I don't own Death Note.
A/N: Hey people! Sorry for the wait, I've been busy! Thanks for reviewing! ^-^
Chapter 11: Shielding
Light had awakened many different attributes in L. The teen had caused L to become more competitive, friendly, motivated, protective, sympathetic, and even…affectionate. L displaying any kind of affection was extremely rare. Yet Light seemed to be an exception, just like in everything else. Normally, L despised any fool who held Kira-like beliefs, but not Light. The idea of losing a tennis match against someone was inexcusable, but he wouldn't mind if Light beat him. L believed that all murderers should pay for their crimes, but Light only deserved a warning. To every rational principle, Light was the exception. Because Light was special…and L wanted him.
On the way back to the office building, L and Light walked close together as if the chain was only a centimeter long. After their embrace, Light had started strolling closer to the detective. Of course, L didn't mind. He enjoyed being near Light, it felt like that's where he was naturally meant to be. Once they entered the building, they took the elevator up to the workroom.
As soon as they entered the workroom, Watari greeted them, "Hello, how did the tennis match go?"
"I barely won," L honestly replied before heading towards the computers.
Watari seemed surprised, "Light-kun must be very good then. Oh, and Light-kun, your clothes have arrived. I set them down in your room. You may want to try them all on to make sure they fit."
Light nodded then glanced at L.
L sighed and grabbed the key out of his pocket, "Does Light-kun still intend to run away?"
"No, I want to stay here." Light replied openly.
L believed him so he unlocked Light from the chain, "I hope that Light-kun never gives me a reason for such drastic measures again."
"I won't," Light swore before taking the elevator up to his room.
With the teen gone, L unlocked himself from the chain as well then sat perched on top of a chair. He already knew that Watari was standing behind him for some reason. L rolled his chair around to face the old man and waited.
Watari gravely announced, "Light-kun is wanted in court. All of the DN13 members are willing to testify that Light-kun killed a man named Symes."
"I was expecting that to happen. Tell the judge that I order Light-kun's release from all charges," L nonchalantly stated.
Watari's eyes widened, "L… Are you serious? You can't excuse Light-kun from the law."
"If I give the order, the judge will do as I say."
"You shouldn't bend the law just because you can," Watari sounded outraged, "You can defend Light-kun during his trial but the boy has to be held accountable for-"
"I'll inform the judge that I plan to take full responsibility for Light-kun. I will not allow Light-kun to kill again but at the same time I won't leave him to rot in a cell."
Watari snapped, "You'd be cheating the justice system that you work so hard to defend."
"I beg to differ. Once Light-kun becomes a detective, the justice system will benefit greatly. He may very well receive the title of the 7th L."
Now the old man looked completely shocked, "You plan to make Light-kun your successor? What about Mellow, Near, and Matt-?"
"I haven't made a decision yet. But, yes, Light-kun is among the potential successors and I will not allow him to be imprisoned." L firmly claimed.
Watari opened his mouth to make another objection but then Light obliviously entered the room. The teen was wearing his new clothes that were actually the right size and he seemed pretty content. L flashed Watari a warning look, silently urging the old man to keep his mouth shut. Watari scowled but said nothing.
- - - - - - - -
The rest of the day passed by slowly until the location of the 2nd DN13 hideout became certain. Light insisted on immediately arresting all the gang members and sending them to be punished. But L calmly explained that they needed to gather evidence before such an action. The detective wasn't in too much of a hurry since he knew that the more evidence they had, the longer the DN13 members would be sentenced away. Meanwhile Light was impatient because he wanted the criminals to be punished now. L realized that Light's thought process was very Kira-like but he chose to ignore it and continue working.
By one o'clock in the morning, Light had his head down on the desk in front of his computer screen. The teen was already asleep yet he had his hand the mouse like it was when he was still working. L continued searching through lists of crimes that could be connected to the DN13 until Watari entered the room.
Before the old man could even open his mouth, L announced, "Yes, Watari. I will move Light-kun to his bed."
That seemed to satisfy Watari enough since he nodded and left. Then L gazed over at Light who was peacefully sleeping next to him.
"Light-kun, wake up." L placed a hand on the teen's shoulder and shook him.
There was no response.
L shook him harder, "It's time for Light-kun to go to bed."
