Near got up and ran, apparently no longer interested in L. L and Light stood in shock.
"What just happened?" Light asked, finally breaking the silence.
"Near just killed Abho," L replied.
"Thanks. I hadn't noticed. Why did he do it? And why did he try to kill you?"
"He tried to kill me because I opposed Kira all those years ago."
"Why only you when both of us opposed him?"
"I guess because I'm L. I was Kira's main enemy."
"How do you know it's because you tried to catch Kira?"
"Because he told me. Before you woke up, Near said he was doing this for Kira."
"But he's the one who found out who Kira was!"
"He must have had a change of heart." L shrugged. "Come on, let's go tell the others that Abho is dead. And make sure Near isn't killing anyone else."
"Good idea. But why would a Kira follower kill Kira followers?"
"If they got in his way like Abho did."
Light agreed with L's good point.
The two friends set off to see if Near was still in the building. When they didn't find him, they told the first person they met that Abho was dead. They told the person where the body was and sat down in a hallway, silently contemplating what to do.
"We should kill Near," Light declared.
"I agree," L said as he chewed his thumbnail. "You know, it's a shame he died so soon. He told he was planning on dispatching members of the group to different places in the world. We could have spread our justice to the entire planet."
"Since when do you care about justice?" Light asked.
"I don't. But I know you do." L looked Light in the eyes, the gray meeting the brown. "You are Kira after all."
Light's eyes widened. "What are you talking about, Ryuzaki? I was killed by Kira. I wasn't the one killing people."
"Near told me you were Kira. And I think he of all people would know. And don't you recall Abho telling that woman not to mention what he had told her about you? He was hiding something about you. You being Kira must be what he was hiding."
"Y-You're talking nonsense! I couldn't possibly be Kira! I'm on your side! We're friends!"
"I have no friends. Especially not any of the Kiras."
"If I were Kira, wouldn't that mean I killed myself? Why would I do that?"
"I don't know all of the details. Abho must have messed with our memories or something. But I do know that-"
"No! Don't say it. It's not true!"
"You're Kira."
Light screamed as all of a sudden memories ran through his mind. Memories of picking up a Death Note, meeting Ryuk, meeting L, meeting Misa Amane, joining the Task Force, forfeiting ownership of the Death Note, regaining ownership, Watari and L dying, his father dying. Memories of Near, Mello, Takada. Memories of everything that had happened. The memory that seemed to repeat itself was of Light writing names. So many names.
After Light had remembered his own death, he realized he was lying on his back with L on top of him. Yet Light smiled. "You're right. I am Kira. And I beat you." Something in these words triggered something in L. The detective had memories run through his head. Light took advantage of L's helplessness and pinned him down on the ground.
L had a lot less to remember than Light did, and so he was done screaming sooner than Light had been. He blinked in surprise at his current situation while Light looked around for his gun. It was laying on the floor a foot away. Still holding L down, Light extended a leg towards the discarded weapon, trying to kick it within reach.
L kneed Light in the gut. Light cringed and continued reaching for the gun. L kneed him over and over again, finally throwing him off. Light rolled until he hit the wall, which was pretty close to the opposite wall since it was a fairly narrow hallway. As Light got up, he felt a fist collide with his face. His head hit the wall and spots exploded across his vision. He threw up his arms to defend himself against anymore attacks L might throw at him.
Finally, Light's vision cleared and he rolled away just in time to avoid a powerful kick from L. Light stood up and him and L just stared at each other for a moment, both brilliant minds quickly and expertly strategizing. To Light, coming up with an escape plan was as important as figuring out how to eliminate his opponent. He knew L was experienced with different styles of fighting. Why can't it be a battle of the wits like it was last time? Light thought. Ugh. I can't believe I was actually friends with L. If Abho were still alive I'd kill him. Light dodged L's fist and sent a punch of his own.
All of a sudden, L was tackled to the ground by-
"Abho?" Light asked in surprise.
"Yes, God. It is me. I'm sorry for tricking you so many times."
At that moment, L kicked upwards, throwing himself into a handstand. Abho slid forward off of him, his face hitting the concrete floor. He grunted and shook his head painfully as his nose began to bleed, blood rapidly flowing from his left nostril.
L lowered himself so that his face was touching the ground. Then he pushed up, bending so that when he sprang backwards he landed gracefully on his feet. Right before Light could kick him in the shin, L turned and ran. Light followed.
As he chased the detective, he found that L was surprisingly fast for someone who almost never got up from wherever he was sitting. Somehow L got far enough ahead of Light that Light lost him in the maze of twists and turns. Light turned a few corners, hoping to find L. He knew it would be pointless to listen for L's footsteps because L would be pretty much silent with his bare feet.
After walking in circles for a minute or so, Light ended up back where Abho was. How did L memorize the building enough to navigate through it so well? Light wondered. Or was he just running in random directions?
"I'm so sorry, God," Abho said, bowing his head. "I didn't mean to let him escape."
"I want an explanation and I want it now."
Lupus: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. I was quite busy. But here it is. I'll try not to take so long to update from now on. Also, sorry most of it isn't realistic. I didn't plan this out very well, so the way they get their memories back and the way L escapes probably aren't too great.