Thank you, those who reviewed Chapter 2. Here's Chapter 3, enjoy!
"Ryuk!" Light called, trying to summon his Shinigami.
After a moment, the black Shinigami appeared at the foot of the bed smiling wide with that creepy, toothy grin he always seemed to wear. His body shook slightly as he let out a low laugh, eyeing Light and L's matching clothes. "Look at you two, you could be twins."
"Shut it, Ryuk," he muttered. "I need to talk to you about something serious."
He blankly stared at Light with his red, pupil-less eyes, tipping his head to the side in confusion. "What is it, Light?"
"I know you said you weren't on my side in any of this, but please be. Just this once."
"Why would I want to do that?"
Light mentally sighed. He knew Ryuk, so he knew this wasn't going to be a simple task. He looked at L at the corner of his eye. He was staring at him with great interest, a finger placed between his lips. Those wide, calculating eyes watching his every move, his ears catching every word. Light felt his body prickle with annoyance, but if it was going to get the task force off his back, he figured it was worth it.
"You came to Earth because you were bored, right?"
"Yes, you humans tend to amuse me greatly. Why do you ask?"
"As you probably already know, Ryuk, the task force has recently found out that I am Kira, so I can no longer play that role. Don't you think hanging around in a hotel with L and I would be a little boring?"
"Well it doesn't sound like entertainment."
"Exactly. Which is what you will be doing. Unless… You let me ease your boredom?"
The Shinigami stared at Light, his pupil less eyes sparking with interest. "Hyuk, hyuk… Where are you going with this, Light?"
"Let me surrender my death note," Light noticed Ryuk's eyes widen slightly at that statement. "Then you give it to someone who you think has similar intelligence to me to play the next role as Kira. Since their intelligence would be like mine, surely they won't bore you. And it gives you something to do besides hanging around here."
"Y'know this Kira thing is getting a little old. Plus why should I do what you say anyway?"
Light huffed, glaring at his Shinigami with impatience. "I'm the one who cured your boredom in the first place, you don't trust me to keep you entertained?"
"It's not that it would bore me, it's that I don't want you choose who the death note goes to. Rem might have been more lenient, but you should know me by now, Light."
"Yes, Ryuk, I do know you. Remember what happened when you went without apples?"
"Yeah, it wasn't fun," the Shinigami said bluntly. "Why do you ask?"
"Because unless you agree to my terms, you won't eat an another apple. And that could be as long as my lifespan."
Ryuk's blank stare focused on Light for a few moments. "You humans really like to torture a Shinigami, don't you?"
"I thought you found us amusing, Ryuk?" Light smirked.
"Fine, I'll do it, Light," the Shinigami sighed. "Happy?"
Light grinned at his victory against Ryuk. But at that moment… Did his Shinigami smirk slightly? Light mentally shrugged, putting the thought behind him. "Very. Give me a moment."
He turned to the detective who had been listening to the whole conversation. Well, at least Light's side of it. "He says he'll do it, Ryuzaki. Anything else?"
He saw L perk up slightly, like he was surprised Light was able to accomplish it. But he replied in his normal tone, "No, those are the only terms. Surrender your Death Note now, the sooner the better."
Light grumbled at L's response, turning back to his Shinigami. "Okay, Ryuk. I'm ready."
"Alright, Light. See you later." Ryuk replied simply, turning and walking through the wall.
And as he disappeared, so did the memories. He looked around the hotel room, blinking in confusion. "Ryuzaki, forgive me.. I forgot exactly why we were here."
(switching to L's POV)
L blinked in surprise as he heard Light speak to him. It actually worked.. But just in case. "I'm not sure. Why are we here, Kira-kun?"
"L, I told you, I'm not Kira!" the young man yelled angrily.
The detective placed his finger, which he had removed from his mouth earlier, back at his lips. It could simply be an act, of course. L had to ask more questions to make sure Light had truly lost his memories.
"Why were you shot?"
"It was an accident, Matsuda wasn't trying to shoot me," Light replied. "Why do you ask, Ryuzaki?"
Interesting… He's acting exactly like he did when he lost his memories before. "Who is Near and why were you meeting him last week?" L asked, his hard obsidian eyes burning holes through the confused brunette.
"Near is your successor. We were meeting each other to exchange information about the case. Ryuzaki, why are you asking all these questions?"
"Do you remember that I died?" he asked, ignoring the other man's question.
"Yes, but you faked it for some reason. You took me here to let me rest before returning to the task force. By the way, where are they? They would be happy to see you after a few years, Ryuzaki." Light laughed, unaware of the true meaning behind him being there with the detective.
