Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

A Doppelganger\'s Bet	By : pinkfeline Category: Death Note > Yaoi-Male/Male > L/Light Views: 3881 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Chapter Five

Light would never admit it aloud, but at that moment he was in a state of panic. He had let his attention wander for a moment too long, been too deep in thought to notice as his doppelganger had slipped out of the room and then the house. When he had finally become aware that he was indeed alone in the room, he had been momentarily shocked. Briefly the idea that maybe it had all been a dream had made itself known and was quickly squashed when he passed through the bed on his way to the door. He had searched the house, dully ignoring his mother as she sat watching some cooking program on the television but becoming increasingly frantic as to his Kira�s whereabouts.

At last he could surmise that Kira was not on the Yagami property and therefore out in public. The very fact that he had no idea of Kira�s whereabouts, actions or current intentions had him practically drowning in his own fear. Though he lived with it, he tried not to focus on the fact that his very existence was on the line in this bet or else he felt that his resolve would break. To be left in the dark, with no idea of the events that were even now being put into motion brought the stark reality of his situation and hit him with it with an almost physical force.

Knowing that it was useless to venture outside in search of the rogue demon, Light had no choice but to wait for the creatures return and return he hoped it would. It was an agonising wait, though he sat through it with the calm poise he usually adopted in stressful situations. He refused to pace, to show his anxiety so blatantly even to an empty audience. When his hands began to fidget in his lap, he would wilfully clench them to keep them still before forcing the muscles to relax.

When at last the door to his room swung open three hours later, admitting entry to his copy, Light had to restrain himself from flying up from the chair in rage and relief. Instead he stayed seated, though tense, and levelled a deathly glare at the demonic entity.

There was no way that Kira could be ignorant to the dark vibe surrounding Light, nor the darkened expression on his face. Yet he seemed to ignore all this as he placed a small bag on the table, withdrawing a notebook from within. Light was unsure what to make of this and therefore kept his silence, watching with narrowed eyes.

There was silence in the room from both their parts, both creature and human�s attention coming to rest on the notebook. The book cover appeared to be of limp black grained leather, the pages tinged a slight brown. It looked old but in seemingly good condition though Light could not truly tell without opening it. Kira�s grin as he watched Light examine the book made the boy wary, wondering why his doppelganger seemed so proud of himself in regard to the object. Kira was hiding something from him, but for once Light could not even venture a guess as to the nature of it.

When the creature made no other movement but to stare at Light, the teen finally reached over and picked up the notebook, having to maintain an intense level of concentration to do so. It was an incredible nuisance being insubstantial as he was, and though he had gained some skill in moving objects, it took a lot of work and willpower. When he turned it around he found that the book was bound in the western style, the front embossed in aged silver with the title �Death Note� in thick gothic script. Still not quite sure what this was all about, he sent a questioning look to the other.

"Where on earth did you get this an what is it for?"

Kira chuckled, the sound smooth and deep.

"The internet is a wonderful invention. You can obtain any service you want from practically anywhere in the world. I had that notebook specially made and bound to the specifications that you now see. You were too busy brooding to notice when I ordered it more than a week ago."

Light shot the demon an irritated look before flipping the book open idly to find clean blank pages.

"So?"

"It isn�t finished yet, be patient. Now if you would be so kind as to evacuate the seat so that I may take it..?"

The death glare was back as Light almost snarled at the creature, the rage from earlier springing back into life now that his curiosity was put on hold. Searching for words, Light gritted his teeth furiously, wondering how to go about making his anger felt. No matter what he said or did, Kira would remain unaffected and aloof, sometimes even amused which always served in driving Light further up the wall. Recognising that this would be one of those times and wanting to avoid it lest he look the fool, Light raised his chin and stood elegantly. Kira promptly took his seat, swinging it round so that he could work on the desk.

Light watched from his position by the window as Kira began to inscribe words on the inside of the front cover. He could not read what was being written, and by the care taken at the creatures� hand, a lot of effort was being put in the script being printed.

Light wanted to demand what the other was up to, to discover the plans the creature had made and put himself at rest. Considering that it all, every action and decision had an affect on his life present and future was a heavy thought and burden. He could not be blamed for the fear, the anxiety and the rage that swirled so restlessly within his chest and around his heart when the creature refused to acknowledge him. To be ignored by the only creature able to see him only served as another reminder on how isolated and alone he was, how insignificant and precarious his existence.

