Infection
By DXM Junkie
Summary: A virus contaminates an entire country within three days. The top detective in the world seeks answers while the innocent suspect trails along. Tensions rise as death seems imminent. Light and L have no choice but to cling to one another as they search for a way out. LXLIGHT YAOI
Author's Note: So, I just want to say right now that this chapter has a specific dedication! Actually; it's to three people in particular. First off is my very lovely girlfriend (yes, I'm dating an adorable girl!) Jamie-Chan! She always gives me criticism and tells me what she really feels about my character development. She's the only person who I've actually talked to (in real life) about this story. She helps me with ideas and is always there to support me! Her opinion is very high in my mind because she's read as much (if not more) Deathnote Yaoi fanfiction than I have!
Second is to Kitsune55! You always tell me what you get out of the chapter; and it enchants me that you find the hidden meaning I was trying to convey! I can tell that your actually reading this story, and you're reviews are often the ones I look most forward to getting! It's not just 'cool' or 'kawaii' or 'update soon' but, "So Rachel is scarred emotionally because she may have unintentionally hurt a child; yet L is unconsciously becoming more comfortable around Light, and Light is becoming more motherly…" That means so much to me!! (Hugs you tightly) Thank you so very much!
Lastly I dedicate this chapter to Corey Lynn Creger (1989-2007). Yes, the character "Corey" is named after this person. Corey Creger was my first roommate in college last year. Right after Thanksgiving she died in a small plane accident with her boyfriend and his father, Chester Mayo. (Of the Billionaire Mayo Clinic Family, I had not known this until later.) She was only eighteen years old, and she was the perfect roommate I could have ever hoped for. I had been so worried about getting a 'Pink Girl' roommate who I would loath (I'm very much a hippie punk rocker), and as it turns out I walked into my room on that first day and saw a giant White Stripes poster and a closet full of black. We got along so well, smoked cigarettes together, and she always cheered me up. When she died it was pretty hard for me to take. I was quoted in several articles about Corey afterwards, and just recently her family held a benefit concert for her.
So, yes, this is my informing everyone that the character "Corey" holds a special place in my heart.
Chapter Twenty Eight: The Damage
The alarm they had set the night before went off slightly after dawn. Because the mall had no windows the group were unaware of this, but all got up easily enough. If L thought it strange to suddenly sleep by two females, he didn't say anything. He merely gave Light a tired look and they left the store together in search of fresh clothing and something to eat.
Corey held Light's hand as they descended to the basement lobby. Rachel trailed slightly behind them, looking decidedly ill. L took a monotonous glance back at her, she hadn't said anything that morning. That was just a tad unusual for her, but L did understand that the night before had probably been difficult on the adolescent girl. He wasn't that socially inept to be oblivious to her pain.
"Miss Rachel?" He questioned softly, earning her attention.
Dull green eyes met his and she gave a forced smile, "I'm just thirsty, is all."
Light looked back at her over his shoulder and gave her an honest smile, "Dehydration is the reason people have hangovers."
Rachel blinked, "I'm not hung-over though,"
"You didn't drink all that much last night. Though you did snuggle pretty close to me," Light teased, earning a slightly less fake smile. Rachel tossed her hair over her shoulders and sighed to herself when they reached the lobby, going directly to a jug of water and chugging it dry. L fixed up Corey a small snack to eat without saying another word. Light stood by the table that still had their dirty dishes and wine glasses from the night before. He watched L and the children for one long moment before heaving a sigh.
"L?" He queried, cocking his head to one side. L's deep eyes met his own just seconds later.
"I'm going to the roof, to keep watch. You stay with the girls. I'm pretty sure that you'll be able to hear the helicopter when it comes but still…" Light trailed off. L blinked then nodded, his attention turning back to Corey who was tugging impatiently on his left hand. Light turned and left the lobby without another word. He could hear the shoes he was wearing tap on the floor quietly. Light hadn't worn shoes much at all since he'd entered the mall. There was really no reason to, after all, so the noise slightly disconcerted him. He opened the door to the stairwell with his mural on it and paused in front of his art work.
