Reupload
Light's POV
Light watched as the raven haired man slowly began to drift off in his arms, pale features finally relaxing out of that conflicted look that had rested upon it before. He grinned to himself as Ryuzaki's breathing became deeper as he fell asleep in his arms. He was so cute when he was tired... Light couldn't help but run his eyes over Ryuzaki's snowy white body. He had never noticed before, but Ryuzaki was surprisingly hairless. Light wasn't sure if it was natural or not, but the only hair on his body was on his head. Light thought it was sexy as all hell... had he done it deliberately? Shaved or something for Light? He didn't know, and he didn't really care to be honest. As long as he could enjoy it, why should it matter?
He could still hardly believe he'd actually allowed this weird arrangement to become a real relationship, declaring them partners for more than just sex… It seemed unreal…but…he found that he liked it. He liked the idea of being partners with this strange man. It made his heart swell with warmth…
Light was happier than he had ever been in his life. Just having Ryuzaki in his arms, being able to hold him to his chest like a real lover, was the most amazing feeling in the world. Light would happily spend the rest of his life like this. With him, L. Forever…
…Too bad he'll be dead by tomorrow… The voice or Kira whispered in his mind. Light felt his body go dead cold. How… could he forget something like that? He had told Rem he wanted L dead by tomorrow night, that if she didn't write his name once and for all, Misa would surely die. He had lied to the Shinigami, telling her that Ryuzaki was about to do something that would put Misa directly at the blame… and to kill him the moment she had a chance… No... He couldn't allow that to happen! Light had finally realized, perhaps too late, that he didn't want L to die. As a matter of fact Light wanted him very much alive. He had to stop Rem somehow...
But if he lives he'll catch you! Are you really so naive as to think he'll still want to be with you when he finds out who you really are? Who we really are? Then... Then I'll make sure he never finds out. That shouldn't be too hard right?
This is L you're talking about Light! He'll find out some how you moron! Then...I'll stop writing names, give the book to Misa permanently or something.
She'll just screw it up! Besides...when she finds out about you and Ryuzaki's little "arrangement", she's not exactly gonna want to do you any favors now is she? She'll probably just kill you...or worse, tell L everything. We'll be fucked then!
Well then...maybe we should just give it up. Tell Ryuk to give it to someone else. A new person to be the hand of Kira, who believes whole heartedly in our ideals and would be willing to take over for us.
That isn't gonna help at all. You still did it! Even if you don't remember doing it YOU still did it! Ryuzaki would figure out you deliberately forgot again, and then what? You'll lose everything... There's only one way...
NO! Light refused to believe it. There HAD to be another way. He couldn't lose him... he just couldn't. Light had only just got him… had only just figured out the name of that emotion that had been hanging over his head like a lead weight since the moment he had first met the detective. It was an emotion he had faked so many times, he could hardly recognize the real thing, let alone accept it…He… he liked Ryuzaki, in that way. Maybe he could even go as far as to say it was…love…it was the only word that seemed right for this emotion. He wasn't sure how or why, but he could feel that his heart was telling him love was indeed the word he'd been searching for… Sure, it might seem a bit soon…but he had always felt it Light realized. He'd liked Ryuzaki in that way only a few weeks after getting to know him, even though he knew he was L. But he just denied it, ignored it…up until now…
I told you what would happen if you got close to him. I tried to protect you from this! Now look what you've gotten us into! I understand if you think you feel something for this lunatic, but you also need to understand that it just can't be! Even if you decide you can't kill him, he can still kill you! You know he can. He would never let emotions get in the way of his duty to rid the world of Kira, just as it is our duty to save this world from all the evil infecting it like a parasitic virus. We can't let our emotions get in the way of creating the perfect world mankind deserves after all these years of suffering. Besides, when we're gods, you can always find another person, maybe even better than the guy trying to kill you! Just trust me Light…I don't think there is any other way around this, unless you've managed to develop mind control powers any time soon…
I know…I want to save the world just as much as you do. But if there's a way to do it without killing Ryuzaki, I'm finding it…
Fine, it's your funeral…
Light could feel Kira slipping to the back of his mind, waiting for him to go to sleep. He could feel the mild irritation radiating off of the other side of his mind, but also feel the concern for Light's wellbeing. No matter what he did, Kira did actually try to protect Light in his own weird way…but Ryuzaki couldn't just die like this. There had to be another way...but what?
Ryuzaki's POV
Ryuzaki had been sleeping soundly when a noise blew in his ear. He didn't open his eyes straight away, just listened. It sounded like Light was sleep talking... He opened his eyes slightly and looked up. Light was still asleep, that much was obvious, but it was also plain he was having a nightmare. His face was twisted in a slight frown, eyebrows furrowed slightly and his mouth was moving with silent words. Ryuzaki wasn't too sure if he should wake him or not. It might be a kindness to do so, but what would a man like Light have a nightmare about? He felt bad for doing it, but L decided to see what he would happen, what he might learn.
