Death Note: Kira's Successor
--The human whose name is written in this note shall die.
--This note will not take effect unless the writer has the person's face in their mind when writing his/her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected.
Stage 1: The Note Returns
January, 2015
After the death of Kira, crime has reached an all time high. In many countries, criminals enforce terror into citizens. While Kira ruled, criminals were struck down until crime was virtually non-existent. With the risk gone, criminals now have nothing to fear since many police officers were in fact criminals themselves. They themselves have been caught by Kira's onslaught and the number of officers has decreased greatly, particularly in urban areas.
Shinigami World:
The Shinigami called Ivy peers down at the human world below. The bright windows of Manhattan, the neon lights of Tokyo, and the twilight shine of Paris.
The human world is such a beautiful place….Beautiful, yet corrupted.
The Shinigami turned, to face the desolate world that she resided in. A barren wasteland: pitiful when contrasted to the human world. Thick rain pelted on her cloak.
Beneath her: a large gaping portal to the Human World. The portal was currently reflecting a city known as "New York City". The residents of New York were also experiencing rain, however, their rain was thin and pleasant.
I don't think they will mind if I "drop in"…..
With those quick thoughts, Ivy slowly flies above the portal and quickly glides to the human world, three notebooks in a large bag held at her side.
Human World:
Serias Staefield, a rumored "genius" awakes in her room
Her bed and everything else neatly stuffed. A bookshelf aligns her right wall, and a computer desk on the left. In front of her bed is a small T.V. on a slightly bigger dresser.
A high school student, only 17, she is considered a "loner" and has powerful analyzing skills.
She leaves for school, after quickly swallowing cereal. Her little brother, Junis, and her mother, Siyusa greet her as she walks into the kitchen.
"Good morning." Siyusa says brightly.
Serias glowers: her mornings are anything but "good".
She quickly departs for school, the haven of idiocy.
She reads during lessons, ignoring the actual classes themselves; yet somehow still managing to complete assignments with excellent scores.
Walking home, the rain is now pelting her umbrella.
My father used to inspire me. He gave me a reason to live: to be just like him.
He was one of the top businessmen in his company; he worked for the greater good. He would never have allowed his employers to become corrupted. He always favored the environment rather then industrialization, always believed that the employees deserved the best.
But then Kira died…..And soon afterward, a year later, my father died.
My father's boss, Robert Mudirch: CEO of ListianCorp.
He reigned after Kira died. With Kira gone, corruption grew, once again. Robert Mudirch was no exception. He exploited his employees, including my father.
Then, Robert Mudirch fired my father. The ending blow. My father looked for a job…..but most companies were corrupted as well. Kira's death gave them a means to exploit their employees. My father, unable to find a job, invested all of our remaining money in his own life. He then died of a car crash a day later. My family received heavy bonuses from his insurance, and we now had a comfortable life. My mother was even able to follow her dream of becoming an author.
I have no doubt that he intentionally killed himself. His sacrifice was deeply felt most by my mother, who constantly thanked him in her sleep.
Robert Mudirch….The reason my father is dead.
As she walked, Serias turned, and saw Robert Mudirch's face on a building screen.
He was on the news: He was on trial for the corruption.
The news anchorwoman spoke with disinterest, "Robert Mudirch, the CEO of ListianCorp. will have his charges dropped due to an agreement in which he has promised to compensate the affected families with a bonus." As she said this, a figure on the screen walked towards the camera and waved: Robert Mudirch.
So this is a live broadcast.
Above Serias, the Shinigami Ivy was flying, holding a white notebook. Black ink on the cover showed the phrase "Death Note". The stark black strikes on the soft silvery white book created the effect of the black ink corrupting the pure book.
She stared in awe at the vast buildings below; humans unable to see her.
Staring down, Ivy immediately noticed a small problem with the crowded streets.
It's best if I drop this in a secluded area, where this book will not be trampled by vehicles…..
She looked at the streets below, a small park was nearby. Slowly, Ivy flowed directly above the park. Her cloak flowing with the wind, Ivy slowly pried her fingers from the notebook.
The white notebook glistened silver in the light as it fell, swaying slightly with current.
Serias, unfocused, stared at the floor as she prodded slowly.
Suddenly, a sparkle of light flashed behind her. She quickly turned and saw a silvery book fall: her mind slowed, and the notebook fell slowly, the rain slowing.
