Sol of Luna: Near and Far

Author: Gakusangi

Author's Notes and Acknowledgements:
RECAP – Last time, we met Commander Coil, who is currently defending the Empire from Daimyo attack. Little do his subordinates know, Coil is actually the legendary guildsman, L. L receives a letter, and upon reading it temporarily relinquishes command of the battalions to his second, Captain Hiyama. L then departs the command center. Later we meet back up with Light, who explains to Misa that Ryuzaki had once been his chief strategist, and best friend during the Clan Wars. However, Ryuzaki betrayed Light, and this led to his capture, and future imprisonment. Light decides to pretend to have feelings for Misa, in order to keep from driving her away, so that he can still utilize her 'ability' when the time comes. Meanwhile, Mello catches up with his old friends, Linda and Matt. That evening, a carriage arrives at the Guild, and Nancy opens the doors to find that L has returned.

This is a Death Note fan fiction. Many of the characters presented here are not mine, but the legal property of writer Tsugumi Ohba, and artist Takeshi Obata.

Chapter 09: L is for Legend

Mello and Near stood in the courtyard, the moon hung brilliantly in the clear sky above. The ground was still littered with stone fragments, from the statue Matt had demolished only an hour or so prior. Near silently curled a lock of his hair beside the blonde haired boy. Mello regarded him for a moment, noted how the smaller boy watched the skies, almost as if in a trance. The light of the moon captured in those large, dark eyes of his, granting them an almost eerie glow. The boy's bright colored clothing seemed to harness the light, making him seem somehow luminescent.

Mello realized that he had been watching the white haired boy for a time, and drew his gaze up to the moon. Its silvery glow burned his eyes lightly, but he didn't look away. It was all very beautiful really. Mello hadn't had any time to take in such things over the past couple of days. It was pleasant, and peaceful.

"You should be safe here." Mello said quietly, without looking at Near. "Even if someone knew how to find this place, they wouldn't be stupid enough to attack it."

Near remained silent. Mello had expected as much, but it still annoyed him. After all, he had kept Near alive all the way up to this point, and brought him someplace safe. He felt that he was deserving of a little courtesy.

"Look, I'm gonna need some questions answered." Mello said firmly. "Now I'm not going to ask the obvious ones, like who's chasing after you, and why. I'd like to know about the other stuff. For example…what was with the wolves?"

Near curled his hair quietly. Mello took a breath to stay his rising frustration.

"What about the rain?" Mello asked. "And back in the cave…it was like you burned that thing."

Still, Near continued to curl his hair silently. No longer able to hold himself in check, Mello stepped forward and slapped the smaller boy's hand aside, disrupting his curling. They were silent for a moment. Mello took Near by the front of his shirt pulled him forward, until their faces were only inches apart. Mello's bluer than blue eyes were alight. Near's remained dark, and unreadable. This lack of response only served to make Mello angrier than he already was.

"I'm getting a little tired of the silent treatment." Mello breathed threateningly. "Can you talk, or what?"

Near only looked into Mello's eyes wordlessly.

"Are you too good to talk to me?" Mello snapped.

He shook Near violently.

"You high born bastards are all alike!" Mello was trembling with anger now. "Always looking down on us, like your heaven's gift to the world!"

Mello growled, and threw the white haired boy the ground. Near slowly sat up and began curling his hair. He didn't look at Mello, who stood with his feet apart and his hands balled into fists at his sides so tightly that his nails bit into his palms. Mello's breath came in hot, heaving gasps.

"I'm done with you." Mello said, seeming a little calmer. "I brought you here, like I was told to do. Now you're someone else's problem."

Mello walked past Near and headed back inside. Just before he entered the corridor, he stopped.

"You're not better than me." Mello said quietly, without looking at Near.

Then he stepped inside, leaving Near alone in the courtyard.

(XXX)

A carriage pulled up beside the large, wooden doors of the Guild. It opened, and man stepped out. He was tall, with a slouched posture, which gave the impression that he was much shorter than he really was. His raven hair swooped back and slightly to the side, set just over a pair of deep, unreadable eyes, with dark crescents beneath them. He wore only a white, long-sleeved shirt, and a pair of faded jeans. The man silently walked before the doors of the Guild, and knocked upon them. Soon the doors opened a crack, and Nancy poked her head out from behind them. Her eyes went wide, and her mouth fell open in shocked surprise.

"L!" She gasped.

"Hello, Nancy." L replied in calm voice.

