The Killer in You

Chapter 61: Acceptance


I don’t want to be here, Ryuzaki thought, standing next to Light in front of the headquarters building, looking at the limo pulling over to the curb. Still, Light had wanted him to come down and he hadn’t quite had an option to refuse. It didn’t really matter if Misa saw him now – the girl knew his name anyway; it was just another way of Light shoving his victory into L’s face. And that was exactly why L would rather avoid this situation.

The car came to a halt, the rear door opened, and the blonde pest jumped out of it with a squeak.

“Liiight!!!”

Momentarily Light was covered by her obtrusive hugging and reluctantly hugged her back. Ryuzaki nodded at Watari sitting behind the wheel. The car pulled out and turned over the corner, where the ramp led to the headquarters’ underground parking lot.

The fondling next to him lasted for another few minutes, finally Misa unglued herself from Light and turned to Ryuzaki. She sent him a grin, showing an even line of teeth.

“Hello, Ryuzaki. Nice to see you again.” L heard a little, very purposeful note of spite in her voice. “Let’s see…” her gaze wandered above his head. “L Law-liet,” she pronounced slowly as if she were reading. What was it? Did he have letters floating over his head? Misa smiled viciously. “Guess what, Light? Rem was right, his name really is L. Wonder who named a kid like that. Hey, L, Light beat you. And you know why? Because Light is the best.” She stuck out her tongue at him, but then grew a little pouty. “I wish Rem was here to see this.”

L decided to ignore her teasing. He sucked his thumb, studying her with interest, suddenly struck by a thought.

“I wonder where is your shinigami now, Misa-san,” he mused.

Light chuckled. “He is right behind you. By the way, hello Ryuk,” he added, looking over L’s shoulder. Of course, there was no answer. On impulse, Ryuzaki turned and looked at the same spot.

“Hello, Ryuk,” he said to the air.

Misa giggled.

“He waves at you and also says hello,” Light translated. “He says he wished to say ‘how do you do’, but he can’t, since he’s seen you many times before.”

L shuddered. All this situation was like some bad joke. The jolly family-like atmosphere of the Kira couple and their shinigami pet made him want to wince. They probably had the best fun teasing him like that. But he knew that the shinigami most likely really was there.

“He seems a nice fellow,” he murmured wryly.

“He is a sarcastic bastard. Never helps you, like Rem did. Just laughs at you.”

“Oh, come on, Light, he is nice,” Misa protested, hopping back to Light and plastering herself to his arm. “Right, Ryuk?” Silence. “See? You know what? Maybe we could let Ryuzaki see him after all.”

“I’d rather not. I can’t see right now how it could be harmful, but with L you never know.”

“But you know what, Light?” Misa raised her ecstatic gaze at him. “I am glad that you didn’t kill him.”

L felt his brows rise in surprise. Strangely enough, she sounded as if she meant it.

Light glanced down at his girlfriend with some interest. “Why?”

“Because he is a nice guy after all. He said Misa has guts and that Misa’s love for Light is priceless. And he is the only person who smacked me in the head and told me he would kick me.” She flashed Ryuzaki a quick grin. “I liked that.”

“Do you like being kicked, Misa-san?” L expressed his mild interest. She frowned at him.

“That’s not it, dummy. You were just being funny. Misa likes funny people. Besides, I like your looks.”

“You are the only person who has told me that they liked my looks, Misa-san,” Ryuzaki returned. “I guess I thank you.”

Misa seemed amused by that. “And I kissed you,” she pointed out as if expecting something.

“I am not going to tell you that you are the only person who kissed me.”

At that, Light’s gaze switched to him, but the youth remained silent.

“But I will kill you if Light tells me so,” Misa concluded solemnly. “I won’t be happy about it, but I will do it.”

“Oh, I am sure you will.”

