Warning: Contains spoilers.
Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note, Inuyasha, or any of the characters from either.
AN:// Some mature language in here. You have been warned. Thought I'd give you all a little update, ya know?
For XXXAnneBoleynXXX, because your review made me grin and finish this chapter - thank you! 3
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The Inevitable
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"Oh my God, Kagome! That guy is a total fucking pervert!" Inuyasha caterwauled as they made way to Kagome's floor of the building. "I mean, did you see how he smiled at you? Ugh!"
Kagome grimaced. "That's just Ryuuzaki, and he's my friend. You didn't have to threaten him like that. Don't do it again."
"Who the hell said that you could boss me around? I'll do it again if he aims that creepy smile of his at you."
"I'm asking you not to! Don't you have any respect for my opinion anymore?" Kagome stomped her foot childishly. "Just because I've been away from your era for almost five years doesn't mean I've lost my edge. I'm still a miko with extraordinary spiritual powers, and I'm not an idiot."
"Whatever!" Inuyasha snapped and pressed his palm against tetsusaiga's handle. "But I'm serious, this place isn't safe for you anymore. What's with you hanging out with a murderer like that Light kid anyway."
"Homicidal or not, Light Yagami is still my friend, Inuyasha. How many people do we know who have killed others and are still good people? Hell, you're one yourself, or have you forgotten?"
"I know who the hell I am! And what I've done!"
"Like hell you do! Sit!" A loud bang sounded throughout the building, startling everyone else into dismay. For example, several floors below them, L and Light sat fuming in the main investigation room as the thud sounded overhead. The team wasn't feeling too spiffy either.
"That guy is completely annoying. He has no manners and no sense of propriety whatsoever," Light complained mildly, filing through some old papers for the case.
"I'm in complete agreement with you, Light," the super detective amended tonelessly, typing rather violently at his new keyboard. "His arrival has compromised our entire investigation and Kagome."
"What an arrogant ass."
"Fucking mongrel."
Light frowned and blinked at L. "Ryuuzaki? It's not often that you're complaints are more…well, graphic than mine. Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm actually feeling rather irritated," L answered shortly. "I'm in no mood to be worrying about this mess right now."
"So we should do something to rectify the situation."
L paused in his furious typing and turned in his chair to stare at Light skeptically, for once appreciating the fact that his best and only friend was indeed Kira. Kagome might have been his friend, but it was difficult to consider her one when their relationship was so obligatory anyway. Yes, Light was L's only TRUE friend, mass murderer or not.
"What sort of thing shall we do, Light?" the detective asked hopefully.
Light smirked evilly. "Let's break them up."
"I do not find that plan objectional," L said hastily. "How shall we proceed in splitting Inuyasha and Kagome apart?"
Light's smirk sharpened, not at all commenting on L's eagerness to separate said hanyou and miko. "Let's make them fight."
"Over what?"
Light grinned triumphantly, and L felt his heart shudder a little. Perhaps, he was letting himself get carried away…
"The question is 'over who?'"
"Who?" L repeated vehemently. He wasn't in the mood for games.
"Over you, Ryuuzaki. Over you."
L could not object to this plan either.
"Shit yeah! Ramen!" Inuyasha celebrated loudly as he tore enthusiastically through Kagome's kitchen cabinets. He then proceeded to argue with the microwave for a full fifteen minutes, before he succumbed to Kagome's wishes and let her show him how to properly operate the confusing machine.
It had been several hours since they had stumbled into Kagome's apartment, after which followed a surprising amount of cuddling from Inuyasha. He seemed to have grown bolder over the years. Kagome didn't try to resist. She couldn't, after all. She loved the idiot. Right? That train of thought was evading her. She was afraid of the answer.
As Kagome and Inuyasha settled into her sofa with two bowls of ramen, she flipped on the television and let Inuyasha coo in amazement at some phony soap opera that was playing. She nearly laughed when Ryuga Hideki took the screen, remembering that L had once told her he had used the pop idol's name as an alias to fool Light. Ah….L. The detective had been lingering over her thoughts since before Inuyasha had arrived. He seemed uncharacteristically cold today, which made marginal sense. After all, she had promised to help him catch Kira, but instead had compromised the entire investigation through Inuyasha's overbearing antics.
