It's been half a year. I know. And, honestly, I'm not feeling as much of a connection to this story as I used to. But I'm sure as hell not giving up yet.

As for reviews, we have one review. From AV of course.

Well that's sad, but if you want to take a break, then do so, no one's stopping you.

I don't want to leave things on a cliffhanger and just pull the plug, and I won't. But I doubt I'll ever post chapters as frequently as I used to.

Nothing like making massive promises on the behalf of someone else lmao.

That particular promise was very on-the-spot thinking for Katashi, and is isn't the brightest in the group. Had the full team been there, there would've been an intense debate over it.

Won't the detonation cause significant effects on earth depending on how far it is?

I did a lot of research into this to make sure it's at least somewhat accurate. Keep in mind that the Shinigami realm portal opens 40 kilometers above sea level, and at that altitude the air is extremely thin, so there isn't much to carry the pressure element of the blast wave. Also keep in mind that most of the energy would be released on the other side of the portal.

How do they know that it's Light? No seriously, the whole 'Light became a shinigami after dying' thing is just an interpretation/theory based on what Ryuk said when giving him the note. I mean I'm not trashing the theory but what makes these people think it's true and talk seriously about it?

There's plenty of evidence for the hypothesis scattered all over DN canon, to the point where it's pretty much certain. What you mentioned was little more than the icing on the cake.

And on top of that, we've got Pokepercutopotter who both followed and favorited 私は、キラ / I, Kira, and Samuel Koval who is just following. So, thanks.

(Taro's POV, 08:25, September 11)

This video is going to get Kira a lot of controversy. I'm glad I'm not a part of-

'I know who has the other human, Taro!'

'What?'

'Look at the video. Or don't, you can't see it but I can. A Shinigami I know, she's holding her death note open at the camera.'

'What's does it say?'

'It looks like they're onto you. They want to meet you in person.'

'We're not going.'

'Wouldn't you like to know the results, Taro?'

'No. No I would not. We've discussed this, Ryuk, we're getting involved with the Kiras… or, whoever these Kiras are.'

'She says it'll be worth it. And the meetup spot isn't far from here. Let's go, in and out, twenty minute adventure.'

'I'm 24 years old, Ryuk. In a few years I'll have a family to take care of, I can't get caught up in all this again. Come on, you know I haven't even used the notebook since you returned it to me. But I know I can't stop you from going, so if you want to talk to them, just go…'

'…'

It's hard to say no to that face he makes when he wants something…

'Oh, okay, we can talk to them but we are not teaming up with them. Is that understood?'

'Fine, whatever.'

(Twelve seconds later)

Upon entering the seemingly-abandoned building which the Kiras chose as a meetup site, I'm caught off-guard by something flying across the room toward Ryuk. He catches it with ease, though, and I see it's just an apple. He gives some kind of friendly smirk at the air in front of us.

'Is there a Shinigami there?'

'Yes, and she wants us to follow her upstairs. Come on, Taro.'

I enter a dimly-lit room, lit only by several computer screens, and see a teenage boy on one of two swivel chairs giving a little smile as I enter.

'Ladies and gentlemen, our precursor Kira has arrived.'

'Hello?'

'Hello, friend of Ryuk.'

'So, you're Kira?'

'Well, that's a little complicated. Right now Alice and I are the ones with Death Notes, so technically speaking we're currently the Kiras. However in all his recent appearances, "Kira" has been played by Katashi here,' He replies, gesturing to one of the screens which I now see is showing something vaguely resembling a voice-only Skype call, with several individuals shown to be participating.

'Hold up, so, you're a Kira, you're a Kira, you're a Kira, I'm a Kira! Are there any other Kiras I should know about?'

'Well there are also the two original Kiras, the Monsanto Kira, the-'

'I get it, I get it. Now, kid, can you see Ryuk yet?'

'Nope, but from the floating disappearing apple I can tell where he is.'