"...Had to...do it..." Light mumbled very softly. Had to do what? Intrigued, L listened harder to catch every word that left the sleeping teen's mouth.
"...Please...for...best" Light whimpered. L hated to let Light suffer... maybe he should just wake him...this was just cruel.
"Rem...kill...please...anything" Light squirmed slightly in his sleep. Rem? That was that Shinigami wasn't it? Why would Light be dreaming about the Shinigami? Unless... No, Ryuzaki didn't want to think about it. He had to be wrong about this one... if not... then everything he felt... was just meaningless once again...
Light's POV
Misa stood before him, eyes blazing the brilliant crimson only a Shinigami should be able to possess.
"I can't believe you! I trusted you Light, I loved you!" She screamed at him. The wind from the rooftop whipped around them like a hurricane. She looked like some sort of avenging angel...He had to get her to stop.
"You don't know what you're doing, just come down here and talk" Light spoke calmly, hoping some of this would rub off on her.
"No. FUCK YOU LIGHT! I don't care anymore. I'm giving all of this L right now!" She screamed at him brandishing his death note at the sky. Give it to L?! Light couldn't allow her to do that.
"Misa please, can't we just talk about this for a minute! If you give that to him you'll be charged too!" Light was beginning to panic slightly.
"Ha, wrong again! When I give this to Ryuzaki I'll tell him all about how you made me do this, how you used me as your murder weapon, and how much I regret everything I've done and want to do anything I can to redeem myself. He'll hate you. He'll hate you and then he'll kill you. And you're stupid if you even start to think otherwise" She smiled almost gleefully at the look on Light's face. No...It's not true. He wouldn't...he can't...
"RYUZAKI~!" Misa called in her stupid sing song voice into the building.
"NO!" Light cried. Ryuzaki can't know. But what can he do? Then it dawned on him. There was a scrap of the death note's paper in his pocket…. Light ripped it free from his pants, torn out his pen and wrote frantically.
Misa Amane – Suicide.
"Yes Miss Amane?" To Light's horror it was Ryuzaki's voice that spoke.
"Misa I'm giving you one last chance" Light warned, knowing there was still enough time to cross out her name should he choose to.
"You lost your chance, don't blame me for your arrogance!" She sneered. Light could hear footsteps drawing closer.
"What is it this time Misa?"
"I need your help with some..." A far away glaze covered Misa's eyes. It had been forty seconds. The blonde girl slowly turned back towards the edge and began her death march. Light had seriously been hoping it would never have to come to this but... L will never find out. Must never find out.
"Misa? Misa NO!"
…That wasn't Ryuzaki. Oh shit... Rem rushed forward to try to grab Misa, but she wasn't fast enough. Misa leaned backwards and fell.
"MISA!" Rem cried. But it was no use. After a few long seconds of complete silence, there was a sickening thud. Misa Amane was dead….
"...Why...You promised to protect her!" Rem shrieked. Light stumbled back. Rem loomed over him, fire blazing I her usual indifferent eyes, reminding Light for the first time that she was indeed a god. A god from the land of death that had the power to kill any human being on this earth with a single stroke of a pen. And what was Light in comparison to such a creature?
He could see shadows flickering in his eyes. Strangely human like shadows his eyes couldn't quite work out flitting all around him, but whenever he tried to look at them, they only grew more unclear and muddled...
"MURDERER!" Rem's scream was joined by other voices. Ones he had long since tried to forget and hoped he would never hear from again... From seemingly nowhere, they came. All the faces of the people he had killed stared back at him hatefully. Raye Penber was closest, eyes gleaming hatefully, beside him was his fiancé Naomi Misora, a look of sheer revulsion and disgust on her pale, dead features. He was screwed...
"Murderer" They all snarled in unison.
"I-I had to do it..." Light stumbled over his own words, trying to explain himself to the vengeful faces around him. The Shinigami began to close in on Light.
"Please believe me, it was for the best" Light begged the bone white god.
"Yes, I can see plainly how much it benefited Misa and all these innocence" She spat at him. The angry spirits hissed in agreement. They were going to kill him, that much was clear to Light, but from the look of pure loathing on their faces meant it wasn't going to be quick...or painless Kira, what do I do?! …Silence. Kira wasn't there. For the first time, Light's mind was hollow, an uncomfortable emptiness filling the space his other half usually resided. He was alone…
"What is it Misa I..." A voice sounded from right behind Light. It was Ryuzaki. No not now! Simultaneously, the ghostly figures turned their gaze onto the raven haired man. No, no no no no no! In a flash, Rem had rushed across the roof and grabbed Ryuzaki by the throat. He gave a strangled cry as the bony hands of the god of death began to cut off his windpipe.
