Paladin Ch 5 Angels
A/N: I don't own Death Note.
***
I could just kill her, and gain ownership. Yeah, that's the safest option. Step one find out her name.
"Eh, whatcha doin'?" Light ignored his invisible audience and after much searching, found her wallet in a hidden pocket within the lining of her jacket. A Japanese driver's license betrayed her name-Naomi Misora.
Light began to reach for his own wallet (or more specifically the Death Note scrap he kept hidden inside of it) when the complaining began…
"Hyuk hyuk, yep, he's getting out his Death Note, told you so. You owe me two death-heads."
"What you're just going to kill her?" Ah that was that newcomer Shinigami, the very reason this poor woman had to die. Seeing him, it made Ryuk look almost pleasing to the eye… because while Ryuk might resemble a beast or a monstrous clown at least he didn't look like a rotting corpse. He also seemed to have no problem watching Light's every move despite having sunken pits where his eyes should have been. He was quite unnerving…
"BUT THAT'S SO BOOORING!"
…not to mention annoying.
Light glowered at Ryuk and Zellogi. "What choice do I have?"
"C'mon, Light remember that deal we made? You don't have to play it so safe anymore. Besides if you gain ownership, you'll have to put up with Zellogi's ugly face, not to mention his fur fetish. Let someone else carry that burden. Hyuk hyuk."
"Hmm…" Light considered having Zellogi haunt him for the rest of his life and shivered. Still… "It's not worth the risk."
"All you have to do is trick her into giving up ownership."
Light continued to rummage around for his wallet.
"CHIKEN! BUCK BUCK BUWAK!"
"Yeah that must be it. You think she's smarter than you or something?"
"Hardly. Smart people don't walk into danger like that."
"I bet you apples, double or nothing that she'd best you in a battle of wits. Or are you too scared?"
That did it. Pride-Light's fatal flaw.
Light glowered at the Shinigami and then rubbed his chin in thought. "Hmm… I suppose I could trick her into giving up ownership" he said as if he had come up with the idea himself. "I already called the ambulance. If she dies now… that could come back to implicate me later... as for your bet… You're on."
…And of course, killing her later is always an option...
"Yeah, that's the spirit!" Zellogi laughed.
"So until then, Zellogi was it? You need to stay out of sight."
"Technically, she's the owner right now. So I have to haunt her."
"Is there a rule that states you have to haunt her NOW?"
"Well, I have to appear before her sometime within the next 39 days…"
"Then you have time, you WILL stay out of sight," Light ordered the Death God, "and when we get to the hospital, you WILL wait outside."
"Heh. You're not the boss of me, human. Who the hell do you think you are? Treating Shinigami like this? Why the hell do you put up with this Ryuk?"
Light continued to stroke his chin in thought and then added "Do this for me and I'll get you…"
"A blue fuzzy wool blanket," Ryuk supplied helpfully.
"…Yeah, that."
"Hey, you were supposed to get me that Ryuk!"
"I just did. You're welcome. Now shoo for a bit, and remember to wait outside," Ryuk replied sweetly.
Zellogi launched himself off the ground, as he began to fly away he called back over his shoulder, "Hey Ryuk, you know what? This human… he's a BAD influence on you."
"Hyuk, hyuk, hyuk."
"I'M SERIOUS!"
***
"She's bleeding, pretty bad, I have to keep pressure here or she's going to bleed out..."
The ambulance was finally here, of course the EMTs tried to make him leave… "I'm sorry kid, only relatives are allowed…"
I can't lose track of her… and "Kid?" Light thought indignantly, than realized by the shocked looks he had indeed voiced his irritation, (using the same tone of voice he used to order Shinigami around) "I'm her…" Light noticed Naomi's mutilated fingers… and the diamond engagement ring … "fiancé."
Yeah, Light, real smooth.
"My apologies, sir. Of course you can ride along."
While outwardly he continued to act concerned, in his mind, Light was smirking with glee. Yeah, I'm good.
***
Meanwhile, across the street Mogi had been observing these events (or rather saw Chief Yagami's son the good Samaritan stopping to help a victim of assault) and was trying to get in contact with Headquarters to give an update. On the fifth try the Chief finally picked up.
"What happened?"
"Mogi, you'd better get down here."
"But-but Chief! What about, I mean L… he said... How are we going to clear your family?"
"That can wait."
