Chapter 2.
Snape pondered his dilemma. Here he was, sitting in what was clearly a muggle lounge room, in Japan, with an annoying girl, a suspicious boy and a constantly unsettling mutant monster thing that only sat in the corner and chuckled at him ominously. He was not sure if the boy had seen him apparate or cast that translation charm that allowed him to speak and understand Japanese.
He didn't know how he got to Japan, and it seemed he couldn't apparate back for some unknown reason. Something was…blocking him?
He was thoroughly intrigued by his situation and unfortunately could only watch it unfold at this point.
"So, Mr. Snape…you're a foreigner. Are you from England?" The boy called Light asked pleasantly. Misa's large round eyes were trained on his every move. She was fascinated. Light took a more subtle approach, watching Snape from his peripherals as he prepared some tea.
"Yes, I'm a teacher at a school there." Snape answered reluctantly.
"Oh, really? What do you teach?"
"…chemistry." Snape grunted, almost forcing the word out. What a disgrace. Chemistry.
"I see, and do your students call you Snape? Or…forgive me, what is your first name again?"
"I would prefer you to call me 'sir' " Snape said curtly.
Light's jaw seemed to lock in place.
"Well, sir I'm sure we can get you back to where you're supposed to be, if you just give me your details. Here's a piece of paper—"
Light reminded Snape of a particularly annoying and angsty teenage boy he had been forced to teach at Hogwarts.
The monster hovering in the corner, tired of being ignored, had chuckled again ominously at Light's offering of some note-paper to Snape.
It slowly moved over to stand behind Snape, who gave it a look which clearly said "Don't come near me you filthy thing" But in reality, Snape was really quite intrigued. He got the strangest feeling from the monster.
"What is it Ryuuuuuuk~?" the girl almost sang. She was clearly bored with watching Snape and wanted some entertainment.
"Ryuk" only grinned down at Snape with its' strange grin. Snape began to get shivers down his spine.
"Uuh, Misa? Could you help me with the boxes outside, I need to get them in by Thursday.." said Light suddenly, still hiding behind his pleasant façade, though Snape was sure he was hiding something
"What boxe--" Misa was cut off by Light swinging her out of the room, leaving Snape alone with the monster.
And for the first time in a long while, Severus Snape was scared.
The monster hovered up behind him.
"….alright, that's it you…thing. Tell me what you are and why you are here!"
The monster chuckled again.
"Hyuk hyuk hyuk. Name's Ryuk actually and I'm a shinigami. You are a wizard. Hmn. I haven't seen one of those for a long time…"
"What--"
Then Snape remembered. He remembered the ancient Rare Magical Creatures book, sitting on professor Dumbledore's desk. He remembered flipping through the pages, he remembered stopping at a page that caught his attention.
SHI-NI-GA-MI
An ancient race which legend says has the power to kill any human alive and choose the manner of death, using a notebook of unknown substance.
They are said to have moved to a world of their own which supposedly sits directly above ours. Little else is known.
It had been around 15 years since he had seen that page, and he had never thought he would need to remember it. Half the things in that book weren't even real. Like Crumple-horned Snorkacks.
"Shinigami. I see. So, do you possess a notebook then?" he asked, a little surprised but still skeptical.
Ryuk the shinigami also looked surprised and a little skeptical.
"Well, that all depends what you mean by possess…"
At that moment, the annoying boy burst into the room, barely hiding the fact that he had been eavesdropping.
Snape's eyes narrowed. How was he going to deal with this insolent boy. He was obviously more intelligent that he looked. And now he had overheard the word "wizard".
The boy smiled, a little too innocently, Snape thought.
"Well, um, sir, perhaps you have some identification that we could give to the police. My father is a chief, I'm sure we could help you."
"No, I do not possess identification as I have never had occasion to require it." Snape said rather snootily. Something about this boy both vexed him and made him uneasy.
Misa laughed shrilly as she came re-entered the room, but at a deadly glare from Light, she quickly sat down next to him, demure as anything.
Light seemed very put-out by Snape's answer. Snape did not understand what it was about this muggle boy which made him so uncomfortable. Perhaps it was his seemingly innocent questions that seemed so important to him. Perhaps it was the sly way in which the boy watched him, or perhaps it was the strange presence he had, his power over the girl and even the monster.
Yes, this boy should not be underestimated.
It was Snape's turn to ask a question.
"Will you please explain to me, what you are doing with this creature?"
He turned his piercing eyes towards Light, and, sensing resistance, to Misa. The girl looked uncomfortable and looked at Light for direction.
The boy sighed and looked at Snape, studying him.
"He is a shinigami, a god of death."
Light studied Snape's reactions, but Snape was careful not to betray emotion. He was conscious of his danger.
"And what is that, pray tell? Do you mean he is some kind of…magical creature?"
Light didn't know what to make of the man's tone of voice, but he had caught no recognition at the name Shinigami.
Snape studied the boy's face. It was clear that he was not fooled. Both of them were trying to catch the other out.
Suddenly, a car pulled up outside and the door-bell rang.
"Excuse me for a moment." Said Light as he went to the door.
This left Misa, "Ryuk" and Snape in the room together. Misa seemed to brighten and smiled at Snape.
"So, Snape-san! I never did chemistry, I'm an actress and a model. It must be very interesting! Are you really English?"
Snape tried not to listen to her inane babble. He answered curtly.
At that moment, Light returned from the door with a visitor.
It was a very strange person which Snape beheld in that lounge-room in Tokyo.
He had wild black unruly hair, a terrible slump and black bags under his blank-looking eyes. He wore no shoes and stared at Snape.
"Um, Snape-san, please meet Hideki Ryuuga, my er…friend."
AN:
I am really starting to enjoy this again now, even though I'm just making it up as I go along.
