Death Note Fan Fiction ❯ True Affection ❯ A Confection ( Chapter 4 )

True Affection

 

Chapter 4

--

 

Darkness.

Embossed by gritty ebony and silent despair, Misa slept.

Her silken locks lay strewn about her face and around her head like a soft tasseled halo.

The small cold stone slab of a bed that was assigned to her hardly took any weight from the slumbering girl resting atop it. It appeared almost as if Misa were floating.

A short distance away from her, on the other side of her dwelling, the silhouette of a certain detective flickered against the walls in the pale window light.

L's sharp eyes meticulously glided over Misa's curled form; caressing her smooth skin and becoming submerged within her golden tresses.

He wanted to hold her.

But he had already trespassed on perilous ground hours prior to bringing her to this place.

This prison.

--

 

With speed only second to that of lightening, L instinctively reached out and caught the falling girl in his arms.

“Amane!” he called, shaking her slightly “Amane, wake up!”

But Misa did not answer. Her heavy bangs lay scattered about her forehead while her thick locks curled against her neck and hung over her shoulders.

Her glossed lips were slightly parted in a silent cry while her delicate features were written with worry.

“Amane...” L called again, but his voice trailed off.

A flicker of a heavy emotion passed by his eyes as they trailed upto Light.

The young man had his head lowered and was being dragged out of the room.

A hint of a cruel smirk curved his lips.

 

“Keep him under heavy surveillance.” L suddenly spoke up, not recognizing the urgency in his own voice momentarily. “I want to be able to make it absolutely clear that this criminal stays under our watch.”

The officers nodded as they left with Light while the remaining taskforce members turned to L.

Matsuda ran over to Misa with concern in his eyes and a foolish question on his lips.

“Is she ok?!” he called, reaching out to hold her but L protectively brought her closer to his chest with his whole hand.

“She's unconscious, but she's still breathing. I will see to it that Miss Amane is safely taken care of.” L declared flatly, trailing his eyes over to Soichiro.

In the moment their eyes met, a silent message was passed between them.

A message that L refused. Coolly, he tilted his head to the side. “I know what you're thinking, Mr. Yagami, but I'm afraid I can't let you do it.”

The older man in question stepped forward. “Ryuzaki, although you may argue that my son was the one to manipulate this girl, she still has a part in this crime! She deserves to be locked up just like him!”

“You're going to arrest Misa-Misa?” Matsuda inquired, causing Aizawa to make a face. “The chief is right, you know.” then he turned to L, almost shocked to see the sudden hardened glare wavering in his eyes. “You may have ignored the law up until this point, but you're not getting away with it now!.”

“Aizawa's right, Ryuzaki. If you don't relinquish her to the law as well, then you're allowing a criminal to prowl the streets, not to mention being on the edge of arrest yourself.” Soichiro explained.

But L's steady expression did not change. Only the intensity in his eyes spoke volumes that belied his calm features.

“Perhaps.” the detective responded and hugged the girl softly to him before looking past the others' ranging expressions and allowing his attention to fall on Watari.

The older man only nodded knowingly.

Eyes wide, L said nothing but kept his gaze on the man before shifting his eyes over to Soichiro.

He sighed. “Very well then. You are correct. I shall accompany Miss Amane to the prison.”

“What?!” Matsuda cried while the others exchanged glances.

“I didn't say to arrest me.” L continued, peering down at Misa, “But I wish to travel to the prison along with her.”

Soichiro blinked. “But that is unnecessary!”

“You said that Miss Amane had to be taken into custody, correct?”

“Yes, but--!”

“Then I will go with her. I will see to it that she gets to her cell in one piece. Are their any objections to this?” he questioned, searching over all of them.

He was met with flustered responses, but none of them countered his words.

“Then it's settled.” L confirmed with a faint curve to his lips. “Shall we go?”

“You're insane.” Aizawa accused and stormed out of the room.

Matsuda only gave L an odd look, then glanced at Misa and followed after his comrade.

“Yes, Mr Yagami?” L asked in anticipation to the man's possible retaliation.

It was obvious Soichiro was pained over the “loss” of his son, a killer.

And the very accomplice they had searched for was resting silently in L's gentle clutches.

Soichiro's eyes scaled over Misa's form, then peered briefly into L's.

Finally he spoke. “If any of this backfires, it will be on your head and your head alone.”

“Thank your son for that...” L muttered lowly, not caring if it was heard or not.

With another stern look to the odd detective, Soichiro took his leave.

“While you're gone, I will make certain that Yagami's son's cell will be heavily monitored.” Watari confirmed, nodding to L and padding off to another part of the building.

