isolation

The mists had thinned, the air lightening slightly, and they had climbed to the top of another rocky outcropping only to find that the only thing the increased visibility revealed aside from more desolation was the umber coloring of Light's hair and eyes.

'Still nothing here,' Light murmured, vaguely. Sighing, he sat down, one leg dangling over the edge of the rock, the other bent up next to him, an arm resting along the top of his knee.

Lawliet crouched next to him, hands gripping the fabric of his pants around his ankles, and when he spoke his voice was low. 'Was Kira every lonely?'

They both stared into the empty distance, watching the rocks and skeletons lie still.

'In the cell, maybe,' said Light, finally. His tone was languid, like the ash, which was falling more like autumn leaves than like rain. 'Were you?'

'Yes,' said Lawliet, smoothly, and glanced at Light out of the corner of his eyes. 'Though I did not realize it was loneliness I felt until I realized that I was not actually alone.'

'Is that part of why you wanted me on the Kira case, aside from the fact that I was the prime suspect?' asked Light, and the bones he was watching did not move.

Lawliet's gaze slipped away, his fingers tensing around his ankles slightly, briefly, before relaxing again. 'Your reasoning abilities are truly amazing.'

Light tilted his head, giving Lawliet the same offhanded look that the bones had been subject to a moment earlier. 'Would you have wanted me on the Kira case if I hadn't been a suspect?'

Dark eyes met his, just as phlegmatically. 'If circumstances had led me to bear witness to your reasoning ability, then yes, I would have wanted you on the case.'

Light smiled slightly, emptily, looked away and let his hair fall into his face. 'Do you think you could ever have trusted me?'

'Yes,' said Lawliet.

Light blinked, meeting Lawliet's gaze again. 'I didn't think you'd actually answer that question.'

'Do you think you could have afforded me the same?' asked Lawliet, watching him intently.

Light offered the empty smile again. 'If you hadn't been L, and I hadn't been Kira.'

'Yes, I agree,' said Lawliet, and looked away, hair casting sharp shadows over his eyes. 'In another life, we could have not been enemies.'

Light turned his gaze back to the bones, which had not moved. 'It's a pointless conjecture.'

Lawliet glanced at him. 'It could be considered a comforting one, though.'

'It could also be argued that neither of us deserve any comfort,' said Light, tone insouciant, gaze hidden.

'People rarely get what they deserve, Kira,' said Lawliet, voice low, dark eyes gazing out from under his bangs.

Light just let out an affected sigh and tilted his head back so that the hair fell out of his empty eyes. 'There is truly no justice to be had, then.'