45. Big Picture % The Kernel

Yomotsu was always well-behaved in school. He was always being nagged as the teacher's pet throughout the early years, and by the time he advanced into middle school, most just left him alone. His standards of perfection when it came to others were always extreme. Often he deliberately drove others away, fearing that he might learn their wicked ways.

He was incredibly studious and private, but that did not mean he was not able to be strangely outgoing when necessary. He could deliver speeches with more enthusiasm than anyone else in his class, and if he had to work in groups, he had no problem seeing the good in the ideas of others.

None of the students knew that he did not have a home to go to. After the first few grades, he stopped telling people, and in turn they stopped asking him questions about his family. Yomotsu poured so much of his energy into school, so even when he went to his "home"—the orphanage where others like himself dwelled under limited supervision—he did whatever he could to study. Since he obviously could not read the textbooks, early on he decided to sneak an audio recorder into class. He would curl up in bed and listen to his teachers lecture almost every night.

His teachers loved him, even if they thought he was a real odd ball. He always did excellent in school and never got in trouble. Some of the more concerned teachers made small efforts to get him to socialize more with students his own age, but Yomotsu preferred to talk with faculty instead of his peers.

For all his strengths, one consistent observation made by his teachers was that he spent too much time narrowing in on the flaws of those around him, as well as the flaws of any system put in place in society.

"Yomotsu, look at the big picture."

"Consider the big picture, Mr. Hirasaka…"

"What does this do to affect the big picture, hm?"

"The big picture, Yomotsu."

"Yomotsu, think of the big picture…"

Eventually, the only big picture Yomotsu really could form was the biggest picture his imagination could venture: he imagined the world as full of great injustice, in need of a righteous hero to save the day. He saw himself in the big picture, but so often, he did not see how others played into that same expansive reality.

Now he idly wondered whether he ever could have seen this big picture coming. If he had acted with the "big picture" in mind, would he have let Kira become so powerful? Yomotsu tried to think of whether there was anything he could have done to prevent this, but his mind was not prone to serious thought right now.

Everything seemed so terribly mixed up and unnecessary. Light became Kira because he was bored, and there was also a sense that people who did evil should all be killed. Even in his excesses, though, Light would not have acted like this—even Yomotsu never expected this out of him. Kira was so out of character, but he had to believe it, because Kira had broken him and was going to break his friends.

Wi-Fi Man set fire to the cold and moist air, but Kira could walk through the flames without injury. He could neither burn like a mortal or melt like a witch; he taunted Wi-Fi Man's technology. Yomotsu's head lifted up, and his unseeing eyes were focused lifelessly ahead. Total abject despair creeped over him.

Wi-Fi Man was fighting on his side. An old nemesis now had in common with the hero of righteousness a greater enemy. They were on the same side, in the big picture—but supposing they succeeded, would the old feud between them renew? Would Wi-Fi Man return to his life of crime, and would Yomotsu return to challenging him in the name of justice?

Kira beat Wi-Fi Man down and kicked him aside—Yomotsu heard the loud clunk of the computer monitor head crashing onto the stone deck. Kira turned on Rocco, the coworker with whom he had joked on occasion, and was about ready to actually kill the man when Anemone drew out his aggression.

Anemone cried out as she shot forth from her hand a blast of water, which struck Kira without effect. It was enough, however, to make Kira go after her next. Anemone—who was she, in the big picture? Yomotsu thought, for a moment, that if they all lived through this, not having gotten to know her would be his biggest regret. That is, it would be his biggest regret if he would able to feel regret even in death.

He heard Kira and Anemone fight hand-to-hand and exchange kicks and jabs at each other. Anemone was a competent fighter, easily the strongest of the five there. Meilag should have been the most dangerous, but his bullets were deflected harmlessly when they reached Kira's body. Kira was able to catch Akise's sword with his hand and at one point even ripped it out of his grasp and threatened to stab the boy detective with his own weapon.

