Goodnight Moon

Chapter Title: Kansas City Shuffle

Disclaimer: Death Note =/= mine. Volume 7 would have gone a liiittle bit differently.

Rating: R

Pairings: Kira / L

Warning(s): Contains spoilers for manga 1 through parts of 7.

Comment: Sorry about last chapter! I know it had too much skimming over the manga, etc.. Very aggravating. This chapter has almost none!

We're at the last chapter, people-- almost. All that should be left is the epilogue, and we'll see how that goes, shall we? I have an idea for two more stories, but don't know if I'll write them...

Video Pimpage! Go watch Hellagoddess' Death Note vid, http://youtube.com/watch?v=_YrrqKHcUQ8. Seriously, go right now. Come back and read this when you're done, I'll wait.

Done? Good, on with the story. Comments at the end, you know the drill.

-----

The bathroom again.

Sighing, Kira leaned against the counter, looking into the mirror in boredom. His face stared back at him, and he grimaced in annoyance. "Really, I have our memories. You had some sort of delusion about me talking to you when you were asleep, so you're using the same format. Now you'll talk to me, and... what?" he drawled. "What have you got to say? Hurry up, I haven't got all night."

A ripple in the mirror that he could almost feel, and his reflection glared at him.

"Don't do it," Light ordered. Kira's reflection seemed somehow younger, all earnest fire and hands clenched on the counter's formica top.

"Or... What?" Kira asked, feigning curiosity. Straightening, he crossed his arms casually on his chest. "L is an obstacle in my path, you know that as well as he does. I won, and now it's only a matter of time. Days, probably. Less if Misa actually remembers his name-- though I doubt she will," Kira added wryly.

Light's knuckles against the counter were turning pale with strain. "Killing L is a mistake. This isn't murdering criminals, Kira. L is..."

"Oh, I know what you think of him," Kira mocked, mimicking Light's position and giving him a slow, condescending smile. "And I can't believe you used my body in that way. But I've killed innocents before. They were necessary deaths on the path to a beautiful new future. And in case you've forgotten, he wants us dead." Kira chuckled, rapping on the mirror with a knuckle. "I'm sorry, he wants me dead. You already are."

"Really?" Light released the counter to spread his hand on his side of the glass, studying it first and then looking again to Kira. "You're forgetting the purpose of a mirror, aren't you?"

Kira narrowed his eyes slightly. Reaching out, he tore the dream open.

---

He woke with a gasp, shaking from his anger. Gritting his teeth, Kira sat up and checked the glowing red numbers of the alarm clock.

Four in the morning.

Sighing in annoyance, the genius slipped from his bed to shower, assuming that another attempt at sleep might bring the aggravating dream back.

---

It had been two days since Higuchi's capture and the discovery of the death note. Everything was going perfectly to plan, and Kira realized with some amusement that the wait for L's impending death was beginning to feel a little like a holiday.

Everything was in motion, the wheels were spinning ever onward, and he had only to wait a scant few days before one of his traps would close over L. With every sharp movement the detective made, Kira's eyes would jump to him, half-expecting the older man to clutch his chest in pain and plummet from the chair. It was both a disappointment and source of wry humor when the stubborn man insisted on continuing to live.

Misa had met with him the day before, her lifespan shortened again and once more his useful tool. That she hadn't remembered L's real name was a pity, and also the reason he kept thinking L's movements might be his final throes and not merely the paranoid gestures of a man who must, by now, suspect that he was slated to die soon. He glanced again to Ryuuzaki-- no, L, Kira refused to assign such a ridiculous pseudonym to the famous detective. The dark-haired man was crouched on the couch rather than at his accustomed computer terminal and was persistently pestering Rem with attempts at gleaning information from her that could be used on the case.

Kira stifled a chuckle at that, knowing Rem would continue to defend his plans. It was such a pleasant surprise when Kira had discovered that shinigami were as easy to manipulate as humans.

He was, however, beginning to understand the downfall of movie villains explaining their plans to the enemy too soon so they could enjoy an evil laugh at the horrified admiration of their nemesis. His plots were so intricate, but when they were over no one would be around to admire his work. The humans that were worthy of his new kingdom would need to be kept ignorant of the blood that lined its path, and even if Misa and her useful eyes were still at his side she needed to be kept in the dark about his true nature.

Really, it was almost a shame he couldn't keep L alive, locked up somewhere to visit occasionally. It would be useful to have someone to talk to that was on a level with himself, that could understand...

He tensed slightly, realizing that his gaze had come to a thoughtful rest on the eccentric detective only when the other man's black eyes met his. His heart gave a strange start, and he could barely cover his surprise.

Seething inwardly at his strange reaction, Kira remained calm at the surface, nodding slightly in acknowledgment of L's intent stare. L was as closed off as ever, betraying nothing as he studied Kira a moment more and turned back to Rem with another question.