"This is all YOUR FAULT! I'm going to kill you! I will break every bone in your body until you die screaming in agony you puny scum!" Rem shook Ryuzaki's skeletal frame roughly.
"NO! Rem, don't kill him please! I'll do anything!" Light pleaded with the Shinigami.
"Too late you pathetic excuse for a human. I should have killed you when I had the chance. You confused yourself for a god, but I'm the real god in this world! And I'll make you suffer for it. Everyone you love will die, and it'll be all your fault! Starting with him!" Rem snarled menacingly, unearthly power flooding her voice. She was standing over the edge again now staring the detective right in the eye as he jerked in her grip. Rem held Ryuzaki out by the throat over the edge of the infinitely tall building. Ryuzaki was clawing desperately at his neck, lips beginning to turn a light shade of blue.
"Kill him, kill him, kill him!" The hate filled spirits chanted, fire burning in their eyes that could only be quenched with death.
"Rem please!" Light could actually feel tears burning behind his eyes.
"Any last words, human?" Rem's red eyes stared deep into Ryuzaki's, hate flowing out of them in rivers. Ryuzaki looked at Light, absolute defeat playing across his every features the likes of which he had never seen before. Ryuzaki had given up. He just looked at Light and wheezed.
"...Love...you..." A sad smile played across his lips.
Then, Rem let go.
Light screamed as Ryuzaki disappeared over the edge. He found himself moving automatically. Light ran for the edge and watched in horror as Ryuzaki fell. As if in slow motion Light watched as Ryuzaki's delicate frame plummeted, getting closer and closer to the ground by the second. Ryuzaki's eyes were squeezed shut as he waited for death. Thud. Light screamed.
"NOOOOOO!"
"You're next Yagami!"Raye sneered at him. Light felt two sets of hands grab him roughly.
"See you in hell Kira!" Namoi laughed cruelly as the pair pushed. Light felt himself get thrown from the building, air rushing past him in a whirlwind as he fell. Light screamed.
.
He barely registered the pain as he lay on the tarmac at the base of the building, the horrifically mauled bodies of Misa and Ryuzaki either side of him. He wanted to die. Staring at Ryuzaki's shattered body, why couldn't Light be dead too? Why was he still alive when Ryuzaki was so utterly destroyed…?
"…Don't move Light, you'll make it worse when you wake up"
Light glanced above him to see the rich crimson eyes of Kira staring down at him.
"Just sit still, you're hurt pretty badly. If you try to move, it could damage your mind even more. It's ok, I'm gonna help you…" Kira's voice was unusually full of concern…
"But…I should be broken, like him. Why aren't I?" Light asked weakly.
"Because I'm not letting you get broken over something so stupid!" Kira snarled protectively.
"Not just because we share a body, but because you don't deserve to be shattered because of one stupid human being. We're more than that. We need to stay strong! I'm trying to help you, just stop letting things give you an opportunity to hurt you! I can only protect you so much from yourself without taking over you know…and I know you don't want me to do that…so stop looking at Ryuzaki. He's not real. He's in your imagination. So were all those other things… but I can't keep them out forever…" Kira sighed. Light forced himself to look away from Ryuzaki's mangled corpse and up into Kira's ruby coloured eyes.
"Better. Now, please just accept there is NOTHING you can do to chance Ryuzaki's fate! It's either him or US ok Light? I know how you feel, but we can't afford second doubts about this! He has to die or we'll BOTH die. You, me, dead! All our hard work to rectify the world, gone to waste because of one stupid decision that we'll end up regretting later. Besides…he's already dead, see?"
Light turned to where Kira was nodding, and immediately wished he hadn't. Ryuzaki's dead, lifeless body was staring up at him with blood shot eyes, grinning widely with red tinged teeth. Light yelped with fear as Ryuzaki's broken hands twitched at his side.
"I told you I can't protect you from your own stupid nightmares…but maybe you should pay attention this time. L isn't a person, he's a heartless being that only wants to use you and destroy you. So, have fun with that, I don't want to watch this anymore. I'll watch when L is dead" Kira turned his back on Light with a sound of annoyance. Light wanted to call out to him, to beg him to make the visions go away, but Kira had already faded into dark shadows before he could even open his mouth. A hand grabbed Light's arm, cracked and bloody nails digging into his skin. The monstrous version of Ryuzaki was crawling across him, its entire body bent hideously out of shape, fingers sharpening into claws as they moved to his chest. Light couldn't move, he was frozen to the ground as if he'd been glued there. He spotted a shadow gliding lazily above him… Rem…
Light suddenly screamed as he felt the dead Ryuzaki's claw like fingers pierce his chest, wriggling down into his soft flesh as if it were nothing more than tissue paper. Suddenly, the laughing had returned. Light looked through the haze of pain as Ryuzaki's claws dug at his skin to see the phantoms from the roof top had come to watch the dead, twisted body of L kill Light, spitting and jeering as if he were a dog. Light could feel tears streaming down his face as he cried out in agony, L's talons scraping his heart.
