III.
In the Palm Of His Hand
"So let me see if I have all this now, Ryuk. You resurrected me with a Death Eraser that only works on the Death Note, and which cannot be seen by anyone not in possession of a Note?"
"You got it."
Light's thoughts were interrupted by a loud crrunch as Ryuk bit the core of his apple in half, and devoured it.
"And as long as a person was killed by the Death Note, and their body isn't burned, this Death Eraser will bring them back to life?"
"Yup. Got any more apples, Light?"
Light dug another fruit out of the bag at his side and tossed it to the shinigami. After he had watched Misa's broadcast all the way through, Light had retreated to his favorite park; it was quiet this time of day, when the mid-afternoon sun was directly overhead, and there was no one to disturb his contemplation or witness his conversation with Ryuk - or, as it would appear, with himself.
"Why didn't you tell me about this Eraser before?"
Ryuk shrugged.
"Dunno. You never seemed interested in bringing anyone back; you just wanted to kill all those criminals, right?"
Crrunch.
"Yes, but if I can bring people back, I will be able to reinforce my own myth. The power to kill is necessary to enforce the positive nature in men; but the power to awaken the dead -!"
Light's eyes had gained a dark, intense gleam.
"So what about it, Ryuk? Is this like the eye deal? This Eraser of yours - does it cost half my lifespan to use?"
He smiled thinly as he said it; talking about life spans seemed a little silly now.
Crrunch.
"No, it doesn't cost anything. I've given it to humans before - really guilty humans, who've used the Death Note by accident, or who decided they didn't mean it..."
Light raised an eyebrow.
"Why would you help them?"
Ryuk shrugged.
"No reason. I was bored. It's not like it does me any good, one way or another. I don't get the life spans of humans who die when a human is using the Death Note, so it doesn't matter to me if they get Erased or not."
The shinigami tossed back the last bite of his apple and grinned in satisfaction.
"Ryuk, if you use the Eraser, what happens exactly?"
"No idea, exactly. Things don't work like that, Light. Are there - "
"No, there aren't any more apples left. You just ate the last one."
"Hey, we should go get some more! I've been without apples for three whole days; it was terrible!"
Light smiled thinly.
"Bored and no apples? I can't even imagine. But tell me, Ryuk; if you Erase a name, does that mean it's as if it was never written in the first place?"
Ryuk contemplated quizzically for a moment; it was the strangest expression Light had yet seen on the shinigami's features.
"Mmm, yea, I think so. See, if we Erase a name, then we lose the years that we would have gained from that human. Thing is kind of stupid anyway, had no use for it at all 'til I started playing in the human world - then it was...lots of fun."
He grinned.
"So, what are we doing now, Light? You wanna use the Eraser?"
Light blinked thoughtfully, appeared to consider it and then shook his head.
"No; not right now, anyway. I've got to get back to the apartment; Misa won't be there, yet, and I need a change of clothes - "
He stopped very suddenly, and his eyes grew wide.
"Ryuk, my shirt is bloody and I remember being shot. Where are the bullet holes? Why am I not wounded?"
There was the tiniest hint of panic in Light's voice.
"Eh? Oh, well there wouldn't be much point in bringing people back to life if they died again right away, would there? The Death Eraser tends to fix stuff like that. It won't put back parts that get cut off, though..."
Light waved an impatient hand.
"What if you had a sickness, and you were about to die - and then instead, you were written in the Death Note. If, after you died, you were brought back with the Eraser, would you be healed?"
Ryuk shrugged.
"What if you wrote in that someone was decapitated, and then Erased them - would their head be reattached, even if...parts usually aren't?"
"Maybe. Never really had any reason to test it - and it never ends well, shinigami trying to extend human lives."
Light turned away from Ryuk's sudden, feral grin.
"You sure do ask a lot of questions, Light."
"Mm."
They had crossed the park to the road, and Light could see people walking now; everyone seemed to be moving rapidly, and as he continued down the street, turning to make for the apartment he had shared with Misa, he saw numbers of people in white robes already moving around; some of them looked to be praying, others were hawking candles and 'purifying ingredients', everything from smudge sticks to silver charms, baby wipes to bath salts.
He smiled as he looked back and forth; the people and their preparations filled him with warmth. His was a just mission, a godly mission! The people wanted him, needed his presence, his judgments, so that they could live their lives without fear of the murdering scum who had once run the earth.
