Chapter Eighteen - Redemption

Flowers bloom with spring.
Warmth flourishes with summer.
Leaves change with autumn.
Snow falls with winter.

Light quickly introduces Matsuda to his friends (under an alias of course, and the cover of Light's cousin), then introduces me as his girlfriend. I grit my teeth and put up with the staring. The word 'girlfriend' seems petty and fluffy to me, a word without meaning. I've heard it thrown around so often that it could make your head spin. Everyone here's heard of me. After all, I made third place in the entrance exams to To-Oh (there was no second spot due to the fact that there were two firsts). Still, they are probably speculating why pretty boy Light would take an interest in me.

Lucky for them, I'm undercover (despite sucking at it) and can't do anything to them, like beating them to a bloody pulp on the sidewalk. I also can't bait Vile into killing them. Then there is that pesky little matter of the surveillance cameras all over the place.

So I am here to look for the Second Kira.

I noticed a little reference to 'blue mountain' around the Notebook entry, and with astonishment (very dramatically) I remembered this little place that K, D and I went to once when we had spare time: the Note Blue. Code words! Kurai five, Light zero.

Anyhow, I excused myself with a kind word of farewell before I disappeared with Kakushin and Makoto.

"Ohthankgodyourhere," I say in one word, grateful that I don't have to spend time around those dolts.

"Hey, no problem, we're glad to help. We can't fall behind you and Ryuzaki can we?" Yes you can, but I'm not saying that out loud. "Besides, you're sticking your neck out being with that creep. You need your space."

"Speaking of space, how's Mr. Panda-Face?" Kakushin asks as we walk down the road, deliberately towards the Note Blue without trying to look suspicious.

"Alright I suppose," I shrug, "Same as always."

"And what does 'always' mean?" Makoto asks with laughter in his voice. I roll my eyes.

"He's still the same sugar-loving, sleep-deprived panda that he's always been."

"Oh, well, we were just trying to be polite. I mean, you've practically moved in with him."

I stop, staring at them. They take three steps before pausing and looking back at me.

"Sorry, didn't mean to put it like that!"

No, actually, you're right Makoto. I have practically moved in with him; a few weeks over at the place, living in the same general area. I've spent more time around him than anyone I know in the past little while. Damn.

Actually, now that I think about it, Yae said that her parents were thinking about kicking me out, and Ryuzaki said that he would give me a place to stay for the duration of the case. As soon as it's over, I can use the saved money that I have to buy an apartment and start my life as a full-fledged adult. In the mean-time, why not make the switch? My possessions don't take up that much space – they all fit into my suitcase.

"Kurai!" a voice shakes me out of my inner-thoughts, and I glare at Kakushin. "Snap out of it, I thought you were having a seizure or something."

"If I was having a seizure, I wouldn't be standing here, I'd be on the ground," I say back, and start walking again. This makes them laugh.

"I can never tell what's going on in your head whenever you do that. You zone out," she laughs.

"Never thought about it," I blink, and then shrug.

We do a few rounds of the streets, appearing to check out shops and such. We make sure not to go near the Note Blue for a while, but we can't spend too long, or else Light might be seen by the Second Kira.

I also forgot that there are two of us here with a Death Note. The second Kira won't see Kakushin's lifespan either. That could cause severe complications.

"Oh damn," I say under my breath.

"What?" Makoto asks.

"Kakushin, you should pretend to go to some other shop when we go past the Note Blue, or else the Second Kira will know you have a notebook," I say to her, getting a nod in understanding.

As we approach, Kakushin gives one of her signature squeals and goes off towards a shop. She pauses and tells us where she's going and tells us to meet up with her later. Perfect.

Makoto and I walk past the Note Blue, and I feel my chest constricting. Is the Second Kira really in there? Oh god, what the hell am I getting myself into! No, don't look inside! Focus!

And then it's over. The day continues. We meet up with Kakushin, then with Matsu, Light and his friends.

It's over.

Nothing flipping happens. We go to the other place, still nothing. What the hell? Isn't the Second Kira hell-bent on finding the first? I posed as Kira, so unless they found out about the multiple notebooks, they should have done something.

"-That leaves us with the Dome on the 30th," Aizawa finishes. I wasn't even really paying attention. I'm just swirling a spoon in my coffee with my chin propped up on my hand.

"Yeah, I still think that's a distracter," I sigh, "Hopefully something will happen soon. I'm about to go crazy."

L's computer blips and a gothic W appears on the screen, "Ryuzaki, apparently Sakura TV has just received another message from the Second Kira."

"Hey, I'm psychic!" I chuckle quietly.

"It was postmarked on the 23rd."

The screen changes and we all gather around.

"I am happy to say that I have found Kira. To all of the people at the television station and the police department, I'd like to thank you very much."

My palms go all sweaty, and my breath catches in my throat. Is the Second Kira referring to me or Light? I hope it's me, so that I can squash him. If it's Light … we are all screwed over a million times.

