Deathnote: Return
One note: I will return to Heartsbond when Soucon's Search ends in April. I'm nearly done with 40. Nankurunaisa! No need to worry, nope. In the meantime I will express the belief that given his manner of dress, all that smexy black leather, there is /no/ way that Mello can be straight. And the scariest thing about Light is that we share the same birth year and Eastern Zodiac sign, the fire tiger. XD
If you like this, review and I'll find some fashion in which to continue. I have this profile for Light as an Arrancar that I would /love/ an excuse to use!!
"Pierce Darkness, spawn chaos, Kuroifletcha!!"
Introduction: Disatisfaction
I was completely unsatisfied when the ending of Deathnote was spoiled for me by the guide in volume 13: How to Read. I mean, Light dies, L dies, Misa commits suicide, why? What's the point if there's nothing for any of them after. There can't be a sequel because all the characters are dead. What happened to them all?
One rule is true, when writing crossovers, making one series the past of the other is not a crime, in fact its one of the most often overlooked methods of crossing two series. For example, make Inu-Yasha the past of Ghost in the Shell. You have the chance to show a lot of conflict and drama.
I wanted to bring something out of it, have it come out of the ashes. Light is an antichrist character, it was said that the Antichrist would end his reign in the year 2012. From his ashes a new world would be born.
Then you have Bleach, Bleach couldn't be more different in its approach to death than Deathnote. Both have shinigami. But those who have used a Deathnote can neither go to heaven nor hell for all eternity. And the line "The person whose name is written in this notebook shall die" sets the tone for the entire series.
Soul Society isn't heaven, after all, Aizen talked about ascending to heaven, and his whole goal is to do so and commit regicide to the shinigami royalty.
Hueco Mundo isn't hell. After all, the hollows who committed crimes in their lifetime go to Hell when slain.
No, Soul Society is Summerland, Elysia, and Hueco Mundo is purgatory.
So where would Light and Misa go?
L is dead, so is Mello, but I find it highly unlikely that either would let it all end there. L is too curious. He'd hear about Soul Society from the shinigami who konso'd him. And he'd want to learn everything there was. Mello is too aggressive to give up. And then there's Near, who, when he gets over his introspective nature and comes out of his shell, would, upon his death, likely end up in the Seireitei as well. No, the Journey isn't over for this trio either.
So what happened to everybody?
Dunno, so lets find out!!
The characters deaths are in ascending order from least important (Matsuda) to most important (Light). So everything /is/ out of order.
Requiem
What happened? Poor Matsuda, the least appreciated of the former Kira task force. A lot of them were still alive. Or at least were. But as years after the Kira darkness had broken into dawn blew past, more and more of them died, as if Kira's death had cursed all involved in the case.
So Matsuda's ghost walked the streets of Tokyo in the rain. He had no idea what he was supposed to do. He just had this chain hanging from his chest, its purpose was obvious, it had connected his soul to his body. You don't need it anymore if you're dead.
It was dark, and after his first encounter with the masked monsters that ate human souls, Matsuda was leery. He didn't want to meet another. And there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to their appearance, powers or actions. One of the few ghosts he had found said that he should be careful. They were hollows, and only a Quincy or a Shinigami could kill one. The ghost had held up a cross that was apparently a Quincy artifact, but explained that since he'd died he couldn't use it.
So what did he do if he was hit by one in the middle of the night?
A giggle startled him out of his depression. "Hehehehe……. Why so down mister?"
A girl with big blue eyes and bright pink hair had suddenly started bouncing along behind him. She was wearing a black kimono and hakama, an armband with some kind of military insignia, and carried a sword. One that was not only as big as she was, it had wheels on the end of the sheath.
"Huh, when did you show up?" At least he had company in his death.
"Oh, I've been here awhile, but you looked so lost in thought that I didn't want to interrupt, and then when you'd been thinking long enough I thought your head was gonna splode!"
"Uuuuu……."
"I'm Yachiru Kusajishi! I'm the lieutenant for Shinigami Eleventh Division."
"Sh…….sh……. SHINIGAMI??" Matsuda turned to run but Yachiru jumped happily on his back. "HEY, GET OFF, LEAVE ME ALONE!!"
"No can do, the Sotaisho said that I had to take you in. All the k….. the k….. oh what was his name again? OH YEAH! All the Kira detectives were to be brought in only by a Captain or Lieutenant Shinigami."
"Brought………. Brought in where?" Matsuda sputtered.
"To the Soul Society silly." Yachiru patted his shoulder. "What's your name anyway?"
"Matsuda……. I was…….."
"Okay then Matsu Matsu! I was told to Konso you right away. Hold still now!!" Matsuda ducked out of the way of a sword pommel that would have not only Konso'd him but knocked him flat too!
"W…….. w…… wait!! Konso what?? To WHERE??"
