LIGHT YAGAMI, SHINIGAMI IN TRAINING

PART FOUR

The girl stared at Light with eyes big as saucers.

"Kira? You?" she said at last.

Light did not respond; he stood still, waiting.

Then, in a heartbeat, the girl's look of shock changed to one of joy. Before Light realized what was happening, she had wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed him enthusiastically.

"I knew it!" She cried, trembling with excitement. "I knew you couldn't really be dead! I knew you wouldn't abandon us, Kira!"

This girl was a fan of Kira! Light could hardly believe his luck. This was just the sort of opportunity he needed.

"So, um," he began, "What's your name?"

The girl looked up into his eyes. Light knew his question was a big gamble. She must have known that he needed a name to kill a person. Would she trust him?

"Akasuki Arisu," the girl said calmly. She paused, then asked, "Kira, is it true that your name is really 'Light'?"

"Why would you ask that?" Light was starting to feel a little uncomfortable being hugged by Akasuki, but he didn't want to scare her off by phasing through her arms.

"Well, since you aren't dead, that made me wonder if the police made up your real identity, but..." She squinted slightly as she looked at his face.

"No, you're definitely the same person from the photo they showed on TV. Oh, wow, I've really found you, Kira!"

She nuzzled her cheek against Light's chest and sighed.

"Uh..." Light stammered. "Could you...let go of me, please?"

Akasuki immediately pulled her arms back as if she had touched a hot stove. "Oh, I'm so sorry! Forgive me!" She bowed submissively to Light and closed her eyes, as if expecting some kind of punishment for her display of affection.

At that moment, Light realized something. Akasuki was fully prepared for him to kill her. She had thrown herself at him, well-aware that it might cost her her life. On the whole, she impressed Light. She wasn't silly like Misa had been, but there was an innocence in her all the same. He was going to enjoy toying with her.

"Look, Akasuki, I'm not mad," he began, using a much softer tone.

She blushed when he said her name. Light walked toward her and clasped one of her hands between his own.

"Why don't we find somewhere better to talk?"

"Um, okay," she said in a small voice, her face glowing with happiness.

Light led her to a bench sheltered from the snow by overhanging tree branches, a picturesque scene for what he had in mind. After making sure that Akasuki sat close to him, Light began.

"So, Akasuki, you seem overjoyed to find me. Why is that?"

"Because of what you've done, what you're doing. I know that most people think you're no more than a serial killer, but...I can see why you're doing all of this."

She paused to breathe. "And, when the police said you were dead, I felt horrible. I had defended you, and people had shunned me because of it, and... then the person who had been a symbol of justice to me was suddenly gone. I didn't know what to do.

"But," she concluded, "you're back now. You can make everyone who defied you in your absence pay, and create a better world."

Light stared at Akasuki, hardly believing his ears. Her words were proof of her undying belief in and loyalty to Kira. Now, Light was certain he could use her to his advantage.

"Akasuki, would you like to help me?"

Her eyes widened, and her hand gripped Light's in excitement.

"Are you serious? That would mean...everything to me! How can I help?"

"As you said, I need to punish those who dared to defy me. But...I am temporarily unable to use the full extent of my power against them."

"What? Why?"

Light had expected that. Akasuki was playing into his hands. He told her everything, from the day he found the Death Note to the present. As he talked, her eyes never left his. Light couldn't help but smile; she was reacting just as he'd hoped. He could imagine what she must be thinking: Kira is telling me his secrets. He actually trusts me this much. He thinks I'm special.

When he had finished, Akasuki squeezed his hand. "I understand now, Light. You're considering the possibility that L can actually persuade you to his side. That's why you need me. As long as you have a loyal follower at your side, you won't falter."

Once again, Light could hardly believe what he was hearing. Akasuki had actually surprised him. He hadn't said a word about that one secret fear. She had figured that out just by listening to him.

She was just the person he needed as his trump card.

"That's exactly right," he said, smiling. "Does it sound like something you can handle?"

"Of course!" Akasuki cried without hesitation. "I would do anything for you, Light."

