Summary: He thrived in a realm where decay and sloth ruled. He became something much more terrifying and refined. Yagami Light became a Prince among the Shinigami and what's more…he's given the gift to live again. LxLight
Rating: T - Rating may change
Chapters completed: 2/14
The Prince of Death
By K. Kotone
Chapter One: Revival of an old Foe, Birth of Another
Light woke up with a yelp of pain. His body jerked into a seated position and he hesitantly touched his face his eyes widening to feel warmth. He was warm…he was alive. His movements were jerky and a cold sweat had broken out across his skin. Shivering and suddenly gagging on the air he found himself breathing he had to take a moment to adjust to the rapid changes his body was now experiencing. Earth wasn't as pleasant as he remembered it. Looking down at his lap he found two black books along with a bracelet that he immediately slipped on. The idea of a scythe had appealed greatly to him and granted him an ability that distinguished him above everyone else. It also gave him the option of protecting himself promptly in case he found himself in immediate danger. The Death Note, for all its power, took too long to write someone's name in and take effect. Light picked up the Death Notes and looked around at his surroundings feeling a flutter in his stomach. He was in his bedroom. Somehow, he was home again. He felt a pang of a feeling he recognized as nostalgia and for some reason it hurt. Light looked down at the books before shaking the feeling away with some effort. Rather clumsily he swung his legs over the bed and stumbled to his bookshelf. Now that he didn't have to worry about someone touching the Death Notes and seeing a Shinigami he could place them relatively unprotected in the open for the moment. There were many books on his shelves and he knew his family had absolutely none to minimal interest in them. On top of everything else these Death Notes didn't have instructions so it'd take quite the mishap for someone to accidentally kill another with it. Still, he knew that this was too careless and that he'd have to prepare the trick drawer again when he had the opportunity.
He'd checked the time, and then the date and now sat numbly on his bed staring outside at the rising sun. Yesterday had been the day he discovered Ryuk's Death Note and taken his first step towards his end.
'The brat will be given a second chance to relive the days the sun has passed by…'
Dimly he wondered if he was only able to come back to this point because he'd taken up ownership of a Death Note around this time…It was an interesting thought but he stored it away. He had more important things to worry about. He already had two Death Notes but…he had to get the third. If the wrong person picked it up he'd be in trouble…
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A Day Earlier…
He was a decent student who got decent grades with a decent appearance and a decent girlfriend. He didn't stand out in a crowd, in class or anywhere really. He was of average height, weight and intelligence. His eyesight was average, his talent was average and he was sure his girlfriend would even say he was even average in bed.
His name was Malam Norio and he was the one who happen upon the Death Note. Believing it to be a lost item of another he'd picked it up and opened it in hopes to find a name so he could return it. Instead he found instructions and he read them with half a mind.
"A school project?" He wondered to himself slowly. "A prank maybe." He looked around to see if anyone was watching him. He flipped through it again, looked around again and then slowly slipped it into his bag. Finders Keepers.
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Shinigami Realm
"You seem angry." A Shinigami noted from the shadows and the King turned a harsh glare on him.
"Shut. Up. Roast." The words were slowly said one by one and the evidence that the King was trying to keep his anger in check was obvious.
"I'm sorry…" The Shinigami mumbled shifting his feet and casting his eyes to the ground. Time slowly passed and the Shinigami adopted a look of curiosity. "Why are you angry?"
"Didn't I just tell you to shut up?" The King snapped standing. "Are you challenging me too? Huh? Are you?"
"I do no such thing." The Shinigami defended cowering back while he spoke "I don't challenge you. I never would."
"Shut! UP!" The King bellowed. "That bastard. He knew…He knew exactly what he was doing…" The other Shinigami leaned in slightly and heard though he knew not what it meant.
"That bastard!"
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Earth. Present time
Not there. Light looked around and checked the surrounding areas but…not there. It was gone, likely had been for a couple hours if not more. This sank his mood but he kept it buried within him as he normally did when he felt an emotion that would bring concern or comments from others.
"Light! Class is about to start!" Light turned and while he didn't recognize the girl the name Akane Sato along with the lifespan of 83411164 floated over her head allowing Light to thank her properly. Light was still getting use to having the eyes of a Shinigami and while he had a headache appearing he found he rather liked having the knowledge of everyone's name and fated death. Sato blushed fiddled with her skirt and smiled looking at the ground.
"You know my name. Everyone forgets my name." She glanced up at him and her blush became deeper and she smiled wider. Light realized she might be taking the fact that he knew her name to imply something that wasn't there.
"I know everyone's name." He said turning away and heading to class. Despite stating that her name meant of no importance to him she still blushed and smiled.
