Nine Months Due

By: Kaytee Kudo

Category: Death Note

Genre: Romance, Humor

Rating: T

Summary: The Shinigami decide to take matters into their own hands and attempt to put the Kira case to a close by erasing the world's memories of Kira. But this is not without consequence…

Other Notes: Alternative ending bordering AU; LxLight, Mpreg in later chapters

Quick Recap from Previous Chapter: Raito finally gets the medical attention he needed when he accidentally got a doctor for a date. Now another person knew Raito's secret, and Mikami discovers a secret too, and decided to apply as a professor in Whammy's but was declined due to L's power. Matt and Mello was spared from any punishment thanks to Light.

Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note…not even in my dreams…

CHAPTER 14

Music

For the time he's stayed in Whammy's House, this is the first time he ever questioned the Institution's logic. He wouldn't even notice it until he heard horrible singing while he was reading a book in the library, only to discover that the music room was situated right next to the library, and it, unlike L's room was not sound proof, and knowing Raito's character, you can already tell that horrible singing affects him more than anything else. When he finally couldn't bear the noise (which is approximately five minutes after it happened), he went to the source of it to give them a piece of his mind, only to find Roger, singing to little children on the piano.

"Oh, hi Raito. What's up?" the older man asked cluelessly.

"Just fine." The boy lied, hiding the book he was reading on his back. "What are you guys up to?"

"Oh, just nothing. I mean, it's already December first so we're starting to practice for our Christmas play." Roger said blissfully, and added when he saw a clueless looking face beaming at him, "Since you and L are here for the first time, we thought it would be extra special to make a musical on Christmas day."

The old man was laughing obliviously at Raito without even noticing that his skill at anything music-related sucks, and it is only right to conclude that the play would most definitely suck. Raito didn't pretty much care about the play, but to see the innocent faces of thirty or so young children, about to be corrupted by the bad singing of Roger, was something the boy could never ignore.

Who knows what would happen to their future after all of this ordeal? The image of thirty adults singing horribly is already a nightmare for Raito, but would that be all of the effects? They might even question their life and go to heavily paid therapy sessions or get into drugs and other equally unthinkable scenarios. Raito knew he had to put a stop to all of this, or at least, alleviate the possible effects this might bring to the children.

"Roger, is this your first time pulling off a musical?"

"Ah….", Roger looked a little nervous. "So it's really that obvious? Oh man."

Finally, he noticed that the said teen was holding a rather large book.

"Oh…were you reading back at the library? Sorry about that noise." He fumbled with his shirt. "I guess we need a music teacher after all…"

The disappointed look on the children's face was so distinct that even Raito would have a hard time to try and ignore it. Especially right now, the boy couldn't even explain this sudden sensitivity to this kind of thing. He used to be immune to even Sayu's crying, and being able to withstand that girl's episodes of tears meant a lot. In able to avert his attention to all the sad faces, he picked up the piece Roger selected, and examined it carefully.

"You're going to re-enact the Holy nativity?"

Roger nodded. It figures that this institution would be Catholic, what with Mello carrying a rosary and all.

"I wonder, do you know these pieces, Raito? Maybe you can help me…the kids would really appreciate it…"

"Uhmm…sorry, I'm agnostic." Raito said apologetically.

"Oh…I'm sorry to hear that. But surely you must have heard about it from your parents, or your teachers…"

"My family are all Buddhists. And the education system in Japan doesn't really include religion on them."

Roger's face looked truly pathetic. Raito examined the piece thoroughly. It even included sheet music. No wonder the older man was trying to attempt to play the piano. Another look on the kids just made Raito guiltier than he ever had, knowing that their little band would break up just because Roger was already disheartened. Oh well, he was only idling in the library anyway.

"But I can play the piano, and I've been a lead singer in most of my school musicals before. Maybe I can help."

It only took a chorus of 'Yay's and the glinting happy faces of the children for Raito to know that he made the right choice.

With that he began to sight-read the first selection of song listed in the piece, by Bach. And the children started to sing happily with Raito occasionally coaching them the right tune for it. All was going well until a loud bang from the door came along, revealing the infamous boys, yet again, Mello and Matt.

"Would you people shut up? We're in the library and we can't concentrate because your damn music's too loud! How can we study if you continue making this damn noise?"

"Really, Mello, we can just hang out in the garden or something..."

"That's not the point here, Matt. There are a lot of older children studying in the library and I'm just giving them all a favor by doing this. Don't make noise!"

A child already started crying just by seeing Mello's face.

"And stop crying!"

"Mello! Stop tormenting the children, and this is the music room so we're pretty much allowed to play music." Roger scolded. "And stop swearing."

"We have a music room?" Matt asked, genuinely surprised.

