The Cute, The Painful, The Clever.
The man L had been hunting was at the park again. Another murder last Sunday, and L regretted that he had failed to stop it from happening. Too distracted by Light Yagami. Sadly, Light was at the park with him. However, thankfully, L had a strategy to shut him up.
"See that man there Light-kun?"
"Yeah, what about him? He's here every day."
"Well you see, you want to be a police officer someday don't you? Pretend that man is a criminal. You can't arrest him yet, because you have no evidence, but you're sure it is him. You must observe him carefully, and don't be too obvious about it. Think you can handle that?"
"Of course I can! I'm not a child Ryuuzaki." L was quickly learning that if Light used the full name he'd given, he was taking things seriously; good.
A long time passed in silence, both watching the gentleman intently. But Light was 11, and he got bored pretty quickly. "Ryuuzaki?"
"Light – did I not say the words 'sit and watch?'"
"No."
"Oh. I meant to."
Light glowered. "But that man isn't doing anything Ryuu-kun! I'm bored!"
"You are always bored Light-kun. I'd like you to please be quiet; this is important to me." That caught the boy's attention; what was so important about this? However, L's glare told him not to ask, and he resigned himself to sitting in silence, and watching a man watch other children.
After another 10 minutes of this, Light found he was unsettled by the way the man watched the children; something in his eyes Light didn't like. "Ryuuzaki, this man isn't really a crook is he?" Light was intelligent, and he was quick to notice that this man wasn't as innocent as he first appeared.
Ryuuzaki shrugged. "How should I know? All I can say is I don't like him. That I am suspicious of him."
"Is that why you come here so often?"
"Correct." A frown marred both their features as they continued to watch. Then suddenly a horn honked, and Light jumped, looking up to see his parents had arrived. "You had best be on your way, Light-kun. I wouldn't want to anger your parents."
"Yeah well…" the boy trailed off, before mumbling, "Be careful." By the time L had glanced up to see if he'd heard correctly, Light was clambering into his car. He smiled faintly.
"Thank you Light. You also." He hoped Light would never be a target. He couldn't see that he should be, as the boy didn't play on the equipment where the man focused his attention. Then again, Light's life was worth as much as anyone else's life, was it not?
The man was leaving now anyway, and L, rather than abandoning him as he had done so far, decided to utilize the skills being a teenager had given him; the natural ability to stalk unnoticed. He noted, some received the skill early on. But Light would have to leave his thoughts for a while now. Time to concentrate. He tracked the man along a number of dark alleys (how clichéd) and into a bar. Or, to the door anyway. He could have passed for 18, but why should he go in there? The man he was following didn't drink, so he wasn't planning on staying long.
He was to regret that choice; the man got away, and what was more, as he slipped out wearing different clothes and passed by L, he saw his face. He was easily recognisable as the same man from the park, and thus he now had a vital upper hand.
.,.,.,.,.,.
"Light! Don't forget to be home before it starts to get dark, alright sweetie? We need you to keep an eye on Sayu for us tonight," Light's mother called to him as he slipped out the door.
"Yes mum."
"And keep wary of that Ryuuzaki man you keep telling us about. I don't much like the look of him. You should be with people your own age." It was a shame most people Light's age were either girls who wanted to glomp him to death, or boys who wanted to kill him because of the girls. Ryuuzaki couldn't care less, and that was one reason Light liked his company; not to mention that Ryuuzaki kept him from getting too bored.
He rolled his eyes as he left the house, considering whether Ryuuzaki would show up today; he wondered again what it was the teen did when he wasn't at school; what kind of jobs did he do? That thing yesterday, with the creepy guy at the park, was that something to do with Ryuuzaki's occupation? He shook his head; unlikely.
At school he settled into a seat by the window, with Misa in front of him, Takada beside her, and a boy called Matsuda on the other side of him gazing dreamily at the blonde girl. As the teacher began to check their spelling lists, Light found to his alarm that a man who was strange in the not-Ryuuzaki-strange way was standing in the grounds. He was unmistakably the same man from the park.
Light swallowed uneasily; what should he do now? Should he try and find out where Ryuuzaki was, and tell him? No, that wouldn't work. Announce that there was a suspicious figure in the grounds? Before he could make up his mind to do anything, the man turned about and left the school. For some reason, this didn't make Light relax. He found it difficult to concentrate in class all the way up to lunch, when he was thoroughly relieved to see Ryuuzaki sitting in his usual place looking equally anxious – mind you, there was always something edgy about his behaviour. Still, why should this man's presence counteract the other man's? Seeing him again, Light was fairly sure he was too frail to be of much use when it came down to it.
