Choices

Choices: A death Note Fan-fiction
By Aurora Moon

I often depend only on spell-check, grammar check programs due to the fact that I often don't have people who are willing to beta my stuff.

so if some part seems weird, then forgive me! ^^;;

But anyway I hope you've enjoyed the story so far!

Reviewer response time!
~Ulforce Diizoid: oh, you’re right about that… I didn’t actually notice that at all. ^^;;

~mayablackwolf: Hehehe, I’m glad you’ve been enjoying this story so far.

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The strong smell of ammonia and the smell of other medication hit his nostrils.

He groaned in disgust at the stench, as he opened his eyes.

He blinked as he found himself in a blindingly white, sterile room.

“ What….? ” He couldn’t help but utter that, as he tried to recall why he was here, and where this was.

Sayu, his young sister was right by his side, her head resting on top of his right leg He reached out to touch her hair, causing her to startle from her short nap.

He was startled to see that Sayu’s eyes were completely red as their eyes met. It was as if she had been crying non-stop.

Sayu’s expression of grief changed to that of joy once she saw that Light was awake.

“ Light!! You’re alright!! ” She practically tacked him, as she wrapped her in a tight hug.

“ Where am I? This isn’t the hospital is it? ” Light felt stupid asking that question, but he felt that it had to be asked.

Sayu nodded. Her happy expression changed back to the sorrowful expression she had on earlier.

“Yeah it is. Oh, Light! You really scared me, you know. I heard loud noises in your bedroom, and found you with all those horrible bruises on your face… and that wasn’t all… you were throwing this little fit, clutching your chest… and then you just went still! I thought you had died for real!”

Sayu started to weep softly, recalling that horrible memory.

Light remembered bits and pieces of what had happened before now, thanks to Sayu making him remember about the heart attack. His memory of the past night was a little fuzzy… but he did remember feeling very stressed…

Light reached out to hold his sister’s hand. “I’m sorry for worrying you so much. I promise you… I won’t do anything to make you cry like that again. ”

Sayu sniffled, trying to cut back on her tears as she looked up at light with this sad puppy eyes expression. “ Promise me you won’t ever die! If you do, I won’t forgive you at all for leaving your cute little sister all alone! ”

Light couldn’t help but chuckle at that, even if it made the wounds on his face hurt. “ Yes, I promise that I’ll do everything in my power to not ever die. ”
It was then at that moment his parents came in. And they both rushed to his bed as soon as they saw he was awake.

“Light! Are you alright, son?? ” Soichiro Yagami practically leapt at his son in his rush to the bed. He had an scared, grief-struck expression, like that of an father who had just watched his own child die before his eyes.

Mirroring that was his mother right next to his father, who simply wept out of relief once she saw that Light was now up and about.

Light suddenly felt an massive guilt at seeing this scene for some reason, although he didn’t know why.

“ Yeah, I’m fine. I don’t know what happened exactly… but yeah, I’m really fine now. ” Light answered his father.

His father’s tense shoulders sagged, as he let out an breath of relief. “ I see… I’m glad to hear that… ”

“ What happened to your face? ” his worried mother asked. “ your face was like that when I ran into the room after I heard Sayu scream your name. ”

Light’s mind recalled that fight he had in the bar, and what happened to that pervert. He remembered that Botan had died of an heart attack following Light, but he couldn’t remember how it happened…

But how could he explain something like that to his mother and sister ?

He could possibly tell his father, but…certainly not in front of them. They would make way too much of a big fuss, and then keep on asking questions that he couldn’t possibly answer, like how he had been thinking about the deaths on the TV, and how he wanted to solve that case. He had to yet to talk to his father first about that, after all.

Taking a few seconds to think about what would be the least suspicious explanation…

“ I don’t know… my sister said that I apparently had been in the middle of an seizure fit when she came into my room to see what I had been screaming about. So maybe I must had hit my face on something? ” Light remarked with an innocent, puzzled expression.

Hopefully, they wouldn’t find that too strange…

Thankfully, his family seemed to accept this explanation without much thought.

His father however, asked: “ The doctors told me that your heart attack had been triggered by an usual high amount of stress and or arelinine. What were you so stressed about? ”

His mind raced around, again looking for the least suspicious answer…

“The exams are in four weeks… ” he blurted out the first thing he could think of. “I had forgotten about that until last night, and I realized that I hadn’t been preparing for it beforehand…”

That sounded so stupid and feeble, and he bet that others were thinking that as well.
Hell, Four weeks were enough for somebody like him to not only prepare for one exam, but a dozen exams! And he could easily ace all of them, no problem.

