B elovates his brother's leg into the air, a hard grip on the older male's thigh to do so, and with all his strength shoves himself deeper into L's body. Pounding into him over and over the coughed and sputtered grunts of L fill his ears calming the pain in his head. He blinks down at his brother, a busted smile spreads across his face and he leans over a bit to place kisses onto the pale cheek that's exposed to him. He can hear his brother whisper something to him along the lines of "don't" but then L could have said anything right now and he wouldn't really understand it. He's not much farther from release when he hears something rattling in the closet. Turning his head he stalks over without a second thought to see what had caused the out of place sound. Grabbing the knob he hears a yelp, instead of flinging the door open, he milks a bit more fear from the hidden mouse that chose the wrong time to let out a yelp. His red eye gazes through the crack setting its sight upon a man, he's seen this man before wandering the building one day. He left him alone, sure that he would be too frightened to run off anywhere, he would definitely be back for him just like all the other stray dogs that end up in his part of town. It was like a sign, a devine sign sent from the heavens that told him what night was perfect to take the world as his meal. Booms were heard in the distance like some hard drum of a heartbeat that night and the booms whispered just as the voice whispered, and the world sang to him as he ravaged the outskirts of Silent Hill clean; or rather, as he intended to. He can't be sure what happened after he went to see his brother... One minute they were talking about something, L laughed at some nonsense that came out of his mouth and the next thing he knew he was fucking his brother. L seemed to like it, he didn't tell him to leave, if he had he hadn't heard him. Dineas Elliot was slowly losing his hearing as the pains in his head grew throughout the years, he jisted and smiled at whatever unheard was said to him. It wasn't as if anyone actually ever spoke to him or his brother anyway- well, they did speak but it was always some curse or rude thing so he just shut them out. The only voice he heard or cared about was Lawliet's.
Which is why when he caught himself decapitating his only loved one, he freaked out and ran away to hide somewhere; the urge to kill was still so strong, though, but after he ran out he has no clue what happened or when his hearing started to return; everyday is a fog of nothing, except for these few fleeting moments of clarity and sanity between the two of them and now some stranger has decided to ruin it. He will pay, dearly. "I see youuuuu." The freaked out little mouse breathed out in a frightened staggered breath but what happened next B was not expecting. The tip of a fingernail came straight pass his eyelids not pausing for a second; there's a low sucking sound, before the finger successfully moves above the eye and behind it. Beyond grunted in start as his vision blurred before losing sight of the left side of the room all together.
Light turned his head as quickly as he could to avoid being hit with the blood that spurts out from the vein snapping to empty the socket, but is a bit too slow getting some in his mouth and the corner of his eye; he blinks away the pain of the foreign liquid there, bursting from the closet, the door bashes into B knocking him down. He's making pained, almost frightened laughs of disbelief that his eye has been removed, and he wriggles and writhes on the floor trying to regain some composure over the immense pain. Light's first intention was to leave and never look back but his legs take him over to the bed where L lay either dead or unconscious, whichever it may be, he's not going to leave him alone with this sicko. Lifting him, he throws him over his shoulder carrying the nude body from the bedroom into the main room of the apartment.
"L, stop it, its me!" He says when the man's limbs begin to flail; his knee almost giving Light a good jab in the ribs but he places a hand on L's thigh to stop it.
Hearing his voice seemed to calm him down as the movement stopped, making him easier to run with. B's sword caught Light's attention; the cool metal shines in the dim moonlight as if asking to be taken and thoughts of doing just that play through his brain as he passes by. He'd have to find another way to do it because if he's gonna get out of here before the siren sounds and the barriers come down locking him in the room with this man, he can't waste time by carrying a possible corpse and a very heavy looking object; besides, he only has ten minutes to get out of the place, into his car, and to the boathouse. He would have slammed the door closed behind him but B had broken it in when he entered. Grabbing the knob to Mikami's apartment he pushes the door open a good crack in hopes to get the mad man's attention and send him in the wrong direction as they make their escape. He then looks up the hall then down wondering if he should take the stairwell or the elevator. The thing just had to be running. Going over to the glowing button, he taps it rapidly waiting for the the doors to open. Even in the distance you can hear a door slam into a wall hard enough to take the wall out rather than simply leave a hole in it, but judging by the thickness to it, it was the bedroom door.
Light was relieved when the doors open with a 'ding' allowing them entrance. He pressed the button for the lobby and when the doors close he lowers L, so that he's holding the man to his chest before he melts to the floor, himself, in a shuddering heap. Feeling something hard and moist in his hand Light flicks the eyeball from his grasp, not even realizing that he had been holding it all this time. A loud growl came from the floor they had just left; it sounds grumbled and hoarse not at all like the voice that spoke to him from in the closet. Is he Pyramid Head again? Why did the tumor leave in the first place, and how? Was it L? Light looks down at the slumped forward heap in his arms. The elevator let them out at the lobby and with a bit of an adjustment from before, Light piggybacks L toward the exit. He ran quickly across the street to where he had parked in front of Mello's or Matt's apartment. Opening the door, he turns his back to the opening laying the man in the backseat of the car, then climbs behind the wheel locking all doors with the automatic lock on the door panel.
"Don't worry, L, we're getting out of here." The car starts up the street at top speed. Turning on the radio, he hears the crackling from before, its very faint but there all the same.
Even at high speed Light couldn't seem to beat the curfew as the loud siren pierced the sky and one by one the appendageless bodies start to pepper the road all around him, shining in the head lights of the car. He had to turn down the radio as the crackling noise became almost a hard whistle and it was starting to give him a headache. At least Light didn't have the same fears as before- not behind the wheel anyway- and with ease, plowed right over the demons; one managed to roll up the car putting a crack in the windshield with its elbow, but it wasn't enough to stop him from pressing on. In the rearview mirror he can see it wriggling its limbs arching its aching back from the street. The boathouse is just a corner away and the last minute up the street seemed like hours before the car screeched to a hault in front of the building. He didn't bother with closing the door once he exits the front seat, just opened the back and pulled L out. The door was closed but not locked, entering, he sets the man to lay down across a backless bench before rushing to the door, locking it. Seeing that the counter was not attached to anything he presses his back against the side of it, digs his heals in then shoves the counter infront of the door to barracade them in. Light walks over to the bench sitting himself on the floor, leaning his back against the wooden seat.
