Author's Note: Things will get interesting after this chapter, I already have the whole plan for the next few parts... New characters, new threads... I am pretty much excited :D
Sitting in the limousine, Light was truly impatient. Not having seen his younger sister for almost two months was making him sick of the tension, of this anticipation which was filling all his insides. He was patting nervously the seat looking out of the window and wondering what the phrase "positive results" meant. Was Sayu able to say something…? Or maybe she could stand up from the wheelchair…?
He didn't want to let his hopes grow high so as not to be disappointed if it appeared that not much had changed. However, he couldn't stop thinking about his wish to see his sister smile again.
'Calm down, Light-kun' L suddenly said observing the brunette and taking his hand in a calming gesture. 'I can almost hear your heartbeat.'
'I can't, Ryuuzaki' Light drawled through the clenched lips. 'It occupies all my thoughts no matter how hard I try to switch it off!' He snapped cracking his knuckles.
'Light' L called him stroking his arm. 'Look at me, please' he added when the brunette hadn't reacted. The young male slowly turned his face to him. His caramel eyes were filled with the storm of contrary emotions. 'It's alright, you understand? Sayu-san is fine and you know that. There is nothing to worry about.' The detective wrapped his arm around Light's waist pulling him close to himself.
'But what if she doesn't remember me…?' The brunette squeaked. 'Or worse… what if she hates me because I let them take her away from me…?' He gritted his teeth in arising paranoia.
'How can you think like that, Raito?' L shook his head caressing Light's cheek. 'You did it to help her.'
'She may not understand that…' Light sighed resting his head on L's shoulder.
'She's an intelligent girl' Ryuuzaki reminded him pecking lightly his forehead.
'She hasn't spoken a word to me since our accident, Ryuuzaki' Light confessed biting his bottom lip. 'What if she hadn't ever forgiven me for not rescuing her these four years ago…?'
'She would be a fool then, Light-kun. No one has ever done for her as much as you did. You sacrificed yourself for Sayu-san.' L whispered in Light's ear noticing with relief that the brunette was slowly relaxing.
'She's my only family, Ryuuzaki. I can't afford losing her…' he mumbled feeling safe in L's arms.
'You won't lose her, Light-kun. You're her only family too' L reminded carefully. 'You have to pull yourself together, Raito' he added kissing his boyfriend delicately. 'She cannot see you like that.'
'You're right' Light sighed deeply closing his eyes for a few seconds and calming down. 'I must stop freaking out. It's not like me' he murmured putting on the mask of calmness and standing up when the vehicle stopped. 'Let's go' he said opening the car-door and letting Ryuuzaki guard him into the big center of mental rehabilitation. 'Have you ever been here before…?' He asked seeing that the detective knew exactly where to go.
'Once' L admitted. 'When I was fifteen, Watari took me here with himself. Not for the treatment, of course' he added seeing Light's strangled look. 'We had a case.'
'You were working as the detective when you were fifteen…?' Light asked arching a brow in a great surprise.
'I have been working as the detective pretty much for my whole life, Light-kun.' L smirked opening the door and letting his companion in first. 'Watari found me when I was eleven and so our journey through the world of crime has started and lasts until today.'
'It's so hard to imagine an eleven-year-old child working on the case of murder or drug trafficking.' The brunette frowned eyeing the raven-haired man by his side.
'It has always been my destiny, Light-kun' L smiled and Light thought that he'd noticed a spark of sadness in his eyes but it quickly disappeared and the onyx orbs became unreadable again. The detective led Light to the surgery on the second floor of the building. On their way they passed by a lot of people in white smocks and patients in blue hospital pajamas of which some looked truly mentally ill. The brunette swallowed hardly not liking the fact that his little sis had to spend her time there, surrounded by such difficult cases.
Ryuuzaki knocked on the door with the table with doctor Swift's name on it and opened it.
'Perfectly on time' Connor smiled looking at them from above his spectacles putting aside the certificates he'd been holding and standing up. 'Nice to see you again, Mr. Yagami, Ryuuzaki.' He shook their hands. 'Would you like some tea before we go to Miss Sayu…?' He asked Light who shook his head quickly.
'No, thank you. Just take me to my sister' he demanded.
'Certainly' the doctor was keeping his polite smile. 'In this case, follow me, please.'
Light breathed out in relief seeing that they were heading for a different ward in the other part of the hospital.
When they were walking along the corridors suddenly the blonde teenage boy all clad in black and tight leather rushed into Connor.
'What have I told you about these clothes, Mello?' The doctor sighed looking at the blonde. 'I would like you to dress up in something normal for a change.'
