AN: Oh my fucking god! I've finally rewritten all seven chapters of the original story. Praise the fucking lord, and enjoy! :)
Also whilst the time scale in deathnote isn't clear it's implied that it's at least two weeks after light gets the notebook before the police and L get involved, however for the sake of moving the story along it's closer to one week here.
Chapter 7: A Discovery of the Unknown
It was already noon, when Rose finally decided to leave.
"Time to check on Light." said Rosemary, packing away her new things, before slinging on her back pack.
"Oof!" She groaned with the weight. It was heavier now that she had some food, water, a change of clothes, a hairbrush, a toothbrush, some shampoo, and of course her new plushy.
But even if she didn't need this stuff, Rosie still wanted to keep it around.
Besides, she'd need the food at least, after her small spending spree, had almost depleted her funds; who knew if her credit card would work here?
'Maybe I could shoplift?' pondered Rosie.
She'd never done anything like that in her life, but how else would she get things when her cash ran out?
She couldn't get a job, if she didn't even speak the language, and even if she could she had no qualifications, here to speak of.
Rose sighed. She might not even be around long enough, to worry about that sort of thing.
'Stop worrying.' Rose told herself. She didn't know what would happen yet, so she should just get it over with.
Rose checked out of her hotel, and started the trek back to Light's neighbourhood.
….
"There have been fifty-two deaths that we're aware of, and that's just in the past week." Said the first delegate.
"Every single one of them involved a heart attack." Said another
"They were all criminals who were either being held in prison or who were wanted by police for outstanding crimes. And I think it's safe to say there are other criminals whose deaths are unaccounted for." Continued the first delegate.
"In which case the death toll could be well over 100." Confirmed the third delegate.
"At any rate, these were criminals who were probably facing execution sooner or later. Perhaps we shouldn't be—" Began the second delegate.
"Why should it matter if it's a criminal or someone innocent?! Last time I checked, murder was still murder!" Pointed out the first delegate.
The conversation was quickly becoming hard to follow.
"It's still too early to consider these a homicide."
"Then how did all these people have heart attacks at the exact same time?! That's not coincidence, it's murder!"
"You think it's possible to simultaneously kill all these people in different locations?"
"We're treating this as an elaborate murder plot that's been carried out by a large organization."
"If it is a large organization, I'm sure I'm not alone in suspecting the FBI or CIA."
"I dare you to say that again!"
"Now now, this is not the time to be joking around! We need to confirm that these are indeed homicides and not coincidences!"
"How? Autopsy results show that in all of these cases the victims died of a sudden heart attack."
"Investigating a series of heart attacks is pointless. I don't see what else we can learn."
"Absolutely. If these people had been shot or stabbed, at least we'd have something to go on."
"If that's the case, it looks as if we'll have no choice but to bring in L."
The conference room suddenly went quiet.
"But I've heard this "L" is extremely arrogant and has tended to only take on cases that he's personally interested in." Someone pointed out.
"That's exactly right! Besides, we don't even know how to contact him." agreed another delegate.
"L is already on the move." Said Watari, opening a Laptop.
….
"What are we doing here anyway? I don't understand why we're sneaking around this dump. Tell me." asked Ryuk.
"Isn't it obvious? Anyone who touches the Deathnote will be able to see you. I can't afford to carry something this dangerous with me anymore. Up until now, I thought that if my family ever saw the Notebook, I can tell them I was keeping records of various criminals in preparation for becoming a detective one day. But I'm walking a very fine line right now. I don't want to think about it, but if I make one mistake, I might end up killing my own family." Light said seriously.
"And for the record, it would have been useful to know this earlier." He added.
"Hey." shrugged Ryuk. "You didn't ask, besides I told you everything I knew about ghosts, so you can't act like I didn't do anything."
"Hmmph." Grunted Light, continuing his search.
….
"Huh doesn't look like he's home yet?" said Rose, looking around his room.
It was a saturday wasn't it? Did they have saturday school in Japan?
'I guess he must have gone out with his friends.' She thought.
Should she wait around? Nah, she'd come back later, he'd probably be back in the evening for dinner, or whatever.
Rose would grab a coffee, in the meantime.
Unfortunately not ten minutes after she'd left, Light returned home.
