Chapter Twenty-Four:

"Back To Form"

To Light, it was mere stage theatrics. Like a production put on for a school play. A light up high with no said origin illuminated the Astral God sitting on his throne at the top of the staircase. Spontaneously, the staircase dropped, leaving only three steps. Now Light could see Epiphany, but the Astral God still remained on a higher plane.

Epiphany smiled as he sat cross-legged on his throne once again sporting his original look of black tights, white skeletal-armour, white facial make-up, with black circles around his eyes, black coloured lips, slicked black hair, white knee-high boots and gloves, and a white cape. All Light could think of was Epiphany looked like a pantomime clown again.

Light had to admit that even with the Death Note, he was nowhere close to Epiphany's power.

He originally said that he was going to be the god of a brand new world, but there was a flaw in that thinking. He still had a lot to learn about how to use the Death Note to its full advantage. He could spend the next couple of years doing so.

Ryuk told him that he was already a worthy Shinigami, but Light didn't want to be. The true purpose in his plight was to make his world a better place, not to be some winged spectre who killed haphazardly. Godhood could wait—for now.

Light narrowed his gaze. The atmosphere around him began to brighten up to the same multi-spectrum, kaleidoscope and warm colours that he had seen when he was first brought here.

"Why did you bring you back to the Astral Plane?"

Epiphany produced a look of disbelief. "A little thank you would be nice," he said. "I did just rescue you from the clutches of the Evangelist, after all. And you were about to be torn to shreds by Revolver. I've come to a decision. This is the end of our partnership. You're going to have to deal with the Evangelist and the League of Darkness by yourself for now on."

"But we have a contract! You promised to protect me. Quitting now will be fruitless. You joined me on the Kira Task Force to starve off boredom. Have you had enough excitement already? Revolver told me what happened. Are you going to run away like a coward? Face your demons, face your fears, and overcome your limits! Shame is worse kind of enemy!"

Epiphany eyed him. "You don't understand. I found myself compromised by a lesser being. The Evangelist wants my powers. His minion managed to identify and use my weakness against me. I won't lie. I have a crush on Misa Amane, and I…we…" He paused. His white face actually blushed. "Please don't think any less of me. I assume Revolver told you everything?"

"He told me enough. I filled in the gaps on my own. But it is best to let sleeping dogs lie."

Epiphany shook his head. "No, the Evangelist can't get my powers! Hence, I have annulled our contract. I've also removed that which connects us."

Light touched his left ear and noticed that the clip that connected him with Epiphany telepathically was gone. He sighed. "This is difficult for me to admit, but I still need you," he said soberly. "You are invaluable to me."

"I was mistaken, foolish and dumb. I thought I could have a little fun playing human for a while, but little did I know there were humanoid demons in your world that are evil incarnate. You are a puppy compared to them. Your species is subbed into different categories of maliciousness. I didn't tell you, but if you were killed, even a drop of your blood would preserve our contract, and it would be immediately transferred over to its holder. Therefore, I cancelled everything before that could occur."

"Some god you are," Light ridiculed. "Are you afraid of the Evangelist?"

"Don't test me, Light Yagami. I'm not pleased about this. I would rather have stayed with you. I enjoy your company. You are an intriguing individual. And I'm not just saying that because you are Kira. You have a likeable personality, at least to me. The Shinigami Revolver branded myself and Misa with the religious symbol of the Evangelist. I had to reveal myself to her completely in order to remove it, using my power. I then erased her memory of me. She remembers some things, of Raito, but not everything. No one can know my true identity. The Evangelist knows who I am, but as long as I am not with you, and merely an observer, I cannot be manipulated by him ever again. As for the Kira Task Force, I've officially put in for a transfer."

"Coward!"

Epiphany frowned evenly.

"You came to the Human World because you thought it would be a lark, but now that things have banded against you, you run away with your tail between your legs like a frightened dog. And you think I am the puppy? Fine. Send me back home and let me fight my own battles. Honestly, I've doing so from the very beginning. Misa might be a nuisance, but at least I can depend on her. She didn't rat me out even when she was kidnapped and tortured by L. I don't know what exactly Revolver did to you, but obviously it shook you up to make you retreat to your safe space. To give you the Gods-honest-truth, I don't need undependable people like you. I don't need you. So, go hide underneath your bed, you god-damn coward!"

Epiphany abruptly stood on his feet.

The god then quickly traversed the three steps of his perch, and in a fit of anger, back-slapped Light.

Light dropped the ground. He felt his face and looked up at Epiphany. The once usual, cool, smiling god, was now a boiling pot of enmity. Obviously Epiphany did not like being called a coward.

For a brief moment, Light was fearful that he has gone too far.

"You have but a single ally, Misa Amane," Epiphany pointed out. "And your followers can be attributed to likes on a media fan-page. In the grand scheme of things, no one will stand up with you—unless they are mentally unstable."

Light's eyes glowered with malice. Is he calling me insane?

"You have no idea the responsibilities that fall upon my shoulders," Epiphany pointed. "The cosmic world is vast and is far beyond your comprehension. When I took human form it was not merely to ease boredom, it was to take reprieve. It is a god like myself that keeps you humans from perishing from your own stupidity. We alter the timeline on a continuous basis. Do you know how many times you humans have come to the brink of total annihilation? I have lost count how many times I've reversed ill-decisions by your species. But you humans do provide entertainment for us gods."

