CHAPTER FOURTEEN
"Escape"

Asumi began to get worried. Light had left to speak with Terrance a little less than an hour ago and he had still had not returned. And yet, she knew Terrance would want to get assurances of Light's newly sworn loyalty to the Yukaza, other than what he had already provided.

Light had still not discussed an escape plan yet, but Asumi knew he was working on. There was just something inside that she could trust about him. He was a man of justice, a person of virtue that helped those in need.

Light had told her to stay in her quarters until he returned, a decision she was fine with. But within twenty minutes of him leaving, she had begun to pace her quarters with a foreboding that filled her thoughts that something was going to go wrong.

She distracted herself with images of Light when they made love, but that only made her blush, and made her more eager for him to return. She knew she would have to go into hiding, but anything was better than her current life.

She no longer wanted to hurt people to get information, and she knew she had a lot to be forgiven for. The methods she employed on people had been sadistic. But she had no choice. It was either obey her Master or she would be killed like her predecessor. Like Riki, she had been forced into the trade. And she was just as much a victim, doing what had to be done in order to survive. But now with Light, there was a chance to escape.

Light Yagami had made her feel like a woman. And in the shower, he proved just how much of man he really was, and she allowed him to abuse her. She blushed again. Even after all the horrible things she did to him, he was able to forgive her, with his loves, and to make her feel that there was still love in her own heart.

"Oh Light, please come back to me safely," she said. "I want to leave this place, and I want to leave it with you…"

Suddenly, a chaotic series of knocks rapped on the door of her quarters. Was it Light? Had something gone wrong? She rushed to the door and opened it, but instead of Light, Riki stood at the threshold. He was panting as if he had been running quickly. He looked panicked.

"Riki, what's wrong?" She brought him inside the door.

"Mistress, the entire complex is in an uproar. Rumour has it that Light Yagami has murdered the Master and another member of the Yukaza while attending the Master's suite. Aiden is shouting, telling everyone that he was witness to the entire event."

"Tell me more," she insisted, shutting the door.

He did, reporting the rumour in full that he overheard from Aiden's yells. Aiden claimed to be in the Terrance Claw's quarters at the time, as a houseboy, cleaning. Aiden claimed he saw Light shoot the Master, blowing his heart out of his chest, and then he murdered another man with unknown attack. Aiden just managed to escape before Light Yagami started to go after him.

Tigressa steadied herself. "I don't believe it! He wouldn't do such a thing! He would never jeopardize our plans like that. Riki, Light and I had made plans to escape together."

Riki gasped, eyes wide. "Please, Mistress—take me with you!" He pleaded with his hands cupped together. "I hate this place, I want to leave! I want to see the world outside this underground dungeon. I don't remember much of my old life, but that doesn't matter. I don't want to live down here anymore! Please, I want to go with you!"

She nodded. "I have already asked Light and he has agreed to bring you with us." Riki produced the biggest smile Asumi had every seen, and Riki suddenly hugged her, like a son would a mother. She pat his curly brown hair head, hugging him back.

Riki pulled back and reached into a pocket and brought out a USB stick. "I brought this for the detective," he said. "I thought ahead. If Yagami said no to me leaving with you, then I know this would convince him otherwise. A bargaining chip, let's say. It's the dossiers of all the Dragon Sect members found in our computer databases. It contains their real names with pictures. But if we are to escape this hell hole, then no one can know we were ever involved. I've erased our names from the library banks. We are ghosts now. Yagami can take this information to the police to end this place. Our troubles will be over."

Tigressa took it. "Oh, Riki…and you thought of this all by yourself?" He nodded. She ruffled his hair. "Good boy." Asumi had changed out of her dress and had put on something more casual and she tucked the USB stick between her breasts. She knew it would safe there.

Suddenly, a second series of chaotic raps sounded at the door.

She waited for a moment, asked who it was—when Light's voice sounded.

She immediately opened it, shutting the door behind him. He looked worse for wear, his clothes ruffled, his hair out of place. "It's all hell out there! Terrance Claw is dead." Light noticed Riki.

"We know," both Asumi and Riki said in unison. Riki told him that his friend Aiden was telling everyone. Then Asumi said, "Rumour has it that you murdered him in cold blood."

Light shook his head. "I didn't kill him," he said. But stopped there.

"Knowing Nazareth, he'll come for you," Asumi said with concern.

Light grabbed Asumi by the right arm, and said, "We have to get out of here now!"

"Riki's coming with us," she said firmly, then told him about the USB stick. Light's eyes widened with surprise. "You can take it to the NPA and arrest them."