Light had decided that he was going to leave all of his artwork in the mall. He wasn't really even sure if he would continue on with drawing and painting afterwards. There was far too much work to be done for that to happen. This had probably just been a passing fancy, though Light held a new respect for artists who created works throughout their lives. His own mural wasn't professionally done or even all that great; but Light was proud of it. Light sighed and walked right up to the wall, he could smell the thick paint fumes. His hand trailed across the image, over the pile of corpses and around the edges of the mall, fingers pressing into where the brick indented. He closed his eyes for one long moment then took one step back. He admired his own work of art for a long moment, it would be the last time he would see it for the rest of his life.
Finally memorizing the image into the deepest part of his brain, Light turned and ascended up the three flights of stairs that led to the roof. When he got to the door he pulled it open. The sky was a light cerulean this morning, hues of pink and red touching just above the horizon. Only a quarter of the sun could be seen peaking above the buildings in the distance. If he turned around Light could still see some stars and the waning moon. The air wasn't chilled, it was comfortable. It was slightly humid because of the dew that clung to everything. The gravel below his feet appeared to be wet. Light walked over to the edge of the wall, in the exact spot he had fainted and fallen on the pile. The smell of rotting flesh wasn't that prominent at the moment, it was bearable. Looking down Light could see the shirt he had thrown off in wild desperation laying on the ground three stories below him. It looked slightly trampled on and filthy. The fabric was clinging to the concrete below it because of a recent rainstorm. Light's eyes trailed across the vast horizon and he moved across the wall, walking right next to it with his hand lightly tracing the top edge.
When he reached the south side and peered below his eyes became sad. Chunks of what appeared to be meat lay scattered outside two large metal doors that Light knew were the electronic store doors. Those little chunks of meat where all that remain of Kent. Those were human remains. Turning away quickly and forcing down the vomit that threatened to rise, Light walked back towards where the door was and collapsed next to it in the same spot he had been sitting when talking with Rachel just days before. It was silent, Light mused, resting his head against the metal. He pushed all thoughts of Kent from his head after a long moment. Those things were far too painful to think about. It had been Light's fault that Kent was dead after all, so it was his fault that Corey had been in so much pain.
He didn't know how long he sat there, thinking about various things, watching the sun rise silently. It had seemed like forever. Light contemplated L, all the things he had learned about the crouched detective over the last month and a half. He thought about his new intimate relationship with the man. Light would have never in a million years guessed he would now have a boyfriend, that he would be in a gay relationship with the top detective in the entire world. That thought sort of floored him a bit, but also made him feel oddly flattered that L had chosen him above all others.
Light knew that he was attractive. He knew that with the correct sway of his hair and the subtle change in his eyes that he could woo any person; male or female. When in middle school he had often amused himself by playing with people, meanly pretending that he was interested in them before giving them the cold shoulder. For some reason his cruelty didn't prevent him from being well-liked. It had seemed to actually boost his popularity. The foolish girls in his school had said that it made him seem 'mysterious'. Well, that was a load of bullshit. Light had just been toying with them.
But Light also knew that L wasn't attracted to just his good looks. L had been the first person who seemed completely oblivious to Light's charms. When Light would give a sweet smile, L wouldn't even bat an eyelash. Instead, L would look at him and in his silent language tell Light that he could see right through him. L didn't give a shit about Light's good looks, back then it had always been that L would be the one to cause Light's death. But now, Light mused, L was attracted to him physically.
Light knew this because of the look the detective would get in his eyes when he would gaze at Light; he knew this because of the intimate sexual intercourse they had. L wouldn't offer his body up to anyone like that without heavy consideration. L didn't make such huge choices lightly, and it was quite significant that they had become lovers at all. Light wondered if maybe it was his intelligence that L liked. It certainly couldn't be his kindness. Light had no abundance of that virtue; rather the opposite. Light was arrogant and conceded. Then again, so was L. Light's hand palmed the bottom of his chin and he hummed aloud softly.