….
"That was easier to make than I thought it'd be." said Light.
"Huh? Does that mean you were able to hide the notebook?" asked Ryuk looking over the desk.
"Yeah. I hid it right here in this drawer." said Light opening the drawer, to reveal a diary.
"Isn't that just a regular diary?"
"That's what it is. I'm guessing that once most people find the diary inside my desk, that'll probably satisfy their curiosity. But the real key is this. Just an everyday item you'd expect to find lying around on my desk. A regular ball-point pen, and all I need is this part." explained Light, lifting up the pen.
"So that's the key?" confirmed Ryuk.
"Yeah. If you look closely, you'll find there's a small hole underneath the drawer. Then you just insert this." Said Light, explaining how if the false bottom was suddenly removed, the gasoline would ignite and destroy the evidence.
"I've heard of humans finding Death Notes in the past and typically the biggest problem they had was finding a good place to hide it. But you Light, you're probably the first to have given it this much thought." Said Ryuk.
"Well that's one problem sorted. Now I have to figure out what to do if my ghost "friend" decides to drop by." Said Light.
"Are you still going on about her? I told you there's no way for her to take it, so what do you need to prepare for?" Asked Ryuk.
Light leaned forward.
"Well for one if she's so determined to get rid of the Deathnote, then what's to stop her from getting someone else to take the Deathnote instead?" Asked Light.
"Good point, but won't your security system stop them?" Asked Ryuk.
"It'll stop the chance of that happening, but more importantly if there's someone out there who knows how the Death Note works then, they could use that information against me."
Light glanced at Ryuk.
"The Deathnote allows me to kill people without being detected because no one knows about it, but if a seemingly normal person were to somehow give information to the police, then I could be executed." Explained Light.
"So what are you going to do?" Asked Ryuk.
"That's what i'm trying to figure out." Said Light
"With anyone else I could just kill them, but that's not an option here."
'But if I can't kill her what can I do?' Wondered Light.
'I don't know enough about this person to blackmail them, and I don't have enough money to bribe them.'
"Ryuk is there any way to kill a ghost?" asked Light.
"You can't write her name in the Death Note, if that's what you're asking." Said Ryuk.
"But is there any way to get a ghost to leave? To you know 'Move on'?" Clarified Light.
"As far as I know, the only way you can get rid of a ghost is to help fulfill their purpose." Said Ryuk.
"And how do I help to "fulfill their purpose" exactly" Asked Light.
Ryuk shrugged.
"Beats me. You'd have to find out what their purpose is, and most spirits don't know, that's why they're still around."
Light's eye twitched in annoyance.
"You'll have to find out how to deal with her on your own Light; Shinigami haven't been interested in spirits for centuries, I don't know how you're supposed to handle them." He admitted.
"Well aren't you helpful." Replied Light sarcastically.
"I'm not here to be helpful, I'm here for the apples." Said Ryuk.
Light tsked, and grabbed the last one from his school bag for Ryuk.
"So you don't know any way of getting rid of her?" Confirmed Light.
"Mmm, you buy good apples." Complemented Ryuk.
"Ryuk!" Exclaimed Light.
"Alright,why don't you try talking to her?" Asked Ryuk
'Talking to her?' Thought Light.
"Ryuk she's a ghost!" Light exclaimed.
"So?" Asked Ryuk "If she has enough sanity to try and take the notebook away, she can probably be reasoned with."
Light sat back again, and thought it over.
'Ryuk might have a point' He considered.
'If I had someone like her on my side; someone who could get by unseen, I could extend my powers even further.'
"Heh that might not be such a bad idea Ryuk."Said Light.
"Unfortunately, she always seems to leave before I see her. I don't think i'll be able to catch her in time to chat."
They were both silent for a moment, as Ryuk finished off the apple.
"Have you got any more apples Light?" Asked Ryuk.
"No you've eaten them all already." Said Light frowning.
"Oh. Can you get more?" Asked Ryuk.
"No." Said Light firmly. "I'll buy some later."
"Oh come on Light I can't wait til later!"
"Well that's too bad Ryuk, because I'm not buying anymore until later." Said Light firmly. For a God of Death, this guy sure was whiny.
They both went quiet again.
