A Pai Sho game with a black haired stranger

Disclaimer: I don't own death note or ATLA, If I did, L wouldn't have died

Iroh was near closing hours of his new tea shop. most of his customers have left. They made good money out of the shop and Iroh was hoping that the avatar wasn't in Ba Sing Se. For Zuko's sake, such a troubled boy he thought to himself, he would probably quit the life they had made here just to go about chasing the avatar again, all in the name of restoring honor to himself. As Iroh was looking down at his tea, he heard the door open and in came a black haired man, Iroh studied his new customer, the man looked liked he'd hasn't slept in days and clothes didn't look like anything he'd seen before. Iroh walked to the black haired man and spoke "Hello how may I serve you today"?

L looked at the man in front of him, He had been in this weird world almost a full day now since he "died" by Kira or rather Light, he knew he wasn't in japan when he saw traditional Mandarin all over this city's signs and stores and that everyone was wearing 15th century clothing. It was a good thing he took all those Mandarin classes, when he was in the city he could tell he was in a rather affluent area and began moving about. He went around the city mostly unnoticed other getting called ugly by a group of rich girls and getting weird looks by the locals. From what he had manged to pick up this place is called Ba Sing Se, impenetrable city , this was all weird he thought since everyone here spoke English. By some stroke of luck, he manged to scrounge up was what he appeared to be this worlds currency , he heard of a tea shop and being thirsty he decided to help himself and go there. He then found himself at the moment where he was looking at the man, "can I please have menu" L said, the man gave him a menu he decided he wanted the Ba Sing Quon, "I believe I want the Ba Sing Quon" the man nodded and went to make the tea. L sat down at one of the chairs and looked around. The shop was empty except him and the old man and another person he saw.

He looked at the person and saw the scar on his face, he didn't look that old, either 16 or older, probably a worker he thought. He then noticed a table at the corner of the table with pieces at the sides. "your tea sir" the old man said as he turned around "Ah, your looking at the Pai Sho table" "I don't suppose you'd like to play a game would you?".

L looked at the old man. deciding that he was bored, he spoke "alright then, as long as you teach me how to play". They sat down at the table and the old man began explaining the basics of Pai Sho. L got into his usual position when dealing with these sort of things. The old man looked at him oddly but then continued.

Iroh was fascinated by the man, he sat in a weird way, his clothes were weird, and looked like he hadn't slept in days but was still so attentive, he manged to finish his explanation of Pai sho and began the game. Initially he started to win a little, as he expected but after a few minutes the boy started making good moves and Iroh was even more fascinated as the man kept making good moves. They went on like that for about 20 minutes and Iroh found himself in a very intense game Pai Sho, it was around this time his nephew started closing everything down and putting everything away for the shop to close and they were still in the match. Iroh decided to make small talk,"So whats your name, someone this good at Pai Sho and never even played it before certainly has name?". The man looked at him.

"My name is L"

"Really, just L?"

"yep"

Iroh spoke again "well then L, could you possibly tell me where you are from? You don't seem like your from around here".

"I'm from a place far from here, I worked as a detective and don't bother asking how I got here, I simply don't know" L said as he took a sip of his tea.

"You said you were a detective, were you doing a case at the time of your disappearance?" Iroh questioned, L looked at him and said

"yes I was doing a case at the time, wasn't like most cases though"

"What was different?"

"It had a more spiritual connection more than anything"

Iroh's cocked his head at the word spiritual "Spiritual?".

L looked at him with his sullen face "yes, the killer was related to a Shinigami, went by the name 'Kira', he killed with a book, called a death note". "He could kill with heart attacks but he could do it with other ways as well, such as car crashes or killing themselves".

Iroh curiously asked "Did you know why 'Kira' did it?".

"It was his own twisted sense of justice, killing criminals at every chance he got" L spoke.

Iroh looked up from his Pai Sho board "did you ever know who it was?". L looked like he was a deep state of thought for a moment.

"yes I did actually"

"Who was it then"

"My only friend."

It was around this time Iroh thought he had pried too far into the mans past and decided to continue the Pai Sho game. They continued their Pai Sho game for thirty minutes after their small game, Iroh decided to break the silence "why don't we call a draw then L?" I would love to continue this game but I have to get the shop ready for tomorrow."

L looked slightly sad but nodded "I understand Mr….

"Mushi" said the tea shop owner

"alright then Mushi, I will leave you to your shop." But as L got up to leave Iroh called out to him,

"say L wouldn't you like a job?" "Really?" L looked surprised. Iroh smiled happily. "Yes, you wouldn't think I wouldn't give one of the best Pai Sho players I've ever seen a job?".

L thought about it for a minute perhaps a new start here wouldn't be too bad L thought
"alright, well I've only been here for a day and I have no where to sleep, so is it possible you have someplace?"
"You can move in with me and my nephew." Zuko who was washing some of the dishes groaned "does he have to uncle?". "Yes Lee he has too, hes one of the best Pai Sho players I've ever seen" Iroh said to Zuko under his alias. "lets go L, you have a new life ahead for you" Iroh said as he lead L and his nephew outside to their apartment. For the few times in his life, L smiled.

Fin

A/N this little story was very fun to write. After watching death note I noticed how good L would probably be at Pai Sho and this scenario went into my head. I hope you enjoyed, anyway this is the lone man going back to his campfire.