Week #81- Hallucination
Title: Banquo's Ghost
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Light, L, Misa, Soichiro, Sachiko, and Sayu. References to Ryuk, Rem, Watari, Aiber, Wedy, The Taskforce, and the members of Yotsuba.
Warnings: Some strong language and descriptions of a corpse.
Word Count: 2,062
Disclaimer: Death Note and its characters belong to Ohba/Obata.
Author's Note: Based on a scene from Shakespeare's Macbeth. No, this is not my best work.
Banquo’s Ghost
Light, remember dinner tonight with your mother and Sayu.
Dammit, dad, I’m a block from the restaurant and you’re already texting me with reminders. Fine, might as well tell him we’re coming.
Dad, Misa and I are close to the restaurant now. Be there in five minutes.
“I hope work isn’t bothering you right now about stuff.”
“No, Misa, dad is just reminding us about dinner. He’s very thorough.”
Oh great she’s latching on my arm now. I’m used to this by now but dammit Misa I’m not in the mood.
“I should have brought a gift for your mom. That was so sweet of her to invite me to dinner with your family. I really feel like I’m part of your family now; your mom’s inviting me to dinner …”
Would you just shut the hell up! No, you need to be here; it’s a good sign my family accepts you, it means my dad accepts you and there will be no suspicion from here on out.
In fact she’s helping me; I am just a polite son going out to dinner with his family and happy my family accepts my girlfriend. This is perfectly normal; this is like any other family. It’s also a good sign that dad doesn’t think Kira is going to kill all of us if we go out in public. Mom has been talking about this for weeks but it was too soon after…
Hehehehe…too soon after…hehehe…Ryuzaki and Watari died. Too soon after Rem killed them to save Misa. My plan worked perfectly, dad thought Kira was going after the Taskforce. He had to think that for a while but now that we’re in the clear life can go on as normal for these people and I can continue unopposed.
But dammit L had such a difficult computer system to crack. But now I have the names and faces of thousands of people. Aiber and Wedy, those two criminals L kept, will have to go first. I’ll kill the members of Yotsuba after them. But no, I need to wait until after the first of the year. If they all die now the Taskforce will get more suspicious. I need to give it some time. That’s right, all of you enjoy what little time you have left.
“Is this the restaurant? Oh I just love Italian food!”
“I think mom and dad ate here a while ago. They said the food is really good.”
Okay, let’s just go in and get this over with. I still have about fifty more case files to open up and the voice filter system needs some fine tuning. But then I can never expect it to sound exactly like L; I can’t be a perfectionist on this. Nothing will sound exactly the way L had it, but that won’t necessarily mean it will sound unlike L.
Dad won’t mind if I say I have to leave early and that’s just how it’s going to be.
“Wow, this looks really fancy. I love these chandeliers.”
Yes, Misa, it looks really fancy, have fun with that.
Good, the maitre‘d is expecting us. Looks like they got a table by the window. Misa would you please not wave like that, it looks stupid.
Okay, they saw us, they’re standing up now. Take a few breaths and calm yourself, you are a son spending time with his family tonight. Put the rest out of your mind for at least the next hour. I’m just glad Ryuk said he would leave us alone for the next few hours, that bag of apples must have worked; the last thing I need is him hovering around right now.
Misa, would you please let go of my damn arm!
“I hope we’re not late, Misa was taking a little longer picking a dress,” I say.
Yes Misa, glare at me all you want. Mom and Sayu and giggling a little, I think I just saw dad smile too.
“Well you know women,” dad says.
“Thank you so much for inviting me.” What a polite bow, Misa. Yes, you are playing along nicely.
She and Sayu have commenced twittering. Mom looks happy and this is the most I’ve seen dad smile.
Mom and dad just sat down. I should pull out Misa’s….okay she’s sitting anyway I might as well…
Wait…who the hell is this in this chair?
There’s some guy sitting in this chair here.
I didn’t know there was going to be someone else joining us, why the hell wasn’t I told about it. He didn’t even stand up to greet us.
Does Sayu have a boyfriend? Is this how he’s being introduced to me? That would make sense; his hair is a mess like a lot of teenagers. But why isn’t there an extra chair?