I hesitantly pull a tiny scrap of paper form my pocket and show it to him.

'Touch, don't take.'

The boy taps on it, and turns to face my shinigami.

'Wow, I'm a little surprised. So, you're Ryuk, THE Ryuk, right-hand man of Light Yagami himself?'

'I used to be. I know, in this reality it's all just a bunch of mumbo jumbo. Crazy thing is… its all true. Light Yagami. Misa Amane. L Lawliet. The eventual triumph of evil over good.'

'So tell me… why did you kill him?'

This could take a while. I take a seat on the other swivel chair to watch the discussion.

'Isn't it obvious? There'd be no fun in watching him get trapped in a prison cell forever. As a Shinigami he can continue his plans, and I'm not spending decades dying from boredom.'

'Well then who killed Misa?'

'No clue. It was probably that white-haired freak, after all I highly doubt he really burned every bit of Death Note without keeping a little for himself. You know, years and years ago, I remember when Light first met Misa, he didn't like her much. He thought she was little more than a liability that had to be disposed of once her eyes were no longer needed. But over time, that seemed to change. I don't know why or how, but over the following years Light developed feelings for her, he started to actually love her. And when he died as a human, I'm sure one of his last thoughts was of her. Or perhaps not, there's actually a lot of different things he could have thought.'

'That… makes… sense, I guess? But, why didn't you ever give Light a Death Eraser?'

'Well, it turns out Taro's little show changed the old man's mind about the Death Eraser. He said it was in direct opposition to what the Shinigami stood for, or something like that, I wasn't really listening. Long story short, all the Death Erasers were recalled and destroyed, although there are rumors that there's still one out there, somewhere.'

'The Shinigami king can just change the rules willy-nilly if he isn't happy with how the Death Note is being used on Earth? Wow, that's a pretty dumb concept.'

'Can we focus back on the here and now, please?' I suggest.

'Right, right. Now, since you're the only person on Earth with a Death Note who isn't involved with Team Kira, we would like to provide you with the opportunity to-'

'No.'

'What?'

'I'm not joining your team. And I'm not going to involve myself with your team at all beyond the bare minimum required for my own survival.'

'…This isn't how I planned this in my mind. Can you, uh… please?'

'Listen, kid. I've had this thing for years, and since Ryuk came back I haven't used it once. Why? Because I don't want to. I don't want to be responsible for anyone's deaths, I just want to live a relatively normal life. Is that so hard to understand?'

'Eventually someone will find out about you. Without our protection, you're extremely vulnerable as long as you have that thing with you.'

'So, I'll give up ownership. Fuck it, if it keeps you from nagging I'll do it today. Then they'll have no reason to target me.'

'You two have been by each other's side for years. You two have known each other since before Light Yagami became Kira, are you seriously going to just let go of him permanently like that?'

'Once I've given up ownership, I'll forget he ever existed. And he'll be fine on his own, right Ryuk?'

'Well, technically yes but I don't want to go.'

'I didn't ask for your opinion.'

'You literally just did.'

'Look, it's not an easy choice, but considering the alternatives it's the safest and most moral route, in my opinion.'

(Chris' POV, 12:37, September 11)

Our short-lived celebrity-tier status at school is already long gone. I'm rather relieved, now I can have lunch with Lauren and Connor without being bothered.

'This has been a weird start to the day so far. I'm amazed Kira didn't get his speech shut down before he could finish. Maybe he's using a new method to broadcast his videos?'

'Probably, Connor.'

In this context, "probably" means "yes". Obviously we still have to be careful with our words.

'Also don't forget that Kallet and Luci are overseas right now. The rest of the task force presumably is too.'

'But they must have someone still here in Sydney, right?'

'I suppose. Gotta have someone guarding their headquarters, at least.'

'Yeah, although I doubt a couple of guards could do much if the facility's location became public knowledge. Hell, even the full task force would probably be overwhelmed. You'd be surprised how far some people will go to show their love for Kira. Like, the other day I read this research study, I can show you later if you're interested, which estimated how much the crime rate would drop if Kira killed different numbers of people per day.'

