Fear is The Enemy
By: .Cute
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Disclaimer: Okay guys. I feel like maybe I should apologize for all the cliff-hangers, but I won't because cliff-hangers are super fun and what fun would this fic be if I just gave you the ending? I believe that characters have to work for their happy endings and if they have to work, then you, readers, have to wait at the edge of your seat for the answer. And if you are waiting at the edge of your seat for the answers, then I've done my job! ^_^ Anywho, thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far. Really, it was you guys who kept me going even when I had really bad writers block! ^_^ So, with that aside, on with the disclaimer! I do not own Death Note or any of it's characters. If I did, the Death Note series would have ended very differently. OOCness, and lots of it on L's part. Sorry about that. And just one more warning: This chapter is why I changed the rating. ^_^ Enjoy!

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As Light walked away from Aziz's bedroom, the only thing that mattered was obeying Aziz's order: Wait in the living room. So, Light did as he was told. He walked into the small, dark living room, sat down on the couch and waited in silence. His body was still and his glazed eyes stayed fixed onto the floor. Though L's tearful confession did help him to break free of Aziz's control for just a moment, that moment of freedom hadn't lasted long. Light was still firmly under Aziz's command.

But as always, there was that fleeting moment every now and again of freedom, where Light's mind was his own. 'I must obey the orders. I must obey the orders. I have to go save L! I must obey the orders. Damn it!' Though Light was suppose to be void of all emotions, a single line of stress appeared on his forehead as his body tensed slightly. 'I must...obey...L, I'm trying! I must...obey...hold on!' Despite the drugs pumping through his system, Light was fighting for control. He was fighting to save L.

Inside Aziz's bedroom, L still fought against the rope, but his efforts were slowly dying down. The hurt and betrayal, along with the absolute terror, that filled him made it difficult to fight. Though L wasn't one to give up easily, he knew that all he was doing, by fighting against his bonds ,was entertaining Aziz. The man was currently sitting on the floor near the edge of the bed, watching with wide and demented eyes as L's squirmed. Through the tears that continued to fall from his eyes, L tried his best to glare down at Aziz, show him that he wasn't afraid. But the truth was, L was very afraid of Aziz. And Aziz knew it. So, after a few moments, apparently bored with just watching L struggle, Aziz got up from the floor and raised a hand to run it over L's chest. The detective froze up with fear and disgust at the action and he let out a single shiver. Though his dress shirt was preventing any skin to skin contact, it didn't make the action any less revolting.

Aziz smiled softly. "Are you afraid L?" Slowly, Aziz's hand moved from his chest down to his thigh, where it stayed there, moving ever so slightly from side to side. L had to clamp his mouth shut to keep the bile that rushed up his throat down. Aziz's smile grew wider. "Tell me L, are you afraid of me? Are you afraid that I'll rape you? Are you afraid that I'll kill you? Hmm?" L remained silent, tears streaming down his cheeks. Suddenly, Aziz raised his free hand and smacked L across that face hard. L bit into his lip sharply to hold back his cry of pain, tasting his own blood. He would not allow Aziz to hear anymore of his cries.

Aziz's smile never faltered as he stared down at L. His cold blue eyes shone with a crazed gleam as he leaned his head down to meet L's level. L felt a wave of nausea hit him as he felt Aziz's breath hit his skin. "I will break you L," the crazed murder whispered. "I will break you and I will do it without activating you. I don't need to control you to break you." L glared at the man through his tears but still remained silent. He would not talk. At his silence, Aziz smirked. "So you want to play that way L? Fine. We'll play that way." Slowly, Aziz stood up straight and looked away from L to the front door. "Well, I can see that you no longer want my company so why don't I just leave you alone?"

L's heart skipped a beat at Aziz's words and his look of disgust and hatred was quickly replaced by an expression of pure terror. Aziz...was going to leave him alone? Under normal circumstances this would have been a good thing, a very good thing. But this wasn't a normal circumstance. Far from it, and Aziz knew exactly what he was doing. He let out a theatrical sigh and started for the door. "Yes, I'd better leave you alone L. I don't want to bother you so I'll just go and leave you all alone." He was silent for a moment before he chuckled. "All alone." L felt his lungs tighten up and, to his alarm, found that he'd stopped breathing. More tears sprang into his wide onyx eyes and his entire body started to shake. He wanted Aziz to go away more than anything in the world. He didn't want the vile man to be anywhere near him. He wanted Light. But he couldn't be left alone. His drug-induced phobia wouldn't, couldn't, allow it. He knew he would die if he was left alone!