“Sit down, Light!” Misa is draping her arm over the back of that chair.
How the hell can I sit down, there’s someone sitting there. Isn’t it obvious?
“Did you invite someone else?”
Mom just smiles and laughs a little.
“No, Light, it’s just family tonight,” she says.
Then who the hell is this?
Misa and Sayu and still chatting, mom is looking at the wine list, but why is dad giving me a look.
I grab the back of the chair and…this guy…he…isn’t sitting. He’s crouching…he’s…NO! This isn’t possible!
He turns his head; those eyes are bulging, looking through me.
R-Ryuzaki? No, he’s dead! But he’s…standing up. He’s staring right at me. Rem wrote his name down. I saw it in the Death Note, but…maybe that wasn’t his real name. Maybe this is the plan, this is where he’s going to catch me; I’m exposed! He knew it! He isn’t dead, dad knew it too. Damn all of you!
“Is everything okay, Light?” I hear dad say.
Now everyone’s looking at me.
Wait, Ryuzaki is here and you’re not saying anything? Misa you have to be noticing this! No, wait, that bitch! She’s in on it too? My whole family is?
“Whose idea was this,” I say.
“Light, you were there when we talked about having dinner together,” mom says. “Is something the matter?”
I’ve got a dead detective standing in front of me, that’s the fucking matter!
Ryuzaki is walking closer to me now, he’s…turning blue. His eyes are sinking in, his lips are purple. He…he looks like a corpse now. His shirt is moldy and…oh…gods it’s so cold here. His hand is on my shoulder, ice cold. I’m shivering now.
“Light, are you ill?” Dad just put down his menu.
He can’t see this. No one can see this. Only I can. Why the hell am I the only one seeing this!
“I think Light’s been coming down with a little bug. He doesn’t like to admit when he’s sick.”
Thank you Misa for covering for me. Wait, can she see him? She has the Shinigami Eyes, can Shinigami see ghosts?
No, that’s ridiculous. There’s no such thing as ghosts, but…why isn’t it possible? There is no Heaven or Hell, maybe the afterlife is ghosts.
Yes, this is a ghost. I’m not just seeing it, I’m not going crazy.
No! I’m just stressed out, I haven’t slept in three days and lack of sleep will cause hallucinations. See, there’s a valid medical reason for what is going on. I just need to get some sleep, that’s all; a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this.
“Sorry about this, Misa’s right, I’ve been a little under the weather for a few days.”
I’m finally sitting down now…this seat’s so cold. It’s like sitting on an ice block.
“Maybe you should be in bed,” Sayu says. “I can make you some miso soup, I make a mean bowl of miso.”
“I think I will be fine tonight, but I swear I will get to bed the second I get home.”
I’m picking up the menu, let’s move on like everything’s normal. The Italian Wedding Soup looks really good and maybe I’ll have some garlic breadsticks. I’ll skip the pasta, I’m ill after all and must watch what I eat.
I can see a blue hand on my shoulder; his nails are clawing into me, he’s shaking. Icy breath is against my face, it smells like formaldehyde. Try not to gag, try not to gag. There, nice work Light.
He’s gasping for air. No, hallucinations don’t breathe; but it’s in my ear now. Rough, rasping. I can see his bulging eyes at the corner of my vision; they’re bloodshot. His nose is against my cheek.
Dammit, Ryuzaki, why the hell is it you who’s in my hallucination! You’re dead! Deal with it! I sure as hell can’t undo that, so leave me the hell alone.
“Light, you really don’t look so good,” Sayu says.
“Light, maybe we should do this another time,” mom says. “You really do look awful.”
Take a few breaths, that’s it. He’s ruining this whole thing and making me look like a crazy person! That’s probably what he wanted anyway.
Wait, this might be a good excuse to get out of here. I can’t refuse dinner with my family, but if they think I’m sick I have an opening. You just worked to my advantage, Ryuzaki.
“I’m so sorry about this, it’s like it just hit me.”
“Sounds like the flu. It can do that.” I don’t know if Misa’s helping me now or just reacting like everyone else.
I put the menu down and stand up.
