Chapter 31:

"A Deal With A Devil"

As the doors opened, Light suddenly thought the worse—that he may never get out of this place alive.

There seemed to be an endless Dante of games that Beyond Birthday's arch rival had devised. And he knew this was no longer about who was the smartest.

Still, what BB knew about Greek Mythology was minimal to where Light's knowledge lay about other aspects of his own knowledge and cunningness. But he did admire BB's philosophy and he would incorporate it into his own—keep learning. And what Light didn't know, he would educate himself on.

He knew after L died, someone else would try to come after Kira. After Beyond Birthday, he had to prepare for the next one, and so on, and so forth. Perhaps even another Wammy House member?

But he would not relent in establishing a perfect crime-less utopia.

Alexandre gestured to the now opened room, as illumination burst forth. Inside, were two individual platforms with metallic reclining chairs. Above each head board was what appeared to be a VR helmet.

"As I said," Alexandre said, "this next game is more down to earth. And it was easier on the budget of my benefactor who helped finance the purchase and renovation of this building."

"The Evangelist," BB spoke openly. "He and I know each other quite well. I'm sure he jumped at a chance to get rid of me, especially after what I did to his underwater project a little while back." He turned to Light, and added, "It's the same tiger shark story I referred to earlier. It's a fascinating story, trust me. I was told my actions forced him to walk away from some important event when it came to Kira."

Light wondered if this "event" coincided with why Light didn't see the Evangelist when he was kidnapped and held on his private island? That was only a months ago.

Alexandre seemed taken back. "What project?" He clenched a fist. He then waved off any frustration. "Never mind, it doesn't concern me. This is my gauntlet and my revenge."

BB laughed short. "Are you sure about that? Or maybe he's just using you to get to me? You think he'll keep you alive after I'm dead? He'll kill you to keep any knowledge of nefarious actions secret. So, who went to whom? Did he come to you, or did you find him and ask him for money for this place?"

Alexandre's eye twitched, a sure sigh of being vexed. He then laughed back, his emotional state turning on a dime. "I'm not afraid of the Evangelist," he rebuked. "And he wouldn't dare, especially after everything I know about him. I am, after all, the world's greatest detective!"

Light exchanged an incredulous look with Beyond Birthday, they both knew the score. And Light wondered if L actually knew something about the Evangelist while investigating the Kira Case? But when he restored L's erased records, Light didn't find any reference to a religious cult leader.

The situation came back down to the moment.

Alexandre once again gestured to the chairs. "The sky's the limit with virtual reality and the digital world! Anything can be forged by using your imagination. Anything!"

"Why didn't you just start with virtual reality?" Light asked, "It would've been more ecumenical."

Alexandre looked annoyed. Light figured taunting him with annoyance was the best way for the other to slip up somehow. Alexandre was emotionally unstable.

His knowledge of Greek Mythology earlier was not as vast like Beyond Birthday's, and Light didn't have all the clues and knowledge to understand the full context to the clue presented with the PI symbol. Being a detective was all about clues, conjecture and deductive reasoning, even thinking outside the box. However, when personal history came into play—that altered the playing field dramatically. BB and Alexandre had a prior history. So, BB had an advantage, and he knew quickly what the PI clue meant.

So, Light wasn't stupid. He just didn't have all the facts.

"Because, Yagami," Alexandre went on, "mice need to be taught fear, and only realism can accomplish that feat." Alexandre sneered a smile. "You may have defeated my other rooms, or rather—cheated to win with help from your Shinigami and friends—but you'll receive no assistance here. This digital world is internal. And it's my perceptions that will now determine your fate."

"And what if we say no?" BB said.

"Then you'll die right here, your Shinigami can attest to that," Alexandre said. "He knows what danger you're really in. And I'm not alone. That private threat I sent you should have attested to that. You just don't see him, and I'm not going to give you the satisfaction either. But from what I'm told, he and Yagami have already met—on a plane, after he mede a deal with Jasper Yuta's older brother."

Yagami gasped. "Oh my god!"

BB turned to Light, said, "So, wanna explain to me what he means?"

Light looked at Alexandre and swallowed nervously, then turned to BB. "If he's here, and Alexandre has made a deal with him, then we're in deep shit."

Light suddenly thought back to the encounter on the plane.

After a moment of contemplation, he then told the story of the of "Icarus"*, and his strange abilities. It all seemed far fetched, but even recalling it was enough to bring chills down Light's spine. The story was two-fold, and not only was it one where a human was gifted supernatural abilities, but it also included a persona vendetta. With it, Light also included details of his encounter with Jasper Yuta**.

