To LottieRaven: You are right. I will not give up on trying. I will try my best to publish and I shall see, maybe luck will be on my side one day?
I am very proud to have managed to make you like that story even more than the previous one, which revolved around Mello and Near.
I am also glad that you like the character of E, and I find it very amusing — I insist on that word — that she reminds you of Elena. I admit I like to create and write that character very much!
About E wanting to call Matt "Queer" at first, it was actually a joke! That is what Matt tells Light in the end. But I confess the joke pleased me to no end!
Like always, your theories are very interesting and I find your interpretation of E's dolphin metaphor very clever and deep. As you asked, I will not say anything else so you can see what is the true significance when the times comes.
I must say I am very flattered that you think I would do a great job of a Black Butler and Death Note crossover, though I admit I did not think about it before... But why not! I will think about it, that could be a great concept. And if you read good stories of that kind, please share them, I am curious to read them.
Until then, I plan on writing a Black Butler fanfiction. To be honest, I have already started writing chapter 1 (check my profile for more informations). But if possible, I would like to advance a bit on the Letters before publishing another story. So I shall see when it'll be more appropriate to introduce my new fanfiction.
Really you do not need to thank me for anything because I really find our exchanges very exciting, so I can assure you that you don't bother me at all. It's quite the contrary actually, I like it very much. It will be a pleasure to keep discussing with you if you are still willing.
Again, I thank you for your support and I am eager to know your opinion about this new chapter.
Chapter 4: Z
"Good morning, R." A well-known emotionless voice called him from the opposite of the table.
When R raised his head, he noticed he had sat right in front of L in the cafeteria for the first time since his arrival at Wammy's, two years ago.
"Hello, L." He replied neutrally as he settled down to drink his milk.
Indeed, it was the very first time he had to walk to the farthest wooden table in order to eat his breakfast in peace, and he couldn't see the white figure that did not stand out from the blank wall behind. One sneak peek at the older student's plate was enough to state the obvious. L was, like usual, busy planting his fork into his equally usual sugary strawberry cheesecake, while stirring his spoon in a cup full of black tea.
Knowing L was one of the rarest Wammy's pupils to enjoy silence, R did not bother to start a conversation, preferring to dive into his bowl of cereals. But after a rather long moment filled with nothing but chewing and crunching noises, R was sure he had deciphered an infuriating, sizzling noise, which caused him to lift his head slowly.
What he witnessed would have been enough to provoke anyone else a heart attack in the instant, but he was not anyone. Thus, as collected and steady as ever, he arched an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side, and spoke ever so quietly.
"L," He began carefully, his brown eyes never leaving the elder, "there's a snake around your neck."
Indeed, a slim yet long black, yellow and red snake was gently wrapping around L's shoulders, circling his neck discretely, apparently unnoticed by everyone in the cafeteria except for R. When any other person would have been lost in shrills of panic and calls for help in this situation, L merely looked down, coming face to face with the yellow-black head.
"Ah, yes. Thank you, R." He said, his voice never so empty. Then, at R's greatest surprise, L banged the wooden table with his fist. "Z. Please come out and retrieve your Coral serpent."
As if he had just cast a curse successfully, swift motions underneath caused the table to tremble and soon enough, a lean figure crept out from under the table. It was a girl, from eleven to twelve years old. She had dark brown hair gathered in a messy braid which fell on her breast covered with a green leather dress and a chestnut brown fur coat, at her feet stood beige doeskin high boots which almost reached her hips.
Without further ado, the girl smiled gleefully, and R widened his eyes as he spotted sharp, fine teeth in her mouth which were everything but human. She lunged forward and produced an eardrum-piercing hissing noise. In the blink of an eye, the snake wheezed in return, disentangled itself from L's pale neck and flew towards the bestial girl, curling around her tanned neck.
With that, the brown-haired girl turned towards the two silent boys and beamed at them. "Sorry for the inconvenience," she almost chanted, sounding everything but sorry. And putting her head down, allowing the snake to rub against her cheek, she added, "But you know Lady Bird, she likes L very much. And I can't deprive her of that joy, can I?"
"Of course not." L answered calmly, not sparing a glance at the strange girl, rather dipping his lips into his hot beverage. "But perhaps you could watch over her more often so that Lady Bird will not bother any other student."
"But then..." She whined painfully, her green-yellowish eyes fixed on her snake. "Where would be the fun?"
"Everything does not always revolve around fun, Z. When you will understand that, perhaps we will be able to eat breakfast in peace, without the interference of a snake, an iguana, or any other wild animal that belongs to the jungle, and not to a school for gifted children."