“I’m going to the restroom; I’ll tell you how I feel when I get back.”
Everyone’s looking at me now. Ryuzaki is standing in front of me; skin now purple and eyes all black. I see mold at the corners of his mouth. I push him away, but it only looks like I’m stretching my arm. He just stands there, gasping but he’s not following me.
He’s leaving me alone; I’m getting away from him now. I can’t run but I can’t get farther enough away. Finally I push open the door of the men’s room and go in.
There are footsteps behind me. Another patron or…
The door opens. I’m ready for you, you bastard!
Wait, it’s…dad.
“Is everything alright, son?”
He has this really worried look.
“As well as it can be. I’m just…”
“Look, son, your mother and sister don’t know what you’ve been going through and I doubt Misa can fully understand.” He’s whispering now.
He then takes a look around the room, making sure no one else is in any of the stalls.
“I’m sorry we put you in this position. It has only been two weeks since Ryuzaki died and we have all been under an enormous amount of pressure, not to mention fear. I should have understood you would have felt it the most out of all of us.”
“Dad I can handle…”
“I know you are strong, Light, and I also know you are very proud; maybe too proud to admit when the pressure is too much. You need to relax a little or else it will break you; take my word for it, son.”
He’s right. I’m too young to have a heart attack like he did, but I’m seeing things and that’s not a good sign. The God of the New World has to remain in top form and not be falling apart like this.
“You’re right dad. I just need some time to rest. I’m sorry this happened tonight. I know mom was really looking forward to this.”
“What matters most is your health and your mother would agree. This was the first dinner we had as a family in a long time, maybe it was too soon and that created more pressure. There will be other dinners; maybe I can talk your mother into something around Christmas.”
“I like the sound of that. But now I think I would like to go home.”
He nods and pats me on the shoulder.
We walk out, I look at the table; Ryuzaki’s gone. Problem solved just like that.
I tell mom and Sayu I’m not feeling well and they understand. Misa gets up and tells me she will get me some tea in bed.
Maybe I’ll ask Ryuk later about ghosts. No, that would be a bad idea; if he thought I was cracking I’d never hear the end of it.
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Light, L, Misa, Soichiro, Sachiko, and Sayu. References to Ryuk, Rem, Watari, Aiber, Wedy, The Taskforce, and the members of Yotsuba.
Warnings: Some strong language and descriptions of a corpse.
Word Count: 2,062
Disclaimer: Death Note and its characters belong to Ohba/Obata.
Author's Note: Based on a scene from Shakespeare's Macbeth. No, this is not my best work.
Banquo’s Ghost
Light, remember dinner tonight with your mother and Sayu.
Dammit, dad, I’m a block from the restaurant and you’re already texting me with reminders. Fine, might as well tell him we’re coming.
Dad, Misa and I are close to the restaurant now. Be there in five minutes.
“I hope work isn’t bothering you right now about stuff.”
“No, Misa, dad is just reminding us about dinner. He’s very thorough.”
Oh great she’s latching on my arm now. I’m used to this by now but dammit Misa I’m not in the mood.
“I should have brought a gift for your mom. That was so sweet of her to invite me to dinner with your family. I really feel like I’m part of your family now; your mom’s inviting me to dinner …”
Would you just shut the hell up! No, you need to be here; it’s a good sign my family accepts you, it means my dad accepts you and there will be no suspicion from here on out.
In fact she’s helping me; I am just a polite son going out to dinner with his family and happy my family accepts my girlfriend. This is perfectly normal; this is like any other family. It’s also a good sign that dad doesn’t think Kira is going to kill all of us if we go out in public. Mom has been talking about this for weeks but it was too soon after…
Hehehehe…too soon after…hehehe…Ryuzaki and Watari died. Too soon after Rem killed them to save Misa. My plan worked perfectly, dad thought Kira was going after the Taskforce. He had to think that for a while but now that we’re in the clear life can go on as normal for these people and I can continue unopposed.
But dammit L had such a difficult computer system to crack. But now I have the names and faces of thousands of people. Aiber and Wedy, those two criminals L kept, will have to go first. I’ll kill the members of Yotsuba after them. But no, I need to wait until after the first of the year. If they all die now the Taskforce will get more suspicious. I need to give it some time. That’s right, all of you enjoy what little time you have left.
