CHAPTER 48:
"Welcome Home"

Clavis and Castra exited the hyperspace gateway—a different form of transportation from the other method with the hand-held device. This door opened from their realm on the Human World for them to return home. They were immediately greeted by Oculus in the same secret room with the flowing water falls that they had originally departed from, minus one partner. Louis Lawliet remained behind. He was fully alive, so he was allowed.

Oculus stood cordially with a smile as the gateway vanished behind the pair. The room they arrived in didn't have a name, per se, it was just a secret hideaway whenever Clavis wanted to get away. It was also the same room where the ancient Death Note had been under glass, now gone, and in Menace's possession.
They had departed from The New Kira Task Force for their realm, but they didn't take the directly route home. They went somewhere else first, and he and Castra had a sex on a private sandy beach under the moonlight, because the moment had struck them.

Their clothes were a little ruffled, and sandy, and their hair a little wild, when Oculus saw them.

Despite the seeming failure of their mission, they still managed to catch Light Yagami, but circumstances prevented them from bringing him back. Light Yagami had to remain in the Human World, but was transported to an island prison to spend the rest of his existence as an immortal because of the Life Note.

The twin waterfalls of the room provided Clavis a sense of calm that he had missed, and after he had cleaned up, he wanted to return here to mediate on his adventure.

"Welcome home, Clavis and Castra." Oculus released a small party popper favour which snapped, ejecting out ribbons and confetti. "You two look like you enjoyed yourselves in the Human World," Oculus said, with a smirk. "Took in some of the sights before you came home, I see. And enjoyed each other's company." He winked.

Clavis gulped, he forgot that Oculus was watching the whole affair in the Human World just in case more help was needed. He just hoped Oculus hadn't been watching the very last little bit on the private sandy beach.

Clavis smiled, and Castra smiled back, holding hands.

"Good to be back," Clavis said. "I really need a good soak in a hot spring."

Castra then reached into her satchel and pulled something out. "For you, Oculus, from L," she said.

Oculus took the gift. It was a pineapple with a healthy sprouting head. "Oh, very funny," the administrator said. "That Louis is real comedian. Okay, I admit it, and I know about the nickname, and my head looks like this fruit. I'll enjoy this. It's not every day I get to eat food from the Human World, like Shinigami and apples."

Oculus told them what the upper-echelon council were considering and all the tares in the space-time continuum Morph had caused were finally sealed. There would no more abnormalities or unauthorized departures of people connected to the Kira Case or Light Yagami. But there was also something else.

They left the room, and entered an adjacent corridor. And walked.

"You've created quite a stir up here with your adventure," Oculus said to both. "Everyone who has ever used a Death Note, and who resides up here, with their memories intact—none can be resurrected or enter The Void because of that stupid Shinigami rule—wants to return back to the Human World just like Light Yagami did. And the elites here are, surprisingly, actually considering the idea."

Clavis stopped in his tracks, shocked. "You obviously said no, right? You do have the final word here, Oculus."

Oculus cocked his head slightly. "Well, there has been some debate on its certitude," he said. "Some of the upper-echelon are in debate about it, but there is rumour that they are leaning towards one way."

"You can't be serious?" Castra said.

"They used a Death Note to kill, yes, but without those notebooks, they are harmless, and the resources to keep them here are costly. Now that Death Note Island has been fully established with a new Warden in place who can handle these sorts of prisoners, they may all be sent to the Human World to serve their time in the Supermax prison. I agree, they can't be allowed to be in the general populace, they all have homicidal tendencies, but it would be better if they were all sent to a place where they could be watched closely, without he risk of another prison break from here."

"Oculus, you can't, and that many Death Note users in one place is a recipe for disaster even on a secluded island," Clavis said. "Some have been integrated into our society here without any problems, some have caused trouble, but it's dangerous, and frankly unfair to put that much of a burden on Warden Soichiro Yagami."

Oculus didn't look concerned in the slightest. He even raised the pineapple up and looked at it much like he was looking into a mirror. "I'm better looking," he said. Then he turned to Clavis: "I understand your concerns, Clavis, Castra, but it will be for the best. But let me explain things further. Come, let's walk. Nona would have been here to greet you, but she's in a meeting with the council discussing what I just told you. I hate those things. She'll fill me in later. And later, you and I can play a game of Galaxy Pool. You're my best competition. I know you can play."

"I can play, but I let you win because it's easier than hearing you whine about losing," Clavis said.

Oculus talked about the plans that were being discussed by the council, but Clavis didn't want to hear it after what he and Castra had experienced in the Human World with the Death Notes.

"Keeping them here would be fruitless with Death Note Island now," Oculus then said, despite all Clavis's objections. "You should've taken those Administration exams when you had the chance, then maybe you'd have a stronger say, since you and I re-developed this place into the smooth utopia is it today. The power you wield is awesome, Clavis, but when it comes to administrating, planning and strategy, you still have a lot to learn."

