"Mikami Teru, on what day did you receive the Death Note?"
"November 28th." Mikami replied without hesitation.
"Why did you accept it?"
"I had no reason not to."
Mikami surveyed the courtroom silently, where many pairs of eyes were turned onto him. Although he had been in court often enough, being in the witness box was an unusual experience for him, not that he minded. It was nice to get a bit of a thrill before his end.
His lawyer had been frank with him, telling him the only way they stood a chance of winning was to play up the insanity factor to the highest degree. Mikami refused to lie, but he agreed to the strategy. It was likely to backfire, making the jury hate him more, but it was the only strategy they had at the moment, as Mikami refused to justify his actions to people who had been won over by the likes of Near.
"What did you do with the Death Note?"
"I wrote the names of various criminals and corrupt politicians into it."
"Why?"
"To kill them."
The lawyer paused, letting that sink in.
"Did you do this because you feared for your own life from Kira?"
"No."
"Did you do this because you wanted to?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Mikami sighed, adjusted himself, and began to speak.
"All my life, I have been surrounded by the unrighteous and corrupt," he said, looking directly at the jury. "I have long since held the belief that such people do not deserve to live, and that someone should eliminate them all. When Kira descended to earth, I was overjoyed."
"Did you try to get Kira's attention so he would choose you as his follower?"
"Oh, yes. I went to every taping of the 'Kira's kingdom' show so as to attract his notice, I made my opinion highly public, even with my job, until it eventually paid off, and I, too, was allowed part of Kira's power."
"The power to kill people you don't even know in the name of creating a utopia?"
"In a nutshell, yes."
"Did you receive any other powers beside that with which to kill people?"
"I plead the fifth."
"Do you feel your actions were that of a sane person?"
"Objection!" The persecution stood up. "Mr. Teru is not a psychologist; he has no jurisdiction to diagnose sanity or insanity!"
"Sustained."
"No further questions."
The defense returned to his seat, while the persecution stood up, buttoning his coat, taking a paper with him.
"So," said conversationally. "You're a follower of Kira?"
Mikami looked at him blankly. "I thought that at this point that would be obvious."
The jury snickered, though the attorney ignored the jab.
"If you're a follower of Kira, why hasn't he saved you then?"
"He has no reason to," Mikami said calmly. "I failed him. I was caught, when I was not supposed to be, and I nearly caused his ruin as well as my own."
"So he just doesn't like you anymore?"
The jury snickered.
"You could say that."
"Then why have you not offered the information you know on Kira, his killing methods, shinigami, or these other freaky powers you seem to have gained in exchange for a deal?" the prosecutor asked, his eyes glinting.
"Whether or not Kira cares for my welfare is not my concern," Mikami said simply. "I am loyal to Kira either way."
"So it's like a one-way street, that sometimes you just get shortchanged on?"
"Exactly."
The prosecutor scoffed, before turning around.
"Are you sorry for killing all those people?"
"No."
"If given the chance, would you do it all again?"
"In a heartbeat."
"Why?"
"I believe it is the right thing to do."
The prosecutor turned to look at him, one eyebrow raised.
"You believe it is right to justify murder with intention of preventing murder?" he asked, his tone ironic.
Mikami smirked. "Yes, it does seem to violate the law of non-contradiction, doesn't it? However, I am not to ask questions; I merely follow what god tells me to do. I have faith in him."
The prosecutor scoffed again, before demanding, "Do you realize that if found guilty, the state will charge you with the death penalty?"
"Yes."
"Do you have some deep, twisted idea of martyrdom for Kira despite the fact that your god has abandoned you, Teru?"
Mikami laughed. He couldn't help it.
"I am not doing this to be a martyr, Namito," he said, calling the lawyer by the name that floated above his head. "I am doing this because I am more than willing to die to keep Kira's secrets. And if Kira wishes me to live, I have no doubt that I will. My life is Kira's, in every sense, and I care not what happens to me anymore."
The lawyer made his way back to his seat.
"No further- wait."
He paused, turning.
"What did you call me?" he asked, looking at him oddly.
"Namito," Mikami answered promptly.
"He did you know my first name when you have no access to such information?" he demanded.
"Maybe it's one of those freaky powers Kira gave me that I refuse to deal with you about," Mikami said, his tone teasing, ominous. "You can go ahead and kill me, Namito, but Kira will live on. There is no way mere humans can ever fight with a god and win, Namito. He had powers that you have only dreamed of. There is no way you stand a chance."
His words rang ominously in the courtroom, before the prosecutor slowly returned to his seat, distinctly unsettled.
"No further questions."
"Court is dismissed for the day and will be resumed tomorrow." The judge banged the gavel, and and spectators turned to gather their things and leave the courtroom.
Mikami held out his hands to be cuffed, which his guards did obligingly, and was led to the door to be returned to his cell, only to hear a loud commotion going on outside.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"No idea," one responded. "We'll find out."
The guards began asking questions with the guards keeping everyone inside the courtroom, the chaos and noise growing louder.
"It's a drug case next door. Someone brought a gun into the courtroom and fired it, and the guards are keeping everyone hear for security reasons."
Mikami turned to see a short, blonde woman wearing a large-brimmed hat and sunglasses who had spoken. She seemed vaguely familiar.
"How do you know this?" he asked.
"I just do," she said simply.
They remained there for a moment, as the chaos and yelling grew, before she commented, "Nice trick with Namito and the eyes, you know. Very clever. Completely threw him for a loop."
Mikami turned to look at her.
"The eyes?" he said slowly.
"You know, the eyes," she said, raising her sunglasses. "You're not the only one who has them, you know."
Mikami's eyes flicked upward as a name dissolved into view.
Misa Amane.
There was no lifespan.
Mikami looked back down to gape at her, but she had replaced the sunglasses.
"Can't be too careful," she commented. "They're still on the lookout for us, you know, but we couldn't leave town yet. Not when we still have work to do here."
"Work?" Mikami asked, trying desperately to maintain his cool.
Misa looked at him, and she smiled slightly.
"Well, sure," she said. "Kira always rewards his most faithful followers, now, doesn't he?"
Mikami looked at her, thunderstruck.
Suddenly, the doors opened, and the crowd poured forth into the lobby, and the guards were dragging him back to his cell as he struggled against them, trying to hang back and talk to her for another moment or two, watching as she waved at him before disappearing into the crowds.
And for the first time in nearly two months,
Mikami dared to hope.
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