Bells and Hymns

Author's Notes: Here is the latest chapter, chapter nine for Bells and Hymns. I'm so sorry for taking so long on this chapter. It isn't my greatest either and I'm sorry for this disappointment. I'll work on my later chapters to be far better than this one. But for now, I hope you enjoy it.


Bells and Hymns

CHAPTER NINE

Matched and Revealed

"Yua!" L called from the end of the hallway, making a face of disappointment as he waited for her to exit from the bedroom. "We're going to be late."

"I'm coming!" Yua bolted out into the living room to meet him, straightening the collar on her shirt and fixing her hair.

"What takes you so long to change a few pieces of clothing?" L made his way to the front door where he grabbed his worn-out tennis shoes from the rack and began to slip them on.

"You wouldn't know," Yua grumbled, putting on her own shoes. "All you ever wear is—Uh—let's get going, Ryuuzaki. We don't want to be late."

L eyed at her with curiosity, noticing her sudden change of tone. One moment she was about to fuss with him again and the next her voice sounded cheery and joyous. He then realized that Watari had entered into their party in the living room of the suit, walking with is hands folded neatly behind his back, grinning softly at both of them.

"Right," L said back to her, smiling crookedly back at Yua. "Let's not waste any time, then." The detective straightened up and placed his hand on the doorknob ready to turn it when Watari spoke.

"Ryuuzaki, Yua," Watari said. "It's wonderful to have the two of you getting along. I'm glad you're not arguing for a change."

"We'll be back soon, Grandpapa," Yua said, adjusting the purse on her shoulder. Watari smiled and nodded in reply.

"Watari," L said, taking the old man's attention. "Have you set up everything for tonight?"

"Yes, Ryuuzaki," Watari said with an even brighter smile. "Everything is ready."

"Thank you very much," L said, picking up the duffle bag on the floor. "We'll be back soon."

"Bye Grandpapa!" Yua waved to the old man.

"Alright. Be careful," Watari said and L closed the door behind him as the two of them left the hotel suit.

Walking down the hall, heading towards the lobby, Yua resumed her complaints.

"You're the worst liar ever, you know that?" she said.

"My lies, at least, are a lot more believable than yours," L countered.

"Oh really?" Yua said challenging.

"Yes. I believe so."

L endured listening to Yua scowl the entire time as they took the cab to Touou University. The peace between them never lasted very long. Even if there was peace, it was usually a false moment of harmony that existed only with the presence of Watari.

-

"It's nice seeing you again, Light," Yua said, smiling at him.

"Same to you, Miss Yua," Light answered.

L frowned listening to the two of them make small talk as the trio walked through the university campus and towards the tennis courts.

"Your campus is almost the same as the campus in America," Yua admired. "It's very large and clean. I'd like to go to school here for change, though."

"You studied in America?" Light asked.

"I was studying abroad for a few years."

"What was your major, if I might ask?"

"Medicine," Yua answered.

"Ah... a doctor?"

"No, pharmacy technician. But I don't think I'm going to make it."

"How come?"

"Currently I'm working on my Bachelor degree but with the traveling and—"

"Yua," L said. He was getting enough of this... adoration. "Go wait over there." He pointed to the benches outside the iron fence of the tennis courts. "This is a game between men."

"Tch," Yua clicked her tongue, annoyed with his tone. "I'm the one carrying your bag for you. What a strong man you are making a lady carry your bags."

"Oh," L said, seeing the duffle bag hanging from her shoulder. "Well, I'll be needing it now."

"Here!" Yua shoved the bag into his arms. She crossed her arms, gave him a frustrated look, but walked over to the spot with all the other students as he had asked her to do. L nodded in satisfaction and turned back to his new acquaintance.

"Shall we?"

Light smiled and nodded. The two of them made their way into the tennis courts where Light rummaged into his pack to retrieve his tennis racket.

"I've got to admit that I was rather surprise, Ryuuga, to be invited to play tennis with you so we could get to know each other better."

"Has this caused a problem for you?"

"Not at all, but were you aware of how skilled I am when you asked me to play?"

They each made their way to their own sides of a vacant court.

"That's okay, Light," L said, bouncing the tennis ball a few times. "I used to be the Junior Champion of England."

Yua stood at the other side of the fence with her arms crossed, watching and listening to the two of them talk. She didn't believe that Light would actually win against L. He wasn't the Junior Champion of England for nothing. Yua sighed and hoped for L to win. He may treat her like Watari but she couldn't find it in her heart to root for Light. She waited for L to serve the ball.

An ace.