"This is a disaster is he found him," Aizawa sums.

"Yeah, it most likely means that the two Kira's are now cooperating with each other," Mr. Yagami notes. No … that's not what that means …

Ryuzaki looks away from the screen and picks up his own cup, then stirs his own spoon. "At this point in time I don't think we should jump to any conclusions. The second Kira is only saying that he found him, nothing more. He may not have made contact yet." He looks up and his gaze sweeps across the room.

"We won't be able to use the Kira persona anymore," I sigh, "We, I mean, you will have to communicate with the Second Kira as the police."

"I agree," L nods, taking a sip.

"You want to send a message?" Matsu asks (Matsu-da!).

"The police need to reach out to the copycat and offer him a deal. We need to negotiate with him to get Kira's real name."

That might work on regular serial killers Ryuzaki, but I doubt it will work in this case.

"That can be arranged."

Well that was less awkward then I thought it would be. I mean, I'm practically requesting to move in with him, although, I've been here for a while now. So maybe it isn't so bad … I'm just a little freaked out by Makoto's comment the other day.

"Well, what are you doing now?" the Shinigami asks. I hardly pay attention to him, so I startle when Vile speaks.

"Going home and grabbing my stuff. Hopefully there won't be another shouting match," I sigh and shift my hair out of my face. I probably need a hair-cut.

"Huh."

"What's with the sudden vocalization, Vile?"

"It's just you're getting pretty into this case. So I'm bored."

"I hardly even pay attention to you anyway."

"That doesn't change the fact that I'm bored."

"Well I can't really let you play on my phone, with your talons and everything."

"Now that's just mean."

"Stop talking."

I end our conversation when we get down into the lobby. I don't want to be seen talking to myself, because he is invisible!

I take the train to the station closest to my 'home', and then walk the rest of the way there. It's not too cold out tonight. Vile remains silent for the rest of the walk, though he seems to be looking around with those beady little red eyes in the holes in his skull. I never understood that part, a skull over his head.

I open the door, hoping to just slip inside and upstairs and slip out before I'm noticed. Thanks to my great luck, I wander in just as they are in the living room. So they see me open the door from their vantage point.

Maybe I should go. I start closing the door, but my Uncle pulls this maneuver where he climbs over the couch, runs over and yanks the door open before I can make a run for it.

"And where the hell have you been?" he shouts. He grabs me by the arm and drags me inside (slamming the door behind us) so that he can confront me in front of my Aunt and Cousin.

"It's none of your business! Let go of me!" I shout back.

"It's our business because you live under our roof! I will not accept you going out for weeks on end doing who knows what. You could be doing drugs, getting involved in gangs, having-"

"Enough!"I spit. They stop in surprise. "I will have you know that I am not doing any things of the sort. I am, however, involved in something vitally important. I only returned to grab my stuff, and then I'm gone. I will not be treated as a child."

"Gone … but where will you go?" My Aunt asks worriedly.

"Where I've been for the past month," I grin slightly, just remembering our hotel-jumping games. "Now excuse me, I need to gather my possessions."

"Hold it! You're under our legal care!" My Uncle yells.

"I'm eighteen if you haven't noticed, I am legally an adult," I counter, having a hard time not to raise my voice.

"I'll call the police!"

I let myself grin wider. You know, one of those creepy smiles that people pause and wonder if you're going to kill them or laugh hysterically. "And that won't make a difference," I start heading up the stairs, "They already know where I am."

I leave them in shock and quickly climb the stairs. I throw my clothes into my suitcase (conveniently under the bed), along with my laptop and my Death Note.

"Was it really wise to give them a hint like that?" Vile asks.

"Probably not, but it's still amusing seeing them like that."

"The police are on their way, and you shouldn't talk to yourself," I look up and to my utter surprise Yae is standing in the doorway. I was just zipping up the zipper.

"They actually-" I sigh and shake my head, "Oh well, I'll be gone before they can get here."

"What you said, about the police knowing where you are … is that true?"

"I see several officers every few days," I give her a small smile, "Thanks for your concern. I might see you later," I say, then move past her. She doesn't stop me.

"Where the hell are you going? You're going to stay 'til the authorities get here!" My Uncle shouts as I come down the stairs. Any shred of good humor is instantly vaporized.

"Well too bad for you!" I scowl, and slam the door on my way out.

"That went well," Vile chuckles.

"Shut up," I hiss, dragging my suitcase behind me. Damn them!

I am so worked up I hardly notice a small blonde kid and nearly run her over. I apologize when I do notice her.

Then I stop.

I sit the suitcase up, and then glance over my shoulder. I wasn't hallucinating!

This kid has no lifespan.

This is the Second Kira.

"Uh, hi," the blonde says, smiling brightly. "My name is Misa Amane." She gives a short bow. I give her a good look and blink a few times. She's wearing gothic (and revealing) clothing; a short skirt, black makeup, black corset and top with straps, fishnet stockings. Well, she has her interests in line.

