A/N: Trust me, all you Twilight haters out there…this isn't going to be exactly like the book. So, in the immortal words of Hector, 'Don't get crazy". Really, relax. I'm up for any takers on what you think all of Light's posse and all of Mello's posse is. ^^ And yes, not everybody is a vampire…or a werewolf. It's gonna be exciting and different. Yay!
Disclaimer: I don't own L or Light…but it would be nice. It would really be nice.
L was really starting to wonder who or what Light really was. He didn't believe in the supernatural, but unless a logical explanation could be found for Light's disappearing act, L was tempted to believe that Light had simply vanished off the face of the earth.
L was still shaken as he sat down to dinner with Watari. It was one of L's favorite meals: strawberry cheesecake with a glass of chocolate milk. Watari had taken his list and actually bought all the things L wanted. L was touched. Most grown-ups refused to buy him sugar, but Watari had said nothing about L eating too much sweets.
"L? Is something wrong? You look a little worried."
L shook his head. "It's nothing."
"Is the schoolwork too much for you? If you need help on a project, I'm sure Light will be willing to help you."
L flinched at Light's name. 'No…I'm fine."
'Well, if you say so. I'm going back to the workshop. Let me know if you need anything."
L headed off to his bedroom. Watari had left his new flashlight sitting on top of L's bed. L felt a small smile tug at the corners of his lips. Perfect.
A few hours later, L was curled up on his bed, reading. Watari had left a trunk full of his father's old school books under his bed, along with a few novels and mystery stories his father had once read. L was enjoying being able to stay up late again.
L was surprised that his father had so many mystery, science fiction, and horror stories. There was so much gratuitous violence in each story. It made L shudder.
L picked up another mystery novel and thumbed through it. There were several pictures of damsels being kidnapped and the hero fighting the bad guy.
"Ugh," L muttered. "This is really cheesy. 'And then the wind started to howl and the tree branches began to scrape menacingly against the window.' Boy, this stuff is really-"
L froze as the wind began to beat against his window. He slowly lifted the flashlight and aimed it at the window. A tree outside was swaying in the wind.
"Just a coincidence," L muttered to himself. "Just stay calm. Don't freak out."
L winced as a tree branch scraped across his window.
'It's just a wind storm," L whispered. "This is a completely natural phenomenon. This isn't like you, L. It's not like you to get so bent out of shape over these things. You're beginning to act like all the superstitious tourists."
L tensed as the wind began to sound like someone screaming. "That's it. You're going to bed. No more staying up late and reading horror stories."
L shut off the flashlight and crawled up the covers. He pulled the blankets up over his head to block out the sound of the wind.
When L woke up in the morning, he felt extremely hot and he could barely breathe. He threw off his covers in one fluid motion, only to wish he could throw them right back on.
"Light! What are you doing in my bedroom?" L demanded.
Light shrugged. "I'm walking you to school."
"Can't you at least wait in the kitchen like last time? I have to get dressed."
"Okay," Light muttered. "You better make this fast."
L quickly changed into his school clothes and rushed out of his bedroom. Light was sitting in the kitchen, tapping his hand impatiently on the kitchen counter. He stood as soon as L entered the room and grabbed L's hand. "Let's go."
'Watari, I'm going to school now!" L called.
"Have fun," Watari answered back.
"What's the rush?' L complained, as Light started pulling him by the hand out the door.
"I have to be there early," Light hissed. "I can't be late."
"Light, I don't need to be at school so early."
"You do. I have to walk you to school."
L tried to pull his hand away. "No, you don't. I'm perfectly fine with walking there all by myself."
"How did you sleep last night?"
L was caught off guard. "I slept fine, thank you."
"No, you didn't. You look exhausted. The curse is getting to you."
"There is no curse," L insisted. "I just stayed up too late. And then you had to go and wake me up half an hour earlier than I need to be up."
Light ignored him. "You'll manage even with little sleep, won't you? Your classes are easy."
L frowned. 'Well, I suppose they are. There are no advanced classes here."