Nevertheless, it was comforting. "Hi Ryuuzaki," he greeted him, "Did you see him before? It's the man from the park."
"Yes…" he muttered distractedly, chewing on his thumb, "But why should he vary from his pattern? He's never come here before… it doesn't make sense. Is he targeting someone here?" he continued to mumble, and Light grew more nervous.
"Hey, he's not really dangerous is he?"
"Hm? No, well, he shouldn't be at the moment. Not sure. At the moment Light, all I can do is recommend as I have before that you stay away from him, ok? Finish your lunch and go back to class… I need some time to think." Light, for once, managed to obey him and upon devouring his food, he returned to his classroom. Class wouldn't start for a while yet, he realised so he chose to go downstairs to the library for a bit.
The library was just ahead when a large man rounded the corner in front of him. Eyes widening, he held in a high-pitched and rather undignified squeal of terror, and darted into the first available room; wouldn't you know it, it was an empty basement type room. Cowering in the corner, Light listened to the footsteps outside. They echoed in the hallway; one, two, one, two, one, two, one. They'd stopped outside his door and Light cursed that he'd neglected to lock the door as he saw as if in slow motion the undeniable and steady turn of the door handle.
His heart hammered in his chest as the man entered the room, and gave him a lazy but terrifying grin.
.,.,.,.,.,.,.
Something was off with this picture, L could sense that much. Seeking perhaps to protect Light Yagami, a desire L had never had before in association with the creature, he sent him back to class. He could only hope that Light would do as he was asked. And still, why was the serial killer suddenly in plain sight at the school? It made no sense at all, it didn't match up, and if he killed today than it was almost a given he'd be caught. Regardless of that, L had been collecting evidence on the man, who wasn't very professional when it came down to it... but then why this sudden variation?
He frowned, tracing back the events. Perhaps the killer had seen his face yesterday? If so, was this a warning to stay out of it? But the killer's style was not so subtle; if he were going to send a warning, he'd do it in a flashy, painful and violent way.
L's eyes grew wider, and he leaned forward in sudden alarm. The killer saw him, and he knew he was from the park. A warning could likely involve the death of whomever the killer assumed was closest to him. And since the only person he saw him with was… he jumped abruptly to his feet and ran, shocking everyone else, who had never seen such a panicky action taken by the boy. However, swinging open the door to Light's classroom, he found it empty. 'Damn it. He would disobey instructions at a time like this, wouldn't he?' L thought about what little he knew of Light; perfect, the library!
He skidded down the stairs and pelted towards the library, but froze on the way; that door, he should probably check…
.,.,.,.,.,.
"Yagami Light?" the man rasped, and Light clenched his teeth, to stop them chattering. He may as well look brave even if he didn't feel it. "Since there's no one else about, I've decided I'm going to erase your life. A little message to someone who couldn't leave things as they were."
"W-what are you talking about?" he stuttered. Was this about his father? Was his father investigating this man's case maybe? But the man didn't tolerate any back-talk, and for Light's query he received a hefty punch to the cheek. He could feel it swelling at once, and whimpered in pain.
"Children," the man said smoothly, "Are so very easy to kill, did you know? They're soft, and their bones are weak, so it doesn't seem to matter how you go about it, they die easily. So I experiment a little. For you, Light, I'm going to mess around a bit first." He threw another punch, quickly followed by a strong kick to the stomach. Light sailed a metre or so and landed with a painful thud on the concrete floor. Tears stung his eyes, but it didn't sting as much as his swollen face and aching gut. Before he'd had time to recover, the man let loose another flurry of attacks. Attacks Light started to fear were endless.
The door clattered open; the man had locked it, but someone else seemed to have picked the lock. A voice Light recognised said, "Oh sorry did I interrupt something?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact," his tormentor sneered, "would you mind?"
"Sorry. Go right on ahead," Light grew petrified as he actually heard the footsteps begin to retreat and the door creaking closed…
"Ryuuzaki!" he shouted, tears falling freely, "Help me!"
L stiffened; so, he really had come after Light. He sounded to be in pain too. Reluctantly, he turned about to face the man again and heaved a sigh. He padded over the killer, and looked calmly into his eyes. Light grimaced; had he really expected frail, pale Ryuuzaki to be any use? This man really packed a punch.
Luckily, L preferred to kick. Unexpectedly, he swung his leg up and spun around slightly, his bare foot impacting with the taller man's jaw. The man soared and crashed into a wall, out for the count, temporarily.
Light was in awe, and shot to his feet, gripping Ryuuzaki's arm tightly. "Help me," he pleaded, hearing vague groaning indicating the other man was waking up. "Please."
