Away From Home
Chapter Fourteen
By Andruindel
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How long had I been gone? How many weeks had I been in Death Note land? What was my family doing? Why was I still there any way?
So many questions had gone through my mind in so short a time, my head was beginning to hurt. I fled out of the solitude of my room to the work room, where Chief Yagami, Aizawa, Matsuda, and L were working.
L had gone to the college a few more times since that day almost two weeks ago. I had yet to see Light. And I was actually glad of that. I was not looking forward to meeting Light.
Bitter resentment at the world flooded through me, pumping through me like the blood in my veins. I ignored the men and went into the kitchen. I wasn't really hungry, but looking for food would give me something to do.
However…
I ended up just opening drawers, doors, and cabinets and slamming them closed, not hard enough to break anything, but loud enough to get some satisfaction out of the action. I hadn't been so angry at absolutely nothing in weeks. I knew I really shouldn't have been. There was nothing to be angry at anyway. But I kinda liked being angry.
I knew I had to stop slamming things eventually. When L peered into the kitchen at me, I knew that time had come.
"Are you alright, Amy-chan?" He asked.
"No. Don't talk to me." I snapped at him. I moved to stalk past him, and out of the kitchen. But he reached out and gripped my arm.
I shook him off violently. "Don't touch me!" I all but snarled at him. I glanced once at him, taking in his startled expression, and then I continued out of the kitchen.
"What's wrong, Amy?" Matsuda asked, looking up at me.
"Nothing!" I tried to control my voice, but I couldn't keep it from rising just a bit. I looked away from the men, even though only Matsuda and L were showing any interest in me. My feet carried me quickly toward the window seat, where I planned to brood for a while.
L followed me. "Nothing, or something…?" He asked softly. (A/N: xD Invader Zim quote.)
I turned to see that he had an extremely thoughtful look on his face. "What does that even mean?" I asked, exasperated. "Do you really want to know what's bothering me?" I lowered my tone, and my eyes.
"Yes." L said, just as softly.
I looked up at him. "It's my birthday. I'm eighteen today."
"What?!" Matsuda jumped up from the couch. "I'll be back, later!" He cried, and he dashed out the door.
I watched him leave, blinking once or twice. Then, with a slight frown, only of confusion, on my face, I looked back at the other men. L was staring at me, and Aizawa had lifted one eyebrow.
L rubbed the back of his head. "Well… Happy birthday, Amy-chan." He said slowly.
The others all wished me a happy birthday as well. I rolled my eyes and sat down on the window seat, resting my head against the glass. "Yeah, thanks…" I mumbled. I couldn't believe I was turning eighteen while in Death Note land… Did it even count, since I was in a different dimension, or whatever?
I sighed, and then turned to look around the room. At least I was eighteen now, right? I was officially an adult.
Besides, I had no idea where Matsuda had gone. Perhaps he'd rushed off to buy me a present? It was a possibility. But I didn't want to get my hopes up. So I didn't.
I simply sat watching the men work. Within an hour, Matsuda had come back.
I looked up as the door opened, and Matsuda rushed in. He bore with him a white box, with a purple ribbon tied around it. I perked up as he approached, eyeing the box.
"Happy birthday, Amy-chan!" Matsuda said, handing the box to me. It felt awfully light.
I grinned, finally getting over my angry mood. "Aw, thank you, Matsu!" I said.
I pulled gingerly at the ribbon, planning to save it to use as a head-band. Once it was off, I eagerly lifted the lid of the box. When I saw what was in it, I let my smile slip away, and I simply sat there, staring at it, my bottom lip protruding slightly.
I heard L swivel around in his chair. "What's in it, Amy-chan?" He asked.
I tilted the box so he could see inside. "Nothing…" I said, my voice half-whimper half-whisper. I looked back down at the box, and then up at Matsuda, disappointed. He was trying not to laugh.
"Just kidding!" He cried. I jumped, startled, as he shoved another package into my hands. This one was tied with blue ribbon.
I stared suspiciously at him. "Is there something in it this time?" I asked. Matsuda nodded.
I carefully opened it, still a bit mistrustful. But when I opened it, I smiled. "Wow, I cookie the size of my head. And a new book! Thank you, Matsuda!" I leapt up to hug him, accidently knocking the empty boxes to the floor.
He hugged me back, and then smiled down at me. My birthday was suddenly getting better. Not only did I have a new book to read, I had a cookie the size of my head to eat.