"That's right, scream for me while I kill you Light Yagami! It's only fair I return the favor for killing me right?!" L's corpse laughed insanely. Light could only obey as he felt the monster drive down hard into his-
...
"Light...LIGHT!" A hand touched his shoulder. Light woke with a jolt and jerked violently away from the cold fingers with a yelp of panic. The corpse was going to kill him! He had to-
"It's me Light, calm down" A calming, almost drawl voice sounded from beside him full of concern. Light's eyes focused from their dream filled haze on the darkened figure in front of him. It was Ryuzaki.
"W-wha..." Light mumbled blearily. But...he just saw him die... he had just turned into that thing…
"You were having a nightmare. I thought it would be wise to wake you. Was I correct?" Ryuzaki looked genuinely concerned. Light's heart was racing. It wasn't real. He hadn't killed Misa. He hadn't watched Ryuzaki die. He hadn't turned into that horrifying creature because of him… Ryuzaki was alive. But…for how long? Light couldn't help himself. He grabbed Ryuzaki and squeezed him tightly, never wanting to let him go again. He had never felt so relieved to see someone in his life! He wrapped his arms around the fragile figure and held him as tight as he could, eyes actually tearing up as he pressed the detective into his chest.
"Light...this ...actually hurts" Ryuzaki winced as Light crushed him, spine cracking at the force of the embrace. Light loosened his grip and practically attacked his lips. Ryuzaki was momentarily frozen with the shock of it as the boy pressed his lips against him hard. But then, as always, he melted in Light's grasp and let the boy kiss him. Light was painfully aware of the face his eyes were wet with tears, but didn't know how to stop them. This didn't stop him from running his lips over Ryuzaki's… he needed to feel him, to make sure he was still there…
Light was extremely disappointed when Ryuzaki pulled away.
"Light seriously, what's wrong?" Ryuzaki asked, genuinely concerned.
"I…I'm fine, just a bad dream" Light sniffed. Ryuzaki blinked at him with his big intelligent eyes.
"You're hiding something from me, something that happened in this dream" Ryuzaki didn't really ask, he just stated it.
"I'm not hiding anything, this was just... a really really bad dream" Light said again.
"...Right, of course... You're crying Light" Ryuzaki noted softly.
"Uh, yeah, I guess I am" Light laughed shakily. Don't be such a wimp, it was only a dream! Oh please, like that wasn't horrifying to you too! Why the hell do you think I left… you need to control your damn mind boy. If I could, maybe you wouldn't be such an arse all the time… Ehhh I wouldn't count on it.
Ryuzaki frowned as he heard Light's cracked laugh. It had been painfully obvious he voice had broken in a very weak sounding way, betraying the fact he was on the verge of a total breakdown. He took Light's cheek in his delicate hand and wiped away the tear than had been rolling down his face.
"Do you want to tell me?" Ryuzaki asked softly. Light hesitated. Should he tell him? Not all of it, like about the death note and me bit, but the other bit is safe enough I suppose.
"If you want me to" Light replied. He gave a quick swallow and chose his words carefully.
"I…I dreamt that... I was on the roof with Misa, and she was really mad about something. I think it might have been about me and you. Anyway, she was really upset and...well... I think she was going to, well, going to try and hurt you. Anyway, she called you out to the roof where I was and...well...she just...jumped. Or at least I think she jumped, she might have just tripped. Either way, she fell off the roof and...well she..." Light paused for effect. He was doing a pretty good job covering up his lies.
"Then, that Shinigami, Rem, came out and saw that she had... anyway, she-it got really angry for some reason. And when you appeared she...she..."
Ok, this wasn't a lie anymore. Light was actually crying now as he remembered it. Ryuzaki's expression softened as he watched the teen shake with barely concealed tears.
"She pushed you off the edge. And she forced me to watch... then she pushed me over... but I didn't die. I lay there f-for a moment, trying to figure out why I lived when you were…you were… and then, something happened. Your body just…your eyes and your mouth were so fucking… you dug your claws into my heart, saying you wanted to hear me scream…and then I woke up... God I feel sick now" Light tried to laugh it off, but he couldn't make himself sound happy. A glistening tear escaped Light's chocolaty eyes and rolled down his cheek. Ryuzaki stayed silent for a long time.
"...Light..." Ryuzaki said softly. Light was too upset to notice the strange look in his eye.
Ryuzaki wrapped his skinny arms around Light's shivering frame and held him. Light buried his head in his shoulder, feeling a breakdown looming.
