29
L found himself going back to the place he swore he will never go back to before, determined to get some answers. This was the only place L knew Watari could send Light, so as much as he hated it, this was the best place to find clues on where he went.
Flashbacks of his childhood came rushing to him as he walked across the dimly lit corridor to Roger's room. It was easy to say that his childhood was rough, but you need to really experience it to truly understand how bad it was. He repressed his memories here so much that he can only remember the bits and pieces, and it was enough for him to form a nightmare. He suspected that it was primarily the reason he found it hard to sleep at night.
Fortunately, Roger's office was easy enough to locate, and he didn't meet any of the kids while he walked there. He opened the door and saw the old man waiting for him.
"Watari told me that you would come, and I know why" he said in acknowledgment. "I'm sorry to say that Light is no longer here."
"I thought you said no one escapes this place unless you willingly do so?"
"We believe he was aided by a couple of students here, however we could not identify who exactly, and no one has come forward yet" he admitted. "I must say that he became really popular in his short stay here"
Typical Raito, taking advantage of his popularity to escape this place. Watari clearly underestimated him.
"Wasn't there any security cameras all over the facility and the next town?"
"They took care of it too" Roger answered. "We really should improve our security features here especially with our top candidates easily figuring out how to hack the system"
L thought about it for a while. He knew what to do next. Someone here may be able to tell him who Light interacted with the most, so he has to look for anyone who can point him in the right direction. Actually doing it however, was a different story. He really didn't like talking to other people, but if it would bring him closer to where Light is, he would have to endure.
"By the way, since you are here, maybe you can already decide who to pick as your successor…"
L left the room before he can finish that sentence.
It did not take him long to find out the answer, though. Someone was already waiting for him at the door when he left.
"Hello, L" said Near. "I know who you're looking for, and I can tell it to you at a price"
L looked suspicious. He recognised this boy as the one who looked skeptical at him while talking to the other children in Whammy's house years before.
"But let us talk in my room" Near said as he beckoned L to follow him.
…
"Light", Teru called him, and for some reason it sounded comforting for him to hear. He knew that starting from today, he would have to be stronger in order to fight his attacker in court. It wasn't enough that the doctors here examined him to document the abuse that he experienced, he would have to recall it countless times in the witness stand, until he couldn't bear it anymore and just give up, and let the other person win. But hearing his name again he remembered that he had been through worse things and still managed to win, and he was determined to win this fight again.
However, Teru had different plans.
On impulse, he suddenly grabbed his hands, and looked very determined.
"Light, come back with me to Japan! I'll take care of you…"
Light smiled.
"That is sweet," he said. "But I don't want to be a burden to you anymore. I want to fight this man and get my dignity back"
His new found bravery only made Teru like him more, to the point that he was already shining in his eyes.
"Then, I'll help you win this case!" he told him determinedly. "We'll bring that man to jail!"
The coming days Light found himself with a newly found passion to fight back. He lined up all the evidence gathered against that man. Fortunately, the firm had recently installed security cameras in the office to deter such things to happen, and it luckily recorded the incident clearly. The police told him that he could easily win with that alone, however he wanted to make sure that there was no way to fail.
More importantly, he didn't want to recall what happened at all so he was willing to settle if it meant not having to testify in the stands and be subject to all kinds of questioning. He knew that the older man thought of that, and it must be the reason most of his victims didn't pursue the charges, so it was very unlikely for him to settle.
A lawyer can easily brush off accusations left and right, and still be there to get revenge and sue you back. He didn't want that to happen. Maybe this is the best time to call Mello? He looked at the phone given to him before they parted. It was to be used for emergency purposes only, he was told. He was a bit relieved he didn't have to use it the first day, but maybe right now is the perfect time.
He bit his lip as he opened the phone and dialled the only number there. He waited.
"Yo, Light. It took you a while to call us! Good job!" came the familiar voice of a cheery teenager. "How are you?"
"I'm in a bit of a pinch, but fine in general? How about you?"
"Well, we found a few gigs here and there? We are cashing in, man!" he said happily. "So tell me, what are you in for?"
Light explained to him the situation while Mello listened.
"I know just the guy to call!" Mello said after a while. "We're part of a gang now, so we've gotten quite the connection. I'll send him to you right away"
"That would be nice." Light said as a wave of relief hit him. "Thank you, Mello"
"No problem, Light! Just remember to take care of yourself, okay?" he told him as if he was the older person in this conversation. "Oh, and you can call us every now and then. We were joking about the phone getting destroyed and all"
"Oh, Mello!" he was irritated at being fooled, but more than that he missed the boy who he owed so much.
"I'm sorry for being so immature then, Light. We've changed now that we're professionals, so we have to look after each other"
They continued talking for a while. It seemed like ages. Light missed talking to someone who knew his situation, and was willing to accept him, and even help him. Maybe Whammy's House wasn't so bad after all? Or maybe Mello and Matt was just the exception.
Either way, he found a solution to his problem, and after that he can start a new life without having to depend on anyone.
"Oh, by the way." Mello suddenly remembered. "I heard L was starting to look for you"
Light didn't know if he was happy or scared at knowing this.
"Is that so? Well, I should try and hide then?"
Or maybe excitement? No. he didn't want to see L's face again. He already gave him a chance and he didn't take it. Maybe he was being harsh?
Light slapped himself back to reality.
There was no L to save him here. He was all on his own.
He had to act on his own. This is a new life for him.
He went back and laid out his plan once more.
...
