A/N: To all my returning readers from 'Light's Out', I gotta say, it was really something continuing the Death Note story from last year. When I wrote the first pages, it was like saying hello to an old friend I hadn't seen in a long time. I'm excited to continue this story and I hope you guys and girls enjoy it. Thank you all for taking the time to read it.
Also, I forgot: The name of this arc is called 'The War Arc'.
November 2nd, 2055
Japan
Looking over the latest update on the news, Rain closes her Death Note before rotating in her chair. "So, what have you two geniuses come up with?"
"Kill the Royal Marines," Archer says simply, "let's just kill every single one of them."
"I object," Angel rebuttals. "Kira needs police and military in order to function. Kira can't do everything, which is why the police and military are needed to keep order in their countries."
"Also, Kira only kills if he has to," Rain adds.
Archer shrugs. "So? The Royal Marines are coming after us so let's just kill every single one of them."
"Finding out all of their names is going to be impossible. We don't have their serial numbers and their serial numbers are never going to be public knowledge. Even so, hacking into the British government is a good way to get cyber forensics on our ass." Rain stands up. "We gotta have our spokesperson as Sakura TV make a statement."
"And you really think that will deter this Bridgaider Hydra guy?" Archer stands up, meeting his sister's gaze. "How would that work?"
"We tell this Brigadier Hydra guy that unless he calls off his forces, there will be consequences."
"And what consequences will that be?" Archer rests his hands on his hips. "Just a few seconds ago, you and Angel said that trying to kill all the Royal Marines would be an impossible task."
"We'll figure it out. But for now, I need to know how disposable these Hydra guys are." She turns back to her Death Note and looks over the names. "I looked up all the names of all Royal Marines with a Brigadier rank and I killed them all. I need to know how many of these guys they got and how they think alike."
"How does that work?"
Angle steps forward. "I think it's about figuring out how different they are. While anybody can take up an identity, the person taking up the identity will always be different from their predecessor. Kinda like… Kira."
"Exactly." Rain stuffs her hands in her pockets. "Each person who will succeed whatever Hydra will die, they'll change things up or at the very least, they'll be locked out of the loop about certain things. Unless they're together 24/7, they won't share the same memory, ideals, personality, or tactics. And there's also a matter of trust between the Royal Marines and Hyudra himself. How can you trust someone who is expendable? Someone who can die at any second? And how can you trust someone if they're supposed to replace someone who died? There is no trust because the Royal Marines won't know who this guy is."
"So that's the plan?" Archer asks. "Incite a war?"
"If they want a war, we'll give them one."
"A civil cold war," Angel gasps. "They could destroy themselves."
"Exactly."
Archer furrows his brows. "Who are these Hydra people? Who recruits them? Are they all brigadiers or are they expendable soldiers?"
"Like the MIA Mercenaries?" Angel questions.
"Something like that," Archer nods.
"I've memorized most of their names," Rain says. "And if I didn't, I still have their names written down in the notebook." She pulls open her notebook to read through the names of the 8 Hydras she's killed in the last few hours. Pausing, she pulls away from her desk, keeping her hands off the computer. "If I put any of their names in a search engine, it'll make us look suspicious so we can't look up anything."
"So it is back to our spokesperson."
"Yeah." Rain looks over at her siblings. "My idea: we have our spokesperson tell the Royal Marines that if they even think about setting food in our country to prosecute us, then we'll write the name of the king of England in the notebook. And if that doesn't work, we'll control the king into manipulating the English armed forces. And if that still doesn't work… well, then we'll force other world leaders to declare war on England."
"But that'll cause chaos," Angel complains, "Kira is supposed to be about peace, not war."
"Si Vis Pacem, Parabellum, Angel." Rain sits down in her chair. "If we want to protect our country and our identity as Kira, we have to take drastic steps. We have to kill people in order to survive."
"Hell yeah!" Archer cheers. "Tell me who to kill."
"We need to remind the people that war has been averted because of us," Rain continues. "It is time to show them Kira can incite and cause war as much as it can avert war."
"So… we're going with the plan of having our spokesperson at Sakura TV make death threats to the king of England on our behalf?"
"Right."
"What should we say specifically?"
"We'll say something like, 'Brig. Hydra, I have heard your message and now it is time for me to respond. Kira does not take kindly to conflict of any kind. I am the god of the new world and I do not appreciate someone trying to spit on my authority. My goal is to create peace for everyone, not just the people in Japan. I am warning you to NOT spark a war within Japan. There will be consequences for you and for every one of your Royal Marines. If you continue to defy me, then the consequences will escalate and become more disastrous. Remember: I am not above killing cops and law enforcement if they give me a reason to and that applies to you and your military. Heed my warning, Brig. Hydra'. We'll say something like that."
Gintik Haymay laughs. "That's the best you can come up with? What if it doesn't work?"
