Hi again, everyone! Now I come back with the third chapter of 'Let Me Be Your Hand'!
Thanks to Kagome-chan LP, double-black, Translucent Darkness, suzu-chan, and oztan for the kind reviews! Your reviews are the reason this fic still continued!
For suzu-chan who had left anonymous review, this is my reply: It's nice to meet you too. :) And umm, do you mean SIII, since SI doesn't have the theatre mini game? Yes, I also like that mini game! It's really hilarious seeing some characters making fool of themselves in that theatre game! XD (hey, your comment about theater and the crazed-but-friendly spy have reminded me of my long forgotten crack fic, thank you! I will try to finish that if I have the mood!) And yes, you have guessed all of them right! 10 points for you! That game had made you crying? Don't worry, you're not the only one! (SII was the only game that could make me cry! (/)) Thanks for reviewing this story!
Okay, now please proceed to the story!
Chapter III: The Mysterious Bishop
A sound of footsteps echoed through a hall in Circle Palace. The figure of a pale-skinned man that wore a blue Harmonian bishop robe was reflected on the crystal walls, walking through the hall with two temple guards following him from behind. All the people that met with them bowed politely and gave their greetings to the young bishop, L.
L nodded his head slightly to the people that had greeted him while kept walking. The guards behind him walked in the same pace as him, keeping the appropriate distance between them and the young bishop. Upon reaching a big wooden door, the guards quickly walked to the door and opened it for the raven-haired bishop.
"Please enter, Your Holiness," both guards told the man in unison.
"Thank you," L replied, nodding to them. As soon as he entered the room, the door behind him was closed again.
In the other end of the room, there was a throne that had been occupied by an old man in blue Harmonian bishop robe with complicate patterns emblazoned in black and gold colors. His overall appearance had the air of authority and wisdom.
Upon seeing the young bishop, the white-haired man smiled softly at him. "Welcome, my son. It has been a long time since the last time I saw you," he greeted L with deep and warm voice. A hint of affection was in his voice.
L bowed at him. "Greeting, Chief Bishop Watari," he greeted back politely.
"Please come closer," the old man called him softly.
The raven-haired bishop obeyed him. He walked several steps forward, keeping his head bowed all the time.
The Chief Bishop then waved his hand as a sign for his guard to leave the room. "Please leave us for now," he ordered the temple guard.
The guard quickly bowed to him and left the room without words. After the guard closed the door, he directed his attention to the young bishop again. "Please raise your head."
L raised his head slowly, meeting the gaze of the white-haired man in front of him.
"Do you know why I call you today?" Watari asked him with soft but firm tone, knowing for sure that the young bishop must be curious of why he had been called today.
L seemed uncertain. "Please forgive me, my Lord. I'm afraid I don't know why I have been called today."
Watari just smiled. "You have met with the bishop from Highland, haven't you?"
It had been almost two month since the first time Kira came to One Temple to work as L's strategist. During that time, he had gained the respect from people around him with his skill and charm. He had also known more and more about the frail-looking bishop with every passing day in the temple. And the more he knew about him, the more he felt intrigued by the raven-haired bishop.
The young bishop had several quirks that made him unique, thus also fueled Kira's curiosity toward him. The most noticeable quirks of that man were his fondness of sweets and his way of holding things, just with thumb and pointer finger. The young strategist had also known that the pale-skinned man liked engaging conversation, which wasn't hard for him to provide some. That's why it often happened that L asked him, and sometimes Mello too, to stay for a while in his office just to have a conversation while drinking tea together when they had free time.
Mostly, the topic of their conversation was about politic. Sometimes they also found out that art and literature were interesting topic too, just like how they had talked about a poetry that made by a famous Harmonian artist recently. The vast knowledge that held by the bishop never ceased to amaze him.
And what he admired most from the bishop was his care for the third-class citizens. He had found out about it from Mello who had taken the order from L to send provisions to a remote village. The blond complained that L was too kind to the third-class citizens, but he did the order nonetheless.
With L as his superior, Kira never felt bored with his job. He always waited for the chance to engage in another conversation with the bishop, which was hard for him to get now since both of them were really busy lately. But he was sure that he would get the chance today even if it just a short conversation.
Kira was in his way to the bishop's office when a familiar voice called after him. He turned to the voice's direction and saw a blond boy walked toward him.
"Good afternoon, Mello," Kira greeted him politely. He guessed that the boy was also in the same direction with him.
"Good afternoon too, Sir Yagami," the blond boy greeted him back. "If you are in your way to L's place, then head back. He still not back from Circle Palace."
Kira's brows furrowed upon hearing the information. "Circle Palace? What happened?"
Mello shrugged. "I also don't know. A messenger from Circle Palace came this morning and told him that Lord Watari wants to meet with him. He left his office shortly after that."
Kira processed the information in his brain. 'How could this boy knew about it and I knew nothing that he had left since morning?' He felt a bit jealous and angry upon thinking about that.
