Damn, L's dead Jim. Errr….. Light. Baaaaaaaaad! Bad Light, bad! No biscuit.
Oh well, I can write L's death flashbacks pretty well now. Oooooh, but I cried the way I did when Master Robinton died! (sob) Ah, now there was a Death scene fit for a bard!
I's sad, half my plants are dying. The other half are just as green as ever. The problem is that one of the ones that's dying was given to me by my mom, the other uuuuuh, I've had that for 2 years, there hasn't been so much as a hiccup and now its dying. (sob)
I have two Bleach heraldic plants sprouting in my flowerpot garden! Gentian (Bachelor's Buttons) which is on the 3rd Division insignia, and Cyclamen which is on the 2nd's.
Southern Weyr's Search Cycle draws to a close this coming weekend. Its down to the wire! Hopefully after that I'll be able to update more frequently. But I left a teaser at the end for the next chapter.
See, I gave it a lot of thought, and I agonized over it over and over.
But in the end, the question "Which reincarnated Task Force detective gets to see hollows?" had only one answer.
CONGRATULATIONS! Matsuda you won the booby prize!
And now, for responses from the mailbag.
Pirate Captain Bo
The dropped Deathnote belongs to Ryuk's adopted little sister Mirai. Remember Ryuk wasn't alone when Uryu and Orihime found them?
By now Ryuk knows better.
Mirai, unfortunately does not know better. She's kind of... perky. In a scary way. I kinda pictured a shinigami with an Orihime sort of persona. Physically she's a more graceful (but definitely less coordinated!) version of Ryuk, and I wanted her to be lovable enough to fill in the 'Compassionate' female shinigami role left behind by Rem. (there is no substitute for Rem! May Mirai do her memory justice!)
Mirai likes junkfood, books (she collects them like a magpie does shinies) fooling around with (and sometimes breaking) human technology, and she's /reasonably/ intelligent in that she's got a good memory for details. An Apple (What other brand? :) ) iBook laptop is her treasure, pride and joy. She scavenged it from a dumpster and actually got it to work.
But when it comes to the details that /matter, like where she dropped her Deathnote. Uuuuuuh... that remains to be seen.
One of the notes mentioned in Vol. 13, How to Read, states that there are also white and red deathnotes. But these two variations don't affect the powers of the Deathnote. They're just rare, pretty, and thus coveted.
Mirai: Maybe now I can get a pretty white one! PLeaaaaaaaaase Oniisan?
Ryuk: XD We've got a lovely memory on this one.
Ryuuzaki: XD you're telling me.
I forgot to mention, I could somehow picture Matt as more of a Sephiroth than a Cloud.
the Sadistic Homicidal Child
Mikami was dissillusioned at the end before he was captured. He'd very likely blame Light for what happened to him neh? And Raito would likely be replaced with Aizen in his mind, not as God but as a charismatic leader who can help him 'achieve justice.'
Mission
When Ichigo returned to the Shoten, he was alone. He returned to the lounge to find Misa peering over Uryu's shoulder as the Quincy made every effort to draw the two arrancar that attacked him.
Uryu Ishida can sew. He cannot draw. All he'd been able to do so far was draw the armor, uniforms and weaponry the two had on them. Any attempt at faces and he couldn't do anything. "Urrg, this is so frustrating!"
"Hey, you're drawing better than I did!" Misa said cheerfully. "Think you could design a dress for me? You look like you'd be a great fashion designer."
Ichigo laughed. "Ishida sews, very well."
Uryu nodded. "I could draw their armor because I treated it like drawing a pattern. Believe it or not, Misa, I made the outfit I'm wearing by hand."
"SUGOOOOOOOOI! I'd have loved to have you designing for me while I was still alive!" Misa squealed. "I was a model! I love handmade clothes! They have so much love sewn into them!"
Uryu rolled his eyes. "Ichigo, did you get any information that would help?"
