Please Read!

I will say all this only once so please take a minute to read. This story was inspired by hilda211's 'The Two Lights' although it has very little in common with the story.

This story can pretty much be considered AU since none of this happens in the actual Death Note story line, so there will be some instances of ooc, oc's and various other elements. Pairings are, at this point, not going to happen, although very light slash implications may come through.

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note. Characters and settings may be changed and or used in a different context to that of the originals for the purpose of the story.

Reviews are greatly appreciated, even if it is a simple two-word compliment. Criticism I ask to be given politely. If you don't like what I write or how I write it, fair enough. If you have suggestions on how to better myself, please feel free to tell me. All I ask is respect as a person and writer.

I will not keep asking for reviews after each chapter, but this does not mean that I don't want them though. If you have time, drop me a line. Again I apologise in advance for any oocness that may come through especially in Light's case. I feel justified in many of the cases it may appear.

Anyway please enjoy.

Paragon

If this was his punishment, his hell, his Mu, then he had truly disgraced himself when facing death. Truly, had he known that this would happen, he would not have made such a pathetic display in his last hour – he would not have begged anything of the Shinigami.

Yet somehow by all appearances, he was given another chance, and he would make sure that it would not happen again. This time he would not fall for the same traps, no, he had the advantage, the knowledge. This time his dream would not be shot down by incompetence and be left to bleed on the ground. This time Kira would have his Utopia.

It had been surprisingly easy to integrate himself back into an unsuspecting society. He laughed as he spun a new web of lies, laying the very first foundations of his revolution. For the moment he had to hide and plan carefully but soon he would have absolute freedom, he would be able to walk the world unchallenged. He would not hide in darkness though, he was light, he was a god in creation and had no need to lurk in shadows.

Already he had begun his work, carving his name into society and watching. Yes, Kira was always watching, listening, observing and testing. He knew many of his limits, but there were others that needed still to be pushed and prodded, carefully and quickly. Thankfully there was an abundant supply of guinea pigs, filth that had no place in his world. Truly they should feel honoured. Their deaths would make his Utopia a reality; they were dying for a cause that was just. That was his mercy, their redemption.

His judgement.

Light was scowling fiercely at the t.v screen, sharp brows tightly drawn and eyes narrowed. The news flashed in ever changing colours, casting its cold light into the dark room. The volume was turned low, yet it still seemed to echo into the silence. No matter to which channel he turned the stories were often the same.

-Twenty three new victims were discovered over the course of the day –

-A sudden increase in heart-attacks amongst the criminal masses-

-Police have begun an investigation into these unusual events, said to be the work of the entity known to the Japanese public as Kira –

-There has been much discussion on the nature of Kira, whether it is an individual, a group or a new terrorist organisation –

-"Kira's victims seem to share nothing in common apart from their criminal history. It has been speculated that Kira, whether it is a group or individual, has taken the task of judging criminals on itself. To some it may seem an unexpected blessing –

"-Kira supporters have quickly risen in numbers. There have already been a number of incidents where Kira extremists have attacked, vandalised and harassed individuals previously cleared of various criminal charges ranging from petty theft to murder. Protestors have started gathering outside court buildings, often disrupting court proceedings..-

-KIRA-

With a disgruntled sigh, Light pushed back from the desk and stood, turning the little television off as he did. He stood a moment in the dark before allowing himself to fall lightly on his bed. He closed his eyes but did not sleep. Agitation itched beneath his skin persistently until he felt decidedly uncomfortable and irate. This only served to make him restless and irritable, his words sharp and scornful until even his friends gave him a wide berth. God knows an irritable Light was a dangerous and highly unpleasant one. Truly he could strip flesh off bones with words alone.

Light welcomed the solitude.

He could not say why he was particularly short tempered as of late, though it seemed to have started with the appearance of the murdering Kira. Perhaps it was the strange and illogical method that Kira employed to kill. Kira left no proof, no breadcrumbs by which to identify who it was or how it killed. Proof of Kira's existence could have been deeply contested had there not been over three hundred bodies cooling in the morgue, all dead of the same cause.

There was no pattern to Kira's killing, erratic as if Kira killed merely by whim. Kira's reach was not limited to Japan either, no; Kiras' influence was felt worldwide. Naturally Kira was known by many names, his appearance a global phenomenon. Rumours of a global revolution were already starting to surface, amongst other theories of alien invasions and demonic cult rituals. Truly it was as if the world was twisting itself around this new marvel, Kira – the faceless killer.

It unsettled something deep inside him and grated at his nerves until he could barely stand to be out in public. Kira was almost all anyone ever talked about, pervading into society like the shadow it appeared to be.

Damn it.

Light's teeth were clenched, the frown back in full force. He rolled over and sat back up, head bent and hands curling and uncurling restlessly in his lap. This strange sensitivity was new to him and very unwelcome. While he scorned other for their obsessive attention on Kira, he found his thoughts wound tightly round the killers' name like everybody else. He hated it with passion. When he was taken by a large and unbecoming yawn, he lay back down and was quickly submerged in the dark pools of sleep.

