.:.:Candy Hearts Love:.:.


L absolutely dreaded the fourteenth day of February. Cupid had always neglected him, ever since the day he set foot in the Wammy’s House. The kids staying there were equally negligent towards him, and at such a young age, too. Watari had told him to ignore them, that time will pass and his love would show eventually.

On that day, for twenty-three consecutive years, L had never received one measly candy heart or a single blood-red rose. All glances towards his way were of those only wanting to ask questions and obtain detailed answers. And, every time, every year, L would reply truthfully, like he did on the other three hundred and sixty-four days of the year. He would treat it like any typical day.

Then, he had met Yagami Raito. L had taken up a case determined to catch a mass murderer nicknamed “Kira.” Since the day Raito-san joined the investigation, L caught hold of a chance at hope, hope about being loved for once. Not the ersatz stuff Cupid spawns without thinking, but the sincere love Aphrodite sparked.

L, at first, falsely accused Raito of being Kira, to hide his true feelings only. But, he soon became tired of pretending, fatigued of veiling his ardor time after time again. He now ached for February fourteenth. And, soon, it was the day before.

L had the brilliant idea to say that there had been information submitted to them of another Death Note showing up just outside of Tokyo, in the farmlands. Raito was immediately interested in this, and volunteered to go. Thus, L was going to be all alone with Raito; he planned to confess his feelings. He had even thought of kissing Raito. He blushed.

But, then, Soichiro-san suggested one of the others go also. Matsuda volunteered. Of course.

L looked on the Brightside, still. Maybe, Matsuda would get this deadly virus and have to stay home. L smiled secretly to himself as he wished everyone a safe trip home.

--

So, there they were: Matsuda and L, on the fourteenth, standing underneath the canopy of the hotel, awaiting Raito’s arrival. The rain sounded like drums being beat hard, a constant rhythm.

Raito’s sleek, black Porsche pulled up in front of them, the rain making it shine like the sun.

The driver’s seat door opened with ease, and Raito stepped out. He glanced at Matsuda; then at L, his eyes lingering. L blushed ignorantly; the fact that he’d be riding in the front passenger seat, next to Raito. Matsuda’d be in the back seat of the cramped car, so he wouldn’t really take notice of anything suspicious. And, L would keep his seat belt loose, and Raito was sure to take sharp turns… Maybe, L, if the plan was a success, would fall over, into Raito’s lap…

The passenger door slammed open, and out popped a blonde. “Misa-misa is here, too!”

L’s world disintegrated into little specks of hopelessness. …Misa was coming… She wouldn’t let him be alone with his beloved Raito at all, not even the slightest bit. His eyes became solid as he stared back at Raito.

“Sorry, Ryuzaki-kun… You know how it is, you can’t leave people like Misa-chan alone… I had to bring her…” Raito apologized, half-sincere.

L pushed his way past Misa depressingly and into the back seat; Matsuda followed soon after. Misa and Raito got in simultaneously. Raito started the car up once again. L stared out the window, tightening his seat belt: There was no reason to have it flaccid now.

L was barely aware the car was in motion, the soft purring of it making him even more dismal.

They appeared in the farmlands within a half an hour. Raito got out first, Misa soon by his side. L didn’t even bother to glance at him once he left the car; he just gave direct orders.

“Misa, Raito, search over by that nearby stream. Matsuda and I will take the field.” Misa made a sort of happy noise and pulled Raito over to the creek. L walked in the opposite direction solemnly. Matsuda pulled out an umbrella and followed.

--

The rain had not let up in the following few hours. Matsuda and L stood out in the field, the brown grass dampened by the storm. Matsuda kept on trying to shelter L from the downpour, but the Great Detective just kept swatting him away.

L stared out across the vast meadow. The Death Note was not on his thoughts, but Raito’s face filled his mind. He just couldn’t focus on anything else. He shook his head; this didn’t go the way he planned. He needed to be alone with Raito. But, L saw that that could not happen on the fourteenth this year. He began to walk towards the stream Raito and Misa were supposedly at, looking for the fake Death Note.

