Away From Home

Chapter Nineteen

By Andruindel

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As it was, I didn't see L alone until late that night.

I ended up spending the rest of the day lurking in my room, peering out every so often at L and the others. I hadn't forgotten my vow to protect L, and figure out a way to save him in the end. But at the moment I was just too nervous to go out and associate with Light.

Only when the others left for home did I venture out of my room.

Even then, it was only to get a bowl of ice cream. I'd been wishing for ice cream all day, and had only recently remembered that I'd asked for Watari to bring me some. I gave myself a few minutes to brush my hair again, and pull the blanket L had gotten for me around my shoulders like a cloak.

L and Light were still working together in the workroom. I sent a worried glance in L's direction. He was sitting in his usual chair, watching as Light worked busily. He was probably writing out what he was going to say as 'Kira'.

L seemed to have been watching me. At any rate, as I looked at him, his eyes were already on me. He met my eyes for a moment, biting his thumb nail in the fashion I had grown used to. But as I went toward the kitchen, I let my eyes leave his. He would be safe, for the time being. Light was still writing.

My hands were shaking as I served myself some ice cream. It was rather annoying. That was one of the many disjointed thoughts running through my mind. Other than that, I wasn't thinking much. I was still a bit distracted, due to Light's presence.

As I left the kitchen, I paused.

Light had apparently finished writing. L was reading the paper, holding it in that odd way of his. A smile touched my lips as I observed this. For a moment I stood undecided. Should I stay there with L and Light, or go back to my room? I wasn't exactly sure if I wanted to stay, with Light around. But I decided, as I watched L reading through the paper, that I was going to stick around.

My decision was held in even higher regards when L commented on Light's wording. I glared indignantly at Light. How dare he suggest that Misa could kill L?

And yet he hid his true intentions so well, behind that light, nervous laughter. Why did he have to be so damn nice? He was too nice to be Kira. But he was. It was mind-blowing, when I thought about it.

Neither of them paid much attention to me as I settled onto the couch, well away from Light. He was across the entire room. But he still felt too close. I was scared, to say the least. He was a mass murderer, after all.

But, seeing as he paid no attention to me, I turned my attention to my ice cream. It was heavenly. Absolutely amazing, cold and smooth as I swallowed it. It didn't hurt as it went down my throat, which was a good thing.

I was just beginning to get comfortable and sleepy, curled in one corner of the couch with my empty ice cream bowl in hand, when both L and Light approached. I forced myself to open my eyes fully and sit up. Were it not for the presence of L, I would have felt extremely threatened by Light's approach. Even with L there, I could barely contain the shudder than passed down my spine. Before they could reach me, I stood up, folding my arms.

I turned my eyes onto L, hoping to communicate my uneasiness. His lips twitched in what I thought was a smile. And then he indicated Light with a tiny movement of his head.

"Amy-chan, this is Chief Yagami's son, Light."

I tipped my head to one side, looking at Light.

"Light, this is Amy."

Light smiled, and held out his hand. I smiled back at him, but did not take his hand.

"I'm sorry. I'd hate to get you sick by shaking your hand." I said, as sweetly as possible, but making sure it sounded slightly sarcastic as well. I thought I saw L frown, though not as though he were angry. It was more a confused frown, as though he couldn't see why I was being rude to Light.

I merely smiled lightly at him.

Light laughed. "Alright," He replied. He seemed unperturbed by my slight rudeness. But as I met his gaze, I shuddered. It was always his eyes that had characterized him as Kira. "Well, it was nice to meet you, Amy."

I sat back down, watching as Light moved away to start working on recording his words. With a sigh, I relaxed, sinking back into the couch, and snuggling under the blanket. But L didn't leave.

He remained standing above me, watching me.

"Here," I shoved the used ice cream bowl in his direction. "Go do something useful and put this in the sink or something."

L blinked, putting his thumb to his lips. "Why?" He asked.

"Because I'm too lazy to do it myself. And besides, I'm sick." I replied huffily. I jiggled the bowl a little, hinting that I really did want L to do something with it.

L sighed and, to my utter surprise, took it and started toward the kitchen.

A smirk crossed my face. What else could I get L to do, with the excuse that I was too sick to do it myself? I mused silently to myself for a bit, until L came back.

"It's getting late, Amy…" He said as he settled onto the couch beside me.

I sighed, and then, acting impulsively as I was apt to do while sick, I shifted position so I could press myself against L's side. He shifted a bit, but otherwise gave no reaction. So, I rested my head against his shoulder, and looked up at him.

"And?"

"You should probably go to bed."

"Why?"

"Because, you need rest."

"Why?"

"…So your body can heal more quickly."

I went quiet, dropping my eyes and considering.

"So you do care?" I asked at last, looking back up at L again.

This time, L hesitated before answering. "Of course." He replied at last.

I smiled, and then decided to figure out just how much he would do for me in my sickened condition. "In that case…" I started.

I got no further. L immediately stood up, and started to walk away.

"Hey!" I cried. "Where're you going?"

L turned slightly. "Somewhere where I won't have to listen to your demands." He replied.

I pouted. "I was just gonna ask if you'd carry me to my room." I huffed, folding my arms and looking away. "But, whatever, I'll just stay here on this lumpy, uncomfortable couch."

L sighed, and turned fully toward me. "Fine," He said shortly. "But don't get used to it."

I couldn't keep the smirk that crossed my face from appearing. I almost couldn't believe that L was actually going to carry me to my room. He gave me a moment to wrap myself in the blanket, kinda like a human burrito, and then he scooped me into his arms, with one arm under my knees, and the other supporting my back.

Content, I relaxed into his arms, linking my own around his neck, and resting my head against his shoulder. The trip to my room didn't last as long as I would have liked. And L said nothing, even when he carefully opened the door and then settled me on the bed.

For a moment, he looked at me as I sat on the bed. Sitting as I was, he towered above me. It made me feel kinda small, actually. I blinked, looking up at him, until after a few seconds, he turned to leave.

I caught his hand, and he turned back to me.

"Thanks, Ryuuzaki…" I said softly, smiling at him.

He nodded slightly, and as I let go of his hand, he left.

With a sigh, I crawled under the covers, curling into as tight a ball as possible, and shivering. The chills were back, though not as bad as before. It was a long time before I got to sleep, and when I did, I dreamed about L again.

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When I woke the next morning, I remembered very little about the dreams I'd had. Little disjointed flashes of them passed through my mind, only to be lost seconds later, into whatever realm forgotten dreams dwell in.

I felt much better, too. The chills were gone, and my head didn't hurt. My throat was still sore, but I felt much better than I had the previous day. I felt good enough to want to get up and take a shower.

Until I looked at the clock.

It was five thirty.

I hated waking up early. Especially when I couldn't get to sleep again. But, now that I was awake, there was no way I was getting back to sleep. I lay there for a minute, staring resentfully at the ceiling, and then I groaned and rolled out of bed.

Since I was up, I might as well go see if L had eaten all my ice cream.

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Well, this was kinda a filler chapter. And I was too lazy to finish the rest of it, which is why it ended in a kinda random spot... So you get to see more Amy random-ness in the next chapter. And then hopefully we'll get back to the serious part. I've honestly been too lazy to watch the anime over and over, so that's the reason behind the lack of serious stuff. =/ It's not my fault, okay? I've just been really tired and lazy recently. Either way, thanks for reading, and review, please!