It was any other normal school day for me. I was going through this country's ever-so-flawed education system, as was required by my Mum. Needless to say, school is so boring. But today, it's not. Why, you may ask? Well, I was looking out the window, bored out of my mind, when the ringing of the dismissal bell destroyed my beautiful daydream. I walked out of the classroom, collected my things from my locker, and walked outside. Normally, I would head straight to my next class, but since I had a few minutes, I decided to take a breath of fresh air. Suddenly, something thumped into the dustbin behind me. In spite curiosity, I turned around to see no one in sight. Hesitant, I walked to the dustbin and I found a lone notebook in the bottom. I reached in and pulled it out, not caring about common sense. The notebook was a dark black colour. In the front cover, it read in a frilly white type: "Death Note". I do not recognize the font, but it appears very feminine. Did some gothic girl decide to just throw away her notebook? But what could "Death Note" possibly mean? I opened it. Inside the front cover were instructions.

1: Those whose names are written in this notebook, shall die.

    What? Could this possibly be real? Or is this just some Satan-cult thing? I don't know. I decided to keep it, for later. Maybe it might work. Wait, why am I thinking that? It couldn't possibly work, it's unnatural. While contemplating this, I walk back inside, to not be late to my next class. I keep the notebook hidden in my bag. Afterschool, when the final dismissal bell finally rings, I walk outside and toward the parking lot, where my car is waiting for me, when a face I recognize comes up to me. That relatively long, pink and dirty-blonde hair. Happy, outgoing vivid blue eyes shining brightly from behind glasses. Those pajama-bottom pants. Yep, it's Nakysha.

    "Hi Leaf!" she says. Even though I should really go home, especially with this potential weapon that is this Death Note, I decide to smile.

    "Hello Nakysha," I say with a polite bow. "Is there something I could do for you?"

    "Naw, I just wanted to see how you were doing today."

    "Right. Well, I'm fine," I tell her. Her smile ever so slowly disappears as I don't say anything else.

    "Is there anything else?" she asks.

    "Oh. I do apologize. I didn't think you were wanting to have a conversation."

    "Well," she says unsurely.

    "Nakysha, as much as I would love to talk, I'm afraid I have to go. I have a lot of homework to do." She perks up at this statement.

    "Oh? Then in that case, could I come over so you could help me?" she begs. "This math assignment is really hard." In all honesty, she's welcome at the Soto house anytime. My Mum loves her personality, despite how she dresses for the day. But today, I have to lie.

    "I'm sorry. This homework I got from Chemistry class is really hard, and I just want to focus on getting it done."

    "So you don't want me over?" she asks sadly.

    "I'm sorry," I say honestly, putting my hand on her shoulder. "Maybe next time." I let go of her and I continue to walk toward the parking lot.

    "Text me when you finish!" she calls after me.

    "Alright," I say over my shoulder. I walk to my car, my red Saturn SC1, and I get in and drive home. When I get home, I walk in and I walk upstairs to my bedroom. I close the door behind me and lock it. Setting my bag on the floor, I kick off my shoes and I pull out the Death Note. I open to the rules.

2. When writing a person's name in this notebook, the owner must picture the face of that person in his or her mind in order for that person to die.

    I still do not believe that this could possibly work. I mean, how does it work? By what supernatural means could this possibly be able to kill someone with a name and face? Wait a minute... now I remember. There was something like this in Japan a few years ago. Kira... I believe. Was that what they called him? It ended with Kira finally dying... if I can remember right. Kira killed a lot of Japan's and America's worst criminals, and after a long and confusing case, as I may have heard, Kira was finally found dead in a building somewhere in Japan. But, if this wasn't a fake notebook, then could this Death Note actually work.

3. If no cause of death is specified within 40 seconds of writing down someone's name, then that person shall simply die of a heart attack.

    If this is a true Death Note, then I have to test it. How should I? On a random person? No! I couldn't ever do that! I... if I have to to test it...

    "If I have to test it," I say to myself, "then it has to be on someone who deserves to die." But... on the off chance that it does work, then would that mean that... I resurrect Kira... and become him? Could I handle that? With all the guilt of killing all of America's villains? What would Mum say? Oh... I can't even begin to picture her reaction. It would be too... heartbreaking.

    "Does it have to be someone who deserves it?" a sudden voice asks. I jump out of my chair and turn around to see a humanoid monster holding the biggest bloody scythe I've ever seen, standing in my room. What the bloody Hell is it?! How'd it get in my house?! Is it harmless or a murdering... thing?! It backs away at my reaction. "Relax," it says, with a voice that I now notice is rather feminine. "I won't hurt you." It does look reminiscent of a girl, nearly my age.

    "Y-y-you w-w-won't?" I ask fearfully.

    "Why would I?" it... or rather she, I guess, asks. "You've touched my Death Note. Now you own it." She sits down on my bed, leaning her massive scythe on the wall. She looks rather close to a human, but with devilish yellow eyes, rich blood-red skin, back-hole coloured hair, flowing behind her, strangely, in a rather elegant fashion.

    "W-what are you?" I ask.

    "Well well well," she says in a sly tone, with an equally sly grin, showing frightening fangs. "now you ask the right question, pretty boy." What the bloody Hell?! "I... am a shinigami. That is Japanese for 'God of Death'."

    "I suppose... in your case... it would be 'Goddess of Death'," I say, carefully choosing my words and tone, to not offend what can possibly make my own death a very hideously painful one. But instead of Hellish rage, she just looks at me curiously.

    "You know," she says in a thoughtful tone, "I guess you're right. I never thought of it that way." She looks at me and smiles. I can hardly tell if it's evil or just out of politeness, something this shinigami girl may not even have. "You're pretty smart. You know, for a rather handsome human." Good. Bloody. Lord. Did she just give me a compliment? I stare at her, unsure what to do. "What? Is that the first time a girl has ever given you a compliment?"

    "Uh... well... no."

    "Then why the dumb look?"

    "Sorry. Sorry," I say, standing up and putting my chair back where it was. "You just surprised me."

    "What do you mean? Am I that ugly to you?" she asks, her voice sounding sad. "Shinigami have feelings too, ya know!"

    "No no no!" I say, keeping her from crying. Even if she is a demon, I don't want her to cry. I don't like it when girls cry. "I have been complimented before, just not by a shinigami."

    "Oh. Well in that case," she says, straightening her hair. "Do you know how to use the notebook?"

    "Well, I'm still going over the rules."

