Chapter V
As the stars twinkle in the black, lifeless sky, revolving lights station themselves at Light's residence. The sirens have halted and the officers rush to the front door. Before they can unleash hell on the slate of wood, it creaks open. Immediately the officers stand ready for a bullet storm. Tension rises until Light peeks over. Seeing his company, he opens the door with a concerned look. "Can I help you gentlemen?"
The officers stand down, dropping their arms to their sides while clicking their heels and giving a respectful solute. The porch lights gleam on their black, glass shades stretching across the eyes of their helmet. Light impatiently waits for one to speak up. Just to the right of the rookie whom was so eager to beat his way into the residence, the squad leader clears his throat and projects his voice clearly. "Sir! We received a distress signal alerting us of an attack put upon you. It was just a citizen passing by, since you have no neighbors."
"A citizen…passing by?" Light shakes his head, "Were they apprehended?"
The squad leader sulks slightly, "Uhh, sir?"
Light scowls, "Do the people not know of the laws put in stride? A curfew exists for a reason. Therefore this 'noble citizen' has also committed a crime. My safety means little if a cretin who cannot follow simple rules runs amuck." The officers distribute glances between one another. Light flings his arm in the air, "Go! I demand this scoundrel be brought to justice, at once!"
The officers regain their composure and spout "Yes, sir," in unison. With a final solute, the officers head back to their vehicle. The squad leader hangs at the tail.
"And soldier," Light addresses him, causing the officer to turn back, "leave no survivors."
The officer bows, "As the law states, Commissioner."
Light nods proudly and bids them farewell, returning to his realm of darkness. The door latches, light rests his forehead against it. They all must perish, no matter the consequence. I can't allow them to ruin the world a second time.
L's eyes pop open to the pounding on his apartment door. He curses, "The one time I can manage to give myself a good night's sleep." Rubbing his eyes, he slumps over to the door, rattling the lock in a seemingly drunk manner. With a yawn, he reaches for the handle, but it slams open viciously, bashing L into the wall nearby.
"Sensei!"
He rubs his face, "I told you not to call me that. He glares into the pupil-less eyes of the young man. "Who're you?" L stretches his arm out to the melee weapon leaning in the corner.
"Please," The man squeaks, "It's my friend; he's badly injured and desperately needs medical attention." L peers down at the cripple sprawled out on the floor.
"What makes you think I can help? I don't know of any medical tactics."
"You are the shinobi's link between our two worlds, are you not? I know—" L covers his mouth and leads him into the apartment, shuffling the injured out of the way of the door. He releases the man. "I know you have contacts with many, so call the ones that have a history of medical ninjutsu. I'm afraid I don't have any."
L ponders for a moment, then pulls a blanket out from underneath his bed, handing it to the young man. "This is for your friend. I have a good idea who to call. Just try to relax, she will be here shortly."
The young man nods, "I hope so; I don't know how much longer he can last."
L dials the phone and receives an answer, surprisingly.
"Who is this? Do you know how late—?"
"It's me. I've found myself in a position as to where I require your assistance. Will you come to my apartment?"
"What're you trying to pull Ryuzaki? You'd think you would take me to dinner first."
L smirks but quickly shakes it off, "Please, it is at another man's life."
"I'm on my way, but you owe me. If I get caught by the authorities, they won't ask questions."
"I know, please be careful. This man is not the only one who needs you in this world."
L sets the phone down and merges over to his couch where the injured lad has been placed. As he walks closer, something becomes familiar. Yanking the chain of a nearby lamp, Sasuke's identity is revealed. L nearly falls back in shock, "S-Sasuke? But I thought—"
"He was with the rebels? Yeah, he was, but he came back for a stupid reason." The young man glares at Sasuke. L waits for an explanation, and is disappointed when the young man remains silent.
"I had heard rumors that he made it to the rebels' hideout buried deep in the radioactive wasteland, but I truly believed he was dead."
"Hmm," The young man's eyes narrow, "When Sasuke told the world of his true identity and was shunned, attacked, and mutilated, he didn't know where else to turn. He decided to follow the fleeting hopes of sanctuary. Half-dead, he made it, but had to prove his worth greatly. Knowing of his mischievous past, the warriors would not simply trust him willy-nilly."
L nods, "I see, but I had heard there was one with him." The young man remains silent, staring at his dying friend. L assesses him, "You're Neji Hyuga."