Light mumbled something incoherent while making no attempt to get up.
"If Light-kun does not walk to his room, I will be forced to carry him," L threatened.
"Okay, whatever." Light uncaringly muttered in his drowsy state.
L's eyes widened. Light-kun must be more tired than I thought. Maybe carrying him is the safest way. L sighed before standing up. I doubt Light-kun would approve of this if he was more alert.
After a moment of brief hesitation, L scooped the sleepy boy up and started carrying him toward the elevator. Unfortunately, the easiest way to carry him was bridal style. Oh, yes. If Light-kun remembers this in the morning, he will surely attack me. After taking the elevator up a floor, L brought Light into his room.
L set the teen down on his bed then pulled a blanket over him. For awhile, L simply stood there and watched over him. While Light was still a minor, L would be able to carry most of the teen's burdens. L could provide for the boy and keep him out of trouble. But in a few years all of that would change… The idea of Light as an adult was delightful yet frightening. With Light's intellect, he had great potential of becoming L's best ally. And with Light's beliefs, he had the unfortunate potential of becoming L's worst enemy. If L could only destroy every trace of Kira-like tendencies in the boy, everything would be much easier. But Light was stubborn…and he clung to his beliefs no matter how horribly wrong they were.
The next day, Light won the rematch. Even though L was more experienced, Light learned quickly. The teen must have noticed all of L's smallest flaws in the last game because he was definitely taking advantage of them now. L took the loss in stride and enjoyed the beaming expression on Light's face. He had a feeling that seeing Light so openly happy was extremely rare.
This time, they had to skip the coffee shop part of their break and head straight back to work. L and Light spent hours gathering lists of crimes that could be connected to the DN13. Luckily, quite a few witnesses had called the police department so L knew which charges would be the easiest to prove. Meanwhile they were also working on getting cameras secretly installed inside the hideout. Two police officers named Aizawa and Mogi agreed to work undercover at the DN13's hideout in order to install the cameras. Another few hours were spent creating fake identities for the two cops and setting up convincing circumstances for their arrival at the hideout.
L and Light accomplished a lot together but there was one piece of evidence that L kept hidden. The detective was positive that Watari who overlooked all their progress noticed this fact. L was gratefully that the old man hadn't mentioned a word of it yet he could feel Watari glaring at him from across the room.
- - - - - - - -
It wasn't until Light left the workroom to go to bed, when Watari finally stated, "Light-kun doesn't know, does he?"
L still faced the computer screen as he sighed, "No, Light-kun does not."
"But I thought that he saw his mother's autopsy report."
"It had already been censored since I was expecting to show that same document to Light-kun the next day. Light-kun only knows that his mother was shot thirteen times and you saw his reaction. Light-kun is not emotionally prepared for anymore information."
"All of the evidence will be out in the open once the trial begins. It would be better to tell Light-kun now-"
"I strongly disagree," L turned to face Watari, "That information would trigger more murderous behavior in Light-kun. It's too dangerous."
Watari crossed his arms, "If Light-kun is so unstable then he shouldn't even be working on this case."
"I'm well aware of that. And that is why I'll be working on this case in a different location tomorrow, closer to where the hideout is. Since I will be watching a live feed from the hidden cameras, I won't be able to censor what is recorded. I will need you to stay here and make sure that Light-kun does not leave. Also I'll assign Light-kun a different case in order to keep him busy."
"You're going through a lot of trouble to keep the boy in the dark, L. Once Light-kun finds out, he'll-"
"He won't find out," L insisted.
Watari just shook his head, "L, I know how much Light-kun means to you. He is definitely a gifted boy but if you keep shielding him like this… It will backfire on you."
L stubbornly claimed, "If I can handle the world's toughest criminals, I think that I have the capacity to handle a fourteen year old."
The old man could only sigh in response.
Light actually slept in. Yesterday morning L had barged into his room and hurried him off to the workroom. But L hadn't come yet. Light laid on his bed for about ten minutes after he woke up, expecting L to come in his room. After L failed to show up, Light became impatient and got up. After he dressing for the day, Light strolled out of his room in search for the pale spindly detective. He took the elevator down to workroom but only Watari was there.
"Where's L?" Light immediately asked.
"He's away working on the case right now, Light-kun." Watari headed toward Light and handed him a file, "L wanted you to solve this case while he was gone."
