Chapter 23

By the time they had finished dinner it was full dark and the perfect time, according to Light, to go through a haunted mansion. L was surprised by how eager Light was to do this as he followed him across the grounds to where the Haunted Mansion stood and listened to him talk of past experiences in haunted house type of amusements. They stopped in front of the wrought iron fence and surveyed the area.

"Imposing building," Light said staring at the eerily lit large red brick looking structure. L nodded and once again found himself impressed with the intricate details of the attraction. The house looked like a beautiful representation of an 18th century mansion, complete with gables, stone fence and huge windows. He also noted the draped hearse of the same period of time sitting in front. Light turned to him with a smile.

"You ready?" he asked and L rolled his eyes.

"I am more than ready, I am sure it will be interesting, if nothing else," he answered and followed Light towards the entrance.

"Come on Ryuzaki open yourself up for some spooky fun, playing with ghosts and things that go bump in the night," the young detective chided.

"This is something I do not understand," L began as they joined the line, "There is nothing that humans are more afraid of than death, and yet they spend so much time involved in dark humor involving death, whether it is rides such as these, or movies involving all types of violent ends, ghosts, the undead. I suppose psychologically it lightens the fear of something if you make fun of it; but to this extent is still surprising to me."

"Honestly, must you analyze everything?" Light sighed, "People enjoy a good startle every now and then, they get the same adrenalin rush you get on your roller coaster kick. Being that this is here in Disney World, I can't imagine it being too scary," he leaned closer to L's ear, "but if it is you can hold my hand if you get nervous." L slowly turned and stared at Light, the annoyance obvious even in the dim lighting. Light held his hands up in defense against the glare.

"Nevermind, I take it back," he laughed and L turned away from him and focused on the line in front of them.

"It appears we have to make a decision," he said gesturing towards the sign above them. They had the option of going through the cemetery or just going to the entrance of the attraction.

"We definitely have to go through the cemetery," Light answered and L nodded his agreement joining him in that direction. They walked past the hearse L had noticed before and this time he realized that there was supposed to be a horse attached to it…except all that could be seen were the reigns and harness seemingly floating in mid-air. The horse, it appeared, was invisible. He heard Light chuckle beside him.

"Invisible horse…spooooooky!" Light said trying to make his voice sound eerie.

"Light was there something amiss in your dinner to cause you to behave this way?" L asked him, studying him carefully.

"No, of course not," Light said laughing, "I'm just trying to get you in the mood, I want you to enjoy it!"

"I am in the mood to enjoy the amusement at this moment, I cannot guarantee how long I will be if you keep behaving this way," L warned. His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Light closer.

"Perhaps it is you that is nervous about this attraction and this behavior is to mask your unease," he said, thumb coming to his mouth as he continued to stare at the young detective.

"That's ridiculous, why would I be nervous about a children's ride?" Light defended. L continued to gaze at Light as if he were reading what he was really feeling on his face.

"I'm sure I don't know, but we will find out once inside won't we?" he answered, an all knowing grin gracing his features as he turned and followed the crowd through the line. Light rolled his eyes and sighed; how did he allow L to turn this around on him? He shook his head and caught up with L, who was now standing in front of five busts at the beginning of the graveyard. Each one appeared to be members of the same family with little sayings engraved which gave clues bout how they died; and a weapon engraved on the top, which could have been responsible. L began to read from one of them as Light approached him.

"Greed was the poison he had swallowed, he went first-the others followed, his killer's face he surely knew, now try to discover who killed who", L read and looked at Light, "It appears Uncle Jacob is beckoning us to solve his murder," he mused, head cocked to one side, "Apparently we are supposed to read each one of these five family members stones and try to figure out who killed who and how."

"Oh sure, you come here and find a murder mystery to solve," Light said smirking and L shook his head.

"This is child's play, and I will leave it to the children," he answered, "But it is a clever way to elicit interest in the rest of the amusement." Light agreed as they continued to move forward. Next there were two gravestones set alone in a special plot and they appeared to be the matriarch and patriarch of the family. Beyond them was a bigger plot in which there were several gravestones which all had clever sayings on the front. Light's favorite that made him laugh was "Here Lies Dear Departed Brother Dave, He Chase a Bear into a Cave." L smirked slightly but showed no other signs of whether or not he found the headstones amusing.