"How about a deal?" Asked Ryuk.
"A deal?" Asked Light curiously.
"You said this ghost lady left, before you could see her right? Well if you buy me more apples, then I will follow her the next time she shows up, and get her to talk to you." promised Ryuk.
Light's eyes widened.
"Why are you suddenly offering to be so helpful?" Asked Light suspiciously.
"Well for one, I REALLY want apples."
Light rolled his eyes.
"But two, I'm kinda curious about meeting this ghost myself. I want to know how she knows about the Death Note, and why she has it out for you so bad."
Ryuk grinned.
"I guess I'm hoping she'll be interesting too."
Light stared back.
"Ryuk if you can get her to stay long enough for me to talk to her, I will buy you apples everyday for the next week, without complaint"
Ryuk chuckled.
"He he, Deal."
….
It was much later in the evening, by the time Rosemary came back around to Light's house.
"Well he's got to be back by now." said Rosemary.
She carefully slipped through the door, and tiptoed up the stairs.
She could faintly hear talking.
Was Light watching the news, or something?
Rose shrugged it off, and began to slip through the door, before suddenly freezing in shock.
"Hi." said Ryuk.
Rosemary screamed, and began to desperately struggle to pull herself through the door, and run downstairs.
Why was he here?
"Is there someone there?" Asked Light, looking to Ryuk in confusion.
"I think it's your ghost friend." said Ryuk, as Rose finally pulled herself through the door, and began stomping downstairs.
"What?" Yelled Light, knocking his chair over as he stood up.
"Why aren't you going after her then?"
Ryuk grinned.
"Relax Light." His wings unfurled.
"I'll catch her."
….
'Oh Fuck! Oh Fuck! Oh Fuck! Oh Fuck!'
Thought Rosemary, as she started running away from Light's house.
She'd been certain that the threat of his soul being taken away, would have stopped him from using the Death Note. Had she been wrong?
No Light was certain, that he'd be punished in someway for using it, so being confronted should have been enough.
But then what had gone wrong?
Rose didn't care at the moment, she just wanted to get away so she could regroup and think of a new plan. If Light was hanging with Ryuk, then it would be even harder to get rid of the notebook now.
Rosemary finally stopped when she reached the train station, on the other side of town.
She collapsed on her knees, trying to calm herself down.
"Oh - god - heart - won't - stop - beating. " Panted Rosie.
"You might want to see a doctor about that."
Rose stiffened.
"Heart attacks can be… deadly." Said Ryuk chuckling.
Rose stayed still, whilst Ryuk continued grinning.
"Aren't you gonna say anything?" He asked amused.
"It's rude to ignore someone you know."
"I-" Began Rose, before stopping herself out of habit; she wasn't used to people being able to hear her, anymore.
"Y-You can hear me r-right?" Asked Rosie.
Ryuk started laughing which made Rosie flinch.
"Yep." He replied.
"So what's your problem, with Light?" Asked Ryuk, casually.
"I-Wha? My problem with Light?" Asked, a very confused Rose.
"Yeah, why did you try and get him to get rid of the notebook?" Asked Ryuk.
Rose stared at Ryuk.
"Er because he's killing people." She said slowly.
Ryuk turned his head to the side.
"Why do you care if he's killing people? It's not like you know them or anything." Asked Ryuk, confused.
Rosemary kept staring.
How did she explain morality to a creature, that spent it's entire existence killing?
Rose cleared her throat.
"I care because I don't think you have the right to kill people." Said Rosemary standing up.
"And I think he's doing a lot of damage to himself."
Ryuk grinned.
"Aw! does someone care about him?"
Rose blushed.
"Er no I don't even know the guy; look I don't want to see a guy with Light's potential wasting it, on ending lives when he could be smart enough to cure cancer, or solve impossible crimes." Explained Rosemary.
Rose sighed.
"What I guess i'm saying is, I think the world would be better, if there wasn't some unknown psycho causing heart attacks for random people he doesn't like".
Ryuk stared at her in confusion.
"You're weird Rosemary."
"Huh, what?" Asked Rose.
"You're dead, you no longer have to care about anything that happens to the living, yet you're going through all this effort to keep people you don't know alive. Why?"Asked Ryuk.
