A/N: I promise by the next chapter, everything will be a little clearer. I know many of you are anxious for stuff to get cleared up. I'm glad you stuck with this so far and I hope you won't be disappointed.
Disclaimer: L and Light…don't belong to me.
L nervously gripped the back of Light's seat as Light sped down the streets. 'Aren't you going a bit fast?"
"Not fast enough," Light growled, taking a curve at breakneck speed.
L was roughly thrown to the other side of the car. "Light, please take it easy. Traveling at these speeds isn't safe. We are likely to get killed if we end up in a collision."
"It takes two to make an accident," Light growled.
"No, not necessarily. It only takes one. Especially if the other party is a-whoa!" L paused to collect his bearings as he thudded against the other side of the car. "Especially if you run into a tree or building."
"I'll be careful," Light assured him. The tires screeched as Light made a quick turn onto the road heading out of town.
"Where are we going?" L asked worriedly.
"Someplace far away, where you'll be safe," Light said softly. Light suddenly stomped on the gas pedal, accelerating at an insane rate.
"Are you trying to kill me on the way there?" L protested loudly. "Slow down, Light."
Light ignored L's pleas and actually started driving faster. The road was just a blur to L's eyes. L could feel the G-force acceleration pressing him back into his seat. He started feeling dizzy and then he blacked out.
When L regained consciousness, he found himself lying on a small towel on the ground. As L sat up and looked around, he realized that he was lying in the mouth of a cave. Outside the cave, he could see a beautiful sunset. Inside the cave, it was dark, except for a faint glow of light deep in the cave.
As L watched, Light walked out from the bowels of the cave, holding an antique lantern. He hung it on a small outcropping of rock on the side of the cave close to L.
Light crouched down beside L. "Hi. How are you feeling? Does your head hurt? Any dizziness?"
L shook his head. "No, I'm fine now. I don't see how you could drive like that. I could barely see the road."
Light sighed. "Well, I'm just special I guess."
"And it didn't affect you at all? You didn't pass out?"
"No," Light said calmly. "As I've told you before, I'm fine with it. It doesn't bother me. I was perfectly safe driving the whole time. Maybe I should've driven a little slower for you, but I can handle the speed."
L frowned. "You really are strange."
Light shrugged. "If I don't drive fast, it would take forever to get all the way out here."
"So, where exactly are we?"
Light grinned. 'We've gone all the way across the coast. That's all you need to know."
L frowned. "We got out of school at three. It is now at least six. Forgive me if this is a silly question. Did you drive even faster after I passed out?"
Light's smile widened. "Yup. It is six right now. Three minutes after actually. But you're close."
L paled. "Do I dare ask at what speeds you were driving?"
Light shrugged. "Only at a hundred and fifty tops."
"Only a hundred and fifty?"
Light shrugged. "Last week I drove two-twenty."
"So…every time you wish to ditch class, you drive all the way out here?"
"Sometimes. It's my special place, you know?" Light indicated a shelf carved out of stone. "I come here a lot. It's special to me."
"How did you find this place?" L inquired.
Light smiled sadly. "I used to live here."
L blinked. "You used to live here? I thought you lived in Grayville all your life. If not, why are you not the target of vicious attacks? Not that I want you to be the target of vicious attacks. I just would like to know why I am being targeted specifically."
Light sighed and scratched the back of his head. "It's a long story. Probably the best explanation I have for you is that my parents both came from town and your father married a woman from outside of town, so you're not a pure-blooded Grayville citizen."
L nodded. "I suppose that makes sense. Your father is chief of police, right? I didn't know he used to live here…wherever here is. I assumed he lived in town all his life like everyone else."
Light hesitated briefly. "That's not the father I'm talking about."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I was adopted. My real father was not Soichiro Yagami, but Laird Hedricz. He belonged to a group of people that don't exactly live in town, but travel around the general area, like gypsies or other nomads. They lived right near town during the school year so their children could go to school, but during the summer, they would travel. Laird made friends with a girl from town, my mother. They eloped and ran off together. They camped out around this cave while I was young. But my mother died when I was barely a year old. My father followed soon after that. I was living here in this cave all by myself until someone found me. They traced me back to Grayville, but since I had no living relatives there, the Yagami family adopted me."
L nodded slowly. "It sounds plausible, but is it the truth?"
