Chapter 11: Home

L was again listing things off as he and Light stood outside the Shinjuku train station, waiting for the train that would take them to the airport. Light had bought his own plane ticket to go with L, as both had agreed that it would be safer to take on Interpol together than alone. Even if Near recognized them for what they were, he had no reason to do anything to Light. This was assuming that they even got to see Near in person.

"So, my mother's birthday is December the fourth, the Festival of Lights is on the eighth, and the Interpol meeting is the tenth." L said. "We'll have time to relax at some point on this pseudo vacation of ours."

"I understand about your mother's birthday, but what does this Festival of Lights have to do with anything?" Light asked. He glanced around the train station, as if Kira would suddenly pop out of the shadows to ambush them. There was something about this place…

L raised an eyebrow. "We are not going to Lyon at the beginning of December without going to the Festival of Lights. I went every year before I moved here. It should be to Light-kun's liking, considering his name." Light rolled his eyes, and L added, "And to carry out anything involving Interpol, one must be in a good state of mind. I learned that when I used to have to work with them. Stubborn, all of them are. But in a bad way."

"So you're stubborn in a good way?" Light asked sarcastically.

"I am persistent, and have perseverance, Light-kun. There is a difference." L pointed out. "After all, I was correct, was I not?"

Light made a show of pretending to yawn. "Whatever. What train are we waiting for, again?"

L looked at the ticket. "The Yamanote line. The train leaves at three o'clock."

Again Light felt that bizarre chill that he had come to associate with something he should remember, and glanced around again. L tilted his head, trying to scrutinize Light's expression. "Light-kun is worried about something?"

Light frowned. "No, it's nothing, L."

"As I recall, you used to tell me that, and it was merely a lie to hide-"

"L, shut up, or I will kick you down those stairs." Light pointed to the stairs leading to the next platform over. L smiled innocently, turning to look at the large map of Japan on the wall.

When the train pulled up to the station, L grabbed his bag and got on-board without a thought. Light stepped up after him, getting on and turning around one last time to look as the doors closed.

Yagami… Light!

He shook his head. Something about this train was just off. He looked around, seeing L sitting in the corner seat, knees pulled to his chest. He frowned, motioning to the detective. "Can we go sit up in the middle? I… uh… hate sitting in the back of the car."

"That's completely illogical." L said. "The middle of the car is no different from the back" But he got up and followed Light anyway. Light suppressed the urge to sigh with relief. He remembered why this train was haunting him, but he wasn't going to tell L. No point. He just had to make sure to never ride this train ever again.

xXx

The plane ride was completely uneventful, with L sitting in his usual pose, chewing on his thumb and thinking for most of the flight. They slept on the plane, having taken the overnight flight to arrive mid-morning on December fourth.

L could drive, much to Light's surprise. He had expected that the other couldn't, considering that in their previous lives Watari had driven him everywhere, and they walked everywhere in Tokyo. But L had driven the rental car like he'd been doing it for years, and Light was free to doze off in the back and catch up on sleep. Not everyone could sleep like the dead on a plane like L could.

When Light woke, they had arrived at a small house on the outskirts of Lyon. The car was parked in the driveway, and L had opened the door to peer at Light lying across the backseat. Light blinked, before flailing at L leaning over him. He scrambled out of the car, noticing then the rare sound of L laughing.

"Come along, Light. My family is waiting." L said between laughs.

Light started to make a snide remark, and paused. "You didn't use the honorific."

L smiled wryly. "Of course not. We're in France, Light. I wouldn't use a Japanese honorific." Light nodded in understanding, following L up the walk and crushing the irrational part of him that was disappointed with the answer. They stopped at the front door, and L rang the doorbell.

A woman with long hair the color of raven feathers, the same as L's, opened the door. Her eyes, an impossibly dark blue, widened at the sight of them. "Lawliet!" She crushed him in a hug, and L hugged back tightly.

"Bonjour, Mama…" L replied, slipping easily into French. "I missed you. Is Papa inside?"