He did find the next part interesting; it appeared to be a large stone memorial to a musician, on which several instruments were carved. He soon discovered that if you touched the instruments, they would play. His hands moved from the carved xylophone, to the drums, to the horns and back again several times until he caught the grin on Light's face as he watched him. He quickly stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets, and walked away from the monument totally ignoring Light's chuckle.

There was also a pipe organ inside the monument where the pipes were topped with openmouthed goals and on which the keys apparently worked, but L kept his hands in his pockets as they walked past, leaving Light to play with the keys for a few moments eliciting spooky sounds.

"This is rather…darkly humorous," he heard L say and he moved to join him in front of another huge monument, which was decorated with rather frightening fish on the corners and a starfish on the front. As they looked up they could see a fisherman's hat on one end, one hand hanging out of the top and two legs hanging from the other end. There was water trickling from one end and as they continued to look, bubbles began to rise from inside.

"Here floats Captain Culpepper Cline," L began to read.

"Allergic to dirt so he's pickled in brine," Light continued, "He braved the sea and all it's wrath, but drowned on land while taking a bath," he finished and broke into laughter.

"You're right," he agreed with L, "This is darkly humorous, emphasis on humorous."

"I would emphasize the dark,"L answered watching the bubbles rise out of the crypt. He turned as he heard a small commotion ahead of them and they both moved to where it seemed to come from. They first passed a headstone on which was written information about the deceased, saying she had been a writer who literally died of writer's block. The commotion came from directly beyond that, where behind glass and iron bars there was an open book on which words were being written, apparently spiritually, as a disembodied female voice read the words. She stopped at the end of the last line, apparently unable to come up with the proper word to close the poem. Obviously this was supposedly the woman who's tombstone they had read first. The people watching began to call out words that would fit the unfinished sentence and when the right one was spoken…it magically appeared on the book much to the glee of everyone standing around and watching it.

"That's fun," Light commented as L scrutinized it; getting as close to the glass as possible trying to see how it was done.

"At first I thought it was done with mirrors, but now I am not so sure," he said as Light walked up behind him.

"I'm sure there's more to it than just mirrors, it's quite an effective illusion," he said and L nodded as he watched another page of prose magically appear. He then looked at Light who was still watching the illusion.

"So far this has proven to be quite interesting and we have not entered the house yet," he said and Light smiled happily.

"I take that to mean that you are enjoying it more than you thought you would," he said and was gratified to see a smile grace the porcelain features he loved.

"Yes, you are correct, let's keep moving," L answered already moving ahead of him to the next display, which consisted of a bookcase with books that kept trying to leap from the shelves and the guests kept trying to push them back in.

There was a wall of remembrances, apparently the front of crypt with four different inscriptions. Light chuckled at one that told of a train making a stain out of Uncle Blaine and that wished that he rest in pieces.

"That's just sick," L stated as he walked past the wall, making Light laugh again.

They continued past more gravestones which all had silly sayings they both read with amusement. As Light moved past L he saw one which was engraved with a woman's face in relief. As he read what was written on it, the face suddenly tilted forward, and the eyes which were simply carved ovals in the stone, suddenly opened to reveal real looking eyes that were suddenly staring at Light, and just as quickly the eyes snapped shut and the face tilted back into it's first position. Light backed up away from the gravestone slightly startled and turned to look at L.

"Did you see that?" he asked and L looked at him questioningly.

"See what exactly?" he asked.

"The gravestone with the face on it. it moved…and the eyes opened!" Light explained and L frowned.

"Really? I didn't see that. Are you sure your imagination isn't…" he interrupted himself as the same thing happened again making his eyes widen in surprise. He watched the eyes look straight ahead, then to the side, and then closed again, the face moving back into its original position. He turned back to Light who was still staring at it.

"I was mistaken, that definitely wasn't your imagination and was brilliantly done," he said with a smile, "I believe I am going to enjoy this!" He then moved quickly to the open door, which obviously led inside the house, Light moving to catch up with him.

They moved with the crowd through a darkened hallway, the only light ornate chandeliers above their heads, while appropriately eerie music played. On either side of them on the walls were family portraits, some of them more eerie than others. The were ushered into a circular room at the end of the hallway, where above them and all around the room were more family portraits, but they seemed a little more normal than the others. The lighting in this room was what was eerie, as gargoyles held candles next to each portrait, which gave precious little light and the room was essentially in complete darkness.