"Of course it's the truth," Light growled.
"Light, I'm afraid that most of the things you have told me are either lies or half-truths."
Light sighed. "There's no use telling you anything is there."
"No, there is no use in telling me lies."
Light frowned. "If you won't believe a thing I tell you, I need proof to back things up. I'll show you the one thing I can definitely prove to you." Light took L's hand and began pulling him further into the cave.
"Light, where are we going? We aren't wearing proper spelunking equipment?"
"There's no climbing at all, L. It's just a flat surface for a long ways. You'll be fine."
Light held up the lantern in front of him as he walked. "Since I come here a lot, I've started stashing stuff here. I usually keep all my special colognes here. I won't have to worry about anyone taking them if I put them far enough back so no one can see them from outside."
Light turned the corner and shone the light on another shelf carved out of the side of the cave. Three small bottles were settled on the shelf. Light smiled and picked up one of the bottles. "Misa made these for me. This one right here is Innocence, this one Mystery, and this one we call Casual."
"Such interesting names," L murmured. "I have yet to hear of any other cologne entitled Casual."
Light smiled. "These aren't like other colognes. I'll show you." He dabbed a bit onto the back of his hand. "Here, smell."
L leaned forward and inhaled, instantly feeling the same feeling as when he had first met Light, the feeling that Light was an angel.
"How did you do that?" L murmured.
"That's Innocence," Light said cheerfully. "And if I put some Mystery on my other hand." He dabbed a little bit more on his other hand and held it under L's nose.
L was stuck this time by the feeling that Light was holding back some deep dark secret.
"Misa made these for you? Is she assisting you in your plan to manipulate everyone?"
Light groaned. "Once again, I'm not manipulating anyone. Yes, these are not normal colognes. They give me a different vibe every time you see me. I can go from being preppy to being emo with just a bit of cologne. But that doesn't make anyone like me or dislike me. It's just like changing your clothes. If you like or dislike someone because they fit a certain category, then yes, maybe these colognes will make you like me. But you won't like the real me. You'll like one of my personas."
L shook his head sadly. "You are indeed a mysterious person whether you apply Mystery or not. Misa seems less mysterious than you, but I am beginning to doubt that."
Light grinned. "Misa's as straightforward as they come. There's nothing mysterious about her. If you were really paying attention, you would know exactly who she is by now. But, you're only seeing what you want to see. That's okay though. Most people are like that. Speaking of Misa, she made something for you. It's a bracelet that might help protect you from being killed."
"So, does this bracelet have magical powers?" L scoffed.
"No," Light said calmly. He rolled up his sleeve and showed off the bracelet around his own wrist. "All of us have these, all of us at our table at least. If you have one too, it might send the message that you've been accepted as part of the community. It may not do much for you, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to try and save you."
L sighed. "Light, I really don't get it. You keep reminding me that I am in danger all the time. I have yet to see one indication of danger."
Light shook his head sadly. "Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not there. I have people looking out for you and they're seeing it happening. They hide their intentions from you pretty well, but we've caught them plotting your demise. I won't let it happen again."
"Light, I am tiring quickly of this whole charade. You're not telling me anything. What you are telling me is a carefully orchestrated web of lies designed so that I will be satisfied and not seek out the truth. It may work for other people, but it will not work for me."
Light sighed heavily. "L, you don't understand why I'm doing this. I can't tell you why. You have to trust me."
"I cannot trust anyone who will not be honest with me," L said firmly.
Light frowned. "I guess I have no choice. I'll have to tell you everything if I want you to survive."
'Yes," L said icily. 'That sounds like an excellent idea."
"I'll warn you, L, you might not believe me."
"Oh, I'm sure I will. After all, just about anything is more believable than the tales you've told me."
Light laughed darkly. "We'll see. When we get back on Monday, we'll meet after school to tell you everything. I really wish it didn't have to come to this, but I really want you to be safe. I'll make sacrifices for your safety. Now, I'll make us something to eat and we'll set up camp here for the night."
"Here?" L asked skeptically, looking around at the cold gray cave walls. "Won't it be a little chilly to sleep here?"
Light smiled warmly. "I've brought blankets and sleeping bags. We'll be fine. And if you get really cold, we can share body heat."
"No thank you," L said stiffly. 'I will be fine."
Light shrugged. "Suit yourself."