"Oui, he's cooking, actually. You came home for my birthday!" She opened the door to usher them in. "But who is this?" she asked, motioning to Light.

"This is my best friend, my roommate in Japan, Light Kagayaki. I asked him if he wanted to come with me, and he agreed. He speaks French."

Mrs. Corbeau smiled at Light. "Bonjour, Light."

"Bonjour…" Light said nervously, having never had to actually speak French to a French person before. L didn't count. "It's nice to meet you."

"Any friend of Lawliet's is welcome here." Mrs. Corbeau said. She reached out, ruffling L's hair gently. "Show him your room. I'm going to go make sure your father hasn't burned down the kitchen." As she started towards the kitchen, she added, "I'm glad you came home to visit, Lawli."

L smiled as she walked out of sight, then realized what she had said. He turned to look at Light, who was grinning and barely holding in laughter.

"Lawli?" the other boy asked, snickering.

L frowned. "Light-kun is acting immature."

"No, but seriously… Lawli?" Light asked, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Light-kun is making a big deal out of a name my mother has called me since I was little." L pouted. He waved Light to follow him, and started up the stairs. "Light-kun will have to sleep on the floor. I have a sleeping bag…" Light continued to grin, looping an arm around L's waist as they walked up the steps. L squirmed. "Light! Not with my parents around!"

"That's better." Light said. "I thought you weren't going to use the honorific as long as we were here." He thought for a second. "Can I call you Law?"

"Force of habit…" L muttered. "And no, you may not. That is a name for a set of rules in a justice system, not a person." He opened the door to his room, as Light let go of him, and went immediately to the closet to rummage for a sleeping bag as Light looked around the room.

One wall was covered in bookshelves. But not ordinary bookshelves. They looked like boxes, turned to balance on their corners and stacked on top of one another, all the way to the ceiling. It created a pattern much like a trellis. Books filled every cube, mystery novels, science-fiction, and adventure stories, as well as non-fiction books on almost every subject imaginable. So L liked to read. That much was obvious. The rest of the room was fairly sparse. A desk, a dresser, and a double bed were arranged against the walls, and in the corner by the window there was a reading lamp and a round chair. Even without an excessive amount of stuff, it was clear that the room was lived-in, and felt decidedly 'L'.

L emerged from the closet, rolled-up sleeping bag in his grasp. He watched Light look around for a few minutes, and asked curiously, "You find my room interesting?"

"Yeah…" Light turned to look at him. "So we're staying for a week?"

"Give or take a day or so." L said. He spread out the sleeping bag on the carpet, snagging a pillow out of the chair and tossing it to Light. "It'll be fun, won't it?"

Light smiled, dropping the pillow. He walked over to L, giving him a brief kiss. "Yeah. You have a nice family."

"Since realizing what my last life was, I think I appreciate them even more. Come on. Lunch will be ready shortly."

xXx

For four days, they enjoyed themselves. L's mother's birthday had been a quiet affair, just dinner and cake. L had no gift for her, but she told him that seeing him was gift enough. L took Light on a tour of Lyon, showing him the sights of the city. They located the Interpol headquarters in the 6th arrondissement, and scoped out the outside of the building, looking for all the world like happy tourists.

Finally, on the eighth, they were in L's house, getting ready to go to the Fête des Lumières, the Festival of Lights. Light had finished changing, and had disappeared into the bathroom to wash his face. L finished dressing, and dragged a hairbrush forcibly through his wild hair. Light returned from the bathroom, stopping dead in the doorway.

"Damn."

L looked up, a wry smile on his face. "Did Light think that I had no 'nice' clothes in my wardrobe?" L was standing up straight, wearing jeans that actually fit his slight form. A black turtleneck created a sharp contrast against his pale skin, and made his obsidian eyes seem even darker. His hair, still in its untamable loose spikes, was smoother, having actually been brushed. Light could only stare at him for a long moment, mouth open, before finally finding words.

