Chapter 27

Once through the gates of Animal Kingdom, L found himself once again completely immersed in the world created by the park. As Light walked over to the information kiosk to grab a map, he gazed around where they were, taking it all in. The area they were in just inside the gates was called The Oasis, where guest services were, information booths, a quick little shopping area and a restaurant called The RainForest Café.

He drifted towards a lush looking area with waterfalls, that were also home to Spoonbills, according to the sign in front of the bamboo fence that separated the path from the waterfalls. He studied the area and finally found several of the birds frolicking in the water and nodded his agreement that they were indeed Spoonbills.

"If we follow this path we'll go right into Discovery Island," Light said as he caught up with him after reading the map, "That's where that huge Tree of Life is we saw in the distance the other day. Apparently there is some type of 3D show in it called "It's Tough to Be A Bug." He chuckled when he saw L's nose wrinkle at the name of the show.

"Is that some sort of educational presentation on insects?" he asked and Light shook his head.

"I don't think it's educational, looks like it might be interesting though. Oh wait, it's another 3D show; I'm not sure a show about bugs in 3D is something I'm interested in myself." L heard the uncertainty in Light's voice about the show and decided they would definitely have to see it.

"How bad can it be, it's a children's show isn't it?" he asked and Light sighed and then nodded.

"That's true…" L's thumb came to his mouth as he stopped walking and appraised Light's hesitation.

"Is this a new side to you I have never seen before?," he asked, "Do you have a problem with insects?" Light bristled at the suggestion.

"Of course not; I'm just not…excited by them either." He answered and L smiled before he turned and began to walk again.

"Perhaps after seeing the show you'll be more…excited," he said and smirked when he heard Light's exasperated sigh behind him. He was definitely looking forward to this,

"All of this beautiful greenery," L said as they walked through lush foliage, "It feels we're going through a rainforest, without the poisonous snakes and frogs leaping on you." Light shuddered at the thought.

"Anyone who enjoys that kind of thing has got to be slightly nuts," he said and then saw the look he was getting from L.

"I would enjoy going through rainforests," his partner told him icily and Light laughed.

"Then I rest my case," he answered then leaned into L's ear, "But then I love you being slightly nuts." L rolled his eyes and walked away from him; the statement from Light not being lost on him.

Once they entered Discover Island, they walked past beautiful viewing locations that contained storks, and crested porcupines. They were followed by an area of beautiful macaws, followed by a huge Galapagos tortoise; all of which fascinated L. Light enjoyed watching L watch the animals more than the animals themselves; he was constantly in his study mode, his thumb at his lips as he studied the creatures and what was written about them. If he had ever had a second thought of bringing L here, watching him now, and on the balcony outside their hotel room, made it all worthwhile.

There was the same look on his face as when he hit upon an extremely interesting case, juggling all of the information about it in his head as he stared at the computer screen in front of him. This time, the look was about the beauty and amazement of the animals, the information in his head about them, juggling what he already knew against whatever new information was being given and it gave his eyes a sparkle that Light had missed seeing recently. It had not been there when he had returned from Germany, and it certainly hadn't been there at the end of his own case when all hell had broken loose. But now it was back, and nothing could have made him happier.

As they got closer to the Tree of Life they were both amazed at how huge it really was, it looked as if it was the size of a building. Etched into the tree were all types of animals, each one seeming to lead to the other. What appeared to be a branch was actually an elephant's trunk, roots became snakes. They marveled at both the design and the sheer size of it before following the line towards the theatre showing the 3D program.

L's concentration on the animal carvings was broken as he heard Light chuckle beside him.

"What have you found amusing?" he asked and Light pointed to a poster that was attached to the wall.

"Cute play on words," he said, "The poster says "Beauty and the Bees". L looked at the poster, then back at Light.

"I hope that isn't an omen of what we will be seeing in this show," he said and Light shrugged.

"I thought it was cute," he defended and L sighed at him.

"Yes, so I noticed," he answered and continued along the line until they got to the doorway which led into the theatre, ignoring Light's chuckles as he read the other posters that were on the walls that had names like "Web Side Story" and "My Fair Ladybug". They were handed their 3D glasses, which they were told were called "Bug Eyes" and were ushered into the theatre. It looked as if it had indeed been carved from the base of the tree, and the seats were bench like and felt a little bumpy as if they were indeed carved out of wood. He began to wonder if this was indeed simply going to be a child's presentation and thus harmless to Light's sensibilities.

"Does that curtain look like it's made of butterflies?" L asked as he gazed at the stage in front of them, 3D glasses in place.

"Actually, it does," Light answered turning to look at L and then broke into laughter at the sight of L in the oversized 3D goggle. "You look ridiculous in those things!" he said and L nodded his agreement.

"Your appearance is less than stellar as well," he said and was suddenly aware of an incessant chirping noise.

"I sincerely hope that isn't going to last through the presentation," he said looking around as if he would be able to find the source of the noise. As if in answer, an announcer suddenly began to speak.