"That's not the point here, Matt. If they wanted to make noise here, they should sound proof this room, and why the hell is it next to the library anyway?"

"…."

It seemed like even Roger didn't have the answer to that, and everyone in the room was silently waiting for his answer.

"Well, if I remember correctly, this is already our substitute music room. Our original one is actually on the other wing…"

"So why don't you play there?" Mello asked impatiently.

"Unfortunately, we can't" Roger simply answered.

"Why not?"

"Because…"

"And so we're cleaning this shack, why?" Mello asked as he faced a dark, cobweb covered room that looked like it was not opened for years, holding a broom.

"Stop bitching about it." Raito irritatingly answered. "You were the one who wanted silence in the first place, so it's just right that you help us."

Fair or not, Raito's has a point, or at least, it's the only idea that would be to everyone's advantage. It seemed that this old music room, which, conveniently, was on the room right next to L's room, became L's makeshift study room when he first came to Whammy's when he was eight. Seeing that no one bothered to use it, and also due to L's insistent need for privacy, it seemed like the perfect place for Watari to try and develop the then boy's genius mind.

Whatever happened must have gotten results, though, seeing how sharp L's deductive ability became, despite the annoying quirky habits he nourished not to mention his already gone bad to worse xenophobic tendencies, it must have made Watari satisfied, although Raito would still choose his father's raising methods any day.

Anyway, with L becoming a full-fledged detective and all, this room was soon forgotten, accumulating dust from all of the unreturned books L read during his stay at Whammy's. But right now, things will finally start to change around here.

"Hurry up and start cleaning!" Raito commanded.

"Why don't you go help us too, bitch!" Mello spat, only to be lectured by Roger yet again. "I already said I'm sorry, god…."

And the angry look from Roger effectively shut the blonde up.

"But man, there's got to be tons of books here…" Matt commented. "I can tell this place used to be huge."

"I guess you're right." Roger commented. "In fact, this is probably the answer most of you children had been asking from me from years ago, about the book catalogues with no corresponding book to support it."

He picked up one random book lying loosely on the floor.

"Ah, this book had been asked from me by at least a hundred children in the past fifteen years." Roger dusted it and went away from the room reminiscing his somewhat memorable past and leaving the kids to clean the room themselves. So much for having an adult around. The man seems to prioritize his 'alone time' more than the kids' welfare to begin with.

"All right, start working."

Raito, being the eldest of the group, knew he had to take charge somehow, and started leading everyone in what they're in charge of doing. He was the one who even had the idea to involve the older children, who spend most of their time in the library, to help too, since they would also benefit from it once the music room was successfully relocated. Being the assistant professor, they couldn't complain to Raito anyway, or else something bad might happen, like, in Mello's case, his possible disqualification from being L's heir. For that, even Mello would agree to wear an apron and dusters.

The teenager was doing his job quite well, that it took less than an hour for the children to return the books to the library, another hour for them to help Roger catalogue it, then another hour to make the now spacey room spotless. For that, no one can really question Raito's leadership abilities.

"Wow", some of the boys commented as they inspected the room. It was a rather large room, which could very well be compared to the school's library in size. Some of the children, who were a little tired and chose to sit on some place in the room, could do nothing more but to admire the whole place.

According to Roger, Watari purposely sound proofed this as his private music room back when Whammy House was still starting, but as L came, it became a study room for the most important detective in the world. The room was complete with musical instruments, from the string to the percussion section, which made the children a happier. Now if only they have a music teacher right now.

"We can ask Watari" Matt suggested. "I mean, he owns this room, maybe he'll agree to teach what he knows."

"He might", Raito answered. "But right now, he's on a long vacation with his family. I doubt he'll make it in time for the play."

"Well, why don't you do it then?" Mello demanded.

"I don't think I can teach music to kids, since I only learned music in elementary school for two years, and I saw that the pieces Roger picked were all Bach, and I don't really think I'm that good."

"Oh, come on." Mello looked like he was interested in joining the play instead, seeing how worked up he is. "They're just kids, how hard could it be?"

Raito sighed at the blonde boy's clueless-ness.

"You really have no idea, haven't you?"

Raito gestured to the couple of kids who already started running around the hall, which, after regaining some of their stamina, looked like they could last all afternoon doing that. On another corner, some of the kids were crying for countless reasons, but mostly because the running kids bumped into them, and now they have a bruise somewhere in their person. The room being soundproof just enhanced the level of noise for Mello to hear, that his face alone was enough for Raito to know that he got the point.

"Will you kids SHUT UP! And STAY PUT! Or else I'm gonna kick all of your asses and I swear, no one would like it!"

Mello looked at the stunned crowd, who instantly froze when he screamed, and was about to congratulate himself for a job well done when a few minutes later, a kid broke down to a new fit of tears and everyone, even the previously running kids, followed suit. Soon, the whole room was overpowered by a crying choral.

