Finally, we're caught up again! Here we'll be taking a more serious tone, but rest assured, there is still plenty of silliness ahead. And, the question here is, are they truly talking about whales? There is this to consider and many other things to look for and interpret in this little chapter, such as the use of "light." No, not "Light"...but it just makes it that much more significant. Tell me what you think you've found. :)

And yes, this is a bit of a turning point...

Note: I wrote this while listening to the sound of gentle waves on the beach. I highly recommend doing so while reading to get a better hold on the mood of the piece.

I don't own Death Note.

December 10
Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales

Light fought to keep out the biting cold by hugging his coat closer to his body. Luckily, there wasn't much wind but that didn't stop his body from protesting. Exactly how many more holidays would involve him having to go out and face the elements? There they stood at the sea shore with a perfectly warm limousine sitting but fifty feet away. He stared at the ridiculous object in L's hands with contempt. Of all the stupid, impractical, pointless holidays…

"Light-kun," L's voice rang out, a bit quiet. The waves, though gentle, did not help with hearing the statement.

Light merely grumbled.

"Could you please put the petty fight from yesterday aside? If it really means that much, then by all means…" The detective glanced down at the little boat in his hands. "…I'm sorry. Now, can you take this seriously?"

Well…that was a first. Light blinked in surprise. Somehow, he doubted anyone in the history of the world had received an apology from L. He nodded dumbly.

"Good. Now, if you'll light this match…"

L handed over the match box to Light, who quickly rubbed it over the striker. The small flame of the match glowed in the darkness, their only source of illumination save the occasional sweep of the near-by lighthouse. Light moved the flame to the stout candle resting within the little white boat that L held.

Blowing out the match, Light commented, "Do explain, oh wise Ryuuzaki, why exactly we're doing this. And if you say, 'It's for ghost whales,' one more time, I swear to you…"

L looked to him with a clearly displeased expression.

"Well?"

Sighing, L sat down onto the cold, wet sand. His toes curled into it, having forgone wearing any shoes or coat. He'd insisted earlier to Watari that they'd be out for "only a few minutes," and L had won the argument, of course. Seeing as though the chain wouldn't allow him to make a run for the limousine, Light resigned to sitting down beside the dark-haired man.

It was strange how scenes would be illuminated, but only very fleetingly, by the lighthouse's beam. He almost found himself transfixed while watching things revealed in the inky darkness, soon finding his gaze upon L once more. His eyes seemed larger than ever in the dark of the night, looking out to some far-off place. Light could only see this for perhaps two seconds, but he did not continue to follow the moving beam. He could barely see an outline of him now with the weak flame of the candle, now set off to the side.

L's voice was even softer still, as if afraid to break some sort of fragile peace in the air. Light found himself focusing on hearing each wispy word. "Ever since the twelfth century, Japan has participated in whaling. Then, it was more of a spiritual association with those great marine creatures… However, techniques greatly improved in the seventeenth century, and thusly more whales were killed."

He could hear L shift his position. The light came around again and revealed an L with his knees drawn to his chest and his chin on his knees, still staring out to see with that unreadable expression. The waves climbed just a little bit closer, tickling at their feet.

Once the light passed, the detective resumed in his hushed tone. "Whaling groups assembled. Their methods allowed for several ships to close in on a whale. They would frighten the creature to a designated area by means of sound and an encircling method with twenty or more ships. Six trapped it with nets. Once fatigued from its struggle, harpoons were deployed and made easy work of it. They would use every part of the whale for products of all sorts…in Japan, that is."

Light frowned, imagining the scene. Whales, as big as they were, certainly would have had plenty of blood… The water would be stained for –

"Fast forward to 1954 and the School Lunch Act made whale meat included in compulsory education. Whale meat became a staple of the diet in Japan, and the overall population was higher than ever before. Incomprehensible numbers of whales were hunted to feed the growing country. It was what the people wanted…"

Light still listened with rapt fascination, drawn in by the odd sort of mysteriousness in L's voice. The light swept over the detective's form once more, but the enormous eyes of his were no longer set out to sea. They stared directly into Light own eyes, causing him to find himself frozen. Neither blinked but the darkness was quick to return.

"They did what they thought was necessary. Kill the whales for food, for a spiritual sort of connection…despite what it meant for the whales. But was it right, I wonder, to kill so many for a greater good?"

Light felt the comment sting within his chest. Was it still about whales at this point?

"Though, no matter how the situation is judged…" L was heard shuffling about and the candlelight moved farther and farther away from where they sat, the detective speaking again, "…we still have to send this boat out for those whales."

Light mutely watched as the boat was lowered to the gentle waters, wobbling slightly on the movement of its surface. Gently then it drifted away from them into the night, its flame still flickering as it went. Lost in the sight of the burning candle departing, Light was surprised to feel L's clammy hands grab for his arm and start to lead him back to the limousine.