4. The owner can describe the cause of death of a person for 6 minutes and 40 seconds after writing that person's name down before it will happen.

    There are a few other rules, but they are so strict and complicated. I have to have her explain everything. Suddenly, there's a knock on my door. I gasp and hide the notebook under my bed.

    "Leaf?" It's Mum. I unlock the door. Mum looks at me, slightly concerned. But when did she get home?

    "Mum?" I ask, "when did you get here?"

    "Baby, why is your door locked?" Mum asks in her parental tone. "Are you doing something that I should be concerned about?"

    "No Mum, I was just doing homework and studying."

    "Were you?"

    "Yes. I just didn't want anyone to come in here and distract me."

    "Sweetie, that may be true, but remember, you and I are the only ones who live in this house. Your father died if you don't remember." Forcing herself to bring up Father puts tears in her eyes.

    "Mum, don't cry," I say, wiping them away for her, "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just a little tired. I have been working for the past few hours," I say looking at my alarm clock. Damn, it's nearly 7:30 already.

    "Sorry. Have you eaten dinner? I just got home. Did you want me to make you something?"

    "No," I lie, "I already ate earlier. I'm just tired, I guess."

    "Alright. Well, take a shower before you go to bed." She turns to walk away, but I hug her.

    "I'm sorry. It won't happen again," I promise her.

    "Okay baby. Good night." She walks downstairs. I close my door and I see the Shinigami is still here.

    "Unless your mother touches the Death Note, she'll never be able to see me," she says. "Nor would anyone, unless they too touch it."

    "Can she hear you?" I ask.

    "Nope."

    "Fine. Whatever works." I take off my jacket and she's still staring at me. "I'm going to shower, and I'll ask that you stay in here," I say.

    "Why would I do that?"

    "There's this human term pronounced "awkward". Maybe you should take this," I say, holding a dictionary toward her, "and look it up."

    "Hey, you want me to stay here, I'll do it."

    "Good," I say, walking out of my room and closing the door.

2: 2 ~ Does it Really Work?

    After my shower, I redress and walk back into my room. I sit down at my desk with the notebook and I look at my computer screen.

    "What are you doing?" the shinigami asks me. I turn around and look into her yellow, devilish, cat-like eyes.

    "Answer me honestly, does this really work?" I ask her, careful not to talk too loud, or else Mum might get suspicious.

    "Yes," she says with a nod. "I would demonstrate, but since you are the owner of my Death Note, I cannot."

    "So... only I can use it?"

    "Yes. Until someone else touches it. Then that person can use it too."

    "Hm," I say thoughtfully, turning back around in my chair. I turn on my computer and I look at the notebook while it boots up.

    "If you're planning to use it, then I should warn you," she says, standing next to me.

    "About what?" I ask.

    "Those who use the Death Note can neither go to Heaven nor Hell... for eternity." This latest condition actually scares me.

    "So... where would I go?" I ask. The shinigami shrugs indifferently.

    "Hey, I dunno. All I know is that you just can't go to Heaven or Hell." She lays down on my bed I think about this for a bit more. Wait, what if I become... yeah, that's it.

    "What if I become a shinigami?" I ask her.

    "Hm?" she asks, looking back toward me.

    "What if I were to become a shinigami?"

    "Well..." she thinks, staring at the ceiling, "you could... but our life is pretty boring."

    "How so?"

    "Well, do you ever sit around for years on end waiting for someone to reach their dying day?"

    "No."

    "Then our life is boring," she sighs. I log into my computer while there's a bit of a pause. "Why didn't I listen?" she asks softly.

    "What did you say?" I ask her. She looks back at me and she sighs sadly.

    "I said... 'didn't I listen?'" I think I know exactly what she means.

    "You-"

    "-Used to be human?" she finishes, looking at me. "Yes. I became a shinigami because I couldn't bear the fact of never having eternal salvation."

    "So you were a human girl?" I ask her.

    "Yes. I was supposed to die shortly after I turned 17." I say nothing and let her tell her story. But I do remember hearing this story of how this girl died shortly after her birthday. Could it be her? "I myself had found that Death Note. My shinigami, Ryka, said that I wouldn't live long. I asked her if there were anything I could do in order to live, but since I was dying of a disease, I had to become a shinigami."

    "Really?"

    "Yes. She turned me into a shinigami, saving me. But she had to sacrifice herself in order to do so. She left me with her Death Note and scythe. For my parents, I left a note saying that I simply died and disappeared."

    "That must have been hard for your family."

    "Are you kidding?" she asks with a dramatic tone change. "My parents wanted me gone! So you know what I did as a shinigami?" I have a pretty good idea already.

    "What did you do?" I ask anyway.

    "I wrote down their names. One after the other in tragic accidents."

    "Alright. I can understand."

    "You do?" she asks hopefully.

    "Aye. I understand completely. I would do the same thing." She smiled sweetly.

    "...thanks."

    "So, when you were human, what was your name?"

    "My human name?" she asks in mild surprise. I nod. "My name was Angela. The other shinigami in the shinigami realm just call me Angel."

    "Angela? Angela Buchanan?" I ask. She gasps in shock.

    "How'd...?" I pull up the article on my computer. She looks at it.

    "I'm sorry you died," I tell her honestly. "We actually went to the same school together. Valley High." Angela looks at me.

    "Now that you say that... I think I recognize you now. You..."

    "We had math class together," I tell her. she gasps in realization.

    "You're Leaf... right?"

    "Aye." She gasps and her cheeks darken slightly. Is she blushing?

    "I can't believe I didn't recognize you before," she says downheartedly. Then she smiled, "but's that's awesome."

    "What is?"

    "The fact that we know each other. This could work. I'll tell you everything about the Death Note, and how to use it."

    "Alright, but I want to make sure that it works first," I tell her. I look up the records of the worst of America's criminals. Here, a man from the city. His name is Jed Richardson. He was arrested for the brutal murder of his wife and kids. People like that just make me sick. I open the Death Note and I write his name, while looking at his mug shot. I don't write a specific cause. He'll have a heart attack in 40 seconds. I watch as the second hand on my watch ticks by. Soon, 40 seconds has gone by. I refresh the page and it's changed to show the word "Deceased" on the page. Did the Death Note work, or was it just some creepy coincidence?

    "So how will you know it's worked?" Angela asked me with what I'm pretty sure is false curiosity.

    "I'll check the news tomorrow."

    "But since you've used it...no Heaven or Hell for you," she says, almost in a taunting manner. But it couldn't have actually worked, could it? There's no way.