"You just made it worse!" Raito exclaimed as he shot an annoyed look.

He really didn't have to do it at this point, as the blonde was already freaking out at the mess he made, covering his ears in panic.

"Well, then do something!" he spat back at Raito.

The older boy sighed, observing the situation. It seemed like there was nothing short of a miracle to stop these kids from crying, now that fear was added to the equation. But then, an idea struck him, and he thought that it might work. If not, then it was still a good practice anyway. He faced the piano again and started playing.

He let his memory move his fingers to the first tune he ever practiced on. It was back when he was still five years old, when he joined a piano class from a teacher who used to live on their neighborhood. This same music was the one he heard when he was going home with Sayu one hot summer afternoon, and made him want to play piano in the first place.

Unfortunately, the said piano teacher left after a few years to go abroad, and Raito just taught himself piano from then on. With no piano in the house, he had to ask the teacher's permission to use the one they have at school, but eventually, he stopped and just played tennis instead.

But still, even now, as he played this piece out of memory, the music still draws him and strengthens his attraction to the piano, and makes him remember the happy moments when he learned this piece with his teacher. This music always made him calm. Hopefully, these children will also be attracted to the music.

He was actually enjoying himself right now, as he let his fingers move to the melody, with no explanation whatsoever. His body still remembers, as well as his soul, that he used to be content by just knowing how to play this song. Soon, he forgot why he was playing in the first place, and just let himself be drawn to the music, as always. This was pure happiness.

When he finally stopped, he found the children, who already stopped crying long ago, looking at him attentively with great awe and admiration, as if they also discovered the happiness Raito had in his youth, and they applauded him.

"That was cool, Raito-niichan!"

"Yeah! Play some more!"

"Can you teach us how to play like that?"

Raito was barraged with similar questions that he felt like he was an actor on a press interview. Thankfully, Mello helped him this time.

"Settle down, kids! He'll teach you as long as you study the songs Roger gave you for the play and practice hard at it. Now I believe it's almost dinnertime so you kids should just show up early tomorrow and practice by yourselves."

At times like this Mello always shows how much of a true leader he really is. Raito was a little thankful that he finally got his break. He was starting to get tired.

"Just so you know, if we need to have a good play as Roger wanted, we also need older kids." Raito reminded him.

Mello grabbed a chocolate bar and hounded on it, showing that he was just as stressed as Raito.

"Well, I can help you on controlling these children, but I must tell you that I can't sing, and I'd rather shoot you than do it."

"But we can help you with props and everything else." Matt added.

"Fine, that's more than enough." Raito smiled. "Do you know anyone who can play the piano around here?"

The two boys looked at each other and shrugged.

"I don't know anyone here. Heck, we even got surprised to discover that we actually have a music room. Most kids here focus on academics." Mello said. "You can play, right?"

"A little. I'm not so confident in my piano playing." He hesitated.

"Well, do your part and study for now. You're the only one I know who can actually play it."

Raito nodded, and read the music sheets again, practicing slowly. He didn't even realize that the two boys had already taken their leave, and even that night has finally come, being too consumed in the music for the first time in years. He was also like this when he was a child. He only stopped when someone knocked at the door, who, apparently was L.

"Raito-kun should eat first." L said, as he approached the teen. "He has been playing for almost five hours straight now, and even cleaned this room before all of that."

Raito looked at L as he approached him.

"How long have you been there?" he asked warily.

"From the moment you entered this room." L replied patiently. "I saw you as you enter with the children and I was watching you from outside. When Mello left, he didn't close the door and I entered, but you didn't even notice him leave, I think."

L looked at the sheet music Raito was studying.

"I liked Raito-kun's Fantasie Impromptu." L commended, as he browsed through the pages. "I imagine that he would be great pianist if given the chance."

Raito hit him with a book.

"Shut up", he said, red all over. "You're really a stalker, aren't you? And no, I'm really not good at piano. That's just the only piece I know, so I'm finding it hard to study all these pieces."

"I think Raito-kun made it a beautiful piece. Chopin must be very happy if he hears it." He said, getting closer to Raito. "But he needs to eat first. He's been through a lot today so he needs to replenish his energy."

L offered his hand which Raito hesitantly took, and let himself be led by the detective to the kitchen, where his dinner was waiting for him.

"I saved this for you, seeing that you were preoccupied with practicing." L said.

It was only then that Raito realized that he was hungry, and didn't hesitate to eat. L watched him all along.

"Aren't you gonna eat?" Raito asked.

"I've already eaten."

"But surely, sweets don't count as food." Raito commented, already familiar to the detective's diet. "You know it's not healthy."

"Sugar increases my deduction ability to forty percent."

