Well here's chapter 10... the kiss and the drawing are in the next chapter, and I'm kinda freaking out over it. It has to be really perfect... so it may be like a week before I get it right.
Sunday, April 14th dawns a bright, clear day. Sunlight splashes against the promenade where L and Aiber are having breakfast in silence. The tension is palpable as Wedy, in her maid's uniform, pours the coffee and goes inside.
"I had hoped you would come to me last night." Aiber says as L adds cube after cube of sugar to his coffee.
"I was tired." he says without pause or eye contact.
"Yes, your exertions below decks were no doubt exhausting." the blond man sneers. L stiffens visibly, turning his eyes to the bane of his existence, burning anger unhidden.
"I see you had that undertaker of a manservant follow me."
"You will never behave like that again, Liam. Do you understand?" Aiber threatens, glaring at the dark haired boy.
"I'm not a foreman in one of your mills that you can command! I am your partner!" L shouts. Aiber explodes, sweeping the breakfast china off the table with a crash. He move to L in one shocking moment, glowering over him and gripping the sides of his chair so he is trapped, pressing his back against the chair.
"My partner… Yes! You are! And my wife! My wife in practice, if not by law! So you will honour me as a wife is required to honour a husband! I will not be made a fool! Is this in any way unclear?"
L shrinks further into the chair, staring into the eyes of this crazed man calling him his wife. He sees Wedy, frozen in the doorway holding the orange juice. Aiber follows his gaze and straightens up. He stalks past the maid, entering the stateroom.
"We… had a little accident." L says, kneeling to clean up the shattered china, "I'm sorry, Wedy, I'll help you." He feels a soft hand on his and looks up into Wedy's understanding eyes.
"It's okay, L. It's okay." She whispers as if to a crying baby.
L breaks down and sobs into her blouse, comforted by the familiarity of her hand running through his hair.
…
"Liam!" L hears from his suite, he knows it is his mother and she is most definitely not a patient woman, so he places the book he'd been enjoying on the nightstand and goes to assist her. He walks in to see Wedy tying up his mothers corset.
"Wedy, leave." Eve orders unkindly.
L moves to finish tying the strings of her underclothes. The tight bindings don't inhibit her fury at all.
"You are not to see that boy again, Liam, do you understand me? I forbid it."
L has his knee at the base of his mother's back and is pulling the corset strings with both hands angrily, tightening them more than he should.
"Oh stop it mother, you'll give yourself a nosebleed." he sneers.
Eve pulls away from him and crosses to the door, locking it.
"This is not a game, Liam! Our situation is precarious. You know the money's gone!" she whispers angrily, gesturing wildly.
"Of course I know its gone. You remind me every day." L tells her, motioning for her to turn around.
"Your father left us nothing but a legacy of bad debts hidden by a good name. that name is the only card we have to play." her eyes are begging him, he turns her gently and grabs the corset strings again. Eve sucks in her waist and L pulls.
I don't understand you… It's a fine match with Morello, it will insure our survival."
L turns to her, and sees the naked fear in his mothers eyes.
"Do you want to see me working as a seamstress? Is that what you want? To see our fine things sold at auction? Our memories… scattered to the winds…" she sobs once and looks up at him accusatorily, "My god, Liam, how can you be so selfish?"
"I'm being selfish?" L walks away and crosses his arms, willing his eyes to hold the tears. He feels so hurt and lost. "How can you put this on my shoulders? It isn't fair." he mumbles.
"Of course it's unfair… L, when it comes to preserving our lives, the choices are never easy." she turns him and faces toward the mirror once more.
…
At the divine service, Captain Smith is leading a group in a hymn, L and his mother stand in the middle of the group, Eve singing and L standing silently, eyes to the floor. Mikami stands well back, keeping an eye on L. he notices a commotion at the entry doors. Light is there, being halted by two stewards. Dressed in his ratty clothes, hat in hand, looking very out of place.
"You're not supposed to be here." one steward tells him, placing a hand on his arm in warning.
"I was just here last night… don't you remember?" he asks, and seeing Mikami coming toward them, gestures to the man, "He'll tell you."
"Mr. Morello and Mr. Lawliet continue to be most appreciative of your assistance. They asked me to give you this in gratitude-" he offers two crisp twenty dollar bills.
"Look, I don't want your money… I-"
"-and also to remind you that you hold a third class ticket and your presence here is no longer appropriate."
