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

Chapter 46 | weighing of the heart

The underworld was divided up by pantheon, separated by a ripple between realms that would lead from one to another. Where exactly you ended up when you died depended on how you were handled in death. If you were buried, cremated, left to rot etc. and from there you'd be organised into the correct section of the underworld for you. Hence why Light, a Japanese man was in Tartarus right now and not the Japanese underworld. He faced hades directly, so he was taken to the Hellenic underworld.

And Mikami had just been in the Hellenic underworld too, his worldview slowly cracking around him as he watched the man he called god be punished. Now though, against the warnings of hades, he was being lead by you and L into the Kemetic underworld of ancient Egypt. If he wanted to prove he was 'innocent' so badly, he could partake in the weighting of the heart. Although Hades warned him otherwise.

You see, the weighing of the heart was no mere guilty or innocent test. If you failed it, you'd have your heart eaten by ma'at, and you'd cease to exist. So even though Light was eternally suffering, at least he was still a being in existence. Mikami was so steadfast, so deluded he genuinely thought he could pass the test. The idea is ceasing to exist wasn't even in his mind.

The Kemetic underworld was a stark difference to the Hellenic one, although they both carried the same gloomy atmosphere. Most of the Kemetic underworld was behind tough security, only those who pass the test can get in (and the gods of course). But the entry area, where the boat would dock and the sarcophagi of the dead carried to the testing chambers was at the end of a long hall. Said hall lined with glyphs and depictions of the mummification process and the gods of the dead.

Things started to sink in a bit to mikami when you passed by two giant living statues of jackal headed guards, who only allowed him to pass because he was being lead by you and L - two gods.

"Once you're in here, no backing out" you warned.

"If you wish to continue existing, even in death you can turn back to hades and let him punish you. Otherwise you run the risk of ceasing to exist all together. Last chance" L added.

The killer was silent for a moment, almost seeming like he was reconsidering. But like an idiot, he persisted.

"I know I've done my job as Kira's chosen one. That's all that matters to me, so be it to the consequences" Mikami said.

You and L gave each other exasperated glares. He really had a death with didn't he? He was willing to die for kira. Well, you warned him... Knocking on the entry doors, it was only a moment before the large doors opened, and a tall god with the mask of a wolf and Nemes headdress stood. Wepwawet, brother to Anubis and god of funeral rites.

"We have a soul insane enough to take the test, this here? The Kira worshiper" you said.

The god looked down at the mere mortal, eyes glowing through his mask. No one ever saw the faces of the animal headed gods, their masks stayed on, only their close family got to see them without their masks. You often wondered what they looked like, but you wouldn't intrude.

"Unbelievable, he's actually willing to do it. Even knowing the risks?" Wepwawet asked.

"Amazingly yes, apparently there's not a rational thought in that brain of his" L said.

While Mikami took offence, and wanted to snap back, he didn't. Three much taller and stronger gods towered over him, he knew he couldn't fight that. At least was smart enough to know he can't fight a god, unlike Light. Although they were both absolutely insane individuals.

"Well, don't say we didn't warn you. Come" Wepwawet said.

Allowing you all in, you followed the Egyptian god through the large room lined with sarcophagi, mummification tools and ushabti dolls. It was what you'd expect to see on the inside of a pyramid, but on a much grander scale. Sitting at a desk just before a set of smaller doors, was Anubis himself. Looking down at a stack of scrolls searching for a particular record.

"San" Wepwawet spoke up, meaning brother in ancient Egyptian.

Anubis looked up, and upon seeing you escorting a human toward him he put two and two together.

"Unbelievable. You have the chance to continue existing, albeit in Tartarus... and yet you choose certain doom" He spoke.

Clearly Anubis wasn't expecting any visitors today, aside him the usual souls. Because he wasn't dressed up as he usually would be. Long braided hair tied back rather than under a Nemes, only a basic shendyet robe and wheshek collar on.

"Apologises for the unannounced visit, but you hit the nail on the head. We're here for the weighing" L said.

Anubis got up, pushing his work aside for a moment to look over Mikami and get a good look at the guy who'd caused so many problems.

"This is the guy Hm? You know... I can't say I'm surprised. There's something about him, a heavy aura of evil..." Anubis said.

"Evil is exactly what I was eradicating on behind of my god, Kira. Do not compare me to such criminals" Mikami replied, a slight snap in his tone.

You and L gave each other an 'oooh shit' look, he really just talked back to a god? One of the oldest gods to exist nonetheless. Anubis was silent a moment, but crossed his arms and glared down at the killer.

"You wouldn't know true justice if it hit you in the face. Don't talk back, I hold your souls fate remember? You will respect the gods" he replied, eerily calm but still stern.

That shut Mikami up, and Anubis turned to his brother.

"San, get the tools. He wants the test, he'll get the test..."

Wepwawet nodded, turning to the shelves to gather the tools needed. Anubis opened the door to the weighing room, and you and L pushed him in. Said room had a raised platform where the judged would lay, and just behind it were the scales. On one sat the feather of truth, the other side was empty awaiting a heart. An empty jar sat off to the side, to be used in the case of a failed test. The heart placed inside to be delivered to ma'at.

"Last chance, Kira worshipper" Anubis warned.

"I know what I did was best for the world, I trust Kira" Mikami replied.

"Lay down then"

Without even hesitating, Mikami lay upon the platform. You and L could only watch in silence, knowing exactly what was going to happen. You could hardly believe he was actually doing this, he was truly completely blind to the truth of the situation even after seeing Light for himself. L grabbed your hand, giving it a squeeze. One of relief, it would all be over soon.

Wepwawet handed Anubis the hook, but it was no regular mummification one. It was one meant to remove the heart from a still living soul like Mikami. No damage would be done to the body, but the soul would feel it. Mikami watched in nervous anticipation as Anubis positioned the hook, and he braced for impact.

Feeling the hook enter him, despite his skin not even breaking was surreal. And feeling his heart be dislodged but his body still be able to live and feel was almost disorienting. From out of his chest, his heart was pulled on the hook and Anubis held it up to get a look.

"Hm- regular old heart. No health complications, not that any of that matters in your judgement. A mere reminder that you'd have lived a long and healthy life if you'd chosen a different path" Anubis muttered.

He took the heart over to the scales, everyone watching in anticipation as he lowered it onto the free scale. The hook was the only thing holding it up, the moment it came off the scale would tell the truth.

"We all know what the answer will be, expect for you it seems. Let this be your final moment of mental torture before you're sentenced to vanquishment" Anubis said.

Mikami watched, tense and nervous. Anubis let the hook free from the heart and just as you expected... it weighed down. All the way down, the feather raised much higher than the heart. The base of the scale touched the table it sat in it was so heavy. Mikami had the ultimate proof, he was evil. Pure evil. Kira, his false god, lead him to evil.

You expected him to freak out, start screaming or pleading. Instead, he just sat there stunned, unsure what to say now he had to face the truth.

"Nothing to say?" You asked.

He was still a moment, before shaking his head. He was in a state of shock, unable to put the emotions into words. This was his punishment, the silent mental torture of facing the consequences of his own actions. And of course, the fact that Kira didn't actually exist... his god, it didn't exist.