“Matsuda-san, it’s been a few hours. I think we should go now,” stated L in a flat tone. Matsuda blinked, but he had no power to over come the detective; he followed.

L and Matsuda were a few meters away from the bank; the thick overgrowth of weeds hid most of Misa’s blonde hair and all of Raito from view. L walked calmly, his dreams washed away with the rain, towards the two. He stopped short when a large branch cracked and Misa screamed. The scene couldn’t be made out, the view was still obscured by the trees and ferns. Someone had slipped on the mud, and L guessed they had fallen down the slippery bank.

If it was Misa, then L would be able to be with just Raito. But… If it was Raito… He wouldn’t be able to live with himself.

“RAAAIIIIITOOO!!!” Misa cried. “RAITO! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!”

L became aware that Misa would have to be standing on the bank to sound that close. And what she was saying told the detective that Raito was not anywhere near her. That left one option.

L sprinted through the poison ivy and giant ferns, only to be greeted by a worried blonde girl. She pointed down into the waters six meters below. That was enough evidence L needed to dive into the bitter, icy waters.

He couldn’t spot Raito. He treaded the water, the current trying to swipe him from life. He could barely keep his head up; he hadn’t known the flow was so strong. But, Raito had fallen in.

Ten minutes passed. L was shivering violently, still vainly searching for Raito. His breathing was ragged. His lips were blue. He was pallid, more than usual. He paused at a rock, keeping his head up. Something brushed up against his side. He turned and gasped.

It was Raito, face down in the waters. L froze, traumatized. Raito… No…

He grabbed the body and took it to the lower bank, closest to his position. He laid Raito out on the mud, and checked for respiration and a pulse. Barely breathing… Really slow pulse…

L tilted Raito’s head upward slightly and pinched his nose. He put his mouth upon the unconsciouses and breathed out hard. He sat back up and pressed his palms to Raito’s chest, counting in rhythm. He hit five. He repeated the two steps several more times with no change in Raito’s vital signs.

“Raito-kun… Come on… Please…” he whispered, leaning back down to press his lips to the frigid ones that were Raito’s. Tears flowed from his eyes out onto the Yagami. He had wanted to kiss him, but not to save his life.

The next few minutes happened so fast, that L didn’t perceive them. Raito was on top of him, pressing his lips against L’s still-blue ones. Raito’s eyes were closed, not because of the cold, but because of the passion he sought from the detective.

L’s vision became bleary; he gulped. He was unsure of what to do. True, he had wanted Raito pressed against him. But, Raito wasn’t subtle: He had had experience. L had none whatsoever. So, Raito took L through it with baby steps.

In a while, L had his hands tangled in auburn mess. Raito’s hand traveled up and down L’s side. Raito broke away suddenly and sat up. L sat up, blinking.

Raito smirked. “Ryuzaki-kun… I had no idea…”

L blushed. “…Raito-kun… Are you okay now? You almost drowned-!”

“That I hadn’t plan on doing today. I thought that you would’ve put Misa-chan with Matsuda… So, that we could be alone…”

L blinked again. He was right; L should have done that. Wait… Did Raito just say he wanted to be alone with him…? L caught himself staring at the boy. He blushed and looked away hastily, which caused him to fall over. But, Raito caught him.

Raito took out a water-proof box of candy hearts, with the cheesy sayings on them, and handed it to the older man. L gasped: The first time he had ever gotten something for on this particular day. And they were from Raito, too, the person he had wanted them from.

L embraced Raito tightly. “…Raito-kun…?”

Raito bent over and kissed the top of L’s head gently. “Yes, Ryuzaki?”

“I-I love you dearly…”

“I love you, too. And you know what else?”

L was intrigued; he stared up at the soft eyes of his much-loved. His mouth was slightly open, giving Raito an opportunity to steal another kiss, this time, much more subtle. L blushed when Raito pulled away; he needn’t say anything for Raito to answer his own question.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, L-kun…”

~~~End~~~