Kira worked throughout the evening and well into the night under the watchful eyes of Light, going so far as to refuse dinner. Kira would at times pause as if trying to recall something, before going back to writing. Whenever Light ventured closer, Kira would cover the book with his arms and glare at the young poltergeist until he backed off again.

Caught between anger and curiosity, Light took to brooding once more. His thoughts began to drift after a while, thoughts of his life and past, thoughts of his future. Sometimes thoughts of the strange but intelligent Hideki Ryuuga would filter through, his mind questioning the other man�s presence and purpose. He dismissed such thoughts soon enough usually, not caring to dwell on the freak and yet he would eventually find himself thinking of the other once more.

He was brought out of his thoughts when Kira leaned back with a satisfied sigh, pride and pleasure written all over his face. The �Death Note� sat on the table, as innocent as any other book and yet with a gothic touch which had obviously been Kira�s aim. Noticing the other�s attention on him, Light let his eye flicker back to the demon. Resting his chin on his hand, Kira watched Light from beneath his lashes, eyes glinting with both amusement and something dangerous.

Light got the hint and slowly strolled over. Meeting no resistance, Light leaned over Kira and reached for the Death Note, very aware of the eyes that watched him. Flipping it open to the first page, he found elaborate gothic script adorning the inside of the black cover. Reading it, he found the words to be instructions�to kill.

"The human who�s name is written in this notebook shall die�will not take effect unless the writer has the victim�s face in their mind upon writing down the person�s name�"

Light shot an incredulous look at Kira before reading further, murmuring the words softly to himself as he read.

"�If the cause of death is not specified, the person will simply die of a heart attack�"

Taking a moment to go over what he had just read, Light sent a confused glare to the book�s creator before asking in a voice flat with unbelief.

"A prank?"

Kira snorted in a way that Light never would have, the teen nearly grimacing at hearing such a sound emit from the one wearing his face. Kira flipped the Death Note shut, staring at it contemplatively for a moment.

"A prank? Yes I suppose you could describe it as that. This book, this �Death Note� is a mock creation of a very real killing book."

Interest piqued, Light drew back to sit on the bed, recognising that this was a rare moment in which the doppelganger would actually take the time to explain something. Seeing the expectant look on the teen�s face Kira grinned widely.

"Keep in mind that I am only explaining this to you so that you can understand and appreciate what I have done. You see, the names of the living are written in the �Book of Life� as it were. When a person dies, their name is erased from the Book of Life and written in the Book of the Dead. You follow?"

Light gave a short nod in answer to the question, and to indicate that he was still listening. He let the irritation slide at being addressed as if a child and kept his silence.

"The keeper of the Book of the Dead is the Shinigami King, whom resides in the Shinigami Realm. The �Watchers� are the Shinigami that reside on Earth unseen by mortals, and it is their task to mark particular individuals for death. Who they mark, and for what purpose is of no consequence and this mark cannot be seen by any but those whom have the Shinigami eyes. Now, even for the Shinigami King, to handle so many deaths would be too great a task, so the Lesser Shinigami are each given a Death Note in which they inscribe the name of every person marked for death. Every name inscribed in a Death Note appears in the Book of the Dead, and that person dies."

Light shifted uncomfortably where he sat, unsure what to do with such revelations. If the creature was speaking the truth, then in consideration to the global death toll each day, there had to be thousands of these so called �Watchers�. That knowledge was in no way reassuring.

"So why make a Death Note that holds no such power?"

Kira smirked widely, eyes taking on a reddish hue that seemed almost to glow despite the increasing darkness of the room.

"Those who are hunting Kira are also looking to explain how I kill. They would be looking for a weapon, something natural and preferably substantial. Biological weapons, gases, poisons � anything that can be scientifically explained or examined .I am merely providing them with a weapon to temporarily occupy them should they ever get a hand on it. It is mere sport on my part, I�m sure you understand."

Light scoffed.

"What makes you think that if they were to get their hands on it, they would believe it to be anything other than a hoax? As you yourself had just said, they are looking to explain it with reason and science � a notebook that can kill the person whose name is written there-in does not exactly fall under either of those categories."

