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
An Angry Author's Note: All right, it's time for this author to be a bitch for a few minutes. Because of the recent mass amounts of flames that have been flooding my inbox I'm going to state a few things point blank. I am NOT a professional author. I'm a freaking teenage college student who has nothing better to do with her spare time than read and write yaoi fanfiction. I know that there are errors in my story. I know my spelling and grammar sucks. I know there are plot holes. It's all good if you point out small errors that annoy you; I'll do my best to go back and change them; but stop freaking ripping on me because my story is 'cliché' or 'emotionless.' It's pissing me off just a tad!
I honestly do some research for this story (like about the illness Light contracted in chapter twenty), but if facts about the world or the virus are unclear you don't need to state that I'm ignorant retard because I didn't get those minuscule details correct. The virus isn't the central focus of the story itself, it's on Light and L's relationship.
I mean; I got forty two reviews and PM's in the last chapter and TWELVE of them were flames. I knew the chapter was a bit boring but jeeze, how many other stories out there could people be dissing instead of mine all at once?! I hate ranting like this but I was a little shocked to see that people who don't even write stories have the balls to privately e-mail me to tell me that I suck at writing. Gahhh! When I'm finished with this story I will go back and correct more mistakes chapter by chapter but I'm not changing the story because one or two people have knives shoved up their asses and can't seem to pull them out.
Now that 'being a bitch time' has been vented out, I also want to mention that I do appreciate the overwhelming amount of support I have also received. I'm so flattered that I've broken 900 reviews and I enjoy reading all your comments dearly. I'm also terribly sorry about the lack of update for the last two weeks, I've had a huge writer's block and was unsure of the path this story was headed. I hope I didn't scare too many of you away with my rant! Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty Nine: Until We Meet Again
That night they spent the evening in a decent hotel room that L had obviously spent no small expense on. It was lush with a large HD flat screen television and two queen sized beds. It had a kitchenette that was stocked with sweets and a ornate Chinese teapot always warmed with herbal teas. It also had a bathroom with marble counters and a enormous glass shower. Watari had gone back to implementing his normal amount of security measures surrounding L; this included several microscopic cameras placed in different places around the room for optimal observation. L knew that Watari would do this, it had always been one of his various job tasks to make sure that L's safety was top priority. The infection had been a small detour in L's mind, but he knew that Watari felt ashamed that he had been unable to protect his ward in a situation that had very nearly killed L.
Watari was his father in many senses. He had raised him and taught L many things that proved very valuable throughout L's life. L knew that if he had died because of the quarantine that Quillish would be devastated. The Kira investigation would then be handed to the fourteen year old Near who L thought wasn't mature enough to handle the case, but was the top runner for being the next L nonetheless.
L also knew that the investigation team would have a hard time dealing with the reclusive child. They would probably be dismissed within the first couple weeks, and he figured that Soichiro would be even more devastated by this than Watari. If L had died than Light probably would have died with him after all, and he was sure that Light's father would have a personal vendetta to finally solve the Kira investigation and clear his son's name. Soichiro was obsessive like that, and it was a quality in the man that L found highly admirable.
Watari had also insisted that Light go back under the handcuff procedure. After L had finished eating a mountain of confectionaries (honestly, Light didn't know where the tiny man put all those calories) he had walked in with L's usual Apple laptop computer and a set of shiny new and advanced handcuffs that could only be unlocked with a code key microchip that only L and Watari held copies off. Light had not felt offended at all, simply holding his arm out and letting the metal rest tight against his skin. He'd had a dazed expression when it occurred, but that was simply because he had been personally fantasizing about having sex with L with the handcuffs on in various positions. Things like this Light never would have thought about before. That was probably because he was just starting to understand how much the virus had changed them.
The changes were both visible and not.
The visible aspect were painful reminders of loss that seemed to mirror every person he'd come to care about in recent weeks. Seeing Rachel's distant emerald eyes and obvious discomfort with the children running around when he knew only a half year before she would have been a social butterfly. Seeing Corey hesitate when somebody touched her or asked her about her family, and how the child looked so lost whenever she wasn't in the immediate presence of anyone from the mall. The detachment for the both of them would be a severe handicap when L and Light returned to Japan.
Also, sometimes, like when they had been going through the briefings earlier that day and had been learning about all the miniscule things that had changed because of the infection, he'd caught L staring off into space with a pained expression. Now, of course this didn't show obviously on L's face whatsoever. He had remained stoic and monotone through the entire conversation, but Light could see how his hands had clasped tightly around his ankles and how his eyes had flashed with anguish. Those types of things were the constant reminder, though Light felt many positive things had happened (namely his relationship with L) but still, so much pain had also occurred.
Light knew that Kent's death would haunt them for the rest of their lives. Whispers of what could have been, perhaps a happy ending on Corey's part, maybe a safe home for Rachel. But that would never happen, and Light felt it was probably his fault.
