"A corner of this page has been torn off." Ryuzaki remarked and looked up at the shinigami standing in front of him, "Can you kill a person just by writing their name on a piece of the notebook?"

"I don't know. Shinigami don't use the Death Note in that way." Rem answered.

Ryuzaki nodded and placed his thumb near to his mouth. No matter how many questions he asked, the shinigami wasn't willing to give any useful answers. It's been two weeks and he hasn't gotten any closer to figuring out the true identity of the original Kira. Just as he predicted, the day after Higuchi was killed criminals started dying again. Yotsuba and Higuchi were just vessels that he used at his disposal. It was almost like being back to square one.

The truth was, he still suspected Light Yagami. Light still almost never left Task Force Headquarters even though the handcuffs were removed and he was free to come and go as he pleased. The sinking feeling in his stomach never seemed to go away today. That must mean his deduction was right.

He had met with Watari late the previous night to discuss the future of Temari and Sayako. A trust had been set up for the children about a year ago to make sure they would never have financial issues. The money in that trust would last them both at least until their early twenties. If Watari's death should come, decent portion of his earnings were also to go towards the children's care. The Wammy Foundation was placed in charge of handling and distributing the money.

For the more foreseeable future, Saya was to stay in Japan and go to public elementary school as usual. She was to lead as normal of a life as possible. Maybe someday Saya would be let in on the truth, but that day wasn't to come for a long time.

As for Temari, her plans were up to her and her alone. He knew that she wasn't the type of person that gives up. She would stick through the Kira case to the very end. However, her safety and true name was the thing that concerned Ryuzaki the most. Light would go to whatever measures he could to find out his enemies identities and eliminate them.

Watari had printed up fake medical and personal records for both of the girls on Ryuzaki's command. All evidence of the last name Misora was to be destroyed. Saya already used the last name Penber in all of her school life; he highly doubted that she even knew that it had been changed. But Light didn't have any reason to kill Saya. She was just an innocent blissful seven year old that knew nothing about the case or investigation. It was Temari that he had a motive for.

Ryuzaki knew that Light wouldn't try any other methods besides the Death Note to kill Temari. An "accident" was too messy and unpredictable. If Temari managed to survive his cover would surely be blown. Light Yagami didn't take chances like that. With how well that Watari had hidden the truth, there was a very small chance Light would discover the girl's true name. Temari and Saya's survival was almost guaranteed. Yet, there was still doubt and anxiety in his mind.

"Hey! Ryuzaki!" Temari said and poked his shoulder, "Are you okay? Also, Watari has the chief director of the NPA on the line in his office. The telephone transfer system screwed up again so you're going to have to go to his office to talk to him. The rest of the task force should be gathering there now."

"I'm okay, don't worry." Ryuzaki assured the girl, "Stay down here and keep an eye on the shinigami. Oh, and try some of the panda cookies. They're limited edition."

Ryuzaki and Light ambled out of the room, leaving only Temari, Rem, and a half eaten box of panda shaped cookies behind. Temari took the snacks and munched on them to attempt to ease her awkwardness. Suddenly, a question popped into her mind. A question that she's been wanting the answer to for a long time.

"Hey, uh, Rem? Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Are there different kinds of notebooks?" She blurted out, "I once heard about a wishing notebook that grants wishes. The rules for it were like the Death Note, but it gave good things instead of bad. Um, Light told me about it."

"Yes." Rem answered, "There are many different kinds of notebooks in the shinigami realm."

Temari nodded, "Thank you, Rem."

"You know, the killings started again once Misa was freed." Ryuzaki was saying when he came into the room.

"Misa has nothing to do with Kira!" Light retorted back, "There is enough evidence to prove it. Just let it go!"

Ryuzaki said nothing and sat back down in his chair.

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"Hi Saya!" Light stuck his head in the doorway of the little girl's room, "I've got something for you."

"A present?" Saya eagerly bounced over to older boy, trying to look peek around his back where the gift was hidden.

Light took the small bag and held it above her head, playfully teasing her, "You can only get the candy if you can reach it."

"No faiiiirrrr!" She moaned and jumped in the air, trying to reach the older boy's hands, "You're so much taller than me, Big Brother."