L was probably the most conceited person that Light knew, excluding himself. He wondered how two men like them could have possibly ever worked out. But, they did. Light enjoyed having the detective to himself, he enjoyed their sometimes childish and pointless conversations about being the Astrophysics Man and Logical Lad. He enjoyed kissing L, and trailing his hands along the smooth skin that was taunt around L's petite body. Light closed his eyes and smiled to himself as he thought about the detective's naked body beneath his own. Light had pretty much been forced into being on bottom the last round, but Light knew that he would have the detective beneath him somehow. Light wasn't the type to just submit to such things constantly. This thought in mind, as Light began to formulate plans to seduce L into being the uke, he heard a sound in the distance.
Eyes snapping open, Light stood up and walked towards where he was hearing the sound. It sounded like it was coming from the southwest. His eyes strained against the vast pink and blue sky, searching desperately for what he hoped the sound was. Finally, after several moments, his vision locked onto a tiny dot far into the distance. His mouth spread into a wide grin and he flung around, rushing back into the mall and down the stairs. He nearly tripped when he got to the bottom, but he quickly regained his balance. He reached the lobby several moments later.
"I saw it!" He stated excitedly, startling the occupants of the room. They stood staring at the ecstatic boy for several long moments before his words seemed to click in each of their minds. L blinked then nodded, scooping Corey up into his arms. Her arms flung around L's neck and her eyes were wide with wonder. Rachel was filling a small black purse up with a few things and she quickly slung the long strap over her shoulder before nodding. They turned and rushed up the stairs together, Light first followed by Rachel and L and Corey trailing in the tail. Light was slightly out of breath by the time they got back up onto the roof, but the sound of whooshing air and the helicopter were now clearer. Rachel's face also split into a wide grin as she ran to the edge of the mall, leaning over it slightly and laughing happily.
"Oh my god!" She cried, looking like she was going to cry. Her long hair was blowing over her face because of the wind. Corey was hiding her face into the crook of L's neck and Light stood next to L, grinning like a child at the elder detective. He could see L's eyes slightly soften at the expression, and Light reached out and twined his fingers with L's without a word. All four watched in silence as their salvation came to them, in the form of an elderly man and a nameless military personnel. They had been stuck in that mall for so many days, and finally they would be able to leave. Light would be able to return to his home, to Japan.
No more inhuman shrieks of zombies, no more worrying about their mall being broken into, no more fearing walking out side, and no more stench of rotting corpses permeating everything. Freedom. It had been just a word for them for so many days but now it was going to be turning into a verb. Now it was going to be a course of action. As the helicopter got close enough to see them, Rachel was laughing loudly and waving her arms unnecessarily. Obviously it would be pretty hard to miss the four figures at the slight distance, but the remaining group could understand her enthusiasm. L too was very excited about leaving, only his thought process was more along the lines of, '...strawberry cheese cake! Cream Puffs! Crepes with whipping cream and cherries!'
The helicopter slowly descended, as the propellers got closer to the mall the loose gravel began to pick up and fling at them. L turned around, shielding Corey away from the rocks and the harsh wind. Light curled his arms around Rachel and was slightly blinded by her blowing hair, but he managed to pretty much protect her too. A couple rocks hit him pretty hard along his arms, he knew that there would be bruises tomorrow, but he couldn't find himself even noticing as the helicopter finally set down. The propellers slowed down slightly but didn't stop. Light was finally able to get a clear look at it. A metal door was sliding open and a man with a mask and military gear was motioning for them to hurry and come forward.
L was first, his hair blowing wildly as he handed Corey to the man on the helicopter. Corey was trying to cling to L but they managed to get her to let him go. L clambered up the tiny distance before turning around and grasping Rachel's hand. She nearly tripped as she got up but the man grabbed her other arm and between the two of them it was easy to hoist her into the plane. Light was last, when L reached out his hand toward Light he took it without question, also being hoisted into the helicopter. There were small seats indenting out of the walls. The man was helping Rachel strap belts over her torso, L turned around and did the same for Corey. Rachel was next to the window on the other side, Corey in the middle. Light sat down towards the rear of the plane so he would be able to sit next to L.
