Death Note Fan Fiction ❯ True Affection ❯ A Trace ( Chapter 7 )

True Affection

Chapter 7

 

--

 

Stagnant darkness lurked in its inky dwelling; the stone-walled abyss that held Light within its rayless jaws. But even the capture of a god could not sate nor quell those fabricated clutches of 'justice'.

The small, yet distinct sound of liquid dripping in an uneven rhythm echoed throughout the empty halls; its simple sound being magnified ten-fold.

The only sound that rivaled it was the steady, ragged breathing from within Light's cell.

A quick intake of air, followed by a long jittery release.

He may have staggered with his resolve, but he did not lose his sanity.

It was much too early for that. L may have had him captured but it wasn't over yet.

 

Three days.

Three days had passed since he was sent to this accursed place.

Three days that dared to drive him insane.

But the young murderer remained calm and cool-headed.

And by utilizing his intelligent and manipulative mind, he conjured a plan.

 

Quietly, his raspy words manifested in the stale air like the crack of a snapped twig.

“Ryuk.”

Upon hearing his name, the cynical shinigami took form in the room by passing through a wall.

An interested look on his face, he chuckled apathetically at the confined young man before him.

In a far corner of the room, Light sat on his cot with an unreadable expression.

His arms were crossed and bound in a straightjacket. A taut blindfold covered his eyes.

A small slither of pale moonlight that brimmed through the tiny window was the only illumination in the dark cell as it spilled faintly over one side of Light's body.

That miniscule twinge of brightness proved weak against the darkness walls and the wretched heart it contained.

Ryuk's gravelly laughter echoed throughout the room as he neared closer to Light.

“Looks like they got you pretty good, this time.”

A breathy sound of amusement passed by Light's lips. “Looks that way, doesn't it...?”

“So,” Ryuk began, taking a seat in midair and folding his lengthy arms behind his head in a casual manner. “tell me. How do you plan on getting yourself out of this one?” he inquired, the obvious hint of curiosity teeming his words.

 

Light said nothing for a moment; the slow steady sound of the dripping water the only audible sound lingering between them.

 

“I've got my ways. Spending so much time in here has helped me think of the perfect plan on getting out of here.”

Ryuk gave a mildly perplexed expression and made a disgruntled sound. “I'm not sure if I like the sound of this 'plan'. You're always up to no good, Light.” With that, he descended from his perch and stepped closer to Light.

“And more importantly, you haven't eaten or bathed in days.”

Light sighed, slackening his tense posture just a bit. “I would have died if not for the 24 hour shots they've been giving me.”

“Ooooh. They're torturing you!” he surmised, obviously enthralled with this information. “I guess all humans have a heartless side, huh?”

“Anyway, I didn't call you here to shoot the breeze. I need you to do something for me.”

“No way. You're getting out of this on your own, Light.” Ryuk grinned.

“Just hear me out!” Light pressed, leaning forward a bit, “I need to get in contact with Kiyomi Takada.”

Ryuk's expression became smug. “Ohh that Takada girl from your university. Thinking of taking advantage of an old flame, eh?”

“She's a big Kira follower. It'd be stupid of me not to use that to my advantage.”

“So, what are you gonna do? Send out a telepathic message?” Ryuk mused.

But Light only smirked. “That's where you come in.”

“Not a chance. You're getting your own hands dirty. I'm outta here.” Ryuk announced, turning to leave.

“Wait! Don't you dare leave me like this. Look., I promise to give you all the apples you could ask for if you just help me get out of here.”

The shinigami paused in his tracks. His mouth began to water from the sound of that beautiful delicious forbidden word.

“Apples?!!!” he brightened, turning towards the teen.

A devilish curve tainted Light's lips and he chuckled.

And although his eyes could not be seen, any human that saw him at this point would have sworn to see a glimmer of glowing red beneath that blindfold.

 

“Not that I'm discrediting your ability or anything Light, but just how are you going to do anything in that getup?”

Hearing this, Light's plan had already begun to delve into motion. An aphotic grin marked his deceptive features and he lifted his head; causing his downy bangs to scatter atop his forehead in a mass of curls.

“Now, listen carefully....”.

