Summary: "Blessed is He who reads aloud the words of the Prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein; for The Time is near..."
Alternative (more humorous) Summary: "Life isn't easy when your best friend is a serial killer."
Future Pairings: BxL (sort of, but not really), LxLight, KiraxL.
Disclaimer: Death Note is (c) Ohba and Obata.
Lawli: Oh deary, how can I explain this one? It just popped into my head the other day when I was reading over my script during play practice, and just refused to leave until I had it down on paper.
Basically, this is a semi-au fanfiction which follows the basic canon plotline... Light finds the Death Note, becomes Kira, etc... - but it has several key differences. L is NOT the detective in charge of bringing Kira to justice, he is Light's best friend. This intro chapter pretty much serves only to show how Light and L first met and how their relationship strengthened over the years. It starts off when they are children and ends when they are in their mid-teens. Also, Beyond Birthday makes an appearance in this fic as L's older brother (another AU feature, because I just couldn't resist adding him in here).
Without further delay, here is the fic... Please read and review!
Yagami Light, age eight.
L Lawliet, age nine.
The park was nearly deserted when Yagami Light arrived. There were a few children playing on the monkey bars, and several parents standing together next to the park benches; his mother went off and joined them as soon as she saw them, keeping close enough so that she could see where her son went. The neighborhood they lived in was a fairly small and quiet one; everyone seemed to know each other, and the park was hardly ever crowded.
He had his own spot in the park, a spot he would always run off to whenever his mother brought him out. It was nothing exciting – just an old, rickety swing set which had been abandoned by all others ever since the new swing set had been built near the picnic benches on the other side of the park – but for some reason he loved it. It was ill-kept - covered with spider webs, overrun with weeds, and rusting – but he hardly cared. It made no difference if the spot was dirty or clean, because it was in that spot where Light first encountered his best friend.
The boy had been sitting in a small clump of snow-sprinkled grass; just lying there peacefully as if he hadn't a care in the world. He appeared to be Light's age, perhaps a few years older but definitely not any younger. His hair was long – an odd, inky black which contrasted perfectly with the surrounding snow – and over the top of his head was a white tuke which looked as if it were a size too big for him. He was donned in a ragged long-sleeved shirt which was plainly colored the same shade of his hat. Light couldn't see his eyes, for they were concealed behind thick, dark lashes.
As Light watched him sleep, entranced by the gentle rising and falling of his chest, he noticed another weird thing; around the boy's neck was a necklace made entirely out of dark red beads. And not just any beads, either; they were rosary beads – a sign of the Catholic religion. The boy was a foreigner.
Light stared at the rosary as if it were the strangest thing he'd ever seen in his life, wondering how it was that a person could wear such a branding item on their person.
He was only a child, but already Light was skeptical about the existence of divine beings. If God truly exists, he'd always thought, he wouldn't allow such suffering to befall his people. No God would be cruel enough to allow his own children to be mercilessly slaughtered by each other. If there was a God, he would not let criminals and madmen run free; he would bring forth Justice.
The boy had obviously been brainwashed, most likely by his overly religious parents, so out of compassion Light knelt down before him and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders to remove the necklace.
However, before he could even touch the rosary beads he was stopped by the feeling of someone watching him. Light glanced up and sucked in a quick breath, feeling a chill wash down his spine at the complete and utter void of the boy's wide-awake eyes. Immediately he released his hands from the boy's shoulders.
The boy stared at him blankly, tilting his head to the side. "Who are you?" he asked, in a voice no higher than a whisper. Light almost didn't hear it.
"Light... Yagami... Yagami Light," Light stammered, finding it difficult to focus, even on something as menial as introducing himself, when he could feel those unnerving eyes boring into him. "Who are you?"
