Almost filler like chapter I'm not too proud of, but it'll get the story moving.
Chapter 4
Chained
L
Beep... beep... beep... beep...
The very large, ringed, black, eyes opened, seeing a white ceiling, like deja vu all over again. But this time, how was he alive? That was a question, a brilliant question in fact. It was probably the best question he had thought up of all year. But it was no time to admire his brilliance. Yagami Raito was sitting snoring in a bed very close to his own.
Why was he here? He wasn't the one that almost got killed by the Death Note. L's mind moved a mile a minuet, looking for a conclusion, Shinigami-sama destroyed the notebook before L fully died?
Or perhaps some external reason. A huge percentage lied on the fact the notebook was destroyed, and Raito lost his memories, a two percent chance it was because he was beat up, as there were no external injuries. If Raito lost his memories, as he recalled, the user became unconciouss and thus, his reason being in the hospital.
But either ways, L found his mouth was parched, and the bathroom was by his bed. Someone seemed to have forgotten that students drink water. Well, honestly, L preferred tea, or coffee, both overly sugared... but water could do. It was one of the few tasteless things he could consume without cringing.
As he moved over to the bathroom, he noticed a peculiar feeling in his chest, like... like something was pulling it. As he got closer, he found himself unable to move, only an arm's breathe away from the sink. "Gah," L gasped at the sudden pain in his chest when he took another step.
So he stepped backwards, the pressure decreased. And he stepped backwards one more, the pressure pretended like it was non existent, but he could still feel something, heavy on his chest.
He didn't notice it when he was in bed, but there it was, like a bad heart burn.
Raito turned over unexpectedly, "You'll get us both killed at this rate."
"Explain, or are you just sleep talking?" L asked, knowing it wasn't the latter, as sleep talkers often had their eyes wide and pink.
"There's a chain connecting us, seems a bit familiar, eh, Ryuuzaki?"
He wasn't joking.
L was often unable to spot a joke regardless, so he asked, "Are you joking, Yagami-kun?"
"No, Ryuuzaki, I thought the same thing. They wouldn't give me a full explanation for some reason,"
"Well, let's go over there and demand one," L sighed, "but first, I need to get water, so move closer to the sink."
L honestly didn't know whether Raito was lying or telling the truth, but the fact that as he moved forward towards the sink, and leaned down, there was little pressure on his chest, when Raito moved closer.
So there is really a chain?
An invisible one, no less. Can I close the door on it? L gently tried taking the door, and closing it, but, it sent shock waves throughout his body. The door stopped before it fully closed.
"Need to take a piss?"
"No, just testing," L let the door open as he leaned down to take a drink.
Maybe Raito doesn't remember he was Kira, he did get that impression when Raito woke up. His wide, brown eyes, seemingly more innocent than when he was. It was just... a feeling.
But L didn't say anything, it'd be best not to bring it up, as if Raito was still Kira, he'd be frustrated, as he was a sore loser. If it wasn't Kira, well, he'd only have a memory of the Death Note.
"Yagami-kun, you need ninety nine souls to become a Death Scythe,"
"Yeah,"
"We're both weapons, we need one hundred ninety eight souls to become a Death Scythe, we'd also need two witch souls,"
"L are you really planning to live in the world like this?" Raito paused, "wait, why did I call you L...? No, Ryuuzaki, are you planning to live in the word like this?"
L pretended he didn't care, but it worried him, what did it mean, was he still Kira? If the notebook was destroyed somehow, causing him to live, how did Raito still remember?
"I am, I don't have much other choice do I?"
"You don't?"
"You haven't read many books on mainstream society of this world, have you?"
"No,"
"It's very possible to lose control of the weapon inside you, and you could very easily hurt those around you, and now that we're here... may as well continue. Next, Shinigami-sama literally has a list of those who have commuted crimes, and he sends us out to do the justice doing. A list of those who commit crime, now as a detective, I'd consider it blasphemy, but he's a god, people against him are blasphemy. The same rules also don't apply to this world, so just come to acceptance. My only form of justice is the blade I have, and since you're stuck with me, you better stay with me."
"A way to fight crime," Raito contemplated, thinking about it.
Isn't that what you've wanted to do? Execute using your blade as Kira, it's the same thing isn't it? But now, for some reason, he doesn't even seem concerned about that. Except Kira was more... forceful with his thoughts, it's wrong to kill a man for robbing a house.
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Raito
L was right in a way, fighting crime, isn't that what he aspired for? To become a policeman like his father? Well here was the chance, in a rather messed up way.
L and Raito were sitting in class again, everyone was trying not to stare at them in the fight they had earlier why did they fight again? L seemed oblivious, reading a book in the crouched position he always had. Maka glanced back at them worriedly and Soul stared at L, then occasionally glanced at Raito.
Good to know two roommates think they're crazy. Okay, not seemed oblivious, L was oblivious to all the stares around him. Raito was busy trying to remember why they got into a fight, it seemed all in a flash. Maybe it was about Kira, and Raito got angry and responded physically. That just so seemed to be the reason.
