To LottieRaven: I wanted to thank you for sharing your thoughts again, it is very important to me.
Indeed, I tried to be faithful to BB's character as much as possible, though it is, in my opinion, one of the most difficult characters to portray because of his madness.
The relationship between L and Light is at first very innocent like you pointed out, but it is slowly evolving into something much less innocent, but all the issue will be for the two protagonists to realise it and as you can guess, that will be far from easy.
You are right to ask about their ages, I admit it might be a bit confusing. Just so you know, R entered Wammy's at 9 years old, and L is 6 years older than him. Chapters 6 and 7 take place during R's fifth year, consequently in the last two chapters, Ray is fourteen while L is twenty.
Also I thank you for all your compliments, I am glad that I somehow managed to follow Death Note's style by writing some kind of an enigmatic story which asks of the reader that they read between the lines. That was my goal and I hope I reached it.
Anyway, I hope you'll like that chapter and I look forward to read more of your reviews!
To nearlymellodramattic: Thank you for your kindness and your compliments, it really means a lot to me. I must say I am delighted to know that you overcame your shyness (because really, there were no reason to be shy) and decided to write to me, because it's always a pleasure to know what the readers think.
And indeed, I felt like I could not write a fiction setting in the Wammy's House without mentioning B and A, that would be like cheating.
You are perfectly right, and you used the exact terms to describe L and Light's relationship: falling in love in silence, without knowing they are falling. That is exactly how I see it and how I will write this fiction.
Really, don't prevent yourself from writing comments, because they are far from dumb and I like to know what you think, really!
Once again, I thank you for your kind words and I hope you will like this chapter and what is to come!
Chapter 7: H
The few weeks that followed what R fancied calling 'the B incident' brought its own share of mysteries.
First of all, there was that room on the third floor, which Ray used to wander to go meet with L in the kiosk on the rooftop, that had always been empty, but now seemed to be inhabited as every time he passed by, he could hear low, muffled voices coming from there.
Then, curiosity getting the best of him, he listened, ear stuck to the door, and was only half-surprised to recognise the calm voices of the oldest students of the Wammy's House.
"If you had played your part and looked after Ray like I so nicely asked you to, we wouldn't find ourselves in this predicament," said a very familiar baritone voice, blank and empty.
"L, my dear," responded a second voice, this one fleeting and light, but no less familiar, "you must know that the wolf cannot always watch over the fawn while the stag is absent."
"It was only a month, E." L retorted, a hint of weariness in his usual emotionless voice. "I did not ask much of you, just to be on your guard for the miserable thirty days I have been abroad. Surely it was not so difficult to keep an eye on Ray, or ask your friends to do so when you could not, during the short amount of time I was unable to do so myself."
"Oh, but the boy was effectively monitored. Had he not, I am quite sure I would have been incapable of warning you on time, and thus you would have arrived to his side... too late."
"Yes, I am aware of that." L replied coldly, sounding surprisingly on edge. "But perhaps if you had been more vigilant, he would not have to endure any of B's sadistic whims."
"Perhaps, perhaps indeed. But one can never say what 'perhaps' encloses." The oldest girl paused, before resuming in her usual mild voice. "However, I can assure you, the oversight I put in place allowed for me to be informed as soon as B took action against Ray, and consequently enabled me to call for H's help without further ado. Need I remind you that, without H's aid, B could not have been neutralized, and your protégé, moved to safety?"
"Once again, I am perfectly aware of that." L answered dryly, before falling silent for a few seconds. Then he went on, his tone regaining its perfect neutrality. "Talking of which, I must thank you for your help, H. It seems your legendary speed and efficiency struck again, and I am forever indebted to you for what you did to protect Ray three weeks ago."
"No need to thank me," another voice said mechanically, and Ray frowned at hearing the unknown female voice. It was far more taut and tough than both Eve's dreamy and L's deep voices. "I only did what I had to."
"And we are ever grateful for your dedication." Eve intervened, her eerie voice bringing a soothing atmosphere to the tense conversation. "I am sure you will one day become one of the most talented and devoted bodyguard this society has ever seen." Ray could almost see the otherworldly smile that surely graced the nineteen-year-old girl's features at this very moment. "But from now on, we shall deal with this issue on our own. I will let you know if we need your help again. Now off you go, Harm."
