A/N: I don't own Death Note. Thanks for all the nice reviews. I try to update everyday when I have the time.
Chapter 11: Child
After a few days of searching through all the seven attacked prisons, L, Light, and the investigation team still didn't have any hard evidence. Once again, they all stayed at an expensive hotel with L and Light sharing a room.
Light was lying on his bed while Ryuzaki was in the bathroom, taking a shower. Even though Ryuzaki had only been in another room for fives minutes, Light already felt bored. Boredom was an impossible feeling whenever Ryuzaki was beside him…
Light mentally smacked himself, I've become way too accustomed to having L around. It's not normal.
Light stood up to find something to do, when he spotted L's laptop. I can finally read the email that he's been hiding from me. Light mentally smacked himself again. Why the hell am I so interested in L's business anyway?!
I'm acting like Misa when she looks through my things. This time Light really did whack himself in the head. What am I thinking?! Comparing myself to some giddy, obsessive girl! I only want to know L's private business because it could be used to exploit him later.
Light sat down in front of the laptop and opened up L's email account. Then Light scrolled down to the email that was sent by Watari. The email read:
Ryuzaki, all is well at the Orphanage. I don't believe that New Kira knows where this place is located. But if you're still concerned then I will stay. Also N and M wish to know which one of them you will choose to be your successor.
Light's eyes widened. A successor? From an orphanage?
Suddenly a wet towel crashed into Light's face, "Hey!" He tossed the towel off and onto the floor.
Light turned to see L, standing over him with crossed arms. L looked really pissed off. The detective's black eyes were piercing Light with an intense glare. If looks could kill, Light would be sprawled out of his back right now heading toward a morgue.
"Ryuzaki, I-" Light tried to make an excuse.
L snatched Light's arm and forced him up. L leaned toward him, "Didn't I make myself clear? I told you not to read it."
"I know, I was just-"
"Just what?! You deliberately did what I asked not to do!" L shouted while tightening his grip on Light's arm.
Light winced, "I know, I'm sorry." Just let go of me!
With an agitated sigh, L released Light's arm, "No, you're not. Kira's never sorry for what he does."
"I'm not Ki-"
"Shut up," L interrupted his lie, "Are you even capable of honesty?"
Light immediately responded, "Yes."
"It doesn't count when your Death note is discarded," L added.
"I have no Death note to discard-"
L suddenly slapped Light across the face. Light's face stung and he even felt slightly light-headed.
In shock, Light placed a hand over where L had slapped him. L had never slapped him before. L had kicked him, yes, sometimes even hard enough to draw blood. But somehow this hurt more. It hurt his pride.
Light looked straight into L's eyes, his eyes seemed so…sad.
L shook his head as if he was disappointed, "I'm sorry, Light-kun. I know better than to hit children."
Oh, Hell No! L wasn't hurting Light's pride, he was ruthlessly stomping it into the dirt. Light shouted, "I'm not a child!"
L scowled, "Kira is a child. Anyone who actually believes that mass-murder will create a perfect world has the maturity of a child. And until you realize that Light-kun, I will continue to call you a child."
Light clenched his fist and looked away. He couldn't look at L in the eyes, not after that crushing insult.
Ryuzaki turned off the laptop, "Well, now you know. I hope that it was worth it."
Nothing is worth what you did to me. Light pretended not to be upset and shrugged. I feel like I should crawl up in a hole and die.
Light walked into the bathroom then locked himself inside.
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L took some ice cream out of the hotel refrigerator and prepared himself a bowl. Then he heard someone knocking on the door, from outside the hotel room. L took his bowl of ice cream and headed to the door.
L opened the door, "Yes, Matsuda? Mr. Yagami?"
Mr. Yagami and Matsuda entered the room. Light's father explained, "There may be a situation going on right now," he gazed around the room then asked, "Where's Light?"
"Bathroom," L sat down in his unique way and started to eat his ice cream.
"Well, tell him to hurry up," Mr. Yagami insisted.
"I don't know if that'll work. He's been in there for a couple of hours," L stuck a spoon-full of chocolate ice cream in his mouth.
Matsuda looked surprised, "Why?"
L announced loudly, "He's pouting because I called him a child. Then he vindicated my accusation by hiding the bathroom."
