Chapter 34

*Light*

"Paws off my boyfriend or you are really going to get it!" I heard Kira's voice shortly after the doors of the warehouse slid open. The beginning pause had made me wonder if anything was wrong. But her voice rang loud and clear just before I heard a clicking near my ear. Was that… a gun? All the information I dug up on these guys never mentioned them carrying weapons. I felt my heart lodge in my throat as I tried to jerk away but the restraints stopped me. Damn it! This wasn't going exactly how I had planned. This situation now was riskier than I had even imagined it to be. Now my life really is on the line!

"Give us how you kill and step down as Kira. We will let your boyfriend leave in one piece." The one I pegged to be Ryoto the leader of this group of criminals spoke. The distance he was from me made me wonder if it was Arota, the very one who had put this bag over my face, being the one who now had a gun on me. Kira's pause made me wonder if she pinned them with glares but her lack of movement had me confused. Normally she would have devised countermeasures before even walking into the warehouse. Did this scene I had created really push her out of her normal calm planning? Or was there really something wrong. She just fed from me two days ago. She shouldn't be that weak yet...

- "Umm, Light.." She spoke pulling me from my thoughts as she moved back putting a small amount of space in between us but not far enough for my arms to fall from her form. "Aphrodite is going to start training me tomorrow after school...Is it alright that you won't be able to walk me home?"- Her absence was perfect. I was to meet up with Misa after school anyway.

Could this... Training have weakened her? If it did... We could both be… No! this is even more perfect. If she is weakened then she will have no choice but to give up Rem's death note. "Don't give us such a dumb look as if you don't know what we are talking about! We've seen the stunts on Sakura T.V. It clearly said that the power can be shared with others. Give us the power, little girl or your boyfriend will not survive!" There was a silence as I felt doubt creep its way into my mind. Could she really be debating about keeping the power and letting me die here? That's not the Kira I know but... She's a lot like me... Would I just stand there and let her die? I mean I'm willing to use anyone as pawns for my ideals. I don't care who lives and dies.. except.. her right? Do I even have to do this plan? She would be by my side no matter what?

"Fine!" She finally spoke up still holding that tone of defiance though this time there was an underlying inhuman growl. "But only once Light makes it out of the warehouse! Train your guns on me if you must. But I need to be sure he is safe." Bartering… well according to Ryuzaki she's good at that in a pinch. Constantly using the knowledge of having what the other wants to get what she wants to happen. Feeling the doubt flee from my thoughts I force myself to not exhale a slow breath. So... She wasn't completely thrown off of her norm. This must mean she really is weak. This fact made my stomach turn. She was weak and I was causing her to go through this. I had to force myself to not actually shake my head to rid myself of those thoughts. Even though the pit in my stomach continued to gnaw at me I decided to keep telling myself that everything will go smoothly. My plan will work. She will be safe. She will definitely be by my side after this. There is no way, I will lose her.

"Deal! Arota, keep your sights trained on her boyfriend. The rest of you, be prepared to shoot Kira!" I found my eyes widening. Was he really planning on killing her? Closing my eyes I forced myself to calm down as I found my limbs being untied before the bag was removed from my head. - "I cannot be killed by conventional means, so use me, as your shield."- A gunshot would hurt her, there is no doubt about that. But it would not be enough to kill her. Opening my eyes I looked to Kira whose eyes were still trained on the burly skinhead that was standing out from the rest. The other's guns except for one were already pointing at her. They looked as if they were barely able to hold themselves back from pulling their triggers. One was even grinning as if he was silently debating about killing her and then just taking the power from her. The other gun was upon me.

"Get to moving." Arota snarled shoving a foot against my back and kicking me forward. Misa was standing back at the doors as I had told her to. The criminals, let alone Kira wouldn't be paying attention to her as she already had the papers out containing their pictures and names. Ready to do what was necessary. -Good girl- Walking slowly I made eye contact briefly with Kira. I could see her eyes soften as she made quick glances over me almost like she was making sure I wasn't hurt. Her worry tore me up inside. If this plan doesn't actually work and she finds out it was all because of me and why. Would she leave? Would she kill me? How much pain would be at the surface of her gaze to cut into me from this betrayal? At some point, she had already pulled Rem's death note from her bag and was holding it in both of her hands. Her legs made few slight movements as if they were about to buckle from underneath her at any moment. And I could only hope once this rouse was done, that she would be safe.

