Light felt the breeze in his hair as he looked over Karakura town, a silent observer as the city went about its daily business. From his perch on top of a nearby light-post he could see for miles as the buildings reached out toward the horizon.

I can't help but feel a little like Ryuk. He thought to himself with a laugh. A shinigami looking over the world of man.

He tossed a pebble into the crowd below. It hit an older man on the shoulder and he looked up, searching in vain for he culprit. But even as his eyes were pointed directly at Lights very being the mans eyes couldn't pierce through to the world of the dead and so with a shrug he continued on his way.

So this is what being a shinigami is like.

"Hey! You seem lost in thought."

Looking back at Rai, Light suppressed his irritation. It figured he had gotten stuck with the male version of Misa Amane.

"Come on, whatcha doing?"

"Standing guard like I'm supposed to."

"Aint it so cool being in the world of the living? I've never been here before!"

Light sighed, outwardly looking cordial.

"Really? It must seem strange to you then."

As his eyes scanned the crowd he saw something familiar.

"Hey…can you see what the others are up to? It's a little boring and I'm kind of curious how they're passing the time."

With an excited yip the other boy nodded. "Sure thing!"

With large bounds he crossed the rooftops and was soon out of sight. Light waited a moment, and then took off in the opposite direction.

"I know that man looks familiar! It couldn't possibly be…"

When he caught up he took one last glance to confirm his suspicions before leaping over the road, easily clearing the intersection to land in front of the man.

Of course, he can't see me like this – so I don't even know what I'm thinking….

"W…haa…" He heard a frightened voice whisper. When Light turned to look at the man behind him he found wide dark eyes staring back at him. The man stood in shock a moment before he collapsed to his knees. With a sudden jerk he looked back up at the shinigami who stared at him in shock.

"Wait….you can see me? Even in this form?"

The man nodded eagerly. "Of course! I would recognize you anywhere!!"

Light watched only a moment when with a quick glance he noticed a few people staring and knelt beside him.

"Mikami, don't say anything else….just follow me. We need to talk in private."

The man looked up at him, devotion shining in his eyes. "Of course, God."

L looked up at the sky.

"Hm…I could have sworn I just saw something."

Ichigo looked back at him, schoolbag slung over his shoulder in one hand with his other hand shoved deep into a pocket.

"Really? What did you see?"

The detective shrugged. "I'm not sure, but it was probably nothing. We'd better continue on before we're late for school."

"Right." Ichigo mumbled unhappily. "I still don't see why I have to take you to school with me."

"Think of it as a learning experience."

"Learning experience or not I don't see why I have to baby-sit you."

The two stared at each other a moment before Ichigo moved on with a snort.

"Come on."

L gave one last look up at the sky before continuing after his classmate.

Just a moment ago he could have sworn he'd seen someone.

Sho eyed the two suspiciously.

"That orange haired guy…must be the new substitute shinigami. But that guy next to him has an impressive amount of spiritual energy as well. I guess that Urahara is up to something again."

The instructor took a moment to look off in the direction the training shinigami were in.

"Hm…maybe now would be a good time to mix things up a bit." He glanced back at the substitute shinigami. "That aught to bring ya running."

"God…"

Light stood watching a humbled Mikami wipe tears from his eyes. He wasn't entirely positive that telling the man everything was a good idea but he didn't have much choice. He needed someone in the human world to keep an eye on things – especially if L showed up. It had been easy enough to convince Mikami that having the feds out him as Kira had all been part of his plan to become a shinigami.

Full of reverence Mikami looked at Light, eyes shining with an ominous gleam.

"I should have never doubted you!"

"That's alright. I regret not being able to tell you beforehand. I am surprised you remembered though."

Mikami nodded. "Yes. Last thing I remember was falling asleep in my cell and waking up in this world – back in my old apartment. But I couldn't stay there anymore! I had to leave Tokyo! I was worried…I thought they'd come after me. That I had escaped somehow or been set free."

Light mused, looking out of the abandoned buildings dusty window.

