Metamorphosis 21

"I can't wait to sleep in my own bed tonight," Lawliet said happily as he gathered the few things he had in the hospital room that he wanted to take with him. He had finally been released and he couldn't get out of there fast enough. Wammy acknowledged the statement with a nod as he stood with Lawliet's doctor signing the proper paperwork that would get him released.

"I can understand that," he said, "And I'm glad you feel that way as you will be spending a good deal of time in it for at least another ten days." Lawliet stopped packing and turned to stare at him.

"What? Wammy come on, I've got so much to catch up on, not to mention the special project, which I've not been able to do anything on for weeks…" he complained. Wammy ignored him as he continued to consult with the doctor, not answering until the doctor had left.

"This isn't up for discussion," Wammy told him, "Your doctor has given me all of the information because he knew you wouldn't pay any attention to it judging by your behavior while being here. It was not simply because his wounds were not as deep as yours that Light was released over a week ago and not you, Lawliet." He reminded him.

L pouted and sat down on the bed slowly so as not to tear stitches, crossing his arms in annoyance. He had been more than aggravated when Light had been released, even though Light spent every night with him anyway, coming back at dinner time and letting him know what was going on at school, but it still pissed him off that he was stuck there at the hospital while Light was free to go. Now he was finally leaving and he had to stay in bed at home for another ten days? He refused to do this quietly, when Wammy wasn't looking he would…

"And don't think that I won't know it if you're up and about when you're not supposed to be," Watari said as if he'd heard Lawliet's thoughts, "Remember your apartment is wired and has cameras I control, I will be monitoring it and if you do not behave I will have you restrained." L's large eyes widened even more, and blinked at Wammy in complete surprise.

"You'd…restraints? Me?" he sputtered and Wammy nodded, moving closer to him so that they were nearly nose-to-nose.

"Yes young man, absolutely," he told him, "You have to continue healing and the only reason you are being released now is because you have been quite rude and obnoxious recently to the doctors and nurses whose only job is to make sure you heal properly, you have been quite the annoying prat, and I will not stand for any more of it."

"I…but…I was just tired of this place, I didn't…" Lawliet began and Wammy shook his head.

"Understandable but not excusable," he continued, "And you will apologize to them before we leave." Lawliet opened his mouth to argue but he knew better, and as he thought about it, Wammy was correct. He had been a pill over the last week, so much so that even Light had told him to relax a few times and apologized for him. He sighed and looked away, shoving his hands into his pockets

"Alright, I'm sorry," he mumbled and Wammy finally smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I know you are, you have been through a lot, I simply don't wish you to lose yourself over it." Lawliet nodded and smiled back, glad to see Wammy's smile again. He turned and went back to packing, closing up the bag.

"Before you leave Lawliet, you should talk to your brother, you haven't since you've been here." Wammy said gently.

Lawliet began to shake his head violently, his eyes wide again but this time with anger and fear.

"No, I have nothing to say to him. Isn't it enough I didn't throw him in jail for trying to kill me and Light?" Wammy sighed and shook his head.

"I believe you two have volumes that need to be said to each other and although I understand your feelings Lawliet, you know he wasn't in his right mind, he would never have hurt you or Light had situations not been as they were. He needs to hear from you that you've forgiven him; he needs it to help him heal and move forward. He is still your brother, and he needs to see you."

Lawliet couldn't stop the tears that suddenly sprang to his eyes, as the thought of facing his would be murderer brother again. He hated the fact that it frightened him more than he wanted to admit and he shook his head again.

"He could barely stand me before, I doubt very seriously if he needs to see me at all now," he turned to face his mentor. "Please…I can't Wammy, I can't," he pleaded, the look on B's face as he came after him and then slashed Light flashing in his mind over and over. He hadn't told anyone but he would see it whenever he closed his eyes at night to try to sleep, and only recently was he able to banish it from his mind so he could rest. He had never seen such pure hate and fury directed at him, and he was terrified to see it again. If he had to really look into those eyes again, eyes that never really looked at him with anything more than annoyance or distaste anyway, he didn't think he could take it.

Wammy watched him for a moment, angry with himself for trying to push the boy into something he obviously was far from ready to deal with, he should have known better.

Apparently Lawliet had a lot of healing to do as well. He gently rubbed the boy's back and tried to soothe him.