(XXX)

Nancy led the way, lantern in hand, lighting the darkened passages with L following behind at a leisurely pace. Nancy was talking on and on about the antics of the children, and achievements of the Guild Cadets. From the outside it would appear that L wasn't listening to a thing she said, but in reality he heard every word with crystal clarity, filing it down in his memory, whether it was relevant information or not. Nancy knew this, which is why she continued talking. L enjoyed hearing about the Guild, and its members. He especially loved to hear about the children's progress. They were the future of the Guild – of the world. Nancy knew this as well.

They were making their way down the children's quarters, where all the younger guild members were asleep in their beds. One door was open, and L couldn't keep from peeking inside as he and Nancy passed. He was familiar with this room. It belonged to two of his star pupils. Matt and Linda lay asleep at opposite sides of the room. L stopped and watched them sleep for a moment. The corner of his mouth twitched, threatening a smile, but he managed to suppress it, and maintain a blank expression. He reached into the room and quietly closed the door.

He turned to resume walking, only to find Nancy watching him silently, a large smile painted across her aged features. L shrugged, and then they continued down the corridor.

"Mello swears that Roger referred to the boy as, the Prince." Nancy continued. "Of course there isn't any way to confirm whether or not the boy is indeed the Emperor's son or not, but…"

"There is one way." L's dead-tone voice drifted up from behind her.

"Really?" Nancy asked in surprise, turning to look at the man following her.

"I'll have to speak with him." L said.

"He isn't very talkative." Nancy said apologetically. "In fact, Mello says he hasn't spoken a word since they first met. I'm not sure where he is right now, but he should be up. Apparently he only sleeps during the day for some reason. And Mello says he can't stand sunlight. He says that it actually harms him."

"I've heard of such things." L replied. "It's rare, but it does occur."

"I think that Mello's around here somewhere." Nancy murmured. "He's taking Roger's death worst than anybody."

"That's not surprising." L stated flatly. "He was there when Roger died. He feels closer to it than anyone else. And he was never very good at coping with loss in the first place."

"He has lost a lot." Nancy remarked evenly.

"That he has." L replied.

They were silent for a time, Nancy leading L up a set of spiral stairs to the upper floors, where his private quarters were located. Once they stood outside the door to his chambers, Nancy turned to him.

"Mello will want to speak with you." Nancy told him.

"I know." L said. "I'll see him tomorrow, after I've spoken with the other boy."

With that, L slipped into the room, leaving Nancy in the hall.

(XXX)

After the door closed, Matt sat up quietly in his bed. He glanced over at Linda, who was sound asleep on the other side of the room. Matt thought for a moment, before finally grabbing his goggles from the bedpost and placing them on his head. He rolled out of bed and crept to the door. He opened it a crack and peeked out into the hall. There was no one there, and he couldn't hear any voices. He slipped out quietly, gently closing the door behind him, and took down the hall at a quick, stealthy pace.

(XXX)

Mello was sitting in his bed, reading a from a small, black cover book. He was still a little on edge from his one-sided conversation with Near. He had concluded that the white haired boy was completely dead inside. He decided to dismiss the whole issue. Near wasn't his responsibility anymore. One of the senior guild members could take over now. He was only a cadet after all. These sorts of things were out of his hands. His passion was for his studies at this point. He needed to graduate and become a full-fledged Guildsman. Then he could take on his own missions, even apprentice a cadet of his own.

Just then, Mello's door cracked open, and a head of coppery colored hair poked inside. Matt smiled broadly when he saw that Mello was still awake, and came into the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

"I figured you'd be up." Matt said brightly.

He tossed Mello a small bag. Mello peeked inside it, and was met with the sight of dozens of small packages. They were wrapped pieces of chocolate. Mello looked up at his friend with an astonished smile.

"Wow!" Mello said. "There's enough here to last me a couple of days."

"I paid a visit to the kitchen on my way here." Matt said, taking a seat on Mello's bed. "I figured that it help cheer you up."

"Thanks." Mello replied pleasantly.

"Don't mention it." Matt said, and then his tone became urgent as he added, "Seriously, don't mention it."

Mello laughed. He reached into the bag and pulled out one of the packages it. He undid the wrapping and flicked the chocolate into his mouth, letting it melt on his tongue. He had gone too long without any. Matt leaned back until his head was against the wall, and laced his fingers together. He looked thoughtful, which told Mello something was up.

"What is it?" Mello asked around his chocolate.

Matt shrugged. He was enjoying this peaceful moment with his best friends, and didn't want it to end abruptly. But then again, if Mello found out that he knew something…

"I was just thinking..." Matt trailed off.

