27

Light was starting to look worried about his growing baby bump. It has been approximately five months now, and it was getting obvious despite his constant effort in trying to hide it. His first salary got spent too quickly on new clothes to hide the bump and in medical bills. Since he escaped, he was only able to visit the doctor once, and didn't realize how costly medical fees are in this part of the country, not to mention all the medication he needed to take was costing a fortune. He wasn't able to buy all of them, and just bought the important ones.

Teru might have also noticed the bump, but he must have been too polite to not bring it up. Perhaps he was assuming that he was just getting fat, and Light didn't have the courage to tell him. As long as they keep it this way, then it would be fine. Maybe it didn't hurt to look for a place on his own now, so that he could at least live by himself with none of those questions. He was just thinking of ways to earn more money when Teru brought up something interesting.

"You know, one of the partners were wondering if you can be their personal assistant" the man said just after dinner. "You'll be employed full time if you agree, and it will give better pay"

"Me?" Light couldn't believe his luck. He was only working there for almost a month and someone was already offering him a full time job.

"Yeah, he said he was impressed by what you did at my files, and how efficient you are at everything, and he was needing an assistant anyway" he said. "So do you want the job"

"Of course! Tell him I'll do it right away!" Light was just so eager to earn more so that he can live on his own soon.

Teru smiled.

"You really did a good job, by the way, Lucas. To think you can turn that pile of paperwork into an extremely organised file. I'm impressed." He asserted.

"Oh, thank you. I am just returning the favour" he said.

Teru smiled.

"You don't have to. I am doing this because I like you" Teru admitted.

Light didn't know what to make of that statement, so he just pretended not to hear it. It was all too subtle, but sometimes Light is beginning to notice that the other man might be into him, but he didn't want to think too much about it because it might mean he was taking advantage of the situation.

It is better to think ahead than waste your time thinking about these things, and being hurt before he knew it was not worth it.

From now on, Light was only thinking about himself and his kid.

…

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Misa asked L who was standing still like a statue in front of the Yagami residence. "You're here already, might as well tell them"

"I am just gathering my courage, Misa-san. Give me another minute" he said as he breathed deeply.

He actually was genuinely scared of the police chief right now, especially since he saw his bummed out reaction when they found out that L had went ahead and burned the death note while they were in the penthouse being wasted like a bunch of old men. It was supposed to be their grand finale and they even had bought gasoline for that occasion. But then L had to sneak around and steal both notebook and gasoline, so you can imagine how disappointed every member of the task force was, especially the chief himself. He turned to punching one of the monitors in the investigation room to the point that it was no longer repairable, and that effectively killed everyone's mood.

And now, just over a day from that incident, L was here in his house, about to announce something that would definitely elicit a much stronger reaction. He even brought Misa because he was too afraid to go by himself. Thinking about it now, he realised that he shouldn't have brought Misa here, or else the easily angered police chief might get the wrong idea. But he couldn't just ask the girl to leave, she was too excited for this for some reason.

Misa pressed the doorbell before L could react, and before you know it, Light's mother answered the door.

"Oh, Misa! How nice to see you!"

"Hello, Sachiko-san. We're here to talk to Souichiro-san if that's alright."

"Ah, no need to be so formal. Come on in!" she ushered the two of them to the living room.

"This is Ryuuzaki-kun" she introduced to Light's mother.

"Hello", L waved shyly.

"Souichiro will be heading here shortly" she told them as she gave them tea and biscuits like it came from thin air.

It was the most uncomfortable minute of L's life, just waiting for the inevitable. Finally, the older man came down, with messy hair and obviously looking like he is suffering a hangover.

"Dear, we have guests…" Sachiko told him gently, but her husband paid her no mind and sat down in front of L and Misa.

"What brings you two here?" he asked directly.

"Uh…I…"

"Ryuuzaki has something to say!" Misa encouraged.

"Go on." Souichiro said, clearly getting impatient.

"It's about Raito-kun" he said.

"Oh! Is he coming home? Can you tell him to call soon? He's being so inconsiderate for not even telling everyone he is leaving…" Sachiko instantly sat in front of Misa and L the moment she heard Light's name.