What was all of this for? What kind of ridiculous comedy was this, that needed to have these five people be made a fool of? Yomotsu was shackled in his bone chair, but even if he was free, could he do any more than they could? If anything, each of them was better than him. They all were risking their lives, and only one of them even had NEXT powers. How long had it been since the 12th had shown such courage?

Ever since what happened with Mercy, Yomotsu had been useless to the people, and now the people had manifested itself in these five unlikely self-sacrificers—no, Yomotsu knew that they were not sacrificing themselves, but living out their selves in the fullest. They would have sacrificed a huge part of their own character if they had not fought. Yomotsu had been the self-sacrificer when he lamented in his room for days and days, while Lunatic fought alone or with Anemone in his stead.

"I've had enough of this fooling around," Kira suddenly declared. "Goodbye, 12ths!"

Yomotsu heard what sounded like the whistle of a huge gust of wind, immediately followed by a compilation of the individual screams of the 12th Five. A moment of silence confirmed that Anemone, Wi-Fi Man, Meilag, Akise, and Rocco were no longer on deck.

"I've sent them away," Kira announced. His explanation was obviously directed toward Yomotsu. "Far away, where they can't interfere here. I will eliminate them after Graceville. They aren't worth my precious time tonight."

Yomotsu hiccupped. Of all things—why was he hiccupping now? Did this mean something, in the big picture?

"Are you ready for the first test of my castle's power?"

Yomotsu was not strong enough to answer.

"Even with the engine down, my weapons will still work… They are under my command, not Murmur's. Can you guess where I will fire the canons first? Just picture it in your head: that place where we worked together these past months, suddenly annihilated!"

Yomotsu did not have to even have to try hard to visualize it. He heard a hissing sound come from the castle, and a couple of seconds later, he heard a loud blast from far away. He heard the sounds of the building come crashing down, of the rubble collect and the dust settle.

That place where he and Yuri became closer friends, where they met Rocco and Craig and Luke, yes even Luke, and where they first met Mercy… Now it was just another example of Kira's destructive power. What purpose could the seemingly senseless destruction of a grocery store serve in the big picture? Yomotsu tried to think of whether he had learned anything from all of those teachers of his youth, but now nothing was clear.

Yomotsu heard a familiar sound. The Justice Diary had updated. Light played the recording for himself to hear, but Yomotsu was unable to detect what the voice said.

"Oh, Yomotsu," Light said when the playback finished. "This Diary is wonderful…"

"These things are so terrible!" Kaede shouted. "Hey, you! Where do you think you're going! You're not getting away from me!"

Yuri had placed his foot on the step and looked back. Kaede threw a punch in the air, and from the other side of the room, a shadow fist sprang out of the wall and smacked one of Light's lackeys. The bodies of the undead were still lying burnt on the ground, and now they were being joined by the corpses of large half-bat, half-vultures.

The fist struck the creature in its furry chest, which elicited a sharp squawk. The bat wings fluttered furiously before finally giving out, and the creature fell to the floor. Three more of the half-bat, half-vultures emerged from the trap door below, and Kaede responded by summoning and tossing purple orbs.

"We don't have time to waste on these lesser monsters," Yuri cautioned. "We have to hurry upstairs. We've taken down the Castle, and now we have to take care of Light. Let's go!"

Kaede nodded and darted toward the exit, through which Yuri climbed. They emerged on the main floor, in something like a foyer. Yuri was startled by the distant familiarity of what he saw: they had emerged through a door underneath a large staircase, which led to a massive bronze door. There were also two other exits up the stairs, one to the left and one to the right of the bronze door, each other door painted black. He remembered hearing about a room like this not that long ago, but he could not back up the déjà vu with any evidence or explanation.

Yuri shook off the feeling and left through the entrance door across from the staircase. They slipped through the large door and peered out onto the deck exposed ahead. The soft light of the moon was cast on the scene: they saw the back of Yomotsu's chair, then Light standing a little further ahead, both facing the smoking remains of Yum Yums.

