No Man Is an Island (Part 15)
Title: No Man Is an Island
Fandom: Death Note
Pairing: The Main series likely won't have a pairing, at least until the last chapter or so.
Rating: The first few chapters will probably remain around PG-13, but later ones will likely be locked.
Notes: This has probably been the hardest chapter so far.
Summary: L knows all about secrets, but what is he going to do when he doesn't have any of the answers.
There were no perfect plans. No matter how thoroughly one prepared there was always that one thread that could be pulled apart and potentially unravel the whole thing. Most of the time it was an oversight. It was hard to anticipate every action a human being might take, even if you knew them very well. Of course there were times when it was as simple as a boy restless to explore a new place, find his own way in life, or another boy sneaking out to do something special for a friend. L couldn't be sure anything had gone truly wrong, and yet there was that feeling, much like that day in November, that something had slipped out of his grasp. It could merely be his pessimistic nature, well he would argue his view was realistic, or perhaps it was the way Light seemed to be acting recently. Since Mello's birthday he had seemed more content than usual. It was as if he knew something that others hadn't yet caught up to. Much like the way he had acted just before L's 'death'. He knew that the younger man would not pass up any opportunity to gain an edge, even if it might take him time to sort out how it would be useful. Yet another trait they shared.
L knew he must simply move forward. This meant he must proceed as if Light now had not only Mello's real name, but Matt's as well. This would make it far more difficult for him to retain control, but he could not lose focus. He had yet to decipher the root of Light's fixation on Mello, but at least it gave him reason to suspect Light would not kill the boy out of hand. He had expected a reaction to Mello, of course, but not this drastic. He also acknowledged that there didn't seem a logical reason for Light to make a bold move at the moment. Still, that didn't mean he had any actual breathing room. Circumstances could change at any time and he must not miss the opportunity to act. And then there was the fact that Light seemed interested in him. He couldn't truly believe it was any real emotion on the part of the younger man, but he could use it, if necessary. He did not know yet how he should use it, but it could provide him the distraction he needed.
All of these thoughts left him with one conclusion. He must force Light to act, and he must keep Light off balance enough that even if Light managed to see he was up to something the younger man would not have a chance to prepare a reaction before it was too late. Any delay in whatever the younger man had in mind would increase his chance of success.
He immediately saw two ways he could possibly use the fact Light seemed to want 'more of him', whatever that meant. He could agree to it, very slowly letting the younger man believe he would get what he wanted, or he could take himself out of the equation. If he casually mentioned that he no longer wished to remain in Japan, that whatever agreement they had had run its course, or at least that it must be reevaluated, then he might be off guard enough to respond without enough thought. But would it be enough? L bit the edge of his thumb. If there was no other recourse then he knew what he had to do. So why did he hesitate? Every moment could mean some bit of information he required, but didn't have access to, and yet he waited. He knew Light could only give him a illusion and that it was dangerous to expect anything else and yet perhaps recent events had shaken him enough that it was tempting. He would deal with that then and put a plan into place. He didn't have any other choice.
Fandom: Death Note
Pairing: The Main series likely won't have a pairing, at least until the last chapter or so.
Rating: The first few chapters will probably remain around PG-13, but later ones will likely be locked.
Notes: This has probably been the hardest chapter so far.
Summary: L knows all about secrets, but what is he going to do when he doesn't have any of the answers.
There were no perfect plans. No matter how thoroughly one prepared there was always that one thread that could be pulled apart and potentially unravel the whole thing. Most of the time it was an oversight. It was hard to anticipate every action a human being might take, even if you knew them very well. Of course there were times when it was as simple as a boy restless to explore a new place, find his own way in life, or another boy sneaking out to do something special for a friend. L couldn't be sure anything had gone truly wrong, and yet there was that feeling, much like that day in November, that something had slipped out of his grasp. It could merely be his pessimistic nature, well he would argue his view was realistic, or perhaps it was the way Light seemed to be acting recently. Since Mello's birthday he had seemed more content than usual. It was as if he knew something that others hadn't yet caught up to. Much like the way he had acted just before L's 'death'. He knew that the younger man would not pass up any opportunity to gain an edge, even if it might take him time to sort out how it would be useful. Yet another trait they shared.
L knew he must simply move forward. This meant he must proceed as if Light now had not only Mello's real name, but Matt's as well. This would make it far more difficult for him to retain control, but he could not lose focus. He had yet to decipher the root of Light's fixation on Mello, but at least it gave him reason to suspect Light would not kill the boy out of hand. He had expected a reaction to Mello, of course, but not this drastic. He also acknowledged that there didn't seem a logical reason for Light to make a bold move at the moment. Still, that didn't mean he had any actual breathing room. Circumstances could change at any time and he must not miss the opportunity to act. And then there was the fact that Light seemed interested in him. He couldn't truly believe it was any real emotion on the part of the younger man, but he could use it, if necessary. He did not know yet how he should use it, but it could provide him the distraction he needed.
All of these thoughts left him with one conclusion. He must force Light to act, and he must keep Light off balance enough that even if Light managed to see he was up to something the younger man would not have a chance to prepare a reaction before it was too late. Any delay in whatever the younger man had in mind would increase his chance of success.
He immediately saw two ways he could possibly use the fact Light seemed to want 'more of him', whatever that meant. He could agree to it, very slowly letting the younger man believe he would get what he wanted, or he could take himself out of the equation. If he casually mentioned that he no longer wished to remain in Japan, that whatever agreement they had had run its course, or at least that it must be reevaluated, then he might be off guard enough to respond without enough thought. But would it be enough? L bit the edge of his thumb. If there was no other recourse then he knew what he had to do. So why did he hesitate? Every moment could mean some bit of information he required, but didn't have access to, and yet he waited. He knew Light could only give him a illusion and that it was dangerous to expect anything else and yet perhaps recent events had shaken him enough that it was tempting. He would deal with that then and put a plan into place. He didn't have any other choice.