Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note. I only kidnap the characters to have my own fun with them. I promise to eventually return them. ...maybe.
Chapter Eleven: Traditionally Yours
Waking up, Matt stretched inside the car, his arm reaching out and accidentally hitting the sleeping Mello beside him. Mello groaned and pushed Matt back mumbling in his sleep, "Go away Near.."
Matt rubbed his eyes and looked around. "Oh crap." He sat up, fumbling around until he found the keys in his pocket then cranked up the vehicle. "It's morning Mello. Wake up." He halfheartedly pushed the blonde against the door.
Mello gave a deep protesting grunt before sitting up completely and blinking the sleep out of his eyes. He took a deep breath as his surroundings began to sink in. "Oh… Where's Light?"
"Inside. He must have spent the night at his parents. That or he left late after we fell asleep. I can't believe we fell asleep!"
Mello yawned, "I can." He gave his boyfriend a cute smile, reminding him of all the things they did under L's roof.
Matt couldn't help but to remember. "Well, like I said, you are easy to-"
"Don't." Mello's eyes gave a dangerous glow. "I know that's not what you were going to say."
Matt shrugged, pretending to be nonchalant about the whole thing. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, baby."
Mello rolled his eyes. Matt was in his irritating "James Bond" mode. "So what do we do now that we've lost our target?"
Matt shrugged again as he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his vest pocket along with a lighter. He lit up and looked around the street. The red car didn't stand out. Or did it? Now that it was morning the neighbors were sure to notice something. "We get off this block first. We don't want to look like were staking the place out like were going to rob it when they're not home." Matt cranked up the car. "Lets check L's."
Looking up and out the window, Mello sighed in relief, "No need."
Matt followed Mello's eyes to see the target emerging from his parent's house. "Close call." Slowly, he eased down the street, smoking his lit cigarette and following Light wherever he went while Mello called L, checking in with a report.
*LXLigtXL*
As Light made it through his front door he took a deep breath. It was good to be home, where he would be living as husband and-husband?-with L once the genius detective returned. He kicked off his shoes, shrugged off his coat, tossing it onto the back of the couch, then went into the kitchen. Hot tea sounded really good after walking in from the cold weather outside.
He put the water on and as he waited for it to heat he opened the cabinet. What could he have for lunch? With Watari gone he didn't exactly have anyone around to cater him. Not that he treated the poor old man the way his fiancé did. Sometimes L acted as if Watari was just a maid.
Looking through the top shelf he thought he saw a bag of potato chips. That'll have to do for now. He pulled the bag out when his cell phone began to buzz in his back pocket. He pulled it out. Unknown number, flashed multiple times. L! It had to be L. Using his thumb, Light quickly pushed talk and brought the phone to his ear. "Hello?"
"How is my fiancé doing?"
"L! Oh gods I miss you."
L couldn't help but smile upon hearing the confession. It always did brighten his day to know Light was still addicted to him. "I miss Light-kun as well."
"Are you coming home soon?"
"Possibly. How are you doing?"
"Good. Are you eating properly? Is Watari making sure that you are getting plenty of rest?" He felt no need to bring up the little incident with Mikami. Stitches were not telephone conversation. It would only make L worry and add more evidence to his, "Light -kun can not take care of himself" belief.
"Yes. And as much rest as one can get when hunting a criminal. Light-kun, are you sure that you are fine?"
Light rolled his eyes at L's concened sounding voice and leaned against the counter, "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Don't get cross with me. I am only asking because I care."
The teen felt his cheeks flair with heat, embarrassed as the thought of Mikami helping him to bathe tiptoed across his conscience. He shook his head denying guilt. He had needed that help. He had stitches for crying out loud.
But then again…the moment, looking back on it now, seemed a little too erotic. "I love you." He said honestly, somehow needing L to know that.
It made L's heart ache. "I love you as well." He wanted to come home. There was just no way he could right now. "How are the wedding plans coming along?"
"I have to admit, not very far. Other than making Sayu the bell of the ball so to speak, I haven't really decided on anything." Light wondered if L knew yet of his payment to the contracting company. Surely it was too early for any bill.
"Take your time. Don't rush."
