Author's Note- Wow thanks for the reviews guys :) This one I got done alot earlier (I have a lot of free time and no friends *cue Awwwhs* ;_;) So please enjoy :) If you spot any mistakes or have some friendly criticism please speak up because I welcome it :) Just keep the reviews coming and I'll return the favour with chapters :D Have a nice read! And if I don't update by Christmas, have a merry one :D
Looking down at the sharp blade pressing lightly to my throat, I remained paralysed. My feet moulded to the ground. "Good girl, Shadow." he laughed menacingly pulling the knife away. "Aren't you going to turn around, princess?"
"I see no need in doing so, B." I slammed the laptop shut and pushed it aside the bench. "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see you… Is that a problem, princess?"
"Yes," I turned cautiously around. "Because you're lying to me."
"Would I lie to you?" he smirked putting the knife to the side. Dried blood covered the handle, but yet the blade looked brand new. Sharpened to a point that pressing a finger lightly to the tip would draw blood. "Where's your fiancé? Out in the town again?"
"You know he's on a case." I disputed.
"Ah yes…" he mumbled, he rubbed his index finger lightly across his bottom lip. "Why are you marrying him, anyway?"
"What type of question is that!" I scoffed, walking closer to him, amused when he walked back slowly.
"Well, you don't exactly speak often…" The smile from his face faded into an expression of hurt. " I mean, you're my friend. Not his."
"What are you trying to say?" I fell over my own words. He slouched over and leaned against the wall.
"I'm saying that he'll be the death of you."
"What!" I snapped approaching him aggressively. "You don't know him like I do!"
"You don't know him at all, princess." he frowned leaving the kitchen and going into living area. He picked the creased dress from the floor and ran his fingers through the fabric and material. "A pretty dress. Shame you won't get to wear it…" he said under his breath.
"What do you mean?" I watched him smoothen out the creases deep in thought. B…What are you trying to say? B handed the dress to me on it's hook and smiled dejectedly before sitting back down. "B, tell me what's going on…"
"Beyond, S. It's Beyond." he sighed running his hand through the knots in his black hair. "Beyond Birthday."
"A-ah…" I trembled lightly. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Well it's not like you would tell anyone else before…" he stopped, and flashed me a fake smile. "L already knows, why not you?"
"I guess I understand that." I sat beside him, patting him lightly on the back. "B-Beyond, you know you can tell me anything, right?"
"I miss this." he laughed, changing the current subject. "I miss you, I miss A, I miss Wammy's, for God's sake I even miss that old fart Roger."
"Why did you run away then, B?" My eyes stung as they filled with tears.
"Because you weren't there to stop me." he smirked. My eyes leaked when I tried to hold them in. The anger building up in my chest only grew more intense putting pressure on my rib cage. How could B be the killer? How can he pour his heart out to me and be so normal around me? Did I get it wrong?
"Grow up." I gritted my teeth. "Why are you doing this to me? Say what you want to say and fast. Because I have a wedding to organise."
"Right," he cackled, grabbing my wrists tight. "Tell me this- do you love him? Because I'm sure as hell he doesn't love you back."
"Love doesn't exist-"
"Oh don't give me all that crap!" he shoved me to the ground, still squeezing my wrists. "Don't say that. He's programmed you to think how he thinks!" My breath were caught at the back of my throat as I tried to reply. "Now do you love him?"
"Yes." I said. He snickered, releasing my wrists and standing up over me.
"Tell you what- the day he says it back, you've won. But the day you're lying there dying, and he still can't say it, don't expect me to pity you." I rubbed my sore wrists and stared blankly up at him. "But I promise there will be no wedding. Because you won't live to see it…"
"Is that a threat?" I asked. He laughed mockingly and helped me to my feet.
"No." he grabbed my waist and pulled me forward. "Princess… You have three days until the wedding…" My eyes widened as he stroked my face, his creepy smile crept upon his face. "And… a day to live."
"W-what..?" I said shakily breathing in and out.