BB blinked, but his face had an awe of intrigue. "Incredible," he said. "I was aware of your encounter with Jasper Yuta, I conducted thorough research and analysis on you before our first encounter, but I was not privy to the overall details, and it just blows me away to think you also had a precipitant encounter with his older brother months later. You really do attract some beguiling people, Yagami."

Yagami frowned. And yet, it was true.

"And wait until you hear about Ken Kuzushi*** and Cameron Cross****," Ryuk revealed. "They were nail biters, too—from what I heard."

"I would rather not," Light said firmly, giving Ryuk a bitter look. He'd rather no one ever knew about those two encounters, especially with the events that transpired. Although, he did meet some other interesting characters along the way that did aid him in establishing Kira's new world.

He only told Ryuk what had happened out of passing, because the Shinigami had not been with him.

Beyond Birthday gave the Shinigami a heuristic look, knowing his habit for nail biting. Then BB shrugged.
"Oh, wow," he then expressed astonishment. "I wish I could met this entity. He sounds cool."

"Ask and ye shall receive, as a close acquaintance of mine always says," came a disembodied voice. "I'm always interested in adding to my fanbase."

Just then, the "god" appeared, walking into existence like from other dimensional plane, his body whisking solid like a ghost. He stopped and looked at the company, taking them in.

Light was again surprised at the ostentatiousness of Crusade just like he had been on the plane.

The god smiled broadly with bright white teeth, cupping its hips. He had pale skin and dark blood red hair. He wore light bagger grey pants with a tied off black cloth belt. His eclectic ensemble also included black boots, a red, open-chest, sleeveless vest—with perfectly toned muscles—and light grey gloves that reached up to his elbows, decorated with white palms, black fingers, and red fingernails. There were also ceremonial black lined tattoos running horizontal along the entity's rib cage and two running across his throat (like a double collar) with vertical tattoos running down his face curving around his cheeks. His eyes were a bright cobalt blue with glimmering, kaleidoscopic pupils, with shades of red eyeshadow. He wasn't very tall, but did reach 5'7, and he looked like a teenager of seventeen—albeit much older.

BB's mouth jarred open. "That's him?"

The god took a gracious bow. "Crusade, at your service," he said, straightening up. "Now, now…Alex," he added, looking past Light and BB. "There is no need to be grim."

Light looked back. Alexandre looked upset, as if a great surprise had been unceremoniously spoiled. Light bet Alexandre wanted to keep his association with Crusade a secret, while the god had other ideas. Crusade was a god from the Astral Plane, so he could do whatever he wanted. He was one of three great gods that ruled from he Astral Plane. Along with Crusade, Light had only met one other: Epiphany*****, who was yet another ostentatious-looking god with a playful attitude.

BB quickly said, "Hey, Crusade—Would you like to make a deal with me? You and I could go places."

Crusade mused, rubbing his chin. "Temping offer, but the deal I have with Alexandre suits me just fine," he said, shrugging his shoulders, "especially after the terms we arranged. Isn't that right?" He tapped his temple.

Beyond Birthday's brow rose mystified. He pointed at Alexandre. "I shot you, left in that chapel at Wammy House. You made a deal with Crusade to spare your life, didn't you? You made a deal with a devil, huh?"

Again, Alexandre looked annoyed. It was like all his secrets were being spilled out.

"I'm not a devil," Crusade said. "I'm a god from the Astral Plane, much higher than any Shinigami." Light turned just as Crusade seemed to look at Ryuk. "You're a weird looking thing," Crusade said to Ryuk.

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Ryuk said, with a chuckle. "Doesn't bother me. I'm not vain like some people." Ryuk directed the comment at Light, pointing. "He likes to look at himself in the mirror often, but he doesn't have much of a frame. Hey Light, maybe you should get some exercise tips from this guy? Women love a guy with a kick-ass body. Misa already loves you, but maybe she'll like you even better."

Ryuk chuckled under his breath as Light scowled at him.

"Hey!" Alexandre shouted.

Everyone turned.

Now whose feeling like a third wheel? Light thought.

"Your deal is with me, Astral God, and I'm in charge here!" Alex instructed.

Crusade smirked. "Watch your tone, you don't possess the book," he said ambiguously. "However, our deal stands. But unlike our deal, like a Shinigami, ours far outweighs anything either one of you could possibly offer. You have the Shinigami Eyes," Crusade said to Beyond Birthday, "and you have knowledge of a Death Note, but are not an owner," he said to Light. "That's peanuts to—"

"Quiet!" Alexander ordered. "You'll reveal too much!"