"L?" Having thought of Sayu his memory replayed the girl mentioning wedding gifts. "Should we buy one another a gift?" What do you buy a man who doesn't even where shoes and has more money than God?
"A gift? For what?"
"Wedding gifts. It's customary, but I forgot all about it."
"Is that something Light-kun would want to take part in?"
"I don't know. Sayu mentioned it."
"I am sure your sister mentioned a lot. You told them already?" L seemed shocked to hear that.
The teen took a deep breath, then let it out. "Yeah." There was a short pause from L's end of the phone. He could almost feel the silence as it dragged out. Was Ljust thinking, or was he mad?
"How much?" The detective finally asked.
"Oh, don't worry. My father still thinks you are a highly ranked private detective. He doesn't know a thing."
"How'd he take it?" L could just see Soichiro having a heart attack at Light's announcement. "His one and only son getting married to a man surely isn't what every father dreams about."
"Well, he didn't seem happy, I'll be honest."
Light sounded disappointed. Maybe the teen changed his mind? "How does that make you feel?"
"What do you mean?"
"Has it changed your mind? Do you still want to be married?"
How could L ask that! Of course Light still wanted to get married! "Why, L? Are you rethi-"
"No. I am not."
"Good. Neither am I."
They both always needed that reassurance and it was good to get it.
L smiled. "Then you better get going with the planning. I like the idea. Lets follow all the traditions." Truth was L was going to have to move Light to another country to get married in order to keep his promise of finding some way for it to actually happen. This meant he'd have to give Light's parents everything they want in a compromise if he were to be moving their only son across the world. Which most likely meant following certain traditions. However, in all honesty, L didn't exactly protest tradition, he could easily see his fiancé in a red kimono and looking rather sharp in it to boot.
The teen groaned as the pot on the stove whistled. He pushed himself off of the counter to retrieve a cup from the cabinet. "All? Are you serious, L? Do you know what that implies?"
"No. I am not familiar with Japanese wedding traditions. However, I am familiar with the European traditions. Would Light-kun be interested in a dress?" He could hear the brunette sputtering, trying to answer with out screaming a 'Hell no' at L. He chuckled. It was all in good fun to tease the boy. "We could make it red. That is the selected color of the bride's kimono, right? I know that much."
"N. O. What marks me the bride anyway?"
"It suits you."
Light began to open his mouth full of insults for the bastard, when L said suddenly, "I have to go."
Light felt his heart sink to the pit of his stomach. "But we were planning…"
There was the sound of papers shuffling then, "I am sorry Light-han. Goodbye."
"Wait I-" Click.
Well. Okay, then.
With a sigh the teen slipped the phone back into his pocket, then finished making his tea in a lonely sort of silence. It was thirty minutes later, when he had tossed the potato chip bag into the trash, and was rinsing out his tea cup in the sink when he realized L had called him Light-han.
His other half.
The next day in class, Light stared out the window. Or at least, what he could. He was running late and a girl with long black hair got the window seat he was after. Damn. Oh well. He sat in the back, getting comfortable. Talking to L yesterday had helped put him in a good mood. L had called him Light-han. That meant a lot.
Light could feel the pressure in his chest at the seriousness of them getting married. He could remember his mother asking him if he was really ready for the commitment. Honestly? Yes, he was. Well, actually, no. He actually had no idea if he was ready for everything that involved getting and being married. Dealing with his father was one of those things. The man could be so stubborn sometimes. Light knew he was going to stick his nose up at everything, even L.
Then Traditions were a whole other basket of things to think and worry over. And L wanted to do them all? True, Light knew L just wanted what was right and would make the family happy, but most Japanese wedding traditions weren't really going to work with two grooms. And Light was not going to be considered the bride! Maybe they could have a proper Yui-no... That was something important that his father might be happy with, but who would L bring to a proper Yui-no? Watari? And what of the nine sips of Sake? Light could have laughed. No, he was going to go western style and say some vows. A drunk L and Light at the reception was probably not a good idea. However, he wondered if, seeig how the ceremony of Sake represented the respect for parents, if they should partake in it. But then again L didn't have any parents... Who would sip from the cups in L's side of the family when L didn't have any family?
