XxRENxX

This is my first story, and it is dedicated to my friend Becca who loves the manga series Death Note. I decided that I would continue off the ending of the manga and start of with a new slate of characters and continue to build of there. I hope you all love my mystery/horror tale as the reign of the Shikigami comes back to haunt the human race once again in my story The White Candle.

SUMMARY: Ren Pride is a detective for the police squad and has been working on gruesome murders that have been happening over the past week. When he realizes the pattern he quickly comes up with the fact that these death have to do something like the Kira Incident so he quickly gets straight into action. His mission is to stop the "New Kira" and bring them down to justice before more lives are taken. It might be harder then it looks though.

Rating: T-M

The White Candle

Chapter One

I could hear the slowly rhythmic thumping of the heartbeat as I approached the door. My pulse was racing with the anxiety and anticipation that rushed through me. Behind that door was where the sound was originating, and I needed to find out. So hesitantly I reach a hand out winding my nimble fingers around the golden brass handle shivering as the cool touch bit into my fingers. Slowly I gave the knob a turn hearing the small click. Then slowly I pushed the door open reaching my head in peering straight into the room that was covered in a think blanket of darkness. I couldn't see a thing. Still that didn't stop me. The floorboards moaned under my weight as I took a few steps inside.

"Hello, is anyone in here?" I could hear my voice shake as I took a few more steps inside the room glancing at my digital watch nervously. It was almost three in the morning, and strange things always happen around this time. Often times you could hear the Wiccans or the "gothics" at school talking about the witching or dark hour. Weird things always happened at that time and she wanted to get out of there before anything started to go obscure.

I crept further in the room taking soft cautious steps as I rummaged around looking for the light fixture. I could feel the dry wall paper cut across my fingers as I dragged my hand along. I dragged my hand over on of the peeling pieces feeling the sharp edges itch at my fingers sensitively. I paused there to stare around.

To the right I could hear the faint humming of the song Ring Around The Rosy. My hands dropped to my side like heavy waits as I peered at in the direction closely. Soon I could see the pale orange glow make a ring around the door that lead to another room.

"Hello?" I questioned once more using the sleeve of my shirt to wipe away the sweat that was beading on my brow. "If someone is there please answer me." I stayed silent waiting and listening, but there was no reply. The air had gone thick and suffocating as I approached the door. "Hello?"

The humming then stopped and there was a prolonged silence.

I leaned forward gazing through the crack- the room was empty except for the lantern that lay flickering on the floor.

"What is going on?" I pressed against the door hearing the hinges moan as I opened it making my way to the middle of the room. Then almost on qui I could hear the small clipping of heels walking on the floorboards towards me. I caught my breath then turned to watch the door that I had entered through slam shut then click locked. My heart thundered like a wild drum against my ribs. I licked my now dry lips as I drew back reaching the lantern. Someone was in here with me I wasn't alone.

Crouching down I snatched the lantern up facing its beams of light into the room. It was just a normal storage room covered in dust and cobwebs. There was nothing in here. Then from behind me I could hear the hoarse breathing of a child as the heels clipped lightly on the floor coming right behind me. I sucked in a breath the squeezing my eyes shut as the lantern flickered on in a quiet hiss.

Now I was in the dark. And in the dark things got worse, much worse.

The melody came again a small child's voice singing like a birds as she sang one certain verse. "Ashes, ashes we all fall down.

"Who are you…?" I felt all the color drown from my face as I tried to back away further to the darkness away from the stranger inside the room. All the while still I told myself- "She is just a child, she won't hurt you. Just talk to her."

"I am…"

"Ren have you been listening at all to what I have been saying?"

Ren sighed inwardly gazing up towards the woman that addressed him. He looked annoyed and edgy from lack of sleep, and the woman's bickering wasn't helping him any. Ren need a cup of coffee. "What?"

"You have to be kidding me! You really weren't paying attention?" she groaned aloud dragging a heavy hand down the contours of her face. "Last night there was a murder. A woman in her twenties wound up her wrists slashed and her body hanged. To me it sounds more like a suicide."

