Okay...I know it's been forever, but it's also been awhile since I've had the urge to write anything remoted to Death Note. Ah...I've jumped on a new bandwagon. Hehe, Hetalia and its awesomeness.
Anyway, I've gotten some new inspiration and though updates probably will be extremely slow, I promise to finish this story. Eventually. This chapter is the proof of my promise. I worked hard on it. Also, it seems that my normal way of breaking down certain jumps has been discarded in previous chapters by something. It bothers me, but I'm too lazy to go back and fix them like I did this chapter.
Song used: All These Lives - Daughtry (sp?)
This song is epicness and in my head, it totally fit.
Also, don't kill me.
Please Review
Chapter 24
Chest heaving, Peace would only inwardly admit that she was frightened of what was to come. Not of the danger, no never the danger as that was something she had long since accepted. She was afraid of failing yet again, just like she had done so many times in the recent past. After all, the main reason behind this was to succeed, not to fail. If she failed (which was just as likely to happen as would if she succeeded), then that was what she would be.
A failure.
Peace did not want to fail as to fail would be just as bad as dying which was something she wasn't scared of. At least if she died, she would get to see L again. Hopefully. Though, she did have a checklist to go through before that happened. Therefore, to die was to fail.
Peace did not want to be a failure.
"Lily…"
"…a few minutes, Serenity."
"Okay." Silence.
Standing a top the roof of the apartment complex, Leila's eyes went out over the city. Scanning each and every single ant-looking person down below. After all, from way up here, that's exactly what they looked like. Ants. If she had more of a complex, she would even say that the human beings down there being so small made her feel…alive. But she hadn't such a complex. At least, not one that she knew of and she knew herself best after all.
You ready, Leila? As ready as she could ever be.
Good. Trust me, you won't fail. As long as you do as I tell you to, you'll be fine. The young teenage girl released a shuddering breath and nodded, absently adjusting the microphone attached to the collar of her shirt.
Long sleeved, a little on the baggy side, striped black and red. Her coal colored ponytail whipped around her pale porcelain face and she opened her eyes, the stormy irises looking back out over the city.
Behind her, she could pick up on Serenity and Jacob absently shuffling and adjusting the black masks they wore across their faces. Jacob donning a blonde wig. They were a band after all, relatively known by some. They couldn't risk anything. Peace wasn't willing to risk anything.
Leila though…she wasn't sure anymore what she was willing to do. After all, she was listening to a voice inside her head and was about to do something completely insane that may or may not get them all killed.
Wow, she really was losing it.
The last thing you should be worrying about is whether or not you're crazy. Focus more on the task at hand. Why should she listen to it?
She didn't quite understand, but she always did anyway. Perhaps it was just in her nature to always be the follower. Even if it didn't even make any sense. After all, she was always so willing to chase after Mello, though that may have had more to do with her heart than with her need for a leader. Though, back when she had been younger, she hadn't known that.
Maybe she needed a leader anyway. But, given the current circumstances, that would have to be something she would need to get over. She was L now, not the L, but she was L. L was a leader. L needed to be a leader.
So, putting all of her thoughts, concerns, fears, and worries behind her, Leila Lawliet - L - prepared herself for the most dangerous thing she would ever do in her life. At least she hoped it was the most dangerous thing she would do, but she really couldn't speak for the future, could she?
Civilians and police and criminals alike all stopped walking when they heard the loud music echoing through the city. A loud chatter began as they all searched for the source, awe-stricken and confused. No such thing was supposed to occur today, after all.
However, soon enough the location of the music was found. It belonged to three people who stood atop one of the taller complexes. The two males had their backs facing the crowd and the small, dark haired female was brave enough to stand close to the edge. She wore a mask across her face and even from down below, the way her eyes shone was so…entrancing.
Her fingers moved with so much grace, strumming the strings of the electric guitar she held in her hands. All of the people down below turned to their closest neighbour and continued to chatter about this development, still in stricken awe and unsure of what to make of this.
What was going on? Who were these people?
Eventually, a voice rose up over them and the chatter fell silent as the people gazed up at the singing girl.
Doesn't come down when she calls,
"It's time for breakfast.
"Momma can't get down those halls
Fast enough to see
Glass is sprayed across the floor
From the broken window
She can't breathe anymore
Can't deny what we know.