Oh for the love of god, stop acting like a child! Death is just a part of life, you of all people should know that! Kira shouted at the crying teen. But Light couldn't stop, the very idea of losing Ryuzaki was just too painful to consider, dream or otherwise. Uhg fine, see if I care. When you decide to come back to the good side, call me. I don't want to sit here and watch you snuggle with L...
Good, go away then! Kira rolled his imaginary eyes with a distained snort and melded back into the very back of Light's mind, as far away as he could get, finally leaving Light alone. God! Sometimes Kira could get so annoying...
…What the hell am I going to do about you Ryuzaki...?
Ryuzaki's POV
Ryuzaki had never felt such a sense of foreboding hanging above the heads of the task force. It was like everyone knew something would happen today that would change them forever, but for better or for worse was still to be determined. Ryuzaki glanced up at the clock on the wall. 9:47 AM. Still plenty of time for his plans.
Light was fidgeting in the seat beside Ryuzaki. He'd been fretting about something all day, but was trying to hide it from the eyes of everyone in the room. It had worked too, none of the other members of the task force had noticed a single thing was wrong with him. Only Ryuzaki could see it. He could see the nervous twitch in his hand, the way he occasionally bit his lip as he thought, and the way he kept flickering his gaze to the pale white Shinigami in the corner of the room.
Ryuzaki found it all very strange. Never had he seen Light acting this way before, it was if his mind was torn in two, each side yelling different things at him. Or maybe even a little scared? Might even be a bit of both… L tried to make it less obvious that he was observing him, he just pretended to work while he watched from the corner of his eye Light's odd behaviors. He especially kept track of the change of Light's eyes, that seemed to be where L got most of his information lately…
Again, Light glanced at the Shinigami with a conflicted look on his face. What was he up to... this wasn't like the general fear or uneasy any of the others in the room whenever they looked at the god of death, this was a look that seemed way too familiar with the god of death for L's liking... As L thought of the many reasons why this might be, Light abruptly stood from his chair.
"I'm going to the bathroom, I'll be back in a couple of minutes" Light said quickly, but smoothly. Pulling off the 'everything is just fine with me' perfectly enough to fool the others. But not L. Light didn't even glance at L as he left the room. Was L imagining it, or did Light give that Shinigami a small look when he left. L didn't even attempt to hide the fact he was watching anymore, his curiosity getting the better of him at last. Light had exited the door to the left, closest to the Shinigami, and had given the god a very tiny nod, only noticeable if you were deliberately searching for it, as L had been. The god looked at L momentarily with its piercing autumn eyes. Anyone else would have flinched away from the gaze, but L stared it hard in the face, not backing down from the challenge. Neither one of them held any expression on their faces, just a blank stare, slightly challenging.
"Hey Ryuzaki?" A voice interrupted L's concentration. He blinked. Matsuda was standing beside him smiling innocently.
"Yes?" Ryuzaki sighed.
"Is it alright if I went and got a drink?" He asked. Hmm… this could be the chance to follow Light L was after! The Shinigami had disappeared, presumably to follow light. That in itself was proof enough to L about this, but he had to be certain...
"You may, in fact, you can all have a short break if you wish" Ryuzaki stood from his chair and left without another word, leaving Matsuda to stare after him.
Light couldn't have gone far, too little time had passed. He would have to be within this level of rooms, and it would have to be somewhere there were no cameras currently active... the room with all the equipment for L's satellites wasn't currently active... Ryuzaki turned down the corridor and listened. He would be just up ahead if L was right...
Sure enough, Ryuzaki could hear voices coming from the other side of the door just as he had predicted. He pressed himself against the side of the room, where he would not be seen if they were suddenly to exit, and listened.
"...Just a little more time. I promise Misa will be safe. Just... just wait a bit longer before you do it" Light sounded quite panicky...
"But with that man here, Misa is in more danger by the minute, just like you said she was" The Shinigami spoke in its drawling voice.
"She won't be, I swear! I'll find a way around him. If we kill him now, then we'll be suspicious. Especially since L has been starting to hint at Misa being the second Kira yet again. It'd just look to suspicious if right after these accusations, he just suddenly dropped dead!" Light argued with the god. Ryuzaki felt his body go cold. Kill him? Is him...me...?
"But you yourself said if we were to do it now, it would be the best outcome for the both of you, why change your mind so drastically? I believe she is in too much danger with that human around, he has to go, just like you said Light Yagami" The Shinigami said. Ryuzaki's heart fell. They were talking about him... he had been right all along...but...
"I know what I said... but my mind is made up. If you're set on protecting her this badly, then I completely understand. I want to protect her to, you know that. But... how about this. Wait until he does something that will directly threaten everything. Only then alright? I have a plan. Just wait until the moment when we are most at risk, then do it alright? Just wait, you'll see what I have planned Rem" Light spoke with the highest of confidence in himself. Ryuzaki still couldn't believe what he was hearing...no, that was a lie. He could believe it, but simply refused to.