As they lay on separate beds for the first time in weeks and weeks, their arms away from their bodies because the chain between them tugged at their wrists, he considered everything over and over again about the events that had led to Kent's death. A flurry of what if's, a sense of failure had consumed Light. He had not remained calm throughout L's constant snarky comments that he was still the top suspect of the Kira Investigation, when they should have washed off him like water. He'd had to deal with them for so long after all, but for some reason he'd begun to take it personally sometime after the quarantine had begun. Light inwardly knew it was because L's opinion meant the world to him, and for L to think that Light was capable of such slaughter… it hurt. It hurt like a bitch. And because Light had let L rile him up, he'd fainted and fallen off the mall. And gotten blood poisoning. And Kent had died.
End of story.
Light curled tighter into himself as he let the heavy cotton comforter rustle around him. He wished that he could talk with L, he wished that they could examine what had happened together so he could get the broader picture, but Light bit his tongue. L had told him in the hallway to their room that there were going to be security camera's placed throughout their hotel room. To anyone else this wouldn't have meant what it meant to them. Basically, L was telling him that they wouldn't be able to show any sorts of affection for one another for the time being. Light had been okay with that for most of the evening while they had scanned through reports together, but now the air around him was stifling.
"Can't sleep, Raito-kun?" L's voice came.
He was sitting hunched over his laptop on the opposite bed, slowly clicking down screens because he knew that Light prized his sleep and that the sounds of tapping keys had bothered him before. Light also knew that L was making a conscious effort to stay up late so that he could get back into his insomniac type sleeping schedule. This had irked Light a little, but he knew how important L's work was to him was. Work was a relief of boredom, something that L had been suffering from constantly.
"It's just… weird." Light trailed off, knowing that if anyone could hear them they wouldn't understand. He rolled over and looked at L. His milky smooth face was shadowed by the iridescent illumination of the computer screen. Light thought the man looked ethereal. A bit eccentric, but still he was beautiful nonetheless.
L knew just what Light was talking about and gave a short unnecessary nod. Other's would have thought Light was talking about being free again, but L knew that the lack of contact was bothering Light as much as it was bothering him.
"I understand. The change from our situation in the mall is quite different now, Raito-kun." No more touching, no more kissing, no more silence…
"And what happens next?" Light asked, just wanting to hear L's voice even if it meant they have small talk when all he wanted to do was discuss something far deeper and more personal. L looked over at him with a considerate expression that didn't read for the camera's.
"Tomorrow at about 11PM we should board a plane that will take us directly to Tokyo. From there we will be getting in a car and be going to your parent's home."
Light blinked, "My parents?"
"Affirmative. They have not seen you in a month and a half after all, and I'd assume that they miss their beloved Light." L told him, purposely saying Light's name in English without honorifics almost mockingly. It was just like the old times. Light inwardly smiled. L was keeping up appearances for the cameras. Light oddly missed how much they used to send jabs at one another covered up sweetly with words.
"Why how thoughtful you've become, L. And here I thought you'd lost your bastardly ways." Light told him with a heavy dose or sarcasm, though he was sure L could see right through it. Sitting up in his bed he gave L a mocking look though L could see Light's eyes clearly. They were dancing. L knew that Light was enjoying this banter.
"Now now, Raito-kun. There is no need for such harsh words. I am simply concerned about my dear friend."
Light almost laughed aloud. He also hadn't thought to miss all those stupid pretenses about them being 'friend's' when they had most obviously not been. He couldn't even remember how that had started. Not that any of that mattered. L was technically his boyfriend, now. Fucked up how that worked sometimes.
"What will we tell my parents? The truth about what happened?"
"You still wish me dead, do you not, Raito-kun?" L told him seriously.
"Just because my father is going to kill you for lying to him doesn't mean I personally wish for your death." Light told him honestly.
"Than can we not just lie about the whole matter?" L asked hopefully.
"For shame!" Light cried out dramatically, earning L's glare, "Honesty is the best policy."
"We are both compulsive liars, Raito-kun. I don't see how that little tome of wisdom applies to our situation whatsoever."
"Now don't be bitter. You know I've never lied to you, La-" Light bit his tongue sharply before he could finish that sentence and he hoped that no one else had caught his slip up. Namely, he hoped whoever was monitoring the security cameras hadn't. L also quickly looked back down at his computer, but he personally wasn't upset with Light. Light had been calling him by his real name for almost a week and a half whenever they were in private. This tended to be a good chunk of the time, after all. He'd been used to it, and it'd been one of the few things that truly showed both of them how deep this was to them. L's true name. Kira's means to kill him.
"You are the only one who can take my life,"
"I am not bitter, Raito-kun, just realistic." L said, swiftly covering up Light's mistake.
"Realistic and cynical often walk hand in hand. Sometimes to the insane asylum." Light quipped, struggling to continue the conversation.
"And you feel I need to be admitted into such an institution?"
"Sometimes…" Honestly, sometimes.
"Now I am personally offended. How can my only friend think of such dreadful thing?"
"Now that's just what's going to keep you up into the wee hours of the morning, isn't it?"
"Actually I think what will keep me up is this horrid amount of work to sift through. Both about the Investigation and the virus." L sighed, sounding a bit tired. Light wished that he could get up and give the man a massage to comfort him. He saw that L had been rolling his shoulders unconsciously over the last couple hours. His body ached to just cross the five feet that separated them and scoop the detective into his lap. But he couldn't. Security camera's sucked, Light decided quietly.
"You know…" Light finally said softly, knowing the camera's could hear him.
L looked over at him, silently requesting him to continue.