 

 

-

 

Misa's joyful laughter echoed throughout the rooms of the task-force building as she continued to playfully run from L.

Locks of golden blonde bounced about her shoulders and swayed down her back; occasionally becoming weightless as she turned her head. Her composed features shined with jubilation as she looked back at L. Teasing him. Luring him with those glistening brown eyes.

 

Despite the unreadable expression on his face, L was enjoying their little game a bit. Just a bit.

There were many more answers that he needed to hear from the Second Kira that he knew weren't told nor fully explained when the other task-force members were there.

 

But until that time came, the one in question was Misa.

The young woman that had rapidly ensnared his heart with a smile and was slowly making him hers without realizing.

But he certainly did.

 

“Misa, slow down!” he advised in a bored tone, but the chipper girl only stuck her tongue out at him and continued bounding through the rooms.

 

Minutes passed and Misa had finally begun to tire. She knew she hadn't been running THAT fast, but L STILL hadn't caught her yet!

 

The thrill of the chase still glistened in her honey-brown eyes as she dared an anticipated look back at him.

But much to her surprise, his hands were stuffed in his pockets and he was keeping within range with mere brisk paces that mocked that of a power walk.

 

At least that's how it would look on a normal person.

 

On L, the gesture looked a bit over-exaggerated and unnatural.

Witnessing such a sight, Misa couldn't help but burst into laughter, and continued to dash, but backwards.

That was her Ryuzaki. Unnatural and unorthodox.

Then suddenly she gasped from the thought.

Her Ryuzaki.

It felt so comfortable and so right. Slowing down, Misa placed a hand to her chest as she contemplated this.

Seconds later, her legs had come to a stop, but her heart was racing.

Yet, she didn't know why she was feeling so goofy about it. She had already established feeling something for him. Not to mention she tried forcing herself on him not that long ago.

Still, the thought of being with someone as comfortable, and eccentric, as him made her heart flutter and caused a feathery blush to shade her pale cheeks.

 

While being so deep in deliberation, she didn't hear the chains from the handcuffs dragging along the floor behind her until the very last second.

 

Gasping, Misa whipped her head around. The expression of shock, like that of a child about to be caught by their parents, spread across her delicate features and she instinctively shielded her face with her hands.

“Eeek!!” she squeaked as the side of L's open hand bopped her lightly on the head twice as if he were doing a chop.

“I caught you.” he stated flatly.

“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! CHEATER!!” Misa suddenly squealed playfully and pushed away from him to take off running again.

“Wh-what...” L stammered, for the first time he could ever recall doing so, while he stared wide-eyed at the rambunctious girl ahead of him.

“Misa wait!” he called. Then swore silently under his breath as he dug his hands back into his pockets and made chase after her, actually running this time.

 

Giggling girlishly, Misa pushed open the doors to another room, and before long found herself back in the room with all the monitors.

After determining L's room wasn't on that floor, she slid on the heel of one of her boot as she made a sharp turn towards the twisted stairway to the right of her.

“Misa watch out!” L shouted as the lively girl glanced over her shoulder at him and slipped.

The room began to blur as she started falling. “Ahhhh! Ryuzakiiii!!”

Seeing her lose her balance, L skid behind her the moment she fell backwards into him and actually knocked him to the floor.

 

Instantly uncomfortable from being pressed against the cold linoleum in such a way, L swiftly sat up and lifted Misa off of him.

Straightening out his shirt, he stood to his feet. “I warned you to be careful, Misa.”

“I know I know! I'm sorry!! But you still cheated!” she quipped, starting to pick herself up.

 

Moving towards the bottom step while on her knees, Misa's eyes aimlessly glanced up and her whole body froze.

 

A tiny airy gasp escaped her as she stared at the middle of the reflective and twisted structure, too afraid to move.

But her odd behavior went unnoticed by L initially. He sighed and shook his head; his empty gaze blankly staring ahead into a collaboration of nothingness before him.

Misa was certainly a handful. But as long as she kept it under control, he could deal with it.

 

Occasionally.

 

“Well, I suppose next time you'll think twice before choosing to run through the building like a....” L trailed off, his gaze trailing over to Misa's kneeling form.

 

And within the instant of that very moment, nothing else mattered but her.

