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A Doppelganger\'s Bet	By : pinkfeline Category: Death Note > Yaoi-Male/Male > L/Light Views: 3881 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
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Chapter Seven

In the week following the ceremony and before the commencement of the academic year, Kira could be seen brooding darkly within the confines of �his� room. Oh, he was very careful with his expressions when in the company of others, lest he cast more suspicion on himself. His father was working for L after all, and that would simply not do. But in the dark of his hosts' room, he let his guard down as his mind worked feverishly.

It was no secret that the greater part of the Police force was working on the Kira case, and that was perhaps what had allowed L to move so quickly. Kira had no agents of his own, unless you counted Light, and his trustworthiness was quite dubious. The boy also had not so hidden agendas of his own. This put Kira at the disadvantage in the areas of brute force. Surely the police were rejoicing in their quick work, in the fact that progress was being made.

That could not go on. Kira had to find a way to demoralise the police, to shake their faith in L. What better way than killing them? True, the suspicions against him may well be solidified to an extent, but perhaps that too would work in his favour. He cast back his mind and dug into the wellspring of information within his mind, down to the boundaries that bound him. Ah, there it was. Dear sweet Light-kun was not against killing �innocent� detectives in the name of �self defence�. Well, this surely was a life and death situation for the young human and those very detectives were bearing death and drawing ever closer. It was decided.

He would not kill them all at once, but instead he would slowly start knocking them off. It was a shame he was limited to deaths by heart attack. If only he had been a Death Note bearing Shinigami, then he could spread the cancer of his hate deep within the human race before they even realised that something was wrong! But alas, he could not - for he did not own one of the coveted death books. Pushing such distasteful thoughts away, Kira seated himself in front of the computer. Without a thought his hands began flying over the keyboard, a dance of keys that was quite familiar to Light. Soon he was privy to the private files of his father and into the Police database.

Light would often bring necessities to his father on cases that required his attention for an extended period of time. Therefore Light was familiar with a number of faces and names within the force, something that must surely be known. Therefore it was even more risky and that was why Kira decided to make the first victim someone relatively unknown, followed by one that Light was familiar with and mixing it up from there. Not fool proof, but the lesser men in the force would quickly abandon the case for fear of their own lives. Cowards.

Smoothing the snarl from his lips, Kira scanned the profiles of the persons dealing with the Kira case and found his first victim quickly enough. Taking another two minutes to familiarise himself with the names and faces of his victims to be, Kira slowly backed out of the network as gracefully as he had entered it. He truly had hit the jackpot when he came upon Light, such a gifted human and so very easy to manipulate. Had he taken another, he doubted he would be able to do what he was doing now.

Pushing back, Kira turned and found himself being scrutinised by cold brown eyes. He said nothing to the teen and simply left the room, the image of a man and his failing heart dancing in the back of his mind even as he poured himself a glass of juice. He would wait to see how his plans played out. If, however, the police refuse to be co-operative to his intentions, he may just have to start pulling nooses around certain authoritative people's throats. The human instinct to survive was a strong one, even stronger in politicians and those with too much power in their hands.

He smiled in cold satisfaction as images of chaos and wars swirled through his mind. If he had politicians under his thumb, L's works would be greatly hindered, and in the off chance it did not then he would resort to creating havoc through society. A great global pestilence of death and destruction that could targeted every living being. A glorious retribution that the people of old had prayed so fervently to prevent. Soon the masses would call for L's death - if he played his cards right. Cage L, make him desperate and then destroy him.

Ah, by the thought of it - he should've done it when the detective had first made himself known.

_____

It was on the second day of the new school year when they met L once more. The young detective sat slouched, dressed exactly as before, beneath the shade of a tree. Kira would have made to ignore the other had those dark eyes not found his. Light watched, tracing the invisible lines of tension on Kira�s face and shoulders as the doppelganger neared his nemesis. L stood slowly and took Kira�s side, walking with him now.