“Let’s go inside,” Light cut their exchange at last. “It looks like it’s going to rain.” He dragged Misa slowly towards the building, and Ryuzaki moved one step behind them. “Just one thing, Misa,” the youth added. “Remember to be careful about what you say when we are inside. Ryuzaki claims that there are no cameras in your room now, but with him you can never be sure. Best have Ryuk check it for you. Have him check it for you every time after you have gone out. Promise him a big basket of apples and he will be eager to cooperate.” Light turned his head to the left. “Right, Ryuk?” After another moment of silence he smirked and turned back to Misa. “I told you, he’s an addict. But even so, be very careful. Avoid going out and under no circumstances talk as Kira in the corridors. Got it?”

“Of course. Misa would never forget about the cameras,” the girl sounded slightly hurt. “But I still don’t get it. Why did you make me come here again?”

“Since authenticity of the 13-day rule is questioned, we are still officially suspected. The guys from the team believe in our innocence, so they are not a problem, but there will be more people watching the show and for them it would look very strange if one of the suspects was free at home.”

“Oh.” Misa nodded her blonde head, then clung to Light’s arm even tighter, positively hanging herself on it. “But actually I’m glad to be here. We’ll be sleeping in the same building and you don’t have to drag Ryuzaki behind you anymore.” She giggled. “Which means, you’ll be able to visit Misa at night.”

L was sure he heard Light gulp, but then the youth spoke in a perfectly even voice.

“I’d rather not, Misa. I am quite nervous about this situation. I’m not really in the mood. Withhold yourself a little, will you? It’s just two more days and everything will be over.”

Ryuzaki thought detachedly that he’d already learnt how to tell when the young Yagami was hiding his emotions. He was so composed then as if he were talking to a wall about the weather. The mask was perfect, but for L it was now too perfect.

Misa pouted again, but then nodded. “Okay, Misa-Misa will be a nice girl for a little more. But once it’s over…”

“Once it’s over, we will celebrate, I promise,” Light cut her off.

At the moment, Ryuzaki felt almost sorry for him. He wondered how Light would cope with the girl. It was unlikely that he intended to kill Misa, after all she had the eyes. Would he really be able to fulfill his ‘marital duties’, considering how his face looked just when she clung to him? Ryuzaki couldn’t even feel jealous.

“Lovely couple, eh, Ryuk?” he murmured to the air on his left. He wondered if the shinigami answered him.

* * *
“Nothing,” Soichiro Yagami murmured, staring at the window that had popped up on the screen. “It’s been almost a week and still nothing.”

“You hear it, Ryuzaki?” Matsuda turned to L with excitement. “There is no mistake about it. Kira’s activity has stopped again.”

“Yes,” L admitted, not sparing the young officer a glance, while his pencil marked another line of squares in a logic picture he was solving. Beside him, Light was busy studying today’s paper. He raised his head casually to show his not too surprised interest, then went back to reading.

“Ryuzaki will probably say that it’s because we detained Misa-Misa again,” Matsuda offered with reproach.

Ryuzaki rolled his eyes. “No, I won’t. Amane arrived here today, and Kira hasn’t been active for six days.”

“I wonder what it means,” Aizawa mused. “I don’t understand it. He stops, then starts over, then stops again. It doesn’t seem to make sense.”

“If the 13-day rule is true, perhaps he died,” Mogi risked. “Come to think of it, we’d been in possession of the Death Note for thirteen days when it stopped.”

Matsuda jumped up with enthusiasm. “That’s right! That must be it! See, Ryuzaki? That’s the proof you’ve been looking for. We didn’t need to kill anyone to check it.”

Light’s gaze rose from over the paper again. “That doesn’t prove anything, Matsuda-san. That Kira didn’t kill anyone in the last few days doesn’t mean that he is dead. He could simply skulk to deceive us. He did such things before.”

Matsuda’s face fell. “Oh. Right. Of course.”

“And since we don’t want to let him get away, we have to actively test the rule to see if it is working. Certainly, I want to do it. Otherwise I will never feel completely cleared.”

