Death Notes and Nobodies

Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Death Note or Kingdom hearts related.

Author's Notes: I'm trying my best to get this whole thing done within the next couple days, and then it's on to finishing Wish.

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Axel felt warmth enveloping his whole body and he revelled in it as he climbed slowly to consciousness. He opened a tired eye and saw Roxas sitting in a chair next to him reading a book.

"Hey," Axel said in a raspy voice.

Roxas' attention shot up from his book to his friend.

"Hey, you're awake. How do you feel?"

Axel thought about it, and realized that he felt pretty darn good.

"I'm a little weak, but I feel like I could eat a horse." He said with a smirk.

Roxas laughed. "Well, I'm at your service. I'll go fetch you some grub."

Axel nodded and lifted a hand out from under the covers to clasp Roxas' in a handshake they'd always used and then the blond left on his hunt for food.

Now Axel lay in bed thinking. The organization knew where he was, and they knew he was a traitor. Since he had been the one chosen to eliminate traitors before, they would probably have someone like Luxord or Xaldin do the dirty work.

In any case, it really didn't matter who was sent, all that mattered was when… They could send someone any minute, and Axel didn't need the stress right now.

All the plans were risky. He could go back to the Organization and claim that he'd annihilated number XIII, but they'd know better. The organization had people everywhere, and there wasn't a thing Xemnas didn't know. Axel sighed and let his arm fall over his eyes. How was he gonna get out of this one? He needed a fool proof plan, and right now nothing seemed to be coming to mind…

Well, it was probably a good idea that he get up and out of bed. Axel hoped that Xemnas was still debating who to send after him.

That was one thing Axel had going for him. He was amongst the Organization's strongest members, and the next person to be sent after him would surely be chosen meticulously. Now that Axel thought of it, it made sense. Xemnas had sent Demyx, knowing he controlled the very element that could destroy him. No other member controlled any powers that could match Axel's, let alone create a problem. This up lifted the pyro's spirits. Maybe the best plan was just fight what ever came his way, but what worried him was the idea of the members coming to this world and making a mess of things.

The red head sighed and forced himself to drag his body out of the perfect comfort of the hot bed. How long had he been asleep anyway? That was something he definitely needed to know. It would decide how much longer he had to regain his strength and come up with an idea on how to lure the next adversary to a different fighting arena. It shouldn't be too hard, but then again, of all the members that could be sent, Axel couldn't think of one that would play fair. If it was Luxord, he'd play an unfair game of death poker with him, and it if was Xaldin, Axel suspected he'd be stabbed in his sleep by multiple spear heads. He shuddered. He would avoid becoming a holey mess at all costs, and he figured he could burn through all of Luxord's tricks. But then, there was a chance that Xemnas would send more than one member.

"Argh! Damn you, you freakin stupid organization!" Axel cried out and little flames came to life around his shoulders and in the palms of his hands. He noticed and took a deep breath. If he burned the building down, then all his planning would pretty much be worth a rat's hide.

He took a deep breath and bent to unplug the electric heater before leaving the room. He created a portal, too lazy to walk up stairs, and appeared in the main investigation room; to heck with the other member's sanity. If he wanted to teleport, then he would do as he pleased.

Matsuda looked up just in time to see Axel step out of the black hole and was frozen in place. The red head smirked and put his index finger up to his lips. Matsuda nodded dumbly and set back to work. As Axel passed him by, he whispered; "Don't worry about telling Ryuzaki and Light, they already know."

"You're up Axel-san." L said as he turned to face the red head in his swivel chair.

"Yep, and I'm rearing to go; any new ideas to catch Kira? I feel like a million bucks. I could even kick Kira's ass right now."

"Rather flippant of you, but I admire your enthusiasm. As for Kira, I have an announcement to make about that particular area."

The team became dead silent as they set all their attention on the detective.

"After having Light-kun and Misa Amane under surveillance, I have finally come to a verdict."

Mr. Yagami held his breath as the other members leaned forward in their seats with interest.

