Chapter 18: A New Rival
"What every the reason might be, murder is always wrong."
-L-
Miguel J. Warder sat on the roof of his Camaro. It was black with red pen stripe and red leather interior. A sexy car that matched his more roguish persona as he wore a leather jacket, combat boots, jeans and a skin tight black t-shirt. His jacket was old and worn from years of wear and his jean had a hole in the right knee and was frayed. There was a lite cigarette in his rather large hand that he breathed in like it was life itself. His long, rocker layered, brunette hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and flowed down to his mid back with light natural curls. His bang's part was to the left and fell a bit in his face over his right hazel green eye. His skin was tan and fitted well with his narrow nose and manly features. Along with all that he was tall being over six feet and had a built body due to his more Irish and Native American heritage.
"So Shinigami, anything I should know about my target... this Kira?" His said in a husky voice that had a honey under tone in it. That would sent a shiver down any woman's spine.
"You know I can not say." Thanatos the Shinigami replied.
Miguel eyed his Shinigami who had a name in Greek that meant 'Death' though he often called himself the Bone Judge. He stared at him with a look that could only be described as disdained. Thanatos wore torn a black ragged Judge's robe and had a bone scythe strapped to his back like some grim reaper. He had large spiked gray hair and light gray skin against his skeletal like figures. His red eyes glowed darkly under his bangs that cover most of his face as he looked back in his human with a slight smirk of amusement.
"Looks like there is something you can say to me." Miguel said as he lifted a brow. Oh how did he hate this arrogant, self absorbed bastard. He could wait to be freed from this enslavement of this sick game of his.
Thanatos gave a dark chuckle, "Yes there is. You've learned to read me well human. Two out there are like you."
"Two? Then the other should die as well and should just kill them already instead of playing this annoying game of yours." He said before taking a drag off his cigarette.
"Then I would get bored if there was no game. I am the Bone Judge, human, and you are my prosecutor and investigator. You are to find my convicts and lead him to me for execution. Though this hunt is different. One is an innocent and the other fancy himself a God, but is nothing more than an self-important mass murderer." the Shinigami told him.
"You mean the other hasn't killed?" Miguel asked surprised. How with such curiosity and pull the Note has? I know not to use mine for Thanatos with kill me himself. Why did I have to inherit this bastard in the first place? He thought to himself tiffed.
"Yes, you will have to ask that person yourself when found," he informed him.
"Hn," Miguel scuffed, "sounds interesting. When do we start?"
"You, start now," Thanatos told him.
….
Akane walked class with several other classmates. They admired her with compliments and talked of boys especially about L. They wanted to know how things were going between them and how cute he could be even if he was a bit of an odd ball. Akane kept her replies light and told them things were going better than she originally thought which was rather true. She felt they were getting closer than before and she enjoyed his company.
After she had said that they asked about her father's condition and of course they had over heard the professor talking about what happened. It had been two days after her father's heart attack. L and Akane couldn't spend much time together as he to prepare things for her and inform their task force of what was going on well for the most part. They were currently looking into everyone around the Yagami family. Including her schoolmates starting from high school when this whole tragedy began and investigating their neighbors, friends, and extended family for anyone that could be controlled by Kira to watch Akane.
Things just get more and more complicated, also creepier. Anyone around me could be a spy for Kira. Any family member could be used and disposed of. I hate this! I constantly have to look over my shoulder for any person following me and I know I'm always being watched. It's like Kira has placed a rope around my neck. He could kill me any time he wants... yet he doesn't. Why? Why is he doing this? Why does it have to be like this? This isn't the life I wanted... yet there is something I want for this life, but I can't let myself give in until after Kira is gone. I want freedom and I know I will have it... if I survive, Akane thought sighing internally.
When she looked up she noticed someone was standing in her way. "Akane Yagami, the police chief's eldest. Nice," He said learning against the door way blocking her entry to her classroom. His was obviously a rouge and the girls around her where practically drooled looking at this stranger. His eyes roamed over her body and she suddenly felt naked in his intense gaze. It was embarrassing as he boldly checked out her body. "Tell me minx, are you to much of a goody two shoes to skip class and talk with a stranger?"
She eyed him and glared at his rude and slightly seductive tone when he spoke to her as if she was some stuck up rich kid. He was an American judging by his poor Japanese accent. He obviously was well traveled and a loner. Those hazel eyes of his held a judgmental glare and she more than knew he was a danger to be around like the man your parent warned you about. The bad boy, the sinner, the one who leaves you for dead, and wanting more. He dressed like some urchin or gangster, Akane thought as she sighed. However even she had to admit it looked rather well on him and he sort of reminded her of a house cat. Doing what he wanted when he wanted, that sort of thing.