Drawing on Light's memories from months chained to the detective, Kira could see by the line of the thin shoulders through their customary white shirt that he was unhappy, and from the paler cast of his skin and the red tears around his thumb that the man was getting even less sleep than usual, worry or his own thoughts keeping him from rest. He'd probably been staying awake watching the security cameras all night-- the man never had learned to turn the notebook off in bed.

Kira made a note of the familiar exasperation in that thought. He was beginning to suspect that the time his more innocent self had spent with the bizarre genius might have more lingering ill-effects than he'd planned for.

---

Hours passed, and as the day wore tensely toward evening, Kira's attentions snapped to a sudden flurry of disbelieving shouts. Looking away from his terminal, he allowed himself a small smile as chief Yagami and his detectives discovered Misa's most recent work. Sixteen criminals dead in one night-- it was certainly impressive.

To his right, he heard a distinct crunch as the chocolate-filled panda snack L had been eating broke between his thin fingers. He waited smugly for L to point out that the criminal activity had begun almost as soon as Misa was released from observation.

At the detective's silence, however, he frowned and glanced to the dark-haired man in annoyance. Beside him, his father and the others were still trying to recover from the shock of what appeared to be a new Kira, so close to Higuchi's death.

L's eyes were focused unseeingly on his computer screen. He slowly turned his head and looked to Kira, but the thoughts behind his eyes were ones even months in his constant presence couldn't allow Kira to guess.

The phone on the desk rang, and everyone but L gave a slight start-- or, in Matsuda's case, a tiny girly yelp followed by an embarrassed laugh as Aizawa and chief Yagami sighed at him. Before the others could react, L picked the receiver up gingerly and held it to his ear, standing and moving away from the others. "Yes... I see." His thumb went to his mouth, and Kira winced to think of the man chewing the already torn skin. It was getting to a point where he was considering finding the detective a bandage to keep him from bleeding on the keyboards. "Yes... No, I would like a chance to speak with him first."

"Ryuuzaki, what is it?" chief Yagami asked, concern in his voice as he watched the genius in concern. "What is Watari saying?"

L glanced over his shoulder at the aging detective without expression, then shuffled back to the desk and dropped the receiver down. "I've acquired sensitive new information. I would like a chance to speak with Yagami-kun about it." He fixed his stare again on Kira.

Not liking the sensation of his orderly plan possibly having a hole in it, Kira masked his concern with earnest indignation, projecting quiet protest and reluctance in his posture. "Ryuuzaki, is that really necessary? Anything you have to say can be said around the others. I trust them-- you really should, too." He gave a pointed half-smile. "Isn't that why you had us play genius chess?" he prompted, using innocent words to play on the pride of the others.

"He's right, Ryuuzaki," chief Yagami protested firmly, and Kira had to hide a smile. "You should trust us by now. Anything you can say to my son you can say to all of us."

Ryuuzaki bit his thumb again, winced, and studied it. Absently, he wiped it on his shirt, and a smear of red followed to stain the white material. Kira shook his head slightly, able to easily imagine his father's expression becoming even more severe as the clean and orderly father of two resisted the urge to drag Ryuuzaki aside and patch him up like a reluctant child. "Of course I trust you," L deadpanned, tone not at all reassuring. Social skills never had been a priority for the genius. "I still need to talk to Yagami-kun first. It involves Amane-san," he added cryptically.

Kira frowned at the first explanation that came to mind. "Ryuu-- you didn't grab her again, did you?" he asked, exasperated. He had told the girl to cover her tracks and write from bathroom stalls or where no one might have cameras, so that wasn't a concern as much as Ryuuzaki's impulsiveness getting her kidnapped again and slowing his plans. "The deaths today are no indication--"

"No, she hasn't been kidnapped," L interrupted, ignoring Kira's irritation. He continued to watch Kira intently.

"..." After an awkward pause, Kira looked to the other detectives, then stood slowly. "...Did something happen to her?" he prompted. Rem was looking between the two of them, and Kira mentally urged the shinigami to remain silent and stop acting worried. The idiot could ruin his plans if she started showing too much interest in Misa.

Turning on his heel, L started for the door, apparently secure now in the assumption that Kira would follow. Thinning his lips, chief Yagami placed a hand on his son's shoulder briefly, glancing to him with an attempt at reassurance. "He's rough around the edges, son, but I'm sure there's nothing to worry about."

"Thanks, dad," Kira replied, returning his smile with a forced one of his own. The effort wasn't even entirely fake-- his plans were feeling less secure than they had a moment ago. If L was only pulling him aside to ask him why he'd chosen Misa over him, Kira was going to split his lip open. A bruised knuckle would be more than worth it.

Grimly, he caught up to L before the man could reach the door, and Rem ghosted over the floor after them, her tall frame phasing through the door and walls as L led them through the hallways.