“But something doesn’t seem right here…” Soichiro Yagami mused. “There were a few days, after we obtained the notebook, when Kira was active – and killing newly-announced criminals. How could that possibly be?”

“Perhaps Ryuzaki is right about writing on separate sheets.” Light turned the page in the newspaper, focusing on another article, as if the conversation absorbed him just marginally. “He could have some spare separate sheets and use them, while the rule applies to writing namely in the notebook.”

Matsuda scratched his head. Aizawa rubbed his nose. And Mogi and Soichiro Yagami simply stared at Light somewhat dumbly.

“Yeah, that would work,” Mogi concluded finally.

The chief’s gaze turned to L. “What do you think about it, Ryuzaki?”

The detective bit the inside of his lip to contain his anger. “That makes sense,” he judged. He put the puzzle magazine away and got up. “I say, if the rule is true, that’s probably how it is.” With that he headed for the elevator, hoping that no one would ask him where he was going. He was wrong.

“Where are you going, Ryuzaki?” It was Light. Of course.

He shrugged. “There’s nothing to do here anyway. I thought I could keep Misa-san company.” Here, that should effectively discourage Light from following him. And it did. The youth shrugged in return and went back to the paper.

When the elevator doors cut him off from view of the others, he leaned heavily against the lift wall, fighting an urge to fold his legs and sink to the floor. Let Light unfold his brilliant plan, he didn’t have to sit there and watch it; he knew that plan anyway. Of course it would be strange if L closed the investigation while Kira was active, so Light had instructed Misa to stop killing again. And now he’d delivered the team an explanation that was as logical as it was unverifiable. Just perfect. With that, everything was buttoned up.

L sighed hard, staring at the ceiling. He really wished it was over.

* * *
Misa wrinkled her pretty nose at seeing him in the doorway.

“Why are you here and not Light?”

He gave her a little miserably amiable pout. “Misa-san doesn’t want me here? Light-kun is very busy right now. He couldn’t visit you, but I thought you could use my company as well. Of course, if you want me to leave, I will.”

She pondered over it for another minute, then her nose wrinkled again. “Oh well, it’s okay. You’re always some entertainment. Come in.” With that she stepped away, letting him in.

“Entertainment, huh,” L murmured under his breath, following her inside. He wondered how to entertain a girl; he had little experience in that area. If Misa by some means thought of him as funny, it had to be coincidence. “So…” he tried, “how about a game?”

He had an impression that his charm was somewhat raw, but Misa didn’t seem to mind it. She busied herself with tidying her sofa from some fashion magazines and something that looked like cosmetics samples.

“What game? Misa doesn’t play many games. Might be poker or checkers.”

He stopped himself from wincing. “Whatever you please, Misa-san.”

Five minutes later they were seated across each other, a checkers board on the table between them. (Of course Watari had found one in stock and delivered it with light speed, along with a teapot and some much desired chocolate cookies.) Ryuzaki hardly noticed the game, completely uncaring whether he would win or lose this time. Instead he sank his teeth into the cookie and watched Misa, who was considering her first move with the greatest concentration.

“I must say I am really grateful for what you said about not killing me, Misa-san,” he started a polite conversation. “I am glad that you still consider me a friend.”

Before they sat down, Misa had announced happily that Ryuk had just checked him for bugs, so he knew they could talk openly. He hadn’t noticed her giving any signs, let alone ordering it aloud, but probably it was another of Light instructions. Really, wasn’t that guy brilliant? In any case, he didn’t think she was bluffing.

The girl shrugged lightheartedly. “Sure I consider Ryuzaki a friend. After all, you are funny and cool-looking. I’m glad you don’t hold a grudge against Misa-Misa. I just do what needs to be done.” With that she moved a checker and he automatically answered.

“Of course. However, I am a little surprised that Light made you bring the notebook into this building. It’s risky, you know. Someone could find it with you.”

