Just like I promised, here's the next chapter. Enjoy and Happy Easter

As the Rain Falls

Instead of rain there had been snow. Pure, white snow. The cold air was rushing down my throat; the only warmth I had was that of L who I was holding close to me.

It had all happened so fast. One moment we had been in our cozy home with our parents and the next my mother told me to take L and leave immediately. And now we were outside in the snow; hiding. L remained silent, we both did. It wasn't until we heard gunshots that he started to cry. I remembered holding him even closer, trying to comfort him, knowing that it was useless.

"The bells..." I heard L murmur quietly to himself. I had no idea what he was thinking or what he was even talking about. All I could do was watch helplessly as my little brother's spirit was being crushed slowly and painfully.

Now the rain was pouring down on us mercilessly and I wanted to hold my brother close to me once more just as I had those many years ago. But I knew I had no right to. It had been about a half hour of waiting in the snow before Mr. Wammy, a family friend, had finally found us. Before we knew it, the two of us were in the orphanage Mr. Wammy founded and just five to seven years later I ran away: leaving my brother all alone. So I had no right to hold my brother now. I had left him for ten years. Ten years we had not seen one another and now I suddenly wanted to be involved in his life? What kind of older sister was I?

"The bells are unusually loud today," L said quietly. I started to panic. Bells, what was with this sudden talk of bells again? I stared at him, slightly afraid, as his dark, childlike eyes stared back at me and for a moment I thought I was staring at my nine-year-old brother again. "You know...I was never angry at you for leaving...and I'm not angry at you now." His talking was scaring me even more by the minute. He suspected something was going to happen to him soon, I was sure of it but there was nothing I could do to save my brother. His words sent a sudden pang of pain to my heart. I knew he had never been angry with me but I also knew that instead of anger I had caused him grief. Grief that he would never show anyone; he would always keep those feelings hidden for all eternity.

"I know," I said. I hoped the sound of the rain would drown out the sound of my throat choking as I said these words and I hoped the raindrops would hide my tears. Though I knew they did no such thing. L looked down at me, surprised, perhaps even slightly frightened, at the fact that his older sister was crying. He had never seen me cry before, I never allowed him to after our parents died. I would always cry after he was sound asleep because I had to be the strong one for him. But now I was the weak one. The one who was afraid of the death that could be approaching. Death had never been this close as it was now and we both knew it.

The next thing I knew, I felt my brother holding me closely. His clothes smelt sweet from the strawberry shortcake I had made him earlier in the day. I wanted to cry even harder, to bury my face in his soaked, white shirt but I was already pathetic. Instead, the tears that I had shed disappeared and I desperately tried to suppress the lump in my throat.

"Let's go inside Kerri," I heard L say.

I wasn't sure which was worse: the atmosphere outside in the rain or the atmosphere inside the ominous task force building. Either way I felt trapped, surrounded by an evil presence. I could sense the evil presence surrounding L as well and I attempted to protect him from it but to no avail. I noticed he continued to stare at me cautiously as though he were afraid I might cry again. He placed a towel lightly on my head, drying me gently as though I was the younger sibling. After a few moments, I took the towel from him, as I could not bear to watch him baby me in this way. If anyone was going to be babied, it was him.

"Ryuzaki, you don't need to worry about me," I said, "You're still soaking wet." L managed to give a small smile though I could tell it was difficult for him to do so. He then sat down on the steps. I soon followed his example and sat beside him as I began to dry his messy black hair. As soon as I had finish drying his hair, I wrapped my arms around him and held him closely. I couldn't help myself; I wanted him beside me in this time of darkness. He was the only family I had left and I was the only family he had left. We needed one another whether I liked it or not. He complied quietly and allowed me to continue holding him closely. I don't think L even remembers what our parents looked like. I don't think he remembers what our mother looked like. L closed his eyes for a moment and I supposed he was attempting to bring back the memories of our mother. Or perhaps he saw me as his mother. It did not matter to me what he saw me as because either way he was still my precious little brother no matter how old he was. I held him even tighter at the thought of losing him forever. And it was there that I decided if anything happens to my little brother, I will nail the son of a bitch who hurts him. Whoever touches a hair on my brother's head will die by my own hand. I swear to this.

Without warning, L escaped from my grip and began to act as though this event never happened. I understood; he was the greatest detective and he did not want to feel weak in any way or form. He was L, the symbol of justice and the symbol of justice had to be strong.

