Author's Note: I haven't forgotten this story, I promise. I've had a rough three years and my muse ran away for a while. I am trying to get back in my writing. Chapters may take a while, but I want to finish it. This chapter is mostly dialogue, I'm sorry it's so short. Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with it, read it, and commented!
This is rated M for potential future pairing between Light and L. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note, or the characters therein.
"Ryuzaki, truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"How many suspects have you seduced to get a confession?" Light allows a smirk to form as L stares.
"None. You are the first suspect I have met in person, Light-kun." Light's eyebrows rise slightly. "Light-kun, truth or dare?"
"Truth, though I feel compelled to point out neither of us has chosen dare." L leans forward, munching a cookie as he does so.
"What, in your opinion, would force Kira to change his plans? After all, the second Kira was clearly a follower of his beliefs."
I guess I really do need to hold your hand. "I believe Kira truly believes he is doing the right thing, that he is fixing the corruption he sees within the world. However, he stopped once to protect himself, and I believe his sense of self-preservation is the only thing stronger than his sense of justice." Light pours himself another cup of tea, leaning back as Ryuzaki pauses mid-bite through strawberry cake. Light continued. "Shall I assume we are playing a game of interrogation, rather than truth or dare?" L nodded. "Tell me, Ryuzaki, do you know how to kill a Shinigami?"
L's eyes widen as he glances around, noticing Rem is absent. "No, I do not. Do you?"
"Yes, not that it does much good." L leans forward, sweets and tea forgotten.
"How?" Light feels the truth serum compel him to answer.
"Shinigami can only die if they extend the life of a human. They will only do this if they are in love with a human." L's fork clatters on the table, eyes wide. Light continues. "If they are in love with a human, they will write the name of any human who threatens their life. Do you understand?"
L's thoughts race, pieces of the puzzle slotting where they go until the picture is nearly complete. "Yes, Light-kun. One question: how do you know how to kill a Shinigami?"
Light smiles a cruel smile. "Rem told me. She told me the story of Gelus, a Shinigami who watched our world from their realm. He fell in love with a human, the Second Kira. When their life was at stake, Gelus wrote their attacker's name in his Death note, killing the human. But Shinigami's exist to take life, not extend it, and Gelus died. All the remaining years Gelus had were transferred to the Second Kira, whom he saved. Rem felt it appropriate the human whom Gelus gave his life for should own the Death Note he once had." Light glances around, looking for Rem and gives a visible sigh of relief she is not in the room.
"My turn to ask. How far are you willing to go to get your confession? Are you willing to break laws to do so?"
L tilts his head. "Of course, Light-kun. I have already done so. I will do what I need to to bring Kira to justice."
Light nods, making eye contact as L asked his question. "If you were Kira, and you were trapped by a Shinigami holding death over your head, how would you get out of the situation?"
"I would find a way to force the Shinigami to save her life. Once the Shinigami was no longer a threat, I would have the Second Kira give up the notebook, permanently, possibly eliminating her and the threat she represents." Light grimaced, the truth serum forcing him to speak more honestly than he planned.