L narrowed his eyes. It appeared it had worked, Light was no longer Kira and had no memories of being Kira. Unless he was putting on a good act, which would be highly unlikely. Besides if that was the case, L would find out eventually. "You're probably right… Light-kun," L smiled faintly from saying his friend's true name. "Listen, what I'm about to tell you might shock you so please hold any questions until I finish."
Light blinked. "Uh, sure Ryuzaki. What is it?"
L began to tell Light the entire story of the brunette being a mass murderer, and he could tell by the looks of horror the young man was giving him that Kira truly was gone. Upon finishing, L watched as Light looked down at his hands, tears streaming down his face. "I c-can't believe I…," Light choked, his voice shaking with emotion. Then, in a much firmer voice, he cried, "No! I won't believe it! You're just trying to get me to confess to being Kira!"
"Light-kun, if that was the case, I would go about it on a much different approach. I would get a third party to confirm my story, but unfortunately those who witnessed these events currently want you dead. So I'm afraid you'll just have to trust me." L replied, remaining calm despite Light's emotional reaction.
Light's pupils narrowed as he clutched his own brown hair. "This can't be true…" he whispered. "I can't be Kira..."
"I wish you weren't," L sighed, his eyes glued on his laptop's screen. "But at least we can say you aren't Kira anymore."
L's eyes widened as Light grabbed his shoulders roughly, turning his body towards the murderer. "I know my actions, if I truly am Kira, were unacceptable. But I would never kill anyone. Sure there's plenty of people the world could do without, but I couldn't imagine myself stooping to their level," Light insisted, staring intensely into L's shocked black orbs. "Please believe me."
He's really trying to convince me he isn't Kira… However, trying to convince him he is Kira would just be a waste of time. He's in a very severe state of denial. It's best to just agree with him for now.
"Light-kun, I know this might be too much to handle for you at the moment. I know you wouldn't kill anyone now, but if you had Kira's power again, I think you wouldn't be above using it," the detective replied in his usual tone. "As I said, you aren't Kira anymore. You're Light now, and hopefully it will stay that way."
Light frowned, and L noticed acceptance reflecting in his eyes. Then, wordlessly, he wrapped his arms around the detective's shoulders and collapsed into him. L felt Light's head rest on his shoulder, feeling his hot breath on his neck.
L blinked owlishly, frozen as he felt the brunette hug him. He hadn't been hugged since he was a child, and he certainly didn't expect to get one from Light. Unsure of what to do, he slowly raised his arms and wrapped them around Light's body, mimicking the other man's embrace. Time seemed to stop at that moment, their bodies so close L could feel Light's pounding heartbeat. It was strange kind of closeness, and it stirred feelings inside of L that he really couldn't describe. He unknowingly tightened his grip on Light at the feel of Light's breath, chills running down his spine.
He felt the murderer pull away after what seemed like an eternity. The detective moved his hands back onto his bony knees, warily watching Light's every move after the unexpected hug. Light leaned back on the bed, closing his eyes as he leaned his head against the headboard.
"Why did Light-kun hug me?" L asked after a few moments of silence.
Light shrugged simply, his eyes still closed. "It was just a friendly gesture, Ryuzaki. Me trying to say, 'even though we were enemies, we can start over as friends', so to speak." he explained.
"I see…" L murmured in response. "Start over as friends…"
"Is that a problem?" Light asked, opening his eyes to look at L.
"Not at all. After all, I have always considered Light-kun my friend." L felt the corners of his mouth pull up slightly in a polite, timid smile.
Light smiled, closing his eyes once more. "Goodnight, Ryuzaki."
Yes, I have always considered Light-kun my friend. It seems my plan worked, Light is no longer Kira. L thought, watching Light sleep. He seemed so peaceful and innocent when he slept. But even though Light didn't have the memories anymore, L knew those hands had killed. Would he be able to put it behind him? He shifted uncomfortably, turning back to the cake he had been eating earlier. He lifted the silver fork with his thumb and index finger, breaking off a piece of the shortcake and bringing it up to his mouth. The task force won't simply put Light behind them, that much I'm certain. If we're going to avoid the police, we might have to take drastic measures… But first I should wait for the task force's reaction to a new Kira.
Thanks for reading Chapter 3! Now things will start getting interesting. :D
Please tell me how I did by leaving a review!
Note: I had all chapters up to this point finished, I just had to review them and fix any errors. Chapters will come in a little slower now, but I will try to have one released every three days. Thanks!