"Wh- what the hell?" Mello blinked a couple of times as he peered at the dusty television, unsure of what he was seeing.
"Weird." Though he probably should have changed the channel (he didn't find what was so interesting about some random girl singing on top of a building for it to be taped by a news channel), he didn't.
He wasn't sure what kept him from doing that, though.
They're gonna find you, just believe
You're not a person; you're a disease.
All these lives that you've been taking,
Deep inside, my heart is breaking
Broken homes from seperation
Don't you know it's violation?
It's so wrong, but you'll see
Never gonna let you take my world from me
The world outside these walls may know you're breathing,
But you ain't comin'
You ain't comin' in.
The people were confused. Some of them. The smarter ones were the ones who managed to clue into immediately what the hell was going on. There were the few of those who were smart enough to hurry away so not to be caught on camera themselves. The others were the ones who just were much too curious about what would happen to the girl than to actually care about saving themselves.
Posters hung on building walls
Of missing faces
Months go by without the cause,
The clues, or traces.
Light Yagami had just happened upon this television showing. At first, he was simply curious about what was going on. Now, he was entranced as well. The voice of the singing woman was vaguely familiar, though he honestly couldn't place it (which he wouldn't admit to anyone), but he knew exactly what she was doing. How could he not? He was the man who had defeated L after all. He was a god and therefore needed to know such things.
He would be a pretty pathetic god if he was so clueless to not even figure out something so simple as this.
They're gonna find you, just believe
You're not a person; you're a disease
All these lives that you've been taking,
Deep inside, my heart is breaking
Broken homes from seperation
Don't you know it's violation?
It's so wrong, but you'll see
Never gonna let you take my world from me
The world outside these walls may know you're breathing,
But you ain't comin' in.
Teru Mikami felt his hand quivering over the blank page of the notebook, his eyes glowing red as he stared at the television screen.
He needed to delete such a presence from the world. He knew this evil doer's name. He could see it with the precious eyes God had gifted to him. However, such eyes had their downfalls. The devout Kira follower needed to see this rebel's face in order to show her God's power.
Shed the light on all the ones who never thought they would become
A father, mother asking why this world can be so cold.
Matt watched the television channel. The cigarette in his mouth hung loosely from his lips and he tried desperately to cease the heavy pounding of his heart lest he die an ironic death of a heart attack caused by stress.
"This is…" Ridiculous, insane?
He wasn't sure what to call it.
What he was sure of, though, was that the singing girl was someone he knew and that when Mello found out he would be furious.
Doesn't come down when she calls,
"It's time for breakfast."
The memories begin to fall
She asks, "When will I be free?"
All these lives that you've been taking,
Deep inside, my heart is breaking
Broken homes from seperation
Don't you know it's violation?
It's so wrong, but you'll see
Never gonna let you take my world from me
The world outside these walls may know you're breathing,
But you ain't comin' in.
Near's eyes focused solely on the television that had been placed in front of him. Not that he would care to admit, but he was indeed slightly surprised that she would go to such lengths. At first, he had suspected that perhaps Mello had put her up to this, but quickly dismissed that idea. No, though she was devout to Mello in nearly all aspects, this was clearly of her own doing. Mello would not allow her to do something so rash, despite being so rash himself.
Still, Near wondered what she had to gain from this rash action.
He knew that if he were to watch the broadcast long enough, he was going to find out.
All these lives that you've been taking,
Deep inside, my heart is breaking
All these lives that you've been taking,
Deep inside, my heart is breaking
All these lives that you've been taking,
Deep inside, my heart is breaking
The world outside these walls may know you're breathing,
The world outside these walls may know you're breathing,
But you ain't comin' in.
Peace knew that the moment she stopped, she would need to take advantage of the stunned audience below her. This, after all, was merely a way to capture their attention. Apparently, it had gone just the way she had wanted to as she had caught their attention. Not only that, but she was being broadcasted on television too.
Inwardly, she winced.
Hey, this is all part of the plan. The voice explained to her.
Now, get on with it before they start to riot. Right.
