A/N: Here is where things start heating up. I know the first few chapters have been a little boring and mundane, but the action starts now! No, I don't mean kissing and stuff like that. I mean action as in…violence! Kissing can come later.
Disclaimer: I don't own anybody of course. It would be silly to assume that.
L was surprised the next morning when Light again showed up to his house as if nothing had happened.
"Light?" L asked cautiously. "Has yesterday been forgotten?"
Light shrugged. "I suppose it doesn't matter whether you know I'm gay or not. I know you can keep a secret."
L frowned. "I suppose Misa didn't tell you what we discussed during lunch."
Light tipped his head to one side. "She did. If you feel uncomfortable with my attentions, perhaps Matsuda can take you to school. I'm not leaving you alone."
L shook his head. "Mikami sort of let it slip that the three of you were gay."
Light smiled thinly. "Four."
L blinked in surprise. "Misa too?"
Light's smiled broadened. "No, you."
"Me?" L squeaked. "No, you've got it all wrong. This is a one-sided relationship. I don't have any feelings for you."
"That's not what you told Misa."
L scowled. "You must have misinterpreted what she said."
Light smiled. "We'll talk about it on the way. We don't want to be late."
L scowled as Light put his arm around his shoulder. "We should talk now, so no one overhears us."
Light grinned crookedly. "No one will hear us. I promise to keep my voice down." He ushered L out the front door.
"Okay, let's get this straight," L hissed. "You are gay and you have feelings for me. I will accept that. What I want you to accepts is that I don't have feelings for you and I probably never will."
Light laughed. "Oh, you will. I'm sure of it."
L's eyes narrowed. "Are you planning on forcing me to have feelings for you?"
"I'm not forcing you to do anything."
"Yes, you are. If I hadn't known of your ability to charm people into doing whatever you want, I would have thought I was falling for you. But thankfully, I know better."
Light smirked. "Again, I can't make you do anything. All I can do is relax you. If I really could make you do whatever I wanted, you would have told me your name by now."
"Does my name really matter?'
Light shrugged. "It would be nice to know. The fact that you keep it hidden makes me curious. But it's not that important. I've asked you repeatedly and you won't tell me. Even charming you did no good. When I charmed you, you just told me that you couldn't tell me."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" L asked frostily.
"It means I can't make you fall in love with me. I could make it more likely that you would, but I can't make it happen."
L's eyes narrowed. "So what you're saying is?'
"What I'm saying is that there's a chance you could fall for me. You're not in love with me, sure. But the thought of being with me doesn't completely repulse you. If you were homophobic, I would have no chance of course, even with my charm. But you're not, so I do."
"You're not making any sense," L muttered.
Light sighed. "I guess I can't expect you to understand. You haven't really experienced friendship or romance. Now I know what Mikami feels like, chasing after me."
"You and Mikami should get together. You have both been friends for several years, correct? You know each other well."
Light smiled sadly. "But that's not the basis for a romantic relationship. Mikami has been after me for years. I broke down and had a one-night stand with him. It didn't amount to anything. It was like having sex with your brother. It was awful. But Mikami is still trying, hoping that one day it will be different."
L looked startled. "You and Mikami have slept together?"
"That was awhile ago," Light said dismissively.
"But you're only eighteen."
Light snorted. "Only eighteen? Ha. You're still seventeen, right?"
L nodded.
"Well, you're too young to understand these things."
L frowned. "I turn eighteen in October. We are not that far apart in age."
Light smiled. "Are you sure?"
"We are close enough in age for you not to be treating me like a child," L said sternly.
"If only you knew, L. If only you-oh, here we are. I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about this conversation. At least, don't tell anyone outside our circle."
L nodded.
Light hurried off to talk to one of the teachers. L sat down on one of the benches near his first period class. A banner hung outside the building proclaimed, "New issue of Grayville Gazette out now!"
L sighed heavily. He could only imagine what Mello had decided to write about him since he really hadn't given him any information. L wondered vaguely whether he should decide to pick up a copy to check it out. The bell rang for first period before L could make up his mind.
In his first two classes, L noticed a few students reading the newspaper. None of them paid him any more attention than usual. L assumed that Mello had decided to wait until he could conduct a more thorough interview.
Third period was calculus with Light. Light also had a copy of the newspaper. As L walked into the classroom, Light shot him an amused glance and pointed to the paper. L sighed heavily and slid into the last vacant seat, a few seats from Light.
Calculus passed by quickly, but not quickly enough for L. The boy sitting beside him kept fidgeting and shooting him worried glances. It would be just his luck that Mello made him out to be some sort of serial killer or alien bent on world domination.
As the bell rang for class to be over, the boy beside L made a mad dash for the door. Light chuckled as he watched him go. "Dillon was always the gullible sort."
"How bad is it?" L groaned.
"Here, read for yourself." Light handed him the paper. "I'll see you at lunch. I forgot to pack myself a lunch so I'm buying today." Light waved goodbye and headed for the lunch line.
L slowly made his way to the table, reading as he walked. Mello had pasted a photo of L looking peeved in a corner of the front page along with the headline, "Mysterious New Student".
L groaned as he scanned the article. Mello had sensationalized L's lack of interview into a "dark, brooding silence". Mello had also apparently been into L's school files, explaining L's frequent moves as "being kicked out of schools all over the world". The article summed up with L's apparent immunity to the town curse, questioning whether L was a ghost himself.
