Stripes
Chapter 9 - Reunited
Ice-Puppet
Raito gave a frustrated growl, turning around to glare at L. The man was seated on top of his desk, watching him closely.
"I've had enough," he growled. "You are dead. Why must you follow me around?! At least explain to me why you're still here if you're dead!"
"I don't see the point," L informed, thumb in his mouth. "Explaining it to you would be a waste of valuable time. You could be studying."
Raito's eyes narrowed, flaring up. "How can I study when you're right there!?"
Ryuk laughed. "How interesting."
"I'm surprised you never explained it to him, Ryuk," L stated and Raito's eyes turned to the shinigami. "Then again, you shinigami were never ones to care about others."
"What?" Raito asked.
L sighed. "I suppose if I must." He cleared his throat. "Shinigami are not the only gods. There are two other types, but only one of each exists. The dark, and the light. The two co-exist, but naturally hate each other. I am the light, Fuujin." Raito stared at him, eyes narrowed.
"I've reincarnated many times," L continued. "And after countless bodies, I've grown tired of the petty war between light and dark. So, I devised a plan, fifteen years ago. I broke the first and most important rule of a Fuujin – I had a child." Raito remembered Near, the strange boy he had encountered. "Sadly, his mother's pregnancy was not a good one, and she ended up nearly killing herself only two months after his birth. I took to raising him, and then when he was five I put the plan in motion."
He glanced down at Raito, his dark eyes staring deep into the human's soul. "I placed him in an orphanage that I sponsored with money, which is such a petty human thing by the way, that I made by catching humans who break your simple laws. It's a rather easy thing to do for someone who has lived as long as I do. Anyway, I placed him in the care of the orphanage, and two years later Chaos dropped into his lap."
Ryuk chucked as L went on. "Naturally, the two didn't get along. Of course, Nate is only half of a Fuujin, so the war wouldn't effect him. Still, Chaos picked away at him almost naturally, without any explainable reason."
L looked at Raito once more, eyes narrowed.
"And then you came along, and messed up my entire plan."
Raito snorted.
L continued, "Although I prefer my Fuujin form over a human one, you trying to take my son's life and destroy my hard work doesn't settle well with me. Not to mention your 'self-god demeanor is disgusting, especially from a human. I've never met a god who acts more like they are a god then you."
Raito glared, his hand unconsciously gripping the pen in his fingers. "I'm trying to make the world a better place," he growled. "If I punish all evil, evil with cease to exist."
L laughed. Raito stared. When L finished, he glanced at the other boy with a small grin.
"If you kill off all evil," L began, his voice light. "All those who you believe are punishable, then the only person left will be you alone." His eyes gleamed almost playfully. "The world is full of sinners. There is always darkness to balance out the light. If you kill off all evil, good will cease to be. Not that you could kill off all evil. It's a wonderful idea for a fifth grade paper, but where there is light, there is always shadow."
Raito stared at him for a long moment before looking away. He didn't want to admit it, but L's speech made sense. Still, he wouldn't give up. That would mean admitting defeat, and he hated to be defeated.
"Raito," L addressed once more. "Mello is not as forgiving as I am. While I was intent on putting you in jail, he will stop at nothing to take your life." Raito glanced toward him. "If you release your hold over the Death Note, I will inform him and you can be spared."
Raito laughed. "Release my hold? I'm not about to be out-done by a fifteen year old boy, L."
"Suit yourself," L mused, and Ryuk laughed.
"Interesting," the shinigami breathed.
--
Matt lay, side-by-side with Near, his arms behind his head and his eyes on the ceiling. Near was beside him, rolling a six-sided die in his fingers, watching it turn with interest.
"Near," he whispered, catching the albino's attention. "What are we going to do…?"
"What do you mean?" Near questioned.
Matt rolled over onto his side, his eyes locking with Near's. "You heard with Reil said. There's going to be countless attempts on your life."
Near leaned across the bed and placed the die on the nightstand. He then turned and placed his hands on Matt's cheeks. "Matt," he breathed, their eyes locking. He held the gaze for a few moments before he continued. "This is all strange and new to me. At first, I wanted to believe that Reil was making it up, but I realized he has no reason to lie about it. The best you and I can do is believe that L has a plan and that he is following that plan. Other then that, we can't do much more."
Matt frowned, laying his hands over Near's. "I can't lose you," he informed, fighting back tears that threatened to come at the thought of Near dying.
"Let's hope you don't have to," Near replied, the words sounding foreign on his tongue. To him, life was a puzzle – the pieces always fit in one certain way. It was logical. Everything had meaning. Hope did not fit into a puzzle… hope was an extra piece to a complete canvas. Illogical.
The words seemed to do little to comfort Matt, who closed his eyes with a small sigh. His hands tightened around Near's. He was afraid to let go. Afraid to lose the boy he had come to love.
"This is all too weird," he said suddenly, opening his eyes to look at Near. "Death gods, Fuujin… and L being one of them. It's all way to strange. It sounds like a video game, but I can't seem to control the buttons."
"If life were a video game," Near mused. "We'd have nothing to worry about. The hero always wins in the end."
Matt smiled slightly. "But who is the hero of the story, then?"
"You," Near replied automatically.
"Does that make you my Princess in distress?"
Near snorted in amusement. "No."
Matt laughed. "You're adorable, Near."
"Adorable?" Near repeated as if he didn't believe the word.
With a grin, Matt nodded. "As cute as a button," he teased.
"How is a button cute?" Near asked.
"I'm not sure," Matt admitted. "But you're still cute."