"Shadow, if you had the eyes. The eyes that can see when a person shall pass… And, no matter what you do, you can't change their fate. People think you're insane… Well look at me now, I am insane." his eyes shimmered, looking down at my petrified face. "I knew A was going to die. I knew. And I know that you're next. I'm not sure how, but you're going to die. My only friend is dying…" he paused, pushed me away lightly, and turned away. "And the man she's marrying will be the death of her."
"Beyond?"
"Good luck, I have a plane to catch." he drifted into the kitchen and pushed the window, crawling through the small space.
"Don't kill again, Beyond!" I bawled, grabbing his arm and pulling him back in. "It's not justice!"
"No one can stop me." he shook me off crawled even further outside the window. "And besides, I'm next."
"Huh?" I gasped.
"Enjoy the remainder of your life span, princess."
And like that, he had got away. But, stubborn as I was, I wasn't going to let him get away with his crime. Quickly, I opened up the laptop and began accessing the LAPD's documents for details on the murder victims. "Believe Bridesmaid… Quarter Queen… All so young." I sighed, coming across details of the crime scene. "…Got it!" I declared, tapping into the autopsy reports of the victims. "This is sick…" My stomach flipped as I scrolled through the pictures of the young girls. "Definitely B's doing…"
After spending another 5 minutes researching, I had roughly pinpointed the area he would be hitting next. "I have to stop him before he does something he regrets…"
"-Hello, Shadow.-" The laptop shut down all my windows and a large 'L' took it's place. "-Would you care to explain why you're hacking the LAPD's documents?-"
"I just wanted to see what this case is about…" I lied. "L, I am begging you, take on this case!"
"-No, Shadow. The killer is obviously B. And provoking him will only make matters worse.-"
"So you're just going to let this happen!" I raged, glancing over to my coat temptingly. "Fine- let me take on the case."
"-I'm sorry, but no. It's too risky and I don't want you to get harmed.-" he replied through a voice filter. "-Promise me you will stay away from this case. It's dangerous.-"
"Right." I rubbed the dry skin from my eyes. "Goodbye, L."
"-Goodbye, Shadow.-" The computer shut down, leaving me to do as I please.
"I'm sorry too, L." I picked up my coat and all the money I could find in my bag. "But I'm not going to die like this… And it's time you opened your eyes to justice."
[Location: ?]
[?'s P.O.V]
"Please… I don't want to see it anymore…"
"Huh? See what?"
"It's driving me crazy… I don't want to see them die…"
"Everybody dies, don't be such a cry-baby."
"But Mommy and Daddy… I just want it to go away…"
"…"
"I don't want to see it, I don't want the notebook, l-look what I've done!"
"I did warn you about the guilt."
"Please, Mister… I want it to go away… I want to forget."
"God why did I get myself into this?"
"Ryu-Ryu…"
"Augh- fine. But I'm breaking a lot of rules doing this."
"Thank you!"
"But, as a warning, you're going to lose your memory. Everything leading up to now… gone, ok?"
"It's what I want…"
"Right… Oh- here."
"What's this?"
"A death eraser- it's a keepsake. What it does is kind of self explanatory. And hey- it's not like you'll remember how to use it."
"Ok…"
"But you might remember some things if you touch it too often. So just be careful."
"Got it."
"It's been nice knowing you kid."
"What? Why are you writing my na-"
"It'll be ok, kid…"
[Shadow's P.O.V]
My eyes drifted side to side, eagerly searching for Beyond. My chest was on fire, my whole side pulsing and throbbed uncontrollably. And my arm was crushed under the rubble and fallen debris. I couldn't move. Even if I tried. And the fire was only getting closer…
I knew I was going to die.
My sight began to blur as a crew approached me. "There's one here!" the paramedic called out. "It's ok Miss, you're going to be alright."
"No…" I uttered, grabbing the man's arm loosely. "Get him out, I'm already dead…"
"Get who out?" he spoke clearly.
"He's in there, burning… Q-quick." I pointed to the remnants of the building. He scanned through his head, and his head wondered to my chest. A large cut was there. And was bleeding profusely. And on that thought, they headed inside to find Beyond. Moments later, they brought a body out on a stretcher. Burnt beyond belief.
A burnt Beyond.
