Chapter Eleven
Saving Love
A scream pierced the night, going for only a second before being suddenly cut off. Light froze in his tracks, looking around wildly to pinpoint the origin of the sound.
As he did he quickly pulled a bandana out of his pocket and wrapped it around his head like an American cowboy to hide his nose and mouth. That and a pulled up hood perfectly hid his identity.
He picked a direction and started jogging, unsure if it was the right way until he heard a shriek. Hearing that, he broke out into a sprint.
He kept running until he pasted an alley where some movement caught his eye. Three men were gathered around a girl, pushing her around between each other. She was yelping, as with each push she stumbled and barely stayed upright.
One of them pulled her close, her back to his chest, and tilted her chin up with one hand while the other wrapped around her arms and waist, trapping her. His eye roamed over her body hungrily, and the other men laughed and jeered as he crudely licked her neck. The girl whimpered, shaking in disgust.
Light had to act fast. He launched himself at the shorter of the two men watching, bringing the both of them crashing to the ground. Before the other two had anytime to react Light rolled back on to his feet and threw a punch the other watcher, making perfect contact with his jaw.
"Shit!" the man holding the girl, who seemed to be the leader, swore. He shoved the girl to the ground and approached Light, who was shaking his fist, trying to stay off the pain.
He man he had punched was still distracted, hunched over with his hand covering his mouth and groaning like a weakling, but the first man he had attacked was up and stood on the other side of Light, preventing Light from any attempts to run away.
They both closed in. Light bent down and kicked the leader in the chest, knocking him back several feet. The small man managed to grad him and gave him a few good punches to the midriff before Light broke free and pushed him away.
He was now surrounded by all three; the weakling had finally gotten over his first and only blow and the leader looking pissed. The girl was frozen in fear where she fell.
"What do you think you are doing?" The leader asked him. "You should just walk away right now, and for you it can be like nothing ever happened."
Light stared back at him, staying silent.
"Trust me, pal. Who do you think you are? This is none of your concern." He demanded. He had a neck vein that throbbed
Light straightened up and stood his ground.
The angry look on the leader's face melted off and was replaced by a smirk. "Your loss," He chuckled, cracking his knuckles and rolling his neck side to side.
Very intimidating…
The weakling lunged, out for revenge, swinging a punch at Light's jaw. Light grabbed his arm and pulled, directing the punch away and using the momentum to spin the weakling around and pushing him away. The small one then came flying at him. They crashed against a wall; Light's back taking the majority of the impact. He was paralyzed for a second, which gave the smaller man a window to punch him in the face.
The fist got Light right in the eye, and he crumpled over in pain. He recovered quickly, using the crumpled over position to catch the small man off-guard and jab him in the kidney. The small man stumbled backwards away from Light. He punched again in the guy's stomach and then again in the wind pipe.
The small man collapsed, gasping and coughing. Light moved himself now between the girl and the two others protectively, his right eye squeezed shut. They both converged on him. Light uppercut one with his elbow and spun and kicked the other with his heel. Not taking a chance to rest, he stroke with his knee.
A well placed right hook successfully scared the weakling. He ran over to small man and helped him up and together they ran off, leaving the leader alone. Light locked eyes with him and approached, his arms held up ready to strike.
The leader raised his fists, at first looking like he was going to stay and fight, but he slowly started to back up, then swore before turning tail and running. Light gave him a little chase to encourage his flight. Satisfied that he was not coming back Light went back to the alley to assist the girl.
She was sitting up now, shivering, looking uncomfortable and embarrassed. Light took the time to really look at her as he approached, not having the chance earlier. She had long blonde hair, partly styled up with two little pigtails and bangs. A tiny lacey black dress and black combat boots was all she had against to protect her against the cold. Light checked for any signs of injuries but saw none.
After checking his pockets he slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around her. She pulled it close, embracing the warmth. He helped her up by offering his hand which she took. He planned to lead her to a busy main road where it would be safe to leave her alone. He started walking away, knowing she'd follow and sure enough she did.
The hope that the walk would be silent shattered quickly.
"T-thank you." The girl said softly.
Light ignored her. The girl must have though he didn't hear, because once again she spoke, this time her voice louder and stronger.
"Thank you. You know what would have happened back there if you hadn't… you know."
Light just kept walking, not sparring her a single glance.
"Misa. That is Misa's name. What is yours?"
This girl just didn't learn.
Taking in his silence, she kept talking anyways. "It's ok. You don't have to tell Misa."
"Misa is a model. She was on her way home from a photo shoot, which is why she is so dressed up. Not that Misa doesn't always dress this cute, but this is a one of a kind Tsunada original. Misa guesses she must have forgotten her coat at the shoot site and she got lost. Misa had tried to ask them for directions but they had other ideas and they wouldn't take no for an answer."
