Woot! It's chapter 2! Sorry this took so long to put up. School and art have officially taken over my life. I deeply apologize. I hope this will satisfy you all for now.

Disclaimer: I don't own any Death Note Characters, as I'm sure you all know.

Chapter 2- Conflict of Interest

L's P.O.V.

The silver crescent moon stood high in the black evening sky as we sat together in uncomfortable silence. Tension hung thick in the air as I glanced across at Rei. She sat across from me, head down, staring intently at her coffee cup. I hardly recognize her, I thought while taking another sip of my coffee. She was dressed in full regalia of one of her many disguises. In this particular city she was known for her strong London accent and her expensive taste for fashion and vodka, all of which, of course, were false. She wore designer clothes head to toe. A St. John pencil skirt, Marc Jacob's black button up shirt, Louis Vuitton shoes and violet Prada handbag to complete the look. While she was still, as beautiful as I remembered, her physical appearance had changed as well. Her smooth, dark brown hair cruelly masqueraded by an overly-highlighted blond wig. Her stunning dark blue eyes now reduced to a dark emerald. How did this happen? I brought my gaze back to the two silver laptops before me, hers and mine, trying to forget the Rei who sat across from me, while attempting to remember the Rei for who she was. Come on, say something.

"Rei?"

"Yes?" She asked and picked up her head to stare at me with her unnatural green eyes. "What is it?"

"Nothing." When did we become so distant?

I feel as if this is mostly my fault. Rei had accumulated various contacts worldwide over the time that we'd spent together, and it had been my idea that we split up to work this case. Rei would go and ask her contacts for information, while I would search the Internet and do research for any obscure tid-bit I could find. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now I'm not so sure.

We'd been together for a little under a year and in that short time Rei had accumulated various contacts worldwide. They lurked in dark streets and back alleys of the world's largest cities, and ranged from powerful business men to bartenders to drug dealers. Rei would go to them, asking if they had any information that was pertinent to our case and if they did, they in turn would receive something, usually a large sum of cash. As of late, however, it was no longer that simple. It seemed that all her contacts had grown just as paranoid as the rest of the world with the recent terrorist attacks, and since obviously Rei couldn't tell them she was working with me they would stall. They would demand ludicrous sums of cash without even telling her what it was they had. She in turn had calm them back down and lure them, first into telling her what exactly they had then she could determine if there was a transaction to be made. The process was grueling, tiring, and repetitive. She pretends it doesn't bother her, but I know better. I can see it in her eyes. She's tired. She doesn't want to deal with these opportunistic men anymore, and I don't want her to either, but what other option do we have?

I glanced back at Rei, now stirring her coffee absentmindedly with a small spoon. How I missed having her in my arms, her smooth skin, her sweet lips. We've spent so much time apart, that ever time we're together we feel so awkward. Most of the time I don't even try to make conversation anymore. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I don't want to live like this.

"Rei."

"What?"

"I l-" I was suddenly interrupted by the two laptops on the table before me as they simultaneously beeped three times. I turned my glare at my screen. One new message. The police report. I looked back at Rei, and stared into a stranger's eyes, wanting to say so much, wishing desperately that she could somehow read my mind, no not even my mind, but my heart, my soul, and hear the simple words I wished I could somehow say, but could not bring myself to utter. I love you.

She silently opened her laptop while still looking at me. We sat like that, silently communicating everything and nothing at the same time, until finally she looked away.

I started opening files and went directly to the photos, which would most likely yield information the fastest. Who would do something like this, I thought as I stared at the photos before me. The horrific scenes unfolded in the simple pictures. A mangled subway train, torn to pieces by the blast, bodies covered in white sheets out of respect, strewn about the dark rubble, and the device which had caused all the mayhem.

This is only the beginning, I thought with a sigh. As of yet the police still had not finished with the rescue portion so we didn't have a body count. This police report was merely preliminary. There would be more victims. Many more.

"Oh my god. L." Rei said suddenly. I looked up and saw her eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and panic.

"What is it?" Could it be?

"You have to see this." She replied while turning the laptop so that I could take a look.

"It's an audiogram. They left an audio recording at the scene. That's what the police recovered. We're the first to hear it." We looked at each other for a moment, a moment in which a million emotions were running through my mind. Fear, anger excitement, all engulfed my mind instantaneously. I closed my eyes briefly to clear my head. I slowly opened my eyes, unsure as to whether or not I really wanted to hear what was on that tape. I looked back at Rei who silently nodded once.

"Do it." I nodded in reply.

I pushed play and was greeted at first by nothing but static. My heart sank with the possibility that we could, once again, be two steps behind, until suddenly something was heard.

"Dearest citizens, hear the voices of your liberators. Rise from the confines of political oppression to see the light." A monotonous voice spoke. It sounded similar to the one I used to communicate with the police. Cold, distant and mechanical. "We have come to free you, and show the world, not for what it is, but for what it can become.