“Is this the restaurant? Oh I just love Italian food!”
“I think mom and dad ate here a while ago. They said the food is really good.”
Okay, let’s just go in and get this over with. I still have about fifty more case files to open up and the voice filter system needs some fine tuning. But then I can never expect it to sound exactly like L; I can’t be a perfectionist on this. Nothing will sound exactly the way L had it, but that won’t necessarily mean it will sound unlike L.
Dad won’t mind if I say I have to leave early and that’s just how it’s going to be.
“Wow, this looks really fancy. I love these chandeliers.”
Yes, Misa, it looks really fancy, have fun with that.
Good, the maitre‘d is expecting us. Looks like they got a table by the window. Misa would you please not wave like that, it looks stupid.
Okay, they saw us, they’re standing up now. Take a few breaths and calm yourself, you are a son spending time with his family tonight. Put the rest out of your mind for at least the next hour. I’m just glad Ryuk said he would leave us alone for the next few hours, that bag of apples must have worked; the last thing I need is him hovering around right now.
Misa, would you please let go of my damn arm!
“I hope we’re not late, Misa was taking a little longer picking a dress,” I say.
Yes Misa, glare at me all you want. Mom and Sayu and giggling a little, I think I just saw dad smile too.
“Well you know women,” dad says.
“Thank you so much for inviting me.” What a polite bow, Misa. Yes, you are playing along nicely.
She and Sayu have commenced twittering. Mom looks happy and this is the most I’ve seen dad smile.
Mom and dad just sat down. I should pull out Misa’s….okay she’s sitting anyway I might as well…
Wait…who the hell is this in this chair?
There’s some guy sitting in this chair here.
I didn’t know there was going to be someone else joining us, why the hell wasn’t I told about it. He didn’t even stand up to greet us.
Does Sayu have a boyfriend? Is this how he’s being introduced to me? That would make sense; his hair is a mess like a lot of teenagers. But why isn’t there an extra chair?
“Sit down, Light!” Misa is draping her arm over the back of that chair.
How the hell can I sit down, there’s someone sitting there. Isn’t it obvious?
“Did you invite someone else?”
Mom just smiles and laughs a little.
“No, Light, it’s just family tonight,” she says.
Then who the hell is this?
Misa and Sayu and still chatting, mom is looking at the wine list, but why is dad giving me a look.
I grab the back of the chair and…this guy…he…isn’t sitting. He’s crouching…he’s…NO! This isn’t possible!
He turns his head; those eyes are bulging, looking through me.
R-Ryuzaki? No, he’s dead! But he’s…standing up. He’s staring right at me. Rem wrote his name down. I saw it in the Death Note, but…maybe that wasn’t his real name. Maybe this is the plan, this is where he’s going to catch me; I’m exposed! He knew it! He isn’t dead, dad knew it too. Damn all of you!
“Is everything okay, Light?” I hear dad say.
Now everyone’s looking at me.
Wait, Ryuzaki is here and you’re not saying anything? Misa you have to be noticing this! No, wait, that bitch! She’s in on it too? My whole family is?
“Whose idea was this,” I say.
“Light, you were there when we talked about having dinner together,” mom says. “Is something the matter?”
I’ve got a dead detective standing in front of me, that’s the fucking matter!
Ryuzaki is walking closer to me now, he’s…turning blue. His eyes are sinking in, his lips are purple. He…he looks like a corpse now. His shirt is moldy and…oh…gods it’s so cold here. His hand is on my shoulder, ice cold. I’m shivering now.
“Light, are you ill?” Dad just put down his menu.
He can’t see this. No one can see this. Only I can. Why the hell am I the only one seeing this!
“I think Light’s been coming down with a little bug. He doesn’t like to admit when he’s sick.”
Thank you Misa for covering for me. Wait, can she see him? She has the Shinigami Eyes, can Shinigami see ghosts?
No, that’s ridiculous. There’s no such thing as ghosts, but…why isn’t it possible? There is no Heaven or Hell, maybe the afterlife is ghosts.