Light sees L staring blankly at the floor over Mikami's shoulder. "Look, I just need to talk to L for a-"
"Gentleman, please see that Mr. Yagami gets back to where he belongs," the dark man says, giving each steward a twenty, "and that he stays there."
"Yes, sir." both men say, each grabbing one of Light's arms, "come along, you."
…
Light, walking with determination and followed closely by Aizawa and Matsuda, quickly climbs the steps to B-Deck and steps over the gate separating Third from Second class.
"He's a god among men, there's no denying, but he's in another world, Light-o. Forget him. He's closed the door." Aizawa tries to convince him.
Light moves furtively to the wall below the A-Deck promenade, aft. "It was them. Not L." he glances quickly around the deck and motions for Aizawa to move closer. The older man shakes his head and puts his hands together, crouching down. Light steps into his hands, "Ready? Now." Aizawa shoves upward, boosting him to the next deck, where he scrambles nimbly over the railing, onto the First Class deck.
"He's not being logical, I tell you." Aizawa mumbles.
"Love is'a not logical." Matsuda answers, staring after their love-struck friend.
…
Light sees a man playing with his son, spinning a top with a string. The man's overcoat and hat sit abandoned on a nearby deck chair, Light sneaks around the huge deck crane he'd been hiding behind and calmly picks up the coat and bowler hat. He walks away, sliding his arms into the coat and placing the hat low, covering his face. At a distance, he could pass for one of them.
…
A young man enters the bridge where L and Aiber's crowd are having another tour, skirting around the tour group to hand a Marconigram to the Captain.
"Another ice warning, sir. This ones from the Baltic." he says mutedly. L looks at the captain, having overheard the conversation and wanting answers.
"Thank you, son." Captain Smith says, glancing at the message then nonchalantly putting it in his pocket. He notices L's gaze and smiles reassuringly.
"Not to worry, it's quite normal for this time of year. In fact, we're speeding up. I've just ordered the last boilers lit." Smith smiles once more and L's observant eyes don't miss the slight scowl that comes across Mr. Whammy's face as they exit the bridge. Whammy leads the group back from the bridge along the boat deck.
"Mr. Whammy, I did the sum in my head, and with the number of lifeboats multiplied by the capacity you mentioned… forgive me, but it seems there aren't enough for everyone aboard." L said after a moment of silence.
"About half, actually." the white-haired man said, "L, you miss nothing, do you?" he chuckles and gestured to the lifeboats beside them, "In fact, I put in these new type davits, which can hold an extra row of boats inside this one, but it was thought… by some… that the deck would look too cluttered. So I was overruled."
"Waste of deck space as it is," Aiber says, slapping the side of a boat, "on an unsinkable ship."
L scowls at him and Mr. Whammy reassures him, "Sleep soundly young Liam, I have built you a good ship, strong and true. She's got all the lifeboats you need." L nods and they all continue on their tour, L staying in his place in the back of the group.
As they pass boat seven, L feels someone behind him, he turns and a man in a black coat and hat grabs his arm and pulls him into the gymnasium.
"Who-" he begins as the man closes the door behind him, but as the hat is removed, L sees familiar auburn hair and sighs quietly before Light turns around. He looks around the room, realizing they are completely alone.
"Light… this is impossible. I can't see you." he tells him, and feels his shoulders being held in Light's gentle grasp.
"L, you're no picnic… you're a spoiled little brat even, but under that, you're a strong, pure heart, and you're the most astounding person I've ever known, and-"
"Light, I-"
"No, wait. Let me try to get this out. You're amazing… and- Look I know I have nothing to offer you, L. I know that. But I'm involved now… You jump, I jump, remember? I can't turn away without knowing that you're going to be alright.
L holds back the tears he feels coming to his eyes. Light is so open and real… not like anyone he had ever known.
"Well I'm fine… I'll be fine. Really." he assures, giving a fake smile that seems to be more of a grimace.
"Really? Well I don't think so. They've got you trapped, L… and you're gonna die if you don't get out. Maybe not right away, 'cause you're strong, but sooner or later, that fire L… that fire inside you is going to burn out."
"It's not up to you to save me, Light."
"You're right." he says with sad eyes, "Only you can do that."
L stares for a moment, then twists out of his grasp. "I have to get back, they'll miss me. Please, Light, for both of us, please… Leave me alone."
Well, please review. I'm working on 11 today, and hopefully all the Alanis Morissette I've been listening to will pay off and keep me inspired on this. Don't know why Alanis Morissette... but whatever works, I guess.
-B