Making it to the door I positioned myself in front of Misa so even if someone did notice the blond they wouldn't be pushed into further aggravation from what she was doing. "There, your boyfriend is safe and sound. Now... The power." Ryoto snarled at her and I could see Kira take a few steps forward. As she did the cocking of the guns trained on her were pulled back nearly in unison as a warning. It wasn't long before Ryoto held the death note up for all to see with a barreling laugh. "This is it?" He questioned as if it were a joke.

"Yes, if you think of a person's face in your mind and write their name in there they die." She explained. "Now, you have my power. That is one-half of your demands." She stiffened then glanced back at me noting Arota still had his gun trained on me ready to shoot. "For me to step down as Kira and save Light." I watched her close her eyes as if she was silently accepting her own death just for my safety, before turning back to Ryoto. "I forfeit ownership of the Death note!" she exclaimed. It was then I now seen Rem at my side just out of view of the others. Rem's eyes slowly closed before he nodded.

"It is done." He said but his eyes seemed to widen as Misa gave a Ha! Of accomplishment. "Misa.." He began just before I felt myself grin. -I have won- Narrowing my eyes on the criminals in front of Kira I watch as the seconds tick by. They along with Kira were now looking in our direction from Misa's sound of triumph.

"Too bad, this had been fun." I speak trying not to laugh as Kira's eyes widen. Closing the gap between us I move my gaze to Ryoto. "You have the wrong Kira." I proclaim just as one by one the criminals began clutching their chests giving pained sounds before first falling to their knees and laying on the floor of the warehouse. Ryoto's eyes widen as he realizes what was happening before he too gave a sudden sound of pain. Keeling over as I stepped next to him. Pulling the notebook from his dead hands.

"Light…" Kira began as I stood straight to look into her eyes. There was pain that was barely masked by her confusion. Yes, she now knows I betrayed her. She just couldn't figure out why. Walking past her as I watch her legs finally give out so she lands on her knees on the floor watching me. Making it to Misa who had already put the papers away, I hold out the death note to her as I turn to fully face Kira. The look in her eyes about tore through me as if they were a thousand daggers dragging through my flesh, but I had to push forward otherwise all of this was for nothing. I watched as she opened her mouth giving a gasp just as I felt the bulky notebook rest in my grasp. "But.." she began as she tried to push herself to her feet.

"Kira, I can no longer let you endanger yourself, just for me. Your life... Is far too precious to me to lose. You will not remember the death note, I also do not know what you will remember after this. But, so you know before you lose it all. I will not let you create another one, I will no longer let you be my shield. I am the God of the new world, I need no one." Ignoring Misa's eyes I look down at Kira's death note before tearing it to pieces.

*Flash Back*

"What are you saying? There is no way my dad would think you are the same, Kira."

"Possible but your dad has a high sense of justice if he thinks even for a second I could be connected to the murders he will not hold it back. So can you.." She turns around holding the notebook out to me. "Can you find a place to put this too like you did with yours?"

Taking the large notebook my eyes widen as I turn it seeing the words Death note written on the cover with occult-like markings lining the entire cover. "Kira.."

"I made it with my own power. It works just like yours does."

"But how…"

"Like I said with my own power." She shot back showing she was hiding something from me.

"And what else?"

She looks away before turning around and finishing up packing the rest of her "Essentials" as she called them. "A chunk of my life as payment" Her whisper was nearly so low I almost couldn't even hear her.

"You gave up an amount of your life to create this?" I ask in disbelief. It's not that I don't believe her but I just didn't want to believe she would pay such a price.

"Yes. But so you know, it requires a certain pen for it to actually work and if pages are removed they won't work. It has to stay intact. I just don't want the police to possibly find it. If it gets ruined in any way I would have to make a new one."

"And pay the same price."

"Yes"

"I understand" I told her steadily as I thought. -I will not let you make another one.-

*end flashback*

"I will not let you make a new one." I repeat myself as I gather up all the pieces to her notebook. I look back at her seeing she was now lying in a heap around the bodies of the criminals. The sight was painful to take in as I felt my chest become weighted down as if my heart was going to shatter from it. Turning around I walk away with Misa in toe. -How much of her memories did she just lose?- I finally ask myself as I remember the last words I had spoken to Kira. I begin to wonder how long it has been since she made her own death note. "Misa, we or I will become suspects again. Be prepared for that. I will forfeit ownership of that death note tonight so keep it on you. Then you will permanently receive the memories Kira forced you to lose." I speak, hearing the sound of understanding coming from her I push forward away from the area. Prepared to do what I must to try and keep too much suspicion off of me. I push the pain from what I had just done to Kira out of my mind allowing only the underlying hope that soon she will wake and be at my side again.