Fear is The Enemy
By: L..Is.Cool
CHAPTER EIGHT
Disclaimer: Before I go on, I would like to say I'm sorry for the rushed Chapter Seven. I can only update during school and I only have one hour to write the chapter and update it, so I'm sorry if the chapters seem rushed. I'm trying to slow them down a bit. Anywho, back to the fic! I do not own Death Note or anything else. And knowing that, I weep. Lot's of OOCness on L and Light's part and some mild cursing. I may change the rating to M. Just letting you know! Enjoy the chapter!
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Evil, maniacal laughter. It rang through the apartment building, cold and cruel. To anyone within ear shot, it was the sound of a madman. A madman...rejoicing in his triumph. Aziz Hiraoka was the madman. Sitting on his gleaming leather sofa, his dearest puppet beside him, he laughed. In the corner, Ryuk munched on a equally shiny apple. "Beautiful!" Aziz held onto his sides as he laughed. Tears started to form in his eyes. "Wonderful! Puppet, Misa. Tell me again. What was L's reaction when you got angry?" Misa didn't look up from her hands as she replied, "L became scared. He said he was sorry for making me upset and that he would let Light go on a date with me alone. He was willing to give me anything I wanted."
Aziz had to stop laughing, his sides were beginning to hurt. "Wonderful," he said again, wiping away a tear. "That's perfect Misa, just perfect." He reached out and placed a hand on her cheek. "I'm so proud of you Puppet." "Thank you." Ryuk finished eating his apple and flew over to Aziz. "I don't get it. So L decided to let this Light guy off the hook, big deal. I don't see way you're so happy." Aziz rolled his eyes at the Shinigami. "It's actually very simple. Thanks to my programming, L is now afraid." "Afraid of what?" Aziz held up two fingers. "One, he's afraid to be alone. And two, he's afraid of people becoming angry at him." Aziz smiled. "It all worked so perfectly I can hardly believe it." Ryuk still didn't see what the big deal was. "So he's afraid now? How's that gonna help you?" "It's going to help me because it's nearly impossible for someone not to get angry. It's nearly impossible for you to have constant company. And L is no exception."
Aziz glanced to the side, dropping his voice to nearly a whisper. "Every time he's left alone...every time someone becomes angry at him...he'll suffer an attack. Fear will be the only thing he's able to feel. No one will be able to comfort him. No one will be able to save him. And when L finally goes insane from his fears, I'll be free to kill anyone I want. No one will be able to stop me!" Ryuk just shrugged. He really didn't care. Misa, who was yet again under Aziz's control, remained silent and still. Turning to her, Aziz flashed her a smile. "Look at me Puppet and tell me I'm great." Misa turned to him but amazingly, she didn't speak. Ryuk noticed and he let out a small chuckle. Aziz's smile started to fade. "Misa. Tell me I"m great." Again, the only sound was from Ryuk. "Looks like she's not gonna listen to you." Aziz growled and grabbed Misa's shoulders, shaking her slightly. "Obey me! Tell me I'm great!" "You're great." Aziz nodded and glared at the girl. "That's right. And don't you ever disobey me again you little brat. Tell me if you understand!" Misa stared at Aziz, her eyes filled with nothing. "I understand."
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They didn't discuss it. Once L had finally calmed down, and had received a new chocolate bar, both he and Light returned to their separate work, acting as if nothing had happened. But they could both feel it. The dark, looming cloud of uncertainty and mystery. And even though on the outside they seemed calm, serene in fact, inside they were shaky, full of anxiety. Mostly on L's part. But they were marvelous actors and when the Investigation Team returned from their break, they didn't notice a thing. In their eyes, nothing was wrong with Light or L.
