A Few Links in the Chain
It had been one of those moments, where a calculated comment had resulted in something snapping in Light, which, in turn, had resulted in a foot in his face and his fist in Ryuuzaki's.
The pair picked themselves off the floor, and stood (ignoring the hurried placations of a frenzied Matsuda) facing each other, both calmly defiant.
Ryuuzaki focused a hollow, withering gaze on Light. After holding it for what he evidently considered an appropriate amount of time, he turned, as Light headed for the door – for the comforting seclusion of his room? To go outside for the first time in days? To leave this insanity permanently? To get away from this, certainly, this had gone too -
- Ah. Slight logistical flaw detected.
Ryuuzaki and Light turned slowly, deliberately to face each other again, Light mentally cursing the chain that was currently stretched taut between them. If he was to get used to this, it would not be willingly.
-
Since regaining his memories, Light has become increasingly aware of two conflicting personalities existing within him. Jekyll and Hyde. Light Yagami and Light-Kira. Himself, with and without memories of the Death Note. Of course, the latter is but a murmur, nothing more – a memory of his character had he not become Kira. A fascinating phenomenon, but overall quite irritating; his current actions are frequently punctuated with 'what have I done' and 'this is wrong'. Probably not permanent – nonetheless... irritating.
And Ryuuzaki. L. Persistent little reminders of Light Yagami surround the detective. 'Ryuuzaki, my friend' and 'Ryuuzaki, you were right after all' ringing in his ears, damn it!
Light forces himself to relax in his seat. Simply reminders, nothing more.
Ryuuzaki, who has been sitting less than a metre away whilst Light has been contemplating, moves out of his chair (no doubt in search of something saccharine). Out of habit, Light stands; Ryuuzaki smiles.
"No need to follow me, Light-kun. We are not chained together anymore."
Yes we are.
-
When Ryuuzaki left the room, Light was dragged after him. When Ryuuzaki kicked him, he was sent flying across the room after Light. As Light was constantly emphasising, should Ryuuzaki die, the fate of his prisoner would be identical.
-
So when Ryuuzaki tumbles to the floor (how many missed heartbeats does it take to die anyway?), Light follows him. Simple physics. For though the chain was removed (Light has come to realize), it still binds them together – incorporeal, inexplicable, ineluctable.
And absurd, of course. He and Ryuuzaki are not two sides of the coin – how Light despises that phrase! – and he is not some contemporary Jekyll and Hyde.
Ryuuzaki mentioned bells, scant minutes before all of this. Light imagines wryly that he can hear them now – funeral bells!
Though to his mind, the imaginary noise seems to resemble more the shackles of... damn it, does his entire life revolve around chains?