A/N: I come bearing gifts! A double upload! Enjoy. ^_^
Heart
She woke up a few minutes later, calmer, more rational, and willing to listen. This sudden turnaround in her behavior surprised all present—probably even Misa herself.
Gently—almost as if he really did love her, L thought—Light talked her through it all again, articulating how they had both gone wrong, but that she could have a second chance. She deserved one, he said, and he wanted her to take it, to do something for herself for a change.
Light had told her before that he did not love her—that he could not, it was impossible, it would draw suspicion, and a dozen other reasons he thought but never said. In spite of it all, she loved him in her own gothic-fairy-tale way; her soul depended fully from his ambitions. Now, hearing Light speak with genuine concern about her life—not sweet nothings, not princely lines parroted from Shakespeare or he odd romance film to keep her in line, but as if he really cared—somehow broke the spell that had been on her all this time.
She could never defy the hard, godly face of Kira, could never reject his cold, cunning eyes or his equally heart-stopping lips.
But she could say no to this…this human. More importantly, she could say goodbye.
Her tear ducts had recovered enough in the last few minutes that she could squeeze out two solemn tears as she embraced Light one final time. They sat knee-to-knee on the sofa, twisted toward each other so that she could rest her chin almost comfortable atop Light's shoulder. Her lips a scant few centimeters from his ear, she recited the closing line of her act in this drama, as the spotlight winked out at the right hand of Kira.
"Goodbye, Light," she whispered, and even though her voice was hoarse, at least she sounded sure. That was good.
They would never see each other again; she would miss him; she would grieve for him bitterly for a short time, then force herself to forget him forever; in his absence, her heart would always hold a secret ache. She did not say these things; there was no need. If Light guessed her thoughts, he didn't show it. She breathed deeply of his fresh, boyish scent before placing one brief, cherry-tinted kiss on his mouth. She let go, turned away, and from that point on, never looked at Light again.
Both men watched in faint awe as Misa walked haughtily to the door, ignoring L completely. He met Light's gaze briefly—We two will never understand women, their eyes agreed—before catching up to Misa in the doorway.
"Allow me to show you out, Ms. Amane," L offered, placing a tentative hand on her shoulder to remind her of his presence.
She wrenched away from him, fixing him with a glare that could have left a lesser man in tears. Don't you dare talk to me was what that look said, or more likely, Fuck you and go die. L read both messages loud and clear, but chose to ignore them.
"Please hear me out, Misa-san," he insisted. "There are a few things I would like to explain on the way, so that perhaps you will not have to leave here holding a grudge…"
L's voice, interjected occasionally by Misa's, faded into white noise, then silence as he led the girl away toward the elevators.
Light wondered briefly what L was telling her, deciding it was not meant for him, or nothing of import, or both. If L decided to tell him, he would listen, and that was enough. After all, he no longer had any need to stay one step ahead of the mastermind…
Did he?
I…know…his…NAME…!
The almost-sound of a voice, drunk with joy, singing that frightening stanza through his brain. Every note stung like vinegar in an open wound.
No. No. He had to fight, to push this demon out before his control started to slip…
But it was ecstasy itself. The demon-god within burned, railed, screamed to get out. Kira seduced him with power and with hot blood, and the seduction was so powerful, so inexorable, so irrevocable that Light had no choice but to bend to its touch. He groaned in agony, in an orgasm of horror, and lost control to Kira's hands.
Kira smiled. He laughed, triumphant.
The watch. The watch! I'm still wearing it, he didn't look, that fool, that bastard L hasn't a clue.
He's mine!
Pulling once. Twice. Thrice. Four times.
My salvation springs forth from behind that pristine crystal.
I prick my finger, slowly, relishing the pressure, the stab, the pain, the rivulet of my life's ink running down the stylus with which I will write the story of my destiny.
I AM KIRA.
Die, L. Your life is in my hands, and I alone shall cut it off.
L
Your death.
L
My life.
A
Your horror.
W
My dream.
L
Your fall.
I
My destiny.
E
Your despair, my triumph.
T
I win.
A/N: I wrote part of this chapter, then watched Sweeney Todd, then completed it. If you've seen the movie, you can probably guess where that break happened. Johnny Depp really brings out the Kira in me (BWAHAHA!).
I realize that the first half is repetitive and may seem contradictory to the previous chap as far as Misa's behavior. I have trouble writing Misa, which made this section a bit too choppy, in my opinion. On the bright side, her part in this tale is done. Hurray!
Please review, but bear in mind that I will answer no question regarding the outcome of this most recent twisteroo. Tune in for the next chap, do it please ya! ^_^