Chapter 25: Truth of the Heart

"I never thought another would become so important to me, but I'm glad to feel this way even if it frightens the hell out of me."

-Akane Yagami-

He was falling. Someone had pushed him. One of these girls had pushed him. He knew he wasn't going to be able to grab onto anything. Akane's face was covered in horror. Akane...

Her heart had stopped as she saw him fall. He was going to die. He was going to... No! Not again! I won't loose you too! Her mind screamed and she rushed forward...

She had to save him. Akane didn't know what she would do without him and she didn't know that she could feel this way again, but she didn't want to loose anyone again, especially him. Her steps felt heavy as she push forward her hand held toward him, "Ryuga!" She called out.

"Akane! Don't, it's to far to late! You could get hurt!" Kiyomi yelled as she grabbed her arm. Kira doesn't want you to die just that freak you're so fond of. So don't be so stupid, Akane, she thought a slight conniving look in her eye and luckily for her no one had saw that her push him off the cliff. Even if this freak does survive this he won't know who did it. It was perfect timing. No one will ever know.

"Get your filthy hands off me," She growled her voice cold and laced with an undertone of anger that made their skin crawl, especially Kiyomi's. They had never heard her talk like that before as she ripped her arm away and dived after L without a thought for her own safety. Akane had seen free falling videos before and kept her body going straight down so she would fall faster that L. I'm not going to let you die. Even if it kills me! Your not going to leave me to... after I just started to... I won't allow it!

Her hand stretched out and grabbed onto L's and pulled him toward her, but before she could do anything L wrapped his arms protectively around her before they clashed with the freezing watery ocean deeps.

L's grip loosen and blackness began to take over as he thought, Akane... why did you follow after me? Why...

The shock and impact of hitting the water from so height up had caused L to pass out. Akane wrapped her arm around his waist and kicked her legs as hard as she could. Her mind only on saving L. If you die... I don't know if I could bare it. So you have to live L... please. Live for me, she thought swimming to the surface.

She gasped for air as she pulled L to lay his head against his shoulder and focused on keeping his head above water. She whipped her head around to find a shore. It was far and she knew had to make it or they both would drown here before help arrived. She quickly checked to see if he was breathing. Please be breathing... please. I can't loose him too!

She waited scared out her mind, but suddenly there is was a cough and a grown of pain. He had a bit of water in his lungs, but he was breathing. Akane gave a sigh of relief as tears filled her eyes, "Just keep breathing L. Lawliet. I'll get us to safety. I promised you I'd protect you, but you end up protecting me. It's my turn now. Just be okay and never scare me like this ever again is all I asked of you."

She moved her body slowly using the least about of energy possible so not to tire herself out to quickly. As they say 'work smarter not harder'. She was glad the sea was calm as she moved them toward shore otherwise this would be nearly impossible for someone as inexperienced as she was in water rescue. Akane was only doing what she saw others did in movies and videos she had seen like in that movie called 'The Guardian' at least it taught her something, but it still wasn't as easy as it looked.

If those guys can swim for hours in ice cold water so can I. I can do this for L, She thought to herself.

He was coughing again and again and she could tell his body was trying to get the water out of his system, but still it worried her. It probably felt like the time when a drink goes down the wrong pipe, but quite a bit worse. Just a bit longer. How the hell did you loose balance in the first place? How had did this happen? Was it just a fall or did someone push him? If so who?

Akane didn't know how long it was when she reach the shore. She only knew she was completely exhausted to the point her limbs where shaking from the strain and they where the first to reach the deserted beach. Akane dragged L onto the beach and under a tree in a spot of grass before she put him down as gently as her weary body would allow. She went to her kneels before leaning over him tapping his cheek. "L? Wake up. Come on. Open your eyes, please," She begged.

He stirred turning to the side spitting salt water out of his mouth, "Akane..." his voice was horsed as he spoke.

"Oh thank heavens, L. You're okay." she whispered placing her hands against his cheeks, tears pouring from her eyes, and small smile on her face. Akane was to exhausted to hide anything she was feeling at the moment not that it mattered. She couldn't help what happened next. She leaned forward her lips met his trembling one's. It was a short one, but being in the moment and relieved as she was it couldn't be helped. Akane wasn't thinking she just did it. His lips where cold and he was shivering all over, but he froze when she suddenly laid one on him. They where both freezing even if it was summer. The dangerous and wondrous ocean water had dropped their temperatures quite low to low in fact.

She pulled away shocked that she had done that, but she didn't care. Akane was just happy L was alive, "Don't you ever scare me like this again," she said firmly then she kissed him on the cheek and held him against her it a tight hug if just for a minute until she realized they where both shaking. She sat up and pulled off the red t-shirt she had been wearing revealing the black bra she had underneath. "We need to warm up. I need you to take off your shirt."