Akane turned to a girl next to her. "Tell the Professor if he asked where I am, that I had a family matter to take care of. He'll understand."
"Sure, Ms. Yagami. Should I tell Ryuga anything? He suppose to be in this class today." She asked.
"Tell him the truth," Akane told her before looking toward the man, "Follow me. I know a place we can talk in private."
….
She didn't know what this was about, but she could guess it had something to do with Kira. Didn't it always? Akane thought as she stayed quiet as she lead the way to the court yard. It was public enough that he couldn't try anything yet private enough others wouldn't over hear them. She sat on a bench under the sakura tree and crossed her legs in an all business manner. "So what is this about?"
"Ah straight to business in such a romantic setting. No pleasantries?" He smirked at her. "Aren't girls like you," He lifted her chin with a finger in a sexy seductive manner, "all about pleasantries?"
Akane glared and smacked his hand away then her voice turned cold as ice, "I'm not what you think and I have no interest in you. Either you tell me what you want or I leave now. I came her in good faith. Do not spoil it with your cheap flirtations and hollow words."
Okay that he wasn't expect. He was expecting her to blush and get a bit shy or at least flirt to some degree. Not violently smack his hand away and make him feel like an jackass and a tease all at once. He supposed that some would get upset with her reaction, but he actually kind of enjoyed it, except for the sharp pain in his hand. He chuckled his hands raised in surrender, "Fine, little minx. Strictly business, for now. I want to know what you know about the Kira case." he told her. "I know your father is apart of the task force that are after him and I want in. I know many have left and I want to help."
"Oh," she replied, "and why would I help you do that or tell you anything?"
"I want to... find him and I know there is more than one." he told her his eyes narrowing on her. He barely noticed that her eyes widen slightly almost a slight twitch. She's knows... he thought.
She gave a curt chuckle, "What makes you so sure of that?"
He smiled as he lit a cigarette, "I think we both know there are two with the power to kill, but one hasn't used it to do so."
Damn he noticed and confirmed it, but how did he figure that out? Only the L, Donovan, Naomi, and myself know about that. Unless he has an in with Kira or worse he's like me or Kira, she thought. "You're information is... surprisingly accurate," Akane said. "How did you come by this information? More importantly who are you?"
"You can call me Neko," he told her. "I think you can understand that I can't tell you my real name."
Cat. Very appropriate, Akane thought. "Yes, that I can understand." She said. "You need to talk to Detective Tenshi. He can help you with what you need. Tenshi is the only one besides L that can get someone an in with the Task Force after Kira. L is far more difficult to speak with."
"Tenshi? That inspector that never shows his face? He's pretty famous around Japan." Miguel said interested. How did she get contact with them? Is she apart of them? I only wanted an audience with her father and see if I could join. Best way to find Kira is to join the front lines after all.
"That's the one. I can call him and arrange a meeting with him. If you like." Akane nodded to herself. Tonight should work. I don't have plans today.
"Will I learn what I need from him?" He asked.
"That's completely up to Tenshi after he most likely speaks with L," Akane told him.
"Then arrange it," Neko said.
….
It was a record low that night. She was glad to be in trench coat. She hadn't told L about this man yet, but she would after they spoke and Akane had Donovan with her this time around. It had been awhile since they had any time together. Her sunglasses hid her red eyes she had a feeling that he was more that some well informed ass. Akane sighed as she entered the park. It was the same one Satoru perished in. She hadn't been here since it happened. Being here was like a hollow pain in her chest. It didn't hurt as much as she thought it would and she was sure no one had followed her. A sad smile crossed her face as she looked over their spot. There were good memories here that had been soured by his death. I miss you and your warm smile. I wish you were here. You always knew just how to make me feel like I could do anything and like I always was supported. You always knew what to do next in any situation, she thought softly.
"Detective Tenshi?" a voice come from behind her.
Akane slowly turned and she was right. He had a Death Note. Was this Kira? The one who had taken her Satoru from her? She was unsure as a million question zoomed through her mind. "Mr. Neko," Akane said, "you are the one my informant told me about?"
"Yeah, so you even disguise your voice. Interesting. Akane is an informant?," Miguel replied.
"Yes, one must protect themselves to the best of ones ability these days as you well know. Akane helps time to time," Akane told him.
"Fair enough," he said as he lite a cigarette.
"How do you know there is more than one with Kira's powers?" Akane said.
He looked at her a small arrogant smirk on his face as he took slow drag off his cigarette. She wasn't surprised he smoked. It fit him like on old leather glove and she bet that he even had a sports car or motorcycle. "I know because I to have this ability and my Shinigami told me so."
Akane froze in place, "You do know this makes you a suspect until you prove otherwise."
"I know," he said taking a black notebook from his jacket, "This is my proof."
