Chapter 16: Bleeding Heart

"Being alone is better than being with the wrong person."

-L-

The heart is a fickle thing. It can be kind or cruel, soft or harden, warm or full of ice, and love one day then hate the next. Today it was kind, warm, and... maybe a bit confused or even lost. She couldn't decide how she felt really as she walked down the street toward the fair grounds. She only received a text this morning where they would be going on this date. It was public yet if they needed it they could speak secretly with one another. It was the perfect place for the both of them with many witnesses.

Akane decided to go simple with her outfit. She wore jeans, an unbuttoned up red blouse with a white undershirt, and sneakers. Her hair was up in a long french pull-through braid and she kept her makeup light as she usually did. She had a pair of dark sunglasses on and her Shinigami power was ready when ever she would of need it. Akane was glad she could use her power without drawing unwanted attention, especially for L.

She spotted him near the entrance of the fair. A smile slowly spread crossed her face. He was exactly how she expected. In a white long sleeve shirt, loose blue jeans, and sneakers caved in the back like they where slippers again. His hair was the same as usual as well. A mess with bed head and somehow it was perfect on him nearly to the point it could make she was breathless.

"Ryuga!" She called as she waved at him.

He turned toward her voice and waved back in a lazy like fashion before going to her with his hands in his pockets. "Hello, Akane." he told her.

"You didn't have to wait long, did you?" Akane asked.

He shook his head no, "No, you're quite punctual, actually. Where's Donovan?"

"I was raised to be and Donovan is with Naomi. So it's just us. Come on, let's go get our tickets. I'm eager to begin." Akane said wrapping her arm around his own and tugged him toward the ticket booth.

His eyes widen a bit at her touch with a happy smile on her face and pulled him along. "Two all day passes please." she asked.

The man told her the price of the all day passes that came as plastic wrist bands. "It's cheaper this way than just paying for tickets." Akane informed him as she was taking out her wallet.

"Isn't it traditional for the male of the date to pay?" L asked.

Akane laughed, "Generally yes, but this is my treat today. You can pay next time," then she whispered in his ear, "just let me be the independent woman today."

He gave an awkward smile as ticket man handed him a wrist band and one for Akane as well. "What would you like to do first?" L ask not use to places like this one.

"I was thinking we should hit the cotton candy stand first then go on one of the rides. Does that sound alright?" Akane asked.

He simply shrugged his shoulders as the two made there way to the stand to get themselves the cotton candy and she made sure they made his larger than her own knowing how much he liked sweets. "You know it's surprising that you can eat so much sugar and never gain any weight."Akane said with a smile. "Is it like brain food for you?"

He nodded and said softly, "If you use your head, you won't get fat even if you eat sweets."

"No wonder I'm hungry all the time. I always thought it was a teenage thing." Akane joked lightly before she noticed the stares.

People, strangers, and students she had seen for her high school and now collage life were staring like the two of them where the oddest couple the world had ever seen. Akane turned her eyes into a reddish color as she scanned over the nosy watchers and as far as she could see not a one of them was Kira or someone he was using. Then the comments started.

"How did such a weird looking guy get such a hot chick to go out with him?" said a young teen with his friends.

"I don't know maybe he's rich or it's a pity date." A girl in the group replied.

"Actually, he's attractive in a weird way. They look kinda cute together." Another girl told them.

"Cute? How is that cute?" the boy asked.

"Well it's like she's the sun and he's the moon. You know it's like a yin and yang sort of couple. It's kind of pretty with them being exact opposites and all." The second girl continued.

"I guess... it kind of does look like that," the first girl said as she cock her head at them. "Still it's freaking weird though."

"Hey hot stuff! What are you doing with that freak?" A rude, arrogant, collage, student from school yelled. "How about you leave him and come party with me instead?"

Akane rolled her eyes as she turned to the person that was completely full of himself, "He's a far better man that a self-important ass like you and he happens to be mine so go suck on a tree. Come on, Ryuga, let's go on a ride before our brain cells start dying."

She took L's hand this time around, but L could say anything else Akane found herself being jerked back by the same guy that insulted L and L's hand was taken out of her own. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"

"Someone who IQ isn't in the single digits like yours, for example." She told him ripping her wrist away and rubbed it as it throbbed. This guy may lack intelligence, but he was strong.

Suddenly, Akane remember him. He's name was Surota Onikuro and he was on scholarship for some sort of sport. He had a bad reputation with being a hotheaded bigot and had put several people in the hospital. Even her father heard of him and told her to keep her distance.