There was a short silence, then the unmistakeable noise of footsteps getting closer and closer to the door. In the blink of an eye, Ray had pulled away from the door and took a few steps backwards. The door opened in one swift motion, and a platinum blond head appeared in the doorframe, before the door was shut behind her.
Ray instantly recognized the girl who subdued B and managed to restrain him right before the maniac thrust the razorblade into his eyes. Three weeks ago, he did not linger on his saviour's appearance, but right now he admitted to being surprised to see such young, delicate face and body, knowing the damage those slender arms and hands could do if they wished so.
She seemed to be around L's age, or perhaps she was one year younger, like Eve. She had a very well defined fringe which fell on her alabaster forehead and mid-long straight blonde hair that brushed her shoulders. Bronze eyes pierced through him as the older girl raised her head to meet his gaze.
"Ray." She called, her tone slightly distrustful and wary. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just passing by, I wanted to climb up to the rooftop actually." He replied evenly, reaching up above his shoulder with his left hand to gesture towards the large metal doors at the end of the corridor which he knew led to the staircase. "Why, is there something wrong?" He perfected his act of pure innocence by a gracious lift of his eyebrows.
"No, everything's fine."
"Alright, then." He nodded stiffly. "I'll just be on my way then."
He moved towards the far end of the corridor when the dry voice of H stopped him dead in his tracks. "I wouldn't disturb them if I were you. You don't want to disturb anyone who's trying to deal with Blood, trust me."
"When you say Blood..." He trailed off, brows furrowing in uncertainty. "You're talking about B, aren't you?"
"Of course I am." He heard the blonde scoff quietly. "No need to tell you where this nickname come from, I believe your experience three weeks ago spoke for itself."
"Indeed." He snarled through gritted teeth, then he let his voice go softer as he continued, "By the way, I've never got the opportunity, since I didn't even know it was you, but I wanted to thank you for helping me that night."
"No need to thank me, I only did what I had to."
Ray suppressed a joyless chuckle at recognising the mantra the girl resigned herself to repeat over and over again. "I know, but you still saved my life regardless. Thank you."
When he deciphered no answer whatsoever from the older student who still stood behind him, he assumed she had simply nodded in acknowledgment, putting an end to the conversation.
"See you around, Harm." And he started towards the metal door without hesitation, just like he had told the other pupil.
He waited for the sound of firm footsteps to vanish to allow himself to turn around and, shooting a glance around the now empty corridor, reclaimed his spot behind the door, his ear returning to the wooden surface.
"Do we know how many time we have before the effects of P's sleeping pill wear off?" He could hear L's steady voice even more clearly now, as if the detective was standing right behind the door.
"Hm-hm." Was the only dreamy answer he got.
"E." R could almost feel L's frustration even though his ever hollow voice betrayed nothing.
"Yes?"
"How many time, E?"
"Oh, nothing is so sure. After all, Pill's creations are nothing but purely experimental." She paused, as if wondering whether she should voice her thoughts aloud or not. "Nonetheless, I remember the boy mentioning a two-hour time of unfathomable unconsciousness. Now all we have to do is wait and pray this two-hour time of sleep akin to death does not turn into eternity."
"That would be the lesser of two evils." L drawled, his voice low, dangerous.
"Now, now, L." If Eve were not so inhuman, R thought that would be the time she would have laughed, yet of course, she did not so much as raised her voice pleasantly. "Surely even you are not so cruel as to wish for a fellow's death."
"You should know by now, E, that I consider B as anything but my fellow." L's voice was never so icy, so harsh.
"Relationships do not always revolve around consideration, L." Eve pointed out quietly, as if afraid to unnerve L any further. "The cement of all relationship of any sort lies within reciprocity. Do not consider the humans that evolve around you all you like, L, it will not change the way those very people feel about you. As such, you cannot always deny the attention others provide you for the mere motive that you do not provide any to them, for a relationship, as much as you hate to admit it, is made out of two parties, not unilaterally."