She gave out a little evil chuckle. “Who said I have the Death Note with me? Of course Light wouldn’t let me bring it here. It’s hidden in a very safe place where you will never find it. Ha!” With the last word, she glanced at him with wicked satisfaction.

“Ah. I see. But in that case you cannot kill me.”

“Oh, Misa can kill Ryuzaki all right, don’t you worry about it.”

Ryuzaki almost rolled his eyes. Playing with Misa wasn’t even close to a challenge. Still, he felt a tingle of contented relief at obtaining this little piece of information. For a few minutes he fixed his gaze on the game, pretending to be absorbed with it.

“So, Misa-san,” he took up after what he thought was a good breath, “are you really happy with what Light-kun makes you do?”

Her shrewd eyes narrowed suspiciously at him, while her teeth bared in a cunning grin.

“Are you trying to trick me into something, Ryuzaki? I won’t fall for your tricks.”

He pouted at her. “Oh, come on, Misa-san, I am not trying to trick you. Why do you think I am so nasty? Just a friendly conversation. I am curious, is all.”

For a while she still studied him with her scrutinizing gaze, finally she gave up.

“Oh well, I guess you’re being honest. What could you do to me, anyway?” She refocused on the checkers, jumped two of his black ones, and swept them from the board with a brief grin. He gnawed on another cookie, wondering if she would continue. She did. More quietly than usually, and staring fixedly at the board. “I like what Light does, I really do. He is cleaning the world of scum like the ones that killed Misa’s parents. I will always support it. Only that… I’m a little tired of doing it myself. I would gladly get rid of some girls from my work, or this stupid Kiyomi Takada,” she said with more vigor and sighed dreamily, apparently envisioning the said girls dead, “but killing all those criminals… it should be done by someone better, someone like Light. I hope, when all this is over, he will take it off me for good.”

“And this is what you want, Misa-san?”

“Misa just wants to be Light’s girlfriend, that’s all,” she said, suddenly firm again. “If it takes punishing criminals as Kira, Misa will do it, no matter if she likes it or not. Misa will do anything for Light.”

He tilted his head. “Anything?”

“Yes.”

That was it, here was his answer, he supposed he didn’t need to go any further. He was tempted to ask one more question, to make sure to the smallest detail, but with Light’s caution it would be too risky. So instead, he shook his head and put on a face of admiration.

“You must love him very much, Misa-san.”

He saw her features light up at those words, but at the same moment another picture stood before his eyes – of Light and himself in the night. His throat tightened, because he suddenly felt like a rotten bastard.

* * *
It was raining. Badly.

Thick drops of rain splattered on the concrete roof tiles and rolled down the huge satellite dishes, creating showers of water underneath. The rain rustle sounded like a static crackle; only the bells in the nearby church could be heard over this noise. The puddles on the roof reflected the gray mosaic of the cloudy sky. The whole world was gray.

He stood in the rain, beside the biggest of the aerials, only marginally aware that his pants and shirt were soaking wet and that later it would be unpleasant. For now he didn’t care. For now the cool water on his face and hair was refreshing and helped to clear his mind. He needed to keep his mind clear while he thought.

It’s obvious that we can’t put an equation mark between Light and Kira. I knew Light for almost three months while he didn’t remember that he was Kira, and he was a completely different person. Devoted to catching the mass murder, very cautious about some of my methods. Just like his father. Honest, upright. He even refused to use the feelings of the girl who loved him. Sure, we may assume that his determination to solve this case was prompted by his desire to take revenge for being suspected and detained, or that it was an unconscious drive to carry out his plan. But most likely he simply saw Kira as a criminal and wanted to stop him. And he wasn’t pretending at that.

Most people don’t carry Death Notes with them. Having the Death Note is an exceptional situation, so the real… default Light is the one without the notebook. Just like Rem said. The owner of the Death Note loses their true self. But can we absolve him from all the murders he’s committed? Can we let it go without consequence if it was possible for him to control it? Killing off criminals could ultimately be forgiven, but murdering all those people just because they stood in his way? If there is the slightest chance that the Death Note owner can refrain from killing, Light’s guilt is a fact.