'What the hell is going on now?' He wonders while trying to calm his heart. 'When did I leave the other apartment?' He looks over at a boat radio that crackles to life, Matt's voice comes over it with the safety announcements. He ignores it, while taking comfort in the fact that someone is out there. 'Am I in the other world? Or am I back in reality?' Removing his cellphone from his pocket, he flips it open then speed dials Near. He has to ask him what he did wrong because he saw Mikami but got nothing out of it. He was so thankful the kid had the foresight to add his number into it when he'd gone to the bathroom at his house. Waiting out the rings, he wonders if its a bad time to call. Did it matter? Look at the situation he's in.
"Hello?"
"Near, I-.."
"Light?"
That voice doesn't sound at all like the dead drawl of the young man, it sounds more like...
"Mikami."
"Hey..." His voice is low, it sounds almost as if he's half asleep. "How did you get this number?"
Light can feel tears welling in his eyes hearing the man's voice, hearing it and knowing that its actually speaking to him. "..." He tried to speak but his voice remained in his throat.
"I miss you, you know." Mikami goes on talking as if he's speaking to himself, like rehersing what he would say to Light had he actually been on the phone. "I often wonder if it would have been right to call you after the way I'd left."
"It would have..." He heard his voice whisper. Light was almost afraid that if he spoke too much whatever connection this conversation was happening on would disconnect and he would never talk to Mikami again.
"I miss you, you know. I often wonder if it would have been right to call you after the way I'd left."
Light shakes his head. He doesn't want this weird moment to go on, he wants Mikami to continue speaking to him as he had. "Mikami?"
"I'm sorry, I'm repeating myself." He seems to smile on his end. "How are you?"
"I'm..." He trails off, unsure of how to answer the question.
"I know what you mean, I'm just an 'I'm' too."
There's a brief silence between them, but Light urges the man back. "Please keep talking."
Light knew all the things he should be saying to the man but none of them would come out. He can't break up with Mikami, not over the phone, and he can't end it knowing that he'll send the man off to his next life on that bad note of a break up. God, how can he tell the man he loves that he's dead?
"I put a real headcase behind bars, did you hear about it? It must have been on the news or in the papers back then?"
"I heard." He lied. He knew nothing about that condeming trial up until arriving here.
"Where are you? Do you still live in Kanto?"
"Yes."
"I'd like to go back there someday."
"You should. You should come back with me."
Its quiet a moment. "Where are you right now?"
"Why do you keep asking that?"
A few huffs of laughter come over the phone before the line dies.
Shaken, he's glad he didn't blurt out his location. Who was that? Lowering the phone to the floor, he turns his head to check on L. He's still out cold. Reaching for his neck with index and middle finger he checks the man's vitals, a steady pulse greets his finger tips; relieved, Light stands up going over to the window to look out. The car is in tact; the road it seems is littered with those things only none of them are moving, they're just standing still like twisted freakish trees in concrete. Remembering the last time he was at the boathouse, Light walks to the back door to check if it were secure. If anything is living in the lake, let it stay there.
An hour passed, then a half. Restless, Light walks around the room checking this and looking at that; he removed his shirt tying it around L's bare lap like an apron, he was sure the man would want to keep some dignity between them- if he ever woke up. He found a notepad and pen in the drawer of the counter he'd shoved against the door, fingering them a moment, he takes them out walking them over to the bench. Having a seat on the floor, he places the pad against his bent knees; the journalist had intended to maybe doodle a little bit but instead he found himself writing, one page became two, two became four; Light scribbled things out and tore off sheets, only to write them over with different wording. Its very dark and dank in the building, but there's enough light for the man to see that he isn't running over his words and as for the dank smell, he hadn't even realized that he'd been holding his breath until now. He wrote for hours, not even realizing that the siren had stopped and morning was approaching. His eyelids grew heavy, the eyes themselves dry and strained from writing in the dark but around three he had finished what he was doing, dropping the pad to the floor letting it fall from his aching hands.
A low moan came from the man on the bench; Light turns on his side, expression curious. "L?" He catches his breath seeing the man's hand go up to his forehead to remove his dark bangs from out of his face. Looking down, he sees that L's feet are back in place as well, the blood on his neck remains, drying, but there is no slice there. Its almost as if nothing had ever happened to him at all. Was he in the other world before? If so, when had he gone to sleep? He really should set the alarm on his watch incase these weird sleep walking habits don't stop. In a town like this, its too dangerous.
"Light?"
"Are you ok?" Asks the male, grabbing a hold of the man's hand.
Noticing his surroundings he replies. "I'm fine, but, where are we?"
"The boathouse on Nathan." He scoots himself up to sit on the bench, placing a hand to L's back as the man sits upright.
L made a thoughtful sound before asking. "And what are we doing here?"
'If I tell him the truth, who knows what will come out of it. L may disappear forever.' Hearing what he'd just thought over, he thinks again. 'Isn't that the goal, though, to free him from his suffering- to free all of Silent Hill?' But when he looks at L, that bit of confusion on his handsome face, he can't bring himself to lose him just yet. This is his last day in this town before the reset, he should spend it contacting Near and figuring out how to get to Mikami, as for L...
"You don't remember what happened back at the apartment?"
L's thumb came up to his lips, eyes roll up to the ceiling as he thinks for a moment about the question. "I remember helping you out of the hall window... getting you to have dinner with me..." The next thought made the man smile. "We had sex... after that, I don't remember a thing. Why, what's happened?" He gasps.
Light grabbed the man's face in his hands, pressing their lips together, he kisses L in complete relief that the man is both alright and doesn't remember the horrible thing that his brother had done to him. The advertisor made an appreciative hum during the kiss, speaking when Light's lips move to his throat.
"Am I drunk?" He asked out of thinking it was weird that he didn't recall anything past having sex. That, or Light was just that good.
Light only laughed into the man's mouth, pressing forward so that L lays back on the bench. Moving on top of him, one leg set between the other mans, he let his relief guide his hips to grind into L's groin, groaning slightly when L responded by grinding back. Seeing that his only coverage was a flimsy shirt, his arousal pressed eagerly onto Light's hip, and he shudders like a small earthquake is happening inside of him when a tickling hand smooths its way up L's thigh, the thumb brushing gently against his member. The journalist lifts his hips a bit to set his hand to a better position, so he can latch onto the hot girth and give it some good strong strokes up and down. If the kiss weren't so dizzying L was sure his moan would have been audible from the burning feeling rushing through him from the direct attention to his sex.
