Gods and Monsters [Sequel to Ethereal] L x Reader • Death Note ✔️

Chapter 12 | rebirth

It was settled, you were going to Japan again for this case. It needed to be done, it'd make things ten times easier. But L was particularly worried about his kids, they were still mortal.

They could die, and after having just experienced a death of someone close to him he was rather terrified of loosing them. So before heading off to Japan with them, he felt the need to make a stop in the underworld.

You'd think the son of hades would be just as imposing as he was, but actually, Zagreus was chill. The god of blood and rebirth barely ever left the domain of the underworld, he couldn't be away from it for that long or the river styx would swallow him up and bring him home. All those born of the underworld are connected to it forever. He was actually quite short for a god, but made up for it with his big personality. He was impulsive and adventurous, knew how to fight could keep on going for days on end without getting tired. He'd slayed Hydra's, beasts of all kinds of shapes and sizes and even covered in the blood if his enemies he'd still crack a joke and smile.

And it was the fact he was the god of rebirth L wanted to see him.

"I know there's no way to make someone immortal unless it's a situation like mine, but there must be some way to... I don't know, make someone temporarily immortal? Like they'll die eventually just not now?" L asked, a desperate look in his eyes.

The prince of the underworld gave him a pondering look. The hollow eyes he got from his dad staring into L's soul.

"I mean... kind of? I can grant someone death defiance. But it only works once, I can't grant the same person death defiance twice. If they're under my boon and get killed, the energy of styx will start their heart back up and they get one more chance at life. Kind of like how I can defy death but unlike me they'll only get one chance to do so" Zagreus replied.

Zagreus was the only truly immortal being there was aside from khaos. Even gods can die under the right circumstances. Old age, sickness and injury won't effect them but each god has a particular weakness that can kill them for good. Expect for Zagreus, his whole existence is rebirth. No matter what kills him, he'll wake back up good as new a few minutes later.

"Even that will do, I just... I can't have them anywhere near Kira when they're still mortal... I don't want them to die young. I don't want them to die at all... but I know that's inevitable. I at least want them to survive this case you know? They're barely in their 20s, that's still so young" L rambled.

"I get it, no one wants their loved ones to die. Even though it's inevitable eventually, they deserve to live the longest life possible. I can grant them death defiance, but remember it'll only work once. Once that use is gone, they're at full risk of dying like any other human is" Zagreus replied.

L sighed in relief, at least he could ensure the safety of his now grown kids on this case. Any other case he'd trust them to handle themselves. They were capable of it, but because Kira was involved? He was extra on edge. He needed to make sure they were as safe as possible.

"Thank you, I can't loose them. Not yet, not right after I just lost my dad..." L sighed.

"Don't sweat it. And by the way, he's doing fine. All checked in, soul down in Asphodel getting settled" Zagreus assured.

"Good, I'll have to visit soon. It's just sad to see his mortal form go... you know? It's such a complicated feeling I don't even know how to describe it"

"Well you can at least take comfort in knowing he's alright now. And no more reincarnations, so you two won't loose each other to several lives. By the way, that reminds me about (y/n)... because Kira came up again I remembered everything about you two having a ton of lives together and out of curiosity I went digging into all their past lives. Dude, you guys were soul bound in ancient times! That's how long your souls have been around, that's wild!"

Somehow L hadn't actually looked into his past lives. He had the access to it now he was a Kami, but he'd just never really thought about it. He knew about the life he lost you, and that was enough for him. But this was some rather interesting information.

"No way... when was our first life together?" He asked.

"Literally before I was born, that's insane! Back in early Mycenaean Greece. I bet if you never became a Kami you'd have probably stopped reincarnating soon anyway, that's literally thousands of years. Bet you'd have ended up in Asphodel or maybe even Elysium too..." Zagreus explained.

"Woah, I mean I knew I was an old soul. But that old? Wow. And to think (y/n) and I have been soul bound for that long... no wonder I was in so much pain when I lost them..."

"You've been reborn so many times I'd even go as far as to say you're probably one of the oldest souls still alive. Well... immortalised. Which also means (y/n) is just as old too, since you two were together even back then"

Past lives were interesting but you and L have had so many you've never managed to get into looking through the records of them all. It'd probably take you years to read through them all. But the ones you did take the time to check out were the ones the other Kami suggested you read. When the initial Kira happened and Aphrodite went looking for your past lives to confirm you and L were soulmates, she did some snooping and found some rather interesting lives you'd lived together.

One where you were both tailors who ran off together marry back in the 1600s, one here you were both girls and ironically lived on the isle of Lesbos in the BC era, and probably the most interesting of the few you'd read where you fought in a war in disguise, saved past L from a ransacking and past L fell for you even though he didn't know what your gender was.

There were a few where you weren't romantically involved too, but were still incredibly special to each other. Not all soulmates are romantic, some can be parental or sibling like. All you need to be soulmates is two (and rarely but possibly sometimes more) souls being connected, they can form as lovers, family, best friends or even a pet and owner. While you and L were clearly romantic soulmates, there were still a few lives where you simply meant a lot to each other but never dated.

The fact you and L were such old souls is part of what have you both the wisdom and knowledge you had now. It made you incredibly wise Kami.

"Speaking of magic and stuff... you know how to shift into your truest form don't you?" L asked.

"Sure do. Don't to it often because it's real messy though. Lots of blood and fire" Zagreus replied.

"How'd you figure it out? (Y/n) and I still can't figure out how to use ours..."

"Honestly I'm not sure... it just kind of happened one day? I don't think anyone truly figures it out, it just happens"

Damn, another dead end. At this rate you and L would never find out what your truest forms as Kami were. But if one good thing came from this impromptu meeting with the prince, it was the ensured safety of Mello, Matt and Near.

With Zagreus watching over them and granting them death defiance, L felt a lot better about them following you and him to Japan to face this new and dangerous Kira.