A Sweet Friendship

Chapter Four

L left Misa's room quietly. They hadn't gone to bed until the hot water had run out in the early hours of the morning, and she looked so peaceful sleeping. He would have loved to stay in bed with her - all day if he could - but he had work to do. He was feeling optimistic, despite the black eye and the pain in the back of his head. Showering with Misa had helped to relax him. He grinned to himself as he walked through the corridors towards the room Light was chained up in.

L knocked on the door and waited for Light to respond. But he didn't.
"Light-Kun?"
Still there was no answer. L unlocked the door and pushed it open cautiously. "Light?" He walked into the room.

"Hello L."

The detective turned slowly as the door slammed shut behind him.
"How did you get free?"
"Never you mind." Light grinned. "That's quite some damage I did to your face."
L backed away. "Light-Kun. I am sorry – I didn't think my being with Misa would upset you so much."
"It doesn't." Light shrugged. "I was a little shocked, but it's not really surprising, now that I think about it."
"Really?"
"Yes. You're welcome to her. I never wanted her anyway, and I imagine you have to take advantage of any offers you get."
"You hurt her, you know."
"Well, it's only fair – she did cheat on me."

L frowned. "Still, you shouldn't have hit her."
"Oh well." Light shrugged. "Are we going to get on with the investigation now?"
"I think that would be best." L said, trying to work out Light's dramatic change of attitude, and the disturbing intensity of his eyes. He seems… Happy?

Misa was disappointed to find that L was gone when she woke up. She got out of bed and reluctantly peered into the mirror on her dressing table. The bruise across her cheek had turned a deeper purple and there was a disturbing yellowness around edges. Misa prodded it gently, shrugged and examined the rest of her face; she looked tired. I'll never be able to do that interview now, and filming starts in a few days for Nishinaka's movie. Misa smiled and flipped open her cell phone. She got through to her agent's voicemail system.

"Hi, this is Misa Amane. I just wanted to let you know that I'm quitting. Bye."

She switched off her phone, sat down at her dressing table and started experimenting with hairstyles that could cover the bruise. I could do with a new look anyway. She smiled.

L and Light walked down to join the rest of the Task Force. Light had kindly suggested that they remain without the handcuffs until tomorrow morning so that L could spend another night with Misa, and things seemed a lot easier between them.

"Nice to see that you are feeling better now Light." Matsuda said politely, looking up from his paperwork. "L?" he gasped, "What happened to your face?"
"Light and I had a little dispute yesterday." L said. "That's all."
"Really?
"Yes. We have settled it now though." Light added.
"Okay." Matsuda frowned. "Why aren't you handcuffed anymore? Is that what you were fighting about?"
"Not at all." Light smiled. "The handcuffs will be replaced tomorrow morning."
"Oh." Matsuda shrugged and went back to his work.
L sat down at his computer and began combing through the latest deaths. He had to solve this case soon. He wanted to clear Misa's name so they could be together properly.

Misa sat cross-legged on her bed. She was surrounded by scraps of paper and more fluttered around her as she destroyed the glossy magazines that she'd allowed to rule her life for way too long. It was frustrating that she only had nail scissors to cut with, but still satisfying. She slashed one page into ribbons and then paused, looking into her own face on the page beneath.

'Exclusive Interview with Misa Amane' the article screamed at her. She tore the page out, scrunched it into a ball and chucked it across the room. Then she went back to systematically mutilating the magazine with her nail scissors.

L stopped working early that evening. As soon as the rest of the Task Force had left Light turned to him.
"Enjoy your night with Misa." He said.
"Light-Kun, I…"
"No, don't worry about it L. I'm just going to stay here and keep searching for this Kira bastard. I feel like we're getting somewhere."
"Really? Do you have any new leads?"
"No." Light shrugged. "Nothing that solid yet. Just a few ideas."
"Oh. Well, good luck then."
"You too." Light winked and grinned at L.

L frowned and decided not to bother responding to that. He tried his best not to look like he was hurrying, but broke into an awkward run as soon as he was out of sight. He reached Misa's door and paused there for a while to catch his breath. He knocked on the door and waited.
"Misa?" He called after a moment. "Misa are you there?"
L opened the door and found the room strewn with small scraps of paper, but there was no sign of Misa.
"Misa?" He called again. "What happened?"
"L?" Misa called back.
L followed her voice over to her bathroom and knocked on the door.
"I'll just be a second."

L looked more closely at the scraps of paper that littered the floor. He picked up a sheet that had been scrunched up and smoothed it out. A picture of Misa looking incredibly hot in a cute gothic dress winked up at him. I still don't get what she sees in me.He smiled to himself.

Moments later the bathroom door opened and Misa emerged, wearing L's jeans and t-shirt, with her hair tied back in a simple ponytail. She suddenly looked much more mature. She was smiling. L ran his gaze over her body, all but hidden under his baggy clothes. He found himself lingering over the way his shirt creased over her curves.
"Are you okay?" L asked suspiciously, "You look… different."
"I'm fine." She said, hugging him. "I've been busy."
"I noticed. You made a mess."
"Sorry, does that bother you?"
"Well, I usually prefer things to be neat. What did you do exactly?"
"I quit my job." She beamed at him. "Like you said I should."
"Oh. Congratulations?"
"Thanks." She kissed him gently.
"Wait," L said, "I still don't understand. Why the mess?"
"Um, I was celebrating."
"Oh."
"You're welcome to celebrate with me…" She slipped her hands under his shirt and over his chest.

L leaned down and covered her mouth with his, kissing her passionately. His fingers found the waist band of the jeans she wore and he slipped his hands beneath the denim to fiddle with the lace of her underwear.

Misa broke away from the kiss, gasping for air. "L, I…" She whispered.
L kissed her again, picked her up and carried her to the bed. I think I'm getting quite good at this . He grinned, putting her down, pulling off the shirt she'd borrowed and kissing his way down her neck, towards the black lace of her bra…

Okay - I am rubbish at updating regularly...

I was struggling to get the ending to work for this story, but I've got it worked out now. This is the penultimate chapter... I know it is rather short. Sorry about that.

Hope you like it.

Please review!

Thanks!