"Matsuda, stop messing around!" Chief Yagami said suddenly.
Matsuda lowered his head. "Sorry…" He said. He smiled once more at me before rushing back to his work.
I turned, still smiling slightly, to pick up the things I'd scattered everywhere when I jumped up. L was eyeing my cookie hungrily. I quickly rescued it from its precarious perch on the edge of the window seat.
Then I turned an evil glare on L. "If you want a piece of my cookie, all you have to do is ask." I said coldly.
L gave me a long look. For a moment I half-expected him to ask for a piece of the cookie. But then he turned back to his computer. I looked at him for a moment, and then I shrugged, and sat down.
Minutes later, L stood up again. I looked up at him, watching curiously as he started toward the door. He was in his usual hunched posture, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. And… strangely enough, he was wearing shoes. I'd only seen him wear shoes when he was going to the college.
So, naturally, I assumed that's where he was going.
And where did that leave me?
Free to wander around at will. Free to simply sit and read. Free to… steal L's cake…?
I quickly squashed that last idea. With the cookie the size of my head, that was plenty enough sweet stuff for at least a week. I was surprised that I hadn't put on more weight, seeing as I ate almost nothing but sweet stuff, and I was hardly ever outside.
I sat for a moment, staring at my cookie, and then I stood up. "I'm going outside." I announced to the room in general. "I'll be back… later..."
It took no time at all to put on shoes, and a sweater. The weather outside was rather chilly…
"Bye!" I called as I closed the door behind me.
I actually felt really weird just walking out of the hotel like that. The outside world had been forbidden to me for so long, it was like a miracle just to be able to go out side now. It was actually a bit frightening, stepping outside, unaccompanied, for the first time in weeks. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it. The only problem was, if I got lost, that would be bad.
I decided to just walk around the block really quick. A walk around the block, if I did it every day, would help to keep me from getting fat. At least, I hoped it would. I had never been fond of physical exercise. But, at least I'd always been able to keep in shape. Mostly…
My walk ended up lasting longer than I had anticipated. I stopped to look in the window of a huge clothing store, where they had some really cute dresses on display. Usually I wasn't one to wear dresses, but I liked looking at them. When I finally continued on my way, it was only to stop and stare in the window of a bakery.
The cakes were fantastic! There was one with six layers, and silver roses. I giggled as I imagined L's face if he were to go in there. For a little, I entertained the idea of buying something. But I had no cash, and besides… Everything was bound to be extremely expensive.
So I went on my way. But, with several more stops, my walk lasted at least an hour. I hardly noticed the time pass. It was so nice to be outside again.
When I finally got back to the hotel, I was tired, but happy. The bad mood I'd been in earlier was completely gone.
That was only until I got up to the hotel room.
To keep myself in a 'get in shape' state of mind, I took the stairs. I was regretting it by the time I finally got to the right floor. My legs were shaking beneath me, as though they didn't want to hold me up any more. I hadn't been so exhausted in a long time. But I had a book, and a cookie the size of my head, waiting for me at home.
My mind flicked idly toward the thought I'd just thought. Home…
I'd never referred to the hotel as home, before. Although six weeks was a pretty long time to spend with anyone, or any where, I had not considered the hotel my home. Ever. For one thing, I just never really felt at home there. I always had L acting as though I didn't exist. And it just didn't feel like home…
Except…
Where else did I have?
What other place did I have to call home?
My musings were cut short as I went to open the door to our hotel suite. It wouldn't open. I tried again, and got the same result. Apparently, the door was locked. For a split second I stared at the door, a frown on my face. Then I knocked. Someone had to be inside.
No one came to the door, though. I knocked again, and again, until finally, I decided no one was there. "Well, crap…" I sighed, sitting down, and resting my back against the wall.
I couldn't get into the hotel suite, and I had nothing to do. I was stuck in the hall for who knows how long. And that was making my bad mood come back. Eventually I let my head rest against the wall with a thump. And then, because it felt good, I did it again. So I ended up sitting against the wall, banging my head against it repeatedly, wishing that someone would come let me in.
But no one came.
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Hai, people! Guess what! Oh, wait, you already know: Andy updated again. :D It's about time, too. I mean, seriously. The only exscuse I have is the fact that my insperation was killed. Life has been so crazy, and busy as of late, y'know? I did update, though, and I've got chapter seventeen in the works, so hopefully I'll get my insperation back, and update quicker. Thanks for reading, guys, and never ever ever forget to review!