---

They entered a room that Kira had never seen before, from a hallway the security cameras hadn't shown existed. The floor was wood, the walls were bare, and the only item in the place was a laptop across the room. Its screen had the Old English W Watari used to represent himself.

Increasingly unsettled, Kira remembered after a moment to act as Light. Frowning in annoyance at the theatrics, he crossed his arms on his chest. "Ryuuzaki, what's the meaning of this place? Why did you pull me away? It looks like you had this room specially made..."

"..." Glancing at Rem as the god of death drifted in behind them, L secured the door. "Light-kun guesses correctly. I had been under the assumption that Kira would be caught more quickly, and that our time chained together would be brief. This is a meditation room. The only camera is inside of that notebook." Walking to the mentioned notebook, L knelt and closed the cover. He appeared to be gathering strength, and Kira fell back a prudent step, warily readying himself for a fight.

The expected attack didn't come, and after a moment L stood. His shoulders straightened, and he met Kira's eyes somberly. There was a look in his gaze that usually meant he'd put Light's pieces into check on the gameboard, and Kira felt his breath ease out to keep from showing his nerves. "Watari's call was to tell me that Weddy succeeded in catching Amane Misa using the death note. The evidence is on a disc, and when I tell Watari he will cause the terminals in front of the detectives to play the same footage. With the evidence linking the two of you, you will both be put to death."

Kira froze, finding it difficult to breathe. It can't be that easy-- he can't have won. No-- he wouldn't have warned me. There would be no reason to... And how could he have gotten that footage of Misa? She's stupid, but she's loyal... Did she ignore my warning on where to use the note? He's probably only trying to trip me up, with some camera hidden where I can't see to catch a confession. Calmer with the thought, Kira continued his act, glaring at L. "Why won't you give up?" he demanded, putting tired hurt and anger into his tone. "You can't have caught Misa doing that because she isn't Kira. Neither am I-- you already know that, too. You had to release her. We didn't write in the death note for months and we're still alive, Ryuuzaki."

L nodded. "Normally, I would have spent a month testing the rules one by one using death row inmates," he agreed. "But I had the feeling that you would not allow me to live that long," he responded quietly, almost sympathetically. "Your plans were good, but you hadn't allowed for Weddy... You always did forget the pawns. I know you don't want to believe it, but you can drop your act, Kira. I'm not trying to trap you."

"Then why would you tell me?" Kira demanded. "And quit calling me Kira! I'm not a murderer. You need to stop trying to blame me and focus on the real killer!"

"Why would I tell you..." L echoed thoughtfully. He looked to the ceiling, and Kira grit his teeth at the man's familiar gesture making the line of his throat seem vulnerable. When L met his eyes again, he was frowning slightly at whatever answer he had found. "...I know it's not likely, but if you could give up your memories again... I like you, Light-kun. I don't want you to die. But you've killed thousands of people, and if you keep your memories and show no remorse, you will die."

He thought Kira would give up his memories again, and turn himself into some sort of deluded toy for the detective to keep around? Kira's eyes flashed angrily at the offensive thought. Even as he bristled in anger, however, his mind presented a plan it had been working on as the rest of him talked. First, though, he needed to be sure that L wasn't lying, and that the other detectives weren't already watching this scene on their computers as it happened. "Is this because I chose her over you?" he demanded, loud enough for a camera to pick up but still quiet. "I told you, Ryuuzaki. I was only with you until Kira was caught-- it was only because we'd been around each other for so long."

Not even flinching, L studied Kira with his head tilted slightly, obviously trying to work out Light's plan for confessing that. "...That is what led me to have Amane followed," the detective admitted, and Kira felt a flare of irritation at himself for that slip. "It was so different from how you'd acted for months. But if you really do chose her over me, that doesn't change my plan. I would still prefer that Yagami-kun stay alive. Keeping both Kira alive, however, would be too dangerous."

Time was running short. Rem was watching them both, and Kira couldn't trust that she wouldn't kill him as well if she blamed him for L's paranoia. Kira took a breath, grimacing inwardly at the thought of what he was about to do. "...There are no cameras, Ryuuzaki. You promise that?" he asked softly, attention focused intently on the other man.

Still trying to guess Kira's thoughts, L studied him in puzzlement and nodded slowly. "I want you to give up your memories. I'll keep you somewhere-- you'll be safe..." he trailed off tensely as Kira walked toward him.

"And Misa will be dead," Kira finished softly. He heard a rustle of wings and paper, and knew that Rem was taking the opportunity he'd offered. L's eyes turned toward Rem to see what the noise had been, and Kira stepped into him, mouth covering the detective's in an insistent kiss.

L remained stiff in his arms for an instant, obviously fighting with himself to pull away and keep control of the situation. Kira had a flash of irritation that the man might foil the plan and warn Watari, but after the moment's hesitation he felt strong, wiry arms hold him closer.