There it was again; she had used his human name. Somehow, it comforted him to hear her say it. It was proof that not all of his humanity had been taken from him. As if in response to this thought, Akasuki rested her head against Light's chest.

"This is really happening." She whispered. "I've really been granted the honor of helping a god."

She knew he could snap her neck in an instant, but she still wasn't afraid of him. Light had never encountered such a curious girl, but he took her as a sign that he was in the right. He was justice. He was Kira.

And not even the great detective L could persuade him otherwise.

After arranging a time and date for their next meeting, Light returned to L's headquarters.

"Where have you been for the past three hours?" L asked the moment Light entered the investigation room.

"Walking," Light replied tersely.

Before L could have the opportunity to start rifling through Light's mind, he added, "I've been thinking, L."

"Really?" L's voice dripped with sarcasm. "That's quite an achievement."

Light grit his teeth, but continued. "I mean that I've been thinking about what you've been saying for the past few days."

Now L was interested. He spun around to face Light, tapping his fingers on his kneecaps.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I've come up with some terms of my own for our little game."

L interlocked his fingers, resting his thumbs against either side of his chin. "Do tell."

"I'll do what you ask of me, go where you tell me, all of it, without another complaint. I'll even listen to what you say with an open mind."

"Mm..." L mused. "And what is the catch for such compliance?"

Light glared at his opponent. "You have to swear on Ryuk's Death Note that you will never read my thoughts again."

L pondered that for a few minutes. Finally he asked. "Why Ryuk's Death Note?"

"It's power will hold you to your promise."

"Well, then," L reasoned, standing and approaching Light, "It's only fair for you to swear on it too."

Light didn't respond; he was focusing on keeping his mind blank. L seemed to realize this and raised an eyebrow.

"What are you trying to hide from me?"

"Nothing. I just don't like it when you pick through my brain, that's all."

L stared intently at Light. When the latter had no reaction to this intimidation, he sighed. "I still don't trust you, Light, but...if you'll swear on the Death Note too, then I'll agree to your terms."

"I have no problem with that." Light's immediate response made L raise an eyebrow again, but he shrugged and turned to Ryuk.

"Have you been listening, shinigami?"

"I have a name, ya know!" Ryuk shouted indignantly, "but, yeah, I have. Here ya go."

Ryuk tossed his Death Note to L like a Frisbee. The detective caught it with one hand, while not daring to take his eyes off of Light. Even when L held it out, Light could see that L had a firm grip on the notebook; he wasn't taking any chances.

"Go on, Light," L encouraged. "You can touch it."

When Light's fingertips brushed against the Death Note, he could feel the power it held flowing up his arm, strengthening his resolve. Light returned L's intense gaze as he spoke.

"I swear to listen to you without retort or complaint according to the rules of our game."

The air around the Death Note turned red as blood. L's voice did not waiver as he said his part.

"And I swear to strictly respect your mental privacy under the same conditions."

The crimson glow snaked around their right wrists, solidifying into handcuffs linked by a long chain. The deal was made.

"Well," L noted, flinging the Death Note back to Ryuk, "I'm glad we've found a compromise of sorts."

Holding up his right hand, he added, "The handcuffs are certainly nostalgic, to say the least."

He walked back to his chair, a distance that should have forced Light to be dragged behind him. However, additional links formed from the red aura of the chain so that it dangled on the floor, just long enough that Light didn't have to move at all.

"Hmm, that's convenient," L observed. "At least this way, I won't be stuck with you 24/7."

Light laughed softly. "That's something we can agree on."

Once L had re-situated himself in his chair and turned his back, Light grinned in satisfaction. Ryuk noticed and tip-toed over to Light.

"What's with that face?" he whispered.

"You'll see soon enough," Light replied.

He had outsmarted his worthy opponent. Now that L couldn't read his mind, Light need have no fear of discovery. True, he had made himself more vulnerable to L's influence, but, as long as he had Akasuki, he wouldn't lose.

Everything was going just as he had planned.

To be concluded...