Light opened the folder and glanced through the documents. The case was on a serial killer who had been on the rampage in a distant Japanese city. Light's eyes lit up with interest as he read through the reports of how the killer would taunt the police by purposely leaving messages. A whole police station had been working on this case for years yet they still couldn't find the killer. Light figured that L was probably testing him again.
"Why couldn't L wait until we had the DN13 arrested to give me this case?"
Watari stalled strangely before stating, "Light-kun, you should get started. That case is not an easy one."
Then the old man sat down on the couch and began typing on a laptop. Light gave him a confused look before sitting down at the desk. He went ahead and started researching the case but his mind was still distracted. Something doesn't seem right. If L really wanted me to solve this case then he probably would have waken me up early to start working on it. Also L left without saying a word to me… What the hell is going on?
Light glanced over his shoulder at Watari who was still focusing on his laptop. Then Light switched seats and sat in front of the computer that L usually used. Light searched through the files on L's computer, only to find that all the documents on the DN13 case had been removed. A realization suddenly hit Light. L doesn't want me to continue working on the DN13 case. The other case that Watari gave me must be a distraction...
Then Light exited off L's computer and stood up to leave, "Watari, I'm going to go on a short break. I'll be back in awhile."
"Where are you going?" Watari inquired.
"I'm just going to get some food," Light explained as he headed toward the elevator.
Watari suddenly stood up and offered, "I can order some food to be delivered here, Light-kun. You may continue working."
Light merely nodded. Watari doesn't want me to leave. L probably ordered him to keep me here. "Alright, Watari. I'll just go up to my room and take a shower. Tell me when the food gets here."
After Light took the elevator up a floor, he hurried into his room. Then he entered the bathroom and turned on the shower so noise of the water would be heard from down stairs. Next Light searched through the other bedrooms, trying to find a way to subdue the older man. Light found the solution to his problem in L's room; it was the chain.
Light walked back into his room then entered the bathroom where he turned off the shower. Then Light waited until Watari started calling him. Light didn't answer to the old man's calls as he sat on his bed with the chain ready. Eventually he heard footsteps coming down the hall. Light fastened one of the handcuffs to the bedpost toward the end of his bed.
Watari opened the door, "Light-kun, the food is-"
The old man was caught by surprised when Light quickly snapped a handcuff around his wrist. Light stepped out of Watari's reach while the elderly man furiously yanked on the chain connecting him to the bedpost.
"Light-kun, what is the meaning of this?!"
"Where is L?" Light demanded.
"I already told that he's away working-"
"He's in the city where 2nd DN13 hideout is, correct? Why didn't he take me with him?"
Watari snapped, "Light-kun allowing you to work on the DN13 case is a privilege. Unlock me right now or else you won't be able to help any longer."
Light wasn't the least bit fazed, "L knows how important catching my mother's killer is to me. Now answer my question. Why didn't he take me with him?"
When Watari stubbornly refused to answer, Light scoffed then left the room, "Fine. I'll find out for myself."
- - - - - - - -
Matsuda sat inside the white van in front rows of television screens which showed the live footage from the inside of the 2nd DN13 hideout. He had been promoted for being an undercover cop under L's instructions. Aizawa and Mogi were so jealous that they had volunteered to be undercover cops too. Matsuda could see his two fellow officers on one of the screens right now speaking to some gang members in a lounge room.
But the most amazing part of Matsuda's promotion was that he got to meet the famous 6th L face to face. The pale world-renowned detective was actually perched beside Matsuda right now.
L bit on the edge of his thumb while focusing on all the television screens, "Matsuda-san, could you make me some coffee?"
"Yes, sir!" Matsuda excitedly jumped up and scurried toward the coffee machine on the counter.
For a few minutes, Matsuda nervously toiled away making coffee, hoping that he didn't screw up too badly around the famous detective. When the coffee was ready, he brought a cup of coffee over to L. The crouching man placed the cup on the desk in front of him then began pouring sugar packet after sugar packet into his coffee.
Matsuda sat down again then asked, "Uh… L, sir, I was wondering what happened to that boy, Light-kun. I know that you said he would be treated fairly but I haven't heard anything about-"
"Light-kun has been staying with me. He is fine."
"Oh, really?" Matsuda grinned, "That's good. I've been worried about the poor kid."