"And that's all, folks," Sid concluded, munching on a carrot.
The children all got up, filling the exit quickly. Raito also got up, L was already across the room, the pulling feeling on his chest reappearing.
Raito sighed, as L stopped where he was.
It was weird to see people walking between them, but there was no affect. It seemed that the chain only reacted to complete and total separation, a few people walking through the chain had no affect.
Raito ran down the stairs centered at the classroom, joining L and his quest to get to lunch.
L wasn't pleased, very evidently.
Raito frowned, wondering, L did show emotion towards him. The time when he explained he didn't have friends, and the time when they decided they were friends... something about Raito made L angry. And it probably wasn't good.
But regardless, Raito and L continued towards lunch, with L ignoring him, and a distance ahead. Soul was kind enough to run up to Raito, "You must have done something pretty bad to trigger him like that... In all my time with that dude, he has never shown emotion, and he seemed really cool, except for the fact he looks like a complete slob."
Raito grinned wryly. Soul was actually trying to get information out of him. Too bad, considering he didn't really know what triggered L like that.
"I don't think he wears any other clothes because it's uncomfortable,"
Soul wasn't a very good information gatherer, "So why did you guys fight?"
It wasn't good to spread rumors, "Personal reasons."
Soul sighed, expecting more, but there was nothing. He stopped, and went back next to Maka.
Raito expected her to come up next to him next, to ask for information.
But to his great surprise and respect, Maka did her 'Maka Chop' on Soul, and yelled at him, "If he says personal reasons it's personal, stop nosing into other people's business!"
People around them looked. Raito sighed, Maka somewhat reminded him of an angry mother in a way.
Soul backed off, making a pouting expression. When they arrived at the cafeteria, L sat so far away from Raito it was starting to hurt his chest.
Raito pursed his lips, and sat across from L.
"You were acting normally this morning, why are you mad at me?"
L stared at him, "You really don't remember."
"What do you mean?" Raito asked his voice raising slightly.
"Nothing, you just provoked me to fight you,"
Raito didn't believe him, "What did I say?"
L gave him a look, it lasted for a moment too long.
"It's nothing important. We can still be friends Yagami-kun, I have read in books that friends do fight."
"This isn't a book, Ryuuzaki," Ratio sighed.
"No but this is a fan fiction," L mumbled.
"What?" Raito asked again.
"I said, books often relate to real life, Yagami-kun."
Although L never fully answered his question, Raito was somewhat satisfied with the answer he got, as L often spoke in riddles.
(You can hear the fourth wall breaking as this line break passes through)
L
It wasn't until training L knew they were in trouble. Raito was a weapon in his hands, and there was a chain leading from the bottom of the handle to L's arm, literally giving him a defect of one arm gone.
"If you can train weapons to be outside your body that'd work, you know," Sid mentioned airily. None of their classroom mates knew about their ridiculous problem still not explained properly.
Anyone could walk through it, but it seemed if there was an enclosed area with no way out or around except one way, the entrance could not be blocked.
It wasn't very useful. If Raito had to poop, L had to sit in the stall next to his. Urinals were easier, however, and sleeping in a different room was out of the option. Unless there was a hole in the wall. Problem was, L didn't sleep, while Raito did.
Showers and baths were a pain, as the door was cracked open and the second receptacle sat outside the door, waiting, probably reading.
At night, L sat across the room with a dimly lit lamp, reading a book, while Raito slept. Maybe L sometimes closed his own eyes when he felt the need to sleep. Yet after every single day, L found his own insomnia slowly getting better.
He could sleep more often, the bags under his eyes were less heavy and his skin wasn't as pale, it was still white, but had a healthier glow to it.
The lack of computers in the world were perhaps a cause to L's insomnia getting better. He knew all the screens and sound weren't good for sleep, but it was necessary for his work. And in this world, he could do whatever he wanted to.
So L and Raito lived together, in Soul and Maka's apartment, somehow managing to get around. It wasn't until a week later, Lord Death contacted L through a mirror to explain the situation.
During the time of his almost death, Lord Death grabbed the Death Note away from Raito, standing approximately six feet away at the time. He then sucked all the power out of the Death Note, but the effects were still in place. A chain connecting L's soul to the Death Note was implemented as soon as his name was written.
The Death Note bonds using a chain to the owner's soul, as the owner will always eventually become a victim to the Death Note, unless he or she gives it up beforehand. So Raito's soul was also connected to the Death Note. When the Death Note stopped being a factor in the three way chain because Lord Death had rendered it powerless, the chains were disconnected. At that point, they needed something to connect to otherwise both souls would end up dead, like cutting a hole inside a soul.
So, Lord Death was being a glorious savior, and connected L and Raito's loose chains, so both of them would survive. Although they wouldn't really be happy about it.
He figured they'd be happier alive.