"Oh for pete's sake." Something or someone, another female voice, yanked Yachiru off of Matsuda's head. "Sorry about that. Commander General Yamamoto was wondering what was taking her so long. Given that Kusajishi is a shinigami of little brain he sent me to come make sure she was doing her job /properly./"
There was a pause. "GLASSES!!" Yachiru jumped from head to head. "Did you come to Konso Matsu Matsu too! But /IIIIIIIIIII/ found him /fiiiiirst/!!"
"I came to keep you from traumatizing him." Nanao dropped Yachiru on her butt.
"Aaaaw, glasses you're no fun!"
"Ummmmm………. Can you tell me what she was talking about?"
"Oh…….. well that is my job. I'm Ise Nanao, Lieutenant of Shinigami Division Eight. My taichou was sleeping, so I came on my own to help." Nanao sighed. "We live in a place called Soul Society. Its where a majority of human spirits go when they die. There are two kinds of shinigami. Since you've been on the hunt for another kind years ago, well, there are two kinds. The first, Nikkisasshi, exist to end human lives. The second, Seishoken like myself exist to bring humans to the afterlife. Seishoken shinigami live in a fortress known as the Seireitei, and are organized into thirteen separate divisions, each with a purpose or specialty. Each division has a Captain, a Lieutenant, and twenty or so seats. I'm the Lieutenant for Eighth, and Yachiru is the Lieutenant for Eleventh." Nanao explained. "The spell to send a soul to Soul Society is called a Konso. But I can only do so if you want to go."
Matsuda looked around reluctantly.
"Look around Matsuda. The world will recover from Kira's rampage, but that will be a long time from now. For now its in ruins. Find some kind of happiness, start over……." Nanao extended a delicate hand, her slender zanpakuto in her other.
"I…….. I guess I have no where else that I can go. Alright…….." He gulped, taking Nanao's hand and moving within range of her zanpakuto.
"There we go." Nanao planted the Konso stamp on Matsuda's head. "Rest well young Matsuda."
"Bye Matsu Matsu!! I'll see you in Soul Society!" Yachiru waved. "Don't forget to visit!!"
"What the hell am I doing here? I'm pathetic." A depressed Aizawa was slumped beneath an awning in the market.
"Hmmm? Whatchoo so depressed about?" A man, empty bamboo drink bottle in hand, was suddenly hanging upside down from the awning on level with his face.
"AAAAH, who are you??"
"Aaaaaaah, good question!" He dropped from the awning. "I'm Kaien Shiba, Lieutenant for the Shinigami 13th Division!!"
Aizawa's eyes shot wide. "Ashi ashi……."
"Do you need a tissue?"
"WHAA??"
"Well you were saying 'Ashi, Ashi,' were you going to sneeze?" Kaien asked cheerfully.
"NO. But just…….. a shinigami…….. a reaper?"
"Aaaah, we're not as bad as we sound!" Kaien said cheerfully. "Have a drink!" He offered a spare bamboo bottle. "Its just water, but if you're out in the field nothing's better! Now what's got you so upset?"
Aizawa, poor fro, then caught sight of a mother/daughter pair walking through the market district. The falling expression on his face was enough to tell Kaien what was wrong.
"Aaaaaaah, a pretty lady is that it?"
"Yes…….." That wasn't just sad, it was pathetic.
"Let me tell you a story, starting from my captain, one of the wisest shinigami in soul society." Kaien plunked himself down while the former policeman warily sipped at the water. "My captain, his view on combat is that there are two battles, fights for life, and fights for pride. But my view is that there's a third kind. A battle for the heart. Humans think of the heart as an organ, it keeps blood pumping and anchors the soul to the body, but when life is gone that organ turns to dust, ashes, it becomes part of the Earth. Where are our hearts then? I wanted to know so bad, and when I married the love of my life, Miyako, I discovered the answer. When two people meet a bond is formed between them, for better or for worse. Friends, enemies, loved ones, we leave a piece of ourselves behind with them."
"When the Kira case ended, the dead offered their hearts to the living. I know you were in on it, we were told to keep an especial eye on those involved." Kaien thought for a moment. "So you see, you are free to move on, leave your heart with your loved ones. They will take care of it until you are born again." Kaien said softly.
"Is that why you came? To send me to the next life?" The former detective was completely and totally bitter.
"Aaaaah, its not that bad. The Soul Society is woods, and fields, and the Rukongai is always an interesting place. And if you decide, in the future, to become a shinigami like me………" There was a very angry glare in Kaien's direction. "……… well, maybe not. Can't blame a guy for trying. Its always sunny and green and warm. There's no hunger or disease, though there /is/ food for those who wish to enjoy it. It's a wonderful place. Especially for one whose world crashed down."
"I never thought what I'd do, just knew that I was dead and what was I going to do now?" A pause. "How do I go?"
"Hmmm? To the Soul Society?" Kaien's smile spread into a grin. "I send you with a Konso, it's a special seal, I just stamp you with the pommel of my zanpakuto and away you go." Kaien said airily.
"I……" He had tears in his eyes. Aizawa missed his family, but he was dead? What could he do?
