Prologue

My boyfriend is in love with another man. No. Not a man. A god. He thinks this man is a god anyway. Kira, the man responsible for murdering, hundreds possibly thousands of criminals at this point, is his chosen god and object of his desire. Teru is his most devout disciple and worships him relentlessly with a stalwart heart. He once loved me that way.

I sigh deeply, resisting the temptation the throw the remote into the television as he watches that horrid program Kira's Kingdom. Standing to my feet, I move to go to bed. I can't take it anymore. That fat idiot Demegawa screaming about his wonderful savior Kira has given me a headache and made me feel sick. There is no way that moron is an official spokesperson for Kira. Even though I don't care for Kira, I know that he would not allow such a ridiculous jerk to be his mouthpiece to the world. It is obvious that Kira is way too conceited and self-important for such an embarrassing figure to represent him. I wonder why the magnificent and perfect Kira does not kill him already. I wish he would.

"Where are you going?" Teru asks, grabbing my hand though he does not look away from that damn television.

"I'm going to bed. I have a headache," I respond, still in shock that he even noticed me.

"Sit down. There's something I want to show you," he says, opening his briefcase sitting beside him.

I sigh deeply, plopping back down on the couch beside him. I can't believe he wants to talk about work. He has always been a workaholic. This addiction is getting even worse since his obsession with Kira has grown. My eyes follow his hands to the briefcase, watching curiously as he pulls out a notebook. Death Note, plain silver letters on the front of the black leather book inform me. I have no idea what that means.

"What is that?" I inquire as he opens it. It is just a plain notebook. What's the big deal?

"Watch," he cryptically tells me.

Demegawa is on the screen introducing his ludicrously dressed cohorts on stage; they are all dressed like priests in this disturbing large scale Kira love fest purporting the senseless idea that he is a god. I hear the scratch of pen on paper after the first man is introduced. Shortly into Demegawa's monologue listing the man's attributes, he grabs his chest and falls over. It is safe to assume he is dead by the expression of horror on Demegawa's face.

"Teru, what –"

"Shhhh! Keeping watching."

I tentatively edge away from him on the couch. What is going on? I'm confused and I'm scared. These men continue to drop dead in less than a minute after Teru writes their names in that notebook. The last to go is Demegawa. Though I am terrified of my longtime boyfriend at this point, I can honestly say I am not sad to see the host of the odious Kira's Kingdom drop to the floor and gasp for his dying breath on the television screen.

"What did you do?" I question him, pressing myself against the end of the couch.

His deep brown eyes study my face. He looks slightly maniacal to me; his handsome features are warped into a mask of almost orgasmic cruel delight. He grabs me, his fingers digging painfully into the flesh of my upper arms.

"I did that. I killed them," he tells me, crushing his lips against mine. He is excited – very excited. "Kira chose me. Me, Adila, do you hear me?"

'Oh, yes, I hear you. Loud and clear and terrifies me,' I think to myself looking into his eyes that are wide and wild with emotion.

"I don't understand. What does this mean?"

"He has given me his power. I can now kill the same way he does. He purposely chose me to aid him on his quest for justice," Teru explains, kissing me again.

His hands go to the buttons on my blouse and I resist the impulse to push him away. He is so overcome with elation and arousal I am afraid if I refuse him he will hurt me. Besides, it's been months since he has made love to me due to his infatuation with Kira.

"Adila, aren't you happy? I will be a god just like him. I will finally get what I've wanted all these years. I can now be an emissary of true justice, giving all of those good-for-nothing, felonious bastards what they deserve when the law lets me down."

Teru presses his lips to mine much gentler this time. His hands cover my breasts and his tongue enters my mouth as he fondles them. I cannot help but feel carnal eagerness rushing through my body making me want him despite the terror that plagues my mind from what just occurred before my eyes.

"Sweetheart, do you understand what this means for us?" he asks, pulling off my shirt and removing my bra.

I take off his glasses and lay them on the coffee table. No, I don't understand what it means. I hope he continues to explain without me having to ask. I proceed to loosen his tie and take it off while he caresses my breasts. He is looking at me with a soft, tender expression that I have not seen on his face in a long time.

"I will become like him. I won't just determine what is right and fair, I will be justice," he tells me, sliding his hands under my skirt.

My heart is aching because I feel like I have lost him. Kira has stolen him from me, consuming his heart and soul. Teru will never be mine again.

"I love you," I tell him, tears streaming down my face.

"I know," he whispers in my ear.

He does not say it back. He might as well write my name in that notebook and kill me. I feel dead inside already.

I want him back. I want the man I met ten years ago while attending university. My fingers glide through his soft black hair to rest on his shoulders that are now bare. My eyes go to his which are tightly closed. I close mine as well when he glides into my yearning body. I contemplate who he is really making love to. Is it me or is it the god who dominates his mind and emotions? Teru is not gay but with this uncontrollable obsession I cannot help but question him.

"Adila," he whispers, kissing me passionately.

It's me! Perhaps there is a tiny bit of hope that I am not miserably defeated after all. Damn you, Kira. I will get him back. I will bring him back from the brink of insanity before I allow you to kill him.