Kai sat in the middle of his floor staring at the photo in his hands. Sayu walked in and squatted down behind him.
"You need to start packing Kai; Ryuzaki-san wants you and Keitaro to be moved into your rooms at his house by bedtime."
"I don't wanna move…can't I stay here Aunt Sayu?"
"I'm sorry sweetie but you can't stay here by yourself…and anyway…you're a big boy, you're almost 11 years old! You need to be there for Keitaro so he has a good role-model, he needs a big boy to look up to," she said, smiling as she ruffled his hair.
Kai just frowned and Sayu sighed and pulled him into a hug, "I know you miss your mom…but things will get better…I promise, ok?"
"Ok…"
Sayu ruffled his hair again and walked out the door, "be sure you're all packed, you've got an hour."
Kai sighed and set the photograph on the bed, then stood on a chair to try to reach the empty box on his shelf. Kai frowned when he couldn't reach it and climbed on his desk and successfully pulled the box down, then he attempted to climb down…and promptly fell on his butt, tossing the box as he did so.
"Ow!"
The box fell on his head and he pulled it off, frustrated.
"Dang it!"
He set the box down and proceeded to place his belongings into it.
When he finished, he sighed, placed the photo on top of his belongings, and took one last look around his room to make sure he hadn't missed anything…he frowned when he noticed a notebook on the shelf he had gotten the box off of.
It must have been under the box, he thought as he climbed onto the desk and pulled it down.
"Death Note…" he said quietly, reading the words on the cover, "isn't this what Dad used as Kira…?"
'Yep'
Kai whirled around—successfully falling off of the desk again—and stared at the Shinigami, who just laughed.
Kai stood and held the notebook out towards Ryuk, "I don't want this."
Ryuk stopped laughing and stared at him, 'are you sure?'
"Yes, what makes you think I would want it?"
'I would assume you would want to continue your father's legacy.'
"What legacy? He killed people, that's all there is to it."
'Hyuk, hyuk, hyuk, you don't even know why your father killed people.'
Kai lowered his arms slowly, "what do you mean?"
Ryuk laughed again, 'your father was always blabbering on about cleansing the world of evil or something, it got kind of annoying after a while…'
"So…he was doing something good…by doing something bad?"
'I suppose that's one way to look at it.'
Kai stared at the notebook in his hands.
"I…I still don't want it…at least…not right now."
Ryuk tilted his head, 'not right now?'
"I'm only 10; even if I wanted to I don't think I could do what Dad was doing…and even if I could do it I don't think I'd get away with it…bring it back in a few years and ask me then."
Ryuk just laughed, took the notebook, and flew off.
31 DECEMBER, 2024
Keitaro sighed as he glanced outside the window at the snow.
One minute to midnight… he thought to himself as he glanced as his watch.
"Keitaro…" Kiyoko said softly as she entered the room.
He turned to face her.
"You should come join the rest of us…we're getting ready to count down to the new year."
He shook his head, "thanks for the offer Kiyoko but…I'd rather stay here."
Kiyoko sighed and sat down next to him, "well you at least shouldn't be all alone."
Keitaro blushed and looked away.
"Keitaro what's wrong? You haven't been yourself and I'm starting to get worried."
"It's nothing…don't worry about it."
Kiyoko frowned, "come on, please! I want to know what's going on. Everyone's worried about you; you've seemed so depressed lately."
"I'm fine, really," Keitaro smiled, "but thanks."
Kiyoko blushed, "are you sure you're ok?"
"Yeah."
"Well…ok then," she smiled.
Keitaro glanced at his watch again, "ten seconds to midnight…"
Kiyoko leaned closer to look at his watch as well.
Keitaro blushed even brighter, "um…Kiyoko…"
She leaned forward and closed the distance pressing her mouth to his in a gentle kiss.
After a few seconds she pulled away and glanced at his watch again, "happy new year Keitaro."
He smiled, "happy new year Kiyoko."
And with that, he kissed her once more.