"Ah, yes. Outwardly they would protest and claim that it is nonsense, a prank. However, you see, their faith in the natural is already being shaken. They search for answers with science even when they know that no answer can be found. They hide behind the natural because they fear the supernatural. So while they may publicly condemn such notions, secretly they doubt. How can hundreds, thousands die through heart attacks, especially when it was uncovered that the deaths are being driven by a thinking individual? Perhaps if they deaths were more random, affected a wider range of people it would have been easier to explain. But they can see that these deaths are carefully chosen, criminals who have done wrong. That simply cannot be ignored or over looked as natural or coincidence."

"The Death Note may be a far fetched idea as far as you humans are concerned, but it is that very fact that will cause that little bit of doubt. Naturally should they test it they will find that it is indeed fake."

Light was silent as he considered Kira�s reasoning, not entirely convinced but seeing the logic in some of it. They fell into silence for some long minutes, each reflecting in their thoughts. It was Light who broke the silence, his voice soft and questioning.

"Would I be right in saying that you are one of these �Watchers�?"

Surprise briefly flashed over the doppelgangers features before easing into expressionless once more.

"What makes you say that?"

Light flopped backwards so that he lay full length on the bed; unable to feel the covers or the comfort they brought. His eyes trained on the ceiling as he mulled over the reasons for suspecting such. He shrugged lightly in a vague and seemingly uninterested gesture.

"The way you spoke of the process of death seemed slightly too familiar to be from an outsider�s point of view. If the Death Note you created resembles anything like the real deal used by Shinigami, then it means that you must have had contact with one of these lesser Death gods and at least been explained the process. You specifically mentioned that the Watchers roam on Earth which leads me to believe that the other Shinigami do not. Considering that you have been here for a few months at least and able to stay for at least a year only strengthens my theory. You also appear to feel that you know the human mind inside and out, so you must have spent a long time amongst them."

Soft chuckles drifted through the silence, Light looking askance at his amused copy.

"You are right off course. I used to be a watcher."

"You speak in the past tense."

The doppelganger inclined his head in affirmation, standing from the desk and walking over to the window. Staring out into the night sky he continued to speak.

"I ceased to be one the moment I revealed myself to you. We are forbidden to show ourselves or make any contact with mortals, though there have been instances in the past when a particularly sensitive individual would catch sight or sense one of us. In the past humans were much more sensitive to the supernatural and very superstitious. Time distorted their accounts into fanciful stories though, or so it is viewed now. The humans of today have blinded themselves to our presence with logic and science."

"Those days were filled with entertainment. We were feared, revered even. We were given offerings, rituals and festivals in the hopes of appeasing us and escaping our judgement. It has been long centuries however, and I have grown bored. The petty squabbles of men have ceased to entertain. Too busy advancing in your technology, in your science. Too busy working, eager for wealth. We have been forgotten, passed off as delusions of fear and ignorance. Stories to scare naughty little children with. We have lost our respect, our purpose so that even now the world of the Shinigami begins to rot away."

Light sat up, unsure of what to make of the heavy atmosphere that had settled in the room.

"Why me?"

"I was going to mark you for death when I saw the same boredom reflected in you. You feel that your world is rotting, in a slow state of decay and you despise it. I saw in you the potential to shake the foundations of the comfortable little world you humans have built for yourselves. So secure in the knowledge that you are the masters of all, the most intelligent species on the planet. Secure in the knowledge that there is nothing outside of yourselves, that everything can be explained away."

"In you I saw the potential and the freedom to throw the world into chaos. To remind you that there is much about the world you do not know and cannot explain."

Kira chuckled into the stunned silence, returning to the desk and picking up the notebook that had sparked the entire conversation. It was light in his hand, and though it was hardly anything more than a simple prank Kira could not help but feel a little pride in it�s creation. Sitting himself back down, he began to systematically record the names of each of his victims. It had to look authentic, as if it truly was a weapon.

"Is there a punishment for breaking the Watcher�s laws?"

"Hmmm�"

There would be no more answers forthcoming that night.

TBC.

Reviews are very much appreciated!

I feel like I just spoon fed you spoonfuls of supernatural gunk. Hopefully it was entertaining rather than irritating/boring. Not much happened in this chapter, but it should build the base of future events.

Thank you to all who reviewed! You�re comments are heartening and makes it enjoyable to write. Till next time!

Also for those who are interested, I have added a link to my FF.net page in my profile where you can find some of my other stories.
- 5
- 6
- 7
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A Doppelganger\'s Bet