"While Mihael and his little boyfriend were catching up, I heard his boyfriend identify the two attackers. But all I have is a name."
"That's better than what I've got." Uryu pointed to his designs. "This is what they were wearing. And I sketched their zanpakuto and armor. They had a roman short sword and a war hammer, and a shield and Excalibur."
"Alright, I got sirnames, Mikami and Takada."
"WHAT??" Misa demanded. "Omigod! I know those two! Uryu they're no one to sneeze at! Kiyome was so mean!! And Mikami was downright deluded! During the Kira years there were four Kira with complete control over a Deathnote. Myself, Raito, Higuchi and Mikami. Light killed Higuchi, I don't know what happened to his spirit though. Mikami and I had shinigami eyes. Light used to have us sneak into places and identify targets. Mikami's accomplice was Takada. She was the one who killed Mello, but Light had her killed soon after."
"Okay, so what are these shinigami eyes?" Uryu asked.
"Light didn't tell you? Oh I suppose he wouldn't have thought of it. A person with a Deathnote can trade half their lifespan for a nikkisashi's sense of sight. It creates colorblindness, but it also gives you a 3.6 visual acuity and you can see the name and lifespan of any given target. If you /own/ a deathnote then your lifespan doesn't appear, because technically you're acting on behalf of a shinigami. If a person is dead already, and you're viewing them in a photograph, you can't see their name and of course there's no lifespan to look at. That's how you identify if a target is dead." Misa sighed helplessly. "Since Mikami still has his shinigami eyes, he was able to find out that you'd found a Deathnote. I just hope Aizen doesn't get his hands on one!" Misa wailed that last in despair.
"Hey guys! Yamamoto's on the video phone!" Light said cheerfully. "Come see! He's talking to Ryuuzaki!"
Ichigo dashed down the corridor, Uryu and Misa after him.
Yamamoto was speaking with L. "Ryuuzaki, congratulations on your promotion to Lieutenant. Captain Ukitake will be looking forward to working with you on your return. In the meantime, you given the following orders. You are to protect the Deathnote currently locked in Urahara's safe. You, Near and Keele are Uryu Ishida's protective detail. You are not to treat him as a perpetrator, you are to treat him as you would a witness to a crime. We will not lose the last Quincy to a nightmare from a fiasco that should not have happened. You, Near and Keele are to protect Yagami and Amane, and when the shinigami who dropped her Deathnote has returned return it to her. At all costs, prevent the Deathnote from falling into Aizen's hands. When the shinigami has come back for her Deathnote, give it to her and bring Yagami and Amane to me. Yagami Raito, you have offered your intelligence information on Aizen in return for amnesty. For this I am very satisfied to give you and Amane shelter in the Seireitei. However, if I find anything to prove you two are untrustworthy. The sokyoku no longer exists, but I can find an elegantly brutal fashion in which to execute you both for betrayal and the mess you made that we had to clean up two centuries prior."
Light and Misa knelt before Yamamoto. "Yes sir."
"Yes sir, thank you."
"Hey, don't we get to do anything in this?" Ichigo asked irritatedly.
"Deputy Kurosaki, you assistance is welcomed, but not required. Ryuuzaki, Near and Keele worked the original Kira case. Light Yagami and Misa Amane were Kiras. The five of them have more information between them than all of you and your friends put together. If they say that you are in danger, then you are to leave. No questions asked." Yamamoto ordered.
"Ryuuzaki, Nearu, the both of you are not acquainted with Kurosaki. He and his friends are more than willing to go renegade if they sense either danger or a setup. They have a /very/ good grasp of a person's character and Kurosaki beat Zaraki in an out and out firefight. Trust their loyalty and their intuition. I understand Ryuuzaki that you do not work with civilians. Therefore I am making it clear right now that you have no choice in the matter. You are to cooperate with Kurosaki and his squad or face the consequences. Am I plain?"
"Yes sir."
"Very well sir."