He fiddled with several different straps before two hands reached out and helped him. The man tightened the straps easily, giving him the thumbs up when he was finished. He then went back and began to strap in himself, sitting next to Corey. L was standing towards the front of the plane, and he sat in the copilots seat. Watari was next to him.
When L saw Quillish Wammy for the first time in a month and a half, (the longest he had been away from his 'father figure' since he was five years old) he gave the elderly man a look that conveyed many different emotions. It was obvious that L felt such a sense of gratitude, but that was mixed with affection and a sense of gratefulness he probably would never be able to convey with words. Watari gave a quick glance back to the Yagami Raito that had slightly longer hair and looked far more amiable than Watari had ever recalled before flipping a few buttons and relaying a message over his intercom. He switched on a toggle and began to push forward, the plane rising from the mall within moments.
Rachel was looking out of the window quietly, fiddling with the straps that held her to the seat. Her eyes were deep and heavy with thought, they were rimmed with unshed tears. She was flashing back to her childhood as she stared down at the building; remembering times when her mother had taken her shopping. When she had gotten lost in the huge parking lot and had to call one of the security guards. She remembered Ashley and her riding the children's toys in the small playground. She remembered buying fast food and eating in the giant food court with six or seven people from her class. Then she remembered Light holding her after he'd fallen out of the wall, and Kent's crazy grin as he shot off the rocket into the distance, the church blowing up into debris before collapsing upon itself. She remembered playing with Corey in the trashed toy store below them. She recalled watching L and Light kiss softly in the quiet atmosphere of their bookstore, the odd detective sitting in his crouch on the chair.
Now, the mall that she stared at would remain empty for a very long while. Probably years. A mural with thick paints carefully placed into a morbid and terrifying composition. A Best Buy with four TV's cornering around a recliner and six different gaming systems hooked up. Piles and piles of CD's laying next to a high class stereo, some lying on the floor opened and scratched. A lobby with four plates and three wine goblets that still had food on it. Canned goods piling up in the corner of that room next to several unused water jugs. A toy on the edge of a broken water fountain. A book store with a lone red chair in the middle, surrounded by hundreds upon hundreds of stacked books. A sketch pad opened to a drawing of a stoic dark-haired man sitting in a strange crouch. A mismatching mattress with blankets splayed in a half-hazard manner across them.
The place they had called home for so many days. The place they all knew like the back of their hands, even in the dark. Thousands of corpses surrounded the area around the perimeter of the mall. Rachel could clearly see the number as they flew farther away. Her green eyes remained locked onto their makeshift home, and in her mind she bid a final farewell to all those memories. A tear began to roll down her cheek and she pressed her fingers against the glass. Soon the building became further and further away, before it disappeared from vision when a large building blocked it from view. A choked sob left her and her forehead also rested against the glass, hot tears streaming down her cheeks. Her nose felt clogged and she bit her lip. Then she began to scan the destruction that she had once called her city.
Cars littered narrow streets that curved this way and that. Buildings, some collapsed and some not, looked eerie and empty. Occasionally a large 'help me' sign was painted on roofs. She could see bodies, so many bodies, they were everywhere. They couldn't be more than two hundred feet from the ground, but every so often she would see one of the rouge infected remaining start running towards the plane. Thinking perhaps that it would be able to catch up. Those people became blurs and disappeared just as quickly.
Light had been also watching the scenery too, but when he had heard a faint sob over the loud thrum of propellers he had looked over to see Rachel pinned to the glass, staring in desperation at the town before her. This had been her home town. This had been where she had grown up, spent all her years in. Rachel could see a tennis court where Murphy O'Donald and Tara Walker used to challenge her. She could see the faint outline of her primary school building. She found Reed Chapman's house soon after, the door was splayed open. But what did any of these places matter anymore? All the people she had ever met in her entire life were dead. All of them. Every person in her high school, every coworker, ever mere acquaintance… If she thought of it that way, Light Yagami and L were her oldest friends that still remained alive.