"I forgot what it was like to be watched all the time." Light told him again in a way that the cameras would understand what he was saying, but not. L blinked, then proceeded to look slightly more tired.
"I understand completely." L told him, feeling just the same. Light gave a short nod and a loud sigh before he flopped backwards on the pillows, the sheets around him rustling from the motion. L let his head fall onto his knee and stared blankly down at the computer screen in front of him. Had it really only been less than one full day since they'd left? The clock in the bottom right corner told L it was 5:46AM. They had left around 8AM. L knew this because there had been a clock in the first helicopter. That was before they had switched to a plane that took them across the Mediterranean and down into Africa. After one long moment L let the corners of his mouth crook up and he began to type rapidly on his computer.
Hearing the difference in L's tapping Light gave a sidelong glance at him, quirking an eyebrow. Had he found something particularly interesting? Sighing, Light too felt drained. The day had taken a lot out of him. He was sure that if he got some sleep though it would only serve to stress him out further. There was just so much to get accomplished. Their task list was endless. Light knew it would take years to sort out what had happened within days. But Light was happy to know that he would be involved in the restoration process. L had told him after all that he wanted Light by his side. L wouldn't say anything like that just joking around. L didn't joke.
"Raito-kun, you may say what's truly on your mind now." L said after about several minutes of furious typing. Light's eyes opened and he glanced over at L, surprised. What had he meant by that? L answered the question for him.
"I hacked into Watari's computers and disabled the security cameras, putting a seventeen word password on the file. It would take a code breaker at least six hours to break the password, if not more time."
Light blinked, processing the information. Then he proceeded to let out a wide smile and he pulled the covers off him, quickly crossing the distance between them. L had set the computer just out of reach by the time Light got to him. Light curled his arms around L's thin torso and buried his face in the elder mans neck, inhaling deeply. They both sighed in unison.
"Thank god for your hacking abilities." Light murmured against his skin, warm breath fanning the sensitive area causing L to involuntarily shiver. L's own arm slung over Light's shoulder and his body was pushed back against the headboard behind him. L buried his own nose in Light's hair. L knew that Watari would freak out in the morning about compromising safety, but it was well worth it. He could practically feel the stress radiating off his youth.
"So, what is causing your muscles to be all tense, Raito-kun?" L asked softly. Light's arm trailed from the bottom of his torso and his left hand cupped the nape of L's neck, stroking the long locks he found.
"I'm thinking about Kent." Light admitted quietly, his voice barely just above a whisper.
L paused for a moment while thinking, but Light knew just what he was thinking about, "It is not your fault, Raito-kun."
"Nor is it yours." Light countered. It was L's turn to sigh.
"Indeed. Either way, what had got you pondering that particular event?"
"Perhaps it's because we haven't really talked about it at all. It's unusual for us to overlook at least one or two in depth conversations about such a large event. I can tell it affected us all, in different ways."
"Yes, I agree Raito-kun. But we've been avoiding the topic."
Light nodded into L's neck, inhaling deeply, "Now that I can actually talk to you though, I'm not sure just what I have to say. I get the feeling you already understand completely so words seem unnecessary."
L was staring off into space for a long moment before he licked his lips, "I feel the same way."
"Are you worried about returning to Japan? Watari won't be in the dark forever about us, after all."
"You give him far too much credit in that particular area, Raito-kun. Watari is the type of man who, if he doesn't want to see it will never know it's there. This only happens in personal situations where his objective is slightly more unclear."
"You know him well, Lawliet." Light told him, then seemed to recall something and blinked after a long moment, "Sorry about almost saying your name. I'm going to make a conscious effort to not make that mistake again."
Light then let out a stifled yawn. L shifted his leg so his weight was on his left ankle and Light's face was in front of his own.
"We shall sleep now, Raito-kun. We've been up for far too many hours. I know you get crabby when your precious beauty slumber is deprived from you." L teased softly. Light nodded, the insult rolling off him easily and he pulled at L's arm until the smaller man toppled over atop his chest. L's hands were laying on either side of Light's head and when L made no conscious effort to remove himself from the cuddle Light hummed in appreciation.
Light reached around L with his free arm and tugged the cotton comforter over the both of them. L's computer was still running but after a good twenty minutes of being idle, the modem shut off and the screen blacked out.
XxX
The next day was far more hectic than either of them had thought possible. Both of them had only gotten about three hours of uninterrupted slumber before Watari had burst in their hotel room with a gun. This had scared the crap out of Light (who'd made a rather embarrassing squeak because of his acute fear of guns). Light and L had detached from one another sometime during the night, (though they're legs were tangled together beneath the blankets) but Watari had seemed relieved that neither were dead or maimed or something of the like. After a sharp glare from L he'd unhanded the gun and set it atop the table that still had about ten confectionaries atop it. After the relief came anger though, and Watari reprimanded L like he was a child.
Light was actually startled that L took the reprimanding all in good stride, having the sense of decency to look slightly forlorn. L struck Light as they type who didn't take crap from anyone. Though, Light thought it was adorable when his detective pouted. L would counter and say that it wasn't a pout, but more of a brood.
Brooding my ass, L pouted like a five year old.
