Chapter 26: The Roommates
Light stood near the bedroom doorway as L tucked Bean into bed. He felt a bit like a lurker just standing there, hands pocketed with his eyes boredly taking in the room.
Finally, L turned from the bed after a kiss to Bean's head and some softly-spoken Russian words, and the two left the room with L quietly shutting the door.
Light cleared his throat. "Ryuzaki, I'd really like to take a shower."
"That's not a problem," L responded, turning to face him.
There was an awkward pause as Light glanced down to the chain the joined them.
"So... you'll just stand outside the door then?"
"No, I'll come with you," L said casually, both hands shoving into his pockets.
Light frowned. "You have to take the cuffs off anyway for the both of us to get dressed and undressed. Is it really necessary-"
"You agreed to this," L cut in.
"Yeah, I did, but... are you really going to shower with me?" Light bluntly asked
"The gym here in the hotel has a locker room," L responded, completely unbothered. "Watari is here for Bean, so we can go down there."
Light sighed. "...fine." He turned to the bag Soichiro had brought for him and dug out some pajamas and clean underwear and shower products. Then he turned back to L, holding his things.
L started towards the door.
"Aren't you going to grab your stuff?" Light asked.
L turned to look at him, not having considered it. "...I suppose if you're going to shower, I should too," he mused. He let out a grumbly sigh, really hating the process of showering. But as long as he would just be standing there, he might as well get it over with. After all, he also hated feeling grimy.
Soon, two adjacent shower heads turned on, a curtain pulled between them.
"Remind me again how you and Misa met?" L spoke up, squinting ridiculously as he let the stream wet his mangy head.
"We met in Aoyama," Light answered, tipping his head back into the warm water.
"Right..." L faced the wall, his head down and dripping. "And... she found you on social media after that, correct?"
"Yeah." Light picked up the bottle of shampoo and squeezed some into his hand.
"And then you started dating."
"Yeah, that's right." He rubbed his hands together before starting to lather up his hair.
"Hm. Light, could I borrow some shampoo?"
"Didn't you bring your own?"
"If I had, I wouldn't be asking."
Opening one eye beneath soapy hair, Light reached for the bottle and then stuck his hand around the curtain with it.
"Thank you." L took it and then proceeded to squeeze an exorbitant amount directly onto his head, swirling it around before snapping the cap shut and setting it down on a little shelf.
The water continued to run from the two spouts, draining with the foamy suds at their feet.
"...so Light. Are you serious about her?" L's hair was like a wet towel that had been draped over his head as he just stood there, hunched at the shoulders with his arms at his sides.
An exhale sent a spray of water from Light's lips as he flicked his sopping hair. "No way. It's completely one-sided."
"Hm." Whatever soap was left in L's hair was carried down like a film, sliding down his shoulders to where it trickled in streams from his fingertips. "Then could you at least pretend to be serious for the sake of the investigation?"
Light rubbed water from his Japanese eyes before looking towards the curtain. "Huh?"
"There are two things I know about Amane for sure," L went on, the back of his hand lifting the curtain of wet hair that hung over his grey-rimmed eyes. He was watching the water slide into the drain at his bare feet. "One, that she's involved in this. And two... that she is in love with you."
Light reached for the bottle of scented body wash. "You want me to become intimate with her to gather information about the second Kira?"
"Yes. I think you could do it without her arousing her suspicions." L tossed his head back, sending water droplets flying from his mane. "And Amane would definitely be a valuable source of information for us. Not to mention, this is the main reason why I agreed to release the two of you."
Light shook his head as he set the body wash back on the shelf. "Ryuzaki... as much as I wanna help you, and as important as the Kira case is to me, I can't manipulate a woman's feelings like that. Please try to understand. To me, exploiting another person's feelings for a personal gain is unforgivable. And I won't allow myself to stoop that low."
L made a low growl sound in his throat.
There's something wrong with this picture. It is as if he's a different person now... Is it possible that this is an act? If this is genuine, it not only implies that Amane was being controlled by Kira... but Light Yagami, too...
"Ryuzaki?"
"Hm?"
"Did you bring your own soap?"
L looked towards the curtain. "Oh, no, I didn't. May I?"
Light sighed. "Sure. Just give me a second-"
The curtain snapped open with an abrupt shhhnk!
"Wha-!" Light's head jerked over as his soapy shoulders lifted stiffly. "-HEY!!"
But L just plucked up the bottle before pulling the curtain shut again.
Light just pursed his lips with a blunt exhale, shaking his head a little as he rubbed his sudsy hand over his shoulder and collarbone.
"I suppose you're right after all," L pondered aloud, squeezing out far too much of the shower gel so that it oozed and dripped off his hand. "However, considering Misa will have a lot of contact with the public, it would be helpful if you could make sure she doesn't leak information."
"I'll do what I can, Ryuzaki."
"Thank you." L sniffed his foamy hand and then snuffed as he wrinkled his nose. His eyes moved to the bottle of liquid soap. "Cedar and Cypress..." he read aloud. "Tell me, Light... what is the appeal in smelling like a tree?"
"What?" Light had an arm in the air as he scrubbed under it.
"Well, I'm not well versed in the rules of attraction," L responded casually. "And you're obviously someone who is interested in romantic pursuits. Are women attracted to scents of trees and nature?"
Light huffed a chuckle. "That's a strange question, Ryuzaki." He smiled a little. "Is there someone you have your eye on?" It was almost a tease.