The boy shifted from his spot on the ground, rolling onto his side before pushing himself up and into an awkward sitting position. "I am L," he said, meeting Light's gaze evenly and extending a hand in his direction. Light stared at the offered appendage, unsure of what to do with it. "This is how we greet one another in England," L explained as he grasped Light's hand and shook it firmly.
Light wrenched his hand away after allowing L to shake it for several seconds. "This is not England," he pointed out.
"I know," L said, smiling and bringing his hand to his face. He popped a finger into his mouth and began to suck on it, all the while continuing to speak to. "I just moved here a few days ago," he told Light.
Light nodded in understanding. That explained the Western handshake, as well as the rosary beads around L's neck. "Do you like it?"
L frowned thoughtfully. "No," he decided quickly. "I miss Winchester. I knew people there. I don't know anyone here." His eyes found Light's again and locked on them; Light found himself unable to look away, even though he wanted to. "Where do you live, Light-kun?"
Light blinked at the question. "N-not far from here," he replied, pointing to the left as if his house would suddenly appear out of thin air. "About two blocks."
"Me too," L said, also pointing to the left.
They were neighbors, then – at least, they almost were. "We should play sometime," Light suggested, smiling. He always did like surrounding himself with friends, and L was intriguing, so it would be fun to get to know him.
L nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, that would be nice."
A silence fell between them after that. Light shifted uncomfortably, his eyes wandering aimlessly, focusing for a moment on the rusted swing set before flickering over to a patch of green grass that grew above the several inches of snow. "Um..." he began, not quite sure what to say next. He had a question in mind, but he didn't know if it would be rude of him to ask or not. Light silently debated with himself before deciding that he would ask anyways.
"What are you doing out here by yourself?" he wondered aloud.
"Oh," L gasped, as if suddenly realizing something. He peeked over his shoulder before standing up and taking a look around the area. When he was unable to find what he was searching for, he returned to his squatting position. "I was waiting for Beyond. We were playing Hide-and-Seek, he was supposed to come and look for me... I guess I fell asleep and he gave up."
"Who's Beyond?"
L reached under his tuke to scratch the top of his head. When he removed his hand, the loose hat fell back down, falling over his eyes and partially concealing them from Light's view – something Light was silently grateful for, as L's black-hole eyes freaked him out a little bit.
"He's my brother," L answered. "Can I go over to your house?"
Light appeared taken aback by the question. "What? W-why?" he wanted to know.
L shrugged his shoulders dispassionately and began to dust snow off of the grass in front of his feet. Light noticed for the first time that adorning L's feet were nothing more than a beat-up pair of sneakers that also looked as though they were too big to fit him.
"You said we should play together. Can we play at your house?"
Light glanced over to where his mother was standing with her friends and then gave an indifferent shrug of the shoulders, his eyes falling shut. "I guess so."
L was on his feet in an instant, and before Light even knew what was happening L was holding his hand and practically dragging him away.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Light walked home from school with L every day. They rarely saw each other during the school day (with the exception being the fifteen minute recess break and forty-five minute lunch period) due to being placed in separate classes, so after school they tried to spend as much time together as possible.
Light was actually surprised when he discovered how much he liked being around L. He figured, because their looks differed so drastically, their personalities would not mix; but he was actually quite wrong. He and L were very much alike. They were both exceptionally smart for their ages, they both liked sports (though L preferred to watch them rather than play them, most of the time), they both enjoyed playing board games, and they both loved playing Cops and Robbers (though playing this game often resulted in an argument between them, as they both preferred to play the role of Cop as opposed to that of the Robber).
On school nights, L stayed at Light's house until six-o-clock. They did their homework together and then played games. Sometimes L stayed for dinner; most of the time he didn't. On Saturday night, unless they were too busy, L typically slept over the Yagami house; he and Light would make a tent over Light's bed and sleep under it together, telling each other stories or just talking.
Light liked to talk about what it would be like to be a King.
"If I was a King, I would make you my Queen," he told L, who turned red and wrinkled his nose at the title.
