CHAPTER TEN
"The Return of Kira"
Jasper took a step back. Something about Light emanated an aura of pure evil. He didn't know how he felt it, but it seemed to flow off Light like waves of heat. And as Light looked at him, he thought the devil was staring straight back at him.
Galileo also shared a similar gaze. "Um, J, is this the same guy? What does he mean by self-imposed prison?"
Light snapped a look at Galileo. "How obtuse, I wasn't speaking to you," he said, as if to reprimand a lesser. "You have done your job, now you can leave us. This is a moment to be shared by myself and Jasper Yuta."
Galileo grumped angrily, but Jasper calmed him. "He stays here," Jasper said to Light. "I never expected the Death Note to work so well," he then said. "When I was told it restores all the memories back to a user even without ownership, I had my doubts. But it appears like everything is true. Light Yagami is Kira."
Light sat up straight, then crossed his legs. "That is true. But how do you know about the Death Note? Did Ryuk come back? Or, are you the new Death Note's owner Rem has chosen to enact Kira's justice?" Light then shook his head. "No, the timing's off. You didn't escape the mental institution until after my surrogate began killing with the Death Note. Then how did you get a piece of it? Other than myself, Ryuk, and Rem, no one else knows where I buried my original Death Note."
"Jasper, this guy's really creeping me out," Galileo said. "Let's just kill him and get the hell out of here."
Light's eyes glowered and he smiled in amusement. "Executing me will be folly, for my justice is warranted all around the world. My ideals hold self-evident to what people have been longing for a very long time. Crime has run rampant in the world, it's rotten to its core. I was given a gift, and I vowed to use it to its fullest. Be careful, I now possess a scrap of a Death Note, albeit not my own, but that doesn't matter, and once I learn your name, your name will be written down for your impertinence. Whereas the Shinigami who owns this scrap of paper, within a stated time, must come to my side as per the rules of the Death Note."
"You're one arrogant son-of-a-bitch, Light," Jasper voiced. "Is this what the Death Note does to people who use it? Changes their personality to the god of death who once owned it? Are you possessed by the spirit of a Shinigami?"
Light cocked his head in thought. "That's a very interesting question and I have thought about it, but Ryuk explained it to me, and that that's not the case. Everything I did was of my own free will."
Light quickly explained who Ryuk was and that he was the Shinigami who dropped his Death Note in the Human World to started the reign of Kira. Ryuk said he was bored. Rem once aligned with Misa Amane, he further revealed.
Light then looked at Galileo, and said, "As for your question earlier, I purposely allowed myself to be captured. I then relinquished ownership of the Death Note when L was getting too close. I set things up beforehand, so I could later retrieve the Death Note and regain my memories while pretending to befriend L and work on the Kira Case, knowing that it will be passed on to another. The issue with that was, I would have to kill the current owner of the Death Note to retain ownership. If I let go of this scrap of the Death Note, then my memories disappear. You released me from my self-imposed prison, and for that, I thank you once again."
"Yes, we know this rule," Jasper said. "But when I gave you that scrap, I didn't know you'd be such an asshole."
"Who told you about the Death Note and how did you get this piece? I'm curious to know."
"We'll keep that to ourselves right now."
"Very well. Now whose the arrogant one?"
Jasper shoved Light down with his foot. Light fell back, but he kept a firm grip on the Death Note. Light laughed, amused. To Jasper, it must have looked like he was insane. In truth, Light must have enjoyed playing with people. It gave him a perverse pleasure.
"I don't care if we are protected from the Death Note," Galileo said. "If Light Yagami is Kira, and he's truly this demented, best eliminate him now! You never told me he was this delusional."
Galileo pointed his gun at Light, but Jasper pushed it down. "No! He's to stay alive for now. He's different from what I thought Kira would be—and the opposite than what Light was before the Death Note—but Light Yagami isn't a threat to us the way he is now."
Light sat back up, cocked his head in a curious manner. "You said you are protected from the Death Note? How? As long as you envision a person's face in your mind and write down their real name, properly spelled, that person will die in forty-seconds, even if you manipulate a person's actions before death, their end fate is enviable. And once I'm free, your fate will be thus."
"Shut your mouth!" Galileo shouted. He pushed Jasper aside and fired his gun. But the shot was off by a few centimetres, soaring past Light's left ear. Jasper slammed Galileo's arm down, the gun dropped to the floor.
"Don't be frightened, Galileo," Light said calmly. "Tell you what, I'll welcome you in kinship to Kira's brand new world. Swear alliance to Kira and kill Jasper Yuta, and you'll be spared. You'll be rewarded for your loyalty with riches beyond the plains of averse."