She relaxed her hold on the guitar and lifted her hand up into the air, forming a fist. Her eyes hardened and her heart pounded. She hoped she had the energy to shout and be heard over the quiet chatter below. The fact that she was high up had to do with everything. The wind was stronger up here and she felt like she was going to be knocked over the edge of the complex.
"Kira, is nothing but a cold hearted monster!" Collected gasps from the crowd below and immediate silence from most of them, apart from the several that were obviously devout followers of the claimed "God".
Peace carried on, ignoring them. Though, she remained alert to each and everyone of them all the same. The last thing she needed was to get herself killed. Though, then again, it seemed like she could get herself killed anyway.
If Kira and his "sighted" followers were watching this like she hoped they were.
"Ah! What do we gain from the murders he commits? Nothing! So, our streets are a little cleaner of criminals, but not because he's helping! But because he's scaring us out of our minds! We should not live in a society surrounded completely on fear!" She really felt like she was going to collapse from all of the stress of this.
Perhaps she should have rehearsed this more…
Too late to do anything now.
"Kira has taken over using murder and fear! Do we really deserve to live in such a cold society? No! He's killing people ! Kira is no god, he's just a pathetic dictator set on having everything done his way! Therefore, not much different than a toddler throwing a temper tantrum!"
That's right. Keep going. You can do this. Her eyes flared.
"We need to take our lives back! We still have so many years to live and already we're so dead! We are owned by the power of fear he has instilled in us! That is not a way for us to live! We are human beings and so is Kira! He is no God! Just a human being that can be struck down as easily as you or I!" The crowd below was getting extremely loud at this point, but Peace was taking care in being louder than she had been in a long time.
"There are so many of us and only one of Kira! In order to take our lives back, we need to rebel! To show him that he doesn't scare us! That we're stronger than he ever will be! The times are harsh! Human beings are dying at the hand of a disturbed person claiming to be God! Are you honestly going to let some immature child tell you how to live your lives?"
"Kira is God!" Voices chorused.
"Kira makes things better!"
"If you're so fearless, show us your face!" Peace twitched faintly and then smirked ever so slightly.
This was happening exactly as she thought it would.
"What the fuck?" Mello stared at the television, leaning forwards on the couch with utmost interest.
"This kid is seriously stupid." He muttered, slightly annoyed.
It was a shame that she was going to die because she actually had the guts to rebel. Well, at least she had the sense to wear a mask, but by the looks of it, she was about ready to toss in the towel. With all those stupid assholes already saying that "Kira shall smite you" crap and "If you're so brave, take off your mask",she actually seemed to be considering it.
"Matt, what the hell do you think of this?" The blonde asked.
The redhead shrugged, his fingers mashing at the buttons of his handheld. Still, he was keeping a close eye on the ruckus coming from the television broadcast.
Apparently, Mello had no idea who that was. Either that or he was suffering an extreme case of denial. Either was good, Matt supposed. Less likely that Mello would get the chance to flip out because that meant it was less likely that he would find out who it was.
"I dunno. Seems like this one has some sort of idea to me. I mean, she has the common sense to wear a mask, right? That means she at least is up to date with some information."
"Tch…it's a pity she's going to die." Matt felt an overwhelming sense of dread.
Oh dear…he hoped not.
"The anti-Kira Revolution starts now!" Her voice echoed and Near sighed softly, his fingers gently toying with a single finger puppet.
For once, he was entirely unsure of what to do with it. After all, it was not exactly in Peace's nature to do such rash things. It was unexpected. Still, Near could only assume that she was going to gain something from this. Even if he wasn't entirely sure of what this something was.
He absolutely despised admitting that at this current moment, he had no idea what was coursing through her mind. Though, the idea of an anti-Kira Revolution seemed to be playing into it somehow. Did she plan to remove her mask and get herself killed?
No, that wouldn't do. Peace - L - was not looking forward to dying. No, she had made a vow to put Kira to an end.
How…confusing.
"We must band together as a single unit! To unite all of the power we have as human beings to stand up for what is right! To strike down people without a fair trial is wrong and Kira is nothing more than a criminal himself for doing it!"
"No, no, she's wrong." The voice of the worshipper was hissed, his eyes glaring at the figure of the masked woman who even dared to slander God's wonderful, beautiful name.
