L (also known as: Ryuzaki)

We walked for a long time like that, hand in hand, chained, and safe under our umbrellas. I was content, and raging all at the same time. I knew my duty, and I knew what I did was irreversible. I was 98 percent sure Light Yagami was Kira, and 84 percent sure I was falling for him. Not Kira, no, Light. They were two different beings in my mind. Light Yagami was a university student who was bitten into a new world. He wanted to be a police officer and fight for justice. He is innocent, and I believe he is still there, deep down. Kira is a mass murderer who kills criminals and fights for 'justice' as well. Kira has taken over Light's mind and will continue to stay there until Light Yagami has left this world. What terrible irony, that I, L, fall for him.

The plan was all set; despite the agony it felt for me to inform Watari that it was time. I was torn, between being with Light-kun longer or killing Kira sooner. By saving, perhaps the world, from Kira, I would loose a very good friend. It was for the best though, no matter my despair. As I used the opportunity in the bathroom while Light had his back turned, I pulled out my innocent enough cellular phone. I had no use of it, in fact it was the first time I ever used it. I pressed the button to send Watari an email, and I wrote:

"The time is now. Please follow us. I'll need a gun with silver bullets. Kira is Light Yagami. Don't tell his father yet. Wait until I take the handcuffs off." A simple message, one that would tell Watari everything he needed to know. He would know I was confronting Kira, and that I was 'kidnapped' by one, Light Yagami. So he also knew who Kira was, and that I was planning his demise. Watari was very smart, and knew I knew what I was doing, and trusted me completely. If I didn't come out of the confrontation alive, he knew what to do, what to tell the others. Everything. I silently thanked Watari for his servitude, and trust. I deleted the message, and exited the bathroom, with Light being none the wiser.

The small tracking devise within the cellular phone would inform Watari of my placement. This whole time I was sure Watari knew where I was, with Light. He could have called the police any time to come and get me, but he didn't. I sometimes wondered if Watari was psychic in some sense. Anyway, while Light and I sat down at whichever café, I would pull something from my pocket, a key. The key to the handcuffs that I had never really lost. I would act surprised, and when Light got angry, I would say something about how I wanted to spend time with Light, and get Light away from the topic while I released the handcuffs. (I noticed he strayed away from any emotional confliction when he and I spoke.) I was sure Light wouldn't run away after this. It wasn't like him, and I had a feeling - or did I just hope for it? - That he liked spending time with me, too.

After this, I would be approached by an 'old friend'; most likely that role will be played by one of the task force. Maybe Matsuda. I would tell Light to please excuse me, stand and promptly attempt a fake conversation about the past with the friend. While he and I spoke, the person sitting behind Light in the next booth - also a stand in, undercover cop - would ask Light for some condiment at the table, thus taking Light's attention away from my friend and me. The 'friend' would slip me what I needed, a gun, loaded with silver bullets. I'd requested these guns long before, guns with silver bullets, simply because they were known to get rid of whomever better than normal bullet cases quicker. But, now, that Kira is a vampire with a silver weakness, it all works out. I would have to hide the gun inside the thin jacket I'd worn from the bar last night, and I was pretty confident that it would be unnoticed.

I wasn't sure how I would get Light outside. I was not going to shoot him down in a café. We would be alone somewhere, somewhere where I could speak to him, and kill him easily. I flinched mentally at my malice. Was I really so hell bent on killing him? No. I was killing Kira, for everyone. For Japan's safety. Oh, how I wanted to just run away with Light. Tell him I knew he was Kira and that he'd give it up to be with me. Then we could be happy and safe. But he was a vampire and I was human. I was a detective and he was a murderer. He was Kira and I was L. I yearned for it to be just Ryuzaki and Light.

The world didn't end in happy endings, though, and my thoughts were just fantasies that would never come true.