"Throughout tonight's performance, please refrain from buzzing, stinging and pollinating," and then after a pause, "Or chirping." And the annoying chirping suddenly stopped much to the amusement of the audience.

"Now if you would put your wings together and welcome the host of our show, everyone's favorite ant, Flik!"

They watched as the spotlight, supposedly being done by fireflies according to the voice of the ant, tried to locate him and eventually they centered on the ant, who was upside down at the top of the stage, hanging out of an ant hole.

He welcomed the audience, asked that everyone put on their "bug eyes" and began the show. The curtain that looked like butterflies suddenly came alive as the butterflies separated and flew away from the stage and around the audience, making people duck out of their way they looked so real. He smiled in amusement as he watched Light duck as well.

Flik came back telling the audience just how difficult it is to be a bug; and introduced the audience to a Mexican Redknee Tarantula who has the ability to shoot quills at his enemy. To demonstrate this ability, weevils appeared with a target for the tarantula to shoot at, which he did very well until he becomes angry at the weevils and begins to shoot erratically, accidentally aiming at the audience. Quills come flying at the audience, making them scream and duck out of the way. L couldn't help grinning as he noticed Light was one of the ones ducking out of the way.

The tarantula left the stage chasing after the weevils, and Flik introduced a termite that was able to shoot acid at his enemies. Another bug made fun of him and the termite sprayed the taunting bug, making him scream and explode in smoke. The termite then turned on the audience, calling them intruders and that they must be eliminated; and he began to spit great gobs of "acid" at the audience, making them scream and try to avoid it, and this time even L jumped involuntarily as he felt the spray on his face. Not surprisingly, the termite eventually ran out of acid and left, leaving Flik to apologize to the audience.

He then introduced a stinkbug, making both Light and L groan at what they were sure was about to happen. The weevils brought out a flower for the stinkbug to aim at, hiding behind it, and he shot at it, making the flower wilt and the weevils scatter. He then turned his rear end to the audience that also became quite aware of what was to happen next and began screaming began…just as the bug let loose. As the smoky gas left the bug, the theatre filled with an unhappy aroma, causing the entire audience to react even louder. L turned to look at Light when he heard him laughing and fanning his face with his hand to push the smell away.

"Light this is incredibly juvenile," he commented and Light grinned at him.

"Yes it is, but it's still funny," the young detective answered as L rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the stage. As Flik apologized for the rudeness of the stinkbug, from the other side of the stage a large and rather frightening grasshopper appeared, asking Flik what the humans were wearing on their heads. As Flik explained that the humans are wearing special Bug Eyes to understand what it's like to be a bug because they are friends, the grasshopper became angry accusing humans of being a bug's worst enemy. L snuck a look at Light to see his reaction to the large autoanimatronic bug and enjoyed the look of revulsion he could see behind the bug eyed 3D glasses.

To prove that humans are a menace, the grasshopper produces a screen on which is projected a screaming woman as seen through a bug's eyes. He explains how humans always see them as monsters as old movie footage of bugs as monsters is shown, with humans shooting them and blowing them up. He then shows a woman with a flyswatter attacking a bug, and the flyswatter turns towards the audience and appears to smack at them. Then a can of bug spray appears, is sprayed and the spray covers the audience as well. All the while the grasshopper continues to complain about humans and he declares war. Suddenly the lights go out and they were in total darkness, the grasshopper's voice calling for hornets to attack the audience. L heard Light take a large intake of breath as there was the growing sound of what seemed to be hundreds of hornets and both he and L jumped forward as their backs seemed to be attacked by said hornets apparently stinging through the seats while the rest of the audience was screaming. Then the voice of the grasshopper called for tarantulas to attack and above them huge, wiggling spiders began to drop into the audience from the ceiling and the screaming was deafening. L was fascinated by the automated creatures and looked in Light's direction when he heard a sort of gagging noise. One of the automated spiders was dangling directly in front of Light's face and with the help of the 3D glasses it looked twice as large as it already was and even in the near darkness, L could see that Light was definitely not amused. L watched in amusement as Light's body tried to fold in on itself away from the dangling, wriggling spider, and from what he could see the rest of the audience was reacting the same way and screaming loudly. Within a few moments the grasshopper called the spiders from their attack, declaring the humans were his to destroy, and the spiders retreated back into the air and the lights came back up, revealing the grasshopper flying in front of them and with the 3D effect it looked as if he were practically in their laps which also did not amuse Light.

He told the audience that he would destroy them and nothing could stop him, and unknown to him a large lizard had snuck up behind him, who then flicked out it's long tongue and sucked him in. A few seconds later the grasshopper was able to escape screaming and then turned and flew away, giving up his fight with the humans.

Flik appeared again, and after apologizing, he brought forth bees who began to sing about being pollinators, dung beetles who sung about how lucky we were that they liked eating waste, otherwise humans would be up to their shoulders in it, with other bugs joining them in a finale. The butterflies came back and reformed the curtain, as Flik reminds the audience that magnifying glasses are for looking at little creatures, not burning little creatures, and the show was over. The announcer's voice came on again, asking that the audience remain seated until the roaches, maggots and beetles left the area. Then the seat bottoms began to vibrate as if hundreds of roaches were moving directly beneath them, and along their legs and ankles as if the other bugs were rubbing against them as they left, causing the audience to scream again, and to L's delight, causing Light to pull his legs up as he made a disgusted almost gagging noise. Finally the light's came up and L continued to gaze at Light, a smile on his face and his thumb at his mouth.