He sighs, "I am, but I would rather wish not to speak of myself, I have brought nothing but shame upon my family." L opens his mouth, however Neji cuts him short, "Are you sure this shinobi can handle such a grueling task?"
"I have no doubt in my mind that she can handle it, I just regret that she will never let me forget it."
Neji cracks a smile. "I never thought we'd make it this far. I guess it's about time that we finally meet our end." Sweat trickles down Neji's face.
He hides it well, but Neji is severely concerned for Sasuke. Perhaps Light felt something like this? It's doubtful that man can feel anything anymore. L clears his throat, "If leaving was such an ordeal, why come back? Why risk having it all taken away?"
Neji flicks Sasuke's forehead. Sasuke winces, slitting his eyes open to scowl at him. "I'm not sure if I should tell you, the warriors may ban me for exploiting any details."
"Details?"
"Nothing. Anyway, I trust you. You've put yourself in a lot of danger by merely communicating with us, and, to me, that shows your worth. Our organization caught wind of a superstition of an ultimate weapon." L tenses immensely but Neji is oblivious, lost in thought. "Our leader ordered us to conclude whether or not it happened to be true. Because we're so skilled, we were perfect for the job, and were required to use transformation at all times of course. But, in the midst of everything, this dunderhead heard some people talking about the Commissioner's sudden and eerie death. What were you looking for in that house, Sasuke? What did you expect to find?" Neji's eyebrows furrow. "He wasn't looking for evidence anymore." L tilts his head, unable to connect the dots. Neji sees this, "He was looking for the Commissioner's widow, and genjutsu specialist, Sakura Haruno."
L's eyes widen, "Sakura…? But, she's…" L bites his lip.
"Hmm?" Neji stares into L, analyzing him.
A raspy breath is released, "Y-you know where Sakura is?" Sasuke limply brings his hand to L's shoulder. L fights his urges to speak as Neji watches him. "Tell me where she is."
L shakes his head, "I—" Just then the door swings open. Neji and L shoot up. A silhouette lingers in the doorway, breathing deeply. L swallows down his anxiety. The silhouette steps forth, closing the door behind her. The light befalls her features. L rushes over, "Tsunade, you made it." His relief fades when he sees the blood staining her shirt.
"Don't worry, it's not mine. I ran into a convoy just beyond my building…I had to make sure I saw you again."
L nods, touched, "I understand. Later, you should destroy that evidence, but first let's deal with the matter at hand."
Tsunade makes her way to the wounded. "Sasuke? The bravest of us all, I thought you were dead."
"Apparently so did everyone else," Neji puts a fist on his hip.
She builds her chakura in her palms, reversing the wounds. She twitches, "They aren't too severe, excluding the two in his torso and one in his leg. Whoever did this didn't plan on you living for much longer…and has terrific aim." She fiddles a bit, "He's bleeding heavily. It'll take tremendous work, but there's still a chance he can make it." Tsunade rolls up her sleeves. "Whatever I ask for, you bring. And, this'll be difficult for Ryuzaki especially, but I want it to be silent so I can concentrate. Got it?"
Neji nods. L gives a playful glare, "Sure, also, you don't have to call me Ryuzaki, I'm not under cover."
She ignores him and gets right to work. Several hours that seemed endless pass. It was even necessary that Neji lend Tsunade a significant amount of chakura as she had none left to spare. Sasuke, now not riddled with holes, thanks Tsunade for her efforts and leaves to wash the blood off. As he does, L takes Tsunade to his bed so she may rest. She sits comfortably. "Uh-ahh…I, kinda, don't want blood on my bed. Perhaps now would be appropriate to destroy those." He points to her clothes.
"Of course, I just had to wear my favorite shirt." L pulls out a drawer from underneath his bed and hands her a teal button-up shirt with black jeans.
He then turns his back to her, "Let me know when you're ready."
A moment later she says, "You too bright eyes." Neji pouts slightly while joining L. A scene plays in L's head. He and Tsunade are alone, and when she states she is ready, her voluptuous body sits naked on the very bed in which he sleeps. Slipping into his thoughts, L uncontrollably smiles to himself.
"You're nasty," Neji insults. "At least I have the common courtesy to want to see her real body and not one my mind made up." L blushes involuntarily, wishing to physically harm Neji. "Don't you have a bedroom in this place?"