Allowing the kiss to deepen, Kira closed his eyes as L's tongue trailed along the roof his mouth ticklishly. Tired of passivity in even that brief time, Kira forced the detective's tongue back, fighting into the other man's mouth with a murmur of effort. Without his encouragement, one of his arms wound around L's shoulders possessively, and he felt his mind begin to haze as he clenched at one of Ryuuzaki's sleeves and pressed demandingly against the other man.

Forty seconds ticked by, and the sociopathic genius forgot what he'd started the kiss for.

A hiss from Rem brought him back to reality abruptly, and he jerked away with a gasp. Confused for a moment, he looked to Rem in irritation, tongue drawing over his lower lip in memory of how strangely sweet the detective tasted.

The shinigami didn't appear to notice, holding her open death note and staring at L.

Panting with Kira to regain his breath, L's eyes were wide and he seemed pale in spite of the flush from their heated kiss. "I'm sorry, Yagami-kun," he apologized breathlessly. "I do not intend to die. I do appreciate the kiss, though. I had wondered what Kira would taste like." He touched his fingers to his lips.

Pretense of being Light forgotten, Kira narrowed his eyes at Rem. "What happened?" Rem shook her head, wings flapping in agitation.

"I was testing the rules on myself," L stated calmly, breathing normal again. "Do you remember part IX?"

Eyes widening, Kira cursed softly. Rem frowned. "What is he talking about?"

"He wrote his own name in the note, misspelled four times," Kira snapped. "The notes can't kill him now. He probably wrote Watari's name as well." He held his arms out from his sides, lifting his chin and glaring a challenge. "Well? Is that a good enough confession for the great detective?"

"Kira-kun is a childish loser," L observed, bringing his hand to his mouth before recalling the blood and dropping it. He stepped closer to Kira. "But my offer stands. There were no cameras watching. I want Light-kun back, and you get to live, to try to win another day."

Kira narrowed his eyes, feeling his heart beating uncomfortably fast. The urge to punch L was almost impossible to resist, but there was a chance he could get out of this on top. L wanted him, and that was a powerful piece left in play if he moved the man right. He considered the detective's offer seriously for the first time. Would it be so bad? L would keep the death note, and there was a chance that Light would come into contact with it in the future. Still, the thought of being kept out of the way, with only the detective for amusement when the man chose to visit his cell between cases... it was galling. There had to be another way.

The seed of an idea took root in his mind, and Kira closed his eyes, tilting his head to let it grow. L's attraction wasn't his only piece. Rem's love might work just as effectively... But the plan depended on how far L was willing to go to keep Light alive.

Decided, Kira looked to L reluctantly. "...I suppose being forced to stay with you isn't a fate worse than death. I'll accept your offer, on one condition-- I get to be the one to tell Misa she's been caught, first," he stated firmly. "You can have her meet me here, outside like usual... If I tell her to, she'll go quietly, and I can take the note from her so she can't hurt anyone."

L tilted his head curiously. "Why would I allow you to hold onto a death note, or have contact with the second Kira before her trial?"

"Because that's the only way you'll get me alive," Kira replied flatly, gaze dangerous. "Misa has always been a loyal support to me, and I want a chance to thank her before she's taken. It will make a difference to her," he added more quietly, and Rem stirred slightly, keeping her eyes on Kira and obviously trying to figure out if he was being honest.

"I will not allow Misa to be taken," Rem stated, and Kira cursed inwardly at her inability to remain quiet. "Anyone who touches her will die."

Turning a questioning gaze to Rem, L widened his eyes. "You aren't protecting Yagami-kun?" he clarified. "Why... Ah. You wanted to keep Amane safe by killing Watari and myself." He studied Rem in light of this new information. "...Shinigami can fall in love," he remarked, amazed.

"Not love in the sense you mean it," Rem replied, shifting her ungainly, inhumanly stretched form from foot to foot. "I watch after her, and the emotion is... similar to a human mother with her child."

"Amane is like a child," L agreed solemnly, and Rem narrowed her eyes, trying to decide if the blunt detective was being insulting or just making an observation on Misa's behavior.

Cursing Rem in his mind, Kira allowed only a small frown on his face, crossing his arms. "L... There has to be a way to get Misa out of this alive, and to keep dad and the others safe. You have influence on the police, but you don't have the end say in whether either of us get the death penalty. If Misa apologizes sincerely and makes an appearance on television explaining that she only went along with me out of love, or gratitude for her parents, I think the public would forgive her. She doesn't deserve death for trying to help me achieve a world without crime. Misa is an innocent." And if Kira didn't know the nature of the justice system, he might even believe his own words.

Rem and L both looked back at him, each trying to decide which side he was truly on and whether to help his lie or destroy it. Kira was almost confident that both would believe him for their own reasons. For L, he would most likely err on the belief that Kira would only act in his own interests and that at the current time those interests coincided with bringing Misa to the police. He would assume that Kira had some plan to attempt escaping or getting one of the death notes back for his own use, but he would be confident in his own abilities to rig the playing field in his own favor.