I felt dreadful all the way to the café. My mood matched the rainy morning. I gripped Light's hand a little tighter, thinking, "Don't let me kill you. I don't want to!" Of course he couldn't hear that. I must kill Kira. Light looked over at me, but I kept myself from looking back. I didn't think my will was that strong at the moment.

The café approached faster than I would have liked.

"Here," Light said, pulling me to a stop. "I used to love this place when I was…human."

The small shop was called Sakura Café, a very general name. The outside was bland, but when we stepped in it was like we entered a pink wonderland that smelled of coffee. The smell was remarkable, but I couldn't help wanting to be back in bed with Light. Too late now.

We were seated at a small booth near the door, a good place. One that wasn't planned, nevertheless it was accommodative. I recognized the man in the booth behind us, and he nodded to me, telling me that he was ready for whatever went down. I wasn't sure I was.

Light sat in front of me, across the table, the handcuffs weren't long enough to do without our hands being on the table, and Light did this, still clutching my hand. I was happy to see this, that he didn't care who saw us.

When the waitress came to get our order I got coffee, black, and Light asked for an unadorned glass of water. He wouldn't drink it, I learned vampires only drink blood but he didn't want to sit here without anything in front of him. The waitress glanced at our joint hands and then walked away politely.

"I thought you wanted cake," Light wondered.

"I'll ask for it later, I just really want some coffee in me."

He nodded understandingly. "Ryuzaki, why do you sit like that?"

I looked down at myself. Ah, I did sit quite differently than other people, don't I? "I believe that when I sit like this, I am raising my deductive reasoning by 40 percent."

He raised an eyebrow with a small grin tugging on his mouth. As if he wanted to laugh. "It can't be good for your back. Neither can all that sweet stuff you eat."

"Well, it keeps me up, for one." I replied. "I stay up late a lot."

"And...?"

"Hmm...I've always eaten them as a child, so I guess it's just the natural craving for something, I suppose."

Light nodded again seeing as how he couldn't answer me. The waitress came back and gave us our drinks. The coffee was warm and I was glad to take a sip of it. I tried to detach my hand from Light's, but he only held it firmly. I paid no heed to this, and reached for the sugar dispensers with my right hand.

"Light-kun, if you'll be okay with it, I need both hands to tear it."

However, Light just stretched with his free hand and held the other side of the packet. "Tear with me," he orders.

"We'll make a mess," I warned. Again he didn't listen to me and started tugging at his end.I did the same and we only manage to spill a few grains on the table. I poured the sugar in the coffee and stirred it with a spoon. I happened to glance up, and saw Matsuda standing in the back of the café; he was waiting until I took off the handcuffs.

I reached in my pocket and felt the warm metal of the key there. I turned my gaze back to Light. "I'm sorry Light-kun. It seems I haven't lost that key after all…"

His eyes widened and then narrowed angrily. "What?"

I pulled the petite key out. "I'm terribly sorry Light-kun. I thought the key had fallen - No. Actually, I'll be honest. I wanted to spend more time with you. Light's scowl dropped like it ordinarily did when he was pleasantly surprised.

"I-I don't know what to say," he stuttered. I smiled softly at him and pushed the key in the slot on my handcuff. The tumbler clicked, and I was free. I wanted to hook it back on and swallow the key, but I handed it to him. He held it for a moment, as if expecting me to snatch it back. I waited, and he unlocked it himself, sliding the metal off gingerly. I remembered that the silver was uncomfortable.

"Hello?" a voice asked. I tensed and looked up to see Matsuda. "Yep! I knew it was you! Hey there, Ryuzaki!" He grinned largely. His acting hadn't improved.

"Ah, hey, Touta." I greeted, using Matsuda's first name. I directed myself back to Light. He was watching Matsuda with confusion. "Excuse me, Light-kun." And I stood next to Matsuda, acting like we were long lost friends.

"How have you been?" I asked.

"Just great! The job's a pain though; I swear I'm not getting paid enough."

Was that a hint for me to raise his pay? Unlikely, Matsuda.

