L awoke in total darkness. Had he been asleep? He couldn't tell. There were no nightmares, which seemed like a dream itself. He only knew there was darkness…
L stretched himself out of his scrunched up form with his legs pulled to his chest and back slightly hunched over. He placed his hand on Light… wait. Where was Light? Had he seriously been asleep? He felt the cold sheets. Light had been gone for a while.
L pulled himself out of bed. There was a strange smell in the air. He couldn't quite understand it. It was sweet, but there was also a foul smell with it. He looked at the clock:
5:30 A.M.
L groaned. Why had he been sleeping so long now? Usually he'd get about two hours of sleep, but now he'd been getting four or five hours… Maybe it was due to his lack of work? He hadn't solved a proper case in a little over nine months.
L shifted from the clock when the foul smell became stronger. Was it smoke? He walked down the hall way till he got to the stair case. It's coming from the kitchen, He thought as he walked down the stairs and peered through the kitchen door.
Light looked into the oven and reached out his bare hand to grip the pan. He quickly jerked it back when his tan flesh touched the hot surface.
"Ow!-Damn it!" Light yelled cradling his hand. He looked back into the oven. "Ya know it be great if you would help me!" Light looked at the cat on the table whose eyes were following a fly across the room. "Kira!" The cat looked up at Light. "I need help how do I get this thing out without burning my hand off?"
The cat tilted his head before jumping off the table. He walked over to a drawer two cabinets down from the oven. He looked at Light then back to the drawer. Light pulled back on the knob and saw small pieces of cloth.
Light smiled as he picked up a blue rag with thick fabric. "Thank you, Kira," Light muttered turning back to the oven. Light quickly removed the pan from the oven. He placed it on the stovetop before turning it off.
Light returned to the table sitting in his usual seat. Kira jumped on L's chair then to the table walking towards Light.
Light looked at his now red hand comparing it with his tan, untouched right hand. Light looked up at Kira showing off his hands. "What do you think?"
Kira licked Lights burn. Light sucked in a deep breath feeling something touch his skin. "You think Ryuzaki will like it?" He asked trying to avoid his pain.
The cat mewed cheerfully.
"Okay," Light lifted himself from his seat and walked back over to the pan. "Let's get this bad boy outta here!" Light yelled with Kira's eyes watching him curiously.
Light pulled out a plate from the cabinet behind him right beside the refrigerator. He set the plate on the counter beside the stove. Light picked up the rag again as he picked up the pan. He quickly turned it over above the plate. The fluffy white mass crumbled out of the pan in small chunks. Light eyed the crumbs.
"What happened?"Light muttered as he dumbfounded picked up the plate.
L entered the kitchen. He was amused by Light's frantic running around the kitchen, but he had to know what was going on. He pretended to be utterly surprised when he saw Light. "Light, what are you doing?"
Light's cheeks were highlighted with a deep shade of crimson. He turned around to face his friend. "Ryuzaki, I-uh…" He scanned the room now seeing the mess he'd made.
There was flour everywhere. It'd been slashed across the wooden cabinets. Bottles leaked out their small amounts of liquid on the counter. Bowls and cups were stacked along the counter.
"I'll clean this mess up," Light muttered.
L looked at the plate in Light's hands. "What were you making?"
Light looked embarrassed as he looked at the large chunks on the plate. "Oh-uh… I was trying to make a cake for you. I don't know what went wrong…"
L walked over to the "cake" and lifted a piece in his mouth. I was sweet, too sweet. L could taste the sugar cubes crunching between his teeth. It was also, very dry. The soft cake was screaming for some type of liquid. It had a bitter aftertaste either from being slightly burned, or being loaded with flour. "It's really not that bad," L lied lifting another bite to his mouth.
"You don't have to lie to me, Ryuzaki. I know it's terrible… I guess I didn't get my measurements right."
L saw Light was using drinking glasses as measuring cups. "Those glasses are more than a cup…"
Light's right hand slapped his head jokingly. "I didn't put any eggs in it either. I know you don't like them."
This statement made L happy. Light was really trying to please him. "You have to put eggs in regardless, Light. Eggs hold the cake together and moisten it."
"Oh…" Light smiled sheepishly.
"What possessed you to even make a cake, anyway?"