He eyes opened as he was taken into the ambulance. Shocked, he stared straight at me and screamed. "You silly girl!" he screeched through unbearable pain. "You silly, silly girl!"
"Bye, B…" I bid my farewells as I drifted in and out of consciousness. The pressure being applied to my chest felt as if it was being lifted.
"She's over there!" I heard Watari's voice yell.
"…Her vitals are dropping fast…!"
A nurse?
"…I'm her fiancé…"
L! I opened my eyes urgently, looking up at a blurry face. He looked down at me, his face telling an emotion I had never seen on him before.
" I told you this was dangerous."
I wanted you to follow your heart.
"That's physically impossible-"
NO, L! Nothing is impossible… Just a challenge.
"You shouldn't have come here. I told you not to." A horrified look flashed briefly on his face before I shakily handed him my hand.
If I hadn't, would you have even come?
"I wouldn't have had a reason to-"
Beyond… Deserves justice. You- we ARE justice.
"Shadow…" he gently embraced my hand in his own, causing my slowly beating heart to beat slightly quicker. "Why are you doing this?
Because nobody deserves to die. Not Beyond or his victims… Even if it meant sacrificing mine.
"But what are you to people if you're dead!" I received a mixed signal of anger, sadness…Despair.
Was I talking to the same L? My eyes shut, and held my hand more firmly.
At least I don't die in vain. But you can't die until you follow your own ambitions. Promise me you won't be stupid like I have been today…I restlessly tackled my eyes open. Promise me… you'll help serve justice.
"I can't keep a promise like that Shadow…" I dragged him forward so that he was looking me in the eye. He leaned forward submissively allowing me to see sorrowful eyes.
Promise me.
"I promise." he smiled, a rarity. My soft laugh turn into a violent sequence of coughs. To which he held my hand close to his heart and stared down at me hopefully.
Good… It's not death that shall do us part. It's until we stop thinking about one another… ok? Slowly, I felt like I was separating from my own body.
"No Shadow… You still have a ten percent chance of survival…"
… But my life span has reached its end.
"Shadow do not give up!" I felt the almost non-existent tremors circulating around his body.
Lawliet… I love you…
Not saying a word, he lowered his face until his nose brushed mine. And softly kissed my dry lips. Wishing the moment would last a little longer,
Everything went black. And I died.
"…Well, this is convenient. Heh."
"Who is that?"
"Doesn't matter. Anyway, I got a gift for you. I need to ditch these eyes fast before the King sees me…"
"Eyes?"
"Yeah- Shinigami eyes, you know."
"What!"
"Anyway, take them, and you get to live. What d'ya say?"
"Um, alright?"
"Right, we'll be seeing each other soon then do discuss your new responsibilities…"
"Wait, what? For how long are you leaving me?"
"Until the time's right. Bye, human!"
"…"
[Present Day]
[Winchester: Wammy's House]
[Hope's P.O.V]
"What are you doing?" Matt chuckled. "You're cat can't get anymore groomed, man."
"Shut up!" I giggled, dragging a brush through the knots of Van Gogh's long silky fur. "You can't be too well groomed, isn't that right?" I picked him up and snuggled him close to me. "You've been with me for as long as I can remember haven't you?"
"How come I don't get that much attention." Matt pouted playfully grabbing Van Gogh from out my hands. He lifted him up and inspected the cat from every angle. "Cute… But not as cute as me."
"Of course not," I smiled, grabbing a box from under my bed and going through all of my stuff.
"Now what are you doing?"
"Just going through everything. It'll be nice to find something memorable." I rummaged through the cardboard box. Just to my luck, I found nothing of the sorts. I frowned, pushing the box back under my bed. "Well that sucks."
"No luck?"
"Nope." I sighed.
"Well I tell you what…" a pair of hands appeared on front of me holding out a pair of red goggles. Brand new with a blue tint in the lens. "Have my spares- now you have something to remember me by" he grinned and slapped the goggles over my eyes. He laughed, grabbing my hand mirror from the bed side. "We're twins!"
"Yay?" I said sarcastically, tackling Matt from the legs and sending him flying. For a few minutes, we just enjoyed each other's company. Matt was growing on me. Fast. However, I found myself growing more attached to a white haired boy. Near.
