Chapter Text
Rebirth… Of Someone Else
Everyday was the same. Wake up, go to school, hear his classmates gossip during classes, hear about another murder on the news and return home to sleep only for the same to repeat the next day. Light was tired of the routine. He wanted something exciting to happen.
Just now, he was in one of those repetitive days. He was in English class hearing his teacher drone on and on about something boring while his classmates gossiped between themselves, not even bothering to pay attention. He was looking boredly through the window when he saw something black falling from the sky…
It was too far away to see what it was. Could it be a bird looking for food? It almost looked like a book…
“Yagami-kun.” He heard his teacher call him. “Can you translate the next line?” Mentally sighing, he stood up and read the next line. The teacher always called him. Not only was he the best at the subject (and any other subject too), but he was also probably the only one who actually knew which line to read.
The rest of the day seemed to drag on like always. This was his last class of the day so it was the one that seemed to last longer.
As he was leaving the school, he remembered that thing that was falling. Could it have landed anywhere near? Following his curiosity and because he had nothing better to do than to go home, he went to where he calculated it would fall. It should have fallen in the park behind the school, but after looking around he saw nothing. Shrugging off, he went home. It was probably just a bird that saw a worm and made a dive for it. He just wasted his time here.
What Light Yagami didn’t know is that he was just saved from corruption.
When he arrived at his room later that day, he turned on the TV on the news. As expected, they were reporting about another crime. He doesn’t know why he even bothers listening anymore, it’s always the same. He told himself that as a future detective, he had to be informed of the crimes in his country.
They were reporting about a hostage situation in a school. They showed a photo of a middle aged man named Kurou Otoharada as the suspect. He hoped nothing happened to the kids. With a sigh, he stood up to turn the TV off, before he was stopped by the TV itself. The kids and teachers were coming out and the police were coming in. They had arrested the man. Or they would have if he wasn’t dead. The man apparently died of a heart attack according to the teachers that had been held hostages.
What a lucky coincidence, that the man died just before he could kill anyone. If only criminals died before committing more crimes then this would be a better world. But that was impossible, they have to be detained first and then have a trial to be given the death penalty. And from what he had seen from his father’s work it was not that easy to bring criminals to justice. This was just a lucky coincidence, it won’t happen again.
His mom called him, reminding him of going to cram school. Sighing, Light went to school. It was the same everyday, he didn’t even need cram school, he just went because it was expected of him. His whole personality is based on what people expect of him. The smart and polite boy who has a great future ahead of him. Light is fine with that, but sometimes he wishes he had someone who was intellectually similar to him so he could have a meaningful conversation instead of mindless talk like he has with all the people around him. He may sound arrogant, but no one is actually on par with his intellect. He just wants someone who is his equal.
As he looked around his classmates he saw them joking around, talking about movies and mangas. Was this what his whole life will be? Having to make small talk with his peers and not ever have an intellectually stimulating conversation?
As he was leaving school for the night he saw one of his classmates, Sudou, cornering a boy behind an alley. He didn’t recognize him so he was probably from another class. Sudou was a known bully, he tended to steal money from weaker people, like what he was trying to do now. As he walked closer he caught a glimpse of a shiny thing, a knife. Sudou was holding a knife to the boy’s throat.
Light didn’t like bullies, but he tended to ignore them rather than stop them unless they went too far. But he will not stand around and let him put a knife to someone’s throat.
“What’s going on here?” Light asked.
“Mind your business.” Said Sudou, turning around. Light could tell the moment he recognized him, his face got paler and he lowered the knife. Sudou was the son of a subordinate of Light’s father and he knew not to mess with him.
“Ah, Yagami, I didn’t see you there.” He grimaced.
“How’s your dad, Sudou?” Asked Light.
“Great. He said he will probably have a raise soon.”
“That's great. Though, it would be a shame if the department found out his son is bullying people, wouldn’t it?” This would probably be a dangerous move on his part, but Light knew Sudou. His family needed the raise and Light had the ability to prevent it and Sudou knew that. Sudou’s face got paler and hid the knife behind his back. “But, I’m sure you won’t go around bullying people, right?”
“No, of course not!” Said Sudou with a grimace.
“Great, then have a good night. And send your parents my greetings. Oh, and thank your mother for the pie, it was delicious.” He said smiling. One of his fake smiles, of course. The one that said ‘do what I want or else’.
“Sure.” And just like that he was gone.
Light turned to see the boy. He looked scared and had a hand on his bag, probably about to get the money Sudou was going to take. “Are you okay?” Light gave him a reassuring smile.
“Ye-yeah… thanks.” He said quietly, looking at him in awe.
“Well, I have to go now, good night.” He said leaving the boy behind.
The next day in school, he found out that Sudou died in an accident. According to his friend who was there, he was crossing the street when a driver came out of nowhere and hit him. He died instantly. It was the school gossip all day. Many said that it was such a shame that he was so young, but Light managed to hear some whispers, especially from people who have been a victim of Sudou. Many were glad he was no longer here. They think he deserved it, that it was karma.
It was such a horrible thing to think. To wish someone’s death, but… he thought of the night before when he had just seen the boy threaten someone with a knife. Light could understand people's desire to see their abuser brought to justice or… death…
However, things like this didn’t happen normally. That someone who had abused people just died. The world was a rotten place and there were criminals everywhere, not all of them could just die. Justice didn’t work like that. There was no such thing as karma.
Light had been sure of this, however, the universe seemed to want to contradict him. Criminals were dying left and right of heart attacks. Both nationally and internationally. They all suddenly had a heart attack and died even if they didn't have heart disease problems before. Even the young and healthy criminals were dying of heart attacks.