"What?" Mello urged.

Matt sighed.

"I was just thinking that L looks like he could use some rest." Matt finished.

"He always looks like that." Mello remarked, not sense the underlining message in Matt's words. "What inspired you to reminisce about L?"

Matt shrugged again.

"Oh, I just saw him and Nancy a little while ago," Matt said, "And he looked all tired."

Mello bolted upright from his reclined position, the bag of chocolates falling to the floor, spilling its contents.

"L is here?" Mello gasped.

"Just saw him a few minutes ago." Matt replied without looking at Mello.

Mello rushed out of the room, not even bothering to close the door behind him. Matt chuckled for a moment. Then he rose, picked up the chocolates and placed them back into the bad. He shoved the bag under Mello's bed, and then left the room, closing the door behind himself. He stood in the hall for a moment. Then he heard a small noise. He glanced down the hall, and saw Near approaching quietly. Matt gave the small boy a big smile. Though they hadn't met, he'd heard plenty about the little white haired boy from Mello.

"What's up?" Matt asked.

Near didn't answer, he only stared. Matt thought it was a little creepy, and understood while Mello didn't like it. Matt cleared his throat.

"Uh, Mello isn't here," Mat said, "He left just a minute ago."

Near curled his hair round one pale finger. Matt figured that L wanted to talk to the boy. He could point Near in the right direction, but Mello wanted to see L. So instead Matt approached the white haired boy and threw an arm about his slender shoulders.

"Come on." Matt said gently. "I'll give you a tour. It's a rare privilege that most outsiders don't have."

Matt figured Mello would owe him after this one.

(XXX)

"Yagami's popularity is increasing his numbers with each passing day," The Emperor said blankly, "Of all the clans that aren't under my banner, his is the most threatening."

The Guildsman stood silently. He was a bizarre sight. He was hunched, with plain clothing, messy, raven hair, and crescents under his large, dark eyes. He was almost as unreadable as the Emperor himself. The presents of the two men in one place made all the guardsmen around the room shuffle uncomfortably.

"I need to break his power." The Emperor continued. "He must be stopped before he overcomes the other clans, and integrates them into his own ranks."

"You fear that he can supersede you?" The Guildsman asked calmly.

"An Emperor is nothing without his people." The Emperor explained, descending the steps and coming to stand before the Guildsman without fear. "Yagami threatens to take the people from me. The Empire would crumble. Everything that we've achieved would be lost. The land would break apart into scattered, leaderless baronies."

"I doubt that this war will lead to that sort of scenario, your Highness." The Guildsman said evenly. "Yagami wants power worthy of an emperor. He won't let the Empire divide itself. All of his actions point to unified chain of power."

Silence filled the open chamber. The Emperor smiled coldly.

"I can tell that you are an intelligent man." The Emperor remarked, though he was smiling his tone was still dead. "Do you have a plan to stop Yagami's progress?"

"I do." The Guildsman answered.

His answer had been quick but calm, unshaken by the Emperor. The other men in the throne room all stood in tense silence. It was like a battle between the two men, with neither gaining ground of the other. But it was a fierce battle nonetheless.

"Light Yagami holds rallies in many villages and towns." The Guildsman explained. "It's how he gains support. He's very charismatic. He can reach out to the people. Since he isn't a noble born, he is viewed as one of them, and they relate to that. He talks about basic rights, and improved standards of living. Then he slanders the Empire with propaganda. It's very cunning strategy, and extremely effective. He isn't meeting you with the sword, though he's more than capable, he's fighting you in a completely different arena, one where the victor is decided by the last word."

"And you've found a way to exploit this?" The Emperor asked, though it couldn't be detected, he was impressed with the Guildsman's analysis.

"I intend to go to one of these rallies, and then join in with Yagami's troop." The Guildsman said. "After that, it's all a matter of first getting his attention, and then earning his trust."

"Take him from the inside." The Emperor mused. "That's very clever."

"Now, it's all a matter of negotiating a price." The Guildsman announced.

The Emperor grinned again. The war was as good as over.

(XXX)

"Let's see…" L pondered aloud.

He was sitting in his usual squat position behind his desk. The entire surface of the table was little with every manner of pastry and sweet imaginable. There were cakes of all varieties, donuts and maple bars as well. There diced and frosted strawberries in a large bowl. There was dish with a pyramidal stack of chocolate candies. It was every child's dream. Now all that was left was to decide where to start. Just then the door flew open. L glanced up casually, and met the blue eyes of a blonde haired boy, who stood panting in the doorway.