"...Yagami-kun is correct," L agreed slowly, gaze intent on Kira as he apparently attempted to read Kira's thoughts. "I have no control over whether Kira or the second Kira receive the death penalty, though I will suggest it. If Amane can regret her crimes, they may be lenient with her."

Kira resisted the urge to laugh, and instead focused on Rem. It was up to the shinigami now, and Kira tried to put into his gaze that he still had a plan and needed Rem to trust him. As long as Rem could understand that they were all using each other, everything would be fine.

The pale god of death watched Kira unblinking, disturbed and obviously torn between her desire to protect Misa and the possibility that that involved allowing her to come anywhere near the police. Eventually, however, she nodded as well. "In that case, then, I will allow Misa to return here. Light will escort her inside, however-- I don't want her to be hurt." Her eyes turned to L. "And whoever does decide her fate, if they choose to send her to death, they condemn themselves as well."

As neither L nor Kira actually intended to let things get to a fair and civil trial, they both nodded agreement to the plan.

A beep came from the closed notebook. It was followed by a muffled noise, and L slid his eyes to the device before shuffling to it, opening the top once more and conversing briefly with Watari.

Stepping closer to Rem, Kira dropped his voice to a murmur and the shinigami stooped to hear better. He spoke quickly, and by the time L stood a moment later Rem had moved away again, deep in thought.

Hiding any worries their talk may have caused him, L kept his focus on Kira. "Your father is demanding that we go back. Think of a good explanation for our talk, unless you want them to see the discs..." He shrugged slightly, made a move to bite his thumb again, and sighed at it.

"Why should I be the one thinking of an excuse, Ryuuzaki?" Kira asked in annoyance. "You're the one that pulled me here."

"I wasn't aware that I was pulling Kira-kun," L responded, not looking away from his thumb. Shaking his hand a little, he let it fall and started for the door. "Your concern for Misa, or for your plans, brought you with me."

"Haven't we already had a similar conversation?" Kira asked drily. "I'm not a sociopath."

"Light-kun was not," agreed L simply. "Kira-kun, however, is a mass-murderer."

Frowning, Kira fell into step with him as they left the doorway. "And yet, you're still alive," he murmured darkly, tired of L and just realizing that the man had bought himself a longer lease on life.

L nodded, hands deep in his pockets. "I am pleased that that particular rule was correct," he observed. "I was not expecting Rem to interfere in such a way, but did not underestimate the chance of Kira-kun finding a death note."

Slowing, Kira frowned at L. "L, please. Until tomorrow, at least, stop with the 'Kira' business."

"..." L glanced back at Kira, black eyes peering from beneath dark bangs. "...Do you still argue that you aren't Kira?"

Kira snorted. "It's not that. I just don't want to explain why I'm not trying to kill you for saying it."

Considering this, L tilted his head toward the ceiling. A moment later, he turned on heel again and continued down the hallway.

Taking this as the strange detective's way of assenting for the moment, Kira grimaced and followed. Maybe if he were lucky, he'd get a chance to kill the aggravating man the old-fashioned way. His father couldn't blame him for tossing L out a window, could he...?

---

November sixth came at its scheduled time, and Kira stared despondently at his computer screen, mind far away. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had almost won the night before, and that L should be dead, his own plans for world domination rolling smoothly along.

It was a pleasant thought.

Resisting the urge to sigh, Kira waited. Misa had agreed to come, and should be arriving any minute. His plan came down to a series of carefully timed moments, and the fact that it relied heavily upon Rem was a concern. Still, she would do everything she could to make sure everything went his way.

After more arguing, he had gotten L to agree that he should be the one to tell his father that he was Kira so the man wouldn't find out from a video of Misa writing in the death note. Kira wasn't certain why he was putting the revelation off, except perhaps on the hope that his plan would go better than expected, and he could find some way to exonerate himself and escape. All in all, having the stigma of being Kira hanging over himself this early in the game was bound to make his life more difficult.

In the outside monitor, he saw Misa's typically fashionable form bounce up the steps, her skirt flashing the tops of her lacy thigh-highs. His shoulders eased slightly at the end of the wait, and he reflected that his life would have been simpler if he'd actually been attracted to the model/actress. Looking up to the camera, Misa waved excitedly.

He smiled wryly at Matsuda's good-natured teasing and cheering and at the rough camaraderie of the others-- excluding L, who merely watched him intently, bandaged thumb pressed to his mouth.

Pausing in the doorway, Kira glanced back, meeting his father's eyes. He considered warning the man, but discarded the idea. As he turned his steps into the hallway and headed for freedom, he decided that chief Yagami was a good man. It was a shame that, if Kira survived and his plans could be set into motion again, he would probably need to die.