The flaming green eyes fell upon the eldest student, throwing lightning blots at the black-haired man.
"Uh!" She sneered disdainfully. "Of course someone like you would never understand what fun is like." She turned towards R, her lips twisting upwards. "Hi, R. I don't know if you heard about me yet. I'm Z, but you can call me Zadila." Reporting her glaring eyes to the dark-haired man in front of him, she spat. "Perhaps you could teach that robot how to have some fun, for a change."
She turned on her heels, her braid flying over her shoulder, landing on her fur-covered back as she walked to the nearest table where a very famous purple-wearing girl sat, a balloon glass with crimson liquid between her hands.
Frowning, R followed the animal-like girl with sceptic eyes as she sat in front of the eldest female student.
"E." He murmured as if for himself. "So Zadila is a friend of Eve."
"Not exactly." Came L's indifferent answer. "Ever since Z entered the Wammy's House, E imposed herself as her protector." As R was about to open his mouth to retort, L cut him off with a rather eerie tone. "Why did E take Z under her wing, you may ask?" The older pupil put his head up, his onyx eyes full of wonder and mystery meeting R's chestnut ones. "No one knows."
"A sister-like relationship, I guess." R barely shrugged his shoulders, disregarding the matter as he focused back on his eggs.
"Call it as you wish, but let me give you an advice, R." L stated, his voice suddenly low and cold. "Never pester Z, for if you do..." He paused, and the black pools that served as his eyes seemed to pierce right through R.
"Her snake pet will appear as a merciful treat compared to her mentor."
This very morning, the Wammy's kids started with Biology class. That was not R's best interest but he would agree on the fact that it was indeed a rather interesting subject. However, he was far less passionate about it than a certain frizzy-haired black-skinned boy or a sadly famous braided-haired girl with a soft spot for snakes.
It was well-known amongst the students that Z and C, also called Zadila and Coal, were fighting for the top place in Biology, to the grey-haired male teacher's greatest amusement, always yearning for the perfection of the one hundred percent grade, while the other usual top students — namely L, R, N, M — did not even bother to fight for the top grade, content with their satisfactory ninety-five percent grade.
This day, their task was particularly tedious. The teacher, never leaving his pleased smile, ordered them to try and find out the rat's organs functioning. For that, they had all been given a dead rat corpse to study and dissect as they saw fit. Once his experience done, R attended to draw graphics and schemas, taking notes and synthesizing what he had learnt thoroughly, when a familiar nasty wheezing noise caused him to grit his teeth. When he looked up, he froze.
A lean, glossy blue sky serpent was swirling around his pen, around his hand and then around his forearm...
He simply stood there, watching the snake circling his arm, embracing his body almost adoringly, lovingly as the beast continued to sizzle quietly. Suddenly, he was pulled out of his trance by a void, baritone voice.
"R." Turning his head to the left, R could see a white-dressed man walking towards his desk deadly slowly, his hands dug into his pockets. "There is a snake around your arm."
R did his best not to glare daggers at the older pupil, and instead simply smiled tensely. "Yes, I'm aware, L. About that, could you call Zadila?"
In response, L merely tilted his head to the side as he raised a hand, pressing his thumb to his mouth. "That is strange." He mused absently, gnawing on his fingernail, showing no sign he had heard R at all. "Usually, this snake is quite bashful. It never searched for human contact before, with the exception of his mistress' of course."
"Yeah, well," his voice edgy, barely hiding his irritation, "it must have changed its mind. Now could you please call Zadila so she can get her pet back?" He asked sharply.
Eventually, that caused L to come back to earth as his dark eyes met R's fiery brown. He nodded almost solemnly as he spoke calmly. "Of course."
Without another word, he stepped past R's desk towards the back of the classroom. A few seconds later, a piercing whistling noise made his jaw cringe and he did not need to look to guess who was approaching him. Surely enough, Zadila came to his sight, grinning like a cheshire cat while hissing loudly. She stretched her hand towards R, and as fast as lightning, the blue snake unfolded itself from his arm and flew at his mistress, landing on her left shoulder.
The mistress of the snake then beamed at him in delight, her green eyes twinkling with mischief. "Hi, R." She said cheerfully, before she turned her head slightly just so she can look at her serpent in the eyes. Hisses and wheezing were exchanged under R's bewildered eyes, before she spoke again, her voice light and playful. "Apparently, Baby Blue has beaten his fear of humans and has taken a liking to you."