"Uhh…I actually don't know where he is at the moment"

"Yeah, you guys are being too secretive even to his own parents" Souichiro pointed out. "I get that he is an adult and he can do what he wants, but at least tell us the bare minimum"

"Yeah! We were worried sick about him. Why would he leave without saying goodbye"

"I don't know why he wouldn't tell you, to be honest. I don't know where he is either" L admitted.

The two parents looked annoyed at being baited for nothing.

"But I sort of know why he left" he added, and braced himself. "You see, Raito-kun is pregnant"

It took a full minute for either of them to process this.

"WHAT!?"

L immediately felt himself being held by the scruff of his shirt.

"You bastard! Is this your doing? Where are you hiding him? How can you do such a thing?" Light's father completely blew off his top.

"Dear! Calm down! Let him explain! Is that what happened to Raito? Why didn't you tell this sooner?"

"I don't know where he went. He only told me this and I found it hard to believe, but he left soon after that."

"You didn't believe him? After what you did to him?" the older man pressed on. "Tell me one good reason why I shouldn't beat you to death right now?"

L suddenly felt a ringing in his ears, and realised that he had been hit by one of Souichiro's fists.

"Eeeek!"

As always, Misa was just there watching the spectacle unfold.

"And you come here, with this girl by your side to tell us this? Are you mocking us? Are you telling us that you have already cheated on our son after doing that to him? Have you no shame!"

"No! That's not it, Yagami-san! I just came here as a moral support for him! We're not in a relationship!" Misa desperately explained.

"When did that even start? Is that why you chained him to you? So that you can do those things to him? That is sick!"

"I'm sorry for not saying anything sooner, Yagami-san. I didn't mean for any of this to happen..." L tried to raise his voice to match the older man's.

"How dare you!" Souichiro was about to get crazy.

"Stop it dear! This is exactly why Raito left! He must have been too scared of what you might do!" the poor lady was in tears.

Suddenly, the police chief stopped, and looked at her wife, who was bawling in tears.

"You're always like this! I want a divorce!" she screamed, which made her husband calm down a little.

The look of fear from the idea of having a divorce made his face soften, and he quickly went to his wife's side and comforted her. L remembered him mentioning about his marital problems but he thought that he was able to solve it by now. L admitted that it felt a bit intrusive to be seeing this other side of the chief. Maybe he should just leave.

"Dear, I'm sorry. I was just shocked at the news. I've only known what happened to Raito just now and I blew off. Please…"

"You were supposed to protect him!" she wailed. "He didn't even come home for months! All you care about is that investigation!"

The man looked desperate, and remorse was clearly shown on his face for throwing a rampage on the room.

"Oh, I'm really sorry Dear, it's all my fault. I'll make it up to you, I promise"

L looked a bit interested at how the whole thing turned a 180 degree on the couple's marital problems.

"I'm sorry, but it is all my fault for not listening to Raito-kun" L tried to clear things up between the two. "I was the one responsible for not making Raito-kun come home, because he wanted to join the investigation team. It was not Souichiro-san's fault. He is only following my orders."

Sachiko calmed down a bit.

"Can you please forgive him and let us focus to finding Raito-kun?"

The two nodded. L felt relieved. He had been dreading this day ever since Light told him about the news.

"I'm sorry for getting angry at you, Ryuuzaki" Souichiro said softly.

"That is alright, Yagami-san. I have expected that" L said. "It was a natural reaction"

"I'm sorry that you should see that" Sachiko apologised. "I just miss my son"

"I understand. And I will do my best to find him" L assured.

"What are you planning to do, Ryuuzaki?" the police chief asked after getting a handle on his emotions.

"I'll track him down, and find him wherever he is. And I will ask him to marry me" he said boldly.

"What? Are you sure of that?" Misa asked him.

"I should have done this a long time ago, and maybe this is why I am having a lot of hang-ups." L said. "I don't know what he will say to me, and I am ready to be rejected. But at least I'll try"

"I won't stop you, Ryuuzaki" Souichiro told him after thinking about it. "Raito is an adult, and he can make decisions for himself. Just please, if you see him, tell him that we miss him, and we are not angry at him"

"Please tell Raito that we love him" Sachiko added, holding back the tears.

L took this message seriously.

"I promise I will bring Raito-kun home" he said.

And L was serious about that. It might be rash, but he didn't want to regret it anymore. He loved Light, that is what he realised after being away for him for so long. He will do anything to bring him back.

…