Chapter 5: Revival

"What was that all about?" Light demanded as soon as they had made it into their shared apartment. He watched, suspicious but now with a hint of worry, as L drifted in after him, moving to one of the couches and pulling his knees to his chest. Light followed, sitting down next to him, asking then, "Why do you sit like that?"

"It helps me think…" L murmured, not really paying much attention. His mind whirled with what had at last been confirmed for him. It was Light, it was always Light. And as he called that one dream to mind, he could hear himself distinctly. 'I had to be here when you fell, Light-kun.' The name that had been previously denied to him was now as clear as day.

"L, you promised to explain!" Light said forcefully. L looked up and sighed.

"Light-kun…" His voice was less strong than he would have liked, but with the subject, it didn't seem that there was anything he could do about it. "Do you believe in reincarnation?"

"Eh… I've never really thought about it. Why?"

L took a deep breath. "Light-kun, I have reason to believe that we knew each other in a past life. I also have reason to believe that in your past life you were Kira, and…" He swallowed hard. "And you killed me." He closed his eyes, waiting for the disbelief he knew would follow. But instead he simply heard Light's voice, quiet and surprisingly calm.

"You think I was Kira?" he asked softly. "Why?"

L opened his eyes again. Apparently this Light was different from the one of his dreams, the one he would get into fistfights with. That Light would have overreacted. He stared at the other's mahogany eyes, wondering how to explain. "I've been having dreams… Dreams that have you in them. You're different, there. We play, and fight, and work together, but… You kill me… And you smirk at me as I die. And then it skips ahead, and I stand over you as you die. And I just know, somehow, that you were Kira." He pulled at the collar of his shirt, exposing the birthmark. "Momi-san told me that birthmarks, when they are this prominent, are evidence of being murdered in a past life."

Light's eyes grew wide. "But…" he whispered. "I have one of those too…!" He tugged at his collar as well, revealing an identical star-shaped mark over his heart. "What does this mean? I can't have killed myself, if you saw me die…"

L blinked, startled more than he wanted to admit. "I don't know… But I knew you were the one who killed me. Momi-san also said that I would be able to tell my past murderer. When I would touch you, your hand, it would be like an electric shock. That's why I would flinch away from you like that."

Light settled into what looked like very deep thought. "I was Kira… I read about that case in history books. And I found the published police file they did on it, that talked about how the SPK and the remaining task force brought the culprit down. He was never named… Nor was the SPK leader." He frowned worriedly. "How could I do such a thing…? I mean… Kira's vision was crazy. You can't destroy crime through murder. You just can't…"

"We may never know that answer, Light-kun. But Kira is dead now. You are only you." L said. "The memories will likely be hazy forever."

"Not necessarily."

The voice spoke from the corner of the room, sounding amused. Light and L turned, both recoiling in shock from the thing standing across the room. Glowing red eyes peered at them, as the six-and-a-half foot figure chuckled merrily. It looked relatively human, for the most part. A shock of dark blue hair grew on its head, and it appeared to be dressed in black. Belts embellished with silver skulls looped around its waist, and a holder with a black notebook in it hung from the largest belt.

L had fallen backwards onto Light in shock at the thing's appearance, and now pushed himself up. "What… What are you?"

"My name is Ryuk." the thing said cheerfully, snickering. "Light should know me, shouldn't you, Light?"

L turned to look at Light. The other boy was pale, his eyes wide. He shook his head slowly, indicating without words that he knew nothing about the creature that had suddenly taken up residence in their living room. He was speechless, and L could see why. The blue-lipped grin of the mysterious thing was creepy, and its very presence radiated an almost evil aura.

"That doesn't answer my question." L said firmly, hiding his unease. Ryuk's grin widened.

"I'm a Shinigami, Lawliet." he chuckled. "You should remember a little bit." When L only looked bewildered, dumbfounded by the knowledge of Shinigami actually existing, Ryuk raised a hand. "I guess not. I'll unlock your memories, then." He moved towards L, and Light finally managed to break his paralysis.

