I don't own Death Note

Spoiler for L's real name

Chapter 43 Checkmate

I opened my eyes, awake. It was odd, I decided almost absently, that I would wake up so easily. Wasn't there supposed be some warm groggy feeling? Glowing, that was it. I didn't feel like I was glowing. I sat up, stretching. I could hear the sound of running water. A shower? I glanced at the other side of the bed. Empty of course. I smiled to myself. Quite the pity. I would have liked to see L sleeping for once.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and looked around for anything to wear. There was a pile of folded clothes at the foot of the bed. Watari's doing I assumed. I waited for the wave of embarrassment to hit me. Nothing. I shrugged it off. Grabbing the clothes, which WERE mine so I knew Watari had been there, and pulled them on.

It was strange, I mused. Something that was supposed to change you so completely had barely affected me at all. I was calmer, I suppose. All the anxiety and adrenaline that had been coursing through my system was gone. In its place was a feeling very similar to the resignation L had displayed earlier. Though it wasn't a resignation to L's death, but instead just an acceptance of whatever would happen.

I couldn't decide if it was a relief or worrying.

I shrugged it off and stepped out of the bed, my foot landing on something soft. I reached down and picked up the plain white shirt. I stared at it for a few moments and pulled it on over my other clothes. It felt comforting.

I walked around the spacious suite, looking for the kitchen. L would be coming out in a moment searching for cake. I didn't have to look very hard. The kitchen was just as large as the rest of the rooms; a cake already laid out, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!, written across the surface. Watari's work again I was sure.

"Rei?" I turned to see L standing behind me, his hair heavy around his face, water still dripping from it. His expression turned sheepish. "I though perhaps…you had left."

I nodded and held up the plate. "Cake?" L's brow furrowed. "Watari," I said by means of explanation.

"Yes," he answered softly. I handed him the whole platter, not bothering to cut slices. L took a fork and just began to eat the cake whole. We sat there in a comfortable silence. "You should eat something as well," he suggested.

I shook my head. "I'm not hungry." He opened his mouth, hesitated, and then closed it again. "You still think you're going to die," I said for him.

He nodded. "Yes. I'm almost certain of it now. Light maneuvered in a way I could not foresee. The existence of the shinigami and Light's obvious control of it for example." His gaze had drifted away, but focused back on me. "I need you to cooperate with me," he said his eyes narrowing.

"You're not going to die," I said firmly, my own eyes narrowing in response.

"Humor me," he answered just as firmly. I nodded once, and he relaxed. "Sit." I rolled my eyes at his tone but did so anyway. He left with the fork still sticking out of his mouth. He came back with a wooden box. He placed it on the table and sat down, his knees drawn up. "The Kira case. What do you think of it?"

"The case? You know how I feel-"

"That's not what I was asking. I would like to know what the Kira case would appear to you if you were a neutral party observing it."

"A… neutral party?" I stopped for a moment, considering it. "I suppose…it seems like a game."

L leaned forward. "Be more specific."

"A card game," I said quickly trying to understand where he was going with this. "It's a game of chance, but also strategy. You occasionally get an ace, but it's useless if the other player gets a winning hand. You have to give up certain advantaged in the hopes for a better one, or take chances to get ahead of the other person playing."

L nodded to himself. "An apt analogy, but I have a different one in mind." L reached forward and opened the box on the table. It was beautiful in a way, despite how plain it was. The wood was stained a deep mahogany color and looked to be smooth to the touch.

L took out what appeared to be a chess board. He set it down on the table. "I believe the Kira case is a game," L paused, "of chess. Your description of it also applies here, as sacrifices must be made and strategy is used. However, this game, has a few rule alterations."L pulled out a black king, placing it on the board.

"Kira," I guessed.

"Kira," L agreed. "Kira made the first attack, when he murdered his first victim. The man who held children hostage at a school. He continued the murders, eventually attracting not only my attention, but the ICPO as well." L placed a white king on the board, accompanied by a bishop. L and Watari. Along the middle of the board, L placed pawns across the checkered squares.

"They're glass," I said with surprise. The pawns were made out of glass. They were tinged a gray color reminiscent of smoke, but they still had the see through consistency of glass.

"We were joined by the task force," L went on. "I suppose I went overboard on the symbolism of the thing." L smirked.

"Gray because they can be used both by the white and black pieces," I said softly. "Glass because their intentions are easy to see and because they're easy to manipulate. A cruel observation, but true enough."

"Then of course, Amane came into the picture," L said with a frown, placing a black queen on the board next to the king that was Kira, "as the second Kira. And along with her, the suggestion of shinigami." L took two knights, setting them down on either side of the black king and queen. "Kira gained more supporters," L added more black pawns, "fanatics," L placed two rooks, "and the media on his side." L placed two bishops down.

"It hardly seems fair," I commented, observing the lack of white pieces. L smiled slightly.

"It never seems to be," he mused before continuing. "Shortly after, we confined both Light and Amane." L removed the black king and queen, placing them on the table. L frowned. "It was then that Light and Amane seemed to lose all recollection of ever being Kira." L replaced the black king and queen, this time on the white side of the board. "We released the pair and kept them under surveillance, this time working alongside us to capture Kira." L reached into the box and withdrew a third black knight, placing it where the black king used to be. "Then the Yotsuba Kira emerged."