"Why would Light-kun want to do that?"
"Because a Queen always has to stay with her King, no matter what; and you're my best friend, so I would want you to have to be the one to stay with me no matter what."
"No matter what..." L brought a finger to his lips and bit down on it. "I would stay with Light-kun no matter what, if he became a King."
L liked to talk about candy and desserts, as they were what his favorite foods consisted of.
"Light-kun is an apple pie," L said, earning a curious stare. "Apple pie is a lot of people's favorite dessert. It's a comfort food, and Light-kun is a comfort to me."
"You're so weird, L."
L made no move to negate the claim. He scooted closer to his friend, and the material of the 'tent' above them rippled slightly his L's hair brushed against the top of it. "What kind of candy am I?"
"You..?" Light gave his friend a quick once-over before snorting. "You're nothing but a Sucker."
L nodded his head in agreement.
Light did not enjoy spending time in L's house – in fact, he avoided going there altogether if he could. Always he insisted that L come over to his house, or that they go to the park or some other place that they liked. L never questioned him, and Light was thankful for that; he wouldn't know how to explain that he was scared to even set foot inside L's house.
It wasn't the house itself that bothered him, but rather, L's eighteen-year-old brother, Beyond. Appearance-wise, Beyond looked none too threatening; he looked almost like what Light imagined as an older version of L, with several differences including a narrower face and a shaper, bonier physique. He was always very polite, too, whenever Light happened to run into him.
But there was something about Beyond that reminded Light distinctly of a poisonous insect; oftentimes he found himself comparing L's brother to a Black Widow Spider, especially when Beyond's creepy black eyes would flash red under the light. He didn't feel comfortable around the young man, though he could never tell L this.
L adored his brother, for some reason.
"Hey, L?"
L looked up from the strawberry shortcake he was halfway through demolishing in order to give his friend his full attention. "Light-kun?"
Light wrinkled his nose at the crumbs that fell from L's mouth as he spoke, but he tried not focus on L's bad table manners for long. "I was wondering... why do you wear that rosary all the time? Is your family religious?"
By family, Light meant L's older brother. Light did not know much about L's past – L seemed unwilling to share a majority of the time – but he did know that L's parents were both dead, which was why he lived alone with his brother.
"No... Beyond bought it for me, though." He smiled and brought a hand to the rosary, touching it gently, fingering one of the blood red beads. They reminded Light of Beyond's creepy eyes. "So it's special."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
L flinched as Light grazed his hand gently over the patch of bruising skin.
"It hurts, Light-kun," L said in his soft whisper-voice, his dark eyes meeting those of his friend.
Light held L's gaze for a minute, and that was all he could stand before he had to turn his head away. It had been years since they first met, and they were good friends now – best friends, actually – but L's eyes never failed to give Light the chills. Light felt guilty, sometimes, at not being able to maintain eye contact with his friend for long periods of time.
Slowly nodding his head, Light allowed his hand to drop. "What happened?" he asked.
L brought a hand to his lip, delaying his response by chewing absently on his fingernail. "Nothing..."
"It was him again, wasn't it?" Light interrupted; his tone suspicious. His eyes narrowed expectantly as he waited for L to answer.
L leaned back against the dresser, drawing his legs up to his chest. His silence was enough to gather a response from.
This was not the first time he'd seen L covered in bruises and, unless something was done, then it would certainly not be the last. However, there was nothing that could be done. The person responsible for L's bruises was someone that L cared too much for to ever turn in to the authorities.
Light sighed, not knowing what to say. L wouldn't listen if he tried to offer his advice – he never listened.
Light moved closer to L, stopping as he sat right next to him in order to wrap him in a friendly hug. L's eyes widened slightly, flickering curiously in his direction.
"L-Light-kun..."
Flushing in embarrassment, Light released him immediately. He coughed into his hand before gesturing to the side at one of the board games that littered the floor of L's bedroom. "Want to play Chess?" he asked quickly, in order to change the subject.