"No it is truly more like a homicide Miss Cambell." He shifted in his chair grunting. "Do you know her name or do we need to refer to her as a Jane Doe?"

"Alice Cooper, why do you ask?"

Ren got up going to wards the CPU flicking the screen on. "Five years ago there was a series of bizarre, grizzly murders. People nowadays call it the Kira Incident. At every hour a person would die of a heart attack or some suicide manner. I believe someone is trying to start a chain reaction of this event and take the gods place. Light, was Kira and he was killed by a gunshot wound not to long ago. So any follower would feel rage and want to avenge their fallen leader. Now it is only natural that their vengeance would mean to take his place as Kira."

The woman itched her chin slowly her eyes fixated on the screen as the Internet window popped up. "Shikigami?"

"Yes," he turned in the chair his hazel eyes shining on her. "Have you heard of them?"

"Those are the demons that are known to be Gods of Death right? Wait, but what do they have anything to do with this case?"

Smoothing a hand through his dark mass of hair he began to explain. "L, or Ryuzaki had believed Kira's method were Shikigami. But how Kira controlled them he couldn't figure out before he was murdered as well."

"So you think Shikigami are involved with this as well?" she leaned forward placing a hand on his shoulder as she read closely at the displayed information. "What about the second Kira."

"You mean Misa." He turned to face the terminal his fingers sliding across the keys opening a window to Misa's file. "She has disappeared unfortunately. It shows her she quit her modeling and acting, which implies she is off somewhere else probably under a new look and persona."

"You seem to have been doing your homework." She spoke fondly with a chuckle.

"This is more of a hobby then work. Kira fascinated me by his noble yet bloodthirsty actions. He most likely got corrupted by his new power changing his purity of a peaceful world into a nightmare of death and murder." He sighed- his shoulders slumping. "I would of liked to see Kira's world, but when giving someone ultimate power they are always going to lose themselves. Drugged with power, just like a sugar rush. You never understand what you're doing."

"I see." She reached up pulling of her glasses as she cleaned them with the old cloth that was buried deep in her pocket. "How do you suppose we find this new Kira then?"

"By solving the mystery of Light's methods. Something Ryuzaki could not. If this new murderer is truly a follower he will most likely try to follow in Light's footsteps copying his every move." Ren drew back out of his seat standing up. He placed his hands on his lower back leaning backwards in a long stretch wincing at the small cracks the lined up and down his spine. He felt as stiff as a board today. "We need to go to his home and check his office."

"WE will need a search warrant for that." She advised calmly slipping her glasses back on.

"No money for that. The home is most likely abandoned and the police will open the office for us, if it is for the good of a case."

"Ren, we can't just break into a house even if it's abandoned. That is against our jurisdiction of the low. We are officers remember. We in force the law not break it."

Ren turned his head shaking it solemnly. "Elise, we will get no where if we stay with in the boundaries playing safe. Why don't you try and be more flexible." His lips hovered over hers playfully. Sometimes the only way to get a woman to stop bitching and to listen was to show attraction. It often worked for him. "And lose the glasses; they do not become you." He smirked giving a playful tease.

"Shut up!" her face was burning a bright red as the blush became deeper in her embarrassment. Growling at her own weakness she shoved him away in anger. "Do what you want, but if you get caught I won't help you!"

"He snickered as he turned snagging his coat from the old coat rack at the far side of the wall. "Don't worry Elise, I won't. Have a nice day Miss. Cambell."

She grumbled and turned her back to him not wanting to look at his cocky face. "Whatever."

The room seemed to get smaller and colder and all I could do was hug myself, while huddling into a corner trying to ward off my fears of the darkness. I could feel the young girl's presence around me just looming above me and haunting the air I breathed. I had been waiting for her to reply to my question for her real name, and all she ever says is that she is the God of Death.

With each passing moment I grew more flustered and my need to know grew stronger until I snapped at her. "Tell me your name!" I called out in a bitter order. I could feel the young child's frown as her presence sauntered its way standing before me. "Please…" I whispered stuttering as I searched every part of me for confidence. The girl giggle- she could feel my feel probably even taste on her lips as she drank it. I cowered further into the darkness for once truly afraid.