"Kurai Itsoku," I reply, figuring that I might as well be polite.

The Second Kira found me and not Light! This could not go any better. Now I just have to use my mad manipulation skills to make her putty in my hands to eliminate her, despite having horrible undercover skills.

Wait a moment.

She's only a kid, my age even. Teenagers hold the most powerful weapons in the world? What sort of bullshit is that? Eh, what do I care?

She has her life ahead of her though … and she would want to kill someone?

I wonder why …

"I uh, was wondering if you had a notebook …"

That's all the proof I need. I shift my stance and stare at her. "Yes."

Thankfully for us, the streets are rather dark. Nobody is around except us, and the people in the houses are too occupied to notice. It's perfect timing actually.

"I knew it!" she beams.

"So what do you want?" I ask. She holds out a slim black notebook with white symbols on the front, similar to Kakushin's, but the characters are different. I reach out and touch the edge of the notebook with my fingertips, then look up.

Misa's Shinigami is rather tall, but not as tall at Vile. Her skin is bone-white, and looks as though it is actually made of bones. Her arms look like vertebrae with clawed hands. The arms are much longer than they should be though. Her face is matted with a white hair-like material tipped with purple. Showing out from underneath one bandage is one large yellow silted eye.

"Hello," I greet the Shinigami. She narrows her eye in return.

"This is Rem. She doesn't talk much, but she's great. Can I see yours?" I rummage through my bag until I find the notebook. I was planning to stop by Kakushin's house so that she could hold it for safekeeping. I doubt it's a good idea to keep it anywhere remotely near L, even if it was concealed. I hold it out to her, and she touches it before I hide it again.

"Wow, he's nothing like Rem," Misa says, staring up at Vile. He looks down at her.

"This is Vile," I say quietly.

"This is so exciting!" she claps her hands together. "I'm sorry about the message on TV, but I couldn't think of another way to find you." I frown.

"That was a foolish thing to do. The police could have caught you."

"But they didn't catch me! If I do as you say from now on, they won't catch me. They'll never be able to catch us. So we're safe. And besides, don't you need someone to see L's name?"

Hardly. I know his name already (I bet he would spit out his coffee if I told him that … I kinda want to see that).

"It was still a stupid thing to do. How do I know you won't rat me out to them? Or kill me?"

"I-but-I-uh-" she stutters, blinking in shock. "I promise to do whatever you say. Here, I can give you my Death Note for safekeeping as an exchange. And if the police catch me, you can erase my memories by destroying it," she hands me the notebook.

"You could have ripped pages out."

"Why won't you believe me?"

"You endangered my entire goal, my dream," ugh, is this what Light sounds like in his own head?

She looks exasperated, but takes a deep breath before continuing. She tells me of how her parents were murdered and how their killer was brought to justice by Kira. She only wanted to meet him and thank him.

I melt. This girl, she's just an innocent victim. Wanted to thank Kira for what he did for her. She happened to receive the powers of Kira, so she used them to find him (or me).

She's just a kid. Not a bad soul. I don't have the heart to turn her into the police. I won't let her go on being a 'Kira', heavens no, but I won't turn her in.

I sigh, "Alright. Now is a bad time for me, but I'll contact you in the near future."

She smiles brightly again. I quickly get her phone-number (I shall delete it later), bid her farewell and am on my way.

I'm grinning like a maniac on my way into the woods. I'm having Kakushin store my suitcase at the moment (her parents are out tonight) and now I'm walking into the dark woods with Misa's notebook under my black hoodie and a lighter in my pocket. I have the hood up so that if there was a small chance of anyone being here, they wouldn't recognize me.

Vile follows right behind me, chuckling as he does so. He seems to be enjoying himself. He isn't bored right now.

I find a nice secluded place, and find a big rock where I roll it over to a patch of earth without too much debris. I clear out what little stuff there is and put the notebook down on the rock. I take the lighter from my pocket.

"You're not Kira, are you?" I hear a slow and cautious voice behind me. I turn on my heel to face Misa's Shinigami.

"You catch on quickly."

"If you are planning to harm Misa, I will kill you."

I chuckle and shake my head, "Don't worry Rem; I have no plan on hurting her. I think that she is simply misguided. I am going to burn her Death Note and leave her without the memories of it. She can do something with her life. She'll be happier without its curse weighing her down."

"Why would you do that?"

"My parents were killed as well, and besides, I am a member of the investigation team. If I didn't sympathize with her, I would be obligated to hand her over to L."

"I only wish her to be happy."

"She'll be happier this way," I reassure her and flick the lighter into life. A small flame dances on top of it, before I kneel down and light the corner of the Death Note. I flinch when the blue fire begins to scream.

It's the sounds of the dead.

Goodbye, Second Kira. Misa Amane. You have lost to me. Checkmate.

Kurai six, Light zero.