I was once told that the universe is just like a book, with the future already planned out in the form of each coming chapter. But if there's anything I've learned from having the ability to see the future, it's that fate isn't quite that simple.
I place the copy of Death Note on my bedside table after turning the last page of a less than satisfying ending. As if L's death wasn't enough, even Light Yagami had to meet a grim fate as well. I chuckle. As if my universe was any better.
"Shadow, we'll be back later!" My deity master Phareth calls from downstairs. Tsareth, his twin brother, yells an 'I love you,' before I hear the front door shut.
For a mortal, I'd say I'm pretty lucky. Most mortals are treated like slaves, but thankfully my masters aren't that cruel. But that isn't to say that there aren't times where being human in a deity world isn't challenging; If I were to act out of line in front of any other deity, I'd have about three seconds to say goodbye before being blasted to the other side.
With Phareth and Tsareth gone, I make my way down the stairs to put the book back on Phareth's bookshelf. I'm not usually allowed in their bedroom, but Phareth will appreciate having his book back after borrowing. I let out a chuckle. I can't wait to see his reaction to the ending.
A soft golden glimmer on their dresser catches my eye on my way back out the door. That can't be what I think it is. Can it?
Though everything in this house is deity-sized and therefore too large for me to reach most of anything without a step ladder, the top of their bunk bed gives a perfect point for me to access the top of their dresser.
I climb to the top of their bunk bed to look down, and it is what I think it is: Tsareth's time watch. Being a god of time, he was naturally given this tool to help him with any jobs, but use by anyone else other than the deity to whom it was given is strictly forbidden. My masters are laid back about most rules, but this is one of the few that they take very seriously.
Normally, I wouldn't even dare touch such a device. But something in the back of my mind compels me to take the pocket watch into my hands to look it over. Before I can convince myself to put it back, I've already got a million ideas of what I can do with it.
The time on the watch says it's 8:45 A.M, and my masters will be at work for at least until 4 in the afternoon. Eight solid hours to do whatever I want, and they'll never know.
With my biggest idea forming in my mind, and my curiosity too great, I'm bolting out the door before anything can stop me.
I've never been more glad to be a visionary. The various tools in Phareth's workshop would be too confusing to use without my mental ability guiding my every use. Though the primary function of my vision is to see the future, It has also been useful in showing me just about anything, so long as another person doesn't not want me to see something.
With the final screw in place, I've successfully upgraded the time watch to not only send me to any point in time, but to allow for inter-dimensional travel as well. And with the time travel function, I'll be able to travel anywhere and back with only a moment having passed. Since the technology I've added to the watch is removable, Tsareth will never guess that I even had the watch in my possession.
Where to go first? An electrifying excitement fogs my mind with all the many possibilities. Since the watch works based on the universe and time I'm thinking of, I try to clear my mind as best I can. Once I've got a plan in mind, I click the button. Just as expected, the world around me disappears in a flash of light.
My vision becomes just a void of bright white before the blur of scenery comes rushing back, followed by a loud bang My eyes barely catch the silhouette of two men before I land hard on what must be pavement. I think I hear one of the men say something, but my brain is too stunned from the impact to make out what it is.
One of the men rushes to my side and lifts me into a sitting position. "Are you okay?" He asks.
I blink the world back into focus. The man looks to be around his sixties, with white hair and a beard to match.
Behind him, the other man simply watches with a blank stare. Nothing about him gives the impression of ordinary; The shadows under his eyes speaks volumes of the amount of sleep he gets- or lack thereof. His dark shaggy hair looks like it hasn't been combed in days, and his baggy white shirt and jeans look slightly worn, but not necessarily dirty.
My brain snaps into alertness as I realize who these people are- It's them! Watari and L, from the manga I'd just been reading, although I don't quite remember this being the universe I'd decided to go to.
I quickly stand up and dust myself off. "Oh, Um... Sorry... Hi." My cheeks turn red in embarrassment when that's the only thing I can think to say.