L blushed as he looked elsewhere and slowly sat up. "I understand. We could suffer from hypothermia," he said before complying.

Once his shirt was on off she slowly pulled him toward her until he was on top in an embrace and rubbed her hands up and down his body using the friction to heat up his cold pale body. She really didn't care for herself, but L did and quickly followed suit. Rubbing her arms and back until they where both warmed up. "L I think I'm going to pass out soon... I'm so tired. I swam for so long and I was so scared that I was going to loose you." she whispered.

"It's okay, Akane I was... afraid too. Thank you for coming to my rescue like that. Just rest. I can take care of the everything else. You've done more than enough." L whispered back.

She nodded meekly, "Al...right," she replied and in a matter of moments she slowly closed her eyes that felt so heavy. Slowly she fall asleep with L in her arms. She was happy that he was safe, but she knew when she woke he would have questions like about that kiss for example. Akane was to tired to talk about it now, but she would have to soon. What... will I say?

L could feel her breathing slow and he found it luring him to sleep as well. Akane didn't know, but he had heard her say his true name. He thought he was hearing things or it was a dream, but he was unsure. Was I just imagining it or had she really said it? If she did. How has she come to learn of my name? It should have been impossible even with her skill of deduction. Also why... did she kiss me?

….

When Akane regained consciousness she found herself alone in her room at the Hanami's family state. It was dark now and the bed cold. L? She thought to herself sitting up. Where... is he?

She stood out of bed and discovered she was wearing something completely different. Akane was wearing burgundy silk pajamas shorts and a black tank top. She didn't remember ever putting these on. The last thing she could recall was holding L in her arms after saving him from the cliff.

She blushed realizing, Oh God I kissed L. I kissed him and... I liked it.

Akane touched her lips remembering her relief that he was going to live. He tasted like those Hello Panda cookies he had been eating and salt water. No that she minded it either way. His lips where nearly as cold as death, but she didn't care as long as he was breathing, safe, and alive. Akane didn't know when it happened, but the thought of being without him now was suddenly unbearable.

Did I ever care for Satoru this much? I can't remember. Seems the memories and feelings I had have him are a blur and tainted by my hatred for Kira. She thought sadden by that fact. Akane knew that this was more than a desire to be at his side or the childish notion of a crush. She grew out of that with Satoru. This was something else and this was what that idiot Miguel as trying to get her to realize. It was a poison called love. She was in love with L. It was the reason she loved to tease him, it was the reason she wanted to kiss him and hold him close, and it was the reason she just couldn't lie to him. It was also the reason she jumped off a cliff to save.

I need to see him, She thought turning toward the door and walked toward it heading out toward the living room.

….

"Akane, I'm glad to see you're awake." Hanami said hugging her the moment she entered the room.

"Thanks. Where is Ryuga?" Akane asked.

"Outside on the balcony. Ryuga only woke up an hour before you and he's been going at those Hello Panda cookies again." Hanami said. "I don't see why he's not the size of a house with the way he eats."

"As much as he uses that brain of his I'm not surprised." Akane responded remembering what he said about it. "I'm going to check on him."

"Okay," Hanami giggled then she whispered, "Oh and thanks... about Dai. I've never seen him blush so much when he asked me out. What did you say to him?"

"I just told him that you liked him. Guys like him are thick in the head when it comes to the feels. You have to be blunt about your feelings with him. I'll be with Ryuga if you need me," Akane told her on her way out.

….

L was sitting on the balcony's railing a bag of those cookies in hand and his eye looking out toward the sea. The moonlight was full in the sky that made his hair glow blue in color and paled his skin even further. It made him look even more mysterious and surreal. In fact everything around them was shaded in with palettes of blue, silver, and white. It was a really a beautiful sight to see.

To Akane L seemed like an awkward angel that had come down from the stars. After all this time she never really knew she was falling for him until that kiss, but maybe she did and hid it behind a facade of ignorance. Akane was breathless and actually more nervous than she ever was before in her life. She was afraid as well. She was afraid of being rejected and of her abnormally long life span. She would out live him by centuries, but she knew he was worth the pain his death would one day cause her.

So she stepped forward slowly wanting to tell him everything as those all seeing eyes of his turned toward to her. "You're awake. How do you feel?" He asked.

"A bit sore, but I'll live. What of you? Are you alright?" She asked softly as she came closer.

"I'm fine after some sleep," he told her.

"That's good," she told him as she touched his cheek. His skin was warm again and he didn't seem to have anything broken, but she wondered his his back was bruised from the impact with the water.

"Yes," he said and then he sighed, "I have some questions for you as well that are personal."

"You should know by now that you can ask me anything," Akane told him.

He looked away for a moment, "Why did you come after me?"

"I told you before that I would protect you, but that isn't the only reason. You're important to me now. It has nothing to do with the investigation, but I... don't want to loose you." Akane said as she sat on the railing next to him. "I will to keep you safe even if it ends up killing me."