 

“Misa, what is it?” he asked urgently, crouching next to her and placing his hands on her shoulders.

For hour-feigning seconds, Misa did not hear him.

In her liquidy eyes, she witnessed a horrible memory of events that had come to pass as it played over and over in her mind.

 

~

 

One night, like many others had been, she did something that she knew would please Light in his plight for a perfect world; but on the contrary, her actions proved to be rather displeasing to the delusional 'god'. And in his dissatisfaction, Light vented his frustrations on her.

When she tried to apologize he threw things at her. When she begged him to calm down, he forced her out of the room. When she pleaded for another chance, he shook her. When she confessed with all her heart that she would strive to do her best for him no matter what, his nails dug into her skin in retaliation as his harsh words followed suit.

Yet, when she cried out that she loved him, something seemed to spark in his eyes then and he suddenly lifted her to his chest.

But before she could close her eyes and nuzzle in the unexpected 'embrace', he pushed her away from him.

Roughly.

Without a second thought.

Silently, he watched as she lost her balance and tumbled back first down the glass steps; a dark satisfying smile flickering across his features.

Small hot tears shot from her eyes, reflecting the subdued shine from the glass like tiny diamonds, as she rolled to the bottom of the stairs.

After the world around her ceased spinning, her body had finally stopped falling head first.. Alone and mildly battered, she laid sprawled out on her back on the stairwell; her aching body following its twist.

A glossed haze stirred in her eyes and the last thing she saw and could register was a shadowy figure approaching her.

 

The exact events that had followed after that were a clouded mystery to her.

 

 

Continuing to watch her as she recalled these moments, L wondered if she ever realized that it was him that had scooped up her tortured body from the stairwell and checked her wounds for severity.

Luckily, the fluffy black angel wings on the back of her lingerie helped softened her fall a great deal.

But her body began to shake from the state of shock that had been stricken upon it. But he knew that would pass.

At the time, L had thought of the irony of her having a guardian angel watching over her.

And as if the slumbering Misa could hear his thoughts, a light smile smoothed across her lips in confirmation.

She did indeed have an angel watching over her.

Her very own slouching, shaggy-haired, sweet-toothed guardian angel.

When she did awaken, she had started a conversation with him, like she had done earlier nights before when Light's behavior got out of control. She never told L what really happened, but only that she just 'was clumsy and slipped'. But before the realized that night, she enjoyed talking with L; allowing herself one moment of ease before returning to her room, knowing what would await her.

 

~

 

“Misa...” L called softly, discreetly rubbing her back.

Her body flinched at the motion, but she soon relaxed, remembering he was the only other one in the room with her.

“Ryuzaki...” she urged in a hushed whisper, briskly clasping a hand over one of his.

L said nothing regarding the action and just waited for her to recompose herself.

And without realizing, Misa gave his hand a small squeeze before placing both her hands to the floor.

“S...sorry, Ryuzaki. I guess I just s...sort of...spaced out there...” Misa rationalized, slowly beginning to rise to her feet with L's help.

 

Obsidian studious orbs carefully observed her petite profile as Misa took a deep breath and visually relaxed.

 

And for that small fleeting second, L became calmed simply by watching her.

 

But then, her body stiffened and her eyes widened as she felt a sharp jolt ripple through her,

Placing a delicate hand to her mouth, she looked upwards towards the ceiling.

“Rem?” The name tumbled from her lips in a quiet whisper.

Without another thought, Misa grabbed L's hand and started charging up the stairs.

“Come on, Ryuzaki!!”

“Ah... Misa, slow down!”

 

-

 

Inside L's messy room, an aggravated groan wavered into the air as large tomes and important documents were tossed to the floor.

“Where is it...”a deep feminine voice grumbled as another stack of books were scattered to the floor.

Although she had initially tried to be discreet about her intrusion into L's room, Rem had begun to lose her patience with what she sought after.

“I know that human has left that notebook in this room.” she murmured to herself and lifted the dusty mattress from atop L's bed.

But instead of the Death Note, her narrowing eyes glowered at the sight of countless volumes of hentai manga and several magazines. Most of them, she recognized as ones that had photos or articles about Misa in them.