Light smiled with a nod. "Thanks kid, that'll be a huge help. Asumi told me about you, and how you're just as much a victim as anyone. I'm going to try to get you both out of here, but I'm going to need your help to navigate through these endless corridors."

Riki smiled. "I have to apologize to you for what I did to you," he said.

"We can worry about incriminations later," Light Yagami said, "but from what I can guess, you had no choice in the matter. It was either do or die."

That was that needed to be said.

They all entered the outside corridor, and Riki pointed to the right. The boy ran, and Light with Asumi followed suit.

Light followed Riki with Asumi in hand. Earlier, he had no intention of saving these two, but then he realized that both of them were just as in need of Kira's help any victims of crime. The Yukaza had forced Riki into the organization at an early age, kidnapping him off the street. As for Asumi, the first time they made love, he knew she was sincere in leaving the Yukaza. She obviously wanted to repent for her sins. It was only fair to give them both a second chance.

They ran down a corridor only to come face-to-face with the massive Nazareth.

Nazareth's radio sounded, clipped to his pants belt. "Possible sighting of Yagami," a male voice said, and an approximate location was given. The big man picked up his radio and spoke into it. "Right, I'll handle it. Begin an evacuation of the facility. This place is no longer necessary." He then smashed the radio against a wall, no longer needing it.

Light took a step back, shielding Asumi behind him. Riki with her.

"There is no place to hide now, Detective," the big man stated, punching a fist into a hand. "You murdered Master Claw, and you will pay dearly for that."

"You're wrong," Light said. He didn't want to say anything about Morph. "If you hurt us, Kira will hunt you down—passing judgment on the wicked. If you are sincere in repenting for your sins, Kira will take that into consideration."

"I'm not afraid of Kira," Nazareth said. "There is no way Kira can get to us here."

Misa, Light thought, I don't know how you got to the other enforcer, the little man who knocked me unconscious and brought me here, but if there was ever a time to use the Death Note, NOW would be a good time to use it…

As a Shinigami, Ryuk had to be one of the stupidest gods of deaths Misa had ever come to know. Rem was vastly smarter than this fool. It was like Ryuk had the intelligence of a child, and had absolutely no life experiences. How on earth Ryuk managed to trick the Shinigami King, a superior being into giving him a second Death Note, Misa would never know.

In one small way, Ryuk and Light were alike—they were able to manipulate people into getting what they wanted, tricking people into ignoring their internal instincts. Misa had heard of people who had the suave to pull it off. Light was one of those people. He could use his wit and charms to persuade anyone to do whatever he desired.

Even me, Misa thought. But I love him, so I would do anything for Light.

But right now, she couldn't help him. And Ryuk was no help either.

Through the Portable Orb, Misa watched as Light held hands with a slightly older woman followed by a young boy—both their full names seen over his head—as they ran through the maze-like corridors in some underground lair. She didn't know where it was, otherwise she would send Ryuk to bring Light back. She could only observe.

Who was this hussy getting close to her Light?

Misa thought about writing her name down in the Death Note, she was the only woman for Light, but she didn't know if this woman was an innocent person whom Light was saving from the Yukaza. Misa had no acknowledge of events prior to getting her hands on the Probable Orb. But obviously, she looked important to Light, so Misa didn't touch her. Her death right now would probably even cause an unforeseeable consequence that may cost Light his life.

Light held a gun, so Misa knew he was in trouble.

She had asked Ryuk who the boy in white was who had murdered Kenta Ikeda, but Ryuk had said he didn't know. If he had been another type of Shingami, they Ryuk would know. So, the boy was a mystery. She couldn't hear what had been said, but Misa did notice the blonde-haired boy carried with him a book of some sort. If not a Death Note, then what?

After a momentary lapse between events, Misa had managed to find Light again after mysteriously disappearing from Ikeda's living quarters—here.

Suddenly, a heavy set man blocked Light's path as he ran down a corridor with the other two. He had come out of nowhere, and after a few moments, Light went charging about the muscular man, only to be slammed back to the floor with a wicked backslap.

The brute had a six worded name. The Death Note normally worked with just a first and surname, but her Shinigami Eyes were showing each one, which meant she would need to write them all down. However, his face was blurred by the angle of his stance. If Misa were to write his full name down, she would need to see things more clearly, too. As of right now, the Probable Orb was a hindrance, and she swore, shaking the thing as if it were a Magic 8-Ball.

"Work properly, you stupid thing!"

To be continued…