"And what if I decided to leave here and go to some other realm, what then?" Clavis threatened. Castra gasped, looked at him. "I'm getting a little tired of the bureaucracy of this place. This place tests the empathy of the soul to determine where a person ends up either resurrected or in the Void. But some mistakes have been made. Some good people have ended up in the Void where some evil people are resurrected. And their evil carries with them into a new life. I've seen it happen on more than one occasion. I'm not just an elevator operator, Oculus, I watch everything, and everyone. I know secrets that if they were ever known would rock the very foundations of this place. This idea to send all these Death Note users back to the Human World is a big mistake, Oculus. I'll fight it!"

Oculus's hair began to twitch, it normally did so when he began to get vexed. "No, you will not, Clavis. Don't fight a losing battle with the Council. Let the humans deal with them. The Shinigami interfered in Humanity, let the humans delve out the punishment. The island is hidden from sight. You can observe the island whenever you wish, but it will be the best option. We have given the humans technology to help them cloak the island and it is escape proof."

"Like here? Nothing is escape proof, Oculus." Clavis sighed deeply. "I don't like it, I don't like it at all."

Castra held his arm. Clavis knew she was trying to calm him down.

"I know, but it will also give us a chance to push certain problems over to others to deal with…" Oculus began. "Issues of a grave importance that have given us utter turmoil since you two left."

Just then a banshee-like voice sounded.

"Oh, kitttyyyyyyy! C'mon, be-mine! I won't bite. So, cuuuuute!"

"Oh no, she's here!" Oculus said with great pain in his voice. "She's off the twentieth floor."

Just then, the screech sounded again, and a black cat came dashing around a corner. Memine, Ginti's cat, bolted for its life, as Misa Amane ran around the corner after it, chasing him. Memine ran and jumped into Castra's arms, and then turned around, and then hissed at Misa Amane.

Misa Amane pouted. "I was just going to hug you, sweet kitty-cat. I like small, furry things."

"See what I mean?" Oculus remarked to Clavis. "She's been a terror ever since she got here. Light Yagami murdered her by making her commit suicide out of despair for his passing. Little did she know, what had occurred while she resided in that religious convent before her demise. I don't want her here anymore. I want her sent back!"

Misa Amane stepped forward with her hands on her hips. "Why doesn't Memine want to play with me?"

"Because maybe you're being too rough?" Castra said. "Memine's no ordinary cat, she's very close to Ginti. They've been together for quite a long time. He's very protective of her."

"And this is no place for fun and games, young lady," Oculus chided. "And you've taken to playing with all the dolls."

Clavis snapped a look at him. "She's what? You didn't let her into the Doll Room, did you? I have that place organized properly, so when an Arbiter needs a specific type of doll based on measurements, I know exactly where to find it."

Oculus shrugged his shoulders. "She, um, found it, and before we knew it, she reorganized the room, and played dress-up with each one of them, built a town. She even gave them all names. Now do you know why she's been such a terror? She was fine until she recovered her memories. Then all hell broke loose! She wants to see Yagami."

"Yes, yes! Where is my sweet Light?"

"You can't see him, Amane, I've told you that!"

"Why not? I want to see Light! I know he's alive again! The rumours are everywhere. I want to be alive again with him! Although, if I see that Kiyomi Takada, I'm going to rip her hair right out of her skull for trying to take my Light!"

Oculus put a hand to his face, and sighed. "Even I have limits," he said.

"It's going to take me a lifetime to re-organize that room back to the way I had it," Clavis said. "Oh, for the life of…"

Castra touched shoulders with him. "I'll help you, we can do it faster together. I was thinking of transferring out of Administration anyway—"

"Oh no, my dear," Oculus said. "We still need you in Admin. When the transfer of the users begin, we are going to need you to help with all the computer work. And," he pointed to Clavis, "we are going to need you, too. I've asked you numerous times to assist in Admin, even to get a little knowledge of how things work. But every time you refuse. I understood your reasons, but this is not a transfer from your normal duties, they're just going to need an extra body to help with all the heavy-lifting, per se. You can play with your dolls later."

Clavis gave him an incredulous look and rolled his eyes.

"Where is that stupid woman?" An angry sounding voice echoed the corridor.

Ginti came storming around the hallway. He wore his usual bartender attire, but his eyes looked more fiery than normal. They were normally yellow, but they had a tinge of red to them, fuelled with anger. He worked on the twelfth floor, and when Misa Amane was sent to his bar to have her memories restored even though she could not be judged because she used Death Note, she immediately began to annoy Ginti much like a previous guest.

Clavis had gotten word about Misa when he had a conversation with Oculus just before L threw a party in Clavis and Castra's honour, before they departed the task force. It was the same conversion where they also found out about Naomi Misora and her odd disappearance in the Human World, her name written in a Death Note but not causing her to die. Her current whereabouts were unknown in the Human World.

Ginti had one of his small Kokeshi dolls in his hand that he normally used in his judgements and threatened to use it on her. He had the ability to manipulate floating water balls as a scare tactic. Oculus didn't approve of scare tactics, but Ginti had an unusual personality and he was good at his job, so he left it slide, to a point.

Memine jumped down from Castra and ran over to him, hiding behind Ginti. Mimine was usually laid back and not normally fazed, but Misa Amane was no typical guest, and all creatures had their limits.

"Don't you ever touch my cat again, you hear me!"