"Don't be scared. I am here to save you."

"Save me?" My eyes met her figure that could hardly be seen. "What could you save me from?"

"Alice Cooper." The moment I went to turn my gaze away she snapped it back. "I see you DO know her then?" The girl was pleased because she had a small fit of giggles. I nodded slowly in a reply. The girl was smiling I could feel the warmth of it as she slid down beside me her cold body sliding further against mine. "I killed her for you. The wicked priss of a woman; we can do the same thing to the others. I have a gift for you."

"My curiosity grew and my rigid body softened as she cooed sweet promises of retribution in my ears.

My lips quivered as my lips fashioned the question. "What is the gift?"

"Well the gift is…"

Ren approached the abandoned street watching the papers blow across the road. It was dead here- an empty lot. It didn't surprise him that the place had no people. After the Kira incident many of the people on his block moved. They believed his spirit would come to kill them. They feared that their own sins would come back to haunt them. That was Ren's point of view at least.

"Here we are." The tires squeaked rolling to a stop in front of the new town home complex. Although now it didn't look to new, it looked more haunted. After the years veins of ivy and mounted its way around the house, spiders took roofing there, and the dust clung to the shingles and wood like no other. The place was a dead as Light was now. Ren loved places like these.

He took only a few steps before a quick movement got a glimpse in his eye. There was a low snarl and he sighed stopped at the foot of the front porch. "What do you want?"

From behind one of the flowering trees a girl lay crouched against it. Her glare burned into him with hateful blue rays. "I could ask you the same thing." The retorted tartly.

"I came to find out more on Light." The girl pursed her lips standing up making her way towards him not much hostility written on her face as before.

"If I have known that I wouldn't have snapped at you. So you have come to stop her as well haven't you?"

"Her?" he arched a brow amused.

"White candle, the girl plotting all these murders."

Ren crossed his arms. "So now I have a new problem." The girl quirked her head confused. "She might not be following in his footsteps after all."

"She is starting a revolution."

"A revolution? Of what?"

The stranger turned to face the house. "To purify the world of cruelty and to save the damned. Alice Cooper was the rich snob it was no surprise that she started there. This teen is in over her head trying to get revenge."

"That makes sense." He muttered under his breath. "The child must have been picked on a lot, and when she heard of Kira ridding the world of evil she quickly became on of his followers. So we will need to check the chat rooms as well…" he started to pace back and forth his brain clicking into new ideas. "She thought Kira would save her but when Kira died she was at loss and she tried to find the power that was capable of kill anyone instantaneously."

"We must think oddly alike. You are very informed." Ren shrugged a silent response. "There are a lot of chat rooms that supported Kira, but only one was flooded with posters. The site was called- Heaven.

Ren's eyes swept across her form. He was oddly attracted to her but not because of her figure but her inquisition of extraordinary knowledge, though the body was a plus to him. She was tall and thin her body was shapely and slender. Her eyes were a piercing jade blew that popped out against her dark ebony hair. "Heaven." He murmured. "What a holy name for such a sinful act."

"I know." She smirked as she started heading towards the door.

"My name is Ren by the way."

"I am Nadia."

He nodded nonchalantly then moved past her. "Here let me open it. It's most likely locked." She stepped aside and watched as he took about three kicks to break the door of the hinges. "I will be checking up in his room."

"So will I." Her answer had a bitter taste to it as she glared at him. "Just because I am here helping you and sharing information, but that doesn't mean I will just let you search Lights bedroom that may have the biggest clue. You would have to take me for a fool if you think I was going to let you do that."

He sighed shaking his before rolling his shoulders. "Do what you want." he wouldn't waste his time arguing- he needed to search that room!

She turned her head flipping her hair over her shoulders as she walked right at his heels. It appeared she wasn't going to let him find anything important that might help her. That wouldn't be a problem for Ren though. He was always quick on his feet.

Striding to the door he pushed it open gazing around. TO his surprise he saw someone there standing a book in their hand. There eyes were half closed gazing downwards at the book as he reached in his pocket pulling out a pen.