Rachel would never see a single person from the first seventeen years of her life, ever again. It was a lonely thought. A heartbreakingly, desperately, hatefully lonely thought. Light seemed to realize this and instead of going over to comfort her, he remained silent and let her sort through her own matters.
When Rachel finally snapped out of her reverie, it was because someone was tapping softly on her shoulder. Reaching up and scrapping her sweatshirt across her damp cheeks, she looked over and saw L crouching over her. He had a water bottle in one hand (between his thumb and index finger) and what appeared to be white pills in the other.
"Miss Rachel," he told her, his voice sounding far away because of the noise, "this will help with any headaches you'll receive from riding in this helicopter without proper ear protection."
He motioned towards the pills and she reached out and took them, glancing over and seeing Corey with an identical water bottle in her hands. Throwing the pills into her mouth quickly, she uncapped the water bottle and tilted her head back, swallowing them in one motion. She nodded her thanks to L and watched as he clamored over to Light. Light's eyes seemed to brighten considerably when L sat next to him and he began an animated conversation, ignoring the painful city below them and focusing solely on the detective. She idly watched them interact for a long time, deciding that looking out the window was also too painful.
Eventually though, her eyes became heavier and she tilted her head to rest on her shoulder. Her hair covered her eyes and shield the rising sun from her vision. She opened her eyes one last time to see the greenish blue ocean out the window, before her mind shut down and she fell into blissful unconsciousness.
XxX
When Rachel awoke she didn't recognize her surroundings and promptly panicked. She was lying in a twin sized bed in a largely empty room that only held a dresser. Her purse was lying atop that dresser. Her mind was frazzled and still half asleep, her body feeling heavy and lethargic. Pulling the sheets off of her she stood up, and realized she was also barefoot. Her shoes were seated neatly together on the ground. Slipping into them easily she ran her fingers through her hair quickly.
Where was Corey? L? Light? She looked around frantically and stood up, making her way to the door in a rush. As soon as she opened it and began to walk out she bumped into someone and was halted. She would have been thrown backwards if the person hadn't grabbed her arm and held her up.
"Whoa, Miss. Please settle down." The unidentified man told her. Rachel looked up at him while stammering an apology. It had been so long since she had really talked to another person, it was slightly awkward for her. She was almost unused to being polite to complete stranger. The man was elderly with a white mustache on his kind, but worn, face. He looked pleasant enough, but slightly stressed. He was dressed in beige suit pants with a white button up shirt. He had a very slight belly but still was trim. Rachel finally noticed it was roasting in the tiny room and she briefly wondered why he wasn't sweating like she was.
"Where is L?" She asked immediately, not sure she should even be saying L's name but only realizing that after she spoke.
"He is with Yagami and the child at the information tent." The man told her, patting her shoulders in a comforting manner. He briefly looked her over before seeming to decide on something silently.
"And you are?"
"My name is Watari."
"Oh, that man who acts as a proxy for L. I remember learning about you from a news clipping about INTERPOL." Rachel told him, raising a finger up to her lips. Watari just nodded blanky. After a moment though, a queer look crossed Rachel's face and she glared at the floor. Watari blinked, confused at the sudden change of expression.
"I can't believe it! He drugged me!" She stated, sounding indigent. Watari gave a small laugh in understanding.
"The plane ride was quite long, I assure you. The child was also giving a small dose of drowsy medication. She awoke right before we landed and has been clinging to my ward since."
"Ward?" Rachel asked, curious. Watari just shook his head and motioned out of the room. Rachel reached over and scooped up her bag, swinging the strap over her head easily and walking next to him. They journeyed together in silence down a long white hallway before going through a set of arches and outside.