"I know." She called after him and he stopped glancing over his shoulder. "I know you're never to be mine. But I'll always wish you well." Sato bowed her head quickly and left as though afraid he'd say something. Light shook his head. All girls were the same…
Making his way to class he made sure to check everyone's name and lifespan. The likelihood that the person who'd picked up the Death Note attended this school was high. If he remembered correctly he shouldn't be able to see the lifespan of an owner of a Death Note and thus- He stopped however and blinked to himself. He normally wouldn't be able to see the lifespan of an owner of a Death Note but… He was a Shinigami. That meant that he'd be able to see the lifespan. Gritting his teeth he cursed lightly to himself… So much for that plan! Someone bumped into him and hastily apologized.
"Sorry, Sorry, Sorry." The young man bowed repeatedly before rushing away.
"Malam Norio, 72599102." He whispered to himself watching the boy go. That name was familiar and as the boy glanced over his shoulder at him he recognized the eyes behind the glasses. Malam, if he recalled correctly, had grown up to be a newspaper editor and a strong supporter of Kira. Light was sure he'd seen him on the television once. He watched as the young man rushed through the crowd bumping into people and apologizing loudly. What a klutz. Light turned his gaze back to the people and entered class…
'Yu Maya, 94688100…'
'Ito Rai, 23796422…'
'Suzu Shiro, 100121434…'
'Kaz Ken, 79874560…'
'Matsuki Inoue, 99182432…'
'Yamato Nari, 73982576…'
'Mai Midori, 76452956…'
Boys Bathroom
Light. He'd bumped into Yagami Light. Malam rushed into the boy's bathroom and after checking to make sure no one else was inside went to the sink and splashed cold water on his face. Light had always intimidated him and reminded him of his own short comings. Not that Light had ever done anything to him personally but the boy, he was flawless! Entirely! How could anyone be like that? Looking back at the bathroom door he slowly opened his bag and took out the Death Note. His hands shook but a slow grin split his face. This thing was genuine. It was! He'd used it twice already!
On a murder and his partner… both twisted, selfish and uncaring. They deserved to die.
So what if Light was flawless! Malam chuckled to himself and ran a hand over the cover. He held godly power in his hands! And soon the world would know!
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Later that night…
Light laid sprawled on his bed a cool cloth lying over his eyes. Ouch. His eyes. He'd somehow overused them.
"I'm a Shinigami." Light growled to himself. "How the hell did this happen? I don't recall ever seeing Misa-" Light bolted upright the cloth falling from his eyes to reveal them wide and narrowing down into slits as they began to sting again. "Misa! I almost forgot about her." It could be believed that she'd received her Death Note around the time she started the whole fiasco with Sakura TV. That gave him some time then. Not a whole hell of a lot but some nonetheless. He had to get in contact with her before then… Light went to his computer and hissed at the glare of its computer screen. It was already as dim as it could go but he forced himself to work on it. His eyes watered and he had to blink repeatedly to rid of the constant blurring. Damn his eyes stung. He could only assume that his body was still adjusting to this world. He typed furiously, hacking into multiple government sites "…none of the worlds top criminals…" A pause as he typed "…nor any terrorists have died." Light hummed to himself and couldn't keep a smile from twitching on his face. Compared to the program that'd be developed four years from now this was nearly a piece of cake. Light thoughtfully tapped the desk before typing again. It was obvious that whomever had picked up the Death Note would want to test it in a situation where the results would be revealed immediately.
"Ah, there we go…" His grin faulted and he laid a hand over his eyes "Shit." Leaning on the chair he laughed silently to himself. "The local murderer Go Kino dies due to suicide by biting his own tongue while on national television a day ago…his partner, Ren Quail, dies in the United States of a heart attack a minute before. Coincidence? I don't think so…" Light paused "I need to stop talking to myself."
Looking further Light couldn't help but sigh. This person hadn't thought about the consequences of his actions. Kino Go and Ren Quail had been charged for the murder and rape of Malam Lucy and dare Light go from there to guess who had come into possession of the Death Note? Honestly, it was so simple that Light felt cheated. In less then a day he'd discovered who the owner of the Death Note was. Where was the challenge in that? Damn that Malam! Couldn't he even do something to at least hide his tracks?
"Well he did kill the man by making him bite off his own tongue." Light thought aloud. "If he kills now with heart attacks..." He trailed off and frowned "-but that would still connect Ren-" Light cut himself off and went back to his bed grabbing the cloth to put back over his eyes. "-unless he waits and takes a break before using the death note again. That does appear to be what he is doing…" Light sighed. "I'm talking to myself again."
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Four days later
As of a few days ago the murders that were being caused by the Death Note had begun again. Light had woken early and upon hacking into the government sites found that most of the terrorists that could be monitored by government agencies had died. Criminals were dying but so were the wealthy and people that promoted their beliefs. Light didn't approve of this, not at all. This was striking fear into the entire population. Going on his computer he felt his hackles rise as the name 'Kira' was already being tainted by these actions. Turning on his television he felt his shoulders slump as the news reporters as well talked about what was occurring using the name Kira.
