Away From Home
Chapter Thirteen
By Andruindel
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Watching people work for hours on end was describable by only one word: Boring! I had long since dropped into a drowse, my mind wandering from thought to thought, flitting between them before I had even finished thinking them completely. And then, if I wanted to go back and finish thinking a certain thought, it was gone. I could never remember what exactly I'd been thinking while I sat there…
Several times I thought I heard the door open. I looked up each time, only to find that it had been my imagination. Eventually I stopped looking up, and closed my eyes, shutting out the voices around me.
But, as soon as I heard the door open, and L's voice, I lifted my head off my knees, and looked toward the door. Matsuda had looked up as well. I was sure L was going to ignore me.
However, as soon as L came in the door, rather than going straight to his computer, he paused for a moment, and glanced in my direction. I blinked, and then smiled, rather shyly, at him. I swiftly looked away again, sure I was slightly pink in the face.
Being cute was essential to my plan right now.
After L had gone to his computer, and I had waited for a moment, I got up and went into the kitchen. I made sure to pointedly ignore L, even though I was sure he glanced at me. A smile crossed my face for a moment once I was in the kitchen. If I knew anything about L, then my plan was going to work perfectly.
Still smiling to myself, I opened the cake box again. It still looked perfect. I busied myself sliding it carefully out of the box, and finding paper plates and a knife. By the time I'd found a knife, and cut myself a sizable slice of the cake, someone was peering at me from the door way.
"Are you having cake?"
My smile widened, but I quickly hid it. "Maybe." I replied, without looking at L. I heard him pad further into the kitchen, and then he was behind me, watching over my shoulder as I put the cake on the plate.
"Does L get some…?"
I nearly giggled. He was so cute! "No…" I replied, drawing it out until the one word had a sing-song quality. This time I glanced over my shoulder at him, smiling my cutest smile.
I saw L's disappointment clearly. "Why not?" He asked me.
I pretended to think for a moment. "Because there's nothing in it for me." I replied after a moment. I turned, holding my slice of cake in one hand, to face L.
L's eyes immediately narrowed. He eyed me suspiciously. "What do you want, Amy-chan?" He asked slowly.
Again I pretended to think, still smiling as cutely as possible. Eventually, I looked back at L. "A hug." I said innocently.
L's head went down, so I could no longer see his eyes. He hunched his shoulders. Apparently he was considering. I waited, my smile having turned into more of a smirk. Knowing L, he would not be able to resist the temptation of cake.
Just as I had thought, L finally looked up, and approached. His arms went around my shoulders, my arm went around him. I rested my cheek against his chest. And then it was over.
L pulled away, taking the plate out of my hand as he did. He offered me the slightest of smiles, and then turned to leave.
I watched, silent. Cursing L for being so cute.
When I finally realized that L had taken my cake, it was too late to save it. I stood for a moment gazing at my empty hands. I sighed, and cut myself another slice.
A sudden thought occurred to me as I heard Matsuda's voice from the work room. "Matsu!" I called, and I peeked into the work room. "Did you want some cake?"
Matsuda leapt up. "Sure!" He cried.
I smiled brightly at him. As he came toward me, I let my eyes land on L. He was enjoying my slice of cake, I noticed. Narrowing my eyes, I stepped back to let Matsuda into the kitchen. He apparently noticed my death glare, in L's direction, and he looked between me and L for a moment, a knowing look in his eyes.
I finally looked at him, and raised an eyebrow. "Don't give me that look." I said. I wasn't quite sure what the look meant, but I had an idea. Averting my eyes, I pointed silently to the cake.
"You're going to make me cut myself a slice?" He asked.
I refused to answer. Instead, I gave him a look that clearly said 'Stop being stupid'. I was back into my quieter mode, and awfully thoughtful.
"Ryuuzaki, I hate you." I stated simply as I plopped myself down on the window seat. I hardly glanced at him; my attention was focused on the cake.
For a moment it was quiet. No one seemed to have noticed I'd said anything. But as I was taking my first bite of cake, L swiveled around in his chair.
"Why?" He asked.
I glanced up. "Why what?"
"Why do you hate me?"
"You stole my cake."
"…I thought you cut it for me… Was I incorrect?"
"Yes. That was my piece of cake."
L glanced down at the half-eaten slice of cake. "I'm sorry." He replied solemnly. Then he looked back up at me. "Do you still hate me?"
I considered, looking out the window. "Not if you buy me a puzzle or two." I replied. "That'll give me something to do."
"Agreed." L said, and he turned back to the computer.
I smiled to myself, and looked back out the window. I was curious to know what L had done at the college. No doubt he'd been keeping an eye on Light. I shuddered as my mind fell on Light.
How was I supposed to keep L safe from Light, if I couldn't tell him that Light was Kira?
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Once again, L and I were hanging out one on one. At least, I fondly imagined that we were hanging out. In reality, L was sitting on his computer, and I was on the couch, upside down.
Yes, I was upside down. It was one of the weird things I did when I was either bored, or feeling random. A small amount of sugar rush wasn't helping things either. So, as I sat, upside down, on the couch, my head almost touching the floor, I was humming quietly to myself.
Finally, I started singing, quietly at first, but then louder.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray! You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."
"Amy," I fell silent, and sat up, looking over the back of the couch at L. He had turned to face me. "Please stop."
I pouted. "Why?"
L looked away. "You're annoying me." He replied.
Disappointed, I let myself back down to my former position. "Alright." I said.
It was quiet for a while. I was twiddling my thumbs, and gazing up at the ceiling silently. I could hear L biting his thumb-nail.
Eventually, I began feeling the effects of the blood rushing to my head. I sat up again, and then I sat right on the couch. I began my 'random dance', which was usually reserved for when I was happy, or when I was eating peanut butter. But, on rare occasions, I would just do it anyway.
I was bored. And I was hyper.
That was never good.
But, at least this time I had something to do. I stood up, and went to my room, where I picked up my book. I usually had a book in my hand constantly. Recently, however, I hadn't been reading much. I wasn't even sure why.
Either way, now I was reading. And I was no longer bored.
Eventually I looked up. A question had just occurred to me. "Hey, L?" I asked.
"Yes, Amy…" L didn't look at me. But I was used to it by now. He hardly ever did. I went on. He was listening.
"L, why am I here?"
I saw L stiffen. And then he swiveled around in his chair to face me. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"I mean, why haven't you kicked me out yet?" I shrugged. "I've been here for weeks, and I'm pretty sure I've gotten on your nerves a lot. So, why am I still here?"
"Oh." L turned back to his computer. "It would be dangerous to let you go now. You know too much. You could leak quite a lot of information."
"Is that all I'm good for? Keeping your identity safe?" I pouted, resting my chin in my palm.
"Frankly, yes. Plus, there's a better chance of Watari bringing cake while you're here."
"Gee, thanks." I said. "It's nice to know I'm good for something."
"We appreciate it."
Was L actually joking around with me? It was hard to tell. He was so serious all the time. I decided that he was, and settled back on the couch with my book. I guess L wasn't too bad.
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Hey, people. Sorry this one's a little short. And nothing important happens. Again. Nothing amazing really happens until chapter Seventeen, when Light finally makes and appearance. -winkwink- So, please bare with me until then. Thanks for reading, and don't forget to review!