---

When Light appeared in the doorway and headed toward her, Misa smiled in pure happiness, running to greet him with a hug. "Light! Misa missed you so much! Will Misa get to see you every day now?" she asked breathlessly, delight at the prospect making it hard to stay on the ground and not tackle her boyfriend.

"Misa..." Light returned her hug, and Misa leaned into him contentedly, smiling as he murmured into her ear. "You have to listen to me. Ryuuzaki-- L-- found evidence against you, and will use it against us both. Shh-- don't worry, he isn't going to take us. But I'm going to need you to trust me. Did you bring the note?"

Misa nodded, fear and adrenaline making her dizzy and a little sick. "You told me to keep it on me, it's too dangerous to leave it..."

"That's right, Misa. I'm glad, you're doing wonderfully," he praised, and Misa's worry melted into relief.

"Light-kun... How did he get evidence? I was careful, I only wrote in the bathroom stalls, and never went to the same one...!"

"Do you remember Aber? L has another friend, a woman named Weddy. She does professional espionage, and she was tracking you. Now, I need you to hand me your notebook... Careful, so the cameras can't see it. I can't be sure how much L really has evidence for." Discreetly, Misa slipped her death note from beneath her camisole, where a corset had been holding it in place. It was snuck into Light's shirt, and Misa blushed at the warmth of his skin. "Good..." Light breathed. Shivering at the tone, Misa snuck a glance at him, but he was looking at Rem. "I renounce my death note, Rem."

The pale shinigami took a step back before launching into the air, her strong wings taking her quickly up, and she disappeared into the wall.

Smiling, Light looked down at Misa again. "Now comes the part where you trust me. L wants me kept alive, Misa, but he has no problems with killing you. I'm supposed to be the one taking you inside to be arrested, but I'm sure he has police in the area to capture you if we try to run. As long as your note is touching me I can remember, but I need to keep my memories without touching it. When I tell you to, Misa, will you give up possession of your note...?"

Nodding, Misa watched Light worriedly. "But Misa doesn't want to leave you!"

"We'll meet up again, I promise. In the meantime, you can help continue Kira's work until I get free. Can you do that?" he asked. Ashamed and trying to be brave, Misa nodded.

"Good. Since I gave up my note, I'll need you to tell me when Rem returns." Light's attention slid to the dark shinigami standing beside them. "Ryuk-- this is going to be very interesting, I promise. When Rem leaves with Misa, will you take my note? I won't be forsaking it, just asking you to watch it until you can find me again. I'm not sure what will happen to me when L realizes what I've done, but at the worst he'll have me arrested and confined pending a trial. With Misa free, I can think of something."

Misa bit her lip as Ryuk thought about the situation. "Light! What if he kills you? Why would he keep you alive?" Her eyes went wide, and anger immediately overtook her. "He really was kissing Misa's Light, wasn't he?! Do you know his name yet? I'll--"

"Misa, Misa, shh," Light soothed, embarrassed by her outburst and glancing at the camera. "We don't have long. Rem should have the note by now... She'll explain everything to you, I'm sure. Ryuk?"

Shifting his huge form, Ryuk shrugged. "Sure, if it means things will get interesting again. I'll definitely be back to get my apples for this though," he warned.

"Of course." Light smiled, tension gone. Above them, Rem dove from the side of the building. A regiment of helmeted men in flak suits headed for them from the buildings surrounding the headquarter entrance, presumably on L's signal as the man realized what was happening.

"Rem's here!" Misa informed Light, not wanting to let him go.

Light nodded, attention on the policement. "Now, Misa!"

Still indecisive, Misa looked to Ryuk. "I renounce my death note."

---

Misa's body slumped against Light. Prepared for the effects of her sudden memory loss, Light caught her almost gently. Picking her up, he handed her into Rem's care.

Not bothering to say a farewell, Rem gave Light a piercing look and took into the air once more. From the police came sounds of alarm and confusion as Misa's unconscious body apparently flew into the air on its own. By the time they thought to fire, she was too far away for their bullets to penetrate Rem and hit her.

While they were distracted with that, Light handed his own note discreetly to Ryuk, and the shinigami flew away with a laugh at the whole scene.

As the men recovered and surrounded Light to arrest him, he feigned shock equal to theirs and tried to appear terrified and confused. Forced to his knees by the police, he looked to the ground and felt a smirk curl his mouth where no one could see. Let's see what happens now, L. Your move.

---

The jocular aura in headquarters as the men watched Misa run up to Light had taken a distinct turn for the worse. No one but L had shown any alarm when Rem left the two to take wing and head for the control room, but as soon as Rem reached through the glass case guarding the captured death note and took it the detective was speaking orders into his computer. Chief Yagami had demanded what he was doing-- especially when the policemen that he hadn't requested arrived on the scene and headed for his son.