    The next morning, I wake up and I get ready. I take the notebook with me but I hide it in my bag. I walk downstairs, Angela following, and I see Mum staring at the TV in shock.

    "Can you believe this?" she asks me.

    "What?" I ask.

    "Some man who was awaiting trial for the murder of his family died of a sudden heart attack." I look at the TV and they show the scene of where Jed cries out, clutching at his chest and falling to the ground, in the middle of the courtroom.

    "That's... strange," I say.

    "It's tragic. Who knows, maybe he could have been innocent."

    "Mum, he murdered his wife and kids in cold blood." Mum looks at me impatiently.

    "Sweetie, what would you know about that?"

    "I don't know," I shrug. "I have to go to school." I walk out the door and to my car.

    "Be safe, sweetie!" Mum calls from the front door.

    "I will!" I call back. I get in my car and I drive to school. Hm, if only there were some way of watching someone's death actually happen. Angela is sitting in the back seat of my car, not that she really needs to.

    "Your Mom seems nice," she comments.

    "Aye. She's cared for me since I was born."

    "What about your Father?" I've never had a father. Mum said so.

    "Never had one."

    "I'm sorry."

    "Don't be. I never said you wrote his name down."

    "Maybe another shinigami did."

    "Don't worry about it. I'm fine." I then turn up the radio.

    "-and authorities are still puzzled by Jed Richardson's untimely death in the courtroom last night at 7:47," the announcer says, "and they are left to wonder if this was just fate, or if the killer from Japan has arisen from the dead. Yes, I am talking about Kira folks, Kira, the man who could kill with a simple name and face."

    "I remember hearing about that," Angela says.

    "Aye."

    "So what are you going to do?"

    "Knowing the media attention this may get... I may have to become the next Kira."

    "Leaf..."

    "Don't worry, Angela. I'll think of something."

    "-and the whole city is wanting to know: has Kira been resurrected, and has he returned with a vengeance?" the radio announcer continues.

3: 3 ~ Finding Proof

    I later arrive at school, parking my car in the lot. Angela follows me inside. As the school day goes by, all it seems the teachers are concerned about is the resurrection of Kira. The students are abuzz about it, and not one class hasn't mentioned Kira at all. During lunch, Nakysha comes up to me.

    "Leaf, have you heard?" she asks frantically.

    "That Kira's back?" I guess sarcastically. "What else has people been talking about?"

    "Of course! Everyone knows the Kira story!"

    "Who wouldn't?" I ask. I notice that she hasn't touched her Rice Crispy treat they served with our lunch. "Are you going to eat that?" I ask her.

    "What? That's too high in calories. It'll make you fat."

    "Well, I happen to think that you won't get fat so long as you burn your calories by using your brain." She stares at me. Angela laughs.

    "Fine whatever, take it." She hands it to me and I eat it. It may be school food, but it keeps you from getting hungry. That's the main reason for making school food, keeping the children from going hungry. "I just want you to know, that I think it's really cool that Kira's back." I look at her.

    "What makes you say that?"

    "Because, it's awesome that there's someone out there, punishing criminals with righteous justice."

    "You believe that?"

    "Yeah!"

    "Come on. So one guy dies in a courtroom, and someone says 'oh hey, Kira is back from the dead'?" Nakysha huffs angrily.

    "Why are you being so negative today?" she asks.

    "I'm sorry, Nakysha. I'm just tired."

    "So that's why you didn't text me last night," she says. "You were too busy studying. Damn it, I knew you would push yourself too hard."

    "Whatever," I yawn. The bell rings, telling us to move to our next class. In my next class, Algebra, Ms. K's lesson is interrupted by another teacher, my History teacher Mrs. Porter coming into the room.

    "Turn on the TV," Mrs. Porter says, "there's a hostage situation at the Middle School." Ms. K. turns on the TV and it shows a live footage of a news reporter standing outside the middle school, where a deranged man could be seen inside the commons, holding a gun to a secretary's head.

    "We have confirmed the man's name," the reporter says, "It's Don Stravinski, a recently released convict from the High Security prison."

    "Everybody stay calm," the principal's voice comes over the P.A., "the authorities are doing everything they can and if any student has siblings currently in the middle school, your parents have been notified." Yeah, they are just trying to keep more chaos from erupting. Don Stravinski huh? I remember his name and face. I raise my hand.

    "I have to use the restroom," I say.

    "Go," Ms. K. says, "but hurry back." She sounds worried. I think I remember her saying that her boyfriend was a teacher at the middle school. I take my notebook with me, hiding the Death Note inside. I get in the stall and I open the Death Note.

    "So you're going to kill him?" Angela asks.

    "Aye," I say, writing his name down, picturing his face. Now that his name is down, I walk out of the stall and wash my hands.

    "You didn't even go."

    "But it looks like I did."

    "A cover-up. Nice." I walk out and back toward the classroom. The TV is still on, showing the broadcast. Don is yelling at some officers who are trying to talk to him. Suddenly, he gasps and lets go of his hostage, clutching at his chest. My eyes widen. This was the first time I have actually seen proof of the Death Note working. Don falls and officers storm the place.

    "Officers are now entering the building the school since Stravinski has suddenly collapsed, seeming from a heart attack," the reporter says off-screen as the camera is focusing on the action. "And the officers have given the signal that Stravinski has died. They aren't sure if it's from a heart attack, but that's what it sure looked like." The reporter smiles into the camera, saying three last words, "Thank you, Kira," before Ms. K. shuts the TV off. The students were excited to see this new Kira kill someone who deserved it. Others are absolutely petrified that they have seen death first hand.

    "Students, come on, let's try to get back on track, shall we?" Ms. K. asks. As if, Ms. K.. The Death Note works. It really works. The teachers later decide to cancel the rest of the day, so I arrive home by 2:30. Angela is in my room.

    "I told you it worked," she says, leaning on the wall next to her scythe.

    "I know. I just had to see it for real," I say, pacing back and forth, the news reader talking about Kira on the TV by my bed. Suddenly, there's a knock... on my bedroom door. I didn't hear Mum come in. "See who it is," I whisper to Angela. She walks to the door, and walks straight through it, as shinigami are like ghosts and can go through solid objects.

    "It's some girl, who I don't recognize," she says. I open my door a crack. She's right, I have never seen this girl before. She has long black hair, like Angela and her eyes are a deep blue. Her skin an ebony colour.

    "Can I help you?" I ask her. She shoves my door open, surprising me.

    "It's you," she says in a fair, smooth voice. She shuts my door behind her. She walks toward me, but I put my arm out and stop her.