L's hands scrape along Light's lower back, dipping just below the waistband of the man's pants. Moving one hand to the front of the jeans, he unfastens them to gain better access inside. Light groaned loudly into L's neck, muttering something in Japanese into the other man's mouth due to L's finger brushing a light trail between his cheeks, and his entrance receiving a little extra strength from the ghosting touch caused his back to arch and hips to rock back into the pressure but it was gone too soon. L is lifted onto Light's lap after the quickest adjustment to his pants is made so that his member is shortly exposed to the world before its steered right into the man's thin body. It amazed Light still that L had muscle mass of any kind considering how the man's frame looks when he's dressed, but underneath is an impressive package. One arm secured around Light's shoulders, the other scooped around the man's lower back, nails dug in deep; L wastes no time bobbing his hips up and down seeking deeper pleasure and getting what he desired and his body jerked suddenly when the surge of rolling fire rushed up his spine again and again at his will.
Light was reduced to a breathless mess; his erection getting the sweetest treatment from L's contracting walls. Loose to tight, loose to tight; it was getting hard to breathe in the dank smelling air that is pleasently being replaced with a rich musky scent of L's leaking head, none-the-less, his panting becomes more shallow and his mouth leaves the kiss in hopes of some air. But L's legs grappling him, closing him within them sent him over the edge taking the man with him as warmth radiated through his body. Their panting hard and heavy they catch their breaths, no words being said in the meantime.
"L, will you come with me?" Asks Light, hand moving through the man's dark hair as if he's trying to comb it with his fingers.
"I don't think I have a choice in the matter." He looks down at the shirt still tied around his waist.
Smiling, Light kisses him on the lips as an apology before freeing himself from the man's hold. "Here, you can take my shorts." He removes his jeans and boxers handing them over to L to wear with his shirt.
The advertisor begins arranging the clothes on his body watching Light, who's moving about the room. "Where are we going?"
"To the police station."
"Why?"
"Its safer there, and you can get some clothes."
"Why not just go back to the apartment?"
"Its not safe. I'd rather you sit with a friend of mine."
Finding that strange, L nods. "Light... I'm sorry about not telling you."
Turning his head at the memory those words held, he waits for the rest hoping that L won't start falling apart again. "About what?"
The man stands walking over to the window next to Light to look out into the empty street. "When I was younger, my brother used to" He thought for a better word and came up with. "be intimate with me."
Light's eye twitched hearing L's choice of wording. It wasn't like that at all. "It doesn't matter." He lied. "You're fine, aren't you?"
"More or less." L nods, glad that Light had taken it so well. Most people who knew have thrown stones. "I thought that I should tell you incase you were wondering about some things." He meant the lack of resistance.
"No. Its personal, private, you didn't have to tell me if you didn't want to." It wasn't as if L were waving it as a flag of some sort, he actually sounded pained by the admittance. "Remember when you asked me before, about how I felt about you?"
L nods recalling the sting of not getting an answer.
"Honestly, I think that I'm starting to fall for you; which is why I have to keep you safe."
"From what?"
Ignoring the question he starts to push the counter, getting help from L without asking or gesturing. "There's no time to explain, I just need to do something today then I'll be back on Monday. I promise."
"Alright."
The door is pulled open, all creatures have retreated with the night. He climbs into the front seat, L joins him in the car in the passangers side. As Light drove he kept glancing at L almost to make sure that he was still there. L kept quiet the entire trip into Central, his gaze out the window. Light wonders what he's thinking about while at the same time wonders what he himself is thinking by promising to return after the reset. Didn't he make a promise to himself that he would never return to Silent Hill for as long as he lived. Mello may enjoy the dangers of almost getting stuck here, but Light can't end up like Near. He just can't.
...
The car pulls up at the Central police station around 6:38 a.m. Light reaches across to the glove compartment popping it open to remove one of the two guns hidden within it. A glance at L he caught the male cocking a brow at the weapon.
"For protection." He explained.
"You've gotten paranoid staying here. You do know that."
"I'm not paranoid, you're just blind." He said remembering what Matt had told him about seeing nothing when he was being attacked that first day. "I'll be back, keep the doors locked."
L gave him a skeptical look before he closed the door. He hadn't been five steps passed the car when the passangers door opened. L stepped out giving himself a stretch. Light didn't look the least bit surprised by L's actions but heard himself saying.
"Didn't I say to stay in the car?"
"I know judo; do you think I'm an innocent who can't defend himself?"
Shoulders slumped, he pictures L trying to fend off monsters with fists and flying kicks. Sighing, he turns back to the car opening the passanger door to grab the other gun. "Here. Do you know how to use it?"
L has the handle of the gun pinched between his fingers giving it a quick study. "It doesn't seem too hard, just aim and pull the trigger." He aims and pretends to pull the trigger. "Pow."
Snickering Light shakes his head. If it weren't so damned cute, he'd take the gun back. The last thing he needs is to get shot from a miss-fire. Cautiously, he starts for the station. Beyond the slightly tinted windows he sees eratic movement but its at least from a single person. Looking around he checks the sky for the ashy snow, a ring catches his attention bringing it forward to where L just strolled into the police station. Defeated in his need for caution he calmly walks into the police station.
"Hey Light." Matt waves a hand. "What are you doing here so early?" After scratching his brownish red hair he corrects himself. "Scratch that, what are you doing here at all actually."
Light could sock the man after yesterday, but no, Mello should be his real target as Matt was so far gone he doubted he knew he was even in the room with them. "Matt, I need a favor from you."
"Okay, what?"
"I need you to watch L for me." He nods over to where said man is looking at Wanted posters.
"Excuse me?" He didn't so much turn himself around but his head crooked back to look over his shoulder. "I don't need a babysitter."
"I didn't say that. All I want is for you to stay put while I take care of some things today."
"And how long is it that I'm supposed to "stay put"?"
Light can hear the air quotes around his words, watching as L comes over to them. "I don't know, hopefully not long." He can't meet L's dark gaze, choosing to look at Matt instead. "Do you know where Mello is right now?"
"Probably Cafe Mist."
"I know where that is." He recalls it from when L took him for breakfast the morning he'd almost drowned.
"Will you answer me this time? Why do I need to stay here?"