Then he whispered lowly, "What was with the hand-holding?"

My eyes flicked to Light, but he was already being distracted by the pawn behind our booth. Mogi. Time seemed to be flying by faster and faster, reducing my time with Light.

"Questions later, Matsuda." I mumbled.

"R-right." he stumbled, scratching the back of his neck. "So, ah, how are you gonna get him to go outside? Were not going to kill him here, right? I mean Watari said you sent that message, it said you were going to kill Kira. I still can't believe it's the Chief's son."

Did I not just tell him to ask questions later? However, I didn't really know how I was going to get Light outside either. Should I just grab his hand and go? Should I tell him I need to speak with him privately? That is what I wanted to do…

"The gun," I tell him. His eyes enlarged and he reached in his coat pocket. Light was still talking with Mogi and I seized the shotgun swiftly and shoved it in my jacket. "Wait here," I told him.

Leaning toward Light, I grabbed his hand, "Light-kun, please come outside with me?"

He agrees with a puzzled expression, and by the time we stepped outside we noticed we forgot our umbrellas. Light and I were soaked instantly. I pulled Light along, not really caring that it was raining cats and dogs. Plus, Light looked delicious, drenched. He didn't complain, but I knew he was wondering what was going on.

I ended up pulling him into a deserted alleyway. We were alone and wet.

"What's going on, Ryuzaki?"

"I know you are Kira." I tell him. Light, Kira, just stares at me. "Admit to it, Kira." He continued to say nothing. "But… I love you." Now he looked taken aback, and I was pleased to have gotten some reaction.

"I love you, Light Yagami, and I hate Kira. Can you imagine how hard this will be for me?"

"What will be?"

"You are Kira, Light. I love and hate you."

"What are you going to do?"

I ignored this question, and walked up to him. He went rigid and took a cautious step back. I think the wounded look shown brightly on my face because he looked apologetic. I got close enough to touch him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder. Light tensed again, but relaxed eventually and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"You are Kira. And I am L." A soft gasp sounded in my ear.

"L? You? No…"

"Yes, Light. I am L."

"You were going to 'get' Kira. You handcuffed me and tell me lies about love because you believe I'm Kira. You expect me to admit to something because you lie -"

"I did not lie, Light-kun. I do love you. And I handcuffed you because you were supposedly a runaway from Soichiro. A good friend of mine. I didn't know you were Kira until last night, and I fell in love with you then as well."

"It's impossible to fall in love in one night." he murmured.

"But you fell in love with me, too." I leaned back and looked at him. He was… not expressionless, but with an appearance I wasn't sure what to call. Confusion, sadness, happiness, love, distrust, and hope. I couldn't explain it.

Water streamed down his face, and his eyes were half closed. His eyelashes protected his eyes and the stream of it made his hair stick to his forehead. He looked very mouth-watering. Acting on sheer impulse, I leaned up, and kissed his pale lips.

We stand there for an unfathomable amount of time, our lips touching in a sensual, yet calming way. The rain still falling, landing on our closed eyes and slipping between our connected lips. Slowly, achingly, I pulled back.

"Ryuzaki, Kira is justice; he kills to save this world. There are so many bad people out there who deserve to die!" he hissed against my lips, eyes begging. "Please, stay with me. I lo-"

"Call me Lawliet." I purred against his lips. Copying the moment when he told me to call him Light.

"Lawliet, I love -" But he didn't get to finish. Because he had already been shot, straight through the head.

As Light falls back, toward the wet concrete, his eyes stared at me with horror, and deadly sadness. Then, they roll to the back of his head, or what was left of it, and his body slapped hard against the sodden ground. I stood there, looking down at him for the longest time. I didn't realize the rain had stopped. I didn't realize that Matsuda was beside me now. I didn't realize that the gun had fallen to the ground, and I didn't realize that I had fallen to my knees, in front of Light's cold, dead body.

And I ask myself, "Is this what they call justice?"

END