"Alright, fine." Light tossed the package to her. Saya opened it and discovered Hershey Kisses chocolate inside. She giggled as she popped them in her mouth.

"Okay Saya, can you answer a couple questions for me?"

The little girl nodded, "Uh-huh."

"Can you tell me you and your sister's last name?"

"It's Penber." Saya answered with her mouth full of candy, "I can spell it in English and in kanji."

Light's breath hitched. Penber. He only knew one person with that last name. Could it really be?

"Very good!" Light praised her, "Can you tell me who your and Temari's mommy and daddy are?

Saya put her chocolate down and placed her fingers to her chin, "My daddy is Raye Penber. My mommy was named Naomi. I don't remember her last name."

"Was it Naomi Misora?"

"Yeah!" Saya exclaimed, "That's it!  How did you know that?"

Light shrugged, trying to stay calm, "I met her and Raye a few times. They looked a little young to have kids, though. So Raye and Naomi are you and Temari's parents?"

"Nope. Temari has a different mommy. I don't know her."

"A different mommy?"

Saya nodded, "Yup. We've never met Temari's mommy."

"You don't even know her name?"

"Nope."

If there was one thing that Light knew about little kids, it was that when they say no they mean it. He didn't push for any more information out of Saya. Light had all that he needed. The older boy quickly hugged the small child goodbye and headed toward the roof where he could have a quiet place to think.

Light scolded himself for not thinking of the possibility that they were only half siblings. He really should have come to that conclusion on his own, considering the fact that they looked nothing alike. Temari definitely looked a lot more American than Saya.

But now he knew their full names. He could kill them at any time. Light didn't see the point in killing Saya, but Temari was the one that could cause him trouble in the future. He'd deal with that when the time came.

"Light!" Temari called from the end of the hallway, "Have you seen Ryuzaki? He just kind of disappeared."

"I haven't seen him. I was just heading up to the roof, though. Do you want to check for him up there?"

Temari nodded, "Yeah, that's a good idea." She fell into step with the brown haired boy.

The rain struck on the roof of the building with an almost unimaginable force. This was the loudest rain Temari had ever heard, it almost seemed like the rain was trying to pound the building into the ground. A clap of thunder sounded in the distance and made Temari shiver with anticipation. She loved thunderstorms.

They finally got to the roof of the building. Sure enough, Ryuzaki was standing right there in the rain. His hair was flattened by the impact but he seemed oblivious to everything around him. The man was staring up into dark sky. Temari wondered what he was thinking about.

"Hey! Ruyzaki!" Light yelled, "What are you doing out there?"

Ryuzaki turned to face them and cupped his hand to his ear

"RYUZAKI. WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING. OUT. HERE."

The black haired man repeated the gesture

Light rolled his eyes, "I guess we're going to have to go out there."

Temari and Light stepped out into the rainstorm, immediately getting intensely pelted by the falling water. They made it to the middle of the platform where Ryuzaki was standing.

"Why are you out here?" Temari asked Ryuzaki and pulled on his hand, "You're soaked. C'mon, let's go inside."

Ryuzaki smiled and laid a gentle hand on her head, "I was just listening to the bells. They're unusually loud today and I find it very distracting."

"Bells?" Light retorted, "There aren't any bells ringing today."

"Really? You don't hear them."

Light and Temari shook their heads, utterly confused about the "bells" that seemingly disorientated man was talking about.

Ryuzaki sighed and looked down at the ground, "I'm sorry. Nothing that I say makes any sense. If I were you, I wouldn't believe any of it."

"You know, you're totally right." Light laughed, "Honestly, most the things you say sound like complete nonsense. There would be no end to my troubles if I actually took you seriously all the time. Temari and I probably know that better than anyone."

"Yes." Ryuzaki agreed, "I could say the same about you. Light Yagami, from the moment you were born, has there been any point where you've actually told the truth?"

Temari looked at the two men nervously. She really hoped that this wouldn't evolve into a fistfight.

"I do admit I stretch the truth here and there. However, find me one person in this world who's never had to tell a lie. It wouldn't be easy. Human beings just aren't made to be perfect like that. Everybody lies from time to time. Even so, I've always made a conscious effort to be careful not to tell a lie that could hurt others. That's my answer."