Light slowly got to his feet when he thought it was safe to do so. "Then continue to do your job, Astral God, and I will do mine. From one god to another, our time together was well spent. Now return me back to my realm."

Epiphany smirked. "Your arrogance knows no bounds. I like your cockiness." The god walked back up the steps and sat down on the throne. "Be weary of the Evangelist. He is smarter than you think. You need to outwit him at his own game. He has the League of Darkness in his corner, but you have friends you can rely on. Morph has told me that he has located Demetre Draycott, but he is in the mists of his own personal battle at the moment. It is best to leave him alone. He is still pining for his beloved Dana Chika. Let him do so."

Light nodded. "I can do that," he said. "Despite our most recent encounter, I still think of him fondly. We've had a lot of good times and memories like that don't simply fade away. And if the Evangelist does go after him, I have a debt to repay. If it wasn't for Demetre, I would not be alive today. He saved me from an assassin hired to kill me by Zurn Wellington, a member of the League of Darkness. But I wonder if Zurn had succeeded, would Dana still be alive?"

Epiphany finally smiled. "Remarkable, you still possess empathy. The Death Note has not completely taken over. There is still hope for you. If you still insist in continuing your agenda to rid the world of evil, as you seem fit, then you must first look within first. A journey is start with a single step. And so is evil destroyed with a simple cognitive thought."

"Am I not evil," Light retorted sharply.

"I never said you were," Epiphany rebuked. "But you are misguided in your approach. You must call upon others to rally to your cause. I can't tell you how to go about it, but there are others out there who believe in you." The god cocked his head, crossing his legs on the cushion again. "If you want the truth, you make my life so much easier for me. By ridding your world of the bad guys, you prevent future catastrophes, as you said. Events I have seen, will no longer come to pass now. Now do you understand why I was drawn to you? In my opinion, you have already made a difference in your world. But I wanted to join in the fun and see it first hand."

"You still can," Light replied. "Haven't you ever heard of multitasking?"

Epiphany laughed. "Before I send you back, there's something you must know," he started. "The only reason why you are here is because I was able to follow Revolver to you. Otherwise, the Evangelist was blocking me. I was able to infiltrate the Shinigami's mind's eye. Despite being a god of death, every creature has a consciousness. I am the holder of the Book The Third Eye, after all. I used that connection to quickly transport you here and out of harm's way. But the Evangelist is very powerful, you must watch out for him. He'll no doubt attempt the same trick again but by some other means. I am out of his reach now."

Will he go after Demetre? Light wondered.

"As a parting gift," Epiphany said. "I have healed all your wounds, including that rather nasty scar on your cheek. We can't have anything happen to that pretty looking face. Now that would be criminal."

Epiphany winked.

Light felt his left cheek. The scar was gone. The Astral God had healed it. At least he wouldn't have to explain it to the others.

The Kira Task Force didn't know anything about the Evangelist, or was he a member of the League of Darkness—for which there was reference to when Ide conducted a background check of Terrence Claw.

For the time being, it was best all this to himself.

Satisfied, he said, "Keep watch, Epiphany. And I'll show you what I can do. I made a pledge that I will cleanse the world of evil. If there are people out there who wish to challenge Kira, then so be it. I'll take them all on. And win!"

"Even after everything, you still amuse me, Light Yagami," Epiphany said, smiling. He showed his perfect white teeth tucked within his dark lips. "I will keep watching you. Build your brand new world and maybe I'll come say hello again someday? Good luck, Light Yagami, and may fortunate fall upon you in all your endeavours.

Epiphany then flicked a wrist—

And in the blink of an eye, Light found himself back in his apartment, standing next to his desk and the Kira epicentre computer station in his living room. He turned quickly around and completely. This wasn't a trick, he was actually home.

He looked at his hands. He still had his baton and the Death Note.

"Misa? Misa! Are you here?"

Misa suddenly came running out of the bedroom. She was beside herself with both shock and awe.

"Light?"

She almost started to cry. Then she bolted to him and embraced him in her arms, hugged him tightly.

"Oh, Light!" she said, nuzzling up to his chest. "I missed you so much! Where have you been? I've been so worried."

"It's a long story," he said, tolerating her closeness for the time being. He didn't like to be touched unless he initiated it with her. "And I'm glad to be back. Kira is back! So, did anything exciting happen while I was away?"

She looked up at him and frowned. "Maybe…"

When the Kira Task Force reconvened, they were all upset when they found out that Raito had suddenly put in a transfer and had already left to return to an old job back in Koriyama in the Fukushima prefecture. He never even said goodbye. Light was fine with that because there was only room for one god in his perfect world.

Epiphany told him to gather more allies and rally them to his cause.

Misa was sub par in her help, and there could come a time when he needed a lot more aid to create his brand new society. She told him that the Shinigami god Revolver had manipulated her into doing some awful things, but she didn't go into grim detail. And frankly, Light didn't want to know. He already had a vague idea after speaking with Revolver personally.

After it was all settled, he sat alone at his computer station after a day's work with the Kira Task Force, and thought deeply. Misa was in the open kitchenette washing dinner dishes in the sink on an island counter top.

He thought about Demetre.

He still wanted his friendship even after everything that had happened.

He was wrong in using Demetre's grandfather as a pawn against L, but he had no idea how to make up for that mistake.

But one day, he knew his friend would see the brilliance of his work and join him and come knocking.

I'll be waiting for you, Demmy. Come see me when you are ready, and I'll welcome you to join me in my brand new world.

Light Yagami considered himself back to form.

To be continued...