A week passed with L weakening rapidly. He no longer felt pain due to Watari keeping his promise. The old man hadn't left L's bedside since that day.
"I feel as if it will end soon, Watari I am sorry."
"You don't need to be you've held on for a while and it wasn't easy, you put yourself through pain for me, I should apologize." Watari took hold of his hand.
"Light, thank you for all that you did to help, I am grateful."
"No problem Ryuzaki." Light stared down at the floor.
"I am not yet ready to leave you Watari, but soon I will be,when that time comes I do not want you to cry for me. You made me happy, always cared for me, I only hope you will one day forgive me for leaving you."
"I can't be upset with you for this. You made my life wonderful, you're amazing, I'm grateful that we had each other."
"Watari, I am sorry, I am very tired, can we talk when I wake?"
"Of course. Rest now." L would not wake again that day, leaving Watari afraid that he may never. The majority of the next five days were spent carefully monitoring L and hoping for the best. Finally,,L opened his eyes, he looked over to Watari. The old man was asleep in the chair beside him. He allowed his eyes to close again and lay still.
Light sat silently in the room next door, it was harder and harder to remain in L's room. He didn't know what to expect now, though it was obvious that L didn't have much time, Light could see it in the detective's pale face, hear it in his tone.
"Come on Ryuzaki, you can't do this to us, Watari especially. His heart is breaking, you're sick, not stupid you can see that. He loves you so much he's willing to let you have your way. Just once don't you want him to be happy, you're giving in too fast. Change your mind Ryuzaki, please." Light thought out loud into the empty room. It was then that he heard Watari speaking to the sleeping detective
"L, I hope that you can forgive me for this, I know what we agreed on but this world needs you for a little longer." Light's curiosity git the best of him and he returned to the room just as the old man injected a clear liquid into the iv line.
"You were awake briefly, do it again."
"I-I am v-very c-cold." The weak voice said prompting Watari to add a second blanket.
"It's alright L, you seem a little better today."
"I feel different."
"What do you mean different?"
"I cannot explain it. Am I dying now Watari?"
"No. Your body is responding to a specific medication I've been adding to your pain medicine."
"I thought we agreed not to continue treatment."
"We did. I can't expect you to understand what it feels like to be so close to losing someone you love so dearly. I don't like to see you in pain, but I don't want you to leave this world before me. Near gave me the idea. It won't cure you, but it will strengthen your defenses and make you feel better. Please allow me to continue."
"I do not want to keep going-"
"L, I ask for so little, this is one time that I really need you to do something for me." The old man was careful to keep eye contact as he spoke, he had to make L understand somehow.
"Watari, I am never going to get better. If next time this happens, it comes back worse, I could not-"
"I would take care of you. Do this for me L and I will swear to you that I will never ask again, if next time is too much, I will not push you. I will let you go if that is what you want. Live for me this time." It was true that Watari didn't usually ask for anything. L sighed.
"Very well Watari, continue the treatment. I do not have the energy to argue. Remember this promise."
"I will, thank you L. I can't tell you how much it means to me. I can ask Light to call his father and have him bring you something warmer. You just rest and let the medicine work.
"Do you need more pain medicine?"
"Not at the moment."
"Good. I'm glad to hear that." L allowed himself to sleep again.
"You said he's better today?" Light asked approaching the bed.
"He seems like it. He responded to the injections later I will test his blood again, his heartbeat is slowly returning to his normal range which is stabilizing his blood pressure. I believe he could do it, if only he wouldn't fight against this so much."
"It's a good thing you know how to talk to him Watari, I don't know if he'd listen to anyone else."
"Ryuzaki knows what he wants Light, It's very hard to change his mind, I'm just thankful that he is giving me this chance as well as himself."
"So since he's stabilizing, could that mean he's in that one percent?" Watari shook his head.
"It means he's improving but we won't know what it means in terms of where he is with his illness until either something happens or his blood work and other tests are done. We have to be patient Light, the illness is very strong, we just have to hope Ryuzaki's stronger."