As they were all moved towards the center of the room, the door behind them was slammed shut and a creepy sounding voice welcomed the foolish mortals into the haunted mansion. As the voice introduced himself as the ghost host, with L snorting his disdain at the joke, the appropriately costumed cast members ushered them into the "dead center" of the room and away from the walls. Just as L was wondering why they wanted them away from the walls, he felt the room move. As he looked at the portraits he realized that they were changing, as if they were stretching and revealing more of the portrait. He saw Light look down at him and grin; he was obviously enjoying this a great deal. He realized that what they were in was an ornate elevator and they were being taken to a lower floor and he marveled at how clever a ruse this was to keep everyone from paying attention to what was really happening. He watched as the seemingly innocent portraits revealed much darker ones; the innocent grandmotherly looking woman who was holding a flower suddenly revealed that she was sitting on a headstone, of what appeared to be her husband, whose face was carved into it with an axe deeply implanted into his head; or a young girl who was smiling sweetly holding a parasol over her head was revealed to be walking a tightrope over water with alligators waiting to eat her when she fell.

As they both observed all the changes in the portraits, the ghostly voice asked them to consider the fact that this chamber had no windows and no doors, which left them with a problem…to try and find a way out. After a chilling laugh, he suggested they try his way and the entire room went completely black, until there was a thunder crack and lightening overhead which showed his way was to hang himself as they saw a body hanging over their heads, swinging on a rope. There was a loud scream and the sound of breaking glass, and as the others in the room of various ages screamed as well, the lights slowly came back up and revealed that one side of the room was now open, a long hallway in front of them with more portraits and chandeliers. As they walked past the portraits, this time they were animated; a ship being tossed on a stormy sea with lightening, a stately looking man who suddenly turned into a skeleton with a flash of lightening.

"This is amazing!" Light was saying as they continued down the hall.

"Indeed," L agreed, "This is very well done, what more can there be?" he asked and got his answer as the hallway ended and revealed a series of moving black clamshell type vehicles that people were led to get into. The vehicles never stopped moving they slowed just enough so you could get into them, which they did when it was their turn. They sat down and found that the ghostly voice was now coming from the sides of the vehicles, and told them not to worry about the bar in front of them, he would move it for them, and as he said the protective bar pulled up and stopped over their laps. Once in they discovered the "doom buggys" as their host called them, turned in all directions to allow them to see everything on their journey. At one point when the buggys turned completely around and they were moving backwards, L felt Light grab his hand and squeeze it and even in the near darkness of the ride he could see the excitement on his face and he couldn't help but smile at him, while returning the hold on his hand.

They were traveling through the hallway of the mansion, the car turning sideways so they were now facing the walls, which were covered in eerie wallpaper, eyes staring back at them in some spots. They came into a room in which there was a coffin lying in state and as they rode by, a hand was reaching out of it trying to get the top off while a voice cried out "Let me outta here!" over and over. After passing that, there were sounds of distress and screaming, and as they passed a door it bulged out at them, sounds of snarling and growling coming from behind. They could hear other passengers squealing and some screaming at the sounds and it just added to the atmosphere.

They then passed through a room in which a séance was going on, there were chairs and a table on which the face of the medium inside a crystal ball was calling out to the spirits to make themselves known by making sounds. As she called for them to do certain things, they would happen, a tambourine would play when she asked for the spirits to do so, or a bell would ring. They began behind the scene and rode around until they were in front of it, watching the face as it spoke, floating in the air.

The voice then told them they were about to see a swinging party and they found themselves looking down into a large room, where a long table was decorated for a party. Suddenly party goers materialized at the table, a birthday cake at one end, and a ghost wearing a party hat also appeared, leaning over the cake blowing out the candles, which then relit themselves so he had to blow them again, and they just as suddenly disappeared.

Light pointed towards the other end of the table where there were ghosts dancing L looked around the room and laughed when he saw two portraits above the table of two men…who then moved out of the portraits, pulled pistols, shot at each other and then faded back into the portrait. He pointed it out to Light who found it just as funny as he did.

The buggy shifted again and they were facing forward as they entered what appeared to be an old attic, filled with all kinds of artifacts. They passed a framed picture of a man in a top hat with a woman, and as they passed it, the man's head completely disappeared. They noticed several other pictures of the woman with different men and as their buggy turned around so they could view the entire attic, before them was a woman bathed in a bluish, eerie glow, dressed in a wedding gown and veil which were blowing in an unfelt breeze, an insane grin on her face. There was also a hatchet in her hands and she chanted the words to the wedding vow, "I do, I do…in sickness and in…well.." As with the medium in the crystal ball, these were not merely figures, but the faces were real, obviously projections of some sort, but so real they were almost unnerving.