With a heavy sigh, Rem rolled her eyes and dropped the mattress back in place.

Inwardly, she swore to herself and began looking in another direction.

“I have to find that notebook. “ she urged herself, a blanket of sadness in her voice, “The sooner I do, the faster I will be out of her life for good...” the death god surmised.

After shoving a few more documents aside, her keen eyes caught glimpse of a familiar black cover.

Snatching it up, she held it close to her side and faced the window that she had phased through earlier.

Silently, she studied the soft light blue of the welcoming sky above for what felt like hours. Remembering.

Remembering the reason why she and Misa had lost contact and the threat of such a situation severing their relationship.

After parting their separate ways after a large disagreement concerning her life and a certain conniving individual that will presently go unmentioned, Rem had decided it best to take back the Death Note that she bestowed upon Misa and return to her otherworldly realm.

“Forgive me.” her mysterious voice wavered uncertainly, “This was for the best. A 'foolish' god of death such as myself had no business interfering in your personal affairs. And believing that you would understand me.” With a distraught sigh, Rem spread her wings. “Goodbye, Misa. I hope that I never hear the sound of your voice again...”

Just before the shinigami took flight, the sound of something heavy colliding into the door to L's room broke into the air.

“Ouch!” Misa's voice griped from behind the door. Then, a few more pounds, presumably knocks, were sounded before the doorknob started to shake.

 

“Rem!! Are you in there?!” Misa called, then whipped around to glare at L. “Please inform me as to WHY you would want to lock the door to your own room when you hardly use it anyway?!”

“To keep out nosy intruders...” he trailed off, bending down to lift up one of his pants legs. A small skeleton key was strapped to his leg and he took hold of it between a finger and a thumb. As he stood, his eyes never left Misa's. “... like you...” he added nonchalantly and pardoned himself to step in front of her to unlock the door.

 

Once it opened, L slipped the key back where he retrieved it from and followed Misa into the room.

Without thinking, Misa ran up to Rem and halted in her tracks directly in front of her towering frame.

“Rem...” she trailed off, unsure of what emotion to show her friend.

Sharing the girl's discord, a slight alteration glimmered in Rem's narrowed eye as it was obvious to tell she was doing her best not to hug the girl.

Lingering in the doorway, L's eyes discreetly inspected the two before him momentarily, then aimlessly fleeted about the room.

Instead of being angry towards his room being trashed, he appeared more interested of knowing of the reasons.

“But unfortunately, my locks weren't shinigami-proof...” he shrugged, sliding his hands into his pockets and slinking into a lower slouch.

 

“Misa...” Rem uttered quietly, “why did you come here to find me...”

“Who cares why! I'm here now! And I'm not going to let you leave. Not without a good reason, this time!” Misa declared, crossing her arms, indicating finality.

 

An astonished expression washed over Rem's features from the sudden habitual breakthrough.

Since the time they first were introduced up to the day they parted ways, Rem had never heard Misa speak with such maturity and strong sense of herself.

Taking her shocked vision away from the bold petite young woman before her, Rem's gaze rose to the ill-postured human that casually padded around the room with a blank expression on his face.

Her eye silently scrutinized his passive behavior as he kneeled to examine the scattered multitudes of books and documents with that peculiar manner of his in one spot, then rose and did the same in another.

It wasn't until he moved towards his joke of a bed that Rem noticed that he and Misa were linked together.

Bound by an iron tether at the wrists.

 

Could it be that because of this mere human, Misa had changed dramatically over the span of a few short days?

 

A gentle smile curved Misa's lips as if she could easily decipher Rem's unspoken language perfectly.

“Rem, I know you heard me, right?”

Rem paused. “Yes. I heard you.” she agreed, but placed her attention on L again. The shaggy haired man had now lifted up his mattress and was casually checking to the left and the right over his stash, making sure everything was in order. Then he simply let go of the thick material, causing it to plop back into place.

 

Although Rem was grateful that she hadn't seen that accursed Yagami boy around, she wasn't too ecstatic to see blossoming possibilities between that human and Misa happen so naturally.

 

Misa, on the other hand, knew her partner all too well, and picked up on Rem's sudden attention, glares rather, towards her Lawliet and she waved her hand to dismiss it.