    "Who the bloody Hell are you?" I demand.

    "Oh! I'm so sorry!" she says guiltily, "Did you want me to wait outside?"

    "What?"

    "You're the new Kira." My soul cracks in two. How the bloody Hell did she know? "Let me explain myself. I know you are the second Kira, because I too have a Death Note." She shows me a black notebook with 'Death Note' written on it in a fierce font. "I have made the eye deal with my Death Angel."

    "Shinigami?" I ask.

    "What?"

    "What's a Death Angel?" I ask her. I take her notebook only to suddenly see another shinigami, or Death Angel as she calls it. It looks very much like a girl as well. She has long dark brown hair, orange skin, demonic yellow eyes, black, feathered wings, and she appears to be quite ripped with muscles everywhere. She holds a flaming sword to my neck in a yell of rage.

    "How dare you grab at Sparrow that way?!" the shinigami demands. Suddenly, Angela steps in, holding her scythe. But then she lowers it, as the other lowers her sword. "Angel?"

    "Yin?" Angela asks. Wait, who's Sparrow?!

    "Well... long time no see."

    "Same."

    "You two know each other?" the girl asks Yin.

    "Yes. We were friends back in the Shinigami realm," Angela says.

    "I like Death Angel better," Yin states. "It sounds better than shinigami."

    "Whatever. Anyway, why did you and your human come to meet Leaf?"

    "Because," the girl explains, "ever since I heard that Kira had returned, I knew I had to find him!"

    "So wait," I say to the girl, "you're Sparrow?"

    "Yes," she says, "That's my name. Sparrow Watt." What an interesting name. It's different... like mine. "So, now that I saw you, and since I've followed you home," Sparrow says with hopeful eyes, "Can I be your girlfriend?" What?

    "What? Why?"

    "Like I said, I made the eye deal."

    "What's that?"

    "It's when a human makes a deal with a shinigami," Angela says.

    "Death Angel," Yin cuts in.

    "Whatever. Anyway, when this deal is made, the human now possesses the eyes of a shinigami, or Death Angel, that allows them to see any persons real name and lifespan above their heads."

    "And humans who possess a Death Note will not have a lifespan above their heads," Yin explains.

    "So that's how I knew you had to be the new Kira," Sparrow says, "so will you please make me your girlfriend?" Well, if we're going to be Kira, I may not have a choice.

    "Fine," I say.

    "Yay!" Sparrow says happily. She wraps her arms around me and she kisses me on the cheek. I never noticed that Angela blushed.

4: 4 ~ The Encounter

    The next day, I'm walking into school from the parking lot, when suddenly, Sparrow appears from out of no where.

    "Babe!" she exclaims happily, throwing her arms around me. She nearly knocks me over, laughing her sea-blue eyes out.

    "Sparrow?" I ask surprised. She stops laughing and looks at me.

    "Yeah? Whatchya want, babe?" I think to myself for a moment before saying anything.

    "What was all that about?"

    "What was all what about?" she asks. She can't be that obtuse, can she?

    "You jumping on me and all," I say and she gasps, as if I offended her.

    "Well, we're boyfriend-girlfriend! Aren't I supposed to do that?"

    "Leaf, I swear to myself, if you hurt Sparrow's feelings, I'll kill you myself," Yin says. Oh yeah, Yin is Sparrow's Death Angel, as she calls it.

    "You would die before you so much as touched your Death Note!" Angela hisses back, defending me.

    "But wouldn't you die too?" Angela pauses, then growls.

    "So what? As long as it means Leaf is okay, then I don't care."

    "Guys, stop it!" Sparrow says stepping between them. "But Yin's right babe," she says looking at me. "I don't want you to hurt my feelings."

    "Yeah, sorry," I say. "I won't do it again."

    "Promise?" Sparrow asks, getting close to me.

    "I promise," I say with a smile and she giggles.

    "Yay!" Then the bell rings.

    "You guys better get to class," Yin says. We walk to class. Sparrow sits down in her chair, and then she lets go of my hand.

    "Oh, so somebody's gotta girlfriend," a kid comments. That blonde crew cut, and those stupid brown eyes. It's Conrad "Connor" Smith. He's just a jerk. That stupid smirk on his face as he looks at me. God, what an arsehole. After class, Conrad meets me in the hallway. "So Leaf," he says, nonchalantly pushing me into the wall, "That's a fine girl you have there," he watches as Sparrow switches textbooks at her locker. "She's got a nice ass."

    "Shut up," I say, trying to push him out of the way. I can't have him killed now, or else it'll show an obvious connection between him bullying me and his death. He pushes me back against my locker, knocking my glasses off. "Conrad, stop it!" I say.

    "Leaf!" Sparrow cries, coming over. Conrad grabs her.

    "I don't see how she could've fallen for you," he says, looking at her with lust in his eyes.

    "Let go of me!" she cries.

    "You should come over later."

    "No! Let go of me you bastard!"

    "We'll have some fun." Conrad kicks me in the chest, and he holds me on the floor with his foot. Why isn't somebody doing something? Get a bloody teacher!

    "Let go of me!" I grab Conrad's foot, and I shove it away, causing him to let go of Sparrow and fall onto the ground.

    "God, what was that?" he groans as I pull myself up. Sparrow comes over to me.

    "Leaf, are you okay?" she asks concerned.

    "I'm fine," I say giving her a weak smile. "You find my glasses?"

    "Here," she says, putting them on my face. They're scratched a bit, but I have some lens cleaner at home that can fix them.

    "Thank you," I say. She helps me to my feet. Oh, and now a teacher steps in.

    Later, after Conrad is escorted to the office and school ends, Mum comes home to a nasty surprise.

    "Leaf?" she asks in disbelief when she walks in the door, "what happened to you, and who are you exactly?" Mum asks Sparrow.

    "Mum," I say, wiping the lens solution on my glasses, "I was beat up by a bully today. I'm fine, and he got in trouble. This is Sparrow. She wanted to be sure I was alright." Angela and Yin watch, not saying anything.

    "Conrad really kicked him hard," Sparrow tells Mum.

    "It was Conrad?" Mum asks, sitting down, now not so surprised. "That Conrad..." she mutters as I put my glasses back on.

    "You okay, babe?"

    "Wait, what?" Mum asks, surprised again.

    "I'm his girlfriend," Sparrow says, holding onto my arm.

    "Oh. That explains a lot," Mum says with a smile. "Leaf, why didn't you tell me about her? What did you say your name was, dear?"

