Reason Nine

"Workaholic"

The next day, O found it especially difficult to breathe. Her head felt like it was full of cotton and it throbbed painfully. As much as she wanted to leave her bed, her body wouldn't allow it. If she so much as moved her fingers, they responded with an aching sensation. She stared up at the ceiling, rolling her eyes. Great. She was sick. Fighting her way through the dull aches and pains, the messy-haired girl sat up in her bed and rested her pounding head against the headboard.

"I guess I should call Watari," she said, realizing that her voice was nasal-sounding. She reached for the dresser. L had given her a necklace that acted as a remote to alert the old caretaker should O need him. Of course, there were certain conditions that had to be met in order for her to use it. One of which was to use it if she was incapacitated, which was pretty relevant to her situation at the moment, so she pressed the black jewel and waited.

"Yes, O?" Watari's voice greeted pleasantly. O wondered how the man didn't turn bitter with the routine L has been putting him through. Nonetheless, she appreciated his presence and aspired to have patience as great as his. She informed him of her situation, and he promised to have something made to alleviate her condition in a few moments. In the meantime, she would have to occupy herself. Well, solving puzzles was something she liked to do to kill time. Sometimes, she would talk as if she was L because there's nothing like sounding unreasonably sophisticated while solving English crossword puzzles.

"'Small red fruit?' Judging by the spaces, there is a ninety-nine-point-nine chance of the word not being cherry, so the correct answer is most definitely 'strawberry,'" O stated as robotically as she could, writing dramatically to mimic someone else. One of her quirks was to pick up subconscious habits that usually belonged to others. She was fascinated by Light and his interesting way of writing. It was as if his regular activities were an articulate performance, the way his arm swayed through the air when he thought no one was watching. Just play an ominous soundtrack behind it, title the show, "Mundane Made Awesome" and that's easy money right there!

"I'm Queen of the Crosswords!" O proclaimed drunkenly, sticking pencils between her fingers and crossing her arms over her chest as if she was some claw-wielding superhero.

"You seem to be having fun for someone who is supposed to be sick, Your Highness."

Never in the history of the world has writing utensils moved at the speed of light… until now.

Upon the realization that L has been watching her for undetermined amount of time, O's cheeks bloomed a furious red. She didn't need anymore heat by the way her forehead seemed to create its own forcefield made from its warmth. Being so sneaky was one of those qualities that she didn't really like about the detective. He was like a ninja-detective…a panda ninja-detective with the posture of a jumbo shrimp. O absentmindedly wondered what L would taste like if he was a shrimp. Maybe like strawberries.

"L is the Strawberry Sugar Shrimp!" she whispered (or at least, thought she did) to herself, as if clued in to some sort of conspiracy. Suddenly, her blood ran cold and she dove back under her covers. She groaned. "What the hell am I talking about?"

L closed the door, probably sensing that O has finally lost the battle to lunacy under the influence of a powerful fever. Luckily, Watari has given him a special medicine that would help reduce the effect her symptoms were having on her. However, he would have to make sure that the medicine was administered properly or risk O's health. The medicine was indeed helpful, but it was very, very potent. One dose too many and his girlfriend might lose all sense of reality.

"It sounds like you're experiencing delirium," L stated, his voice sounding muffled from behind the mask he was wearing. He went over to O's side of the bed, sitting down in front of her. He placed his palm on her forehead, discovering that it was very warm. "You're running a very high temperature."

O sang a fanfare, then said in a slurred voice, "Captain Obvious is obvious!" She paused, as if it was just brought to her attention that L was still present in her room. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"I'm here to give you this medicine, and monitor you until you fall asleep," he answered, pulling a small vial of red liquid out of his pocket. He grabbed O's chin. "Say 'ahh…'"

O might have not been of a sound mind, but she was conscious enough to be a bit suspicious. L usually didn't stop his investigating for anybody, herself included. Was he actually showing some improvement in being a better boyfriend? There was a part of her that thought that everything L did was part of some secret agenda only he and Watari was clued in on, and she was sure that this was some sort of plot to catch Kira…however that might go. Then again, that side might be influenced by the brief bouts of loony she was going through.

"Ahh…" O finally relented, totally caught off-guard when L squeezed the vial and directed its contents into her nostril instead of her mouth. "What the hell, L!?"

"This medicine will take effect soon, and make your body feel cold, so I would suggest getting comfortable," the masked detective prompted, lifting the covers. O snatched the covers back, incredulous, turning her back to him. L failed to understand the problem. "I'm only trying to help."

With a sigh, she said, "And I'm only in my underwear."

She peeked over her shoulder, thankful that her vision was blurry without her glasses. L was nothing but a blur of black, white, and blue. That same varicolored blur remained still, and she hoped that it would stay that way. Of course, this was L. He was going to defy her because it was L's way or L's way. Either way, she had no say in the matter. She shivered violently. Great. All the more reason to guarantee that the man get his way.

"That shouldn't be a problem. My body heat should be enough to maintain a reasonable temperature," he simply replied, getting under the covers with ease. O stiffened, afraid to turn around. This would be the first time they shared a bed together and she just had to be halfway out of her mind during. Even her immune system was rebelling against her! Eventually, she stopped being a coward and faced L; he had taken his mask off.

"Why did you take your mask off?" she asked him, trying to ignore the sensation of his arms curling around her.

"I'm accustomed enough to your germs since I'm the only one you keep in constant contact with."

"That makes sense, I guess."

O put her hands against the fabric of L's shirt, idly tapping her fingers against the collar. His facial expression remained as blank as ever.

"Hey, L?" she said softly, glancing briefly into his attentive eyes.

"Yes, O?"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

O didn't want to spoil the moment by being resistant so she just relaxed in L's arms. Despite the circumstances under which this had to happen, she thought it was rather nice to be where she was now. Even with the universe conspiring against her, she was pretty certain that nothing could interrupt this special moment they were sharing-

Buzz!

Somewhere inside O, something died. One might know it as hope.

"I'm sorry," L said, leaving her shivering under the covers. "If you're still cold, I can have Matsuda come in-"

"WHAT!?" O shouted, shooting out of her bed. What kind of a boyfriend would suggest sending another man in to warm his girlfriend up? Oh, right! L.

Setting aside any dignity she had by confronting L in her underwear, the sick girl jabbed her pointer finger into his chest.

"L, you've been doing nothing but working on this case," she accused, hearing her voice get hoarser and hoarser with every word that went past her lips. "Can't you stay a little longer?"

He shook his head. "O, please get some rest."

O let herself be the child for once, and crossed her arms over her chest. "No!"

"You leave me no choice, then."

Before she could blink, L swept O off of her feet.

Literally.

He kicked her legs out from under her, caught her, and carried her to her bed. When she refused to stay still, he pinched a pressure point that made her lose consciousness. Pulling the covers back and placing her under them, he tucked her in like a father would his child-complete with a kiss to her forehead.

"Be good, O. And get better," he said to her, locking the door behind him.

Unfortunately, she got worse.


I think it would've been easier to catch Kira if L set up some sort of writing test. Here's how it would go: the potential Kira would be in a room with a pen and paper. He would be asked to write an essay, set to that dramatic music you hear in the anime. L would arrest the one who wrote with the most gusto, and bam, world saved! Foolproof, huh?

Anyway, guys, thanks for reviewing!