"I assure you, there is not," L answered simply. "I was just curious."
Light smiled a little more. He turned then to shut off the water and then reached for a towel, rubbing it over his hair first before wrapping it around his waist.
The other spout turned off too, and when the curtain opened again, L was holding a towel around his own scrawny middle. His hair made him look like a cartoon character who had been electrocuted.
Together, they moved over to the locker area where they had left their clothes on a bench.
"So Light..." L stepped into his jeans after a short silence between them. "If Misa's affections are as one-sided as you say, I have to ask... why are you dating her?"
Light's thumbs adjusted the elastic band of his pajama pants around his hips as his eyes drifted in thought. He hesitated. "...it's not unusual to casually date someone," he finally answered. "She's obviously infatuated with me. So why wouldn't I take the opportunity to see where it goes?"
"Hm. Miss Toho... a pop idol..." L fastened the button on his blue jeans before securing the zipper. "You seem drawn to popular and successful women. Would it be entirely wrong to say that you're drawn to power in a way?"
The two turned to face one another.
"Why does that feel like an accusation?" Light asked slowly, his eyes not leaving L's.
Both of them reached for their shirts.
"No, no, on the contrary," L returned, his own gaze also remaining fixed on Light's. "It's impressive. It seems all you have to do is walk around in public, and a pop star throws herself into your arms."
"Must have been the cedar and cypress," Light muttered, tired of talking about this. He shoved his arms into the long sleeves of his waffle-textured shirt before ducking his head through the opening and adjusting the fabric over his torso.
"Hmh." The small sound that pulsed L's throat could almost be described as a chuckle. He looked down as he handled his own shirt before stuffing his floofy head in first, followed by his arms.
Light was bent at the waist, gathering his things. "You know," he said in a candid tone, "I really don't think you're as clueless about women as you want me to believe. I mean..." He chuckled. "...you do have a son, Ryuzaki."
When there was silence, Light looked up to find himself beneath a cold stare.
L's hands were both pocketed, his head turned towards Light with his side facing him. His expression was darkly set.
Light blinked. "...I- I meant no offense," he finally said quietly.
L turned away. Opening a creaky locker, he took out the cuffs, the chain scraping against the shelf before the door shut, the metallic clang resonating in the hollow silence. L turned and faced Light, meeting his eyes.
Light just stared for a moment before holding out his wrist.
And L didn't hesitate to cuff him.
They were wordless as they rode the elevator back upstairs. Light held his things in his hands while L had a small bag slung on his shoulder. Both had damp hair. Both avoided eye contact.
Finally, Light sighed. "Listen, I'm sorry-"
"Don't be." L was quick to cut him off.
Light's gaze lingered for only another few seconds on the detective before looking away. But he got the message to never again allude to the woman who had mothered L's child.
He couldn't help but wonder though.
Before long, they were in the bedroom that had been procured for Light to sleep in, and the Japanese boy was stepping out of his slippers.
"I hope you won't mind the light from a screen," L commented as he hopped up into a chair that had been arranged in front of a desk right next to the bed.
"Not at all," Light answered. "As long as you're quiet, I don't mind." He turned and sat down on the bed. "...don't you ever sleep?"
"When I need to," L replied. "Not tonight, though. I'm working on an algorithm to compare deaths related to the Kira case and the circumstances surrounding each one."
Light's brow lifted. "I suppose any small detail could prove useful."
L nodded. "Yes, that's true. It is my intention to solve this case no matter what it takes. That's how it is."
"And I want to help you however I can," Light said firmly. "The mass killings are bad enough already, but personally, I'll never forgive Kira for putting my Dad and I through this."
L looked over, a thumb pressed to his lips. "If you are serious about that, you should try to get close to Misa and find out about the Second Kira."
Light's brow subtly lowered. "I can't. That goes against my principles."
"Right... You said that." L looked back to the computer screen, his expression contorting into a pout. "What a shame."
Light rolled his eyes as he started to lie back, bringing his legs up to slide under the blankets. "Goodnight, Ryuzaki."
"Yes, goodnight." L placed a headset over his ears.
Light rolled to his side, getting comfortable with his back to L. He tucked a hand under the pillow as he closed his eyes.
Some minutes later, the silence was disrupted by intermittent clicking and typing.
Light shifted, bringing the comforter up higher on his shoulder to cover his ear.
Another moment later, a spoon clinked repeatedly against the inner sides of a coffee cup.
Light's eyes opened. He waited several seconds for the sound to stop before shutting them again, adjusting the side of his face against the pillow.
It was quiet again.
...until there came the crinkling of a candy wrapper. And then another one.
Light's eyes snapped open again as he snuffed a frustrated sigh. He lifted his head up to scowl over his shoulder.
L looked over, his lips smacking as he rolled the chocolate ball around in his mouth. "...is something wrong, Light?"
"...you're being a little loud," Light informed him irritably.
"Oh. I didn't realize I was being loud." L noisily sucked chocolate from his fingertip.
"Well, it's a bit difficult to sleep with all the... clinking and crinkling," Light huffed.
"My apologies." L looked back to the screen. "My five year old sleeps through it just fine."
Light just stared like he'd been smacked in the mouth. Then his scowling eyes drifted with pursed lips before he flopped back on his side against the pillow. And when the foil wrapping inevitably crinkled again, he just yanked the blanket up over his head.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top