CHAPTER 9: TEMPTATIONS

"I am L."

Yagami Light froze for a moment as a million thoughts ran passed through his head.

"I am L."

She must be drunk.

Why would she say that? Was she alright? Was she undergoing some sort of sickness? Perhaps his first hypothesis was correct? But this was a very bad joke to be roused by liquor.

But what if it's true? Surely, she was aware that he knows her real name, right...?

Assuming Mukahi Lawliette was her real name.

He cursed, but he willed himself to calm. Did she already figure out that he was Kira?

No, surely not… she had no basis.

But as overwhelming thoughts passed by his head, he stopped them immediately. He emptied his mind. He didn't know if that stare of hers was analyzing him coolly or watching him in innocent anticipation that it actually looked like. Either way, he was not about to lose his cool.

He sighed stoically, instead. "Really, Lawliette, are you that bored?"

"I am very much serious, but it does not matter whether you believe me or not." She said firmly, with utter seriousness Light felt bad about.

"Then why say it?"

"I… wanted to prove something."

"At my expense?"

"Hai."

He scoffed. "You just don't change, do you?"

"Sometimes… I wish you didn't too." She finally said, making Light gape at her.

Lawliette trusted Light… but not the circumstances that might well be out of their control. She felt bad about doubting a friend, and the disability to—despite the lack of evidence—fully believe in him. It was a horrendous feeling for someone like her who treasured these relationships despite looking the opposite.

"So what are you trying to prove then?" Light asked, pulling her out of her reverie. Light… was fairly nervous despite looking cool as he always did. He was certain he didn't do or react in a suspicious way. But if Lawliette truly was L…

"What are you trying to prove?" He repeated at her silence.

"That you're not Kira."

"…"

"You're still the number one suspect though."

He frowned. "I don't see how I can be Kira."

"I can." She was not going to lie. "But I don't think you're him though."

"How can you be so sure?" Light asked trying to make it sound as if he was joking.

"I… just am."

He didn't speak for a moment trying to think what the bloody hell she meant. It took him a few seconds to see… and he didn't know what to think. His eyes twitched slightly at the implications.

She believed that Kira was – and always will be – evil. At the same time she also believed that he, Yagami Light, wouldn't do anything she thought was evil. And yet… at the same time, paradoxically, she still considered that he may be Kira.

In other words, she was basically telling him that she believed in him, but if by some chance she was wrong—she was asking for his forgiveness, because she'd have to order his execution.

He can only shake his head at the conclusion. "You're insane."

"Yes. Unfortunately, I am." She answered bluntly without looking away. "I'm sorry but I can't afford to be biased about this." Then as if by reflex, she looked down on the gray asphalt floor they were standing on. "…so many had already died, after all."

Light stared at her. He killed most of the people that he did in order to taunt L. But if Lawliette was L, then— he cut himself off from that line of thought. It was heading nowhere near preferable and he simply willed himself to react like a normal.

"I understand your dilemma, but… I still can't help but be offended. How do I prove I'm not him?"

"Don't do anything."

Considering the turbulence she was already causing, a few more disconcerting words and he might lose his patience. Thankfully he was still (albeit barely) holding to most of it. He sighed. "You say that as if it's easy…"

"We know that words and actions are different things, Light-kun." She said, looking away. "But in your case, doing something will probably make me suspect you more." She answered and the vein he tried so hard to push back finally appeared on his head.

"That is unfair, Lawliette."

"It is, isn't it?" She shrugged in the end. "I don't have much of a choice. You're basically the only suspect."

Pop

Ah, it finally exploded.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He asked annoyance evident in his voice. She should not be able to deduce he was Kira just by that– anyone would feel irritated if you are being 'falsely' accused as someone you're not."Do you have any idea what it feels like to be accused like this?"

"Perhaps…, but as you said: I'm insane." She said and he glared at her, seeing something else in those deep dark eyes. Besides, where could all that cool come from? She felt guilty, there was no doubt about it—he knew that expression, but there was still a huge amount of confidence in there.

Surely, it wasn't because she didn't see him as a threat at all at the moment? Kira was the most feared killer—probably in all of human History!

But then his eyes widened. He realized – whether or not she was L… that he…he wouldn't be able to do anything to her! If she died, then anyone in the investigation team might conclude that he was Kira.

But she didn't know he could kill by means other than heart attacks, now did she? If she died by some accident, there was a very small chance they'd be able to suspect it as his doing. He wasn't even certain Lawliette was part of some investigation team!

Indeed…Lawliette didn't know too many things about Kira. That must be it. This was a trap to corner him – and that little psychological effect on him was an added bonus.

He wanted to glower at her but he managed to pull himself back. He was on the verge of simply…exploding…but he quickly caught back his composure. But what approach could he take?

Should he kill her?

.

.

No.