L asked Lord Death why he hid it from Raito, and Lord Death explained, Raito did have a chance to getting his memories back, and it would be better not to trigger it.
Rendering the Death Note useless had caused Raito to lose his memories as if he had given it up.
Lord Death released all the unfortunate human souls inside of the notebook to the world, where they flew off towards heaven or hell.
It suddenly made a lot more sense, and it was L's duty to keep Raito's memories purged. Which he didn't feel too good about.
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Raito
Months passed by, some got promoted ranks, some stayed in the same class, but Raito in L in particular, exceeded in intelligence. They were put into the same class as their roommates, the Crescent Moon Class.
"I am only telling the facts Raito-kun, the moon in this world isn't supposed to constantly stay a crescent,"
"I got it, Ryuuzaki-kun, okay?" Raito sighed. L was even worse than himself, they asked questions about the world, what was the moon, what was the sun? What was everything? What were those black orbs? How did humans turn into weapons?
But unfortunately, no one had those questions answered, and they only trained their bodies, information on creation of the souls, witches, and a variety of almost every language spoken today.
"Welcome to this class, I'll have you know I taught both the beginners and this class, all along." Sid walked in snidely.
"So we're getting stuck with the same teacher," Soul sighed.
Maka frowned, "Don't be ridiculous, Soul, Sid-sensei is a good teacher,"
Raito did actually, somewhat agree with Maka. His lectures weren't boring, and there was information being absorbed into him.
"Say, Rue, it's been almost an entire year since we met you,"
"Yes?" L turned towards her.
Oh... Raito remembered, Maka had a conversation with him earlier, "I never once heard him once mention his birthday, I mean we even had a little celebration for you..."
"Sorry Maka, we may sleep in the same room, but I honestly don't have the slightest idea,"
"When's your birthday?" Maka asked.
L stared, "Why do you need that information?"
"Well I mean, like... we did have a little party for Raito, Soul, Black Star, Tsubaki just had her birthday like, last week, and you never once mentioned anything,"
"My birthday isn't of importance,"
Maka frowned, "Well why can't you just tell me than?"
Raito thought that L honestly didn't remember, as it seemed like such an L thing to do.
But L replied "October thirty first."
The party for any of the kids was a hang out where they played basketball together, and ate more cake than usual. L loved cake, and fully took advantage of the day, every single time. Raito concluded he only told her so that they could have extra cake on an extra day.
Well, that wasn't of importance. It was the day they were finally allowed to go out and collect souls of evil humans. Evil humans were all human, but they've done so many bad deeds, at a certain point they are called an evil human. The greater the crime, the stronger they become, despite the messed up logic. They are nearly indistinguishable from a normal human soul, and only Shinigami-sama could tell the difference. Raito guessed there were many other factors, such as what was the criminal actually killing for, and how they were killed.
Raito had passed the bulliten board many times, but it was finally time to learn what it was saying. Sid began lecturing the class of which ones they could take, they were all officially one star meisters, and could only take the one star papers. The requirements to every mission were located at the bottom, such as soul sensing, or just simple brute strength.
"The means of transportation will be given to you, but only on the weeks where you're off, which means you can look for them after school today, as it's the beginning to a one week break."
The schedule also became different, two weeks of learning were crammed into one, one week was left free for the "extra credit" opportunities, where students could travel places to collect souls.
It didn't actually give extra credit, it was simply for the weapon to gain more power.
After class, L pulled Raito next to the bulletin board, "Look at this,"
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L
Why did I go into justice again? it wasn't true he was doing it for the justice, he was doing it for the fun of it. And yet here he was doing something that derived from somewhere else, that wasn't his own.
L had only solved cases, not for justice, but for fun. So why was he serving justice here?
I am happy, right?
L agreed to himself, yes, indeed, he was happy serving justice, it was fun swinging Raito as a weapon around, it was fun.
And now to test if he truly wanted to stay, he pulled Raito by the bulletin board, and chose a randomly picked one.
"We're going this week to try,"
Raito stared, "You're joking right?"
L frowned, "I rarely joke, besides, Black Star is going."
Black Star looked smug with Tsubaki by his side, waving the scrap of paper in front of her.
"But no one else is, and Black star is only going because he's actually stupid enough to think that we're-"
"Sh," L put his finger on Raito's lips, knowing Raito would be... in trouble... if Black Star heard, "stop. I don't know if I want to continue in this school, or if I want to continue. So, we are going to go out, and see what it's like."
Black Star didn't notice Raito calling him stupid, so Raito was spared the misery, L didn't know whether would become of him or not, as he dropped the finger.
"Most students are still training more before they actually start these..." Raito sighed.
"Sh," L pressed the finger against Raito's lips again.
"Stop it!" Raito snatched L's wrist.
L sighed, "Let us go, than."
Raito sighed, agreeing. The mission did say approximately two days. Which meant packing. Unless L didn't pack. But with the exact same of repeated clothes, L did in fact pack.
The two walked together out of the building, scrap of paper in hand.