Oh well, maybe he wasn't ready to face all of that, but he was ready to spend the rest of his life with L. That, he was sure of without any doubt. He felt his lips creep into a smile and he played with the gold ring on his finger as he thought of calling his fiancé Lawliet-han in return.
"Must be degrading."
Mikami Teru. Light turned his head from the window to see the older boy taking the seat beside him. He was dressed nicely, as always, with his glasses and only a small strand of hair dangling in his eyes.
"What is?" Light asked.
"Sitting with all of them. These people." He gestured toward the other class members. "They're so beneath you. I don't know how you can stand it really."
The teens cheeks blushed with embarrassment. He hoped no one had heard him. "I don't think anyone here is, well, beneath me, Mikami. We all got into the same school. The top university in Japan. We all have high scores."
"Yes. That is true. But you have the highest in the country."
The pink on his cheeks deepened to red. Why was Mikami bringing that up? Surely people could hear. "Yes. I can't deny that. However, please don't make it sound as if I'm above anyone, Mikami. I'm just a regular person like everyone else."
Mikami smiled as he shook his head, a light in his eyes. "Oh no, Light. You, are not a regular person. Far from it."
Light opened his lips to reply to that, when the teacher came in, ready to fire notes off at them. He couldn't help but wish he had skipped today. That wonderful feeling of being Light-han now vaporized as he noticed Mikami glancing at him every now and again, making him nervous.
When they were dismissed fom class, Light quickly gathered his books and coat and made his way out of the room. It was not long though before Mikami caught up with him. It's not exactly hard to chase down a limping man. "How is your leg today, Light?"
"Uhm, good. Hurts a little but it's alright. Thank you for asking."
"Here. Let me help you." He reached for Light's books. Light wasn't exactly prepared so the older boy was able to steal them away easily. Damn. That was truly irritating. And now Light would have to walk with him. He wasn't in the mood for socializing.
"Can I give you a ride home?"
"I'm not going home. Thanks for the offer, but I have another class to get to." A lie. But a simple one. He didn't want to spend time with Mikami anymore. Light still felt guilty for allowing Mikami to bathe him. He knew it really was wrong. He could have gone home and allowed his own mother to help him. Hell, even Sayu.
His sister seeing him naked was certainly wrong but.. So was a boy he just met seeing him with out clothing while he was engaged. Yes, Light Yagami was wrong about that. He could blame it all on the pain killers though, right? Yes, drugs will do that to you.
Mikami shook his head, the light from the sun hitting against his glasses, "No. It was cancelled. Didn't you read the bulletin?"
Light stopped dead in his tracks. How could Mikami know his class was cancelled? It was not the only class cancelled for today. Did that mean Mikami knew his schedule? Goosebumps broke out on Light's arm as he remembered laying in Mikami's bed and Mikam trying to give him a sleeping pill to help him rest.
"Well if it's cancelled..." The teen began, his voice a little shaky. "I will just go to the library to study."
Another lie.
"Great!" Mikami smiled enthusiastically. "I'll go with you. We can talk about the project."
Light felt uneasy, but Mikami was smiling so happy and he really couldn't come up with another lie. Plus, he did need to tell him about what he had done with the project. But still..."Uhm, alright. Sure, lets go together I guess." He didn't exactly have a choice when Mikami was heading towards the library carrying his books.
At the library, Light sat in a chair at the end of the long rectangular table next to a tall book shelf. Luckily there wasn't enough room at the end for two chairs. Mikami was forced to sit next to Light on the other side facig the bookshelf, yet they were still pretty close. Mikami opened his humanities book and took out his notes the same time as Light.
"I was thinking Light, for the humanities project we could-"
It was rude and something Light was taught not to ever do since he was young, but he just had to cut the older boy off fast, before he got out any good ideas . "Look Mikami, before you get started, I have something to say first."
Interrupted, Mikami's eyes seemed to gloss over with a little anger, but then quickly vanished with a smile. "Okay." He gave Light his full attention. "What is that, Light?"
"Uh, well I hired a contractor. You know, someone to do the job for us. It's too dangerous."