Then L's cell phone rang. The detective answered it, "This is L." After a short pause, L replied, "I see. There was an 87.6 percent chance of that happening… Yes, I will meet with him in person." L hung up the phone.
Matsuda felt anxious, "What's going on?"
"It turns out that the DN13 is much larger than we first expected. It seems that some of the higher members have been affecting the federal government," L stood up and opened the van's side door, "The Japanese Prime Minster is in a state of panic at the moment and I offered to brief him on the situation."
"You're meeting the Prime Minster?!" Matsuda gaped at him.
"Yes, that's what I just said." L gave him an annoyed look as if meeting with world leaders was a casual thing to do. "Anyway, I will be gone for about an hour. Only call me if there is an emergency."
Matsuda clumsily saluted him, "Good luck, sir!"
L gave him a blank stare before exiting the van.
- - - - - - - - - -
For about thirty minutes, Matsuda dutifully stayed in the van and watched over the rows of television screens. But then his stomach started growling. Ow… Matsuda forced himself to stay a little bit longer until his stomach grumbled again. He wrapped arms around his stomach. Matsuda hadn't eaten anything since breakfast and he was starving. Maybe I could go get some food then run back.
Matsuda exited the van and quickly entered a nearby bakery. He purchased a sack of donuts then walked out of the store. Unexpectedly, Matsuda spotted someone familiar coming up the stairs from the subway station entrance.
He instantly recognized the boy and waved to him, "Light-kun! Hey, over here!"
Once Light noticed Matsuda, he hurried towards him, "Do you know where L is?"
"Oh, he's talking to the Prime Minster right now."
Light gave him a surprised look.
"I know! Isn't that awesome?! Anyway, L will be back in about half an hour. You can wait for him in the van with me if you want." Matsuda happily offered.
The teen nodded, "Thanks."
Then Matsuda led Light into the white van and set down his sack of donuts on the desk in front of the rows of television screens. Light sat down in a chair while intently staring at the screens.
"What is this?"
"Oh, that's the live feed that shows the inside of the DN13 hideout. It's all being recorded so L can watch it all when he gets back." Matsuda explained.
Light stayed focused on all the screens. Most of the screens showed empty rooms but there was one particular screen that showed a group of gang members who were talking while drinking some beer. There were three of them in total. The tallest one of them was standing up and speaking loudly.
"Ah, shut up. You're just jealous because you haven't been gettin' any lately." The tallest one sneered.
The fattest one who was sitting down scoffed, "Yeah, right, Raze. I'm so jealous of you and some money-grubbing whore."
"Nah, man. My last chick was free." Raze bragged.
The third man with longer hair seemed skeptical, "Really? And who was this slut?"
Raze smiled proudly, "Wedy."
Light suddenly gasped while Matsuda watched with a confused look on his face before daring to ask, "Who's Wedy?"
But Light didn't say anything; he just kept staring at the screen in horror.
The two other gang members on the screen seemed shocked as well. The fattest one finally spoke up, "I thought that you were ordered to kill her?"
"I did kill her. But hell," Raze laughed callously, "I figured why not have some fun with the bitch first."
Then Matsuda became extremely worried because Light was shaking and hiding his face in his hands. "Light-kun?" Matsuda placed a hand on the teen's trembling shoulder.
On the television, the group of men continued talking. The man with longer hair seemed disgusted, "You raped her? You could have easily gotten a whore."
"Yeah, but whores are no fun. They just lay there. Wedy, now there's an active bitch. Always squirming around and screaming… Ha, ha, ha! I actually got her to suck me off by saying I had her wussy son tied up in another room."
Light suddenly banged his fist on the desk with uncontrollable rage.
The fattest man snickered, "Raze, you're such a sick bastard."
Then the whole group of men started laughing.
Light hatefully glared at the screen as his whole body shook, "I swear I'll fucking punish you."
"Uh, Light-kun-?"
Light suddenly turned around stole Mastuda's gun from its holster. Before Matsuda could react, the teen whacked him on the side of the head with the gun. The last thing Matsuda saw was Light's furious expression then he slipped into unconsciousness.
A/N: So yeah… Light knocked Matsuda out so he can't call L. And Light's going crazy with a gun. Oh, yes. I'm evil.