Morning came too soon; Lights temper no better for it. He continued his morning routine in moody silence, shouldering his pack and leaving the house at a quick pace. Light was very much discomfited by his changing behaviour; his startling lack of control on his temper was mortifying. He had never felt so out of control and it was steadily growing worse. Still, he managed to put on his mask of bored indifference and nailed it down into his subconscious. As long as no idiot hassled him for too long he would be as stable and cold as a rock, just like normal.

He could not keep his attention from wandering though. He passed each class in a distant haze, thoughts twisting inside his head and the agitating itch spreading beneath his skin. He was only too glad when the day finally came to an end, allowing him to retreat to the safety of his room. He flopped onto the bed almost as soon as he entered feeling strangely tired. He must have dozed as he was jerked awake by his mother's voice. Dinner was ready apparently.

Dinner was a quiet affair on his part, his sister and mother making most of the conversation. His father was unsurprisingly absent. He finished up and left the table as soon as was deemed polite, only to retreat back to the dark cave that was his room. This time however he switched on the desk lamp and settled down to do his schoolwork. The television was turned on, the volume low as not to disturb, but high enough that he could hear all that was being said. Much like the rest of society, Light felt a strange hunger and fascination with Kira, though he would never admit it and did so rarely even to himself.

He worked quietly for two hours when a blue screen interrupted the program that had been playing on t.v caught his attention making him set his pen down and turn to watch.

'Advisory'
A special broadcast will be aired
in place of what was scheduled in this time slot.

This was new, and it brought with it a strange sense of déjà vu and a strange chill. There was something threatening about what was about to be broadcasted and it made the hairs on his neck stand on end. The image shifted to a middle-aged presenter, papers held in hand and a bemused expression on his face. Very unexpected. Distantly he heard Sayu whine from the living room downstairs as her program was interrupted, but his attention was preoccupied with the events transpiring on TV.

"We would like to apologise for the interruption. As of now we are bringing you a live worldwide broadcast of Interpol's ICPO. We now take you live to the ICPO."

Light had never felt his tense before and he could not explain the dread that was twisting around his guts. The sense of déjà vu had yet to fade. The world seemed to be centred on the television screen, around the neatly dressed man sitting; the Interpol Crest displayed at his back. Brown hair was neatly combed back, a smart pair of gold rimmed spectacles balanced on a long elegant nose. Dark eyes stared unblinkingly, challenging in its intensity. This man could easily have been identified as a scholar, a man of great intelligence and determination.

Lawrence Gatsman

"I head up an international police task force which includes all member nations. I am Lawrence James Gatsman, otherwise known as 'L'."

Light sat up straighter in surprise. He had heard about L, in very little detail from the times that he had helped the police on cases. All he knew was that this 'L' had an incredible talent of solving cases that was deemed unsolvable; the police's trump card in many aspects. It was not surprising then that he had taken up the case. Kira was no ordinary criminal after all. L's involvement would definitely make the story more interesting. Still the dread grew stronger.

"Criminals around the world are being murdered by a serial killer. I consider this crime to be the most atrocious act of murder in history. I will not rest until the person or persons responsible are brought to justice. Kira! I will hunt you down, I will find you."

The low dark voice of Lawrence Gatsman was intense, mocking, his lips twisted into a taunting smile. The sight of that smile made rage burn in his chest, his hands clenching unconsciously and the muscles in his jaw tighten. The intensity of the sudden burst of hate nearly floored him before it faded, the rage cooled by the icy fingers of dread. Something was wrong here. This was more than simple lack of control. Light felt as if he were being played, these emotions not his own but forced to accommodate them. Why would he react so negatively to something that would inspire hope and confidence in the innocent party?

Why was he acting as if L was personally threatening him?

"Kira, I've got a pretty good idea of what your motivation might be and I can guess what you hope to achieve. However what you are doing right now is evil."

There was an expectant pause, as if 'L' wanted to make sure that the point was driven home. Kira was evil.

Light felt nauseated. A thin layer of sweat had formed as if he was suffering a fever. Maybe he was. It was all illogical, his change of behaviour and this new influx of negative emotions. He longed for the days when his life had been filled with boredom.

"Kira if you are watching this, be warned. You will be caught, sooner or later, and I will be there to lead you to the execution chamber. You will pay for your sins against humanity."

There was a gloating quality to that voice now, an almost perverse excitement on Gatsman's face. The scene changed back to the news presenter who proceeded to apologise once more for the interruption, but Light had stopped paying attention. His body was tense, his mind working furiously as he tried to sort recent events out. He did not move from his position at the desk for some hours. It was well after midnight when he finally got up and stiffly fell into bed, but it would be another hour before he would finally succumb to sleep.

Note: For those wondering why it is Lawrence Gatsman instead of Lind L Taylor acting as L's spokesperson, it is for the fact that Kira's appearance is earlier than the original timeline. Therefore Lind Taylor's execution is not scheduled for the day the broadcast is made, so it is natural to assume that a different criminal would take his place.

Also, most of the broadcast and fake 'L's dialogue is taken straight out of the english dub anime. I see no reason why fake L's speech would be worded differently even if the criminal used and the time is different.