"I figured you'd arrive sooner or later." L said blankly.

"When did you get back?" Mello panted quickly.

"I only just arrived." L replied, his attention going back to his sweets.

Mello entered the room, and quietly closed the door. He walked silently over to the desk and took a seat opposite L. They didn't say anything for a while. That is until curiosity finally overwhelmed Mello's resolve.

"How are things at the border?" Mello asked just to fill the silent void.

"They're catching on." L admitted. "I'm having trouble staying ahead. I left a trustworthy man in charge, but I need to get back soon. Otherwise they'll undoubtedly gain a foothold."

"You can do it." Mello encouraged.

"Maybe." L replied. "I'm starting to wonder if I have much more of this in me."

"You can do it." Mello repeated, a little more firmly.

L looked up and regarded the boy for a moment. He was strong, and intelligent. He was so like him, yet unlike him in every way. L nodded silently in agreement. Mello smiled. L pushed the dish of pyramid chocolates over to the boy. Mello hesitantly took one, and popped it into his mouth.

"This…Prince situation makes things more complicated for us." L said. "I'll have to consider our next move very carefully."

"Do you have any ideas?" Mello asked.

"I have one, but I can't make any final decisions without first speaking with the Prince." L explained.

"Good luck with that one." Mello muttered.

"I've heard he can be…difficult to communicate with." L replied.

"That's an understatement," Mello remarked, "A serious understatement."

They were quiet again. Mello laced his fingers and lowered his head.

"L, about Roger…" Mello began.

"Yes?" L asked.

Mello knew that L wouldn't stop him, not like all the others had. He would let Mello talk. He would hear his words in their entirety. But what would he say?

"I couldn't save him." Mello finished without looking at L.

"No, you couldn't." L said quietly. "But then again, I don't believe anyone could. All you could do was follow an order. No could or should have expected anything more. You got back here alive, and you brought your charge back with you. There was no failure on your part."

Mello looked up then, his eyes glistening with tears.

"I couldn't save him." Mello choked.

L looked into the boy's eyes, seeing the hurt that lay deep behind them. He placed his feet on the ground and rose from his chair. He came around the desk and stood silently before Mello. Mello came up from his chair and wrapped his arms around L, burying his face into the man's chest, and sobbed. L placed his arms gently about the crying boy and held him tightly. They stayed that way for a time, L running his fingers through Mello's blonde hair.

(XXX)

Near entered the courtyard for the second time that day, this time with a tall, redheaded boy, in a black and white, striped shirt. The boy looked down at Near with goggle covered eyes, and grinned.

"I like this place, don't you?" Matt asked.

Near didn't answer, but Matt hadn't expected him to.

"It's peaceful, quiet, and warm." Matt said, more to himself. "I spend so much time inside, that it's kinda nice to see the stars every once in while."

Near looked up, his eyes locking on the moon again. Matt noticed this.

"You think it's made of cheese?" Matt asked suddenly.

Near's gaze broke from the moon and he looked to Matt again. Matt could have sworn that he saw a puzzled expression cross the boy's face for an instant. It was what he had intended.

"Hey diddle-diddle, the cat and the fiddle," Matt recited, his eyes drawn up to the silvery sphere in the sky, "And a cow jumped over the moon."

Near regarded Matt for a moment. He wasn't like Mello. He had something. Something underneath, that was special. Near looked back up into the clear, starry skies.

"Moo." Matt said quietly, and then chuckled with amusement.

(XXX)

Mello was asleep, curled up in one of the armchairs. L and draped a blanket over the blonde boy. L himself sat behind his desk, most of the sweets and pastries having been eaten only moments ago. He was writing a letter, one of the most important letters he had ever written. The only light in the room came from the fireplace, making shadows dance wickedly about L's sharp features. His dark eyes never blinked. Once he had finished the letter, he placed it in an envelope. He pulled out a lighter, and melted a few drops of red wax onto the envelope, sealing it.

He didn't bother to insignia the wax. The Guild didn't do things like that, not when secrets needed to be passed. He turned the envelope over, and scribbled the name of its intended receiver across it. He regarded the letter for a moment, thought whirling about his head. These were dire times, and he couldn't afford error. Yet he could not seem to finalize his decision.

"For what it's worth." L murmured.

The ink glistened in the firelight, making the name upon the envelope glow.

Naomi Misora

To Be Continued…

Author's Comments

I think Linda will play a bigger role in the next chapter. I do love her character. Yay, more of Matt, and L! Some good character interactions, I liked this chapter.