"Not really. The closet used to be the kitchen, so I sacrificed my bedroom and made that the kitchen, tearing down the walls and frittering away countless amounts of my money."
"Wow, you must've been desperate for a well-done kitchen."
"I suppose." L holds his wrist behind his back, swaying slightly as he waits. Steam from the bathroom descends into the short hallway. Twisting his torso, L stretches too far and catches a glimpse of Tsunade's naked upper half. Sternly standing straight, he refuses to move again, red painting his face.
She finishes and the two are released from a tense and awkward stance. He walks over and stands at her side for several moments, still red and embarrassed, yet in awe over something else.
"Stop hovering over me like that, you're making me nervous."
"Sorry, I just, what you did back there, I didn't know you had such strength. Really, it's admiring to watch you in action." A hint of pink glosses over her cheeks. L scratches his cheek bashfully, "It just goes to show how little I really can do for society. What change can I make when compared to your breathtaking abilities? I'm…jealous of you," He confesses. Tsunade blinks in realization, taken by his words. "Anyway, you should rest." L taps her hand with a smile. He begins to turn and walk, but his senses refuse his departure. Wrapping his fingers around her hand, he lifts it to his quivering lips. His chest tightens with every passing moment. He questions this feeling, wondering why he's experiencing this intense desire for comfort that can be wrought only from Tsunade. A lump forms in his throat as he lowers his hand, turning to walk away—though his thoughts implore otherwise. He takes a step and stops, the tie between their laced fingers still being intertwined. Suddenly he's pulled back and lands halfway over Tsunade. Before he can sputter out a jumble of incoherent words in a fit of anxiety, she cups his face and presses her lips against his. L's eyes bulge in surprise. Not far from the scene, Neji blinks several times at the sight, wondering if he will ever experience the pleasures of romance. Soon after, L melts into her kiss, bringing his hand to her face. They kiss numerous times before regrettably parting. He stares into her eyes, "How many years have we known each other and we only just now get a kiss out of it?"
She chuckles, "Took you long enough." She situates herself, "Now I'll rest."
L nods, his face lit with merry, and walks away with a skip in his step. At a fair distance from her, Neji spits out, "You're so lucky to have such a young girl like you."
L smiles cheerfully, "I didn't even know she felt the same, until now. Ohh, and she's fifty."
Neji freezes, his mouth hanging ajar with a traumatized expression. Snapping out of it enough to turn his head, he looks back at the sleeping beauty. "How?"
L stretches while heading for the bloody garments piled on his couch, "Chakura is a wonderful thing. People are so stupid." Lighting a flame in the miniscule fire pit, L tosses in the blood-riddled fabrics, along with the blanket he lent to Sasuke. He scratches his head, "He bled so much; looks like I'm going to need a new couch."
"Let me," Neji urges, "It's the least I can do for what you've done for us."
L looks around, rubbing the back of his neck, "I suppose, but I didn't do very much."
"Nonsense, we'll go tomorrow morning." L hesitantly agrees, smiling with Neji.
Light jumps out of bed, the echo from the shots given earlier pounding through his head. Breathing heavily, he notices the gun held firmly in his hand. He stares at it, alarmed. Between shaky breaths, he voices his worries, "I didn't do the job."
"What're you talking about?" Ryuk inquires Light, floating directly above him, his sharply-yellow, red-rimmed eyes staring widely at him. Startled at first, Light glares menacingly at him. "The guy had five holes in him, one of which penetrated a main artery in his leg. I know you saw it too."
"Yeah, and as much as I love having others suffer, I'm afraid I have failed in my attempts to kill Sasuke." Ryuk tilts his head. "I don't know what it is, but I just have that feeling."
"Is it your maternal instincts?" Light frowns at him. "You worry too much," Ryuk twirls around and floats with his back to Light, crossing his legs and cradling his head. He pulls out an apple and takes a deep bite. "Just enjoy the fact that you've committed a murder with your own bare hands this time, instead of using the Death Note." Specks of apple fling from his mouth as he speaks, juice drips from his black lips.
"And if I didn't really commit a murder?"
"Then don't miss next time."
Light sits up, setting the gun at his side. He stands and merges over to the window, peeking through the auburn curtains. He squints, "Morning already. It's as if nothing has happened. The plaza is lined with cooked corpses but the morning dawn draws near despite that fact. All those people…"
"I wonder how many of them were shinobi trying to blend." Ryuk takes another bite.
