9.
Light sat beside L on the staircase, as the two began wringing out their shirts. As they had finally gotten their sopping wet clothes back on, Light grabbed L's hand.
"You never gave me an answer." He said softly, L squeezed back "there isn't one." He said simply. "Kira wants to kill L, and L wants to kill Kira…"
Light shook his head, "but Light would do anything for Lawliet." L's eyes set their sights on the floor, as the two men found themselves once again cloaked in the comforting silence.
L's phone then rang, the tone was loud, and sharp and broke the pair away from each other…
"It's Watari…" L said, flipping the phone open.
Light could only watch as L's eyes began to widen. He turned towards Light, and gulped, "We'll be right there." He said simply, flipping the phone shut and bringing Light to his feet. He didn't clue him in, but instead just stared at him carefully.
"Uh oh…" ryuk said in the background, as the pair took off after L, "Maybe the old man saw you on his computer…"
As the two made their way to the main floor, everyone in the office looked at the soaking pair questionably. L turned on the monitor and dove into his chair, he disconnected his head set, and allowed Watari to speak with everyone. He turned to face L, and as he did Watari's voice boomed.
"Your prisoner was found dead today, ryuzaki." He said simply, "A heart attack… right at 12:35."
Mogi, Matsuda, Soichiro, and Aizawa stared at the screen with even more questions clear on their face. "Prisoner… you mean…L" Soichiro began, looking back and forth between L and his son
"You mean Light is cleared?"
L smiled as he stared at Light, "Yes…" he said simply "It appears that the thirteen day rule is in fact real…"
L couldn't dispute this fact… no matter how hard he tried to reason that it couldn't be… that Light was in fact not Kira… he couldn't get around this rule. He disappeared to his room, as everyone else had celebrated back in the lobby.
"Ryuzaki?" Light asked, from outside the door, forcing L out of bed as he walked to open it.
Light knew that L was saddened that everyone was, in essence celebrating the fact that he was, for the first time… wrong. He cupped his face, and kissed him on the forehead. "I don't know how that prisoner died." Light said,
"I wish I-" L stopped him, "there's no need Light… you're free."
Light sighed, and took his watch off carefully, he pressed the knob four times, allowing L to watch as the secret compartment pulled open. L looked Light in the eyes, an uncontrollable smile making its way across his face… He took out the paper, and pressed it against L's hand. L's smile didn't waver as he looked over to the shinigami.
"Kira…" he said quietly, in complete amazement.
"You beat me." He finished, to which Light shook his head. "Like I said…" Light began "You've always known this to be true."
"But…" Light placed his finger upon the other mens lips,
"Ryuk." Light began, "This is goodbye." He takes the tiny piece of paper, and hands it to the shinigami. L watches as Light looks on with a veiled sadness. "Are you sure?" he asks, to which Light nods, pulling the dark haired man close.
The two press their lips together, as Ryuk slinks away "goodbye Light…" he says, "Thanks for the fun."
As the two men finally part, L notices a different look in the other mans eye, as he smiles at L with a peace he's never seen on the has face before.
"I love you, Light." L says bringing his head down onto his shoulder.
"I love you too." Light replies, "Do you want to go out and celebrate with the others?" he asks, and L snorts out a small laugh…
"I'd love to."
[…]
"Rem" watari speaks, "would you like your notebook back?" the shinigami looks surprised, "But you've only used it once…"
Watari shrugs, "I will only ever need it this once." He clarifies, to which Rem grabs the notebook.
As Watari's memories of killing the prisoner are forfeited, his memory of L sleeping happily with Light remain. He looks on to the party and smiles as the two speak with each other in the corner.
"I'm so happy for you, L." He says lowly. Sitting back down in his chair, and turning off the monitor.