A/N: Ohaithurr!!! Wow, I am so excited about this chapter! The plot is finally starting to pick up! YESSSH!!!
Thank you all, once again, for you're awesome reviews! Please, keep them coming!
Okay, for this chapter, we finally get an insight into what happened to split our two love muffins up when they were wittle kids!! Just a hint, but such an ooey gooey lovely hint! Gah! I love it!
And we see the further development of NOW!LightandL's relationship. Gah, is it so terrible to love your own creation? (DISCLAIMER! I DON'T OWN ANYTHING BUT THE PLOT AND RANDOM ASS OC'S ONLY USED TO ADVACE SAID PLOT!!!) Didn't want that creation comment to be taken the wrong way, after all! Lulz!
The Art of Drowning
I Wish You Wouldn't Go
"What do you mean she's disappeared?" exclaimed Light.
L shrugged. "I mean that I am uncertain as to the death god's location. I have not seen her since the night I placed you back into confinement."
"But that's been . . . wait, how long has that been?"
"We are on the fourth day of your confinement," confirmed L, drawing his knees up.
"Seems like it's been longer," remarked Light, almost ruefully.
"At least Raito-kun is not immobile and on the floor anymore."
"Yes, but were the handcuffs completely necessary?" asked Light, holding up his tightly bound hands.
"Of course. I cannot have you getting a hold of a pen. The shinigami once said that it was wholly possible to kill using only a piece of the notebook. It is very possible that Raito-kun has a piece of the notebook hidden somewhere on his person."
"What?! That's absurd! You've searched me already, and I didn't have anything on me!" exclaimed Light.
"Well, I have not had Watari perform a full body cavity search on Raito-kun," said L, biting thoughtfully on his thumb and staring at Light with wide eyes.
"Wh-What?!" yelled Light, his face flushing without permission.
Light barely caught the minute upturn of the detectives lips, and glared at the quiet detective sitting in front of him. The bastard obviously enjoyed toying with him.
"Would you rather Watari give you a full body cavity search, Raito-kun? Perhaps we would take the handcuffs off providing you do not have any hidden pieces of the Death Note shoved into any unexpected orifices," continued L casually.
Try as he might, Light couldn't stop his jaw from slackening. He didn't know whether to be insulted by the detective finding such amusement at his expense or laugh along with him.
He settled on a surprised chuckle. Lawli blinked and quirked his head. This was obviously not an expected reaction.
"Who the hell said you should be a detective? I think you missed your true calling as a stand up comedian," said Light.
His comment elicited another small smile from L.
"Now Raito-kun is just being facetious."
Light just shrugged, sharing a smile with the detective.
"Well, at least you did a good job of distracting me from my earlier line of questioning," commented Light.
L quirked his head. "I was unaware that the subject was still open. You asked where the death god was, and I said I was unsure. Why did you even want to know, Raito-kun?"
Light sighed. "I thought if you could bring her down here, then she could tell you that I really am Kira."
"Was that Raito-kun's plan?" asked L thoughtfully. It seemed more like a rhetorical question, but Light answered anyway.
"Yes, it was. I was going to tell you the whole story about how I found the Death Note and everything that happened afterwards. Then, coupled with Rem's confirmation, I was hoping to see the inside of a court room by tomorrow morning."
"I wonder why Raito-kun is so eager to meet death? Raito-kun must know that even if he does convince me that he is Kira, I will not arrest Raito-kun until I have found out how he knows my name," said L.
Light leaned back, thudding his head against the wall. "That's the one thing I won't tell you, Ryuuzaki."
"I guess Raito-kun will be here for awhile then," said L, his eyes roving over Light, trying to gauge his reaction.
For his part, Light only closed his eyes. Why did Lawli have to make it so goddamned difficult?
"Yes, I suppose I will be here awhile," agreed Light, his eyes still closed.
"I certainly hope so, Raito-kun," replied the detective softly.
This caused Light's eyes to fly open in confusion. He stared at the hunched figure, who's eyes were just as guarded as Light's.
"Why would you hope for something like that, Ryuuzaki? Wouldn't you be happy to have this case closed?" asked Light, drawing out the words in his confusion.
L shrugged. "I meant it when I said that Raito-kun was my first ever friend. I do not want to lose him to Kira, whether he is being controlled by Kira or if they are the same person. I would be very unhappy either way."
Sudden, unexpected emotion choked Light, and he had to close his eyes once more. He couldn't even look at the detective, not after he said something like that. He was Lawli's first ever friend? Was he lying? Didn't he remember the young boy who lived with him in a London orphanage for all those years? Was Light Layfield just a bad memory for the detective?
"Did I upset you Raito-kun?" asked L. His voice was hesitant and soft.
Light shook his head, clearing away the depressing thoughts and kept his eyes closed.
"No. I'm not upset."