"Ryuuzaki! What is the meaning of this?" he snapped, trying to remain terse rather than shouting but finding it increasingly difficult as Amane disappeared into the distance and his son was pushed to his knees with his fingers laced calmly on his head. "What did that monster do with Amane-san?"

"..." Eyes still on the screen, Ryuuzaki had paused with a bite of cake almost to his mouth. Setting the fork down with the bite unfinished, L ignored the police chief's question to speak to Watari again. "Tell them not to hurt him, and that I want him confined." Watari replied affirmatively, and L sat back in his crouch with a sigh. Finally, he turned his gaze to chief Yagami. "...Your son is Kira. Amane is the second Kira. The shinigami loves her, and Kira tricked her into escaping with our only evidence."

"Her?" Matsuda asked, blinking and staring at the screen, though Rem was long gone. "That monster was a she?" Aizawa hit him, nodding toward chief Yagami and telling him with a look to get serious. Rubbing his head, Matsuda nodded sheepishly.

Body tense and face tight, chief Yagami watched L severely. "This isn't a joke, L. You've had a vendetta against my son since you met him. What evidence do you have that you didn't have before?"

"...Nothing concrete," Ryuuzaki admitted, shoulders slumping slightly as he gazed at the screen. "Last night, I informed Light-kun that Weddy had obtained footage of Amane writing in a death note, and that I knew he was Kira. He wouldn't have believed me, but Rem forced him to move... She thinks of Amane like a daughter and attempted to kill Watari and myself when I told her there were no other witnesses."

There were indrawn breaths and gasps, and chief Yagami swayed slightly in shock. "How did you survive?"

"Section nine..." Aizawa breathed, and Ryuuzaki looked to him with interest, nodding subtly. Chief Yagami furrowed his brow at his detective, and Aizawa straightened, explaining. "In the rules for the death note. One allowed someone to survive the death note if their name was written, misspelled four times. I thought it only meant the one death note, but that must mean the notes are connected somehow."

Ryuuzaki nodded, thoughtful. "Very good, Aizawa-san. I was also hoping that that was the case. Light-kun distracted me while Rem wrote the names, and both expressed surprise when I remained alive. I convinced Light to bring Amane in today to retrieve her death note and take her into custody."

Chief Yagami sank into his computer chair, trying to find some loophole to save his son. "Why didn't you show us the tape...?" he asked, raising his head from his hands to spear Ryuuzaki with an accusing stare.

"..." Ryuuzaki reached to his plate, finishing the bite of cake. "There is no tape," he announced simply. "I was bluffing. I felt that my life was in imminent danger and that if I could force Light-kun to give up his memories again or to come to you and confess, my life would be spared."

Chief Yagami gaped at his gall, but Aizawa leaned forward intently, hands clasped loosely. "Why were you afraid for your life? You'd already written your name by that point, hadn't you?"

Ryuuzaki nodded, taking another bite of cake. "I had, but as I mentioned, I was not certain that my life would be protected. It was merely a precaution in case Light, at some point in the future, acquired another death note. Rem's attempt on my life was unexpected... and also, in this case, beneficial to our investigation."

Looking as if he'd aged twenty years in the last few minutes, chief Yagami dragged his hands over his face and took a shaking breath. "Ryuuzaki. You're certain that my son is Kira? All you lack is the evidence...?"

Nodding, L paused, turning his gaze to chief Yagami cautiously. "He had given up his memories before, and only regained them with Higuchi's death, I believe. With the situation as it stands, he could claim he isn't Kira, and was only helping Amane and Rem because I fooled him into thinking her life was forfeit." Glumly, he moved some crumbs into a bit of frosting on the plate. "He only showed his nature to me, and asked that he be allowed to tell you his identity as Kira. That was before this situation, obviously, but... if I convinced him the cell has no cameras, maybe, I could..." trailing off without much hope, he set his fork down.

"That won't be necessary," chief Yagami intoned gravely. Standing, he bowed slightly to his coworkers and to L, keeping his head down. "I deeply regret what my son has become," he told them, voice thick with control. "Resolving this lies with me, and me alone. He can not be allowed to go free again and continue his plans..." He bowed more deeply, then straightened stiffly and went for the door. "L, I need to know where Light is being held." His hand went briefly to his gun, as though reassuring himself.

Matsuda gaped, making as if to stand, but Aizawa caught his arm and shook his head slightly, watching his chief. Mogi had a sheen of tears in his eyes, and L had spun his chair slowly about to study chief Yagami. He seemed as calm and collected as always, but his hands where they rested on his knees were digging into his jeans, and his toes appeared to be clinging to the chair cushion for balance. "That's a noble gesture, Yagami-san, but is it really necessary? I'm sure due process will ensure Light-kun's ending..."

Control slipping, chief Yagami's hands clenched, the muscles in his neck standing out. "I will decide what to do with my son!" he shouted. Catching himself, he drew in another broken breath and turned his back to the detectives. "...Forgive me. Where, Ryuuzaki?"

