Chapter Text
Rem gripped her pen as she flipped to a fresh page of her Death Note, slightly shaking with the knowledge of what she was about to do.
A shinigami’s purpose was to take lives away to sustain themselves. Her decision was the very antithesis of that. She imagined Ryuk was laughing at her right now. As troublesome as he was, he’d never outright broken a rule. She, who was supposedly the more uptight and law-abiding one, had sunken deeper than he’d ever dare go.
She now understood Gelus’ choice to sacrifice himself for Misa. Even though she could be clingy, a poor judge of character (Kira), and outright annoying at times, she had made the shinigami feel more alive than she ever had in her millenias of existence.
In the human myths, a god falling for a mortal never ended well. They may just be stories, but Rem felt now there was a grain of truth to that repetitive theme.
But Misa was in danger. If L disproved the fake thirteen-day rule, suspicion would be placed upon her again. And she couldn’t just give her memories up this time; Misa leaving the Task Force HQ and then the killings resuming was too coincidental. Even Light’s plan of having Misa only take a few pages of the notebook for use so they could be easily destroyed wouldn’t keep them off her back for long. Light becoming the new L was the only way to ensure she remained free and alive.
The most infuriating part? Light planned for this to happen. He knew how fond Rem was of his “girlfriend”, and so orchestrated this entire scenario just so she’d be forced to take herself out of the picture. Rem would kill him, but that would upset Misa.
She’d been backed into a corner, and the only way out was her dusting. How many humans could claim that they’d killed a god of death?
All she could do now was hope that Light, as narcissistic as he was, would remain true to his side of the deal and keep her safe, even though he would no longer have Rem breathing down his neck.
She sighed, and jotted down the first name: Quillsh Wammy.
Already, she could feel her body beginning to disintegrate, but she paid that no matter as she moved on to the next: L Lawliet.
An alarm bell suddenly rang in her head, distinct from the one screaming about how this was against her very nature. She couldn’t help but feel she had somehow broken another rule. How was that possible? She then realized that while the feeling that comes with killing with the Death Note came with Watari’s name, it didn’t happen for L’s.
Before she could ponder it further, she crumbled completely, leaving her notebook behind.
‘ALL DATA DELETION’ suddenly appeared on every screen in the Task Force HQ. L was the only one not confused, but that might’ve been better than the gut punch he received instead.
In the event that something happened to Watari, all the information on all the drives would be erased.
In other words, Watari was dead.
It didn’t help that L had to watch him clutch his chest painfully as he moved to do his final deed. He didn’t have time to process that info though, as earlier Rem had disappeared, and he had a good theory for what just happened.
“Everyone, the shiniga-”
L felt his world spin, the blinding lights of the computer screens becoming painful to look at. His spoon dropped from his hand as his center of balance tilted and he was on a crash course to the floor.
Kira…
Light swooped in, catching him before he could fall completely. They stared at each other, though L found it increasingly difficult to keep his eyes open.
The Task Force members were yelling, but they sounded far away. Oddly enough, the bells that L had been hearing on and off all day seemed to quiet down.
Even though his vision was getting blurry, L saw Light smirk sadistically and, though that may have just been a trick of his addled mind, his eyes glow red.
I knew it…I wasn’t wrong…but…I…
It was only before he finally slipped into darkness that he realized he never felt any chest aches or squeezing. He knew that it didn’t always happen with heart attacks, but Kira’s victims had consistently been observed grabbing at their hearts before death occurred. As Watari had just painfully shown.
Something else is off.
“Ryuzaki!” Light cried, cradling L’s body. He’d done it! He’d outsmarted the World’s Greatest Detective! Now he was free to create his new world, deemed fit for a God.
Then he heard something that made him blink in disbelief.
L, against all odds, was still breathing. His chest moved up and down, secure in Light’s arms. Light’s mind went completely blank. As far as he knew, no one had ever escaped the Death Note’s will, within its rules. The only thing he could think of was that Rem didn’t write his name, but she cared for Misa far too much. She’d do anything for her, even fight against her own demise just to write one last name down.
The only other scenario was that L’s death would somehow break a rule. Which was absurd. He was human, an adult one at that. He’d tested the note on some pets and babies of his neighbors just to see what would happen, and nothing had occurred at all.
“Ryuzaki!” Soichiro dashed to his son’s side and checked L’s pulse. “He’s still alive.”
“But he just collapsed!” Matsuda exclaimed. “He needs a hospital!”