He opened his eyes, coming to a decision. "You're my first ever friend too, Ryuuzaki. In fact, I'd have to say you're my best friend."
The grin that met his eyes was brilliant and achingly familiar. There was Lawli, shining through the detective.
"I am glad Raito-kun feels the same as I do," said L, his voice still quiet.
"Yeah," replied Light, studiously avoiding the L's gaze.
"Would Raito-kun like to play a game?" asked L suddenly.
Light's brow furrowed in confusion. "A game? Don't we already play enough of those?"
He was surprised to hear L give a sharp, quick laugh. "Yes, that's right Raito-kun, but I was thinking something along the lines of chess."
"Sure, I wouldn't mind a game, but do we even have a chess board? And how will I move the pieces? With my teeth?" asked Light, waving around his bound hands for emphasis.
"As amusing as I would find Raito-kun playing chess with his teeth, I was thinking of something more along the lines of mental chess," replied L.
"I repeat, don't we already play enough of that game, Ryuuzaki?" chuckled Light.
L smiled slightly in return. "Pawn to D-6"
"Hey, who said you could be first, anyway?" questioned Light.
"No one, now do you want to make your move, or is this game too far above Raito-kun's mental capabilities that he will not be able to play?" goaded L.
"Ha, you wish. Pawn to C-5"
"Has there been any change?"
"No, the boy is still in confinement, and he has not found out anything he shouldn't"
"Good. I hope you have decided on an appropriate manner of which to dispose of the boy?"
"Yes, but it will take at least another ten days for everything to come together."
"That's too long."
"It's the best I can do. If I were to try something else, it could be easily linked back to us. My plan will insure our involvement remains a secret."
"Let's just hope that the boy continues to keep his mouth shut."
"From what I've seen, it looks like he will."
"Do we know for certain that this boy is the original Kira?"
"No, not for certain. However, it is a sound possibility."
"His death will serve a two-fold purpose then, if he is in fact the serial killer. Kira is a wild card. His introduction to the game has not been good for our plans."
"No, it has not."
"I expect for you to contact me if anything were to arise. Otherwise, I will contact you again in three days time."
"So, let me get this straight, you told the teacher you wanted to be a gynecologist when you grew up?" asked Lawli, incredulously.
"Well, she wanted to know! I didn't ask her to give me detention! I was completely serious, but if all women are going to act like that when I tell them my life's ambition, then I might as well just - just give up my dream now before someone else beats me down!" exclaimed Light. He threw up his hands to accentuate his point.
"I can almost taste the melodrama wafting off you," deadpanned Lawli.
"Oh, shut up, Lawli!" yelled Light, throwing a punch at his friend's head.
Lawli moved, avoiding the blow, and continued on as if Light had never struck out at him. It was, after all, a normal occurrence.
"You and I both know that gynecology has never been a field that interests you, anyway," said Lawli.
"So? I honestly had given it some thought -"
"Yeah, when you were six. That was four years ago," snorted Lawli.
"- AND I couldn't say that I really wanted to be an astrophysicist because Walter said he wanted to be an astronaut! Walter! Big, fat ugly Walter! He wouldn't even fit in one of those suits! I can't be in the same field as that guy!"
"Still, you should have said something besides gynecology. A ten year old saying that probably wouldn't be taken as seriously as a twenty year old saying the same thing," Lawli pointed out.
"Brilliant deduction, Sherlock," muttered Light.
"I thought so," Lawli hummed in agreement.
They continued on to the dining hall. It was packed with children ranging from all ages, and very loud. The two boys settled down at their usual small table with their dinner, both grimacing.
"Mystery Meat Monday strikes again," commented Lawli, poking his fork at the gravy coated slab of meat.
"Yeah, no kidding. You'd think we'd be used to this by now," remarked Light.
"At least I'll be having something delicious and identifiable tomorrow," said Lawli, a dazed look in his eyes.
"Ugh. Don't rub it in," groaned Light.
"Hey, you should be happy for your best friend! I haven't been off the orphanage grounds in forever! And you'll be going on this day trip soon enough," said Lawli around a mouthful of peach cobbler.
"Yeah, I get to take it in two years! Honestly, it's not bloody fair!" grumbled Light, stabbing a carrot with more force than was strictly necessary.
"Of course it's fair. Every year we take a day trip with our age group. You just don't go anywhere very exciting until you're twelve, and it's not my fault that you aren't twelve. Besides, you went on your day trip last week! Do you know how bored I was without you?" asked Lawli.
"We. Went. To. A. Petting. Zoo!" growled Light, emphasizing each word.
Lawli laughed. "Yeah, I know!"
Light aimed another punch at Lawli's head, but he ducked again.
"Hold still so I can get you just one good time!" yelled Light.
"Yeah, like that's going to happen!"
"Well, if you'd stop moving, it will!"
"BOYS!" shouted a voice, interrupting them.