"They're-

But before he could finish his sentence, Roxas came through the door with a "to go" bag. He noticed how silent the room was and laughed sheepishly. "Uh, never mind me; please go on with what you were saying."

L cleared his throat and began again. "I've decided that there is no possible way Light-kun could be Kira. Misa Amane is also free of charge."

As expected, there were cheers all around, and no questioning of the announcement. Everyone was already convinced that Light and Misa were just too good to be the Kiras they were searching for.

The only one who doubted was Light. He knew well enough that this sudden announcement was in the name of a plan. L had something up his sleeve, but Light couldn't think what. For the mean time, Light could work under less stress, but always wary of the detective.

Axel turned to the corner where he caught the white shinigami staring at him. Rem was its name if he remembered correctly. Perhaps he could get some info from this creature. His lips curled up into a small smile. He sidled up next to it without many noticing.

"So, you're a god of death, right?" He asked casually.

Rem kept her eyes on him. "Yes, but what are you? You're not human; you have no heart."

Axel looked up at Rem with a smirk and a finger to his lips. "That's between you and I, Rem. I'm not human, and I'm not a god of death. I'm what you call a Nobody; I'm not even supposed to exist, but here I am."

Rem stared down at Axel with mild curiosity. "You're still derived of a human, though."

Axel nodded. "Yeah, the real me lost his heart and was able to get it back. I'm the shell of a heartless he left behind. I grew a will and I can reason."

Rem grasped the concept well enough to get the basic gist of the idea.

"Then why are you here?" The shinigami asked.

"I'm here for Roxas. He still doesn't know what he is. He's lost his memory, and it turns out he ended up in this world. I found him, but I have no where to go, so why not stay here and let things unfold?" Axel said folding his ands behind his head against the wall.

"You're looking for Kira." Rem stated.

Axel shrugged. "I have to prove that Roxas and I are innocent, don't I? I don't suppose Ryuzaki would believe you if you told him that we're not shinigami?"

Rem shook her head no. "That man… He'd think it was a plot to protect Kira. He already suspects my alliance to him."

"Are you working for Kira?"

Rem stared at Axel for a long time before shaking her head.

"No, I don't work for Kira. Like you, I'm working to protect someone."

Axel nodded. "I see, but isn't it forbidden for a Shinigami to help a human? You said so yourself when Higuchi was apprehended."

Rem nodded. "A shinigami will die if they kill a human to save the life of another human."

"How many people know that? It could be used against you."

Rem nodded. "I suspect it would have been had that man not just declared Misa and Light innocent and free of charge."

Axel processed that. Rem said she wasn't working for Kira, and right then, it looked like Light was the main suspect for that area. So… Rem was basically saying that she would have had to kill someone to expand someone's life… That would be Ryuzaki, no doubt. So Rem was trying to protect Misa! It all clicked. Misa was the second Kira without a doubt, and Light was the first Kira.

"Rem, you just helped me a whole lot. Tell me one thing though, if a person is Kira, is there any way to save them from the power of the Death Note?"

Rem looked down at Axel carefully examining his face. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because, if Light is Kira… When he wasn't Kira, he wasn't all that bad. Is there any way to stop him without having to kill him?"

Rem thought for a moment and then nodded. "If I tell you, will you promise to help me?" She asked.

Axel's smirk broke into a grin; "Of course."

"As a warning, I threaten that if you do not come through with your end of the bargain, I can kill you."

"How?" Axel asked out of morbid curiosity.

"I can see your true name. Axel isn't your real name… It's Riku."

Axel's eyes widened. "So that's who my other is…"

The red head stood staring up at the shinigami with a crushing urge to hug it, but he knew better.

"Thanks Rem, you don't know how much you just helped me. I promise to help you, but we need to work together on this. Just you and me, we can pull it off."

Rem stood slouched over and a small smile appeared on her features. Something about Axel told her she could trust him.

Light was fuming. Dang it! Now that L had given them the green light, he had no way of manipulating Rem into killing the detective; the one obstacle standing in his way. L was planning something. There was no doubt about it.

