the set up behind this. The meeting tomorrow will determine the fate of the world.

I look around the room. Empty. 'Where is everyone?'

'Aizawa and Ide are with their families right now. I told them to take some time off today since there isn't much to do.'

'So, Mr Matsuda went to do the same thing?'

'Probably.'

'And you? Don't you want to go home and see your mom and sister?'

'Can't. I'm busy keeping track of everything in case we're needed. Besides, Near could have a change of heart and there'd be no one kto know if I wasn't around.'

'Sure.'

'What about you? Don't you want to go see your friend today?'

'I doubt she has the time.'

'Really?'

'Yeah. Near knows how to keep his men busy.'

'Fair. So, what will you be doing?'

'Just wrapping things up on my end, I guess.'

'Right.'

With the room a bit free, I take my laptop and settle on one of the couches. I look over the information I've gathered on both Takada and Mikami, reviewing their times of communication since Light's and Takada's dates began. It's obvious he contacted her before Light did, there's only matter of how Mikami and Takada remained in contact after their initial meeting. I don't have the time to do more research into this, but I must assume, based on their individual movements, that there was more to discuss between the two than instructions. Kira's main way of avoiding the police in the pas has been by placing the Notebook in someone else's possession. Regardless of how he came to choose to find him, Mikami is just as expandable as Higuchi was. He'd rather have someone else take care of the dirty work long enough for the police to be distracted, long enough for us to conclude that he has nothing to do with this. So, the same thing might happen tomorrow. If Mikami does show up to the meeting, he'll notice that there wil be two of us, besides Kira, that will have no lifespan to display. Based on the picture of the warehouse where we'll be meeting, there'll be no hiding space for either of us. Mikami will pick us off immediately and alert Light, assuming that he still doesn't know, and Martha and I will not have time to react. There has to be a way for us to avoid Mikami so that we can do our job. But with each scenario I come up with, I fall short of any ideas that Light won't suspect. Merde! If only the Saint can lend a helping hand here! I groan in frustration, leaning back on the sofa.

'You alright?' Light asks.

'Perfect.'

'What's wrong?'

'I'm probably just tired.'

'Didn't sleep well last night?'

'Not really. I don't think I'll sleep well until this is over.'

'Fair point,' he chuckles.

The temptation to use this opportunity would not help either. It's another perfect situation and I could easily take it. But had I seen an opportunity like this coming, I would have planned better for it and made sure it would not trace back to me. So, I can't do anything now. Instead, I decide to contact Near myself and ask for some sort of plan regarding mine and Martha's safety. If we get exposed because of a sly mistake, there is a chance that it won't end well for anyone. Our code forbids us from doing much in that scenario but there are times we're allowed to break it.

My thoughts dismantle when my phone vibrates. Sliding it out of my pocket, I recognise a text from Martha:

Call me via skype. If you're not alone act like you're listening to music and don't use the camera. If

anyone asks, come up with an excuse.

Sliding my headphones on and attaching it to the computer, I use the Voice Call and wait for her to respond. I don't feel Light's eyes on me at this point. Still, I replace the Skype screen with a visual from my research on the Kira killings. Martha finally picks up. 'No one can hear me?' she asks.

I type the word 'no' into the chat box before replacing the display again.

'Alright. Sir?'

'Ms Sofer. Try not to say anything out loud and I understand you can't see me either. If you have questions, type them and Ms Abdul will read them to me. Understood.'

I type the word 'yes'. This is going to be annoying.

'She understands, sir,' Martha says.

'Good. Now. You and the other Task Force Members are getting ready to meet up with us tomorrow, but I assume you're worried about the possibility of X-Kira showing up. I have a plan that will be to yours as well as Ms Abdul's advantage that I'd like to discuss with you.'

Near explains the plan and I try to refrain from asking questions unless I absolutely must. Light remains seated at his usual spot, concerned with preparing for tomorrow and communicating (I'll bet) with Mikami regarding how things should work out. Near's relays instructions that should keep mine and Martha's identities safe until the very last moment. It's hard for me to keep quiet listening to this, but to be unable to react at all, even silently, is asking too much. I don't like this plan at all and find it worse than a lot of the scenarios I rejected myself. In a weird way though, my faith in the plan increases. It's not so much the exposure that gets to me, it's the fact that it will help me attain the final goal. Everyone involved tomorrow is at risk of getting killed just by being there, and if Near does plan to expose us at the very end, there's a chance such information would force the two Kiras to make a move to protect themselves. In other words, I must play my part as a member of the Task Force more than I would like to, for the sake of everyone else. The way Near words it, he'll have no choice but to expose us at the end and when I asked if there was an alternative to keep our branch a secret, he mentioned having prepared for all this with the Headmistress. From what I can tell, he's placed a lot of faith in the people involved in this plan, especially in both Kiras. That kind of confidence both scares and intrigues me to the point that I find myself envious of him. Can I place that much trust in the predictability of a person in the way he does? There is always a chance, one chance, that a person will break character. So, if everything goes as he predicts it…

I log off when we are done. Light, in all that time, has not so much as twitched in his seat. This is incredible. He has his confident game face on, I'll bet, while I'm over here shivering over what I've been told. Oy. This may not go well. Taking off my headphones, I leave a sigh and lean my head back.