Akane took the note book from him with her gloved hands and instantly she saw his Shinigami. "Thanatos," Donovan said a dash of disgust in his voice, "he calls himself the Bone Judge. Apparently this is his new Prosecutor."
What does he by that? Akane thought as she opened the Death Note. It was completely empty. Not one name was within. Yet again she was not surprised by that. She was actually rather intrigued by this stranger yet something told her they were very different.
"You've seen Shinigami before?" He said not very surprised.
"I have. Might I have your name Shinigami?" Akane inquired.
"Your Shinigami has already told you my name. Hello again, Donovan. It has been what? Five hundred years?" Thanatos said.
"Not nearly long enough if you ask me, Judge." Donovan replied as he glared.
Thanatos gave a curt chuckle, "Still as amusing as always."
"Still such a pain in the ass, I see." Donovan replied.
Oh joy, they hate each other, Akane thought.
"So its what I thought," Miguel said a thoughtful look on his face. "The task force has a someone with a Death Note working with them, but why and why haven't you used it?"
Akane sighed, "Their are two reasons I'm helping. One it is the right thing to do and the second. He took something precious from me. I haven't used it to kill because... the one who used it before me died to save me. I am not murderer. Killing is wrong not matter the reason."
He nodded still thoughtfully, "That I can understand."
"Mr. Neko do you by chance have the eyes of the Shinigami?" Akane asked
"No, I don't wish to trade half my life for power. I never wanted this from the start, but I inherited him from my father." Miguel informed her distaste in his voice as Akane hand him his Note back that he placed inside his jacket. He obviously didn't want anything to do with this madness, but like Akane it was dropped on his lap like a sack of bricks.
"Thanatos has been on earth for over a thousand years. Frankly I think he's been on earth since 300 BC. He refuses to return to the Shinigami realm with the rest of us. Though I can't say I blame him for that one bit. Our world is a wasteland and is slowly rotting away. Shinigami have no purpose and sit around all day doing nothing at all. Some even forget to end a human to extend their lives and end up dying themselves. However, Thanatos has stayed here playing his game of cat and mouse. He recruits humans to be his... 'host' to stay in this world. Bone Judge is a name he goes by and the human he has recruited are tasked with the guilty. Seems this is his newest host." Donovan informed her.
"Your Shinigami is correct, but this time it is different. This Kira needs to stopped and I believe this Shinigami should be punished as well. This goes against our honor." Thanatos told her.
"You? Honor, really? I didn't think you were capable of it." Donovan said.
"I do have a code and it not like you have room to talk after how blood thirst you and Ciaran where all those years ago. Now I would like to know this Shinigami's name." Thanatos told him.
"His name is Ryuk," Donovan told him.
"I see. Ryuk was always an interesting character this will be more fun than I thought." He said a creepy smile on his face that scent a shiver down Akane's spine.
….
"Are you sure about this?" L asked her as they sat with Naomi at her favorite coffee shop.
"No actually," Akane told him. "The only thing I am sure of is that he's not Kira and he hasn't killed anyone, but his Shinigami gives me the creeps."
"His Shinigami? What about him?" Naomi questioned.
"I'll answer that, my lady," Donovan offered.
They turned to the Shinigami who wasn't looking at them. Instead he was glaring else where. They could tell he was disquieted by this topic, but he still explained. "I first met him over seven hundred years ago in Ireland. I wasn't always like I am now. There was time I craved the joy of the kill, but time carries with it a heavy weight as for Thanatos the Shinigami he never goes back to our world and he has never lost his taste for blood. I'm not sure how old he actually is, but perhaps he is as old as Greece itself with that Greek name he has."
"You mean he's been killing for thousands of years?" Naomi asked.
"Yes, Ms. Naomi," Donovan replied. "The same rules don't apply to us as Gods of Death, but Thanatos has made a game out of this. Game is the loose word that he calls it at least. I killed for the thrill of the hunt, but he kills as if all of this is a game. He played the Judge and his human host is the Prosecutor and Investigator. The human's job is to bring the guilty target selected by Thanatos and show him the evidence of his or her guilt. If he finds them guilt he kills them, but if his Prosecutor is wrong his host dies instead. No one has ever disturbed me like Thanatos had. The creature has no real emotion and I do not wish Akane to be anywhere near this man or Thanatos. Whatever you choose for your own sake do not trust Thanatos."
"Do we allow them to join us? We need all the allies we can muster even if we don't like it. Kira gains more allies and control as the days pass as it is and it won't be to long for he's at our door step." Akane said.
L was quiet he didn't like this either. He didn't think anyone here did. "I want to met this Neko for myself before we decide anything. There I will decide whither or not we can allow him and his Shinigami in the task force."
"Sound reasonable enough," Naomi agreed.
EDITED!