L took one more look at me before he began to walk towards the main room of the investigation headquarters. I followed closely behind, becoming his shadow. His disheveled figure walked towards its destination. Though hunched over, I could not help but to notice how much taller L was than me. I wondered when he had gotten so tall. Such little details now seemed to mean the world to me.

L opened the door, his wet bare feet sliding across the smooth surface. He swiftly crouched into his normal sitting position and stared at the monitors. A "W" in Old English font soon appeared on the multiple screens.

"Ryuzaki, what do you wish to do now?" Mr. Wammy asked on the other line. I noticed L glance at me before placing his thumb to his lip.

"Hmm...lately we have only been comparing the deaths of people by heart attacks compared to the requests of people on the Kira Hotline. We have had hardly any luck searching that way. Let us check to see the most recent deaths of people by any means and see how that compares to the requests on the Kira Hotline."

"Yes, understood," Mr. Wammy said and in a moment's time names of people were flashing across the different monitors. With the technology advances this building had, the results were up in minutes. Not to my surprise, every name requested in the Kira Hotline had now found a match.

"Wow that's amazing!" Matsuda exclaimed.

"But this means that--" Light's father was about to say.

"Yes, Kira can kill by other means other than a heart attack," L said. I looked over towards Light through the corner of my eye. His face showed a sign of excitement; he was glad that we had obtained this new information. However if he was Kira, why would he be so happy? My gaze quickly shifted towards Arashi. I noticed him writing something down. His palms were sweaty, his facial expression full of nervousness. He must have been planning something but what I had no clue. I then moved beside L's chair and watched as he enjoyed another dessert I had made for him. He even managed to smile at me, thanking me for his little treat.

It all happened so fast. One moment my brother was smiling at me and the next his body froze in place. The fork in his hand began to shake, his hand trembling. His face was pain stricken, as though he were desperately trying to suppress a pain that was quickly consuming him. He didn't speak; his dark eyes stared directly at me. Within moments, he was falling off his chair. Almost instinctively I lunged myself forward to catch him. I wanted him in my arms and my arms only. I stared down at him as he was now attempting to hide the pain he was suffering.

"L!" I attempted to yell but the lump in my throat would not allow me to. I wanted to tell him it was alright to show his pain that it was alright to show his pain in front of me. But all I could do was sit by his side until the waves of pain tore down his body. My eyes widened as his began to slowly close. I watched helplessly as I lost my little brother forever.

My eyes did not form tears. I merely lay there, motionless, numb. My mind could not comprehend what had happened. A sudden buzzing noise seemed to fill my mind. All I could tell my body to do was move L closer to me. I held him like a doll, stroking his black hair, still not understanding what had happened completely. And as I stayed by his side, I could not help but remember the distant memories of my past.

OoOoOoOo

I lay in bed, not being able to sleep. Though how could anyone get a good night's sleep after their parents had been murdered. This orphanage made matters worse. I did not want to be in this foreign place. I wanted to be home with my parents though I knew that was impossible.

"Kerri," I heard someone whine from the hallway. I reluctantly rose from my bed and looked towards the doorway. L was standing there, his eyes filled with tears.

"What's wrong L?" I whispered to him though I knew what was bothering him.

"I wet my bed," my little brother cried. Forcing myself to get out of bed, I went towards the dresser. My hands fumbled through the clothes finally finding an oversize shirt for him to wear in the meantime. I believe I was fifteen at the time. I remembered bending down in front of him, gently taking off his wet pajamas as he continued to stare down at me with tears still in his eyes. I left the wet pajamas on the floor and placed the shirt over his head. He immediately began rubbing his eyes so the tears would stop. I walked back towards my bed and lay back down. L followed my example and crawled into bed beside me. I placed the covers over the both of us as he nuzzled his head in my chest, crying silently to himself. I gently stroked his hair until he eventually fell asleep and I continued to stay close to him until eventually sleep overcame me.

OoOoOoOoOo

It was a warm summer night. I must have been about twenty as I was attempting to exit the Wammy House for good through the window in my room. I carried a small backpack with me with whatever money I could find. There was no way in hell I was going to be a world famous detective.