'You really need a break,' Light comments.

'Yep. C'est la vie.'

'Ok.'

I shut down my laptop and set it on the desk. I might not fall asleep, but it wouldn't hurt to lie down for a little bit. In the silence, I contemplate Near's plan and the dangers of it left and right. It's not empty of them but that opening is something I've been craving since I came back is at my hands. Since coming back, since letting go of my grief, I've battled with this one step in my mission against Light. I've come to the same conclusion: it must be done. Why, then, does my mind continuously stop to over analyse this? What good has it given me to remind myself of what I'll lose once this mission is complete? Sometimes, I wish the Saint could give me a break in this, that I may find a way to do his will without the emotions I carry. I have not questioned my mission, nor have I ever doubted my purpose. Even now, in all my excitement and nervous sadness, I don't question what I must do. I was never taught that my emotions were signs of weakness, not if they didn't get in the way of the cause. I even had Martha to remind me. The Saint knows that I'm trying to fulfil my promise and give the world the peace it deserves. So why is it that I'm questioning myself? What am I missing that I need an answer for?

'Finally getting some rest?' Light asks, looking over me.

'A version of it. You?'

He sighs. 'I'm not resting until this is over. I think that's where my focus is right now.'

'Right.'

'The end of this of course means you leave the country again.'

'Well I'm not from here to begin with so fretting over that is pointless. Besides, I came here to find Kira so once that's accomplished, I have nothing else to do.'

'Then why did you leave all those years ago? Why didn't you stick around until Kira was found?'

'That's personal. Besides, with the turn of events, I'd assumed my contract was over but it turns out…'

'What do you mean?'

'You do know that L hired me on contract, right?'

'So, I could have found you once things settled?'

I shrug.

'Wonderful.'

'You honestly couldn't have missed me that much.'

His look crosses between irritated and dumbfounded. 'You're joking, right?'

'I asked if you missed me that much, not if you missed me at all.'

'You were one of the brightest members of the team. Speaking of which, I get the feeling tomorrow's turn of events will be—interesting.'

Is that a threat? 'Yeah, I guess.'

'Are you nervous?'

'Shouldn't I be?'

'You've always contained your emotions. Except when Matsuda's behaviour annoys you.'

'Yeah.'

He falls silent.

His thoughtful look, though hard to read, borders on victory for the events of tomorrow. The fact that he's able to have this small conversation with me, especially with that relaxed stance, should say everything regarding his thoughts towards me. He's ensnared me into something, and the bits of information I gave him would only serve to increase his hubris. If he falls tomorrow, he's prepared to face it. It's almost as if he's confident he can override that chance.

The next day we meet in the main office around ten in the morning. Any finalisations before we can get going are taken care of in the short span of time given. In the midst of our preparations, Mr Aizawa approaches me privately and asks about Light's behaviour yesterday. I explain that neither of us left HQ the whole day, including to sleep on the provided couches. About half past ten, Near gives us a call: 'Good morning, everyone.'

'Uh, good morning,' Mr Matsuda sheepishly responds.

'First of all, in regards to Misa Amane, we've already set her free. You may call her to confirm it.'

Light pulls out his phone instantly and dials her number. Holding it against his ear, he waits before asking: 'Misa, are you alright?'

Silence.

'I understand. Alright, Misa; please stay there for a little while longer until I call you.' He hangs up the phone. 'Near, I need you to connect with Mogi. We have the Notebook locked away here, and in order to open the safe it's kept in, we'll need the pin number of every member of the team.'

'Understood. I'll connect you to him immediately.'

All the members, except for me, place their pin numbers into the safe.

'Near, it's me,' Mr Aizawa says, 'we've discussed it and I'll be the one to carry the Notebook.'

'L,' Near begins, 'are you sure it's alright with you if Mr Aizawa carries it?'

'Of course,' Light answers. 'I chose Aizawa for the job because we knew you'd prefer that. I have no problems with it.'

'I appreciate it. Thank you. Well then, we'll see you shortly.'

