L

The short version you may have already heard. Nonetheless, I will recount what happened.

When I requested the resurrection of Quillsh Wammy, OSTA complied but placed the consciousness of one of their own agents into the resuscitated body. I had never heard of this phenomenon before in my research into their resurrection program, so I never suspected anything.

Ultimately, it was this blindness that led to my total failure.

The virus program worked, but they knew of the entire plan beforehand through Watari, who I had trusted implicitly. They isolated its effects only to the Control Center. They intended on killing me and offering Light Yagami my former position within OSTA. Watari would have succeeded, but I had worn a kevlar vest under my coat at the time. In retaliation, Light fired on Watari, killing him.

This is when he helped me escape. Because of some contacts he had made with the FBI during his vacation a short while ago, Light was able to acquire for us temporary housing until I could reach Roger and update him on what had happened.

With Mello's assistance, I returned to Wammy's House.

Since then, my silence has been unintentional. Mello might tell you I've been resting. The fact is I've been reconsidering whether it was wise for me to escape at all.

... I'm a criminal. To save hundreds of worlds, I orchestrated that plan for the sole purpose of killing off another -- Weisdia, the seat of OSTA's power.

I knew what I was doing, this is why I kept you, my successors, from having too much of a hand in the worst part of this plan. This is why I chose one of you to succeed me as L. In hindsight, perhaps I never expected to return at all.

My intention had been only to give you a world without Kira or OSTA. It was a great gamble and I lost.

I will submit myself to judgment, but first I have unfinished business to attend to. Namely...

I want to crush OSTA.

Your virus, however, worked beautifully. Don't worry; I arranged it so they would not be able to trace the program to you.

...Ah, yes, I should explain; I brought Yagami Light to see his father's grave.  He took the news poorly.

He is on an Alaskan cruise.  The fact that this trip coincides with a convention of Interpol members on the same ship is not a coincidence -- I also have a number of eyes on him under my own hire.

The chance that Light-kun has already determined the true nature of his forced vacation is about 83 percent, so if he returns in a sour mood, I'm claiming it was your idea, Near.  (Have you moved your toys out of my room yet?)

There has been a lot of interest stirred up surrounding references made to something called the 'Kira Investigation'.

I apologize for any alarm this test may have caused those of you who have responded with the product of their research. This test was orchestrated across the Network to locate and profile a number of people with varying degrees of intellect and access to research materials. As a result, I have learned much, particularly about cultural differences, and themes that remain consistent even across different worlds.

However.

The Kira Investigation has long since been a closed case. The mass-murderer who was known as 'Kira' is no more. Having received the information I desired, I now will be approaching personally those who have caught my interest, either due to the product of their research or some talent of theirs that may be invaluable towards a shared goal.

I now request that your hard-working minds now direct themselves towards an immediate, present danger. In our own borders, our own worlds, even in our homes and families. The dangers that plague our worlds now need to be dealt with. I recommend less time now spent chasing the shadows of the past.

Thank you for your input.

I have located Yagami Light.

Meet us at location Y130B at 18:00 local time.

In acknowledgement of your concerns about this 'Kira Case' you mentioned, N, I request that none of you bring any writing implements of any kind.  Having just been resurrected, I can guarantee that Light-kun has no belongings except for the clothes on his back and a communication device identical to my own.

Our communicators will be deactivated and left outside in the safe.  Please follow the usual procedure.

If things are as you say, there is no danger in showing your face to a man who already knows who you are.  On the other hand, I believe my own experiences, lacking some of yours, including your suspicions, make me ill-suited to finding possible holes in Light's version of events.

In other words, I have reason to believe that he may not be precisely the same Yagami Light that you or I knew.

Don't be late.

Yagami Light.

...The boys are misbehaving again.

( Just a few quotes~ )

My work here is done. 8D

The only occupant on this bit of street was the equally drenched figure slouched by a payphone, black hair plastered to his skull and drawing clear lines down skin starkly pale in the twilight.  The receiver was plucked up by a finger and thumb and brought to the young man's ear, coins deposited, numbers punched with a precise, delicate series of gestures.

"...Watari, please secure my cellphone for the next 15 minutes."

He hung up.

The young man plucked his cellphone from the depths of his pocket in the same manner as he had with the payphone receiver, unfolding it.  He dialed.  He held the device to his ear.  Eyes wandered upwards to regard without blinking the way rain formed a halo around the bare bulb of the streetlight overhead.

"This is L."

[ Later, there was a transmission sent securely from what presently served as HQ to a certain Smith Syndicate.]

"There is a matter taking place at Nhode I would like your assistance with..."

[ The moment called for taking advantage of the chaos at Nhode; capture a few key members of ANTI and make it appear as if they were assassinated by OSTA operatives.  In so doing, bind ANTI closer to those working with them. ]

"Timing is urgent, so I apologize for the short notice."

[ Only with their loyalty to each other would the plan proceed smoothly, and desperate times called for desperate measures. ]

"I appreciate your understanding in this matter."

[ Also, determine the whereabouts of Zak, the leader of ANTI, who, unknown to L, was very shortly going to be captured by the real OSTA agents storming Nhode. ]

L closed his phone, rainwater pouring in a thin, gray line from the point of his chin as he bowed his head, replacing the mobile back inside his pocket.  Hands followed, pushed deep into pockets despite the damp, and, shoulders slouched forward, he began to make his way back to a vehicle parked down the street, idling in the dark.