Day 4
Thanks to Jesssam for following this story! I promise that it gets much more interesting from here, and there will be more on those mysterious bruises on L's legs. But for now, enjoy the story!
Light wondered if any of the other Task Force members knew how much L really felt and had gone through. It had only been four days since Light was chained to Ryuzaki, but the junior detective could already notice the slight changes in the genius' behavior. When he was upset, he normally would stare straight ahead without talking, finger in his mouth. Occasionally, he would smile, and that alone warmed Light's heart.
They still couldn't figure out how to get shirts on, so they were going without them. Misa didn't mind, in fact she asked Light why he hadn't gone without his shirt before. L seemingly didn't care, but only Light could see how exposed he felt. The world's greatest was not used to showing his arms, let alone his entire chest. He had always built walls, shut everyone else out, and when he did see people he was almost entirely covered. Now, he was bare, lain out for everyone to see.
"Would Light-kun pass me that plate?" Ryuzaki suddenly said.
"Huh?...Oh, sure." The brown haired student grabbed the plate, and put it down in front of L. It was covered in chocolate-chip cookies and some boxes of Pocky. "Here you go, Ryuzaki."
"Thank you, Light-kun." He said, grabbing a box of Pocky. Ripping the wrapping, he took one out and put the non-chocolate part in his mouth, holding it in between his teeth. Light felt a very sudden urge to do….something with that Pocky and L.
"Hey, Ryuzaki. May I take a Pocky?" Light was actually hungry, and L had reintroduced him to sugar. It was very helpful, because Light was up all night either trying to sleep, helping L with the case, or talking with Ryuzaki. It was clear to Light that Ryuzaki and L were different people. L was the genius without feelings, merciless in his hunt for Kira. And Ryuzaki was the detective who cried after a night terror, who smiled, who talked with Light as a friend and not a suspect.
"Light-kun may take a box." Said L. Gesturing to the boxes, he continued to eat the Pocky, piece by piece. Surprised by the detective's generosity, Light grabbed one of the red colored boxes. Opening it, he grabbed it by the chocolateless part and began to eat. Once he had consumed the sweet up to around half an inch before the uncovered part, he popped the rest of it in his mouth.
The sweet flavor was perfect to Light, and he closed his eyes, taking in the chocolate taste. He himself didn't mind going without a shirt, although it was uncomfortable for him. But the thing that his mind was on was not the sweet Pocky, or his lack of a shirt. The chocolate haired student was wondering about those injuries on L's legs.
They were relatively fresh, and stood out everywhere on the pale detective's legs. Were they self-inflicted? No, they couldn't be. L was too strong to wound himself, and Watari would know and have stopped the genius. The elderly man cared too much about L to let him hurt himself, and could halt the self-harm. So it had to be someone else. But who?
It was obvious that they stopped after Light was chained to Ryuzaki, because no one could harm L when Light was always with him. So it was someone else, someone extraordinarily strong, someone who could get close to L through all of the security measures. It wasn't Watari; he was rarely with L, and L was clearly stronger than him. None of the Task Force members were more powerful strengthwise and influencewise than Ryuzaki, who could easily stop them and have them removed from the police.
Was there anyone else? Maybe someone L thought of as a friend, but turned against him? No, Light was Ryuzaki's first friend. So a smart, strong, sneaky person who could get close to L and harm him without L being able to retaliate in any way. Who could that be? Light couldn't think of anyone who could do that. Someone L thought that he could trust, maybe, who turned against him, or someone that L didn't want to hurt.
What about the security cameras, wouldn't they catch whoever was hurting Ryuzaki? Light had to check. But the thing that stopped him from going was the chain around his wrist. Binding him to the detective, showing the suspicion of Kira, and eliminating his privacy. The brunet couldn't check the cameras without arousing suspicion, and it was clear that L didn't want Light to see the bruises. He would have to come up with a false pretence to check the tapes.
"Is something the matter, Light-kun?" Ryuzaki had emerged, and was concerned about Light. He was simply standing still, in deep thought. This was not like Light-kun, because Light-kun normally thought quickly and precisely, just like L. "Light-kun has been standing still for the past 15 minutes." Panic flashed through Ryuzaki's mind. What if he had seen the injuries? That certainly would cause anyone to think, especially Light-kun. L would have to ask, in private.
"Nothing, Ryuzaki. Just thinking."
"Would Light-kun please follow me?"
"Sure, what for?"
"I will tell Light-kun later." This earned a glance from Soichiro Yagami, and L looked back at the chief of police.
"It is to discuss the case, Yagami-san. Do not worry for Light-kun."