Near rolled his eyes. Matt grinned suddenly and his eyes widened. In seconds the redhead had pounced, long fingers beginning to tickle him. They traveled under his shirt and around his navel, dancing over his skin.
Neither was sure when the tickling turned into kissing, and then into something much deeper. But they weren't complaining.
--
"It's hard to sleep with you staring at me," Raito breathed, opening his eyes to look at L. The man blinked, as if surprised.
"Is it?" He questioned. "I'm so sorry." The answer didn't sound sarcastic at all, but the irony of it was enough.
"Why don't you go bug your son?" Raito asked. "Its what…" he looked at the clock beside his bed. It was nearly seven am already!? "Ten at night there."
"He's in the middle of something, I don't want to interrupt him," L explained.
"What could be more important than seeing his father?" Raito questioned.
"Having sex with his boyfriend," L explained.
Raito nearly choked on air. "I could have gone my whole life without hearing you say that."
"You asked," L pointed out.
Sighing, Raito rolled over. "Will you stop staring at me, at least?"
"Are you going to release ownership of the Death Note?" L questioned.
"No," Raito growled.
"Then no," L responded, shifting a bit to get comfortable.
Raito cursed under his breath and closed his eyes. His alarm clock went off and he slammed his hand down on it.
"God damn you," he mumbled before getting up.
"If he existed, I'm sure he would," L replied.
--
"Onii-chan!" Sayu cried, her eyes widening. "You look like you didn't sleep a wink last night!"
"I pulled an all-nighter," he explained as their mother placed breakfast on the table.
"Raito," their mother scolded and he shook his head. She gave a small sigh before asking, "Do you want anything to eat?"
Raito's eyes widened as L replied, "No thank you, I'm not hungry." He turned to look at the man, who smiled warmly at his mother.
She could see him?
"What were you doing staying up all night with another guy in your room?" Sayu leaned in and whispered.
"We were studying," he replied. They could both see L!?
"Don't look so surprised," Ryuk laughed. "Fuujin aren't like Shinigami. The two are quite a bit different."
"So, Raito, what is your friends name?" His mother questioned as L sat down next to the man in question.
"Ry-" Raito began.
"Lawliet," L cut him off, catching Raito by surprise.
"Lawliet," she repeated. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Are you a friend from school?"
L smiled. "Yes. Raito and I have classes together."
"Wonderful," she smiled. "Raito doesn't have very many friends. I'm glad to see he's finally growing a social life, aside from that girlfriend of his."
"Misa-san is a sweet girl," L nodded. "She has a good heart."
--
Misa stared for a few moments, before finally saying something. "Aren't you dead, L-san?"
"Define dead," L replied.
"He's a god," Raito informed, pinching the top of his nose.
Misa blinked. "Like a shinigami?"
"I'm a Fuujin," L informed. "A wind god."
"Wow," Misa breathed. "That's so cool!" She paused. "If you're a god, does that mean that your son is a half-god?"
"That's correct," L replied.
"I knew there was something special about that boy!" Misa chirped. "Isn't that cool, Raito?"
When Raito didn't respond, L addressed Misa. "Misa-san, I have a favor to ask of you." She blinked before nodding that she would hear it. "I need to go to England for a bit. Can you keep track of Raito, and make sure he doesn't write my son's name in the Death Note?"
Misa nodded, before asking, "Why is it so important? I mean, Misa won't let Raito because he's just a little boy, but can you tell me why?"
L hummed, biting the edge of his thumb. "I can't explain everything, but you can know this – there is a war going on between gods, and I have a plan to stop it. If Near dies, my plan will be ruined."
Misa nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! Misa will help you stop the war, L-kun!"
"Thank you, Misa," L replied. He then glanced at Raito. "Think about my proposal, Raito-kun. I think you will find it is the right thing to do."
He turned away, leaving the two. They heard the door to Raito's room close after him.
Misa turned, staring intensely at Raito. "Raito," she addressed. "Don't you dare kill that boy."
"Misa," he breathed.
"No," she interrupted. "This is important. Bigger than you and me… bigger than Kira! L told us that he needs to stay alive, so don't you dare kill him."
With an annoyed noise, Raito turned way. "Fine," he mused.
--
Near sat in the library, the place he always was on rainy days. Today was not rainy, but they were re-painting the wall of the playroom.
Mello and Matt had joined the other children outside, glad to be back and able to do their daily routine once more. They had invited him, but he politely declined. Not only because he hated sunlight, but also because his body ached.
A pink tinge went over his cheeks, but he ignored it.
He was sitting between two isles, creating a city of dice. It was coming along rather well. In fact, he was nearly done.
"Hi, Near."
Turning, Near spotted a young girl, perhaps thirteen. He nodded in return. "Hello, Linda."
She smiled warmly. "I wanted to ask you, um… do you mind if I draw a picture of you?"
He shook his head. "I don't mind at all, Linda. Go right ahead."
A wide smile lit the girl's entire face and she squealed. "Thank you, Near!" She turned around and rushed from the room, nearly tripping on the way out.
Near went back to his city. Linda was a nice girl, although her obvious crush on him could be a tad over-whelming at times.
He placed the last dice on top of the tower. He smiled the smile of someone who had accomplished something great, before he reached into his pocket and pulled out three Lego men.
The sound of something heavy moving caught his attention, and he turned in time to see the bookcase on his right begin to lean. His eyes widened and his body froze.
Attempts on his life, Reil had said.
The bookcase crashed into something heavily, books flying everywhere. They threatened to hit Near, but somehow all avoided him, just barely.
Near stared, the Lego men falling from his hands. They crashed into his dice city, sending it falling to bits.
His savior smiled.
"L…" Near breathed.
"Its nice to see you again," L mused.