Alone
Light leaned back in the armchair. He had a nice new house, the Kira investigation was over, his marks were excellent at school and his shining New World was coming into fruition. He smiled and looked out into his nice new garden. Everything was perfect.
At that moment a large white form crashed into the garden spraying flowers everywhere. As Light ran out to investigate he wondered why his nosey neighbors were still inside. He found the answer soon enough. There in the middle of his flowerbed was Rem.
Something was clearly wrong. She wore the remains of a kimono. It looked like she'd been attacked. Listlessly she tried to cover herself with the rags and started to sob.
"Rem where's Ryuk?" blurted out Light.
"He's with the king," she whispered. Tears ran from her eyes. "He- he found what we had been doing. Love is against the rules and –" Rem descended into a babble of shinigami language. Light couldn't understand any more but it was clear to him that Ryuk was- probably dead.
That meant the only thing left of his friend in this world was the child Rem was carrying. He gently guided Rem into the house trying to find some comforting words. Then he heard some rustling behind him. He whirled round.
"Mrs. Togasa mind your own business," shouted Light. Damn nosey neighbors, he couldn't make the slightest move without them butting in.
"There now, Rem we're inside. Let's run you a bath and then we'll get something to eat." soothed Light.
Rem wrapped her arms around herself as she watched Light fill the tub with water. It was strange how Light was being so nice. It was more than Misa ever did for her and she was her friend. Light muttered something about getting clean clothes and he left the washroom but didn't close the door. She was so frightened. She had no idea what to do. The only thought Rem had is that Misa would know what to do. Misa would help her out. Gods she was so tired.
Light looked at the kimono that Rem had worn. It was in shreds and there was no way of salvaging it. He searched through Misa's things for something for Rem to wear and then realized the futility of it all. He heard a choked sob.
Rem was in the bathtub cleaning herself like some foreigner, but of course she was. Wordlessly he got the shampoo and started washing the shinigami's hair.
"Light what-" gasped Rem.
"Relax, I'm not sexually attracted to you in any way."
"Unh Thanks I think."
Light tried to think of what to do next. Damn this was women's work. This was Misa's work. Where was she?
"Light!" shouted a familiar voice." What are you doing with that woman?"
Light whirled round. He could see that Misa clearly jealous but he didn't care. He hoisted Rem out of the tub and handed her a towel.
"Misa, Rem's back, find something for her to wear."
Misa frowned and handed Light a bathrobe from behind the door.
Rem dozed in the futon Light had made for her. She could just hear as Light explained to a very jealous Misa his version of the events. Soon Misa will understand and set things to right. Rem's eyes closed and she fell into a deep slumber.
In the morning Light tried to get Rem to eat. The shinigami just shook her head and fell once more asleep. Some time later Misa came into the room. The model stroked Rem's hair.
"Rem try to eat something. Think of the baby, remember what the doctor said," soothed Misa.
Rem looked at the plate Misa was holding. It was a pile of strawberries one of her favorite foods. She thanked the model and began to eat mechanically. The strawberries seemed tasteless.
"Oh Rem, your hair is a mess. Let me brush it out for you," said the little human. " Light told me what happened but you know how men can be."
So Rem told her. She told Misa about the nighttime raid as she and Ryuk slept. She told Misa about the show trial, how Ryuk was now chained up helpless and how she had been banished to Earth, to give birth alone without the protection of the notebook.
"So you're saying you don't have a notebook," exclaimed Misa.
"That's right, I need you to protect me," answered Rem.
"Don't you worry about a thing. You're in good hands now," said Misa. " Get some more sleep. You and your baby need it."
That evening Light imperiously ordered Rem out of bed. He marched her into the living room where Misa sat. None of the chairs looked large enough so Rem sat down and wrapped herself up in some blankets.
"Alright people its time for a family meeting," announced Light. " First order of business is what are we going to do about you, Rem."
"You don't mean to throw her out, Light. She has nothing," cried Misa.
"No but Rem's not like Ryuk. She had needs like food," Light looked at Rem's far too small robe," and clothing. That normally wouldn't be a problem but-"
Just then, as if on cue, Mr. and Mrs. Togusa barged in with gift-wrapped bag of noodles. They made their way to straight to the living room. Rem quickly turned herself into human form.