Ginti popped off the head to his doll and water ejected from it. Then he waved a hand in the air and began to control the water. He created a swirling water ball. If launched, it would create untold havoc. But then Clavis quickly moved in and cut it in half with a single cut of his katana. The ball broke apart and the water dropped, saturating the floor. Mimine jumped from the water as it wet Ginti's boots.

Clavis smiled at Ginti, who looked stunned at the action. Clavis's katana bridged between Misa and Ginti.

"Um, hello Clavis, I didn't know you were back; didn't see you there, you look different," Ginti said, suddenly civil. Ginti knew all about Clavis, but he had kept it a secret.

"You know what they say, when in Rome…"

Ginti looked down the blade of Clavis's katana. "Nice sword, mind getting it out of my face?"

"If you're going to be nice, sure," Clavis said. He stood and relaxed, katana lowered. "You need to tame that rage, buddy. Someday it's going to tick off the wrong person." And Clavis gave a broad, almost innocent smile, that everyone here had come to know, the smile of the friendly elevator operator.

Ginti snorted. "She's so annoying, you have no idea!" He began to get upset again.

Suddenly, Ginti reached out and grabbed Misa by the shirt collar, much like someone would the scuff of a cat, and then began to haul her away.

"You and I are going to have a lesson with the eels, little girl," Ginti said. "Someone needs to learn some respect for other people's property. You broke some of my Kokeshi dolls and you've teased my cat."

"The eels? Nooo!"

Then they were gone, around a corner. Misa Amane protested, but her cries were ignored.

Clavis looked at Oculus when it was all over. "Eels?"

Oculus nodded. "One of Ginti's new disciplinary techniques for unruly guests. He's awakened a couple of Death Note users and some of them needed to be put in their place. But it's not what you think. The eels are not a punishment, more of a submission tool. A person is put into a vat of water naked with eels, and they swim around the person, slithering around them, touching their body. You'd think a person would get creeped out, but no. They are actually tickled with these special eels that have feathery tales. Ginti can manipulate water, and he can alter his form at will, so he can create certain otherworldly creatures to aid him in his judgements. Although, there was one user that actually had an unusual reaction to the eels, Teru Mikami—one of a euphoric and bestial nature."

Castra put a hand to her mouth to try to hide a laugh.

Clavis's eye's widened, knowing what Oculus had inferred to without it actually being explained.

"Creepy little man, I'll be glad to get rid of him," Oculus said. He then smiled. "And just so you know, Ginti was closely watching you in the Human World and he managed to take back the Portable Orb from the Shinigami who stole it from the boy at that orphanage, unbeknownst to the thief. Although, I doubt they will miss it. Ginti never missed a thing. And he was ready to step in if things got too rough between you and Light Yagami's minions. But he later said you could handle it. He never wants to admit he does get worried about his friends here."

"He loves Memine, and is very protective of her," Clavis remarked. "But I've never known him to care about anyone else. And I kind of get the feeling, by the way he and I interacted, he didn't care for my carefree nature. He didn't expect it either. A few things will change around here now," He looked at Castra. "…and for the better."

Oculus smiled thinly. "Come, someone else wishes to see you, but he's currently engaged in his Arbiter duties."

They took an elevator up to the fifteenth floor, where they were first greeted by the serene soothing sounds of the hallway waterfall, and then to the open-concept bar of Decim's bar. The thin, white haired man, stood behind his bar, like an obedient robotic person. He still showed little emotion despite being an Arbiter for five plus years.

But at that moment, something happened. Decim smiled. "Welcome back, Castra and Clavis. How was the mission?" Decim looked at the couple, Clavis and Castra held hands. Decim looked at Oculus. "Have the rules changed, sir? No employee shall engage in a relationship with another—"

"Yes, Decim," Oculus said. "I have allowed it. And they'll be more changes to come, too."

"How was the mission?" Clavis repeated. "Hmm, well, we came back without Light Yagami, and several other Death Note users escaped the realm with the help of a powerful supernatural being, among other things, but overall…"

"Overall," Castra interjected, bringing Clavis's hand up and kissing it, "it was a success."

Clavis smiled. "Yes, I agree, and a major success." And they kissed.

After they broke the kiss, Castra said, "I want to see you put back all that jewelry. I always loved it on you."

"With a few extras," Clavis said, with a smirk.

"Wicked boy."

"So, what shall it be for the lovely couple?" Decim said. "A drink of congratulations is in order for your union. I can make anything you wish, on the house."

Clavis nodded. "Your customer service is improving, Decim. You're more open, inviting, and less rigid, I like it." Decim smiled thinly. "Let's see," Clavis mused, "I've always wanted to try one, but I was always on the job running the elevator. The rules state no drinking on the job, but seeing I'm not on the clock right now, I think I'll try…a Banana Daiquiri. I'm in the mood for something sweet."

"Curious," Decim said. "That is the same drink Light Yagami ordered when he first came here. I asked him what he would like, and he said he had never tried one, that he wasn't much of a drinker, and wanted to try the same."

"Okay, that's scary. I'm spooked now. I'm channeling Kira."

They laughed.

To be continued...