A/N: Still don't own. blah blah blah.

Recommended Soundtrack: Twisted Eyes by Persuader

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Chapter 11 Salvation

Earlier, the Yellow Box Warehouse

Rem's angry roar went unheard by the masked man who had grabbed Misa. That mask was the only thing stopping her from killing him. She would just pull it off and… "No Rem," Misa whispered. "You CAN'T!" Misa was scared but she didn't want Rem to end up like Gelus. Besides, surly Kira would save her, right? "Stalker-san thinks I'm Kira. If you help me escape it will only prove that I have supernatural powers."

"But Misa…"

"Then it wouldn't just be this stalker. It would be many more of them… and they'd go after Kira, not to mention the other followers…"

"Please Misa..."

"Rem… The other hostage! He has it worse than me. Please, help him escape!"

"Misa…"

"Please Rem?"

"Alright, I will do as you wish..."

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Now

"Naomi Misora-san, I am Kira."

Naomi stared at Light, wide-eyed and open mouthed…

…and then burst out laughing.

"Oh, you had me there for a moment... You sounded so serious!"

Light scowled. "That's because I was…"

"Look, you're a sweet kid, Light. You shouldn't make jokes like that."

Light rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Ryuk," Light seemingly commanded the empty air "…shut up and tell Zellogi to get in here."

Naomi was still giggling as Light tried again. "Yes, I am Kira and the God of this New World... now please stop laughing before I'm forced to kill you."

"Come on that's taking this a bit far."

Just then a hideous corpse-monster wearing spikes and an Indian headdress phased through the wall. Naomi decided to do the dignified thing… and shriek in terror…

"Is everything alright?" Asked a nurse who came running in.

Good, at least it's not a psycho one this time, thank Me. Light has rolled up the notebook and was squatting on the floor acting as if he was intently tracking something. "No, it is not alright. We have a VERY BAD rat problem in here! I suggest you get somebody to do something about it." But the nurse was not paying attention to his cover story and was in fact looking directly at Zellogi.

"G-ghost! Ghost!"

How…

The nurse ran away screaming. Upon seeing the reason for that reaction, Light applied his palm directly to forehead. "…Zellogi" Light began dangerously in an almost-growl "what did I tell you about dragging that blanket around?"

"You're not the boss of me, human."

"If you keep this up, I won't get you any more nice things."

"I have this blankie. I don't need anymore."

"This behavior will not be tolerated. Get in the corner. Now… I said NOW!"

To Naomi's utter wonderment the demonic creature looked cowed and obeyed his commands.

"D-Does it have to obey you?"

"Nope. Just Light is a demon far more ruthless than your average Shinigami. Hyuk hyuk hyuk."

"She can't see or hear you, Ryuk."

"Why not let her see me then? I mean this means you're either going to keep or kill her anyway, right? And you don't want her to think you're crazy… whoops, probably too late for that…"

"T-There's another…" one of those things there? And he's… Light is really… But how… why? "B-But why? Why are you telling me this? I could have you arrested!"

Light just gave her a look and it began to sink in. Light was KIRA… He could have her killed at any time… and not just her, her parents had introduced themselves to him as well, if she made any moves against him…

"I like you Naomi Misora-san; you are easily the most capable woman I've ever met. I can't help but feel it was fate that I met you that day."

It seems he's chosen to forgo mentioning the obvious for now… What... What am I going to do?

"…and you've obviously worked for L in the past…"

"Then you know where my loyalties lie, so again, I ask why?"

"…but as what his agent? His partner?"

Is that what you're getting at? "Just his shield. I know nothing about L or his identity, and I wouldn't tell you in any case. "

"That's fine. I truly admire your loyalty. That's why… I want you to work for me now."

"Did you not hear what I just said? You might as well kill me right now because I will never betray L."

"That you are loyal to L won't be a problem. After all, ultimately we want the same thing. We want Justice done."

He wants to bring YOU to justice… Yes, Naomi, your choices boil down to defy Light… to defy KIRA, and endanger your family or obey the insane teenage with a God complex (who is also a very sweet and charming young man when he's not out murdering people, it's a shame really) let him have power over you, do whatever he wants… (NO!) for now and hope you live long enough to gather evidence and testify against him. I am no liking this, not at all.

He shrugged "Besides, you are currently doped up on painkillers," he waved a hand dismissively.

"There's no evidence. It's your word against mine."

You smug bastard. Why am I always the one that ends up alone with the serial murderer?

"…Why?" Naomi said in a small voice.

"You want Justice done too right? You said you wanted him dead—that you would do anything to see him dead."

"That was before I knew who you really were!"

"That hasn't changed. I am the same person..."

Light was interrupted by a choked sob. Naomi did not fail to note the outstretched hand and real look of concern.

Raye, Kira… Light killed Raye. No Beyond. It was Beyond's fault… Beyond…

"Stop it! No More!"

And Beyond laughed at her cries, red eyes flashing with fiendish delight "Since your beau died early I'll just have to have more fun with you…"

"NO NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Mercy…

…And now she was back THERE again! Back in the F.B.I. back in that warehouse, facing down a child-murderer again! Only this one apparently used a magical notebook instead of an automatic. And she was hesitating again. She couldn't do that, not again… And she hated herself for it.

But this is different… There was no gun aimed at her head. If he wanted me dead, I would be dead…

Mercy…

"I'm giving you a choice" Light said in a near whisper.

Naomi looked him right in the eye (Such sad eyes… don't tell me a MONSTER like you, Kira, actually FEELS…)

"Work for you or die, right?" Naomi began in a broken voice.

"Do you have such a death wish?" Naomi did not appreciate his morbid humor "You are no good to me dead. No your choices are reject my proposal and I can make it so you forget everything you just learned and return to your normal life and I will not touch you or your family, you have my word…"

"Hyuk hyuk." (It was background snickering Naomi couldn't hear.)

"Or work for me as… my partner."

"I don't want to forget."

"I will not make you do anything distasteful, I promise. Just be my eyes and ears."

"…But I am still loyal to L." Then this was the only way. To survive, to remember, to gather evidence so that perhaps one day they would both face their judgment…

Light smiled beatifically. "I told you, that won't be a problem. L is no true threat to me, not now. Won't you join me? Together we can save L and stop that monster from ever hurting anyone ever again!"

Light held out a pen and the page from the Death Note he had written in. "So what's your answer?"

Naomi put pen to paper and wrote Beyond Birthday in the blank.

Naomi did not miss that Light's eyes flashed an all-too-familiar red.

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A/N: Sorry, short chapter.

Oh it's going down now… Next up, showdown at the Yellow Box…