On the other hand, if we punish Kira, we will destroy the good person Light really is. Does he deserve it just because he was unfortunate enough to find this notebook?

A movement at the edge of his vision caught his attention, startling him from his reverie. He shifted his gaze in that direction. Hiding himself under the roof of the stairway stood Light. His lips opened and he screamed something at L. The detective put a hand to his ear to show that he didn’t hear it. Light mouthed the same words again. No use. Feeling stupid, Ryuzaki forced a smile on his face and leaned to him with his hand still at his ear. It seemed to him that Light sighed. Then, to his surprise, the youth stepped out of his shelter and moved towards him, raising an arm to protect his head against the downpour.

“What are you doing here, Ryuzaki?” he spoke when he stopped beside L, lips repeating the same moves as before.

The detective shrugged. “Thinking.”

“Thinking? Out of all the places in this building you had to choose this one just to think? You are all wet.”

“I don’t mind being wet. Just wanted a place where I could be alone.”

Light glanced at him with interest. “Sounds like something serious. Am I interrupting?”

Ryuzaki raised his brows in surprise. Did Light really care? Kira – the ultimate winner, the God – who had him utterly in control, respected his privacy? True, for most of the time they now spent together Light wasn’t playing God; still, such concern was unexpected.

“You have the right to be here, just like I do,” he said. He looked down at his shoes and studied the extent of their wetness for a few moments. “But it’s interesting why you are here. Came up with the same idea to come out on the roof during the rain? I don’t think so. Have you been looking for me?”

A moment of hesitation. Then: “Sort of.”

“Why?”

“I was bored. Without you, it’s really boring down there.”

L glanced at him. “You have Misa. You should spend time with her.”

“Give me a break, Ryuzaki. How many times do I have to tell you she is no company for me? I spent two hours with her yesterday. That’s already too much for my tastes.”

L decided not to comment on it.

“So, what were you thinking about? That is, if you wish to tell me.”

He smirked under his breath. The same cautiousness again.

“Do you have any idea what happened to Rem?” he asked, instead of answering. “I still can’t understand that, but maybe you know something about it.”

Light nodded. “There is a rule saying that if a shinigami loves a human and uses their power to prolong—not shorten—their lives, they die. Rem cared for Misa very much. She gave me your name so that I saved her. And the moment I used it to control you, well…”

But I didn’t… Oh. So that’s how it is.

“Anyway, that’s the most likely hypothesis,” Light added. “In fact I always thought it only works when a shinigami literally kills to save, but apparently I was wrong. Or maybe just the shinigami’s justice got to Rem finally. After all, giving me your name she teetered on the brink as well. Who knows.”

“I see.” After a moment of staring at the ground, L raised his gaze to Light. “I had an interesting conversation with her that night she died.”

This stirred the youth’s interest even more. “Huh? You talked with Rem?”

L nodded. “She saw me switching off the cameras, so she felt quite at ease. She told me one very interesting thing. That finding a Death Note is considered a great misfortune for a human.”

“Yeah. Ryuk told me the same once. But I don’t agree with that. I never considered myself unfortunate. Quite the opposite.”

Ryuzaki sighed.

“I can imagine. But did Ryuk ever tell you why it is such a misfortune?” And when Light shook his head, he continued. “It is so, because the notebook corrupts; it deprives you of your true self, makes you become a killer. The Death Note has an impact on a human’s psyche, Light, it controls you. That is what Rem said.”

For a few blinks Light just stood motionlessly, staring straight ahead through the rain. Then he laughed. “That’s ridiculous, Ryuzaki. Are you saying that I don’t control my actions? I am perfectly in control.”

“I didn’t say you aren’t in control, I just… well, that is more or less what I’ve been thinking about.”

