Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author Note: Here you guys go. It's really short, I'm sorry, but it was very hard to write. Originally, I planned for a real dog walk. Like in town and everything, but it seemed like it was over the top. Like, over kill sort of. So anyways, after I typed it I rewrote it and this is what came out. Although I'm a little glad for it, cause now I can start moving the story farther along.
The last time Light had truly spent a good time outdoors was when he and 'Ryuzaki' played a game of tennis, ending with L losing. Moving from the car to the plane, then from the plane to the limo, and the limo to L's house, was not enough time for Light's body to soak up any sunlight.
It was pleasing to finally feel the heat on his arms and naked chest. Believe it or not, he liked that all he was wearing was a pair of thin boxers.
And despite his current mood after L's disturbing command, he was determined to enjoy this walk, no matter where L would decide to walk him, which happened to be the back yard where to the right was a tennis court with an equipments building, a pool and an open field. To the left was the dirt path that led out to Ryuk's apple orchard and a small shack.
Light stood on the patio marveling at the scene. So L wasn't exactly a hermit. He did go out every now and then.
Light couldn't picture L having things he didn't use, so he wondered if L was a good swimmer, or if he was one of those people who just liked to lounge by the pool while they worked. The image of L, dripping from head to toe in water, trying to catch his breath after so many laps and dressed in wet swimming trunks that clung to his thighs, came to view in Light's mind an he found himself growing aroused.
But as wonderful as that day dream was, Light squashed it. L was more daunting than he was beautiful.
L caught the boy gazing out at the pool and led him over to it, tugging gently on the boy's leash.
Light had quietly followed in toe, not really having any other choice.
"Kira-kun you may swim whenever you desire, as long as Watari or I are with you."
Light nodded stepping close to the crystal blue water's edge. It was a very large in ground pool, and obviously expensive due to it's perfect L shape and fancy lounge chairs. Light had only seen one real in ground pool before in his whole life which happened to be the city's small, public pool that he had to share with hundreds of strangers. He was always so scared of catching something so he stayed away from it.
Now, with verbal permission, he was glowing with anticipation. He wanted to swim. He wanted to stretch his muscles and feel the water gliding across his skin as he made flips like the professionals on television, but Light's glow suddenly disappeared as he looked down at the sloshing water by his feet.
He would never do any of that.
Not really.
He would never swim in the pool. Just like he would never see his family again.
Not Light Yagami anyways. Light Yagami was stripped away.
The boy's hands lifted slowly, palms up. Light starred at them in a look of what L might later refer to as "in aw".
The boy seemed to be studying them as if he had never seen them before. Then suddenly, he dropped down to his knees and starred at his waving reflection in the pool. L couldn't imagine what was going through his pet's mind.
Light's mind was racing with thoughts. All his life he was called perfect. All his life he was called beautiful. And Light Yagami had taken every measure to keep perfect and beautiful. Conditioner and combs for his hair. Planning three steps a head of every plan. Working hard to receive straight A's and top scores.
Friendly smiles, charming voice, warm eyes. Eating healthy. Attending college prep. Following his father's footsteps.
Desiring nothing but to save the world from the rotten.
If he was so perfect…why was he only in boxers with a collar and a leash?
Why did he spend months in a prison behind bars with ignorant guards who poked fun at his ideals?
Why didn't he find a better spot to hide that scrap of death note other than his damn watch?
Why did he lose if he was so perfect?
L watched curiously as Light reached a trembling hand into the cool water as if he were trying to touch his reflection. Like he was trying to reach for something he couldn't grasp.
"As an animal you know longer have that sense of needing to be one hundred percent perfect…..remove it"
Light breathed a sigh of relief remembering L's words from yesterday. L was right. It was only a need. A human need. He wasn't really perfect. He never had been. It was simply grand acting skills and even those weren't perfect as L saw right through them.
Light decided to let it go. That useless burning need of perfection. He'd lost it, and he wasn't going to get it back.
It hurt to let it go. Not to just strip off clothing in metaphors and similes, but to finally, really let it all go. Every piece that when pieced together, created Soichiro Yagami's only son, Light Yagami. His feelings, his emotions, his memories of his family and, his hopes, his dreams, his everything.
L would have it all.
Light closed his eyes taking a deep breath and pulling his wet, dripping fingers from the pool. He filled his mind with the only things a pet would ever need.
Loyalty to his Master.
Obedience.
Ignorance of everything around him.
Appreciation.
And the pride L gave him. He would be proud of all these things he could give L.
It was the only thing left. And maybe within time, he could earn the right to cry again, but with out the desire to cry, as complicated as that sounded.
L was growing bored with Light's fascination with the water. He tugged on the leash and headed away from the pool.
Light let himself be pulled along as his master walked at a casual pace, hands in his pocket. Normally Light wouldn't enjoy being led around by a collar and leash, but he wasn't Light Yagami anymore. He was Kira-kun.
