Guilt

Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note.

A.N.: This short story I thought up takes place sometime within the five days (after he gets the notebook, before he meets Ryuk) after he got the notebook.

Rated: T (because the anime was rated something like that)

Warning(s): Slight spoilers, but if you've seen the first couple of episodes and/or read all the way past chapter three (when Sayu first enters), then you'll be fine.

Light had tossed and turned last night, unable to get any sleep with doubts floating in his mind. It was like he was two different people: someone who thought what he was doing was right, and someone who knew what he was doing was wrong. His guilty conscience follows him down the stairs and into the kitchen, where his mother was cooking and his younger sister was chattering on about a new movie of some sort.

"Hi, big brother, I have this problem with my math-" Sayu begins, but was cut short by their mother. "He can help you with your homework later, I'm sure he has plenty of his own to deal with right now." Their mother says, smiling at Light as he took his seat at the table. "Actually, I finished mine last night." Light says, smirking slightly. "Wow, really? You can help me with mine later this afternoon then! It's due Monday." Sayu says, beaming at her older brother.

Light nods, his thoughts wandering off to all the families he'd probably destroyed…but it wasn't his fault those people were evil…right? Which little girls were crying because their dads wouldn't ever come home? That wasn't his fault. They deserved to die. They were wicked and they were damaging his world. "Light, you okay?" He heard his mother asking, disrupting his thoughts. "Hmm, what is it?" Light asks, looking up at her.

"I asked if you wanted orange juice with that." She says, frowning. "He must have been thinking about all the girls who might flaunt over him today." Sayu says, smirking. "Hey!" Light protests, looking defensive. "Are you alright Light?" His mother asks, giving him a concern look. "I'm fine." Light answers quickly, pouring himself some orange juice. "If you're sure…" His mother says, putting out the plates. "So what were you thinking about?" Sayu asks with a questioning look on her face.

"Homework…" Light mumbles, eating his breakfast to provide a reason of not being able to speak. "Oh, of course big brother was thinking about his homework, how else is he a genius?" Sayu says, now starting on her breakfast. The rest was silent, and as soon as Light was done he headed to the top of the stairs. "I'm going to clean my room a bit…." Light says, opening the door and stepping in before shutting and locking it behind him.

"Brother's so neat! Get it?" He heard Sayu say, giggling. He grabbed the Death Note before sitting on his bed. This was his job, even if his conscience disagreed with what he was doing. With all the evil people, wasn't he doing the world a favor? So what if he was killing in the process? Didn't it make up for that? He would just keep telling himself that until his guilty conscience left. That was all there was to do.

END

I know, not all that good, but it helps to write something else every now and then (for me anyway), plus I can practice writing something for Death Note (the only anime I have ever watched and only one I will ever watch). Who knows? I might write more (hopefully better and longer) Death Note stories. And, as always, your review would be great!

—Jane—