"You have feelings for me?" he asked.

"I wouldn't of kissed you if I didn't," she told him bluntly. "So yes I have feelings. I can't really remember ever feeling this way even for Satoru."

"You are saying you're in love with me," L stated rather startled.

"I'm going a roundabout way with it, but yes. I'm afraid I am. I didn't acknowledge it until you almost died on me or it just didn't dawn on me. I'm unsure of that, but yes I am in love with you and you alone." She told him rest the palm of her hand against his cheek.

He didn't say a word instead he took that hand of hers into his own and pulled her toward him into a sudden kissed her. His lips were shy, but his actions were bold. She had stolen his first, but this one he was giving freely. He had never actually done this before and she knew it. However it was the most romantic thing he had ever done in his life.

She was surprised and thrilled to say the least. With her free hand she buried it into his black locks and pulled him closer. It didn't take long before she began to lead them in this kiss. He was inexperienced unlike herself. Akane wanted to show him how and in her mind she planned to Kira or no Kira this was a moment just between them. She found her worries slipped away as the of chocolate taste filled her mouth and his free arm wrapped itself around her waist and his finger laced with her own. Akane smiled against his lips. She was happy and so was he even shy as his kiss was, but with her aid it was an extraordinary experience.

L never knew he wanted this and he never knew he could be bold in such a manner. He never dreamed of it in fact, but he had longed for the moments he spent with her. The want for her to hold him in her warm, soothing embrace, and know the what of those lips felt like against his own. Her taste was sweet and salty complacence of the sea she had rescued him from only hours before. How had he not noticed that this was more than just a need of companionship... or a friendship? He was the worlds best investigator and he couldn't even tell that he had fallen for another. A woman so different from himself, who only showed her true self to him. A woman that was like looking at the sun at first dawn.

She pulled away panting softly her forehead rusting against his. His face was red as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and she held him against her chest. His body was warm and he smelled the same as ever. Akane never wanted to let him go, but she had to ask even if it ruined the mood."How did you fall in the first place? You always have such good balance." she whispered to him it was something that had been gnawing at her from the moment she saved him.

"I didn't. I was pushed," L told her.

What?! Her mind yelled, "Then that could mean someone here works for Kira," she said in a hush whispered, but he anger was still there and her grip on him tightened ever so tenuously.

"Yes, the three suspects are Kiyomi, Junko, and Lieko." L told her.

"Kiyomi," Akane said as she glared at the sea, "seems the most likely one. Did you notice how interested she was in our relationship compared to the others? She's been interrogating us since we arrived, but this is just a theory."

"It's a likely theory. She doesn't seem to like us," L told her. Especially me, he added in his mind.

"And she tried to stop me from saving you." Akane added running her fingers through his hair.

"Hn, there is a seventy-two percent it was Kiyomi, a ten percent chance of being Junko, and a eighteen percent of Lieko. My bet is on Kiyomi as well, however, it would be wise to believe everyone is a suspect. We should inform Miguel and Shoko when she arrives tomorrow morning." L told her.

"Agreed, but also Donovan and until then we need to be on our toes." Akane added her gaze turning toward the estate to see if anyone was watching. Is this the reason we were invited here? "We we'll have to stick close to one another until we find out who is did this."

"I don't mind that at all," he told her.

Akane gave a curt chuckle, "Nor do I."

….

Photos of L and Akane where handed to a man in a dark room. The gloom ambiance of the room was one of oppression and strict obedience. This was the lair Kira called his sanctum. The smell of blood could never leave this place as the sound of church bells rang from the towers of this holy Catholic Church that was abandon until he 'persuaded' others to rebuild it for him. His lackeys ran the church while he plotted and put his plans into play. There where other methods of finding killable targets other than TV and police records. In fact it was kind of ironic. You come to whisper your guilt while begging for forgiveness, but only to find forgiveness in death horrible or swift. How very pleasant.

His hooded eye gazed downward as he sat on his throne. The first was a sleeping picture of both his rival for the woman and Akane who laid sleeping in each others arms. They seemed so peaceful and it looked natural so he was sure this wasn't staged.

The second made his blood boil. They where kissing and Akane seemed to be enjoying it. He flipped to the next as Akane seemed to be taking control of the kiss and the two seemed to be lost in their passion.

In his jealous rage he ripped the pictures to pieces like a child would break their toys to keep others from having them. "That damn woman of mine! How dare she kiss that-that freak!" he growled and glared else where. He stood and walked toward his window punching the wall. The glass shook at the force of his punch, but luckily it didn't shatter. His less than human eyes roomed over the Tokyo. "Seems I kept to much distance from you for far to long. My plans seemed to need to be placed ahead of schedule. L you will die and Akane will be mine. Now L lets us see if have what it takes to defeat me in this chess game of ours. It's my move now."

EDITED!