“Just ignore him.” Misa smiled.

“Miss Misa is correct.” L agreed, his back to both of them while he still faced his bed.

Then slowly, he turned his head to glance over his shoulder at Rem. His eyes lingered on the book held in her skeletal hand momentarily before traveling up to her face.

“While this is the place I normally would sleep if I ever needed to, please, by all means, pay me no mind.”

Rem blinked and took a defensive step forward towards Misa. “One would do well to keep an eye on you, especially when you have so much to hide.”

“Hmm? To hide?” L spoke up, facing her genuinely intrigued to know what the answer would be.

“Rem, what are you talking about?” Misa asked, “Ryuzaki may be strange at times...” she trailed off, following Rem's steady gaze towards the handcuffs. Blushing , she placed her arms behind her back. “...VERY strange at times, but his intentions are generally good!”

“How awfully thoughtful of you Misa. Especially considering how much pain you've given me about my recent decisions...” he teased in a dry tone, looking off to the side.

Golden blonde cascaded over Misa's shoulders as she whipped her head around to face him. “Shut up!!”

L only stared. “And there's my proof.”

“No one's asking you, Ryuzaki!!” she snapped back, unconsciously smoothing back a lock of hair behind her ear.

As she did, Rem caught a clear glimpse of the healing bruise dressed across her neck.

Instinctively the concerned shinigami touched her elongated nails to the bruise, inspecting it gently. “Misa, how did this happen??”

 

“Huh?” Misa squeaked, turning towards her friend. And once she realized what Rem was referring to she quickly covered the wound and swatted Rem's hand away.

“I-It's nothing important right now, Rem! It's just from a clumsy accident, that's all!” Misa feebly retorted.

While Rem wanted to believe her, she could clearly tell the girl was lying.

And L only confirmed it. “As much as I'd rather not state the obvious, Misa, it's too apparent that you're lying so you may as well stop it...” he suggested; a dubious inflection in his tone.

“You're not helping!” Misa shot back, not bothering to look at him and keeping her eyes on Rem.

He sighed. “Just tell her the truth...” he murmured, sounding both bored and slightly exasperated.

Frowning cutely, Misa turned and briskly stepped to where he stood. “I don't want to trouble her with stupid things she doesn't need to know about!” she spoke in a tone just above a whisper.

“Your well-being certainly isn't stupid. Besides, you haven't seen her in a while, correct?” he answered back.

Misa fidgeted at this, but she couldn't deny it. “Well, yeah, but...”

“Then at least give her some closure before she ends up leaving again. And next time there probably won't be another time for you to make up.”

She frowned even deeper, and clenched her fists. “Sometimes I hate it when you're right.”

To this, L nodded and thoughtfully peered off into space. “Yes...” he agreed, smoothing a thumb across his bottom lip, “I don't think I'd be able to take being as wrong as you as well as you do...”

A flicker of red flashed by Misa's eyes as she glared at him with a look that could kill and a crooked smile. “Don't make me kick you...! “

 

Seemingly ignored by the two quarreling individuals, Rem could only watch and observe.

And as she did, a stray thought slithered into her mind, causing her to wince in realization.

“YOU!” Rem bellowed, exerting a yelp from Misa and a nonchalant “what is it now” stare from L.

“You filthy human! You've been abusing Misa, haven't you?!”

 

For the first time in his life that he could remember, L actually blinked. In response, he took a breath to retaliate, but no sound emerged.

He was utterly baffled from being accused of such a thing and didn't know how to respond.

 

“No, Rem, you've got it all wrong! Ryuzaki would never hurt me!!” Misa spoke up for L, outstretching her arms protectively in front of him to illustrate her point.

 

A low sound of disagreement swelled in Rem's throat as she glared harshly at L.

“Then why are you attached to that man with that horrid contraption, Misa?”

This time, Misa blinked. “Ah... I told you that Ryuzaki may be weird at times, but he really really means well!”

 

“Does he?” Rem continued, ignoring the flicker of pain that rippled across his bemused features, “I don't believe that. He even has magazines of you hidden away beneath his mattress. It wouldn't surprise me if he was some type of sadist. He is no better than that Light Yagami.”