L tossed the paper into a trash can disgustedly. "What a waste of ink."
L took his place at the table, noticing that Mikami was the only one there, his chin popped on one hand. "Uh, hello. Where are the others?"
Mikami looked rather irritated. "Light and Matsuda are buying lunch. Misa's class isn't out yet," he mumbled.
"Don't you usually buy lunch too?"
"Yes," Mikami growled.
"You're not eating anything?"
"No, my teeth hurt." Mikami put his hand against his cheek.
"Perhaps you should go visit the dentist," L suggested.
Mikami looked startled. "Uhh…yeah, maybe."
Misa skipped over happily. "Ohayo, L-kun." She giggled. "Misa learned that in class today. Maybe Misa is good at languages after all."
"Great," Mikami growled.
Misa frowned. "What's wrong with you? You're even grumpier than usual."
"He doesn't feel well," L supplied.
Misa cocked her head to one side. "Oh, but I thought-"
Misa was interrupted by Matsuda and Light returning from the lunch line with a tray of food. Matusda again had a salad topped with a cherry tomato. Light had a hot dog smothered with ketchup.
"Hi, guys," Light greeted them. "So, we happen to be in the presence of a ghostly serial killer, if you go by the Grayville Gazette."
Misa giggled. Mikami scowled. "Bunch of crap," he muttered, rubbing circles against his cheek.
Misa frowned at him. 'Mikami, I really think you ought to-"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Mikami muttered darkly.
Matsuda beamed at L. "I know you're not an evil ghost. You're a friendly ghost."
"I'm not a ghost,' L insisted.
"You sure look like one," Mikami snapped.
Matsuda looked at Mikami out of the corner of one eye and then thought better of it. He leaned across the table. "So, L…..do you have any more candies so I can cheat on my diet?"
Mikami grabbed Matsuda's arm and shoved him back. "Get off the fucking table. You don't have to be right in his face to talk to him."
Matsuda scowled and rubbed at his arm. "Geez, your nails are sharp. You scratched me."
The second Matsuda took his hand off the bloody scratch on his arm, two things happened. First, Mikami lunged at Matsuda, snapping his teeth at him. Then Misa leaped over the table and tackled Mikami to the ground.
L stared in shock as Misa tried her best to pin the snarling Mikami to the ground. Light was there to help quickly and soon he hauled Mikami to his feet and began pulling him away for the table.
Mikami's teeth were still bared in an animalistic grimace and he was snarling and spitting like a mad dog. Light could barely hold him back.
"Mikami, you shouldn't be here in this condition," Light hissed. "Go home."
Mikami glared at the table one last time and finally allowed Light to lead him towards the exit.
"God, I hate it when he does that," Matsuda muttered.
Misa dusted off the knees of her jeans and slid back into the table. "I'm sorry, Matsuda. You always get the short end of the stick, don't you?"
Matsuda sighed. "Yeah. Maybe I should go to the nurse and have it cleaned up." He rose from his seat.
"What was that all about?" L asked in a small voice.
Matsuda hesitated and reluctantly sat back down. "You see…Mikami has this condition."
"Rabies?" L asked worriedly.
"No, no. Nothing like that. He's supposed to take…medicine for it. He shouldn't have come today without his medicine. If he doesn't take it, he gets really irritable and angry. If it's really bad, he'll start becoming violent, like today. I'm sorry you had to see that."
"Don't apologize to me. He could have killed you, Matsuda."
Matsuda sighed. "No, he wouldn't do that. It's not as bad as it seems. I'm used to it by now."
"Used to it? You're used to your friend trying to rip you to shreds?"
"It's not as bad as it seems," Matsuda sighed. "If you knew what was really going on, you'd understand."
"But you're not going to tell me so I can understand, are you?" L replied frostily.
Matsuda shook his head. "Light said I can't tell you. It's personal. If Mikami wants to tell you, fine. But it's not nice to gossip about people behind their backs."
"Will he be back?"
"Mikami? No…probably not. Light might be back though. He didn't tell me to take you home so he'll probably come back to walk you home."
L sighed heavily. "Yes, he walks me home everyday, regardless of whether he is in class or not."
Light didn't show up for chemistry, but L was unconcerned. Even after Matsuda informed L that Light hadn't showed up for fifth period English class, L was still firmly convinced that Light would be there to walk him home.
As Matsuda followed L to the school gates, anxiously contemplating whether to take L home in Light's absence, Light made his entrance.
"L," Light hissed, looking angry. "I knew this was a bad idea. I knew you wouldn't be safe here."
L blinked at him. "You are referring to Mikami?"
"Not just Mikami. Mikami is the least of your worries." Hr grabbed L's hand. "I'm getting you out of here. I need to take you someplace safe. Matsuda, can I borrow your car?"
"Of course," Matsuda agreed instantly.
"Where are we going?" L demanded.
"You'll find out when we get there," Light said curtly. "I'm doing this for your own safety, L. I'll explain later, once you're out of danger."
Over L's protests, Light hauled him to the car and shoved him in the backseat.
Light leaned out the window. "Let old man Watari know I'm taking L with me for the weekend," Light instructed Matsuda.
Matsuda nodded solemnly.
Light rolled up the window and immediately peeled away from the curb at a high speed. L was suddenly very afraid.