The snake hissed lowly as if in approval, and R could not help but lower his gaze to the gracious yet no less intimidating serpent which was staring back at him with its round black orbs.
"Well, I'm glad to know," R began sternly, "but from now on, please tell your pet to refrain from jumping at me."
Zadila furrowed her brown eyebrows, then looked down at her snake friend with disappointment. "But, poor Baby Blue... he was only having fun!"
"It would seem R does not share the same view of fun as you." Came a cold voice from R's back, which caused the latter to turn on his heels. He almost startled as he found himself face to face with L, whose onyx eyes were boring into him. "I already told you to watch over your pets, Z," he went on, though his eyes never averted R's. "And I am sure you wouldn't want me to repeat myself."
Zadila puffed heavily and she turned her back on the two boys, heading towards the blackboard at the front of the room, the snake floating on her shoulder, hovering near her cheek.
"Why does she have snakes?" R inquired haughtily, crossing his arms around his chest as he arched an eyebrow at L. "Pets aren't allowed at Wammy's as far as I know."
"Indeed, they are not." The black-haired replied blankly. "However, Watari made an exception for Z. Every Wammy's child has their quirks and whims. And she needs the presence of animals as much as M needs his chocolate, or E her red wine."
R repressed himself from widening his eyes. He did not know what should shock him most: that children were allowed to wander around the school with serpents around their neck, that the sombre child called M was in fact addicted to chocolate, or that a seventeen-year-old girl was drinking wine night and day without no one having a say in it.
"And you?" He found himself asking instead, a discrete smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "What do you need, L?"
"Me?" L blinked at him as he pointed a skinny finger at himself. "Well, my body needs sugar." He raised his eyes to the ceiling, his index finger resting on his lower lip in a very thoughtful yet childlike fashion. "My soul, however..."
He trailed off, and R was dying to hear what he had to say, but they were both interrupted by the teacher's thrilled voice.
"Well, Z, I'm impressed!" The blouse-wearing man exclaimed, joining his hands in front of his mouth in awe. "You managed to figure out every single rat organs' location, features and function, and that..." He turned around and rose on his tiptoes, eyeing the far end of the room, and every child mimicked him.
"...without even dissecting the rat!" He almost squealed, whereas several kids at the front of the room gasped.
R and L exchanged an intense gaze before turning their eyes towards the current centre of attention. This time, R could not prevent himself from widening his eyes.
There, before the black board which wore a precise, sophisticated schema, stood Zadila whose lips were distorted into a broad smile. In her hand stood a large white rat with shrilling red eyes. All of a sudden, her smile vanished, leaving only a wry grin as she raised her hand to her face.
"No need to kill animals to understand them..." She said, her voice never so gentle, so caring. "All we need to do is listen."
And, at the general horror, she pressed her lips to the top of the rat's head. In the blink of an eye, his little head fell forward, and the small beast passed out, lying in her hand. Under the disbelieving eyes of the twenty-five other students and the professor, Zadila walked towards her desk in silence, her braid falling on her back.
R followed her with incredulous eyes in time to see her tanned hand open the cage and drop the sleeping animal inside as tenderly as a mother biding her children good night. Without any kind of explanation, Z sat at her desk and whistled quietly. Immediately, two long serpents appeared, one on each side of her face, circling her neck with their tails, hissing fiercely. The thirteen-year-old girl lifted her head, showing two extinguished green eyes that no longer shone maliciously, but rather gleamed with gravity and melancholy.
An awkward cough broke the unbearable silence, and all the students returned their attention on the teacher who dared an apologetic smile.
"Very well, kids. You did well today. The class is over. See you tomorrow." He averted his clear blue eyes to the floor and, clearing his throat, he exited the room.
R was left staring at the blackboard dumbly, deciphering all the arrows, lines and circles that represented the rat's brain, muscles, veins, arteries, as well as its respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems.
"How..." He whispered for himself. "How is that possible?"
"Until now, you were probably wondering why Z had been admitted into Wammy's, what was her talent, her gift..." R was interrupted in his reverie by L's cool voice, reminding him that the elder was still standing near him. "Well, here is your answer." L motioned towards the board with a tilt of his chin.
"She is said to be able to understand animal language."
"No one can do that." R retorted back bluntly.
"That was exactly my point of view..." L walked around R's desk without sparing the younger one single glance. "Until I met Z."
"Living at the Wammy's House has at least that advantage," L murmured mysteriously, so close to R that his breath tickled the chestnut-haired boy's cheek. "Everything you thought impossible suddenly becomes possible."
