Rain dripped steadily from the black umbrella's ribs, pelting the muddy concrete.
Kannazuki did not approach immediately.
In his mind, he counted down with precision.
Thirty seconds.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Only when even the faintest rise and fall of the chest beneath his foot had stopped did Kannazuki slowly lift his foot.
His shoes splashed through the standing water as he walked over to L and slowly crouched down.
The black umbrella tilted forward, shielding the former greatest detective in the world from the relentless summer rain.
L's eyes were wide open.
Those eyes, always ringed by dark shadows, were now thick with bloodshot veins, staring straight up at the gloomy, oppressive sky.
His pupils had fully dilated, losing all focus.
There was no emotion left in them, only emptiness.
Expressionless, Kannazuki extended his left hand, pressed his index and middle fingers together, and placed them precisely over the carotid artery on the right side of L's neck.
His skin felt cold, and there was no movement.
The artery had completely collapsed. He could feel no pulse.
L was truly dead.
"Heh heh... heh heh heh..."
Ryuk floated in midair, no longer roaring with laughter as he had before.
He merely tilted his enormous head, staring at L's deathly pale face for a long time with those perpetually bulging yellow eyes.
There was something peculiar about that gaze. It was less like looking at a dead man and more like examining an object that had been smashed beyond repair.
Kannazuki did not turn around.
"Ryuk, what are you thinking?"
Ryuk drew out the last syllable, a strange excitement in his eyes.
"Hey, Moon~ Did you know?
Humans... heh, they really are endlessly fascinating."
Kannazuki stood up and looked down at L's body.
"What do you mean?"
Ryuk spread his