AN: (') Denotes Light's thoughts (/) Denotes L's thoughts
/There's not a doubt in my mind about who Kira is but I can't prove it. Well, actually I can but under the law it would be considered a heinous act. Then again, maybe I don't want to prove it anymore./ The rain continued to pour as the lightening ripped through the sky. Even though it was only mid-afternoon, the sky was dark and murky, very much like L's thoughts. The church bells continued to drown out the rain—or at least it appeared that way to L. He raised his head higher, closing his eyes letting the rain and the sound of the bells overcome him.
"What are you doing out in the rain?" He was sure he heard Light's voice come in clearly over the rain. He slowly dropped his head and turned towards the voice. He found himself face to face with Kira himself. /I'll pretend that I didn't hear him. What harm could it do to have a little fun with him? He's got the advantage right now and since my days are surely numbered I might as well have a bit of fun./ He twisted his face in a frown and gestured towards his ear.
"I'm sorry," he mouthed. "I can't hear you." Light Yagami let out a sigh and yelled again but still L refused to hear him. 'Dammit L! I don't want to get wet but…I guess you leave me no choice.' Light ran across the rooftop in the heavy rain towards L. L just continued to stare off into the distance lost in an array of thought. 'I wonder what's on his mind. Did he call me out here in the rain just to throw me for a loop? I cannot tell so I need to be extra careful.'
"Ryuzaki, you know it's too cold and wet for you to be standing out here like this. You'll catch a cold."
"The bells…they are ringing quite loudly today. Wouldn't you agree Light?" L stared at his adversary awaiting a quick reply but one did not come. Instead, Light seemed very confused as so his face was contorted in a way that said 'I am concerned'. /He looks very nice when he's wet. Actually one couldn't help but to notice that he looked well all the time. The casual long, sleeved collard shirt that's slightly ajar to reveal a tight black tank underneath it is very becoming of him./
"Uh Ryuzaki?"
"Hmm…yes?"
"I don't…hear any bells. Are you alright?" he asked. L studied the look of his adversary's face. The look on his face was of pure concern but L knew better. /This is Kira that I'm talking to. How can one be so skilled at hiding all traces of his true identity? Of course, I'm one to talk being that everyday of my life since I was five years old, I pretended to be L. There's nothing really involved in that task except for being knowledgeable and mysterious. To have the ability to mask all real human emotion is what makes the title 'L' a true weapon but I have failed. I cannot fool him. He knows that I am troubled yet I don't know much about him./
"Tell me Light, do you always tell the truth?" /I know. Odd question to be asking the guy who has been lying ever since we met but we are one in the same except one of us good and the other just thinks he's good. Either way it's still an odd question to ask. I'm excited to know how he'd answer this even though I'm sure I already know the answer./ Ryuzaki cut his eyes towards Light again. Instead of concentrating on his face to look for signs of nervousness, he chose to watch the rain beat heavily upon Light's chest.
'What kind of question is that? How the hell am I supposed to answer something as vague as that? Doesn't he realize that nobody's perfect? Of course I tell lies! I lie everyday but it's for a good cause.' Light chuckled nervously appearing to be humbled in some way. "Well Ryuzaki, I cannot say that I haven't lied before. You should know that no one's perfect and I am no different. It's not something that I take great pride in but I'd be lying if I said that I never lie. I have told quite a few in my day but it's not like I make a habit to go around lying all the time." 'Yeah, except for now since I have no choice. Had you and the Japanese police minded their own business then I would probably be closer to world domination by now.'
"Exactly the answer I expected but no matter." /He is truly remarkable. I have been defeated and I have accepted this. It's only a matter of time before I die but I have no regrets./ Ryuzaki lifted his eyes until they met that of Light's.
"Uh…Don't you wanna head inside now? I don't think my father would be too happy if we both caught colds." 'Yeah and all of your staring and vague questions are making me nervous, more nervous than Misa makes me sometimes.'
"Lead the way," he said with a smile. Light returned the smile and in a bold move, he grabbed L's hand and they both ran across the rooftop out of the rain. When they reached the empty corridor, Light started towards a small rise of stairs and took a seat to catch his breath. He was drenched but so was L. An officer came running towards them with an arm full of towels.