"Three knights?"

L nodded. "An alteration, but it suits this game in particular. We captured the Yotsuba Kira, but he was murdered shortly after." L removed the third knight. "Both Light and Amane had all their memories restored and I was forced to allow them to go free." L moved the black king and queen back to the black side.

"So what now?" I asked softly watching all the dark pieces stacked against the white.

"Light will make his move, taking Watari with me." L flicked over both white pieces.

"So Kira wins," I said dully.

"No," L said firmly. "Kira will not win." L pulled out another piece. A white queen, red ribbon tied around the piece. "Kira will not win, because you will not allow him to." L pulled out three more knights, placing it next to the queen.

"Who-"

"My successors," L said quickly. "They will assist you."

"L, you are not going to die," I whispered fiercely.

L shrugged. "Perhaps, but I would prefer for the possibility to be addressed."

"Fine," I conceded sharply. "I'll…I'll do it. But I swear to you L, if you die, I'm making your life hell when I die."

L smiled sadly. "I will accept that offer."

It was raining. Pouring would better describe it. Or maybe the heavens opening and letting all the tears of the angels fall, or something else poetic like that. It didn't particularly matter to me. Just that L was missing. Whether this was connected to the rain or not didn't matter.

I wasn't sure why I went to search on the roof. Maybe it was something L had told me.

A habit he had called it.

He was standing there in the rain. It soaked his clothes, dripping down. He was barefoot as always. He stared at the sky, water falling in his eyes. He didn't seem to notice.

I didn't hesitate, joining him. I slipped my hand into his. He glanced at me. He didn't seem surprised.

"I can hear the bells," he muttered. "They're very loud today." He hesitated, tilting his head; listening. "Maybe from a church. Perhaps there was a wedding, or maybe a…" he trailed off, looking to the ground.

A funeral.

I swallowed harshly, my hand tightening around his.

"…punishment," L said to himself. He nodded. "Yes, a punishment. For A and B…"

"A and B?" I asked softly.

"Successors. Of mine. Both dead, because of me."

"I'm sorry." L nodded absently. He reached into his pocket, pulling out the other red ribbon. My thoughts flashed to the small white queen still in L's room. He gently took my wrist, tying the ribbon around it.

Lightning flashed, thunder boomed. We stood there in the tempest, the wind roaring around us.

"Checkmate," he said softly.

I stood inside, water pooling around me. I shivered, numbly rubbing my arms. L was still out in the storm. Light had followed him out.

What were they talking about? The bells? Kira? Or was the sound of cascading water drowning out any words between them?

They were inside now. I could hear them speaking in low voices along with the sound of dripping water.

Friends.

Had they ever truly been friends? When Kira had been gone? Or did that no longer matter; the monster inside my brother driving any semblance of friendship away?

"It'll be lonely won't it?" The words startled me. "We'll be parting ways soon." I looked around the corner. L was at Light's feet, a sad smile on his face.

Christ washing the feet of Judas.

Caesar smiling at Brutus.

Why did this hurt so much?

L and Kira. Kira and L. Justice.

This was the final good bye. I could sense it. L was appealing to the little humanity Light had left. Not with the hope of saving himself, but of making amends for the wrongs he had done to Light.

I hid behind the wall and tried not to cry.

The room was washed in red light.

"Watari?" L asked in a childish voice, his eyes large, not understanding.

This was the result. L's final move against Kira. The testing of the thirteen day rule. The final nail in L's coffin.

All data deletion.

Watari was dead.

People were panicking. Mouths moved soundlessly; questioning.

L eyes widened in realization.

"Everyone! The shiniga-"

He stopped. His expression was frozen.

And he fell.

There was a metallic clattering. A spoon falling from his grasp.

And he fell.

His mouth was parted in surprise.

And he fell.

And we caught him.

Light and I. Our arms cushioning him; not allowing his body to be defiled by letting it hit the ground.

He stared at us. His dark gaze focusing first on me, then Light.

His heart thudded loudly, his breath gasping. There was a final desperate attempt to draw breath, his eyes widening impossibly.

It stopped. It all stopped. His lids closed slowly, hiding the dark now reflective eyes.

Why could I still hear his heart? It was pounding, thudding against my skull. Or was that mine? Beating in defiance, proving its life against the now dead man before me.

I turned to Light, my own face blank. But not his. Smirking. He was smirking.

Checkmate.

Checkmate, L.

I almost expected him to lean forward and kiss L's cheek.

Judas…

Light screamed.

I stared. The task force cowered. Light got to his feet, leaving L behind. He ran. I stood, preparing to follow him. Matsuda caught my arm. He was saying something. His mouth forming words I couldn't hear. I shrugged him off.

Light. I needed to follow Light.

I ran.

He was near a pile of sand. A notebook in his hand.

"Light."

There was sound again.

"Rei, I-"

"Let me see it."

"Rei-"

"Let me see it, Light," I said through gritted teeth. I ripped it from his hands, leafing through the notebook.

Names were scrawled in the notebook, the writing archaic becoming more modern as the pages turned until,

Quillish Wammy.

And beneath it, the letters written shakily,

"L Lawliet," I choked out.

The world went dark.

Checkmate.

~Author's Note~

This story is far from over.