I battled with myself over this for awhile and finally it all formed together rather nicely. Hello, my name is Fire. Christmas stories are my specialty and this will be my first ever Death Note Christmas fic. I posted this chapter a year ago but took it offline do to not being able to finish it. I'm changing that now, hopefully.
This is not an AU. My original idea for this story was to have it start off as an AU but after giving it some thought, it's not that hard to take 'The Christmas Carol' and stitch it into the Death Note storyline.
A word of warning though. If you want your traditional 'Christmas Carol' plot with every Dickens character simply warped into the bodies of our beloved Death Note cast complete with a heart warming ending sprinkled with candy canes and sugar plums, this isn't for you. Happy and cheerful just isn't 'Death Note.' Not even Christmas can change that folks, sorry to say (thouh I may give you an option.)
Also, this includes Shonen- Ai, specifically, LightL and a few other hints. Don't like, don't read. Want more? I'll see what kind of a response I get from the first chapter. Hinthint…
Wow, I rarely write anything which takes place during the second arch, go me!
NOW READ!
Snow.
The cold, sparkling substance had blanketed the bustling city of Tokyo like icing on a cake. It rattled the windows of the local shops, tainted the shriveling, dirt crusted ground, and iced the paved roads. Old man winter had finally made it's first move of the season, lacing its fingers into the dieing earth with frost bitten hands- adding it's final touch onto the bustling Tokyo Wonderland.
Light Yagami was oblivious.
"Light-kun!"
The young man lazily directed his chestnut eyes to the grinning figure of his team member, not batting so much as an eyelash as he stared at the cherry red hat positioned atop the cops head. The remaining team members were packing up for the day, an air of cheeriness about them which caused Light's already sour mood to plummet as he watched them button up their coats and pat him on the shoulder before disappearing out into the snowy night.
"Yes, Matsuda?" Light asked, nodding at Aizawa as he slipped out the sliding doors like a shadow. He knew the man wanted to be home with his family, the cold vibes he had been receiving from him since he had announced to the investigation team that they would be working into the winter holidays, was beginning to prove annoying. The man had become bolder during his absence, his eyes constantly digging into Light's skull wherever he moved. He knew Nears little transmissions were beginning to sway his loyalty and he was waiting for the day he would walk out.
'He's just another foot in the door… if that…'
"Have a Merry Christmas!" Matsuda chirped, his hat tilting to the side, giving off the appearance of a deranged elf. "Tell Misa and your family I wish them a Merry Christmas too, alright?"
Light offered him a nod but nothing else. He was afraid if he uttered even a casual 'goodnight' the cop would try to start up a conversation. Thankfully Matsuda took Light's silence as a hint and disappeared out into the cold snow leaving Light alone in the vacated building; a god left to roam about his castle.
His mood remained shallow.
It wasn't that Light hated Christmas. As commercial as the American holiday was, he had happily celebrated it with his family over the last twenty-two years of his life- dinner, presents, decorations, the works. He had received his watch for Christmas as a matter of fact, the damn thing proving more useful then he had ever imagined. He remembered the English carols and the American T.V specials him and his sister would watch, paying more attention to the animation then the scrolling subtitles plastered beneath, cutting out half the picture. His father had even joined them on several occasions, his eyes drooping from his long hours at work. He had looked old even then…
Light felt his heart tremble faintly, slipping his coat on over his suit and tie. His father- no. Soichiro Yagami was dead. He had failed.
He had failed Kira.
The man carefully began to button up his coat, the silence pressing upon him painfully as he fumbled with his outerwear. He stared at his faded hands, his slender fingers working in the dimmed light causing him to appear paler then usual; or maybe this was simply how he appeared these days. It had been along time since he had actually taken a good, long look at himself. His physical appearance meant little (though Misa reminded him nearly every waking hour that he was the most beautiful person alive, a god of gods and her knight in shining armor. )
But as he shifted his hand to fasten the few remaining button, the cuff of his dress shirt slid down past his wrist revealing the familiar white band of skin tattooed into his oriental complexion- a reminder of the past.
Light froze in place.
It didn't hurt anymore. As far as he was concerned, it had never hurt. He had felt nothing but joy once that sugar loving freak was wiped from the face of the planet. He had enjoyed watching the light leave those blank, soulless eyes, freeing Light from there hold and shattering beyond repair. To final see the bastard break. After the hell he had put Light through, all of those headaches and sleepless nights…
..A look he had never seen before sliding across the detectives face like silk, color blossoming in his milk white cheeks as he leaned closer, lips parting ever so slightly before leaning in with child like awkwardness…
DAMN IT!