"Hey, if you want to wait for him too then we can wait together in his office. I'm sure he will be back shortly," Mello told him.
Kira thought about that offer. 'Waiting with this boy? Well, I guess I can stand it. Anyway, I don't want this boy know something that I don't!'
He faked a smile after he made the decision. "Sure, why not?"
"What? Why you didn't tell me about it earlier?" Kira asked the blond boy impatiently.
"He just visited L as a bishop that just arrived from Highland, it wasn't a big matter. Besides, I didn't see him myself since I had already left the temple that day, so I just heard about this from L two days ago."
Kira felt really irritated now. Mello had once again got the news before him. He composed his next words carefully. "Do you know more about that bishop besides his origin?"
Mello seemed to contemplate something. "There is something suspicious about him. According to L, he hides his face behind a mask," he told Kira after a moment of silence.
"Maybe he has a scar on his face?" Kira tried to argue with him.
Mello shook his head. "It's not just that. He…"
Before Mello could finish his words, the door was opened. Both of Kira and Mello turned their head to the door's direction in surprise.
"L!" Mello shouted and ran toward the bishop who had just entered the room.
"Ah, are you waiting for me?" L asked them with a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Yes, L. Now come on, sit down and tell us what had happened!" Mello replied him and took his hand. He pulled the older man toward his chair without difficulty since the pale-skinned man didn't put any resistance at all and just let Mello dragging him across the room.
Kira frowned at the boy's rude manner, but he quickly dismissed it upon seeing the exhausted face of the raven-haired bishop. He looked at the man who had already sat on his usual chair now. Mello had released his hand and walked back to his previous chair, beside Kira.
The brunette couldn't help but felt concerned over the other man's condition. "Sir, are you not feeling well?" he asked L with a hint o concern in his voice.
"I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Sir Yagami," L answered him, waving his hand as a sign to drop the subject. "I'm just tired. That's all."
"Look, L! This is what you get for not resting well!" Mello scolded his superior, making Kira a bit taken aback.
L just looked at him with a slightly amused expression. "I sleep for at least two hours every day, Mello, and I never have a problem with that before."
The young strategist's eyes widened upon hearing L's statement. He knew that the black rings under the other man's eyes were from the lack of sleep, but he never thought that his sleeping schedule was that bad. He would make sure to speak about it to the bishop someday.
"Okay! Okay! Just tell me what happened!" Mello shouted frustratingly, finding himself couldn't argue with L.
L tilted his head back to look at the ceiling, revealing a white flesh of his neck, before returned his gaze to the two persons in front of him. "Lord Watari has instructed me to lead a ceremony tomorrow."
"What ceremony?" Kira asked him. He couldn't help the curiosity that suddenly grew up in his mind.
"Lord Watari wants to appoint the bishop that has come from Highland as High Council member. I'm the one that appointed to do it for him," the pale-skinned bishop explained in dry tone.
"What?! But that bishop isn't from Harmonia! More importantly, we still don't know anything about him besides his name and origin! Why didn't you object him, L?!" Mello asked him impatiently, finding himself couldn't control his emotion.
L looked at the boy with serious expression. "He is the Chief Bishop, Mello. His words are order for me," he stated firmly.
Mello seemed frustrated. "But still, you could say something to him!"
"I did, but he was so certain about that man quality for the position," L told him patiently. "So, there's only one thing that I can do for now." The pale-skinned bishop then took a blank paper and started to write something.
Kira and Mello watched the bishop with curious expression, wondering what the man had been doing. But upon seeing L folded the paper into small pleats, the blond boy started to realize the bishop's intention.
"Please send this message to Matt," he ordered Mello, giving the envelope to him.
The boy's eyes widened upon hearing the spy's name. He didn't expect that L would mention about Matt when they had another person with them.
L noticed the surprise in Mello's face. "Ah, I have told Kira about Matt. Don't worry, we can trust him," he informed the boy.
Mello seemed to hesitate at first, but then he nodded at L. "If you say so." He then put the envelope into his pocket.
Kira wasn't surprised when he found out that Mello knew about the spy too. He had expected that since he knew the boy's closeness with L. What made him surprised was the realization of what L had done. The raven-haired bishop had written an instruction for the spy to investigate the mysterious bishop.
The young strategist suddenly remembered that he still didn't know much about the bishop that they had been talking about. Mello's previous explanation wasn't finished because L suddenly entered the room. So practically, between the three of them, he was the one with the minimum knowledge about the current situation.
"Pardon me. If you don't mind, could you please fill me with more information about this situation?" he asked them politely, hiding the irritation that he felt upon being the one in the room that left behind.
L just sighed softly. "Well, what do you want to know?"
Later that night, Kira couldn't sleep. He rolled in his bed several times, trying to find a more comfortable position, but to no avail. Gave up on his effort, he decided to left his room.
