A/N: Continues from Chapter 1 with a lot more heavy editing and rewriting. The story seems to be evolving into a what-could-have instead of what-should-have happened piece. I think the story may eventually be LightxL, but it's still not there at this point. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note.
Chapter 2. Chance
Light unhurriedly left his room and descended the cold, metal stairs to the main floor. Yesterday drained him more than he expected. When L had left, he himself went off to hatch a counter plan. Only nothing came to mind. No plans or answers met him in the mirror as he washed up, and now he found himself exposed on the metal stairs. Biding his time, he observed those who had already gathered below. Quick mouth movements could be discerned, the subject obvious to Light. He would have to brace himself.
Stepping onto the main floor, he could finally make out the gossiping.
"Ryuzaki, why are you wearing a scarf this morning?" Matsuda asked.
L sat before one of the computers, wrapped in a crocheted, periwinkle scarf. His eyes were intent on the monitor before him as one hand crawled over a plate of momiji manjuu, settling on a chocolate cream-filled one to offer his mouth. L bit from the confection, chewing it like a thought, then swallowed.
"I was feeling a little chilly," he answered, licking some cream from the sweet's center. Then L turned in Light's direction. "Good morning, Light-kun."
Everyone else seemed to take this as a cue to turn to Light as well, greeting him with serious faces (except Matsuda) and awkward 'Good morning's.
"…Good morning, everyone."
L finished the half-eaten manjuu and picked up his cup of coffee for a sip, placing it down with a soft clink.
"Now that everyone's here, I will discuss the plan for the murder note." L swiveled the chair around to face the task force. "I have already spoken to Mogi-san. He and Watari will transport the murder note this afternoon and observe its testing. The rest of us will wait here for the verdict." Matsuda opened his mouth, but Mr. Yagami's pat on the shoulder held back his words. L continued, "In these next few days, you should spend time with your families and friends to prepare yourself for the end of the Kira investigation. I appreciate everyone's hard work and the risks everyone has taken to solve this case. That is all."
"Wait, Ryuzaki!" Matsuda now blurted, "You haven't even told us how this case would be solved with the murder note's testing!"
L looked over at Matsuda, who suddenly felt nervous. Matsuda wished L would explain. He did not want to tell himself the conclusion the test would prove.
L turned back to the computer and pressed a speaking button. "Watari. Mogi-san. I leave the rest to both of you."
The reply came from the computer in Watari's voice. "We shall see to the test's success, Ryuzaki."
L looked over his shoulder. "You are all dismissed from headquarters. Please return in 13 days. Oh, Yagami-san."
"Yes, Ryuzaki," Light's father answered heavily.
"I will be borrowing Light-kun for a few days before I send him home. Is that all right?"
Mr. Yagami looked over at his son, who answered his Father's gaze, "I'll see you later at home, tou-san."
Mr. Yagami nodded. "I'll leave Light with you then," he addressed L.
"Thank you."
The task force slowly filed out, Matsuda reluctantly lagged behind the others. When everyone but Light and L were left on the main floor, L stepped down from his chair.
"Please follow me, Light-kun."
Light followed L without a word. They went upstairs to where Mogi and Watari were waiting with the Death Note, Rem standing by on the side.
"Light-kun, I'd like you to lend the murder note to Mogi-san or Watari," L calmly instructed.
Light picked up the Death Note and handed it to Mogi.
"I give this to you, Mogi-san."
Mogi shut the Death Note in its suitcase and left the room with Watari. Rem floated after them. L subsequently left the room, motioning Light to come along. Light and L saw Watari, Rem, and Mogi off from headquarters. There was finally no one else.
"They know."
"Yes."
Light looked over at L. Could he still find a way to win?
Light turned to go back inside.
"We're going out, too."
Light stopped and turned slowly around. What is he planning?
"I left my wallet in my room…"
"You don't have to worry about money." L seemed to be in a good mood.
"What's this all of a sudden?"
L glanced over at Light, a smile in his voice. "Even if you decide not to stop, I'd like to at least be friends with you for what little time we'll have together."
Is that all? Light thought to himself. He couldn't help but smile inside too. "I'll oblige you , then."
"Thank you, Light-kun. Shall we go?"
They descended the stairs, headquarters shrinking in the background behind them.
"We're not going to the courts, are we?" Light questioned.
"The case isn't over yet, so we won't be playing tennis today."
"Then we will play tennis in the future?"
"Well, that all depends on you, Light-kun."
They both stopped at a crosswalk.
"Justice."
Light side-eyed L, who seemed to be in his own world, before reaching for the phone in his pants' pocket.
"It may be that I am favoring you, but there is one great difference between your idea of justice and mine."
Light nudged L, who looked up to see people crossing the road. They both walked across. The red hand started flashing on the pedestrian light.
"The difference?" Light encouraged.
"Chance," L stated firmly. "With Kira's sense of justice, once you are judged to be killed, you have no chance. Whether to commit more crime or change one's path, there is no chance once you are written in the murder notebook."
Light made no comment as they passed more people.
"You may argue that the criminals are likely not to change," L continued thoughtfully, "But killing them as Kira does denies them any chance of change."
They stopped at another crosswalk. Light still said nothing.
"Do you think Aiber and Weddy are bad people?" L posed, turning to Light.
There was some silence. Were they bad or were they good? Would they get in the way of his justice? That was the reason L should be killed, why he would kill Weddy and Aiber later. But he did not kill L when he had the chance, and now he was having a hard time convincing himself of their badness. Light gave in, "…No. Not really."
L smiled. "I do not think you are truly bad, either."
The pedestrian signal turned green, and they crossed together again.
"Just where are we going?" Light changed the subject.
"We'll stop by a coffee shop first. I don't think Light-kun has eaten breakfast yet…"
Without warning, Light pulled L off to the shop side of the sidewalk.
"Light-kun?"
He loosened L's scarf to see the bruised flesh where his thumbs had pressed the day before. Something stung inside of him. Light took the scarf and rewrapped it around L's neck and head so only L's eyes showed through.
"Light-kun. This arrangement is uncomfortable," a muffled voice calmly protested.
"I haven't contacted Misa yet…"
"…I understand." L adjusted the scarf a little.
Crap.
A tone went off at the edge of Misa's bed. She put down her favorite magazine and brought the cell phone before her attention. She sat up quickly, her face lighting up at the screen's display.
"Ryuk! Come look! There's a message from Light!"
"Oh!" Ryuk dropped the Game Boy he was playing with and floated over to see the message. Misa cast the phone on the bed before Ryuk could clearly read it. She shot off to her closet like an aerial and exploded with excitement. "Yay! It's about time! Misa will be with Light forever after this!"
Ryuk flipped the phone over with one finger and read the pixels that stood against the screen's glow:
"I'm out with L right now. Come find us, and kill him."
Reviews on writing style, pace, or anything appreciated!