CHAPTER 60:
"For Dana"
"No way!" Demetre said firmly, then walked away, but he left his quarters' door open. He continued to pack.
The kid followed him into the bedroom.
"I want to help," Adam said, almost begging.
"No! The fact that Zurn is willing to murder so senselessly means I need to do this alone." He went into a dresser drawer and took out two pairs of socks and underwear and stuffed them into his carry bag. "I will not put anyone else in harms away. And besides, you're only eight years old."
"I'm almost nine," Adam said with a boyish grin. "My birthday is in a couple of days."
"Happy Pre-birthday, but I won't be here to celebrate it," Demetre said, zipping up his carry bag after putting the Death Note inside. "Geist will be coming with me, so you will need to stay to look after Angel. She needs someone to help her get through these difficult times." Like I did when Dana left Light. I was with him, and even allowed Light to cry on my shoulder. How times have changed.
"I want to go with you, too." Angel's voice heard, the Shinigami manifesting through the wall of Demetre's bedroom. "And you can't stop me," she then said. Angel and Geist looked at each other and they both smiled. "Two Shinigami are better than one."
Demetre mentally sighed.
He didn't think Angel should come, but saying no to her would only make her more driven to follow.
However with Dana gone, Demetre had a theory that Angel wanted to make sure nothing else happened to anyone she cared about it, hence her wanting to come to protect him. It was obvious, she cared about him like Angel cared about Dana. But Angel needed a handler if she was to stay in the Human World, or she would be forced to return back to the Shinigami Realm.
Suddenly, Angel tossed her Death Note at him. He instinctively caught it. And he immediately knew what it meant like she had read his mind.
"You're my new handler after touching my Death Note," Angel stated. "It's not against the rules for a human to be owner of two Death Notes. And this also means I can come with you. But I won't make you write down a name in the notebook to cement the contract. Let's call you my foster handler for now, and you're merely holding onto the Death Note. But I won't waste any time looking for a permanent handler."
Demetre rolled his eyes. That was sneaky but smart, he thought. It was also a way to get around the rules of her realm and that of the Savant Society. Yet now, I'm the owner of two Death Notes. He sighed.
Geist smiled. "Now you can stay in the Human World," he said happily, holding her hand.
To Demetre, it boggled the mind that two Shinigami could have a human-esque emotional connection. But he figured love was universal, much like a Universal Construct by which the principles of the universe must adhere to. He wasn't going to refuse her help now.
"I'm going, too," Adam then added, putting up his hand excitedly. Demetre looked back at the boy. "I can find him. Zurn can block my special empathic gift to read people's emotions, so I can feel his barrier. He should be easy to find."
"No, you're just a kid."
"I have issues with Zurn, too," Adam said seriously. "Before you became a member of the Savant Society, Prometheus, Zurn's Shinigami, continuously attacked Cerberus. I don't know why, jealousy I figure? But even back then, I sensed Zurn had a hidden agenda. And I think he knew I was trying to learn it. I believe he received secret training from the League of Darkness to erect a mental barrier from my empathic probing knowing of my gift. But since Zurn had been with the Society for a while, the High Council sided with him. And I was told to back off, as if Cerberus and I, because we were new, were to blame for our fights, provoking Prometheus. I would be kicked out of the Savant Society if it didn't stop. But now with his deception out in the open, the Council believes me. I liked Dana Chika, too. So, I'm coming with you to make Zurn pay. I know you purchased another motorcycle after you crashed it on the roof of the Kira Task Force headquarters when you went to rescue Light Yagami from Zurn's assassin—does it come with a sidecar? I don't have wings like a Shinigami."
Demetre sighed. He didn't know what to do. Yet Adam's power would be useful to him to find Zurn.
Adam smiled. "And if you're wondering about permission, that I'm too young to go off on some adventure with you, then don't worry. I spoke to Tacoma just before coming here and he said I go. He knew you were going to leave and would need some help. And, another thing, he has set up a private and unlimited bank account just for you. He wants justice for Dana as well. And secretly, so does her father."
Demetre's mouth dropped stunned.
"Dana's father blamed you for her death, but after he was told the complete story by Tacoma, he now has a different perspective on it. I spoke to both of them just before I came here, he and Tacoma were speaking in the hall outside the Praxeum. He wants Zurn to pay for his crime. He knows how much you cared for her and told me to give you a message, knowing how much you are a believer in God—Psalm 26:9."
Demetre took a moment to think, then he smiled. "Do not take my soul away with sinners, or my life with men of bloodshed," he recited from memory. In other words: Go get him for me! "Message received."
"I can also help keep an eye on Light Yagami, empathically watch him," Adam said. "I foresee a dark future for him."