Jasper gave Light an uneasy look, then eyed Galileo.
Galileo shook his head slowly as if to say no to Light's offer and Jasper padded him on the shoulder to calm him. He picked up the gun and placed it in his friend's hand. "Watch him, Ichi," he accidentally said. "I mean, Galileo." The situation had unnerved him a little and Jasper had said his friend's real name. "I'm leaving for a moment, but no shooting. I'm going out to the hall for a little bit."
Galileo grabbed Jasper's arm with a look of fear and worry. "You're going to leave me in here alone with him?"
He removed his friend's hand from his arm, and said, "Light Yagami isn't a threat. As long as you watch him, keep him at a distance, everything will be okay. But I am seriously thinking about bringing up his execution."
"Don't leave, Jasper, our reunion has just begun," Light said.
Jasper looked at Light still sitting on the floor, deeply concerned. Light Yagami acted as if he sat on a throne of gold and the bones of his victims, their deaths meant nothing to his sinister agenda. Light Yagami acted if he was in complete control of everything.
What have I done? Jasper thought.
Jasper left, closing the door. He was a little apprehensive about leaving his friend inside with a crazed lunatic, but it was a good thing Galileo had a gun. Although, with Light still handcuffed, he doubted Galileo would need it.
x x x
The moment Jasper left the room and shut the door, he went to call for Morph, but the ghost boy seemed to anticipate his summons and appeared without a word spoken, startling Jasper a moment.
"You jumped, why?" Morph asked. "My sudden appearances should be common to you by now."
"The situation is a little unnerving at the moment, something unexpected happened," Jasper said. He tucked the gun he held in the front of his pants. "We did what you said, we gave Light the scrap of the Death Note you gave us, but…"
"You found out about Light Yagami's true nature," Morph said causally.
Jasper nodded. "What happened to him? He's not the same person I thought I knew. Is that who—what—Kira really is?"
"Kira is a killer. The Death Note changes the user in profound ways over time. It enhances a person's most enticing desires. Light Yagami's goal was to follow in his father's footsteps and be a police officer, then he picked up the Death Note. He may have had a noble goal at first, but then things exploded out of control when he began killing innocent people, those who are after him, like the investigator who was trailing him and twelve other FBI agents who were secretly in Japan searching for Kira."
"Yes, I heard about that. Kira was blamed for their deaths. They all died from heart attacks."
"Light Yagami's desire to create a brand new world where people can feel safe turned into something sinister and twisted, and the world began to develop an underlining fear that even the smallest thing you did wrong could get you killed. Even if you thought bad thoughts, Kira would punish you. Kira became a god in the minds of the world—omnipresent and omnipotent. He also became something you may fear in your worse nightmares, a devilish figure that spied on you in the shadows. And yet, there are no rules in how to use the Death Note. But there is a price. And no, the Shinigami doesn't devour a person's soul. A person who uses a Death Note can neither go to Heaven nor Hell."
"Does that mean his soul can never rest? Stuck in a limbo?"
"Whatever your thoughts are on religious interpretations in where a person goes after death are yours. Humanity has several thoughts, different cultures have separate theories based on their histories. Your friend Tristan is Christian, so his ideas on death and incarnation would be based on the Bible. Then there is Islamic, Buddhist, Judaism, Indigenous and Native People, and so on. They all have different views. Regardless, Light Yagami does not fall in with any of them. And I don't believe he could be called Atheist. From what I've observed, he's logical, intelligent, and scientific, and despite getting involved with the Death Note, a spiritual book, he still believes in a higher power. That even though he believes himself to be a deity, there is someone above him."
Jasper nodded.
"The hell Light Yagami will experience will be far worse that any imagined in religious lore," Morph said. "And there is no leniency for those who have used a Death Note, no one will be absolved." He took out his book in its side pouch. "This is why the Life Note was created, to counter-act the atrocities that the Death Note inflicts. At one point, Shinigami slaughtered thousands of humans and creatures alike to renew their life span. Eventually, they became lazy, and now they don't bother to kill unless it's absolutely necessary. My people fought the Shinigami, but the Shinigami King mounted a massive counter-offence that nearly wiped out The Brigade of Life. I saved all I could…" He put a hand to chest. "We are a legion of one, and I am the last of my kind to take physical form. That's why it is imperative that I survive,and anchor myself to others to continue to exist, feeding them with soul-food."
Jasper nodded again, but he felt distracted. He looked at the small entertainment suite door where Galileo was holding Light, then turned back. "Light Yagami is Kira, but if he let's go of the scrap of paper from a Death Note, he looses all his memories of it, including the killings, events, and everything else—correct?"