    "Sparrow Watt, Mrs. Soto," Sparrow says politely. "It's nice to meet you." Mum shakes her hand.

    "Well, it's nice to finally meet you, dear. Oh you're such a sweetheart."

    "Thanks," Sparrow says, blushing.

    "Leaf, why didn't you tell me about her?" Mum asks again. Angela laughs.

    "Well, I was going to tell you," I say.

    "You just couldn't figure out when, huh?"

    "Yeah... I guess."

    "Well, if you guys ever go out, be careful. More criminals are dying." Yep, Sparrow and I are still at it. We are the next Kira.

    "Yeah, it seems weird that someone like Kira could come back."

    "Sparrow, I don't like saying that name in this household." Yeah, Mum thinks that this whole 'next Kira' thing is kind of a big deal.

    "Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Soto. I didn't know."

    "Well, I suppose you do now. Anyway, Leaf, since you're hurt, I'm going to ask that you stay here for the rest of the afternoon."

    "Mum, I'm fine," I say.

    "Then you need to take time to heal. You should go upstairs and rest."

    "Fine."

    "Come on, babe," Sparrow says, taking my hand.

    "If you two are going upstairs together Leaf, then you leave your door open," Mum says, thinking we may do something, a bit too much. Sparrow blushes, thinking the same thing.

    "Mum we're not even remotely close to that point yet," I tell her, dismissing her thought.

    "I don't care. Leave your door open."

    "Babe, just listen to your Mother," Sparrow says, pulling me toward the stairs. Mum smiles to herself as Sparrow pulls me to my bedroom.

5: 5 ~ The Killings

    Later, Mum asked if Sparrow could stay for dinner, but she said she had to leave.

    "Maybe some other time?" Sparrow had suggested shyly.

    "Oh you're welcome here any time," Mum said with a smile. "See you later, Sparrow." After Sparrow left, Yin with her, I said that I had to study for an upcoming exam, so I went upstairs to my room and I shut the door behind me. "Leaf?" Mum asked from the other side.

    "What?" I ask, opening the door a crack.

    "You barely touched your dinner."

    "Sorry," I say opening the door and taking the plateful of food, "I'll eat it while I study."

    "Okay. Just leave it outside your door when you're done." I smile and close the door and I hear Mum walk back downstairs. I then put the plate on my desk and I pull out the Death Note.

    "Oh, are you going to use it?" Angela asks slyly with a snide smirk.

    "Of course I am," I tell her, remembering to keep my voice down. I turn on my computer and as it boots up I open the notebook. There's only a couple names. I do a little bit of online research and come up with a list of criminals, most not from this city, but cities farther away. I then begin to write the names as I eat, each name making me feel more powerful. I have to keep this from going to my head, but the power... when you know that you have someone else's life in your control. You can choose if they live or die. That ecstatic feeling. This is what it feels like... to be God. I can have the whole world in my hands. A world without evil. When criminals find out that other criminals are dying, they will avoid doing bad things themselves. I go through another list of criminals. Rapists, robbers, murderers, sexual offenders, identity thieves, drug lords from other countries even. Wait... I may have just gotten the United Nations involved if I'm killing drug lords from other countries. Whatever.

    "Leaf?" Angela asks.

    "Don't interrupt," I say. "I am Kira. I am Kira. I am... God." I stop writing names in the Death Note, due to my hand hurting, and I find that I've filled three pages already. Three pages in 10 minutes.

    "Damn," Angela says, "you really go hardcore." I then watch as my computer shows live news of nearly each death of the people I've written tonight. Suddenly, there's a knock on my door. I close my browser screen.

    "Leaf, are you still studying?" Mum asks. I hide the notebook and I open the door.

    "Uh, I'm taking a quick break. Oh here," I say, handing her the empty plate.

    "Thanks. Have you heard the news? There's more killings."

    "What?" I ask in disbelief, my eyes wide.

    "Don't worry. I think we'll be fine." Mum gives me a hug. "It's okay if you're scared."

    "Uh... y-yeah. It's weird, thinking that Kira is back."

    "Hey! Remember, I don't want that name ever spoken in this household!"

    "Oh. Sorry... I forgot. I was so busy studying."

    "Yes. Sorry for yelling. Anyway, I just want you to be careful. I don't want you to get caught up in something stupid and then have K-" she stops herself from saying it, "-you killed."

    "Yeah. Don't worry Mum."

    "Good," she says with a sigh. "Now come on, finish your work so you can get to bed early."

    "I will Mum."

    The next day, Sparrow meets me at school.

    "Babe!" she squeals happily, throwing her arms around me.

    "It's nice to see you too, Sparrow," I say.

    "Hey, did you hear that so many people died last night?"

    "Yeah. I would say that Kira is definitely back."

    "I know right? It's awesome! Kira has been resurrected and now the bad guys are dying in prison again. It's so cool!"

    "Yeah, if you say so." The day passed with the students talking about all of Kira's activity last night. The teachers told us to not focus on that, but focus on our work. The History teacher, Ms. Porter however, had other ideas.

    "Since this Kira character killed major drug lords of Mexico and some mafia leaders in Italy and Germany as well as Japan, the United Nations has been arguing amongst itself for a while now. I hope Kira hasn't started World War Three. I hope he doesn't, because WWIII is the last thing we need," she said. Some of the students gave her their usual blank expressions. "Don't you see how important this is? If Kira starts World War Three, then the world as we know it could end!" Man, she really doesn't want this to happen. "We could all die." She sounds as if it's already starting and that there's no hope left. Seeing her like this really bothers me. So much it comes to the point where I stop killing people in other countries. Hopefully that won't worsen the tensions. She is right. WWIII is the last thing we need, and I sure as Hell do not want to be the cause of it.

6: 6 ~ The Intrusion

    When Sparrow and I arrive at school the next day we are surprised to see the number of police cars out front and in the parking lot. We walk inside and I see Mrs. Porter walking toward us. I decide to ask her about what's going on.

    "Mrs. Porter, what's with all of the police cars, do you know?"

    "Well, from what I've heard, they're keeping a sharp eye out for this Kira person. I doubt it's any one of the students here, but I can understand why they would do this. Just to be sure and all. Hopefully it won't interfere with classes today."

    "Oh. Thanks anyway, Mrs. Porter," I say before Sparrow and I walk away. Shit! The police may be onto us. Let's only hope not. Thank God I left the Death Note hidden at home. I have a lot of questions, much like everyone else probably, but I avoid looking too curious into this latest matter, to hopefully avert suspicion. Sparrow however, doesn't fare as well, and gets questioned a few times during the course of the day. We meet up after school in my car.