"Uryu Ishida. I hope you realize, that if you are not careful, the situation you've gotten yourself into could cost you your life. Further, the Deathnote cannot get into Aizen's hands. If it does, Kurosaki is a shinigami, he cannot be killed. But yourself, Orihime, and Sado and anyone connected to you three can consider yourself dead if he gets his hands on it. Not to mention that if he gave it to Mikami, Mikami could gather the necessary deceased souls in Karakura to make the King's Key in 72 hours. Everything right now is riding on you staying alive. Ishida, do you understand the gravity of your role in this? Aizen will come after you with every force he's got now that he knows there's a Deathnote floating around Karakura."
Ishida blushed, but bowed his head.
"Very well then, Ryuuzaki, congratulations on your promotion."
"Yes sir."
The call hung up.
"Sir huh?" Light teased. "I never thought you the 'sir' type."
"It is best to always be polite to one's superiors." Ryuuzaki said with a small smile as he nibbled his thumb. "Besides, I can't follow my 'rules' if I am ordered not to."
Near was still looking sidelong at Uryu. "Ishida-san, perhaps you should remain in the shoten. I'm sure Ryuuzaki can arrange a pair of hand……" Misa calmly cuffed the chibi upside the head.
"Do you have /any/ concept of courtesy or tact?"
"……"
"I guess not."
"Please tell me there's some way to make him shut up?" Ichigo hissed to L.
"I believe the only way to do so is with Hitsugaya, a large amount of lubrication, and some toys not commonly sold in toystores." Okay, that was frightening. (1) "Near is not easily dissuaded from a goal. I've been trying for centuries."
"You can't be happy about this, though congratulations on the promotion."
"If I recall correctly, a shinketsu shinigami whose been deputized can consider him or herself a member of the division they've been deputiz…….."
Rukia's foot connected with Ryuuzaki's head. "RRRRRRG, how could taichou put /you/ as our lieutenant??" Rukia demanded. "Is he crazy? He put a goddamned monkey as our……."
Light quickly scrabbled out of the way, pulling Ichigo along with him. He knew what would come next.
Just in time. WHAACK! A capoeira kick had Renji and Uryu diving out of the way as Rukia went flying, shrilling in outrage.
Near just stood there, the expression on his face seemed to indicate to Ichigo that this was a regular occurrence.
Rukia yelled in outrage. "I HATE you, how could taichou have picked /YOU/ he should have picked somebody with a bit more of a heart!" There was another punch.
It didn't even connect, another kick had Rukia ducking out of the way.
"By what do you define heart?" Ryuuzaki asked, as he and Rukia circled.
"Kaien was kind, and caring. He gave his life for his wife's honor! You're just….." Rukia started crying. "You're no Kaien Shiba." She hissed.
Light could hear no more. He pulled Rukia away. "Ryuuzaki, its obvious she's upset."
"Rukia stop it." Ichigo stepped between Ryuuzaki and Rukia. "Rukia, Kaien wouldn't want you to be sad forever right? He'd want somebody in there taking care of his men. He'd want Ukitake taichou taken care of since he's always so sick."
"Sentaro and Kiyone could have done that! He just wanted the position because he hated the captain he had! At least Sentaro and Kiyone /like/ their captain. How do we know he won't transfer out if he doesn't like taichou??"
"Its true that I don't like Kurotsuchi, but I also don't trust him. He's incompetent. I do however respect Ukitake taichou. And I trust him as well. He's fair, calm and kindhearted. Kurotsuchi reminds me of Light when he was Kira."
"Okay, that's going a little too far." Light rolled his eyes. "I've heard some folks say Kurotsuchi's something out of a nightmare."
"I know, he isn't even attractive. Uuuugly." Ryuuzaki said evenly. "Besides Light, you were out of your mind when you used that power. Kurotsuchi is always out of his mind. Urahara was much easier to work with."