Watari thankfully doesn't seem too fazed by this, but his upturned brows indicate he has a few questions. "Did you just... teleport?"
"I, well... Yeah, I guess so. It's my watch- Oh shoot, my watch!" I frantically look around for the time watch, but instead find what's left of it. I quickly stuff the various pieces into my pockets. "It's busted! What do I do now?" I ask to no one in particular.
Watari reaches out. "Is everything alright?"
I sigh and hug myself defeatedly. "I'm okay- well, I'm kinda trapped. That watch was my only way back." The realization of this hits me hard. "That watch- What am I going to do?"
He thinks for a moment before turning to L, and then back. "Hm. Why don't you come with us for a bit?"
I look up. "Really? Are you sure?"
He smiles. "You can call me Mr. Wammy. That's... Ryuzaki."
L's dark eyes seem to examine me, studying every fiber of my being. "I suppose we'll have to make a shopping trip shortly. She has nothing but the bare clothes on her back and that device."
Watari chuckles apologetically at L's spontaneous choice of greeting. "You'll have to forgive him. He's not the best at social interaction."
L places his thumb to his lip. "My brainpower is focused elsewhere. Proper socialization is... unnecessary."
I give a giggle. Watari laughs with me, and he seems relieved. He must have expected me to react negatively, as anyone else would have. If I didn't already know who L was, I suppose I would have, but I hardly have any right to be the confused one here anyway.
"It's okay. I'm... not very social either," I say.
He nods. "Let's get a move on."
L's unblinking eyes watch me the entire time that it takes us to make it to a parking lot and a black limousine. Watari opens the door for us and L sits inside first. I'm not sure where to sit, so I choose the seat furthest from L as possible. I try to focus on the moving scenery out the window.
"You never did tell us your name," L says.
My head spins in his direction in surprise as I try to figure out how to answer that. My parents- From what I can remember of them anyway- never did give me a name, and up until I was twelve years old, I was only ever referred to as 'Mortal.' The logical thing would be to simply tell him my name is 'Shadow', but the unusualness of it would just lead to more questions.
I don't have a better idea, though, so I go with it. "It's... Er, Shadow."
Just as I expect, he tilts his head and I can almost see the gears inside his analytical mind turning. "An alias, perhaps?"
I nod. "Yeah. I... don't tell people my real name."
He doesn't seem to have more questions, so he goes back to just staring at me.
I decide to check my phone for the time, but the time and date are the same as if I were back home, and with the time watch broken, it's unclear exactly what time period I've traveled to.
"Hey, Ryuzaki? What year is it, and what's the date?"
"December 2nd, 2003."
December 2nd, 2003. If I recall correctly from the Death Note Anime, that's the day before L took on the Kira Case. Now with L directly across from me, I almost shudder at the realization of what is to happen to him almost exactly a year from now. This can only end one way for him. Much like the book, his fate is written, predetermined.
Unless... Unless it isn't. I've seen the future many times before, only to watch it change at the slightest decision. Could it possibly be the same way here? After all, just by being here, I'm influencing Watari and L's decisions, and by extension, their destiny.
I look back into L's dark unblinking eyes. With my time watch busted, it looks like I'm going to be stuck with him for the long haul. If I'm here for long enough, maybe, just maybe, I can prevent the series of events that lead up to his death.
Our staring match is interrupted by the stopping of the limousine in a hotel parking lot. Soon, the door opens. "We're here," Watari says.
We hop out and follow Watari inside. Though there's only two bedrooms since my entrance wasn't planned, I'm offered the couch, which is decently comfortable. He offers me food as well, which I happily take him up on while L retreats to his own room with a plate of shortcake.
"If you need anything, feel free to ask me. I'll be in my room. Ryuzaki has important work to do, though, so please don't bother him," Watari says.
After a brief tour of the place, Watari goes to his own room, leaving me to ponder my previous thought.
Maybe I can change fate.