Chapter 10 Gemu

February 1st 2023

Wednesday

"What did you say this game was called?" Armonia asked as he lifted one of the small pieces off the board.

The skeleton Shinigami with parts replaced my metal and machine, sat rather relaxed in his throne of skulls. His body littered with gold and gemmed accessories, looked like a king with a crown of jewels and large white gems for eyes.

Observing the obsidian piece as he turned and studied its shape. Glinting in the pale vague light and held between two bony fingers, it was small, not even half the size of his smallest finger with a rather round top.

His head, though resting on the knuckles of one hand. Armonia's expression through his diamond eyes did not seem bored or uninterested in the piece. Intrigue more likely had grasped his curiosity.

Like all Shinigami in this realm, human objects had become a bit of a sensation after Ryuk visited the human world. Sweet and juicy food like apples were the current fad amongst the Reapers. However human games had yet to find a place of interest amongst the Reapers. Despite their yearning freedom from the eternal grasp of boredom, no one had seemingly bothered to explore the subject until now.

"Chess. A popular game amongst the older spawn that I'm told. My human was rather generous to give me a set after introducing me to a thrilling round"

Gemu's wide blackened grin squeezed tightly around his cheek bones. The patchwork grey skin that layered his face stretched out as far as it could, but still found room for a bigger smile.

"We ended the round as we always do. An eternal draw… neither winning nor losing…"

Planting down a white crystal pawn two spaces forward, Gemu glanced his dark eyes to Armonia's contemplating gaze.

"A draw?" the word sounded confusing for Armonia as he knew that Gemu always played to win. Indeed, the true number of times he had heard the Shinigami lose a game could be counted on one hand, and you would still have fingers to spare.

"You let the human beat you, more like? Tch. You're losing your touch Gemu"

After a quick glance over his many pieces on the board, it appeared that Armonia had listened to the rules quite well as his first move was to jump his black knight over his pawns.

"If you'd like, we could stop now and save you the embarrassment of another defeat? Heh, Heh" he added to his amusement.

The drifting sandy air whispered silently around them as Gemu failed to rise for a reply. Twitching his fingers, he instead moved an additional pawn forward to end his turn.

A light breeze of a chuckle escaped Armonia's golden jaw as he moved his knight closer to the other side. He appeared amused by Gemu's lack of an assault.

"Speaking of games-" he began.

Though the gems in his sockets could not move, Gemu could feel Armonia's glance all the same.

"How's yours coming along? The big one, as you so put it. His majesty is growing impatient and desires to know when things will be interesting. Those Death Notes he gave you are not to be wasted, Gemu!"

Crawling through the stitches on his left cheek, a small beetle forced his way out of Gemu and creeped around under his chin before dropping and disappearing inside his damaged suit.

Reaching for the hole in his cheek, Gemu lightly tugged onto the string that hung loosely nearby, closing the hole instantly.

"The Game has already begun in earnest my dear Armonia. In fact. Today was the day I visited my players and gave them my rules. And my regards"

In truth, Gemu had lingered in the human world for a while now. Having dropped a Death Note of his own to join in the fun. He couldn't stand the idea of simply watching the game unfold from a distance. The desire and pleasing pleasure of actually joining such a wonderous Game was too much not to partake.

Taking hold of his Bishop, the conniving Shinigami moved it one space to the side and smiled a nod to Armonia.

"Should have seen their faces Armonia. A mixture of intrigue and terror when I spoke to each and every one of them… One year. Six Players. All with the task of hunting down all the Player's Death Notes… Kill, steal, plot and lie… or die trying. A rather simple task, don't you think?" he chuckled darkly.

Armonia let out an intrigued sound as he moved his knight yet again and took one of Gemu's Pawns. Taking hold into his mechanical and bony hand, the Pawn dropped carefully in front of him on the stony slab of a table. It was as though Armonia treated it like a worthy prize to be taken from Gemu.

"The first piece is mine… What are they like? The humans possessed below? Any worthy candidates for the next Kira?" Armonia let out a deeper chuckle at the end of his sentence.

Gemu gazed longingly towards the chess board as those words hung at the back of his mind. He couldn't help but think that this was the prize he dangled before the old man.

Desperate for a thrill like no other, Gemu schemed a Game that would be his magnum opus. A death match, one like the wonderous match between Kira and L.

And all he had to do to convince the Shinigami King to part a few Death Notes. It was not particularly hard. The old man seemed to shiver with excitement at the idea of a new Kira.

However, the idea that any human could re-entertain them like that human did long ago was preposterous. In Gemu's mind, what Ryuk brought about back then was a mere fluke. The Death Note could not have found a more perfect human if he tried again.

Which is why he liked to bet on the odds.

"Hmm… hard to tell I'm afraid. All humans act violently different to one another when exposed to a Death Note" he replied casually as he waved a hand.

Dark eyes turned to his white crystal King, sitting seemingly strong amongst the other pieces. He couldn't help but think about his Players and what Armonia might think about them.

"Hmm…Player One, my human. He is a rather old spawn of the human kind. Weak hips, bad back and not much longer for the world. The moment I first laid my eyes upon him, I believed he had the lowest chances of winning the game…"

Stretching out a spidery finger, Gemu nudged the king with a tiny tap. The effort used made it tilt only slightly but still stood strong.