All of his family members were looking at him with this peculiar expression on their face.
Oh crap, they weren’t buying it at all…

After a few seconds which felt like forever to Light, Sayu finally broke the silence by punching him on the arm.

“ Ow! What did you do that for? ” Light looked over at Sayu, with an shocked expression on his face.

“ Jeez, Light! I know you’re serious about studying and preparing for your college things… but I think this time you’re overdoing it! You had an heart attack over THAT?! It isn’t even due for four weeks , you have plenty of time.” Sayu remarked, with an annoyed expression on her face.

“ I hate to say it.. ” His mom said, “ But this time I agree with Sayu. You really should take your studies just a little bit less seriously. There is really such a thing as overdoing it… ”

Soichiro just simply nodded in agreement.

Jeez, they actually brought that? Oh well, he wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth…

“ Yes, yes… ” Light threw his hands up in mock surrender. “ I’ll try to relax a little more. ”

Sayu put her hands on her hips as she gave Light an fierce, stern look. “ You better do that! Your exams and grades aren’t worth killing yourself over, no matter what others tell you! ”

Light and their parents couldn’t help but smile at that.
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It was Friday now, and Misa’s mother had apparently worked up the nerve to pull Misa aside to talk her about “ the issue ”.

Misa knew it was coming soon as she noticed her dad give mom an pointed look as he made up some lame excuse to escort her brother Rin out of the kitchen so that Misa and her mother could talk.

“ Um, Misa? Can you help me with the dishes? ” her mom asked, sounding way more nervous than she should had been.

“ Oh sure, ” Misa said way too casually, “ Just let me turn on the small TV so that we can watch the news while we wash and dry the dishes. ”

She better not be going to give me the talk about why I should give up modeling, Misa couldn’t help but bitterly think. There was just no way she was going to give up becoming an star!

Her mother just nodded, so she switched on the TV and placed it in a certain location so that the two of them could see the TV when still facing the sink.

The news were still talking about this new “ Kira ”. They had gotten around to finally giving the unseen killer an name, it seems. But Misa knew there was more than one out there now… she didn’t know how many though, because Khepfi couldn’t tell her at all.

The two worked in silence for a few seconds, but her mother finally spoke as she handed her an dish for her to dry.

“ So, I couldn’t help but notice that you’ve been different lately… ” Mom replied.

“ Hmm? Have I really? ” Misa replied, all a little bit too innocently.

“ Um, yes. And to be honest… I’m not sure if I like it. ” Mom nervously said.

Misa looked at her mother with a puzzled expression. “ Well, I’m not sure how I’ve changed. So why don’t you try to explain to me what it is that you don’t like? ”

“ well… let’s see… ” mom took a deep breath before verbally ticking off the list. “ Well, there’s been the times when Daddy and I heard you talking to yourself in your room about things that didn’t make sense at all. There was the nightmares you had, and then after that you suddenly just wanted to be home more often instead of going out with your friends like usual. You’re way more affectionate towards all of us than usual. That last part I don’t mind of course. ”

“Oh, I see. ” Misa nodded, fully understanding now. She then tried to explain the things in the best rational way she could think of. “Well, I promise you I weren’t really talking to myself… honest! I… uh, were just thinking out loud! And I don’t have nightmares anymore… so that’s something I’m very thankful for!”

She then laid the now dry dish on the table, just for her to get handed another wet dish. Her hands automatically started drying the wet dish as her mother started talking again.

“ Well… don’t get angry but… ” Mom said the next part almost quickly, “ But daddy and I have been wondering if you’ve been doing drugs or something? Please tell me you’re not! ”

Misa just looked surprised, even though she actually wasn’t. “ Really! Uh… I must admit that I’m very surprised that you guys would think that… but then again, when you explained to me before about how my behavior looked to you… I guess I shouldn’t be so shocked… ”

“ Just look me right in the eyes and tell me you’re not. ” Her mother almost pleaded.

Misa then turned to look her mother right in the eyes. “ Mama, I swear to you on my body and soul that, no, I am NOT using drugs of ANY KIND at all. Nor will I ever do that in my whole lifetime!”

Mom smiled. “ Promise? ”

Misa nodded. “ Promise! ”

Satisfied with that, her mother moved on with the topic.

“ Well, I believe you. But that doesn’t still explain why you’re not going out with your friends everyday like you would do normally… ”

Misa then sighed. “ Oh that. Well, let’s say I’m just growing up right now. I… I just realized that there was more important things in life. Going out shopping with my girlfriends, and partying with them at nightclubs, and playing Karaoke with cute guys everyday after school… well, that’s not exactly very fill-fulling for an nearly adult girl about to leave High school for college, right? ”

“ Well…you do kind of have a point there… ” Her mother couldn’t help but admit that.

