A/N: Yay! 21 reviews! (jumps with joy) Alright, ransom is FULLY PAID so I will give the chapter to you guys to abuse… I mean, this was done when I mentioned it a couple of chapters ago...alright, i also thought that I was evil and totally bitching around, lol
KazeNoSasayaki2494….I'm not used to saying this but, I love you too…:D I update everyday because next week, I shall travel the distance and go to uni….school's not starting yet for about another week though, but, I just want to get this story out of the way…lol, pretty lame explanation, huh?
Canada Syrup…I understand…No need to say sorry…I don't expect reviews every chapter, anyway…thank you for the patronage, though…I really appreciate that (hugs all reviewers specially Canada Syrup)
Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note. I wish I do.
--Chapter 11--
--The Problem with L--
Lira sat on her usual place on the couch as the kids excitedly dressed into the new outfits they bought in town with Lira and a cheerful Mr. Wammy who waited patiently as the children selected through tons and tons of Halloween costumes. L had declined so many times because he said that there was an important case that he should be working on and it was more important than shopping for costumes in town. Yes, tomorrow is Halloween and it's the first time Matt and Mello would go trick or treating with all the kids from The Wammy House. They would go about the streets of London carrying loot bags and return with lots of candies. It was due to Lira's insistence that the kids finally gave in. They don't usually go trick or treating with the other kids but Lira told them that it would be the best gift they could give Lira before she left the orphanage. It is because the girl would be turning seventeen that February and it would then be time to leave.
Lira, however doubted if the children will wake up with the candies still intact. She thinks L might sneak and steal all the candies the children obtained. The children finally tottered in front of Lira showing their costumes. Matt wore a vampire costume complete with fangs and a cape yet the full effect was ruined because he was still clutching his gaming console in one hand.
"Can't you lay that game down even just for tomorrow? Vampires don't usually play video games. They're usually busy sucking blood," Lira told the kid with as little sarcasm as she could put in her voice. Mello chuckled upon hearing this.
"Nope, sorry mom. I will bring this in case the trick or treating gets too boring for me," Matt answered.
"You won't get bored. You're with the other children," Lira said and then turned to survey Mello who was wearing a mummy outfit minus the bandages all over his head. Again, the full effect was marred by the fact that Mello was eating a large bar of chocolate. Again, Lira tried to keep most of the sarcasm out of her voice.
"Can't you put off eating chocolate just for a day? Mummies don't usually eat chocolates. They actually don't eat at all since their insides are already taken out of them before they are wrapped," Lira told Mello.
"I thought mummies are supposed to be taking care of children," Mello said also with sarcasm in his voice.
"Ha – ha, try to be smart with me when you're older," Lira told Mello, an eyebrow twitching.
"Mello!" L shouted from where he was sitting in front of the computer and Mello stopped talking in that instant. Mello only listen to L most of the time and it was only L that could stop Mello when he is on the verge of disrespect to Lira.
"Thank you!" Lira shouted back and went on to give reminders to the children. After the two had changed back to their day clothes, Lira stood up to leave the room.
"Where are you going?" L asked turning his swivel chair to look at her.
"Fresh air," Lira answered. She knew it was a pretty lame answer but it's still a reason. She needs to go to the kitchens.
It was a week ago when Lira had that talk with Mr. Wammy. The old man suddenly just decided to tell Lira everything he knows about L for the reason that the boy will soon leave the orphanage and it seems rude that his roommate doesn't know much about him. The old man then proceeded to tell Lira how L got into the orphanage, what happened to the boy's parents, and a lot more that could at least explain to Lira why L acted in such a way. After that, Lira turned to leave but Mr. Wammy held up his hand. Lira turned and looked at the old man with a questioning look at her face.
"I seem to have forgotten to tell you something else," The old man said.
"What is that?" Lira asked.