"In the event that escaped your notice, I am not particularly keen on pondering on your riddles right now, as fascinating as they may be."
"Oh, but that was by no means a riddle, L."
"Quit fooling around, E," L snapped, even if his voice remained perfectly controlled. "Your eccentricities might entertain the children and professors here, however it has been quite some time since I finally saw them for what they truly are. That is to say, nothing more than a loony lost girl's follies."
There was an intense silence, and even Ray could not help but flinch under L's cruel words. A mild sigh broke the thick silence, and soon after, Eve's calm voice echoed in the room on the other side of the door, strong in its fatality and heavy with truth.
"Such a shame. One would think a brilliant mind such as yours would be more inclined to open to all the world's curiosities and peculiarities." Another light sigh. "Even the most lunar girl can utter more sensible words than the most Cartesian spirit of a sober detective."
Feather-like, barely there footsteps made their way to the door, causing Ray to jump backwards.
"I can only hope the thin rays of a dying sunshine, lurking in the shadows behind the door, can bring light into your obscured mind, L."
R froze in place.
Rays. Lurking in the shadows. Behind the door.
Dammit! She's talking about me! She knows I'm right here, behind the door! And she's offering me the possibility to escape before I am discovered.
Without further ado, seizing his only chance, he turned on his heels and lunged towards the nearest door, which was right in front of the one he had been lurking — he had to admit the word was rather fitting — around and opened it in haste. He restrained himself to gape in awe as he was faced with a familiar sight he did not think he would see again so soon.
He was back on the terrace L showed him a year ago, where Dusk was painting in reverent silence, facing the sunset, and above all, where was born his nickname.
He did not even wince when the door slammed shut behind him, for he was too preoccupied replaying the second oldest student's words in his already working mind.
I can only hope the thin rays of a dying sunshine, lurking in the shadows behind the door, can bring light into your obscured mind, L.
Realization hit him fiercely, quickly, as the meaning of those enigmatic words suddenly became crystal clear.
Eve was not only warning me so I could go before she opened the door. No, of course, her words hid a far deeper meaning.
She was talking about me.
No.
It was about me and L.
The thin rays of a dying sunshine. That's me. But...
He frowned in incomprehension.
Why dying?
And most of all...
How am I supposed to bring light into L's mind?
Just like when he met every other Wammy's student, R first doubted H's genius.
Just like for the other pupils, his doubt evaporated as soon as it appeared.
One week after his first meeting with the older blonde girl, the Wammy's children had Physical Education class, which Ray attended quite grudgingly. Once all the kids gathered in a giant gymnasium situated at the far end of the School grounds, a slender dark-haired woman greeted them with a reserved smile.
"Hello, children," she said in a soft voice. "Today, you'll work on your techniques in martial arts. For starters, you'll practice Capoeira." She scanned the assembly, until her gaze fell on one particular student. "Harm, come here. You will demonstrate for your mates."
Ray watched in focused silence as the platinum blonde stood out from the crowd and approached the teacher with steady, gracious footsteps. From this point, everything happened so fast that all the pupils could barely blink, lest they miss three out of five moves the two women exchanged to try and bring the other down on the mat. And so, R stared as the teacher blocked alternatively H's arm, foot, elbow and knee, out of breath, puffing on her black fringe.
Yet, for one second, her dark eyes widened as a foot flew towards her, hitting her belly violently, propelling her backwards on the thin rug. Every child looked bemused as the master was bested by the pupil so easily. The lean dark-haired woman glanced up at the blonde girl who had simply put her foot back on the floor as if nothing ever happened, and smiled thinly.
"Very good, Harm." She muttered between pants.
"I only did what you taught me," H replied casually as she reached down towards her teacher.
"Yes, well," the older woman laughed lightly as she took the hand and let herself be brought back on her feet, "you're quite the quick learner, Harm." Once straightened up, she dusted her pants and sleeves before turning towards the class. "Well, here you got your demonstration. Now it's your turn to show me what you learnt from our previous lessons and from what you just saw. Now, get in pairs and begin!"