"Oh yeah," Light paused for a moment to set the plate down on the counter. He turned with arms outstretched to L. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Light pulled L into a tight hug.
"How did you know it's my birthday?" L said fighting the urge to hug Light in return.
"Watari told me yesterday. I was trying all day to figure out what I could do for you. And then at dinner last night…" Light couldn't finish his sentence.
"Are you okay? You seemed to be in a lot of pain…"
"Oh no. You know how my headaches are. I'm fine. I was just kind of… upset when I woke up."
"Why?" L stared at Light nervously pulling out of Light's hug.
"Umm… Nothing." Light smiled.
L remembered Light's hand. He grabbed Light's wrist checking the red skin. "C'mon we need to wrap your hand."
L led Light to the skin letting cool water run over it. Light hissed as he felt the water run down his fingers into his palm. L opened a cabinet beside Light's leg and pulled out some gauzes. He rubbed Light's hand dry with the cloth he used to take out the "cake" after he turned off the water. L wrapped up Light's left hand in the white gauze.
"Sorry I didn't get you anything," Light commented.
"You tried to make me a cake, Light. I'm happy... I've never celebrated my birthday before, so you don't have to do anything special."
Light's got wide with surprise. "I'm not going to forget your birthday! We need to celebrate. How old are you anyway?"
"I'm not going to actually tell you my age. It doesn't matter anyway. We're not going to celebrate."
"But Ryuzaki -" Light started.
"Why is this so important to you?"
Light sighed, "If you weren't born then I'd be alone..." Light's hair fell in his face. "If Ryuzaki wasn't here then I don't know what I'd do..."
L didn't think he impacted Light that much. He couldn't help but feel happy when Light said this, but he knew what would've happened if he wasn't around. "It's okay, Light. I'm sure you would have managed to get by."
Light looked up at him nervously, "Ryuzaki, I know it's your birthday, but I was wondering if I could ask for something?"
"You may," L replied knowing Light too well.
"Well... can I have a kiss?" Light asked in hopes that L would say yes.
Apparently, L didn't know Light as well as he thought he did. He looked into Light's eyes trying to reject them. L got just couldn't say no to Light, especially when he wanted something. "Just a small one okay?"
Light nodded as L placed his hands on the sides of Light's face. L gentle kissed Light feeling warmth when their lips touched. Light wrapped his arms around L's waist as L moved his hands down to rest on Light's chest.
It felt... good. L had to admit that. He licked Light's bottom lip requesting entrance, which Light happily allowed. L moved his tongue against Light's as they competed for dominance. Light had done this before.
L pulled away. Both of them were panting. A small trail of saliva was the only thing that connected them to each other.
L realized he wanted more. He turned away trying to gather his thoughts.
"Ryuzaki," Light muttered in L's ear sending shivers down his spine, "thank you."
L put his thumb up to his mouth biting the nail gently. "Y-you're welcome."
Light's arms encircled around L's waist pulling him into Light's chest so Light could see his face. "Hey Ryuzaki, you think we could have a party tonight? It doesn't have to be big. It could be just the two of us. Please?"
L closed his eyes as he felt Light's steady breathing on his forehead. "That's fine, Light."
Why is my heart beating so fast? And Why am I felling nervous all of a sudden? It couldn't be... No! It can't be... Love? No, I can't be in love with Light. I mean, I had one moment when I thought I was, but I'm not! I can't be...
Light squeezed L close to him nuzzling his neck, "Thank you, Ryuzaki!" Light walked over to the table. "C'mon, Kira, we've got work to do." The cat jumped off the table following Light out of the room.
L looked at the unclean counters and smiled. Of course... L reached in his pocket and grabbed his cell phone, "Hello, Watari... "
L decided he would try to please Light. After his shower he put on a sleek, black suit. He couldn't remember the last time he wore one. He pulled on a white, silk shirt tucking it into his pants neatly. He found a red tie and decided he would wear it too. L looked down at a pair of black dress shoes.
Should I wear those too? I think if I'm going to do this I should do this right… Why am I so stressed out about this? It's just my birthday. L sighed looking at the shoes. I really don't want to, but… L picked up the shoes and began to put them on his feet.
He looked at himself in the mirror. It feels weird. L walked out of his room and made his way down the hall. Light was laughing with Watari about something. He could hear them.