"Thank you sir. Uh…by the way, please pass on to the others that Light and I are not to be disturbed. We are both on break and will return when we see fit. Anyone who disturbs me and my friend will be fired on the spot. Is that understood?"
"Hai!" he stammered before turning to leave.
"Wow Ryuzaki. Don't you think that was a bit misleading?" he grinned. "What about that conversation we just had about telling the truth?"
"Mhn…yeah, I know. From your point of view it may seem that I have just lied to all of my officers but that's not how I see it. Of course, I've always known that our friendship was completely one-sided considering everything but even so I still consider you to be my friend."
"You know that's not true," he said as if completely insulted. 'While it may seem a bit one-sided I actually do consider you a friend sometimes but you know what they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer and you are a far better enemy than a friend Ryusaki.' A towel was thrust at him and he took it without a word. He relieved himself of his long sleeves and started drying himself off. L watched on in amazement as Light dried himself off. The water dripping from his hair and down his neck was very entrancing. Actually just about any and everything about Light has always excited him.
Ever since the day they met at graduation, he could feel this chemistry that was off the charts. He was certain that Light felt it too because when their eyes met for the very first time, it was like they both made a silent agreement to see who could outsmart the other and when he thought about it, it was actually quite the turn on. L played with his bottom lip as he stared at his sworn enemy. He tried to foster thoughts of hate or resentment to the man who had managed to beat him but he could not. All he could do was admire everything about him, including his looks. /If he takes my place as L's successor and manages to take over the world, I wouldn't be angry. I couldn't be angry. It's so brilliantly planned that I'm almost impressed. No, I am impressed which bothers me to no end./ Water continued to drip from Light's hair and onto his chest and neck. /I need to do something about that./ L approached Light and started to dry his feet.
"Hey! What gives man?" he asked nervously. L stared up at him and saw that his emotion was for once genuine. /Confused. Startled. Taken completely by surprise. True emotions for once./
"As you know I am Catholic. I just…I wanted to wash the feet of my best friend," he replied softly. "Is that alright or am I taking you too far out of your comfort zone?" Truth be told, he was also slightly out of his comfort zone as well but he didn't feel it. In fact, he had never really felt completely out of his zone when he was around Light. That was part of the reason why he grew fond of him somehow. Light managed to nod his head and looked on nervously as L dried his feet.
The blue eyed wonder had always intrigued him. Every time he felt like he was in control of the situation, L would do something completely unexpected to throw him off, which was why it was such a battle to keep things together but…he couldn't complain and he wouldn't. If it wasn't for Ryuzaki, he wouldn't be as cautious as he should be. Had it not been for L's pushing him to cover his tracks, he wouldn't be in the position that he was in today. He felt L's hands grab hold of his legs, and he began meticulously drying them off.
"Ryuzaki, you don't have to…"
"But I want to…for my best friend," he said softly. Their eyes met and once again something happened. A wave of excitement poured over L and at the same time, Light was feeling something that he only felt when he was with L. 'What is this feeling? I feel like I can't breath or it will ruin the moment, but what kind of moment is this?' It was as if L read his mind.
"I don't know what this feeling is Light. Today…I've felt funny all day today. It's like I haven't quite been myself. I am certain that I know what the future has in store for me, which is probably why I feel so anxious. However, I'm pretty sure you feel the same awkwardness between us too so I can't really say my thoughts about my future have anything to do with the strangeness between the two of us." Light finally let out a breath and chuckled nervously.
"Uh…I don't know either. Maybe we've been spending far too much time together. Of course, that's really not my fault. You have to take all the blame for that being as you're the one who handcuffed yourself to me."
"Yes. You're quite right. Though I still never managed to prove that you're Kira, I still can't apologize for doing so. During that short period of time, I think I started to like you a little more, even if my suspicions rose on a day to day basis about you being Kira. In fact, I still believe that you are indeed the true Kira. However, I know when I've lost so this is one time I'll have to admit that you are indeed the better man."
"But Ryuzaki…" he started but was immediately cut off.