The button burst from Light's coat like a cherry from it's stem and bounced twice against the stone floor before rolling into the center of the room, the soft light from outside brushing against it's smooth surface as it rattled to a halt. The room reverted back to it's death like silence, now laced with the sound of Light's staggered breath. Damn it all… He didn't fucking need this. Not when he was so close… his goal nearly within his grasp…
Ryuuzaki needed to be forgotten.
Ignoring the button, Light grabbed his briefcase and turned to face the door. The snow whistled and blew against the glass like an animal, all Christmas card qualities now absent causing the scene to appear chilling and dangerous.
Fucking perfect…
Light lowered his briefcase in silence, wondering how long it would take for the storm to clear up. Not that he actually wanted to return home with his depressing mother and mentally disturbed sister. Misa was away in America for a photo shoot and promised she would return by late morning next day (though the storm would hopefully keep her from returning. She could celebrate Christmas in charming America for all he cared- catch up on there little terrorist problem. ) He was used to staying in the investigation headquarters anyway.
..Hands laced together, fingers clawing against stale, hot air as toes curled steadily in and out in rhythm with the building thrusts, unleashing sounds Light had never heard part from human lips…
STOP!
A loud popping sound shot through the air as Light balled his hand into a tight fist, his knuckles cracking as his fingers clenched. He wanted his mind to stop, to be incapable of memory; every fucking, stupid ass memory of when he had been ignorant and blind, a teenager with foolish hopes and dreams which had been implanted into his head by society and his father's scraped view of human justice.
To think he would have turned out such a way if it wasn't for the Death Note…
He couldn't have been more thankful.
Feeling his feet start to ache beneath his weight, Light sauntered over to the stairs hoping to gain some comfort, even if it meant sitting on the edge of a metal platted step for lord knows how long. He stopped however when his eyes fell upon the familiar spot, the memories tickling him horribly.
His fingers pressed against the rubbery sole of his foot, applying pressure in areas Light had never felt before causing him to squirm. It was awkward, the way he concentrated on his handiwork letting the silence stretch out between them minus the occasional drip of water from there drenched bodies. The smell of rain was overpowering…
'Light-kun.'
The man jumped, the hair on the back of his neck prickling as he turned on the spot, his heart thudding madly in his chest threatening to burst from it's confinement and spill onto the marble floor, his pupils dilating. He… he had imagined it. There was no other explanation. Even as he stood staring off into the emptiness of the frigid lobby, the snow pounding against the sliding glass doors like hell itself, he knew.
The silence was getting to him, that was all.
Perhaps it was because he wasn't use to being alone. He was constantly in the presence of the investigation team, Matsuda breathing down his neck and Near constantly popping in with his little announcements. Hell, as soon as he stepped into the comfort of his own home he was mauled by his bubbling blonde fiancé' and left to please her. He even missed Ryuk and his constant snickering, slightly regretting pawning him off on Mikami despite the situation.
He had never been this alone before.
Yet part of him was telling himself he wasn't the only one in the building.
Christmas spirit be damned.
'Light.'
Cold metal clamped down upon Light's wrist and the man spun around before he could stop himself, eye wide with fright, the familiar sound of metal upon metal ringing in his ears. Amidst the darkness, black mirror like eyes gazed at him like coals free from a fire, framed by skin so white Light could practically see through it- or maybe he could. It was hard to tell when the person standing before him wasn't supposed to even be there in the first place.
But he was. Light's eyes never lied, he knew that for a fact. The apparition standing before him was Ryuuzaki through and through; from the messy mop of raven black hair to the bare soles of his feet. He would of believed him to be a figment of his own warped imagination if it wasn't for the cuff digging into the sensitive skin of his wrist, his nerves becoming numb from the inhuman coldness spreading through his veins rendering his left arm useless.
What… what was going on?
"R-Ryuuzaki…" Light's voice came out little more then a squeak and the detective stepped forward, his eyes set into an unreadable expression. Light could feel the nineteen year old inside of him quiver in shame, the eyes of the man he had watched die in his very arms boring into him with an intensity far beyond the normal humans need for revenge.
There was sadness also.
"I think 'L' would be more appropriate, given the current situation Light-kun." he muttered coldly, placing his hands inside his pockets, his eyes never straying from the mans face. He paused for a moment, contemplating to himself, before letting his lips slide back into a faint smirk, one of realization and amusement. "Or should I say… Kira."
