CHAPTER 49:
"To Rescue Light"
There was no direct route from Mount Fuji to the Kanto Region in Japan.
The last few times he and Dana travelled back to the region was to visit his parents who lived there where he told them that he was living with Dana now in a shared apartment. It wasn't a lie, but the full truth of exactly where was exaggerated.
They had taken his new motorcycle. He had most recently purchased it from an allowance all Society members received and were afforded by the Savant Society from private resources and investors from their more wealthy members. Therefore, they could take their time.
He knew how to ride. His father used to ride dirt bikes when he was younger, teaching him. And riding a motorcycle was similar.
They needed to get to Light fast. Their destination was the building that housed the Kira Task Force Headquarters in downtown Kanto. And the Shinigami had a much quicker way to get there.
Geist had used a spacial gateway to originally come to the Human World, a kind of dimensional warp, coupled that with a time vortex that he transfixed to take him one thousand years into the past, so he could experience the Kira Incident. It was a serious event that inevitably changed Geist's culture forever, that he later revealed he wanted to alter events to help his world from the Shinigami King's tyranny. Geist had suggested the gateway when Demetre said that time was of the essence. It would be able to take them from one location of the planet to the next in seconds.
Each Shinigami had the ability to call up the gateway at any time, it was their only way back to the Shinigami Realm.
Most recently, Demetre has learned Light had visited the Shinigami Realm. Geist was told this by another Shinigami who witnessed the whole thing after the other came over and was partnered with a human through the Savant Society. Both Light and Ryuk encountered another Shinigami who had a hook for an arm—Killogi, a vicious Shinigami who had a bad temper. But they managed to leave pretty much unharmed.
Demetre's burner phone of Light's—for which he used to listen in whenever Light called his father, so he could get information on the Kira Task Force—had been confiscated by Zurn Wellington and seemingly destroyed, or at least that was what he was told. In truth, he doubted it. Most likely the burner phone had been used to track Light's location, hence the assassin sent to kill him by Zurn.
Demetre did not know what this man, the assassin, looked like. He had no pictures to go on, only a name.
Adam's drawings of the man's face provided little help. He didn't want to hurt the kids feelings, but Adam was a horrible artist. The kid was still young and he had many years to practice. But what Demetre really needed right now was a policeman's artist rendering.
Demetre was dressed all in black. Black jeans, shirt, boots and gloves, with an open leather jacket. He dressed the way he felt, dark. The crucifix he was wore under his shirt was his light within the darkness he felt in his heart. It was the only thing that protected him in giving him strength to overcome his hate he felt for Light. Demetre's grandfather was murdered by Kira/Light by heart attack and he hated his friend for what he did.
Dana dressed appropriately, similar to Demetre, to take a ride on a motorcycle with the wind sheers they may experience.
Demetre brought a shoulder pack with him and he slung the strap across his chest to secure it. Inside was his Death Note and a gun. He didn't like using weapons, but he had it if needed. And against an assassin with a gun of his own, he may have to use it. But only as a last resort. The same went with the Death Note. He had only used the notebook once and he had second thoughts of ever using it again, even to save Light.
They were outside of the Savant Mansion. He mounted his bike. Dana mounted the motorcycle behind him. Geist and Angel, their Shinigami, stood next to it.
"Once the gateway is open and you enter into aperture, you'll be instantly transported to a new place," Geist said. "Be weary of your thoughts. The gateway instantly becomes attuned to its first user, whomever enters it first, and takes them where they wish to go. And when you get to your destination, take note of where you are. Focus. You may or may not feel a little disoriented as this is your first time using it. It helps to concentrate on an object until your mindset asserts itself to the your current surroundings. As you know, this planet rotates on an axis, so even when you think you've emerged at a certain location, it might be slightly off due to this universes displacement variances."
"Be exact in where I want to go," Demetre nodded. "or be spattered across someone's windshield like a bug. Got it!"
Geist growled under his so-called breath, as if to tell Demetre to take what he said seriously.