"…As you wish Light Yagami" The Shinigami conceded. No, this can't be happening! It has to be a lie!
L had spent so long trying to prove it was Light, but now that he was certain about what he was hearing... he had never wanted to be more wrong in his life... Why...Why would Light do this to him...? Had it all been lies? All those thing he'd said… I knew they couldn't possibly be true…what a fool I was to believe anything that boy, Kira, said…
Ryuzaki slunk back against the wall and hid as the door opened. Light stepped out, framed by the golden light above his head, and sighed.
"Now...if everything goes as planned..." Light sighed again and slowly walked away. Ryuzaki watched him go with darkened eyes. You… lied to me Light Yagami... but that's ok...it works in perfectly with my plans... Watari had been right about you.
L waited a few seconds longer at the door way. Just as he expected, the Shinigami floated through the wall beside him.
"Rem"
The god didn't jump like a human would have, just calmly turned its icy gaze to L and stared.
"I think it's time we had a little chat..."
This will work perfectly... unfortunately…
Rem's POV
"...How can I trust you to keep your word?" The Shinigami asked at last. The one the other humans called Ryuzaki had been talking for a long time now, telling the god what he was planning... to a certain extent. She wasn't sure she trusted the human who hunted her Misa to keep his word
"I am not the type to lie, Shinigami, unlike some people I know..." Ryuzaki frowned as a certain brown haired boy entered his mind. "Besides, I do not wish for death, only justice. And if she dies due to something I haven't thought of, kill me"
Rem thought about this. If the human's words were true...Misa will live...if they weren't... But then again, this man was no murderer. She could see it in his eyes. He truly wanted to do this... even she had to admire the human's determination to go through with this. She'd always been so sure humans were all beyond such great sacrifices…
"...I believe you" The white god said slowly. "I will keep to my word, if you do likewise" She bowed her head.
"I believe I shall. Thank you...Rem" Ryuzaki turned and left. The god watched him leave with her amber eyes gleaming. What a strange human... Such a request had never been made of a Shinigami before, to Rem's knowledge anyway. Rem wasn't sure if it would work...but the human was smart.
Rem will do it... for Misa...
Humans were very strange indeed...
Watari's POV
"Alright I understand...I'll tell him right away...thank you for your support" Watari hung up the phone and sighed. They'd been calling him none stop for the past two days. He understood their persistence, they wanted a chance to show their support of L in any way possible, but they could be a little calmer about it. He would have to tell Ryuzaki soon... They wouldn't wait any longer...
Watari was about to turn off the system for a quick break when a small knock came from the door. Watari stared at it for a second. It was unlike Ryuzaki to knock... turned in his chair to face the door as it swung open. He was right, it was Ryuzaki that stood before him...but something was wrong. His head hung low, his eyes were noticeably darker, and he seemed to be on the verge of tears. Never had Watari seen this in Ryuzaki before… at least not since the B business…
"Ryuzaki? Is something the matter?" Watari asked in concern. "What is it?"
Ryuzaki stared blankly at the floor, a look of utter defeat upon his face. Watari turned around to face him directly, watching the man he had raised shriveled and sunken as if he were a child again.
"What's wrong?"
"I need to talk to you Watari" Ryuzaki said in barely more than a mutter. Watari nodded as Ryuzaki shuffled into the room, closing the door softly behind him.
"Something the matter Ryuzaki?" Watari asked, hiding his concern for the boy he had raised.
"No one's listening to us?" Ryuzaki questioned.
"No. I turned all the recording devices off before you entered, the director of the prison you contacted had just left" Watari answered.
"Good, good...Watari?" Ryuzaki faced him, sadness radiating off his features the likes of which were alien to the old man.
"Yes Ryuzaki?" Watari said, hiding his concern for the boy he'd raised.
"I need to ask you something. Something incredibly selfish and cruel and..." Ryuzaki's voice quivered.
"Has something happened?" Watari asked. The flit in Ryuzaki's eyes told him yes. "Is it the Yagami boy?"
"...You could say that..." Ryuzaki said solemnly. Watari knew that boy would be trouble...he'd tried to warn Ryuzaki about him... but who was he to say who Ryuzaki loved? Because he knew Ryuzaki loved the boy, it was obvious to Watari. Not that Ryuzaki would admit it to anyone, not even himself, but Watari knew. Love was easy to spot at his age. Especially in people so young.
"I...well..." Ryuzaki seemed to choke up. Ryuzaki walked over to Watari and head butted his shoulder, shaking with tears. Watari's heart soften as the boy he often thought of as a child leaned into him, body quivering with barely contained sadness.