A sharp intake of breath shot into the air as Misa clapped her hands over her mouth in shock.

“He... Light is the one you should be accusing, not Ryuzaki!!” Misa shot back, “You were right, okay? When we had our argument. You said Light was no good for me. But we don't have to worry about him anymore! Ryuzaki had him sent to jail. And honestly, I could care less if he's left in there to rot!” Misa shouted; her body beginning to quiver from the emotion that quaked within it.

Rem considered this information fairly. “I'm surprised, Misa. I never imagined you'd be able to detach from that boy.” Her eye then narrowed, settling on L as he silently gathered his composure. “But your choice in the opposite sex is truly appalling.”

 

Misa's eyes widened at this and opened her mouth to speak. But instead of standing her ground, her unborn words remained unrepresented and she felt as if she had shrunk 2 sizes smaller.

' That's not fair...' she desperately wanted to say. 'It's not! You haven't even given him a chance!'

“Ha...haha....” L's odd and dry chuckle wavered into the air and eerily melted through the tension.

Both Misa and Rem gave him their full attention.

His head was hung low and his hands had again found their way deep into his pockets.

Only his shoulders slightly shook as another forced trail of broken 'laughter' left his lips.

“Uh...um... Ryuzaki...?” Misa asked, her voice cracking a bit as she fought to withhold threatening tears caused by Rem's previous words.

Slowly lifting his gaze, L pinned his eyes directly on the hushed shinigami before him. “...Rem, was it?”

“Yes.”

L smirked caustically, peering through his messy tufts of hair. “Do you honestly believe that I get pleasure out of making others suffer; making Misa suffer?”

“Yes. And judging by those magazines under that mattress, you must be trying to trick Misa into falling for you by stalking her and knowing everything about her.”

He chuckled curtly. “Really. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but while it is very very easy to trick Misa, as much as you may hate to realize, I am not Light Yagami. And, in addition to not being a mass murderer nor serial killer, I have much more important things on my mind than masturbating all day to pieces of paper.” he stated shamelessly, glancing to a flabbergasted Misa. “Even if...those pieces of paper include someone as cute and astonishing as Miss Amane. Besides, why waste time with pictures when the genuine article is always in my presence...”

 

Not knowing how to respond, Misa's face flushed of all color and she stared blankly at L.

Then, with each passing second her face began turning a light shade of pink, then red.

And before long, she lunged at L; frantically pounding at his chest with controlled, yet abashed, anger.

“RYUZAKI, YOU MORON!!” she yelled.

Confused, L looked down at her. “Was it something I said?” he wondered curiously, his tone a clear contrast to her loud outbursts.

“It was everything you said, Ryuzaki!! It's embarrassing! I don't care about your...y-your... what you do when you're alone in here!!”

He shrugged and tilted his head to the side, and finally moving his hands from his pockets to lightly take hold of her shoulder. “Have you not seen how dusty this bed is? I told you I haven't slept in...”

“I said I don't care!” Misa snapped back, pouting.

With a “hmph”, she turned her back to him and crossed her arms. “It's bad enough you've already had me in your MOUTH!” she exclaimed, referring to the night before when he devoured the icing from her fingers.

He didn't miss a beat. “Only with getting your permission, first.”

“That's besides the point! Oh!!! I don't BELIEVE YOU, Ryuzaki!!” she cried, and playfully pushed him to the side while she lifted his mattress.

“I want to see these magazines!”

“No you don't.”

“Yes I do!!” she insisted, already struggling to keep the mattress lifted.

He sighed. “Misa, please remove yourself from invading my privacy, or I will be forced to remove you myself.” he warned in monotone.

Misa glanced at him, disbelief shimmering in her eyes. “You wouldn't dare!”

“Well, you asked for it.” he concluded and literally swept her off her feet and into his arms.

“Ahh!” Misa squealed, squirming in his grasp. “Ryuzaki!!! Put me down!!”

A light smile touched his lips as he loosened his grip. “If that's what you want...” he mused, pretending to let her fall just to elicit a loud “KYAAA!!” from her and brought her back to his chest.

 

But Misa was still under the impression that she was still falling and tensed up; her hands balled into fists that she held feebly beneath her chin as if such a gesture would save her from colliding with the floor.