"L's birthday," the man replied simply. Lira gaped at him. Thinking back, she never saw L celebrate his birthday nor did she hear him complain about it. She also has not heard him tell anybody about that. She mentally hit herself on the head for being so stupid about that matter. "I see he has not told you about it yet. Very well, it's on Halloween," Mr. Wammy said with a smile on his face. "And I think he really likes the cake that B used to have during his birthdays," the old man added with a significant wink. Lira's mouth fell open for a while and when she had finally absorbed what the man in front of her was telling her, she nodded silently and went out of the room.
And now, Lira was walking the corridor with the usual running kids, occasionally avoiding being run over by one particularly hyperactive child and continuing on her way to the kitchen. She reached the double doors of the kitchens and pushed one a little to see if there is anyone she should avoid. Upon seeing that the coast is clear, she opened the door a little more and crept inside. She sneaked behind old Bert and tapped the cook on his shoulders. This time, however the man was prepared for her.
"Hey, Lira," The old cook said giving Lira a high-five.
"Yo, Bert. I need another cake," Lira said, grinning as she high-fived the cook.
"For whom? It's not Matt's or Mello's or Near's is it?" The man asked puzzled.
"L," Lira said, making quotation marks in the air. She loved doing that when the cook asks who's got a birthday.
"So, the boy's got a birthday," the cook said staring into space.
"I only just found out," Lira answered sheepishly.
"Oh, I see. to think about it, I never knew when this boy's birthday is. So, it's today?" Bert asked.
"Tomorrow. On Halloween," Lira answered.
"Ahh…I see. Matt and Mello would be staying, yes?" Bert asked.
"No. I finally persuaded them to go trick or treating with the kids so it would just be L and me," Lira answered.
"L's turning seventeen, am I right?"
"Yeah."
"I bet you wanted to say goodbye on your own then, it must be hard," Bert said with sympathy in his every word.
"Don't rub it in," Lira muttered darkly.
"So what would it be?" Bert asked quickly changing the subject.
"Same as B's. They both have the same sweet tooth," Lira answered and walked out of the kitchen without another word.
Lira however did not return immediately to the room she shared with L and instead, walked out onto the yard and seated herself in the bench she usually shared with L and B when they were younger. Thinking back, the years she had spent with L was all worth it. They saw each other grow into the young man and woman they are today. They fought about things sometimes but it ended with a simple silence and everything would be alright. They had shared a lot of things that normal roommates would not share. They both shared time in taking care of four children and had watched them grow. They shared their first kiss and several inside jokes that sometimes were perverted ones. They had laughed at the children's silly tactics and much, much more. Thinking back, Lira thought that L was the reason why her stay at the orphanage had been worthwhile. She had thought initially upon her entrance that she would live miserably there and constantly think about her parents' deaths but L somehow made her think of other stuff like taking care of the children supposed to be under his care and supported her through those tough times when he doesn't have a clue on what to do.
The girl clutched her chest and bowed her head so that her hair covers most of her face as tears began falling silently, slowly down her cheeks. She should suppress that feeling. That feeling that had threatened to engulf her ever since the day L gave her first kiss. That feeling that makes her heart race every time L makes a perverted joke about her or when he puts an arm around her and whisper comforting words or every time he kisses her whenever the urge tells him to do so. She's got to stop her from going into that blissful feeling that it promised all the stupid hopefuls that had succumbed to it. She can't fall in love with L. Not now that he is going to leave the place for good. She can't take the heartbreak that will follow afterwards.
A rustling of leaves told her that someone else had arrived in the vicinity. Lira heard a soft thud beside her that told her that the person had sat himself beside her. Quickly, she wiped her tears, praying that it was not L. Taking a deep breath, she took a look at the person who had dared intrude in her private time and saw to her pleasure that it was not L. It was B.
"Yo, mom!" The fifteen-year old raised his hand in greeting but his tone remained the same monotonous one. It made Lira smile a bit.
"Why are you here?" Lira asked.
"I saw you crying up there," B answered, pointing upwards to show that he had been sitting on one of the branches there.
"You saw, everything?" Lira asked incredulously. She thought that she was perfectly alone yet someone had seen her break down and cry.