"Holy crap it's freaking hot," Rachel mumbled when the sun assaulted her, she raised her hand up to shield her eyes while they adjusted to the blinding brightness. Her British accent sound slightly more slurred because she was still a little drowsy. They appeared to be in a city, there were tall buildings around her but they were made mostly of a white brick. There were some that appeared to be modern, but not many. A few cars darted the streets and off in the distance to Rachel's right a large field with children's playground equipment held many frantic young ones, playing loudly with one another.
They walked towards the field, there were a few tree's but mostly a mulch like gravel paved the grounds. A few of the children were sitting alone in various areas, Rachel spotted a boy with distinct white hair playing with what appeared to be a robot toy, talking to himself. She raised an eyebrow at this. Was that kid autistic? (AN: I usually hate to add random notes in the middle of chapters, but for all those who don't realize this both L and Near are very autistic in the real series.)
She glanced around nervously at the many children. Some appeared to be more her age, too. Were these children apart of the orphanage that L intended to put Corey and herself? Rachel felt uncomfortable. Usually she was great with new people and not shy at all, but after so many weeks of continuous solitude this was overwhelming. She was sweating from the ungodly head and decidedly unhappy. Watari could see the discomfort in the red heads face and was about to say something to comfort her when two kids marched up to them. Or rather, one marched up and the other trailed behind, wrapped up in a PSP, tapping the buttons repeatedly without even sparing them a glance.
"Oi! Are you the one who came with L?!" The kid yelled, startling Rachel and making her blink rapidly. This kid was… rather eccentric looking. She was pretty sure it was a boy, but he had a very girlish haircut the framed his face. His hair was a bright golden blonde and the sun glinted off it. He had a rather attractive face and appeared to be her age, but this wasn't what surprised Rachel. This scrawny kid was wearing tight black pants with a long sleeved black t-shirt. A rosary hung from his neck. Rachel was uncomfortable just looking at the kid. Instead of answering his question, Rachel gawked at him.
"Aren't you bloody roasting?" She queried. It had to at least be one hundred degree's out, after all.
The kid's blue eyes narrowed, "Are you the fucking chick who came with L or not?!" He shouted, making Rachel also glare at him after a long moment. Watari's arm came in front of Rachel though and the old man got a stern look on his face.
"Now Mello, calm down. Matt, please take him elsewhere." Watari told him in a reprimanding tone, making Mello's glare shift from Rachel to him. 'Matt', Rachel noticed, was also a red head, though his hair was a shade lighter than her own. Her hair was more of a wine color where his looked orange. He had on a pair of tinted goggles the covered his eyes and was wearing normal clothing. A stripped t-shirt and green cargo pants with oversized skateboarding shoes. He barely gave Watari a glance from his PSP before nodding, looping his arm through Mello's and dragging him along.
"Damn Matt! Let me the fuck go! Fuck!" The kid wailed, loud and obnoxious. The red headed boy didn't even seem to notice and continued to drag him away, still tapping away at the buttons. Rachel gave a smirk. 'Serves that brat right,' she thought to herself.
"Rachel!" She heard a sudden cry, and turning around she saw Corey running towards her, a large smile on her face. Rachel gave her best fake smile towards the child and kneeled to hug her when Corey got close, but she felt it was bittersweet. She still felt horrible about making Corey fear Christianity, she felt like she had let down her mother in some way and let down herself. She hadn't even realized that telling the child stories like that would scare her, maybe it was because she hadn't considered the circumstances. Rachel watched as L and Light walked up together. Both looked to be rather affected by the heat as well.
"Where have you been?" She asked, turning to fully face them.
"Just going through some data, no big deal." Light told her, putting a hand on his hip and looking up at Watari curiously. His eyes then flashed over to L's, one of his eyebrows raised.
"Who was the screaming kid?" He asked. Obviously he had witnessed Mello's little burst of anger.
"That would be one of my successors, M." L told him promptly, earning a startled look from Watari. Light blinked and nodded, quickly remembering what L had said about his successors. M had been the one with the violent temper who was also a candy addict. He was currently second in line to be the next L.