Ryuzaki smiled, "I thought you would say something like that."

"Can we go inside?" Temari asked, hoping to divert their attention, "It's getting cold out here and we're all drenched."

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"That certainly was an unpleasant outing." Ryuzaki remarked as he dried off his hair.

"It's your own fault." Temari answered back, "You were the one that decided to go out in the rain in the first place."

Ryuzaki chuckled, "Quite sharp, aren't you, U?" He looked at the ground and whispered, "I'll miss you."

"What was that, Ryuzaki?"

"It was nothing." He said quickly, "Light, would you like a foot massage?"

Light raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Uh, sure?"

"Good decision. I'm actually very good at this."

Ryuzaki bent down in front of Light and picked up his foot. Light looked over at Temari, hoping that she could possibly give him some reassurance. The girl simply shrugged her shoulders and picked up the damp towels on the ground to take back to the laundry room. She disappeared out of the room, leaving them to their awkward interactions.

"It'll be lonely, won't it?" Ryuzaki said softly and looked up at Light, "You and I will be parting ways soon."

Before Light could ask what the morose statement meant, a shrill beeping sound came from Ryuzaki's pocket. The dark haired man answered the cell phone immediately.

"I understand. I'm on my way." Ryuzaki hung up and turned to Light, "Let's go. It seems like it's all worked out."

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"Ryuzaki! What is the meaning of all this!" Matsuda exclaimed as the two slightly damp men made their way into the main control room, "You got approval from another company to use the notebook in an execution?!"

Ryuzaki ignored Matsuda and sat down in his usual chair, "Watari, excellent work. Thank you. Please make arrangements to transfer the notebook immediately."

"What are you doing with the notebook, Ryuzaki?" Temari asked him concernedly.

"I am going to try the notebook out for real."

"You can't do that! We already know it's real, what other proof do we need?" Matsuda slammed his hands down on the table, "Besides, who is going to write the name in? Once you start writing names in you have to obey the thirteen day rule or you'll die!"

"It's already been worked out." Ryuzaki calmly explained, "The person who will write the name in is a prisoner scheduled for execution in a little over two weeks. He will write his own name in at his scheduled time of death and if he is still alive after 13 days he will be pardoned from execution and we will know that rule is fake."

"But Ryuzaki-" Chief Yagami started

"We are very close!" Ryuzaki declared with more force than Temari had ever heard come out of his mouth, "If this works out the entire case is solved!"

A bolt of lightning struck somewhere very close, making the whole building shutter. Temari looked around the room. Something was wrong. Something was very very wrong.

The lights flickered on and off and then the whole screen in front of them turned red. ALL DATA DELETED in bold font flashed across the screens. Temari's head started to spin. What is happening?

"I instructed Watari that in the event that something should happen to him, he should erase all the information pertaining to the Kira investigation." Ryuzaki said, as calm as ever.

Temari looked around, "Where is Rem?"

"The shinigami!" He exclaimed, "Everyone, the shinigami is miss-"

But Ryuzaki didn't get to finish his sentence. First, the spoon dropped from his hand to the floor. Then, almost like it was in slow motion, Ryuzaki started to fall from his chair to the floor.

Temari heard someone screaming as she rushed to Ryuzaki's side. She was horrified to realize that scream was her own. But before she could say anything she felt body going numb, unable to move. Her own knees crumpled as her head hit the cold hard floor. She tried desperately to keep her eyes open, to go to Ryuzaki, to say her goodbyes; but her attempts were unrewarding as her vision became darker and darker, eventually falling into an inescapable blackness.

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this aint yo mommas fanfiction i will kill off your faves and not even feel a pinch of regret

..........okay maybe a little regret

also im going to also publish the chapter after this one too because i love you all and i dont want you to suffer for another week until the next update

QOTD: okay, let's be honest here, did you continue to watch death note after l's death?

i definitely did but like everyone else i know stopped and im just like "how do u stop?  dont you want to see An Attractive Male Wearing Leather and a man-baby?" i dont understand those kinds of people