"Misa is not always this stupid," She explained. "It's just that recently things haven't been going well. Misa shouldn't have done this photo shoot today. One of the other models at her agency had landed the role but she…"
Misa stopped walking and wrapped her arms together behind her back.
"She was killed. By the Kitchen Killer."
Light stopped too and turned to face her. They were several strides apart. He expected her to be staring nervously at the ground but was surprised to see her eyes burning into his.
"Yoko Hari. That was her star name. Real last name Harimushio. The sixth victim. She was Misa's good friend. Maybe even Misa's best friend." Her tone was earnest.
"Misa bets you are wondering why she tells you this." She stepped towards Light. "Misa knows who you are." Light tensed.
"Kira. You have to be. Kira, the angel who looks over us all." She stated. '
Light stayed silent.
"You have to be. Who else would save Misa like that? As Misa was being attacked she prayed you would show and you did. Misa is eternally thankful to you. You may not know it but you have already saved Misa once before. You provided the clues to put the murderer who killed Misa's family behind bars for good. They had caught him and were going to let him go due to lack of evidence. Where is the justice in that?" She exclaimed. "My mother and father and little brother…"
Light remembered. He had read the newspaper article and the police report, and knew they had failed to look in a seemingly obvious place for the murder weapon. It had been simple, just sending a letter to the police, telling them where to look. He knew he had brought justice for the surviving daughter, but confronting someone he had helped was new. Overwhelming. Tears welled in her eyes as signs of gratitude.
"Misa wants to help you. Misa is eternally in your debt. Please, let Misa help."
Light turned back around and walked fast. She followed, jogging to keep up.
"Wait!" Misa called out. "Misa will do anything you say!"
He kept speed walking until they finally arrived at a semi-busy street. Cars zoomed up and down the rode and people scurried from wherever they were to wherever they needed or wanted to be.
He stopped and waited for Misa to catch up. When she did he grabbed her arm and pulled her close, trying not to be rough. In a low voice he said, "There is nothing you can do. You never saw me. This never happened."
He let her go and left her where she stood dejectedly on the sidewalk. He crossed the street and didn't look back even once.
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Light was late again. He felt guilty, knowing how much it bothered Ryuzaki, but he had to take a major detour across the city in case that girl, Misa, tried to track him.
He was pretty sure she didn't try to follow but her strange devotion to Kira unnerved him. This was not what he wanted. Kira was not a figure he intended for others to worship. Kira was never meant to be more then a symbol of justice or a inspiration to the common man that they could make a difference.
He could not control the fan base of Kira, nor did he wish to. When he could he ignored the fame Kira had gained. The only thing the fame was good for was to raise awareness to the public that someone was on their side. That, and it helped with credibility when he tipped off the police on cases.
When he finally got to the hotel he was shivering. Having no jacket this time of year was unfavorable. He could practically feel his ears turning blue.
He knocked nervously on the door to Ryuzaki's suite, but unlike before the door did not open immediately, meaning Ryuzaki wasn't waiting for him like he usually. Instead Light waited for a minute before knocking again.
This time the door opened and Light came face to face with a slightly peeved looking Ryuzaki.
"I told you I don't like it when you're late." Ryuzaki complained.
"I'm sorry, Ryu. It wasn't intentional." Light brushed off, walking past Ryuzaki into the room.
He waited for a snappy response but silence was all that meet him. Light turned back around to see Ryuzaki staring at him critically.
"What?" Light ask.
"Nothing. It's just that your head is bleeding."
"Shit." Light swore. He had forgotten that he had taken a blow to the face. The pain wasn't that bad, and he guessed the cold air numbed his face enough to mask the pain.
"Have you been fighting?" Ryuzaki questioned.
"That's none of your business." Light stated.
"It is when you might bleed on my carpet."
"Well then I'll just get out of your hair. Goodbye." Light tried to walk by Ryuzaki to get to the exit but Ryuzaki grabbed his arm.
"Let me clean you up." Ryuzaki offered.
Light wanted to refuse and run away but Ryuzaki's firm grip stayed his flight attempt. He allowed himself to be led to the bathroom like a little kid and placed on top of the toilet with the lid down.
Ryuzaki went to work, pulling out a heavy duty first aid kit and opening it up, his hand softly gliding over the contents as Ryuzaki perused what was inside. Light had a similar first aid kit at home, for when he needed to do his own personal care to avoid the hospital. He pulled out several items and set them on the counter then grabbed a washcloth hanging on the rack.
After wetting it under the tap he approached Light and kneeled on the floor so they were eye to eye. They held each other's gaze before Ryuzaki broke it, moving his eyes instead to the cut to the right of Light's brow. Light also had a fist-sized bruise just below the cut. When Light got punched only half of his eye got hit, it was still slightly swelled.