Without any kind of goodbye, the eighteen-year-old boy disappeared from his sight, leaving nothing but an odd feeling of loss and incomprehension. One single thing appeared crystal clear in R's mind.
No matter how Z managed that, it doesn't change the fact that she actually did.
She is a genius.
No.
We are all geniuses.
Keeping that conversation in mind, R spent the following months trying to find out the Wammy's pupils' skills. He wanted to understand why each child was admitted into this institution. He wanted to know what made all of those kids geniuses.
He wanted to see the impossible become possible.
He tried his best to learn as much as he could, he questioned the oldest students, he talked with the youngest. He used every useful information he was given. Looks, letter, nickname, favorite meals, favorite subject in class, strong points, weak points.
And indeed, over the two years he had spent at the Wammy's House, and by the time he reached the age of twelve years old, he had seen many things considered impossible become possible.
C was an expert in Biology.
Q excelled in the area of computers.
Z could communicate with animals.
E was the queen of psychology.
All these students could do the impossible when it came to the field of their competence.
But one question remained. The very question he wanted most answered. That was the reason why he had climbed all the steps of the dark narrow staircase leading to the rooftop of the House. And like he had guessed, the familiar white and blue figure stood there, staring down at the sunset which bathed the forest and fields in its magical pink and gold rays.
For one second, he remained frozen in place, looking at L's back, reveling in the aura that emerged from the dark-haired man. The bright orange and purple light reflecting on his blank tee-shirt, making his skin almost glow, contrasting with the abyss of his disheveled hair, all of that contributing to give him the appearance of an angel. A dark angel.
A beautiful, dangerous dark angel.
Eventually, he stepped forward and came to lean against the railing at L's right side.
"L." He began, his tone firm and determined.
"Yes, R." L's voice almost caused him to startle, for it had never been so soft, so soothing.
"Every child has a gift that makes him special." He stated plainly, his gaze losing itself in the darkness that started to paint the horizon in shades of yellow and blue. Then, he turned his head to the elder. "What's your gift, L?"
Silence filled the air and the atmosphere around them seemed to thicken. But soon after, L's deep throaty voice reasoned in the dying sunlight and it was almost like the night fell with it.
"I do not know if that can be considered as a gift, but there is indeed one thing that surpasses everything else."
"And what's that thing?" R asked, quirking an eyebrow in genuine curiosity.
"Deduction. Reasoning. Logic." L listed the three words mechanically. "That is what I do. I solve cases." He added quietly, lowering his head, crossing his arms on the banister.
This time, R frowned frankly. "Why?"
"Justice." The older pupil replied right away, without a trace of hesitation. "I fight for Justice, that is why."
"If you wanna fight for Justice, why don't you simply study and apply the law, then?"
At those words, L finally raised his head, his onyx orbs gleaming in the night, mirroring the nascent moonlight as they locked with R's amber eyes.
"Study law? Assure law enforcement?" The white-dressed man repeated, his empty eyes widening in fake astonishment. "But where would be the fun, then?" He said, and R swore he saw the ghost of a smirk dancing on L's bloodless lips.
The young student couldn't help but smile in return, suppressing a chuckle. "It seems you know what fun is, after all."
"Everyone has a different vision of fun."
"I think I agree with yours." R wondered aloud as he bent forward, resting his arms on the balustrade, his elbow brushing against L's. "Applying the law might be laudable and necessary, but it doesn't provide any challenge. It's only about order and rigor. Solving cases on the other hand is exciting. It's about pushing the limits, it's about instincts..." He paused, sneaking a peek at his companion who was staring back at him in silent, patient fascination.
"People might think it's about reason, but it's not." He finished, his voice hushed. "It's about passion."
A rustling of fabric indicated that L had pulled back from the railing and straightened. "I do not know about passion," he said emotionlessly, and R could hear his voice fade more and more as he spoke.
R whirled around in time to see L reach the metal door opening on the stairs. He had moved so fast, too fast... Just before it closed on the white figure, the empty voice echoed in the darkness and all around him.
"I am merely a detective."
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading, I hope you liked that chapter.
Important news: One hidden character — a Death Note universe character which identity has not been revealed in the story yet — has been found (I will not say which one it is, of course, for that would be too easy). Only five more to find.
I apologize for the late update, I have been quite busy lately with college business. Now it will be a bit more relaxed until my exams in May.
Please tell me what you think about the story and leave a review, that would be really helpful!
P.S. My Black Butler fanfiction project is a bit more precise. Please check my profile for further information.
Bye bye, humans!
C.