Rose paused for a second.
'Why do I care?' She thought.
'I mean at first I wanted to fulfil my purpose so I could move on, but since I've been here I've been looking forward to that less and less, so why am I doing this?'
"I guess." she began.
"I guess I did it, because it was the right thing to do"
Ryuk grinned. "How...Interesting."
Ryuk and rose were silent for a minute
"There's also something i've been meaning to ask you." said Ryuk.
"What's that?" Asked Rose.
"How do you know about the Death Note anyway?" asked Ryuk, curiously.
Oh fuck.
"Eeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr-" Rose trailed off, mumbling to herself.
What did she say?
"Oh come on, tell me!" plead Ryuk.
"Well you see, I um I er researched it…" Said Rose uncertainly.
"Uh huh." Said Ryuk, not believing her.
"And how did you know that Light had one almost as soon, as he picked one up?" He asked smiling wildly.
Rosemary paused.
"Magic."
"Magic?" Asked Ryuk.
"Yep." Said Rose
"That's your excuse?" Asked Ryuk
"Yes?" Asked Rose.
Ryuk burst out laughing, causing Rosemary to jump back in shock.
"HE HE HYUK HYUK MA-A-GI-C-C! HA HA" he chortled, before composing himself.
"No seriously how?"
Rose paused for a second. Should she tell him?
Would he tell Light if she did? Would it matter? Could Light use that against her?
'I'll just go for it.' Thought Rose.
"I'm from another dimension." she said quickly.
there was silence.
"Oh so that was you." Said Ryuk.
"Wait so you already met me?" asked Rose, incredulously.
"Not exactly." said Ryuk.
"A human ruptured the barrier between the shinigami realm and another dimension. We're kind of bored so it's been quite the talking point, though I don't think anyone saw what they looked like." Explained Ryuk casually, as though this, happened all the time.
'Wait! Of course the tunnel! I thought I imagined seeing shinigami.' Thought Rosie, in realisation.
"I never would have thought you'd be a ghost; but I guess that explains how you survived the fall." Continued Ryuk.
"But why did you come here?" He asked.
"Well." Began Rosie. "I came here to fulfil a purpose."
"Ah." Said Ryuk in understanding.
"And I'm guessing that purpose involves getting Light to give up the Death Note." He concluded.
Oh shit! Ryuk had figured it out. Maybe telling him about why, she was here was a mistake.
"Are you er going to tell him?" asked Rose, laughing nervously.
Ryuk grinned.
"Nope, he wants to convince you to join him. This'll be much more entertaining if you're actually trying to ruin his plans. So no Rose-mary, I'm not gonna tell Light."
Rose breathed a sigh of relief.
"But I might not have to." He continued
"It's not like you're a very good actor, HYUK HYUK HYUK!"
Rose frowned.
'I really am bad at hiding my intentions aren't I?' She thought.
"So" Said Ryuk.
"So what?" Asked Rosemary.
"Are you gonna talk to Light?" He asked.
Light? Oh yeah he'd said something about Light wanting her to join him, but why? Was it because she was a threat? But Rose couldn't really do anything til L showed up, and he may not have even, taken up the case yet.
But maybe Light didn't know, she couldn't do anything?
It's not like he could kill her, so in a way this was probably the most logical way around that. When he couldn't kill Misa, he tried to be nice to her.
Did she want to stay around a guy, who would be trying to manipulate her though?
Well she had to wait for L to get involved in the case anyway, now that Light had decided to kill people on a larger scale, so she may as well try and get him to change his mind before then.
He wasn't the only person, who could be manipulative.
"Okay." said Rosemary, confidently.
"I'll talk to Light."
….
Light was thinking over his options.
What would he say to her?
It wouldn't be easy to convince someone who was against the idea of killing criminals, to support him. As much as Light didn't like the idea, he might need to stop killing for a short time.
If he could show Rosemary, that he was willing to change, maybe he could get her to sympathise with him. If he got her to care for him, then he could get her to echo the same view point, or at least not go to the police with any information.
Light smirked.
This girl obviously wasn't particularly smart, and he was very good at charming men, and women. With any luck she'd be putty in his hands in no time.
"Hey Light." Said Ryuk, floating through the door with Rosemary trailing behind.
