Author's note: Thank you reviewers, for your great and supportive comments! They are really the only things that are keeping me going… thanks a lot! Oh, and to Norcena, did you get the emails I sent? And thanks for the comment, I didn't think of that… I'll try to work it into the coming chapters. Thanks for the heads-up! Now hope you all enjoy this chapter, and please review.

Chapter 9

"My name is Elizabeth. Elizabeth Morel."

"Elizabeth." The young man nodded, and gave a small smile. "That is a lovely name."

"Sir," she had asked, almost shyly. "Then may I know what your name is?"

There was a pause.

"My name," he replied, eyes boring into her own. "Is Light."

Although she had been slightly apprehensive at first of her exotic visitor, Mrs Morel soon found herself warming up to her young, quiet tenant. He was so effusive, polite and compassionate- that Mrs Morel began to look forward to the daily tea sessions which Raito had suggested for them to become better acquainted. Unlike all the others, Raito never once lost patience when she lapsed back into one of her bitter monologues of life, nor turned hostile she kept harping on the past. Mrs Morel soon found herself pouring out her heart to him.

Raito was slowly but surely drawing her out of her shell. And not only that, she had begun to feel subtle stirrings in heart whenever she looked at him, and felt inordinately pleased whenever Raito flattered her.

"I'm old enough to be his mother," said the housekeeper to herself, absently polishing a photo frame bearing the picture of her late husband. "This is just not right." But all the same, although she repeated that statement firmly to herself all the time, her thoughts frequently dwelt upon the handsome Raito. She had also started to take better care of her appearance before having tea with him- adorning herself with cheap and gaudy trinkets, and doing up her hair with fastidious care.

Mrs Morel felt most gratified when Raito noticed her efforts- and his comments filled her with pride and happiness.

And just as Raito had calculated, Mrs Morel was slowly but surely falling for him. "See, Ryuk?" Raito had sneered, when the housekeeper had left (rather reluctantly) after one of their afternoon teas. "She has already fallen for my charms… and with her, my plans shall surely succeed."

The death god looked baffled. "What plans?"

Raito just looked at him, and Ryuk got the message. "Knowing Raito," Ryuk thought, as he grabbed an apple from the table. "It is definitely going to be interesting… Haha! I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve."

And as Raito turned- his face suddenly contorted, with his eyes a glimmering red. Watching out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ryuk chewing away happily- and his lips twisted into a horribly demonical grin.

It was a bright and sunny afternoon.

Raito was pacing the floor with a preoccupied air, when there came the familiar and expected knock.

"Coming, Mrs Morel."

With his usual cat-like grace, Raito slid to the door and opened it. "Why, you look lovely today, Mrs Morel." said Raito effusively, taking the tea things from her. "Are those new bracelets you have? They do go very well with your hair, which I must say, is very well made up." He smiled. "Your style…"

Raito gave a tiny, deliberate cough.

"Is very much like my wife, when she was at her most radiant."

The housekeeper blushed, feeling gratified. And it has to be admitted that Raito is a very good actor, for she was a long way from lovely- with her gaudy accessories and lopsided hair (obviously a failed attempt to style it like the women from the aristocracy), she looked like a colourful macaw with a nose to match.

"Oh, were you busy?" asked the housekeeper, noticing the mess of papers on the table. Raito had carefully balanced the tray on the only clean spot at the edge.

"Oh this? No, not at all. Just- looking at something, that's…that's all," Raito hastily murmured, scooping up the papers up in his arms. And as though by chance, a newspaper had fallen from the top of the pile and onto the floor.

"What is this?" asked Mrs Morel as she picked up the fallen paper.

"Oh, some… research," said Raito, his eyes glinting. And while the housekeeper was preoccupied with the newspaper, Raito hurriedly threw the papers in his arms into his cupboard and locked it.

"Oi, Raito," called Ryuk from the back of the room. "That is really not like you to be so careless."

Turning his head slightly, so that Mrs Morel would not see, Raito gave the death-god a knowing smirk.

Fool.

"W-Why do you still have that paper on this murder case? And…and for research? Why?" Her frightened blue eyes stared at him in horror. "I know everyone has been talking about it. No one knows how the killer operates… men and women have been murdered in their beds!"

"I know," said Raito. His eyes flashed passionately. "And that is why I have to capture him, to stop all the killings."

Ryuk gave a loud hoot of laughter.

Mrs Morel, on the other hand, was clearly full anxiety and trepidation. "Oh you must not… It's too dangerous." Ignoring all formal Victorian decorum, she grasped his arm earnestly. "Please, please, don't do it. You might get killed yourself. What will I ever do without you? You have given me my life back… Without you, I would never have gotten over my husband. I would still be full of hate, and of anger..."

"I- I have to…" Raito stammered. A single tear slid down his cheek. "Believe me, I wouldn't… do this, if I didn't need to."

"But why? Why do you have to?"

