(A/N) Mello needed a chapter...
Gonna say it again: no yaoi! Friendship, FRIENDSHIP! No MxM! Sheesh...
Thank you so much to AnimeRANDOMNESS, TezTra, and sinfulseraph for reviewing!
I do not own Death Note or any of its characters. Haven't we established this?
A day after using the Death Note, Matt and I took a walk in the woods. B's grand house was secluded, so we felt safe. Being alone together would be a god way to sort out our thoughts; being with him always soothed my nerves, lowering my defenses and letting me relax. I wasn't even dressed in my favorite leather, just casual clothes.
Matt padded beside me, and we were both silent for a moment, enjoying the ambiance. Then, he spoke.
"Do you think we made the right choice?"
I scoffed, knowing instantly what he was talking about. "It sure feels good, not having to worry about Death anymore."
"And L?" he asked mournfully.
I put my hand on his shoulder, but it was comfort for me as much as for him. "L will come around."
"Everything's just so… surreal!" Matt exclaimed. "When I woke up in that crypt… well, it's almost like a video game. And real life being so much like virtual life…" he chuckled, "frankly, it scares me."
"If B hadn't… done what he did… we wouldn't exist. This isn't like a video game because… if you get 'game over,' you can't just return to another life."
Matt looked over at me, a smile on his face. "But now there is no 'game over.'"
Before replying I reached into my pocket, slowly unwrapping a chocolate bar, and bit off a chunk. Then, I shrugged. "True enough."
Matt stunned and looked up at a huge oak tree. "Aw, gosh. Remember when we were kids?"
I laughed at the memories. "Of course. How could I forget?"
Matt leaped, catching the lowest branch, legs churning empty air as he pulled himself up. When he had gained his balance, he turned and looked back at me.
"Race ya to the top!" he called, scrambling to the next branch.
Laughing, I launched myself at the tree, scraping my hands on the rough bark. Soon I had lost myself in the childish joy of the game, all thoughts of Kira and Shinigami and immortality pushed from my mind. Nothing, I decided, could beat this powerful, fee feeling. Matt's laughter drifted around me, echoed by my own, as we climbed.
I knew we had made the right decision. My muscles ached with the exertion, and my breath came in short gasps. I never wanted this to end, ever. From what Beyond had told us, being like him- a human turned Shinigami –really was the best thing in the world. You were human in every way- you got hungry, tired, exhilarated- but you couldn't ever be hurt or killed. Plus, you got wings. I vaulted onto the next branch, laughing breathlessly.
Matt beat me to the top, but it didn't really matter. We both sat at the top, gazing out over the forest, and up at the endless blue sky.
We were never going to leave it.
… … …
It was nearly sundown when we got back to Beyond's house. My good warm-and-fuzzy mood was effectively crushed when Near ran to met us. His face was a tear-streaked mask of panic, his eyes wide with fear and grief.
"It's Rodger!" he blurted. "He's dead! He had a heart attack!"
Adrenalin flooded my veins and I rushed inside with Near and Matt. Beyond was flitting around agitatedly, and L was out and pacing, his dark eyes troubled. As soon as we joined them, everyon automatically formed a loose huddle.
"Was it Light?" Matt asked.
Beyond shook his head. "That's the problem. We have no way of knowing."
"He knows all our names," Near whispered. "Why are we still alive?"
"He can't kill you," Beyond said. At first I thought he was talking about becoming Shinigami, but then he continued. "I cast a spell when I brought you back; the only Note that can kill you is mine."
There was a moment of silence. I was sure that the same thing was in all our minds; the guilt in Beyond's eyes reinforced it.
"What about Near" L was the one who finally voiced it, putting a protective arm around the small boy's shoulders.
B sighed. "It doesn't apply to him."
I saw Near gulp, even though he tried to hide it. I moved closer to him, pressing my shoulder against his. I could hardly believe that I had hated him in my first Life; rivalries didn't matter now. We were a family.
I found myself voicing just that thought. "Even if it is Light, we'll face him together. No matter what, we'll beat him. Nothing can stop us as long as we're together. We'll show him who's on top."
I saw heads start to nod. Even Lawli looked fully engaged, his eyes sparking. He stepped forward.
"So, we need a plan. Any ideas?"
"We have two options," Near said. "We could imprison him, or we could kill him. I would usally favor the former, but…"
"Those really are out only two options," Beyond agreed. "WE could take his Death Note… but that bastard is just too dangerous, with or without his Note.
"A vote?" he asked. "In favor of killing him?"
I raised my hand. Matt and near did, too. I had no qualms about killing that crazed psycho if it meant keeping that family safe.
"Can we even do that?" asked Matt. "I mean, he is a Shinigami."
"A Shinigami who used to be human," Beyond corrected. "There is a way."
I glanced at Lawli, who was a silent shadow. His eyes were wide with… alarm?
What do we have to gain from killing him?" There was a note of desperation in his voice.
"Everything," answered Beyond firmly.
The others turned away to start planning. I was the only one to notice that Lawli… was trembling.
(A/N) The plot thickens! There is a way to kill a Shinigami who used to be human? What is it? Even I haven't decided yet! *evil laugh*