The ghostly music that had been playing suddenly changed into a more lively, ghostly tune as they found themselves winding through a graveyard, ghostly figures rising from their graves, some popping up and making weird noises as they passed. A frightened caretaker holding up a lantern with his equally frightened dog peered into the darkness as they rode by them. Several busts were singing at them as they approached them, the faces ghostly projections of the singers who warned them that grim grinning ghosts came out to socialize. The proof of which was the graveyard as they passed through, all manners of ghosts, skeletons and spooks doing all kinds of activities from seesawing to singing opera. L was completely amused, his thumb at his lips as he watched the busy scene from one end to the other, still holding Light's hand and enjoying Light's reaction to the scene. The young detective had been looking forward to it and obviously it was not disappointing him in any way.

As they wound their way through the graveyard, the ghostly voice told them to beware of hitchhiking ghosts, and before them were several ghosts doing just that as they passed by. The voice also told them they had been selected and that the ghosts would haunt them until they returned. He heard Light laugh and point ahead of them as the cars spun to the side, and they could see their reflections in a wall length mirror and along with them, several ghosts were making themselves at home in the buggy. At one point, a ghost switched heads with Light…making L have to turn and look at Light even though he knew it was an illusion.

They were so caught up in watching the antics of the hitchhiking ghosts that they didn't realize the ride was over until they found themselves back at the loading section of the ride. They both got out of the buggy almost reluctantly, and began to walk towards the exit.

"Ryuzaki you can't deny that was amazing!" Light said excitedly and L shook his head.

"No, I cannot deny that it was definitely an amusing experience," he answered with a smile, "It definitely gave more than I suspected it would. Although it was not scary."

"Maybe not, but you have to admit it had it's spooky moments," Light argued.

"Yes, I think maybe the attic was the most…spooky," L agreed, not sure he liked the word. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the bag, which held what was left of his jelly beans.

"I believe I need a refill," he said almost forlornly as he ate the remaining few.

"No, I have something better in store for you," Light said with a smile, "Something the bartender suggested while I was at the pool and helped me make reservations. Come on, we've got to get over to Tomorrow Land."

"What's happening in Tomorrowland?" L asked and Light merely smiled.

"Something you're really going to enjoy," he said gleefully and L looked at him skeptically.

"I always worry when you say that," he complained and that only made Light laugh.

Within a few minutes they had arrived at Tomorrowland and were entering the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station. Light gave his name and they were led into the outside seating area on the terrace. L at first was looking at the view of Tomorrow Land and Cinderella Castle and had to admit it was almost breathtaking. Then as he looked around the rest of the terrace he became aware of what people were carrying in front of them; plates of almost every dessert imaginable. As they reached their table he followed where the line of people were coming from and couldn't believe his eyes.

"Light…" Light placed his hands on his shoulders from behind him and leaned forward speaking into L's ear.

"An entire buffet of sweets and fresh fruit. Tell me this isn't better than a regular confectionary store." L's answer was to move like lightening towards the buffet table, with Light laughing and trying to catch up. L's eyes lit up as he surveyed the table and immediately began to reach for one of everything. Light laughed and handed him a plate.

"Put them on a plate, Ryuzaki!" he said continuing to laugh as L tried to pile what he wanted in his hands. L stopped long enough to grab the plate and began to fill it. Light chose the fresh fruits instead, deciding on one sweet-a raspberry tartlet with pistachio- and tried not to laugh again as he watched L trying to pile everything on the plate.

"You can come back for more after you finish these you know," he said finally and L looked at him and then nodded, taking the nearly overflowing plate back to the table. It wasn't until they had sat down that Light really took inventory of what was on L's plate:

milk, white and dark chocolate truffles, mandarin orange and kiwi tartlets, many chocolate dipped strawberries, and a brownie.

"Are you sure you can eat all of that?" he asked after telling the waitress that they would both like coffee.

"I am surprised you are even asking me that question," L answered as he popped one of the strawberries in his mouth, his delight in it's flavor all over his face. For a moment Light just watched him as he tasted each sweet, finding complete enjoyment in each one and loving how it was reflected in his features. He had often wondered why L ate mostly sweets and why he enjoyed them so ferociously. He had never asked; it was just one of those things that made L…L, and he didn't think it was his place to question it. But there were times, like these when he did wonder. He thought about what L's life had to have been like as a child and adult before they got together. How he only had his work and Watari; and exactly what that work entailed. All he ever saw consistently was the worst man had to offer, the violence, the hate, and the horror. Having dealt with only that since he was a child, was it any wonder that eating sweets brought him solace? There were times that in his own work he sometimes thought he would never get the taste and smell of the violence he saw out of his system; and he knew he wasn't seeing half of what L had seen.