After L explained to Watari that both he and Light had felt uncomfortable with the cameras Watari had hushed slightly though he still appeared disgruntled. Some under the breath mumbling had followed with Light hearing something along the lines of, 'You don't even know what could have happened…' and the like.
After they had taken separate and swift showers they'd been taken by a plethora of five security guards back to the information building and they'd been briefed by numerous heads of state about different matters. Not a peep of news or current information had crossed their path about the current status of the Kira Investigation, but they hadn't contacted Light's father yet or the rest of the investigation team.
Most of the information that followed them was solely about the quarantine. Statistics about how many had died, how many infected remained out there, money that would need to be spent. It was a lot of useless information that L wanted to dismiss so he could return to Japan. These briefings took a better part of the afternoon, and dinner had rolled around when Light had finally convinced L to help him find the girls so they could eat together before leaving.
Light was excited to be returning home. He missed Japan for all the normalcy it gave him. He was honestly sick of speaking in English all the time and he wanted some normal Japanese cooking. He missed the familiar sights of tall buildings and sweeping shrines. He missed seeing the high school students walking to morning lessons while the working class all scurried on their way to their jobs. But Light was still worried about Corey and he was worried about Rachel.
He knew that it would be out of the question to take them with him to Japan though. Even though Rachel knew about the Kira Investigation and who L was there was still a great deal that she couldn't be informed on and therefore it would be highly dangerous to keep her near them. A lot of the Kira Information was incredibly classified and Light probably couldn't even find the information or hack into it if he tried. If L was anything, he was highly experienced incredibly thorough hacker.
He left no trails and no back doors.
This was one of the things that Light had learned about the man when he'd first met him, apart from the fact that he was sort of a freak with no social skills to speak of.
The sun was going down on sand covered streets by the time they'd finally got out of the meetings. Light felt overwhelmed with the information presented to him and he was more than a little worried about what would happen next. Talks had started later in the afternoon about what would be released to the public. Deep research was still being conducted about the virus after all, and a lot of it would remain confidential in case bioterrorists got a hold of the information and tried to create global warfare for the sake of politics and territorial disputes.
The day had been another scalding hot one, though neither detective were none-the-wiser because they'd spent it indoors. Watari had been sent to fetch Rachel and Corey before they left and they were going to meet up at the children's playground just outside their hotel for their final dinner. Apparently the orphans had been sent to a slightly smaller building than the original Whammy's, forcing them to room with three or more people. They had been told that Corey and Rachel would be sharing a room with another small nine year old Arabic girl named Meöh. That child was apparently an amazing musician, more accomplished than many people three times her age. Light had been worried about both girls growing up in such a competitive environment, but he also knew that L kept close tabs on what was going on in Whammy. If anything happened to either of their girls he would know. Corey was sitting on a swing being pushed by Rachel when they finally spotted them. The handcuffs that bound them together were jingling as they walked.
All had exchanged pleasantries and after a short dinner with sandwiches (well, it was actually sandwiches for three of them while L had Crème Brule) it'd been almost time for L and Light to board the plane that would take them back to Japan. Rachel had gotten quiet towards the end of their dinner, even though Light was trying to keep the girl cheerful by asking her if she'd made any new friends that day. The only time that she had really spoken up was to question about the handcuffs (which she had let go of the topic surprisingly easy) and when L had questioned her about various things.
"I talked to that violent blonde again today, if that's what you mean." Rachel had told him.
"Violent blonde?" L inquired.
"Yah, I think his name was Mello. That boy sure has a potty mouth." Rachel stated, taking another bite of her sandwich.
"I like the other redhead he was with, Sir Ryuu." Corey had told them, brushing off sand from her black dress.
"Matt?"
Corey nodded, "Rachel was being all quiet and stuff and I was playing with our new roommate when she kicked a ball and hit Matt on the head. Mello got all mean after that and was screaming, but I think he was just worried about Matt. I had said sorry and stuff for Meöh cause she'd said those boys weren't worth a sorry but when I did Matt had smiled at me and stuff. He didn't really say anything cause he was playing his DS."
All were staring at the child by this point. That had been the longest she had spoken since Kent's death. Not wanting to bring attention to that fact, Light smiled down at her. He was very happy that she seemed to be opening up again.
"Have you made any other friends besides Matt?"
Corey put her sandwich on a napkin and thought about it, "There were a couple older kids I played kick ball with after lunch, but I don't know their names."
"It seems Princess Corey's quiet the little social butterfly," Rachel stated, smiling for real. Rachel was happy that Corey seemed to be assimilating, but it was harder on Rachel because she was feeling awkward with most of the kids. The only person she'd really talked to all day besides Corey had been Mello, and that conversation was mostly just them screaming at each other. Sighing, she took another bite of her sandwich and decided that she wasn't going to ruin the mood with her depression. Plastering on a smile she turned her attention back to the conversation.
Corey was shaking her head, "Nah uh. I'm really scared around those bigger kids. I don't like it when you aren't around Rachel. Will you come play with me tomorrow Sir Light and Sir Ryuu?" Corey asked, locking her large brown eyes upon both men. Light sighed and held his arms out, telling her to come give him a hug. She sat up and embraced him.
"Sorry Corey-hime. Ryuzaki and I will be leaving tomorrow. You'll have to stay here with Rachel and the other kids." Light told her, petting her hair and idly braiding the strands together.