"We just want to welcome you to our neighborhood," chimed in the Mrs. Togusa a portly middle aged woman.
"So who's this young lady," asked Mr. Togusa. Rem did not like the way this man was looking at her.
"This is Rem. She's the wife of Light's friend Ryukasaki," added Misa quickly. " It's getting late and-"
"What brings you here, dear? Will you be staying long?" said Mrs. Togusa to Rem. Rem really didn't like the way the Togasas were looking at her.
Light said "Listen if you have anything to say-"
"We're just being neighborly," said Mr. Togasa.
"Didn't you call the cops on my pot luck supper last week," Light said acidly.
Rem could see things were getting messy so before any damage could be done she spoke up. "I'm just staying a few days here until my husband finds a suitable apartment. Our own place got trashed in the hurricane and we lost everything."
Misa practically shoved the couple out the door. "Now Mr. and Mrs. Togasa if you're satisfied. Please come this way. It's getting late and we would like to have a quiet dinner."
When they were gone Light sighed, "Charming couple. It's a pity I can't write their names in the notebook."
"Can't you wait one more week?" said Rem.
Light smiled at that news. "Now as I was saying. I need to know what your plans for the future are Rem."
"Stay here until the baby's born. Then I don't know-" said Rem. "I want to keep the baby."
That could be a problem but Misa still cared for Rem. Light still needed Misa's eyes.
Light continued, "Well despite problems like the – Togasas we're still going to take care of you. So there's a large closet in my study. Rem from now on you'll be sleeping there. And you will be following Misa."
"Light Yamgami, I cannot keep up with Misa in my condition," whispered Rem.
"Fine, just stay out of sight and keep quiet. Now Misa you will take care of Rem and her women's stuff."
"Light-o if Misa's seen buying baby stuff the press will have a field day," said Misa.
"Just figure something out. Now Rem do you have the keys to your apartment? Oh you didn't use keys. That's fine I'll think of something. Now Misa let's get some dinner."
As quick as a flash Misa set the table for two then she placed a plate on the floor for Rem to eat. It was a very nice looking meal, it was vegetarian and Misa even gave her chopsticks but this was not right. The shinigami looked at the humans eating at the table, eating like a family, like equals.
Rem stood up with her plate. She walked towards the table and pulled up a chair.
Misa turned round. "Rem what are doing? Rem no! Off the furniture."
Rem ignored her and began to eat.
"Rem, look at this food's all over the table. You're ruining the meal," said Misa angrily. "Are you listening to me? Light do something."
Without missing a beat Light took the role of man of the house, " Misa get Rem a knife and fork will you?"
That very night, Light picked the lock of Ryuk and Rem's apartment. He turned on the light. The place was in shambles; cloths and papers scattered the floor. The furniture was smashed and scrawled on the wall graffiti written in a strange language. The king's shinigami must have trashed this place.
Pictures of Ryuk and Rem peered down at him as he searched the apartment for anything useable. He quickly found the laptop intact and nearly tripped over a strange piece of furniture. Light turned it over. It was bowl shaped and seemed to be made of bone. It appeared to be almost woven. A small breeze pushed the thing and it rocked like a cradle.
It was a cradle. Until now the idea of Ryuk's baby was just a concept, an inconvenience. But this, this made it real. Light stepped back slowly and searched again. All he found was a couple of T-shirts and Rem's coveralls. Everything else was trashed.
Just before he left Light lit a match and set fire to his shinigami's old home. Light couldn't afford let anybody find traces of Kira in this place. The cradle turned to ashes, in the fire with the rest of the apartment. Light by this time hurtled through the subway back to his home.
When he got back, Light simply handed Misa the dirty clothes and walked into his study. He opened the closet to find Rem sleeping soundly. He placed the laptop in her arms.
That was one problem dealt with. Still Rem had far too little clothing and like Misa said they couldn't just buy maternity clothes. What to do, what to do. Light walked back into the living room. There in the corner was Misa's sewing machine and Rem's cloth.