"Why you, bitch!" he yelled and as he stood forward his hand raise when L stood in his way Onikuro's wrist was caught in L's tight grip. "What do you want you freak?! Let me go! I'm going to teach that wench a lesson she soon won't forget."

"Leave her alone," L said as he glared with his all seeing dark eyes as his grip tightened. "I don't want to hurt you, but if you try to harm her or myself I will be forced to take action. I assure you it is not something you would want. So be calm and go else where."

The man stared for a moment as pain shot down his wrist to the rest of his arm. He was unsure what to do about the odd ghostly pale man in front of him. There was something off about him that made his hair stand on end and his grip was strong for such a lean guy. His instinct immediately told him to run for his life, but his pride kept him put. Finally he sighed, "Whatever man. She ain't worth it. Any woman that goes out with a freak like you must have a few screws loose. I don't need this shit!" he said yanking his wrist away and storming off.

Akane was in a word lived by the male's words, but she was also surprised that L had stood up for her. Wasn't she suppose to be protecting him? Or can he get any more awesome than he was to her right now? She never seen him like that. It was so... trilling, but yet she could feel that he was more than capable of making good on that threat his. L could be scary sometimes.

She wanted to say something and ever fiber of her being wanted to beat that ill mannered prick to an inch of his life, but that would cause an even bigger scene that the one already played out. She took a deep calming breath and thought, Nope! I refuse to let that ass ruin MY date, Akane thought as she brushed his shoulder with her slender fingers, "Are you okay?" Akane asked softly.

He slowly turned his head, "I should be asking you that." he replied his eyes landing on her redden wrist and a touch of anger filled those strange eyes of his. He was surprised that he could feel such an emotion for someone he hardly knew and he couldn't understand why he felt that need to protect her only a moment ago. L wanted her safe and he worried for her with all the times she put herself in danger. It was all so unusual and new to him. Was this what it felt like to have a friend or was this something else? "How is your wrist?"

She snorted amused, "It'll be alright," she told him then her voice turned to a more worried one. "I was just... stunned that he grabbed me like that is all, but I'm even more surprise he didn't attack you. He had a pretty bad rep for his anger issues and put several people in the hospital. I didn't recognize him until he grabbed me."

"He isn't working for Kira is he?" L asked.

"No or I don't think so at least. If Kira is obsessed with me as much as we think he is, why would he allow someone under his control to harm me?" Then she realized something, "Oh! I didn't thank you for that... so thanks for stepping in. You didn't have to, but you did anyway. I don't truly mean this often, but I am grateful... really." Akane said a small smile crossing her face as she blushed. It wasn't often she could be honest like that and it was kind of embarrassing to say that aloud or at least to her.

L nodded understandingly, "Wasn't their a ride you wanted to go on?"

….

The line wasn't as long as Akane hoped it would be. She picked Zero Gravity to be their first ride and she had been quiet the entire time. L looked at her from the corner of his eye as he took his place and the safety bar snapped in place. "Why are you so nervous?" L inquired.

"I don't like heights." she replied simply as she took the spot next to him.

"Then why did you pick this one?" he asked.

"I know it's kind of weird, but I go on the higher rides to face my fears. After all we have to face our fears sometime. So why not now? Plus what makes someone feel more alive than a bit of fear?" Akane inquired grabbing onto the bar and plastering a brave face.

Inside she was actually terrified. I don't like heights... such an understatement on one of this stupid rides, but this is for the thrill. Nothing more, nothing less. I need to feel alive if only just for a moment, Akane thought to herself as the ride started to turn.

L's hand laid on top of Akane's and L watched her eyes dart toward him looking into his. L noted the appreciative look in her eyes as she turned her hand and laced her fingers with his. He never noticed before, but she had such small hands compared to his and her skin was soft and supple. He could smell her scent over the smell of iron, rust, and smell of burnt food of the fair grounds. Akane smelled like strawberries and flowers. Her scent was sweet and he like that.

Then he observed something more. This... was an image of the real her if only a piece. She had opened a up for him or maybe it was the fear that revealed her for who she really was if only for a moment. She was fragile yet something about her was strong. What she was... who she was... seemed so vulnerable, hurt, and still there was something that was hanging on. He realized she still had yet to be consumed or turned black with her need of vengeance. It was hope. She had hope and for her that seemed to be a rare commodity.

For a once Akane didn't feel afraid as she looked into L's eyes. She didn't feel the need to be. Why do I feel like this? She thought as she forced her eyes away only to regret it a moment later. Holy crap this is high! I shouldn't of looked down!

EDITED!