"Leaving? Where to?" Corey sounded upset now.
"Back to my home. It's really far away in a place called Japan." Light explained.
"If you're leaving I wanna come with!" Corey insisted, trying to tug herself away from Light's arms. He could tell she was visibly upset now, her eyebrows rising in her forehead and her eyes becoming clouded with unshed tears. Light wasn't really sure what to say. He'd always been bad with other children, even when he had been one. Comfort wasn't really something he'd ever excelled in because he'd never thought anyone truly worth his time. He didn't have much practice.
"Corey-hime," L told the child softly, scooting slightly closer to Light's side so he could place his spindly fingers atop her head, "Raito-kun and I have to go. We have no choice. We do not want you to be put into any danger so we are going to leave you here under Miss Rachel's protection."
"No!" Corey cried out, tears finally leaking down her chubby cheeks, "If Light and Ryuu leave then they die! They die just like Kent-papa died! I don't want that!"
Light winced when Corey's voice heightened to a shrill scream. He tried shushing the child but found this only made her more upset. He finally gave up and scooped both his hands underneath her armpits and lifted her over into L's lap. L was sitting in his crouch, only his legs were down so he could rest the child on his lap. Corey clung to his shirt and cried loudly while L rubbed her back. L was far better at this sort of thing than Light would have anticipated. He would have made an extremely unique but awsome father.
"Corey-hime, you can contact Raito-kun and I whenever you please. I will be leaving Miss Rachel with a cell that contains our contact information. We will just be a phone call away and I promise you that as soon as things quiet down a bit we shall visit. Kent would not have wished you to cry, Corey-hime. He'd want you to make new friends and learn new things. You want to be a grown up too, right?" L's voice was soft, deep.
Rachel was staring off into space. Corey was nodding.
Light wasn't staring at Corey anymore, he was staring at L. How could L be better at comforting people than him? L had far less contact with kids than Light did. Even if L was the reason for Whammy's, Light had grown up being Sayu's big brother and he should be better at that, right? It confused Light. But it also made Light swell with affection. L was an amazing person if you thought about it.
"L? Are you ready?" A voice startled them and when they looked over they saw Watari carrying a small briefcase in his usual suit and tie despite the head. L looked up at his mentor briefly before nodding.
"Corey-hime, Raito-kun and I must leave now." He told the child as he detached her fists from his oversized shirts and put her upright on the ground. Reaching up he let his fingers slide through her hair affectionately before he leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead. It was nothing more than a light brush of his lips, but Watari was still startled. L never was that affectionate with children, even his own heirs! It floored him and as he glanced at Yagami, who was staring directly at L with an unreadable expression, Watari began to rethink what had occurred while his ward had been trapped in Great Britain.
Light also leaned forward and gave Corey an affectionate kiss atop her forehead before he stood. Rachel also stood, right next to L. Rachel hadn't been planning on hugging L goodbye, she knew the man wasn't very happy with any kind of physical contact (besides the 'Raito-kun' kind), but she was surprised when L had reached over and grasped her left hand, bringing it up to his lips in a very gentlemanly way. The handcuff on his arm jingled as he let her hand go, it dropped to her waist.
"Take care, Miss Rachel. I assure you that the worst is over. The children at Whammy's are just children. Do give them the benefit of a doubt. And try not to create too much chaos with Mello."
Rachel gave him a snarky grin, her forest eyes mischievous, "Oh, I'll play nice with that Mello kid. Real nice."
Light rolled his eyes and tugged on her arm until his chin was atop her red hair. Her arms curled around the small of his back as she returned the hug. Had it really only been a month since she'd known him? It felt much longer than that. She no longer had a romantic affection for Light, he was dear to her in a different way. She pulled back and gave him a smile, "Go have fun with those handcuffs, Raito-kun. Lot's of fun, just like you did in the bookstore." She'd told him loudly, making Light pale and the old man behind them give them all a curious inquiring expression. L had just remained monotone and seemingly uninterested. He reasoned that if he ignored the stupidity then it would go away.
"I will see you in two days time then, Watari?" L finally asked, turning around to face his mentor.
Light blinked, "He isn't coming back with us?"
"I have a few matters to attend to yet with the orphanage. I will be boarding a plane tomorrow and meet you at the headquarters." Watari told them while placing the bowler hat he'd been holding atop his balding head and handing the briefcase to L.
"Have a safe trip." Watari told them. Light and L turned to leave. "C'mon children, let's get you back inside." Watari motioned for the girls to follow him. They lagged behind slightly, watching the two men walk away from them.
Light turned around once to wink at her, "Until we meet again, be safe."
Rachel hadn't thought that she'd feel so bad about leaving them, knowing that they had many important things to do, but still… She'd miss them something terrible. Tears clouded her vision making her eyes blurry as she watched them walk slowly, each footstep they took brought up a small tuff of sand that would blow about in the wind. She saw Light turn around and give them a fleeting glance. Corey's grip tightened in her own.
And just like that both men walked out of her life.
XxX
The plane ride itself was rather uneventful. They'd taken a commercial air line but were seated in first class. Again L sat crouched in his chair with discarded computer batteries littering the floor and Light dozing silently against the metal wall of the plane. The only difference between the plane ride when they had left Japan and when they had returned was that L had not asked for Light's permission when he'd rested his head against the youths shoulder. And that they'd held hands for a short time after he'd done so.