Excitement fills the room, but it remains quiet and tense. I walk to the window, tempted to pull out one of my knives and play with it until we leave. Rain pours down like a shower over Tokyo and I can't help wondering if each droplet is supposed to represent a cleansing or tears. Perhaps both. In some cultures, the ceremonies in order to clean up are long and arduos. I almost chuckle out loud. Kira started killing because he wanted to cleanse the world of evil. Yet here we are. Saint knows that we've all survived thus far. If he is not behind us today, then we really are leaving everything to chance. Whatever relief I'm supposed to feel about this immediately shatters when I look at Light, who sits quietly in front of his computer, more lost in thought than his usual focused self. A ghost of a smile briefly displays on his lips. I send one last prayer to the Saint for guidance.

'Guys, it's getting late,' Mr Matsuda says. 'With the rain, I can't imagine the traffic. We should go now.'

'Good idea,' Mr Ide agrees. 'We'll have to make it there earlier than them, if not in time.'

I glance at Light for confirmation.

'You're right. We should go,' he says.

We grab our coats and head out to Mr Aizawa's car. It ends today. Part of me cannot wait for Near's plan to take action, what I know of it anyway. Still I'm more prepared for it to go to Hell. Biting my lower lip, I get the middle seat in the back, Mr Matsuda beside me and Mr Ide beside him. Light and Mr Aizawa take the front. It ends today. Part of me cannot wait for the truth to be revealed finally, no matter what the cost. I know that all of this can go to Hell and I feel ill-prepared to some extent. But, I'm ready to see this thing through. Humidity sweeps through the car, and from it, a smell of sorts takes affect. It's not identifiable, but it's a smell I often recognise when there's tension. Suddenly, I find myself holding my breath, releasing it every few minutes until we get to the docks. Mr Aizawa clenches the wheel, his hands pale from the grasp, but his face remains calm. Beside me, Mr Matsuda nervously shifts, though not so annoying that it has me or Mr Ide giving him looks. Mr Ide keeps his eyes out his window, but even his hands clench in tight anticipation. The calmest of us all, Light Yagami, rests his face on his hand, a mixture of anticipation and boredom on his face. He's so confident about today, it almost makes me sick. The air I'm trying to avoid seeps in and I almost cough at the contact. Anger tries to pulsate within me, but I reduce it. It won't do me any favours. It's all any of us can do to keep ourselves calm right now. I think about the SPK members. Unlike me, they know the full extent of Near's plan, possibly anything else the Task Force is blind to. It will start with a battle of each team leader outsmarting the other. As long as the outcome is Kira facing me, I don't care. I long to clench the knife hidden in my sleeve. However, showing any signs of nervousness or over-confidence will not help me or my team.

The sky continues to bleed raindrops, fogging up the windows. I wipe mine, the glass cold against my skin, to get a better view of the city. It continues, unaware that the future of the world will change. The water touches the vulnerable roads, buildings and posters, reaching into the shades if it can. I was raised to make peace with the cold, to yield to its embrace. They taught me to see the storms as a sign of the Wheel of Life, the Wheel that spins per the bidding of G-d and the Saint. Back home, we celebrate such times; it serves as the meaning between the nature created by G-d and the task given to the Saint. I always looked forward to the Winter celebrations back home, where we would march from the convent to the ancient temples and light a fire in commeration to the Saint's fate and to the blessings he's bestowed on us. It was beyond the superficial rituals that I eagerly waited, it was about the sisterhood that I share with Martha and plenty of others. It's about the family the Saint created in us. These are the comforts I carry with me to the docks, despite the heat and smell that sickens me so. Quietly, I pray for strength and determination as we inch nearer to the docks. The rain softens a little the closer we get but it doesn't ease my nerves. I know that no matter the outcome, I will have to do my part. No matter what.

Finally, Mr Aizawa pulls over by the warehouses. He gets out first, heading inside to check the place. No one dares speak a word while waiting. He returns, a few minutes later, and opening Light's door, gives us the report: 'There's no mistake, Near's inside. I checked it out.

'Alright. Let's do this.'

With one hard, perhaps final, look at one another, each of us steps out of the car. Our footsteps sound off in echoes as we pass through the open barns. For two of us, it won't be the first time we'll see the SPK. For the rest of them though, this encounter should be interesting. Ahead of us, shut tight and secure, sits the door to the warehouse that we're to meet in. I can feel the SPK inside, waiting just as nervously as we are. All except Near. An exterior gap exists between the shade we're in and the door, welcoming the rain to pour down on us one last time. Slowly, Light proceeds to open the door. The small sunlight offers a little light into the dark room, shadowing and revealing everything. Three SPK members stand in the centre of the room, staring at us in anticipation. Mr Mogi stands beside them, unable to display relief at seeing us again. Near sits crouched in front of them, a group of miniature dolls scattered at his feet, wearing L's mask.