R was certain the combat between the teacher and Harm — who must be a genius in martial arts — had lasted nothing less than five or perhaps seven minutes, but when he became aware that L had barely had time to walk from the door to his left side since the fight had begun, he understood that he was clearly mistaken.
The fight had in fact lasted less than forty seconds, and the two women had time to perform twenty-five moves each, whereas L had barely had time to walk the twenty steps that separated the door from the spot which R occupied in the crowd of student.
Thus, he reached the same conclusion he was forced to draw for all the other students he met thus far.
H, nicknamed Harm — and quite accurately, he must add — was a genius in physical combat.
Pulling himself out of his reflection, he looked around to see the children forming groups of two and starting to train, yet their motions were slow, unbalanced and hesitant. The only group which managed to honour the finesse of the discipline was the pair formed by Harm — obviously — and a taller dark-haired boy whom he recognised as S. He noticed K was practicing with a very stiff and cranky-looking T, while Gary, the tattooed hefty boy who threatened him in his first week of school, was trying to mimic H's agility in his fight against J, the all jeans-wearing boy, who was defending himself rather pitifully.
Ray frowned when his eyes met a rather disturbing sight. In a corner of the gym, a well-known velvet-clad girl was sitting on the ground, a balloon glass in her right hand. Before her was crouched a famous blank figure, with equally pallid skin and hair.
Near and Eve.
He observed in curiosity as a tall blonde leather-clad boy approached the two sitting silhouettes.
"Come on, Near!" He called, and a sneer could be heard in his hoarse voice. "Get up and fight!"
When the younger child obviously did not grace his request with an answer, Mello growled. "Coward!"
His brows lifted ever so slightly as Eve stood up and walked towards the turbulent kid and placed a hand on his shoulder. R was not surprised not to hear Eve's words to Mello, knowing how quiet the girl's voice might be for a normally constituted human ear. Soon enough, Mello shook the hand off and whirled around, fists clenched in anger.
"So much for your so called fair education." He snapped as he headed back towards the group of training students. "He's always different, isn't he? Why can't he be normal for a change?" Mello groaned under his breath, unaware of R as he walked past him, then he added quietly, as if for himself, "Why can't I be normal?"
Furrowing his eyebrows even more deeply, Ray wondered what Mello could possibly mean by normal. Surely, every child in this institution could not be considered normal. He was interrupted in his train of thought by a low, deep voice which tickled his ear.
"Will you do me the honour?" A cold hand brushed his shoulder blades, then slid down his back ever so gently. He restrained a shiver as he tilted his head to the side.
"What?"
"Well, to practice Capoeira with me, of course." L responded, blinking at him several times, as if he just asked the most moronic question ever.
Ray could not help but feel disappointed. He suppressed a sigh just in time, and shook his head instead. Why would he be disappointed, anyway?
He turned around to face the black and white figure. "Sure." He nodded and positioned himself on his bent legs, hands stretched and opened before him, just like the PE teacher had taught them.
For what seemed like an eternity, bottomless black eyes locked with chestnut and Ray found himself unable to avert his gaze. The two onyx orbs seemed to pierce right through his skull, to eat at his brain and drink at his soul. However, it was with an icy dread that he admitted he did not care and even more so, he appreciated this maddening intensity. And so, he met L's hypnotising gaze with an odd acceptance, just like the suicidal boy who stands at the edge of the cliff and accepts his fate despite his own sanity.
He opened his mouth to say something, though he was not sure what, when he saw the first blow coming straight to him. No time for breathing, no time for blinking, he lunged to the floor to dodge L's foot, rolled to the side and got up straight away, waiting for the new attack which was sure to come sooner rather than later. He revelled in L's motionlessness to rush forward and throw his fit towards the pale older man, unfortunately L seemed to have foreseen such a move, for he immediately turned his head to the side, causing Ray to miss his shot and thus loose his balance, tumbling forward.
He had barely time to register he was about to fall on the other student, when a foot met his belly, and just like H brought down the teacher, L, standing on one bent knee, managed to push him backwards with the only force of his foot.
He hit the mat with a grunt — irritation it was, not pain — and raised a arm to cover his eyes in annoyance. Yet, he was forced to open them when he felt a weight land on his hips. His brown eyes went as big as saucers as he was met with black twinkling eyes staring down at him.