At first, Light wanted to think it was just a coincidence, a really strange one, but there were so many cases in the past week that he couldn’t keep ignoring it. Someone was killing all these criminals. But how? They didn’t show signs of poisoning or any other thing besides the heart attack. And it was all around the world. Was this the work of a worldwide organization or of one single person? How could one single person even kill these many people in such a short time and all in different places? It was ridiculous to think it was just one, but… something was telling Light that this was not the work of an organization.
People had started calling this Kira’s work. They called Kira a god who was killing criminals. Could this be the work of a god? But that was impossible, this must be the work of an organization that is killing these criminals in some way with a new weapon or drug or something. But Light had to consider the possibility of a single person having some kind of power to kill people without being near them.
Whoever it was, what they were doing was wrong. Yeah, criminals deserve to be brought to justice, but there were better methods to do so than to just kill them. Some of these people didn’t even have a trial. If someone was really killing them, then that didn’t make them better than the criminals.
However, hadn’t he wished criminals died before committing more crimes? He had, but this wasn’t really what he wanted. Sure, it would be great if all criminals disappeared and there was no more crime, but to have someone killing them all out of nowhere? This was wrong. No one should have this power over someone’s life.
So Light decided to investigate the Kira case. He already had some experience since his father is the chief of the NPA and he has helped him resolve cases before. But to investigate Kira first he has to find any clues on them, but he doesn’t know how he will be able to do so.
But apparently he wouldn’t have to wait for long...
“Sorry for the interruption.” Said a man on the TV in what was said to be a special broadcast. “The following is a live broadcast worldwide from Interpol.” Completely forgetting his homework, Light turned to watch the TV. What would they want to say?
A man with a glare and black hair appeared on the screen. In front of him was a name plate that said LIND L. TAILOR. “I’m in charge of all the police forces in the world, I’m Lind L. Tailor, also known as L.” The man said.
Light gasped. L? He had heard of him before. He’s the best detective in the whole world. He has always wanted to meet him and work by his side, but nobody actually knew who he was and he was extremely difficult to contact. What was he doing in a live broadcast? His identity was supposed to be a secret.
“Criminals around the world have been getting killed by a serial killer. This is the worst crime in all history and will not go unpunished. Kira, I will look for you and I will find you.” What was this guy doing? “Kira, I have an idea of your motivation and what you’re trying to achieve. But what you’re doing is evil !” This guy was stupid or what? He is just taunting Kira, if he really can use whatever powers he has without being in the same room, then this man is just as good as dead.
Suddenly, Tailor clenched his fist on his chest and started having a seizure. He was having a heart attack! The man died. L died... If Kira could kill the best detective in the world then was there any possibility of catching them?
However, a gothic letter ‘L’ appeared on the screen. “Amazing.” A distorted voice said on the TV. “I had to prove it. I never imagined it would actually happen. Kira, it looks like you can kill a person without direct contact.” What? What was this? “I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t just seen it. Listen, Kira. If you really killed Lind. L. Tailor, the one who died on TV, I have to tell you, he was a prisoner whose execution was scheduled for today. He was not me.” What? Was this person the real L? “The police arrested him in absolute secrecy, so you didn’t hear about him on the TV or on the Internet. It looks like even you don't have information on this type of criminal.” He just tricked Kira! “But I assure you, L is real. I exist. Now try to kill me!” What was he thinking? Is he really tempting Kira into killing him? Was this guy insane? “What’s wrong? Hurry up! Come on, kill me! Come on, Kira! Try to kill me!” What was happening? Why has Kira not killed him yet? Could he be perhaps... unable to kill L? “What’s wrong? You can’t do it?” L asked. “Well, Kira, looks like you can’t kill me. So there’s people you can’t kill. You gave me a useful clue.”
And to Light too. If Kira can’t kill L despite apparently being able to kill without contact, then maybe his powers (whatever those may be) are not omnipotent.
“I will return you the favor.” L continued. “I will tell you something interesting. The broadcast said it was ‘worldwide’, but we’re only transmitting in Kanto, Japan.” What?! That’s where he lived! Kira was in the same region? He may have even crossed paths with them! “I was planning to transmit this message throughout the world, but it looks like it won’t be necessary anymore. Now I know where you are. In the region of Kanto.” L continued. “The first of your victims was a suspect in Shinjuku.” Shinjuku? This sounded familiar... “The police treated your first kill as a minor accident. Of all the criminals that died of a heart attack, the crime of this one was less serious.” Wait. Could it be...? The hostage situation from last week. The man died of a heart attack. “Besides, his crime was only reported in Japan. I used that information to deduce this. You’re in Japan and your first victim was just an ‘experiment’. I decided to broadcast it in Kanto first because of the big population and luckily I found you. To be honest, I never thought it would actually work, but... but Kira, it won’t be long before I sentence you to death.” This guy is amazing! “Kira, I’m very interested in knowing how you kill. You can answer my question when I catch you. See you soon, Kira.” He said before the transmission was cut.
Light sat down. He felt his heart racing. He had never felt alive as he was feeling at this moment. This man, L... he is amazing! He just cornered Kira! And it only took him mere minutes.
“Light!” He was startled by Sayu’s shout coming from his door before she threw it wide open. “Light! Did you see that?”
Light was still watching the TV, it had returned to the usual news, but he wasn’t really watching them. He was still thinking of everything that just happened.
“Light? Are you okay?” Sayu asked worriedly. “Did- did you see L’s broadcast?” She asked.
“Yeah...” He said with a sigh.
“Light? Are you okay? You are worrying me.” She said with worry.
“Yeah, just...” He turned to her with a smile, a real one. “L is amazing, isn’t he?”