"Hey, stop!" He stepped in front of L, as Ryuk's hand connected with his forehead. His eyes widened, and he fell to his knees with a scream.

"Light-kun!" L knelt beside his friend. He heard the Shinigami laugh, and looked up just in time to see Ryuk's hand descend onto his head.

Images, sounds, memories… All descended on L in a rush, filling his mind to the breaking point. He couldn't think fast enough to keep up with the speed of them, and he felt his breath leave his lungs in a hoarse yell of desperation. He collapsed into a heap on the floor, just waiting for the rush to subside. When it did, he looked up slowly, seeing Ryuk's grinning face.

"This will be very interesting!" The Shinigami said, before turning and walking straight through the wall. L whimpered, seeing Light still hunched on the floor, and tried to sort through the new memories. Things started coming back, slowly but surely. An orphanage in England, children who had meant so much to him, a never-ending stream of cases, the Kira investigation itself… His eyes widened as he realized what it all meant.

Light coughed, pushing himself up to lean against the couch. "Ugh… I feel like I've been hit by a truck… What's wrong?" He looked over to see L's pale face. "L?"

"Light-kun…" L whispered, wonder tinting his voice. "I was L, Light-kun…"

"You're L now." Light pointed out.

"No, I mean I was L. My name now is a nickname, short for Lawliet. But that was why you… no, Kira. That was why Kira wanted to kill me. I was the world's greatest detective, L Lawliet…"

"But there's still an L. He's still alive."

"I had successors…" L murmured. "Look at your memories, Light-kun."

"I don't want to." But he closed his eyes anyway, concentrating. He frowned, finally muttering almost to himself, "Oh my god, I was Kira. Ryuk was the one who gave me the Death Note…" L remembered the Death Note. Never had a notebook given him so much trouble. Light was still talking, now saying, "Mello and Near, they were your successors…"

"And Matt." L said. "You never met Matt. Takada's bodyguards shot and killed him."

Light's voice grew more and more horrified. "All those people… Mello… And you… I killed you… And laughed…" His expression seemed to crumple. "I was insane…"

L blinked at him. This Light wasn't the Light from so long ago. His logic took over, trying to make sense of the situation. "This means we were reincarnated at the same time, just months after you were killed."

"Ryuk killed me!" Light exclaimed. "Maybe that's what the mark is! Not a heart-attack, or a lot of people would have them. Maybe it's the mark of someone murdered by a Shinigami. Purposefully murdered. Because Rem killed you." He paused a moment, then added. "Light Yagami. That's who I was. Night God's Moon. Your friend was right."

They stared at each other, blinking. Then suddenly L started to laugh. The situation was so unbelievable, he couldn't comprehend. Light watched, confused, for a moment, before beginning to laugh too. Former enemies, one killed by the other, reincarnated to grow up and become roommates. It was too strange. L found himself wondering if Momi had known all along; if her Tarot cards had told her more than she'd chosen to share. But it didn't matter, not really. At last, the mystery of the dreams and the weird feelings and everything was solved.

When they stopped laughing, Light looked thoughtful.

"But how could we see him?"

"Who?" L asked.

"Ryuk. We'd have had to touch his Death Note to see him, and I don't recall touching anything of the sort."

L frowned. "I don't know. Could there be another one loose in the world though, for him to be here at all?"

"I don't know either." Light sighed. He looked over at L, smiling wryly. "I guess we'll have to keep a lookout."

L smiled back. "Yeah. I guess so." Looking at Light, L couldn't help but feel amazed. You'd think you would fear the person who once killed you, but as L compared his memories of Kira, Light Yagami, to his impression of Light now, the difference was clear. They were two completely different people.

And L was happy.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Hurrah for Ryuk. They needed to remember, and that was the best way I could think to do it. If the Death Note brings back memories of the Death Note itself, then a Death God should be able to bring back memories of death. :)

I like that one part in particular, where L realizes who he was. I can just imagine the look on his face.

Love!
Li