"Let's go! We don't have much time," Demetre then said. "From what you showed me in the timeline about the Kira Incident Geist, this assassin is an unknown variant—this attack on Light never happened before. I don't know what will occur. But one thing I do know is we have to stop him from killing Light, or the timeline could be irreparably altered—and more than you want it to be Geist. It was your purpose in coming to my world a thousand years from the future, right? It could be disastrous for everyone if Light's murder isn't prevented."
The Shinigami didn't say anything.
Since he knew what the future foretold, What if Light did die?
What if Hitler had not been saved from drowning by a priest as a child?
What if Julius Caesar had never been saved by his people after he was kidnapped by pirates and imprisoned on an isolated island?
What if…
"Okay, do it!" Demetre told Geist.
Geist waved a hand in the air and a grey slit fissure of electrified energy suddenly appeared in the space before them, opening up a round subspace aperture. It reminded Demetre of an angry hurricane storm.
Demetre could feel its energy drawing him in, like a void of darkness. It frightened him a little, because it reminded him of biblical stories he was told by his grandfather when he was a boy—the Chariots of Fire in the Book of Elijah was the first thing that came to mind.
"But you will not go out in haste," Demetre spoke, as he looked into the bowls of the chaotic gateway. "Nor will you go as fugitives; For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Isaiah 52:12."
"You and your Bible verses," Geist said grumbled.
"And He will never leave you nor forsake you," Dana said in reply. "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8."
Demetre turned around and smiled at her. "Thank you," he said. Then turned back and put on his helmet. Dana put on hers.
He then felt Dana's arms as she wrapped them around his waist. He knew she felt nervous by how tight she was squeezing him.
He revved up his motorcycle, then mentally prepared himself to enter the alien aperture. Only a few months back, this was nothing but science fiction—yet no longer. He now knew of a world beyond his own. Was be privileged? And how many more worlds were out there?
They raced into the gateway. The Shinigami followed.
Seconds later, they emerged.
Unfortunately, it was not where Demetre hoped to be.
The gateway ejected them into open space and the motorcycle went into a free fall above the roof of the Kira Task Force building, a hefty windstorm further complicating their descent. They both screamed as the motorcycle plummeted.
Demetre thought quickly. He got up into a crouch on the seat, grabbed Dana, and leapt off the bike, pushing to a safe distance upwards, as the motorcycle hit onto the roof, bounced twice, then exploded—its gas tank igniting into flames.
For a few moments, it felt like they were floating in midair. Then reality struck them.
Demetre held onto Dana, hugging her to protect her from the impact when they hit one of the flat HVAC industrial metal fan grates on the roof. It partially cushioning their fall, bouncing off of it.
They moment Demetre hit, however, he involuntarily, he let go of her. But their momentum kept on them rolling across other grates. Demetre managed to slow, but Dana spun away from him in another direction. He extended his arm, just missing her, as she rolled out of reach.
"Dana!" he shouted, as she suddenly rolled over the edge of the building.
"Demetre!" she cried, as her hands just barely obtained a handhold.
Demetre was there in seconds, racing as if his own life depended on it. He grabbed one of her hands, then hauled her up.
Once up and on solid ground, they lay on their backs next to each other. The ordeal now fully realized, they breathed heavy, hearts pounding. Fright and excitement encompassed them.
Demetre said a silent prayer thanking God for their good fortune and giving him the fortitude to save Dana.
Then he got to his feet and ripped off his helmet, throwing it to the ground, it bounced away. Dana took off hers but no so quickly, standing.
He snapped his attention to Geist, angrily. "What the hell happened?" he chided the Shinigami. "We could have been killed!"
"Demetre…" Dana said, trying to calm him.
Angel was at her side, her wings spread angelically, symbolic of Demetre's faith—that an angel was with them, saving them from harm.
"You must have imagined the wrong place or the planet's axis shifted?" Geist shrugged. "I told you it may happen. I'm not to blame."
Demetre snorted frustration, as he looked at the fiery wreckage of his new motorcycle. Heavy winds blew at the flames keeping them ablaze. He would have to buy a new one—the Savant Society would reimburse him. Or his warranty would.
Demetre's dark hair whipped wildly in the wind, putting perspective of just how gusty it was on the roof. There was a storm coming. He looked up at the darkened sky. Only a little while before, they were at the base of Mount Fuji were the sky was blue and the weather beautiful.
