Vendetta 8

L moved quickly from the elevator to Watari's command station, expecting Aki to still be there. Watari was standing in front of the monitors and turned when he heard L come in. "It's okay, we can speak freely, I took Aki to his room to wait for his food…and I saw everything." He said pointing to the monitors. Light was still standing at the window. L nodded, putting his laptop on the desk before dropping into one of the chairs.

"How could he let this happen?" he asked even though he knew the answer, "Does he care for that boy more than for us? For me?" Watari shook his head.

"I'm sure that's not the case at all," Watari reassured him, "But he does seem to care a great deal for the boy. I'm sure it has something to do with feeling responsible for not being able to save his mother," Watari sat next to him, "He wants to try to make up for that by saving the boy at all costs."

"But to resort to letting Kira take over…he just wants to be able to kill the man and not feel any repercussions from the act. He's not thinking properly he…" he stopped when he heard Light's voice coming from the monitor.

"Feeling nostalgic, L? I know you're watching and that's fine," Light said, turning and facing where he assumed one of the cameras was placed and seemed to be staring directly at L. He smiled sliding his hands into his pockets. "But I assure you it isn't necessary. I'm going to give you sufficient time before I do anything, don't worry. You don't have to watch my every move; or is it something about being here again that once again brings out the voyeur in you?" he shrugged. "Whatever makes you happy…but let's leave out the handcuffs this time, okay?" He smiled again. "If you need me I'm going to be with Aki." He finished and walked out of the room.

L's hands clenched into fists at his sides, the only obvious evidence of how angry and upset he was.

"L…" Watari reached for him to offer comfort but L backed away shaking his head.

"No…I can't…let this get to me. I have to stay focused,' he looked at Watari. "For right now I need you to find every available contact in the area to deal with this. I need proof that he intends to turn Aki over to save himself and I need it quickly. I need to find out from the police where they're holding him and I need to pay him a visit." He picked up his laptop. "When you let me know about the contacts I'll assign who I want where, I need to also know what's left of that group and where they're headquartered. Contact me immediately when you have any information.' He turned and left the command center heading back to the elevator and the main floor.

A few minutes later Watari brought food to Aki's room, finding Light sitting on the floor with the boy watching him play with the robot.

"Aki…do you remember your aunt?" Light was saying as the boy flew around the room.

"I don't think so," he answered.

"I see," Light answered, "Well, you do have one and it's possible you might be staying with her for a while," he said. The boy stopped playing and looked at him.

"With Dad too, right?" he asked. As Light opened his mouth to answer, Watari came in with the food.

"I wouldn't worry about that right now," he said, "Right now you should only worry about eating." Light frowned and stood up. Aki sat on the bed as Watari put his food on the bedside table.

"You go ahead and eat, maybe watch a little television and don't worry about a thing. Light…would you come with me for a few minutes?" he asked. Light's eyes narrowed but he nodded.

"I'll be right back, Aki," he said and walked out of the room with Watari. "I know you know…"

"What you've allowed to happen is not something that is my business to discuss with you. That is between you and L, and I will only step in if I feel L is in any danger." Watari told him, "And if I feel for one moment that is a possibility I will act swiftly with whatever force I feel is necessary. Do you understand?"

"I have no intention of hurting L," he protested in surprise, "I love L, that hasn't changed. I am in complete control…"

"If you say so; I just wanted to be clear. Also, bringing up the subject of Ali possibly moving to be with his aunt is quite premature at this point. We have no confirmation that she even is aware of the situation or even has the ability to take him in. I believe the boy has had enough upheaval at the moment to last his lifetime without having that possibility put in his mind then possibly being taken away."

"I was trying to ease him into the idea of his not being with his father, because he isn't going to be." Light explained, "The sooner he realizes that the easier it's going to be for him."

"Light he's just lost his mother; you want to talk him into accepting he may also lose his father? You're only thinking that way because you're not yourself; you would have never thought of doing this if you were. Think of the boy, not what you want to do."

"I am definitely myself, Watari. As a matter of fact, I'm more than myself, I'm better than I have been in a long time." Light answered with a smirk.

"Yes, you would think that, wouldn't you? You have to think that to justify what you've done." The older man answered. "There's food in the main room if you're hungry." He added, then turned and left Light standing in the hallway as he headed back to his command center.

Light stared after him for a few moments, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. He didn't ask for his advice, and he certainly didn't need that threat about L. He started to go back into the boy's room and then decided not to. He opened the door and stuck his head in. "Aki, I've got to do a couple of things right now, I'll be back, eat everything!" He said and closed the door again, he did have work to do. He headed for the main floor and his computer.

L was already there, sitting at his old station, staring at the screen of his laptop and typing furiously. Light walked over to him and gently put his hand on his shoulder.

