#89 Spirit
(part of a series set in an AU, for more information see chapters 37 and 56. These are in no particular order but if you're familiar with Death note you can follow what's happening)
Light Yagami had a lot to be thankful for, he knew. As the son of a knight in the service of King L he was afforded certain luxuries. He never had to be afraid for his life.
Not like the poor. The poor for whom every day was another long struggle through mud and misery just to survive. He pitied them. There was, he felt, a much better way of running things.
Not that he would be so presumptuous to say that the king didn't care… it was just that… well, with crime so rampant among the poor, would it not be easier to execute all criminals, not just those convicted of the worst crimes?
Of course he knew that King L was something of a recluse, even he, who had lived in the castle his entire life, had never caught sight of the monarch. It was said the man was deformed, a hunchback, and so ashamed to show his face in court.
He thought of this a lot, as he sat in the great library of the castle. His eyes wandered to the windows, watching the sun setting over the forests.
And by chance, he saw a shape, tumbling from the sky like a gift from god.
His eyes wide, he rose and slowly left. Slowly, because finding an enchanted relic in this kingdom could bring too much attention.
Not that he intended to conceal such a thing, of course. He just wanted to examine it.
He was rather disappointed when he reached the courtyard and discovered only a tatty old black book, half-buried behind a pile of straw by the stables.
Curious, he flipped open the first page.
Someone had written something there. Someone who obviously wasn't used to holding a quill, the handwriting was more a scrawl than script.
Whomsoever's name should be writ 'pon this notebook shalt die
Young Lord Yagami's golden eyes widened.
A magic book, then. It really was a gift from god. He gasped, and quickly hiding the book in his jersey, ran to his private chambers. Her very nearly knocked over Princess Misa, only pausing long enough to give her a cursory bow and to make certain her maids had not been injured, before sprinting up the spiral staircase to his bedchamber.
Here he laid the book down on his writing desk, and stared once more at those words.
There were more, calling themselves rules. It amused him that there should be rules about death by magic. It made the whole business seem cleaner.
He could barely breathe. The Lord's hands shook.
"With this… with this, thy magic, I can perform wonders…" he breathed out.
"Hahah, interesting, not many a human has received a magic notebook and decided to change the world for the better."
Light span around, falling from his chair with a yell of fright as he eyes fell on the creature laying across his bed.
He couldn't describe it, except possibly as something like a cross between a badger and a court jester with fangs. He noted the silver crucifixes in the creatures clothes and swallowed.
"Ar…are you a messenger from god?"
The creature laughed again, "Hardly. I guess the closest word you have for what I am is a djinn, a djinn of the book." It chuckled. "My true name is far too hard for you to pronounce, so you can call me Ryuk."
Casually, the beast reached one elongated arm over Light's head and took an apple from the basket on his desk. "Mmm, apples."
Light swallowed his fear and forced himself to his feet. He was not in line to be one of the king's personal advisors for no reason. He was a bright boy, miles ahead of the other nobles his age.
"You," He said sharply, pausing to work out what to address the beast as. 'Creature' sounded too common, while 'Ryuk' was too familiar for Light's tastes.
"…Spirit! As I am now the owner of this magical book, I'm also your owner. And I think, if I am to carry out my plans to make this kingdom a better place, you had best tell me all you know about these rules."
Ryuk grinned widely, biting into the red fruit. "Heheh, get me some more apples and you have made yourself a deal, Light Yagami."