Eyes

June 8th, 2022

Manhattan, New York

A small boy crouched in a back alley of a crowded city street, holding his head.

Gevanni appeared from around the corner, looking frazzled.

"Key?" he asked, as he crouched down to look at the boy, "We don't have much time. What's wrong?"

"The names," said Key, quietly, shaking, "There are so many names and numbers. I-I don't think I can do this."

"Key," said Gevanni gently, "I know we're asking a lot from you. Even L does not know if it will work. But we have to try."

Key looked up at Gevanni with tear filled eyes. Gevanni's larger frame was blocking the rest of the crowd from view. Taking a deep breath and rubbing his eyes, Key nodded and stood up. Gevanni took Key's hand reassuringly and turned him to the crowded street. Key opened his eyes slowly and as his vision cleared, a flood of jumbled letters and numbers entered his vision. Key winced. There were so many people; his vision seemed to be completely obscured by the names and numbers. Key flinched back from the wall of text that seemed to overwhelm his vision. Gevanni squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"Um, ok," said Key hesitantly, "We're looking for the suicide bomber in the crowd. Do we have a name and face?"

"No." said Gevanni quietly, "I'm sorry, you're mostly on your own for this."

"I see," Key said, his mind working, too distracted from his calculations to be worried about the sea of humans in front of him, "The people in this area defiantly have very short lifespans, especially the people who are moving to the left. If we take into consideration the speed at which they're moving and they're remaining lifespans…about 10 minutes. The most likely point of detonation is the central square a few blocks to the left of us."

Gevanni stared at the small boy in awe. He gently pulled Key away from the crowd. They headed deeper into the alleyway and ascended to balcony of a nearby building, overlooking the square.

"Key, is it too far away?" asked Gevanni worried; they only had about 8 minutes left.

"No, I can see everyone perfectly fine," said Key, leaning over the railing, squinting, "Ok so, now to find the bomber. He's probably at the centre of the square, with a bag, although bombs can be small these days. Wait! The suicide bomber is holding the bomb, meaning that he will die first when the bomb explodes. That means I have to locate the lifespan with the least amount of time left, even if it is a second before everyone else's."

Key's eyes darted back and forth as it combed through the crowd. His pupils shiver as he picks out numbers from a sea of names and lifespans.

"Found it!" said Key, pointing to the centre of the crowd, "The lowest lifespan!"

"Name?" asked Gevanni, taking out a cell phone.

"Cyrus Rannes," said Key, racing to the door and down the stairs.

"Yes, he fits the suspect profile," said Gevanni, still looking at his phone, "and terrorist affiliated too, wanted in this country and a couple of others. Wait, Key! Where are you going?"

"I'm going to stop him!" yelled the young boy over his shoulder, "By my count, more than 100 people will die, many more injured! I can't let it happen!"

"Key wait!" Gevanni yelled, racing after the boy, "You can't change the lifespans you see! You're putting yourself in grave danger!"

"We don't know for sure if my eyes can change lifespans!" Key yelled back, racing onto the street, "We do know that my eyes are different from normal Shinigami Eyes! Maybe it can change the fate of these people! I have to take that chance if it means that I can save them! Besides," he lied, he eyes catching a glimpse of his scared reflection as he ran past a window, looking at the lifespan above his head, slowly ticking down, "I have plenty of time left, I won't die here."

"Key…" Gevanni said as he caught up to Key easily, "At least allow me to protect you."

Key nodded as he plunged into the crowd, pushing past the taller forms of business people swarming the street, on their way to work. His eyes swept back and forth, trying to catch a glimpse of the words Cyrus Rannes. There was less than 2 minutes left.

"There!" said Key, as his eyes caught the end of Rannes to his right. Darting quickly between people, he reached out both hands as he grabbed a green army jacket from out of the crowd. Jumping and putting his whole weight behind him, Key rammed into the man named Cryus Rannes and they both fell in a tangle of limbs to the grounf.

"Stop! Please stop!" cried Key desperately, his eyes looked up horrified as he saw the numbers around him count down in unison, drawing closer to zero.

I can't let them die here.

Grabbing the small duffle bag out of the surprised man's arms, he tossed it behind him, where Gevanni, emerging from the crowd caught it easily.

"Gevanni! Stop the bomb! You have 30 seconds!" Key ordered, still sitting on top of Rannes. People around them began registering the commotion and the meaning of Key's words and screams started as people began to push away from the three forms surrounding the duffle bag.