"Aright son, relax. You won't have to do that today, you're not ready. I'm not even sure if Beyond is ready for that confrontation either in reality, but both of you will have to face this eventually, just not right now." Lawliet nodded and got control of himself.

"I'm sorry, I am disappointing you in every possible way today," Lawliet apologized as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

"No Lawliet, you have never disappointed me. I am guilty of pushing too hard; it's something I have come to realize just recently." He handed the teen tissues and picked up his bag, "Come on, Light's waiting for you."

At the mention of Light, Lawliet immediately brightened, remembering that for the first time in weeks they would be together in his apartment again, able to be together without having to hide anything from anyone.

"Lawliet, I need to do one thing before we leave," Wammy said after making sure the teen was safe in the car, "I'll be right back." Lawliet nodded and sat back against the seat to wait.

Light nervously played with the ring box, tossing it from hand to hand as he waited for Misa to join him. He looked at his watch for what seemed like the hundredth time since he had called her to join him out in the garden. He wanted this done and over with before Lawliet came home and the last thing he wanted was for him to come home and find him with Misa.

He had tried several times to talk to her but she was always with a gaggle of her friends, going on and on about how brave he had been, how terrified she had been and how she couldn't wait for them to go back to Japan to be married and get away from all of this. He finally got her attention by telling her he wanted to talk to her about the ring, and alone.

He'd been out of the hospital for at least a week and had spent most of that time trying to decide exactly what to do and how to say it to hurt her the least, but no matter what he came up with he knew it was going to hurt and there was nothing he could do about it.

He groaned inwardly when he heard the high-pitched sound of his name coming from her as she ran towards him. There were times he wished he could tune down her voice, it reached heights he was sure every dog in England could hear. He chuckled to himself and stood as she got closer to him.

"Oh Light this is so romantic out here!" she cooed as she looked around, "I bet I know what you have on your mind!" He sighed and shook his head.

"No, I don't think you do," he said quietly then motioned for her to sit down on the bench and then sat next to her. "I have something very serious to discuss with you." She giggled and gently pressed her hand to his chest.

"Is it still very painful?" she asked, "I guess what happened made you realize what was really important to you?"

"You're right, it did, and no, it's just a bit tender right now. Now I know…what are you doing?" he asked as she began to unbutton his shirt.

"I haven't seen the scar, I bet it's sexy, even though it's a shame you have a scar on your beautiful chest, I'm sure it makes you look even more manly!' she said as Light fought her probing fingers.

"Misa…stop it, I'm trying to be serious…come on knock it off!" he nearly shouted at her, pulling her hands away.

"Stop being so shy Light, we're going to be married there's no harm in…"

"No…no we're not going to be married Misa, that's what I'm trying to tell you!" he finally blurted out and she stopped and stared at him.

"What? Of course we are! Oh, I know what's wrong; you 're upset because your father got all stupid when he came to visit. It's okay, my dad says he can change his mind and put you back in his good graces after we graduate and move back to Japan and once we get married how could he stay mad at you ?"

"Misa it's not just that, I'm pretty sure the relationship between myself and my father is all but done, and if it wasn't before it certainly will be after he learns about what I'm about to tell you," he sighed and handed her the box, "I need you to send this back to him, Misa, you 're not going to need it." Misa continued to stare at him before she took the box.

"What do you mean?" she said in almost a whisper, "Why won't I need it?"

"Because there is no engagement Misa, there will be no wedding, no marriage. I'm sorry, I've been telling you this for such a long time but you never listened and after a while I just stopped trying because you were talking to my family and causing all kinds of trouble. It's over Misa, and I'm not going to pretend any longer. I'm really sorry, I don't mean to hurt you, but it's over." Misa looked down at the box and then back up at him, his expression serious but gentle as well.

"But why Light?" she asked as it finally set in, huge tears running down her face, "I love you Light, what have I done wrong?"

"You just didn't listen to me, Misa. How often over the past several years have I told you I'm not interested in girls? I've told you I was gay…" She shook her head and stood up.

"But you 're not gay, you're just confused, all of the pressure you've been under; if you just give us a chance…" he stood up and took a deep breath.

"No, Misa I'm not confused, that's my parents and your parents talking. I know what I am, I know what I want and…I know who I love and I'm sorry but it isn't you, and I'm sorry." He turned and began to walk away when a shriek from her made him stop and turn around. Her hurt had turned to anger, and she threw the ring at him, screaming as she did.