L had never experienced this before; never been attacked by 'The Cute'. So the effect was full blown. The huge wide eyes brimming with tears, the tiny pout, and of course the injuries didn't help. Feeling rather queer inside, he thought, 'Light is… cute… dear lord I think I'm a paedophile! Geez… lucky we've been compiling evidence on this guy – this should be the end of it…' "Light," he hissed, trying to hide the effect the boy was having on him at the moment, "Leave the room."
"Why can't I stay?"
"You'll get hurt," L insisted.
"But, I'm worried about you Ryuu!" he cried, and L's mind reeled. Watari was the only one who had ever worried about him before.
"Agh, fine… stand in the corner, and don't leave it." Light obeyed, thank god – another moment with cute and contact combined and L would've been a goner. Feeling oddly protective, he readied himself to continue the fight. L having been distracted however, was unprepared for the man's attack, as the rhino of a man charged him and knocked him roughly to the ground. He heard Light's horrified gasp and wished he'd been able to resist. He heaved against the other man's weight and rolled to his feet again, stumbling a little. The fall had cut his lip. A minor side-effect, but the less damage done to his person, the happier L was likely to be.
What L was unprepared for, stupidly perhaps, was that this man was after all a killer, and L was not his first victim. He'd thought it would be an honourable fight of fists and feet, but the killer withdrew from within his coat a switch blade knife and once more charged him. Never had he experienced such searing pain, white hot as if he were burning. A small cut, not too deep, but deep enough to embed the blade in his left side. He was quite sure it had missed his vitals, thankfully, but he staggered as he clutched the wound. That was some blood loss, he mused as he pulled the knife out and flung it aside. It spun across the floor scattering blood droplets. He winced with pain, hand clasped over the wound to help staunch the blood. Reduced to his feet and one hand, this didn't look good. L was not accustomed to getting personally involved in any case he investigated. He tended to work best, hidden in the shadows, identity unknown – this whole thing was different for him, and he did not like it.
Light screamed out his fake name in horror, and L thought he could hear him crying; how odd, this little creature really was attached to him. Best not disappoint. He let loose another kick, and followed it quickly with a punch to the face. His brain was failing him as he couldn't recall what nerves he needed to jab to knock the man out. This killer was strong, so it would take a long time to beat him down the hard way, assuming he wasn't killed first. In the brief interval that the man was down, he called out for Light to go and get help, which he was silently grateful that he did.
He hoped Light was fast. However, before Light could reach the door, the killer flung the knife (which had made it back to him when L knocked him down) towards Light's head and L cried out in shock. Fortunately, at that distance and from lack of experience, the aim was off, and the knife clattered to the floor at Light's side. Light didn't spare another moment to gloat, he raced out the door and his footsteps could be heard pounding up the stairs. Yes, Light was fast, thank the saints.
But meanwhile, L had to avoid dying. Angered, the killer came at him again, and landed several blows before he was able to strike back. 'Come on Light,' he prayed, 'Hurry!'
Hallelujah, because everyone guess what? Like every good fan fiction, Light made it at that moment, trailing behind him a number of teachers, who had already called the emergency services. The man was apprehended, and L slid to the floor in exhaustion.
"Ryuuzaki!" Light called out, rushing to his side and leaning over to check for injuries, gripping his arm as he had before, "Are you alright? It didn't get any of your vitals did it? You're not going to die?"
"Light-kun," he gasped, shifting under the boy's weight, "Get off… you are… making it worse…" 'Dammit! All I can think now is that he's so damn adorable! Oh thank god he's alive… anyway, I caught my killer and another successful… nope, no good. He's too close, too cute, too vulnerable!' Another thing L was unaccustomed to was being this emotionally close to other people. It would be best if he severed ties with the child quickly; he would for the first time in his life, actively seek out another crime to occupy him, and one that would take him away from this location.
Hastily, Light backed off. "Oh sorry… the ambulance will be here soon. Do you have anyone to contact? I'll call them for you."
L shook his head, pulling out his mobile phone. "No need, I'll do it." He speed dialled Watari, and lifted the phone to his ear, dangling it between forefinger and thumb. "Watari? I'm uh, injured. There's an ambulance coming, so I suppose you'll have to come along."
"Injured how?"
"Protecting some irritating little creature. Hurry, please," he replied and hung up. Questions could be answered in detail later.
.,.,.,.,.,.,.
L lay in the hospital bed with a pout decorating his face. Hospital food was disgusting. Watari was acting like he was so proud of L for defending someone weaker than him. As L, he had been congratulated for capturing the killer. And now, to cap it all off, Light was here to visit.
