Away From Home

Chapter Twenty-Six

By Andruindel

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The next three or five days went by in an endless blur of monotony. I was confined to my room, basically forbidden to leave by L. My only visitor was Matsuda, who usually brought me my meals. I was going crazy. This was worse than the months I'd spent confined to the hotel room, during the brief period I had been a Kira suspect. Now, however, I wasn't just being confined because L was afraid I was a mass murderer. I was being confined for a reason I didn't even understand. Honestly, I wasn't sure if L had a reason, and if he did, he wasn't going to tell me any time soon.

Finally, after I had lost track of the days, and the time, and had lost any semblance of sanity, I decided enough was enough. I opened my door a crack, peering through to make sure no one was coming down the hall. No one was, so I felt safe enough to open the door wide enough to slip through. Silently, I padded down the hall in my bare feet, and then peered curiously into the dark work room. It was odd, the way L prefered the dark when he was watching the tv.

L was in front of the tv now. In fact, he was talking. After only a few seconds, I was able to tell that he was talking to Misa. Sure that everyone was intent on the scene unfolding before them, I took a step into the room.

Instantly, L shut off his microphone, and turned to glare at me. "Get back to your room, Amy." He snapped. His tone stung more than the words.

With tears welling up in my eyes, I took a step backward. "Fine, but you don't have to yell," And then I retreated, intent on crying to Panda for a while.

I was only there, curled up on my bed, tears falling slowly, for a minute or so before my door opened slowly. I didn't bother looking up. It couldn't be anyone other than Matsuda.

"Hey," He greeted me softly, and without waiting for me to reply, sat on the edge of my bed. "Ryuuzaki sent me to apologize for him."

"Okay." The apology didn't really help. But Matsuda's presence did. I sat up, wiping my eyes. "Why am I stuck here?"

Matsuda welcomed me into his arms as I leaned into him, needing to be close to someone. "I don't think Ryuuzaki wants you there while he's interrogating someone. Maybe it has something to do with his liking you...?"

Normally that would have cheered me up. Now, I just hated the way that sounded. I knew, though no one else knew, that I wouldn't be seeing much of L for a long time.

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While Light, Misa and Mr. Yagami were in their confinement, I was in a sort of confinement of my own. I was rarely allowed to leave my room, and I was never allowed anywhere near the work room. Days dragged by, and so desperate was I for human companionship that after the first few days of Light's confinement, I began stealing L's shirts, just to feel close to him again. They carried the faint, lingering scent of whatever soap or cologne he used.

After the first week of Light's confinement, I was miserable, and had fallen into a state of deep depression. I didn't want to move. I barely ate. Even Matsuda's brief visits couldn't cheer me up, until on the seventh day, I forced myself to sit up when Matsuda brought me dinner. I forced a few bites down, and then before I knew it, I was crying.

Matsuda pulled me into his arms, saying nothing. The strain was already beginning to tell on us all. "I think you should come home with me tonight," Matsuda said. "It's not good for you to be cooped up here all day."

I accepted the offer gratefully, and that night I went home with Matsuda for the second time.

That became our routine. I spent my nights at Matsuda's apartment, sleeping fitfully on his couch, and then riding with him when he went to work. But instead of following him into the hotel, I was left to myself, free to wander as the mood took me. My wanderings never took me far. There was a bookstore not too far away, and a bakery, and a restaurant. L kept me supplied with money, though he was never the one to give it to me, and so I spent my days in reletive comfort. But the dark depression remained.

My relationship with Matsuda began to change, and evolve. It became a deeper relationship, one of mutual understanding and companionship. We began spending a few hours every night just sitting together; he usuallly had his arm around my shoulders, and I usually had my head resting on his shoulder. We were both lonely, both longing for companionship, and we found that in each other's company.

One night, after a month of Light's confinement, Matsuda and I fell asleep on the couch together. That was the end of our deeper, yet less meaningful, relationship. Feeling it would be dangerous, to my friendship with Matsuda and to the relationship I hoped to have with L, to stay with Matsuda any more, I moved back to the hotel again. It would only be a few days before Light was released, I knew. I could survive that.

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What's this? It's Wednesday and Andy's updating? That can only mean one thing: The fan fic is finished! Yes, you heard (read) right! I have just about finished the entire fan fiction, which means you'll be getting updates every few days, rather than ever Friday! Let's hear the fan's rejoicing!

Sorry about the length. I made up for it by finishing, right? Thanks for reading, don't forget to review!