Chapter 3: Illumination

L found that he had a natural talent for capoeira. After only a week at lessons, he was already up to the level of someone who had been studying it for years. When he entered the class, they had asked everyone if they knew any moves already. L knew of one kick, but he had no name for it: the kick he had used on the boy in his dreams. When he explained that he didn't know the name, they asked him if he could demonstrate. L assumed they were expecting something easy, and gave them what they asked for. Something easy. He ducked his head, sending his foot back and up into the space where someone's chest or chin would have been. Continuing the spin, he rotated up to stand straight again, head tilted curiously.

Most of the room was gaping at him. One of the older capoeristas said incredulously, "A meia lua de compasso… A half-moon compass kick, with no hands… Amazing!"

L blinked. "What?"

"To do that kick is difficult enough! To have the balance to do it without bracing your hands on the floor is astounding! Are you sure you're a beginner?"

L hesitated a moment, then said, "Yes. I only saw that kick done somewhere. I didn't know most people did it with their hands on the ground."

"The rest of the beginner moves should be fairly simple for you, then!"

Now, after a week, L was up to the level of a capoerista who had been working for years, according to the teachers. He couldn't explain it any more than they could. It was as though his body already knew the forms, even if his mind did not. He could outwit any other student there in a roda, and even the teachers were admitting that there truly wasn't much left he could do except hone his skills and get stronger.

L left the martial arts dojo in an excellent mood. Even if it was yet another strange thing to add to his list, he felt very accomplished. Capoeira wasn't easy by any means, and he was proud to be so good at it. He went to the bakery, where he was greeted by Ayame calling to him.

"Hi, L!"

He waved back, in a better mood than he had been all week. Picking out a few doughnuts, he settled down at his favorite table in the corner, just watching the store absently. Whatever bizarre future Momi had predicted seemed so far away…

His dreams had ebbed, becoming less defined. Shady blurs were all that remained of them now, though the auburn-haired boy was always clear. Sometimes he spoke, but L could no longer hear the words. He was almost saddened by it. Puzzles were something he enjoyed and was good at, and this was the biggest puzzle to come at him in a long time. If you allowed for the concept of reincarnation, then things simply fell into place. He was dreaming memories of a past life. No other logical explanations made sense. But it seemed so unbelievable…

When he was finished with his doughnuts, he headed back in the direction of his apartment. He needed to straighten up a few things, and then intended to watch TV for a while. Fate, however, seemed to have other ideas. As he climbed the stairs of the building, unlocking his door and stepping into the three-room apartment, he saw his landlord standing in the living room.

"L, you know the rent was due yesterday, don't you?"

L paled. Dammit! He had completely forgotten amongst all the mess surrounding him recently. He quickly wracked his brains for when he'd be getting the money from his last translation, and it was over a week away. He didn't have enough money for rent and groceries too. Knowing in his heart that it was a losing battle, he asked pleadingly, "Can it wait a week, please? I'll have the money then."

The landlord shook his head. "L, I made it clear when you signed the contract to live here that late rent wouldn't be accepted. I'm afraid you're going to have to find somewhere else to stay."

There is nowhere else! L wanted to yell, but he refrained. Silently he gathered his belongings. The furniture had been left by the previous owner of the apartment, and seeing as L had no form of transporting it, he would be leaving it behind too. He packed his meager belongings: a few sets of clothes, some books, several personal possessions, and left the building without looking back. If his landlord wanted to be that picky, then L would just have to find somewhere else to live. Having nothing better to do at that moment, he walked back to the bakery, duffle bag in hand, and sat down at his table in the corner.

Ayame came out from behind the counter, looking worried.

"L, what happened?"

"My landlord kicked me out because I forgot to pay the rent." L said sullenly. Ayame made a sympathetic noise, patting him on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry, L. Where are you going to go?"

"I don't know."