Light didn’t answer and L returned to staring ahead as well. For a few seconds they were silent.

“Tell me one thing, Light,” he finally said. “Let’s say that I accept everything you told me about your methods as Kira. Let’s say I understand that killing those agents in the process was a necessary sacrifice, that they committed a transgression against the new order of the world and thus deserved it. Still, you can by no means compare them with the criminals you punish, can you? So tell me, did you ever hesitate before killing them? Have you regretted doing it?” And after a short pause: “Do you at all feel the load of what you do, even if these are bad people you kill?”

Saying this, he turned to Light and studied his face very closely, determined to catch every twitch of the muscle, every tiniest reaction his words stirred. And there it was. Light frowned as if hit by a sudden realization and for a split second his eyes flashed… yes, fear.

“I see,” L murmured, more to himself than to the teen. Actually, he hadn’t expected to see what he had. It was merely an experiment. “Because if you are as righteous as you claim to be, you should feel the load, you should at least regret those agents. Every person in their right mind would. So how can you explain that if you don’t? Wouldn’t it be some outward power that affects you?”

Light’s features had already hardened again.

“I simply cannot hesitate, Ryuzaki. I cannot regret anything. I can’t afford it, that’s all.”

But those words didn’t matter. L had already seen everything he needed.

Light closed his eyes and shook his head. “Let’s go back. I’m wet enough, and you are completely soaked. If you continue standing here like that, you’ll get sick.”

And you don’t want me to get sick, do you? Light… Ryuzaki sighed heavily and dragged himself inside behind the brunette.

* * *
His shoes were dripping, sitting beside him on the stairs. He was drying his hair with a little towel Ryuzaki had gotten from the closest bathroom. His shirt and pants stuck to his skin, making him shiver with cold. He needed to change his clothes. Well, in a minute, for now he wanted to take care of the basics.

He heard quiet steps behind him and with his peripheral vision saw the detective coming up to him with a towel over his black hair.

“That was quite an ordeal, wasn’t it?” L offered.

“It’s your fault. You were the one standing outside in that rain.”

“True. I’m sorry.”

Light again busied himself with his hair, wiping it quite fervently. L’s steps came closer, but with his eyes covered with the towel he couldn’t see what the other was doing. Then, suddenly, something touched his right foot and lifted it gently. He stirred, surprised, pulling the cloth off his head to see what was going on, and the sight made him gasp.

L knelt before him. He positively knelt on one knee, holding Light’s foot in one hand.

“What are you doing, Ryuzaki?!”

“I thought I could help,” the detective responded, raising his eyes on him. “It seems that being wet bothers you a great deal.”

Light still couldn’t believe his eyes. Did L mean to dry his feet?

“You don’t have to do something like that.”

“I’ll throw in a massage?” It sounded almost like a plea. “I am quite good at it, you know. You got wet because of me. At least let me atone for this.”

What was this? Was he asking for it? Was he asking to do something like this for Kira? Why this humble pose all of a sudden? Still, some strange thrill rose in Light at seeing L like that, and made it impossible to refuse.

“Do as you please,” he said, turning his eyes away, embarrassed with his own excitement.

“Okay.”

The black head lowered and L busied himself with Light’s foot. He brought the towel to it, drying it quickly, then kneaded quite decisively.

Light twitched at the new sensation. “Ouch.”

“You’ll get used to it quickly.” Gentle voice, without even raising his eyes, while those twiggy hands continued their work. Their every move made it feel better. Light’s gaze had come back to the detective on its own volition, and now he watched the youth at his feet, unable to tear his eyes away.

A few drops fell from Ryuzaki’s fringe onto his ankle. On impulse, he reached for his towel – only now realizing that staring at the detective like that he’d forgotten about drying himself – and put it to L’s hair, wrapping the dripping strands, so that it took up the water. Black eyes rose to him almost timidly.