Light nodded. "Good. You're lucky you lived in Japan for a year. Even fourth year Japanese should be easy for you."
L frowned. 'How do you know what classes I'm taking?"
'Matsuda. He works in the office, remember?"
"Oh. But, really, Light. You don't need to walk me to school everyday. I'm fine."
Light released L's arm. 'We're here. I'm going to help make copies for the teachers. You stay safe, okay? I'll see you at lunch."
L sighed heavily and sat down on one of the lunch benches. There were very few people in school so early. He pulled out his English textbook and began reading ahead.
"Hi there. You're the new kid, right?"
L glanced behind him. Three freshman boys were standing there. One was a blonde in a black leather jacket, one was a redhead with a striped shirt, and the third was a pale boy with white hair and baggy white clothes.
The blonde held out his hand. 'Hi, I'm Mello. I'm part of the journalism club. We'd like to take your picture for the school paper. A new student is a big headline, you know."
L frowned. So this was Mello. He didn't look hurt at all. He was relieved.
The redhead held out his hand too. "I'm Matt. I'm in photography. I'm really good at it."
Mello snorted. "Yeah right. You just take pictures of cars."
Matt scowled. "You're just jealous I never take a picture of your car. It's not my fault it's a heap of scrap.'
L rolled his eyes. "I'm going to leave now."
"No, no!" Mello shouted. 'You can't leave until we write the story about you. It's really important."
L sighed wearily. 'Fine."
Mello grinned. 'Near's going to interview you. Right, Near?"
Near didn't respond. He looked down at an action figure that looked strangely like Mello.
Mello elbowed Near in the side. "Near," he hissed.
Near glanced up, his large, dark eyes met L's. 'You're in terrible danger,' Near said quietly. He turned and began walking away.
"What the hell was that?' Matt muttered.
"Tch. Just ignore him,' Mello growled. "Giving an interview isn't dangerous. We shouldn't have brought him anyway. He hates to talk to people."
Mello sat down on the bench across from L and leaned across the table eagerly. 'So, where are you from?"
"Japan," L said quietly.
"Ooh, a foreign student. Write that down, Matty."
"Me?" Matt protested. "I'm just supposed to take his picture. Why are you making me do all the work?"
'I didn't bring anything to write with, ass clown!"
"It's not my job to bring writing supplies."
'It's not my job either. Near was supposed to do it."
L sighed. "Perhaps you better come back later. I'm going to first period." L left the two freshmen behind, plotting Near's demise.
L breezed through his first two classes, English and Japanese. Third period was also a breeze, but L was feeling rather sleepy. He wanted to lie down and put his feet out on the vacant seat next to him. L's mind reminded him that there shouldn't be a vacant seat. L looked around the class briefly and realized that Light was missing. Again.
L headed off to lunch, walking by the lunch tables as he made his way to his usual spot by the tree. Mikami grabbed the back of L's shirt as he walked by. 'No, you're staying right here,' Mikami growled. "Light's going to want to see you and we want to see Light."
L shrugged. "I don't know if Light is going to join us. He wasn't here in third period."
"He wasn't in first period either," Matsuda said quietly. "He said he'd come today, but I haven't seen him."
"Light Yagami, senior class president…ditching school?" Mello got up from his table and raced over with a clipboard. Matt followed close behind.
"Shut up, Mello," Mikami growled. "He's not ditching. We just haven't seen him."
"Hi, guys. Sorry I'm late. I was just over at the dentist." Light's cheery smile quickly evaporated when he saw Mello. "Get lost, twerp. We want to eat our lunch in peace."
"I'm trying to interview people for the school paper," Mello growled. "Don't you want to be in the paper?"
"No," Light snarled. "Can't you just leave me alone?"
"I wasn't talking to you," Mello spat. "I'm talking to the new kid."
'He doesn't want to be interviewed either. Get that camera out of my face!" Light shoved Matt aside. 'Come on, L. Let's go find someplace private to talk." He grabbed L's hand and dragged him under the tree.