14
"Long time no see, Light!" the cheerful Shinigami greeted him after the whole ordeal was over.
It somehow went according to plan, save for a couple of things that he was hoping Ryuuk would explain to him.
For one, Ryuuk disappeared as soon as Higuchi died, and chose to just fly out of nowhere for now, leaving them with only the black, empty notebook. As soon as everything was put in order, the team gathered again into the investigation room and started examining the notebook. They read the rules out loud, and for every rule it shocked the task force. It confirmed something they were suspecting from the start, that these killings are somehow the work of a supernatural being after all.
The rules stated that, anyone whose name written on the note will die, and you can specify the cause, time and method of death if you want, but the default would be a heart attack. There was another rule however, that Light was aware was made up, but would clear him and Misa of being Kira. That rule was that when you start using the death note, you will have to continue writing names on it within 13 days or else you will also die. That seemed reasonably believable, and in fact most of the members accepted them to be true in a heartbeat.
The problem was, there was nothing written in the death note to prove that any of this was true, and L was determined to use it on someone so that they can prove that such a thing can actually kill people. Naturally, former police chief did not approve of this, as it would mean the death of innocent lives, and they continued to argue. However, as they were all tired, they decided to call it a day and just end the conversation for now, while putting the death note in a secure location.
One thing was cleared up, however, and that is Misa and Light are cleared of suspicion for now, and can go back to living their lives without any surveillance. That is, unless L somehow finds an evidence otherwise.
Light went straight to bed after that, filled with thoughts on what could have happened differently, and completely ignored L's questions. L decided to stay on the investigation room to contact a few people and was planning to pull off an all nighter, and since Light was proven innocent earlier he is free to go to their room without the detective. He can finally be alone in a room for once. And that was when he saw Ryuuk.
"I thought you would be a bit more happier to see me, Light" Ryuuk cheerily said. "And don't worry. L was lying to you about this room. There are no cameras or bugs at all. It's the only room that doesn't have one, actually. I've become good at looking for those things."
Light felt relieved that he can talk to the Shinigami sooner than he thought.
"What happened" was the first thing Light asked.
"I decided it would be more fun this way, Light." Ryuuk laughed. "You were having a good time with L anyway"
"What do you mean by that? And where is Rem?"
"Oh, I told her that we can switch places after Higuchi got arrested. We had to be quick about it too. Good thing Higuchi can only see Rem and not me". Ryuuk showed him another death note. "I have a lot of these things now. I switched a new one in Higuchi's briefcase when he was being arrested, and the one he was using Rem took and hid on the backseat"
Light listened intently, not saying a word.
"When Higuchi died, Rem got back the ownership of that note and she was free to go" Ryuuk continued. "And since that note was a spare anyway, I am able to still leave freely"
"I just wrote the additional rules you asked me to write beforehand, but there are no names in that notebook, so that they will have a harder time figuring things out"
"I-I thought you didn't like helping out, Ryuuk"
Ryuuk laughed again.
"What can I say, I have grown fond of you, Light" the Shinigami was strangely very happy, it was unsettling. "It was a shame to leave you while you were being locked up like that. When you released your ownership of the death note like that, I could not find anything else to do. I tried to go back but I could no longer find you, you must have moved hotels or something."
Light just stared at him, having a horrible feeling lingering on his head.
"I just wandered around the earth eating apples, but it grew boring for a while, you know. I also checked on Rem a few times. She found a new owner as you instructed her to do. I was growing bored that it was unbearable" Ryuuk continued. "But then one day I saw you with L. It was very lucky for me to be wandering on the sky that early, and clearly saw you on that helicopter. I followed you during your date, and was so happy to follow you home. I have been watching you ever since."
"Wh-what? Is that even possible?" Light's started getting dizzy.
"I've become a fan, Light. I've watched you doing it countless times. I've been rooting for you with L, to be honest" Ryuuk did not realise just how creepy he sounds like. "I know that killing L was part of your plan, and I thought about it a lot when I was watching you, and I didn't think I could accept it"
Light could only listen to him in horror, mouth wide open.
"So I thought of a plan to make sure L was alive. It may not seem like it, but I was listening to you when you were explaining your plan all along. That's the only thing I wanted to change. I think you'd be proud of me."
"R-ryuuk….is there something you aren't telling me?"
"I asked Rem to clear Misa's memories again as well, because apparently she revealed to her that you were actually Kira. Now she will once again just be unexplainably obsessed with you, but she won't have the power of the death note or any memory of Shinigami."
"Th-that's not it, isn't it?"
Ryuuk laughed longer than was comfortable.
"You're really smart, aren't you Light?" Ryuuk said after the painful silence. "Yeah, I did one thing as well. I made you pregnant"
Light looked very horrified.
"It's not like that, okay. I mean, with all the action you were getting with L, I thought, why not take it to another level." Ryuuk hastily added " So I made it possible for you to have a child. It didn't take too long and you actually became pregnant, obviously with L's child"
Suddenly things started to make sense. The frequent illness, the irritability, numerous trips to the bathroom.
"S-since when…" Light mumbled. "How is this even possible?"
"Hey, a notebook that can kill people is possible, and you easily believed that." Ryuuk pointed out. "You being a man and being pregnant is not entirely impossible, you know."
"Why would you do this, Ryuuk?" Light asked with a dazed look.
"Like I said, I've been a fan of your relationship. I figured if L found out you have a baby he would start taking care of you more and…"
"That's not how it works, Ryuuk!" Light almost shouted. "This…this just makes it…."
He started crying uncontrollably.
"I don't want this…." He sobbed. "L even thinks I am Kira. There is no way he would believe me…"
Light started having a panic attack.
Ryuuk also panicked and realised that he got the wrong idea after all.
"Don't worry about it, Light….I'm sorry…" Ryuuk babbled. "I mean, it's not yet too late. You can get rid of it…"
Light just continued crying.
"Look, I didn't think you'd take it so hard. I thought I was doing you a favour" Ryuuk admitted. "I was just looking to have some fun."
Light didn't stop crying.
"L-let me make it up to you. I'll try to completely clear you of your suspicions…it's going to be hard honestly, but I've grown attached to you and I think Rem will help as well if it means keeping Misa alive" Ryuuk offered. "You just think of what you'll do next, Light. I'm sorry"
"Can you leave me alone for now?" Light finally said between sobs. "I need to think"
"Sure, Light." Ryuuk said. "I'm sorry"
The Shinigami reluctantly left and Light was still crying.
L came to check on Light a few hours after this conversation, hoping to get something out of Light. However, he found the teen in a messy, unstable state. It seemed like he was having those panic attacks again, and probably cried himself to sleep. That made L a bit surprised. He really wasn't being himself today. But then, all the developments on the case really just exhausted L, and could not really process what was going on. He hoped that everything will be better in the morning. He carried Light and placed him in a more comfortable position – that was the least he can do for now, and covered him with a blanket. He slept next to him, a bit scared of what might happen in the future.
If Light was Kira….if all those things were according to his plan, then L might die soon. He was not ready to die yet, and he really just wanted for this to stay longer, but something in him was telling him that everything is going to change soon. But at this moment, he realised this might be the last time he can hold Light like this, and didn't really want it to end. If only things weren't as complicated. If only he can look for any other Kira…anyone other than Light. He drifted off to sleep without realising he did so, and found himself the next morning completely alone.
Light had left him, as was expected.