L continued to stare at Aziz as he drew nearer and nearer to the door. "Well, I see. Fine then L." Aziz smirked as he slowly put one foot outside, watching with pleasure as L jerked forward in fear. "I'll leave you alone." He moved his other foot across the floor just as slowly, making sure L saw. Then, he took a single step forward. L's heart stopped beating. His tears were flowing freely and his fear overpowered his hatred and disgust. "No! Don't leave me alone!" Aziz stopped, foot in mid-air, and turned to give L a warm, almost loving smile. "What did you say L? I'm afraid I couldn't hear you." L's small body was shaking quiet violently now, his teeth chattering and his face soaked with tears. But he didn't care. All he cared about was not being alone. He couldn't be alone. Still, behind his fear drenched mind, he could still feel his own disgust at what he was saying. He nearly chocked on his words but he forced them out. "Don't leave me alone. I can't be alone."

Aziz was silent for a moment as he watched L squirm. Then, suddenly, he let out a laugh. L cringed at the sound and tried to curl up but then he remembered the rope that kept him in place and his spirits sunk down even further. "Oh L! I knew you wanted me, I just knew it!" Giggling happily, Aziz bounced back into the room and ran a hand through L's ink black hair, earning a shiver of disgust from the man, his hatred and rage returning now that his phobia wasn't causing anymore problems. At least, for now. "Don't worry L, I'll stay here with you. I'll never leave you alone." Aziz carefully moved his hand from L's hair to his face, where he started to wipe away L's tears. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask you something. Do you like my clothes?" The man pointed to L's dress shirt and pants. L was silent, his head jerking away from Aziz's touch, though it didn't seem to bother the man at all. Aziz went on as if L had answered him. "Yeah, I though you'd like something more formal for when you die so I thought, 'Why not something fancy?'"

Aziz suddenly removed his hand from L's cheek and began to rub L's chest again, earning more tears from the detective. Aziz chuckled softly and then leaned down to press his lips against L's ear. "I'll make you a deal L, but only because you're my prize and very special to me. I'll give you thirty seconds to scream for Light, though I doubt he'll come to your rescue. That earlier episode was just a slip up, it won't happen again." Aziz chuckled softly, then went back to whispering into L's ear. "So, I'll give you thirty seconds to scream for him and if he comes to your rescue, I'll let you both go." The man started to laugh again, only this time louder. "But L! If he doesn't come to save you, I get to play with you with all my needles and all my knifes. Okay? Is that an okay plan? Is that a plan worthy of the great detective L?"

L kept his head turned away from the crazed man, his only possible means of rebelling. But his spirits started to rise slowly with hope. If Aziz was allowing him to scream, to call to Light, then maybe, just maybe, he could help him break free from Aziz's control. L glared at the man above him. 'But why would Aziz allow such a thing when moments ago, Raito-kun almost broke free?' The answer was simple and came very quickly. Aziz was insane. He was insane and completely cruel. He wanted to see L's last shred of hope destroyed. He wanted L to hope so that when he broke, it would be all the more sweeter. But L knew, despite the extremely high odds against him, that he had to try. He didn't care if his only chance for him and Light to escape came from Aziz's need to watch him squirm. He had to take any chance he got.

Aziz laughed out loud and looked over to his wristwatch. After a few seconds, he raised up a hand and pointed it in L's direction. "Thirty seconds and...go!" Outside in the living room, Light's hands were clenched into fists as his whole body shivered. His once glazed eyes were back into focus slightly, though not all the way and more stress lines were being etched into his features, his mind fighting to take back control. 'I must...I can't...I must...L needs me...obey...have to fight...' Slowly, Light unclenched his fists and lifted his head slightly before the drugs forced him back down. Light was gaining back control. But it was too slow going, he'd never make it in time to protect L. Light glared softly at the spot of the carpet he was being forced to stare at. 'I...must...damn it!'

