As this story is beginning to hit its more serious side, I will no longer be doing my little scripted disclaimer at the beginning. Just a simple: I do not own Death Note. Thanks.

I do not own Death Note

Chapter 36 Pity

Amazing. It felt amazing to watch the information and data that I was seeing before me. Perhaps it was simply my deprived state of mind during the last few weeks that was reminiscent of the dull monotonous experience that was high school, but I was awestruck. I literally had the world at my fingertips. The state of the art equipment provided was less a computer and more of machine whose capabilities shouldn't be reached for at least another ten years. It was effortless. I didn't even have to concentrate on typing.

I started when Light shook my shoulder. I turned to him, my eyes wide. He smiled at my expression.

"That was my initial reaction to it as well," he admitted.

"It's beautiful," I muttered resisting the urge to caress the keyboard. That would have been too far.

"Rei likes computers?" L asked curiously. I shook my head.

"That's not it. I like…efficiency and…" I trailed off trying to put the meaning down in words.

"Rei likes advanced and intricate systems," Light explained for me. "But on this model it's the amount of information available. It's not as impressive to you because you've been getting regular updates on software and such. This is our first time seeing something like this."

I nodded weakly.

"And it's pretty," I added, shooting the computer another look.

L chuckled under his breath. "I would have thought Yagami-san would have provided you two with the best." I stared at him.

"Ryuzaki, some governments don't have this sort of a system," I emphasized. "Besides, Light and I aren't quite that spoiled."

L muttered something under his breath, most likely professing his disbelief at this.

"Why did you need me anyway?" I asked Light. He raised an eyebrow at me.

"It's ten o'clock. Everyone left." I blinked at him, my mouth open in disbelief.

"Shit."

"Exactly why Light and I were concerned," L said, prying two gummy bears apart as he did so. "You haven't surfaced since six o'clock this morning. I'm relieved it was because of your ah, 'interest' in the computer."

"Did you just put air quotes around the word, interest?"

"No. I did not put 'air quotes' around anything."

"You just did it again. You're putting an inflection on the word which is the equivalent of air quotes."

"You both sound like five year olds," Light interjected. "Albeit five years olds with impressive vocabularies, but five year olds."

"Says the boy handcuffed to another man," I argued.

"Touché," L said popping a red gummy bear in his mouth.

"…boy?" Light asked.

I shrugged, thoroughly distracted from the computer now.

"You're only eighteen," I explained.

"You are as well," Light pointed out.

"And do see me as a woman?"

"…"

"Touché," L interrupted again.

"Ryuzaki! You can't say 'touché' when the insult wasn't even directed at you!" Light said loudly.

"Touché," L said to further irritate Light. "But you have just used the air quotes only recognized by voice inflection rather than actual hand movement, and I believe you should be punished."

"Has anyone else realized how bizarre this conversation has become?" I asked.

"I agree," L said getting to his feet, "perhaps we should leave it at this before we react violently to something so inconsequential."

L put his hands in his pockets and scratched his calf with his foot. I smiled, realizing he was in the exact same stance I had first met him in.

"Bang."

L looked at my hand, the gun shape outstretched towards him.

"Bang," he agreed softly.

Light glanced curiously between us, not quite understanding why the gesture had smoothed over all the tension the pointless argument had created. L tugged on the cuffs, signaling to L he should stand (which he did, but not without a glare).

I followed the pair of them, realizing we were going to the kitchen after a few maneuvers through the gargantuan building. When we actually reached the room in question, my stomach nearly jumped out my mouth to get to the food laid out on the counter.

"I'm assuming I didn't eat all day either?" I asked, acutely aware of the hunger pains keening in my stomach. Light nodded in assentment. "The second this case is over, I'm stealing my computer," I added while sitting in front of one the three plates of food.

L crouched across from me and Light took the seat next to him. L eagerly began to eat the piece of cheesecake laid out for him while Light did the same with the meal Watari had set out for us.

"Unfortunately, very little of the equipment is mine. It's on lend so to speak from a contact of mine. The same one who helped track you actually," L explained through a mouth of food.

"Then I'm stealing his computer."

But thinking of contacts, or more specifically those involved in the Minagawa instant, I was struck by an interesting thought. L was not one to allow loose ends to go uninvestigated, but he had let something go with no resistance at all.

