Vendetta 9

"Watari…what have you done?" Light asked as he held Light against him.

"Protecting you," Watari said simply as he walked over, "I warned you Light, that I would do whatever I had to do to protect him."

"You crazy bastard…" Light seethed between clenched teeth, "I can't believe you did this!"

"I know what I was doing, it's a clean shot, thru and thru, minimal damage, just enough to stop you for a while," Watari answered helping L get him up. "Let's get him to your room, I can clean and dress the wound." Light groaned in pain as L put his arm around him.

"Lean on me, Light," he said, "I'm sorry…'

"You're not sorry!" Light snapped, "All you had to do was agree to give me my notebook and this would have never happened!"

"I'm sorry this happened," L told him as they got into the elevator, "But I'm not giving you that notebook…ever."

"It's not yours to decide! It's mine!" Light said angrily as he was moved into the bedroom and laid on the bed.

"We're not going to discuss this now," L told him. "Right now all that matters is to get your wound treated," he looked at Watari. "I'll take care of him until you get what you need." Watari nodded and left the room. L tore what was left of the sleeve of Light's shirt to have full access to the wound. He went into their bathroom and grabbed a towel to put on the wound and slow the bleeding. Light grimaced in pain then chuckled darkly.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" he said, "You enjoy having power over me." L shook his head.

"I'm not going to let you bait me, Kira," L told him as he held the towel against the wound. "I'm sorry you were shot but only because it's Light's body." Light laughed again, the sound of it raising the hairs on the back of L's neck.

"You're such a damn fool, L." he told him, "When are you going to admit that I am Light? You keep telling yourself Kira is a separate person but you're wrong. The sooner you realize that the better it's going to be…for both of us."

"You are not Light," L told him, "You are Kira…Light would never try to hurt me, Light loves me,"

"I love you, L," Light answered, "Just because I am more myself doesn't mean I don't love you anymore. But it does mean that there are some things worth fighting you for and I no longer have to hold back." He reached up to touch L's face. "I love you but I'm not blinded by that love any longer and I won't let it stop me from doing what I have to do." L pulled away from his touch, shaking his head.

"No, you are not my Light, you are a twisted, warped version of him brought on by that notebook. You wouldn't exist if he'd never touched that notebook, there would be no Kira." He looked up to see Watari coming back in with a basin and everything he needed to fix the wound.

"MY notebook," he emphasized, "It's my notebook and the sooner you give it to me, the sooner this will all be over. Aki's father needs to die for even thinking of selling him, I don't understand why you won't let me help him!" L stood up to get out of Watari's way.

"Because that's not helping him, it could hurt him irreparably and if you were yourself you'd realize it," he looked up at Watari, "Do you need my help?" The older man shook his head.

"I'm going to give him something to put him to sleep while I do this; he shouldn't be any trouble," he answered preparing the injection. Light tried to pull away from him and L held him down.

"You don't want to be awake for this, it's not going to be pleasant," Watari told him as he moved to give it to him.

"You shot me, how do I know you won't do worse?" Light argued as L held him down.

"If I had wanted to do worse I would have done so at the time," Watari told him as he administered the shot.

"You'll be alright," L told him as Light winced slightly at the sting of the needle. L watched as his features began to relax a few moments later as it began to work. L sighed and turned to walk away when Light grabbed his arm. L started to snatch his arm back when he looked down and realized his Light was looking up at him.

"I'm…sorry…" he whispered as his eyes began to close, "Didn't mean to…" he drifted off as L grabbed his hand.

"I know Light," he said softly before letting go and walking out of the room. He began to walk down the hall towards the elevator when Aki peeked out of his room and came flying out the door and ran to him, his eyes wide with fear.

"Ryuzaki…I was scared!" he cried as he ran to him, wrapping his arms around L's legs. "I fell asleep after I ate," he said in a shaky voice, "then I heard a loud noise…it sounded like when…when Mama got hurt… I was afraid to come out until I saw you…" L nodded and kneeled down to his level.

"Yes…I'm sorry that woke you," he said gently, "There was an accident and Light was…injured…" Aki gasped and pulled away from him,

"Where's Light? I want to see Light!" he cried as L reached for him again.