"Because, I don't want you to be alone!" He hadn't meant to shout but he hates when people don't listen. Patience was never his strong suite in the longer run of things he could brush off, especially when it was for something important like this. Calming his tone, though, L hardly seemed fazed by it he says. "I just have to do something, one little thing and I'll be back. I want you to stay here because Matt will keep you company and he's a good guy."
"Its true. I am good company." He nods, beaming from the compliment.
L looks from Light to Matt then moves away from them to continue looking about the station.
"What's this all about? You give up on Mikami, or something?" He looks over Light's shoulder. "He is good looking, though, you sure like guys with black hair don't you. Is that your type or something?"
Light grips Matt's shoulder to get him to focus on something useful. "Here. If I don't come back Monday, please give this to L- no time before." He whispers shoving a piece of folded up paper into the gamer's hand.
"O..kay." He stuffs it into his pocket. "But what are you gonna do in the meantime?"
"I can't tell you, its sort of an unsaid promise because of Mello. But, trust me, its important."
Nodding, he watches L moving about the room. "Listen, we're sorry for yesterday. We sort of thought that you were having a good time or something and Mello wanted to say goodbye to me and we went into the bedroom and by the time we were done, you were gone."
He was pissed at them for not watching his nearly conscious body; from what L told him he could have fallen to his death from the 3 story drop after jumping to the next building, but he could understand their reason as he did a little of that of his own an hour ago. Mello must be a wreck, being in love with someone who isn't a someone anymore and lives in such a dangerous place. One slip-up and its over for you, but in the end you can stay by their side rather than having to go back and forth. Shaking away those sorts of thoughts, he remembers his family back home in Kanto then heads for the door.
"You should wait around here, Mello is going to work today so he'll probably come by. I'd hurry if I were you, though, Mello never sticks around long on a Sunday." He snickers. "Can you believe he buys into the whole tourist attraction of" He wriggles his fingers menacingly. "The Anniversary drawing neeear." He laughs a little more this time. "Light, please don't tell me that you let Mello's paranoia get to you?" He asks looking down at the gun clutched in the journalist's hand.
"He has." L chimes in from the next room.
"I'm not paranoid. I have to go." He walks over to L who's exiting the room. Giving him the briefest kiss, he then turns his attention back to Matt. "Can you find something for him to put on?"
The gamer nods. "Uumm, wouldn't you like a shirt or something too?" He points to the man's bare chest.
Light had forgotten all about that; what a sight he and L must be together. Walking back into the room he waits a moment for Matt to return. Taking the offered black shirt with a S.H.P.D crest on it. L removed the sullied shirt Light had given him, slipping into a pair of sweat pants and the other police shirt Matt brought out. Thanking the gamer Light hurries to the door, side stepping a cop that's coming in. Glad to see that the city is waking up, he climbs into his car wondering where the garbage truck might come in from so that he can flag the blond down. Looking back toward the station he isn't surprised to see a little glowing square get passed off to L from Matt showing off his handheld. That should keep him from wandering too much. He never understood some videogames, though, in his younger years he did own quite a few but those were mostly sports games never anything long. After an hour and fiftteen mintutes of waiting he spots the truck heading toward the bridge. Starting the car he follows closely after him, hoping the man has at least a little White Claudia on him if he has enough balls to smoke the stuff normally. How can he take going to that other world, does it give him some sick kind of rush? Maybe he's just trigger happy and likes the challange. Or maybe a part of him wants to end Matt's suffering but he chickens out each time.
It wasn't until they hit Bachman that Mello pulled the truck to a stop. Looking out the window he seemed to roll his eyes before exiting the car; blue jump suit looking like loose skin on his thin frame. "What is it now? I helped you out, so get lost."
"Be lucky I don't put a bullet in your head!" Light snaps exiting his car as well. "Do you realize that I jumped out of a window to the next building? If L hadn't seen me I could have fallen to my death."
"How is it my fault that you started moving? I tied you down."
"No, you tied me up. And seeing how that turned out, I'm lucky you didn't tie me down because I could have died right there when the ceiling came down into the burning room I woke up in."
Mello's teal eyes widen in shock. "You... saw the fire? Where's Matt?" His tone is concerned and worried that Light had done something stupid. He knows Matt grew up in this town, he was only supposed to be looking for Mikami.
"At the station in Central, he's with L."
The tension leaves him. "So then what do you want? Didn't you find Mikami?"
"I did, but I couldn't talk to him. I came back here to speak with Near and see if he can tell me what I did wrong." He looks down the road to where Levin street is. "Do you have any White Claudia on you?"
"Yeah." He looks light over suspiciously. "Why do you need it?"
"I need to go back." He starts for his car. "This time I will free Mikami of this place, but I need your help getting to the otherside again."
Mello stared after Light's retreating back, then with a roll of his eyes he says a hefty. "Fine. But this is the last time." Walking back to his truck he waits for Light to lead the way to Near's place and follows.
...
"Mistake number one was getting tied up. Mello was it? You could have gotten Light killed by that stupid mistake, but then you didn't really know so it really isn't your fault." He takes a seat on the couch, hand reaching to start up a fire engine that's on the coffee table.
"Who are you calling stupid?" Barks the blond watching the child play with his toy as if he's the only one in the room.
"The mistake." Says Near. "Do you consider yourself a mistake, Mello?" He asks calmly.
Light couldn't help but hide a snicker at the comment. From anyone else it would have come off as an insult, but from Near it just sounded as if he were talking to no one in particular.
Mello grit his teeth, fist balled.
"Did you manage to talk to Mikami?" Near focuses now on Light, seeing as how he'd won round one.
"No. I did see him, though, the place where he died- its in the tower at the bridge."
"Hmm." He intones thoughtfully.
"So, what was the problem."
Near is quiet a moment, then replies. "It seems that Mikami is bound in two places. Here and where you sent him after he'd missed the reset in those three months he was with you in Kanto."
'So he was the one that started the rift between here and there.' Thinks Mello glaring at Light for making his life a living hell with the world growing darker and darker. The time within here and there shortening with each snow fall. Pretty soon the whole damn place will be nothing but a moving cemetery- well, of the worst kind. Seeing them as people will no longer be possible, there will be nothing but chared human's walking the earth, or those creepy headless things in the outskirts. He never understood what went on there and he didn't want to know. Having to clean up dead bodies that appear in trash cans after this Near person frees the soul from this place was enough to keep him busy for months and years. He had always wondered how it were possible for these bodies to show up. Now he knows, but honestly he never expected this kid. He'd seen flyers before about how the people should speak with him, but he just figured the flyers were some sort of reflection of the kids innerself- people wanna look good right? Mello had to mentally slap himself for complimenting the kids looks, his gaze snapping away when he caught Near watching him.
