Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note or any or it's characters or ideas. Because this story is parallel to Death Note, certain events are taken from the actual story (although typically from a different perspective). These scenes are marked as "(Volume_, Page_)".
Tokyo's police department was to some a blessing and to others a curse. It employed a wide range of people, from desk jockeys to the occasional mass murderer. One of the latter found himself sitting in a room full of his coworkers, a spirit like creature that was one of his closest friends behind him. He had changed his name years before, feeling compelled to hide his past despite that it being discovered meant nothing to him. He had even developed a persona, something very opposite to his true self.
Narukami Touta was in fact only a young man from a small town who had reached a point in his career very unusual for one his age. He was serious, rude to some, but loyal and perhaps the perfect kind of man to be the owner of a Death Note for almost his entire life.
The persona that he wore, however, was kind and light hearted to a fault and would have been horrified to know that a god of death stood casually behind him. How Matsuda Touta had managed to reach the point in his career that he had and gain the utmost respect from his superiors was beyond most.
A man that Touta knew as Ide stood at the front of the room, gathering the papers before him on his desk, "Does anyone have anything else to add?" He asked. When no one spoke up, he continued, "Good, in that case, you're all free to go."
With these words, the room began to clear out, the ever present low murmuring building into a steady hum. Touta stood as well, collecting what little papers he had before turning towards the door. The creature that had been standing behind him waited patiently, his crimson eyes lazily cast at the front of the room. He was called a Shinigami to some, a devil to others, but to Touta he seemed a completely normal part of his life.
"Matsuda, wait." Ide called out over the thinning crowd, still standing before his desk.
Matsuda stopped, turning with a nervous smile to face back into the room, "What do you need?" He asked politely, the reply coming as naturally as if it had truly been what he wished to say. Despite Touta's reservations, he had to admit a certain amount of respect for Ide.
"The Chief wants to speak with you in his office." Ide told him, smiling reassuringly –or perhaps condescendingly– at his nervousness.
Touta nodded silently and left the room in a hurry. His friend followed him out, keeping slightly behind him as they walked down the hall to the Chief's room, "I wonder what this is about."
Touta didn't reply past a shrug, stopping as he came upon the door to Chief Yagami Soichiro's office. The only time he let his persona slip was in the presence of his Shinigami, although he often wondered what the reactions would be should he drop it permanently. Brushing the thought aside, he knocked a few times on the door, waiting for a reply.
"Come in." A voice called after a moment.
Matsuda opened the door and stepped into the office, his friend not far behind, "Ide told me to come see you, Sir."
"Yes." Soichiro replied with a nod, putting on the glasses that had sat on the desk before him. The creases in his face made him look as though he was smiling, although Touta wasn't completely sure if he was. "Have a seat."
Matsuda complied, sitting quietly in the wooden chair before the Chief's desk.
"People in the office don't appear to take you seriously. They seem to believe that you aren't an asset to the force because you don't take things as seriously as they do." The Chief paused with a reassuring smile at Matsuda's worried expression, "Not that I personally think this is a bad thing. We all need to be a little more light hearted around here, just try to be more serious Matsuda."
Matsuda nodded with a gulp.
"To get to the point, I've began to rely on your instincts. You seem to have a keen insight as to whether or not you are being lied to. I've also noticed that when you have your mind set on a person, be that innocent or guilty, you are correct more often than not, not to mention your uncanny knack at IDing victims." The Chief paused once again, sliding his chair forward a little and folding his hands on the desk, "Because of this, I would like to promote you to detective." He told him with a smile, "Matsuda Touta, thank you for all of your hard work. You've been remarkably dedicated and talented to become a detective so young."
Matsuda couldn't help but grin at the unexpected surprise, "Thank you so much Chief!" He said excitedly, "I promise won't let you down!"
Chief Yagami laughed, "I know you won't. Just remember to be more serious."
"Right." Matsuda replied with a quick, sharp nod.
Soichiro's smile remained, "Alright, your badge and new ID will be ready tomorrow. Why don't you go home early today?"
"Really? Okay, I'll see you tomorrow Chief." Matsuda replied, standing with a grin plastered to his face. Touta was honestly relieved to be leaving early, actually having something he wanted to do after work.
"Yes I'll see you tomorrow." The Chief replied.
Touta turned to leave, his eyes locking with his all but forgotten friend's for a moment before he walked from the room.
The Shinigami turned, following him out and down the hall, "He forgot to mention that you had a good friend who could go anywhere undetected and is willing to do so simply out of sheer boredom."
Touta rolled his eyes, his façade completely dropped for the moment, "I could have gotten a promotion without you, it's not like this job is hard."