L stared at him blankly for a moment before nodding his head, a shy smile worming its way onto his face.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Do you believe in magic?" Light asked L out of the blue one evening as they were working together on a project for their Literature class.
L turned the page of his textbook, not bothering to look over at his friend. "Magic? No... That's stupid."
Light frowned as he skimmed the paper he was in the middle of typing up. In the reflection of the computer screen, he could see the red glow of L's beaded rosary. "What about God?"
"What does this have to do with our project?" L wanted to know, glaring at Light from beneath the veil of his long black bangs.
Light shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing, I guess. I was just wondering. I'm always wondering if any of it really exists."
"Well that's a stupid thing to occupy your mind with. Focus on our project. We need an A."
"We always get an A," Light pointed out – not that he needed to point it out at all. He and L were the smartest students in their class (in probably the whole school, really) and neither of them ever received a grade lower than a perfect one.
They continued on working silently. Light suddenly closed out of the document with an exclamation of, "this is boring."
L marked something in the textbook with a blue highlighter. "Schoolwork is not exactly supposed to be fun."
"I know that," Light said, scowling, "I wasn't even talking about the project, really... I was just thinking in general..."
"I do not understand," L admitted, shaking his head and reaching for the plate of creampuffs that sat on the edge of the bed. He opened his mouth a tiny bit, wincing at the soreness of the bruise present there, and popped the treat into his mouth.
Light watched him eat one of the snacks before closing his eyes and letting out a quiet sigh. "I just wish something exciting would happen."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Yagami Light, age sixteen.
L Lawliet, age seventeen.
Day after day, week after week... Nothing ever changes. Every day is just the same as the one before it.
Light cupped his cheek in the palm of his hand, his eyes roaming around the room without any set destination. He paused as his gaze fell upon the back of L's head. His best friend was doodling over his class notes, paying absolutely no attention to the teacher's lecture on English Literature.
L seemed to feel the eyes on him, for he glanced over his shoulder, meeting Light's gaze evenly. Light smiled at him and L looked away hurriedly, as if embarrassed.
"Yagami-kun, would you please translate the text on page seventy-two?"
Light gave a sigh and wordlessly stood from his seat, flipping to the correct page in his book and skimming the page to find where the last reader left off.
"Follow the teachings of God and receive his blessings," he read, translating the English characters effortlessly. He could feel L's blank stare on him once again; he made no effort to look back at his friend this time around, only concentrated on the words before him. "And so it shall be that the seas will again become bountiful... and the raging storms will subside."
"Flawless, as expected, Yagami-kun. You may sit."
Light did as told, sliding easily back down into his chair and closing the textbook. He could follow along with the lecture without needing to look at it; English Literature (like most other subjects) was not difficult for him.
His eyes began to wander again as boredom took over his mind. Light stared across the room at a group of three boys – two of which were bullies and the third their latest victim. This was nothing new; bullies always existed in schools, no matter how strict the faculty tried to be with them.
It was the same with the rest of the world... There would always be bullies, bad people – criminals.
Light's eyes settled on the back of L's head once more. He knew that under L's left eye (concealed with light facial powder) was a black-and-blue marking.
Nothing would ever change.
But I wish... I wish that something would...
His eyes flickered to the window beside him –
I wish there could be a miracle...
- And widened as they caught sight of something falling from the sky.
L stood up from his desk as the professor called on him, his soft voice the only thing that registered in Light's mind as Light continued to stare at the spot where the thing had fallen.
"Say 'praise be to God', and he will show you his signs... and you will recognize them."
Lawli: I'm very apprehensive about this fanfic idea, and especially about this first chapter since it tends to skip around a lot. So feedback would be very, VERY much appreciated. Please let me know if you like the idea or not and if you liked this intro chapter or not. If I get a positive response to this, then I will definately continue with it, so please send me a review!