Light x L - New World Ch. 11

By the time they got back upstairs, the sun was starting to go down, casting an orange glow into the hall windows. L handed the sheet to Rodger, who looked it over with his nose wrinkled. “L… why have you…?” What did he do? Damn it, this is going to drive me insane… “Now Rodger… wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise, would we?”

Light’s spine shivered as he saw L’s devious grin from the side. “As you wish. I have set up the usual quarters for you in my wing of the building.” Rodger looked at Light overtop of his glasses. “You, however will be sleeping in the guest wing with Mello and Matt.” Light’s mouth fell open. “But why can’t I…” The old man’s glare pierced the still air in the room. “Because I say. You are going there, and I want to hear no more about it.”

The brunette simply turned and walked away. His hair fell into his face and an evil smirk played his lips. “I am not in the mood to argue. You’re lucky about that.” He glanced over his shoulder at L on the other side of him. “Good night L. I will see you in the morning.” He turned his head so that Rodger couldn’t see and mouthed ‘I love you.’ L nodded.

Light slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out into the hallway. Mello stood outside the door, leaning on the wall. “Rodger’s giving you a tough time, huh?” The teen sighed. “Yeah. I wish he’d lay off… I haven’t done anything.” The blonde boy grinned and patted Light on the shoulder. “Don’t think about it too much. He does that with everyone he doesn’t know well.” If you knew the whole story you wouldn’t be saying that.

“You know something funny…” The brunette chuckled. “I told him that I thought you were better than Near… and if looks could kill…” Mello smiled. “Well… he gets very sensitive about that subject. He cares a lot about Near, almost as if Near was his own son. He treated us all that way, for a while… until Near began having problems.” So he hasn’t always been this way… I wonder what could have happened to cause this behavior.

The younger boy gestured toward a picture on the wall as they walked. “That was the old Near… before his sudden change. He was happy once, and we were all good friends.” The picture showed a young Mello, Matt, and Near posing in front of Wammy House and smiling.

“It is too bad… he seems like he was a really nice boy.” Light glanced over his shoulder and saw a flash of white disappear around the corner. Hm… someone is following us? “He was, but then he changed and our friendship became a bitter rivalry. He is always the best. No matter how hard I try, I can’t beat him.” Mello clenched his fist. “It’s very frustrating.”

“I would imagine so. I had a friend like that growing up. His name was Hideo. We were inseparable… that is until the accident that claimed his parents’ lives. He wasn’t the same after that. Always trying to best me in school and otherwise… and he always came up short, as my natural talent was unbeatable. He hated me for that. I tried to make up with him but he wanted no part of it… and then two years ago he died in a plane crash.” Light stared blankly ahead as they stopped in front of a large double door. “I feel bad that he died hating me… I wish that we could have made up.”

The blonde put his arm around Light and led him into the room. “I’m sorry.” The older boy shook his head. “No… no. I’m fine. I have L now… and my new friends here.” He smiled slightly. “I just get pulled into my memories sometimes…” Light put his bag down on the floor at the foot of the bed and sat down on the soft mattress. “I saw that you two are performing tomorrow. Good luck.” He nodded.

“Thanks… we’ll be sure to do our best.” Matt sat in the corner playing his Gameboy. “Hopefully we’ve practiced enough.” The brunette laughed. “I’m sure you have. You’ll do great, I’m sure of it.” Mello yawned and hit the light switch. “Hope you don’t mind us going to bed early, Yagami-san.” Light stared up at the ceiling and shook his head. “No… I was thinking about it anyway… I have a feeling we’ll all need lots of energy tomorrow.”

By the time he had ended his sentence the other two were curled up together on the other bed and snoring lightly. He chuckled. “Fast sleepers… I suppose I’d better be getting to sleep as well.” Light slithered under the covers and laid his head down on the large pillow at the head of the bed. “Hopefully this will be the last time I have to sleep without him…”

His eyes lost focus, and he started to drift into a dream. A noise awakened him moments later, and he opened one eye halfway to see a figure standing over him in the dark. “Who’s there…?”