"I am not certain Touta; without me, your Death Note would not be here."
Touta shook his head, "I'm not so sure; it wouldn't have been hard for the King to find another Shinigami." He replied. Touta looked up at his friend who had come to walk beside him, "You seem rather cheerful today."
The Shinigami shrugged and became quiet as he walked with Touta down the hall.
Touta turned into a room filled with lockers and stopped in front of one, "We're going to a movie and I have to pick up some things at the convenience store before we go home." He told Valeel as he opened his locker.
Valeel looked confused, "Why? You never go anywhere other than to buy groceries... What movie?" He asked, his voice strangely taking up a slightly accusing tone.
Touta hung up a few things and pulled out his black leather coat, "Aiko no Hana." He replied lightly as he closed his locker. He couldn't help but smirk as he saw the Shinigami's somewhat confused, slightly accusing stare. Slipping on his coat, Touta decided not to explain and walked back into the hallway that traversed much of the station. He came out to the main lobby, saying goodbye to a man at the front desk before leaving. As he pushed open the front doors of the building, Touta glanced back at Valeel, and saw that his stare persisted. "A model that I like is acting in it." He explained with an out of character laugh, although conscious of the cameras trained on the doors.
Valeel stopped dead, any of the confusion in his stare gone, "Which model?" He asked very carefully.
Touta didn't reply, although another smirk grew on his face. He didn't stop to wait for Valeel to follow, instead walking to the parking lot on the side of the building. The Shinigami caught up to him as he neared his car. Touta unlocked the door, Valeel already sitting in the passenger seat by the time he opened it. Touta put his keys into the ignition, feeling the waves of suspicion rolling off the Shinigami beside him as his car roared to life. The car ride, like the walk to the car, was silent.
This silence was broken by Valeel's irritated sigh as he saw the woman on the poster outside the theatre, "Instead of going to all of her movies like a child, why do you not simply invite her here?" Valeel asked.
Touta shot him a glare, "If I do, will you stop acting like a child yourself and behave around her?"
Valeel didn't seem to enjoy that reply, sighing once again as they made their way into the theatre.
---
A few hours later, the pair stepped once again out of Touta's black car. They made their way down the busy street to a row of small stores. Touta walked through the doors of a convenience store, Valeel following silently behind. It was fairly empty and Touta walked to the back. Seeing that they had rearranged a little, his eyes scanned the aisles for the new home of his usual food. He heard a very small gasp from his Shinigami and turned to look at him.
"Touta, look." Valeel said, acting now like the Shinigami he typically was. He held out a bony finger and pointed towards the doors to the street.
Touta instantly knew of what he spoke, his brows drawing together as a boy walked into the store.
A Shinigami could see the name and lifespan of any human whose face could clearly be seen. If the Shinigami so pleased, it could offer this ability to a human in exchange for half of this human's lifespan. Because Valeel was free of all rules and was willing, he had given Touta this gift without taking anything in return. The gift worked on every human, with one exception. If a human was in possession of a Death Note, their lifespan could not be seen.
(Volume 1, Page 37)
The boy who had entered the store was one of these exceptions. Above his oddly anxious, chiefly calm expression, was his name: Yagami Light; Touta's boss' son. Even if his name hadn't been present, Touta would have recognized him from the few times he had been to Soichiro Yagami's home. However, when he had last seen Light, he hadn't been in possession of a Death Note. Touta knew he was very smart, having passed all of his classes with easy perfection. This boy likely could easily be a threat if he chose to be so. Although, having Soichiro as a father had to have instilled him with a very strong sense of justice.
Touta turned away before the boy noticed him in the back of the store, just in case Light had the same gift. He walked down the aisle with his face slightly turned away, stopping as Light turned to face the window.
Light pulled open a magazine from the rack in front of him, although he didn't seem to be reading it.
"Val, do you know whose note he has?" Touta asked, his voice barely audible.
"No. It's very rare for one Death Note to be in the Human Realm, let alone two."
Touta was about to reply when a loud commotion began just outside of the store. He stepped forward towards the main doors for a better look. It looked as if a man on a motorcycle had been hit by a large truck. Unaffected by the scene, Touta glanced coolly at Light.
Light gasped very quietly, visibly unnerved at the sight. He put down the magazine he had been holding and quickly left the store.
"Follow him." Touta ordered Valeel harshly. The clerk at the till looked at him oddly, Touta automatically holding his cell phone up as an explanation with an embarrassed smile. When Touta looked back to the front of the store, Valeel was already gone, Light's new dark shadow.