This was why she was more than a little surprised when there was a loud knock on her door. Not at all hesitant, she proceeded to let her visitors in, biting back a surprised expression when Light sauntered in with L in tow.
"I see you've reattached the handcuffs," she stated observationally. "Good call."
"It was necessary," L told her, waving a finger as Light glowered. "Light made some observations earlier that raised my suspicions a little. Despite all of this nonsense with your feudal boy toy, I have important work to do."
Kagome's eye twitched at the declaration. Did he just call Inuyasha my boy toy? And why are my problems nonsense, when he considers his ridiculous relationships completely sound. I practically saved your life, L!
"Ryuuzaki, you're being rude!" Light snapped, irritated. "Sorry, Kagome. He's been grouchy all day."
"It's okay," the priestess huffed. "I suppose he's just jealous that one of his friends isn't paying enough attention to him."
"I never said that you were my friend, Kagome."
"Don't be stupid, L. Of course, I am your friend."
"-Kagome!" L began to protest.
"Kagome!" Light said at the same time.
"Damn! Shut the hell up! I'm trying to watch the magic box!" Inuyasha growled from his place on the couch, then proceeded to slurp up some more Ramen. Kagome distinctly heard him mutter, "Damn human brats!"
"What did I do?" Kagome snapped at her companions, ignoring Inuyasha's grating tone. "Oh! I get it, I said Ryuuzaki's secret name, didn't I? What's so bad about that?"
"The building is compromised thanks to your little doggy friend!" Light growled. "You should have more respect for Ryuuzaki. All of a sudden, tall, dark, and irritating shows up, and then everything goes wrong. This isn't a Zoo, Kags! It's the headquarters for the Kira investigation!"
"Don't you think I know that!"
"What the fuck is that smell?"
Light jumped as Inuyasha popped up behind him, Ramen-less and with his nose working madly at the air. Then hanyou leaned closer to Light and took a good wiff of his shirt.
"Smells like a demon - no, a shinigami," Inuyasha commented dryly. "That's not a good smell either."
As Light's eyes widened, L pressed a finger against his own lips and smiled madly. "What an interesting turn of events, Light," the detective said smartly, quickly distracted from their original plan.
"God dammit, Ryuuzaki!" Light growled. "Focus on the task at hand."
"But if what he says is true, then I'd say your percentage is bound to rise by ten percent at least. How fascinating." Light shot L a warning look, before dragging the detective violently forward so that he could hiss into his ear. "Whether I am Kira or not is not the issue right now, Ryuuzaki! Inuyasha is!"
"I can hear you," Inuyasha growled angrily, but was brilliantly ignored.
"Sorry, Light." L apologized, biting down onto his thumb. "I'm being immature, I know."
Light sighed and tugged L forward. They came to stand in front of Inuyasha, blocking the hanyou from Kagome's view.
"Inuyasha," Light said darkly, "L has something to tell you. Something important."
L nodded and yanked his thumb from his mouth, shoving his hands in his pockets and giving the hanyou the most unnervingly blank expression that he could muster. "Kagome won't be leaving this building. So don't get any ideas."
"Hey-!" Kagome began to protest from behind them, but Inuyasha was quicker and louder than her.
"What the fuck are you saying you creep! Why can't she leave?!"
L inhaled sharply before admitting in his flattest, most monotonous tone, "Because Kagome is mine."
"WHAT?!" Kagome squealed, her jaw falling open as Inuyasha growled and flexed his claws threateningly.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" The disgruntled hanyou practically screamed.
"Ryuuzaki!" Kagome was flustered, her face red from embarrassment and shock. "What do you mean?!"
