A/N: Update! Yay! With fanfiction, I tend to go through phases when I don't update at all for months, and then suddenly I update a whole bunch in a row. Lol I'm in the updating phase at the moment, so yay!
Chapter 4: Gambling Life
L gnawed on the edge of his thumb while staring at a computer screen. He was perched on a chair in the workroom. Light was sitting next to him as usual while the rest of the Kira Investigation team stood behind them. Mr. Yagami, Matsuda, and Mogi were all busy talking to each other, and Watari was heading to the kitchen, probably to stock the fridge again. It was currently 5:36 PM and soon Light's father and the other Japanese detective would go home.
Glancing to the side, L studied Light for a moment. The teen looked exhausted. L knew that he hasn't been sleeping well. Light has been having nightmares for the past few days. Most likely he's feeling stressed due to the Thirteen Day Rule experiment.
Light stared back at L, meeting the detective's gaze. Light's face was pale and he had dark circles under his eyes. The sleep deprivation was causing him to look more and more like L. Even his hair was becoming unruly.
Light blinked slowly like he was about to fall asleep. "Ryuzaki."
"What is it, Light-kun?"
"I want to go outside."
L frowned. Light has been trying to leave the headquarters all week. It was obvious why. He was desperate to write down Darren Gamble's name.
"You may leave the building in two days after we've finished testing the Thirteen Day Rule."
"I'm sick of being inside," Light complained. "Can we at least go to the roof?"
"The roof has cameras, Light-kun," L reminded him.
"I don't care. I just want to go outside. Can we please go to the roof just for a little while?" Light asked pleadingly.
L gnawed on his thumb for a moment, then relented, "Fine."
Light smiled. "Thank you, Ryuzaki."
L looked away, nodding slightly.
###
The sun was setting when L and Light walked onto the roof. Light headed towards the edge of the roof while L followed, connected by the chain. At the ledge, Light gripped the railing as he stared off, into the distance. The sunset was visible on the horizon between two adjacent buildings. L gazed up at the sky, which was painted with different shades of pink and blue.
At exactly 6:00 PM, L could hear bells ringing. There must be a clock tower close by. The bells reminded L of Winchester. When he had first arrived at the Wammy House, it had been a cold winter day and the bells had rung loudly at a nearby church. Ever since then, L always associated the sound of bells to his home.
L wondered if he would be returning home soon. The Kira case was taking much longer than expected. It's been months since L has seen his successors. L smiled to himself, thinking of Near, Mello, and Matt. He could picture the boys now. Near analyzing, Mello yelling, Matt smirking… They were a handful. Thankfully, Quillish has been keeping in touch with them.
On the roof, the wind was blowing fiercely. Soon the sound of bells faded away, replaced by the whooshing noise of the wind. When L heard the chain rattle, he glanced to the side. Then his eyes widened in shock. Light was leaning too far over the railing. He was going to fall!
"Light!" L immediately reached toward him, but it was too late.
L watched in horror as Light slipped over the railing, falling face-first off the roof. Reacting quickly, L grabbed onto the chain with both hands. As Light fell, the chain pulled L forward, pressing him against the railing. L held onto the chain with all his strength. He was carrying all of Light's weight as the teen dangled off the building, connected to the chain by his left wrist.
"Light-kun, grab onto the railing!" L called out.
"I can't reach it!" Light yelled.
Fear clouded L's mind as his heart raced a mile a minute. A single thought kept circling in his mind. If the chain breaks, Light-kun is going to die. L could not let him die.
L yanked on the chain, trying to pull Light up.
"Ah! L, stop!" Light screamed in pain. "I think my wrist is broken!"
L blinked in surprise as he had a sudden moment of clarity. Light-kun did this on purpose. He wants to leave the headquarters, so he found a way to injury himself. He knew the force of the fall would break his wrist, and he knew I would save him. Now Light-kun will need to visit an emergency room. He'll need an x-ray for his wrist. His left wrist, which he doesn't use to write with… Light's plan was desperate, insane and brilliant all at the same time.
Anger surged through L as he yanked on the chain again.
The chain painfully jerked Light's wrist upwards and Light cried out, "AH! Stop! L, stop!"
Since there were 10 cameras on the roof, Watari was most likely aware of the situation by now. There was a 78 percent chance that help would arrive in the next couple minutes. With the extra help, L could probably find a less painful way to bring Light to safety.
But L didn't want to lessen the pain. He continued to pull on the chain, lifting Light up by his injured wrist. The whole time Light screamed and begged L to stop. But L wasn't feeling merciful. Light had done this to himself. On purpose.
"L, please!" he cried.
Light deserved to suffer. L had never been so scared in his life.
Soon, Light was able to reach the railing with his right hand, then he started pulling himself up. Once Light was safely over the railing and back onto the roof, he kneeled down, cradling his left wrist. His face was streaked with tears and his whole body was shaking. He must be in an extreme amount of pain.
L crouched down in front of him, staring at the teen's broken wrist. It was swollen and deformed. Light definitely needed a cast.
"I-I told you to stop," Light rasped, his voice hoarse from screaming.
"And I told you not to hurt yourself again," L replied sternly.