"My name is being ruined." He growled rubbing his bracelet in comfort. He was the original and true Kira. Nothing could take that from him…even this. Looking to his Death Notes he pulled out Barsh's out his eyes softening. He was here thanks to that Shinigami. He wasn't going to mess it up, not this time. Opening it he found his eyes widening…there were words written inside.
'Kira,
This Note is now yours. Be just as careful not to drop it as your other for if any human touches them they'll become the owner.'
Light's eyes froze upon those lines. Ah, shit he hadn't thought of that. If his sister was to touch his Death Notes by accident, or anyone else for that matter, he'd have to follow them around. He really had to take extreme care now. Making that trick drawer suddenly became a top priority.
'However, as you undoubtedly caught on, I said you were a prince. This is true. Information that is of importance to you is written below. I was never able to discover them all but here's what I know:
-You may extend the life of a human at the cost of half of your current lifespan and three days of suffering.
-You are not immortal and thus can die to mortal inflicted wounds.
-You are able to kill any Shinigami by writing their name in your Death Note. You may also kill a Shinigami with a Scythe and not suffer any consequences.
-Upon using your wings you'll tire quickly and lose much energy. I dare suggest you avoid using them.
Light blinked. He could still fly?
-Upon writing a name in a Death Note your lifespan extends.
-You are required to follow any human that picks up your Death Note and must follow them for the entire length of their possession.
-As well you may not reveal an owner of another Death Note.
-Upon the human giving up ownership you must erase their memories.
-As the Prince of Death severe pain will befall upon you for a seven day period if a Death Note is destroyed. This is due to an attachment the Death Notes afflict upon a Prince of Death in acknowledgement of his position.
-Upon death neither Heaven nor Hell will accept you but if death is upon your own terms advancement is made in your position.
Sadly that was all I was able to discover. Also know that the king doesn't like your existence for it threatens his own and he may plan a way to kill you. Kira, I shall warn you now that there are six other scythes out there and if they should ever wound you the injuries received will never entirely heal. The King owns Wrath.
- Brash'
Light flipped through the remaining pages but found no more words. Brash. How much had that Shinigami known? Suddenly his position as the Prince of Death wasn't so comfortable. He had to gain control over this situation! Going to his desk he turned on his computer glancing at the television while doing so. That glance became a double take as he noted that the screen had gone blue with the words:
'Apologies, we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special report.'
Looking to the time and date he quickly turned on the sound. Was L going to make the same move as he'd done before? Light watched as a news reporter shuffled through papers obviously caught off guard by the broadcast. He quickly glanced up upon finding the paper he needed and said.
"A live international broadcast from the ICPO, Interpol, will now begin."
The news reporter disappeared and soon Light found himself staring at Lind L. Tailor who calmly opened his eyes upon being aired. The man sat confidently, staring directly at the audience his eyes glinting a daring challenge to one person among his audience. Not so courageous. Light thought as Malam would likely write the name down without hesitation.
"I am the one person who controls the entire planets police force, Lind. L. Tailor." A pause and then calmly. "Alias L."
Light watched Tailor ignoring the computer for the moment. Silently he hoped that Malam wouldn't act but… Light watched as Tailor clutched his chest his calm eyes going wide, a strangled sound coming from his throat before his head collided roughly against the desk. Light waited a moment knowing what was about to happen and sure enough…the screen went black with a white letter 'L' plastered on the screen.
"I don't believe it." L's disguised voice whispered
"So it begins..." Light sighed shaking his head.
"I thought it might be, so I tested it, but Kira you can kill people without ever laying a finger on them." The voice was so astonished Light couldn't help but smile.
"This may be beneficial to me." He listened to L's voice and his smile grew. "Perhaps they'll kill each other off?" He glanced at his Death Note and took a deep breath to regain his shaken composure. "If not... I have my own means. I am stronger now. I can observe the actions they take while slowly gaining control."
Next Chapter: Both Spectator and Judge
Preview:
A battle of wits ensues again. This time however the intelligence of L clearly dominates. Light makes a decision that shocks both sides and gives rise to much confusion and fear…
'I will not allow this game to end so soon.'
Note from Author:
Thank you for reading the second chapter of Prince of Death. Your comments for the previous chapter were very encouraging and welcoming. Thank you. This story WILL be an LxLight story. I have also planed for this story to be 14 chapters long as some of you have no doubt already noticed…Look for the update next weekend on Saturday or Sunday. I will try to make all chapters approximately this long.
Also, I apologize for any errors you've spotted. I had to include certain lines, certain incidents in this chapter and it was a challenge to do so. If any mistakes are major I will fix the chapter.
-K. Kotone