Light's expression quickly became neutral.
"Ryuk did you find Rosemary?" He asked, looking around slightly.
"HYUK! he he, Yep!" Replied Ryuk, chuckling.
"Well are you going to reveal yourself?" Asked Ryuk, in English.
Rose paused for a second, before taking a deep breath and tapping Light on the back of his shoulder.
Light turned around in shock.
It was like, she'd always been there.
"Er hello." Said Rosemary trying to hide her slight fear.
Rosemary didn't look like Light had expected.
She was young for one, Light had just assumed in his head that she'd be a little older since she'd died, but Rosemary didn't look much older than him.
She was also fatter, not grotesquely so, but Light was used to seeing the thin girls at his high school, and Rosemary certainly had a plumper frame.
She had mid length, light brown hair that framed her face, and pale skin which would have made her look ghostly, were it not for her warm red cheeks.
She looked cute, adorable even. Not as beautiful as some of the girls he'd dated but she was still very pretty.
Light almost felt guilty for wanting to manipulate her.
Almost.
Light smiled.
"It's nice to finally meet you face to face Rosemary."
Rose stared back confused.
'Oh right, English' thought Light, who had almost forgotten that she couldn't speak Japanese.
"I'm sorry I forgot you only spoke English, I said 'It's nice to finally meet you face to face Rosemary' ." Repeated Light with a gentle smile.
Rose put down her backpack, and reached in to take out her notebook.
"Wait." Said Light.
Rose stopped.
"I believe this is yours." Said Light, handing her the notebook she'd left behind.
Rose blushed, bright red.
Why did she have to forget that?
She carefully took it back, and wrote a small 'thank you', before showing it back to Light.
"That's alright though if you wanted my attention, you didn't have to make such a mess." Said Light with a chuckle.
'That took hours to clean.' Thought Light bitterly.
'I'm sorry about that, but i had to get you to stop using the Death Note.' Wrote Rosemary.
'Who is she to tell me what to do?' Thought Light, angrily. 'I'm going to be a god, this stupid girl couldn't even manage to steal a notebook!'
"I can see why." Said Light, with a tightness to his smile.
"I haven't had the notebook long, but already I find myself wondering if i'm doing the right thing." He admitted. The best lies, were the ones, with a hint of truth to them afterall.
Rosie stared at Light, pondering.
Was he lying?
'Then stop.' She wrote.
Her face had now morphed, into an expression, that seemed to say "You are fucking stupid".
"I don't know if I can Rose." Said Light quietly. He remembered from her notes that she preferred Rose, to her full name. Using this would no doubt endear her, towards him.
"I mean even if I stop now who's to say I won't be punished? It won't be overlooked I know it!" Said Light panicking.
He grabbed Rose's hands, as she was about to write a reply.
"Rose please, you don't have to agree with me, just stay by my side and help me find out what to do!" He begged.
Rose was shook.
Light had to be acting right? I mean of course he was? But he might not be. But could she leave him, even if he was? Maybe if she pretended to go along with it, she could get him to give it up.
Rose removed her hands from his, and wrote her answer.
'I'll only stay by your side if you stop killing.'
If he was serious, he could do that much.
'Just as I thought, I'll need to slowly bring her around to the idea.' Thought Light.
"I'll try." Said Light immediately.
"You can look at the news, whenever you want, but I promise no one, will die of heart attacks." He said, placing a palm on his chest, and making sure to maintain eye contact.
Ryuk was laughing, at the sappiness of Light's acting.
Light turned to him, in annoyance.
'Ryuk you idiot! she can hear you.' He thought.
'Ryuk's laughing. Does that mean that Light's plotting something?' Wondered Rose.
These thoughts of plotting, were soon dismissed however.
"HYUK! HYUK! HE HE HE! You two make a cute couple!" Chucked Ryuk.
They both stiffened.
Couple? That's what he was laughing about? What a ridiculous idea.
"Ignore him Rose." Said Light, turning back to her.
"Just please give me a chance."
Rose paused for a second.
'Not like he can really do anything to me.' She thought.
With that in mind, she wrote her reply.
'Alright, I'll stay by your side.'
Light gave Rose a shock, by hugging her.