Smirking, the albino child then turns his attention back to Light. "We'll have to recover where his soul drifted to in order to get him back on the right course, once we do that you can speak freely to him, I don't need to tell you about the urgency in the matter. Only say what needs to be said, don't expand your time with him longer than it needs to be."
"I won't." He said, though, inside he felt unsure. He didn't know who the hell he was on the phone with but it left his insides stirring.
Digging into the pocket of his jumpsuit, Mello holds out a white stick to the child. "Here. Its the only one I have so you'd better do this right."
"Thanks. But I won't be needing that. I can get there on my own, and I'll be taking Mr. Yagami with me."
Cocking a brow, Light parts his lips to speak but it seemed that Near was already ahead of him in thought.
"The reason I sent you to them is so that you could take care of the matter on your own; as I told you when we'd spoken before you and I share a gift for seeing spirits, only difference is that we can communicate with them whereas others can't. You, Light Yagami, are a novice and can't manipulate the worlds as I can so I have to help you. The reason I didn't do so in the first place is because I've never tried it with another person before and it may not have worked."
"Its fine and I'm ready to go whenever you can take us there."
Listening quietly, Mello takes that as his insentive to go. "If that's settled then I'm-..."
"No." Near says tightly. "You have to stay here. Mr. Watari, my aid, is gone for the day and I need you to watch our bodies while we're on the otherside. If we look too banged up, you'll have to wake us up manually if I can't find a way to pull out."
The two sit in a dead locked gaze. It was Mello to break contact first, walking over to an arm chair he lounges in it as if it were his own; one leg draped over the arm of the chair, the other leg to the floor, leaving him to look shamelessly splayed out for sex or something close to it. "Just see that he does it this time. Yagami seems as bright as a wet sheet of paper."
"To give paper any intellengence at all leaves your own questionable." Standing from his seat, he stands before Light.
The journalist caught his breath when the child's hands come up to his temples.
"Put your arms around me."
Doing as he's told he wonders out loud. "Will this help?" He felt weird holding onto an eighteen year old that looks like a fourteen year old.
"No. But I don't wanna hit the floor when we cross over." His dark grey eyes close and he breathes in deeply taking in Light's scent of sex, and natural body odor. When his senses and mind are swimming, he can feel his spirit pushing forward from his body.
Mello watches, mouth parted in shock seeing a white mist leave the childs form going into Light's body. How can this be real? If he didn't see half the things he's seen being here, he never would have allowed himself to believe this. When Near's body slammed into Light's both men remain clutched in each others arms, slumped on the couch. It looked like an uncomfortable angle and he wondered about moving them. He needed only to lift Light's leg to lay across the couch anyway and got up to do so, with a grunt he moves the man's legs to rest along the length of the couch, the young boy's body moved right along with the action. He looked like a father sleeping with his child in his arms. He takes his place back on the armchair, candy bar pulled from his pocket to be eaten as he waits. He only hoped this little trip didn't take long.
** ** **
Light's eyes scrunch before opening. Looking around a room colored in the moon's blue he sees that he's in the apartment and alone. Sitting up of his own will he lets out a relieved breath but when he tries to stand the room spins dropping him back onto the bed, a hand holding the side of his head.
"Light, where are you?"
Near sounded weird when his voice is semi-shouting. It sounds as if he's in L's apartment. "Near, I'm in here- across the hall." He calls back.
Foot steps are heard in the main room of the apartment before the bedroom door opens. The male seemed happy to see him as he walks over to the bed.
"I feel like my mind is swimming in paste."
"It passes. Until then, stay close to me," He takes Light's hand. "I can't have you leaving before we get anywhere with this." He starts for the door.
Curious, Light asks. "Near, are you in L's spirit?"
"I'm in no one's spirit, neither are you- that's how the gift works." He looks around in the main room, his dark gaze casting over to this shadow and that as if looking for something. "I think the only reason I ended up at this 'L' person's place is because I smelled him on you before bringing us here."
Light looked hot with guilt but Near let out an annoyed sigh. "I'm not judging you, Light, feelings are fickle, do whatever you want with them. My only concern is the issue at hand."
They start for the exit to the hall; hands still clasped.
"You've encountered Pyramid Head more than me, have you found any weaknesses to help us get rid of him?"
Light thinks for a moment. "It isn't exactly easy to look for weaknesses on a person who's trying to kill you." He then adds. "I did manage to pull one of his eyes out, though."
"Then bullets will work on him. Where's the gun you were carrying when we came here?"
"Still in the bedroom." He figures when he feels that his free hand isn't holding it. "I'll get it, my headache seems to be leaving, anyhow." Releasing the boy's hand he starts across the room.
He heard a strange sort of groan or creak before having to fall back onto his butt from the large sword coming up through the floor in front of him. Quickly, Light scoots away before the thing came slamming down over his head to split him down the middle and it instead sliced through the floor. Near watched, bewildered at the scene, as the sword came up again and again anywhere Light seemed to move. Pyramid Head must be in the apartment below them!
"Light sit still, he can hear where you're moving to!" He calls to the man who's trying his hardest to escape the deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
"Easier said than done!" He slams his back against the wall, finally managing to stand up.
The sword came up one last time before the onslaught stilled. A weird sound like snorting caught their ears then. The sword came up three times in random places, once before Near, who turned his head shuddering in elated fear that the man retracted the sword rather than taking a slice with it. The clogged sniffing sounds again then quiets completely.
"Is he gone?" Near asks; breathing a little heavier then he would have liked for it to be.
"I doubt it. He may be looking for the apartment we're in. Near-.." He calls after the boy when he darts across the room towards the kitchen. "What are you doing?" He asks when he hears a drawer sliding open on its track.
"You can't be the only one with a weapon; its up to both of us to kill him."
"No, you should stay hidden somewhere. You're better at this than I am, you can still save Mikami for me."
"I didn't come here to stop existing, Light, I came to help you free another victim of this place. What makes you think that if you were to die that I could handle this on my own?" He walks out of the kitchen holding the largest knife he could find in the drawer. "We're in this together."
Their heads whip towards the door.
"That's him. Hide in the closet."
"I already said that-.."
