Warnings: Eventual Slash!
Disclaimer: Not mine...
A/N: So, I am sorry it took me so long to update, but I will not leave you hanging for a very long time I think. I have been very busy getting ready for my graduating exams and celebrations so please forgive me.
Also, I'd like to apologize about possible errors and misspellings. Be kind and keep in mind that English is still not my native language.
Please enjoy!
Game Over
Chapter Three
"An old foe"
-
"Your name is L?" It came out nothing but a hoarse croak.
The wind suddenly appeared to have died and the sun did not warm him any more. It was as if the surroundings changed in only a matter of seconds and Light would not have been surprised if it had started to rain just then. What the hell was this man on about?
"L?" He repeated, "L Lawliet?"
Light knew he probably looked as if his eyes were about to pop right out of their sockets and his heart hammered awfully fast in his chest.
He inhaled deeply before speaking up again, afraid that his brain might actually shut down if he did not provide it with loads of oxygen.
He had not expected this.
In fact, when he had asked L for his real name only moments ago, he had not expected that the insomniac would answer at all. He had imagined L to give a cold reply, a deadpanned stare or maybe even stalk off, not this!
"Ryuuzaki, are you serious?"
L shrugged faintly and removed the arm that was covering his face. Light saw that his lip was still bleeding and congratulated himself for throwing in such a nice punch. Perhaps the cut would even leave a scar? He supposed that was not so unlikely, seeing as L's lips were not at all fleshy. A scar would have plenty of space to form.
A trail of red ran down the detective's chin and some places it had already begun to dry. He seemed tired and his eyelids rested heavily above his dark-rimmed eyes.
Suppressing the urge to laugh at L's seemingly poor state, he focused on the upcoming response in stead. He could mock the bastard later.
"Do I tend to joke a lot Light-kun?" L's voice was smooth and emotionless as always and Light wanted to split the detective's upper-lip as well.
"You, joke? I didn't even know you were familiar with that word!"
The auburn haired male scowled and turned away from the spidery figure laying beside him.
He could not believe this. L could not for real be named L? That was simply too ridiculous!
Here he had been trying for what seemed like an eternity to figure out the detective's identity, and in reality his name was not an alias at all? He was completely blind to the irony in it, and with a growing irritation, he realized that he was actually somewhat shocked by L's revelation. This could not be true! He refused to believe it!
"You're lying then." He stated, matter-of-factly.
A moment of silence passed by before the detective opened his mouth once more. "No, Light-kun, I am not lying. Why would I lie about my name now? You are not capable of killing me twice, and even if I dislike bowing to your wishes like this, I cannot say I care about hiding my identity any longer."
He paused and now, Light was positive he was chewing on his thumb.
"What parents in their right mind would call their child L? A single letter?"
Said 'letter' gave a small shrug, a gesture that did not suit him somehow.
"I am not entirely sure how I got my name Light-kun, but Watari seemed to like the idea of it, and did not let it go as I grew up." He peered over at Light, "he raised me, you know."
Light could only nod. This was the first time he had ever heard L talk about his past in a way that made him think he was telling the truth. He wanted to know more.
"You grew up at this Orphanage for gifted children." The statement caused L's eyes to widen, but his features soon went back to normal, and Light assumed that he figured that the investigation team had been digging around after his death.
"Yes," he simply replied and once again, Light was surprised by his honestly. "Watari took me to Whammy's house and told everyone there that my name was L. No one but him knew the rest of it."
"Lawliet you mean?"
The name felt alien on his tongue.
It had a foreign sound to it and Light found himself wondering if L's parents were perhaps French. It could appear so.
"Yes."
"Hn..."
The extent of their current situation suddenly hit him.
Why was he having this conversation with L? They had been trying to rip each other apart only minutes ago and now they were both acting like surrendered idiots. The tension was at a minimum and if he closed his eyes, the mood could even appear peaceful!
"When I was head of the Kira-case, I could not tell anyone my real name and as you can probably imagine, at least I had to keep it a secret to you."
A shuffle inclined that L was getting up, and Light quickly followed, somewhat afraid that the insomniac was going to kick him while he was laying down. L seemed to understand this, for the instant Light moved to get to his feet, a small chuckle left him, causing Light's eye to twitch.
"However," L's voice was as calm as ever, "even though I suspected that you were Kira, I also saw you as a companion," Light's eyes narrowed, "and there was nothing I wanted more than telling you my real name."
"W-what?" He was not able to stop the question from spilling from his lips.
L shot him a deadpanned stare. "When you are friends with someone, you built your relationship on trust, right?"
For some reason, it appeared that he was asking because he actually wanted a decent answer, but this was L, so Light would bet his head on the fact that he had asked for a reason. Therefore, he merely cocked an eyebrow.
"Well, I suppose..." Noticing how L's expression turned into one of curiosity, he nearly sniggered before continuing, "I have never had many friends Ryuuzaki."
L ignored his little chuckle.