"So the other one was M2?" Light asked, recalling that L had told him M2 was the only one who was able to control M. Light figured the redhead must be that person since he had dragged the screaming kid off. Watari blinked again and finally settled for a very disapproved look on his face.
"L, you know you have no business telling Yagami about such things," Watari told L in a sharp, almost fatherly tone. He sounded honestly upset. Light blinked, openly confused, and Rachel also looked up at him, Corey nuzzling into her neck.
"What I choose to tell Raito-kun is my own business." L informed Watari in a monotonous tone, not at all looking ashamed because of his actions. L had long since decided that he trusted the Light he was currently with, and even if L had not told Light about his successors back in the mall he would eventually have to share that information now. Plus, L also was aware that he would at some point have to inform Watari of his more intimate relationship with his suspect and L knew from experience that the look he was going to be getting when conferring that information would be far icier than this mere trifle. A thought along the lines of, 'Indeed, that's probably going to be a difficult conversation,' crossed L's mind before he dismissed it.
"The blonde's name is Mello, right?" Rachel finally asked, earning looks from the rest of the group, "And the redhead was Matt. What do you mean by successors?" She finally asked.
L blinked, "I'm unable to share that information with you, Miss Rachel."
Rachel nodded after a moment's consideration. She had recently begun to respect L's secrecy, knowing now that such measures came with his title as best detective in the world. When she had first met L she had thought he was just being rude, but now Rachel supposed that it was only because L was probably the only man in the world that could be assassinated at any moment.
"Anyways, Corey-hime has been clinging to me since we arrived. I wished to drop her off with you, Miss Rachel, before Raito-kun and I continue on to our next destination." L finally told her, bringing his thumb up to his mouth and chewing on it thoughtfully. Rachel sighed and warily looked out at the playing children.
"Is this the orphanage you were speaking of?" She asked quietly, trying not to show the discomfort she was feeling. She hugged Corey just a bit tighter, earning a startled squeak from the child. Corey's tiny hand rested on Rachel's cheek and she was staring at her with worry in her expression.
"That is correct. Perhaps you can make some new friends," L told her, oblivious to her scared expression. Light sighed and gave a wary look at L. Sometimes the man was way too naïve about people's emotions. He supposed that this wasn't L's fault in particular, the man just wasn't inept at social things like normal people. He could solve the most difficult cases in the entire world yet he completely lacked common sense. It was obvious to Light that Rachel would feel uncomfortable with this new progression. It was only natural. Walking forward he let his hand drift up and he patted Rachel's head like you might pat a dog. It was a friendly gesture that comforted Rachel. She closed her eyes and gave him a forced smile.
"I'll be fine. I just need to adjust being around people again," She informed them.
"I guess that would be hard. It hasn't even really hit me yet, being here…" Light told her. Rachel nodded vigorously at this statement.
"I know what you mean, Light. That we actually made it out of the quarantine," Rachel mused on this thought for a brief moment before setting Corey down on her feet. She took the child's hand and gave her favorite detectives on last forced smile.
"You aren't leaving quite yet, right? I'll see you again soon?" She asked, worried now that Corey would be the only person she knew.
L nodded, "We shall be leaving tomorrow evening for Japan, Miss Rachel, but you will indeed see us once more before we depart." He informed her. Giving a pointed look at Watari he continued, "Have you set up everything I requested of you?"
Watari heaved a sigh but nodded nonetheless, "It was quite a selection this time around." Watari told him. Light's eyebrows raised in confusion. He had no clue what they were talking about.
"I'll see you both later then, but before that, hey Light?" Rachel asked.
"Yes?" He asked, almost reverting back to Japanese unconsciously because he was deep in thought.
"What's 'see you later' in Japanese?"
"Ja ne."
"Jahnã?" Rachel repeated, pronouncing it wrong. Light repeated himself more slowly.