"You can see him later," he said gently, "Right now Watari is fixing his injury and then you can see him." Aki kept pulling away from him, shaking his head violently as L struggled to hold on to him.

"No…no…Light! Light! I want to see Light!"

"Calm down, Aki. I promise you he's fine, he's going to be fine, but right now you have to wait until he's treated, calm down!" He pulled the boy to him into a strong hug. "I know what you're thinking but Light is going to be fine, I wouldn't lie to you about that." He continued to hold him until he calmed down. Once he was no longer fighting him, he could hear the boy crying against him. He rubbed his back and gently pulled away.

"I know you're afraid and you have every right to be, but Light will be fine," he said again as he reached up to rub the tears away with his thumbs. "You should go back to your room and play until it's time to see him, okay?" Aki nodded and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Why hasn't Papa come to get me yet?" he asked softly.

"We have to make sure it's safe for you and your Papa. Once we know all the bad guys are gone, this will be over." L told him, hoping that would be enough.

"Okay," Aki answered and began to head off towards his room. L stood up and picked him up, holding him against his chest and carrying him to the room. He put him down on the bed and smiled at him.

"I'll get Watari to get you a TV and maybe some games so you won't be bored as soon as I can, okay?" he said with a smile.

"What kind of games?" Aki asked, his face brightening.

"You tell me what games you want to have," L said as he went to the door, "You think about it and when I come back, you tell me what you want." Aki nodded and smiled.

"Okay, I will!" he said excitedly reaching for his robot. L smiled and left the room, closing the door behind him.

L went back to his computer and set it up to contact the NPA and Deputy Director Yagami.

"This is L," he said into the microphone, "I need the latest on Katagi Fujimoto, Deputy Director."

"At the moment L, he is being held in a secure location until we can set up his picking up his son. I…assume you're aware of the case if you're calling about it, it isn't what you normally work on." Soichiro said being careful not to say anything that would compromise L's identity.

"You're correct, however, it has come to my attention that the group that is chasing Fujimoto and his son are connected to a series of murders I have been working on and I wish to speak to Mr. Fujimoto in this regard."

"I'm not sure if that's possible he…."

"There is no reason why this request isn't possible," L snapped interrupting, "either set up a computer where he is or a phone and provide me with the numbers. I'm sure even the NPA can accomplish that much." L knew he had angered Soichiro when there was an extended silence before he received an answer but at this point he didn't care.

"I will contact you as soon as I have something set up, L," came the curt answer. L closed the connection and ran a hand through his hair. He couldn't do anything until he heard back from Soichiro so he decided to go check on Light's condition.

"How did it go?" he asked as he walked into the room.

"Just fine, it was a small caliber bullet, minimal damage as I said," Watari told him standing up. "He should be asleep for a little while yet, which is good because we have to talk."

"I'm not in the mood for any discussion about this situation, Wammy," L warned, "I have too much to deal with."

"I know what you have to deal with but we're going to talk anyway," the older man told him, "You can't keep pretending Light and Kira are two different people L. Each time that part of him resurfaces he's stronger, more mature. You might not be able to contain him for much longer."

"Light and Kira are different, you can see how different they are," L argued as he gently ran his fingers through Light's hair. "My Light would never hurt me…"

"L, stop this," Watari said, harsher than he meant to. "If you want your relationship to continue you have to stop this. There is only one way keep this part of him from surfacing and you know what it is."

"No…I won't do that; you don't know what could happen…I could lose him…"

"If you don't you will definitely lose him and quite possibly your own life. Not to mention Light's own sanity, L. There are two ways he can find peace, the way he already has which is dangerous to everyone, or if you destroy that notebook and erase all memories of it and his Kira past. Stop being selfish and do what you know what you have to do, what you should have done years ago."

L continued to run his fingers through Light's hair, even though his hands had begun to shake as he listened to Watari.

"I can't lose him Watari,' he said quietly, "I can't – how can I take that chance…that everything will be different, that he might not even remember what we have?" Watari walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You've seen that it doesn't change emotions, you saw that with Amane when she lost her memory of the notebook, she still had her feelings for Light. That should happen with Light as well, he'll just lose that part of him he would rather forget anyway. It won't change anything between you."