Once alone with Misa, L's gaze softened as it fell upon her resting face. Swiftly, and delicately, he slid an arm under her legs and scooped her up into his arms. The girl was lighter than a feather for her age to him. It had been years since he'd last held a woman.

But Misa was more than just any other woman to him.

Gingerly, his studious gaze whispered over her face and lingered on the faint spots of bruises and scars that were failed to be covered by the make-up she wore.

Seeing them only stirred the brewing anger within him, yet he also felt drawn to them.

Nearing closer, his breathing tickled over her smooth skin as his lips nearly brushed across the very scars that had been branded onto her being, embedded with Light's name.

He was only examining the cuts, not paying any mind to how close his lips were to hers.

But the realization crept over his face once the figure of Soichiro standing next to him snagged his divided attention.

“Yes?” L asked without much emotion.

Wordlessly, Soichiro placed handcuffs around Misa's slender wrists and motioned for L to follow him.

Once the older man left yet again, L peered down curiously at the young woman in his arms.

Leaning down, he brought his face next to hers.

“I swear to you....,” he whispered against her ear, “...I will get you out of all of this, Misa. I promise.”

 

--

 

Recalling the memory, the detective placed his hands into his pockets and continued to watch the young woman while she remained asleep in her cell. Much to his displeasure, he was forced to put Misa in jail. He made himself undergo being in the same room while she was injected with a substance to help her sleep for 24 hours straight.

Just a few more days was all he needed. Just a few more days, and he would get her out of there.

In just 72 more hours or less, he would provide her with justice.

His justice.

After giving Misa one last look, he turned on his heels and exited out a door that very few knew about.

If the others had found out that he had snuck in to watch Misa---well, he was sure he'd never hear the end of it.

 

--

 

A day had passed.

 

Enveloping darkness was the first image etched into Misa's hooded honey-brown eyes. As her consciousness returned to her, she forced her body to move.

A slither of light pooled across the gritty tiled floor, mirroring shadows of the Roman Numeral III

In shock, she forced her weary body to its knees on the cot.

 

The faint and constant sound of something dripping off in the distance jumped into her ears and caused her body to do the same.

 

Then she immediately held her head.

The surrounding haze of darkness gave the illusion that she was spinning.

Her stomach growled mercilessly in an empty protest. She hadn't eaten for over 24 hours.

 

'Where am I?' she pondered silently, attempting to look around. Nothing but darkness greeted her.

Looking behind her, she sharply gasped.

Bars.

The window was constructed of bars.

 

“Is Misa in jail?” she questioned in a whisper. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest and she pressed a shaky hand there to calm it.

Why was she in jail? The last thing she could remember was the look in L's eyes when she confessed that she and Light were Kira.

Light.

Light?

Where was he?

“Light...?” Misa croaked; part of her eager to know of her boyfriend's whereabouts, while another part wanted nothing more to do with him.

She scrambled to her wobbly feet and scanned her darkened surrounding. “Light?” she called again, but her only response was her own dejected echo.

 

Feeling defeated and lost, Misa dropped to her knees in the middle of the cell.

What had she done telling L the truth? Where was everyone?

 

A thin film of tears wavered in her eyes.

 

Where was Ryuzaki? She shook her head. No, his real name wasn't Ryuzaki. It was...

 

She placed her hand down to the floor, but yanked it away when her fingers touched something unknown in the cell.

Her nose wrinkled at the thought of it being a glob of dirt, or worse, human waste from whomever was in this cell before her.

 

Making a face, she mustered enough toleration to sniff her fingers.

 

And to her surprise they smelled sweet. Very sweet.

 

Boldly, she slipped a finger into her mouth. The delectable taste instantly reminded her of a certain shaggy-haired detective.

 

Misa could feel the soft warmth of a smile curving her lips.

 

“Did he leave this here for Misa?” she wondered and sent out her hands to delicately outline the shape of the dessert.

 

Much to her surprise, and slight dismay, she found quite a few of them stacked onto a tray.

 

Minutes passed as Misa hungrily consumed the treats, which mostly consisted of the cupcakes she had chosen before, and a rather large piece of strawberry shortcake. Just one slice.

 

A light giggle tickled Misa's throat as she remembered the first time she wanted to eat the shortcake L had when she talked to him that fateful night.

But the following thoughts that ensued because of that memory caused her trills of joy to subside.

 

Because of that night, she was in jail.

 

She didn't know what had became of Light.

While saddened about previous events dealing with her significant other, Misa forced her thoughts to linger elsewhere.

 

Elsewhere...