"Still, you need to eat healthy food or else you'll suffer from malnutrition." Raito rebutted. "Here."

He ushered him a seat.

"Why don't you eat with me?" the boy asked, to which L hesitated. "Please…"

Seeing that L couldn't really deny any of Raito's requests, he took the seat and tried to eat how Raito wants him to, if only in small portions.

"So, is it that bad?" Raito asked.

"It's okay." L answered. "But it's a bit dull."

"Sometimes you have to experience dullness in order to appreciate what you like more."

"But I am already content with sugar, Raito-kun. I don't think I need to reassure myself of that."

Raito frowned.

"I am worried about your health", he truthfully said. "And I want you to enjoy the things I like too."

It was the first time Raito actually opened to L like that, and it surprised the detective that he was actually thinking about him. He really needed to take this boy more seriously and not treat him like a child.

"And I really want to eat together with you. It is so lonely to eat alone."

They ate in silence after that, with neither of them knowing exactly what to say with each other.

"I also want to eat with Raito-kun everyday." L finally admitted. If there is one person he would allow to show him his weakness, it would definitely be him. "And I want to hear his music more often."

Raito still said nothing.

"I also want to play with Raito-kun together."

…which is why, shortly after dinner, Raito found himself in the music room once again, with L, as the latter was holding a violin. Together, they played Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu, and honestly, Raito felt that they were playing a different song altogether. But he didn't care nonetheless. He liked it.

"I never thought that I would enjoy playing piano again." L said as he played a song for Raito, who was now sitting beside him. "I was actually the reason why this place doesn't have a music room in the first place."

Raito looked at him questioningly.

"My parents forced me to learn music at such a young age, threatening me in order to learn difficult pieces. I never had fun with it." L explained. "I had Watari remove this room when I got here, since it just brings bad memories, but he loved his music so much that he just transferred it. Although, placing it next to the library was pretty ineffective, and no one played after that."

Raito just leaned on L's shoulder as the detective continued to play, fatigue starting to bear down on him.

"Raito-kun is really good with children" he complimented, to which the boy did not answer. The detective smiled at such innocent reaction. "And he is such an effective leader. I must learn from him."

L continued playing like this, enjoying as he played the songs from his memory. Somehow, he couldn't even remember why he despised playing in the first place. He would have drowned himself in music even if his parents didn't tell him to, so they were unnecessarily harsh.

"L?" Raito finally called the detective.

"What is it, Raito-kun?"

"I know that it is a little late but….Happy Birthday."

L's eyes widened.

"How did Raito-kun know about this?"

The boy handed him a small, battered old journal, which were a little torn up in some pages, but was still clearly intact. It was his diary from when he was still a child, when he still hasn't met Watari. He used to write on it everyday, mostly because he couldn't tell anyone of his secrets, his fears. He was still not very good at hiding his emotions back then.

"I found it in hidden in one of the stack of books when we were cleaning." Raito answered. "I read your last entry. You said that it was your birthday and you are leaving your family."

Raito looked at him as if he understood just what the detective felt at that time, and he probably had, having experienced the same just a few months before.

"And we just missed our own month-anniversary, which was last week", Raito remembered again, jumping from his seat from the realization.

L smiled. He might have been the heartless mass murderer when he had the notebook, but right now, he could easily be considered as the sweetest partner anyone can ever have.

"You are right." L said happily, leaning forward to kiss Raito in the cheek.

"Happy month-anniversary to us, and thank you for remembering my birthday."

Raito just stared at him, blushing furiously. Suddenly, the most unexpected thing happened, as the boy surprisingly took the initiative and kissed the detective on the lips, which lasted for a few uncomfortable minutes until L decided to take charge and kissed him deeply, and lasted for another few minutes. When they broke up, L resisted the urge to give any comment as the boy was already blushing in a deeper shade of red, and just smiled at him reassuringly, as he started playing another piece, which happened to be a sonata. More specifically, Beethoven's "Spring".

The boy also smiled upon recognizing the piece, and resumed his original position on L's shoulder. Soon, exhaustion finally came over as he fell asleep on the detective's shoulder. L watched him until he finished playing, sleeping peacefully beside him.

"Raito-kun is good with children because he is still a child himself." L said to himself. "I want to protect him all the more so that he would remain innocent."

He pocketed the small journal carefully as he carried Raito back to their room, where he continued to watch him sleep like an angel, until he fell asleep himself too.

CHAPTER END

A/N: OMG, I made it a little too cheesy on the end...because I really just wanted L and Light interaction at some point...it's probably the music that caused them to be open with one another. I mean, I do when I hear classical music. It's just so relaxing. I actually enjoyed writing this chapter, it made me want to listen to classical music again. I hope it didn't turn as horrible as I feared. Review please!