Yes, this is a ghost. I’m not just seeing it, I’m not going crazy.
No! I’m just stressed out, I haven’t slept in three days and lack of sleep will cause hallucinations. See, there’s a valid medical reason for what is going on. I just need to get some sleep, that’s all; a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this.
“Sorry about this, Misa’s right, I’ve been a little under the weather for a few days.”
I’m finally sitting down now…this seat’s so cold. It’s like sitting on an ice block.
“Maybe you should be in bed,” Sayu says. “I can make you some miso soup, I make a mean bowl of miso.”
“I think I will be fine tonight, but I swear I will get to bed the second I get home.”
I’m picking up the menu, let’s move on like everything’s normal. The Italian Wedding Soup looks really good and maybe I’ll have some garlic breadsticks. I’ll skip the pasta, I’m ill after all and must watch what I eat.
I can see a blue hand on my shoulder; his nails are clawing into me, he’s shaking. Icy breath is against my face, it smells like formaldehyde. Try not to gag, try not to gag. There, nice work Light.
He’s gasping for air. No, hallucinations don’t breathe; but it’s in my ear now. Rough, rasping. I can see his bulging eyes at the corner of my vision; they’re bloodshot. His nose is against my cheek.
Dammit, Ryuzaki, why the hell is it you who’s in my hallucination! You’re dead! Deal with it! I sure as hell can’t undo that, so leave me the hell alone.
“Light, you really don’t look so good,” Sayu says.
“Light, maybe we should do this another time,” mom says. “You really do look awful.”
Take a few breaths, that’s it. He’s ruining this whole thing and making me look like a crazy person! That’s probably what he wanted anyway.
Wait, this might be a good excuse to get out of here. I can’t refuse dinner with my family, but if they think I’m sick I have an opening. You just worked to my advantage, Ryuzaki.
“I’m so sorry about this, it’s like it just hit me.”
“Sounds like the flu. It can do that.” I don’t know if Misa’s helping me now or just reacting like everyone else.
I put the menu down and stand up.
“I’m going to the restroom; I’ll tell you how I feel when I get back.”
Everyone’s looking at me now. Ryuzaki is standing in front of me; skin now purple and eyes all black. I see mold at the corners of his mouth. I push him away, but it only looks like I’m stretching my arm. He just stands there, gasping but he’s not following me.
He’s leaving me alone; I’m getting away from him now. I can’t run but I can’t get farther enough away. Finally I push open the door of the men’s room and go in.
There are footsteps behind me. Another patron or…
The door opens. I’m ready for you, you bastard!
Wait, it’s…dad.
“Is everything alright, son?”
He has this really worried look.
“As well as it can be. I’m just…”
“Look, son, your mother and sister don’t know what you’ve been going through and I doubt Misa can fully understand.” He’s whispering now.
He then takes a look around the room, making sure no one else is in any of the stalls.
“I’m sorry we put you in this position. It has only been two weeks since Ryuzaki died and we have all been under an enormous amount of pressure, not to mention fear. I should have understood you would have felt it the most out of all of us.”
“Dad I can handle…”
“I know you are strong, Light, and I also know you are very proud; maybe too proud to admit when the pressure is too much. You need to relax a little or else it will break you; take my word for it, son.”
He’s right. I’m too young to have a heart attack like he did, but I’m seeing things and that’s not a good sign. The God of the New World has to remain in top form and not be falling apart like this.
“You’re right dad. I just need some time to rest. I’m sorry this happened tonight. I know mom was really looking forward to this.”
“What matters most is your health and your mother would agree. This was the first dinner we had as a family in a long time, maybe it was too soon and that created more pressure. There will be other dinners; maybe I can talk your mother into something around Christmas.”
“I like the sound of that. But now I think I would like to go home.”
He nods and pats me on the shoulder.
We walk out, I look at the table; Ryuzaki’s gone. Problem solved just like that.
I tell mom and Sayu I’m not feeling well and they understand. Misa gets up and tells me she will get me some tea in bed.
Maybe I’ll ask Ryuk later about ghosts. No, that would be a bad idea; if he thought I was cracking I’d never hear the end of it.