a/n: Obligatory Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note

While you wait for me to write the next chapters of Chambers and Illumination (because I've been a little behind...oops!) I've pulled this idea out of my writing folder to share. My muses have been bugging me about it for over a month now, so please let me know what you think with some feedback.

Cheers!
AF


The raven haired man walked slowly to the doors that led outside, watching as the last rays of the sun lit up the room in shades of orange and yellow. Bright and garish in comparison to the daytime hours. It's like the light is screaming its last breath as loudly as possible. He smirked as he reached the French doors and traced the warm glass with a long elegant finger.

What morbid thoughts I have. He let out a huff of laughter and grasped the handle, exiting onto the patio. His bare feet padded softly along on the concrete as he made his way to the railing, leaning against it as he soaked in the fading heat. The man's large, charcoal hued eyes took in everything and gave nothing away as he gazed across the massive lawn before him, stretching for acres. He shifted restlessly, the last of the sun's illuminating presence disappearing beneath the horizon.

The man stretched his arms above his head and yawned. The long sleeved white tee he wore rose up to expose the pale, but deceptively toned and muscular body he hid beneath his baggy clothing. He smiled wistfully as he gazed straight up at the moon that seemed to grow more prominent by the second as darkness descended. He took a deep breath of the swiftly cooling night air and let it out with a sigh.

Turning around to head inside again, he was already picking up on the voices of the dead as they began to swirl and gather about him, pestering and pleading, calling for help, offering help… The raven rolled his eyes in annoyance and muttered an incantation, silencing them all immediately as he closed the door behind him.

The dead could be helpful, of course, of that there was no question. There were few such as himself, born with the innate gift to control creatures of death magic, not just the dead themselves. There were even fewer still who managed not to go completely mad over time or start to abuse their ability for truly despicable purposes.

L Lawliet was rare indeed amongst his kind, a mage exceedingly talented in death magic who practiced necromancy in its many forms. He used his gift to solve difficult criminal cases around the world and ensure punishment was meted out fairly to those who would deserve it, finding justice for their victims.

The police and criminals alike called him things like Detective Death, trying to make a joke of it. However, it was often uttered along with a colorful curse word, always wary of the man who watched from the shadows. That's what the helpful spirits he spoke with regularly reported back to him at least.

No one knew L's face, how old he was, where he lived. He was a bit of a bogey man for criminals and crooked cops alike, which suited his purposes just fine.

He's always found fear was a powerful tool for motivating others.

So many of them feared death.

L let out a snort of laughter at the thought and set about preparing a cup of tea. If they only knew...

There were much greater things to fear than death. L embraced death every single day. It was a constant companion, a piece of him.

There are creatures that will do worse than kill you. He thought with a dark smile as he stirred sugar cube after sugar cube into his beverage before deeming it worthy of consumption.

"Yes, Quillish?" L asked in a drawling monotone that always managed to convey an attitude of utter boredom to those around him. To be truthful, he usually was and had no desire to hide it. There was little to challenge him these days it seemed. His eyes traveled to the doorway where the white haired figure stood, a grave expression on his face.

"There's been a development in Japan…an Angelus Mortis has been detected."

L's breath caught in equal parts excitement and alarm. "How long has it been since anyone's seen one? At least a hundred years, correct?"

The older gentleman nodded solemnly. "Give or take, yes."

"Have they found it?" L set his tea down on the counter, leaning back on the cool granite as he faced Quillish. "Do they know if it's killed yet?" His voice darkened, eyes narrowing. "You remember what happened last time one of these-"

"No, they don't believe so. The local mages in Tokyo felt the power manifest only yesterday. It's likely a youth, coming of age-"

"They should find it and kill it…immediately." L muttered, cutting him off and picking up his tea again, taking a sip. As much as I'd like to see one, it just isn't safe.

"The Japanese government would like you to locate and…contain it. In whatever manner you deem appropriate after assessing the situation. They know that you are probably the only one who could actually subdue a creature with such potent death magic, even if it is a fledgling."

I can think of one other who might be able… L raised an eyebrow at Quillish as if to say as much. We certainly don't want it in his hands. The mage fought back a shudder at the thought.

L sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he considered the situation. The raven tried to pretend that his ego was not flattered from their assessment of his skills and talents, but he had to admit, it was always nice to have it confirmed that others would be completely screwed if not for your assistance. He looked at the older gentleman once more and smirked.