Yua smirked. L was going to win. She felt pity for Light but then reminded herself that it was only a game. Soon, L and Light were furiously running for the ball, both trying his hardest to beat the other, swinging their rackets with impressive speed. Yua had to move to another spot as people began to pack in to watch the intense match.

"Are they meant to be amateurs?" one male student asked. "Who the hell are they?"

Yua smirked again, hearing his ignorant questions.

"It's Yagami Light and Ryuuga Hideki," another student answered him. "Both of them enrolled with the top grades."

With her attention back at the game, she saw that Light had made another point. Yua began to feel frustration, refusing to believe that he could win again L.

"Hey, hey!" a girl next to her said. "Ryuuga's managing to hold his own against a Junior Champion, so what dose that make him?"

The adoration and admiration in her tone made Yua angry. She bit her tongue and waited until one of the other students would answer. When they didn't, Yua opened her mouth and answered her herself.

"That would make Ryuuga champion level player himself."

"Wow—" the girl answered her. "Uh—how do you know?"

"It's a bit self explanatory," another girl standing behind Yua answered.

"Sh!" another student said. "The game's about to end."

Surely enough, he was right. Yua watched the two of them as the final set was being played. The score, as she could remember, was a tie, but she wasn't sure. This set was going to settle it. I'm sorry, Light, but the winner is going to be—

"Game set; won by Yagami! Six games to four!"

Even as the cheers went up in a roar, Yua couldn't believe it, nor could she believe the ending to this match. Standing wide-eyed, she watched L and Light shake hands and make their way to the locker rooms. Yua shook her head to come back into reality and rushed over to catch up with them. Once she was there, Light had disappeared into the changing room while L waited patiently on the benches nearby.

"Ryuuga!" she said. "You lost?"

"I thought it was quite clear, Yua," L said. "I don't need you to—"

"I wasn't going to rub it in. For your information I was hoping you would win. I was sure that you would win. But..."

"It's only a game," L said.

Yua came by and sat down next to him. She nodded grimly. "I guess."

"You wanted me to win," L echoed her words.

"Isn't that what I just said?" Yua murmured, watching him nibble on his thumbnail.

L smiled. "I would say that you do have some positive feelings for me, is that is the case."

Yua turned her head away proudly. "I only hoped you would win because..."

"Sorry for the wait, Ryuuga," Light said, coming out from the room, already changed into sweats. Yua nearly breathed a sigh of relief, seeing how Light had saved her from having to finish her sentence, even if that meant lying to L because even Yua herself did not know why she wished L to win.

"It's not a problem," L said. "Here, Yua." He stuffed his bag into her hands as the three of them made their war towards the front of the university's campus. Yua shook her head in disbelief but reluctantly followed the other two, promising herself that she will take revenge on L after this day. L and Yua both walked on either side of Light.

"You're as good as I expected you to be," L complimented. "I lost."

"It's the first time I've gotten serious," Light said.

"You did very well out there, Light," Yua said, smiling.

"Oh thank you," he said, smiling back at her.

L cleared his throat, and Yua rolled her eyes.

"Well, anyways," Light said, turning back to L. "I have a favor I'd like to ask of you."

"Please ask away," L offered. "But there's just one thing I'd like to mention first."

"What?"

"I suspect that you might be Kira."

Yua widened her eyes. Why would L just come out straight and tell him that? even if he did suspect that to be true. She continued to walk with L until both of them noticed that Light had stopped. He had an amused looked on his face as he laughed shortly. Yua smiled; tensions inside her easing away. No way could this person be Kira. She started to wonder if L's logic was beginning to shorten. But she doubted that theory as well.

"Me, Kira?" Light asked, amused.

"Well," L continued. "When I say 'suspect', it's about one percent."

"So, basically," Yua said. "You're most likely not Kira." She smiled reassuringly at Light.

Light laughed again. "Thank you, Yua. But I think you're forgetting whose suspicion you're going against."

Before Yua could answer him, L pointed towards the front of the university where an old English style car was parked on the curb.

"Watari is here, Yua," L said. "It's about time you go home."

"You said I could—"

"It's best not to keep Watari waiting," he interjected. "Besides, I'm letting you have some more freedom tonight, so don't complain."

-

"You're going to be late," Watari said. The old man waited for a reply from the bathroom. "Yua?" he called again.

"I'm almost done," Yua's voice came from inside.

Watari sighed worryingly. L did not liked to be kept waiting, especially when he put so much effort into setting up something as special as tonight. The moment Yua opened the door and stepped out, Watari rushed her into the car.

"What's so special out tonight?" Yua asked as he drove.

"You'll see, my dear," Watari said.