"Your heart is with them, you can safely leave it in this world." Kaien urged gently. "There will be another life, another time, to live again. But for now."
"Yes……." The shimmer of light marked to other spirits in the area, that a konso had taken place. A saddened butterfly fluttered away on the breeze.
Unlike the two roaming detectives who would pass after, Soichiro had taken up a position outside his former home and /stayed/ there. He had to, he was kinda……… chained there like some sort of conservatively dressed Jacob Marley. Light had only returned twice. He sat, listless and depressed, Earthbound spirits often can't leave what they love behind, it makes them melancholy.
"I'm a failure, as a father, as a detective…….."
The female figure walking nimbly out of the darkness tsked. "Do you really think that?" The female spirit who'd walked from the darkness was quiet, wearing a black and white kimono with an open back and sleeves. A badge on her right shoulder had some kind of insignia on it. Her hair was cut, except for two long, ribbon wrapped pigtails. She wore a short sword behind her, as well as a bag.
"Who are you?"
"Lieutenant Fong, from the Shinigami 2nd Division. My captain had business to attend to, and Chojiro-san wanted to come, but I told him I could meet you alone."
"For what?"
"My superiors have also been following the Kira case, we are helpless to act, but the order went out. Should any member of the anti-Kira task force die, we are to make sure they make it safely to the next world if they wish."
"You mean the afterlife?"
"Yes. Its not that bad actually. Its always temperate, I don't think there's ever been a snowstorm. You don't get hungry, thirsty though, there's forests and mountains if you're the outdoors type. The Rukongai is the main city with the fortress where the shinigami live in the middle, called Seireitei. I'm the lieutenant for the second division, and we're one of the strictest divisions out there, though my Captain's a bit……. Well…… she's the best." Soi Fong blushed. "I was brought up in a stern household, and from what I've read, you weren't such a bad captain at all. Nor was what's happened to your son your fault. Fate will fall where it is, whether its blade or brush. The measure of a leader is how you pick up the pieces and make them whole again. Or that's what I think."
"I don't know what to think….. after…….."
"Listen to me…….. and what I have to say is not nice, but you need to know what will happen. You are, at this moment, an earthbound spirit. Your regrets in life have smothered you in chains like the Jacob Marley of your Earth literature. If you can allow yourself to move on, I can send you on. But if you don't go somewhere, you will become a creature worse than the worst demon you can imagine. Either a Hollow will come along and eat you, or over months that chain will rot and you yourself will become a hollow. A hollow is a monster, a lost soul that hungers to eat other souls, living or dead. Because you are so close to your house, and hollows often attack their loved ones out of anguish at their loss, your family will likely be your first victims."
The man paled. "no…….."
Soichiro, even after all of this, still loved his family. That was what had chained him there. And even in death, he would protect them, even if it meant he had to leave.
"If I send you to the Soul Society, where I live, and its not that bad a place, then you won't change at all. You'd live there, and then be reborn as a human."
"I see…….."
"I have heard your name, Soichiro Yagami. Your devotion was incredible, honorable." Soi drew her blade, and knelt on one knee. "Yagami-taicho, I offer you my condolences. You were honorable and loyal and kind, rest and be comforted, healed, in the next life." She carefully stamped the konso on the saddened human captain's head.
The last thing on Soichiro's face before the man's form shimmered away was a tear. Forgive me……… Light. And another spirit disappeared.
Mello screamed in rage. He'd been attacked by a Hollow. "Hehhehheh……. Little rabbit, that wonderful rage and hatred smells delicious. I can't wait to eat you up!"
Mello quivered, nursing a gash on his left arm. "Go to hell……." He growled.
"YOU FIRST!!" The Hollow, a bull/lion shaped one with a nasty set of fangs on it, charged.
Mello leapt out of the way. Suddenly, "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!" There was a flash of pink and straw hat.
The hollow was suddenly dissolving with a roar of outrage. Suddenly the world began to tremble. A massive gate with two blindfolded skulls rose from the ground. The pink blur suddenly snatched Mello up and only stopped about fifty yards away.
"NO, NO LET ME GO!!" The Hollow growled. "LET……. Leave me alone!"
Mello got a good look over the shoulder of the man who'd just saved him. The hollow was being hauled into the gate, mask gone but a human face visible. The creature was roaring in outrage at being denied a kill.
The normally cocky boy was shaking like a leaf when the man set him down. "There, you'll be alright." He stood up straight, looking back at where the skeletal gates were fading away. "I heard there was a nasty one in the area, but I didn't think he was bad enough to merit the gates."
"Who……. Who are you?" Mello was forcing his body to stop trembling, replacing his terrified expression with a glare in short order.
"My names Shunsui, Shunsui Kyoraku. I was sent to come get you. Heard you'd been in a doozy of an accident. We didn't think that any of the other Wammy kids would get themselves killed. I got sent out to look for you."
"What…….. was that thing?"