After our parents had died, we learned that they were part of an organization of detectives. At one point they had been known throughout the world only by the initial of their first name. Henry and Irene Lawliet their names were. Mr. Wammy informed my brother and me that they were murdered by one of the many enemies they had. And now I was meant to take on their legacy. I was meant to become a detective and carry on the family name of the Lawliets. But I refused. I was not going to live a life in fear. I wanted to be free to travel wherever I may please. I wanted to have children who wouldn't have to fear that their mother might one day be murdered. I was not going to be like my parents and leave their children behind to fend for themselves.

"Kerri?" I suddenly heard someone say from behind just as I was about to exit through the window. My heart skipped a beat. It took me a few moments to turn around though I was not surprised by who was there.

L must have been about fifteen then. His scrawny, pale figure stared at me completely confused. I simply smiled as though it were no big deal.

"Hey L, how's it going?" I said.

"Kerri...what are you doing?" L asked though I saw in his eyes that he had already put the pieces of the puzzle together. He just could not believe that I was truly trying to leave.

"L, you of all people know that I can't stay here. You know I've never had any interest in the detective field. That was always you. So I'm giving you my position as world famous detective," I said.

"But..." L tried to protest.

"Listen to me; you'll be a fine detective. I have the up most confidence in you," I said my voice unusually high as I tried to hide the true emotions that I was feeling. The guilt that was consuming my entire body as I stared at my brother knowing I was leaving him for possibly forever. I was going to leave him alone in the world without any other family and I would have no more family as well. I knew this but I did not care. I was too selfish to think of my brother's feelings first. I was too selfish; running away from the problem at hand. It made it even worse as I stared into L's eyes. He was completely lost.

L walked towards me and my heart beat faster with each step he took. This pain I was feeling for leaving my brother behind was becoming unbearable. By the time he reached me, my heart was pounding. L then placed his arms around me, holding me close to him for what I thought would be the last time. But I did not hug back.

"Take care of yourself Kerri," he said.

"You too L..." I said quietly, "be the world famous detective you're supposed to be." And with that, I broke away from his grip. He continued to stare at me as I then lowered myself down the Wammy House wall and towards my new life. I'll never forget the look on his face as I disappeared, forever vanishing from his life.

OoOoOoOoOo

These memories seem to pass by me quickly as I continued to hold L tightly. It seemed as though all of time came to a halt. It did not bother me that time had come to a complete stop. I did not want time to start again. I did not want to have to face the reality that L, my precious little brother, was dead.

I felt someone trying to take L out of my clutches. My mind was too numb to tell who was attempting to take L away from me but I would not let them. I continued to hold L tighter than ever before.

"Nori," I heard someone say through the buzzing that still filled my ears. I looked up, dumbfounded. I believe I saw Light's father standing in front of me and I realized that he must have been the one who tried to take L away from me. Very gently he attempted to pull L away from me once more. This time, however, my body allowed him to take L as my grip loosened. A part of me wanted to scream as my brother left my arms but I could not speak. I could not think; I could not do anything. I was still numb.

Many events took place afterwards that I can not remember. The only thing I remember is someone leading me to a couch. I remember sitting motionless as they took L to another room. I did not think about anything during that time. I simply sat there waiting.

I remember at one point Light's father came out of the room with Mr. Wammy. Both their faces were grim. They walked up towards me. I did not need to hear what they had to say. I already knew what news was to come.

"I'm sorry Nori but L is dead," Mr. Wammy informed him. I looked up at him, remembering the day he told me my parents had died. Now, he was telling me my brother had died. I simply stayed there motionless. I then rose from my seat, wobbling slightly, desperately trying to reach my room. Along the way, I noticed Arashi's shocked expression. He must have been shocked at my mental state. He probably never thought he could hurt someone this much by killing another human being. The guilty look on his face was more than apparent. I stared at him in utter disgust. Trembling, I made my way towards him. Without warning, I swept my hand across his face.

"Bastard!" I managed to yell. I felt the gaze of everyone in the room staring at me but I did not care. "You killed my brother, you son of a bitch!" I was prepared to kill him right then and there. I knew he was guilty. I knew it.

"Nori, please calm down," I heard Mr. Wammy say from behind. I could not hold it in any longer. Tears were finally escaping from my eyes, burning my skin as they ran down my face. I continued to struggle toward my room desperately wanting to escape from reality. By the time I reached my room I had no strength left. I fell on my knees to the floor and cried as hard as I could. I then weakly reached for a bottle of any type of alcohol and quickly began to swig the relieving substance.