L shrugged and turned a little so he could smile at her. "You are a beautiful, intelligent young woman, Kagome, and you also possess an immense amount of power. You were also very kind to me, a stranger, when you had no need to be. I have determined that my feelings for you are romantic, rather than friendly. Kagome Higurashi, I love you."
Kagome deflated, her arms falling lax at her sides and her shoulders drooping. Her eyes were wide with astonishment, her mouth agape. Doesn't he know that I can't just-! She grimaced suddenly and straightened.
"I love Inuyasha," she affirmed.
"I think you are incorrect. You feel obliged to Inuyasha for protecting you for so long. The love you once possessed for him has dwindled, however. There may have been a time when you truly loved him, but now that is no longer true. Now I suspect that you have developed feelings for me." L smiled adorably and Kagome blushed. Then his little grin fell, and he said mournfully, "Though I suspect that Light may also like you."
Kagome turned her wide eyes on the teenager, who shrugged nonchalantly. "She's a good friend, but that's all. Besides, with Misa around, I couldn't like her if I wanted to. The crazy blonde is rather possessive of me."
"Now hold up just one damn minute!" Inuyasha suddenly said, tired of being ignored. "Kagome is mine!" Just to prove it, the hanyou jumped over their heads to land next to Kagome to wrap an arm around her middle and pull her tightly into his side. "I've waited for almost five years to see her again!"
Kagome flushed guiltily and looked at the floor. "Inuyasha…" she said in warning, suddenly recalling many unpleasant occurrences from her past. Her recollections of Kikyo and Inuyasha's little rendezvous were still fresh in her mind. She thought, If Kikyo were still alive, then Inuyasha would have left me to be with her. That was enough to make Kagome shudder.
L smiled at her distress, thought felt slightly guilty for it. "She seems uncertain."
"What?" Inuyasha frowned at the miko in his grasp. "Kagome?" She slowly lifted her head, so that she could look him in the eye, where his thoughts were suddenly reflected. The young woman sighed unhappily as a familiar sadness flickered through Inuyasha's golden orbs. He's remembering Kikyo. He'll always be thinking of her when he's with me. Always…
"I don't want to go back." Kagome suddenly said, and Inuyasha let go of her and stepped back, horror replacing his melancholy countenance.
Throat dry, he stuttered, "Y-you don't love him, do you?!"
Kagome slipped a glance at L, who smiled warmly. "I love you, Kagome. If my feelings are returned, then I'd be quite happy," the detective sighed.
Light frowned. L would be happy…that wouldn't be a good thing for Kira, right? He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. Why was everything always so complicated?
"Maybe," Kagome finally answered, recalling a familiar sensation in her stomach akin to fluttering. "I might. But Inuyasha, I don't know if I can be with you again. When you look at me, you're always sad. I don't want to be unhappy with the person I love. And at this point, I can't say that Ryuuzaki is wrong…"
"But what about the others?" Inuyasha rasped desperately. "What about them?"
Kagome smiled tiredly and shrugged. "I love them all, but I don't think I belong with them. Inuyasha, in the time beyond the well there is no place for me. I just don't fit."
"Like a random puzzle piece!" L declared idiotically, and Light rolled his eyes and slapped him warningly on the shoulder.
"Sometimes, I doubt that you are L," he growled under his breath.
L smirked. "Ah, but you know better than that now, don't you Kira?"
Light's brow furrowed. I am Kira. He glanced up at Inuyasha again, and titled his head to one side thoughtfully. I wonder if the Death Note works on hanyous.
"I'm not Kira," he suddenly breathed, tossing the idea aside. It would just make him look more suspicious. Probably.
"Either way," the detective mumbled. "We have quite a situation on our hands here."
They both turned to stare at Inuyasha, who was making up excuses 90 miles a minute just to get Kagome to change her mind. Meanwhile, the miko stared mournfully at her love from five years ago and tried defiantly not to cry.
So she was finally letting him go…
And turning towards the inevitable.
His name was L.
AN:// Corny as hell, I know. But I really felt like I needed to accomplish something with this chapter. ^^ Tell me what you think! J