Light checked his watch; 3:45. That meant there was still more than three hours until sunset - plenty of time. As he was opening the door to the apartment building and stepping into the elevator, he was arranging his thoughts, planning each thing he had to do in order.
Call the hospital and ask to speak to Lin Takari; I don't need him to deal with Sakura TV anymore, Misa has that in hand. I have to prepare the announcement of my death, to be aired before the vigil. Misa may be helpful to me again, with that...and then there is a little unfinished business to be taken care of.
He knew the name of that unfinished business now; it was nothing to worry about.
Near...
The name filled his mind with a sneer. L had been a worthy opponent, an interesting friend...and foe. But Near! Near had defeated Kira in a way that left a bitter taste in Light's mouth; sewing falseness, one patch at a time, until the original quilt was obscured. L had been the genius detective; Near had only scratched by, stealing his predecessors work.
Thoughts fuming, Light got off the elevator at his floor, and made his way quietly through the hall. He had not gotten to know any of his neighbors very well, but if Misa had been crying and carrying on and in general creating a scene, they would be more than aware of his death.
Carefully, he slid his key into the lock, and then pushed the door open with a flutter of surprise. The door was not only unlocked, but not even closed all the way. He stepped inside, and looked around, but there was no evidence of a burglary; Misa must have just been careless. His extra pairs of shoes were still by the doorway; there was a flicker of brightness from the far side of the apartment, coming from the crack of the bedroom door, but other than that the rooms were quiet and still.
Light shut and locked the door behind him, and immediately made his way over to the phone, flipped his way through the phone book and called the hospital morgue.
"Yes, I'd like to speak with Lin Takari, please; yes, it's a minor emergency."
There was a pause and a clattering sound as whoever had answered the phone went to seek out Takari; after a minute or so, there was a hurried voice on the line, dimmed a little with concern.
"Hello, this is Takari -"
"Lin Takari, do you recognize my voice?"
"Of - of course! Kira-dono, what do you need? My shift hasn't ended yet, so I -"
"Listen carefully, Takari. You no longer need to contact Sakura Television; this has been taken care of by my High Priestess."
"High Priestess...yes, Kira-dono. Is there something else you require from me?"
"I was kept in your morgue for three days, is that correct?"
"Yes, Kira-dono -"
"And in that time, my death has been properly certified, annotated, and witnessed?"
"Yes, Kira-dono -"
"Thank you, Takari. Do you have a personal cell phone?"
"Yes, Kira-dono."
"Give the number to me, and then wait for my call. And if you get a chance, Takari, turn on Sakura Television. I believe they're playing something which you may find of interest..."
He hung up the phone without waiting for acknowledgment, and then sat back on the couch and flipped on Sakura TV.
Next -
He waited for the end of the broadcast, so he could scan the names attached to the credits; while he was waiting, he turned on Misa's computer and ran a search for any criminals who had been arrested in the few days since his death. There weren't many, and he was pleased by this; even with the pause in judgments, it appeared that most of the criminals still alive were too afraid to make a move.
Perhaps they didn't even notice there was a pause.
Out of the twelve men who had been arrested, he selected two whose crime he found particularly heinous, and then returned his attention to the list of names in Sakura Television's credit run.
Easy.
The station's website had a list of all the employees, alphabetized and with a snapshot of each face beside it.
Too easy.
Light then flipped through the phone book a second time; the number of Sakura Television was highlighted in Misa's favorite color - bright pink.
The phone rang busy the first three times he called, and then a very rushed sounding woman answered; quickly, Light made a judgment on her name, based on her accent, her apparent age, and the fact that she was female - only three female employees worked at Sakura television, and two were almost elderly. The remaining employee was a Vietnamese exchange-student, serving as an intern. Before she could speak, Light greeted her with carefully prepared words.
"Minh, this is Kira. Perhaps you have received other calls this afternoon from individuals claiming to be me, but if necessary I will prove to you that I am who I say I am."
The girl on the other end of the line managed to stutter a response after a few seconds of silence.
"Pr-prove?!"
"Yes. Would you like Production Manager Kanzuka to die, Minh? I will do this, if it is necessary, although I do not feel he deserves -"
"No, no. Ac-actually, no one has called claiming...claiming to be Kira."
Light smiled slowly.
"Except me."
"Except...except you."