The sky had been the same as Light had remembered, beautiful and unreal looking with a pallet of colors that he knew he could never simulate. The ride had been ungodly long and boring, his head had been pounding and his shoulders and neck were stiff from sleeping while sitting upright. But finally, after hour upon hour of hearing his elder detective clicking away on his computer he saw his birthplace. His country.
His home.
Relief like nothing he'd experienced yet flooded through him. Flashback of when he'd fallen out of the mall, when he'd been so sure that he'd die and would never see this sight again made him feel oddly nostalgic. With his nose pressed near the glass he looked down at the uncountable small homes, the skyscrapers, the traffic. It was beautiful.
L had stopped typing to instead peer at the youth, whose attention was so captivated by the city below him.
"I am glad that we were able to return to Japan," L told him, knocking Light out of his stupor. Light looked over at L and gave him a bright smile. His eyes were innocent and pure, exuding excitement and anticipation to just get on the ground. L inwardly smile, he knew how much Light missed his homeland. The stress of being in somewhere different had been acute for L had been acute first since they'd first left Japan. L had been used to travelling from place to place, like during the first portion of the Investigation when he'd been hotel hopping every other day.
A female voice came over the intercom telling them that they would be landing shortly.
"So please fasten your seatbelts tightly. It's 4:45PM in Tokyo Western time, on July 28th. The weather is mild but windy. Thank you for flying Japan Airlines. We all sincerely wish you have an excellent stay."
Because they were in first class, Light and L left the train first. L's laptop was under his arm tightly as they walked into the airport together. It made Light feel out of place to see all the people in the airport, hurrying about their own business. As they walked silently together through the terminal and out towards the parking area Light let his eyes scan around, taking everything in like it was brand new for him. Woman held hyper children to try and tame them. An old man with his glasses almost falling off his face was reading a newspaper while sipping on a brand name coffee. A large neon light sign with Godzilla was attacking hotel rates outside the window. Life was going on here, like it always had. And it had been as active every day since Light had left. While they had been stuck surrounded by death. Light resented it.
Scrunching his nose up as they exited through electric doors they both walked together a short ways to the left before a long sleek black limo driver exited from his side of the car and bowed at the both of them. He swiftly walked over and opened the door for them, earning many stares from the people walking around them. L got in first and as soon as the limo's door was closed Light let out a sigh of relief.
"That was pretty hard." Light admitted when L looked over at him. L nodded.
"How people resume their lives while others cannot, Raito-kun?"
"Yes, that and the thought that maybe the virus could happen to Japan."
"I would never wish to see that for the remainder of my days, Raito-kun."
The glass window of the car they'd been in blew through, cutting deep into both of their skins. Light's head was pounding from the sudden slamming of the breaks. There was a car pile up ahead of them, they would be unable to get through. Neither noticed, they both flew out of the car on onto the streets, blindly running towards the closest building.
A blast of heat flew from just behind them, nearly knocking them down. Spinning around, he realized that the car they'd just been sitting in had caught fire. 'I'm going to die,' he thought. 'I'm not ready to die!'
"I know what you mean," Light told him, breathless.
Light shivered, reaching over and taking L's hand. The handcuffs around L's wrist jingled as he did so. He didn't notice. He tried not to think about what would happen if Japan became what Great Britain was now. L reached over with his free hand and subtly massaged Light's. He was aware that through tinted glass the driver would be able to see, but L also knew that the driver was more often than not unaware of who he was driving and that he would have a different one the next day. They drove down the busy streets of Taito-ku up onto the highway that would lead them into the next prefecture over, Arakawa-ku. That was the prefecture where Light's parent's house was.
Light watched out of the window for a good portion of the drive, blankly seeing the towering skyscrapers and many people walking along the streets. He didn't really say anything at all, just kept his hand tightly clutching L's lithe wrist. L didn't seem to mind the silence. He had closed his eyes and relaxed his breathing. Light knew that L meditated often, though he had never seen the man do so, so he figured he'd better give the man his thinking time. There was a lot to think about after all, a lot to go over.
Light soon began to recognize his surroundings personally. They drove past a park he used to take Sayu when they were both kids. They drove past his junior high school. Flashes of the places he was seeing as a quarantine zone kept flooding him, but he tried to push them away. The people on the streets weren't the people of the virus, they're weren't corpses everywhere. This place smelled like pollution, not the virus. Forcing the infection from his head, he tried harder to remember things about the places he was seeing. The grocery store he used to run to after prep school to pick up the newspaper. The bookstore that had once held his favorite series of thriller novels. Where Sayu had swimming lessons during freshman year. Eventually he even saw his high school. Had it really only been a year since he'd last been in high school?
The days for him now seemed so surreal to what he'd known during the majority of his life. Traveling around with the greatest detective in the world as his lover who was trying to out-think a psychopath murderer whilst keeping a Rage Virus under wraps. Yah, fucking surreal. Light blew out a long breath that ruffled his bangs. His eyes refocused on his face reflected in the window. He was pale now, his long amber locks framing down his face so far that it caressed his shoulders. His eyes were the same, brown with a tint of crimson. He looked a little skinnier he supposed, probably remnants mostly of when he'd had blood poisoning. He was still attractive. His almond eyes and smooth skin and calm composure. He was sure that he could still make people swoon if he wanted to. But that would all feel so worthless after what he'd shared with L.
