A/N: I don't own Death Note. Thanks for the reviews.
Chapter 16: Dead or Alive
Light-kun… L gazed at the computer screen, feeling frustrated. There was no video camera footage of the kidnapping, or rather all the surveillance cameras had been destroyed. I should have ran after him. I could have stopped him from exiting the building.
In the workroom, the investigation team seemed to be plagued with a similar guilty conscious, mostly likely because they all avoided Light before the kidnapping.
Suddenly, Mr. Yagami barged into the workroom, "Ryuzaki, a witness to the kidnapping tried to contact us!"
L stood up, "Where is the witness?"
"In his apartment," Mr. Yagami explained, "He says that he'll only talk to L and no one else."
That's…odd. L immediately realized the danger of the situation.
"This is great!" Matsuda jumped up and turned to L, "Come on, Ryuzaki. You have to go talk to this guy."
I know I want to…but it would be rather reckless of me. L insisted, "Do you have any information on the witness?"
Mr. Yagami shook his head, "No, but you HAVE to talk to him. If you make someone else pretend to be you and the witness figures it out, he may not talk."
True, this is the only lead we have. I have to find Light-kun as soon as possible. L hastily decided, "Okay, bring me to the witness's apartment building."
L and the investigation team left the workroom and headed down to the black van. Mr. Yagami drove the van across town to the apartment building, where supposedly the witness was located.
In the back seat of the van, L requested, "Matsuda, can I borrow your gun?"
Matsuda looked fearful, "My gun? Why do you want it?"
"I intend to speak with the witness alone," L held out his hand, "I'll need some form of protection."
Matsuda reluctantly handed L his gun. L tucked in the gun underneath the back of his shirt.
Finally, the van came to a stop in front of an old worn-out apartment building. L and the investigation team exited the van.
"I want you all to stay out here," L ordered. Right before Mr. Yagami could protest, L added, "Mr. Yagami, I swear, I'll do everything I can to find Light-kun."
Mr. Yagami hesitantly nodded then L entered the apartment building, alone. L headed toward an employee who stood behind a desk.
Unexpectedly, the female employee asked in English, "Are you that detective that Mr. Blackwood is waiting for?"
So that's the witness's name. L answered, "Yes, Mr. Blackwood was been trying to contact me today. Where's his room?"
The British woman pointed to the elevator, "He's on the third floor, Room number 317."
"Thank you," L strolled into the elevator and ascended up to the third floor. If this Mr. Blackwood really knows where Light is, I may have to be willing to go to extreme measures. L impulsively checked on the gun, which was still hidden.
L hurried to the room with number 317 on the front door and knocked.
The door crept open, revealing a poorly-lit room with wallpaper peeling off the walls. A young man with dark brown hair appeared in front of the door, "Are you L?"
L glanced around and spotted no video cameras, "Yes. Can I come in?"
Mr. Blackwood smiled, "Sure. Come, have a seat."
L walked into the run-down apartment, "So I understand that you've tried to contact me earlier. You witnessed Light Yagami being kidnapped, correct?"
"Yes, I did. Come sit," Mr. Blackwood persistently pointed to a chair.
L stayed standing, "How do you know Light's name? That information was never released to the public."
Mr. Blackwood glared at L as if he knew that he'd been caught. Then Mr. Blackwood reached down toward his belt.
L quickly pulled out his gun, "Where is Light?!"
Strangely, Mr. Blackwood grinned, "He's with God. They're going to create a perfect world together." A crazed look spread across his face, "And I won't let you stop them, L!"
Mr. Blackwood pressed his hand on his belt. L immediately fired the gun and shot the lunatic New Kira follower in the shoulder.
The New Kira follower fell into a wall with blood spraying out the back of his shoulder. Mr. Blackwood slid to the floor, leaving a trail of blood on the wall.
"It's too late, L," the unhinged man laughed loudly. A ticking noise came from Mr. Blackwood's belt.
L noticed the digital clock counting down on Mr. Blackwood's belt. A bomb! L rushed toward the bomb while pointing a gun in Mr. Blackwood's face.
According to the count down, the bomb would go off in exactly 40 seconds. With a gun shoved in Mr. Blackwood's face, L examined the bomb. Shit! There's no way I can disarm this in time!