"Its called a Hollow. We've had far too many of them bound for the gates of hell lately. See, Kira's victims are slowly turning into them. And while most hollows are reincarnated as humans again when slain, those who have committed a capitol crime are sent through the gates of hell." Kyoraku shook his head. "I'm captain of the eighth shinigami division by the way. One of the three oldest. I was asked to send you on to the Soul Society."
"The…. Where? Wait, I used part of that……"
"What? The can't go to Heaven or Hell rule? That's so cryptic that its stupid. The Soul Society, and the realm of the Hollows known as Hueco Mundo are both purgatories. Only shinigami royalty are up in heaven, its their sanctuary. And as for Hell, well, those gates would have found you pretty hard to grab." Kyoraku sighed. "On the other hand, I can only send you to Soul Society if you want to go."
"Give me a chance to get my bearings first." Mello snapped. He was still breathing heavily, pressing the wound on his arm.
"You're bleeding."
"Its nothing!" Mello declared.
"Like hell its nothing." Kyoraku's hand started to glow, and he carefully pressed it to the wound.
"WH……. What did you just do?" The wound was no longer there, gone, replaced by clean skin.
"Its called a Kidou. It's a special kind of magic only shinigami can do."
"Actual, real magic? Show me how!" The demand would have offended Kuchiki-taichou, but not Shunsui. In fact, he had an idea. This fellow would be perfect in Kenpachi's division!
Kyoraku scratched his head. "I can't teach you how, but your spiritual pressure is pretty high. I'll tell you a secret then. In eight months time, the shinigami academy's holding its entrance exams. If you study and work hard for eight months, perhaps you can try for it. I can't guarantee anything, but it gives you something to do!"
"Sounds good, but……. I had a question."
"You're probably wondering why the shinigami you met looks like a monster and I look human."
"Yeah." Mello growled. "That's just the start of it."
"Well, its because there are two kinds of shinigami. The kind you met /ends/ human lives, and the kind that I am brings human spirits to the afterlife and slays hollows."
"I see." Mello kinda did. If there were different species of birds and breeds of cats, there had to be more than one kind of shinigami.
"Well, have you gotten your bearings yet?"
"One more question."
"Shoot."
"What do I do when I get there?"
"You'll be sent to the Rukongai, it's the city of the dead in the Soul Society. It looks kinda like old Edo. You really can go wherever you want, except for the Seireitei. That's where shinigami live. There's woods, forests, fields, mountains, everything outside the rukongai. And since you don't get hungry or sick there's no need to worry about food. Just water and shelter."
A plan was forming in Mello's mind. He didn't want to be stuck in a city. He'd always been more than happy to run around outside, and he'd always wanted to see how far into the wilderness he could get, he was tired of the dreary dirt of the city. And after meeting Sidoh, Mello had realized that he no longer saw the world the way a human did. And after all, he'd been brought up in a city. It was logical for Mello to shift gears and go the path he'd never seen, simply on the principle that he was capricious and contrary.
It wouldn't be that bad.
Maybe he'd see Matt again.
Mello nodded glumly. "I'm ready to go. I have somebody I'm going to look for there."
"Well, I can't guarantee you'll find him."
"I….. I loved him, I know I will. I have no doubt he'll wait for me."
"You sound like my koibito Jyoushiro." Chuckled Shunsui. "Alright Mello, have you made your decision?"
For the first time in his young life, Mello was content. A sense of peace suddenly filled him up. And for the first time, in what seemed like forever, he could stop being Mello, the number 2 candidate for a title he never really wanted in the first place. He could just be…….. "Its Mihael."
"Hmmm?"
"Call me by my name, now that I am dead. Its Mihael Keehl." Mello said quietly. "I……. haven't been called by my name in an eternity, please use it."
"Alright Mihael, are you ready to go?" Shunsui Kyoraku repeated the question.
"Yes, Kyoraku-taichou. I'll see you in eight month's time."
"I don't doubt I will. Then away you go!" Shunsui Kyoraku carefully stamped the Konso on Mello's head.
Wait for me Matt, I'm coming back to you! Mello cried silently.
The form of the human formerly known as Mello dissolved from this earth.
"Oooooh boy, I'd have thought a detective would try to seek us out!" Ukitake muttered. "If it weren't for the haunted toystore rumor I'd never have known where to look, but it seems his friend Lawliet was right." Ukitake slipped into the now closed toystore. "I just hope a hollow doesn't get to him first. I swear, all of Quilish's charges have a penchant for trouble!"
"Oyeeeee! Little one!" Ukitake walked through the aisles of a traditional toystore. There wasn't an electronic device in sight. They were all wood, or cardboard. There were shelves of tin figures and sets for chess and mancala and go. Decks of playing cards with ornamental backings and faces were displayed in cases. There were even blocks, and rocking horses, craft kits and dolls. "It's a maze in here……. When Lawliet said he was a loner, I didn't think he meant a recluse."