'Seems like that could just be propaganda, for either side.'

'I double-checked their methodology, it's legit, trust me.'

'So what did they find?'

'Apparently, in order to maintain the current situation as a new status quo, the death rate would have to stay high but nowhere near as high as it is now. At the current rate things are going, the numbers are just going to keep plummeting. Or rising, if you're measuring the number of lives saved each week or month or so. On average, of course.'

'So, do you think Kira's doing the right thing by going for such an ambitious goal?'

'…'

'…'

'…Chris?'

'…I don't know. All those extra criminal deaths must weigh on Kira's conscious every now and then.'

I can tell from the look on Lauren and Connor's faces that they caught what I was saying. Being responsible for so much bloodshed has kind of hurt me, honestly, and now that I have more time to think about it, I'm a little unsure if I've been pursuing the best strategy. Once I'm back to being the main Kira, I think I'll go for a death rate that merely sets an equilibrium in the global crime rate. Plus, that means I won't have to spend as long Kira-ing each day.

(Taro's POV, 16:55, September 11)

'I guess this is goodbye.'

'Oh, don't be so negative! When all this is over I'll still return.'

'Yeah, I sure hope so. Any last-minute words of wisdom before I hand this to you?'

'Yeah, don't end up in a group of three. Bad things usually happen like that.'

'…With this power I became more powerful than anyone I know has ever dreamed of, but all things must end eventually. And thus, I officially end my ownership of this Death Note.'

I hand the notebook to Ryuk, and watch him ascend into the sky.

(M's POV, 04:00, September 11)

'I'm-' *Beep*

Goddamit, who could be calling at this time… oh, shit, it's the Secretary of Defense.

'…Hello there.'

'General Bellomo! Or is it admiral Bellomo?'

'It's both, plus a few more.'

Kira's purge at the end of July hit the higher ranks of the US military pretty hard, so I'm filling in quite a few roles temporarily, including full leadership over the military element of anti-Kira operations. The power is fun, the responsibility isn't.

'Well, whatever, a new gravitational anomaly has just appeared above Tokyo! The wormhole has reopened!'

'Oh, shit, that was quick! When did this happen?'

'As of right now, the gravitational anomaly became noticeable about four minutes ago, and the wormhole became fully open about-'

'Well, we don't have a moment to waste! I give full authorization to launch as soon as you're ready!'

And now a video call from Luci, as expected. I hang up my phone and answer.

'M, I just heard about the wormhole, and you need to listen to me. You cannot launch those SLBMs! Light Yagami wouldn't die even if we killed him! You'd just doom us all! You-'

'I already did it.'

'…What?'

'I ordered the launch. Do you see it now? It is not you but I who will become the ruler of the new world, and now my greatest obstacle has been destroyed!'

That's right, from this day onwards, from this very moment, the world has fallen into my hands! Now all I need to do is kill the Kiras and take their power, and no-one can disobey me.

'You fucked up.'

'Oh, goddamit Luci, I have not fucked up! You should be thanking me, actually. I mean, hell, we should hold a little celebration party together with Neon the next time we're all available to.'

(Zellogi's POV, 17:19, September 11)

'Hey, did you hear something?'

'What do you-'

A distant blasting sound catches Calikarcha and I off-guard, and I turn around to see a large dusty crater in one of the barren hills.

'…I've never seen a Shinigami fly that fast. It must be something else. Let's take a look.'

Upon arriving we see Gook already investigating some strange object in the middle of the crater. It looks like a metallic cone of some kind.

'Do you know what this thing is?'

'Nope. I've seen tons of them landing all over the mountainside. They seemed to be coming from one of the portals to a human world. It feels heavier than something this big should be.'

'That's very interesting.'

I reach in and try to lift up the item, failing to do so.

'It feels rather unusual, like it's-'