As Ryuzaki softly blotted at the cut and the bruise Light watched him carefully. When Ryuzaki was finished he opened a tub of ointment and spread it carefully on the wound. His fingers were hot and burned Light's skin where ever they touched his skin. Ryuzaki had a skilled hand. He seemed to be no stranger to first aid care.
He finished off with a simple bandage, running his thumb over it to make sure it was smooth. He cupped Light's face and ran his thumb over the bruise. Light flinched as a small sharp pain shot through him.
Ryuzaki frowned. He pulled back his hands and ghosted his fingers down Light's cheek, and then his neck. They hovered above Light's collar for a second before ripping open the shirt.
The open shirt revealed all the bruises from the blows Light had taken to his torso. Ryuzaki also grabbed Light's hands and looked at the knuckles. They were scratched up from the fight, showing he had been one of the ones throwing punches.
"Why were you fighting?" Ryuzaki asked, his eyes burning into Light's. Light didn't answer, but held Ryuzaki's gaze. Ryuzaki poked on of his bruises, to which Light swore, wrapping his hand around his middle.
"What the fuck, Ryuzaki?" He exclaimed.
Ryuzaki ignore him and instead ran his hands along Light's torso, applying pressure over the bruises. Light grunted when the pressure was applied, clenching his teeth. Ryuzaki poke a few more times until Light swatted away his hand away and swore once again.
"The good news is I don't think any ribs are broken. The bad news is I can't seem to find the bump on your head that would explain why you decided to get into a fight." Ryuzaki explained. He started tending to the scratches on Light's knuckles, spraying on an antibiotic spray that lightly stung. Light's scowl only made Ryuzaki smirk as he continued to fix Light up.
Light was now lying on the bed where Ryuzaki had left him with a bag of ice held over his eye. The ravenette came back into the room holding two cups of tea. He walked over to the bed and sat down on the side, handing Light on of the cups. He graciously took it, the smell of the tea enticing.
"Are you going to tell me now why you were fighting?" Ryuzaki asked, taking a sip. "Or are you going to keep silent like a child?"
"The second option, preferably." Light smiled. "We both have things we don't like to talk about, you know that. This is one of mine."
"Yes, we do. But I don't think fist fighting is one of them. I prefer to know if someone I am intimately involved with is a hot headed bar fighter, or a victim of being jumped on the streets." Ryuzaki pouted.
"Think what you want to think. I'm a grown ass man. Maybe I just had some testosterone to let out in an appropriately manly fashion." Light argued.
"That's what sports are for. Or sex." Ryuzaki said coyly. Light laughed, glad Ryuzaki was no longer prying and turning the whole matter into a joke. "Next time you have the 'manly urge to fight' try fighting me. I'll make sure you don't get any bruises where people can see."
Ryuzaki set the cup of tea down carefully on the side table, where Light's also sat. As soon as he did Light grabbed Ryuzaki and pulled him close, enjoying the warmth of his body.
They kissed, Light running his hands through Ryuzaki's hair. When they pulled apart Ryuzaki removed the ice pack on Light's eye.
"It's looking better." He said, lightly touching the cut and bruise with the tip of his fingers.
"It's been fifteen minutes." The younger man replied in a quiet voice, watching Ryuzaki as he traced over the bruise.
Ryuzaki looked at Light with a mischievous glint in his eye. "A lot can happen in fifteen minutes." Light laughed.
"Only fifteen?"
Ryuzaki kissed his eye gently and then kissed the bandage. Light tilted Ryuzaki's head down so his lips moved away from his eye and down to his lips, locking them into another kiss.
Now someone from the outside might think that their actions were lovey-dovey and full of affection and crap like that, but Light knew better. Their interactions were driven purely by attraction and respect for each other's intellect. That was all.
And the feeling he felt in his chest and stomach, the warm fluttery feeling, when Ryuzaki touched him, kissed him, or even looked at him was just a sign of excitement, anticipation, and enjoyment. That's also why his heart pounded and his skin burned under Ryuzaki's touch.
Everything could be rationalized…
As always, thank you for reading! Writing this story is always such a great stress relief, and receiving reviews makes me happy. It's all thanks to you, readers.
When writing, having people waiting on me to update is very motivational. I'm just saying this so you know I will keep writing and finish this story because I don't want to let any of you down. At least not let you down for not finishing the story. Nothing makes me more of a sad panda like a fanfic that has no ending.
By the way, everything I write in my story is relevant. Everything (said 'ev-ah-reee-thang'). Gaaaah, I want to say something about it but I don't want to give anything away. Just, pay attention. Yes.
It's fun being a puppet master.
What did the worker at the rubber band factory say when he lost his job?
OH SNAP