"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one." – John Lennon
Something didn't feel right.
I think it was my head. It was pounding.
Or maybe it was my vision, since I couldn't see anything.
Or maybe it was my arms and legs, which couldn't move.
Something was missing. What was it?
Then, my vision cleared. Familiar, white walls. A comfy bed. My stuff on my desk, my window slightly ajar. The breeze ruffled my hair.
Why did it feel like years since I'd last been in my room?
I sat up, bracing against the bed head. A glass of water was on my desk, along with my phone and alarm clock. Everything was normal.
"Sayu."
I looked up. I'd recognise that voice anywhere.
My brother was there, his hair all disheveled and his eyes baggy, but he was smiling, the first genuine smile I'd seen in so long. It was like the real Light had finally returned.
"Lightie?" I asked, my voice croaking.
Light came and sat near me, reaching out. I was elated to see him - at least, I should've been. But why did something feel so wrong?
"You are a brave person, Sayu," L told me. "Much braver than your brother."
"Why do you say that?" I asked. "My brother is a genius!"
"And he is a coward," L said, "but so am I. I hope you can forgive me."
"How are you feeling?" Light asked, grabbing my hand.
Why was I shaking so bad? Light was looking at me with the same love and concern he'd always had. Why was it making me ill?
"I will take it from him," L promised, "and then, he will lose everything. Your sacrifice won't go to waste."
"Sayu?"
It was Mom. She came in, tears in her eyes. She sat down beside my brother, pulling me into her arms. I couldn't help it, my voice choked up. I returned the hug, putting my head on her shoulder. It was nice to be a kid again.
"My little Sayu," Mom sobbed, "oh, thank God. I thought you were gone forever!"
"What happened?" I croaked.
Light and Mom looked at each other. Mom's lip trembled.
"There was an accident," Light said, gritting his teeth.
Why was my head thumping so loud. It's like something was stuck in there, trying to break out.
"You were hit by a car," Light continued, "and…"
The thumping grew louder.
"But you came back," Mom said, eyes lighting up, "because the Anti-Kira saved you!"
The Anti Kira…
I sat up, bracing against the wall. Both Mom and Light stared at me. I couldn't read their expressions anymore.
"What…" I coughed. "What is the Anti-Kira?"
Naomi rubbed her temples. Ray sat beside her, holding her shoulder. She glanced at him; they were close before, but everything had drawn them even closer.
"So?" asked L.
Naomi looked away. She couldn't stand that empty, hollow gaze of his. She'd never doubt L's intelligence, of course. He was a genius. But that didn't mean he was pleasant to be around.
She relaxed as Ray gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. She sighed, leaning back.
"Only Sayu Yagami and a few civilians have returned to life," she said, "but notably, no criminals."
"Yet, previously, the Anti-Kira brought everyone back," L replied. "Clearly, the Anti-Kira has changed hands. This new Anti-Kira seems to have much more similar… tastes to the original Kira."
"They're the same," Ray muttered.
"So Kira is both Anti-Kira and original Kira?" Naomi asked.
"It's hard to believe," Soichiro came into the room. His eye bags were darker than ever before. He'd aged years in days.
"With this power, Kira really is a god," Ray gasped. "We're done for!"
Naomi reached out; it was her turn to comfort her partner.
"Not yet," L said. "This is exactly what I predicted."
Ray began breathing, heavily. Naomi drew closer.
"Um…" Matsuda piped up. All these people intimidated him, but he wouldn't be frowned out. "If you don't mind me asking… I think we need a recap of what the hell is going on."
L closed his eyes.
"It all started with the death of Sayu Yagami," he said, "when she shot herself."
Light couldn't describe his feelings.
He was a winner. He was a champion.
He had won.
Hadn't he?
He held two notebooks in his arms, two notebooks that could change everything.
This is what he wanted. He had it all. Nothing could stop him now.
Nothing should've stopped him.
Yet, he felt so empty, so powerless, so nothing.
What was wrong with him? He had won. Why wasn't he satisfied?
Get it together, he told himself.
He was hunched over his desk. His Shinigami, Ryuk, was watching over him. On his other side, was a different being. A creature with many eyes and wings. A creature that judged him, siliently. His eyes narrowed as its gaze intensified.
"What is it," he got it, teeth clenched. He refused to be judged by this thing, this thing that was just as bad as him.
And the creature did not move. It did not have a mouth, and yet, its words chilled Light to his core.
You know what you did.
Light hissed, his lungs burning. Ryuk laughed and laughed, clasping his hands together.
"Looks like you just met your match."
Soichiro Yagami was woozy. A terrible pain overcame his heart. His memory was blurry.
What was he forgetting? It was so important, and yet…
His heart rate was increasing. His breathing was heavy, and he…
No…
He fell to his knees, eyes closing. He heard his wife crying out, her hands on his back, begging him to stay awake, stay alive.
He had to, for the sake of his children. His daughter had died, only saved thanks to the Anti-Kira. The Anti-Kira would save him as well, right?
"Dad…"
His son supported him, wrapping his arm around his shoulder. He directed him towards the bed, letting him lay down.
"Light, my boy…" he coughed. "Please…"
"It's going to be okay, Dad," Light said, assuredly.
Soichiro sighed. He breathed out.
"Light…" he whispered.
Suddenly, behind Light, there was a terrible creature. Some old, wrinkled thing with glowing eyes and dark wings. It grinned, eyes bulging. On the other side, an Angel with many eyes and golden wings. The two opposing forces. Both still terrifying.
Soichiro gasped, eyes going huge. "What is this?"
Was it real?
"I know how to figure out who Kira is," Light told his father, "but for that, you need to make a deal."