Misa smiled, and then continued talking.

“ So I was just really thinking about what to do with my own life up there in my room… Do you ever believe in destiny, mom? That’s what I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.” Misa asked.

“ I do believe things do happen for an reason.. But I’m not sure if that can be called destiny.” Misa’s mother looked unsure.

Misa smiled. Now was the time as any to subtly bring up the fact that there was no way in hell that she would ever give up modeling.

“ Well, I’m glad I took up that modeling job. That really helped me see my own life in the bigger picture, you know. That job’s way more challenging than anybody would ever think it is! It’s really character-building more than anything else. ”

“ Well, uh, about that. Your father seems to think… ”

Misa ignored her own mother, as she went on. “ And it’s really made me think about my own future. You know, I never once considered what I would do with my own life outside of high school until I took that modeling job? Far as I was concerned, before all I could think about was immature things like clothes and boys. Now I’ve been saving up the money from the modeling job, and seriously thinking about my own future! ”

Misa then looked at her mother with an bright expression, and cheerfully asked: “ Oh, I’m sorry. What were you saying?? ”

“ Your father seems to think that your modeling job isn’t such a good idea for somebody your age. In fact he talked to me and he wants you to give it up.” Mother looked nervous.

Misa put on her best cute but dismayed look. “What? But I’m 17 going on 18! I’m practically an adult now. I’m about to graduate… what else am I supposed to do once I finish high school? I don’t think I can stay here in this house forever, even if I do love you guys. And what do YOU think? You like the fact that your daughter’s become an model, right?”

Misa’s mother had to admit… she DID love the fact that her daughter had become an model. She bragged to everyone in the neighborhood and anybody else who would even listen about it. After all, it wasn’t everyday that an parent’s child became famous!

And plus, if Misa became filthy rich then that meant that as her darling mama, SHE was also set up for life in her old age. After all, Misa was such a good child… she’d make sure that her own parents would live very comfortably!

There was just no way that she could get that life of luxury at all, old age or otherwise, on her husband’s salary. After all, Her husband was only a typical Japanese businessman slaving all day over a desk.

“ Well…Yes, I do like the fact that my beautiful daughter became so famous… but, I do agree with your father that it could place too much pressure on you what with your final high school exams coming up before you graduate... ” Her mother replied, not sounding quite as convincing as she would had liked to be.

Misa tilted her head, looking quite puzzled. “Really? But the exams and everything is already all over! All I really have to do is wait for the graduation day. I was so sure that I told you guys that. Are you sure there isn’t another reason for why he wants me to quit? ”

Mother started to giggle nervously, now that she was trapped in that proverbial corner.

Finally she burst out: “ Okay, okay!! I admit it, your father and I think you’ve been losing it! The way you were talking to yourself, the night terrors, and then.. What happened with that criminal!! That incident in our household was the straw that broke the camel’s back. ”

Misa just nodded, quite calm much to her mother’s surprise. She would sure that Misa would had pitched a fit and ran to her room crying a long time ago. Maybe Misa was really maturing after all.

“ I already explained to you that I wasn’t talking to myself… that I had just been thinking about my life. As for the nightmares… well, they just stopped. They were nothing but dreams. ” Misa explained.

She then sighed. “ that criminal… even I must admit that I actually surprised myself there. I guess it was one of those weird situations where the fear makes you do things you normally would never do. But, if you’re really worried about my sanity… I guess we can go to an therapist together if you want. After all, you want to make sure, right? ”

With that Misa gave her best charming smile.

“ … Ok. I guess we might just have to do that, just to reassure your father. I guess there’s no reason for you to give up modeling, after all. I’ll have to talk to your father about it of course. ” Mother replied.

Yes! She had won… with some luck she wouldn’t be declared insane neither.
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Light was completely bored lying here in this hospital bed. Much to his dismay, he wasn’t released right away like he thought he would once they realized that he was fine.

Nooo, the doctor just HAD to insist that since Light had gotten an heart attack so young, that it could be indicative of some condition that had been hidden in a otherwise healthy young man.

So he had to stay not just overnight, but TWO nights while they ran tests on him for heart diseases, etc. And knowing the doctors, it’d all run up to an very costly bill. Hospitals…While they were good for your health, they certainly weren’t good for your wallet. go figure!

This was the only first night he was staying, but god, he was already so bored. And the TV wasn’t any entertaining at all. Save for the News on this new “ Kira ”, which he found quite interesting already to start with.