"No Light. It's true. We have been competing since the day we met in some form or another. Whether it was tennis, Jeopardy, or the Kira case, we've been competing to a stand still. Neither of us has ever been able to overpower the other. We've always been even, a stalemate throughout this entire investigation. But you are not at liberty to admit that you're Kira. I already know and I already know that I am to die soon. Nothing you said gave you away but the signs are there. /Omens…/ In fact, I fear that today just might be my last day on this beautiful planet we call Earth." Light did not say another word. He was once again caught off guard by Ryuzaki's bluntness and openness about the truth. L studied his friend as he made to dry off his arms. Light was no longer paying attention. His mind seemed to be elsewhere. /What are you thinking Light Yagami?/ L held up his right arm and began drying it off. Light made no attempt to acknowledge what he was doing. Finally he spoke.
"How could you…say something like that?" he managed in barely a whisper. This in turn, made Ryuzaki frown.
"What do you mean?"
"To call me your best friend and then down right accuse me of being Kira? How exactly do you justify such a thing? If you still believe me to be Kira then call it like it is! Don't patronize me by telling me you consider me a friend when you also consider me to be the world's biggest threat!" he snapped.
"Well you know me. I calls it like I see it. You see, right now you are so pissed at me that your whole body is starting to shake. This only proves that somewhere I have scratched that ego of yours. Maybe it's the part where I said I'm going to die today." At this, Light drew back to punch L in the face but he was ready for him. He pulled Light's legs from beneath him causing him to fall back onto the black, marble floor. "Sorry Light but since I'm going to die soon I just couldn't let you punch me in the face. I want to look pretty when I die."
"STOP SAYING THAT!" he screamed. He tried to sit up but the back of his head was in pain. 'I'll just lay here for a second. How could he? The creep. Just when I start to feel sorry for him he says something like that. I hate him and you know what else? He's right. He is going to die and soon in fact. I won't miss him. I won't miss him at all.'
"Light." Light opened his eyes and found himself staring right into the deep, sea blue eyes that belonged to Ryuzaki. He was leaning over him staring at him with a concerned look on his face. "How's the head?"
"Fine," he grumbled. "Get away from me."
"Light don't take it personal. You should know me by now…well, for the most part anyway."
"Yeah well I've spent enough time with you that I'm sure I know all you want me to know about you. There's still a lot of you that's a mystery to me. Unlike you, who knows every little thing about me including how many times I go potty each day," he grumbled. Light tried to sit up again but his head was still paining him. He groaned and lay back down on the cool floor.
"You're probably right but since death is surely upon me, I'll tell you anything you wanna know within reason," he added. "But first…" He crawled over Light until he was behind him.
"Hey…what gives?" L grabbed Light's arms and slid him backwards towards him away from the stairs. Then he gently clasped the sides of his head and lifted it to his lap.
"This will be better for your head friend."
"Will you please stop saying that? We're not friends. We're rivals."
"Mhn…true but we're also friends."
"Whatever." For the next couple of minutes neither one said a word. Both were lost in their own thoughts about the past few minutes with each other as well as the future. L looked down at his friend who was now frowning. /No point in him frowning, messing up such handsome face./ He raked his fingers through Light's hair and was surprised at how soft it was. /I think I've always wanted to do that./ Of course, it was still drenched from the rain which probably added to the softness but he didn't care. He half expected Light to say something but he didn't. Instead he just closed his eyes. /Well at least he's not frowning./
"Hey Light?"
"What?"
"Are you still angry with me?"
"Yes! No! Hell I don't know! Dammit Ryuzaki, why are you playing these head games with me? I'd rather you hate me completely than to say things like that. It really bothers me."
"I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing." 'Please stop apologizing. You make me like you and then you turn around and make me hate you. I'll be glad when the time comes when I can be free from this emotional bondage. I'd rather have no friends at all than to have one who thinks I'm a killer.'
"Light can I ask you something?" He continued to rake his hands through Light's hair and then moved to his shoulders squeezing them lightly.
"Why ask my permission? You were going to ask anyway."
"Fair enough. Are you in love with Misa?" /Maybe I shouldn't have sprung such a question on him like that but I figure why not? I may as well ask before…/
"Where are you going with this Ryuzaki?"
"Well…off the record, this question has absolutely nothing to do with the Kira investigation. I'm just curious."
"Why?"