"Light…" His shocked voice dropped to a whisper. "That's cheating. We're suppose to do it ourselves."
"Yes, but it's a stupid project. We can't risk getting seriously hurt. I honestly don't think anyone would care as long as it got done anyways." Mikami didn't look so sure. Light sighed. "Do you want to be next one getting stitches? It's too dangerous. You can't go back in that building."
For some reason that made the man smile. He looked into Light's eyes. "You're worried about me?"
Huh?
"W-well, anyone could get hurt going in there." Why am I stuttering? Light's cheeks blushed and he forced his eyes to dart away. Mikami was surely getting the wrong idea. He quickly kept talking, "Don't worry about the bill either. My fiancé is taking care of it. It's all okay. And I promise we will still get a good grade. An A to be exact."
"He's back?" Mikami sounded as if that was the only piece of information he got out of what Light had said.
"No, but uhm, he left me his card. He won't mind to pay."
"But Light.." Mikami sounded like Sayu when their mother wouldn't allow her to go out late with questionable friends. "You and I were suppose to do it together. How will we get to build our friendship if we don't spend anytime together?"
Woa, Light thought. Build our friendship? Mikami honestly, I know you like me but jeez. Leave room for a little ambiguity. "Well, it's not like we won't see each other in class or anything. And we can still hang out." Did he really just offer himself to hang out with this loser?
Okay, maybe that was too harsh a term. Mikami wasn't a loser. He was a good, kind man that just happened to be obviously attracted to Light. He was only trying to help. Besides, if in some other universe L and Light had never met and L never proposed, Light would find himself attracted to Mikami. It wasn't as if Mikami wasn't good looking. Because he was. He had that whole, 'I'm smart and your not' look going for him. He was just so...spooky? No, spooky wasn't right. Well Light didn't know a good word but he did know that something didn't feel right about that man.
Again, he remembered the sleeping pill.
"Of course." Mikami agreed. "You're right. We will be able to hang out all of the time. Speaking of, how about tonight we meet for dinner? I know a really great place i'd like to take you. I know that you can't stand for too long, Light. Let me help you out. Or I could cook for you. Would you like that? You know i'm a great cook."
Dinner? Friends have lunch, breakfast, snacks, but not dinner. Dinner was something else entirely. Especially after you've bathed together, his conscience added. No! It wasn't like that, he thought. "Actually, my mom invited me home for dinner. I sort of can't bail on her. You understand right?" Light made a show of acting annoyed and rolled his eyes. "Mothers."
Mikami nodded dissapointed competely. He fully understood mothers. His own mother was horrid. She could never understand. Light's mother probably didn't understand her son either. "Of course. Another time then."
"Yeah, another time." Light looked back down at his book, attempting to study the new notes from today, and forgetting the creepy and unnerving feeling growing in his gut.
Yet after about five minutes of trying his best he still couldn't concentrate. He was forced to hold in a frustrated sigh. Mikami kept moving. Couldn't he just get comfortable and stay that way?
Light went to scoot a bit further away when his hand accidentally brushed against Mikami's knuckles. Shocked the teens fingers recoiled into his palm. Mikami only quirked a small confident smile as if they had just shared a secret between them.
Timidly, Light shrank down in his seat. He wanted to scoot further away but there was no where else to scoot to. As he sank into his chair, his knee knocked into the older man's. Quickly he sat up, feeling his body heat with embarrassment. He expected Mikami to shift away, make more room between them like a normal person would have done, yet Mikami only gave him another smile. Oh please, Light thought, don't get the wrong idea.
The teen suddenly had a strange feeling then, that he had somehow opened a door he should have left locked, chained and bolted.
Author Note: According to my research, the suffix -han is used between fiances to simbalize they are each others half and only together do they make a whole person. A Yui-no is when the immediate families of both bride and groom have dinner and meet one another. The nine sips of Sake are drunk out of three cups. First the bride, the groom, and then the parents. And I'm sure you all are educated in what a Kimono is, but if you want more info on any of the traditions mentioned in the chapter just ask. I'm always glad to share info :) OR if I am wrong about something, feel free to point it out. I will certainly correct myself! Thank you.