"L?" he said softly. L started then turned to look at him, heartened by seeing the softness in Light's eyes again.

"Light…it is you," he said standing up as he let himself lean into Light's arms.

"It's always been me," Light said softly, "Just more than me. I told you I had this under control," he added leaning down to kiss him. L closed his eyes; it was Light's gentle kiss, not Kira's much harsher one.

"You know what would make this so much easier for both of us?" Light asked when he pulled away.

"No…what would?" L asked smiling and running his fingers through Light's hair.

"If you would give me the notebook," Light answered with a smile. L reacted as if he'd been punched and pushed Light away.

"No…you were pretending to be Light!" he accused moving away from him. Light rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Why can't you just understand that I AM Light? Nothing has changed! The only difference is I'm much more clear in what I have to do, what has to happen to save Aki. I promise, if you give me the notebook, I'll write his father's name and give it back to you. I don't want it for anything else! But I have to save Aki!"

L shook his head. "Killing Katagi Fujumoto is not the answer. They'll still come after Aki whether he's alive or not. We need to find this group, and destroy it!"

"Fine, I'll write it so he'll have to write everything he knows about the group first before he dies. What's the problem with that?" Light asked.

"You know what the problem is, we have no proof that he truly intends to sell the boy to them. As much as I doubt it, we could be wrong and taking Aki's father from him for no reason! You know this, Kira!" Light's eyes flashed in anger.

"I am not Kira, L! I'm still Light, will always be Light. I'm just using the parts of Kira I need! Just give me the notebook and I'll prove it to you. I'll do what I have to do and give it back to you, and I'll let the parts of Kira I'm using go back into his hiding place; I promise you!"

"No! I won't let you get another taste of killing; that's what brought him back in the first place. Anymore right now and you'll slip completely!" L argued.

"You just want it for yourself so you can control me," he smirked, "You think I don't know about those monthly rituals where you put it in my hands when you think I'm asleep?" L felt his heart leap to his throat.

"How could you know that?" he whispered and Light laughed at him.

"Oh come on, L! How stupid do you think I am? Who knows the rules better than I do? I know there's a limit to how long memories can be retained without using the notebook. I always wondered how that was happening, and I realized it had to be something you were doing. It took a while but I finally stayed awake on the right night. Naughty, L." L stared at the floor, horrified that he'd been caught.

"I…I know I shouldn't have done it without your knowing, but I was desperate for you to keep remembering us, what he had to do to get to where we are now and I'd do anything for that. It has nothing to do with control…"

"It always has to do with control with you, L." Light said moving closer to him. "You want to control what I remember, what I think, what I do…"

"That's a lie and you know it!" L said said moving further away from him as Light moved towards him.

"It stops now, L. I want to control my own mind. I decide what I do or don't do, not you," he reached out and grabbed L by his shirt. "All I want is my notebook and we can end this case and this argument."

L pushed him away, beginning to tremble as his fear of Light began to return, his memory of the nightmare where Kira threatened to remove his eyes if he didn't give him the notebook flashing in his mind.

"Please Light, don't let this happen again, I can't…I can't…" He began to lose the strength in his legs as he was backed against the wall. "Please, Light…"

Light seemed to falter for a moment before grabbing L again. "Just the notebook…" he said again and raised a hand to hit him. L raised his foot and kicked him away, Light falling to the floor.

"How often do we have to go through this, Light? Why did you let this happen again, why?" L cried as Light picked himself up.

"I could ask you the same question," he said, "Why do you always fight me when you know I'm right? Five minutes with the notebook and we're done; we find Aki's aunt and he has a safe, happy life. You're being ridiculous, L. Just get it and give it to me!"

"I've got people looking for their base of operations, I have leads. We can find them the right way and destroy them completely without you having to kill anyone. I'm going to go talk to his father, I'll get information from him, I'll get him to confess…but we can't kill Aki's father! How could you look at him again knowing you orphaned him?"

Light stopped for a moment as if he'd never thought of that part of it and was obviously at war with himself. He shook his head.

"I'll know I did the right thing for him, to keep him safe. I can live with that, give it to me L!" he got up again and began to move toward him. As he reached him he grabbed him by his arms.

"Don't make me fight you over this L, I don't want to, I just want to do save Aki," he begged. L reached up and caressed his face.

"I know you do, and I'm trying to do that and save you as well. Please…just be Light." He whispered. Light closed his eyes and leaned into the touch for a moment before his eyes flew open and he backed away, curling his hand into a fist to strike L.

"No! I want the notebook!" he yelled and lunged at him.

There was a sudden loud noise and Light cried out as blood exploded from his shoulder and he fell back away from L and onto the floor.

"Light!" L cried and ran to where he fell, pulling him up into his arms. He turned and was shocked to see Watari at the doorway, lowering his pistol.