Rukia watched Ryuuzaki like a hawk. "Let me go." She hissed, then turned around and walked away. "Its not the same without Kaien. He and Miyako were the patriarch and matriarch of the 13th. Thanks to Aizen we were robbed of both."
"Well she has an attitude." Light watched Rukia go.
Near sighed. "Ryuuzaki, everyone in the thirteenth division /adored/ Kaien. Believe it or not he was very kind to me when I arrived. I never understood him. To me he made no sense. But I did appreciate him. Its thanks to him I achieved Bankai."
Years earlier...
"Hey Near!" Kaian whacked the puzzle across the floor. "Talk to me."
"What did you do that for?"
"You do paperwork, you play, you do more paperwork. You never go outside, you only fight when you have to. You're brilliant but you never do anything. How come?"
"The outside world is boring. Besides, puzzles help me think." Near reached for the puzzle again.
Kaien blocked his reach. "Let's spar."
"……"
"You have a lot of potential as an officer Near. But you never put the effort into it, the heart, the sense of the individual that comes from taking what you're given and truely making it yours. Come on, train with me. I guarantee, if you train with me you won't be bored for a long time."
"I'd rather stay here."
"NOT. An option." Kaien grabbed the little shinigami by the foot as Near made a dive to get back to the toys. "Ukitake doesn't have a choice about staying inside, /he's/ sick. You're perfectly healthy."
Near was by this time being dragged by his feet, scrabling at the floor and looking quite frazzled. "Shiba-fukutaiiichoooo my toys!"
"Kaien." Kaien corrected. "You're too polite." Kaien stood Near up and dusted him off. "Call me /Kaien./ You know, I've never heard your birth name." Near's hair was frazzled, and he was blinking like an hour with a lantern shining on him. Well, Kaien tended to have that effect on people.
It was only then that the former detective comprehended what the fukutaichou was saying. "I like Near better……"
"'near' isn't a name, its an adjective. Your name officer?" Kaien growled warningly. His eyes were sparkling with amusement though.
Near blushed. "Nate….."
"That wasn't so hard!" Kaien fluffed Near's hair with a huge grin. "Your sirname officer?"
Near blushed, crossed his arms over his chest and refused to look at Kaien. "During the case, letting our real names be known meant death. I'm not used to………."
"Hmmm…… I see. A little sparrow like you should learn to fly with the rest of the flock. Have you discovered your Zanpakuto's name yet?"
"No……"
"Well, there's a reason for that. You need to trust your comrades before it will trust you."
"Her."
"Hmm?"
"She's a her. I know it."
"Oh really, how much of her has appeared yet?"
"Not much…… sometimes I still dream about…. About……. But when I get upset over it and I fall back asleep, I feel like there's a feathery…….. thing, beneath me. I'm being held and cared for and warm and……"
"aaaaaah, she's trying to comfort you." That was the first insight Kaien Shiba had into the mind of a Wammy House Brat.
That was how Kaien Shiba started training Near for Shikai. And from there Near continued training for Bankai. He learned to trust his comrades, but to him, he'd answered to 'Near' for so long, 'Nate Rivers' didn't exist anymore.
It didn't matter. Near found Hitsugaya soon after he began special 'training' with Kaien to try and achieve Bankai, and the day after they got together Tosuhana billowed open into the huge silver bird that had appeared in his dreams.
"I'm not familiar with Ukitake's division, perhaps I should have spoken with them more when I applied." Ryuuzaki said thoughtfully.
Light watched the two. "Ryuuzaki don't worry about it. It takes people awhile to get you, once they see you're a pretty nice guy, well……. A bit eccentric but it just takes time to get to know someone."
"I suppose. Hopefully that won't be the universal reaction. I don't think they trust somebody from the twelfth, more of a sign that Kurotsuchi is incompetent."
Light shook his head. "Is Kurotsuchi the one that put Szayel in a coma?"
"he's still alive?" Ichigo blinked. "I thought Kurotsuchi killed him."