"Kinoshita," I said aloud. "You never asked about him."

"Ah yes, Minagawa's lackey. In truth, it did not concern me," L answered.

"You knew who he was?" I couldn't keep some surprise out of my voice. L sent me a look that clearly said: what do you take me for?

"It was not difficult to look through past records and testimonies given on Minagawa to determine who would be assisting him. I did not consider it relevant to the case. The case itself was not even reported to the police. It ended neatly without having to involve the law enforcement, and it would only create complications to do so." I winced at the word neatly. "I am restraining myself from any sort of research into the man as a reward for participating in your escape. However, I am assuming you are aware of his location." I nodded. "Then he will be the first contact you can add to your arsenal."

"But he doesn't owe me anything," I argued.

"Not by your reasoning, no. It is as simple for you as he righted a wrong and therefore owes you nothing. However, you must take into consideration Kinoshita's own nature. By his calculations, he still owes you and will continue to do so until he dies, so I would suggest you use him sparingly. He may very well kill himself if you ask for too large of a favor."

"That's awfully morbid." L gave a noncommittal nod of the head and continued eating.

"Speaking of the incident," Light pressed delicately, "are you sure you're alright?"

"I've told you this before, I'm fine. No long lasting trauma, no need to speak to a psychiatrist who will just shove an entire rainbow of antidepressants down my throat," I answered wearily.

"Sorry…it's just a big difference from last time."

"It's because you were both watching," I admitted. "I felt better knowing you could see me, and I just…it made it easier on me."

I glanced downwards, signaling I didn't want to talk about it anymore. I was being honest, the memory wasn't a terrifying nightmare come true like my previous experience. But discussing it like this, having to deal with Light looking at me with pity…well that was frightening to me. Light was not one to pity, and I had no intention of giving him an excuse to.

We finished eating in silence, avoiding the topic that had brought it upon us.

The second I had put my chopsticks down for the final time, L acted. He seized my hand and dragged me to my feet and out the door. Light followed, the chain forcing him with us.

We went up through the floors, the elevator too slow for L's taste, finally bursting through a final door.

Cool air rushed past him to where Light and I still stood inside. The roof. He had taken us to the roof. I stepped outside the confines of the building, loving the way the night air wrapped around me. I would have been content just to stay there, but L continued pulling me forward until we stood on the edge of the roof.

Thousands of lights twinkled together, a mirror of the few stars that could be seen. It was comforting to see the inky black of the city dotted with such a comforting glow. I had never seen Tokyo's skyline at night, and never from building as high as this one, but I likened it to someone seeing the sun first time.

It was beautiful.

I squeezed L's hand once and reached for Light's as well. The chain made small noises in the wind, swaying in the breeze.

We were recognizing the end of an era. A start of a new portion of our lives. There wasn't going to be anymore joking or laughing. No witty jabs or poorly constructed arguments. Just Kira. Just justice.

And so, for the moment, we were content to just stay there. Beneath the pitiless sky and the gods that ruled it.

Author's Note

So yes. This chapter begins the transition into the serious. I'm not saying it will be completely devoid of humor, but much more intense from this point.

My trailer for Survivor if up on YouTube. You can either click the link on my profile, or search Survivor Fanfic Trailer. It should be obvious which one is the proper one.

I apologize for shortness, but I really needed a transition and real plot chapters take longer. I have NO time this week. I'll try to make up for it next week. I promise!

THANKS FOR REVIEWING!

World without L is just a word: Not a real lemon. But implication. Some lime possibly. It'll be pretty clear what happened though. I mean come on, the girl's gonna be wearing a freaking corset. Do you not like yaoi? It's fine if you don't. I won't shun you or anything. Sorry if me doing so offends you, I just…I like it. Can't really explain it, but I do. Embarrass away. It amuses me. YES! I CAN MAKE PEOPLE CRY! YES! FLAWLESS VICTORY!

AlbinoButterfly: Yes. Yes he does. And I will sob. Loudly when I have to watch the episode for research.

DNfangirl: Ahaha thanks XP

Grrr: Sorry B… My friend made me post the yaoi fic btw if you wanna read it. I wanna go to B's house! I have jam!

Gwen: LOVE!