Yuri closed his eyes for a few seconds. "No…" He opened them again and saw no change in the picture.

"He's already started," Kaede whispered. "Dad was right… L was right. Kira really isn't a good guy."

The plan was for the 12th Five to keep Light distracted while Yuri silently assassinated Kira. The 12th Five were no longer on deck, and that complicated the situation. That 5% chance of success was continuing to drop.

Yuri conjured blue-green fire into his hand, and he crafted it in the shape of a bolt. It looked just like one he might shoot through his crossbow, but this time Yuri was unarmed. He clutched the bolt with his hand, a hand which could not be burned by the flames. Without making any unnecessary sounds, Yuri rushed forward.

His feet never touched the ground. Yuri flew to Yomotsu's chair, and from right above Yomotsu's unsuspecting head, he threw the fire bolt. It cut through the air and headed for the back of Light's head. About a foot from its destination, the flames dissolved. Light turned around and looked squarely at Yuri and Kaede.

"Hello Kaede, Yuri…" Light smiled. He was wearing a black jacket over a dark gray shirt. The bottoms of his black slacks covered up some of his brown dress shoes. Light's eyes were a bright shade of red. "I hope you've been enjoying my Castle. I made sure my servants treated you as proper guests."

Yuri's eyes narrowed. "Where are the others?"

Light casually turned his head to the side and looked past the deck. "Oh, you mean those people dressed up as the 12th? I'm afraid you just missed them. I don't like people showing up uninvited, so I had them dismissed." Light looked back at the pair. "But you two are a different case. I've been expecting you."

Yuri noticed out of the corner of his eye Kaede move. She ran around to the other side of the bone chair and appeared in front of Yomotsu. She looked at him and immediately appeared frightened. "Is this… Is this Yomotsu?" She stammered.

Yuri eyed Light, and once he had enough confidence that Light was not going to suddenly strike at them, he joined Kaede in front of the chair. He looked Yomotsu over: he had never seen his friend so pale, so utterly changed. His face had this desperate yet resigned expression, and he appeared to be mouthing things to himself, but no sound was made.

"Yomotsu!" Yuri cried out. He spun back, to look at Light. "What've you done to him, Kira?"

Light simply shook his head. "I haven't done anything to him yet. He's just finally realizing that he's lost, and he's not taking it too well… Unlike you Yuri. You're accepting your defeat quite well, unless, perhaps, you really still think you have a chance?"

Light held out his open hand toward Yuri. Yuri looked at him incredulously. A spark of energy shot across Light's face-up palm, and a form materialized. A long, ornate shaft appeared in Light's hand, and at the end of one side appeared a curved blade. Light closed his hand around the shaft and turned it, so he could plant the bottom end on the stone floor. When holding it in this manner, the blade was at eye-level. The scythe, aside from the sharp blade, was made of bone.

"Someone has to pass judgment on this wicked world," Light began. "If Olivia has her way, she'll give everyone on this planet total freedom to do as he or she wishes, and widespread result… She will allow criminals to take advantage of good people, and the strong will overpower the weak. I will be the strength of the weak by eradicating all crime. Only I can do it—who else would have come this far? This was the task appointed to me—perhaps Deus intended this, all along! Perhaps he realized the mess he made when he gave all humans free will."

Light swung the scythe suddenly, causing Yuri and Kaede to each back away. "The kernel of truth in what you are saying is that Olivia will definitely give humans freedom to do as they wish," Yuri said. "But you're wrong in thinking that your alternative is better. But it's useless trying to explain any of this to you. You're no longer human. You're only Kira. Even the Shinigami you used was more human than what you've become."

Yuri expected Light to take another swing at him, but Light remained surprisingly composed. Even when the sudden burst of light occurred nearby, he was rather calm in his reaction. The three turned at once and watched as a huddle of figures appeared in a flash of bright light. The spectacle was over in just a few seconds, which was all it took for the 12th Five to appear back on deck in one piece.