"Light-kun," L said interrupting Light's homicidal thoughts, "It is your choice, but I ask you to consider becoming a permanent part of our investigation. You are of much use to us, and I'm sure I speak for everyone by saying that we'd appreciate your help."

Light felt the burning in his chest flare up. How could L be so damned good with words? He was so good at keeping the team at bay, and more importantly, Light.

"I won't abandon this investigation until Kira is found, Ryuzaki. You know that. Whether I'm under surveillance or not, I'll continue with it because we are true justice."

L nodded. "I'm glad, Light-kun." That's all he said before turning back to the computer screen. The rest of the team came up and patted Light on the back.

"I knew you were innocent all along." Matsuda said with a sincere smile and a hand on the boy's shoulder.

Mr. Yagami was absolutely relieved. Now he could rest in peace.

Mogi was smiling too. He didn't say much, but a quit pat on Light's back was enough justification for a thousand words.

Roxas stood beside L with his back leaning against the desk.

"So it starts now, huh?"

L nodded. "Yes."

That evening, Light was reading a trashy novel for lack of nothing better to do in the mean time. Roxas walked in the room and sat down next to him looking nervous. Light put down the paper back novel and looked over at the boy. He felt his heart sink a little at the scared look on his face.

"Roxas-kun… I'm really sorry about this morning…" He whispered.

Roxas shook his head and forced a smile. "Well, you saved me, right?"

Light's eyes fell to the ground. Kira or not, Light didn't want to kill with his bare hands, and Roxas was no criminal.

"Light, there's something I think you should know…"

Light looked up at Roxas curiously. "What is it?"

"It's about Ryuzaki…" The boy scooted a little closer to Light and spoke in a careful whisper. "I don't trust him."

Light looked down at the blond with surprise, and then suspicion.

"Why?"

"Well, he's a genius, right? And we all know he likes to think he's justice. He hates to lose, and he loathes criminals…" Roxas turned his blue eyes to Light's, "I think he might be the real Kira."

Light stared back at Roxas. "What's your angle?"

"Well, look at it this way, Ryuzaki… The only reason he hasn't killed the task force is to avoid suspicion of himself. He's kept everyone alive leading them falsely. The notebook of death probably fell into his hands only recently, and he just became so enthralled with the power that he enjoyed it. He's trying to frame you, Light!" Roxas' whisper was frantic now.

Light felt himself holding back a laugh. Roxas really was dense, not to mention that he hardly knew enough about the case to be making any judgment, but the fact that he was so determined to convince Light that L was Kira was amusing.

"Does this involve any personal grudged towards Ryuzaki for the Halloween charade?" Light asked.

Roxas glared at Light. "I'm not working for Kira, and I know Axel isn't either. He wants to frame us to keep suspicion away from himself. He's using us."

Light's brain started to work frantically. This could be a trap, and this could be used to his advantage.

"That's ridiculous Roxas; you have no concrete base to your suspicions. You need proof that Ryuzaki is in fact the real Kira, and you have nothing but your words."

Roxas had to withhold a smirk. Just as expected. Light was denying the idea.

"But Light! He's been trying to frame you, can't you see? It's all a plot against us!"

Light stood abruptly and feigned anger.

"Roxas…"

He turned and grabbed the teen up by the collar of his shirt. "You can't blame the very person who has worked this hard to catch Kira. You have no solid proof Roxas! There's nothing to say that he's Kira! Stop fooling yourself, and grow up!" He threw the boy back onto the couch and strode off to the bathroom to shower. All the way he was trying to figure out the plot behind this whole sudden turn of events. L hated Kira and would become enraged if someone were to suggest he was Kira… Roxas had a dispute with L at the Halloween party. Light remembered it. He'd heard a bit of the argument through his head set. Roxas could be genuinely suspicious, and if he really did want to uncover L as the real Kira, he'd go scouting for proof. That would be when Light would decide if it was all a trap or not.