“Watari always took care of his medical needs,” Mogi said. “But since he’s gone, I don’t think we have another choice.”
“Alright,” Soichiro gently took L out of Light’s hold, supporting the detective’s head. “It’s possible that seeing someone close to him die was too much for him to handle. Still, we should take him to the hospital, just to be safe.”
The Task Force hurried out the door, carrying the unconscious L with them. Light was the last to walk out, still stunned by the fact that L had somehow managed to defy the tool of gods.
How? My plan was foolproof! Did L make a deal with Rem in order to sniff me out? No, she would’ve told me, and she didn’t make any disappearing acts until now. Plus, there’s no way he would’ve sacrificed Watari. When you wake up L, I will get answers out of you…
He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he forgot about Rem’s notebook, still left amongst her ashes.
Ryuk cackled to himself as he saw the events unfold, from the top of a nearby building. He’d sensed Rem’s breaking of the rules, and so had come to watch the show. But this was even better than he could’ve ever imagined!
The Old Man normally didn’t care about mortal affairs, but a regular human, who under all circumstances should’ve been claimed by the Death Note, surviving? That would get his attention. Ryuk was pretty curious himself, and was eager to witness Light’s interrogation of L. The detective’s lifespan still hovered above, showing no difference in numbers.
In all honesty, Light and L’s cat-and-mouse game was the most stimulation he’d ever had, and was wondering what Light would do to keep him entertained when it ended. He’d thought today would be the day, but it seemed it’d been given an extension. Not that Ryuk minded, more fun for him then!
As a police car sped away from the headquarters, Ryuk followed suit, his feathery wings extending, wondering what answers lay in store for L. He hoped the hospital wasn’t too far away, because he could only be a certain distance from Misa.
You get more interesting by the day, L Lawliet…
Soichiro clasped his hands in worry in L’s hospital room, seeing his normally unflappable boss asleep in the bed, an IV drip providing liquids inserted into his inner elbow, and a heart monitor keeping watch of his vitals. He was starkly reminded of the fact that L wasn’t that much older than his own son, and yet had clearly faced so much. It was here that L truly looked his age, so small in the sheets.
Light sat next to him, seeming deep in thought. He hadn’t said much since L was admitted, and Soichiro knew he must be very worried for his friend. As much as he disliked the detective’s methods of pursuing justice, he couldn’t deny how much of a bond he’d formed with Light, despite the constant accusations. Light had always had trouble keeping friends due to his intellect, but now he’d finally met his equal in that department.
Despite the tense atmosphere that the Kira Case brought, Light had been happier than he’d ever been, and the elder Yagami sincerely hoped that they’d stay in touch once everything was resolved.
Usually, only family would be permitted in a patient’s room, but as L didn’t seem to have any close by, and Watari was now not an option, Soichiro had volunteered to be there with him, and Light had insisted on coming along.
A doctor entered the area, bringing both men to attention. “Are you Ryuzaki-san’s family?”
Soichiro pointed to his badge. “He’s our employer. He doesn’t have any who are available, so here we are.”
She looked bewildered, clearly wondering how someone so youthful could be this man’s boss, but she continued. “When we examined him, he showed signs of severe dehydration. That’s the most probable explanation for his sudden collapse. We’re currently pinpointing the cause of the dehydration, and getting some fluids into his body to correct it. His blood glucose levels are also a little low, but not enough that it would have contributed. Still, we gave him a dose of glucose just in case.”
She then lowered her voice to a whisper. “Also…I don’t know if you knew, Yagami-san, but Ryuzaki-san…appears to have female biology.”
Soichiro’s eyes widened in surprise. Oddly enough, Light didn’t seem to be as shocked. No wonder Watari always took care of any medical needs…well, that and the need to remain anonymous.
He knew why L would keep such a thing secret, and it was the fact that the world hadn’t entirely accepted people like him. If word got out that L was transgender, his credibility would quickly disappear.
Which was ridiculous in Soichiro’s eyes. L was a brilliant detective, capable of running circles around Kira, and his gender identity didn’t change that. It shouldn’t be used as a marker to determine his legibility.
Despite the passing of the Act on Special Cases in Handling Gender Status for Persons with Gender Identity Disorder earlier this year, Japan was notoriously slow to accept change, and Soichiro was willing to use every bit of his influence to protect his son’s friend.
“I will ask that you don’t speak a word of this outside this room, and tell everyone who examined him the same,” Soichiro requested, flashing his badge.