Perhaps this was his way of flushing all of that bitterness of what he had to deal with out of his system; the only place he could find the good. At least until they were together; they now had so much good together, but by now it was such a habit there was no way he could stop it. In reality, he wouldn't want L to stop it; this was so much a part of L that he wouldn't know him without that constant hunger for sweets. It made L happy, and that's all he ever wanted for him.

He was suddenly aware that L was staring at him; apparently he had been talking and Light hadn't heard one word.

"I'm sorry Ryuzaki, I drifted for a few moments, did I miss something?" he asked and L continued to gaze at him.

"What were you thinking about? There was a rather…wistful look on your face," L asked and Light smiled and shook his head.

"Nothing really, mostly how glad I am that you seem to be enjoying yourself, and how much I love you," he answered and L smiled.

"I see. I don't mind telling you that I will be quite sad when we have to leave in a few days," L answered him, "This has proven to be so much better than I suspected it would be. I will never be able to thank you enough for thinking of this." Light smiled sadly before answering.

"Considering my actions are the reason this vacation was so necessary, there is nothing to thank me for. I'm just really glad it has worked out so well." He then grinned widely when he realized there was chocolate on L's face. If they were alone he would have leaned across the table and licked it off, but since they weren't he picked up his napkin and wiped it from L's face instead. As he finished L's eyes widened in excitement as the lights went off all around them.

"Light…the fireworks are starting!" he said, as there was an announcement for everyone to look towards the castle. Light sat back and turned once again watch the Wishes fireworks display that they had first watched from the deck of the yacht. Although their view had been excellent, somehow being this close to the castle made it even better. Then the fairy that they had seen from afar flying through the air from the castle appeared, but this time she was heading right for them. They both watched as she soared sparkling directly over their heads, waving her wand and waving at the crowd below. The excited and surprised sounds of the others around them proved that everyone else was as enthralled about this as they were.

"I thought she was another one of their auto animatronics," Light said as she soared over them, "But she's obviously real!"

"And whatever she's getting paid isn't enough," L commented making Light laugh again.

They watched the impressive show again; this time when they came to the Snow White section, L recognized it and he had to admit knowing what was being referred to increased the enjoyment.

"Light, I wish to see the other movies that are used in this production. Perhaps we could purchase them in one of the shops?" Light nearly choked on his coffee at the request.

"Well, yes I'm sure they carry them," he finally answered in surprise and then watched as L's attention went back to the fireworks. He smiled, why wouldn't L like them, it was like his love for sweets, these movies. Now that he had allowed himself to open to so many things thru their relationship, he had found something else that could ease some of the bitter taste of what he had to deal with on a constant basis.

Once the show was over, L filled his plate again with different deserts he wanted to try, and more chocolate strawberries. Light was content to have more coffee and watch L enjoy. Once that plate was done L noticed they workers were setting up for what appeared to be another parade.

"It appears there is to be a parade of some sort," he mentioned as he finished a canole with a final swallow of coffee. Light nodded his agreement and stood up.

"Then we should get going," he answered, "I know parades are not your favorite pass time."

"Perhaps, but I am wondering what kind of parade they would have in the dark," he replied also standing up.

"Easily discovered," Light told him as they walked to the door, and stopped to ask a cast member what parade was coming.

"Electrical parade starts at 11:00," they were told and L's thumb went to his lips.

"That sounds intriguing, let's find a good spot," he stated to Light's surprise and proceeded out of the door.

"But you don't like the character parades," he called after him as he followed the detective out of the door. L waved his hand dismissively at him before answering.

"I do not, but something called an electrical parade sounds as if there is more to it, is there a problem?" he asked. Light shook his head as he watched L decide on a spot and then join the crowd that was already gathering there.

"No problem, I'm just a little surprised that's all," he answered and L gazed at him as he spoke.

"Is there something else you'd rather do?" he asked and Light shook his head with a smile.

"Not at all, Ryuzaki this is fine," he watched as L nodded and turned back to face the street and smiled wider; "What have I created?" he said to himself and had to chuckle.