Frustrated tears were beginning to form in Light's eyes and his heart started to sink. This was all his fault. Even his drugged state of mind knew it to be true. If it wasn't for him, L would have never been trapped by Aziz. This was all his fault! Light felt Aziz's control on his mind start to grow as his hopes started to die. 'I must...obey...' "RAITO-KUN!!" Light's body froze as the scream carried itself through the small apartment. Slowly, very slowly, Light raised his head slightly. 'I...L...screaming...' More screams soon followed the first as Light struggled once again with Aziz's control, his eyes slowly slipping shut as the drugs tried to control him. "Fight it Raito-kun! Fight him! I know you can fight him!" A loud sob reached Light's ears, pushing him to fight of the drugs racing through his body even harder. "PLEASE! RAITO-KUN!!"

Then, breaking through L's scream, another voice rang through the apartment. "Times up L!" There was a loud bang, as if someone's head had been slammed into a wall, silencing L's screams. Light's eyes shot open. 'L!' The man's heart rate kicked it into overdrive, his heart slamming against his chest at a million miles per hour and his whole body jerked backwards, almost as if he'd been hit. For a moment, his lung wouldn't allow him to take in some air. But within seconds, Light Yagami took in a deep breath, filling his lungs. He blinked, shocked to his core and slowly raised a hand to his face. Within a few seconds, Light let out a single sharp laugh. He'd won! He'd beaten Aziz's drugs! He was back in control!

Light moment of happiness didn't last very long. Soon, his happiness and shock of being able to fight Aziz off disappeared and he remembered the situation. Quickly, the younger man sprang to his feet and ran towards the bedroom. His heart started to race faster as crazed laughter reached his ears. Tears sprang into Light's eyes, terror filling him at the thought of L being hurt. "L!" But both Aziz and L were deaf to Light's cry. Inside the bedroom, Aziz was bent over with laughter loud enough to drown out Light's voice. He smiled down at L, who was staring back at the crazy murder with wide, tearful eyes, the back of his head throbbing from his contact with the wall behind him, which now had a rather large dent. "Well, L! Looks like Light's not gonna show up! And you know what that means!" With more laughter, Aziz reached over to his dresser and pulled out a large, wicked looking hunting knife. L fell his heart stop.

"That means we get to play with all my needles and knifes!" Aziz wouldn't stop laughing as he started to move closer to L. "Looks like your heroic Light is going to let you suffer!" L let out a quiet sob and his eyes grew wider with every step Aziz took. Then suddenly, startling both Aziz and L, Light burst into the room, slamming the door back as he did. "L!" And then, Light saw L. His L. Tied up to Aziz's bed, dressed in Aziz's clothes, forced to lay completely flat on his back when Light knew that the man was most comfortable laying on his side, his legs curled up to his chest. He could see the bright red mark where Aziz had slapped him, the place in the wall where Aziz had slammed his head against it, the tears running down L's beautiful face. And his eyes. Those perfect onyx eyes were filled with such terror and hurt, Light couldn't bear it. His gaze soon fell to Aziz within seconds and, with a cry of rage, he flung himself towards the mass murder. "You bastard!"

He didn't think twice about the knife in Aziz's hands or that he himself might be injured. All he cared about was punishing the man who'd made him hurt the one he cared about so much. L let out a surprised cry. "Raito-kun!" Aziz, shocked that Light was free, let out a rush of air as Light slammed into him and both men were sent tumbling to the floor and against the bedroom wall, L only able to watch as the man he loved fought with the crazed murder. Light recovered from the fall quickly and, before Aziz could even think about using the knife in his hands, tackled the man again, pinning him against the wall. Pulling his arm back for a moment, Light slammed his fist into Aziz's face, breaking the man's nose. "You sick bastard!"

Blood flowed from Aziz's nose, blinding him. Aziz let out a cry and, finally getting over his shock, slammed his knee into Light's stomach, knocking the air out of him. Light let out a sharp gasp and lowered his fist for a mere second as he tried in vain to take in some air, but a second was all Aziz needed. Remembering the knife in his hands, he raised his fist and stabbed Light squarely in his right shoulder, forcing the blade to travel deep within the man's flesh with a savage grin on his face. Light let out a pain filled cry and grabbed at him arm. He wanted to look back at his shoulder, to take in the damage, but at the moment, Light didn't have that kind of luxury. So instead, he let go of his arm and punched Aziz again, wiping the smirk off his face and filling his mouth with blood. Then, before Aziz could hit him again, Light jumped to his feet and kicked Aziz straight in the stomach.