"What—"
"I am a lot stronger than I look, you know." L said evenly as if it explained everything, including this unexpected position.
"Yes..." Ray trailed off hesitantly and, even though he would never admit it, not even to himself, a little breathlessly. "I can see that." He added sarcastically, his eyes roaming over L's lean figure pining him down.
L did not answer, apparently satisfied to do nothing but straddle him, disheveled head bent over him, his thumb resting on his lower lip. R took advantage of the other's silence to take a few heavy breaths, recovering from a rather strenuous, yet rapid, fight. His attention was fast focused back on the older boy however, when he felt a palm press on his chest.
He raised his gaze to search for L's black eyes, but those seemed entranced with the sight of something else, something lower than his eyes.
Suddenly, the fingertip that was glued to L's mouth detached itself from the livid lips and descended on R's mouth, the tip of L's thumb caressing his lower lip back and forth, the obsidian orbs transfixed on the movement.
"L..." Ray croaked, and at hearing his own broken voice, he cleared his throat, swallowing the strange desire to lick his lips. "L, what... What are you doing?"
Black pools glanced up to bore into brown, the hand on his chest squeezed tighter, and the finger on his lips retreated, finding its rightful place on L's lower lip. A dark brow quirked upwards.
"I..." L's brows furrowed madly as his eyes fell on his hand resting on R's chest. Ray glanced down in confusion and could barely hold back a gasp. His own hand had curled around L's, and he did not even feel it. "I don't know." L said, his voice hollow, foreign in such an intimate situation.
They stayed there, still, one boy lying on the ground, the other straddling his hips, amber eyes lost in black.
"L." A stern voice broke the charm.
The two students turned their head towards the dark-haired woman who was looming over them, hands on her hips, lips twitching with contempt — or was it bewilderment?
"Even though I recognize your technique has drastically improved, I never asked you to crush my students."
L lowered his head, though it was obvious to R it had nothing to do with shame, before he crouched back and away from Ray. "Of course. I don't know what came over me. A rash moment, no doubt." He propped himself up using his hands. "My apologies."
The teacher merely nodded in acknowledgment as she turned on her heels, her long black hair billowing in her wake. "Make sure it doesn't happen again."
L did not reply but reach down to R. Arching a sceptic eyebrow, Ray accepted the outstretched hand and hid his surprise when he was pulled on his feet with sharp strength. When he was standing right in front of the other man, his hand still intertwined in L's, he did not let go. Instead, he took a step forward, his body colliding with L's, their tangled hands trapped between their chests.
"What was that about, L?" He whispered, his eyes gleaming with purpose when he met L's blank orbs.
In response, L looked down and without another word, he disentangled his hand from R's and pushed on the younger's chest fiercely, as if to put as much distance as possible between them. He turned around, hands dug into his jeans pockets, shoulders hunched, and it was as if their previous proximity — intimacy — had been nothing but a cruel illusion.
"Miss Misora is a very good teacher, I suppose." He drawled, and he gestured towards the exit without a glance backwards.
And Ray had to summon all his willpower not to yell at him.
You know I wasn't speaking about the combat! You know you did something strange! Something you shouldn't have done!
What happened? Why did you do that? Why won't you answer me?
L, come back! You coward! Answer me!
Why won't you say it?!
"You cannot expect the monster to understand why he suddenly feels the desire — the need — to protect its victim, while all he ever did was destroy innocence wherever it crossed his bloody path."
Ray startled when the familiar eerie voice reached his ears, but he had no time to answer for when he looked in the general direction of the phantom voice, the oldest, and probably wisest girl of the House had vanished behind the heavy metal doors of the gymnasium.
Oddly enough, the only thought that burnt his mind at this very moment was the following.
She called L a monster.
How dare she?
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it.
N.B. In Chapters 6 and 7, Ray is fourteen, while L is twenty years old.
I don't know when I'll be able to update, but it shall be during the next two weeks. So please be patient.
Until then, please leave a review if you like this story and its characters. Tell me which one you prefer so far?
Bye bye, humans!
C.