There was a clatter, soft footsteps fleeing. "OYE!! Wait a moment!!" Ukitake started to run, but he began to wheeze. "Damn, if I start running now I'll start coughing again." He straightened up. "I have to show Shunsui I can fend for myself." He dug into a pouch for one of the lozenges Unohana had mixed up for him. Sucking on the soothing coolness of the sweet for a moment, Ukitake felt around him for any sign of his target. "How could one kid hide so well? He's surpressed his riatsu better than most officers!"
There was a soft sniffle, the far end of the store! In the storerooms! There was a back room, a passage not used anymore. Ukitake could barely slip in. "Hello?"
There was another quiet sob. Ukitake slipped into the passage that Near had adopted as a hiding place. "Hello?"
"G'way."
Near had found enough spare portable lights, and even a pair small candles with three lights set in a tin. Ukitake remembered the report. Nanao had been on patrol, using a gigai to interact with the humans and hear their talk.
Flashback
Nanao neared the toystore where a group of the employees were gathered near the door. A woman in a miko's uniform was listening to their fearful complaints.
"I saw it plain as day Nerika! A little boy with snow white hair! He looked at me, then ran off!"
"You say it was a ghost?"
"yes!"
"Akizura, you have a high level of spirit energy, that may be the reason why you were the only one who saw him."
"He looked bitter, if glares could kill!"
"I will see what I can do."
"A ghost you say?" Nanao asked. Nerika was somebody she knew, human monks and mikos could recognize her people on sight, even if they didn't yet realize that she was a shinigami not a human ghost.
Nerika turned, pinning Nanao with a stare. "Aaaaaah, Ise, do come and listen to these men whine. I'll tell you what happened."
"I'd be very interested in hearing about this ghost you can't handle Nerika."
"They say that he's a lad with white hair, and a distrustful expression, like a once loyal dog that's been beaten too many times." The Miko replied. "They wished me to find some way of soothing him."
"I see……"
"Nanao, tonight will you help me leave the child some offerings?"
"Yes."
"I'll see you tonight then."
Dusk gathered, and Nanao followed Nerika into the toystore. There was one child from Wammy house that was unaccounted for. The littlest one, Near, the one who'd finished off Kira. They said that every case Near had solved had torn more life and cheer from his spirit, then his health began to fail, and soon the only remaining child of Wammy house passed away from the anguish left over from seeing his friends and loved ones and comrades die fighting Kira, only for him to survive. They say that Near had lost the will to live, wishing only to join his comrades in death.
Nanao had dressed in the ceremonial kimono that Nerika had lent her. Taking the incense censor that she was given, as well as a candle with three wicks, poured into a tea tin, the small hinged kind, for ease of carrying and use. Nanao bowed her head as she walked the aisle.
Nerika's rituals were very free form, meant to soothe restless spirits and comfort them. But if this was, as Nanao expected, the final child from Wammy's house to fall, then it would take a /lot/ to make the elusive one come to any shinigami.
Nanao heard rustling to her right, a flash of someone running away. She called out softly.
"Into the fire
I must have no fear
And fight with an aim so true
Don't you despair
I must pay the price
My strength will live on through you."
The footsteps halted, then slowed. Nanao kept calling out softly in the darkness, she'd ask taichou to come help her later if he wasn't asleep.
"Into the fire I'm burning
I will give all that I have to give
Don't be afraid of the darkest hour
I'll shine for you."
Nanao caught the first glimpse, snow white hair, a boyish face, just as that Lawliet boy Captain Urahara thought so highly of had said.
Then Near ran, Nanao found the tiny passageway at the back of the storeroom, but she couldn't get in in the kimono she was wearing. Nanao finished her dirge, she and Nerika leaving the tiny candles at the edge of the passage way.
"Do you think, that did anything Ise?"
"I don't know, I saw him, but he ran away. Don't worry Nerika, I know somebody who can come help him."
end flashback
The sight of the set up Near had put together all but broke Ukitake's heart. Near had been in his late teens when he'd died, but Near was back, at last, to the form of the child he had wanted to be again so bad.
He was repeating the dirge Nanao had sung during the blessing.
"Into the fire I perish
I have carried my soul so far
Cherish my memory
Bright and clear
I'll shine on for you"
The two candles burned a lonely light, obviously a comfort to the little one. And Ukitake gasped, Near had a puzzle upon which three, shadowy figures had been drawn, one male, one female, and one child, with no discerning features on either. A big stuffed toy dog had been added to the collection Near had amassed, big enough to be a pillow.
Near batted at tears threatening to spill from his eyes. And then Ukitake saw what had him so sad.
Tiny finger puppets, three of them, little likenesses of L, Mello, and Watari, the three tiny figures had been so lovingly made, it showed how badly the little one missed them.
"You can see them again." Ukitake said quietly.
Near whirled around, falling back against the stuffed dog in the cramped space. "Who…… who are you?"
"I'm Ukitake….. Lawliet, and Mihael, they sent me to come get you."
"Are you an angel?" Near sniffled.
"No, simply a gentler kind of shinigami." Ukitake said quietly. He felt the itch that meant he probably had only a few hours before another attack came on. A soft cough had Ukitake's sleeve flying to his mouth. "Sorry, its dusty in here."
