A/N: Last chapter everyone. Thanks for everyone who read/reviewed/faved/altered this story. It means so much to me, and it was so fun to write. So, enjoy. ~ Questions, comments, anything at all? Just drop me a review or PM me. I lvoe hearing from all of you (:
Chapter 8: Bring Me To Life
Days dragged on and on, and L's determination to solve the case only grew stronger. Said detective was sitting at his usual position in front of the monitors, unblinking eyes absorbing every piece of information he came in contact with. Mountains of candy wrappers, plates, and unfinished cups of cold, coffee-moistened sugar were piled around the skinny man like a fortress. He had to stay alert, by any means necessary.
Keep working like this, Light smirked to himself, and you'll burn out.
The rest of the taskforce was concerned about the world's greatest detective; the rings around his dark eyes grew darker, his narrow face became even more pale than before, and though his unyielding work ethic remained, they feared the odd man would collapse from sheer overwork. If he died or became ill, who would take his place and lead the investigation? L seemed blissfully unaware of his own deteriorating state of health, and continued giving out his orders and piecing things together. He would put Kira behind bars, if it killed him... At the moment, his own life appeared to be a suitable sacrifice to pay for the damage Kira continued to cause.
Since news of Beyond Birthday's death had reached him, L found himself watching Light closely, even when he had the handcuffs removed. He was too perfect, though that was old news. It angered the detective almost more than anything, judt to merely watch the teen go about his daily routines. There was something so terribly wrong about everything that was happening, and no one else seemed to see it; if they did, they merely dismissed it, convincing themselves of Light Yagami's innocence. Whether L wanted to admit it or not, everything going on was becoming overwhelming for his tired mind. He had tried, several times, to rest, though he could not fall into that deep sleep he knew he so desperately needed. His thoughts were consumed by the prospect of gathering enough evidence to prove that Light was Kira, and to put him - and any other Kira that may arise in addition to him - to justice, once and for all. Images of BB doubled over in pain, hands clutching at his chest, flashed through the detective's mind constantly. He had been killed, alone in that white-walled cage the world insisted he would be so much better off inside. L felt guilty; he should have been there for B, should have rescued him before it was too late.
He wondered if, behind that innocent facade, Light knew what he had done. Did the boy feel any remorse at all, or was everyone that died by his hand just another 'sacrifice' to make the world a better place? Did he think, even once, that the criminals he murdered had families and people who cared about them still? Or did he believe criminals do not deserve love?
Did he know he had destroyed the life of the only lover L had ever had? The only person the eccentric detective had ever allowed to become close to him?
Yagami Light, do you know that I am grieving? Silently, he willed the teen to hear the sentence he so desperately wanted to say aloud. Because Light knew nothing of suffering; he knew nothing of the pain L could not force away, and the stinging tears that would never be permitted to fall.
L Lawliet found solace in the rain that beat down on the roof of the investigation building. He lifted his face to the cloud-laden sky and closed his eyes, wanting that cold rain to wash away all his troubles. It could never be done (L knew that all-too-well), but sometimes, just the thought was enough. He could hear the bells so clearly today.. So clearly. With a silent sigh, a crystalline tear rolled down the porcelain face and mixed with the rain, the carefully constructed mask cracking wide open.
L could not have said that his death was unexpected, because it was not. In fact, it had been looming over him for quite a while - it was only the matter of when. That damn pain, though, was a bit surprising. Seeing as the detective had never experienced a heart attack before, he didn't quite know what to expect. He fell from the chair, and was almost welcoming the blackness that he supposed was going to engulf him within a minute or so. L knew Light was Kira - he had had since the start, and looking up into the sepia eyes and the expression oozing with pride and false concern, only confirmed the suspicions once again. He opened his mouth with every intention of raising Yagami's Kira percentage to one-hundred percent with his dying breath, but stopped. Black was beginning to overtake his vision, and he closed his eyes.
Huh? ...Oh, you're finally here! Lawli, Lawli. ~ Nothing can hurt you now, my Lawli! I'm here, and you'll be safe with me. I promise.