"I'm afraid, Watari. If I destroy it and something goes wrong, I can't fix it, it'll be gone forever, he could be gone."

"Then get him to give up ownership. That way you can see what happens and if you're right you can have him touch it again." Watari suggested.

"I don't think that works without the Shinigami to erase the memories," L said sadly, "Besides do you think Kira would willingly give it up now?" He moved from Light and walked towards the door. "Aki heard the shot and was terrified. I calmed him by telling him he could see Light when he was awake. Please see that he does. I'm also expecting to hear from the NPA on being able to speak to his father. I'll have my phone, please let me know if you hear from them before I get back."

"L, where are you going?" Watari asked concerned.

"To get that god damned notebook!" L told him as he stormed out of the room.

L moved quickly out of the building and got his bearings. He knew there were stores a few blocks away and he made his way to one, purchasing a hooded sweatshirt and something to tie his hair back. He walked out of the store and pulled on the hoodie, then pulled his hair back into a tight ponytail. He then jumped into the nearest subway heading for their apartment.

Light's eyes slowly opened and he groaned softly when he tried to sit up.

"Don't move around too much," Watari told him, "You don't want to start bleeding again." Light turned his head to look at him and chuckled darkly.

"You're the one who shot me, why should you care," he asked trying to sit up.

"I'm also the one who dressed your wound, Light," Watari said helping him sit. "You may not be in your right mind currently, but I certainly don't wish more harm on you." Light grimaced slightly then looked around the room.

"Where's L? Working at trying to save that bastard?" he asked.

"I think at the moment, he's working on trying to save you," Watari answered.

"I don't need saving!" Light snapped, "All I need is my notebook." He looked at Watari. "You know what that man was planning to do to Aki! You know what would happen to that little boy if he succeeds. Please Watari, talk to L, make him understand that all I want to do is stop Fujimoto from hurting Aki. Why is that so wrong?"

"He wants to save Aki as much as you do Light, but killing the boy's only parent is not the way to go, unless it's absolutely necessary. Neither does he wish you to use that notebook…"

"But it's mine! He has no right to keep it!" Light argued.

"I will leave that discussion between the two of you," Watari said moving towards the door, "In the meantime there is someone who wishes to see you." He walked out of the room and returned a few moments later.

"Light!" the little boy cried running to him. "You're okay!" He stopped before hugging him when he saw the sling. "Does it hurt much?" Light smiled and shook his head.

"No, it doesn't hurt much. Are you okay?" he asked and the boy nodded.

"L told me you had an accident and I was scared – but he promised me you were okay."

"And he was right, I am okay," Light reached out and ruffled the boy's hair. "What have you been doing?"

"Waiting for L to come back so I can tell him what games I like. He said he'd get me some games to play with."

"I think I can handle that," Watari said, "L had to run an errand so why don't you tell me what games you would like to play while you're here."

"It won't be here too long though," Aki said with a smile, "My Papa should be here to get me soon," he added. Light's eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to say something as Watari stepped in.

"Come over here and tell me what games you want," he said moving the boy away from Light back over to where he was sitting, "Light needs to rest for a little while." Light watched them then sighed. He had time, he could wait, but sooner or later the boy would have to know the truth.

L ran up the subway steps at his stop and quickly walked to his building. He was aware of a couple of cars parked outside, both having men inside. He didn't look at them directly, seeing them with side glances as he walked into the building. He didn't turn around until he was inside the elevators and sighed in relief when he didn't see anyone had followed him inside.

He got to his floor, used the code to open the door and went inside going directly to his office. He moved the books and pushed the button to open the hidden door. He waited for it to scan his eye and slide the door open. He reached in and took out the notebook, hating the very feel of it. He closed the door and moved everything back into place. He stuck it under the hoodie and went towards the door when a low laugh startled him and he fell against the door.

"Finally, someone's using it again; it's about time,"

L's eyes widened in surprise as Ryuk came through the ceiling landing in front of him. "But I wasn't expecting it to be you."