Disclaimer: I own Michael…that's pretty much it, besides Lina and Kinddara's personalities. And Lina's name.
A/N: Thanks to Kirasuporter1993 and Moonshine 369 for reviewing!
A New Light
Chapter 13: Kardia
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June 15th, xxxx.
Kuroyami Otogi, 30, dies while imprisoned for abuse of his family.
Cause of death: heart attack.
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"Devil-girl."
Here we go again. Why must she be bothered today, of all days?
"You do understand what you support, right?" the blue-eyed boy next to her continues. He's sitting next to her at the lunch table, leaned toward her casually, as if they were friends having a normal conversation.
"Kira…"
She tries and fails to block him out. She can predict what he'll say. She's heard it a million times; the root of all hatred and prejudice against Kira-worshippers. Block it out. Think of something else..
"..is nothing more.."
She's so tired.
Exhausted, really, might be a more apt term. Between frequent late-night prayer sessions, the mental weariness that comes from her new duty, her strict parents, and a demanding school system-along with confrontations like this-she would like nothing more than to lie down on the nearest surface and sleep until Kira comes back.
"…than a petty…"
But of course, that can't happen. Tiring as it is, this lifestyle can only be interpreted as a test, of her loyalty and willpower. Giving up now would bring her to deeper shame than she cares to even imagine.
Besides, this is bigger than her now. Whether they know it yet or not, the people of the world are slowly beginning to depend on her to lead them to the light. It would be, at the very least, selfish to neglect her duty now. She has committed.
"..murderer."
Her brain is forced back to concentrating on the boy's calm words. The word 'murderer', for obvious reasons, has provoked more of a reaction from her lately.
Again for obvious reasons, perhaps, she does something she knows she should not do.
She engages in what is diplomatically known as a 'debate'.
She looks him in the eye and almost falters. Behind blue ice and a calm façade lurks dangerously raw nerves, and some sort of fire that could melt the ice and break free at any moment. Despite her mind yelling not to get tangled up with him, her voice betrays her.
"Why do you make that assumption?"
He raises black eyebrows, doubtless surprised that the statuelike Lina has broken her silence and challenged him. But he makes a quick recovery.
"'Assumption?'" he repeats, almost incredulously. "But it is the truth, see? If you kill someone without conducting trial first-and convicting the person-it's murder."
"Kira-sama conducts His own trials," she replies, forcing her voice to keep cool and steady. "He knows more about right and wrong than any human could possibly hope to, and is therefore better equipped to judge without us getting in the way."
"So he's a dictator," her opponent spits bitterly. "He rules his kingdom with fear and violence. He sheds blood and then throws it in everyone else's faces, ordering them to call it righteousness and daring them to say otherwise."
"He is a king," she returns reverently, trying not to let letting anger rattle her. "He rules us because He knows what is best for us. We are corrupted, we are dirty. But He is not-He is pure, He is justice, and He can help us if we will give Him a chance."
The boy shoots her a gaze of disgust. "Filthy demon-girl," he growls, mask fading. The fire is starting to bleed through. "Mindless idiot. Do you have no mind of your own?! If Kira was so curst great, he wouldn't need our approval! It didn't stop him the last time, that people hated him; he just killed them off! Until, thank some real God, he quit it. But now look-he's back, and I don't remember sending him any invitation!"
A gasp, followed by a wave of murmurs, emits from the rest of the students, who paused in their dining to witness the sparring. Lina feels her eyes widen in shock.
Her plan is..working. This boy has openly acknowledged that Kira is back, and if he's noticed, he can't be the only one. If a vehement, non-believing high school boy has realized this fact, then who else must have come to the same realization?
She gazes into space, trying not to let her rapture show and ruin everything. The battle is over for now. She stands with dignity, smiles faintly at the boy, and leaves the room with ecstatic grace.
It's working, she keeps thinking. It's actually going somewhere.
Kira, are you proud of me?
It's a childish thought, but one that cannot be helped.
Anyone in her position, against what seemed like the world, would want a little acknowledgement. Some show of appreciation.
Something to say that it's not all for nothing.
But even if Kira never gives me a sign, she thinks, I will press on. I won't be discouraged. It's not all for nothing.
No matter what, I will believe that.
She has to.
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That was an interesting exchange.
Michael looks down at nothing with worry etched in his face.
This is exactly what I was afraid of. The Kuroyami boy noticed something off..of course, in his position, who wouldn't? 30 is not a normal age for death by cardiac arrest..
It's out there now. If he's noticed, then so have others. It's reasonable to assume we'll be hearing a lot more things like this in the near future.
And no matter what I may feel about it, the evidence to support 'that theory' is building. Of course, little things like that could naturally be coincidence..But judging from Kay's reaction, and from those little things that become larger things over time…
But it's the personality bit I'm having trouble with. The bell rings. He doesn't notice. A methodical system of killing like that must belong to a sociopath…or maybe just a sadist…it could even be someone who doesn't care at all. Those are the types of things investigators during the first Kira Case came up with. They even considered some sort of childish personality..
But she doesn't fit any of those profiles. Maybe..maybe my line of thinking is what's off here.
Traits that most normal people would consider signs of cruelty or some psychological disorder could, twisted the right way, also be interpreted as willingness to defy one's humanity as a result of extreme faith…it's things like those I'm going to have to pay attention to from now on.
In the meantime, my best bet is to observe as best I can…and maybe do some…
A small smirk crosses his face. Briefly.
..hacking.
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Stupid little….!
A tirade of swearing escapes Kuroyami Anata's mouth in the front schoolyard, reminding him of his father on a good day. On a bad day…well, Anata would rather not recall.
Not that that's a problem anymore, oh no. Kira has made sure of that.
And that moronic little girl has the nerve to worship Kira. Call him a god. Well, she's never gone through the loss of someone close, obviously. She'd change her tune then..
Not that Anata and his father had ever been exactly close. He's pretty sure he still has a scar or two thanks to that foul-tempered man who always smelled of smoke and alcohol. His mother had fared even worse, before a meddling neighbor smartened up and called the police.
If it weren't for the neighbor, Kuroyami Otogi wouldn't have gone to prison. He wouldn't have been murdered by Kira.
Kira. Kira. Why was he back? Before, when he'd first appeared, Anata might have even become a supporter of who some called a 'crusader for utopia'.
But not now. Absolutely not. Kira had killed his father-lowlife though he had been-and Anata would do whatever he could to stop another advent by the mysterious 'god'.
To be continued
-Rule XIV of the Church of Kira:
Do not question Kira,
nor seek to understand Him.
He is beyond mere human comprehension, and our sole purpose
concerning Him is to worship and follow,
and to lead others to do so as well.-
A/N: Again, I'm feeling like this is just pointless rambling..I have got to make something happen here. Ugh..
Anyway, I hope you liked it! Reviews are beloved and adored, but of course feel no obligation whatsoever. Thanks for reading! -SS