    "Did you say anything to them?" I ask her.

    "No! Of course not!"

    "Then why were you questioned so many times?"

    "I don't know! Don't yell at me. I hate it when you yell at me." I sigh regrettably.

    "Sparrow, I'm sorry."

    "Damn right, you're sorry." I start the car and drive home. I gasp as I notice the police car in my driveway. Damn it, now what? I park the car and we walk inside. The school resource officer is inside.

    "Mum, what's going on?" I ask her. "What are you doing with Officer Calvert?"

    "We were just chatting over a cup of coffee," Calvert says.

    "He's right, sweetie," Mum says. "Just having a friendly chat." I would pay to see the look on my own face.

    "Don't worry, from what we understand, you and your girlfriend are not under suspicion of being the killers."

    "We're not?" Sparrow asked.

    "Not at all." Sparrow gives a sigh of relief.

    "Good."

    "But why is that?"

    "I just hate it when people suspect of me of being a killer."

    "Hey, I would hate it too." He sips his coffee. "Thanks for having me over, Serena."

    "Not at all, Jon. Come over anytime," Mum says. Please, for the love of God, don't. He stands up and leaves. "Does it really bother you that he comes over for a visit?" Mum asks me.

    "No, not at all," I say. "I was just wondering why he was here, that's all."

    "Oh. Well, do you have any homework?"

    "No."

    "Okay. I was called into work earlier, so I have to leave here in a few minutes." Now that I think about it, Mum was never happy with me whenever she found out that I was hiding something, or that I never told her about something, that would get me in trouble. It's like she would get mad if she found out that I had any secrets at all. She never really talks about work much. The only thing she would ever say is that she and my late Father both worked for the police. I'm not sure what Mum does exactly, but Father was killed in the line of duty by an armed mugger. Mum doesn't want me at the station unless absolutely necessary, and she always says that she won't say much about her work because she can't. Maybe she works for some special undercover ops force, or something. That's always been my guess anyway. I guess to keep me from being depressed or something, Mum always said that I never had a Father. I figured it all out though, back when I was 11. I told Mum why she lied about me never having a father, when he died in the line of duty on the night I was born. Mum said that she only did it to protect me. I knew the truth, but I also understood, and Mum was happy about that.

7: 7 ~ The Tragic Truth

    I was driving my car toward the station, where I work. With all of this latest killings, the group called me into the station. This group, or what Police Chief Arzate calls it, the Undercover, meet in a special room in the stations basement. Chief Arzate is waiting for me, as I'm the last one to show up.

    "It's about time you're here Serena," he says.

    "Sorry, I wasn't expecting to have to come in today," I say. Among him and I are Melody Blake, Ewan Alexander, Aurora Buchanan, and Ciel Fae. We're the Undercover, and are trained specially to be invisible in the field, even in plain sight. That's why I can't talk to my son much about my work.

    "Anyway," he says clearing his throat, "We need to do something about Kira and we need to do it now."

    "But do we have any suspects at all?" Melody asks. I sigh as the Chief answers.

    "Yes we do."

    "Who?"

    "Her son," he says, pointing at me. The others gasp.

    "Serena, what's he talking about?" Ewan asks.

    "It's not my fault my son starts acting weird ever since these killings start," I say. "I make sure to ask him questions every day, and I be sure to monitor him whenever I possibly can."

    "Well, until we can be sure, you'll have to monitor him a lot more," Chief A. says.

    "I will."

    "How can you not be heartbroken by the fact that your son is a suspect? Ciel asks.

    "I am," I tell her. "It is heartbreaking to know that my son is a suspected murderer." I wipe the tears from my eyes. "Which is why I'm going to personally make sure that he isn't Kira." I force myself to spit out the sour word. Chief A. goes over a list of other possible suspects, including Leaf's girlfriend, Sparrow. What if she's the killer, but she forced Leaf into this? That treacherous little... If she did force Leaf into this, then I'll personally see to her severe punishment! Wait! Serena, stop and calm down. You're overworking yourself, and we both know what happens when you over work yourself. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself.

    "Serena, if this is too much for you, then you're more than welcome to step down from this project," Chief Arzate says.

    "No, it's fine," I say. "Sorry about that."

    "We can't have this happening during work. We need to focus if we're going to catch Kira."

    "What about my niece's disappearance?" Aurora asks. "And my sister's death?"

    "Aurora, that it was an accident, and the case of your niece hasn't been solved yet."

    "I know that."

    "But if anything, it'll go cold in a few weeks."

    "She disappears on the predicted day of her death?"

    "Aurora, now isn't the time for this." Chief A. dismisses her with his final statement. "So what's our plan of action?"

    "I'll monitor my son more closely for a while," I declare.

    "Good. I'll need to make sure that we can all monitor him for a while. Take turns watching him."

    "What about my own daughter?" Aurora asks.

    "We all need to watch our families," Chief Arzate says. "We cannot stop until Kira is found and dealt with." With his final order we are dismissed.

8: 8 ~ Impossible Work

    I'm home working on homework with Sparrow. She wants to punish a few more criminals, but we both have some important, and rather tough math homework. We're still working when Mum arrives home late. I look at the clock. It's after 10.

    "Leaf, Sparrow? What are you two still doing up?" Mum asks. "It's late."

    "Sorry," Sparrow says. "We were so busy working on homework."

    "Leaf, I though you said you didn't have homework?"

    "I didn't. I was helping Sparrow with hers."

    "Well, you two need to get to sleep. Come on, it's late." My door was already shut and I was changing clothes. I open my door back up and I let Sparrow change. She closes the door behind her while I brush my teeth. "Leaf you should know better than to push yourself too hard like this."

    "I'm sorry," I say from the bathroom. She's right though, I am pretty tired. I yawn and walk back to my room only to find Sparrow curled up on the bed, already fast asleep. I can't help but smile. She did work really hard today. I want to slide into bed with her, but she's taking up most of the available space, so I take a spare pillow and blanket and lay them out on the floor. Guess I'm taking the floor tonight. Before I lay down, Sparrow makes this soft groan. I look at her, and even though she's asleep, she looks as if she's scared of something. I think she's having a nightmare. She softly cries out, and hugs the blanket close to her. She rolls over, creating more space on the bed and I climb in with her, my arm around her. "Sparrow?" I whisper. "Sparrow, I'm here."

