"Interesting." says Nazara, poring over my Death Note.
"Could you be more specific? You've been saying that a lot." I reply.
"You haven't written the causes of death for most of these people, but there are some curious exceptions. You've killed plenty of people by stroke or cancer despite their lack of, you know, a criminal record."
"I was hoping you'd pick up on that." I say, smiling. "Just because somebody isn't a convicted felon doesn't make them immune to my judgment. Every single person on this planet needs to be held accountable for their actions if my vision is to be realized."
"I see. So what, were all these people heinous criminals who somehow slipped through the cracks of your country's laws?"
"Not all. Some of the people you're talking about deserved to die because their actions were deplorable, but not illegal." I point to a name the reads Kyle Rivers. Death by testicular cancer. "This man was a ruthless loan shark who extorted the families of illegal immigrants to the point of effectively enslaving them."
Another name, Kayla Lawlet. Death by leprosy. "This woman cheated millions of people out of their life savings by way of phony medical institutions. But to escape the clutches of the law, she classified them as recreational facilities on all of the legal documents."
And lastly, Tanya Panabaker. Death by suicide. "She was a spoilt rich bitch, and a compulsive junkie who left her own children to drown in the bath while she was out there getting her fix. And when her husband tried to divorce her and gain custody of the children, who thankfully survived, she fabricated a sensational tabloid scandal just so that she could win against him."
"So why not just kill them with heart attacks, like you did with everyone else?"
"Because I'm not just engaging in some senseless killing spree, Nazara." I say. "I'm setting up my own system of justice, one that will ultimately supersede the rotten, corrupt system we have today. Not all evil is equal. Some actions are more redeemable than others."
"More redeemable?"
"That's right. I don't write anyone's name down until I'm certain that they're completely unrepentant regarding their sins. And that's where the hierarchy comes into play. Mass murderers and terrorists almost never change themselves even after they've been punished for their crimes. I'm more patient with liars and cheats, because they are often driven by pettier motives, and are hence more likely to regret their actions. My system is simple. The worst of what humanity has to offer will die of heart attacks, while people who aren't quite as terrible, but still irredeemable and useless, will die of other causes. People will see the patterns. They will know how much leeway I am willing to give them for their sins."
Nazara just smiles at my words. As usual, I am unable to tell how sincere it really is. "Let's see how this system of yours works out." she finally says.
"It won't be easy. It will take time and effort to get my message across. But I will prevail. In fact," I continue with a proud smile, "I'm already making progress."
I show Nazara a website I stumbled upon just yesterday. It is designed as a black and white meshwork. It's an anonymous tribute to me, and everything I've done.
"Kira, Our Savior." I say, reading the title of the web page. "We, the people of a proud new world, express our tremendous gratitude to our protector and savior Kira, the hero who has given us hope at a time when everyone around us seems to be failing us. His swift and decisive crusade for justice inspires us, empowers us, and gives us hope for a tomorrow more beautiful and perfect than any other we have ever witnessed. We pray to you, Kira, that you never waver from your dreams, as we share those dreams with you. We will do everything we can to aid you in creating the new world you have envisioned for us, and will loyally serve you until your work is complete."
I turn to Nazara, full of pride and joy, "This is the effect my actions are having on the people of the world. This is what I have become to so many of them. I cannot, and will not let them down. I will lead us all into a beautiful and glorious new world, and they will celebrate its arrival with me."
"My, my." she says. "I'm fairly certain none of them would ever dare to say such things out in the open."
"Anonymity has a way of bringing out the innermost beliefs and desires of people." I tell her. "Deep down, we are all hurting. Even as our system persistently fails us, we sing its praises in public, because we're afraid of rebelling. We're afraid of being mocked for our ideals, and are humiliated into giving up our dreams of change, until we can't even speak our minds without surrendering our identities, lest we be found out. I won't let that happen to me. I won't back down from my mission. Kira will succeed."
"So, when are you announcing the press conference revealing Kira's true identity?" shoots Nazara. She must be joking.
"Don't be ridiculous, Nazara." I say. "You know perfectly well why I can't reveal my identity as Kira to anyone."
"But isn't that surrendering your identity, Anna? Don't you want to freely speak your mind?"
Her sarcasm is starting to annoy me. It is clear that she isn't taking any of this seriously.
"Why am I even talking to you about all this?" I say, exasperated.
"Because I'm the only one who you can talk to about all this!" she says, with a cheeky smile.
"Yeah, you're right."
"But I don't have to be invested in your cause to be entertained by it." Nazara says, with her trademark mischieviousness. "For all you know, I'm just waiting for a powerful opponent to rise, one who will reject everything you stand for, and free the world from your tyranny!"
"You think what I'm doing is tyranny?!" I say, my anger getting the better of me. It takes me a few seonds to calm down and realize that Nazara isn't really being serious. No, she just wants to be entertained. But that does leave open the possibility of her turning against me.
"Look, Nazara, you're the one who gave me this power to begin with, and for that I'm grateful." I say, "But you do not want to cross me."
"Or what? You're going to kill me, a Reaper? We're the very agents of death, sweetheart."
"I can't have you sabotaging my mission, Nazara! This isn't just some kind of game to me!"
"Well then, you're in luck. I'm not going to sabotage your mission." she says.
"Is that so?"
"This isn't so much a game to me as it is a movie. And in the movies, all of the fun is in watching events play out by themselves." she says, with a wide smile. "Sure, I have my favorite characters from every movie and everything, but who am I to interfere with the way the movie turns out? If my favorite character dies, he dies. If the guys I absolutely loathe win, then they win. It's my lack of control, and the sheer unpredictability of the whole situation, that makes it so exciting to me. I don't know how your journey is going to turn out, Anna, and I don't want to interfere at all. I want to be surprised. I want to be shocked. I want my expectations toyed with again and again. And the best way to do that, is to just sit back and watch."
"Let's hope you stay that way." I say. I still don't think Nazara can be fully trusted, but it does make sense that she wouldn't want to manipulate events for her benefit. She wants to leave open the possibility of losing, of even suffering if she has to, because a sense of danger is one surefire way to keep yourself invested in something. She won't try to ruin my plans, no. My aim is to completely transform this world. It is a revolutionary tale, with a phenomenal happy ending waiting to happen. She has nothing to lose by letting me succeed.
"Okay, Nazara." I say, smiling. "Welcome to my movie."