"I'm not telling you to stay out of it, I just think it would be easier for you to sneak up on him then to directly assalt him." He mentions while nodding at the gun in his hand. "Now hurry!"
Skeptical, Near crosses the room, hiding in the coat closet; the door remains cracked so that he can watch for an opportunity to strike. He's never been one to submit to many emotions so he wasn't about to start now. He can't let himself be afraid; the unpredictability of where fires will start, or flaming projectiles will land was a high enough risk, but most of those were residual and easy to avoid after he's been enough times. B is an intellegent haunting doing as he wishes with whatever or whomever comes his way. But that's no excuse, fear will only make him slow and careless. He and Light can do this. Readjusting his grip on the knife, he quiets his breathing.
The door slamming in caused both men to jump our of their skin from start. Light points the gun at the door waiting for the man to come in; B is slow with that sword in his hand, getting a good shot in should be no problem. But his plans take an unexpected turn as he falls hard onto his side to avoid the large weapon that came whizzing into the room like an arrow; it stabbed into the wall going two feet through before it held there. As B trudged into the room, a battle howl shrieked from his lump covered mouth. Light planned to open fire right then but another unexpected turn came as Mikami emerged from his bedroom; an ax in hand, he swings it through the air right into the madman's neck. Light recalls the dream he had when he'd first stayed in the apartment; Mikami did exactly the same thing he had then. Did he come across the man and attempt to kill him as well? What happened that he didn't? Mikami vanished in a clap of smoke, as if he were nothing more than a mirage. Recovering from his muddled state, Light aims the gun from where he is on the floor. The shot fired off, the bullet landing in B's chest causing him to stagger back a step but he pressed forward towards him.
Taking three more shots, Light gets up from the floor when Pyramid Head drops to his bleeding knee. It didn't detain him for long, though. His hand grips the handle of his sword and in one swift jerk he pulls it from the wall. Near watches for a chance, presuming that when B goes to work his large weapon he can strike then, but B whipped the thing gracefully, it looked no heavier than if he were to swing his own arm through the air. But the damage its doing is definitely not that of a hand slapping about and everything touched is being easily crushed or sliced in two. He's practically bringing down the entire apartment! All Light can do is dodge, no clear shots are left open for him.
Near heard the groan before Light, and ran from the closet for the door. "Light, the floor!" He calls in to him.
Light didn't need it any clearer than that as he hurries towards the hall, but its a little too late as the floor caves in taking him and B with it. The two of them lay in the broken rubble and dust. Light was the first to recover but when he tries to move he cries out in pain. Pulling a nail from his arm by yanking the board its stuck to away from him, he holds his hand to the hole to keep the bleeding to a minimum. Looking up through the hole at the floor he'd fallen from, he sees that Near is gone. A few pained whimpers come from him as his pained legs try to stand.
"Ugh!" His head slams back onto the broken pile covering the floor from a punch he'd just received. Light can feel B's weight drop down over his body as he straddles his hips, the man's hands wrap firmly around his neck. Just when Light thinks that he's going to be strangled to death, one hand lets go and starts to pull at his face beneath his eye!
"Eeeeye fooor eeeye." Growls the man; the tip of his tumor touching Light's chin due to the length of it.
Light let out a desparate scream when the man's fingernail caught under his eye.
...
Mello is staring in horror at the blood staining Light's arm, he's even more shocked by the tear of blood running down from the man's closed left eye. He reached out to shake them, wake them up. After all he had agreed to watch them, but maybe they were handling things but its a little rough and tumble right now. Last thing he wanted was more lip from the brat and angst from the grieving journalist. Better to just leave them alone.
Light bucked and struggled to get free, his head tossing left and right to keep the man from pulling his eye from its socket. He heard the foot steps before Pyramid Head and squeezed his eyes shut when a large boil was plunged clean through by the knife Near weilded, having it burst open. Blood and puss sprayed over both of them, moreso when Near moved the knife in a zig-zag to cause further injury until he was bashed away; knocking into the wall, the younger male coiled in on himself. Ducking his head when B came over and jerked him to his feet by the front of his shirt. He waited for further pain to come but the male seemed only to stare at him. His eyes raised before his dipped head came up to meet the man's, or whatever's, gaze directly. B's body began to shake, Near's shirt released dropping him to the floor. He tried to run but he's slammed into the wall with a hand to his forehead to pin him there. The tumor around B's head slowly receeded back into his brain revealing the man he was before darkness engulfed him.
"L." He whispered while pressing himself into Near.
The teen shook his head at what the man said, left surprised when B's arms wrap around him bringing him to his knees with him. What the hell was going on? Is he having an episode? Light watched in the distance, knowing exactly what was going on. He had always thought that Near and L's dead gaze was similar and in the darkness, all covered in blood Near's hair honestly does look black. B must see his brother in the male.
"Y-..yes B, i-..its me." Mutters Near more in confusion than fear.
The man laughed manically. "I thought you had died. I thought that I killed you but... you're here."
Light's eyes flashed hearing the man's laughter. It was the same as the one he'd heard over the phone when he thought he was talking to Mikami.
"Let's go home, B." Near continued to lie, though, in truth he sounded nothing like L. He lacked L's wonder and mock, Near was simply deadpan.
The creature nods before standing. With Near out of the way, it gave Light the perfect chance for the perfect shot and with the gun to the back of the man's head, he fired. The scream could have shook the building as B's right eye was blown out from the back. Near cried out as well, dropping down to the floor holding his leg. Light had no time to tend to the boy's wound, he had to finish the blind killer off. B staggered away from Near, again stun making him dig in the hole within his head and the tumor started to return in slow pulsating growths. But Light wasn't about to let the man's strength return and with every ounce of energy he had left he charged at him shoving him with his shoulder knocking him through the window. Hearing the grunts of pain, Light hurries to Near's side.
"Are you alright?"
"The bullet grazed my leg, I don't think I can walk on it. Nevermind me, though, check to see if he's dead. Hurry!"
Going over to the window, almost losing his footing from the loose floorboards, Light looks down at the street. He expected the man to be gone, to already be on his way back up to the apartment, but there he lay. Beyond Birthday... Dineas Elliot... dying in the street, head split open in the back and spine busted keeping his limbs from moving even if he wanted them too. And after two hard breaths, the man smiled and lay still.
...