"Then we'll follow through on our threats," Rain says simply. "Nothing more, nothing less." She takes out a pencil. "Well then, we better get to writing and now."
November 3rd
Sakura TV
The spokesperson pointed for this message by Kira themself - Sakura Kato - turns to the camera wearing a white Kira cloak. She puts on her hood before smiling, her icy blue eyes - which were colored contacts - piercing into the camera's gaze. "And... to finish off this segment, Kira wishes to spread a message to the world. We are requesting the broadcast station to broadcast this message to the United Kingdom. Subtitles will be provided for them." She clears her throat before looking down at the paper in her hands. "This message goes out to the Royal Marines who made the statement declaring war on Kira the other day. Here is Kira's response."
"Brig. Hydra, I have heard your message and now it is time for me to respond. Kira does not take kindly to conflict of any kind. I am the god of the new world and I do not appreciate someone trying to spit on my authority. My goal is to create peace for everyone, not just the people in Japan. I am warning you to NOT spark a war within Japan. There will be consequences for you and for every one of your Royal Marines. If you continue to defy me, then the consequences will escalate and become more disastrous. Remember: I am not above killing cops and law enforcement if they give me a reason to and that applies to you and your military. Heed my warning, Brig. Hydra."
Kato puts the paper down. "Brig. Hydra, as Kira's spokesperson, I strongly encourage you to listen and heed Kira's message. Kira is not someone to be trifled with. Kira may have died a few times but he always bounces back, becoming more and more powerful each time. First, he vanished for nine years, then seven, and two years. Chances are, the next time he vanishes, he'll return in one year or even half a year. Kira has made it clear that he is here to stay and that he is here to make sure the world is a peaceful place. Countries all over the world are already accepting Kira's judgment and in most countries, it is a crime to hunt down Kira." Kato leans forward, smiling. "Are you prepared for what happens should you kill Kira? If you kill Kira, it'll be pandemonium. Let that sink in for a moment." She looks to something offscreen. "Thank you for your time, Brig. Hydra and we hope that you heed Kira's warning because we do not want a war in Japan."
The program ends.
England
Office
Wade Jackman pulls on a rubber mask with three snakes on the front and adjusts it tightly. Before he heads out, he adjusts his brigadier uniform, adjusting the collar and making sure the mask is secure before heading out.
Stepping into the main office with plenty of Royal Marine officers, Hydra addresses them.
"It is an honour that I address the issue right here: Hydra will not be controlled by Kira. whilst Kira may kill Hydra and another will always replace him, he will not be controlled. That's what the mask is for."
A captain stands up. "Mate, is the mask really necessary?"
"Absolutely. A name, but an ever-changing chevy chase. Also, measures will be taken in gaff to make sure that even if we are controlled, Kira won't be able to use us."
"Did you see Kira's message, mate?"
"I did." Hydra sits down. "Indeed, I did. And I gotta say: this Kira is different from the previous ones." He rests his chin in his hand. "The first two Kiras, well, with the exception of the Auction Kira, were competitive. This Kira doesn't seem to want conflict. Maybe it's because they don't want a war in Japan but either way, this Kira is more pragmatic. Asking us to not invade Japan rather than embracing the challenge head-on? Aye, we're dealing with a different Kira; not the same one from seven years ago."
"Sucessor?"
"Regardless, it means this Kira isn't as experienced as the previous ones. We can use that to our advantage."
"And what advantage would that be, mate?"
"We've fought in controlled conflicts before." Hydra smiles behind his mask. "It's how I earned the title of Hydra, after all. We're experienced, we have military training. Even if this Kira was part of the military, Japan can only use its military for self-defense, not offense. The Royal Marines on the other hand..."
The captain smiles. "I see your point, brigadier."
"And I have more points to make." Hydra leans back in his chair. "If I were Kira and I was trying to stop someone from invading my country in the most practical way possible, I'd kill everybody involved. But that's not an option. I can't kill Hydra because he'll always bounce back so..." He narrows his eyes behind the mask. "I would make demands to the king of Engerland." He nods. "Yeah, that is what I would do." He leans forward in his chair. "I would contact the king of England and I would coerce him into disbanding us. That is why we have to take away our weaknesses."
"What are we going to do to the king of England?"
Brig. Hydra looks over. "We're going to kill the king of England."
The captains in the room look at him like he's crazy.
"Well, that'll be the official story. The king of England suffered a heart attack, killed by Kira. It's perfect. Once we fake the king's death, it'll anger all of England. They'll be all for going to Japan and killing Kira, especially since the king of England did nothing to piss off Kira. That's going to be our plan."
November 4th
Police Station
Stepping into his work area, Rain adjusts her uniform before getting to work on the paperwork on her desk.
Three familiar faces - Tezuka, Murata, and Saiko - approach her.
