“Bound By You”

Part 1

It was above an average day in the fall. There was a slight chill in the air, and the warmth of the sun was enough to make for a nice day. Light was walking through the school campus at lunchtime with Ryuk hovering behind him. He was looking for a place to sit and enjoy his lunch.

He finally found a quiet, out of the way place to sit and took a seat. While opening his box lunch, a girl who looked to be about Light's age walked around the corner. As she passed by, she paused and looked specifically at where Ryuk was standing.

“I am sorry. I did not know someone was sitting over here. Excuse me,” she tells them before slowly, turning and walking away.

Light watched her leave then looked over at Ryuk. Ryuk was watching Light.
“I have this feeling she saw you,” Light told him.

Ryuk looked out where the young girl was standing across the school campus, replying. “If she did, you know what that means.”

“Yes, I do.” Light replied as he turned to watch the girl walk out of sight.

“How are we going to find out if she saw me?” Ryuk asks.

“That is going to be tricky. After all, she does not have her Shinigami following her like a lost puppy dog,” Light replies.

“HEY?!” Ryuk exclaims. “And how do you know she has a Shinigami? She could have just come into contact with your Death Note.”

“Either way, I need to find out who she is first then I can take it from there,” Light said. “Follow behind me like you always do Ryuk. I want to see if she notices you again.”

Ryuk nodded as he watched Light cover his lunch with the lid before getting up from his seat and slowly walking towards the young girl.

As they drew closer, she just continued to read her book. Light tried to stay unnoticed in what he was doing, but wanted her to look their way. He needed to know if she saw Ryuk.

The young girl did not look up from her book as Light or Ryuk drew closer to her or as they proceeded to walk past her.

“I have to find out who she is, and if she actually saw Ryuk,” Light thought to himself while shaking his head. He was somewhat relieved when, finally, an idea came to him.

Having passed his target Light dropped his box lunch and it clattered on the ground. The action had the desired effect and, her attention caught, the girl looked in Light’s direction.

“Why am I so clumsy today?” Light exclaimed.

After watching him for a few seconds the girl set down her book and went over to Light to help him clean up the mess. Light watched her to see if there was any sign that she was looking at Ryuk.

“Just look at me! My mom is going to have a fit. I got it all over these new clothes,” Light muttered worriedly as he wiped at the splattered food.

The young girl smiled at Light, “I am sure she will understand that it was just an accident.”

“Yeah, you’re right, I guess she will. Thanks for the help.” Light said, after a short pause. The girl smiled a sweet, shy smile as she offered her hand to help Light up.

“Oh, I’m Yagami Light. It’s nice to meet you.”

“I am Saito Oki. It’s nice to meet you too.”

She could not have been any older than Light. Her hair was long and a soft brown, pulled back on the sides and held in the back with a small apple blossom clip. She wore a white button-up long-sleeved blouse and a dark blue skirt that matched her shoes. She seemed shy and conservative and did not hold eye contact with Light, but she did not look at Ryuk either.

“So, tell me, do you normally sit over where I was sitting today?” Light asked her.

“No, it's only when I feel the need to be away from the noise,” Oki tells him smiling.

“Yes, I know what you mean,” Light replies.

Ryuk suddenly cleared his throat but Light did not look his way, instead choosing to look out of the corner of his eye at him. Ryuk was looking directly at Oki, who was looking back at Ryuk, smiling up at him.

“Well I guess you had better be going now.” Oki said she looked back at Light with the same easy smile.

“Yes, I guess so,” Light replied. “Thanks again for the help.”

“It was not a problem. I hope to see you again soon.”

“Yes, that would be nice. Maybe next time we can talk about more interesting things,” Light said.

Oki gave Light a clever smile. “Yes” She turned and headed off to class.

---

Later that evening Oki was lying on her bed, gazing blankly at the ceiling.

“Who was the Shinigami with that boy, Ammy?” Oki asked.

Ammy, or rather Amaterasu, was Oki’s shinigami. She was tall with wiry black hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her frail looking body was a dusty blue gray and she looked rather like a mummy wrapped in bandages, pieces of which fell from her here and there. Her eyes were a soft glass white that often glowed with a sapphire blue fire, and her passive manner concealed her adamant and caring nature. Amaterasu and Oki, who had been together for four years, were very close and Amaterasu would do anything to protect the young girl.

“That was Ryuk,” Amaterasu replied.

“Do you know him?” Oki asked.

“No, not really - I have only met him a few times,” Amaterasu told her.

Oki got up from her bed and walked toward her window. Sadness filled her heart as she touched the glass with her fingertips.

“Are you thinking about your illness again?” Amaterasu asked blankly.

“I am always thinking of it,” Oki replied, refusing to look Amaterasu's direction.

“Everyone dies Oki.”

A tear trickled down Oki's cheek. “I know this Ammy, but it’s so unfair to die at my age.” She turned to look at Amaterasu, “I am scared to die. I do not want to be alone.”

Amaterasu stepped forward to comfort Oki, but stopped short of touching her. “You will not be alone Oki. I will be there with you. You know I will never leave your side before the time comes.” Amaterasu stood there watching Oki's tears stream down her cheeks. The thoughts of death were too much for Oki, who finally broke down sobbing quietly as Amaterasu watched over her like a sentinel.

---

Meanwhile, Light and Ryuk were home as well. Light was working on his homework when he was distracted by the sounds of Ryuk munching on an apple in the background.

“You think you could eat those a little more quietly?” Light stated, slightly agitated.

“What's with you?” Ryuk questioned with a mouth full of apple, before floating over to Light. The look on his face was a look of worry. “Is your homework hard tonight?” he probed.