Grinning wildly, his hand moved over to his bishop and moved it shortly across the board.

"But then I got to know the real man… now. It's hard to tell what that man is truly capable of… though I do believe he can go all the way… when nudged in the right direction"

Armonia grunted in amusement. "You do know that if he wins, the new reign of Kira will be a very short one?"

A breezy laugh rushed through Gemu's black teeth as he had a hearty chuckle over that statement.

"You're right my dear Armonia. So, let's hope another Player does any better. However, I still intend to be on the winning side. My human is not one to be… dismissed. Hmm…"

Another pawn soon disappeared from the board as Armonia greedily lapped up another prize. Gemu's expression never changed though as his pieces left the board very easily.

His eyes only moved from one piece to another before settling onto his Rook. Standing solitary in its corner, a powerful piece if wielded correctly but flawed in its movements.

"Player Two. From what I've seen of her. She is strong willed and determined. Her life on the streets have honed a desperate need to survive which excites my curiosity. When faced with death, I hope to see a brilliant display of emotion and desire to live!" He said excitedly as pools of drool seeped through the dark recesses of Gemu's mouth.

"Sounds like a human to bet on. But I'm not convinced yet until I've seen her myself" replied Armonia.

Reaching for his mouth, Gemu wiped away a large slob of drool onto the back of his hand and rubbed the mess onto his suit.

It was his turn again and it was about time he started to turn things around. Rushing for his Bishop, Armonia didn't seem to grasp what had happened as his knight vanished from the board in an instant. Replaced in its white glory was Gemu's Bishop, almost mockingly close to Armonia's King but not within reach.

Dropping the black knight lazily onto his side of the board, Gemu's eyes lingered on his Bishop as he continued.

"Player Three…-" he began as he tapped the stone table with his finger. Contemplating his thoughts about this human.

"No drive or ambition in the male. I would say he is lazy, but that would make us look energetic… No. like in many games of chance I would say he is a safe bet. A good fifty, fifty chance in winning. Behind that slothful look there is a dream. One I hope to see"

Turns passed on by as each Shinigami took control of the board in short sessions. Armonia played safe but smart as he relied on his last Knight and his pair of Rooks. Gemu however played for the end game as he carefully moved his Pawns closer to the other side.

Armonia, though not aware of Gemu's play. Stole each opportunity he had to take unsuspecting Bishops and Rooks with ease.

Soon Gemu was left with a small board comprising of three Pawns, two white Knights, his King and his Queen.

"Player Four-" he began as he laid eyes on her majesty.

"A mundane office worker with little self-worth… until her Death Note fell in front of her. Her Shinigami, Tsumi has bragged massive changes and exciting stories about her. Though nothing to convince me of her chances to win. I would bet fifty years that she would be the first to go"

"Hmm, fifty years… a small bet to be sure" Armonia replied as he moved in position with his Bishop.

"…What about the final two Players? Hm. If I'm not mistaken you acquired six Death Notes for you Grand Game. Though I'm still not sure how you got those Notebooks? I'm certain the old man only gave you three…"

From behind his dark smile, Gemu coiled his dried grey tongue like he was holding back a secret. One that he wished he could boast and tell. But that would only ruin the fun.

Instead, he continued his evaluation of his Players for his own amusement. Eying down his White knight he began sounding jovial.

"Player Five. Small and young. A child of the human realm. She has never used the Death Note herself but it has filled many pages. The one now using it gave me quite a cold look as I explained the rules of the game. A very interesting bet to be sure"

Armonia hesitantly paused in the middle of moving his Rook as he listened.

"Hmm, might watched that human myself. Sounds interesting… Check!"

Rolling his black eyes to the bottom of the board, Gemu gazed with disdain at the Rook staring down on his King.

"Good play" he replied as he moved the piece one square up.

Rushing for his Rook, Armonia glided the obsidian castle and stole Gemu's unsuspecting Queen.

"This game is mine, Gemu! And so are your years!" Armonia boasted as he clenched his fingers tightly around the White Queen.

Tilting his head with a slight relaxed sigh, Gemu guided his King to remove the Rook close by.

With piece in hand, he dropped it carelessly to the side and watched it bounce off the table and onto the sand below.

Armonia grunted in a disapproving tone as he guided his Queen across the board.

"Player 1" Gemu said calmly as his eyes rolled to his Pawn.

"The last to find his Death Note, this human has one great advantage over all other Players. Except mine of course"

Raising the White piece from the board, the Pawn tapped one tile forward undisturbed.

Fascinated by Gemu's claim, Armonia hurried with his move and removed a white Knight with his Queen.

"You speak highly of this human? To what advantage does he have over your Game?"

With one space to go before his Pawn could reach the other side, Gemu leaned slightly forward from his stony seat. His thin lanky body casted a dark shadow over the checkered board as he began in a form of whisper.

"Can't tell…" he grinned a cruel twisted smile. He loved to hold back on some of the more crucial details. It makes his games worth betting on if there was a wild card in the mix. But the temptation to tell the Armonia was very tantalising. Like dangling a ripe juicy apple hanging from a stick, he wanted to snatch it at the first opportunity.