L walked to the edge of the stair case. He saw the younger man running around frantically.
"Watari, where do you think he'll want these?" He heard Light say. Light soon ran out with a vase of roses darting into the next room. Light had on the same brown suit, or was it a different one?
Light came out of the room. He passed a quick glance in L's direction continuing to walk ahead. Light stopped and turned, "Ryuzaki?"
L walked down the stairs smoothing out his suit. "Well, what do you think? It's not too much is it?"
"No, you look great," Light said not taking his eyes off L for a moment. He looked back into L's eyes before smiling, "I've got to go help Watari. You go sit down." Light motioned to the room he just came out of.
L entered the dining room. They only ate in there on special occasions or when they had guests over. There was a long mahogany table that sat in the middle of the room and eighteen chairs surrounded it. Red roses sat in a vase in the center of the table. L walked along the hardwood floors and sat in the end chair closest to the door.
He removed his shoes sitting in his normal position as Watari entered with a silver tray with two plates on them. Watari placed one in front of L and the other to his right. Watari poured L a glass of champagne filling a second for Light.
L looked at his plate. There was chicken that had been brazed in some kind of red sauce and white rice sat beside it with sautéed vegetables beside that. It looked delicious.
L turned to Watari, "Are you going to join us, Watari?"
"I've been informed that this evening belongs to you and Light," The elder bowed before walking out of the room.
Light opened the doors soon after Watari left. He smiled when he saw L waiting for him.
"Is the food to your liking?" Light asked sitting down at the table.
L nodded, "It's really good."
They sat in silence as they ate.
"Light is spoiling me," L noted drinking his champagne.
"What makes you say that? I just wanted you to be happy," Light smiled. "After all, it is nice to celebrate once in a while."
L watched as Light stared blankly into space. He felt strange when he was with Light. He was always worried that his nightmares would become reality. He wanted to test the possibility of Light actually regaining his memories. If Kira would surface…
"Light," L asked, "what would be your idea of a 'perfect world'?"
Light looked questioning L, "A perfect world?" Light thought for a moment. "Well, I guess a world where I'd have my memories back and not have to worry about these headaches and… of course you'd be there, Ryuzaki."
L blushed as he looked at Light's eyes. They were honest. He stepped back into his shoes and stood up he quckly brushed against Light's lips with his. He looked for a moment into Light's wide eye before he left the room.
As soon as he shut the door to their room he felt tears form in his eyes. He never cried. He quickly removed his tie and shoes. He let his jacket fall to the floor and started unbuttoning his shirt. A tear ran down his cheek. Followed by another, then another, then another…
L fell into bed curling up into a ball. He buried his head into his pillow letting his tears fall.
Why is this happening? Why am I feeling like this? It shouldn't be this hard! Why is he so innocent? He's trying to throw me off my game or something, right?
Light opened the door entering into the dark room. "Ryuzaki?" Light muttered seeing L still curled up on his bed.
Light pulled off his tied as he stepped out of his shoes. He put his jacket and tie on his chair as he walked back to the bed. "Ryuzaki, are you alright?"
L gripped his pillow nodding, but not revealing his face. He felt Light's arms wrap around his waist as he felt his heat on his back. "Ryuzaki shouldn't lie," Light whispered in his ear.
L turned around burying his face in Light's chest. "What's wrong, Ryuzaki?" L sank deeper into Light's chest. "Ryuzaki…"
"Don't worry about me," He muttered. "I'm fine."
Light stroked L's hair he noticed L's pillow. "Have I upset you?"
"I'm fine!" L sounded annoyed, but didn't remove himself from Light's arms.
"Then why are you crying?"
L looked into Light's eyes. There was sincerity and fear in them. He couldn't see any traces of the red head been expecting. He could see Light. Only Light.
"I'm sorry," L gave him a nervous grin. "I've been thinking too much lately, but I really am fine. Thank you for tonight. I rea—"
Light kissed L gently. "Don't," Light smiled as he looked back at L. "Happy Birthday, Ryuzaki."
L nuzzled Light's neck feeling Light's breathing get steady as he fell asleep. L looked up at the peaceful Light brushing back his hair. It made him happy that Light was there with him. He settled down against Light's chest and closed his eyes.
Ya chapter 3 TBC! tell me what you think...