***
As Light watched the EMTs work to save Naomi Misora's life. Light was stunned at the sheer amount of abuse this woman had gone through. Naomi had been tortured. Along with the long deep weeping wound on her back there were a series of smaller ones along her face and arms. She had been severely beaten, her ring finger had been sawed off and every other finger was broken on her left hand. Also her right wrist was fractured. Ligature marks and no defensive wounds-she had been unable to fight back.
Light needed to know who did this. He would not permit such evil to exist in His World.
It was a shame about her hands really. It would have added a nice dramatic touch to hold her hand like the concerned husband-to-be-role he now found himself playing. So he just hung back nervously and let the EMTs work.
Though, something felt out of place. Light soon realized what it was…
"Hey!" Light rose from his cramped seat and grabbed the nurse by the wrist."What are you doing, are you trying to kill her?"
The nurse glowered "Sir, get out of the way or get out of the car."
"Look at her blood pressure if you gave her that now, you'd send her into cardiac arrest!"
"Hey, he's right! What were you thinking Bukimi-san?"
The nurse hung her head in mock contrition "Sorry, sir. It won't happen again."
"It better not! That's the third time… keep this up and you can count yourself out of a job!"
Oh that inspires confidence… and the third time! There's no way this was just incompetence.
The nurse was watching him now through striking golden eyes, predator's eyes (eyes that Light sometimes saw when he looked in the mirror).
No, this was a malicious act. Damn is everyone else so blind? She's an "angel of death" you don't even have to be a genius like me to figure that one out…
Light took care to check her badge (surname: Bukimi, first name: Rin) and remember her face… that name was going in the Death Note tonight. She would die of an accident in 23 days (no matter what Ryuk said, he wasn't going to throw caution to the wind just to alleviate his boredom) and she would cause no more harm to her patients in that time.
Speaking of the Death Note… how was he going to get Naomi to give up ownership without her ever realizing she had become an Owner in the first place? And he had to do it before she could discover Zellogi. He had to tread carefully. Even if he was successful in getting her to give up ownership there was no guarantee that the resulting memory wipe would erase everything that could possibly implicate him as Kira, as far as he could tell from questioning Ryuk it only erased knowledge of the notebook and of Shinigami.
Let's start with the basics. Maybe I can think of something I can use… So what do you know about her? … Next to nothing. What can you infer… beside the obvious. She's either married or getting married soon (or at the very least has fine taste in jewelry.) She has enemies, she's just been through a horribly traumatic experience, she's athletic, she can take pain well (she may have had training in some form of martial arts… if so, it's fair to infer that her attacker probably knew her, or at the very least knew her habits enough to turn it to his advantage.) Also, she walked here from wherever she was being kept… She's strong. Her wardrobe choice, plus the wear and tear on the clothes suggests that she's a biker. She was headed for the police station instead of the hospital… so she's either stupid or doesn't value her own life. That suggests she's impulsive, desperate, or exceedingly loyal, or all of the above. However, her hiding her wallet like that… it suggests caution, and intelligence.
She's… impressive.
***
A subdued couple entered the hospital lobby "That must be him," murmured the raven-haired woman. "He looks younger than I suspected." They sat opposite the worried young man. It was true, Light was worried (at the very least about the fact that Naomi was unknowingly in possession of the source of his power and thus could ruin him in so many ways and so quickly it wasn't even funny.) But his apparent concern did score him a few points.
The big man grunted and Light glanced up from his brooding. The man pro-offered his beefy hand, western-style. Light shook it and noted that he had a very strong grip.
"You must be Mr. Raye Penber."
Light carefully schooled his features to avoid showing any of the rising panic he was feeling…
What? What did they know about Raye Penber? For that matter, why did they think I'M Raye Penber?
"Isamu Misora and this is my wife, Katsumi. Now what's this I hear about you wanting to marry my daughter?"
Oh CRAP! Looking over this bear of a man, the "God of the New World" was in a tight spot indeed…
But then the pieces all fell into place. No wait. I can use this. Ha! This is my lucky day!
Light didn't miss a beat. "I am very pleased to finally meet you."
"Wow, you're Japanese is flawless."
I should hope so.
Light ignored Ryuk sniggered behind him and set Charm to Maximum.
***
Light was finally rescued from the now suitably awed parents of Naomi Misora by Hideki Ide wanting to take his statement. Light left with Ide where they talked privately in one of the adjoining rooms.
Ide scowled as Light admitted to lying to the doctors so he could ride along.
"I just wanted to make sure she was alright."