He cheered considerably when Light snuck him a slice of cake. "Are you well?" he asked.
Chewing thoughtfully, L shrugged. "Sure." Eyeing the bandaged boy, he added, "What about you? Any damage to that thick skull?"
Scowling at the comment, Light shook his head. "No. The worst thing was seeing my parents afterwards."
L himself could vaguely recall that. They'd arrived as he was being loaded into the back of the ambulance, and Light had been trying to persuade them of L's assistance and begging them to let him go with L and Watari in the ambulance.
"Light! What happened to you, are you alright? Mister, what happened?"
"I'm alright mum, thanks to Ryuuzaki. He saved my life. That man," he pointed to the killer, "Was going to kill me. And Ryuuzaki came and fought him off for me – I want to go in the ambulance with him and Watari. Can I please? He was stabbed!"
"Sweetie, you were almost killed!" his mother shrieked.
"Dad," he tried, "He said he was going to kill me to send a message to someone who couldn't leave things as they were. I wondered if you were working on the case or something?"
"No, I wasn't." L tensed; what if he was found out? But then, he was only investigating. That did not mean he was actually L. "Look, son…"
It took a few minutes, but unfortunately Light had managed to convince his parents to let him go in the ambulance. L had groaned but… oh well. It was nice he cared, he guessed. Nevertheless, it would make getting away from Light ever more difficult. "They'll be letting you out soon," Light continued, "I asked them. I probably shouldn't have brought you that, but I can't see that it matters when you're only going to eat it when you get out anyway." The boy paused, surveying him with dark eyes. L felt that now he was the vulnerable one, for some reason, because Light suddenly didn't look like a child. He almost felt that they were on the same level, intellectually at least. "Ryuuzaki, I wanted to ask you something. I expect you'll lie to me, but I'm going to give you the opportunity to be honest with me before I find out by myself anyway."
L was silent.
"That man, the killer, he said he was sending a message to someone by killing me. I know it has nothing to do with my parents. Maybe you were just too curious, or something. However, maybe you haven't been entirely truthful to me."
"If I have not been, what does it matter? I was not obligated to tell you my life story, Yagami-kun," L replied coldly.
"Then you admit you lied? What do you do when you're not at school, Ryuuzaki? Where does all your money come from, that you can't spend on decent clothing? Why were you looking up information on the police that day at the library?"
"Light," he cut him off, shifting awkwardly in the hospital bed, "you ask many questions. I see no reason why I have to answer them. As it happens, I'll be leaving town soon; I never intended on staying long. So, you needn't be bothered with me anymore. I am afraid, Light-kun, that you will have to find something else to entertain that big mind of yours. I can see that you are clever, so why don't you make use of that?"
Light scowled. "I will. I promise." As he stalked out of the room, L couldn't help but feel that Light's promise wasn't one he particularly wanted to encourage. He was jolted to his senses when his phone rang; a nurse sent him a vicious glare for having it with him, but he payed her no attention as he raised it to his ear, holding it in that peculiar fashion.
"Yes?" He listened for a moment, then nodded and said, "Of course. I'll give it some consideration." Hanging up, he could not suppress a frustrated groan. "I'm stuck here. I'm doomed."
.,.,.,.,.,.,.
A/N: Um... it's 4:27pm. I won't tell you the time every chapter, don't worry... so I tried to make Light a bit more intelligent. Or, at least to make it seem that he's getting wiser to the world, or something. We'll see. I still don't really know what I'm doing; normally I have much more idea of where something is going... I was considering bringing the Kira case in... maybe? I've promised a lot of people that Light will not be a criminal/evil in this, and I'll do my upmost to keep that promise. That's not to say I can't make it seem otherwise... Any suggestions for what could happen next would be MUCHLY appreciated. Review and tell me if you want Kira to be involved. I dunno.
L: This was awful. You've made me so out of character in this.
Light: No she hasn't. L is learning a lot about himself from this fic, please continue Miss Kura.
L: How childish. She really did get you perfect.
Kura: Please stop... I'm tired, and I feel like this was a bad chapter... oh well.
12-year-old Misa: You never have any confidence in yourself Kura! Anyway, Kura did want to thank all those people who reviewed, alerted or faved her story! She was so shocked, because it's been a while since she had that much attention! To YelloWhale, she wanted to say thank you very much, and yes Light-kun is exceptionally annoying when he wants to be! Hey! Kura, you can't make me say that about my precious Light-kun~!
Kura: Oh dear. She sounds like Gollum from Lord of the Rings.
L and Light: Now she's making poor references. Get off the site, Kura.
