A.N: I didn't see any fics like this, so I decided to make one. Seriously, how did Watari find so many geniuses that just so happened to be orphans? How many orphaned super-geniuses can there possibly be in the world? And why didn't they have any other family, or friends of family, that could take them in? Was it all just coincidence, or was there something more to it?
Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note.
L was the greatest detective in the world. He had solved every case he had ever worked on. He solved cases not to make a better world, but to put his great mind to use. The world was at his fingertips, and he took advantage of that fact.
It was strange how he had never looked into his own case. He had never thought to do such a thing. And it had been an offhanded comment of Matsuda's that had brought on such a thought.
In regard to the killing of a specific criminal, Matsuda had said, "I'm not condoning Kira or anything, but if he hadn't killed that criminal when he did, those kids would be orphaned."
Orphaned... killed... criminals... It had all brought back the death of L's parents. He remembered walking home from the neighborhood park at age five, hand in hand with his thirteen-year old baby-sitter. It had been raining thick and hard, the raindrops pelting down upon them. L had hated the rain back then. His baby-sitter, a boy with dark brown hair and light blue eyes, had held the small umbrella over L.
What was his baby-sitter's name? Sam... Shawn... Seth... No, Scott. That was it. Scott Smith.
They had barely been a block away, when burning heat managed to reach them despite the cold droplets.
~Twenty Years Earlier~
Little L stared in wonder at the orange flames. They were surrounding his house, reaching up to consume it whole. Bright dots were burned into his vision, but still he looked on. Not even the rain could smother the hungry flames.
The grip on his hand had tightened painfully, and he looked up at his baby-sitter, Scott. "Where were we supposed to meet Mommy and Daddy?"
Scott didn't answer, pulling L close. For L's part, he was confused. Obviously his parents weren't in the burning house. So where were they? He craned his neck, trying to see through rain and smoke. "Mommy? Daddy?" he called out. Maybe they were only hiding, or couldn't see him. He found his voice being drowned out by the rain. He could always find them after it stopped raining. They could even be at the neighbor's house.
So why was his house on fire?
That was what he was having the hardest time figuring out.
"Excuse me?" It was a deep voice, with a heavy British accent. L turned around, looking up at an old man with a strange mustache. "Are you L Lawliet?"
L glanced at Scott, looking for reassurance before speaking to the stranger. Scott was still gazing at the burning house, eyes wide and vacant. "Yes," L answered.
"I am sorry for your loss."
L looked at his house. He did have his favorite stuffed panda in there, and the cake they were going to eat to celebrate his mother's birthday the following day. Strawberry cake. He wasn't very fond of sweets, but his mother ate them without pause. Strawberry cake was her favorite. "Mommy and Daddy can buy me a new panda. I'll help Daddy bake Mommy another cake."
The old man looked surprised. "I am Quillish Wammy, and I have some unfortunate news."
L looked at his house, wondering why the man was so insistent upon stating the obvious. It was no secret that his house was burning down. But he was sure it would be alright. His parents had always pulled through any troubles in the past, and he was sure they could find a new home. Maybe even Scott's home. L wouldn't mind moving in with the older kid that smothered him with attention.
"Your parents have passed away in the fire."
L stared blankly at the old man. Normally he understood things extremely well. The intelligence tests at his school had placed him at a genius level. This time, however, he had no clue what the man was saying. His parents had passed away in the fire... No, maybe it had been, 'Your parents have passed Away in the fire.' Yes. Away was most definitely a person. "Who's Away?"
Scott pulled L close, and consequently away from the stranger. "Who the hell are you?"
"Quillish Wammy," the man informed. "I will be starting an orphanage, and L will be the first one to join."
L winced as the grip on his hand tightened almost painfully. "Scott!"
The boy loosened his grip only the slightest bit, body tense and rigid. "How did you get here the moment his house was burning down? How can you be sure his parents aren't alive?" He broke off, but when he spoke again it was in the most miserable tone L had ever heard. "Why L?"
"I am a rich man. I learn things quickly, and have many ways of acquiring knowledge. As for why I will be taking L, it is because he is very intelligent. My orphanage will be for geniuses."
L was surprised when two arms wrapped around him, holding him possessively. "My family can take him in."
"That is unnecessary. I can provide for his education and growth far better than your family can." Wammy was now looking at the fire, an expression of interest across his face. "If you don't hand him over, we'll fight you in court. Can your family really afford that?"
L glanced at the fire, and then back at Wammy. Parents... fire... passed away... The words were going through his mind almost aimlessly. What could they possibly mean?
"Now that his parents are dead-"
And all L could hear after that were his own screams, the rain that had once seemed to roar now a distant noise in the background. Pain was clawing up his chest and pouring from his eyes, mixing with the rain, differing only in the fact that it left scorching marks down his cheeks. He found himself pulled from the comforting hold of his baby-sitter, crying for someone to wake him up. Because surely this was only a dream. His parents weren't dead.
As Scott faded from sight, L found the world going black around him, unconsciousness overtaking his exhausted mind.
L twirled his spoon in his tea almost mindlessly. He had never questioned Watari on how it had all happened. Watari had said L's parents had died in an accidental fire. Once taken from his home, both miserable and alone, L hadn't even thought of questioning Watari's words.
Now that he did question what had happened, he found a surprising lack of believability. He had left his home for what was supposed to be an hour. Scott's family needed some extra money, so L's family decided to pay Scott for 'baby-sitting' L. Really they had hung out before that, since Scott liked children and L loved the attention of a 'big kid'.
They had actually returned half an hour early. In thirty minute's time, the house had been engulfed in flames despite the rain. His mother was never one to forget to turn off the oven or stove, and even then she should have been able to find a way out of her burning house. His dad had probably been sitting on the sofa by the front door, reading the newspaper while waiting for L to return. He should have been able to escape, too.
So why hadn't they? And why had Watari been there so soon after it had happened?
A.N: Should I continue, or do you think leaving it at this is better? And what are your opinions on this take?