'There is no point in saying this again, doc' the teen muttered crossing his arms. 'We both know that I won't listen to you anyway. Save your throat.'
Swift sighed again and looked around. 'Where is Near?' He asked.
'I left him in the game room. He doesn't do anything more than playing with all his robots and puzzles, after all' Mello rolled his eyes playing with a black rosary hanging on his neck. 'Why do I have to take care of him by the way? There are dozens of other patients here!' He nagged piercing his crystal blue eyes to the man in front of him.
'We've discussed this matter over hundred of times already. I don't have time for your complaining now. Come back to him at once' Swift ordered in a firm tone.
Mello turned to L and Light and smirked. 'Oh, new patients? Cool, I was bored to death with the same unintelligent guys and their everyday routine of staring at the blank wall and drooling…'
'Come back to your friend now' the doctor raised his voice becoming irritated by the behavior of this insolent blonde.
'Friend? You gotta be kidding' Mello chuckled turning around on his heels and walking down the corridor swaying his hips excessively. 'He's much closer to my nemesis. Spending my time with this damn fluffy head is the worst punishment for my sins you could ever come up with!' He threw in taking a turn and disappearing behind the door to the stairwell.
'I am sorry for him' Swift said to the couple by his side. 'Mello is a walking trouble.'
'Is he a patient here?' Light asked following the doctor.
'A patient? Thankfully not' Connor mumbled heading for the last room in the row. 'He's more like a volunteer despite his will here…' he grabbed the knob of the door. 'Ready for seeing your sister, Mr. Yagami?' He smiled changing the topic and Light immediately forgot about the leather-clad teen. He gulped and slowly followed Swift inside…
…
'Sayu, you have guests today' the doctor said smiling lightly while looking at the dark-haired girl on the wheelchair sitting by the window. She slowly turned her head to the source of the voice. Light froze looking into her dark brown eyes and feeling squeezing in his throat.
'Sayu…' he whispered smiling weakly and slowly coming to her. She was sitting still and not saying anything but at least she was looking at him. 'I've missed you so much…' his smile widened when he embraced her delicately. She didn't return the hug but buried her face into Light's neck making him almost cry of happiness. Even though it wasn't much, it still was a seven-league change in her behavior which was making the young auburn-haired male boundlessly happy.
'You're doing well, aren't you, Sayu?' Doctor Swift asked sitting on the chair nearby the small table. 'Your sister makes real progress, Mr. Yagami' he told Light with pride in his voice. 'Even though by the first peek one doesn't see the improvement, I, as the doctor who leads her case, can tell that she really wants this therapy to be effective. You must know, Mr. Yagami, that in such cases the result depends on the attitude of the patient in the major part. And Sayu — he stood up and patted her shoulder — really cares.'
Light couldn't be happier hearing that.
'I've always known that we will make it, little sis' he smiled through tears pecking her cheek gently. 'I am so proud of you' he whispered in her ear. She set her sight on L widening her eyes lightly. 'Ah, yes, Ryuuzaki is with me today' Light said noticing her look. Her lips widened in a very faint smile when she moved her eyes to Light again. The brunette knew exactly what was the meaning of this gesture and flushed lightly. 'You're perceptive as ever, little sis' he whispered in her ear. 'Is it that obvious…?' He smiled sheepishly at her. The girl didn't respond but her lips remained widened in a small smirk. 'I will tell you about it another time' he promised patting her hand and stood up turning to the doctor. 'No words could ever express my whole gratefulness—' he started but Swift interrupted him.
'Let's not count the chickens before they're hatched, shall we?' He asked in a warm tone. 'We'll talk about it when Sayu's fully alright again' he winked at him taking them to the exit.
'I'll come back, Sayu' Light promised sending her an honest smile and waving her goodbye. She didn't wave back but he knew that she did it mentally.
'I have to excuse you now' Swift said looking at his watch. 'I have an urgent case to take care of. Will you manage to find the way out without my help?'
'No worries, Conor. We'll be fine' Ryuuzaki said taking Light's hand. 'See you next time' he added observing him disappearing on the turn of the corridor.
'Oh, Ryuuzaki, I cannot find the appropriate words to describe how I feel…' Light sighed embracing him tightly.
'I told you there was nothing to fear, Light-kun' the detective muttered stroking Light's cheek.
'In this matter I tend to overreact a bit…' the brunette murmured pecking L's lips as they were walking down the corridor.
Suddenly the same blonde from before barred them the way. He was pushing the wheelchair with another boy clad in white pajamas with unusual bluish hair.
'Hello again' he smirked at the two leaning his hand against the hip. 'So you're not new patients in the end…?' He asked with a tone of disappointment in his voice.