Valeel followed Light from above, slightly behind. It was odd to him that there was no other Shinigami present. Any Shinigami that would have been willing to give their note to a human would have stayed closely beside them. That is, unless it was the one Shinigami that Valeel knew had two.
A light rain began to fall as the two travelled down the dark streets to Light's destination. The drops passed through Valeel's white body and onto Light. The Shinigami strained to listen as Light began to mutter things to himself, seeming rattled.
Suddenly, Light stopped, resting his hand on the building beside him.
Valeel landed in front of him, staring into his face curiously. He was slightly surprised to see the expression in his eyes. He had seen this look before in a human, one that had had a great plan unveiled to him. This human had been excited but yet hesitant at its prospects. What impressed Valeel was the aura of complete and utter control about Light. This great plan was his to shape and create, and he knew it.
The Shinigami couldn't help but smile; perhaps the boy had the potential that others had lacked.
Light returned his hand to his side, continuing down the sidewalk after a moment.
The good mood Valeel had had most of the day continued. Like he had thought of before, there were few Shinigami with a Death Note to spare for a human. He hadn't lied when he had told Touta he didn't know which Shinigami had come to the Human Realm, it was just very likely to be one in particular. Valeel's suspicions proved true as the two came into sight of Light's home. There was a familiar shadow perched upon it, as if waiting for Light's return.
The figure remained perfectly still as the two neared the house. Light seemed not to notice, walking up the front steps to his front door calmly. He pulled open the door and called to his mother before shutting it quietly behind himself.
As soon as the door clicked closed, the figure on the roof leapt down, landing silently. The Shinigami grinned, "Long time, no see."
Valeel smiled a little in return, "Hello Ryuk." He replied, "Why did you come here?"
Ryuk shrugged, "The Shinigami Realm isn't exactly the most exciting place. Besides, humans are much more interesting."
"I suppose so." Valeel replied, "But whose note does Yagami have? Has Sidoh honestly not realized you stole it?"
The question brought another grin to Ryuk's face, "Nope."
"Even after 30 years?" Valeel sighed, "For a Shinigami, he's not very intellectually inclined."
Ryuk nodded, glancing at the house behind him, "I guess I'll go back to our Realm before making my entrance."
Valeel followed his eyes, watching a shadow moving across a lit up window on the upper floor, "It would be a great favour to Touta and I if you could be sure he does not cause too much trouble while you're here."
Ryuk was about to say something but stopped, simply nodding.
"Thanks Ryuk, I'll be going then." Valeel told him, turning to leave.
"Wait." Ryuk said, pausing before continuing, "Val, Rem's here too, with Amane."
Valeel stood still for a moment before extending his wings, "I know." He replied quietly before taking flight. He sped quickly to Touta's home, attempting to leave thoughts about the reminder behind him.
The Shinigami stopped as he passed through the front door. Directly beside him to his left was a small coat rack that was home to a lonely jacket. Slightly closer, to Valeel's left, was a rounded archway to the living room.
In that room sat Touta facing away, a book in his hands as always. The room was very sparsely furnished. Beside Touta's black leather chair was a side table that was empty save for a white, corded phone. A rarely used television faced the chair towards the hallway. The only piece of decoration in Touta's home was a small painting on the north wall of the room.
Touta turned, hearing Valeel come into the room. "So?" Touta asked.
The Shinigami thought for a moment, coming up with an almost report-like reply that had become standard in this situation, "Yagami appeared to be quite alarmed at the prospect of having killed someone, as was to be expected. However, halfway to his home he seemed to have completely recovered. If he is capable of recuperating to the extent he did in the time he did, I believe we may have something to worry about in the future. If it is threatening to you that Light possesses a Death Note, I would recommend eliminating him now. However, I personally think we should leave him be for the time being, and observe his movements."
"And?"
"And of course he has a Shinigami. His name is Ryuk and we have been friends for quite some time. A time ago, he acquired a Death Note from another Shinigami and this is the one he gave to Light."
Touta nodded, "I suppose it could be worse, I don't think we need to kill Light just yet. Who knows, maybe he'll manage to do this world some good. Is there anything else?"
Valeel shook his head, "No."
Touta's eyes narrowed, as if not believing him. He seemed to let it go, remembering something else, "Alright. Get a piece of Light or Ryuk's note for me so I can see Ryuk." He said.
Valeel nodded, "I will do that next time I see him, though I believe him to be in the Shinigami Realm at the moment."
"I see… So Light is alone for the time being, then. I wonder what a human can manage in a few days."
The Shinigami shrugged, "I suppose we'll see."
"Yes, we'll see."