"...His old containment cell," L replied evenly. Nodding tersely, the man left.

Spinning around immediately and ignoring all attempts to talk to him, Ryuuzaki contacted Watari. "Watari, retrieve Yagami-kun and take him to the roof. I'll be waiting with the chopper. Knock Kira out if you need to, it will make things easier. Now!"

Aizawa moved to follow when L stood, but L stopped immediately and looked to him. The detective's calm demeanor had slipped, and there was a tense agitation about him. For the first time in his life, he was making plans without thinking them through. Hesitating, Aizawa studied him. "Where will you be taking him?"

"Away," L responded curtly.

"You will be returning him in to the police when the chief calms down?" Aizawa questioned, never having fully come to trust L.

L hesitated, then widened his eyes slightly. "What reason would I have to keep him?" he asked. Letting that be his answer, he hurried for the door, moving faster than the other detectives could remember seeing from him in anything short of a fight.

---

L slid into the driver's seat in his helicopter, and as he was reaching for the first buttons to turn it on the side door slid open and Kira was dropped into the seat. He slumped unconsciously toward L, a growing bruise on his temple testament to Watari's acceptance of the use of excessive force in getting Kira to cooperate with the move.

Watari secured the murderer into the seat with the seatbelt and put handcuffs on his wrists in case he woke in-flight.

With that efficiently accomplished, Watari looked to L solemnly. "Are you bringing him back?"

"..." Looking from Watari to Kira, L hesitated with his fingers above the ignition switches. "...I don't think I am. He would be killed, or imprisoned."

Nodding brusquely at that assessment, the old man stepped back, giving Kira's straps a final tug and tossing the handcuff key to L. "I can't go with you, L," he stated calmly. Taking a breath, he met his protégé's eyes, his accustomed air of calm strength wavering in grief. "He isn't like Aber or Weddy. He's killed thousands of people, and you should leave him for the law to handle."

Absorbing this, L looked from Kira to Watari, torn. "...How long?" he asked quietly.

"I'll give you three days' start on Near and Mello," Watari informed him tiredly. "That should give you plenty of time to pick up your money and go into hiding. L... is he really worth it? You've worked for this position for years."

Ignoring the question, L reached for the switches again. "...You should step back," he informed Watari. He studied the buttons. "...Thank you for all of your help. I... regret that I won't be able to speak with you anymore. Give Mello or Near my congratulations on their advancement."

Watari held out his hand, and L looked from it to Watari before cautiously accepting the handshake. Watari opened his mouth as if to say something else, tightened his grip on L's hand, and seemed to think better of it. "Good luck, L," he told the younger man quietly. Turning, he headed for the door in case chief Yagami found his way to the roof.

Staring after his surrogate father for a moment, L reluctantly stirred. He flicked a few switches, took hold of the steering mechanism, and guided the helicopter into the sky with only an unconscious murderer for companionship.

-----

Whew! After not working on the fic for a month and a half or so-- almost two months?-- I got this finished in two days. Man, this chapter had a lot of snags-- I kept getting to certain points in all of the twists where things would stop working and I'd have to give up for half an hour and just think about it. So I had a few pages of notes again, and that's actually one reason it took so long to make and not long to write. I figured any plan that I could think of in half an hour to an hour was reasonable for Light or L to think up in a few seconds. Also, I've always really admired Aizawa, though not his hair, so I wanted to give him a few lines.

Anyway, yeah. Kansas City Shuffle is by J. Ralph, and was featured on Lucky # Slevin, which is a wonderful good movie. I've had this chapter and the epilogue planned for quite a few months now, so I've been waiting to get to them, but I was just burnt out. I'm better now! Final chapter is called Sympathy for the Devil. See you there!

Chapter edit: I had put in my notes that Light wouldn't be able to see Rem after he renounced his note, but stupidly forgot it in the story anyway. I woke up at two AM a few days later realizing that and fixed it. So that one section is just a bit different now, with Misa warning Light.

Comment responses:

Hellagoddess: Darling confused Light went into Kira's subconscious. They'll be struggling a bit in the epilogue, too. There was no guilt about trying to kill L, but he does have some lingering spots of affection that completely annoy him. I love your video! It amazes me.

AnA La PaNa83: Well, he really did try to get Light back. Thanks for still reading!

spoon: You got your wish! I actually had the comment responses all typed up when it said you replied, so hello! It will at least be happier than the ending to the actual Death Note, yes. I'm a sucker for endings that don't entirely end, though, so we'll see.

Last but not least, Riven Liether: Hello again! Your comment got my ass in gear to actually write this thing up and not put it off another month. So thanks! I suppose that would make this chapter dedicated to you. *grins*

Special shout out to Yami Bakura! Thank you for visiting my devArt page, and I'm glad you liked it!