"How is Near anyway?" Matt asked, trying to show interest. "We don't talk much…"
"Because of Mello?" I cocked my head to the side looking at Matt for an answer.
"Yeah," he replied, his smile fading. "I don't why they can't get along…I guess it's because of the leader boards."
"Leader boards?" I snickered. "Do you mean this competition everyone keeps mentioning?"
"Yeah- you should know about them really considering you took my place as third. How's the grades anyway?"
"They're… improving. A lot. Roger said that I'm working at a similar level as Near… I doubt it though. He's so smart."
"But you are too, Hope!" Matt egged on. Listening to Matt's little rant, I turned to the box and randomly dug my hand in the bottom. To my surprise, a little tin box that fitted straight into my hand was pulled out. It was dark brown- almost black. And on the lid, there was an indentation of some foreign symbol. What does it mean? I frowned. I was a multi-linguist, but this symbol seemed to be almost alien.
A step forward to learning a bit more about myself.
"Hope?" Some knocked gently on our door, and invited themselves in. It was Near, staring blankly at us as we lied on the floor. Our sides aching from all the laughing.
"Near!" I smiled gathering myself and walking up to the open door. "What brings you here?"
"It's one o' clock." he said, fiddling with his white hair. "Are you still alright to play?"
"Um- yeah!" I flashed him a small smile, and waved goodbye to Matt. "Near, do you want to do something different today?"
"Like what?" he asked, looking down at the floor quietly.
"Let's go outside." I suggested.
"But it's cold."
"Well we'll wear overalls."
"I don't have any…" he mumbled.
"I'm sure Matt will give you some." I argued. We walked passed the common room and into kitchen. The kitchen was relatively small compared to the rest of the rooms. But it meant more space for the garden outside. The door to outside happened to be flung wide open allowing the cold breeze to flow in. I smirked, grabbing Near's slightly bigger hand and dragging him outside barefoot.
"What are you doing!" he yelled as we trampled through a fresh sheet of snow.
"What does it look like? I'm taking you outside!" I grinned from ear-to-ear. My feet ached from the cold as we ran towards the woods. Once we reached them, we took cover under a tree trembling in the blistering cold.
"Why did you do that?" he shook violently. "We have no shoes on!"
"I know." Laughing hard, I climbed up the tree we had sheltered under away from the snow. "Climb up!"
"I can't." he reckoned. I rolled my eyes, holding out my hand and heaving him up. He was light, he felt almost weightless. He bounced up onto the branch and balanced himself. "Why did you do that?" he repeated, glaring me square in the face. I opened my mouth, and paused. I don't actually know… "You don't even know do you?"
"Nope." I tinged a light pink.
"Why are you blushing?"
"Because it's cold!" I folded my arms defensively across my chest. "Near, don't you come outside often?" He shook his head. "Why not?"
"I'm content with indoors."
"I know, but you can't stay cooped up in there forever!"
"Why not? I like it." he bickered. He circled his ankles around creating some sort of blood flow through them. I frowned, pulling him forward and wrapping my arms tight around him. "What are you-"
"You're cold so I'm warming you up." I stopped him mid-sentence. He squirmed trying to free my grip, he shoulders were stiff in place. And he looked up at me irritated by the closeness. Where as I was embarrassed.
"Are you unwell?" he asked, not averting his eyes from mine.
"No why?"
"Because you're getting redder" he stated, hesitantly placing a hand on my forehead. A bold move from such an anti social mess. "You're really warm. We should go inside."
"Nice try- we're staying out. Can't you enjoy it for a second?" I huffed.
"Alright." he accepted the situation with difficulty, relaxing gradually into my hold.
"Heh- you blend in with the snow." I joked, squeezing him gently from behind. "God- it feels like I've only been here a couple of days. But I've been here a few months now…"
"Where are you from?" Near asked, looking up at me.
"Erm…Uh…" I thought hard, but I couldn't recall. "I don't know… They found me on the street."
"You don't seem like you are from the street." he said. "More of a middle class family that live quite far away. Perhaps orphaned."