"You have came here to find this haven't you?" the young boy then gazed through the lenses of his glasses boring straight at Ren. "Depending on your answer your life will be mine."

"What are you going to do with a pen kid?"

Nadia took her step forward looking from Ren then back to the boy. "I was looking for that, but may I ask why you have it."

"Ryuzaki, he was killed because of this." His eyes flashed up in anger before he turned away. "This power was the source, I know it."

"You have to be kidding, a book can't do something like that kid." Ren turned away before giving a sideward glance to Nadia. Her gaze was firm still on the boy as if she believed him. Shikigami is what killed L, Light, and all the criminals. L, or Ryuzaki couldn't figure out how the Shikigami were being controlled… maybe this kid is right. "Let me see it." He didn't have to take to many steps to snatch it from the kids hand as well as the pen.

"What are you doing?!" he yelled out loud jumping up to try and pry it away. Ren just smirked lifting it up away from his reach. "Damn you."

Ren then gazed around and sighed. "The Death Note…" he read the cover then sighed inwardly. Opening it he flipped through the pages viewing the names written. On some pages their were rules that weren't to difficult to understand. Kira killed more had to have killed more than this. "I am going to take this kid, in your hands you would only repeat Kira's mistakes." He tucked it into his jacket watching the boy who's face went cold and depressed. "If you truly want to take revenge for Ryuzaki then you will trust me."

"What are you doing?" Nadia hissed to him her eyes blazing. "If that is what Light used we could be in trouble."

"No, if Light used this to control the Shikigami… then we would see one right now. I just want to further investigate this book to find out if my theory is correct and if I what I am thinking is right on track. This book could be a fake." He smirked. His hair sweeping over his face as he began to chuckle. "I envy Kira, he was always twenty moves ahead… ever step of the way."

"You mean he made a fake incase they found out?"

"Precisely. If they had the book they would think Kira opposed no threat. They would hold that there and Light would have the real one continuing the killing. Very bold a risky, but he had to do it." The boy stared around and then sighed walking over to Ren planting his feet firmly before him. "What is it kid?"

"I want to help you." Ren wondered if the kid was serious, and what could the kid possibly do to help him. "I knew Ryuzaki personally, I know the way he thinks… that means I would know the way Light would think just as well. I think the first thing we need to do is find the notebook and lure the other out."

"Ren, do you think White Candle could possibly be Misa?"

"Hm?" he churned his head slightly thinking about it for a moment. "It could be."

"No. Misa cut her life span in half…"

Ren stared surprised before lifting a hand to rub his temples. "And how do you know that?"

"Light Yagami. When he met up with Misa once I heard them talking about sharing the eyes with the Shikigami. It cuts your life span… Misa used it twice. Giving her not long to live… I don't think she has the ability to use the note book anymore."

"Ren I believe all three of us should work together. With our heads I believe we could solve this." Ren thought for a moment before letting his shoulders rise and fall.

"Nadia that could work, but don't you think we are to abstract for each other. I mean I can work with this kid, but you-"

"We need her. Nadia Barton, she is a bounty hunter and quite skilled in what she does. This is her case I can bet."

"How did you?!" her heart stopped. Her eyes were glued on the child, he was to bright for his own good.

"Nadia you forget I knew Ryuzaki. You think he wouldn't have taught me anything. If you want you could call me is double." There was a pregnant pause before the boy started to speak again his small arms crossing over. "In this room there is going to be the real note book or we can try and find Misa. She might have hidden it on her for Light so no one could find it."

"Nadia you go find Misa with…"

"My name is Maxwell."

"You go find the girl with Maxwell and I will try and find the notebook here." They all nodded in agreement. They had a plan they would solve this!

Next Chapter Will Be Coming Soon

January 23, 2007!

I hope you all liked my fan fiction, I was really hoping it would catch people's interest. I want to ask everyone who read this to do me one simple favor. Give me a comment. I enjoy reading what people think about my story even if it is just one word. Tell me what you thought, good or bad. I will be waiting. Thank you once again for reading my story.