But Light knew L better than anyone, almost as well as Watari. Light could see that L was far from okay. He was just very talented at hiding it. The signs of the older man's anxiety were very clear. L was sitting in a much more hunched position than usually, his dark hair practically drowning his face. The glow from his computer screen showed the barely visable lines of stress that pierced L's normally unemotional face. Another sign of his distress were the ten empty plates stacked up neatly beside him. It had been nine hours since the whole ordeal had happened and in that time, L had devoured seven slices of cake, two servings of ice cream and an entire plate of sugar cookies. Not to mention about a hundred cups of sugary tea and the handfuls of candy on the side. 'How can he keep eating all that junk?'
Light knew the answer. He'd figured out some time ago that L's way of dealing with stress and other unwanted emotions was with sweets. An idiot could have figured that out. But it was so unhealthy. Light couldn't possibly think of taking in that much junk. He didn't want to.
And with all his thoughts the detective, Light was finding it very difficult to focus on his work. Not with the still fresh memories of L's strange behavior in his mind. And despite the fact that the man suspected him of being a mass murder, Light couldn't help worrying about him. He was loath to admit it, but Light cared for L. L was one of the very few people that Light could relate to intelligently. Of course he didn't enjoy that moments when L would outsmart him, but those moments were becoming fewer. Light could talk to L. He could make an actual conversation with the man. Light was growing close to the detective. It was true that the handcuffs played a big part in that department but Light felt that he was growing close to L as a person, not as a suspect.
And that's why he was worried. Because he cared. Light sighed suddenly and rubbed his eyes, tearing his gaze away from L to the clock. It was ten o' clock. Then he glanced back at L. He was typing away at his keyboard. 'He'd never agree to letting the Team go this early.' But Light had to talk to L. He needed to know what exactly had happened earlier today. And he couldn't question L about it while the Investigation Team was still here. L had too much pride. Plus, Light could see that L was tired. His ordeal today had drained him emotionally. He wasn't use to such emotions bombarding him like that. So Light decided to speak up. "Ryuzaki?" L only nodded once to show that he was listening. Light continued. "I think we should close up early tonight. Like right now. We've had a long day and I thin it would be best."
Matsuda and everyone else turned to stare at L for his reaction, expecting him to argue and dress up Light's words as some plan to stop the investigation. For a long while, L didn't speak. He just continued to type away. Then finally, before Light could get angry, L spoke up. "I...suppose." Light didn't fail to notice the small tremble in his voice. 'He's afraid to disagree with me, that I'll get angry.' Matsuda blinked. "What?" Aziawa's puzzled expression was priceless. "Ryuzaki?" L glanced at his team then back to the computer screen. "You may all leave for the night. Thank you for your hard work." It took the Investigation Team a moment to register what L had said but after a minute, they headed out. Though they wondered about L's behavior, they were tired. They'd take any break they could get.
Light waited till they were gone to turn his attention back to L. "Come on L, I'm a little tired. Why don't we pack up too?" Another tremble ran through L's body. "Raito-kun...I..." Sensing his distress, Light gave him a smile. "It's okay L. I won't get angry, if that's what you're afraid of." L was silent. He looked up then at Light and his black orbs were filled with weariness. "I can't explain what's happening to me Raito-kun, but I don't want you to be angry, it's true." L sighed and stood up, along with Light. One of his hands crept up to his stomach. "I'm afraid that I'm not feeling very well. It would be best, I assume, if I got some sleep." Light nodded and then waited for L to reach his side. L merely glanced up at the man before lowering his head and starting for the bedroom they shared. Light let out a small sigh and followed the older man. Hopefully, a good night's sleep would help L. But with all that sugar, Light doubted it. He remembered that when his sister would eat lots of sugar before bed, she'd have nightmares. Bad ones. But L was different from his sister. L wouldn't get nightmares.
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A/N: I'm so sorry about not updating for so long! I just wanted to slow this chapter down a bit. But don't worry. I'll have Chapter Nine up soon! And I just want to say thanks to everyone who's reading my fanfics. It really means a lot! (starts to tear up) I promised myself I wouldn't cry! Just take your cookies now and review please! Chapter Nine coming soon! See ya!