"Working hard again, Rain?" Tezuka asks.
"Hardly working," Rain snarks.
"Still haven't lost your snark after all these years, Rainy," Saiko laughs.
Murata taps her shoulder.
Rain looks over. "What's up? Did you lose the keys to your car again?"
"No, we just wanted to let in you on the Kira update," Murata explains. "Kira made history in England this morning."
"What do you mean? Did Kira handpick the first king of England for the first time in a million years or something?"
Murata pulls out his phone. "Check this out." He shows her an article.
Rain remains stoic as she reads the article's headline translated into Japanese. 'Kira Kills King - King of England dies of heart attack by Kira'. Rain sighs before looking up at the three officers. "What does this have to do with me?"
"I think Kira is being corrupted." Murata puts his phone down. "We all think that. Weren't your parents killed by Kira on Kira's Extermination Day?"
"That is what the official story was."
"Over ten thousand criminals that day were killed by Kira; how come your parents were killed too?"
"Accident. My parents were innocent and I know for certain that Kira didn't kill them."
"Then how did they die of heart attacks?"
"I don't know but I believe Kira didn't kill them."
"And what about the king of England?" Saiko asks. "We want to believe that Kira is a good person trying to save the world but... your parents dying of heart attacks on Kira's Extermination Day and then the king of England being killed via a heart attack?"
"Maybe it was a natural heart attack," Rain suggests.
"He was 44-years-old."
"Maybe it was stress-induced; my great-grandfather had a stress-induced heart attack."
"Chief Soichiro Yagami, right?" Tezuka asks. "I wish I got to meet him."
"Me too." Rain looks at her computer screen. "I wish I got to meet my great-grandparents and my grandparents. And I wish my parents spent a little more time on this earth. But that's not how the world works anymore. The world is cruel but Kira makes it a little less cruel." She begins typing on her computer. "If you'll excuse me, I gotta get back to work."
"If you find something on why Kira killed the king of England, you'll let us know, right?" Saiko asks. "Because Kira killing international figures will spark international conflict."
"I will, don't worry."
As the three officers left, Rain looked down at her keyboard.
Her hair and eyes turn gray.
"Interesting," she utters under her breath.
Typing up the news article on her computer, she reads over the article with narrow eyes. Sighing softly, she leans back in her chair. She pulls out her phone and shoots a text message.
'Did you catch the latest news?'
A few seconds later, a reply from Archer came through. 'We did. Kira must have it in for the king of England'.
Angel replies next. 'Kira wouldn't do this; Kira COULDN'T do this'.
Rain types: 'There is no way in hell Kira did this, right?'
Archer and Angel both reply: 'Right'.
Rain pockets her phone. She searches for a picture of the King of England. Activating her Shinigami eyes, her face remains expressionless. Under her breath, she utters, "Impressive move, Hydra."
Later That Night
When Rian gets off work, she heads back to her apartment and waits patiently on the couch for her younger twin brothers to get home from work.
The two arrive right on cue with the two coming home with groceries. Angel looks at his older sister on the couch. "We got a lot to discuss, sis."
"Funny, baby Angel, because I was about to say the same thing. Thanks for going shopping. When you're done putting the groceries away.." She pats the spot beside her on the couch. "We have much to talk about."
After her brothers finish their task, they join her on the couch.
Rain pulls up the king of England on her phone. "The king of England is still alive; this is nothing but a scam, a trick, a deception, the whole nine yards."
"But why?" Angel asks.
"To incite war." Archer smiles. "By faking the king of England's death, he took away one of the contingencies big bully sis mentioned earlier. That means... as long as the world thinks he's dead, including the world leaders, then that means we can't force the king to give orders to the Royal Marines."
"And knowing how Hydra operates, they'll most likely pull the same trick he did on the king of England; title over personal identity. Which means..."
"Whoever is taking over as the king of England will probably be someone expendable," Rain concludes. "As long as we know their name and face, we can still control them."
"Unless they're wearing masks and then we'll be at a disadvantage."
Rain narrows her eyes. "There's something else: by killing the king of England in an unprovoked manner, the citizens of England and its allies will most likely support Hydra and his efforts in bringing the war to Japan. In other words, he's backing up the countries still opposing Kira into helping him." Rain clicks his tongue. "If England does invade along with other countries to kill us, then that means..."
"Japan will be defenseless because Japan is not allowed to have a military," Angel finishes. "Japan hasn't had a military since the 1940s or 50s."
"One hundred years exactly." Rain stands up. "Fine then." She turns to her brothers. "We don't need the military' we have everything we need."
"The Death Note," Angel deduces.
Gintik Hagymay laughs. "Overconfident, Rainy?"
"Sans the 'over' part." She looks back to her brothers. "If Hydra wants a war..."
Archer smiles, "Then let's give him a war."