Suddenly the notebook landed with a soft thud, and instantly, the rain stopped.
Serias, wide eyed, stared at the notebook.
The book landed on moist grass, surely the owner must want this fancy notebook back.
But who was the owner? It just fell from above.
Serias glanced to her sides, nobody in sight, she peered at the notebook. The words
"Death Note" was etched into the cover, permanently.
She glanced to her sides again, and slowly, she extended her hand. She laid her hand on the notebook, the cover was smooth, yet had a feel that suggested it was extremely ancient.
She quickly grabbed the notebook and stared at the cover. The words on the cover transfixed her. The white notebook had a magical quality to it, unexplainable to Serias.
She suddenly opened the book, expecting an explosion, and gasped at the words on the inside cover.
-"The human whose name is written in this note shall die."
This can't be true. This notebook…..it can't really kill people….can it?!
Serias stared intently at the notebook.
This notebook has the power to kill?.....There are more rules……
-"This note will not take effect unless the writer has the person's face in their mind when writing his/her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected."
This is….certainly specific. A well thought out prank, at most.
-"If the cause of death is written within 40 seconds of writing the person's name, it will happen."
-"If the cause of death is not specified, the person will simply die of a heart attack."
-"After writing the cause of death, details of the death should be written in the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds."
This prank…..It's pretty elaborate. It seems similar to the way that Kira was able to kill people. Could it be…..the murder weapon of the Kira case?!
Serias jerkily smacks her forehead, just for even believing this for a second.
Of course this is a prank; it is illogical to even suggest that a notebook can kill someone just by a written name.
She violently throws the notebook, repulsed by it, and turns to leave. She quickly walks; the better to get away from the notebook. She almost leaves the small park when a sudden urge beckons her.
She turns, and glares at the notebook, a smirk on her face.
Just one try won't hurt.
In the Staefield apartment, Siyusa Staefield lies alone in her dimly lit room. Clutching a rectangular card, she is startled to hear the door being unlocked and creaking open. She swiftly emerges from the comfort of blankets and drops the card.
She greets her daughter with the usual statement of the lateness with which Serias arrives.
The saddened mother feigns a smile and decides to lounge in the living room, perhaps watch a soap opera.
The concerned daughter is not fooled and enters her mother's room. She sees the all-to-rare photograph of her father, the final picture taken before his suicide. It was labeled, "Farewell, my loves. This is for you." And was left beside his suicide note. The note was never shown to Serias or her brother, it was deemed to saddening by their mother.
Serias took a second glance at the photograph and exited. She was concerned, but she had a weapon to test.
Once in her room, she relaxes for a second, this may be one of her last rests.
She suddenly locks her door, opens her bag, and pulls out the pure white notebook. With a feeling of anxiousness and excitement, she opens the book. She passes the primary pages, past the rules, and stares at a blank page.
I need a name.....
The name Robert Mudirch seems the obvious candidate.
She slowly writes his full name.
Then she swiftly turns on her channel to Sakura TV News, which was now an almost worldwide channel due to the popularity of the Kira case; or rather due to the popularity of Kira himself.
The channel was still showing Robert Mudirch apologizing live.
Serias franticly glances at the time on the corner of the screen.
It's been 20 seconds since I wrote the name…..19…..18…..17…..
"….and with that, I can truly say that I am sorry for all the pain that may have occurred to these people, if in fact it did…..", 14…….13…...12….11…. "….a feeling of mutual forgiveness. Can the civilians do that for me?"
"Do that for you?!" Serias couldn't help but yell.
You deserve no pity, Mudirch, you should be punished. After the pain you cost, you want your victims to forgive you?
As the thoughts flew by in her head, Mudirch suddenly gagged and sprawled. He then quickly collapsed, dead.
Serias' heart freezes.
He's dead?.....I killed him. This notebook actually works. Yet somehow, I don't feel any pity for Mudirch. That must be because of the damage he caused my family.
The next day passed with ease. Serias convinced herself that the world was better without a person like Mudirch. But within her heart, Serias did not know whether murder was justified even if the victim was Mudirch……
But then again, Mudirch caused the lives of thousands of workers to be ruined. Certainly the death of one virus was fair if it prevented the ruining of many innocent lives. But there is a flaw. If the world were to be rid of corrupt people, that would take a brave person to judge hundreds, even thousands of criminals. Could I be that person?
Could I be.....Kira's Successor?