April 27th: Matsuda Gave You Carrot Seeds

Yagami knocked on the door. "Ryuza- Err, I mean- Lawliet? It's me."

"Who is 'me'?" L's voice called from inside.

"Yagami," he answered. He waited patiently as he heard bare feet pad towards the door. It creaked open.

"'Morning, Yagami- San," L blearily greeted. He stepped aside as to let Yagami in. "What is it?"

"Well," Yagami slowly replied. "I know I should be happy that we've caught Kira, but... You know... "

L shrugged. "I had never expected you to be happy about that. Kira was your son, after all." L turned his head slightly and mumbled a barely audible, "I told you so."

"Right," Yagami said. "It's all just taken a toll on me. I can't believe, all these years... It's hard just thinking... This whole time... My son... " His voice began to fade.

"So... " L slowly said. "You're saying... I'm going to be your shoulder to cry on?"

Yagami flinched. "No, no. Not like that. I just need a distraction. So I don't have to sit around my house doing nothing but think about it. All I can ever do these days is lie in bed and feel sad. I was thinking, I, just, need some help."

L sat (or rather, squatted) on the wrinkled couch. "I don't know why you're coming to me, Yagami- San. I've never had a strong emotional connection with anyone for the greater part of my life. I don't know how to mourn a human person." He reached for a plate of half- eaten cake on the glass table. "My mother died sixteen years ago and I didn't shed a tear. For all I know, I may be incapable of mourning anyone. So why would you come here?"

Yagami nervously sat down on a plushy love seat, surrounded by pillows and random clutter littering the floor. "Well... I... "

"Anyway, it doesn't matter. You, as well as I, may be surprised to hear that I somewhat understand what you are feeling," L continued, forking into his mouth a few bites of cake. "I am mourning something. Now, don't correct me so soon. I said something, not someone. I am mourning the loss of Kira. Not Light- Kun, but Kira. The case, the detective work, everything."

Yagami nodded as he waited silently for L to chew and swallow another bite.

"I am agonizingly bored, Yagami- San. I have nearly lost my will to live. And I've forgotten how to do anything but detective work." L shuddered and placed his empty plate back onto the table. "It's like some twisted sort of reverse- jet lag."

Yagami's forehead scrunched up in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I can't sleep. I haven't slept for days. I've turned from an insomniac to an insomnic, miserable person. And did I mention the boredom? Unbearable. The past ten years of my life has been dedicated to this case and without it I don't know what to do."

"So... I guess you can't help me, huh?" Yagami dejectedly moaned.

"Of course not," L said. "I don't have the slightest help to offer. If we want help, we need to go to someone else."

Yagami leaned forward in the seat and placed his hands on his knees. "Like who?"

"Someone cheerful... Someone not weighed down by the after- effects of this case... " L thought out loud. "Someone who would be considered optimistic, I suppose? But, one so blatantly unaffected by the end of Kira must also be one who is rather innocent, naive, perhaps. Someone like... "

There was a knock on the door. "Hello? It's me, Matsuda."

L finished, "... Touta Matsuda." He found himself extremely pleased at the brilliant timing. He stood up and shuffled towards the door, opening it. "Good morning, Matsuda. Come in."

"Hey, Ryuzaki!" Matsuda cheerfully greeted, entering the apartment.

"You know you don't have to call me that anymore," L pointed out, sitting back onto the couch.

Matsuda smiled and shrugged. "I know, but I like it! I'm too used to calling you Ryuzaki." He looked at Yagami. "Hey, Yagami- San! Did Ryuzaki call you to come over too?"

Yagami's mouth dropped open. "What? You already called Matsuda earlier?"

A hint of a presumptuous smile rested on L's lips. "If I weren't one step ahead of everyone else, Yagami- San, then I wouldn't be L."

"Hmph," huffed Yagami. "Well then. That's fine."

Matsuda's grin was as bright as Yagami had ever seen it. "So, what's the problem, Ryuzaki?"

L, having made himself a cup of coffee without Yagami even noticing him do it, stirred in several heaping spoonfuls of sugar. "I'm horribly bored, Matsuda. Depressed, actually."

Matsuda's eyes widened. "Depressed?"

"Yes, Matsuda. Depressed," L said slowly, with a shallow tone. "Yagami is, also, depressed. After all, he has found out his beloved son has betrayed him, killed tens of thousands of people, played upon everyone who had ever loved him, was the sole cause of-"

"We've got it, Lawliet," Yagami grumbled.

Matsuda nodded. "I see your problem," he mused, with a sophisticated expression. "And I think I know just what will solve it for you."

Yagami snorted. He just couldn't take Matsuda seriously.

L, however, looked intrigued. He leaned in slightly. "I'm listening."

Matsuda smiled. "It will keep you occupied for weeks. It's my secret weapon." He slowly took something out of his pocket, holding it in a closed fist. "Like therapy," he insisted.

"Just tell us what it is," Yagami muttered. "Before I kill myself."

Matsuda, unfazed by Yagami, opened his fist, his expression one of self- awe.

"Um..." Yagami's quizzically tilted his head. "...Seeds?"

Matsuda's eyes lit up. "Not just any seeds, Yagami- San. Carrot seeds." He placed a small handful into Yagami's cupped hands. "Now, go," he ordered. "Plant them in your soul. And live in peace."