He mused for an uncomfortable second as to why such a ready answer came to mind and Light started rationalizing. Afterall, getting rid of L was one of his major goals and he had pondered on killing Lawliette a long time ago. If they were the same person, what was stopping him?

Perhaps… he was going about this all wrong. The approach, he meant. Surely, he, Light Yagami, could turn into this situation to his favour without having to kill this insane girl in front of him, yes?

Besides, there was no rush—not now when he already has the mind of a god, and Lawliette should no longer be a threat on her own. This would all be so… boring without her and L, regardless of whether they were the same person. He was a god, and death gods and lady luck had been on his side all this time. He doubted they would ever abandon him and the great cause that he was pursuing.

In any case, since she paradoxically 'believed' in him so much, then he would take advantage of that. He would make sure that she never knew what's coming at her – and when the time came, after he had done playing with her, he will throw her away—and kill her with his own hands.

But first, he would make her follow his will so it will be either he convince her that he was not Kira… or let him see the situation his way, even after he killed her friends. Thinking about it this way, he realized he just found another enthralling game. He would be able to… make use of her—to play with her—before he would lead her to her death.

He sent her a fake smile that slightly made her shiver. He placed his hand on her cheeks, and willed himself to hide all the malevolent thoughts that had been running through his head.

"Thank you for trusting me with this information." He said, feigning innocence. And out of all the lies he had been saying effortlessly lately, this one had some truth in it. "You know, despite how your conclusion actually sounds."

"A-Ah…" Lawliette uttered.

There was yet another short silence that passed between them and Lawliette tried to look straight into his eyes. She couldn't help but feel the darkness that was in his eyes, musing what it meant. But then her thoughts were quickly cut off the moment she felt his hand on her back. Before she realized it, he had already leaned down and was pulling her to him.

"What are y—"

Light cut her off by locking his lips with her oddly luscious ones. Luscious was a disconcerting word, but he mused he meant it as a hunter sees its prey. It was carnal either way, but he'd rather not think of anything else at the moment.

…not that it was easy to actually think at all.

It was troubling why such actions could hamper a god's cognitive ability. And even with his large brain, he was losing all sort of reason. But at the moment—

"…L-Light."

She separated from his pecks but he didn't listen. His kisses resumed into giving her series of pecks on the lips. But as she struggled, he found himself deepening it by impulse. He didn't like impulses, but he would let this one slide.

And only because she liked it, of course...

Ryuk cackled. "I didn't know you were so good at this."

Neither was he.

In any case he let himself indulge in this newfound ecstasy he just attributed to his imminent win against this odd girl… who had been making him doubt himself since the first time he met her.

He held her tighter and she winced, and yet succeeded in sending a surge of glee through his body nevertheless. After several seconds of finding a way out, Lawliette finally managed to separate from him slightly.

"This is wrong…"

"Why?" he asked, practically breathing on her ear. He recalled how strongly they believed their first kiss had no meaning, and he rummaged through his brain in an attempt to find out what a girl would like to hear at a time like this.

"I don't think something like this could be done so casually, It doesn—" she said only to be cut off by Light covering her mouth once again with his lips. He felt her try to push him away, and he parted his lips only to whisper.

"I like you." He said sincerely and her eyes widened. He had seen Sayu and his mother's reaction during their soap operas to know what that would do. But he didn't give her anymore time to react and gave her a kiss—an even more passionate one than before.

Her struggle weakened and he felt the sense of pride and victory overcome him. But, still, he continued wreaking havoc in both of their senses.

Light believed that the tables have turned, and he sneered internally.

L?

Captured.

...

Light continued to kiss Lawliette to oblivion until he finally received a decisive push from her. It wasn't harsh – it was soft, but strong. She was still uncharacteristically red and warm, and for a moment he expected her to say what he wanted to hear.

But as they stared into each other's eyes, she smiled apologetically at him. And Light knew he would not like what was coming.

"Gomen ne, Light." She said calmly. "But you are an important friend to me. I'm sure you only love me as a friend, as well."

He frowned. What the heck did that mean?

But she was already walking to the school, and he found himself frozen for a moment before passively following her. It was then that he finally realized (his cognitive abilities returned much too late).

Did he just get dumped?!

Twitch

Nonononono

Ryuk oh-so-helpfully cackled. "You got dumped! Kukukuku~"

But he remained silent, sure that he wouldn't be able to say anything good.

'I had never been so humiliated in his life!' he mused vehemently, clenching his fist in annoyance. He ignored that heavy feeling in his gut—that weakening of his legs—and attributed it to the humiliation he was feeling.

That's right. His pride was hit. His pride – that's was all. And whether or not Lawliette was L – he was not going to let her get away with embarrassing him like this. He was a god – no one has the right to reject him.

Especially not her.

He told himself this was a challenge, one he usually involved playing—the reason why he had often fun during his showdowns with L.

He will go through his plan—no matter what. He would make her fall for him, play with her, and finally… end her life.

He will make sure of it.