Bloodstained Dreams

~~~~~~~E~~~~~~~

I believe that dreams are sacred,

Take our darkest fears and play them.

Like a lullaby

Like a reason why

I can fell the night beginning

Separate me from the living

~evanescence

"C'mon, ryuzaki. You really should get some sleep. How many days have we been like this? Four? Five? You haven't slept once!" Light Yagami held up the arm which was handcuffed.

"Honestly Light, I'd prefer not to."

"Well, at least turn that thing off, I cant sleep through all that clacking."

L looked pointedly over the top of his laptop.

"No."

The brunette rolled onto his side, facing away from L, buried his head under a pillow, and proceeded to try to get some sleep. L shifted his weight onto one foot, and stretched his leg out straight. And, accidentally, kicked the sleeping form of his 'roommate', who sat up and glared daggers at the detective. L simply shrugged.

"Sorry Light-kun." His expression could not have been less sorry. Light fumed for a few moments.

"Have you saved your progress, ryuzaki?"

"Indeed, Light-kun."

Light pulled the plug on the laptop, slammed the screen down, and tossed it onto an armchair some six feet away. L sighed, too comfortable to move from the bed to retrieve it.

"I demand that you get some sleep." Light huffed angrily.

"You're quite petulant."

Light turned out the lamp, which had been the only source of illumination in the room. L sighed dramatically once more, and tucked his foot back underneath him. Eventually, boredom kicked in, and the young detective surrendered himself to the realm of dreams, not even noticing when he fell backwards onto the pillows. He was already gone.

The darkness of sleep pulsed through his brain, like a rapturous lullaby. His eyes moved rapidly, and images flashed in his mind. A broken mirror. Blood, pooled on a hard grey tile floor. His first and only friend, A.

A lying dead on the floor, in a pool of his own blood, knife still in hand.

Blood. So much blood.

He mewls in his sleep, his long fingers twitching. They grope in the dark, catching hold of Light's shirt. His eyes open blindly, flitting around the room, yet seeing nothing. He inhales, his breath catching in his throat as he screams.

Blood. Everywhere.

His terror consumes him. It's all dark, so very dark. There is nothing but the dark and the blood and the still, white, lifeless form in front of him. Screams wrack his body, and his throat is torn in two by pain.

"Ryuzaki!" Light shakes him, gripping the young detective's wrists. Long scratches cover both of their arms, and L thrashes wildly against his captivity, screaming all the while. His eyes are glazed, and fix momentarily on Light before flickering around the room. He can't see anything, for his mind is still asleep.

"Wake up, damnit!" Light shakes him again, and his head lolls back. His screams become choked, rough and gasping. His skin is cold, and damp with sweat. The hairs on the back of Light's neck rise involuntarily. He can't even hear me. And god, his screams…they're almost like a child being tortured… L's back arches, and he screams once more, the cry trailing off into a throaty hack. Blood spatters the sheets, and L gasps for breath, nearly choking on his own blood. He's screamed his throat raw. Shit! What do I do!

"Ryuzaki! Wake up!" he simply coughs, his breathing rattling. He mewls again, unable to do anything but writhe and twitch. Water, I should get water. Cold water will wake him. Light fervently shifts the young detective onto his lap, one hand supporting his legs, the other, his neck. He's light weight, but hard to carry, and shaking incessantly. Light sets him in the bathtub, not really bothering to be gentle, but careful not to damage him. Uncertainly, he turns the knob to cold, and turns on the shower head. Icy water pours down onto the twitching form. His eyes roll back into his head, and his lids slide shut once more. Finally, after a painfully long moment, L's eyes flicker open, and gaze frantically around the room, coming to rest on Light. His eyes look hollow and haunted. I wonder what he was seeing.

"Light-kun…" his voice is gravelly, a harsh change from it's usual melodic tone. He stands shakily, brushing back his sleeves to have a clearer view of his self-inflicted wounds.

"Please don't make me sleep again."

"Yeah." Light turned away as L re-dressed, cooperating as L briefly unlocked the handcuffs to slip a dry shirt on. The detective looks guilty as he re-boots his laptop, and phones Watari for a cup of soothing tea.

"Ryuzaki."

"Yes, Light-kun?"

"Is that why you'd 'prefer not to sleep'? Your night-terrors, I mean."

"I find them rather incapacitating, and I think anyone would rather not have to deal with such an occurrence."

"I guess that's understandable. I'll leave you alone. But really Ryuzaki, you could have just told me."

"I believe the outcome would have remained the same. Some people are more responsive when presented with irrefutable evidence, wouldn't you agree, Light-kun?"

"I suppose so, Ryuzaki."

"…"

"Light-kun?"

"Hm?"

"Would you like some cake?"

so? What does everyone think? I'm debating on making this a chapter fic, instead of just a oneshot. Please, read and review! Should I add more chapters? Remember, this takes place after light gives up his memories of the death note, so he's all innocent…sortof. It could be a Lxlight?