Light has Near piggybacked to help him move around faster. They're in the hall of the apartment building wondering how to get to old town sooner than later. Its dark outside, that much they know, but the time is off everywhere anyhow so its hard to say exactly when the accident will truly happen.
"One of these doors should take us to old town, or close enough to it." Near says over his shoulder.
"That's impossible." Light starts for the elevator.
"No. Where we are is considered 'nowhere'. This isn't like going to the other world with the White Claudia, I've brought us here on spiritual energy coming from everywhere, which makes the air nothing but large portals. Do you understand?"
"I can... Whereas with the herb I'm brought to this world as it exist, but with your gift its the entire world we're in rather than a borrowed energy from a soul."
"You catch on quick, Light." Looking around the hall, he points to a door. "Let's try that one over there. We have to hurry from the apartment, we may have helped Mikami escape, but B isn't really gone, as long as there's someone that fears him, he'll only keep coming back."
"Okay.." He starts toward apartment 202 but pauses. His gaze catches sight of a pale blur heading into 204. It looked... it looked like Mikami. "Did you see that?"
Looking around, Near shakes his head.
"We should go this way, it may sound weird but, I think I just saw Mikami go in." He's walking two doors down. "He may be trying to guide us."
It didn't seem impossible, strange, but not impossible. Light and Mikami have some sort of connection, and it must be projecting even without the deceased man having any knowledge of it. Light opens the door. It looked like a regular apartment room, that is until he stepped through it. The room was moving suddenly, and there was music playing. No they're not in a room they're...
"We're at the amusement park." Near looks around them as the merry-go-round turned them in a full circle on repeat.
"How can we be...?" His words trail off when Near speaks again.
"The shifting worlds, Light. Nevermind that, though, do you see Mikami again?"
Looking around as far as his vision expands, but he saw no sign of the man. Walking forward, careful to step lively so that they wouldn't fall over from the spinning machine, he heads towards the stairs stepping down them swiftly. He didn't need to be told to keep a sharp eye out for Mikami, he was just glad that the machines and signs and things lit the place up. The darkness in the apartment was concerning and frightening, way to easy for something horrible to hide away in. But here, he can see everything, which is how he saw.
"What are those?"
"They're the victims who died here. Unlike with the herb, they're seen as they are on this side- avoid them, Light" There's sudden panic in Near's tone. "these souls have the ability to posses you and its nearly impossible not to follow them to their death."
"Right."
Light moves quickly but carefully through the invisible mob, it was hard for him to simply sprint to the next ride for a bit of safety due to the fact that one minute he would be walking a clear path then one would simply appear out of nowhere in front of them. A loud whiff cut through the air right before an explosive boom.
"Its starting." Near looks into the sky.
Screams are heard all around them, man, woman, and child; the dark mist began running about frantically. Light watches his steps but one of the people ran through him, regardless. The feeling was cold, fearful, and staggering. He almost fell to his knees from the pain and fear running through him, but Near's voice snapped him out of it.
"Light, let's move! Its not safe here."
More explosions rack through the sky above them, some large pieces scatter about the area breaking the machines and cracking small holes in the ground.
"I have to find my son first! He went to the restroom..."
Near cocked a thin brow, then dug his finger into the small hole in the journalist's arm.
"Aaaa!" The physical pain cut through any haunt that possessed his body, and with urgency he stands rushing off. "Keep your finger in my arm! I'm gonna cut through." He cried out again as the teen's finger dug a little further. But he withheld the rest of his pained yells. Making his ways around the park, watching out only for the large burning pieces of metal or concrete, he managed to get onto a booth by the ferris wheel. Looking out over the, due to the damage its taking, slowly darkening park. "Over there!" He points before running off in the direction of a machine with flying elephants. It wasn't easy to see the holes being made in the ground but luckily they made it over without Light stumbling too much. Climbing the four stairs he opens the little gate onto the ride and the two have a drop painfully to the ground.
Gritting his teeth, he reaches behind him shoving Near off of his back. "You can stop poking me now." He applies pressure to his wounded arm. Looking around he asks. "Where are we?"
A loud boom sounds from overhead.
"I think we're in the sewers." He replies after taking a deep whiff. Feeling the ground shake; sounds of crumpling bits of rock following, Near stands up only to kneel back down. He had no idea getting shot hurt so much- even from a graze!
"Are you alright? You're leg is still bothering you?"
"Yes. But it's not important right now, besides, I'll only feel it when I'm here, once we get back the pain will be gone."
It didn't exactly make Light feel any better about it, but he nods. "I'm sorry that I shot you."
"It was an accident from the bullet exiting Pyramid Head, its not a big deal."
"It doesn't mean I don't feel guilty over it." He reaches out tousling the kids hair like he was his younger sister. "Near, can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead. But talk as we move, we don't wanna get crushed down here." Standing, he leans heavily against a wall. Muck and dampness greet his palm. Making a face of distaste, he starts forward.
"Here, I can still carry you." Standing in front of Near he crouches down. "Come on. I really don't mind."
Climbing back onto Light's back he rest his cheek against Light's shoulder. Being here with two people really is taking a lot out of him, he's more tired then he would have given thought to. "So what is it that you wanted to know?"
"Its... you know how my keeping Mikami from being here caused a crack in this place?" He could feel Near nod, his cheek brushing his shoulder. "Well, I was wondering if it would be the same if I took someone out."
"You mean this L person you've grown fond of."
"...Yeah."
"You could remove him, but can you live with a ghost, Light? Live with someone who doesn't know they're dead, someone who will be virtually invisible to nearly all the world? Do you really think he could handle a life of solitude with you?"
"L's had it hard growing up, he was invisible anyway unless someone was insulting him because of his brother. I don't think that L would mind at all."
"Hm." Near could only smirk at the man's resolve. "You're strange, Light Yagami. I've never met anyone like you before."
"How so?"
"You generally care about someone even when you're using them, its strange."
Light didn't believe that to be true, but then Near has only known what he's shown to him so he can see how the profit would come to that state of mind. "So is there a way?"
"Yes. You have to find L's soul and get possessed by him, once you've accomplished that you can walk out of here and he'll go right along with you."
"Its that simple?"
"If by 'simple' you mean to tell me that you can override all of L's thoughts and feelings to live as you are now, while having his soul bound to you, than yes," He shifts a bit during a turn around a corner. "it is that simple."
"All of L, I have to consume."
"Yes."