Light talked to Mello's guy, who assured him that this can all be taken cared of, although he has some doubts on this guy's connections. Knowing Mello, it wasn't a stretch to be suddenly be associated with the Mafia, and this guys is certainly giving off strong vibes of being part of that infamous group.
He asked Light to give him a picture of the man, his name and where he worked, then he would work it from there. As Light was sending him Ryan's picture from the corporate website, he can't help but notice the eerie connection of hiring a hitman as compared to the death note. Granted, he ran away from it all and could no longer use it, it felt really similar to how death notes work. It was like having a very efficient hitman that can just kill with a name and a face, almost instantly. It was not like he wanted this man dead, as scummy as he was, but it felt like him dying wouldn't really accomplish anything other than appease Light's anger for now. That kind of righteousness would have been enough for Light in the past, but now it is different. He has to think of people other than himself.
Light talked to the hitman for a long time, on the untraceable phone that Mello gave him. He wanted it to be done according to plan, once again. The hitman admitted that it would take more effort on his part, but he wants to impress Mello in the hopes of rising in the ranks. Apparently Mello is part of the head honcho in this organisation, despite just being there for over a month.
It will take two weeks to execute the plan, and Light made it clear that there should be no unecessary killings or else Mello would hear about it. In the meantime, Light made sure to read up on everything he can on the law, so that there would be no chances of the plan failing. At least, as much as he possibly can with the situation he is in.
The doctor assessed that he was in danger for a difficult birth, and ordered complete bed rest for two weeks, with full monitoring from the hospital, so no, he was not discharged that easily. There was a lot of things that worried Light because of this.
The first, most glaring one was the growing hospital bill that he is accumulating on just being confined here. Teru almost instantly volunteered to help him cover the costs, but that would be too unfair for him and it would cost a fortune. He can apply for a hospital loan, but then that would mean he has to give out all his details and his credit history was non-existent yet so you can just imagine how it was keeping him awake at night.
But then, the dilemma was that he has to make sure to get a good and complete bed rest for the sake of the baby, and that was reason enough to not be too stressed on what was happening to him, that and the fact that he was heavily drugged most of the time.
The whole sexual assault charge was just down that list. It was not so important as the other two but Light believed that if he was successful in his plan, the other two problem would fix itself. It was all or nothing, so to speak, and he had gambled so recklessly before, he was on familiar ground.
More importantly, and the most obvious problem he has is that this was the first time he actually felt that he was alone. Sure, Teru was there to visit, but he can't really bear to drag him into this mess. He had already involved him too much already. He didn't want to be a burden on anyone, because he didn't want to get hurt again. If anything, he had been in this mess, and it is up to him to get out of it.
Speaking of Teru, he always visits every morning, before he gets to work, and at night before going home. It was that often that the staff already knew him, and naturally assumed him to be the father. He didn't want to think too much of it, but one night, he came to the room looking determined than usual.
"I have given this much thought ever since I got the news", he told Light. "And I have decided it is the right thing to do"
Light was taken aback by this.
"What are you saying?"
"Stay with me, Light. I'll take care of you and I'll be a father to your baby", he said.
Light did not know how to process this.
"I don't know if you realise what you're saying." Light argued. "You don't know me that much to make such a big decision. I don't want you to just throw your life away for me."
"I am not throwing my life! I love you, Light. I want to make you happy" Teru insisted.
"You…love me?" Light was in tears. "How can you say that? We've only known each other for just a month"
"I have been in love with you the first time I saw you" he admitted. "I just want to protect you, and do my best to keep you safe and happy"
Light started to cry.
"You don't know me that well, and I have been nothing but a burden to you"
"That is not true. In fact my life has been better ever since I met you"
Light was still crying, trying to process what Teru has been saying.
"I know it is not right to force it on you, but think of what I said, and whatever your decision I will respect." He said as he was about to leave.
"Wait" Light said, with a bit of resolve. "Before you go, I want to tell you something"
He beckoned Teru to come closer, so he can whisper in his ear.
"I'm Kira" he said in an almost inaudible voice. Teru had to take a second before realizing what he just said. "And my life has been ill-fated the moment I took that role. If you stay with me you might suffer the same fate"
Teru backed out for a while, a cold sweat running from his head. He looked at him as if he saw a monster. Light smiled, understanding his reaction.
He left the room without saying another word, walking aimlessly to the exit. Light sighed heavily as he recalled what had just happened. He was expecting that kind of reaction, but it was still hard for him. Sure, he already stopped his operation as Kira, but it still doesn't get him off the hook. He was already suffering for it, but it was not enough. He ran away because he was too scared, and yet the misfortunes followed him. Maybe this child is also a curse? He felt terrible for thinking about that. if anything, this child did nothing wrong. Hopefully, misfortune won't follow him anywhere, or else Light would not be able to bear it knowing that he was the cause of his misery.
Thinking about it, this child is the only reason he hasn't thought of ending it all. He has to be strong for this child, and make sure he doesn't make bad decisions, like he did. Admittedly, he already had a lifetime worth of crimes that makes him not suitable to guide this child at all, but this is all he can do right now. If life really was unfair, Light hoped that at least his child would get the better end of the stick.
All this thinking exhausted him, and he decided to call it a day. What was done was done, and what he was about to do, was not really the most moral thing in the world, but it was the only thing he can do for now. He can only hope that the world forgives him, or at least his child will.
Before he drifted to unconsciousness, he thought about L.
Will he ever forgive him?