No further mentions were made of L�s extraordinary status or the accusations; instead the conversation was turned to subjects and philosophies. To any outsider it may well have the appearance of two exceptionally intelligent students in a friendly discussion � the beginnings of a friendship. However, Light could well read into the tones and the unspoken words exchanged. L was attempting to profile Kira, starting with the subjects he was interested in, his reasons for his choice and what he hoped to achieve by it. A very good starting point to seeing how he viewed the current judicial system and what part he wished to play therein. Yes, Light was aware of the corruption within the Legal and Judicial systems and wanted to root them out. Did that make him any more �Kira-like?�

It was all in the way Kira answered, in his body language and expressions, and in the reasons he gave that would win or lose this interrogation.

Light was understandably nervous, though he hid it well. Old habits die hard. He listened with half an ear while scanning his surroundings. Who knew whether L had planted agents around the school for his own safety, or perhaps even to catch Kira should he reveal himself? No matter how likely, Light was learning the hard way what inattention could do.

The day passed relatively quickly, Light having taken to trailing L under Kira�s orders. He was not surprised to see that L left the campus grounds as soon as he no longer had a shared class with �Light�. After all, he was the reason that L was here to begin with and had no need to keep up with lectures. This provided Light with a release from the tedium of following Kira through classes and provided him with an early opportunity to find out what L was up to.

Slipping into the Rolls-Royce behind L, the teen missed the shiver that ran through L as he passed through. He did notice though that L had paused in the doorway, scanning the car�s interior with a glimmer of suspicion in blank eyes. The driver noticed L�s hesitation as well and inquired politely if there was a problem. After a moment more, L shook his head and climbed in.

Suspicious now as to whether L could somehow sense him, Light made sure to stay well out of L�s way during the ride and climbed out after him when the destination was reached. Looking up, Light recognised the hotel to be one of considerable wealth and prestige, proof that the detective was more than he made himself appear to be. Light wondered briefly whether L had cultivated his strange sense of style, appearance and odd habits in order to throw off any that met him. If that was the case, it was working brilliantly. Who would possibly imagine this man to be the world famous detective, L?

He blinked and had to move quickly to stay with L as the detective took long strides into the building. Gone was the shuffling gait, the hunched back. L was faster than he looked. Light quickly came to match L's pace, staying a little behind him so that he could keep his eye on the detective.

___

Seating himself on one of the couches, L curled his legs up into his chest, resting his chin on his knees. He commended the hotel briefly in his mind for having very comfortable couches when he heard the sound of a door opening. Ah, right on time. His eyes rested happily on the little trolley of delights that was making its way ever closer. He nodded his appreciation to the man pushing the trolley and quickly reached for something sweet.

Watari allowed a small smile to briefly grace his face, before he restored the polite but indifferent one. He moved then to the tea set he had brought along and poured a cup for the young detective. Some might have thought it strange that a millionaire and inventor of considerable age would be serving and catering to the needs of a relatively unknown young man. But ah, those people could not know of the special nature of his charge, nor the special care his charge needed.

With tea and treats at his disposal, L allowed himself to sink into contemplative thought. The conversation with Light Yagami earlier had gone well on the surface. Only, Light had answered perfectly in all things. His reasons and thoughts were well explained and thought out, his views carefully laid out, and that is where the problem lay. His answers were too good. It dispelled any notions of bad intent or any indication that it might be 'wrong'. Everything was so carefully lined out that to any other person, Light would have looked the saint and not the sinner.

But that was not quite the end of it. Despite Light's sometimes impassioned speech and reasoning, L couldn't help but feel that it was terribly flat and without depth. Light was like a paper cut out, if such a childish example could be used. The boy was a flat surface, a one-dimensional being and ultimately fake. It was as though the boy was reading from a script - a set of words, expressions and views that was not his own, but that he could act in a semi-believable way. A mighty fine actor - only L saw right through it.

There was also the strange way his skin crawled whenever in the company of the young man.