The bathroom door swung open and Light rushed out, "Shut up, Ryuzaki! I just wanted to be alone for awhile."
He's such a liar. L affirmed, "You were pouting. It's a normal self-defense mechanism for children-"
Light smacked L's hands causing the bowl of ice cream to fall to the ground. L's beloved ice cream spilled out onto the floor, ruined.
My ice cream! L indignantly proclaimed, "That was uncalled for, Light-kun."
Light passionately declared, "That's nothing compared to the shit you put me through! You humiliate and insult me every single day! I hate you!" Light thoughtlessly added, "I can't wait until the day Kira kills you!"
"Light!" Mr. Yagami snatched his son's arm, "Watch your mouth! Do you want Ryuzaki to suspect you even more?"
L kept his eyes on Light. Whenever it comes to personal matters, Light-kun becomes careless. Light's so spoiled; he can't handle being put in his place. Only when Light is detached, he's comfortable and can think clearly. What I say obviously has a huge impact on him. I must have really hurt his feelings earlier… What a sad child.
L stood up and met Light's glare with a serene expression. "Light-kun, it was never my intention to cause you harm. I only say those things because I desperately want you to come to a realization: What you're doing is wrong. I respect your intelligence but I hate how you're choosing to use it. I want you to stop lying and abusing your potential so you can actually make a good impact on the world."
The look on Light's face was indescribable. L could swear that he spotted a glint of the innocent, Death-Note-less, Light in the teenage genius's wide eyes. That glint in Light's eyes had actually been showing itself more frequently which filled L with a faint hope.
The glint soon vanished in Light's eyes, "I'm not lying to you. And I am doing good. I'm helping you catch this New Kira, aren't I?"
L sighed. At least he didn't say that he wasn't Kira again.
Matsuda and Mr. Yagami both seemed extremely uncomfortable in this awkward situation.
Mr. Yagami changed the subject, "Well, there has been a report of three people dying of a heart attack on plane headed toward England. The plane is still in the air and no one knows whether or not this is just a coincidence."
There are no coincidences when it comes to New Kira. L rushed toward his laptop, "We immediately need to see the Airline's records and discover the names of the passengers on that plane."
Thanks to all of L's connections, he was able to receive all the desired information within minutes. According to the Airline records, there was no one on the plane with the last name Konstatinov. But there was someone with the first name Arik. New Kira must be using a fake passport while at the same time he wants us to know his location.
L quickly pulled out his cell phone and called the British airport where the plane was supposed to land. "This is L," he said in English, "When will flight C-317 land?"
On the other end of the line, a female voice with a British accent answered, "Flight C-317 has already landed, sir."
"Are the passengers still on the plane?"
"No sir."
Damn. "Thank you," L hung up while feeling frustrated. Why England? Does New Kira actually know where the orphanage is located?!
"So what's our next course of action?" Light sat next to him.
L decided, "We're leaving on the very next flight to England."
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When they all boarded the plane bound for England, it was a punishing two o'clock in the morning. Everyone had first-class seats and once again there were two seats per row, so L and Light sat next to each other. The investigation team looked exhausted; almost all of them were sleeping.
L had forced himself to sit the "correct" way and he had his laptop resting on his lap. Meanwhile Light was sleepily gazing out the window.
L checked his emails and read over the email that was sent by Watari again. L hadn't answered him yet, mostly because he didn't know which to choose to be his successor. He'd actually prefer if Mello and Near just worked together to succeed him but that probably wouldn't happen.
Also L was worried. He knew that the orphanage had made contact with the American Kira Investigations to give advice on a few accounts. The head of the A.K.I was murdered by the New Kira and there is always the possibility that New Kira had managed somehow to find the orphanage's location through Mr. Harrison…
L exited out of the email. No matter what, I have to protect the orphanage. I can only hope that the orphanage is not New Kira's next target for a slaughter.
L anxiously searched the British News websites when he felt something press onto his shoulder. L turned to see Light had fallen asleep and was unknowingly resting his head on L's shoulder.
A smile spread across L's lips. Light looks so innocent when he's unconscious, probably because his mind isn't racing about what his next lie should be.
L brushed some of Light's hair behind his ear. Even though Light was asleep, he reacted from L's touch. To L's surprise, Light peacefully smiled in his sleep.
End of Chapter 11
Yay.