“No, it is not my homework that has me uptight!” Light exclaimed.

“Ahh... I know now. It is that girl. What was her name?” Ryuk asked, rubbing his chin in thought.

“Oki...” Light answered before looking up at Ryuk.

“That's right,” Ryuk said. “She is pretty cute,” Ryuk paused shortly. “Uh... I mean for a human.”

Light shot Ryuk a displeased look, “What are you getting at?”

“Well you do not have to worry about her for too long. She is going to die soon anyway.” Ryuk told him as he floated back to the apples on the bed.

Light spun around in his seat before looking at Ryuk with wide eyes, “Oki is going to die?! When? What happens?”

Ryuk cackled softly as he floated down to the bed. “I cannot tell you that.”

With a disgusted look on his face, Light turned back around in his chair. “Then why did you bring it up?”

“Just thought I would let you know,” Ryuk replied.

“Then thanks for nothing,” Light retorted.

The room was quiet for a time after that.

As soon as Ryuk had finished his apples, he sat up on the bed and licked his fingers. “So Light, how do you think Oki is able to see me?” Ryuk asked him.

Light did not turn to look at Ryuk, instead choosing to keep working on his paper. “I am not sure about that one yet. I know it could not have been at the school. I am too careful with the Death Note at school, so there is no way she came into contact with it there.”

“Maybe it was on the street or even the train,” Ryuk guessed.

“I am sure I would remember having run into her,” Light told him.

“Could she have run into you?” Ryuk asked.

“She could have done that, if that were the case, why didn’t she scream when she saw you?” Light paused wearing a conniving smile, “However, I think I would have remembered something like that. Either way, I am sure she would have been very shocked when she saw you with me. It is not everyday you see a Shinigami,” Light replied.

Ryuk frowned slightly. He always found Light’s cleverness amusing, but insulting all the same. “Not unless you have one yourself,” Ryuk said ingeniously.

Light turned in his chair to look at Ryuk. “You said you thought she came into contact with my Death Note.”

“She could have, but since you did not notice her reaction toward me, there is a very good chance she is used to seeing a Shinigami,” Ryuk said.

“If she does have a Death Note that could make her someone I might be able to use,” Light replied.

“I don’t think she would be one you could use,” Ryuk told Light.

“Why do you say that?” Light asked.

“Let's just call it a hunch.” Ryuk said.

Agitated at Ryuk, Light turned in his chair to look at his computer screen. He pushed his papers and books aside and pulled his keyboard toward himself.

Now curious, Ryuk floated over toward the desk to look over Light’s shoulder.

“What are you doing Light? Are you doing a search on Oki?” Ryuk asked him.

“Yes, there has to be something out there on her,” Light replied.

“But you're checking the police records, right? I’m sure she does not have a record with them.”

“She may not have a police record. However, that is where I am going to find the most information.” Light stopped typing, “Or the school’s records.”

“Personal information is so easily accessible,” Ryuk said, a bit astonished.

“It isn't, Ryuk. I told you I networked my computer to get my dad’s confidential police records with an untraceable link. I happen to have some talent with computers.”

Ryuk shrugged before going back to the bed so he could relax once again.

“I found her!” Light suddenly exclaimed.

“What did you find?” Ryuk asked.

Light slowly turned to look at Ryuk, his face holding no expressions. “She is dying of...”

“I told you she was dying.” Ryuk stated, interrupting Light.

“She is dying of Malignant Pericardial Mesothelioma,” Light said, ignoring Ryuk.

“What is that?” Ryuk questioned.

“It is a cancer that is difficult to diagnose and poorly responsive to therapy,” Light explained. “Pericardial means it is surrounding her heart and, according to this medical information site, this is a cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a layer of specialized cells lining the chest and abdomen, as well as the cavity around the heart. These cells also cover the outer surface of most internal organs. The tissues formed by the mesothelium cells are basically the frictionless pads that allow the organs to rub together.”

“I guess I still don’t know what you’re talking about since I’m not a surgeon,” Ryuk declared.

Light looked at Ryuk. “I guess there isn't too much of a point in explaining it further, but basically there is probably not a doctor in the world that can successfully cure Oki’s disease... I can also understand why I have not seen her around school much. She must be out of school a lot because of this illness.” Light paused to think for a second and quickly pulled up another file.

“Now what are you looking for?” Ryuk asked.

“I’m thinking I may have figured out how she can see you,” Light replied.

“Yeah, how is that?” Ryuk asked.

“From the train,” Light answered plainly.

“While that was one of my guesses, you hardly ever ride the train.”

“I know, but there was this one day.” Light said pausing. “I was right!” Light proudly exclaimed as he pointed at the computer screen. “She works at the Spring Hills Clinic.”

“What were you doing there?” Ryuk asked him.

“I wasn't. I was on the train coming from that area. I remember the train was very crowded that day. I had my Death Note inside my jacket. Part of it must have slid out. I remember a girl bumped into me when someone pushed past her. That had to be the time she touched the Death Note.”

“I think I remember the time you are talking about,” Ryuk replied. “That was when you first received the Death Note.”

“True,” Light said while looking up at Ryuk. “So if that is when it happened, it means...”

“She must have had her Death Note longer than you,” Ryuk interrupted, finishing Light‘s sentence for him.

“If she actually has a Death Note you mean,” Light argued.

“Well, she did not react to me being there with you, so I am pretty sure she has a Death Note of her own,” Ryuk explained.

Light yawned, “I am tired, and I still need to finish my paper. We can talk about this more tomorrow.” Ryuk rolled his eyes as Light went back to his homework.