Dana took his hand and squeezed it. "We're alive, Demmy," she said. "That's all that matters."
He turned, looked into her face. Artificial light shone around them and it made her eyes sparkle like pearls in the sea.
"Yes…" he replied, then her kissed her on the lips. He was totally in love with her. He pulled back. "I honestly don't know what I would do without you. If something ever happened to you, I would probably go crazy. I love you, Dana Chika."
"And I love you, Demetre Draycott," she responded lovingly.
Angel and Geist stood together. Demetre wasn't sure if it was a trick of the light or that he was seeing things, but he thought he saw the Shinigami holding hands. Gods of death expressing emotion and care for one another. It was an unconventional sight.
"Okay, let's go save Light," he said, fixing his shoulder pack.
Demetre looked around, then went to a roof hatch which was a doorway set inside a concentrate block enclosure. He tried the handle, it was locked. He then kicked it and broke it. Opening the door, a light inside showed him a set of steps that descended to a lower stairwell.
Demetre and Dana went down the flight of steps to a door that lead into an elevator lobby. Geist and Angel followed.
He opened the door, looked first, and with the coast clear, he and Dana went to an elevator. He pressed the button to call it. Numbers counted up.
Moments passed, when finally the doors to the elevator opened. And to his surprise, Soichiro Yagami, Light's father stood inside. He also noticed something else in the walls, bullet holes.
Soichiro Yagami gasped with shock. "Demetre? Dana? What the devil—"
"Hardly the devil," Demetre said cryptically. "You may want to look elsewhere, but close by for Him."
Dana nudged him, before to he said something regretful.
"No time to explain, Mr. Yagami," he then said. "I know Light is in trouble. Don't ask me how."
He reached into a shoulder pack and pulled out his gun. He cocked it.
Suddenly, the Death Note fell out and landed on the floor near the elevator, bounced once, and opened partially. Soichiro went to pick it up.
"Stop! Don't touch that!" Demetre shouted.
Light's father halted in place.
Realizing his hostile tone, Demetre then said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Yagami. I didn't mean to yell. It's just my notebook" —Demetre picked it up— "it's very important to me. Sorry if I startled you."
"Demetre," Dana said, worriedly.
Demetre gave her a thin smile, stuffing the Death Note back into his shoulder pack.
Geist said something to Demetre, and Demetre responded with a nod and a grunt since he couldn't respond orally or Light's father would ask. Both Demetre and Dana got into the elevator alone, the Shinigami not following. But no buttons were pushed. The doors closed.
Soichiro looked stunned by the gun. Then he said, "A man has Light and Misa held at gun point in the main lobby. You may want to give me that, son. Judging by the way you reacted to me attempting to pick up your notebook, you're a little nervous. I'm a police officer, and in the current situation it's best I have it. It is illegal for someone of your age to possess or even handle one without a license. You could go to jail."
Demetre looked at him with a serious stare.
Soichiro Yagami sighed. "Look, I know you know how to use a gun. I taught you well during our annual sabbaticals in Hokkaido-Jozankei Forest with Light when we hunted game. You are an excellent shot, but you have no idea what you're up against, son. Give me the gun! And tell me how you got here?"
Demetre refused to hand over the gun even after Soichiro extended a hand for it. He also refused to answer his question.
Light's father then pulled back after a few icy moments.
"Tell me everything that's happened, Mr. Yagami," Demetre said staunchly. "Start from the beginning."
Soichiro nodded. "Of course," he said without protest. He then looked at Dana. "Welcome back, my dear. My wife told us you were looking for Light, that the both of you visited our home. Light has missed you very much. We all wondered why you left so suddenly."
Dana looked a little nervous. "I think I need to explain a few things, Mr. Yagami," she said. "And leaving had nothing to do with your son."
Soichiro put a hand on Demetre and Dana's shoulders, and smiled. "As long as you're happy, Dana," he said. "And we already know about you two. But Light would still like to see you for old times sake after we deal with this situation."
"I would like to see him, too," Demetre said, holding the gun tightly.
Demetre pushed the button for the lobby.
To be continued...