"Why… how.. your…" he stuttered, trying to pull himself together. "Your fucking DEAD!"
"Yes, I believe that has been established." Ryuuzaki nodded, taking another step toward Light causing the man to back up into the staircase, tumbling backward so he was gazing up into the detectives black eyes.
Steadily, his thumb found its way to his mouth and his cold gaze softened. "Wasn't that what Kira-sama wanted?" he whispered sadly.
"Yes and I would do it again if I had the chance!" Light spat, ignoring the burning pain in his heart. He was humiliated, cowering before the ghost of L like some scolded child. Was that how the god of the new world was supposed to act? If L had learned anything from the past it was that Light was not to be messed with.
L had lost, nothing was going to change that.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you but that was a one time deal." he spoke hollowly, tugging on the chair so Light was forced to sit on his knees. "I'm here for only one purpose."
"And what's that, to prove I'm Kira?" Light smirked, his eyes glinting. He was nothing but a fucking ghost, he couldn't prove anything. Hell, he wasn't even sure if he could leave the building.
"To give you…" he bit his lip, his eyebrows knitting together beneath his veil of black hair. He seemed to be battling with himself over something. L barely ever showed emotion, even though Light had been lucky during his time with him. Light had been…
… special.
"To give you a second chance." he finished, his voice low.
Light blinked.
"A second chance for what?"
"Yagami-kun, what you are doing is wrong and I am determined to prove that to you even in death." he snapped, grabbing the man by the front of his jacket so there faces were inches apart, the faintest scent of sugar on the detectives breath. "You can never truly reverse what you've done but I won't have you parting from this world, whether it be hanging from the gallows or by old age, without understanding the true meaning of justice. "
"I am justice!" Light hissed, digging his fingers into the frigid flesh of L's wrist before watching them sink through his skin like glass. "I managed to defeat you didn't I!?"
Ryuuzaki smiled, his face darkening. "I admit I lost the battle but as long as my successors remain in tact, the war will continue until Kira is caught. "
Light's eyes narrowed in aggravation and he opened his mouth to offer some form of vulgarity to his diseased rival, when the detective suddenly sunk to his knees, resting his head in the crook of Light's neck sending a wave of chills rocketing through the interior of his body. The situation was all too familiar, awakening memories Light had struggled to suppress in his quest for world reign. Perhaps it was because he had secretly longed for the detectives embrace that he didn't attempt to push him away; or maybe he simply knew using force would only result in shoving his hand through frigid air.
Regardless, he remained frozen.
"I secretly hoped it wasn't you…" he whispered, sadness dripping from his voice like rain. "Never in my life have I ever hoped my calculations were wrong. "
A weak laugh slipped from his throat.
"But I've never been wrong… ever."
Silence slipped between them, heavy with unspoken words both were to afraid- to ashamed to speak. Light's hands flexed at his sides as he remembered how much he had missed L's touch, his awkward embrace and quirky personality which he had been forced to endure during his three month confinement. Seeing him now… like this…
"Why…" Light swallowed, his voice shaking. " Why do you want to help me? After everything I did to you…"
Ryuuzaki shifted, raising his head so his gaze laced with the chestnut haired mans, his breath catching in his throat. Even in death he was beautiful, a unique type of beauty only Light had grown to accept.
"Because you were my one and only flaw Light-kun," he whispered, pressing a pale finger against Light's lips. " And I'm determined to fix you."
His words hung in the air like ice, a game-like playfulness attached to them throwing Light off guard. He had rendered him speechless, unable to find a proper response.
What was there to say?
"Three ghosts Light-kun." Ryuuzaki informed him, holding up three fingers in front of his face before rising to his feet. "Hopefully three will be enough. I'm risking a lot doing this for you, you know…"
His image began to fade before his eyes and Light's eyes widened, feeling his heart scream in protest. He remained silent however, his eyes speaking for him as he watched the ghost of his lover dissolve before his eyes.
'Why…?'
He would never see him again. Or perhaps he had never seen him at all; a dream perhaps…?
No…
In a rush of wind Ryuuzaki was gone leaving Light utterly alone, the handcuffs still clasped to his wrist trailing across the floor into the darkness glittering like jewels in the light of the snow.
'why give me another chance?'
He never received an answer.
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Fire: I fixed a few things, my writing has changed since I posted this. Feedback is welcome, in need of encouragement to keep this going which helps with your reviews, favorites, the works. Happy Thanksgiving!