Something was not right with Light, and that was enough for L to make him the lead suspect in the Kira case. Sipping at his tea, L reached over and picked up a manila folder. Pushing his sweet pastries and tea to the side, he spread out the sheets on the table in front of him. First he pulled out the photo and the corresponding file of the note presumably left by Kira following the death of Akamatsu Keita.

-L-

-Do you know?-

-A poltergeist bleeds red-

The script hand was definitely that of the deceased teacher, and the police had been dubious at first of his claims that it was a message from Kira. They had not yet wholly accepted that Kira did not work within the boundaries of what was considered 'natural'. It was curious too that the event transpired so soon after he had made his theory regarding the age of Kira known to the police. The meaning of the note still eluded him, but it had provided him with some very useful information.

Firstly it proved the fact that Kira was privy to secret police information. In addition, it was as if Kira was trying to lure him closer - going so far as to reveal which school he was attending. Others argued that it may just be a trap or diversion - but somehow L was sure that he was right. It was beneficial for Kira to get rid of L as soon as possible; thereby it made sense to lure him into Kira's own territory.

It was by chance that Yagami Soichiro had mentioned his son Light, wondering whether they could not ask him to look out for anyone suspicious. The fact that Yagami Light had helped on previous cases and was considered to be very intelligent had ignited the first sparks of suspicion. Here was an excellent candidate to the role of Kira. Having reviewed files of probable youths also attending the school, L had secretly set to the task of having them followed.

Now L pulled out a neatly typed report from amongst the papers - the observations and notes of Agent Raye Penber. The FBI agent had been assigned to trailing Light for a week, and L was admittedly somewhat eager to read Penber's conclusions regarding Light. What he found however, was not quite what he had expected.

Light's school records and the like presented the teen to be level headed and efficient. A quiet studious young man, that was always on time and quick to help. Penber observed things slightly differently.

It seems that Light had a habit of talking to himself, which really isn't all that odd. It is normal to an extent. However, Ray noted that Light's whole demeanour would change when not around others and that he often seemed to be debating with himself. When the teen was in his room, he would not turn on the lights, but seemed to prefer staying in the dark.

Now in a normal context, Light's behaviour was hardly worth more than a passing interest. But when an entity that can seemingly kill anyone, anywhere in the world and even to some extent control them was added - Light's behaviour could be seen in a different light. Considering too that Light reverted back to his 'level headed' self, five days into being trailed - as though he had realised that he was being watched.

Raye Penber's report was just enough to further generate curiosity in regards to the younger teen, and while some may have questioned whether it was evidence enough to merit the step he took next, he felt that it was justified. Something in his gut told him that there was something different about the boy.

L sat back and swallowed a mouthful of cold sugared tea before staring into the shallow golden depths. All that L had seen when he had cameras installed in the teen's room was the same flat façade that the boy had worn that morning. Not once had he shown any strange behaviour. In fact, Light had been too good - too faultless in everything he did. The perfect son and brother.

Putting the files back on the table, L stood and hissed softly as a sharp chill engulfed his right arm. He whirled and glared around the room, looking for the source. He had felt the same chill earlier when he was about to enter the car, and it made him wary. L was reminded again why he hated the idea of the supernatural so much - how could you know when you were being watched when your watcher was insubstantial. And right now L felt like he was being watched, whether it was just his imagination or not, he did not dare risk. They would have to move hotels a few days early and hopefully whatever was watching him now would not follow.

He would have to be careful. Kira may yet have other tricks up his sleeve, and it was best he not be caught unawares.

TBC

Review!

AN: Look I feel terrible for being so slow to update. Truth be told, I am losing my love of Death Note and inspiration. With so many stories I loved being abandoned (much like I appear to be doing with my own), I no longer have anything to feed the addiction. However, I will work at it regardless. After all, I know all too well how disappointing it is to have a story you enjoy fade away into the past. Hopefully this chapter is alright as well, I don't know if I got across what I wanted. My apologies if it's lacking. I had to skim read through my previous chapters to make sure I'm not contradicting myself. If I have done so, however, please let me know!

(Oh, and reviews have a way of inspiring people - don't you agree?)
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A Doppelganger\'s Bet