"You're sick."
"Well….. I have been for quite awhile."
"I didn't know shinigami got sick."
"aaaaaah, well, our Nikkisashi cousins don't. But a seishoken like myself will live forever, provided we don't die of illness or injury." Ukitake explained.
"Oh."
"Little one, you can't stay here forever."
"Please just let me be." Near said quietly. "It hurts too much, to even think about it. And its cold, too cold."
"Here….." Ukitake carefully draped his haori over Near's shoulders. "Heeeey, you look in awefully bad shape."
"The puppets….." Near protested as Ukitake tried to help him up.
"Take them with you." Ukitake offered. "I can wait for you to gather up your things."
Near started to shake. Ukitake realized that Near was in worse shape than he thought. He was /going/ to konso him and tell him to meet himself and Lawliet and Mihael at the entrance to the Seireitei, Mell... well, Mihael had recently graduated into the eleventh division. Kenpachi was seriously considering grooming him for a seated position. Lawliet had risen quickly to the fourth seat division in the twelfth. But in the shape he was in, if he landed in the wrong part of the rukongai, Near would be eaten alive.
Ukitake watched as Near gathered up the three puppets, shoving them into his pocket. Snap, snap, the two candles were closed, their lights snuffed out, and they entered his pockets as well.
"Where are you taking me?" Near asked, as he wormed his way out behind Ukitake, the haori draped over his shoulders.
"I'm taking you to Unohana-taichou, she's the head of our medical unit. You look like you could use the peace and quiet of the fourth about now."
"I want to see them again, please." Near begged quietly, clasping the haori closed over his body.
"I'll send a message ahead telling your friends to meet us at the 4th, even if you say you don't need it, I'm going to need attention myself soon." Ukitake started wheezing again.
"Don't get sick on me now," Near said quietly. "Please, take me to them."
Ukitake looped an arm over Near's shoulders, quietly steering the young one out of the store. Ukitake took out his cellphone. "Lawliet, I've found Near."
"Have you konso'd him?"
"If I konso'd him, the emotional state he's in he'd be mangled by the time he came out of the rukongai."
"Is Near-kun injured?"
"Just in spirit, he's fatigued, grief stricken and cold. I'm taking him to the 4th division to rest, and I'll need Unohana-taichou myself soon."
"Understood, Mihael and I are enroute." The line was cut rather rudely. Was Lawliet Eru-san annoyed a little?
Near handed Ukitake back his haori, but as the Senkaimon gates rose up, Ukitake wrapped an arm and his haori around the young Near, ready to pick him up if he faltered. He could feel that at this point, Near was fatigued enough he might stumble midway through. How had such a vibrant personality been reduced to depression so quickly?
"Well, here's the senkaimon. Stay close Near, don't look back and don't stop."
"Don't look back, don't stop." Near repeated dully. "take me to them, take me home."
The next day, when Nerika found the puzzle of a family with a boy wrapped in their arms, she knew what the little boy spirit haunting her friend's store had wanted.
He just wanted a family, and a home.
One L Lawliet was dead, yes, but that did not stop the insatiable former detective from wandering around. After all, he was dead, but he was still thinking, did the world look any different?
He'd been wandering from neigh unto a month, and while the lack of sweets was annoying, the abundance of new information was enough to keep him engaged.
His first question was this, there had to be something after death besides wandering the Earth.
Well, there were many answers to that. The shinigami came to get you. That was the general consensus among the other ghosts he met. So where did you find a shinigami?
You didn't. They found you. Their patrols were sent to 'konso' spirits at random. If they found you, props to you. There was a whole afterlife ahead of you.
L didn't want to meet a shinigami just yet. He heard rumors that interested him.
For example, Kira's victims, as they piled up, were becoming Hollows. There was very little lean time in between. Usually it took months one of the older Pluses had said. But these were becoming hollows in a matter of weeks. The /overload/ had all the shinigami stressed, and rumor had it that these "Kira Hollows" were super strong. Far stronger than was normal. L had better watch out.
Okay, so what was changing the Kira hollows? What about Kira's power was turning them that way?
And then L actually met a hollow. It was a small one, new. L was barely able to get away. He'd used a capoeira kick to knock it dazed before making a run for it.
It was dark, L had simply walked in a straight line, as he'd been doing for the past month.
But this night, this night a man was walking in the opposite direction, towards him. L paused, eyes watching the oncoming figure. L had developed an uncanny ability to sense the presence of those in his immediate vicinity. What else was he to do? There were all those hollows in the area. The only way to survive was to learn how to sense spirits and avoid them.
He'd noticed something also, his kicks and punches were getting faster. Once, when he'd had to use one, he actually noticed a flash of light follow his strike, almost like lightning crackling the air.