'No' Light shook his head looking curiously at them.
'Such a shame!' Mello exclaimed tousling his straight blond hair. 'You two finally look like a good company whereas I am sentenced to this' he gestured at the albino boy on the wheelchair.
'This is that friend of yours you take care of?' Light asked eyeing the teen in white.
'He's not my friend…!' Mello drawled with frustration in his voice. 'Fluffy head is only the worst karma I could ever get' he snorted peeking at his companion.
'You're being so rude' the brunette stated feeling some kind of the sympathy for the albino who could obviously hear these words but seemed not to care. 'Well, it was nice but we were just exciting—'
'Wait!' Mello pulled the wheelchair with Near and followed them. 'Don't deprive me of the only opportunity to talk to someone normal!'
'How did you get here?' L asked arching a brow. The term "a volunteer despite the will" was unusually accurate in this case.
'Do you happen to recognize the criminal Mafia organization from L.A.?' The blonde asked looking at them daringly.
'Yes, I do' L did remember that he'd had massive problems with them a few years before until some other criminals hadn't done in all but one of its members. It wasn't his business what had happened to the only one survivor, though.
'So you must know what happened to this bunch of morons three years ago…' Mello muttered clenching his fists on the wheelchair. 'If they had listened to me then, it wouldn't have ever happened and I wouldn't have to rot in this madhouse!' He snapped bitterly.
'Are you suggesting that you are that one survivor…?' L didn't manage to hide his surprise.
'Not only suggesting. I am this one survivor' the blonde threw in.
'Then why are you here instead of the prison?' The detective narrowed his eyes feeling that his sense of justice ached a bit.
'Because I was fifteen then and they established that I was mentally broken by the other Mafia members.' The blonde explained smoothly.
'But were you…?' L was pressing.
'One hell knows' Mello snarled. 'But the truth is that I don't remember anything from before they made me one of the members. Anyway — he brushed off the unruly wisp out of his forehead — I ended up here helping all these idiots with IQ of the Neanderthal and being a personal maid of the fluffy head' he pointed at Near.
'You're absolutely insolent' Light stated suddenly joining the conversation again.
'Well, boo-hoo, welcome to my world, ukie' he smirked seeing the scarlet blush all over Light's face. 'Was it a lucky guess by any chance?' He chuckled adjusting a black leather glove on his hand.
'I… We… oh, God, you deserve every single bit of your karma!' Light exclaimed desperately wanting to disappear.
'No flames, I just voice out my thoughts. That's a thing normal people do' Mello smirked and pushed the button calling for the elevator. 'You know, fluffy head, it would be much easier if you didn't pretend to be disabled' he said to the albino. 'Driving you around the hospital is idiotic.'
'I don't know a word appropriate for describing your lack of manners' Light snorted coming inside the lift.
'Near is capable of walking. He's just such a lazy ass.' Mello rolled his eyes patting Near's shoulder. 'Choose the floor, fluffy head' he said and Near pressed the button which would take the elevator to the highest floor. 'Oh, I assume that this is goodbye' the blonde said looking at L and Light. 'Don't forget to visit us during the next time you're at little Sayu's' he smirked seeing them leaving the lift quickly on the ground floor.
'Christ, what a horribly unmannered person!' The brunette snapped in indignation. 'No way, I don't want to meet him ever again…!'
L was drowned in his own thoughts. That was a surprise - was Mello really the only one survivor of the carnage of the Mafia group…? And if so, what L should do with this information…?
…
During the next days L was much more distant, always drowned in his own thoughts not even trying to keep up any conversation Light would attempt. The brunette didn't know what was the case for such strange behavior - it wasn't like Ryuuzaki at all.
Usually, the detective was the one who would initiate the majority of the physical contact between them, taking great care of innocent touches or kisses here and there all day long.
As much as Light didn't want to, he needed to admit that he started seriously missing it. He wanted the old L again.
The detective didn't have time for their dates anymore - he would excuse himself saying he had much work with the newest case he'd taken but Light subconsciously felt that it wasn't the only reason. L had been solving cases when they had already been in a relationship before and then he'd always found some time to go with Light for a coffee or to the cinema.
The brunette was becoming truly frustrated and angry at him - as his boyfriend, he had the right to demand more attention from him. He was supposed to be the most important person to him, for god's sake!
That day, Light was waiting for L and their training session exceptionally drifting calmly in the pool being on his back and staring at the ceiling. The coolness of the water didn't bother him at all - he'd grown accustomed to it so long time ago. Being in the water, he could always think more clearly and he finally came to the conclusion that today he would finally find out what the hell was occupying all of Ryuuzaki's thoughts and attention.