"What do you mean? I've seen the future, Geist has shown it to me. Kira's future is next to concrete for the next four to five years. Light will murder and control the world with fear. He'll find this Third Kira whom Rem has designated to be a place-holder, kill him, and get back a Death Note. Light will then go on a killing spree. I can't stop that. My insertion into these events hasn't made an insignificant change."
"Then forget about Light Yagami," Adam said.
"I can't do that," Demetre said. "I need to do something about him before he unleashes hell upon the planet."
"We have bigger fish to fry," Adam replied. "And remember the saying: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Besides, the League of Darkness is a much bigger threat."
"What are you saying?"
"Kira will be the lest of our problems if the LOD isn't stopped. Zurn tried to kill Light Yagami because he was a rogue with a Death Note, but next to the LOD, he's insignificant in the grand scheme of things. And if you think the hundreds of people Light has killed with the Death Note is a lot, then just wait until the LOD gets started. The leader of the League of Darkness believes humankind, all those who refuse to adhere to his power, will be crushed under the weight of an 'iron hammer'—to quote the Koran. And they will be killed. He has invited those with like-minds within and outside the Savant Society to join him. If he is allowed to continue with his plans, along with his army of malevolent Shinigami, Humankind will be devastated. They've been watching you, Demetre, and they already see you as some sort of threat. But I don't know why yet."
"Maybe because he has a good heart," Angel voiced.
Demetre didn't respond.
Adam nodded. "I think Angel has a point. You're a good person with a kind heart, Demetre. But you represent rebellion to the LOD, and they want absolute order. No doubt, this is the reason why the LOD through Zurn wanted to eliminate Light Yagami since he is a rogue with a Death Note going against their grand agenda, unbeknown to him. Additionally, Geist has chosen to stay with you instead of leaving for someone with more entertainment value, per se. It is not normal for gods of death to remain long with a handler. Since he came from the future, he represents the same. Therefore, you two are a perfect fit. Geist is the Chewbacca to your Han Solo." Adam chuckled. "Can you growl like a Wookie, Geist?"
"What's a Wookie?" Geist demanded growly.
Demetre smirked. "I'll explain later," he said.
"Anyway, getting back to what I was saying," Adam said. "It is a juxtaposition of a Shinigami's nature to stay in one place for very long. And to care about their handlers invites their own demise if they kill for them, they'll turn to dust. So, the very thought that Geist wishes to remain at your side as you hunt down Zurn Wellington goes to the fact that he likes and cares about you."
Demetre looked to Geist. Geist gave him a nod as if to affirm what Adam said.
"There appears to be a misconception regarding Shinigami," Adam continued. "With the Savant Society's co-habitation program, we've learned so much about them. You are a kind person, Demetre, and you invite the kind kinship of others. And the affection Angel and Geist have towards each other obviously proves there is much more to learn about Shinigami than we know about."
Demetre nodded, agreeing. Indeed, there was so much more to learn about them.
He suddenly noticed Geist's belt buckle that was shaped in the form of a figure-eight. He had made a mental note of it before but it didn't register again until now. Geist dressed in a mannerism than was very bizarre, but Light had one just like it. He wondered where Geist got the buckle from.
"Can I call you Demmy?" Adam suddenly asked.
Demmy looked at Adam, the belt buckle forgotten. "Of course. All my friends call me Demmy," he said. Then he smiled at Angel. "I may be your foster handler, but we're all friends here, Angel. Call me Demmy, too."
Angel smiled. "Thank you, Demmy," the Shinigami said.
Angel was chosen for Dana, but Angel became attached to her much like one would bond with a friend or family member. Cerberus was a different case and he chose Adam before being brought to the Savant Society. It was a special bonding, Demetre was told. Now Geist chose to stay with him because the Shinigami cared for him. It was bizarre, and he was taken aback by the dynamic collective around him. He was truly blessed by a good group of friends, three Shinigami and one young, empathic boy. He couldn't help but mentally chuckle thinking about it.
He momentarily shut his eyes and took hold of his crucifix through his shirt.
Dana, if you can hear me. I will always love until the end of time. And promise you, I will make Zurn pay!
He swore he felt something touch his lips at that moment—a kiss? He then threw open his eyes. And he didn't know if it was his imagination or just wishful want, but suddenly, Dana's transparent spirit floated majestically in front of him, smiling. But only he could see her.
I will always be with you, Demmy. He heard her say in is mind.
Then she vanished.
He smiled.
She was okay.
He picked up his carry bag, grabbed a jacket, and they all set off.
While Kira preyed on the world's criminal population, they would be hunting for another killer—one just as cunning and ruthless.
Demetre knew he would eventually have to confront the League of Darkness, and its leader the Dark One, if he was to find Zurn Wellington. And he vowed he wouldn't stop until justice was served—
—for Dana
To be continued...