    "Leaf," she mutters in her sleep. She hugs me, and seems to calm down. I think all she needed was someone to hold. I fall asleep a few moments later.

    The next morning, I'm awaken by my alarm clock. I try to reach over to shut it off, only my hand can seem to find it. It should be around here somewhere. I get up realizing it's not on my nightstand. I get up and look straight into the disapproving eyes of my Mum. She's holding my alarm clock and she shuts it off. Sparrow sits up a moment later. To my utter dismay, she never got her pajamas on, so she apparently slept naked. She's naked, my bedding's a mess and all over the room, and I must look like shit. What's Mum think of all this?

    "What the Hell happened in here last night?" Mum demands.

    "Nothing, I swear!" I defend myself. I specifically remember not doing anything immoral last night. I was going to sleep on the floor, Sparrow was having a night-terror, and I climbed in with her to calm her down, and I had no idea she was naked!

    "Do you know what this looks like?" Mum asks.

    "What's going on?" Sparrow asks drowsily.

    "What's going on, is you and my son had sex!"

    "What?!"

    "Mum, it's not like that! I swear!" I say.

    "Serena, what are you saying?" Sparrow asks.

    "Sparrow, you're naked," Mum simply tells her. Sparrow gasps, and she holds the blanket over herself. That's when Mum sees that I'm still wearing my clothes.

    "Mum, I didn't know she was naked, I swear. I wasn't even going to sleep in the bed. Sparrow was having a nightmare, so I climbed in with her to hopefully calm her down.

    "I was having a nightmare?" Sparrow asks.

    "Aye, you were," I say. I leave to room to allow her to get dressed. Mum has another little talk with me, and I explain her exactly what happened, and that Sparrow must have fallen asleep without getting dressed in her pajamas because she was so tired.

    "Alright fine," Mum says, "but if this happens again, I'll split you two up permanently! Understand?"

    "Yes, Mum," I say. "I completely understand. I'm sorry." God, this is just impossible. After this hectic morning, Sparrow and I head out to school. I notice that we're followed by an unmarked police car. Sparrow notices this as well.

    "That's a cop," she says.

    "I know," I say. "Just don't look too nervous or scared. Maybe his route just happens to be the same way to school." I pull into the school parking lot and the cop goes by on the road. "See? He's just doing his rounds. No reason to be scared." As school progresses, it somehow appears that the daily assignments seem to be much harder than they usually are for some strange reason. Why can't I think straight? Is it the thought of Sparrow being naked in bed, with me?! No! Not that! Don't think like that! These perverted thoughts must be the distraction though, so just stop and think clearly. Think about work. Focus on work. I take a few breaths and I clear my head, thinking about nothing but the assignment.

9: 9 ~ The Enemy

    When Sparrow and I came home that afternoon, she turned on the TV while I placed our bags in my room.

    "Leaf, get down here!" she yelled. I gasped and flew down the stairs, she pointed at the TV. It was a news report.

    "...it has been confirmed that the famous detective S will be working to solve what S calls "The Neo-Kira Case" and that S will stop at nothing until this killer is caught and punished for their crimes." Sparrow looks back at me, tears in her eyes.

    "What are we going to do?" she cries.

    "Sparrow, it'll be okay," Yin soothed. "Right, Angel?"

    "Y-yeah," Angela said. "It'll... be okay." She seemed rather unsure, and she knew hat I knew that. S was like the L and N in the Kira case from Japan. They were all super smart, and able to solve any case given to them. From what I heard, there was at least two L's though. But they never really said why.

    "Leaf, I'm scared," Sparrow said, hugging me tightly.

    "Then why did you become Kira?" I ask her softly.

    "What?" she asks, looking up at me with tear stained cheeks.

    "If you're so scared to die then why did you sign up for this?!" She backs away from me. "You know that when this is all over, Yin'll still kill you by writing your name down. Angela will to the same to me. Besides... how can you be so scared of dying when you yourself kill hundred of criminals a day!?"

    "Leaf... why are yelling at me?!" she bursts out crying. Yin holds her sword to my neck.

    "Dammit, you bastard. You hurt her feelings! I'll kill you for that!" Angela has her scythe at Yin's neck now.

    "You'll die before you even tried," she hissed.

    "Sparrow, just think for a little bit," I tell her.

    "Leaf, shut up," Yin commanded. "You've said enough. Time to die!"

    "No!" Angela screamed, blocking Yin with her scythe, Yin's blade arcing along the curved scythe and into the coffee table, cleaving it in two perfect halves.

    "Shit," I muttered. I take Mum's magazines off the table top and set them on the stand next to the lamp. That's when the front door opens. It's Mum.

    "What the heck happened in here?!" she dismays. "What happened to the coffee table?!"

    "I don't know," I tell her, helping Sparrow up, only for her to slap my hand away.

    "And what happened with the two of you? Are you okay Sparrow?"

    "Leaf yelled at me," she sniffled. Mum gasps dramatically.

    "Leaf, did you yell at her?"

    "Yes," I admit.

    "Sparrow, why don't you go to the kitchen, I have to talk to my son."

    "Okay," she replies meekly, wiping her eyes. Now she's sort of acting. I almost break a smile.

    "First, what happened to the table?" Mum asks as Sparrow walks into the kitchen.

    "I merely placed the TV remote on it, and it suddenly broke," I lie. "I guess it was just built badly."

    "But it was cut cleanly in two."

    "I'm just as surprised as you are. Don't worry, I'll help pay for a new one."

    "Yeah, you will be. Now why did you yell at Sparrow?"

    "We just had a little argument."

    "Oh really?"

    "Yes, Mum."

    "What about?"

    "I told her not to be scared."

    "Well what's she scared of?" I didn't even notice Sparrow come back into the room until she hugged me again.

    "I'm just scared about all this killing," she muttered meekly.

    "Aw. I am too, dear," Mum tells her.

    "Well, I'm not," I say. "I'm not scared of this killer. He's got nothing on me."

    "Leaf, but you could get killed too!" Sparrow cried. "I don't want you to get killed!"

    "Only criminals are killed. I'm not a criminal."

    "Now I see," Mum says. "Sparrow, you have nothing to be scared about. I'm sure that the government are doing their best to bring this killer to justice. I can promise you that you'll be safe here." Mum takes Sparrow's hands. "Okay?"