"It doesn't hurt to cry sometimes even if you are sixteen and all. You're still human after all," B said staring at the distance.
"Then why did you come here?" Lira asked again.
"I thought you could use a friend. You know, a shoulder to cry on," B reasoned out and put an arm around Lira's shoulder. Lira smelled the scent of B. It comforted her somewhat but not as much as L would have done to her. Nevertheless, she was glad that it was B who had found her and not someone she was not comfortable with. Somehow, showing her tears to B was not so embarrassing at all. She was glad that she had maintained a good relationship with the boy.
"So tell me. Why is my mommy crying?" B asked with a hint of concern.
"L," Lira replied simply.
"He's leaving you isn't he?" B asked.
"Yeah."
"You love him?" B asked. Lira flinched at his words and stared directly into the boy's eyes.
"Huh?" she managed to say.
"I'm asking you, do you love L?" B asked again staring back at her. Lira took a deep breath and nodded.
"I knew you would. Just take care of your heart," B continued. That is one of the good things about B. He doesn't need his companion to reply to his every speech.
"What?" Lira was surprised to hear those words escape from the cold-hearted teen.
"He's gonna be a detective someday. He'll be traveling so much. Could you handle it?" B asked. Lira fell silent for a while thinking.
"No, I can't. But, I can't let him leave without confessing," Lira replied.
"Are you ready for whatever consequence you might get?"
"I am."
"Well, I'm not going to start any of my rants about how stupid L is. I don't want to see your heart breaking before he rejects you," B remarked with a smirk.
"You think he'll reject me?" Lira pouted.
"I don't know, mom. I can only guess," B said with an evil smile playing on his face.
"And you guess?" Lira asked somehow knowing what B would answer.
"Of course he'll reject you. What makes you think he'll fall in love with you?" B answered smiling evilly.
"What did you say?!" Lira berated, threatening to explode.
"Well, I think I have done a good enough job on cheering you up. I shall leave now," B said and started walking towards the doors of the orphanage. Before he entered, he turned around. "Lira Valentine! You can do it!" He shouted at the top of his lungs and gave Lira the thumbs up. Lira smiles back at B as the boy waved and entered the orphanage.
"Thanks, B," Lira said smiling to herself.
Lira woke up on Halloween a little early than usual. She had to help Matt and Mello dress up into their costumes before the two goes trick or treating with the other children. Matt took quite sometime to fix up because Lira put on some makeup on him using what little there is on her so-called 'makeup kit' that only consists of the most basic of the makeup components. Matt protested first but after receiving a heavy blow on the head courtesy of Lira, he finally gave in and allowed her to fix him up. Finally, the children were ready to go out and Lira waved goodbye to them as the left the room. Finally, Lira sat down on her favorite place, the couch. She sat there for a while staring at the crouched silhouette of L. He works hard even on his birthday. She wondered if he still remembers the date he was born since he doesn't really celebrate it. Soon, the cake came and Lira set it up in the table without L even noticing or paying the slightest attention what she was up to.
"L," Lira called from where she was sitting. L grunted to show that he was listening.
"Do you remember anything today?" Lira asked walking towards L's crouched figure.
"Halloween right?" L said indifferently as he continued staring at the computer monitor. That did it for Lira. She reached out and grabbed a fistful of L's hair.
"Lawliet, you idiot!" she shouted dragging the boy off his chair. L was taken by surprise by Lira's sudden actions he did not have time to defend himself and was dragged off by the girl to the table. Finally, he was released.
"What was that –," L's voice trailed off as he noticed the cake on the table. It was large with large blobs of whipped cream and strawberries on top.
"It doesn't look like a Halloween cake," he remarked, still staring at it.
"Because it's not a Halloween cake, you idiot!" Lira said in a dangerous voice, crossing her arms in front of her chest. The sight alarmed L. He was obviously expected to remember something important yet, he was failing miserably.
"Then what is it?" he asked in an innocent voice.