"What are you? How did you find me?" yelled Rannes, grabbing Key and shaking him, suddenly letting go, he laughed manically, "But it's too late. The bomb will explode in a couple of seconds, killing you, me and everyone here. Finally I will be rid of this world and return to Kira's side"

A Kira worshipper Key thought absently to himself as he watched the number count down How ironic. I'm going to die because of a Kira worshipper.

And then, a flicker. Key rubbed his eyes as the numbers in his vision began to jump. Numbers that had once been very close to zero began to count up rapidly. The flickering started at the centre of the crowd and spread out slowly, as everyone's lifespan in the area began to increase. Key collapsed to his knees, blinded by the unending flicker of numbers, spinning around him.

"We're safe," he murmured as tears slid down his face from relief.

"What did you do?" the man yelled, spitting in Key's face, "Why didn't it go off? Who are you? How did you find me?"

He raised his arm, prepared to strike at the small form on the floor, still reeling from the blinding flicker of lifespans recovering. A shot rang out in the square, setting off screams from the onlooking crowd as the stampede grew, people climbing over people to escape.

"Step away from the boy," said Gevanni seriously, pointing his gun at the man, "That was a warning shot. Next time I won't be so nice."

"I do not fear you," said the man, stumbling back a bit, "You are the useless scum that can't even cleanse the evil from this earth and yet you stand against our Lord Kira's will."

Gevanni cocked his gun again, levelling it at the man calmly. Key's eyesight was slowly returning as he stood shakily.

"Wait, Gevanni," Key said quietly, "Something's wrong."

Key's focused his still blurry vision at Cyrus, straining to see his lifespan.

"We who follow the Lord do not shrink before the scum of the Earth," said the man, almost in a trance.

"Wait…" said Key as his eyes focused, "Wait, your lifespan, it's…"

"I have failed in my mission, my lord," Cyrus said, reaching into his pocket, "I will return to your side."

"Stop!" Key was on his feet yelling now, "I saved your life! But your lifespan hasn't changed! Stop it! Don't do it."

The man drew a knife from his pocket.

"No!" Key yelled lunging for the knife and the man. Before he could reach the man, he slit his throat, smiling insanely the whole time.

"Please, stop," the boy sobbed as blood began to flow, the body reeling and collapsing at his feet, "Why did you have to do this?"

Gevanni approached the boy quickly and covered his eyes, putting his jacket over his head, leading him away gently. Police and ambulance began to pull up, escorting people away from the scene and approaching the duffle bag and the dead man with hesitation and trepidation.

"The bomb is defused," Gevanni told the arriving authorities in clipped tones, "Please clear away the body as soon as possible. IF you have any questions, direct them to Wammy's or L."

Turning away from the chaos, Gevanni walked slowly with the young shivering boy. Staring at the trembling bundle wrapped in his jacket, Gevanni felt deeply for the young child who had to go through so much.

He's only seven and he's already as brilliant as he was. If he was alive, I wonder what kind of life he would have lead. Not that it matters; this boy would have been used regardless of whose side he was on. It's good that we found him first.

These eyes can be the greatest weapons we have.

September 1st, 2029

Winchester, England

"Because I already have Shinigami's Eyes."

Isa stood perfectly still for a beat, her Pocky hanging out of her mouth. Then a small drop of liquid escaped the corner of her eye as the snack stick fell from her mouth. As it touched the floor, Isa suddenly burst into tears, sobbing where she stood like a small child.

"Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!" She cried, rubbing at her eyes as tears streamed out.

Key and Grimm looked at each other, at a loss. What am I supposed to do? Key mouthed in a panic at Grimm who merely shrugged in response.

"Um, I-Isa," said Key, "T-There's really no need for you to cry. I mean it's not as if I exchanged something for these Eyes. I was born with them, like BB was."

Isa, instead of stopping, cried even louder.

"Ok, maybe BB is not the greatest example," said Key, still in a panic, "Or are you scared of me? I'm very sorry Isa! I never told anyone besides L of the names I see."

Isa was still sobbing and sniffling as Key ran around, giving her tissues, more Pocky, a handkerchief.

"Please don't cry anymore Isa," pleaded Key, helplessly, "Here, I have some limited edition Pocky. I was saving it for your birthday, but have some. Please don't cry anymore."

Isa seemed to calm down as she chewed slowly on the Pocky stick.

"I-Its just so unfair" she sniffled, tear still leaking down her face, "All this time I knew that you had a big secret, but I'd never thought that I would be something like this!"

"Um Isa," said Key nervously, "It's really not that bad, I'm actually quite used to it."