“You’re still wet,” Light explained, half reproachfully, half gently.

“Sorry…”

Fascinating. He was even apologizing. You humble yourself before me, do you know that, L? No, of course he knows, he is not stupid. But why? Why is he doing that? It looked as if L was trying to show him something. Volunteering to serve someone who put you into a submissive position by force was like stating that you would stay in that position willingly, not trying to fight it. It was like a promise that Light would no longer meet any resistance in bed, but not only that…

His breath hitched. He suddenly felt dizzy.

Was L admitting Light’s victory? Was L accepting Kira?

No, this thinking was far-fetched. No matter how humble this pose was, he could not assume something like this just on this basis.

And why would L surrender all of a sudden? Had their talk on the roof changed something? Had L really meant it when he talked about accepting and understanding? He sounded quite skeptical back then, but still…

Light let the detective play with his feet for a while longer, staring at it, mesmerized. L was so beautiful, kneeling like that. His position carried so much humility, and yet so much grace… It suited him. Mentality of a servant, Light reminded himself. Perhaps, on some level, he could even understand it.

“You may say that it’s about drying and atoning,” he offered, “but there is more about it than that, isn’t it? What is it, L? What are you trying to tell me?”

In the large hall of the top floor there were only two cameras, as hardly anyone ever came up here. They hung just below the high ceiling, far above them, so if they talked with their heads low and quietly, they could speak freely.

Slowly, L’s hands stopped their work and the detective looked up him.

“It’s not like during those last days I didn’t think of the ways to evade your blackmail and bring you to punishment, Light.”

Light tilted his head, taken aback by the sudden change of subject. Or wasn’t it a change of subject?

“So I can imagine. But does that mean that you don’t think about it anymore? Is that what you are trying to say? That you are giving it up?”

L’s eyes fell again and he said in almost a whisper. “You no longer have to be concerned about my actions, that is what I am saying. If someone makes you face the law, it won’t be me.”

Light held his breath. “Why?”

“Because the only punishment the law can have for Kira is death, and I don’t think you deserve it.”

Understanding dawned. So that’s what it was. This explanation made sense. And in that case Ryuzaki’s behavior wasn’t unfounded; it made sense as well. Which meant… Light no longer tried to contain himself and let the excitement take over… which meant he not only had L in his grasp now, he simply had L. He had his greatest nemesis at his feet – metaphorically and literally, admitting surrender on his own free will. Maybe not accepting Kira yet, but close. Oh, how he loved this thought! Now, instead of crushing his enemy, he would take him under his wings and show him Kira’s kindness. He would keep him at his side and let him watch how he healed the world. He would make him his favorite subject; he would make him the God’s concubine!

His vision was blurred and his heart was pounding hard in his chest. He was vaguely aware that he’d gotten hot-headed and knew that it wasn’t good. He forced the crazy train of thoughts to stop. From here it would be easy to get reckless and he couldn’t allow himself that. Slowly, excitement subsided, leaving just a feeling of satisfaction and some amount of skepticism.

He leaned down to the detective and brushed his hand against the pale cheek. “Don’t think that your words will dull my vigilance tomorrow, L,” he whispered. “Not tomorrow, not ever.”

He received a quiet smirk in response. “I would never think so.”

“Good.” He allowed a smile on his lips. “So are you done with your massage already?”

“Yes. Unless you want me to continue.”

“That’s not necessary.” He slid his hands under Ryuzaki’s arms and pulled the slender body up, until their faces were on the same level. “Don’t bend too low for me, Ryuzaki. I don’t want it.” Strangely enough, this was honest. L gave him a curious glance and Light continued. “Your clothes are still soaked. Drying your hair is not enough to avoid getting a cold. I don’t feel like sitting in these wet pants either. Let’s take care of that, okay?”

Ryuzaki nodded silently and Light smiled.

“And while we do that, we can have some fun too, huh?”

Ryuzaki nodded again. Kira cheered.