The oncoming figure wore geta, the clack of wood was obvious. He wore a long lab coat behind him, with an odd black and white patterned boarder. Underneath, the man wore a black and white hakama and kimono. He carried a sword. His face was sorta, well, he definitely had a five o clock shadow. He had pale blonde hair that flopped and stuck out every which way. His eyes were sparkling, but they looked kind of like……. His expression reminded L a little of himself.
He drew up close to L, and spoke. "Are, are, they weren't kidding when they said the famous L was hard to find." He said with an almost mocking grin.
"You know who I am, why are you here?"
"aaaah, but I think you've already heard of the shinigami. I hear you've been asking around about us."
"If I wanted to be found just yet, I would have let you find me." L stated. "Though now that I think about it, I'd like to know how you found me anyway."
"aaaaah, I'm hurt! Especially……… with that spirit pressure you've been building up. I'd have to have been blind and deaf! And even Tousen-taichou can see without his eyes. You must have been fighting a great deal, in order to have built up the strength you have."
"I have nothing else to do but practice, unless you can suggest something. You wouldn't have shown yourself unless you wanted something from me." Maybe he could weedle some cake out of this strange shinigami while he was at it. After all, if Raito's Ryuk could eat apples, maybe human shinigami had food?
"I want nothing."
"Truly? I find that hard to believe." L paused. "You look as if you've arrived in full regalia, you haven't even introduced yourself and you're attempting to be friendly. From what I've heard from 'Asking around' a shinigami would only do that if they've come to send a spirit to the Soul Society."
"Close, close, aaaaaah, nothing does get past you." The man smiled. "I am Captain Kisuke Urahara, of the Twelfth Division. I'm the head researcher for the shinigami." He chuckled. "I'd heard of your kick, the one that knocked a hollow senseless? The kick that hit Kira and kept going, that's what the spirits around here are calling it. They said it crackles like lightning. When a hollow shows up, most Pluses just run, they don't fight back." Urahara twittered. "A plus out here in the middle of nowhere. Very few of them ever develop an attack technique of their own. In fact, its almost unheard of. When I heard of it. I had to see it for myself." Urahara's eyes twinkled kindly.
"I see, so I'm a scientific curiosity to you?" L asked, in a monotone.
"No sense of humor I see, sadly."
"I'm not interested in living in a boring, rural, backwater city thrown back into the Edo era. Not as just another face in the street. There is nothing in a life that has no mental stimulation."
"I see, but why….. why of all things, should you be just another face in the street when you can be a shinigami?" Urahara suggested. "The mind that cracked the secret of Kira, but fell in the line of duty. That is something I wouldn't mind having in my division."
"You came recruiting?" L sounded almost amused.
"Aaaaaah, the one who will not be ridden."
"I have issues I need to work out for myself before I do anything. It sounds cliché, but the one known as Light "kira" Yagami, the one who had me killed. I…….. I allowed my feelings for him to cloud my judgement, he caused more damage than a mere heart attack. I'm trying to….. I'm trying to get over it." L had the barest tremor in his voice, and he looked at the ground as he said this. "I will not be so weakened again."
"I see…….." Kind eyes noted the slight tremor. "……… the killer who broke your heart. You and he danced a tango that should never have fallen flat. And yet it did." Urahara sighed. "L-gaki, there is nothing wrong with love, or heartbreak. It proves that you are human. Your answer came, it's a pity you couldn't have the love you wanted so much. Are, are, I have had my share of koibito's, especially Kurosaki-kun, but never been attacked by one, though my best friend once threw a stove at me." Yoruichi had, indeed, gotten angry one time when she'd made food for Urahara, which had tasted horrible.
Poor getaboshi had said so, and a then young Yoruichi had thrown the very stove she'd cooked the meal on at Urahara. Yoruichi's cooking had since gotten better, but the memory still left the Shihouin shape shifter in stitches.
"People will do, what they foolishly will do. There is little you can do to keep them from doing so." Urahara offered the best advice he can. "L who loved Light, will you come to the Soul Society with me? I can take you directly to the Academy, if the path of a shinigami is one you choose to walk."
L considered, he looked around the streets around him. Look around Lawliet, the world is falling apart. The two will take care of things for you. They will finish him off. Near will do what must be done. You need a future, elsewhere. And there will be other cases, beyond the end of life.
The look in those dark orbs was guarded. "I'll go."
"Well then, there's no need for me to konso you, you'd get lost in the Rukongai." Urahara held out his fingertip. A black butterfly fluttered out of the sky. "A Hell Butterfly, a far more reliable messenger than a carrier pigeon." He turned to the butterfly. "Commander General, I have a new recruit for the Academy if you wish to test him. The rogue L finally decided to join us. We're coming through immediately."
The gates opened, and L followed Urahara to the Seireitei, and cases yet to be solved.
Light and Misa had wandered, a good long time, until they'd drawn the unlucky number.
That number was 5.
For Aizen, enjoying his new reign as 5th Division Captain, was only then plotting what he would do with the ongoing research in Soul Society, research that would become the Hougyoku.
As things stood, Aizen was just becoming friendly at this point. Officially, it was just him and his lieutenant, Ichimaru Gin. But instead of Konsoing souls, he brought hollows along with him.
