#74 Fire
Misa stared at the flame as it danced on the wick, her big blue eyes faded to blackness.
The cheap scent of roses wafted from the candle and filled her dark room as she stared into that pinpoint in the flame that was as black as night. Between yellow and orange, between the world and… something else.
Rem frowned, standing in a corner of the room, her delicate wings folded down to avoid knocking anything out of place. "Misa, you should not be doing this." She spoke softly. She always made her harsh voice softer when she was with the little model.
On some level, Rem was afraid the dusky sound of her voice would frighten the little human.
Misa concentrated harder on that pinpoint of nothingness. "Remu, you said that I might be able to get some of my years back if I made a deal with the Shinigami king. You said this is how you summon him, so-"
Rem shook her head, her lavender hair rustled against her bony shoulders. "Misa, I said that only the shinigami king can give humans more time, and that he makes deals that trick humans out of more than just their life spans." She sighed. "I wish you would not do this, Misa. You still have a lot of time… Gelus' span was added to yours, the deal only halved that… you're still going to live a long time."
Misa frowned slightly. "Shh Rem. I want all my time back, so I can be with Light for as long as possible." She giggled, "After all, he wouldn't know what to do without me."
Rem made a noise in her throat that could have been agreement or a growl.
Misa focused herself again and whispered, "What is it I have to say again?"
Rem sighed. "Hourglass keeper,
King of the reapers,
I summon you from your land,
My life contained in a grain of sand."
Misa nodded, and slowly and softly she repeated the incantation. At the last word, as Rem had told her, she lifted a handful of sand and poured it onto the flame, snuffing it and plunging the room into darkness.
At first, Misa was sure it had not worked, and opened her mouth to tell Rem to turn the light on.
A hand as cold as ice slithered to cover her mouth. A voice like fog hissed into her ear, "You summoned me, little one?"
Behind the hand that, Misa realised, was made of polished bones, the model screamed.
Rem's reassuring voice cut in, "Your Majesty! No-one respects you more than I, but if you harm Misa I'll-"
The voice chuckled. "Relax, Rem… I'm not going to hurt her… what do you wish of me, human?"
Misa shuddered and wished feverishly for some daylight. Terrified, she whimpered out, "I… I want to make a deal… for my life span."
Why was it so cold suddenly? And why, oh why, could Misa feel a breeze in her tiny bedroom? She dared reach one foot towards where her carpet should have been an almost screamed again when she felt cold sand under her toes.
"Your years, eh?" the king hissed. There was a noise like the rattling of a dicebox. "Countless humans have asked the same of me… I assume Rem has already told you… my deals might be unfair."
Misa nodded. "Remu said… but… but I'm a lot smarter than I look! Misa wants a real, proper deal!"
There was that laughter again. Misa wondered if perhaps there were things worse than death. And if they were sitting behind her right that moment.
"All right, little girl." The creature purred. "I know the perfect, and most fair trade in the world… I'll give you back your years…" there was a pause, "But you must promise to only love one man for the rest of your life. No matter what happens, only one."
If there had been light, Misa would have seen the hurt on Rem's face. The silent plea not to take the deal.
But they were trapped in the blackness.
Misa smiled, "That's easy! Misa only wants her Light-kun anyway! I'll take it!"
The king laughed. "Done… remember Miss Amane, a deal is a deal, even with a dirty dealer."
Then there was a thunderous crack, and Misa's bedroom light flickered on. They were in her room again, and Misa's foot was on the warmth of her deep-pile carpet.
Misa squealed with happiness and hugged the nearest plushie, "Yay!! Rem, you said it would be an unfair deal and he'd try to get more than my life span from me! All he wanted was for me to stay loyal to Light, which I'm gonna do anyway! Isn't it great?"
Rem nodded slowly, "Yes, Misa. It's wonderful." She replied, and hoped the little model would not see the tears in her golden eyes.