"Yes, but you know this," Morph said suspiciously, tilting his head slightly. "Are you having second thoughts? I think it's a little late for that. I thought you wanted to murder Light Yagami fully conscious of his thoughts with the Death Note? He murdered your father, and before that, he helped put him and you away in mental institutions/a prison, respectfully. Believe me when I say, whether he is conscious of his actions or not, the judgment will be finite and unforgiving. Light Yagami is a condemned human."
Jasper understood. Light Yagami was pure evil and he would be punished. And yet, he wondered, what would be his fate be when it came for him time to die? He had never used a Death Note. He also had never killed anyone. He was indirectly responsible for that patient that committed suicide in the mental institution after he raped him in the shower, but would that count for him to go to Hell?
He looked at Morph. It still seemed strange to him that there was a creature in the universe such as him. But, was Morph a wolf in sheep's clothing? When Jasper signed his name to the Life Note under the impression that it would save him from Kira's judgement, had he been tricked? Writing your own name in a supernatural "Note" was the same as using it.
After another moment of discussion, Morph disappeared, and Jasper returned to the room. When he entered, however, Galileo was not to be seen. In fact, Light Yagami was not in the same place Jasper had last seen him, either.
He found Light Yagami standing near the far end of the wall with his back turned to the door. And there was something else strange. His arms were no longer handcuffed behind his back. His arms were in front.
Jasper grabbed the gun he had tucked in the front of his pants, snapped his arm up, and cocked it. "Where's Ichi/Galileo? What the hell have you done with him?" Jasper looked around. He couldn't see his friend anywhere. It was like he had completely vanished. He couldn't explain it, but he felt a heavy aura in the room, a dark and sinister feeling. "Turn around, Light! Slowly!"
Light did so, and when he had faced front, he was smirking. The left side of his face had a mark with blood dripping down. If Jasper didn't know any better, he'd say a bullet had grazed Light's face. Light's wrists were still handcuffed. Jasper wasn't sure how he did it, but he must have contorted his body in a way to bring them out front.
"What's the matter, Jasper? You look like you've seen a ghost?"
"Shut up! What did you do with Galileo?"
Light stood unfettered by the situation and unafraid that a gun was pointed straight at him.
Light was Kira, but he was also human. There was no way that he just make Galileo just disappear, he didn't have such a power.
However, Morph had not told him everything about the Death Note and its powers. The only thing that was publicized was that Kira could kill without being seen by heart attack. Did the Death Note give its possessor god-like abilities? Had he indeed been tricked into restoring Light Yagami's memories? Was Morph and Kira in some sort of partnership?
Suddenly, Light broke the chain to his handcuffs with a strong yank, and super-human strength, and rushed towards him.
Jasper fired, but Light quickly bolted to the left with the speed of an other-worldly being. He fired again, but Light ducked right and underneath the trajectory, and quickly came around him, slipped his arms around Jasper's head, and squeezed his right arm around Jasper's neck in an arm choke. The hand with the scrap of the Death Note clutched tightly.
Jasper choked. He lifted his gun and fired at Light's head, but the shot missed as Light cocked his head to the side. Light laughed and acted like some sort of demonic creature had possessed his body.
Jasper dropped the gun and tried to pulled Light's arm off him, but to no avail.
"Do you understand now, Jasper?" Light said close to Jasper's ear. He could feel Light's breath on his neck. "I am Kira. I may hide in the shadows, but when my back's to the wall, I'm not a weakling. My father is a former police detective and I've watched him for years hone his skills and tried to emulate him, even trained with him from time to time. I took martial arts classes when I was a kid. I admire my father for his dedication. But like the other task force members, he is a fool. Kira is unstoppable."
"You're insane, Light," Jasper said breathlessly.
"Your father murdered innocent children and you willfully participated, that's like the pot calling the kettle black." Light jerked Jasper to the side, shifting their position towards the couch. Then forcefully walked him forward. Light was slightly taller, but he wasn't any stronger looking than Jasper. And yet, Jasper felt completely powerless against Light's superhuman strength. "Look! Your friend failed to see the reality of the situation and paid the ultimate price."
Jasper's eyes widened when he saw Galileo's body stuffed behind the couch, partially covered with cushions. His eyes were bulged wide open, his throat ripped and tore with what looked like by a chain—the handcuffs.
He couldn't see him before, but now from here, he saw the horror of his friend's demise. He had left his friend alone with a serial killer. He hadn't hear a sound when he was out in the hall talking with Morph, and only for a few minutes.
Light had killed Galileo silently and quickly.