He let an loud gasp of surprise as “L” appeared on the TV. He couldn’t believe it– he was actually seeing the face of the legendary, mysterious L who his father had told him about once, and who he had heard about before on the news before.

Light had always admired the man’s work, and had wondered about what he was like. He had to admit, the guy in the suit talking on TV was a little bit of an dispointment, but he wasn’t too bad.

Lind L. Taylor, huh? So that was his true name…

“ I know why you’re doing this, Kira… But no matter how noble you think you may be, you are WRONG! ” He declared, and then there was a noticeable slight smirk as he went on to say just exactly what he thought of this “ Kira”.

What the hell was he doing… the way he was saying things… it was almost as if he was actually daring Kira to kill him. What was he thinking?! Didn’t he know how dangerous this was?

Suddenly, “ L ” had an heart attack right there on the TV!

Light sat right up, leaning toward the TV with an shocked expression.

He just knew it! He knew somehow this would happen… So much for the “ L ” he admired so much… even the world’s greatest detective could become careless, it seems.

That title had gone to L’s head, and it had killed him in the end. A very somber reminder to all that pride came right before the fall…

Light slumped back on his bed, sighing. He slowly shook his head, an dejected look on his face.

Suddenly, once again an Gothic “ L ” appeared on the TV. An electronic voice replied: “ So I was right….How surprising! ”

His head snapped up towards the TV, his eyes widening.

L was still alive? Then who was that other guy…?

“ That man you killed… he was not me, but rather an criminal who took my place. He was secretly tried and that was why he was not on the news. And therefore why you couldn’t know of him at all. So, it seems that you need not only the face of the criminal, but their names as well. It also seems that you don’t need to be close to an person in order to kill them. In killing that criminal, you provided me with such useful information. I thank you for that. ”

Light absorbed all this information… and then he started chuckling.

So this was how L did things… he was way more cunning than Light thought he was, and strangely enough this seemed to make him admire the mysterious man even more.

“ However, this ends now, KIRA! I promise you… and to everyone else in the world watching today, that I will catch you no matter what it takes! For I am JUSTICE!! ”

L’s electronic voice boomed out of the TV, and with that, his transmission was over.

Light just started to laugh even more hard than before. “ My god! Haha haha… Kira must be feeling like an compete fool about right now…Well played, L. ”
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Another masculine voice was laughing as well, but for different reasons.

“ How novel! This L person… he’s got an flair for the dramatic. I have to admit I like that. ” the person in the shadows chuckled, as the DVD player replayed the transmission that he had recorded earlier over and over.

“ …’I am justice!’… That line sounds so dramatic by itself right there. ” the shadowy figure smirked, still talking to himself for no real good reason. “ I think I’ll use that line in my next book. ”

He then looked down at the open death note on his desk. On one page, there was an whole slew of names, but the other page was blank.

“ But I wonder. Somebody else killed the L double for me before I could even do anything. Not to mention that I was so busy with my movie scripts that I didn’t kill the usual amount of people like I usually did before… but it seems that somebody was also kind enough to keep the quota filled for me. ”

Which of course, meant that there was other death note owners out there besides him now.

He had actually only started killing criminals as well as an handful of random innocent people that had simply happened to be on the news as an social experiment to see how the public would react. Would they attempt to find an logical explanation, or would they assume that it was an act of god?
And all of a sudden, all other Death Note owners out there had picked up on this and became part of this for whatever reasons they had.

“ How fantastic! ” He laughed again. “ Whenever they’re foes or my allies doesn’t matter to me. That just makes things even more interesting… I wonder what they’re like? Oh my god, I got to write about all this! ”

With that, he opened one of his drawers and pulled out an large blue notebook with the gold letters on it spelling out “Diary”. He placed the blue diary book on top of the death note, turned on the light, and then hurriedly started writing about this turn of events.
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And so the “ first Kira” of this world appears. No, he’s not an original character… but at the same time he’s also not on the list of usual suspects, neither. I thought it’d make it more fun to have you guys keep guessing who this is. Lol. Of course, important clues will be dropped into each chapter as who the first kira is in this story from now on…

The misa segment went on longer than I thought it would. >.<
I actually originally planned for L’s TV screen time to go on after Misa and her mother had talked about the “ insanity issue ”. That way we could see it occurring from Misa’s POV. Then after that we would have Light’s take on it.
But after that long conversation I felt that would be giving Misa way TOO MUCH time in this story of mine. It would be ironic if the character I hated the most in the manga and anime, completely took over this story when it was supposed to be about Light! (and his budding love for L, of course! :p)

At any rate, I hope the Misa segment didn’t bore you too much… things get better next chapter, I promise! Less misa and MORE of light!