"Thank you Rose! I promise I won't let you down" he said with a sinister smirk, as she awkwardly patted his back.
"Well I should leave you two lovers alone HYUK! HYUK!" Said Ryuk mockingly, before taking off for the night.
"Urgh. I thought that damn Shinigami would never leave." Said Light, smiling at her again.
Rose reached back, for her notebook.
'I should leave too.' She wrote down.
Light's eyes widened.
"What? Do you even have somewhere else to go?" He asked with a concerned tone.
Rose wrote down that she stayed in hotels, before Light quickly responded.
"I can't let my new friend stay in a hotel, you should stay here." Insisted Light in a seemingly welcome tone.
They were friends? Stay here? Wasn't that kind of weird.
She wrote as such.
"I'm not letting you leave, when you don't have a proper place to go to." He explained.
"Besides I can just set up a bed for you here." He said casually, like it was no effort.
'Well.' Thought Rose. 'I am low on money, and I do need to stay near him.'
Rose nodded her consent.
Light smiled.
"Great, I'll be right back!" He said.
Light had soon set up a small futon, next to his bed.
They continued talking for a while with Light asking her questions about her family, and her favourite foods and other things like that.
Rose was deliberately vague about her family, and refused to mention anything to Light about her death; but she told him all sorts of small details, and they maintained a polite conversation.
'This is going perfectly.' Thought Light.
"Light would you come down for dinner?" Asked his Mom.
"Er yeah hang on a second" He replied, before turning to Rosemary.
"Would you like to join us for dinner?" Asked Light politely.
Rose's eyes widened.
He wanted to invite her?
She shook her head as she genuinely wasn't hungry, and Light politely excused himself to go downstairs.
Rose laid back on her makeshift bed.
This was not what she imagined she'd be doing here.
About an hour later, Light came upstairs with a small plate of fruit. He looked around but couldn't see her, until she coughed to get his attention.
"Oh there you are." Said Light, once he could see her again.
"I know you said you weren't hungry, but I thought you might like this anyway." Said Light, as he handed it to her.
Rose nodded ,and mouthed a "thank you" before nibbling on a grape.
'She really does look kind of cute.' Thought Light.
She wasn't like the sort of girl he'd ever date. He dated serious people if he could, but he couldn't deny that she had, a bit of a sweet charm to her.
"Um Rosa do you mind if I get some studying done? I'm trying to get into a pretty elite university, so you know." He asked, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
Rose smiled a little, and nodded.
With Light not focussing on her anymore, she disappeared from his sight and Light quickly forgot she was there, as he went back to his studies.
After finishing her fruit Rosie sat back, and looked over at Light.
'I really hope he doesn't keep killing.' Thought Rose.
Since she was getting bored, Rose grabbed her notebook, and one of her new pens; She thought about drawing Light, but she didn't want to give him any wrong ideas, so she drew the book shelf across from her.
It was a few hours later, before Rose finally heard Light Yawn, and turn off his Lamp.
He looked around, but again couldn't see her.
"Rosa?" He asked.
She coughed again, to get his attention.
"Oh right! Well I'm done for the night. Have you been drawing? Can I see?" He asked politely.
Rose wasn't really sure, but she handed it to him anyway.
"Wow Rosa this is really good, you're very talented." Said Light genuinely.
'Why does he keep calling me Rosa?' Wondered Rose, before Light handed back her book. Perhaps it was easier to say.
"I'm going to get ready for bed in the bathroom, so just make yourself comfortable, okay." said Light.
Rose nodded.
When Light left she quickly changed into her purple pajamas, and untied her hair, which had now gone slightly wavy.
Light soon knocked on the door.
"Er Rosa do you mind if i come in?" Before opening the door.
She coughed so he could see her.
'Well he looks boring.' Thought Rose, as she eyed his pale white pajamas.
'Well she looks loud.' Thought Light, as he eyed her bright purple pajamas.
"Well I guess i'll talk to you in the morning." Said Light after a moment, as he slipped under his sheets.
Rose nodded her head, before doing the same.
"Goodnight Rosa." He said, turning out the lights.
"Goodnight Light." Said Rose, even though he couldn't hear her.
Rosemary lay on her back for a while, as she looked around the room.
No she did not expect to be here at all.