"Well…the two of you never have sex so…"
"If you are basing our love on whether or not we've ever had sex then you're definitely going to get the wrong answer. Who's fault is it really that the two of us haven't had sex?"
"You've been free for almost a week now. You haven't left here so you two couldn't have had sex. I'm not trying to pry. I was just curious. You can tell me the truth Light. Everything being done or said right now is off the record. Even if you confessed to being Kira, I couldn't hold that against you. I give you my word and I always keep my word." /Go ahead Light. Tell me you're Kira. I need to know before I die whether or not you're Kira./
"Nice try Ryuzaki but I'm not confessing to anything. But I will tell you the truth about Misa. While I like her a lot as girlfriend, I don't see how I could ever love her the way that she loves me. I…have tried you know but I guess she's not my type…if I even have a type."
"I see."
"A question for you now."
"Ask away."
"Have you ever been in love?"
"I can't answer that."/I wasn't expecting a question like that./
"Why not? I answered your off-the-record question. Why can't you answer me?" he asked with an annoyed look.
"Because I just can't…at least not right now anyway. If I live long enough then I'll tell you my short sad story about being in love."
"Fair enough." 'But time is running out so there's a good chance that I won't get to know. It all depends on Misa.' L continued to play in Light's hair loving the way it felt sliding between his fingers. He massaged his scalp and the sides of his head before caressing the sides of his face gently.
"Ryuzaki…"
"Hmm?"
"Uh…never mind. I forgot what I was going to say." 'I don't know how to ask. On one hand I am enjoying the friendly pampering but on the other hand, it's…weird. Almost intimate.'
"Okay." L ran his hands down Light's shoulders and over his chest. Light didn't protest. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying the attention but Light's actions were never what they seemed so he couldn't be sure. He ghosted his hands even further down his chest until he was leaning over him. A water droplet from his own wet hair dripped down onto Light's lips.
"Ryuzaki…"
"I'll get it." He lowered his head placing his lips on top of Light's. It was…weird…for the both of them. There was nothing at first. No movement of the lips or anything. It was just L's lips pressed against Light's.
'This is weird. What's he thinking?'
/What was I thinking?/
'Should I kiss him back? I feel weird.'
/I should move my lips…/
Light's lips responded. It was more or less on a hunch but he did it anyway, taking L's upper lip into his mouth. It was weird…a backwards kiss but he embraced it nonetheless surprising his dear friend Ryuzaki.
/He's kissing me…/
'I'm kissing him…'
It was a backwards kiss but in a weird way it worked for Light. L let Light suck on his upper lip for a few as he was still quite shocked at what was happening. He finally gave in since he was the one who initiated the kiss to begin with. He kissed Light back as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do. He slid his hands further down his chest to his torso where his fingers curled underneath the tight fitting tank Light was wearing. He inched it up slowly, his nails lightly brushing Light's skin in the process.
"Mhn…Ryuzaki…" L pulled his lips from Light's straightening back up. He continued to play in Light's hair as if nothing happened. "Wait a second Ryuzaki." Light sat up and pulled down his shirt. He turned to face L and had every intention of asking him what that kiss was all about but…he couldn't speak. It was deja vu all over again. He met L's eyes and something tore through his body like a bolt of electricity.
"Did you have something you wanted to say Light?"
"I…" 'Ok. This is so unlike me to be at a loss for words. I don't know what L's up to but it's driving me nuts. First he tells me we're best friends. Then he says he still believes me to be Kira. Just when I thought he was done with his head games, he kisses me and like a fool I kiss him back.' "L…Ryusaki, what are we doing here?"
"What do you mean?" he shrugged.
"I…sometimes you make me so mad. Like right now, I really want to hit you."
"Why don't you hit me then? If it will make you stop frowning and wrinkling up that pretty face then by all means hit me. I give you my word I won't hit back." Light pondered this for a moment before letting out a sigh.
"I…just…you know what? I can't take this anymore. I'm leaving." He stood to his feet and started down the corridor.
"Light. Light wait."
AN: This is just the first part of a two shot that I wrote the other night. It may not seem like much (and it really isn't) but it's something I wanted to explore based on the episode titled 'Silence'. I'll post the second part in due time. I personally don't think they're too OOC because L and Light had this...strange, smart people's relationship. -shrugs- Review if you want.