Light chuckled. "The tables have turned, Jasper, and once again, I thank you again for freeing me," he said. "Once I eliminate you, I'll return to the task force, kill your friends, and then kill L, murdering the rest of the team in glorious fashion, as to not give myself away. My plan was risky, I relinquished the Death Note so I wouldn't get caught, but I never thought it would work out so well. I believe it's called synchronicity: when two meaningful coincidences meet with no relation to the other. Karl Jung coined the phrase. I had no way of knowing how my memories would return, but you did the work for me, in bringing me a piece of the Death Note."
Jasper struggled against Light's grip. "You fucking bastard! Let me go!"
"Oh no, not until you tell me where this piece of the Death Note came from? Did Rem give it to you?"
"I don't know who…that is!"
"It doesn't matter now. I'll find this other Kira and kill him. I still remember where I buried my Death Note. So, once I retrieve it, the one true Kira's judgements will ensue again."
Light kept a tight grip. "But allow me to reveal one thing to you, Jasper. What I went through when I was a kid with you and your father had a profound influence on who I am today. In retrospect, I would say, you are the main driving force in me to kill criminals, to make them pay for their crimes. I had amnesia, a repressed memory regarding our original encounter, but something in my mind continued to press me to hate people like you. But my studies kept me busy. When you took me hostage three years later, I briefly remembered the butchery of your father, but then the amnesia returned. Until a dream triggered the events just recently.
"I originally thought the only way for me to help people affected by crime was to follow my father into the NPA, but I soon came to realize that the court systems were too regulated towards the human rights of criminals and victims were left to rot. Now with the Death Note, the police are no longer warranted. Kira will cleanse the world of crime and make it safe again for good and honest people. Sacrifices must be made and Kira needs to do more. It's not enough! Your kind-your species-will be wiped out!
"Now it's about that time. Time for you to die, Jasper Yuta. But I wanted you to know certain things before I killed you, that you are the true reason for Kira's existence. And thanks to the Death Note, people like you will all die of heart attacks, dying horribly like the vermin you are! I know about the existence of Sanctuary City, and once I find it, I'll go through it en masse, learning their names, killing everyone. I'll kill Tristan and Isolde, too. No one will be able to hide from me. A world free of crime is attainable no matter what others think. Kira will reign supreme and I'll be the god of a new world!"
"No…"
Jasper felt like he was fading without oxygen, but he quickly mustered the rest of his strength, and dropped to one knee, forcing Light off balance. Light fell forward with Jasper, and Jasper used the momentum to throw Light off him and to the floor.
He coughed and gasped for breath once he was free.
Light rolled along the floor.
Jasper's vision was a little blurry from the lack of oxygen, but he thought he saw Light look stunned that that had happened.
Jasper got back to his feet and stepped away from Light, coughing and rubbing his throat.
Light grinned and leapt at him again. Jasper saw the gun he dropped and went for it, getting to it before Light got to him, and fired.
Light cried out as the shot penetrated his right thigh. He clapped a hand to his leg, the pain evident with his cringed look.
Light grit his teeth, but then stood up straight, and smiled, with an expression of insanity. It had given Jasper a moment's reprieve, but not for very long.
And Light came at him again, the injury had unfazed him, and somehow with super-human strength, he overcame the pain.
Jasper fired again, this time striking Light in the upper left arm. Light recoiled, but again, he seemed unfazed, and grinned innately back. It was like trying to take down a wild beast.
But he didn't give Light the opportunity to come at him again and fired off another shot at the same arm.
This time, the shot rang true, and Light's hand opened up, and the scrap of the Death Note fell free.
It was like Light had just been shocked, electrocuted, when he no longer had the Death Note to feed his insatiable frenzy. His eyes fluttered and he dropped to his knees, and collapsed to the floor, and fell face first with a heavy thud.
Jasper stood frozen to the spot, breathing heavy, his gun pointed at Light.
For a few moments, he didn't move.
Light appeared to be unconscious, but he didn't want to make a move just in case Light jumped up and grabbed him. The piece of the Death Note lay on the floor next to Light. Did the Death Note really have this much influence over its user? Or had this really been Light Yagami's true nature? Was the person Jasper knew from the past a closest psychopath?
He nudged Light's body with a foot when he generated the courage, but his old rival appeared to be unconscious. Perhaps losing the power of the Death Note was too much for him? He knew Light's memories would disappear when he released it. The look of shock on Light's face as he dropped the piece seemed to confirm it.
Like sealing the genie back into the bottle.
"I should shoot you dead right here, Light," he said, "but your fate will be worse than anything I could ever inflict upon you. Shooting you would end it too quick and make things too easy. When Death finally comes for you, I hope your pain is eternally merciless. May whatever god you believe in have damnation on your soul!"
Jasper took one last look at his friend Galileo near the couch and then left ran out of the room, gun in hand.
To be continued...