#36 Enemy
There are infinite universes. Infinite bubbles of time wherein the every choice made by every person in the length of their lives are played out.
The same story, in so many different ways.
In some, L never dies. In some, Misa avenges Light's death and becomes a goddess in her own right. In some, there are even happy endings.
And in this one, Kira is the god of the New World. And L, he keeps as a broken and humiliated pet. For amusement and his own sadistic pleasure.
It is a world so often explored by the writer, but this time there is a difference.
This time, Light sits in his golden chair and watches with a bored expression as his followers ritually humiliate the once great detective, kicking and punching at him, spitting on his shivering form that had long ago ceased to struggle with Kira's devoted followers.
With a deep sigh, Light waved one hand to signal them to stop, and leave him and his pathetic prisoner in peace.
L laid there, curled in a ball, naked for the collar bearing the symbol that once represented justice to so many. He didn't move.
Light just watched him, and pondered on why he no long felt anything when he watched L being reduced to this, a filthy, whimpering creature, too traumatised to even move without permission.
He used to delight in torturing his nemesis like this. Now he just felt empty inside. Even teasing L with footage of his precious little heirs being used as slaves did nothing.
"Get up." He snapped.
With a shuddering breath, L used his bony arms to push himself first into a sitting position, and then slowly onto his feet. His once strong and muscle-toned limbs shook with the effort of taking his weight.
Light reached into his pocket and threw a single piece of gum across the room. It bounced off L's mid-section and the man dove at the sugary treat like a wild animal.
Light frowned.
L would never have done that, back then. He would have had a tray of cakes beside him, and never been hungry or denied his sweet addiction.
Of course, back then L would never have obeyed the order of 'get up' either. He would have remained stubbornly on the floor just to annoy Kira.
There was so much about him that was different now; it was like he…
Wasn't even L anymore.
Kira's caramel eyes widened slightly as his brain made that final connection and the truth laid bare before him. This beaten and broken man who even now ate like a creature that had not seen food in many millennia… this was not L. This was something that Kira had made L into.
And what pleasure was there in trying to hurt an enemy who didn't even exist anymore?
Inside himself, Kira felt a rush of something he knew he should never have felt for L.
Compassion, and regret.
He swallowed hard. "L."
The man-thing looked up. "Yes Kira-sama?"
Light winced. "No, L, not Kira-sama. Call me Light-kun." He gulped back the painful lump in his throat, "And… I'm going to call you Ryuzaki, all right?"
L's head tilted in confusion. "…Light-kun?"
Light nodded, climbing down from his throne and kneeling next to L on the floor. "That's right, remember, like you used to."
L moved slowly and with shudders, like a fearful kitten. But slowly he spoke, "…Light-kun…and I am… I am…"
Light breathed, trying to convince himself this was about restoring some of L's spirit so that there might again be some enjoyment in breaking him. "You are L, you are Ryuzaki, you are the three greatest detectives in the world, and you are Justice."
L's eyes sprang open wide, and suddenly Light could see behind those coal-coloured circles L's soul pushing back to the surface. All the time that had passed melted like hot butter behind those eyes.
And L began to weep. He wept bitterly for what he had become. Bringing his hands to his eyes he shook with a grief that had been suppressed for so many years.
Light held him and allowed him to cry into his shoulder, and listened to the soft mumbles of "Oh god… what happened to me… how did this…. Why did I let this happen…"
Light felt the tears on his own cheeks before he realised that he too was weeping. He blinked hard, confused, at first.
He realised with sudden clarity that he had no idea how to answer L's wept questions, how had this happened to them? Once upon a time, had they not been friendly rivals? Once, making L laugh at one of his jokes was the greatest achievement he had.
Once, being Kira had meant being merciful and helping the weak and helpless. Not controlling the world through fear and threats.
Suddenly, Light wanted nothing more than to go back to when this had all began, and make the choice not to touch that cursed notebook.
Behind him, the shinigami laughed.