"My boy...tell me what happened" Watari gently place a hand on the pale boy's back and hugged him.
"...I need to tell you...no...ask you something... something incredibly selfish on my behalf...but still must be asked" Ryuzaki sniffed. Watari nodded slowly.
"Go right ahead Ryuzaki, I'm listening" He smiled softly, mustache brushing his lower lip. Ryuzaki buried his head into his father figure's neck a few seconds more before he spoke…
...
"It's ok Ryuzaki. I understand..." Watari comforted the crying boy. He had listened to what Ryuzaki had said with a stony face. He knew this day was coming...he was prepared.
"I'll do it"
Ryuzaki blinked at him with watery eyes.
"R-really? You don't have to go through with this" Ryuzaki told him. Watari just smiled sadly.
"Ryuzaki, I'm 71 years old, I'm a very old man. But that doesn't make me stupid or selfish. I've known from the day I met you that I would die by your side. The moment I became Watari, I accepted that I would one day either die to protect you, or die by your side. I'm ready for that day" Watari told the boy. Ryuzaki nodded slowly.
"As long as you are sure..." Ryuzaki muttered.
"I am, it's ok Ryuzaki, I'll be fine" Watari reassured him. He didn't like seeing Ryuzaki this distraught...
"...Watari?"
"Yes Ryuzaki?"
"I...I just wanted to...tell you...thank you...for everything" Ryuzaki twisted his head and looked up at Watari with big obsidian eyes. Watari smiled.
"It was my pleasure... I can still remember the day I found you like it was yesterday. You were no bigger than a stuffed toy, all wrapped up in your little scarf, woolly beanie, tiny little mittens, jumper than reached your knees... I remember you never questioned anything I told you like most other children had, you just took my hand with your little gloves and followed me inside" Watari laughed as he remember the day. It had been snowing, white powder decorating the orphanage he had spent his entire life perfecting. Icicles glistened from the wrought iron gate as he lead the tiny child through the entrance, the boy's hand tightening on his own as they stepped through the frozen metal. He could already tell the boy was destined for greatness...
"And your brother, never had I seen such a trouble maker. He ran straight through the gate to join the snowball fight a few of the boys were having. Never met them before, never even said his name, just grabbed a handful of snow and hurled it straight at poor Aaron's face…He was such a little nuisance to the other boys... it was a shame really, he and A could have done amazing thing with their lives if they had just..." Watari shook his head sadly at the memory of finding the pair in such a terrible seen… Ryuzaki's brother, curled up in the blood covered arms of the other boy… Things could have gone so well for the pair had they not… Watari should have seen what A was going to do…he thought he had known the boy so well...oh well, what's done is done. Ryuzaki gave a tiny huff of laugher.
"He had it coming...the idiot... I could understand where he was coming from until he decided to go out and do that…Watari...thank you for taking care of me. You are like the father I never...no, should have had. I know I can never repay you... but I just want you to know... you mean a lot to me" Ryuzaki buried his head in Watari's shoulder again. Watari smiled.
"You mean a lot to me too, you're like a child to me...Lawliet" Watari said softly. Ryuzaki stiffened slightly at the mention of his real name, but relaxed almost straight away. Always so cautious...
"…Alright...I need to talk to Matsuda now...remember what I've told you...this can't go wrong" Ryuzaki pulled away from the man he considered a father and wiped his eyes.
"I trust your judgment. Just be back before this evening" Watari told the boy.
"I will...goodbye Watari...Mr. Wammy" Ryuzaki held the faintest trace of a smile as he referred to Watari in the same way he had once done as a child.
"Goodbye Lawliet"
Matsuda's POV
"Matsuda, may I speak with you for a moment?" Ryuzaki's voice sounded from right behind him. Matsuda leapt about a foot in the air.
"AH! Oh, Ryuzaki, you scared me aha! Yeah sure" Matsuda laughed, heart pounding. Ryuzaki watched with his usual blank eyes as Matsuda got up from his desk.
"Follow me please" Ryuzaki turned away and left the room. Matsuda sighed. Why did Ryuzaki always have to be so...blunt...?
Matsuda soon found himself standing in a room he didn't even know the building had! There were big machinery things along the walls, hundreds of different colored wires plugged into sockets and holes in the machines, a big metal thing that appeared to be humming softly, and so many colourful blinking lights it was dazzling. Like being in a plane flying over the city at night. It was just huge! He wanted to ask Ryuzaki all about it...but the look on his face told him he should probably keep quiet... He hadn't really noticed before now, but Ryuzaki seemed...off... he had red rims around his eyes as if he'd been crying... but that was impossible! Ryuzaki never showed emotion, let alone cried!
"I need to make a few requests of you Matsuda" Ryuzaki told the fellow detective.