Crusade acquiesced. "You're right," he said, making the gesture of zipping his lips. "Some secrets must be kept, for now." He rubbed his hands together. "I'm dying to see what Alex here has in store for you two. I know the mechanics of his plan, but not the delivery."

"The name is L," Alex said firmly.

Crusade smirked. "Yeah, sure," he said, "whatever." Crusade gestured to Light and BB to the seats, and the pair sat down. He strapped them down with leather straps since Alexandre was beyond a barrier. Neither one resisted, not like they could.

Before the VR helmet were fitted on, Light said quietly to the Astral God, "Crusade, help us, and I'll make it worth your while. You can name any price you wish." Light knew he didn't have a choice or he would die here. "Just give us a chance to survive. We know Alexandre won't."

Crusade cocked his head. "An intrigue offer, but what could you even offer me to pique my interest?"

Crusade put an ear down, and Light whispered something into the god's ear, so not even Beyond Birthday could listen in.

Crusade pushed back stood up, and said with a broad white teeth grin, "Deal."

Beyond Birthday looked over. "What did you ask him?"

But Light didn't tell him.


The VR helmets were secured, wirelessly connected to the central mainframe of his computer system—where a program would be activated at his command.

Alexandre took a phone from his rear pants pocket and used it, the transparent barrier revealed a door. He returned the phone back to his pocket, and walked through.

He came to stand next to Crusade as the Astral God stepped away the pair.

"What did Yagami say to you?" Alexandre demanded.

Crusade eyed him. "He basically wanted me to kill you. But I refused. You're much more to me interesting alive. I saved you that day for a reason, because I knew you could provide me with some stringent entertainment." Crusade smiled broadly. "I'm just like a Shinigami in many ways."

Ryuk couldn't be restrained like the others. He asked, "What do you intend to do with them? Kill them? I have dibs on Light Yagami. Our original contract is binding and I want the remainder of his lifespan."

"In my digital world, all bets are off," Alexandre said, looking at his prisoners. "I programmed it with an artificial intelligence of its own. They will either thrive or parish. Either way, however, unless they are released from those helmets, they will eventually die from starvation. Statically, a person can only live so long without food and water."

"That's cruel," Ryuk said, with a hint of sympathy. "I won't wait for Light Yagami to die, I'll kill him now. And take his lifespan. I don't care what you do with Beyond Birthday."

Ryuk reached into is book pouch and brought our his black gothic book. Just then, Crusade reached out and grabbed the Shinigami's wrist. Ryuk hissed with pain. He was a god of death, and had lived countless eons, but he could still remember the sensation of pain and the action caused him to drop his book.

It hit the floor and fell open in front of Alexandre, revealing some names written on its pages.

Alexandre crouched down, knees bent into his chest. He reached out to touch the book, when Crusade shouted, "Get back!" The power of his voice actually forced Alexander to fall backwards. Alexandre looked at the other shocked. "If you touch it, then you'll become Ryuk's master." He released Ryuk. Crusade extending his hand and used a form of levitation to return the book back to Ryuk. Ryuk grabbed it with both hands, as Crusade said, "You will not kill Light Yagami—at least not yet."

"Why?" Ryuk asked. "What does he mean to you?"

Crusade opened his mouth to say something, but then quickly closed it. "Simple, Shinigami," he then said. "Because it's not Yagami's time." He winked. "You may have him when I say so, and not a moment before. You will not be stiffed of your prize, I assure you."

Alexandre got to his feet. Something about Crusade gave him pause to reevaluate their relationship. His captives were going to die—assuredly. He had planned it all out, and nothing was going to stop it.

"I want Rue's friends who hacked into my systems," Alexandre demanded. "Make them pay!"

Crusade looked back at him. "Of course," the Astral God consented. "It'll be fun." He then turned, and departed, his body turning translucent, vanishing like a specter in the night.

Alexandre was left alone with Ryuk.

He looked at the Shinigami, as the god of death appeared to be looking directly at him, or rather just above his head, and said, "And what are you looking at, Shinigami?"

Ryuk's eyes dropped. He looked directly into Alexandre's eyes.

Alexandre looked into the barren, ruby eyes of the Shinigami, they were reflective and piercing. Almost as if they were looking directly into his soul.

"Oh nothing, really," Ryuk said. "As I said to Light earlier, you're not what you appear to be."

Alexandre frowned, the Shinigami knew.

To be continued...


*(Re: "The Icarus Contract")
**(Re: "The Case of Jasper Yuta")

***(Re: "The Twisted Kuzushi Affair")
****(Re: "The Crossbound Incident")

*****(Re: "The Power of a God")