Disclaimer: I own my OCs, and nothing else.
A/N: The end has arrived.
A New Light
Epilogue: Post Mortem: from the ashes
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Excerpt from a local newspaper dated July 7th, xxxx:
..Fifteen-year-old Lina Hikari was found drowned in a lake nearby her family's house yesterday morning. Medics say she tripped and hit her head on a protruding rock (see inset, left), passed out, and fell into the lake.
Lina's parents, Masoi and Yura Hikari, and her younger brother Harushika, are all trying hard to cope with their grief.
"We miss her so badly," Yura-san stated tearfully. "We can only hope that she has found peace with Lord Kira in heaven."
The funeral is planned for July 10th.
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Michael stares blankly at the wall in his room.
His computer is off, as it has been for a while now. He's given up on his hacking project. There's no point anymore. And he feels lethargic. Apathetic.
I did it, he thinks bitterly. I caught the new Kira. I defeated my enemy.
And now she's dead.
He had something of a feeling, when he left Tatami Hospital that night. His gut told him that he wouldn't see Lina again. So he gave her his name-out of what, compassion?-and chose to trust that she understood the gravity of her situation and would..well, not kill him.
I should have considered that she'd kill herself, he thinks. After all, her view of justice is the elimination of crime. And she is-was-totally loyal to Kira and his ideals. She considered herself a criminal for playing god while 'flawed', and couldn't allow herself to keep living in his name.
Yes, that's what Kira's proxy would do. It's a clean psychological profile for a religious maniac.
But what of Lina Hikari, the plain person? The high school girl with a name, face and conscience?
Guilt, he decides. That's…all there is to it.
He knew the minute he heard. There was no way her death was an accident, as it had been labeled. What would she have been doing out by that lake anyway? Reflecting? No, it had to be a Death Note's work.
He entertained the notion that her Shinigami could be responsible. After all, if he or she wanted to return home, getting rid of Lina would provide them with a golden opportunity.
The jury is still out on that, in all honesty. But something tells him that there has been no godly intervention.
Lina has killed herself.
And me…
He sighs.
Well, I was just incapable of helping her.
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Anata watches Karin's eyes widen in horror, and wishes he hadn't told her.
She closes her eyes firmly to keep tears from overflowing. Her lip trembles. "How?" she whispers in a pained voice.
"Accident," Anata tells her bluntly. "Hit her head and ended up in the water."
"Poor Lina," Karin says softly, covering her face. "How horrible."
He puts a hand on her shoulder.
The sobs start coming from the dark-haired girl, and Anata leaves as quietly as he can. He feels it's no longer his place to stand there.
I guess it's just me, he observes as he heads for home. I guess I'm the only one around who isn't mourning for Lina Hikari.
He pauses and stares at the sky. Well…I'm not mourning her much, anyway.
He starts walking again. It's over…
So what now?
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July 10th, xxxx.
Funeral held for Lina Hikari.
Attendants include classmates Michael Karson, Karin Asiki and Kuroyami Anata.
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August 3rd, xxxx.
Michael Karson gives up ownership of his Death Note.
Kinddara Guivelostain returns to the Shinigami Realm.
Karin Asiki wins regional chess tournament with her boyfriend, Anata, in attendance.
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July 6th, xxxx.
Third anniversary of Lina's death.
Shika Hikari begins attending Ohnii High School.
Michael Karson enters college under his real name. Karin and Anata follow soon after.
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Blackness is everywhere.
This is not heaven, nor is it hell.
This is MU. Nothingness.
A teenage girl wanders, nervous and confused. Her hair might be red, but it's hard to tell color from color here. There is a gash on her head that once dripped blood, and her face is discolored. She glances around with wary grey eyes.
Someone touches her shoulder and she jumps, turning to see a young man. His brown eyes are cunning and falsely warm; his expression quietly calculating. Light brown hair, a bloodstained suit, and a strange discoloration to his skin-as if he died of a heart attack.
The girl once known as Lina wonders briefly if he is one of her victims, but dismisses the thought. She does not recognize his face.
"I am Light Yagami," he introduces himself. "Or at least, I was." A laugh. It sounds fake and hollow.
"Would you like me to show you around?" he offers with a slow smile.
She stares him in the face with distrust.
"No, thank you," she answers politely. "I'm sure I can manage on my own."
And she turns her back on him.
Turns and begins to move forward.
-Rule XXXVIII of the Church of Kira:
There are such things as second chances.
Be not afraid.
Rebirth in Grace is always possible.-
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Fin
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A/N: And there you have it, folks. A New Light officially over.
Thank you, thank you, thank you a billion times to the following:
Moonshine 369 and ShinigamiKittens for submitting awesome reviews so often, and putting up with me..you guys are what kept this story going, without question. –glomp-
Emo Naom – you picked an awesome time to join the party!
field-of-tears for reviewing the second the prologue was up, and making me think "Huh..maybe this could actually be a decent story!"
Emery Board
angelcorrupted (that Mary-Sue limitus test came in handy XD)
venom2008, formerly known as kirasuporter1993
Megii of Mysteri OusStranger
Deadeye 86
Drackner Clawrus
azaneti
Cataquack Warrior
Serinata
Threehoursofsleep
Noxjana
DeathFruitsMaximumSecrets – I kept pestering DeathMax-kun with ideas and whatnot..arigato for dealing with it, and helping with writer's block. ^.^
I appreciate all of you guy's support, your ConCrit, your correction of my French (XD), everything.. more than I can say. You all rock, and domo arigato for reading. –bows-
And of course, I hope you liked it! ;) Over and out-SkywardShadow.