A/N: I don't own Death Note. Hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 12: Orphanage
Light was in a half-asleep daze when he heard someone's delighted voice, "Awww. How cute."
Light barely opened his eyes then heard Matsuda's irritating voice again, "Has he been like that all night, Ryuzaki?"
Huh? Light blinked, trying to stay awake. His whole body wanted to go back to sleep. Whatever Light was leaning on, it was warm, cozy, and Light didn't want to let it go. Light sleepily rubbed his head closer into the warm cushion.
Matsuda annoyingly continued, "Oh, my God! Now he's snuggling against you."
L's voice replied, "I'm sure he's unaware of it, Matsuda."
What the hell? Light turned his head toward his cushion and instead he saw L, "Ah!"
Light immediately backed away from Ryuzaki. I was leaning on L this whole time?!
"Good morning, Light-kun," L grinned at him.
Matsuda pried, "How was the snuggle-fest?"
The snuggle what?! Light could feel the heat coming to his face as he stared at them in horror.
L frowned at Matsuda, "Now, look what you did. He's blushing."
Damn it, L! Light snapped at Ryuzaki, "Why didn't you wake me up?!"
Ryuzaki answered, "Well, you just looked so comfortable when you were leaning on me. I thought that it'd be rude to wake you."
Bullshit! "Oh, and it's not rude to let me unknowingly curl up against you?!"
Matsuda blurted out, "You seemed to be enjoying yourself to me."
That statement mortified Light meanwhile L covered his mouth to keep from laughing.
Mr. Yagami strolled up the isle of the airplane, "Matsuda, can you stop giving my son a sexuality complex and sit down?"
Light nearly died from hearing father say that. Matsuda just sheepishly wandered back to his seat but still watched them. Luckily, most the passengers on the plane didn't understand Japanese.
Mr. Yagami sighed, "Light, I never thought that I was going have to ask you this but…"
Oh, Hell no. Light knew where this was going.
Light's father continued, "Light, are you and Ryuzaki-"
"There's nothing going on between us," Light angrily snapped, "NOTHING."
Light's reaction didn't phase his father one bit. Mr. Yagami turned to L, "Ryuzaki, I know that you've been exhibiting an abnormal interest in my son. And quite frankly it bothers me a little bit."
L nodded, "Yes, I admit that I have obsessed over Light-kun but only as a Kira suspect."
Mr. Yagami added, "And then there's all the monitoring you do, with all the handcuffs, tracking devices, and hidden cameras. Light, I never told you this…but Ryuzaki even had hidden cameras in the bathrooms."
"What?!" Light jolted back, against the window. L watched me in the bathroom?! He saw me naked! Light felt humiliated, degraded…violated.
Even Ryuzaki sounded embarrassed, "Mr. Yagami, I had those cameras everywhere for research. You're over-reacting to Matsuda's ignorant accusations. There is no relationship like that between me and your son."
"If you say so, Ryuzaki," Mr. Yagami gave them a skeptical look then walked away.
Light lifted his feet above the floor and placed them on the base of his chair, in front of him. Then Light hugged his knees while hiding his face in his self-made cocoon.
L reached out and touched his arm, "Light-kun, I-"
Light jerked away, "Don't touch me!"
Ryuzaki's voice really did sound sincere, "I'm sorry, Light-kun. I probably should've woken you up."
Are you that dense?! Light snapped, "I'm not even angry about that anymore. Why the hell did you have hidden cameras in my bathroom?"
"Since I believe that you're Kira, it was a necessary precaution. I couldn't afford to give you any privacy," L sighed, "This is exactly why I hide this from you. I knew you'd feel embarrassed."
"More like violated," Light muttered.
L sounded surprised, "You think that I violated you?"
"Damn it, Ryuzaki! You've watched footage of me taking a shower, what am I supposed to think?!"
L insisted, "It's necessary to examine to every detail of a suspect."
Light shuddered. Every detail? The way L worded that caused Light to feel even more defiled. Light buried himself deeper into his self-made shelter, unable to show his face.
Ryuzaki added, "If it makes you feel any better, you have a very nice figure."
"I hate you," Light hugged his knees tighter, trying to shrink away.
"Light-kun, I really am sorry," L leaned toward him and placed his hand on top of Light's head.
Unexpectedly, Light allowed L smooth out his hair. Why the hell am I letting him touch me? L brushed some hair out of Light's eyes. Why aren't I pushing him away? L swept some of Light's hair behind his ear. Light's skin tingled around the area from L's touch. Light came to a horrific realization. I'm enjoying this!
Light snatched L's hand and stared up at him, "Please stop."
L's black eyes widened in shock, probably from the pitiful expression that Light was sure was on his face. "Light-kun," L declared while looking guilty, "I'll make it up to you, I promise. As soon as we land, I'll get you anything you want."
Anything I want? "Give me back my dignity," Light spitefully answered.
L sadly explained, "Dignity is something you give away, Light-kun. I don't have the ability to take it from you."