Light closed his eyes for a moment relaxing and letting himself get lost in the moment, forgetting about his problems for a while.
When he reopened them, he noticed the black-haired man glancing at him from above. He sent his smile to L looking into the onyx orbs of his boyfriend.
'You're in the water, Light-kun' L stated arching a brow. That was quite unusual to have Light in the pool during his lesson.
'Indeed' the brunette sighed and came back to the upright position leaning against the edge of the pool. 'I needed to gather my thoughts… Now, as you are already here, we might start the training…' he prepared himself to leave the water.
'Wait' L prevented him quickly throwing off his clothes and joining the brunette at once without any warm-up. He shuddered at the contact of the cold liquid. 'How can you survive in such low temperature without even a wince…?' He muttered standing by Light's left side.
'That's why you should have warmed your body up before you jumped inside' the auburn-haired male rolled his eyes coming closer to him and this time being the first to create a friction between them. He placed his arms around L's neck and pulled him into the kiss in the appropriate greeting. The detective hummed in contentedness placing his hands on Light's bare chest and pushing him lightly against the pool's wall.
Getting lost in the kiss, Light unconsciously raised his legs up slowly wrapping them around L's waist and hugging him like a koala bear.
Ryuuzaki broke the kiss feeling that and goggled his eyes staring at the brunette in his arms.
'I-is it wrong…?' Light stammered out reddening brightly and evading L's eyes. His legs slowly loosened the grip. L quickly caught them keeping them in place.
'No...' he purred lowly leaning closer to his boyfriend. 'It's perfect.'
The young male pulled him into the kiss again feeling the need to make up for the last month when L had been almost beyond his reach all of the time.
'Are you still cold?' Light asked near L's lips stroking the back of his neck.
'No, Raito' the detective whispered back with a smile. 'You're my private heater here.' He pecked Light's forehead feeling the nice warmth emitting from his boyfriend's body which was clung to his chest. 'What have I done to receive such a nice prize…?' He murmured in Light's ear placing his hands on the brunette's hips in a possessive manner.
'I am not doing this for you, Ryuuzaki' Light snorted burying his face into the crook of L's neck. 'It's a prize for myself for enduring well all the weeks you had no time for me' he said in a somewhat accusing tone.
'Are you affected that much, Light-kun…?' The detective asked widening his lips in a triumphant smirk.
'Since our visit in Sayu's hospital we haven't spent even one evening together, Ryuuzaki. Hell, we barely ever talked! You may call me impatient but it did affect me that much' the brunette snarled at him hugging him tighter. 'Do you know that in the act of desperation I started talking with Watari?' Light smirked looking up at him. 'He told me some interesting things about you, Ryuuzaki' his smirk was utterly evil.
'What did he tell you?' L narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
'He told me many things…' Light snickered biting his bottom lip provocatively. 'No wonder your carnation is so pale if you never eat carrots' he said moving one of his hands to the front part of L's body and resting it above the detective's heart. 'Your diet must be changed thoroughly' he added looking daringly into L's eyes.
'Not a chance, Light-kun' Ryuuzaki murmured with a smirk leaning down for a peck again. 'You won't ever be able to do that.'
'We shall see' the brunette muttered letting his legs fall down onto the other sides of L's body. 'I also got to know how ticklish you appear to be right here.' He suddenly brushed his fingers down the detective's lower spine making him shiver ever so slightly. Light chuckled seeing this reaction and enjoying his temporary victory. He quickly left the pool leaving the disoriented black-haired man in the water with a dumbfounded expression on his face.
'Such a pity that you haven't done any warm-up, Ryuuzaki' he mocked taking the towel and drying his soaking hair. 'You may be really regretting it after today's training session.' He smirked wiping off his body and putting on the shorts and t-shirt.
L gritted his teeth promising to himself he would have his revenge on the auburn-haired swimmer afterwards. How much he hated losing!
'Ah, one more thing, Ryuuzaki' Light caught his attention again sitting onto the podium. 'Today you're telling me what you have been working on so hard for all that time' he murmured with a playful look in his eyes. 'I do not accept any excuses. I expect the whole truth without any tricks' he demanded firmly coming back to his bag for a whistle. 'And now, as everything is already clear, we finally start our lesson' he clapped his hands urging the detective to swim and feeling much better than he'd had during the past four weeks.
Second Note: Mello and Near are my favorite characters in DN (apart from L and Light, of course). I am really content that I made them a part of it. They are holding so many secrets... Nothing here is what it seems to be. I hope you'll get to like them in this story as much as I do ;) May I count on any reviews...? ;3