The older twin opened the door of his room and slid out quietly, wondering into the dark halls of his big house. The candle that he had brought from his room was his only source of light in the darkness.
Kira walked down the stairs to the first floor of his house, and then went to the direction of the study room. He was just reaching for the doorknob when the door was suddenly opened from the other side, revealing his younger twin.
Both of them stared at each other with surprised expression. Neither of them had expected to see each other in the midnight.
Kira was the one that broke the silence. "Can't sleep?" he asked Light.
Light smiled at him mockingly. "No, I just finished reading a book that I have started to read since three days ago. It seems that you're the one that can't sleep."
The older twin just sighed. "You're right."
Light now looked at him with concerned look, feeling that there was something amiss with his older twin. "Are you okay?"
Kira nodded at him. "I'm fine. Just can't sleep."
Light frowned. "Listen. If you want to talk, then I will listen to you."
Kira's expression softened upon hearing the offer. "I'm fine, Light. There is nothing to be concerned about."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Thanks for your concern anyway, Light," Kira thanked him, smiling slightly.
"Well, if you say so. I will return to my room then," Light told him hesitantly. He then walked away from that place, leaving Kira alone.
The older twin watched his brother walked away, until he disappeared from his sight. He then entered the study room that was previously occupied by Light.
Kira walked toward the desk and sat on a chair. He then let out a long sigh. Light had been right actually, he was bothered by something. He just didn't want to talk about it.
The memory of his conversation with L and Mello from the afternoon was coming back into his mind.
"Well, what do you want to know?"
"Please tell me about the bishop from Highland," he requested.
L looked at him thoughtfully. "There's not much that I know about him besides his name. He didn't bring any document with him that could be used to identify him."
"A suspicious man like that becomes a member of High Council! Is Lord Watari truly understand what could happen if that man turned out to have a bad intention?" Mello suddenly added in.
"Mello…," L tried to stop the boy.
"Or maybe that man has tricked him! I can't believe he can be that st-"
"Mello, that's enough! Don't talk about Lord Watari like that!" L scolded the boy with a hint of anger on his voice, making him and even Kira surprised by the rare display of anger from the usually emotionless bishop.
Silence enveloped the room momentarily.
"…I'm sorry, L," the blond boy finally apologized to the bishop. "But please let me ask you this. What would you do if he turned out faking his identity?
L's expression hardened. "If he turned out faking his identity…then I will stop him before something bad fall upon this country."
Actually Kira agreed with Mello. L seemed to respect the old man too much. He just couldn't understand why the chief bishop appointed a stranger to become a High Council member, a position that would instantly grant the man with big power. It somehow worried him. What if their worry becomes true?
A masked man in dark blue robe walked down the hallway that made all of crystal. The long hallway was lined on each side with a row of Harmonian soldiers. He walked up to the elevated, circular platforms inside a crystal domed room. Harmonian clerics in blue robes form a circular line around the bottom platform.
L stood in the middle of the top platform. The masked man walked up to him and kneeled before him.
"It gives me great joy to devote my body and soul to my master and father, Chief Bishop Watari," the masked bishop spoke in deep tone, bowing his head.
L walked closer to him. "I have been instructed by Chief Bishop Watari to appoint you as High Council member."
"I am honored," the man replied him politely.
"Rise, bishop," L ordered him.
The masked bishop then rose to his feet. L stood before him and made a sign in front of the man with his right hand. "Blessings to you from our God."
After that, L put both of his hand on the man's shoulders and pulled him into a loose embrace. The man put his arms around L's back in return. He actually felt uncomfortable with the closeness but it was a part of the ceremony, so he did it nonetheless.
"Very clever to use the word 'father'," L whispered at him so the others couldn't hear.
The man seemed to be quiet momentarily. "Please forgive my grandiloquence, but this is how I feel," he answered him smoothly after the moment of silence passed.
L frowned at him. "Who are you actually?" he asked in a whispered tone.
The masked man's lips slowly turned into a smirk. He tightened his embrace, pulling the other man closer to him.
"Haven't I told you already, my dear bishop?" he whispered dangerously close to L's ear, making him shuddered. "I'm B."
TBC
How's the story? Like this? Dislike this?
Yeah, I had chosen version B, so Light didn't meet with L in this chapter. Instead, I entered B in this chapter!
And this is my last words. I'm really sorry to tell you that I will put this story in a long hiatus…….
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Just kidding! I know some of you will kill me if I stop this fic right after I make it complicated! DX
I will write the third chapter of "The Scientist and The Jungle King" before I write the fourth chapter of this fic. And for all of you who have been expecting Near to appear in this fic, I want to tell you that I have decided his role. He will have important role in this story, and I'm sure you will like him in that role! But sadly, you will need to wait longer for him to show up. That's if I can reach that point, I'm not sure…
Please leave a review if you like this fic. Reviews will make me happy, and happiness will motivate me to keep writing!