"Oh, umm, yeah sure! What do you want?" Matsuda asked with a small smile.
"I'm going to tell you something very important Matsuda, and you must promise me you'll keep it a secret from everyone" Ryuzaki put great emphasis on the word 'everyone'
"I can do that!" Matsuda grinned widely.
"I mean it, Matsuda. Not a single word to anyone, not even the other members of the task force, do you understand me?" Ryuzaki asked seriously. Matsuda had to do a double take.
"Wait, not even the others like the chief or Light or-" "Especially not Light!" Ryuzaki cut him off.
"Light must not know about this, no matter what happens alright? Can I trust you to keep this?" Ryuzaki pressed. Matsuda flinched at the sudden outburst. He didn't have to sound so mean...
"Uh, yes of course. I might not look it but I can actually keep a secret" Matsuda smiled awkwardly. Ryuzaki stared at him for a few seconds longer, then nodded.
"I believe you. Now, do you promise to follow my instructions no matter what happens, whatever the cost?" Ryuzaki asked.
"Of course!" Matsuda blinked. Why was he so...persistent about this? Matsuda had promised him right? What more did he want…
"No questions, no objections?" Ryuzaki pressed again.
"None at all" Matsuda smiled widely.
"Good...I need to tell you something very important. It could stop Kira once and for all, but only if you do exactly as I say..."
...
"WHAT?! No way! I can't do that!" Matsuda exclaimed.
"You promised me no objections" Ryuzaki said blankly.
"Yeah but...I didn't think you'd ask me to do something like that!" Matsuda stared wide eyed at the detective.
"You must, it's the only way to stop this. Promise me" Ryuzaki asked.
"But I...I don't think I-" "Promise me!" Ryuzaki interrupted, grabbing Matsuda by the shoulders. Matsuda gulped. He was asking too much, there was no way he could go through with this. He had listened to everything Ryuzaki had said with an open mind, but this was just...
"But...but...how?" Matsuda stuttered.
"You're the best shot out of the whole team, you can do it. I trust you" Ryuzaki told him.
"But I...I..." Matsuda felt like he was choking.
"Please..." Ryuzaki begged. Matsuda didn't want to do this. Ever. But the look on Ryuzaki's face, the tears that glistened in the corner of his eyes, broke Matsuda.
"...Alright...I'll do it...I'll be the one" Matsuda finally agreed.
"...Thank you. Thank you Matsuda. I know you can do it. Just do exactly as I've told you and this will all be over soon. Protect them. Protect them both. Then end this when the time is right. The three of them must live. M, N and Matt must survive"
Ryuzaki's POV
3:37 PM. The call will be made at 8:25 PM. That leaves less than five hours to do this. Ryuzaki took a peek out the closest window as he walked. The autumn sunlight was currently behind some patches of grey clouds, wind whipped around the buildings, carrying a piece of discarded trash in its wake, and it didn't appear too cold. Perfect. Perfect in case this didn't work. Perfect last day...
...
"Light?" Ryuzaki's voice was barely more than a whisper. Light looked up from his work, which he was actually doing this time, and smiled.
"Yes Ryuzaki?" Light beamed. Huh, that behavior is very different from before…
"We are going to the park" Ryuzaki told the boy. Light raised an eyebrow.
"Why?" He gave a little huff of amusement.
"Because I told you to. Come on, we only have three and a half hours before sunset and I would like to be there as soon as possible" Ryuzaki grabbed Light and pulled him from the chair.
"H-Hey I didn't agree to this! Where are you taking me! Ryuzaki!" Light protested as Ryuzaki dragged him down the hallway.
"To the park, I thought I made that clear beforehand. Get a scarf and follow me. We are to walk to Saigo no wakare park and stay there until sunset" Ryuzaki told him.
"Yes but why!?" Light asked again.
"Because I want to go to Saigo no wakare. Hurry up" Ryuzaki pushed Light into his room so Light could get a scarf.
"Ok Ok I'm going! I don't see why you're making such a big deal about this..." Light grumbled, stepping into his room.
"Because Saigo no wakare is the most beautiful park I have ever visited in this country...as you will find out if you'd hurry up" Ryuzaki said.
"I am! I've got it already!" Light reappeared. He was dressed in a simple black long sleeved shirt with a cream colored jacket hanging unbuttoned around his shoulders. A grey scarf that looked like it was made from a soft sort of cashmere hung around his neck, and a pair of brown trousers, the same color as chocolate. He couldn't look more perfect if he tried...
"Good...follow me then please..."
...
The big wooden sign stood before them, deep glossy ebony with the blackest ink emblazoned upon it. In dark, Japanese lettering the name of the park stood out. He may not have been born Japanese, but he was fluent in the language. He read the words upon the sign with a sad smile
Saigo no wakare...
How fitting...