As soon as they set up house Light realized that Misa lied about not knowing how to sew. Clearly she did not want to make Rem her kimono but Light did know how to sew. He knew how to make a kimono by hand. This shouldn't be too hard after all if Misa could work this thing so could he.
The next morning before he headed off to work Sochiro Yagami received a telephone call.
"Is this Sochiro Yagami?" asked an official sounding voice.
"Speaking, what is it?"
"Sir I regret to inform you that your son has been hospitalized due to an accident."
"Omigod, Light's been in a car crash?"
"No sir, it's not like that-"
Misa sobbed as the doctor pulled out the thread stitched into Light's hands. The boy did not show any pain but glowered at Misa.
"I've never seen anyone do this to themselves with a sewing machine," muttered the doctor.
"Misa I want you to go home finish that kimono," ordered Light.
Weeks passed and Rem tried to earn her keep. Sometimes she helped Misa with her lyrics most of the time she slept in the closet. Light surprisingly was the most interested in the baby. He spent a lot of time talking to the shinigami and they would talk about Ryuk.
One time Misa overheard Light as he talked softly to Rem.
"So tell me what it like with Ryuk?" he asked.
"You see Ryuk always took time for me," said Rem wistfully. "Even if we were busy all day he always took the time. Even if it was for a minute to hold my hand or give me a quick kiss. Sometimes we would just hold each other for hours and look out at the skyline."
Light seemed even more interested Rem than he was with her. He tenderly touched Rem's belly and showed off a small toy for the baby. This was intolerable. Here Misa was a beautiful star and Light was spending time with her shinigami.
Still Misa was learning something. Compared to Ryuk and Rem's relationship Misa's relationship was wanting. Light was stingy with his affection. He rarely said words like 'I love you'. It all really came down to power and Misa intended to fix that.
One day when Light was off to school. Misa pulled Rem aside." Rem, Misa feels that Light is up to something. Can you tell me where he's hidden the notebook and any spare pages."
Rem smiled as she heard this. Finally her Misa was getting some sense. Now Rem could properly protect Misa.
"Okay, I discovered one thing while Light was out. He has the contact number to L if Light should try to harm you. You can use this number," said Rem conspiratorially.
And so Rem searched for Light's secrets and told them to Misa while she had the chance. Both Light and Misa made sure that Rem had clean clothes and was healthy.
It all ended soon enough.
It was a particularly cold and wet day when Isobella, Misa's cleaning lady, came to do the weekly cleaning. Isobella didn't like working there. That Misa could be such a so and so. At least she wasn't in today but still Senior Light and Misa were very lazy. There was always a sink full of dirty dishes and a weeks' pile of dirty laundry.
As Isobella cleaned the rooms she couldn't help feeling that she was being watched. Out of the corner of her eye she could swear that something white was moving. And then there was that smell, a baby smell- no more like a pregnant woman smell. Misa pregnant? Hah, that girl was like a scarecrow.
She heard something moving and turned. The study door moved. Isobella crept in. She peered round. There on the ceiling was a monster. The poor woman screamed, the monster screamed back.
Isobella ran out of the room, picked up her cleaning things and raced out of the house. On the way out she crashed into Senior Light in the garden. Light had a very dark look as picked her up.
"What seems to be the problem miss?" he was all kind like nothing ever happened.
"Isobella- Isobella Martinez. There's a monster in the study. A big white monster," gasped the cleaning lady.
"There, there you've been working too hard. Here's some money take the rest of the day off," said Light.
He watched coldly as Misa's cleaning lady practically ran away. When she was out of sight he walked into his study. Rem was there, hanging from the ceiling.
"I tried, I tried to stay out of sight," she said.
Light ignored her. Stupid Misa, stupid shinigami, they just had to have a maid to like the rest of her rich friends. Now Rem was visible. He pulled out the notebook from its hiding place. He wrote:
Isobella Martinez, traffic accident. Clearly upset by what she saw Isobella crosses the road without looking and gets hit by a car. Dies before she gets a chance to talk about what has happened.
That evening when Misa returned home she found Light waiting for her. He pulled her into the living room. Rem was nowhere to be seen.
"Misa we need to talk. We can't keep Rem here any longer," said Light softly.
