CHAPTER 22

"I'm sorry did I just hear England? As in England of the United Kingdom?" Light exclaimed, eyes widening a bit.

"What else could I have possibly said?" L glanced at the shocked college student. "It will be quite the nostalgic visit for me."

"Have you been there before, Ryuzaki?"

"No, Light-kun," he gave a small smile, eyes turning unreadable, "I used to live there."

"Oh. So, that's why you are fluent in English."

"And Japanese as well."

"Bilingual, huh," Light scratched his head. "Sorry, but, I expected you to know more languages."

"If I wanted to learn another language, I would. However, I lack the time and motivation to do so," the detective replied, gnawing on his thumb.

"Excuses are just excuses," the brunette smirked. "It's alright to admit a weakness sometimes, Ryuzaki."

"Weakness? . . ." His eyes traveled downward as he murmured, "now I have one."

"What?"

"Nothing for you to stress about, Light-kun," L popped a sugar cube in his mouth, smiling playfully. "Ah, would you look at the time? The plane is going to pick us up in exactly 4 minutes and 33 seconds-"

"Are you crazy?" Light exhaled. "We can't just travel to another country without notice beforehand to catch the world's greatest criminal!"

"Stop complaining like an incompetent child and follow me," he tilted his head to the side, one side of his mouth curving into a devilish smirk. "Or would you prefer travelling on flight handcuffed to me?"

The brunette made a face and shuddered, mind flashing back temporarily to all the awkward scenarios caused by those dreaded cuffs.

"N-No thanks," he weakly smiled, unknowingly losing some colour in his face.

"Please, Light-kun," the detective chuckled briefly, "we both know it was not that explicitly terrible as you make it sound."

"Well, it was different before. . ." Light looked straight into L's dark, beckoning, orbs. "Everything has changed. Would I still be alive if all of this didn't happen? Besides, you are, in fact, deeply and genuinely in lov-"

Promptly, he rested his index finger on his moving lips. Light frowned and glared at the impeding young man, having just been rudely interrupted.

"The real question is. . . has it changed for the better or for the worse?"

England was much different than Kanto.

Light never had the chance to take a vacation ever since his mother was sent to the hospital. At first, he felt angry at his father for not noticing the stress she was given. It was almost as if he was prioritizing work over family. Light's father was the Chief of the NPA after all. Hell, he was even in charge of the task force to hunt his own son down. However, of course, Soichiro Yagami is oblivious to that fact. How ironic. The culprit living under his roof for all this time.

Naturally, someone had to take responsibility for the extended absence of Sachiko Yagami. Being the eldest child, Light was given the role as the 'second parent', taking care of Sayu. He learned how to cook and everything normally the motherly figure would in a typical family. Light still hasn't forgotten that day when his own father chose to stay at work. Sachiko fell victim to a stress related heart attack and was immediately sent to the hospital. Every Yagami was present except for the her own husband. Light hasn't forgotten that.

But, with all the Kira business, he has simply taken his mind off that bothering fact. Light used to hate L so much. He wanted to eliminate all the threats of Kira and his journey to conquer world peace. Only now does Light truly understand what wrongs he has done. Any normal person would've used the Death Note once then never use it again. Perhaps they would just throw it away. Light was aware that he had a rather discrete take on law. However, could the blame be put solely on Light Yagami? With his father as the Chief, Light has seen how justice works. And all the loopholes it possesses. Was it moral to let a murderer roam the world once served their punishment? Did they really deserve a second chance of redemption? Light has witnessed crime before in the busy streets of Japan. Are people really protected under 'justice'? Only then did Light realize. . . he was no better than the murderers in the world. Whether with the Death Note or not, killing was a selfish act of taking life away.

The thing that bothered Light the most was how L made him realize all of that.

His once declared enemy.

"Light-kun, the exit is this way," L stated dully, shaking his head at him zoning out.

The two stepped out of the airport's doors.

He could hardly believe his eyes.

It was like he was in a different world altogether.

Different looking people speaking a completely foreign language. Strange buildings stood with equally different architectural design. The infamous Big Ben could be seen from where they stood. More cars driving than people taking the train. Even the atmosphere felt off. It just did not feel like Japan, the place Light had grown to live in and love. There were no temples in sight. No one was bowing to each other; instead, he saw a few handshakes and high fives then and there. Namely, Light felt like an alien in this unknown land.

"I do realize this must be a tremendous culture shock, Light-kun," the detective in disguise snickered, hood draping over the top half of his face, "however, I highly doubt you want flies to enter your exposed mouth."

Light pursued his once open lips to a firm line and glared.

"You really are something, Ryuzaki."

"As much as I like small talk and the sight England has to offer," L lowered his voice, "we have much bigger problems arising. Not just for us. For most likely the entire world."

"Is. . . he. . . capable of changing the world as we know it?" Light questioned earnestly, gaze on only his companion.

L paused before he answered with absolute certainty.

"Yes."

"How can you be so sure, Ryuzaki? Do you consider him a bigger threat than 'Kira'?"

The insomniac looked Light head to toe.

"At the moment, of course," he dismissed it casually then sprung back to the main issue, "we did not fly all the way here to simply discuss B vs Kira. Now that B is aware of my recently found weakness. . . . he'll do everything in his power to make me suffer to the extent where death may seem like the superior option. We cannot underestimate this impostor of mine."

"You're the world's greatest detective," Light said with an anxious tinge, managing to force out a laugh, "surely, you have some tricks hidden up your sleeves."

A bittersweet expression spread across L's facial canvas.

His lips curved into a warm smile yet his eyes held opposite meaning, cold and void of nearly all emotion.

"Every magician is bound to run out of tricks, one way or another."

A/N: Whew, I feel like this chap is going everywhere! XD Sorry for being all hiatus mode! Summer got the best of me, lol.

Also, is anyone else watching the brand new Death Note drama (2015)? I think the casting is accurate for the most part (Near is clearly played by a girl though) however, they changed a lot of the plot. I don't really know what to think. Whenever I think of live action Death Note, my mind goes back to the good old days of Tatsuya Fujiwara (Light) and Kenichi Matsuyama (L)! It's really strange thinking that Kenichi is most likely a father now. Time flies by so quickly-

As always, please leave a review and tell me what to think! c: Have a good day/night everyone! *cough* hint: I tend to update quickly after 5 reviews *cough*