Aziz gasped and choked on his own blood, his head spinning. From the bed, L tried with all his might to get free from his bonds, his heart slamming against his ribcage, so that he could help Light. He watched with wide onyx eyes as Light stood up to kick Aziz while he was down and his heart froze up when he saw the knife embedded deeply into his shoulder. "Raito-kun!" Light quickly spun around at L's desperate cry, forgetting about Aziz momentarily and rushed over to help L with the rope. Guilt flooded him as he cried out, "L, I'm so sorry! I'm so damn sorry!" L shook his head. "Never mind that now Raito-kun! Help me!" Unable to use his right hand, Light started to untie L with his left. From the floor, away from Light's vision, Aziz was starting to get up from the floor with a soft groan. He reached inside his jacket, searching for something. L, trying to slip his small wrist free from the rope, suddenly let out a scream as he glanced behind Light's shoulder. "Raito-kun! Behind you!"

Light spun around to face Aziz, only to come face to face with the barrel of a gun. Aziz smirked, blood rushing from his nose. "Bye-bye Light!" Quickly, Light ducked and tackled Aziz in the stomach again as the man fired. L let out a loud scream. Light, terrified that L had been shot, looked over to the detective but before he could see if he'd been hurt, Aziz fired again and this time, an agonizing pain shot up Light's left leg, making him fall to the floor with a cry. L, his wrists finally free, started to work quickly on his ankles. His heart leaped to his throat as he watched Light fall. "Raito-kun!" Aziz, unaware that L was almost free, leaned over Light and forced the man's head up with the barrel of the gun so that they could look each other in the eye. Light, half blinded by the pain in his leg and his shoulder, glared up at Aziz, who continued to smirk even through the blood. "Did you think that you could stop me? Me?! You are nothing Light! Nothing! I can control you and L! L will be mine Light, do you hear me?! L will be mine and you both will die!"

L, finally free from the ropes that tied him down, scrambled out of the bed and, afraid for Light's safety as much as his own, quietly approached the murder from behind while he continued to scream. Light, seeing the detective, fought against his pain and smiled up at Aziz, catching the man slightly off guard. "Like hell!" L slammed his fist into Aziz's head while Light kicked in the man's knee with his good leg. Aziz let out a painful cry and his knees buckled, sending him to the floor, the gun falling from his hands. Growling, he flung his fist backwards and struck L in the side. A sickening CRACK sounded through the room as L let out a cry of pain and fell to his side. while Aziz started to laugh loudly. Slowly, the murder got to his feet and he turned to loom over the fallen detective.

"You can't win L," he cried as he stared down at him with wild, gleaming eyes. "I'll always win! You will die! You will! I WIN!" Light kicked Aziz loosely in the leg again and the man turned to him with fire in his eyes. Light did his best to smirk. "Sorry Aziz," the younger man spat out as he pointed the gun directly in front of the murder's face. "You lose." Aziz's expression fell, terror at last filling his eyes and Light pulled the trigger. The sound of the gun going off was deafening. For a moment after, everything stood still. No one moved. Everything was silent, save for Light's harsh breaths. Then, Aziz's body, now headless, slumped to the floor. Light let out a shaky sigh, his eyes slipping shut as the gun falling from his hands.

It was over. Aziz was dead. L, still slightly dazed from the pain in his side, quickly recovered as his eyes locked onto Light's battered form. Fearing the worst, L's heart stopped cold. "Raito-kun!" Rising to his hands and knees as quickly as he could, L crawled his way over to the only person he'd ever loved and carefully, not wanting to add on more pain, placed his hands on his chest. "Raito-kun..." Slowly, Light's eyes opened and he smiled softly. "L..." L let out a soft sigh of relief that Light was still alive. "Raito-kun, you can not scare me like that again! What were you thinking, taking him on like that?" Light smiled softly and tried to lift up his good arm so that he could bring L into an embrace, but found that his arm was too heavy for him to lift. But strangely, this wasn't as alarming as it should have been. Tears started to form in his auburn eyes and slowly, they slipped down his face. L was too busy inspecting his wounds to notice them. "I'm so sorry L."