That's understandable. But it means that I'm not the only one to end up in this new, alternate world. If Mikami is here then L definitely is. But…..

In his head the mastermind thought back to the day he had awoken in his own bed.

Mom….Sayu….Dad…It seems like none of them have any memory of Kira at all. But Mikami remembered….what's the common thread? There has to be a reason they couldn't remember but we did.

"Mikami." Light spoke suddenly. "The police haven't followed you here?"

"No."

"Light? Hey!"

Flinching at the sound of his name, Light looked out the window where he could see his red-headed friend calling for him, looking bored.

"Mikami. Can you see that guy up there?"

Turning to peek out of the dusty window Mikami nodded.

"Good. Then I need you to wait until we're out of sight and then leave. Don't try to get in contact with me – I'll get in touch with you when I can. Until then just lie low and don't let the police catch you."
"Understood." Mikami accepted his orders with a bow.

Exiting the building, Light approached his partner from behind. Rai jumped when Light tapped him on the shoulder and then harassed him good naturedly for disappearing on him. As they headed back to the main group a shadow slipped by then, unseen.

"You shouldn't mess with me like that man!"

"Y-yeah. Sure…can you stop hanging on me though?"

Rai laughed. "No!"

HHRREEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHH

The two paused to look around nervously.

"What the heck was that?" Rai wondered. Light let his eyes scan the nearby area cautiously.

"Whatever it was it wasn't human."

"Then it's a Hollow..." Rai gulped, his face turning a few shades paler. Light clenched his hands.

If it is a hollow…should we call for backup? Jeez, they didn't prepare us at all for this! What are we even supposed to fight it with?!

A burst of air made him flinch and he suddenly found his body feet away and facing a monstrous enemy. Where he had stood on the roof was a hole full of broken cement and a few feet from that stood Rai, with frightened wide eyes.

I dodged that…and so did he. Good, it looks like these undead bodies don't play by the rules then.

The head of the beast turned to look at him, its deathly pale mask nearly hidden among a tangle of long black hair. The face had the visage of a skeletal woman with glowing golden eyes. The head pivoted at the end of a long serpentine neck that attached to spiders bloated body that scuttled across the roof with a disturbing scratching noise.

"L…Lllight!! Do YOU know how to fight this thing!?"

"What?!" Light yelled. "Didn't you get training before this?!"

"Are you kidding?" Rai screamed back. "They just pulled me off the street because I had good energy!!"
Light grit his teeth.

Great…so this is a test to see how we do on our own, completely raw and without instruction. They want to see where our base ability is.

The spider Hollow laughed shrilly, turning its head to and fro to look at each trainee shinigami.

Both of you look absolutely delicious….but whose going to be dinner and whose going to be desert huh? Maybe you should flip a coin and find out!

With a scream the hollow launched itself at Rai. Before Light could think he found himself in front of the sharp teeth.

I moved?! But now what?

For a moment it seemed like time had slowed as that horrible mouth came closer, then in an instant he found himself moving again and felt his fist smash into something hard. The hollow pulled away, a dent in the white mask. Thrashing with anger the creature rose to its full height.

YOU!! Lucky shot punk but it can't happen twice!!

As the hollow brought its mouth down again Light prepared.

"I don't know what I can do but I'm not going down as easy as that!!"

A spider's talon swiped him away, throwing him off the roof and onto the next. Light felt a crack as his body slammed into the hard tiles and he rolled to the edge. For a moment he hung in air again before his body hit the ground.

"Damn…that thing….is powerful…how can something be so strong?"

Coughing, he caught his breath again as he heard Rai yelling, his voice high and desperate.

Light growled, leaping back onto the roof and racing over to where Rai swung wildly at the creature as it laughed at him.

"A sword…I need a sword….I need something to fight with!!"

In an instant he felt the world peel away into black.

You need something to fight with? You can't do anything without my help, eh Light?

Ryuk!!

In the darkness he could see the piercing yellow eyes staring back at him. The familiar laughter echoed in the void.

So we meet again, Light.