The car halted. "Raito-kun, were here." L told him quietly.
Startled, he turned his vision back out and he saw his home. His childhood home. After stepping out of the car behind L they walked forward together up to the name plate that said, "Yagami." The lights were on in the living room and in the upstairs, where Sayu's room was. He could see his mother hadn't watered the hydrangea's recently. He took a deep breath and looked over at his lover. He didn't know why this was so hard, but it felt awkward to just walk into his home after disappearing for almost two months.
"What should I say?" Light asked L quietly, wanting to cling to the man's cool composure. Behind them the limo driver got in and started the car, driving away without another word.
L's eyes flashed from Light to his house, "This is the first time I've ever been at your home, Raito-kun. I know some things of both your parents and of your smaller sister, but nothing personal. This is your call."
Light wanted to reach over to take L's hand but didn't. He knew that L was right. He was just being a baby about this whole thing. Glancing around for a quick moment he leaned in and kissed L on his left cheek. L blinked, unabashed at the affection. He was getting used to Light's slightly more romantic side.
"Alright, I'm ready." Light mentally prepped himself as they walked down the small path that led up to his front door. The handcuffs jingled behind him. He paused at the front door, debating whether he should knock or not. It felt odd, knocking on his own front door, but he did so anyways. Then he took a step back.
He heard his mom call out, "Just a minute!" before the sound of the door being unlocked and opened. His mother looked older than Light had ever remembered, her hair was a shade grayer. Her face look warn out, but still kind and forgiving. It had been almost six months since he'd seen her after all. Since before he'd been in detainment. Sachiko Yagami stared blankly for a good moment after seeing the two men stand out on her porch. She of course recognized her own son immediately, but it took her several long moments to react. He looked so… different. She would say mature, but there was something haunting in his eyes. Yet something warmer as well.
She hadn't seen him since her husband had told her he would be working on the Kira case, and just recently she'd found out he'd gone to help out with that Virus that was going around Europe. She hadn't been expecting him, but she had still thought about him daily and had prayed for his safety.
"Raito!" She cried out, flinging the porch door open and nearly tripping down the steps when she saw him. Her arms were thrown around his and Light hugged his mother close to him. He held her close to him for a long moment before releasing her with a smile, "Okaasan," He told her fondly. Her brown eyes were sparkling.
She looked over at L and gave him a warm smile, quickly ushering them inside the house. His home hadn't changed whatsoever, and Light quickly took his shoes off. He then watched L slip off his own shoes. L had been wearing the same pair of old athletic shoes for as long as Light could remember. He'd brought them back with him from the quarantine. Sachiko pushed the both of them into the kitchen and quickly put tea on, calling upstairs for Sayu.
"Oh Light, how have you been? It's been so long! Almost a half of year," Sachiko commented, twirling around with an abundance of energy.
"What is it okaa- Oh my god! Raito!" Sayu cried as soon as she'd pushed the door from the hallway open. She too flung herself across Light's shoulder's hugging him tightly. Light pulled one arm around his younger sister, though she wasn't too young anymore. She looked older too. She was in high school now, after all. Her hair had grown longer and her face had lost her baby fat. She was wearing a popular brand name's shirt with a pink skirt and leggings.
"Sayu-chan, it's good to see you. What high school do you go to now?" Light asked her, ruffling her hair affectionately. Sachiko watched them with interest.
Sayu blushed, " I go to Kamata High School now. Mikaya and I applied there shortly after you'd left."
"I'm proud of you, Sayu-chan. That's a good school." Light told her as his mom put tea cups out for all four of them. L sat quietly, watching Light interact with his family. He remembered when he'd just been watching this same residence from the camera. There had been warmth there, yes, but not as much from Light. He could tell that Light was truly fond of his family, and that he had missed them after such a long absence. It actually made L want to go back and recalculate what had occurred prior to the infection. The Kira Investigation's main suspect was still as such, but he wondered if maybe that was because he was so biased towards Light. If so, that bothered him a little bit. L curled his chin into his knees. Meeting Light's family like this did make him feel a bit lonesome though. It made him wish that he had his own family to return to. But no, Watari was all the family L needed. L watched as Light and Sayu blabbered on and on about the Japanese High School she was attending. Light looked so lively, so attractive.
Sayu finally looked up and over at L, who sat in his usual crouch staring at Light.
"And you are?" She asked politely as her eyes locked on the handcuffs that locked them both to each other. That was how she had first noticed L after all, she'd seen a metal chain go across the table. She hadn't expected it to be attached to another man's wrist. Light blinked, suddenly furious with himself. He hadn't asked L about what they intended to do regarding his pseudonyms and the handcuffs. Light's eyes locked with L's.
"I suppose Raito-kun and I shall tell you both the truth." L said after a long moment. It would be dangerous to tell them who he was, but there were much bigger things to worry about. He knew that if Soichiro asked his husband and daughter not to say anything they wouldn't. And L wouldn't tell them his sexuality and the current status of his relationship with Light. He'd just sort of lie about a few things and tell them both the truth a little.