He found that he did like it. Instead of him, someone else was planning and leading the direction. No thinking was required on his part. Not to mention walking was good exercise. Light's tense muscles relaxed and he found himself opening up to allow enjoyment to flow through him as he followed L quietly around.
"Does Kira-kun have any particular destination he would like to go?" L asked.
"No." Light stated casually, with a hint of…what was that L was detecting? Happiness?
Light then asked, "Could we play tennis? You could consider it a rematch."
L glanced back at Light.
The boy didn't have any signs of tears in his eyes, instead he was gazing out into the distance at the tennis court.
How very strange. Just moments ago his eyes were tortured and now he was, happy? L reached into his pocket pulling out a strawberry flavored jolly rancher.
He unwrapped the wrapper and popped it into his mouth. The overly sweet taste had just the right affect on him as he mulled over what was really going through that boy's mind.
Sucking on the sweet hard candy, L walked to the tennis course stopping at the umpire's chair. This caused Light to bump into the older detective's back with a small "oof".
"Sit Kira-kun." L ordered.
Light looked down at the ground. It was hot asphalt he was standing on. His feet were already stinging. Would he really have to sit his bruised legs down on it?
L sighed. "Kira-kun, I do not like to repeat myself."
Light took a deep breath and sat pulling his legs up to his chest looking a bit like L in his position.
He then watched as L tied his leash to the leg of the umpire's chair and disappeared into the equipment's shed.
While waiting, Light cursed at the heat in soft whispers. It didn't feel so great anymore. Not now that it was burning his flesh.
He hoped L wouldn't take long. Thoughts of standing were creeping into the back of his mind already and he didn't want L to catch him standing. The thought of more blows were bordering near unbearable.
Suddenly, the gentle tapping of a tennis ball bouncing caught Light's attention. He lifted his head, eyes drifting towards the direction of the sound, and watched as a green tennis ball bounced, then rolled towards him, stopping as it came to meet with the edge of his foot.
Stepping out of the equipment's shed, L walked back to his pet.
"It's yours…if you want it." He said, untying the leash and taking back control.
The boy's eyebrows wrinkled in confusion and shock. "But I thought-"
L cut him off harshly. "Do you want me to take it back?"
"N-no. No I want to keep it if you'll let me." Light picked the ball up cradling it like a child against his chest and stood back up, not caring anymore about the pain in his legs and feet.
He owned something. That's all that mattered right then.
L bit into the jolly rancher, breaking it up into pieces inside his mouth, annoyed slightly at the loud crunch it had.
He watched as his pet looked honestly grateful. It gave him a funny feeling. A feeling he should remember…
He tried to think when Watari's voice interrupted.
"L! We have a situation inside."
He took notice that Watari looked very worried. He took a deep breath and let it out. "Come Kira-kun, Watari needs me. I'm afraid our walk will be cut rather short."
Light was still wrapped up in a moment of "aw", just as he was when he had starred at his hands after dipping them into his reflection in the pool.
It's only a small ball. Lightthought. Yet it was his ball. No one elses.
L grew immatient and commanded, "Heel, boy" and tugged harshly on the leash, forcing Light to stagger forward and trip rough over his bare feet.
Light snapped back into reality just enough to catch his balance in time, and keep in toe with L as they made their way back into the house.
Once inside, Light had expected to be able to lie on the couch for a possible nap while L dealt with personal buisness, if his Master would allow it.
But someone was in the way.
A boy about fifteen, with red hair and glasses, or were they goggles?, was stretched on the couch, puffing on a cigarette and playing some type of video game.
Instinctively Light stepped behind L.
L's face went from shock, to happy, to instantly angry within five seconds, before he snatched the cigarette out of the boy's mouth.
"You better have a good explanation for being here." Then he turned to Watari. "Does Roger know he's gone?"
Watari cleared his throat. "It appears that Roger has sent him L."
"Oh? What have you and Mello done now?"
The boy smiled. "I found something you might want."
Light, peeking around L, marveled at how well the boy was keeping up the conversation while never once lifting up his eyes to look at L as he continued to play with his game.
Who is this kid? Light thought.
"It isn't what I've done L. It's more like what I found."
"And that would be?"
The kid put his game down and stood from the couch. He reached into his vest pulling out an object that made Light's eyes widen.
"A Death Note." He stated calmly, as he laid the book down on the coffee table before L.
A/N: Who saw that coming? LOL I know Matt should be younger, but I decided to play around with ages. I couldn't have him too young in this, it would be wrong . I also chose Matt cause I hate near and at the time I wasn't exactly in the mood for overdramatic Mello. But hey, Light owns something tangible now other than his virginity and pride. L is such a nice guy, giving him a ball and everything. ;)