Well that's understandable… and according to one of the doctors on sight he stopped one of the nurses from making a fatal mistake.
As Light generously donated his now bloody white coat to their investigation (having removed all scraps of the Death Note while in the bathroom earlier) he looked troubled.
"The poor girl. What kind of animal does that?"
Ide put a comforting hand on Light's shoulder (much to Light's annoyance) thinking how Chief Yagami's son was so soft-hearted. Poor kid. Well, given his family's chosen career path, he'll be exposed to much more violence and even death soon enough. It'll either make or break him… and even if he can't make it he'd probably make a good doctor from the sounds of it.
***
"…You know at first I wasn't sure, I often heard about how those office romances turn out, but after talking with him… yes that boy's a keeper."
Naomi blinked groggily, her eyes screaming against the painful brightness of the room.
"Mom?"
"Honey, you're awake!"
"We were so worried!"
"Not so rough, Katsumi. She's been through a lot" grumbled Isamu.
"I'm not made of glass, dad… and where's my phone? I need to make a call."
"No. Absolutely not!"
"Mom!" Naomi suddenly felt like she was twelve again and had just ruined best her skirt roughhousing with the boys.
"It's that horrible L again, isn't it? Making you go on all those dangerous missions!"
"He didn't make me do anything! …Dad, please, I need to call the Taskforce, right now."
Her dad gave an apologetic look. "Sorry honey… Hey, guess what, we finally met Raye."
Raye? That's impossible. You'll never meet Raye now. Raye's dead. Beyond… Beyond cut him up… Beyond. L! I have to warn L!
"He's waiting for you outside" her father continued gently, "we'll leave you two love-birds alone."
Katsumi all but pushed Light into the room.
"You just concentrate on getting better Naomi… So that you two can hurry up and get to work on my grandkids!"
"Yes, thank you Okaa-san," Light murmured.
Naomi was glaring at him hatefully.
Light had the good grace to look sheepish, he put his hand on the back of his neck and began with "I'm sorry," Naomi gave no reaction other than to continue to stare.
"I'm really sorry, Naomi Misora-san." he tried again.
"You-you told my parents that you…"
"I didn't, honest. They just assumed…" and I just never corrected them.
"Who are you? How the hell do you even know my name?"
"Your wallet, I checked it when you passed out. What? I needed to know if you had any medical issues to tell the doctors."
"I HID my wallet."
"Yeah, that was brilliant, the way you hid it. I doubt anyone else would have been able to find it…" Naomi continued to glare. Light cleared his throat. "Sorry. I'm Light Yagami. My father is Chief Souichiro Yagami, the Chief of the NPA. I was the one that found you… and I couldn't help but overhearing…" that you work for L… "you have urgent information for the Taskforce? I can pass your message on to him…"
Those were the magic words… Naomi grasped at this lifeline, (smarmy as he was.)
Also…
When she spoke with Light… she almost got the same feeling as when she was talking to L. (It was uncanny…)
"The man…" she began "the man who did this to me… I was not his true target."
Light was all ears.
"You're dad's in charge of the Taskforce? He may be in danger too." Light did not try to disguise his feelings of panic; this gave Naomi the incentive to go through with it. "404 Wara Ningyo. Tell your dad, or the Taskforce. L will know what it means."
I'd better relay her message now (and hope it has nothing to do with Kira.) It would be suspicious to delay…
Light retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and called his father. "Huh, it keeps going to voicemail… Maybe he's in a meeting?"
Light could feel Naomi's eyes on him. She was suspicious again. Other than the alleged L, he had never met anyone so paranoid.
"You know what? I can go to the station right now, if you'd like, and tell them there? Here's my number, in case you need anything."
Naomi was touched by Light's concern. She was being quite unfair to this helpful young man. It wasn't his fault she'd gone through hell. "Thank you."
"No problem. Maybe see you around?"
"Yeah."
In a peculiar moment she grabbed him with her good hand and held his for a moment before he gently pulled away.
"I-I have to go tell them..."
"Yeah," Naomi sunk down into the mattress, feeling oddly disappointed. "See you later."
Fortune is in my favor today. Now I can research what the message actually means first before deciding whether or not to pass it on. I probably should though… After all, I have only 39 days to win her trust…
…Though killing her is always an option…
***
A/N: Light is such a good actor he may have even fooled you into thinking he actually cares…
How To Read 13 says Zellogi likes "soft things" so in my mind he is now and forever the Shinigami that drags a security blanket around.