Light glared at him. Within seconds, the door to the roof slammed open and Mr. Yagami rushed onto the roof. Matsuda and Mogi were running after him while Watari walked quickly behind them all.
Mr. Yagami hurried to his son's side. "Light, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Light silently showed his father his wrist.
"Ouch, that looks bad!" Matsuda exclaimed. "We need to take you to a hospital."
Light's father turned toward L and clasped his shoulder. "L, thank you. Thank you so much for saving him."
"There is no need to thank me, Mr. Yagami." L scowled at Light. "I had no other choice."
Light looked away, avoiding L's furious gaze.
"Come on, let's get you to a doctor." Matsuda grabbed Light's right hand and helped him stand up.
###
Twenty minutes later, Light was sitting in a waiting room at the ER. The local hospital was busy this evening, but the triage nurse promised to get Light a room as fast as possible. Next to Light, L was perched on a chair while Mr. Yagami paced back and forth. The rest of the Kira Investigation Team had gone home while Watari had returned to the headquarters.
Light cradled his broken wrist close to his chest. He was grinding his teeth, trying to ignore the pain. He had never broken any bones before. He had no idea it would hurt this much. At least L removed the chain from his broken wrist. Now the handcuff was around Light's right wrist instead, next to his wristwatch.
Light glared at the chain. Hopefully, a doctor would order L to release him from the chain soon. Surely, the chain would get in the way. Also, Light would need an x-ray. For that procedure, everyone would have to leave the room.
The pain would be worth it. Soon, Light would get his chance to write down Gamble's name.
When Light first decided on this plan, he had considered all options. There were many ways to cause a medical emergency. Light could've drank bleach, or fallen down the stairs, or "accidentally" cut open a main artery. But any of those things would've been difficult to do with L watching. Also, Light didn't want to hurt himself too much.
Drinking bleach or another cleaning product could've caused permanent damage. As for falling down the stairs or cutting himself, L probably could've stopped that. But by falling off the roof, Light had forced L to pull on the chain. By doing so, L had saved Light and himself, but Light's wrist was also broken in the process.
The broken wrist was painful, but Light would recover. And he would have a moment alone during the x-ray. His plan would work.
"Yagami Light," a nurse called out. "We have a room for you."
Light stood and walked towards the triage desk, then the nurse motioned for him to sit a wheelchair. Light obliged and sat down. The nurse pushed the wheelchair down the hall while Mr. Yagami and L followed with the chain rattling on the floor.
After they reached the room, Light sat down on the hospital stretcher. Meanwhile his father and L sat on the chairs beside him.
"My name is Keiko. I'll be your nurse." The nurse smiled, then stared at the chain. "Is there a reason why you two are chained together?"
Light glared at L. Since the detective insisted on the chain, he could explain it.
L answered bluntly, "I am chained to Light-kun because I must monitor him 24/7."
"Uh, okay." Keiko looked confused. "Well, only family members are allowed back here. Are you both related to the patient?"
"Well, I'm his father," Mr. Yagami replied. "But Ryuzaki…is, uh-"
The nurse looked at L expectantly. Light barely suppressed a smirk. Maybe L would be forced out of the room early. This was perfect.
"I am Light-kun's fiancée," L announced unexpectedly.
What?! Light gaped at L in shock. His father looked equally horrified.
"Oh." Keiko blinked in surprise, then focused on the chain. "Oh. I see." She blushed slightly and giggled. "You are a very interesting couple."
L smiled. "Thank you."
We're not a couple! Light wanted to yell, but instead he kept his mouth shut. If he exposed L's lie, the detective would just argue with Light and accuse him of being Kira. He knew L only told the lie so he could stay in the room.
The nurse stared at the chain again with a perverted smile on her face. Light blushed while looking away. This was so embarrassing. She probably thought they were into S&M or something.
Keiko requested, "I understand that you and Light have certain…preferences in your relationship, but I'll have to ask you to remove the chain."
L nodded. "Very well, but I will not leave Light-kun's side."
"Of course, I wouldn't separate you two." She giggled again. "You're so cute together."
Light scowled at her with his eyes narrowed darkly. If looks could kill, she would burst into flames.
L smirked while placing a hand on Light's shoulder. "Light-kun and I appreciate that."
"Give me a minute. I'll be right back." The nurse happily walked out of the room.
As soon as she left, Light jerked his shoulder away from L. "Get off."
L sighed. "Why are you so flustered, Light-kun? You know why I lied."
"I'm not flustered. I'm pissed off," Light growled. "Why didn't you say we were brothers or cousins, or literally anything else? You could've picked anything and you chose fiancée!"
"Brothers and cousins don't chain themselves together. It's more believable that we would have a sexual relationship," L explained.
Light felt his face flush as he turned his head away. His face was probably bright red by now.
Still sitting in the corner, Mr. Yagami coughed awkwardly.
###
When the nurse returned, she started an IV in Light's right arm. The handcuff and Light's watch were both taken off his good wrist. Now Light had his wristwatch kept safely in his pocket while the chain laid in a pile on the floor next to L's chair. L had removed the handcuff from his own wrist as well since Light was no longer connected to him.