"It's…" Raito bit his lip, showing an image of nervousness. "Oh, my dear, I can never lie to you," he said earnestly, taking her hand. "You remind me so much of my wife- How can I ever lie to someone whom I love?" He gently took the newspaper from her. "I will now put my life into your hands- do unto me as you wish."

"Oh, Light…" Mrs Morel said, still holding on to him. "Whatever do you mean?"

"I have something to confess. I am not the man you think I am," Raito said, his voice trembling realistically. "I am no businessman. But first, before I tell you my true identity- I really have to know. What is your opinion on this man operating under the name of Justice?"

"Well… p-p-people have said that…"

"No, Elizabeth," Raito softly said, tilting her head upwards. "I want to know what you think."

There was a pause.

Mrs Morel sat down heavily upon a chair. "I- I know I once told you that I desired that all criminals should go to hell… but in the face of all these mass killings by some unknown power, with anyone associated with crime being in danger of death be they guilty or not- I don't believe this is true justice. I don't want to live in fear for the rest of my life," said Mrs Morel, eyes wide. "I-I mean, much as I dislike criminals, I am shocked by this wholesale slaughter… they, they are still humans…"

Although Raito's eyes looked as though they were full of understanding, beneath their false front lay the triumphant eyes of one who had succeeded in attaining one's objectives.

"I knew you would think this way," said Raito calmly. "I expected nothing else. Hence I believe that I can entrust you with my secret."

"I am a secret agent for the Japanese police," said the young man, taking a seat opposite the housekeeper. "My mission in London is to track down this killer, for he was responsible for the hundreds of deaths in Japan. I hope you will forgive me, but I lied to you. My wife did not die of an illness- she was killed by this person. In Japan, he was called 'Kira'- which means "Killer" in Japanese."

"Kira," she breathed. "But, I never heard of that name. I have never even heard of anything like these murders before as well."

"Of course you hadn't," said Raito smoothly. "It is extremely unlikely that this matter would have been published in British newspapers, although Britain is without a doubt the centre of the modern world. It was all quieted down over at Japan- and besides, given our technical inferiority to Britain, the different languages and our isolated position, it is difficult for news from there to travel here."

"Oh yes," said Mrs Morel vaguely, her brain sagging at the weight of processing all this new information. "I heard most of Asia is a backward place of jungles and swamps… I think Britain has started many campaigns to bring salvation to those poor, inferior people."

Raito raised an eyebrow before lying through his teeth.

"Exactly."

"But why aren't you working with our own police? Why all the secrecy?" asked Mrs Morel bewilderedly.

"Well," said Raito, brow furrowed as though deep in thought. "It's because my superiors are fearful that if I collaborated with the British, word would leak out. It is dangerous as I am also sought after by the murderer. And we are fearful of corruption as well, as you had told me- it seems British judges are easily bribed. What if that is a problem at the police department as well? I would be dead within a week."

"You see," Raito crossed over to the mantelpiece and stared downwards. "I am not being arrogant, but I am the only man that this Killer fears. In Japan, I came close to defeating and capturing him many times, but always, this man has given me the slip. But he knows who I am… and if he finds out that I am working with the British police, I fear that your police ranks will be heavily deciminated, officials threatened- until I am handed over."

"He is a man who will kill any who gets in his way," said Raito. "I can't risk other lives. That is why I had to operate alone… that is," his voice grew softer. "Until I met you."

"Why did you choose me," asked Mrs Morel, her gnarled fingers nervously twirling a tendril of hair. "Why?"

"For so many reasons," smiled Raito. "They are too numerous to count. The moment I saw you, I knew from the start that you are a trustworthy person, of high caliber, and also… well, you can call it a feeling I have, that you are a most perfect woman, as you remind me so like my beautiful and resourceful wife."

Mrs Morel turned away, her cheeks colouring.

Raito eyes narrowed slightly.

And also, a sentimental, gullible fool.

"I have to ask you to keep this to yourself. I beg of you not to ask questions if I have to go out disguised, or if I am forced to be away for weeks. Just keep me in your prayers," he murmured, kissing her hand. "That is more than enough for me."

"Light," the woman breathed, her eyes starry. "Of course I will, I will do anything for you. Just- just, be safe." It revolted Raito, seeing this middle-aged woman acting like some love-struck teen, but his face did not change. Instead, his eyes became even more intent.

"I-I am just so sorry I brought you into this," said Raito, his eyes tearing. "I can't afford to lose you too."

And from the back of the room, heard only by one pair of ears, was one gleeful laugh. "I get it now," said Ryuk, flapping his gigantic wings and hovering above the two of them. "This the perfect answer to any suspicious activity she might catch you doing…Brilliant, Raito!"

Slowly, Raito pulled away. "I have to go now, my dear. There are a lot of things that are happening now… I had no idea that Kira would have acted so fast."

"Of course," said Mrs Morel, getting up and heading towards the door. "I- I understand. But please," she whispered. "Take care of yourself."

As the door slowly closed, Raito dropped his compassionate and loving demeanour. "Oh yes," he murmured. "I will. And when you are dead, you will be remembered as having the honour of helping your god fulfill his destiny."