 

Becoming full, Misa placed the remaining half slice of shortcake onto the tray and stood to her feet. Carrying the lengthly metal in her hands, Misa started to return to her cot when she heard a delicate whisper of her name.

 

“Ryuzaki?!” she chirped in surprise and disbelief and immediately whirled around.

 

From the faint glimmer of light cast on the floor, shadowed features of the familiar man widened her eyes as well as spread an enthusiastic smile across her lips.

 

Dropping the tray out of excitement that someone came to see her, and him of all people at that, she ran towards him. Eagerly, she gripped at the cold bars and squinted through the darkness to see his face. “Ryuzaki!! What are you doing here?!” she panted “What's going on? What happened?!”

Taken aback only slightly by her enthusiasm, but more from the clatter of the tray, L groused lowly in his throat. “Misa, please tell me there wasn't anything left on that tray...”

She blinked. “Huh? Oh no! The shortcake!” she exclaimed, missing the disgusted loss in his eyes when she turned to retrieve the tray's contents.

 

Childishly, she picked up the small piece of half-eaten cake and blew on it several times. “Do you still want it, Ryuzaki? It should be ok now! Misa just sanitized it!”

 

As if her words burned him, he took a quick step back. “No no. That's quite alright... Still uneaten shortcake is such a dreadful waste.” he sighed in remorse, then cleared his throat lightly, “However, it's good to know that you're still alive in there, Misa.”

 

“Misa was scared being alone all by herself. Misa thought everybody had forgotten about her being in here.” she griped, inching back towards him. In truth, she felt that she should be angry at him, but she couldn't help but feel important with him here to see her like this.

Only him.

 

L studied her every move meticulously, taking note of her pout and also of the way the gleam of the moonlight kissed one side of her scattered locks. And all at once, his mood chiseled.

“Misa...”

Curious of his sudden tone change, the girl looked up at him intently.

It would seem his seriousness was contagious.

“Light is dead, isn't he?”

“No he's not.” L replied, not missing a beat. “But he will be... The two of you have been given a trial that will take place in a few days. But since his charges hold a greater weight than yours, his punishment will be more severe.”

“Oh.” Misa squeaked, then clenched her fists. Stepping closer to the man, she forced herself to sound mature and alert throughout the situation. “Will I be executed too?” she questioned candidly, gripping at the bars between them.

“No.” L responded promptly, leaning in closer.

By doing so, he caught the faint mouth-watering scent of frosted cream and strawberries. It was too delectable to be perfume. Yet, he continued on.

“I am here for you.”

“But what can you do, Ryuzaki?” she challenged, looking directly up at him. Her brown eyes teemed with determination.

A trait that L had often seen on her accompanied by a smile.

But in place of that chipper smile was a stern and serious line. While maturity looked beautiful on her, he wanted to see her smile.

“You should know better than to question me. Don't I always have a plan?”

“You having a plan doesn't mean it'll just work! Even I know that!” she spoke up, sounding more serious than he had ever heard before.

Yet, his expression did not change. “I am aware of this, Misa. I took precautions.”

“Precautions? I'm a criminal!” she pressed, standing on her tip-toes to meet his height.

“You were an accomplice.” he stated, leaning closer.

“I still killed a lot of people! A lot of innocent people.”

“And that is why you were brought here.”

“Then how can you be here for me, Ryuzaki?” she inquired, really wanting to believe that she could be saved. But there was no trace of any emotion in his eyes.

What did he really feel? What did he really see? Was he just being delusional? Was he just making up lies to give her a false sense of comfort?

“Trust me.”

“I do trust you!” she shouted; her face only mere inches away from his. “I want to believe with all my heart that you can do something to help me. But even if you do think of something, someone else could take that opportunity away from you!”

“I will be one step ahead of them.” he retaliated firmly, shifting his hands uncomfortably in his pockets.

“But how, Ryuzaki?? Things aren't just bad for me, but for you too if you keep this up! But if you don't do something, I'll... I'll be executed!” Misa cried, wrenching the bars and hanging her head in worry.

“I said no!” L responded, firmly grasping her balled fists.

With a gasp, Misa shot her head up and stared at him. Her startled eyes fleeted between his in confusion, hope and fear.

Noticing his direct approach, L removed his touch as if her hands had bitten him. He wanted to leave. He wanted to have nothing to do with her. Not out of hate, out of fear for what this girl was doing to him. He was falling for her. Fast. Too fast.

The glossed weight in her eyes pulled him towards her and kept him in this place.

He refused to leave her when everyone else turned their backs on her.