"I would like you to bring this phone call to the attention of the Production Manager now, Minh. Will you do that for me?"
"Of - of course, Kira- I mean Kira-sama - or, um - Lord Kira - "
"You do not need to be afraid, Minh. Are you a good girl?"
"Ye - yes, Lord Kira, but...but...but..."
"But?"
"But I used to go out drinking with these friends - I was underage, and I -I- but I know it was wrong, Lord Kira!"
Light was silent; he heard the breath of the girl at the other end of the line, almost a sob in it.
"I'm - I'm sorry, Lord Kira - "
"Minh, you should be proud that you have repented, and you should remember this lesson always. Now - the Production Manager?"
"Oh - oh yes! Forgive me - I'll get him right away!"
Light heard the faint tones of ridiculous hold music, and held the phone away from his ear; his face did not show it, but he was quite pleased, indeed.
Everyone fears to impersonate Kira - so only I can be him! Only I, who truly am Lord Kira! Already, I am the confessor of my people, the one who absolves all their sins.
Behind Light's chair, Ryuk hung supportless, upside-down in mid-air. He could hear both sides of the conversation, and he felt bad for Light, having to listen to some whining girl complain.
"Hey, Light, you should quit talking to that girl and bring me some apples instead."
When there was no response, he wandered off through the apartment; he was actually somewhat glad to be back in the familiar space. This time, without any idiot investigators, Light was sure to be more fun...
And there was something else, too - why he couldn't he remember? Something that he'd been told was worth trying in the human world...
Besides apples.
He pulled a horrific face that nobody could see, but felt better afterwards anyway.
Maybe I shouldn't have told Light about the Eraser. If he starts feeling bad about using the Death Note and brings all the people back, what would be the fun in that?
But Ryuk perked up almost immediately upon returning to the living room, because Light was sitting and holding the phone and talking again, and he was smiling - what a great smile!
Or maybe he'll do something...completely different!
"Light, what are you doing now?"
He leaned forward so he could listen in, but he still could only hear Light's half of the conversation this time.
"Yes, Kanzuka-san, I can make the necessary records available to you. One of my loyal followers was there when I Returned, and I will have him provide the necessary documents. I require two other things from you, however."
"Yes, two. First, you will broadcast this evening's ceremony to any of those who desire a feed - and I mean, local networks, global television, international news agencies - anyone."
"Hmm? Charge whatever you please, Kanzuka - within reason. But please keep any greedy schemes to yourself."
"The second thing is that I want you to broadcast the information I just gave you about the unexplained resurrection of Yagami Light; as I said, the death certificate and the doctor for you to interview will arrive shortly. Make no mistake, Kanzuka; this is more important than you can imagine."
"In order that you understand I am completely serious, the last two serious offenders held in Tokyo prison, both child molesters arrested in the last forty-eight hours, will die. I'm sure that you will be able to confirm this through your own channels; allow five minutes from the time I hang up, and then check. The names of the prisoners in question are Teito and Onizaki."
"You will hear from me sooner than you think, Kanzuka. Do as I have asked, or you, too, will be punished."
Ryuk let out a faint chuckle as Light put down the phone and checked his watch; 4:18.
"Ryuk, I'm going to shower but I think Misa has some apples in the fridge, if you want."
"Ahh, that's good! Are we going out later, Light?"
Light's back was turned and Ryuk could not see his face, but his footsteps were sure and certain, his shoulders straight; there was assurance in every movement of his body.
"Yes. I think we'll go to the beach tonight, Ryuk. How about that?"
"Ehh? The beach?"
It sounded odd, but then he remembered that Misa on TV had said something about a bunch of candles, and the beach, and Kira -
"So that's your plan, Light? Going to reveal yourself as some kind of High Priest, and then -"
"Oh no, Ryuk. I'm going to reveal myself - as Kira. Lord Kira, they call me; they pray to me like they once prayed to the gods that did not answer, and they do it because Kira does answer!"
I knew it!
"You should pay close attention, Ryuk. Tonight, I will show you how a man becomes a god."
A/N: Much apologizings for the long delay; I've got five classes now as well as my job, so it's going to take me a little longer to get out chapters...but, I will still be posting them! Also, for some reason I haven't been able to upload any files...it keeps saying there's some kind of error so I'm being ingenius and using already uploaded files and the magic of paste! Please Review (it feeds my evil genius!) :D