The doctor nodded. “Normally, we would’ve had to fill in his biological gender, but as he’s a foreigner, the rules are a bit more murky. I’ll make sure he’s marked as male.”
She then moved to leave. “I’ll update you on the results of his tests when they come out.”
When the room was empty except for its original occupants, Soichiro turned to Light. “Did you know?”
Light closed his eyes, and answered, “Yes. He told me after I asked why he insisted we shower separately when he’s normally so lax about privacy.”
Soichiro pondered. “We won’t tell the rest of the Task Force. Telling me should’ve been his choice, and we won’t take his right to secrecy away.”
It was honestly lucky that L had ended up with a doctor who was so understanding. Not everyone in this hospital would’ve done the same.
Light agreed, then stated, “I need to go to the bathroom.”
He got up and left.
When Light had told his dad the reasoning behind his knowledge of L’s transgender status, that hadn’t been the truth. In reality, Light had been relieved he’d retained his shower privacy, and had assumed that L relished his too. During their time handcuffed, one would do their cleansing ritual, while the other had their back turned and as far away as the chain would allow.
The real reason why he knew…he would rather not tell. Neither he nor L had spoken of it after it happened, and if he had his way, he’d take the secret to his grave, and had things happened as he’d planned, L’s too.
After checking around the hospital bathroom to make sure there were no spying devices, he called out, “Ryuk!” He’d noticed the shinigami poking around the hospital, and even though he doubted he knew what was going on, hopefully he’d provide some semblance of an answer, given the offer of apples.
The tall, imposing figure of Ryuk phased through the wall. “Guess things didn’t go your way this time, Light-o.”
Light huffed, rather miffed to be reminded of his failure, one he intended to rectify. “Make sure no one’s outside, listening in. I want a private chat with you. If you’re actually helpful, you’ll get apples.”
Ryuk looked at the door, presumably using his x-ray vision, then turned back. “Before you ask, no, I have no idea why he didn’t die. All I know is, Rem broke a rule somehow by writing his name. And not the one you’re thinking of.”
“Damn it,” Light banged his fist against the wall. “Ryuzaki, you bastard, why can you never stay down?!”
Ryuk giggled. “Hyuk. This mystery just makes it more fun for me. This game just got more interesting.”
Light calmed down, the skeleton of a new plan forming. “Ryuk, I want you to take a closer look at him. See if you can sense anything different. Meet me at HQ to tell me what you’ve learned. Then, I’ll plan around it.”
“Apples?” Ryuk asked.
“Yes, you’ll get your apples, provided you do exactly as I say.”
Ryuk gave a salute, merging back into the wall. Light exited as well, through the door.
Ryuk loomed over the still form of L Lawliet, the detective still sleeping peacefully, the screen with up-and-down lines beeping out a constant rhythm. Light took his seat next to Soichiro Yagami, pretending not to notice the shinigami. Ryuk set to his task, examining the young man.
His normal vision didn’t show anything unusual. L appeared just as he was, a normal human. Sure, a much more intelligent one who could match Light toe-to-toe, but nothing that should’ve granted him protection from the Death Note.
He’d known of L’s biological gender even before Light did, from the times L had visited his human at To-Oh. As he did with all info, he’d never offered it unless asked, which Light had never found a reason to. He didn’t understand why it was even a secret in the first place, but figured it had something to do with humanity’s tendency to turn hostile around abnormalities.
Humans themselves were an abnormal species, so Ryuk just laughed at that logic.
He switched on his x-ray setting, and had to resist giving a look of shock, in order to not give anything away to Light.
There, in L’s womb, a clump of cells were gathering and doubling every second. A second one was there right beside it, doing the same. They were both so tiny that Ryuk had to zoom in intensely just to get a closer view.
If L died, they both would’ve died too. And the Death Note can’t kill babies.
But that just left Ryuk with a new question. Shinigami were able to sense unborn children through seeing their lifespans floating above the mother’s belly, so they would know not to target her. Their lifespans were constantly changing, only stabilizing at birth.
So why weren’t there two little lifespans hovering around L’s stomach? He could tell the two embryos were alive, multiplying right in front of his eyes, and yet he could see nothing indicating their life status.
This explains why Rem went through with writing his name. If she knew, she wouldn’t have even tried.
This was something that the doctors would discover soon enough. All he knew was that he couldn’t wait to see both Light and L’s reaction to the news. He chuckled. “This is gonna be good. Hyuk, hyuk.”