The Aves of Maria

Memento Mori or "Remember That You Will Die."
***

Sayu was surprised and somewhat alarmed when Light told her he would not be going home with her on the train.

"But Onii-chan…" she began, taking her bags out of his arms.

"You will be fine." He assured her.

"Who is this girl you're meeting? Oh, is it a date?"

"Something like that. And do not pry, it is rude."

She bit down on her plump lower lip. "What if some weird guys start following me?"

"Keep on the road most followed and try to lose them in a crowd. We live in a safe neighborhood, you can always go to one of the neighbors if they trail you that far."

"What if some creep gropes me on the train?"

"Scream 'pervert,' of course. Sayu, you will be fine. It is not like you have never done this before. Besides, even though I do not approve of Kira, I am sure that such people will not be making themselves known. He is intimidating if nothing else."

"Yeah… "

"You have everything?"

She checked her bags. "Yup."

"House key?"

She opened her purse. "Got it."

"Train ticket?"

"It's in my pocket."

"Let me see it."

Sayu reached into her jeans and pulled out the little white slip, flashing it in his brother's direction.

"You have Dad's office number on speed dial?" Light continued.

"Of course. Number 5, easiest button to push. As always."

"Let me check. Give me your cell phone."

Sayu rolled her eyes but surrendered her phone to her brother without verbal complaint. He flicked the purple-cased device open and sped through the buttons, quickly finding what he was looking for. He shut it with a snap and handed it back to his sister, its charms jingling merrily.

"Do not fall asleep on the train."

"As if I would do something like that!"

"And be wary of whom you sit next to. If there is an available seat next to another woman, take it."

"I know."

"You remember those defensive moves I taught you?"

Sayu sighed loudly, beginning to get irritated. "Yes, Onii-chan, I remember. Really, you can be even more of a worry-wart than Mom sometimes!"

He managed to look sheepish. "You are my sister. I am just being thorough."

"You're being nit-picky and paranoid. I'll be fine."

He held his hands out in surrender. "Okay, okay. Travel safe."

"Onii-chan."

"Right. I will see you when I get home, Sayu." He smiled and began walking away. Several yards from her, he paused and looked back. "By the way, what about…"

"Oh, seriously, Onii-chan," Sayu groaned in exasperation, "Go already! You'll be late for your date!"

Her train arrived, sliding smoothly into place, and she winked at him before being swallowed by the crowd. Light smirked, his eyes dancing with glee, and made his way toward the other end of the station where he was planning on meeting Maria.

People moved like a school of fish on an ocean tide. The train station, only a few moments ago dotted with just a few people, was now swarming with humans. A few more minutes and it would be nearly empty again. Light walked up to the subway map to double check the train routes. The map presented itself as a color-infested maze. Sayu had headed home on the pale blue line and before long Maria would be arriving on the red one. He would join her on the train and they would get off together one stop later in lower town Old Tokyo.

Ryuk hovered behind him like some demented guardian angel. His bulging eyes watched the crowds with interest and he chuckled as a child stumbled through his form, followed by a worried mother. The weary-looking woman scooped her son into her arms, scolding him in hushed tones, though the child didn't seem to be listening. His dark eyes, almost a bizarre shade of red, were fixated on Light—or was he staring at Ryuk? Light snorted, as if that was possible.

Ryuk began laughing with renewed vigor.

Light's mouth twisted in annoyance. "What's so funny?"

The Shinigami just grinned at him. "Interesting kid."

He wasn't even going to bother trying to figure out what the gargoyle-esque being meant. Humans were easy to read, but the death god was too hideous to be able to tell what he was thinking from his facial expressions—not that he had many to begin with; his lips were always stretched out across his jaw like some demonic clown out of a child's nightmare.

Finished with the map, he turned his back on it and made his way to the red train's stop.

"You know, if you didn't have my Death Note, I'd follow that kid around instead. He's going to be really interesting once that mother of his dies."

His words halted Light in his tracks. An uncharacteristic chill shivered down his spine and he looked over his shoulder through the Shinigami to where the woman and child had vanished. They were long gone now.

"Shi—! My sandal strap broke!" Someone swore over the din. It was a doubly bad luck omen. The unfinished English curse word sounded like "death" or "four." Light's feeling of dread expanded.

Ryuk continued. "I wonder if he'll end up like the last one. Hyuk, hyuk, I'd give up a dozen apples to see that!"

The brunette's chest tightened of its own accord. "What do you mean?" he muttered under his breath.

Ryuk turned his lid-less eyes on the college student's form, jagged teeth gleaming. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Light scowled inwardly, keeping his mask of business-like indifference on his face. "Forget it. I'm not playing your childish guessing games."

"Maybe you should make the eye trade, eh?" the god suggested, "Then you could be in on the joke."

Light ignored him and continued walking, hoping that the roiling horror in his gut would dissipate as he moved further away from the source.