He awaited the moment where she would let down her guard. When she would cave and surrender to the people who wanted to see just how she planned to start a revolution dead. Well, she wouldn't.
"All those who go against God must die. It is the only way the world will learn."
"…you want me to reveal myself?" Yes.
Light wanted to see her face. To see her expression as her heart stuttered and came to a stop. He wanted to feel that sickening pleasure that came with the feeling of winning over someone who clearly had no idea what they were getting into.
Yet, at the same time, he just wanted to see who had the bravery and the beautiful, familiar voice that held so much strength, to stand up to him. To stand up to God of all beings. Clearly, whoever she was had a death wish. Or she didn't believe in God and therefore believed that she wouldn't be touched.
Her finger lightly went around the circumference of the glass' rim. The grapefruit juice was half gone by that point. After all, it had been about two hours since she'd gotten in.
Dark, coal coloured waves fell slightly into the endless grey abyss which were her eyes. Light found himself unable to look into them that day. Somehow, in that long sleeved red shirt and those washed out jeans, she still managed to remind him of the detective that had been his greatest rival, enemy, and perhaps his closest friend.
They looked similar, L and Ren, but today she was dressed in colours which resembled the deceased detective in no way whatsoever. Light wouldn't care to admit it, barely to himself even, but that made him extremely uneasy.
"So, tomorrow's the day." They were off in the back - alone.
They could talk freely about what she was going to do tomorrow. Light couldn't say he liked it, but Ren was willing and she was proving that she wanted to help him. Such loyalty pulled Light to her, but mostly it was her resolve and determination. Normal women - girls - her age would have likely ran out of there as soon as they realised the dangers (Misa was an annoying exception…sadly.) Ren stayed, though, and was willing to die to help stop Kira - to help Light get back his sister from Mello. She knew the dangers, that was certain, but even so…she didn't care.
This was probably the time realised just how much he liked her. Perhaps he could risk saying that this was the time he realised that it was very, very likely that he loved her. A truth, for once, and not the lies he told Misa just to get her to shut up.
He loved this woman who was brave, slightly shy, but strong and willing and charismatic, despite being younger than himself. Perhaps she wasn't as intelligent as himself, but few people were able to claim that they defeated L and got away with it alivewithout being caught.
"Yes, it is." Her voice was soft, quiet, unconcerned for the most part.
"You know, you could die." He was blunt, maybe because he wanted it to be obvious that he really didn't want that to happen.
He wanted her to know that he cared.
Ren laughed. It wasn't strangled or upset. It was everything but. In a way, it was disturbing. Light voiced this opinion using his words carefully as he always did.
"What a strange time to laugh. I was being serious."
"I know."
"Most women would be afraid."
"I'm not most women. I am a single woman who is willing to do everything she can to do what's right."
"Even if you die?"
"Light-kun, God loves me too much to kill me. L himself should understand that." And that was the end of that.
Still, Light found himself disturbed by that strange statement because he could distinctly recall Ren previously telling him that she had reasons to despise and not believe in God. Still, even though it bothered him and even though he wanted to call her out on it, he didn't.
That was a mistake he would never realise he had made.
And just like that, the self-declared God was more than relieved with the fact that he was currently home. Alone. Why? Because he finally pieced together why everything about the strange, familiar masked woman seemed as thus. Familiar.
Fingers lightly played against the soft silk material of her mask, a strange cocky smile splayed out across her expression that only one other knew was there. One other who couldn't even see it, but knew it was there all the same.
Voices from below chorused into nothing, but white noise. Still, both Leila and whatever was inside her head knew what they wanted. Both Leila and the voice within her head were willing to give it to the other voices too.
"Take it off? Yes, I think I will and then you'll know how right I am." By that point, she had turned the microphone off as there was nothing else she wanted to say.
Or, in reality, there was nothing else that she could think of to say. She was left with a sort of numbness. No doubt there in case she was going to die. This way she wouldn't be scared or anything of the sort.
Ripitoffripitoffripitoff. The voice spoke in rapid succession, encouraging her in such a way to remind her that there was no way to turn back.
Then, she did.
Across the city, a phone rang.
Mello cursed at the top of his lungs.
Matt bit down onto his cigarette to the point that he found himself chewing on the bitter butt.
Near smirked.
Somewhere, a voice laughed.