Light's grip on the curtain intensifies as he grits his teeth. His blood rises to a boil at the simple mention of those fiends. "They all deserve to die. Posing as innocent people…it's disgusting."
Ryuk rocks his leg, enjoying the air of Light's fury. "Someone's at the door."
Light snaps out of his daze and checks through the window. Thanks to the flourishing thicket surrounding his strong-standing home, he is unable to make out the individual. With a sigh and a roll of the shoulders, he strides to the door in a proper manner, opening it without hesitation. "Can I…help…?" He falls silent to the sight of Misa standing on his porch.
She drapes her arms around his neck, "Ohh Light, I couldn't stand to be away from you a second longer. I haven't seen you since Commissioner Naruto's funeral. I watched from the sidelines as you spoke to his widow…the entire time." She pouts slightly, "But that's all in the past now. I figured you could use some company after that terrorist attack yesterday."
He drops her arms, "I don't need any company. I appreciate you—w-wait a minute, how did you find out where I live?"
"I know everything about you, Light." She slides her arms around his narrow waist, "I even saw you shooting Sasuke last night." She blushes deeply, "In nothing but a bath towel." Light's stomach drops. She leans in closer, "Your skin was still glistening with water, and your hair—pulled out of your face—dripped with every nimble movement you made. As I watched all I could think about were your smooth lips caressing mine." She props up on her toes, inching towards him.
Light steps back, releasing himself from her hold and touch. Misa' face reads grave disappointment. "You were watching from the window, weren't you?" She nods several times. "I see. Misa, if you continue to obsess over me like this, I will be forced to have you arrested and put to death," Light explains bitterly. "You should go home."
He closes the door, but before it can latch closed, Misa shoves her way through, tackling Light to the ground. She sits on his abdomen, holding herself up with her hands on his shoulders. Tears fill her eyes, "It's her isn't it? That's why you won't have me. That prim, plump cuddle fish is getting in the way of us! I know you want me, Light. I can see the fire burning in your eyes, the yearning, but your obligation to Sakura is tearing us apart."
"There is no us. There never was, and never will be. Now please leave."
Misa hiccups, "B-but Light, we were meant for each other." A tear drops from her long lashes and plops on Light's cheek. "You can't just throw me to the waste side, as if I'm nothing but garbage."
"Yes I can, and I will. Now get out before things escalate any more than they already have."
"I'm not giving up on us. I'll never give up on us!" Misa yanks out a knife and slices her wrist.
"What in God's name—?!"
"You see? I'm willing to bleed for you Light. Take my blood, my soul, anything you want of me and you can have it!" She holds the side of his face, her blood pumping out from the crevice in her flesh, smearing over Light's features. She leans over and rests her forehead on his, breathing heavily while kissing his cheeks. From the one, she receives a thin coat of blood on her lips. "I love you, Light, with all of my being. I love you, I love you so much." She heads for his lips but he pushes her away.
"You need help."
"You're all the help I need. I'd die for you."
"Then go do that and leave me out of it."
She shakes her head, "Hmpf, always with the sarcastic remarks, but I know you don't mean it. You want us to be together just as much—if not more—than I do. I can feel it." Light turns away, not wanting to see her delirious expression. Then, something beeps in Misa's pocket. She sits up and pulls out a pager. "Tsk, I've got to go to work." Light exhales deeply, relieved. Misa falls back onto his chest, "I'll be waiting for you at home. With you being Commissioner, I'm sure you can easily locate it. I've got a surprise for you." She licks his ear and kisses his cheek before rising to her feet and leaving the premises, her wrist continuously dripping with blood.
Light lies there for a moment, processing current events. He then stands and reaches for the door. Just as he begins to close it, a familiar face rushes down the trail leading to his house, passing by Misa. She races to his front door and immediately halts. "Ino? What're you doing here?"
"U-umm, are you alright?" She points to the blood drying on his face.
"Ohh, yeah, I just saw something horrible is all. What can I do for you?"
"Where have you been? I tried calling you all night but you wouldn't answer!"
"Ohh, I'm sorry, a lot has been happening lately and I guess I was just in deep sleep. Is something going on?"
She tears up slightly, "It's Sakura…"