"Wow, L…" What could he say? "You look… umm…" Hot was the first word that came to mind. But he wasn't going to say that. Cute was the second. He wasn't going to say that either. L waited, amused, as Light finally managed, "Nice. You look really nice. Brushing your hair does wonders…"

L laughed quietly. "I do occasionally wear things that aren't a white shirt and jeans. I never see a reason to wear nice things out in Japan. This is important." He beckoned to Light. "Come on, Light. We're going to be late."

They walked out into the cold December air to the car, and Light couldn't help but glance around. Before they'd left the house, L had lit candles and put them in every window. As he glanced down the street, he could see that the other houses had done the same.

As they drove into the city, Light could see that the people did take their festival seriously. Everywhere he looked, colored lights blazed forth into the sky, illuminating the night. L parked on a side street and motioned for Light to get out.

"It's better to walk around." he said.

Light trailed after him down the street, looking around eagerly. "What is the festival for, exactly?" he asked.

"I believe it is a celebration to the Virgin Mary." L replied, uncertain. "I am agnostic, and belong to no religion; therefore I am not entirely certain. I come merely for the lights." In the distance, the Opèra National de Lyon was lit up in a swirling mix of blue, violet, and gold light. L led them down the Rue de la République, the long street leading to the Place Bellecour. In the center of the open plaza, people were performing. Fire-dancers with different colored flames on strings swung the fire in elaborate arcs, creating arcs and swirls in mid-air. Others, more modern in glow sticks and blinking accessories, mingled in one large crowd. Lights were strung on the trees and statues, and all the buildings had lights in the windows like the houses in L's neighborhood.

Light could only look around in wonder. "This is amazing, L."

"Yes…" L murmured. "The real show is farther on, at the Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière." He reached out without thinking, taking Light's hand and walking in the direction of the basilica. Light smiled, following without protest.

When they reached the basilica, they joined the other people seated in the street in front of it, watching the light show. Different colored spotlights shifted, illuminating the building and the sky above. Lasers and other types of light mesmerized the crowd.

Light glanced over at L, who was watching the lights with a soft smile on his face. But at the same time, he was shivering slightly, having refused to wear a coat. He didn't like heavy clothing, which was why he stuck to his white shirt most of the time. Light had worn a coat and gloves, and was now probably far warmer than L. But looking at L's absorbed expression, he wondered if the ex-detective even noticed that he was cold.

He reached out, wrapping an arm around L and pulling the other against him. L broke from his reverie, glancing up at Light before looking forward again, scooting closer.

"Light?"

"Yeah?"

"What if we can't talk to Near?"

"I don't see why we wouldn't."

"But what if?"

"You've never worried about 'what ifs' before. But I suppose we would just have to go back to Japan and do this ourselves. Why?"

"Just considering all the possibilities. I wanted to see your opinion on an alternate course of action." L sighed, snuggling against Light's side. "Light?"

"Yeah?"

"…Nothing."

Light glanced down at him. L's eyes were directed back at the building, his gaze intent. Light smiled, ruffling L's hair before settling back to watch the show. It might not be love, yet, but there was definitely something between them. In two days, they would be going to the Interpol headquarters to try to head off Watari, who L was convinced was a man called Roger from Wammy's House. But even if they didn't succeed, they would stop Kira on their own. With both L and the original Kira against them, the imposters wouldn't stand a chance.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

I'm indulging myself with the Festival of Lights. Again, I give massive thanks to Wikipedia. The amount of research I put into this stuff is absurd.

I'll probably have a chapter sometime in the future where they go to Shibuya, to explore a town from Light's home country, and because I've been playing way too much TWEWY. If you've never played Square-Enix's The World Ends With You, you should! It's a fabulous DS game. :) (Oh, Joshua, you bastard, I love you so much…)

I want L's bookshelves. X3

Anyway… Interpol next chapter. It was originally supposed to have Near in it, but it got WAY to long and I split it in two. So you'll see the current Watari, but Near will have to wait. The school collected laptops yesterday, so my writing time is going to be severely limited. Good thing I have quite a few chapters of this pre-written. :)

BTW, if anyone can tell me why Light's freaked out by that train, I'll do something nice for you!

Luv!
Li