"That was NOT what I was expecting," Light said in a disgusted tone as he took off the bug eye shaped glasses, "Not by a long shot!"

"Not was I was expecting either," L admitted, "But it was certainly more entertaining, almost as entertaining as you were. I didn't know you were afraid of spiders!" he added barely containing his amusement. Light frowned as he stood up to leave the theatre.

"I am NOT afraid of spiders," he countered and this time L did laugh as he stood up and walked behind him.

"Really? That noise you made when the spiders dropped certainly sounded like you were afraid of them…"

"It just startled me. You can't tell me you weren't startled by those things!" Light defended, his revulsion obvious on his face.

"I admit they surprised me, but you tried to escape even if it meant leaving your body behind!" L countered and this time he let a chuckle escape as they made their way outside again. He watched as Light tried to think of a way to deny his reaction to the spider, and then he just gave up and started laughing.

"You're right, they scared the hell out of me!" he admitted and they both laughed, "And I wasn't too thrilled with the feeling of bugs running under my ass and across my feet at the end either!"

"I don't generally have a problem with insects, but that feeling of them running over my feet in waves did nothing for me either," he admitted and they stopped walking as a mother led her crying child past them and towards the nearest restroom.

"That's what I was doing on the inside when those spiders dropped," Light said with a grin, "And had they hung there much longer I would need a change of clothes right about now." He added making L turn and stare at him wide-eyed, before breaking into uncharacteristic laughter, a sound that added to Light's happiness at bringing him there in the first place.

"Come on, I think after all that excitement, a snack is in order," Light suggested and L nodded his agreement when he finally stopped laughing.

Once perusing the menu, Light ordered the fruit plate and yogurt for both of them and two iced teas; then adding one chocolate mousse desert when he saw the expectant look on L's face. Once they had their food they headed over to sit at a table and L looked at it with disgust.

"How is one supposed to enjoy their food when the tables and chairs are screaming at each other?" he asked pointing at the bright blue tables and pink chairs.

"It'll keep you awake, that's for sure," Light answered as they sat down. L kicked off his sneakers and pulled his feet up onto the chair, wriggling his freed toes happily as he tasted the fruit dish.

"It doesn't really surprise me that you have difficulties with insects," he stated suddenly and Light stopped eating to look at him.

"I don't have difficulties with insects, I just don't like them very much," he answered and went back to eating.

"You are quite fastidious by nature almost to fanaticism, and would find insects…dirty," L finished and Light shook his head.

"I'm not fanatic, I just care about cleanliness. You're the one that touches things as if someone blew their nose on it!" Light countered gesturing to how L was currently holding his fork between his thumb and forefinger.

"There is no need to grope a utensil when it works just as well with two fingers," L answered, "And what would you know about using utensils, when you rarely use them unless forced into it. You use chop sticks 98% of the time."

"A much more practical way to eat," Light defended, "Everyone should use them."

"Eating with chopsticks is a learned talent," L said, "It is not easily grasped by non-Asian masses." Light shrugged.

"That is their loss, I think it's much more civilized."

"Well, considering the fork was not widely used until the 19th century…"

"Ryuzaki why are we talking about forks?" Light asked stopping what he knew would be a lengthy dissertation. L stopped and thought for a moment.

"I have no idea, it started as a discussion about your fear of insects," Light rolled his eyes.

"I'd rather talk about forks then," he said and L grinned at him.

"I see. Then we'll change the subject. Where are we going after we finish eating?" Light pulled out his map and looked it over.

"There's not much left here in Discovery Island, there's another trail we can follow before getting to Asia." L nodded his approval.

"That sounds agreeable," he said finishing the fruit and beginning the chocolate mousse, "I've been thinking about your request earlier," he added. Light looked at him slightly confused.

"What request?" he asked and L leaned closer to him.

"About my wearing the mouse ears and nothing else," he answered and Light grinned.

"And?" he asked.

"I fail to understand why you would wish that," L said and Light grinned evilly.

"I'll explain it to you when you do it," he said and watched as L finished his mousse, the look of enjoyment on his face that he loved to see.

"I look forward to the explanation, as I simply cannot understand the allure," he said finally and stood from the table, stepping back into the sneakers as Light picked up the paper plates and cups.

"You will when it happens," Light promised with a look L knew too well and could feel himself color at the implication.

"I believe it is time to get back on the trail," he said sticking his hands into his jeans pockets as Light walked up behind him and leaned close.

"I love the way you blush when I say something suggestive," he whispered in his ear which only made L blush harder.

"I'm glad my unease of publicly speaking about the subject brings you such amusement," he nearly spat which only made Light laugh as he followed him out of the restaurant.