Once she realized she was still being held in place, she opened one eye and looked up to L.

A soft smile brightened his features as he returned her gaze.

 

But she had to quickly grasp at his shirt to not slip out of his embrace as his body vibrated from his sudden mild laughter.

“I lied.” he joked, causing the blonde to cutely assault him with mock slap to his chest and utilizing her remaining scrunchie as a projectile.

 

Ignored, Rem watched the two with a sense of understanding.

That man was an eccentric individual indeed, and she had not trusted him nor Light.

But it was clearly obvious that Misa cared enough to enjoy being around him, as opposed to only exerting the extremely loyal traits of her personality.

 

And deep down, Rem approved.

 

After the commotion settled, Rem and Misa had a good long talk about their misunderstanding and reached a new agreement.

They still remained friends, but Rem still insisted that she wanted to return to her realm.

She was no longer needed in Misa's life anymore.

 

Misa made her promise to come visit sometime and she favored the request.

And to make sure she kept her word, Misa refused to forfeit ownership of the Death Note.

L said nothing as this all took place, but was grateful when it neared its end.

After a few more rounds of goodbyes and heartfelt messages, Rem and Misa parted ways yet again.

Misa was a bit pained to see her friend leave again, but she knew it was for the best. At least for now.

 

But a strong smile drew across her face instead of tears and she turned to L.

Without a word, she draped her arms around his neck and hugged him.

Soft whispers of thanks brushed against his ear and he shuddered.

 

Silently, he looked down at the girl that embraced him and hesitantly led his arms around her as well.

 

“Ryuzaki...”

“Hmm?”

“Now that it's just the two of us again, I know there's still so much that I have to tell you...as the Second Kira.”

“Yes, this is true.”

“But before I do...” she began, slightly slipping out of his embrace in order to look him in the eyes, “Misa would like to take a shower.”

His expression softened a tad in understanding.

She wasn't referring to herself in third person the way she normally had in order to be cute.

She was referring to 'Misa' as a separate entity from the Second Kira.

 

While cuffed, she was the Second Kira. But when she wasn't, she was Misa. Herself, not a killer.

But only towards him.

 

“I understand.”

A thin film of tears glistened in the girl's eyes as her faint smile broadened.

After giving the detective one more hug, she reluctantly left his warmth and waited for him to get the key for the cuffs.

And to honor his decision to put handcuffs on her since earlier that day, she turned around and closed her eyes so she wouldn't see where he hid the key.

 

She felt the curved metal jiggle about on her wrist before its confining clasp was released and fell to the floor with a clank.

 

Returning her moistened eyes to L, she fell into his arms and kissed him sweetly on the cheek.

“Misa will be out soon. And when that happens, everything will be answered. I want Ryuzaki to see the real Misa...without hiding behind band-aids and make up. I'll make sure Ryuzaki will be presented with the truth.”

 

After she spoke her words, the two of them became rooted, eying the other.

It wasn't until Misa leaned closer for an actual kiss that L stopped her.

“I will be waiting for your return out here.” he stated placidly.

 

A bit awed, Misa blinked at his choice in behavior, then smiled.

That was just the way her Lawliet was.

“Alright. Be out real soon!” she chirped, her chipper tone returning. “Bye bye!” she waved, then headed off towards the bathroom built into L's room.

 

Watching her go, L's eyes traveled gently down to the hand cuffs, then trailed behind him towards his bed.

Without a word, he unlocked the remaining cuff and walked towards it.

He flipped the mattress over and flopped down into its firm cushions.

 

 

He waited until he heard the water from the shower head sprayed into the tub before he reached through a slit he had made the day before, inside the thick fabric of the mattress.

Sliding in a finger and his thumb, he took hold of the slender book that was wedged between the mattress' padding and removed it.

 

Holding it up, he blew off the remaining fluff from the mattress and placed the long book next to him in the bed.

 

Misa's Death Note.

The real Death Note.

Unfortunately for Rem, she had taken a fake reproduction.

 

Pulling a pen from within his pillowcase, he began to scribble down Misa's name.

And his as well.

 

 

-

 

To be continued!! The rating may change!

 

-Mel