L bit his lip as he examined the knife in Light's shoulder and felt his eyes start to fill up with tears as well. "Please Raito-kun, save your energy." The knife was in too deep to remove right now. Blood was seeping from the knife's hilt, coloring Light's shirt a deep crimson. And a quick inspection of his bullet wound in his leg told L that Light had lost a lot of blood already. All in all, it didn't look good. A sickening sensation hit L's stomach as he turned back to face Light. He needed to get him to a hospital and fast. Quickly, L looked around the room, trying to find a phone of some sorts. He knew that his cell phone was in his pants but he had no idea where his clothes were. Not being able to find a phone in the bedroom, L turned back to Light and tried to give him a reassuring smile. "It's alright Raito-kun. I will go find a phone and contact Watari. You're going to be fine."

But before L could get up to leave, Light's good hand suddenly grabbed at his wrist and pulled the detective back towards him. L, confused, looked to Light. "Raito-kun?" Light closed his eyes for a moment, his head spinning from his blood loss, before he opened them again and smiled gently at L. L's heart skipped a beat as Light whispered, "The phone call can wait L. Why don't you keep me company for a minute?" L let out a soft sob at Light's words and shook his head, trying to get free from Light's grasp. "No, Raito-kun, no! You're going to be fine! I need to contact Watari to get you to a hospital!" Light let out a small chuckle and shook his head slightly. He wasn't stupid. He knew that his wounds were bad and that he probably wasn't going to make it. But that was okay with him. He was willing to die, as long as Fate allowed him to preform one final act.

"L," Light whispered softly, his grip on the detective never weakening. "Let me tell you something before you go." Light took in a deep breath as L let out another soft sob. "The reason why I loved you was because you were different. I had never met anyone else like you before and at first you annoyed the hell out of me." Light laughed softly. "I couldn't stand you. You were always proving to me that you were smarter." Light let out a sigh and let go of L's wrist to take his hand into his own. "But then, I got to know you. The real you, not the mask you put on in front of everyone else. And the person I saw was strong and good-hearted, who always did the right thing, no matter the odds. And even though you might think you're unattractive, let me tell you now L, you're far from being unattractive." Light let out another chuckle, his grip on L's hand weakening. "You have...the most beautiful eyes..."

L, tears streaming down his cheeks, tightened his grip on Light's hand. "No, Raito-kun! Don't leave me!" Light shook his head slightly and laughed again. "It's okay L. I'm going to make it better okay?" L blinked, confused. "Raito-kun..." "Martie Rhodes." L's tearful onyx eyes went blank as his grip on Light's hand slackened. "I'm listening." Light took in a breath and tears streamed down his face. "The worst lay ahead and Martie..." L cocked his head slightly to the side, the expression blank. "Was unable to see the most of it." More tears fell as Light stopped speaking to gather up his fading energy. He was going to die. He knew this. So, he didn't mind if L forgot about him. In fact, it was probably better if L forgot about him. It was better for L to loose a friend than his first lover.

So, after a few more seconds, Light smiled softly at L and whispered, "L. I want you to forget about ever having Autophobia and Angrophobia. Tell me if you understand?" L nodded slightly. "I understand." Light nodded as well, his vision become fuzzy as he lost more and more blood. "L, I want you to forget about Martie Rhodes. I want you to forget about your activation code. You will never be activated again with the name, 'Martie Rhodes'. Tell me if you understand." L nodded again. "I understand." Light smiled again. "Good." Now, to order L to forget about him, about the feelings they shared for each other. But he had to work fast, he was becoming dizzy. "L," he mumbled. "I want...you...to..." The room was spinning, Light was getting dizzy. There was a bright light in the room now. It seemed to call for Light, welcoming him. Light tried to finish his sentence, but found that he couldn't. He was becoming sleepy and the light was so inviting. Light's entire body was relaxing as he started to fall asleep. "L..." Light watched through droopy eyelids as L awoke from his trance and felt a sharp pang in his heart as L looked around and then back to him, confused. "Raito-kun?" Light let out a sigh and drifted into darkness. "Raito-kun!"

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A/N: OMG!! My last cliff-hanger! What will happen in the next chapter? Will Light live? Will L forget about him? Tell me what you think! Review please! Oh! And even though I've already decided on an ending, tell me which ending you want! Sad ending or happy ending! Review please!!