"Ryuuzaki... seriously, are these really necessary?"
I hold up my wrist to better examine the metal handcuff. According to L, Misa and Light are not safe to be left alone for even a second despite the apparent disproving of L's theory- a notion which I approve of, of course. But I just can't see why this means we have to be handcuffed to them! I don't think I'll be able to stand being around Misa 24/7.
"Well, Misa and you will be separated regularly for Misa's films and such. However, Light and I will be together all the time for the foreseeable future, and just to make sure either of them don't try anything funny they must be secured somehow. So, in answer to your question, yes." says L, shaking his own handcuff, the long chain rattling against Lights wrist. I sigh, and L looks up at me with his large eyes. "I am sorry, Tora-kun." He says in a softer voice. I smile at him reassuringly.
"Ryuuzaki, listen, I rea-lly want to go on a date with Light tonight... is that, like, a problem? Because he can totally just come to my room and chill. But I don't want you there. It feels so, like, perverted" Says Misa, beaming at L.
"No, I'm sorry but I must come with you." says L wearily. I roll my eyes; here we go again.
"Ohh, but Ryuuzaki-kun! You are such a pervert! All I want is to have some time alone with my Light, it's soo unfair-" begins Misa, before Matsuda shoves her into her room and tries to hold the door shut over the handcuff chain.
Suddenly, the door to the facility burst open, all the alarms blazing. Misa screams from her room, Matsuda dives under the table, I reach for the gun in my back pocket and L just sits, staring blankly at the doorway as a female figure approaches.
"BIG BRO!" Shouts the girl, launching forwards and hugging L, before stealing his strawberry and taking a small electronic device out of her pocket. She has a short, tapered black bob with a scruffy full fringe and a grey beanie hat. Her skin is pale like L's, and she has large blue eyes. "Watari has chicken pox, he sends his regards." She says, clicking a button on the device and silencing the alarms.
"Um... did you say big brother?" I say, confused, staring at her.
"Yeah, sure. We grew up together." She grins, and I notice her eyes seem to have the same shape to them as L's. "Now I help him with the technical side of things. I designed this building and its security system."
I smile at her. "Awesome! So that's how Ryuuzaki afforded this place."
Matsuda, having heard all of this, crawls out from under the table and looks sheepishly at her. "Um, I was, just, um..." He stutters, and we giggle at him.
An hour later L has consented to Misa and Light's "date", and all four of us are sitting on the two opposing couches in Misa's room.
"This has to be the lamest date I've ever been on." Whines Misa, corssing her arms and legs.
"Well, just pretend I'm not here. But, uh... are you gonna eat that cake?" Asks L, taking the plate from her and sitting back down opposite me.
"So, Ryuuzaki." Says Light, breaking the ice. "Are you looking forwards to working on this case from now on?"
L takes a bite of cake. "No, not really. Actually I'm a little depressed."
"Why is that?"
"Well... you turned out not to be Kira after all. All my theories have been disproved. Personally, I have no interest in continuing with this case at all. Someone else will catch Kira." He breaths a deep sigh, and sets down his plate.
"Ryuuzaki..." I say gently, leaning forwards to give him the rest of my cake-
BAM! Quick as a flash, Light punches L in the face, sending him flying across the room. L, however, is deceptively strong, and is on his feet before Light even reaches him. This time it's Light who goes flying, having been roundhouse kicked by L, who loses balance and falls to the floor once more. Misa screams and helps Light up. Light approaches him, fist raised...
"STOP IT!" I yell, one hand on L's chest and one on Light's. "Fighting isn't going to help this case along! Stop being so god damn immature!"
L and Light look at me, taken aback, both breathing heavily. I turn to Light. "Listen, Ryuuzaki-kun is just having a tough time adjusting, and you're not helping in the slightest. If you really want to get this case solved, then just help him or leave him be. Oh, and this-"
I punch him in the stomach, winding him-
"is for attacking somebody who's depressed!"
Light staggers backwards onto the sofa, accepting the hit, and is immediately fawned over by Misa. I turn to L and help him to his feet.
"Ryuuzaki-kun, listen to me for a second. I think you need a new motto. "Everything will be alright in the end. So if it is not alright, it's not yet the end." Please, Ryuuzaki-kun. Cheer up, do it for me." I place my hand on his pale cheek and lift his face slightly, searching his large, dark eyes. They are still hollow. I sigh and drop my handcuffed arm.
"Um, Ryuuzaki-san... do you think Light could, like, sleep in my room tonight? You both totally look like you need to be apart for a while, and there would be zero monkey business, I pinkie promise!" says Misa, pulling a sickly-sweet face like butter wouldn't melt. Huh.
"I guess there's no harm in that. I could do with a good nights sleep tonight, so I'll sleep in that room next door and Tora-kun can keep watch. Are you okay with that, Tora-kun?"
I nod. I'll just borrow L's sister's Gameboy and take a few books with me, it should go quickly I think to myself .
I'm wrong. Two hours in and both Light and Misa are fast asleep on the sofa bed, and I've read all of my books. My thoughts begin to stray and I find myself thinking about L. Is he alright? He seems so depressed, and especially earlier...
After a few minutes of worrying, I get up slowly and quietly creep into the room where L's staying for the night, shutting the door over the handcuff chains which fit neatly underneath the door.
L is fast asleep, stretched out on his back with one arm above his head, his white shirt rising slightly to reveal part of a toned stomach. His eyes open slowly, and he looks up at me.
"Tora-kun... is it morning already?" he asks, his brow furrowing with confusion. I shake my head.
"I was worried about you. You've been so depressed lately, and now I have to leave you all alone in this tiny room... it doesn't feel right." I say, sitting on the futon beside him. I notice that this room is identical to our first office back at the police HQ, complete with armchair, desk and the futon. L sees me looking and says "I wanted to have somewhere private to study again, and thought you would as well. Your laptop is in the usual place."
I smile at him tenderly. "Ryuuzaki-kun... has anyone, on any of your cases, ever thanked you?" I say, my expression becoming concerned.
L shuts his eyes again, and after a moment he shakes his head, no.
"Thank you. For everything."
L opens his eyes again, this time looking straight up at me, and I noticed that my words seem to have filled some of the hollowness that was there before. They are somehow warmer, deeper.
"That means a lot to me, Tora-kun. Especially from you."
I giggle and lie down next to him, yawning, propped up on one elbow. "Do you want me to stay here with you? I think it's safe to assume that Light and Misa wont be getting up to much tonight."
"Yes please, if you don't mind. Things seem better when you're around." he pauses thoughtfully for a moment "You know, I might actually fall for you..."
I blush and smile. "r-really?" I say, looking down at him.
"Yes. In fact, I'd say that there's an 84% chance that I already have." He says, reaching up one arm and cradling my cheek in his hand.
I tentatively reach across and place my hand on his bare, flat stomach. It quivers slightly, and I move my hand from his stomach to his chest. He watches my hand the whole time, and when it comes to rest on his collarbone, he rises up to me, looking into my eyes and then down at my mouth. I can tell he's never even been kissed before, let alone had a girlfriend. I move my hand back down to his stomach again,and he shuts his eyes in bliss, a small whimper escaping from his mouth. Unable to control myself any longer, I kiss him fiercely on the lips, his hands on my waist causing my T-shirt to rise up slightly as I wind my other arm around his neck. He tastes like sugar and strawberries, his lips soft, and although this is his first kiss he is an extremely good kisser.
When we break apart he nuzzles his face into my shoulder and we fall asleep together, side by side.