"Our message is simple. We see the corruption of the world. The incompetence of so called, 'elected officials'. The people of the world, crying out for change, then being ignored. We come to offer you peace.

"Who are we, you ask? We come from all over the world. Brothers of different races, without ties to any ruler or nation, connected only by our disgust of the current political system. We feel it would be in everyone's best interest if said system ceased to exist. The system is failing, and now it is our right, no, our duty to abolish such government.

"Imagine the possibilities. We could start over. Put the right people into power. Those who would actually make a difference. This is truth. This is the light. This is how the world is supposed to be.

"As to why we must attack you, we only have one answer: your eyes were blind. Blind to the true severity of the situation. This crisis has shown you the true failures of your rulers. Their selfishness. The lives of those who were lost are just a small price to pay towards our larger goal of a better government. A price we were more than willing to pay. We will stop until we achieve our goal.

"To all the citizens of the world, we offer you two options. Evolve or die. We invite you. Join us, and see how great the world can be.

"To those who wish to stop us, hinder our operation, and stop our glorious progress, we have only one message. You will not be spared. No mercy shall be shown to the shameless traitors who dare get in our way. We will find you. Hunt you down. Kill you. There is no escape. No one can help you.

"You are powerless to stop us. Don't fight it. It's for the best."

It was a full minute before Rei or I spoke. All I could think about was their delusional words as they ran through my mind, over and over again. All those people. Hundreds of them. They died for this? How dare they?

"Those bastards." Rei said under her breath.

"They won't get away with this." I replied.

"You're damn right." She said and rose. She walked briskly to the closet in the foyer and threw the door open.

"Rei?" She ignored me as she struggled to quickly put on her gray sweater. I got off the couch and crossed the room. "Rei?"

"What?" She asked without looking at me.

"Where are you going?"

"Where do you think?" She asked and turned to glare at me. "I still haven't talked to Leo yet. I'm going to see if he has any new information."

"Rei, what about the curfew?"

"I still have two hours."

"What if you don't make it back in time?"

"That's more than enough time for me."

"Yes, but what if it's not? I might not be able to get you out of military custody if you get arrested."

"I'm not going to get arrested." She said and rolled her eyes.

"Rei, it's just. . . You don't have to do this. I mean look at you, you're exhausted."

"It doesn't matter. I have to do this. You'll be fine here. Watari should be back soon." She said and turned. She started toward the door, and had her hand on the doorknob when I caught her wrist. I can't live like this.

"L? What the hell are you doing?" She asked as I turned her around to look at me. She tried to pull her wrist from my grasp but I held on tight. She took two steps back then stopped when she bumped into the door. I raised a hand and placed it on the door next to her head, thereby blocking her exit.

"Rei, don't do this." I said sternly. I felt anger quickly rising within me as my inner turmoil increased. My heart wanted her to stay, to keep her close, to never let her go again, while my mind knew her departure was for the best, and that there was nothing I could do to stop it. But my heart struggled. It raced on deep within my chest as unending drum. No, today was different. It would not be silenced. It would not be placed asunder.

"Just stay with me tonight." I said quietly, as my face slowly neared hers.

"Just one night. Leo probably won't have anything anyway. You can definitely help me here. I want you here. Please." She looked at me with sad eyes and inched closer, her lips nearly touching mine. My hand went to her neck and I brought her near. Then, just when it seemed that we would kiss, that she would stay with me, that everything would be alright, she pulled away. She looked away and bit her lower lip for a moment, then turned to me.

"I'm sorry. You know I can't."

"Yes, you can"

"Don't you get it? This isn't about us. Our personal happiness has nothing to do with it. We have a job to do, that's all that matters." She paused and looked at the floor. "Now if you'll excuse me, I should get going." I stared into her eyes, begging her to stay. To not go out that door. Trying to convince her that it could wait. We could put the world on hold. Nothing else mattered to me because I needed her. After a few seconds my heart began to comprehend what my mind already knew. She would leave no matter what I did. I released her wrist silently.

"I'll see you soon." She whispered, and kissed me awkwardly on the cheek. I backed away to give her some room and she left the room without a second glance.

I walked forward and rested my hand on the smooth wooden surface of the door. The place where Rei had been a moment ago. What's happened to us? All I want is for her to be here. Does that make me selfish? My heart ached as it was engulfed by regret and loneliness. I rested my forehead on the door as I felt a migraine coming on. Maybe I should go after her? Would she listen to me? No. She's probably long gone by now. I can't interfere. This is what I wanted isn't it? When I met her, isn't this what I wanted? Someone who would always help me. Someone who wouldn't let emotions cloud their reasoning. Someone who would always get the job done. That's the last thing I want now.

Rei, wherever you are, know that I love you, more than you can ever imagine.

Holy angst! But what would any great relationship be without a big dollop of it? XD

Reviews would make me super happy. ^^