Recognizing the voice, the boys turned their attention to the imposing figure standing in front of their table. Mrs. Wallace was extraordinarily tall for a woman, and with the extra weight she carried, she reminded them of a giantess. But despite her imposing figure, she was kind and warm hearted.
"Hi, Mrs. Wallace! How are you this lovely evening?" said Light, laying the charm on thick.
Mrs. Wallace, who had known Light since he was just a toddler, simply raised an eyebrow, unaffected by the precocious ten year old.
"I hate having to break up your squabbles. What were you fighting about this time?" she asked, exasperation coloring her words.
Lawli shrugged. "Light's just jealous that I get to go on an awesome day trip tomorrow to the British Museum."
"I am not!" yelled Light, glaring at Lawli.
"Now, L. It's not very nice to goad Light like that," warned Mrs. Wallace.
Lawli sighed. "Of course, you are right Mrs. Wallace. I apologize, Light. I did not mean for my excitement to cause hard feelings between us. Truce?"
Lawli extended his hand, and Light could see that he was slightly smirking. That little bastard!
"That's okay, Lawli. No hard feelings," agreed Light, taking Lawli's hand.
Light squeezed his hand tightly, and Lawli squeezed back just as tight, neither one taking their eyes off the other.
Mrs. Wallace, although not the brightest of women around, knew the children well enough that she spotted the silent battle of wills taking place before her. She simply shook her head and walked away. Honestly, they never stopped, and she could never get them to either. So if they weren't doing any overt damage to themselves, she decided it was best to just leave them alone.
Neither of the boys noticed when Mrs. Wallace walked away. They were too busy glaring at each other, but it was Lawli who broke contact first. After all, his strength had always been in his kicks. His hands were rather delicate, unlike Light's.
"Ha. Light 7,470 to Lawli 7,470. We're tied once again!" grinned Light.
Lawli rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, we're tied again. Now come on, you've got to help me pick out what I should wear tomorrow. You are a fashionista, after all, and I wouldn't want King Tut to see me looking anything less than presentable tomorrow."
If Lawli was trying to distract Light from being jealous about the day trip to the museum, it wasn't working.
"I love how you can both compliment me and rub in the fact that I don't get to go with you tomorrow in the same statement," remarked Light dryly.
Light stood up with Lawli, both dumping their trays, and headed back to the boys dormitory. They took a roundabout route through one of the hallways that was specifically for the infants. Both wanted to avoid the direct route. More often than not, Walter was hanging around with his goons, and Light and Lawli didn't feel like fighting with the older boy today.
"You should probably wear your white shirt tomorrow, and maybe your blue jeans. Yeah, that would look good. Nothing flashy, casual yet utilitarian," Light thought out loud to Lawli.
"But I hate white! You do realize how easily it stains, don't you? Chocolate hardly ever comes out without bleach! And with the funds the way they are, the orphanage can barely afford to employ the few teachers we have here, let alone bleach. Besides, I don't even own a white shirt," argued Lawli.
"Hey, you shouldn't have asked me for my opinion then. And you can borrow mine. Don't you want King Tut to think you're presentable?" asked Light.
"Fine, I'll wear your stupid white shirt, but I hope you know that I am only doing this because I feel bad that you can't tag along. Otherwise, you'd never catch me dead wearing such an unfortunate article of clothing! Just you wait, Light Layfield, I'll come back stained from head to toe," threatened Lawli.
Light huffed. "You better not ruin that shirt on purpose, Lawli. That would be a waste of a perfectly good shirt! And like you said, the orphanage doesn't have the funds to replace any of my shirts you ruin!"
"Which is precisely why I don't want to wear your white shirt!" yelled Lawli.
"Then next time, don't ask me for my opinion!" Light yelled back.
The next morning, Light was smugly satisfied to see Lawli leaving the dorm in his white shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans. It was the first time he could ever remember the other boy wearing a white shirt. Lawli always stuck to black. He would have rolled over and wished his friend a good time on his trip, but he was tired, and he didn't really have to get up for another thirty minutes, so he let himself drift back to sleep, assured that he would be able to rub it in Lawli's face when he returned.
Light wasn't aware that Lawli would die that day, otherwise he wouldn't have let him go.
EDITED: 7-3-09
A/N: Ahhhh, another chapter done. Man I love writing! It's such a rewarding past time!
Soooo, we got a couple of unidentified people plotting to kill Light? Oh, what fun! And exactly how did little L Lawliet die 8 years ago? And why the hell is he alive and kicking now? Could he be . . . A ZOMBIE!!! D: Or maybe . . . . A VAMPIRE!!! D: Lol, most assuredly not, don't worry! But you'll have to stay tuned to find out all those pesky unanswered questions!
Okay, I want to hear from you all! How'd you like it, hmmmm? So, make my day and SAY SOMETHING!