He wasn't saving souls, he was giving fallen ones a free meal.
Light and Misa just happened to be his victims.
Nikkisasshi, book and brush shinigami, had ducked in and out around them ever since their deaths. Even Ryuk had made an appearance. Though the two had been on angry terms ever since Ryuk had killed Light.
This particular evening, Ryuk had brought Zelogi a friend of his who resembled a skeletal Indian brave, and a younger shinigami, Mirai, who looked for all the world like Ryuk, but with diamond hard scales stained midnight sapphire, with dragon like wings and a spined dragon tail along for the ride. Ryuk had introduced her as his adopted sister in arms since they looked so alike, how do you like them apples? Speaking of which, had Light spotted any recently?
At the time, Light had yelled. "NO!! I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY GODDAMNED APPLES!! AND EVEN IF I HAD, I WOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN THEM TO THE ONE WHO KILLED ME!!"
Bad idea. Coming along that is. Worse idea yelling. Ryuk had only been trying to be nice in spite of everything. And Mirai was of a far gentler temperament than he.
Ryuk charged with a yell, his shimmering raven like wings bringing him at the nearest hollow in a Kamikaze run. "LIGHT! RUN!"
"Misa, this way." Mirai grabbed the girl away, scooping her up and shooting in low to the ground. Sapphire wings beat, struggling for altitude. "RYUK!!"
Zelogi spread his own bony wings, shooting in Ryuk's tailwind.
The Hollow caught Ryuk in its massive jaws. "Bad idea." Aizen growled.
"RYUK!! ONIISAN!" Mirai wailed.
"Fly…….. away……. Imooto." Ryuk growled, the hollow closed its jaws, the crack of bones breaking tore the starless night.
"GET MISA OUT OF HERE!!" Light yelled, then whirled at the sound of Ryuk's bones breaking. "Ry…….. Ryuk………" Light's eyes shot wide, nothing had been able to harm Ryuk, not bullets or anything. Even though Ryuk had been the one to kill him, something in the demon broke through then.
The hollow swung, Ryuk screamed as he was thrown free against the nearest wall. Zelogi was swatted away like a fly. BOOM WHAM…….. "Oniisan……" A shinigami very rarely cries, but it was tears falling from Mirai's eyes no mistake.
"Mirai……. Go back." Misa said quietly.
"But Light said to go." Mirai was quaking in fear. "The hollows will eat you."
"Ryuk is your brother……… and I will not. leave. Light. GO." Misa started to cry, leaning against Mirai. "A long time ago, a shinigami saved my life. Now its my turn to save a shinigami." Misa sobbed. "Don't worry about me, GO!!"
Mirai turned, disobeying her brother. "Thank you Misa…….."
She dove low for a kamikaze run, she did not see the flying hollow that blindsided her. "ONIISAAAN!!" Mirai wailed as she was half crushed from the force that hit her. "Oniisan………" She groaned in pain, wings fluttering weakly.
Misa screamed, a hollow directly below on the ground opened its mouth. Gulp. Misa was eaten in one mouthful.
"MISA!!" Light cried, looking up at the one woman he hated, seeing her eaten. He hadn't wished that on anyone.
"Raito…….."
"Ryuk!!"
Ryuk was still conscious. Light rushed over. "Ryuk……."
"Raito." Ryuk said quietly. "I wanted…….. I wanted to know the same….. the same as Rem……." His raspy voice was barely audible. "But I could never shine…….. as bright as she did……… please Light. Just run."
"Ryuk, please…….. get up……. I'll do anything…….. just get up." Light, for the first time since the whole Kira mess began, had tears in his eyes.
"Even…….. give me apples?" Ryuk asked faintly.
"All you want, a whole bushel……."
"I'll be alright in a few hours." Ryuk said huskily. "But if you're eaten you won't be. Misa came back to try and save you. Don't let her have died for you again."
"Ryuk…….. I can't lose you too."
"Light, your death gave me centuries to live. I will survive long after this battle. You need to run."
"How very touching, a boy and his carrion eating mocking bird. This is Kira? YOU'RE PATHETIC." Aizen growled.
"I'm not pathetic……." Light snarled. "Your monsters ate and smashed the few friends I have left. I don't care if I burn in eternal damnation. THIS ENDS!!" He rushed at Aizen.
Aizen didn't even have to unsheathe his sword. Light was snapped up by the hollow standing on Aizen's right, his screams echoed into the night.
"Yes, Light Yagami, it does." Aizen said quietly.
"You are a monster…….. Aizen-teme……" Ryuk hissed, "……… burn and die." A deathnote cannot kill a shinigami, /any/ shinigami. That included Aizen, Ryuk was helpless to attack.
"Not before you Nikkisasshi scum." Aizen spat on Ryuk's face, and the raven who had never shown any remorse or concern, had a single tear roll down his cheek before he passed out. Raito……. Go…..mena….sai
But Light knew only pain, then oblivion……..