"You've been through so much just because of them," she said quietly, "Don't you think it's a bit unfair?"

"The world is an unfair place, Isa." Key replied seriously.

"So." Isa had stopped crying and was now staring intently at Key, "How did you get used to the eyes? I thought the eyes gave you good vision, why do you still wear glasses? How are the lifespans displayed to you, a date? A countdown? Is it in Shinigami time or Human time? Do people's real names change if they get married? Is the name just the legal name or what the people identify themselves as. What if the person was never given a name? What happens if a person's name is in a different language? If you have the eyes already, how come you haven't identified Kira yet? Can you change the lifespans you see or are they set in stone? Have you ever seen L's real name?"

Key took a step back. Isa's curiosity was not to be underestimated.

"I trained my eyes," Key answered seriously, "I wear fake glasses, the distortions in the glass dull my vision and makes it easier for me to function normally. I see lifespans as a countdown in Shinigami time and I convert it. A person's 'name' is whatever they identify themselves as. Normally the name is imprinted on a child when they're young, so names don't usually change. But I have seen people whose names have changed after they marry. It's a mental thing. I see names in the language they're supposed to be in, whatever the owners of the name recognize themselves as. Everyone has a name, even newborns. Again, it's a mental thing. I haven't identified Kira yet because I can see everyone's lifespan, regardless of whether they have a Death Note or not because I was born with the eyes and they've adjusted to the butterfly effect the Death Note and other things like it cause. Most of the time, the lifespans are set in stone. They will die no matter what they do when the time runs out. Fate. But things like Death Notes and the like can change it."

Isa whistled.

"Wooow," she said, "That's a lot of stuff you've had to figure out yourself. I assume since you've trained your eyes and since you're at Wammy's you have seen L's face. It's ok. I won't press you for it. You said that Death Notes and the like can change a person's lifespan. What else is there besides a Death Note."

"There's Key," said Grimm quietly from his spot where he was observing the entire exchange, "He was born with Shinigami Eyes. That already makes him unusual. But because this kid can see when a person is going to end, he can prevent certain things like murders or accidents. He's like the opposite of a Death Note. The Death Note shortens the life of the victim while lengthening the life of the owner. The Shinigami Eyes are different. They lengthen the life of people around them by being able to predict when the end comes, but do nothing to shorten life. You can't kill a person whose time isn't up unless you have a Death Note. It just doesn't work, as fate will prevent you. But using the Shinigami Eye's foresight, you can prevent fate from working and extend a person's life. Of course, that puts the eye owner in danger, as Fate doesn't like being messed around with. Usually to prevent murder, the murderer must die in exchange and accidents will endanger others or even the Eye owner themselves."

"I see, Mr. Shinigami," said Isa, "So, let's get down to business. If we're to find Kira, we need to first have a clear idea of how all this works. I know Shinigami aren't obligated to tell us anything about the rules that govern the Death Note, but since we're helping you with this, I'd like to hear all the rules."

"Seems fair," agreed Grimm, "You're lucky because you're talking to the one Shinigami that actually has a full set of rules on me. Most of the other guys don't even bother, as long as the Death Note works and keeps them alive, you know?"

Grimm sat down with Key and Isa, unrolling a scroll that was covered with strange drawings that curled to cover every inch of the parchment. In serious tones, Grim began to convey the many, many rules that governed the usage of the Death Note. Isa closed her eyes and listened quietly, smiling to herself. Key took out a notebook and scribbled down all the rules, paying close attention to the ones about the Shinigami Eyes. When it was over, Grimm sat back and let out a huge breath.

"Geez, that took forever," Grimm complained, "I didn't realize how many rules we had. And they're all so intricately worded."

"It's to prevent loopholes," said Key, reviewing the list, "There's a lot that I know, but some that I don't think even the original Kira knew. It's amazing how anyone can poke holes into such detailed rules."

"I've got it, everyone!" Isa said smiling, her eyes still closed

"Got what?" Key asked as he and Grimm looked at her quizzically.

"I know how to find Kira."

Aaaah another chapter dooone…..

These things are getting longer. Now I know why the manga is so freaking wordy….these deductions and stuff are hard to word out….

In any case…the flashback is super long this chapter because it originally started as Key saving someone from being killed and evolved into this epic bomb chaser, time counting down policework thingy….blame it on all the Sherlock and Leverage I'm watching….

Please Read and Review….i only have one reviewer (ily Markrod10) and I would really appreciate some feedback on my writing :D

Xoxo

Sushifan123