Instead of, "My name is L Lawliet, I am the current top three detectives in the world and head of the Kira Investigation. Your son, Light, is the primary suspect for that case but we got detained for a month and a half in a mall surrounded by zombies. There we discovered that having sexual intercourse was a great way to pass the time, and now I have turned your son gay. It's very nice to meet you." L could think of about eight thousands other ways to be slightly more polite about the truth.
Light nodded, waiting for L to say something. Sachiko sat down next to her son, Sayu was looking up at him expectantly.
"I cannot tell you my true name by an alias I go by is L." L started, forcing his face blank when Sayu's eyes widened. She opened her mouth to say something but Light cut her off.
"Sayu-chan, let him finish." He told her in a stern tone. Sayu' s mouth promptly closed but she continued to stare at him, wide eyed, for a long time.
"The reason Raito-kun and I have been gone recently is because we got held back in the quarantine that I put under Great Britain to stop the virus that spread there."
Sachiko choked on her tea, "Raito-kun was stuck in the virus?!" She cried, worry spreading through her. They all had, of course, heard of the many horrors that were spreading over Great Britain. A lot of people had been outraged because of L's quarantine, but Soichiro had told her that he trusted L to know what he was doing. She hadn't heard anything about Light being in the quarantine zone itself.
"I am fine, okaasan. As you can obviously see," Light admonished, grabbing his mothers hand and giving it a comforting squeeze.
"Wow Raito! I knew that you were helping with the Kira thing but I didn't know you were handcuffed to L himself!" Sayu told him, leaning over the table and staring across at L curiously. L peered down back at her monotonously. The flatness of his eyes soon made Sayu uncomfortable and she turned away.
"Were is dad?" Light asked after a moment.
"Your father is at the NPA office right now. He won't be back until tomorrow morning, and that will just be to shower and change. I'm sure he'll come home right now if I call him," Sachiko offered, smiling amiably.
"No, that's already. L and I will be staying here tonight if that's okay,"
"Of course it is! Your bed hasn't been slept in since you left but all your things are still up there. But, Raito, why are you handcuffed to him?" Sachiko asked after a long moment.
"Safety purposes that I cannot disclose at this time, Yagami-san." L told her quietly when Light gave him a questioning look. Sachiko sighed, she'd heard that one many times before. Her husband wasn't aloud to talk about a lot of the things going on in his life though so she had come to expect and understand the need of privacy in their business.
They talked for a bit longer but both L and Light were slightly jet lagged from the long trip. Light more than L, of course. Light's mom asked a few things about what had happened during the quarantine, along with when Light planned to finish college. Sayu just sat and listened through most of it before Light excused himself and L to go upstairs and rest. He told his mother to knock on his door in the morning when he father got back.
Then L and himself departed upstairs. When Light got to his room he opened it slowly and took in same bed that he had slept in for many year. His mom had obviously come in to clean and dusted since then because it didn't even look like he hadn't been there in half a year. Collapsing on the bed Light flew his arm over his face.
"Man, that was harder than I though." He told L when he felt the bed next to him push down.
"Raito-kun loves his family though. I bet you it was nice to see him."
Light took his arm away from his face, "Are you okay?"
L looked down at him, "What do you mean?"
"Well, since you don't have a family…"
"It was a bit lonely. But Watari is my family now, Raito-kun."
Light smiled and pulled at the back of L's shirt until he was lying down with L next to him.
"Raito-kun," L whined, "I've been getting far too much sleep because of you."
"Maybe that's why you're more amiable."
"I act amiable?" L sounded displeased.
"Only around me," Light teased ruffling his long tresses through slim fingers. L nodded and let his nose fall against the fabric of Light's shirt. His other arm, the one with the handcuff, scooped around Light's belly and rested.
"Are you prepared to return to the headquarters tomorrow, Raito-kun?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"I agree. I am looking forward to getting back on the case, Raito-kun."
"Mmm." Light murmured into L's hair, "I'm a little scared though."
"Indeed?"
"What if I am Kira?" He asked softly. L stiffened but relaxed after a long moment.
"Stride for stride, Raito-kun."
"What do you mean by that?"
"We must take this one step at a time, Raito-kun. Better to over think and over prepare than not."
"Yes, I get where you're coming from." Light finally told him, pulling back and looking down at L. The fingers that had been playing with his hair idly stroked his cheek. He leaned down and gave L a warm chaste kiss, his body flushing when the soft salty lips pressed up against him. L responded eagerly, nipping Light's lower lip so that Light would open his mouth. Light gave a soft murmur in response and his tongue met L's quickly, his fingers pushing L's chin up so he could better access his mouth.
L's hands trailed from Light's stomach down his shirt and up again, the fingers now pressed again the skin of Light's stomach. They're kissing grew softer, then sped up again as they fought for dominance. Light knew that this time around he would want to take the detective, not to be on bottom again. With this thought in mind Light pushed L over and straddled him, making L's hand come out of underneath his shirt. L's face was slightly flushed when he looked down at his lover.
Light chuckled, remembering L's exact words from the first time they'd made love.
"I'm the seme," he told the detective in a husky tone. L only nodded in compliance.