Soon the doctor came and evaluated Light's broken wrist. Then Light was finally given some morphine through the IV. The pain subsided greatly, which was a relief. When it was time to take an x-ray of Light's wrist, the nurse wheeled him away on the stretcher. His father and L followed him to the x-ray room, then the nurse told them to wait outside.
Mr. Yagami nodded while L glared knowingly at Light. The detective knew this was Kira's plan. Light expected L to throw a fit and refuse to wait outside, but L surprised him. Without saying a word, L stood in the hallway next to Mr. Yagami. L didn't make a scene at all.
Inside the x-ray room, Light moved to a different stretcher while a technician prepared to x-ray his arm. Light surveyed the room and noticed a small window where the technician would be able to watch from a safe distance.
"Before we get started, can I use the restroom?" Light asked.
"Sure. There's a bathroom right over there." The technician pointed to a corner of the room.
"Thanks." Light smiled and calmly walked away.
Inside the bathroom, Light closed and locked the door. Next, he took the wristwatch out of his pocket. With only his right hand, Light struggled to open the watch, then he removed the small piece of death note paper. Before coming to the hospital, Light had placed a pen in his other pocket. He took out the pen and wrote down Darren Gamble's name in small legible letters. Underneath the name, Light specified Gamble's time of death.
With a malicious smirk, Light admired the piece of death note paper. Darren Gamble was going to die on the thirteenth day.
Kira had won.
###
After the x-ray, Light was given more morphine, then a doctor put a cast around his left wrist. By 9:30 PM, Light was about to be discharged from the hospital. Mr. Yagami had finally gone home because his wife had called a few times and he didn't want to worry her. The prognosis for Light's wrist was good. The doctor expected a full recovery. In about eight weeks or so, the cast would be taken off.
For now, Light was alone with L in the ER room. The detective was perched on a nearby chair while Light was laying on a hospital stretcher. When the nurse came back with paperwork, they would finally be able to leave. L had already called Watari and the old man was driving over to the hospital to pick them up.
Light moved his right hand slightly causing the chain to rattle. L had locked the handcuff around Light's good wrist again, so they were both connected by the chain. Even though Light wasn't free yet, he felt so relieved. He had written down Darren Gamble's name. It was done. It felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. There was nothing left for Light to do. Now whatever happened next was already set in motion. Light could finally relax a little. At least until the thirteenth day.
Leaning his head back, Light shut his eyes for a moment. He was so exhausted. Sleep was tempting, but he could feel L watching him. Light glanced over at the detective who was still glaring at him.
"What is it, Ryuzaki?"
L muttered, "You promised, Light-kun."
Light blinked in confusion. "What?"
"You hurt yourself on purpose. Again," L clarified. "After you promised not to."
Light shrugged. He didn't want to harm himself, but desperate times called for desperate measures. He did what was necessary. "It was an accident."
L scowled at him. "Liar."
With a sigh, Light replied, "It really was an accident, Ryuzaki. I lost my balance while leaning against the railing. I'm sorry if I worried you."
L looked livid. "If you worried me? You jumped off a bloody building!" He snapped, suddenly switching to English midsentence.
Bloody? Light gaped at the detective, surprised by the British slang. L must be really upset to let that slip.
"I fell," Light insisted. "Luckily, the chain saved my life."
"And conveniently broke your left wrist. I see you are still able to write," L said accusingly.
"It's not what you think, L."
"It's exactly what I think. Kira."
"I'm not Kira," Light argued.
In response, L rolled his eyes. He actually rolled his fucking eyes.
Light fired back angrily, "I don't understand you, Ryuzaki. If you really believe I'm Kira, wouldn't you want me to die? Why the hell are you bitching at me?"
"Bitching at you?" L looked offended.
"Yes!" Light yelled in frustration. "I fell over the railing. It was an accident! So stop lecturing me!"
"I wouldn't lecture you if you weren't so careless with your own life."
"Once again, why do you even care? You want me dead anyway!"
L stared at him silently for a moment, then claimed, "I want to bring Kira to justice. That doesn't mean I want you to die."
Light let out an ugly laugh. "Yes, it does! You want me to be Kira. You admitted it yourself. And we both know that Kira will be executed if he's caught."
"If?"
"I mean, when. When he's caught," Light corrected himself.
"That may be the case, Light-kun," L admitted with a downcast expression. "After his arrest, Kira will most likely die. Although that is an undesirable outcome for me."
Light gave him a skeptical look. "Why?"
L declared seriously, "Despite everything you've done as Kira, I do not want you to die, Light-kun."
How? How can you say that to me? Light felt a strange ache in his chest as he avoided the detective's gaze. You know that I'm planning to kill you. I was almost successful before Rem died. If I knew your name, I'd kill you right this minute.
You should want me to die, L. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Light clenched his jaw shut, forcing himself to stay quiet. Part of him wanted to warn L. Don't show me mercy. I don't deserve that from you.
His mind was racing with several confusing contradictory thoughts, but Light knew there was only one thing he could say.
"I'm not Kira."
A/N: Thanks for reviewing! Love ya!
Next time… The results of the 13 day experiment!