"Well, at least I felt like opening up to you Light-kun," his tone changed and Light could hear the daggers hidden in it. "But I could not and you know perfectly well why."
L stared at him and Raito felt as if his very soul was being exposed under that piercing, bottomless gaze.
It was stupid really, but L's eyes had always had that effect on him.
He remembered how those onyx orbs, when directed at him, had jolted him awake in the middle of the night during the time they were chained together. How the intensity they held within their dark depths alone, was enough to send shivers down his spine.
It was a completely irrational feeling.
L undoubtedly seemed quite harmless on the outside and despite his remarkable fighting skills, the insomniac tended to appear rather childish, naïve even.
When he was alive, Light had been unable to tell whether the detective was acting or not and to be frank, he did not know now either. However, he suspected the whole thing to be a lie.
He was simply too innocent that it would fit into any picture.
Even if L had never had friends himself, nobody could be as socially awkward as him! Then, they should have been put away, unable to function in a normal society. Besides, L's occupation as a detective ought to have mussed his 'pure' soul more than he wanted everyone to acknowledge, and Light refused to believe that his hands were not the slightest bit bloodstained.
Being L must have taken it's toll in the spidery man.
Therefore, the emptiness of his gaze gave Light the creeps and meeting those eyes always evoked this unnerving feeling inside of him. He knew that was one of the reasons why he hated the man so much. It was as if L had always been able to see behind his facade, and not only did he do that, but he was also nearly impossible for Light to read as well.
Because of his, L was the worst thinkable opponent. Fighting him was like fighting a shadow, or smoke. You never knew where you had him, or even who he was. He brought no past, no name, no identity.
It was almost as if he did not truly exist.
He was, and Light actually shuddered at the thought, like a ghost.
However, ghosts were nothing compared to Gods.
Therefore, L could never beat Him.
Light chuckled darkly at this thought as a somewhat chilly gust wind caused his hair to flutter before his eyes.
Out of the blue, Light came to think of the day L died. He remembered the detective standing in the rain and feeling how ice ran down his spine, L words rung in his ears;
"Since you were born, have you ever told the truth even once?"
He remembered his own confusion at those words.
L had seemed to be so certain that Light was Kira just then and he had actually been afraid that L had somehow figured out the truth.
However, he had refused to give in and shortly after that, his calm demeanor had paid off. Rem had killed L, and he had won.
At least he had been the winner if the battle of wits. And, he reassured himself quietly, he would have won the whole thing and achieved his goal, had other people around him not acted so foolish.
Now, L's words evoked an odd feeling he could not name, inside of him. It was not like they affected him badly, no not at all, he just felt... annoyed.
That, of course, could have something to do with the fact that it had been L who said it, but Light was not completely sure of that either. The whole thing was a bit confusing.
Well, affected or not, it did not really matter. Light was not going to blurt out with something like that in front of L anyway.
"Yes," he replied coldly to L's previous question. "I know. You suspected me of being Kira."
The frail looking detective gave a short nod. "And I was in fact, right."
A smirk made its way to Light's lips.
"Indeed."
Again, Light thought he saw that predatory gleam in the detective's eyes. And he found himself amazed by it.
Since when had L been showing his feelings?
He supposed it did not matter in the afterlife, or what the heck this was. L was already defeated, so he did not need to keep secrets any longer. At least not those concerning his identity.
"I'm really ticking you off am I not?" asked Light, adding a very nonchalant tinge to his tone.
As expected, dark eyes narrowed dangerously and L peered at him through waterfalls of black, wild tresses.
"What do you mean Light-kun?"
The hazel-eyed man felt his smirk widen. "You are really annoyed about the fact that you could not convict me for my so called crimes, aren't you?" He paused and before L could even think of a reply, he turned his back on him and started to saunter down the hill they were standing on.
He was determined to figure out what was in that jungle down there, and quite frankly, he did not care if L joined him or not.
Actually, if he did, there were chances that he'd fall off a cliff or something. Light's heart gave a pleasant flutter.
Yes, that would have been enjoyable.
"Where are you going?" L called from behind him, and judging by the source of his voice, he had not moved at all. Good, then Light would be left alone.
"Why does it matter to you Ryuuzaki—I mean L...?" a snort, "whatever your name is.."
He kept climbing downwards and did not even care to look back. L could do what the hell he wanted.
His footsteps triggered small landslides of stones to spill down the steep hill and he understood that he needed to watch where he was stepping very carefully. At least till he reached the vegetation. The ground was loose here, and he did not want to be buried under a pile of stone. Small or not.
That would have been too humilia—
"Ah!"
He heard his own surprised yelp mingle with L's as his wrist was jerked backwards in an all too familiar way. He felt, more than saw, L being pulled towards him, and when the detective collided harshly with his back, nothing prevented him from loosing his balance.
They fell head over heals down the mountain-side.
A/N: Haha! Soooo, what do you reckon just happened? And WHY? Well, I am sorry that it is a bit short. I promise, I will make it up to you! Please point out errors! And tell me what you think okay??
Love,
Naro