"Well it's a birthday cake," Lira answered plopping down on the couch, motioning for L to do the same. L followed meekly, keeping a safe distance in case she had a sudden outburst again.
"I thought your birthday is on Saint Valentine's day?" L asked.
"Well, it's your cake, you idiot because, in case you don't remember, you're seventeen today!" Lira said turning her nose up in the air, an eyebrow twitching.
"Oh! I can't remember, honestly," L said and Lira calmed down a little.
"It must be very lonely not to celebrate your birthday," Lira remarked.
"Not really. I got used to it already," L said.
"But, it's different because – this – this is your last one here at Wammy's," Lira said, hanging her head.
"Yes it is," L confirmed with his monotonous voice.
"Won't you – feel sad?" Lira asked.
"A bit, I guess," L replied. Lira gaped at him. A bit? Isn't he going to miss her at all?
"Who will you miss then?" Lira urged on. She needs to hear the words.
"Matt, Mello, Near, and most especially, Watari," L answered. Lira knew it. He won't miss her at all. She bit her lip. That's the least she can do to stop the tears that were threatening to fall.
"Oh," Lira replied, her voice, suddenly not like her own.
"And Roger too," L added. Lira felt her world sinking with every word L spoke.
"I see," she muttered.
"I won't miss you at all," L remarked.
"I know," Lira replied.
"Because every time I close my eyes, it's you I see. How can I forget you when you're all that I can see? There's no way I can miss you," L said edging closer to her now that he felt safe to advance on her.
"What do you mean?" Lira asked.
"Even if I leave here, you'll always be a part of me," L said and leaned close to bridge the tiny gap between them. It felt like their first kiss, so sweet, so innocent. It makes them so vulnerable of the things around them.
"L, I – I wanted to tell you something," Lira said when they finally broke apart.
"What?" L asked staring straight to her eyes with those large black ones, framed with dark circles due to lack of sleep. That time, he was on top of Lira who had unconsciously lain down on the couch due to the bliss that the kiss had brought her. L had followed and that led to the position they were currently on right now.
"I tried to stop it but I can't. So, before you go, I would like you to know that –," Lira's voice trailed off. The environment around her felt so hot especially to her cheeks which are turning pink all the while.
"That?" L urged on. He wanted to hear what she was about to say.
"I – I love you. There, I said it," Lira said her cheeks flushing. She turned her head sideways so as not to show L the effect he was bringing on her.
"I love you too," L said and cupped her chin in his hand and gave her a brief kiss. Lira, for the first time that day, smiled and L smiled back at her.
"You know we can't get into a relationship," L said.
"I know that."
"And still, you confessed to me."
"Yes I did."
"Why?"
"I wanted to get that out of the way. I can't bear it that you would leave and I still had not confessed to you and I know that we may never see each other again. And now that I have confessed to you, I felt so relieved," Lira said, heaving a great sigh.
"I felt relieved too," L replied.
"Huh?"
"I thought you don't love me back but, I was wrong. I guess I am stupid when it comes to things like this," L said.
"I think you are. Not even remembering your birthday," Lira snorted.
"So, it's alright with you even if we don't get into a relationship?" L asked.
"Of course. What's important for me is that you knew what I felt for you and me you," she said.
"We may not see each other after we leave this orphanage," L said.
"We?"
"I asked Watari if I could leave the same time as you so I will not leave until February," L explained.
"I will just have to track you down myself then. I'm a spy remember?" Lira replied putting her arms around L's neck.
"You really are stubborn," L smirked.
"You could rub it in as much as you like," And with that, they both shared another long, sweet kiss, the cake lying forgotten on the table. In L's opinion, Lira was better than any sweet there is in the world and is the best birthday gift he had ever received.
A/N: here is the chapter…I hope you think it's worth the ransom. Now, I'm going to pick up my new uniforms, if you would excuse me…
Important: do you want a sequel? I'm ending this series with a couple more chapters so I'm asking you if you want a sequel on their adult life. Thank you.