So, as his spidery fingers pinched his far-off Pawn, Gemu tapped it to the end of the board with a deep chuckle.

"But what I can tell you is this. Consider this as a hint my dear friend…Pawns are very interesting pieces if used correctly" he said as his dark sunken eyes rested in Armonia's glinting Diamonds.

"They are small, weak and insignificant. Barely useable as they inch further in a straight line, so easy to snuff out with a glancing blow"

Tilting his head slowly until a rough snap echoed from his neck, Gemu eyed his Queen that had been taken earlier by Armonia. The piece sat proudly opposite Gemu amongst her fallen members.

"But through determination and a strong will, they can become practically anything one could desire"

Reaching forward with searching fingers wriggling in the air, Gemu snatched the Queen and slowly knocked his Pawn off the board. Releasing her majesty in a delicate manner, Gemu leaned back and darkly snapped his neck roughly into place.

"Check-mate!" he coldly replied as his White Queen bared down on the Black King at a safe distance.

Armonia did not immediately gave sign of a reply. His eyes stayed to the board and his King, completely absorbed in understanding his situation.

The obsidian piece sat perfectly still in its starting position, protected by two Pawns that stood guarding his front.

Gritting his teeth, Armonia grasped his folly in short notice as he raised his head from his resting knuckles. His King could not safely move with his Pawns in the way.

"Check-mate indeed…" he replied in hushed tones. Knocking over the King with a disappointed flick.

Straightening his crooked and burnt tie, Gemu felt rather pleased with himself as he watched Armonia grumble to himself.

"What a fantastic game my dear old friend. Love to have another with ya some time… only if you are willing to pay the price!" Gemu added in a slow threatening tone as he extended his open hand across the board.

Visibly angered by his defeat, Armonia clenched down on his throne of skulls before grudgingly reaching his own hand.

Grasping firmly, Gemu shortened his smile slightly as he remined Armonia the stakes of their small game.

"Five hundred years, wasn't that what we agreed?"

Turning his head away from Gemu's seemingly mocking smile, Armonia grunted his response.

"Yes…"

Black teeth tightly squeezing together, Gemu chuckled under his breath as a strange green glow poured out of Armonia.

The light visibly hurt the aged Shinigami as it funnelled into his arm and travelled onto Gemu's hand.

Letting out a pleasured laugh, Gemu found the light tickling as it entered his body.

Grinning ear to ear, Gemu found his hand free from Armonia as he wretched it away quickly. Clearly disgruntled that he was five hundred years lighter while Gemu felt so much fuller.

Taking his time to remove himself from the table, Gemu watched as Armonia's throne spouted many insect-like legs.

Armonia's mobile throne reversed slightly before turning away from the table. Stopping only a short distance away.

"The King and I shall be watching your Game closely from now on Gemu" he said in a slight threatening tone.

"His majesty is not one to be made a fool of. If your Game fails to do as promised, count your many years extinguished"

Before Gemu could hint at a snarky reply, the aged Shinigami vanished beyond a portal of his making. Most likely off to see the old man immediately.

Left alone with his chess board still laid out on the table. Gemu stood silently as a large spider, with a body the size of a man's thumb, crawled from his suit and inched its way around his chin.

Gemu left the creature to its own as he stared off into the vast emptiness of the realm.

"Extinguished eh!?" he said amused as the spider invaded on his teeth.

Slowly opening his jaw, Gemu lashed out at the insect with his grey tongue and snatched the spider into his mouth with a crunch.

The sounds of chewing were drowned out by the winds now rushing by violently.


Authors Corner;

This here is my third take at this chapter.

Armonia was rather difficult to pin down as a character. In the anime he only had a few lines, and they were incredibly short. It was required to imagine and experiment how he would react to Gemu and his attitude.

Gemu, although a Shinigami of my own creation was somehow even harder to write. One of his inspirations was from "The Princess and the Frog". The character played by Keith David "Mr Facilier" was a key note in how he acts. A bit of a swindler hiding the truth behind a smile.

It was hard because of his interactions with Armonia. Gemu isn't stupid, he knows how to mess with Armonia to a certain extent, and not to go too far as he is rather close to the Shinigami King. But that doesn't stop him from making rather large bets.

I eventually wanted them both playing a game of chess after my first two attempts at the chapter, and I do like the interaction between the two. It made the reveal of the big Game a lot easier and more natural.

Speaking of the big Game.

The true understanding of the rules will be in the next chapter as we explore a new character and Player. It will take place before this one chronologically. A bit of earlier that day scenario.

What I can say now about the Game is, it was inspired by the live action Death Note movie "Light up the New World". A movie with six Death Note holders.

I liked the movie but found flaws in the fact we couldn't enjoy taking time to know the other Death Note holders.

My story will have chapters revolving around each of the six Players. You will get to see their side of the story before, one by one they each drop dead until we have a winner.

And each character will be different in ways from each other. Especially in how they use the Death Note.

So, next chapter starts with a new character and a fresh understanding on how the Game works.

See you next time.