    "Thank you Serena," she says. Mum smiles warmly and hugs her. Later that night, after Sparrow gets out of the shower, I felt really bad after Mum had another chat with me. She made me feel really bad abut me yelling at her. Not that I need help from Mum, seeing as I felt guilty anyway for making Sparrow cry. She stepped into my room dressed in her nightgown, and I hugged her, tears falling from my own eyes. Angela and Yin watching silently. "Leaf? Are you okay?"

    "I'm sorry," I say softly to her. "I'm sorry. For yelling at you. I don't want you to leave me. I want you to stay by my side forever." I was coming out and being honest with her for the first time.

    "Leaf..." she sounds so surprised. "Oh Leaf." What I did leave covered up, was the fact that I was scared too.

10: 10 ~ S

    I walked to the work that next day. With Leaf and Sparrow off to school, Chief Arzate called me in. Since he, I and the others are the only ones on this case, he had received a call from S saying that they were going to meet us in person. The others were very anxious, meeting S for the first time. But I wasn't surprised when once we had all arrived, that the only person who was waiting for us was the one person who personally knew S. But now I tell you that's a lie. S talked to us through a computer, in a disguised voice.

    "Hello," S said. "I see you are all here. Now the only reason as to why I have still not showed up was simply because of trust. Once I am sure we make progress, I will promise to meet in reality. My assistant here is going to provide you with cell phones that are connected to only each other, and are completely untraceable in every possible way." This person, a figure in a trench coat and hat, completely covered over, gave us each a phone.

    "These are them?" Ciel asked.

    "Yes," S continued. "You will all also be given fake identification badges and a completely different alias. If you really want to be safe, you can have facial reconstruction surgery. But that I shall leave to your own discretion."

    "I figured as much," Melody said.

    "Now, moving on if I may, from what you have sent me, Chief, you have two suspects as of today, am I correct?"

    "Yes," Chief A. said. "The son of one of our own and his girlfriend."

    "Yes. Leaf Soto and Sparrow Watt. What ridiculous names." I feel a pang of sharp pain from that last remark, since I know who S really is.

    "I thought we were here to catch Kira, not insult him," Ewan said.

    "Don't say that!" I yell out. "You say as if my son is Kira, but I swear he isn't. There is no way he could be. I didn't raise him like that!" I take a few breaths to regain my composure.

    "Serena, if this mission has you emotionally compromised, then it is not to early to resign. I will hold nothing agianst you if you do."

    "No. Sorry."

    "Good. Now, if Kira can kill with a name and face, then I have an idea. I would like to meet your son and his girlfriend in person, if you don't mind." That idea shocks us.

    "You'd risk yourself like that?" Aurora asks.

    "Of course. If I meet him and her, and I do not die, then neither of them are Kira." We al think to ourselves for a few moments.

    "Alright," I say. "I'll bring them on Saturday. Will that work, S?"

    "Why Saturday?"

    "Well, because even though my son and Sparrow are suspects, they still have school. If my son is innocent, then I still want him to be successful in life."

    "That seems reasonable. But you never said how you felt about Sparrow and if she could continue school."

    "I don't care about her, not until she's been proven innocent."

    "So that's where you stand. You are more Yandere than I thought. Saturday at midnight. I will send you all the locations to the phones I have given you." We all take the phones and our ID badges. Leaf, please be innocent. I don't know what I would do if you are... guilty. I couldn't live with myself.

11: 11 ~ The Meeting

    I was rudely awoken by Mum. Sparrow, who was sleeping next to me, was as well. It's 11:35, Saturday night.

    "Mum? What's going on?" I ask.

    "Serena, what is it?" Sparrow yawns.

    "You two are coming with me to the police station. Now." What? Of shit, have we been figured out?! What the Hell?! Oh God, Sparrow don't panic! If she does, she might confess. Shit, no. We can't have that. Mum makes Sparrow and I get dressed and she puts us in the back seat of her car. You can feel the tension as Mum drives us there. It almost suffocating.

    "Serena, what have we done wrong?" Sparrow asked, her voice slightly broken by sadness and fear. Mum sighs, and glances at us in her rearview mirror.

    "You two may not know this, unless you've forgotten, but you two are suspects in this... Neo-Kira case."

    "What?"

    "Mum? Why?" I ask.

    "Don't ask why. I'm just taking you to the station. I'm not supposed to tell you why, but... hopefully we can prove me right." I think we're going to be fully interrogated to prove our innocence. When we get tot the police station, Mum marches us inside. We're taken to a visitation cell where on one side, Sparrow and I sit. On the other, is a masked person. They have one of those generic, utterly basic masks. It's just a plain, white smiling face. Through the speakers, comes a disguised voice.

    "Hello Leaf Soto. Sparrow Watt." It must be them. They're holding a Manga in their hand. "I am S. Do you two know why I have brought you here today?"

    "No," I say. Sparrow shakes her head fearfully.

    "You are both the main suspects in the Neo-Kira case. I am here to test your innocence." I look mildly surprised, but nod slightly for understanding. S glances toward Sparrow. "Are you nervous?"

    "A little," she admits.

    "There's no need to be. Unless you are Kira, in which case, you will be executed." Shit, Sparrow, for the love of God stay calm! "All Kira needs to kill is a name, corresponding face, and at least 40 seconds. Now. I will remove my mask in exactly 20 seconds. After which, a timer will start, and it will be midnight. at precisely zero-hundred hours and 40 seconds if I am still alive," they reached up for their mask and brought it down, "then neither of you could possibly be Kira." As they finished, a face was revealed.  A beautiful face of a young woman, she's at least my age. Her eyes are an emerald green behind black glasses, like me. Her hair is a relatively dirty-blonde, like me. I feel like we could be siblings. We stare at each other, for what seems like an eternity, until she looks at her watch. "Hm. It's 12:02, and I'm still alive, and I feel fine. Therefore, from our understandings as of this moment, neither of you are Kira." Sparrow and I breath a silent sigh of relief. "But, you two will still be watched 24/7, until a 100 percent certainty that either of you are not Kira has been reached. Right now, you are both at 3 percent."

    "Well, that's good," Sparrow muttered. "Now I can go to bed."

    "Not so fast, Ms. Watt. Since you have obviously seen my face, you're not off the hook completely. I've seen your grades in school, as well as yours Leaf. Both of you are smart, and have abilities that I find... necessary. Will you both be willing to help this task force in catching Neo-Kira?"

    "Of course," I say. "I believe that what Kira is doing is wrong, and the punishment of criminals should be decided by their governments."

    "Sparrow?"

    "Oh, um, if Leaf is doing it, then I'll help too." S smiles. She looks kinda cute when she does that, but don't tell Sparrow.

    "Good."