"It's over, L!" the madman proudly shouted, "Everyone in this apartment building is going to die! In the name of New Kira's-"
L completely snapped and shot the evil bastard in the head. Blood spattered onto L as he dropped his gun in shock. The dead man's vacant eyes were still opened with a gunshot wound in the middle of his forehead.
Tick-Tick-Tick. L glanced at the speeding count down, with only ten seconds left. L quickly scanned the room for an escape. He sprinted toward the window and frantically opened it.
Tick-Tick-Tick… L desperately leaped out of window as a fiery explosion erupted behind him.
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In New Kira's base, Light sat at long vertical table with Arik on the opposite end. Much to Light's dismay, he had been forced to be around Arik almost the entire day. On the table, there was only healthy, gourmet food. Strangely, the only food Light wished to see was candy, L's candy. It killed Light to admit it, but he missed L…
Arik analytically watched him, "Are you going to eat?"
"I'm not hungry," Light stubbornly refused to eat the expensive food.
"Hm," Arik leaned back nonchalantly, "Light, do want L to die?"
What? Where did that come from? After a pause, Light answered, "Yes. Of course, I do."
Arik scowled, "That wasn't very convincing."
Damn it. "L made my life a living hell ever since I've met him! I hate him! I was about to have him killed before you showed up," Light declared.
Arik skeptically continued, "Really? So you've met him? Were you ever close to him?"
"Well, the bastard had chained himself to me before. But if you mean we're friends, there's no way in hell," Light lied instinctively.
"Good. Then I have news that will make you happy," New Kira grinned happily, "L's dead."
Dead?! Light forced himself to look calm, "What? H-How do you know this?"
Arik seemed so proud of himself, "I had one of my men pose as a witness to your kidnapping. Since L placed himself in a dangerous situation to find you, my theory of you two knowing each other was confirmed. Anyway, my supporter was attached to a bomb that exploded while he was talking to L."
No way. He's lying. He has to be lying. Light tilted his head down.
"Is something wrong?"
"No," Light faced New Kira again, "Are you absolutely sure that L is dead? He isn't exactly easy to kill."
"Light, he was in the same room as a bomb explosion. He's dead. I thought this would make you happy," Arik glared at him.
"I am happy. I'm just…surprised," Light forced a composed response, "Why did you use a bomb to kill him?"
"I thought that a heart attack would be too simple of a way to kill someone like L. I wanted L to be completely incinerated beyond recognition," Arik explained.
Light shuddered inwardly. This can't be right… It just can't be…
"Light?" Arik sounded irritated.
Light strained a smile, "Sorry, Arik. I guess, I just wanted to kill L myself, you know. Well, since I'm not hungry maybe I should go now."
"Fine. You can go," Arik permitted Light to leave as if he was talking to a child.
Light stood up and walked into the elevator with two guards following him. They ascended up to the fourth floor then Light entered his room as the guards watched from a distance.
With no emotion, Light sat down at the desk. Arik was lying. L would never die that easily. He wouldn't dare… Light rested his head on top of the desk. He felt awful. Arik's words played through Light's mind, tormenting him.
L's not dead! He can't be dead… Light lifted his head and gazed at the computer in front of him. The computer had all its functions locked so Light couldn't use it. Not for now, anyway.
I'll look at the news websites and see if it's true. Light turned on the computer and began to decode one of the locks. After about an hour, Light managed to unlock the code that restricted the internet.
Light quickly typed in a British News website. He gasped. On the screen there was a picture of a bomb explosion. According to the website, a suicide bomber by the name Mr. Blackwood caused the deaths of everyone in the apartment building. Also a team of police that were outside of the building lived, but they say that the famous detective L was inside the building. Then the electricity in the room cut off, most likely because someone knew that Light broke the code. But Light had already found all the information that he could contain…
No… Light suddenly stood up, flipping over the chair.
Light cried out, "L, You liar! You promised! How are you supposed to protect me if you're dead, L?! You promised… you…" Light fell over as he backed away.
His whole body shook violently and tears formed in his eyes. Wait, L's my enemy. Why does this hurt so badly?
Light remembered their kiss and his confession that led to it. Because I care about L…
Only about a week ago, I was trying to kill L. I was sinking further into the Death Note's corruption. And now once I finally get what L was saying… He's dead?
A surge of emotions overcame Light, which he thought had been long gone. Guilt, Fear, Grief…Love. Tears streamed down Light's face, "L…"
End of Chapter 16
Sob. Hint: L jumped out the window.