"How did you get all that?" I chuckled looking drearily down at him.
"Just from the way you behave. And your dialect fits that area…" he mumbled, with his hands in his hair.
"Ok…" I sighed. "Actually, I did come from quite far away… Truth be told, I can't remember any of my childhood. All I remember is the nagging feeling telling me to go there…"
"Where is there?"
"The park… The one with the memorial beside it? I don't know why… And there's this woman's grave that seems to catch my eye quite often there. A woman and her daughter… The woman was called Olivia."
"Interesting…" he grumbled. "Can we go inside now?"
"I guess… Thanks for listening." Smiling, I threw one leg over the branch preparing to jump down.
"Take your time, Hope." Near called up.
"Oh so you can get down but not up! I smirked.
"My feet weren't numb then."
"No exc-" Leaning too much forward, I fell off the branch. Crashing down into the 4 inches of snow formed on the ground. I opened my eyes cautiously, and froze.
"Hope you've…" Near began, looking wide-eyed into my green eyes. I had managed to fall on top of Near, from seven feet up in the air. I laughed, causing me to apply more pressure onto the poor white haired boy. "What's so amusing?"
"Nothing!" I broke out into hysterics, my eyes watered, and my chest and sides started to hurt all over again. Growing tired of me, Near rolled me over into the snow. The sudden cold catching my breath. "Cold!"
"Really? I didn't notice." he smiled.
"Hey- you smiled!" I ogled, feeling nervous under his stare. "I like your smile- do it more!"
"I'll smile when I want to."
"Well- yeah- but still!" I giggled lifting myself up onto my arms. "So…"
"…" His eyes grew a lot softer on me, making me relax a bit more. He slid his hands deeper into the snow, wincing in what I imagined to be pain. My arms and legs started to numb the longer I laid there, and my head throbbed lightly. My lungs felt compressed, yet Near was merely hovering over my body. "Shall we go in?" he asked knocking me out of the dazed feeling I was experiencing. I nodded, lifting myself out of the snow. We ran back inside through the newly emerged blizzard. We dried off our feet, and walked through to the common room. Where we were originally planning to spend the day.
Near pulled out a box from underneath one of the sofas full of blank jigsaw pieces. And he began to build, once again. The stress being put on my lungs remained. Suddenly I found it harder and harder to breathe normally. And my face felt hot, like an open fire. "Near…" I called out, grabbing his attention. "Did you…have fun today?"
"Yes." he replied with a very light smile. "Why? What's wrong?"
"Nothing…Just wondering. I don't feel so good." Standing up, Near walked over to me and knelt down to my level pressing his cold palm on my head.
"You're hot." he said. "You should go see Roger, you're not well."
"N-no I'm fine… I think I just have things on my mind. No worries." I smiled tiredly. He shook his head falling off his knees onto the floor. I think I know what's wrong…
"What's on your mind?" he asked, playing with another tuff of hair.
"Why do you play with your hair so much?"
"Huh? I don't know." he stared concerned at me. "Tell me."
"It's nothing… I just…" Not finishing the sentence, I impulsively ran a hand through his white shiny locks. It's so soft… "Oh- sorry. I was curious."
"I-it's fine." he stuttered, grabbing the ends of my fringe. "Yours is as well."
"Thanks." We sat for a few more minutes, hands in each others hair. Until the feeling in my chest tightened and tightened, until I was gasping for air.
"Hope?" Near's eyes widened, as I fell forward into his chest. "What's wrong!"
"My chest…!" I gasped, clinging to Near's chest in panic. "I can't…!"
"Roger!" Near bellowed out, cupping my head in his hands. "Stay awake."
"I'll try." I whimpered. I guess I was wrong…
"Roger!" Near yelled out again. "Somebody!"
"Near…" I giggled, the dizziness going to my head as I drowsily swayed side to side. He looked down at me, his hands still planted to my face. Stupidly, I stretched out my head and pressed my lips firmly against his. By surprise, he didn't pull away too quickly caught in the shock of the moment.
And then I blacked out, feeling like I'd never wake up again.
Gimme an R Gimme an E Gimme a V-I-E-W :D
