Disclaimer: This story includes material from Another Note and Deathnote, both the Manga and Anime. Later on there is a possibility that some material from the live action films will be used. Please note, that I do not own any of the aforementioned material(s) – all legal ownership and copyrights belong to the respective owners. No profit is being made from the writing of this fanfiction, it is solely written for the enjoyment of the author and her readers.
However, the original characters Mishca, Tatum and Cadyacce, and the events surrounding them (with the exception of either direct or indirect Deathnote material references) are my sole creations and therefore are my intellectual property.
END LEGAL MUMBO JUMBO...
Prologue: The Nightmare
The computer chair wheels squeaked as she swayed her legs from side to side as she intently scrutinized two computer screens… one screen had a graph representing statistics of recent deaths and the other screen split between a report and a local news station website. She held her coffee mug in one hand while the other was fiddling with her pronounced lower lip. He watched her ever so quietly from the apartment entrance hallway, watching her as she scrunched her eyebrows together and swore. He could tell she was getting frustrated quickly with this case…. But was too amused to say anything quite yet. She mumbled under her breath before taking a sip of her coffee…
"I know these murders are connected… but how to prove it… just one… let me see just one clue"
"ACH! This coffee is horrible… sugar… must have more sugar…"
She was then startled by a mechanical laugh to her right…
"More sugar? So I am influencing you…"
The tall man walked slowly over to where she sat, he slouched so you wouldn't even know he was about a foot taller than she. His unkempt black hair going in every which direction with the most prominent dark circles you'd ever imagine - he looked frightening to most, but she just smiled and whispered -
"More than you know Rue, more than you know.."
Moments later he was beside her, adding sugar packets to her coffee…
"NO RUE! Not that much! I'm not crazy like you… I don't want to drink slush!"
"Crazy? Hmm… some may think so, but no, more sugar will help you think you know… better for this case, don't you think?"
She paused… "Rue… thank you.. but… the way you drink coffee is just… sickening.."
"Very well then"
-flash-
It was dusk out, she was standing on the railing of the apartment balcony as it rained, watching as the clouds moved past.
"You know Mischa, I really hate when you do that."
She turned around slowly, "It's fine Rue, I love the rain and you know my balance is exceptional anyway –"
She was cut off, "That's not the point!" His face was pink, he was clearly upset.
"just… please, just come down from there"
She raised an eyebrow and smirked
"Rue? Is that a tinge of concern I hear? Never thought I'd see the day!"
He turned his head slightly as she jumped back down to the balcony platform. "Thank you for coming down" and walked away slowly.
"Wait Rue, I have something to show you on this case we're working on, I found something, we're really close now, I can feel it. I think we're only a few days away to bringing this guy to justice"
He looked back at her, smiled and whispered "hmph… faster than I calculated… fascinating. If L knew about you…" His face went dark as he lowered his eyes.
"What was that Rue?"
"hmm? Oh nothing… let me see what you've got"
-flash-
It was dark, the case they were working on together was complete. She could tell he was staring at her from the living room they made into their workspace - she was standing on the balcony again… He sighed… then she said softly -
"You know Rue, I'm going to miss you."
He paused and slowly walked towards her…
"You know Mischa, I have another case I need to plan for now, it's in LA… I know this may seem crazy to you… but would you care to join me?"
"You want me to come with you?"
-flash-
The LA city lights were pouring into the hotel room – Rue was sitting in an arm chair by the window, legs close to his chest with his fingers in a strawberry jam jar. She watched him for a moment, as much as she found that habit disgusting, seeing him so content made her smile -
-flash-
There were deep, harsh breathes, hands on skin, lips touching, the sweet taste of strawberry jam, it was all getting to be too much for her to take. She ran her fingers through his unruly hair as he sighed. It was too late for them now.
-flash-
"Mischa… I need to tell you… I'm not who you think I am." He advanced towards her, "I wasn't going to tell you, not ever, but recent events has shown me there's no getting around it. "
"Rue -"
"My name is Beyond Birthday, and it would be best if you let me speak."
- - - there was a pause, and then he continued.
"It seems that I have had the very unfortunate experience of falling in love with you… you must understand, this was never my intention, but as I have come to terms with, I can't let you go now. I know you have fallen for me as well, so I apologize for how hard it will be for you to hear what I have to say next – please don't fight me as I explain."
-flash-
Her mouth was agape, shaking her head in disbelief grasping for some sort of explanation – what had he just said to her?
"Beyond Birthday? What kind of name is that? You are crazy! How could you.. seriously? This is all a sick joke right? Who the hell is L? This isn't real, you wouldn't do –"
"You must understand, what I just told you is all very real, and no, I am not crazy. I am simply trying to prove that L is not infallible and I will win! You could help me you know… and we could be together that way, don't you see how logical this all is? "
"Let me get this straight – you aren't Rue… you actually are pretending to be this L person, had me fall in love with you as L, and now you want me to help murder innocent people to prove him wrong?"
"That about sums it up – yes, although the personal aspect between us caught me completely off guard, I did not see that one coming…."
"You ARE crazy! You really think I would ever help you now? This isn't logical, it's insane! You tricked me! I have no idea who you are – I don't love you, you made me fall in love with another man! How dare you ask me to help you in murdering people! If anything I'd rather help L in taking you down! You crazy son-of-a…"
-flash-
"You know Mishca, this could have all been avoided… but now it seems you've sided with L… and I just can't have that. You see….you could've been mine… but he gets everything… he always wins… and now… he's even won you without even doing a thing..."
The room was dark… his words were barely audible. Her vision was out of focus, she could feel the cold floor of the kitchen.
"Little angel of justice are we? Always have to be on the right side? … Seems you were never mine to begin with…. I should've known. I'll have to correct that. No need for L to ever discover your existence, but if he ever did… I could show him I won in a different way…"
His words trailed off and were making no sense to the half unconscious woman. She heard a metal scrapping sound on the ground… the sound vibrated into her ears and sent a chill down her back. She shivered as the blade reached her shirt – she could hear the cloth being ripped to shreds. She knew what was coming next.
"I'm sorry beautiful – if it wasn't for L, maybe…. Just maybe… but no, that's impossible now"
She felt the blade sink into her flesh and she screamed in terror –she was completely aware now. The pain was unbearable. He dragged the knife deep into her side, relentlessly repeating on the other side, then her back, bottom of her feet and her right forearm. She could feel him tearing her apart, she could feel the blade drawing something, should couldn't tell what, but she knew the cuts had a purpose. He kept cutting and cutting deep into her flesh…
"Please… please stop… you… yyy—yyouu don't have to.. to do this… pppplle-ppleassee" her voice was low, she was losing too much blood too fast, her eyelids were closing….
"Oh, but this is necessary… you can thank Lawliet for this"
She awoke with a start, sweat dropping from her face down to her shirt. It was all too real, a dream too vivid like it was happening all over again. She reached down to her ribs, feeling the scars he left behind wondering how she never saw the warning signs.