What a perfect 'L answer.' It's amazing how wise one person can be. Light nodded then paused for awhile, "Ryuzaki, can you tell me about the orphanage? Or at least what's going on with the email? Does New Kira really know where your potential successors are?"
L smiled, "You're so bright. I'll go ahead and explain my basic concerns. But I obviously can't tell you any names."
Light calmly nodded For some reason, L's compliment appeased him. After all, to Light, L's opinions were always valuable.
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For the remainder of the flight, L and Light talked about New Kira's potential threat to orphanage. L was very careful about what information he disclosed to Light. But Light seemed content with whatever L was willing to share. Once the plane landed, a chauffer drove the entire investigation team to a British hotel.
During the ride, L found it amusing how Light gawked out the window at the country that he had obviously never seen before. Light's so young. After all, this is just his first year out of high school. Part of L wished he could take Light all over the world and train him to famous detective just like himself…
But that was an impossible inspiration; even at this very moment Light is becoming more corrupted from processing the Death note. It's such a waste. Out of all the great things Light could do with brilliant mind, he chose to kill.
Then L noticed that Light was sitting so close to him that their arms were touching. L just smirked. Even if Light doesn't realize it, he's constantly positioning himself closer to me everyday. Then he tries to blame it all on me, he's funny like that.
The chauffer parked the car in front of the hotel and the investigation team entered. L and Light shared a room like they always do. But once they opened the door to their new hotel room, they both noticed that there was only one bed.
"What? Where's the other bed?" Light sounded panicky.
"I guess there weren't any rooms available with two beds," L surmised.
Light paced around the room, "There isn't even a couch in here."
"Well, I don't know about you but I'm not sleeping on the floor," L sat on the only bed and turned on his laptop, "This bed is big enough for two people, we could share it."
"But-" Light sighed from frustration then sat next to L on the bed.
L searched through British News websites for while then gasped.
"Ryuzaki?"
L trembled in shock, "No. This can't… The orphanage, it's…"
Light leaned over L's shoulder and stared at the laptop screen. On the website there was a picture of a burning building. Light turned to L, "The orphanage burned down?"
Damn it! New Kira! L immediately stood up and rushed out of the room.
"Wait, Ryuzaki," Light hurried after him.
L didn't even bother to tell the investigation team, he just ran to the first floor of the hotel with Light following behind him. L whipped out his cell phone and called a chauffer. Once they reached the parking lot, there was a car ready to pick them up.
"Ryuzaki, aren't you going to tell the others?" Light grabbed L's arm to stop him.
L turned to face Light, "Are you coming with me or not?"
"…I'm coming."
"Then come on," L snatched Light's wrist and pulled him into the car. Next, L ordered the chauffer in English to drive as fast as possible to the orphanage.
The car sped down the British streets, out of the big city and into an area filled with trees. L's mind anxiously raced over all possible scenarios. What if everyone in the orphanage was killed in the fire? What if New Kira captured Mello and Near? What about all the innocent orphans there who have nothing to do with New Kira? Knowing New Kira, if he had the chance he'd probably kill them all.
L clenched his hands into fists while his whole body shook from panic.
"Ryuzaki," Light grabbed L's arm to steady him and to stop the severity of the shaking.
L glanced at Light, who actually seemed concerned. Kira concerned? What a laughable thought. L cynically concluded.
Soon the chauffer stopped the car in front of the orphanage that had emergency vehicles parked all around it. L practically jumped out of the car with Light hurrying after him.
L dashed through the crowds of people with his mind solely focused on the orphanage or what was left of it.
The orphanage was in shambles and all that was left was a burned outline of the building's structure. Light passed by an ambulance then stopped. On the stretcher, there was a tall body in a white bag.
L shoved his way to the body bag and frantically zipped it open. Once L spotted the corpse's face, he nearly collapsed. Lying on the stretcher was Watari.
Light, who stood beside L, explained to an ambulance worker in English, "We knew this man. And my friend had close connections with the orphanage. What happened?"
The ambulance worker gazed down at Watari's corpse, "This was a truly great man. He had saved all the children at the orphanage by hiding them before that bastard showed up. New Kira actually left a trail of victims to the orphanage just so everyone would know that he was responsible. From what I can tell, this man right here transported all of the orphans out of here. The orphans bodies are nowhere to be found so I think they're safe somewhere."
"Watari," L reached out and touched the Watari's cold lifeless face.
The ambulance continued, "He died of a heart attack. But you'll probably want to know that we found a message carved into his back from the New Kira."
No… L suddenly fell to his knees.
"Ryuzaki," Light kneeled beside him.
No… This wasn't supposed to happen. Watari… I was supposed to protect the orphanage. If only I came sooner. L tiled his head down as tears formed in his eyes.
"Ryuzaki," Light placed a hand on L's shoulder, "Are you-"
A tear streamed down L's face.
End of Chapter 12
It's so sad… It'll be happy again, I promise. Poor, L.