Instead of putting them back in his pockets, delicately, he reached up and encircled his large hands over hers.

Comfortably.

“No,” he repeated calmly, “Misa, you will not be executed. I will save you.” he declared, staring directly at her. His gaze nearly burned into her soul.

The intensity of it somehow relaxed Misa. A cute smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she inched her lips closer to his.

“Alright. You win. Misa will believe in you.”

The truthful words sounded even more beautiful coming from Misa's lips.

Bashfully, L adverted his gaze briefly before returning it to her. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome!” Misa chirped, cheerfully tilting her head to the side.

The delicious scent he had noticed before had practically became unbearable to continue to ignore.

 

Gently, L dipped down and sniffed her fingers.

But before Misa could comment on his odd behavior, L lightly kissed one of her hands, brushing his lips over one of the healing scars.

 

A thrilling shiver shot up her spine from how soft his lips felt.

A tiny girlish giggle escaped Misa when he kissed her knuckles next.

 

Pausing, he looked up at her; his steady eyes asking, almost pleading a silent question.

 

Misa's heart was beating in rapid anticipation for what he wanted. And for the first time in her life since she met Light, did she feel wanted.

Genuinely wanted.

 

“Ryuzaki?”

“Yes?”

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“There's icing on your fingers. I was simply confirming it.”

“Misa would say Ryuzaki is doing more than that!”

He made a quick amused sound.

“Would Ryuzaki like to taste the icing?”

“Very much.”

“Then he has Misa's permission.”

“That's rather kind of you.” he admitted, the timbre in his voice easily crossed between sarcasm and honesty, confusing her of both.

 

Protectively, he squeezed one of her hands and slid his fingers over it. Misa closed her eyes from the comfort of the tips of his fingers whispering thoughtful caresses against her skin.

“Misa, you have my word and promise that I will free you from this place.” he confessed, gingerly taking one of her fingers between his own as if holding a small sweet in that intricate way he always did.

And just as delicately, he slipped it into his mouth.

A tiny sound crossed between a sigh and a whimper escaped from Misa as she experienced the warmth of his mouth.

L consumed his little treat gradually; silently advancing from finger to finger.

“L...Lawliet...” Misa mouthed to herself.

Unknown to her; L's eyes had been studying her the whole time. But he said nothing.

 

Satisfied, L gave her hand one more kiss before stuffing his hands into his pockets.

His mind swam with conflicting thoughts and theories of how she obtained his name while he watched her slip out of her trance.

 

Her brown eyes seemed to shimmer as her lids revealed them.

Peering up at the man, Misa then realized she needed him. Clutching the bars, she stood up on her tip-toes again, silently requesting a kiss.

 

L's eyes lingered about her moistened lips, slightly parted and eager to be claimed.

With Light no longer being the most primary entity in her life now, L could begin a relationship with her if he wished.

 

At first, all he wanted was her safety. Now he realized he wanted that and a little more.

Discreetly, he leaned down close to her; his unruly hair brushing against her bright locks.

 

Misa wasn't sure what to think. But all she knew was what she was feeling. And that feeling was eating her up inside.

 

L had given her a taste of the affection she had always craved.

His confection affection.

 

“Misa...” he uttered lowly, reaching through the bars to gently caress her face.

“What...what is it...?” she asked breathlessly.

 

Their noses barely touched.

Her heart felt like it was doing backflips in her chest. Awaiting a kiss, her jubilant eyes fluttered to a close.

 

“Sleep well tonight.”

 

The gentle mood cracked.

 

Misa's eyes shot open and she eyed him with an odd and puzzled expression.

“Huh?” her voice almost slipped into a while as he pulled away, taking his warmth with him.

 

“W-wait, Ryuzaki..!” she called, extending her hand to him through the bars to grab him, but he had already stepped out of her range.

 

Returning his hands yet again to the depths of his pockets, he faced the exit. “I will return tomorrow for you and keep my promise. Misa, I will save you.”

 

A multitude of words bubbled up in Misa's throat that she wanted to throw at him and accuse him of for leading her on. But at the same time, he was the only one that made the time and took the risk to see her.

 

Instead of being childish and sticking out her tongue at him or causing a one-sided ruckus, Misa surprised them both.

 

“Thank you, Lawliet.”

 

L said nothing for a moment and Misa couldn't tell if he was stunned or merely thinking.

 

Quickly, she covered her mouth and attempted to poorly cover up her folly. “Ah! Uh! Misa didn't mean to say that! Misa meant--”

“Goodnight, Misa. I will see you in the morning.” Was all the detective spoke before heading up a flight of stairs to take his leave.

 

 

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