"Are you surprised..." Hummed Anemone, the 12th Green.

"To see us again…" Continued Rocco, the 12th Pink.

"All our functions restored…" Added Wi-Fi Man, the 12th Yellow.

"Because you should've known…" Said Meilag, the 12th Red.

"That we won't quit until Kira has been put to justice," concluded Akise, the 12th Blue.

Yuri looked over at Light, who appeared to be holding back his true emotions. Light looked like he was trying to keep up a calm demeanor, but there were perceptible cracks in the surface. Yuri then looked back and saw The 12th Blue step forward while the others stood in solidarity.

"Light Yagami, you have committed countless murders as Kira," Akise began. He stood up straight, with his sword sheathed at his waist. "You drew suspicion to yourself as you killed criminals primarily in Japan, and when you realized that L was narrowing in on you, you fled to the United States. You tried to blend in while continuing your murder spree as Kira, and at the same time, you investigated Yuri Petrov and Yomotsu Hirasaka."

"They were investigating the Kira case themselves, and it was only a matter of time until a showdown occurred. You were defeated by Yomotsu after revealing how you killed: you possessed a Death Note, the Notebook of a Shinigami named Ryuk. By knowing a name and a face, you could write the details of someone's death in the Death Note. Yomotsu used his powers to convince you to relinquish the Death Note, and in the process, you lost your memories."

"But your strong belief in your code of justice was seen by Deus ex Machina, the god of space-time. When it came time for Deus to pick an heir to his thrown, you were one of the three selected to participate in a game that would ultimately decide who would be the new god of this world. Your competition was Yomotsu and Yuri once again. Yomotsu defeated you this second time, but he deferred the role of god to Ms. Olivia Walkins."

"Before even the first round of those competitions, Murmur had returned to you your memories. She had taken a liking to you while she watched you from the Cathedral of Causality. She knew how you operated as Kira, and she knew she could easily use you to get what she wanted. All she had to do was give you a portion of her power, and you would be able to help relieve the boredom her enslavement and infinite lifespan had developed."

"When Olivia decided to give Murmur free will, Murmur immediately descended to the human world and made a deal with you. She made you a demi-god and helped you prepare a plan to take over the world, all for her own entertainment. Now you are threatening to kill everyone who you do not think is worthy of life. You have taken it upon yourself to be humanity's judge, and the Goddess of Space-Time herself is in opposition to what you intend to do."

"It is Olivia that has brought us back here, to eliminate you," Akise continued. "One of us has a time bomb inside of us. That 12th is going to tackle you down, and at that moment, Olivia is going to protect everyone else on deck from the explosion. Light Yagami—Kira—I hope you are ready for your own judgment!"

Akise and the other 12ths broke into a frenzied run toward Light. Yuri and Kaede stood on the sidelines, amazed. Yuri could not believe what was going on—this was certainly not part of L's plan. This had to be Olivia's intervening, but this did not feel right, not right at all. One of them was going to explode.

The 12ths—Akise, Anemone, Rocco, Meilag, Wi-Fi Man—all started to run and jump around the deck, occasionally changing places with one another, adding to the overall frantic feel of the moment. Light, however, was undisturbed.

"Idiots!" Light shouted, hysterical. "Ha, ha, ha! Olivia, you have to do better than this!" Light aimed his scythe toward the 12th Red, and suddenly Meilag was enclosed within a bubble. Meilag tried to punch through the dark sphere, but not even the sounds of his fists escaped the barrier.

Yuri watched by Light's side as, one moment Meilag reached for his guns, the next moment, the bubble was filled with an explosion of fire. The other 12ths stopped in place and turned to look. The explosion was being suffocated within the sphere. Before their eyes, the bubble quickly shrank and then disappeared into thin air. No trace of Meilag or the attempt at Light's life remained, only empty space on deck.