"You idiot!" she screamed at him, "Take this back and give it to him then, and when you finally realize you can't have a real family with him, then maybe when you come crawling back to me I'll take you back, if I haven't found someone else! You can't make a fool out of me Light Yagami, I'll tell everyone I dumped you because you don't know what you want and I got tired of waiting for you to decide! Go back to your lover Light, go back to Lawliet I could care less!" she turned from him then and walked in the other direction. Light watched her and sighed. "I am sorry, Misa," he called after her but she completely ignored him. He picked up the ring and took it back with him, he'd send it back to his father then, at least he could get his money back for it. At least it was over and he could prepare for Lawliet coming home. He picked up his pace and ran back to the building so he'd be ready when Wammy did bring him from the hospital.

Beyond looked up from his lunch as he heard the lock on the sliding door to his room click. He had hoped it was A coming early as it wasn't his time yet, but instead it was Wammy. He sighed and went back to eating his lunch.

"How are you Beyond?", Wammy asked as he walked closer to the teen who merely shrugged in answer, "Look at me son," Wammy asked softly and Beyond sighed, put his plastic spoon down and looked at him.

"What is it that you want from me?" he finally asked the older man.

"First, I want to know how you really are feeling," Wammy answered, "Your doctor says your outbursts are down significantly, which is a very good thing. It means you're controlling your anger Beyond, that's an achievement, it should make you feel good."

Beyond chuckled and sat back in is chair and smiled at Wammy. "Yes, I'm being a very good boy. I'm allowed longer visits with A when I'm a good boy so why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, whatever the reason it means you 're getting better, and the faster that happens, the faster you'll be out of here and back to Wammy's." At that Beyond laughed even harder.

"Back to Wammy's? Is that what you think I'm working towards? Hardly, when I get out of here, A and I are leaving here and going home; we're done here." Wammy shook his head.

"Are you sure that's wise, Beyond?", he asked, "You're only a few short months away from graduation. I'm going to have your work brought here for you so you can complete your credits until you can come back and graduate. Then your future is assured..."

"My future is assured with or without Wammy's," Beyond answered, reaching for his Styrofoam cup of coffee, "A and I have always planned what we would do when school was over and that's what will happen whether I graduate or not," he sighed and then smiled, "As I have to do something to pass the time I will do the work, but I will not return to Wammy's."

"Well, perhaps you'll finish your credits and earn your certificate whilst you're here, and there'll be no need to actually return. I image it could be difficult for you after all that's happened in reality."

"If you 're worried about what othesr might think of me, that isn't anything I care about Wammy, I never did," Beyond told him with an odd twinkle in his eye, "I would probably enjoy watching them run from me, whispering behind my back until I turned around and they would stop, staring at me in fear of what I might do; yes, I think that would be enjoyable, but even that promising amusement isn't enough to make me want to walk those halls again." He looked away for a moment, looking down at his hands. "I don't want to go back there and relive that moment of seeing A…covered in his own blood; even now just the mere memory makes all of those feelings return just under the surface," he looked at Wammy, "It's safer if I don't return there."

"I understand," Wammy sighed, "Perhaps it would be for the best then. I also wanted to tell you that Lawliet is going home today, he has sufficiently recovered to leave." Beyond gave a half smile and went back to his lunch.

"How nice for him, I'm glad he is healing nicely. I don't imagine he'll come up to say good-bye?"

"No, I'm sorry Beyond. As you have things to get over, so does he." Wammy answered and for a moment he saw a trace of sadness cross the teen's face.

"I imagine so. I dislike many things about my brother, but I never wished him dead Wammy, you understand."

"We are both aware of that," Wammy assured him, "but the attack has left him understandably shaken. I'm sure with a little more time he'll come and visit you."

"I won't hold my breath," Beyond chuckled and pushed the tray away, lying back on his bed and closed his eyes, "I'm tired Wammy, and I'm sure Lawliet is waiting for you."

"I'm sure he is," Wammy answered, "I'll be back to look in on you tomorrow, rest well."

Beyond didn't answer so Wammy turned and let the attendants know he was ready to leave. He turned and looked in on the teen again as the door was closed and relocked, then sighed and walked away.