"No, he didn't. You know how if somebody's kidneys are failing you put them on dialysis until they can get a transplant?"
"Yeah, my dad's a doctor, I know exactly what you mean."
"Zephly, the doctor for the Arrancar, he's Szayel's lover. He fixed Szayel's injuries, sedated him, and put him on a similar machine to get the toxin out of his system."
"I thought Arrancar executed their wounded." Ryuuzaki commented. "I was told they just tend to eliminate anybody on their side who can't fend for him or herself."
"Actually, Zephly and Szayel knew each other since they were alive. There's a lot of love their between them. Appearantly Aizen gives Zephly just as much power as he would an Espada."
"Interesting."
"Yeah." Light took Ryuuzaki's hand, "Congratulations on your promotion. Lieutenant L." He gave the other a smooch on the cheek.
Ryuuzaki smiled, well, smirked, and leaned against Light. He nodded farewell to Near as they headed for the guestroom. "So, feeling better?"
"Not entirely. Urahara's been giving me the poke and prod trying to get a gigai made, the problem is that it keeps spitting me back out. When the effort finally reopened my wounds Urahara told me to take a break."
"Hmm…… perhaps we should both take a break then. You know, I never finished giving you that foot massage."
Light laughed. Then he paused, face darkening. "Ryuuzaki, you figured out what was coming, that's why you were standing out there in the rain wasn't it?"
"Yes, although I was feeling especially sad that day. The bells, I never answered your question. I was remembering the bells, of the church when my parents died. The orphanage I went to had a bell tower too. I used to go up there to study."
Light was quiet, it was clear he was feeling ashamed. But he waited for L to answer his question.
"I suspected when a piece was torn out of the notebook. Rem wasn't exactly forthcoming, when a witness is being intimidated and the person intimidating them is standing in the room they usually seem to magically develop amnesia. I also suspected that at least one of the rules had been made up. That's why I was going to have someone test the book. And Light, when you became Kira once more, the change in your behavior was almost immediate." He turned so that Light was facing him. "Raito……" Ryuuzaki shook his head, using the affectionate name, the Japanese pronunciation rather than the English. "I never put my finger on it. Something that day, warned me that I wasn't going to be around long. You had become Kira again, you were the one most in a position to do it." Ryuuzaki looked up at his lover. "You were transparent Raito……" The look in his eyes was both loving and sad.
Ryuuzaki pulled the other down into a kiss, not steamy, just tender, sweet. Light's expression was just as anguished.
The beeper that called Ryuuzaki to deal with a hollow went off. "I guess I'd better get moving, this one isn't too far away."
"Go, Urahara asked me to help him with his research."
"Urahara is a fair man. I was the only member of his staff that remained after his exile." He turned to go, and Light watched him leave.
"has love truly triumphed over the monster Raito-kun?" Urahara was standing behind him.
"I hope so." Light said quietly. "I love him, maybe that's all I need to heal."
"He still has not healed."
"I didn't expect him to automatically. Killing your lover isn't going to be water under the bridge even after 200 years."
"I see, well, you'll know that he has forgiven you, Raito, when Ryuuzaki tells you the name that Rem used to kill him with."
Light watched the direction Ryuuzaki had gone in, a worried frown on his face.
Far away, Ryuuzaki took the route to the battlefield in flying leaps, a small smile on his face as he raced off to meet the enemy.
Next chapter……
Matsuda, open your eyes.
What happened? I thought I was going to be crushed by that monster. This guy dressed in black, he seems so familiar somehow. Its like I know that I can trust him, but I've never seen him before!
"Matsuda get up and MOVE!" (2)
1. I'm exaggerating. I don't have a very good grasp of Near, but given how much he hates Kira, I'd be willing to lay money on him annoying Uryu to the point of violence at least once.
2. I was trying, very hard, to follow the format in the anime, where "Next Episode" has a narrative by one of the characters and a teaser as far as the content.