"Get the plane ready to leave within the next couple of hours for Japan."

xxx

The brunet staggered in the alley and fell to his knees. "Get up…" He muttered to himself, swallowing down the bile that threatened to make an appearance. You're not weak…this changes nothing. If anything, it only makes you stronger.

Light Yagami's eyes flashed a molten gold in the dark, yet another sign of his growing power. He shut them tightly, willing himself to calm down. The pools of rich, amber hued light were like beacons that would reach out to call others to him like a siren song if he wasn't careful. He was a beautiful trap, deadly, tempting…

Evil… A voice in the back of his mind whispered.

No…no…no…I'm not evil! I'm not… He forced himself to take a couple of deep breaths and could tell that when he opened his eyes, they were no longer glowing. If his suspicions were correct regarding the power that had begun to awaken in him, there would only be further signs that he was…

"An Angelus Mortis…" He murmured thoughtfully, feeling steady enough now to pick up his bag and brush himself off before heading towards the street once more. The young man knew he had to think practically. He probably only had a few days, if that before they'd send people after him. Light knew how this worked with those who came naturally into powers such as these, his Father was a police officer for godsake. He'd hacked into the NPA database and seen the files. The cases of them having to 'takedown' or 'contain' an entity that was deemed 'too volatile' or 'dangerous' to be allowed to roam free in public.

The last time anyone saw an Angelus Mortis… Light shuddered, remembering what little he'd read in history books for class. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt people. I need to learn as much as possible, fast…and determine if I really am one...

His top priority had to be finding a way to mask himself. How am I going to make myself invisible with this much power thrumming through my veins? He questioned, narrowing his eyes with determination at the challenge posed. If I can just figure that out, it'll buy me some time to get the rest of it under control. Maybe even learn how to defend myself and most importantly, prove I'm not a threat.

I wonder if they'll send him… Light's eyes widening at the thought. He was pretty sure he'd caught a taste of L's power a couple years ago when the detective had come to Japan to help with a case that the NPA was having great difficulty with. His father, the Chief of the NPA had barely been home during the months prior as the search for a serial killer targeting young women in the Kanto region continued.

As Light thought back on it now, he had to question the ease with which he'd always been able to sense death magic compared to others who it didn't even register with. How many times had he seen a shadow or figure out of the corner of his eye, only to look again and find nothing there.

He shivered in the night air as he recalled the cool wave that washed over him that night as he slept, bringing with it a pair of dark charcoal hued pools that threatened to drown him in their depths. The presence had paused curiously as it passed by before quickly moving on. It had given off the sense of being a predator deciding that the prey it had happened upon was not to its standard and that it was looking for something much juicier to sink its teeth into.

Light had woken up in a cold sweat and couldn't fall back to sleep that night. He knew his father was at work, but he sat up listening for his mother and sister. It soon became apparent that they had slept through whatever that was and the brunet started to wonder if it had all been a dream.

The next day, when no one else seemed to have noticed the jolting event or mentioned it at school, he figured it must have been a dream. But those eyes…

The only reason he finally knew he wasn't going crazy was because that same night his father was home, for the first time in a month he was there on time for dinner and in a wonderful mood. The NPA Chief told them about how they'd finally wrapped up the case the night before by bringing in a Detective named L, a Necromancer who had used his power to reach out far and wide across the city to finally locate the killer.

'Well that explains it, kind of…' He had mumbled to himself at the time. Satisfied for the moment that he wasn't going nuts and that the incident had really happened.

Light was curious as to whether his body had been able to recognize the mage's death magic, even before this new power had begun to truly manifest in him. After all, it would be an inherent part of him, even if it was dormant until now.

One problem at a time I suppose. I'll deal with the detective if and when he makes an appearance. But first…who do I know who's good at cloaking magic and hiding in plain sight-

Light grinned as he pulled out his phone, increasing his pace as he moved along the sidewalk. He dialed the number of an acquaintance who he knew was able to apply protections and shields that made him appear to have disappeared into thin air. On most occasions it's annoying as fuck, but in this case…

*ring ring*

"What do you need Light-o?"


Feedback my lovely readers?

What do we think of this one...really curious to get your thoughts on it.

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