Light thinks quietly as they make their way to a patch of light coming from what they hope is a manhole. "I can do it, that's what a relationship is based on, right? Just tell me how."
"Later, once we get out of here."
"Okay."
"May I ask you a question, Light?" He asks when seeing a nod. "How can you love a ghost?"
"Honestly, I don't look at him as a ghost. I can see him, and touch him; L makes me smile. I wouldn't care if I imagined him, I think I'd love him either way." After a thought he adds. "Even if, as you say, emotions are fickle. As long as it isn't in the same period of time, you can love as many people as you like." Looking up at the lights overhead that cut in and out, he kneels down. "Can you climb? I'll be behind you if you feel yourself falling, but try to make it out quickly if you can so the injury doesn't get worse."
"You don't have to tell me that." He starts up the cold metal ladder, allowing his injured leg to lag a bit in stepping up the rung.
Light comes up behind him. The two brace themselves steady when a rumble shakes the ground above them. When the ground steadies, Light climbs a bit higher up to shove at the manhole cover. Pushing it aside he waits for Near to climb out then joins him on the street of old town.
"Damn it." He mutters.
"What is it?"
"The house has already collapsed, Mikami is on his way to the tower." Waiting for Near to climb onto his back he starts off for the bridge, hoping the fastest route there hasn't caved in yet. Light is winded shortly, breaths coming in and out hard and steady.
"If I'm slowing you down then leave me here, I'll be fine."
"No. I'm fine carrying you; I'm just pushing myself because we're running out of time." Feeling that his breaths are caught, he starts off again. It was almost as if his senses have been down-sized being here this way, unlike his borrowing a soul to come where every scent of ash and burned skin suffocated his lungs. He really needs to learn that hot-wire trick of Matt's, this trip would have gone a lot better.
By the time Light reached the bridge his entire body was on fire with raw nerves on the verge of breaking down from being pushed too hard.
"The rest is up to you, you only need to talk to him and he'll listen." Letting his body slip from Light's hold, Near grabs onto the railing for support.
Light races up the stairs of the tower, pulling the door open quickly. "Mikami!"
Turning his head the man looks shocked and confused. "Light... what are you doing here?"
Panting, Light crosses the short distance pulling Mikami into his arms. It felt so good to hold him again he was almost in tears but instead starts to laugh.
Smiling, he holds Light back. "I'm happy to see you too, but now isn't the time for a happy reunion, the town, maybe even the whole city is about to go up in flames." He turns the key to lower the bridge. "We have to get out of here."
Shaking his head, Light keeps his hold on the man, shrinking to the floor. "You don't have to worry about anything anymore."
"What are you talking about?" His voice is growing nervous hearing how close the landing sites are getting to where he is. "Didn't you see what was going on, something is causing explosions and-..."
"Ssshhh." He strokes the back of the man's head. "Listen to me... do you remember when the two of us were together?"
"Yes."
"Do you remember having these weird moments where you would feel like you needed to be somewhere else?"
Mikami thought it over, though, it was hard to concentrate with all the chaos blowing up around them. "I think so."
"The reason you were so restless, the reason that you had to come back here is because you're..." He sighs in frustration. There has to be an easier way to go about telling someone that they're dead. "Mikami... I can't find a lesser way to say this other than to just tell you but..."
Near watches the tower on pins and needles. 'Come on, Light. I told you not to hesitate.'
Eyes wide in disbelief, the lawyer shakes his head. "I'm... I'm dead... but how? I feel fine... I..." He trails off in thoughtful disbelief.
Light nods slowly. "You died here, years ago, before you and I met... you died while trying to save all these people."
"But how is that possible? None of this has happened before- you're insane!"
"I wish there was a better explanation to how it all works but... you're duty to this place, this recycled hell, is over." He can hear Near calling to him. "Mikami... I don't know how you managed to be with me but we were together and those were some of the best days of my life. It isn't any easier for me to say goodbye to you then it is for you to understand that you're gone." He looks at the man as if to memorize his face. "Please believe me." He touches the man's cheek gently.
"But I don't wanna die." Mikami begins to tear up; his chest puffing in and out rapidly from dry sobs. "I don't wanna die!" He shouts in hysterics.
Wrapping his arms around the man, he pulls him into his chest. "It won't hurt, I promise." Though he has no guaruntee of that statement he has to believe it.
"Come with me- come with me! We can go together!" He tries to move from Light's grasp but he remains pinned.
"I can't go with you, but I can take you with me, Mikami... I can remember you."
He can feel the man nodding into his chest, muffled sniffles sound now and then.
"Light, let's go!" Shouts Near.
"Please remember me."
"I will. Always." Light nods.
Mikami swallows hard when his body starts to feel lighter; he can see a bright Light surrounding him. Light can too, though his is more orange then white.
"Light!" Near practically screamed.
...
Three months later...
A black car pulls into Old Town Silent Hill. A blond man and woman climb out. Map in her husbands hand, he looks around.
"I thought this was a resort place?" He says, folding up the map.
"Maybe we're in the wrong place. I told you to ask for directions in the city." Says the woman.
"Wedi, please, not now. Christopher is tired, and we should just go back the other way and find a hotel to spend the night. We'll find the amusement park in the morning." He taps his hand on top of the car when his wife rolls her eyes. "We've got all week, so I can get lost if I want to. Get in the car."
"I'm gonna ask the man who owns the store which is area is closest, so that this doesn't happen tomorrow. Wait here." She takes four steps towards the convenience store stopping when a man walks out. "Oh nevermind, I'll ask him. Excuse me, sir?"
Light walks out of the convenience store and straight for the families car.
"Hey!" Calls the father.
Light reaches into the glove compartment for a red marker to mark a location on his map. He had just gotten into town and already he's lost. What luck. Scooting over to the drivers seat, he starts the car.
"Do you hear me buddy! Get out of my car!" The man shouts reaching for the deaf male's shoulder to pull him out.
But the car starts up and drives off down the street. Only thing was, it wasn't their car they saw leave and its still sitting right where they had parked it.
"What in the world!" Wedi nearly faints seeing the car disappear.
Light had found Mikami and spoke to him, he was even awakened from his unconscious state by the albino and Mello. He was happy that he'd gotten to see Mikami one last time, but as far as time went it was not on Light's or Mello's side as they two race from the home in attempts to make it out of town before the reset. In this case Light is lucky, now he can see Mikami every week as he's been sewn in to repeat the nightmare over and over again.