"Well, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." She went back behind the counter to tend to her customers, leaving L to sit and think. He was lucky that he knew such kind people, but he was hesitant to ask for help. All his life he had been regarded as odd and strange, especially back in France. He hadn't had any true friends. People in Japan seemed to simply take his odd appearance and mannerisms in stride, and treated him as if he were no different than anyone else. But it was hard to shake the habit of working through his problems alone. Besides, he didn't want to bother these good people with his worries.

"Hey."

L looked up as a young man slid into the seat across from him. He had auburn hair and pretty golden-brown eyes. As L looked twice, he noticed that the other boy's eyes also had a hint of red in them, making them almost a mahogany color. L blinked, feeling like he should know this boy, but didn't. They appeared to be about the same age, and L wondered if the other was still in high-school.

"Yes?" he asked, wondering what had provoked this person to come speak to him.

"You're L, right? I heard Ayame talking to you." the boy explained. "You don't have anywhere to stay?"

L nodded. "That is correct. My landlord is… was an insufferably picky fool."

The other boy laughed. "My name's Light Kagayaki. My friend and I were renting an apartment together, but he left the other day to study abroad. You could stay in his room if you wanted. I'm sure paying half the rent would be easier than finding a new apartment."

"Kagayaki-kun…"

"Just Light."

"Light-kun," L said stubbornly, using the honorific anyway, "I really don't want to impose…"

"It's no trouble." Light insisted. "You really don't have anywhere to stay, right? What's the harm?"

L could not recall ever having to live with anyone other than his parents. He wasn't sure if having a 'roommate' was something he would be able to cope with. But at that moment, he had nowhere else to go. Not accepting Light's offer would probably be stupid. What was there to be afraid of?

"Very well… Arigato, Light-kun. I really don't know where else I would have gone." L said. Light smiled broadly, standing up and waiting for L to stand as well.

"Great! Come on, I'll show you the apartment."

xXx

When they reached the building, Light headed straight for the elevator, pressing the button for the seventeenth out of twenty floors. L trailed him down the hall, waiting patiently as Light messed with the key, then stepped inside. Sunlight flooded into the room from large windows all along one wall of the moderately-sized space. They offered an amazing view of the Tokyo skyline, with skyscrapers sparkling in the distance. L could only stare for a moment, entranced with the sight, before Light called him away from the windows to show him the room that would be his.

It was a good size, slightly larger than his old bedroom. But L didn't have many possessions, so it didn't particularly matter to him how large or small the room was. All he really needed was a bed to sleep in.

"Is this all right?" Light asked. L turned to look at him, smiling.

"Yes, this is fine." He set his duffle bag down next to the bed, trailing his new roommate back out into the main room. He noticed some textbooks on the coffee table and paused to skim a few lines. "You're in college? How old are you?"

"Seventeen." Light admitted. "I graduated high-school early. You?"

"We are the same age, and I also graduated early." L replied. "But I cannot afford college, and I don't feel that I particularly need it."

"My parents would spontaneously combust if I told them I wasn't going to college. No joke." Light said. He was silent for a moment, as if thinking, and then held out his hand. "So, roommates?"

"Hai…" L reached out and took his hand, shaking it. But as his hand came into contact with the other's, a sharp sting like an electric shock passed through it, and L flinched. Light frowned, looking concerned.

"What?"

"It's nothing…" L insisted slowly. "Please, excuse me. I'm going to go put my clothing and things away."

"Of course." Light replied, expertly hiding how puzzled he felt. L hurried back into the room now his and sat down on the bed, his eyes huge.

"Another part of the legend is that you will be able to identify your past murderer…"

Momi had been right, L thought to himself unsteadily. Maybe it was true that their fates were intertwined. Because Light Kagayaki, sitting out in the main room working on his college assignments, was the auburn-haired boy from his dreams.

Light was a murderer in his past life, and based on everything L had considered, there was a high possibility he was Kira in his past life.

And L was one of his victims.

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"Kagayaki" means brilliance in Japanese. You guys have no idea how long it took me to find a suitable last name for him. :)

Thank you for all the encouraging reviews! It makes me so happy!
Love and hugs!
Li