Rachel finally gave him a real smiled and turned around, "Ja ne, Raito-kun and L-kun." She told them, giggling to herself. Light rolled his eyes and turned, informing L with his eyes that he was ready to go wherever the detective needed him. L gave him a nod and turned around, back to the building next to the information tent.
Light was still slightly weary from the long ride, but he was thankful that L hadn't given him sleeping medication because they always gave him stomachache's. His head had been pounding when they had landed though so L had given him a painkiller before they had gone up to be informed of the current situation.
Apparently, not much had changed regarding Great Britain in the last month. This was probably because of the effective quarantine. The virus hadn't spread to mainland Europe thus far, and this was all thanks to L. But, L was also probably the most hated man in Europe now. The general public had been outraged because of the quarantine, though the police and government of most countries had supported his actions. Many people thought that L had also died because of the virus, though Watari had been proxy for L to the police forced during the quarantine. Watari knew how L would act under situations and though he was nowhere near as smart as L, he had managed to avoid several different conflicts.
Light didn't really like the weather, but he figured because it was the middle of summer and they were in Africa, it was bound to be ungodly hot. Actually, this was his first time in the county. He'd watched out the window for a good portion of the plane ride, and even got to get off the plane for ten minutes to stretch his leg in Italy when the plane had stopped for fuel.
Light silently followed L into a white brick building that was about four stories tall. He was blessed with the wonders that was air conditioning when L opened the door. Light let out a happy smile and L gave an amused smirk.
"I'm aware that Tokyo also gets quite unbearable in the summer; this heat shouldn't bother you this much." L told him, making conversation.
"The heat back home is slightly different. The heat here is so dry, and every time the wind picks up it feels like I'm eating dust."
L nodded, pressing the button for an elevator, "Well, you will not have to endure it much longer. In less than two days you shall be home." L said this mostly for Light's benefit, knowing that the boy was slightly homesick. Light gave L a tender smile and when they stood in the elevator and the doors closed, he reached over and gave the detective a chaste kiss. They hadn't been allowed to touch much since that morning. Light wasn't sure why this had bothered him, hell knows he'd gone plenty of years without touching the detective but now even a couple hours seemed strained. He hadn't been able to rest his head on L's shoulder during the plane ride either because Watari had been the pilot.
L grabbed Light's hand in his own and gave it a soft squeeze. Light smiled, "So where are we going?"
It was L's turn to give a smile, but this time it was a big boyish grin that told Light exactly where they were heading.
"…to the sugar confectionaries, then?" Light asked in an exasperated tone. L nodded, quickly letting go of Light's hand and stepping out of the elevator as soon as it opened. L took a card key out of his back pocket and slipping it into a door moments later, a small light flickering green and releasing the lock. Light sighed and prepared himself for a long hour.
The room itself was a normal hotel room, only there were three tables lined up. On the tables was an impressive array of sweets, it looked almost like a bakery. A single chair with a plate and a hot cup of tea lay out. Light went over and sat cross legged on the double bed after throwing his shoes off. L went gingerly over to the sweets with a look of pure adoration on his face. Light wondered if the man was going to freaking cry. L crouched into his chair and looked around.
Taking a plate delicately with what appeared to be cheesecake (smothered in strawberries with whipping cream atop) L placed it in front of him and grabbed a fork in his usual manner, between his thumb and forefinger, he gently brought the fork down and cut himself a moderate slice of the sugary treat. Light watched this with fascination as the man brought the fork to his mouth and swallowed. He wasn't sure what was going on inside his head but L got a deep blush on his face and his eyes closed and his lips puckered and he let out a long hum. Rolling the heavenly taste around his mouth for several moments L finally swallowed and opened his eyes.
They were slightly gleaming and as he took the fork down for another bite he gave Light a brief glance, "Raito-kun, this confectionary is the food of the gods." L informed him, taking another long bite and having another (what Light thought was) sugar orgasm. The look on his face matched the look after Light had made him come after all, though it was slightly dreamier and his face was far more flushed. Light rolled his eyes.
"This is sort of like sex for you, isn't it?"