•••••
"Where are we going, Ryuzaki?" Light asked as the raven-haired detective led him down sets of stairs, then through hallways, then through sets of doors.
"Somewhere to talk," said L. This was true, but L was looking for the one room he had asked Watari to stop surveillance of. The older man had hesitantly agreed, and no one could listen to or watch the conversation he and Light were going to have.
"We have arrived, Light-kun." L melted into Ryuzaki as he turned around. "Now, why was Light-kun thinking about the wounds on my legs?"
"H-how…?" Light shook his head. "No, I shouldn't be asking how. But I was wondering who it could be, and no one I know fits the criteria. Watari cares for you, and you could overpower him. The Task Force is weaker than you, and you could outwit them and them have them fired. Subconscious me -yes, I did consider that possibility -couldn't have done it, because the tapes were reviewed every night, you had full power over my fate, and you are stronger than me. So I was forced to conclude that it was someone smart, stronger than you, and sneaky enough to get past the security systems. But I cannot think of anyone who could have done it.
"I was going to think up a reason for me to check the tapes, so that I could find out who did it. I know that it wasn't you, because you are too strong for that, and Watari would know and stop you. So, Ryuzaki, who was it?"
L sighed, and looked at his feet. During the time when Light was speaking, the ivory skinned detective was looking at Light's bare chest. The brunet's protective arms were strong, but their embrace made L feel like he was welcome somewhere. "Light-kun is the only person I gave my full and unaltered trust to outside of the orphanage. Light-kun truly cares about me, I never suspected that this variable would come into play…."
"Of course I care about you! You're the first real friend I've had!" The brown-eyed boy only realized the magnitude of these words after they left his mouth. Although the words were true, he had given L yet another weakness to exploit. Another psychological weapon, another day of endless questions and accusations.
"Does Light-kun really believe that?"
"Yes, I do! Will you tell me already? I can't bare to see you hurt."
"Light-kun, the person who harmed me was the closest thing I had to family. He was an imitation of me, one in training to be the next me when I left this world. I loved him as a brother, and until a short while ago, he admired me. Until his best friend, the first choice, committed suicide after the pressure got to his head. From there on, he was referred to as 'Backup', a horrible nickname that must have driven him to insanity.
"No best friend, and everyone forsaking his name and calling him 'Backup'. It would harm anyone mentally, and it harmed him more than you could imagine. He snapped, and ran away. Later after, he became a murderer, hell-bent on creating a mystery I could not solve. My heart broke when I heard the news, but I kept up the game. And it was only a game to this young man, the killings nothing more than a way of pushing my buttons.
"When he killed the last victim, he set himself on fire. He thought that if he was gone, I would be simply chasing ghosts, and it would be the one case that L could not solve. However, Naomi Misora -the highest ranked woman and main investigator on that case- caught him and saved his life. He was arrested.
"His favorite food was strawberry jam. He could see the name and lifespan of a person above their head. He liked crawling around on all fours. He always stuck his finger in his mouth when he was thinking. And on January 4th, 2004, I believed that he died of a heart attack with no cause. But I, the doctors, and the undertaker were all wrong on that count. He died, and somehow came back.
"He first came in exactly one month ago, Light-kun. I was sitting alone in my apartment, and had just finished talking with the police. Light-kun, I couldn't stop him. He blindfolded me, gagged me, tied me up, and hid my struggling body in a trunk. When he left the building I was staying in, he told the desk attendants that his twin -he was talking about me- had asked him to pick up this trunk. Telling them that it was simply clothes and other items, he carried me outside and most likely put the trunk into a car.
"He took me out, still blindfolded, and tied me spread eagle on the ground. He told me that it was for revenge, and began to hit me, cut me with a knife, all the while telling me that I deserved it for beating him in the game. I'm sad to say that I pleaded with him, begged, and did everything he told me to if it would end the torture sooner.
"It only stopped four days ago, and he did it every week. I did not put up security, because I knew that he could get through it, and it would only make him angry. Any bodyguards he would kill. But once I was chained to you, he stopped. It seems that he thought that you were attractive, because four days ago, when I was tied, bruised and bloodied, to a pole, he speculated that kidnapping you would be even more interesting than me."
Ryuzaki turned his head away, certain that Light would hate him after this, call him names, and agree with his abuser. When he felt Light's arm on his, he flinched. But all Light ended up doing was giving Ryuzaki the most heartfelt and caring hug he had ever received. Ryuzaki simply cried his eyes out for the second time in front of Light. And Light said the most helpful and touching words he had ever heard:
"He won't hurt you again."
•••••
Coolnerdgirl: Looks like things are getting interesting on the fourth day of the handcuffs! What's going to happen next? Oh wait, I know already. Don't forget to read and review!