'Everyone, I'd like to thank you for taking some time off of your... er, "busy" schedules, to listen to what I have to say.' Light began, adressing a huge crowd of half- as well as full Shinigami. He was amazed they had even come. 'Now, the news I have to tell is something that affects every single one of you, human and Shinigami alike. I hope you're all in for a war with Heaven, because that's just what's going to happen.'

'A war with Heaven? Sounds interesting.' One of the Shinigami said. Others quickly mumbled their agreement, excitement filling every sound they made. This was going too well.

'You really think so, then?' Light asked, grinning. 'Then, am I right to asume that you're all gonna fight against those light-loving, "pure" idiots?'

'You bet you are, Kami-sama!' That was Mikami. So he was here after all.

'Now that'd be fun,' Beyond said, high-pitched and grinning. Insanity shone in his red eyes. 'Just remember that L's mine! Kyahahaha!'

All the Shinigami were now shouting their agreement. Even Ray. 'Heaven is too light. Everytime I get close to it, it simply blinds me. Light is just somehting that shouldn't exist in the worlds of afterlife. Don't you agree, Shinigami?' As he said that, he narrowed his eyes at Light, who felt a shiver go down his spine at the double meaning of those words. For a brief moment, he had believed him to actually be on his side, but now that thought seemed hopelessly foolish.

Suddenly, a Shinigami rose from where he sat in the shadows. His body resembled a skeleton made out of gems and gold, and he looked like one of the most important Shinigami in the whole Realm. One or two Shinigami even gasped in surprise. 'Jastin!'

"Jastin" looked directly at Light. 'Light Yagami, never before has a war threatened the Shinigami Realm. This place has always been, somehow, peaceful. I will fight alongside you and the rest of my kind, but if this "war" of yours threatens to destroy this world, I'll kill you.' He said, meaning every word he spoke.

'That is fine with me, Jastin. A fair deal.' They weren't going to fail, anyway. Both "races" could fly, ofcourse, but what else could humans from Heaven, of all places, possibly do? Shinigami had many powers not even they were all aware of. Not to mention that most of them had claws, or at least unnaturally long nails, like Ryuk. They should be able to win, no matter what, and Light'd be fine. Yet, he narrowed his eyes when looking at Jastin. The golden Shinigami somehow reminded him of a certain white-grey and purple one.

Rem.

She had always threatened him. "If anything happens to Misa-san, I'll kill you" 'Misa-san should stay out of this, safe and happy, or else..."

Always. Now, Jastin seemed to threaten him in exactly the same way. But at the same time, he didn't worry at all. He was a Shinigami now, after all, and Shinigami could only be killed by themselves (falling in love), for all he knew.

Slowly, every Shinigami left, muttering about the upcoming war. It was too easy to detect the excitement in their voices, and for once, they all crowded together, practicing battle moves, instead of gambling and sleeping, wandering around the wasteland an other useless things.

Light had actually given the Shinigami a purpose, something to look forward to, a reason to do more than usuall. He sat down on the boulder where he had spoken from, looking over the Shinigami, grinning satisfactioned. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar shadow approach in the air, landing beside him.

'What do you think, Ryuk? I actually succeeded in making them do somehting.' He said, his voice quiet and smooth. They way he had always sounded when things were going according to plan.

'...You did, Light. That's a miracle on it's own.' Ryuk answered raspingly. There wasn't a trace of the humor he always had, the laugh he laughed every single day. He was serious for a change, something that bothered Light. A serious Ryuk was something to be feared. 'But this war... it's all because of your personal battle with L, isn't it?'

'Indeed. And to be honest, it was L who started this, not me. He was talking about the Border being a suitable battlefield. He challenged me, and I merely accepted.'

'Driving everyone in here to go with you.' Ryuk added. 'Jastin was right; War has never been existent in this world, and I would prefer it to stay that way.' He fell silent, looking at his fellow Shinigami. But unlike Light, he was only worried. He has no idea of what Heaven can do...

'Light, you can go on with your plans, I won't stop you.' He decided after a minute. 'But I won't help you, either.' And with that, he flew away, leaving Light to stare after him. What did he mean by that?