End Games

Chapter 15: Decay

Misa paced in and out of the rooms of her apartment, singing to herself and moving furniture around. She brimmed with happiness as she periodically ran into her kitchen to check up on something. Her apartment kitchen was stuffed with food she 'borrowed' from the main kitchen at headquarter and her oven had been going nonstop all day. 'Great! Everything is going, now I just have to make sure I don't burn anything!' She had special plans with L tonight to celebrate their little "bundle of joy."
'L I'm going to give you the best night of your life' She thought with excitement as she hummed her favorite tune and went about her business.
Misa's activities did not go unnoticed in the main investigation room, where L watched her curiously through the cameras. He bit his thumb as he looked at his girlfriend move from room to room, doing god only knows what. He tried to focus on his work, but every so often, her motions peeked his interest.
"I should probably tell her that this is isn't going to work... and I have to do it soon." He muttered. He didn't want to crush her happiness but he wanted to be a father even less. Out of all the things he thought he'd achieve in life, fatherhood was not among them. He didn't know the first thing about raising children, and even if he did, he didn't have the time for a child. He was L, the world-famous detective. He lived life on his own terms, constantly on the move, seeking the next challenge, fighting for justice. He was not father material.
He sighed, knowing that if he was going to break the news to her, it had to be soon. 'I'll do it tonight' He thought, forcing himself to turn back to his work.
-later that night-
L walked into Misa's apartment, ready to break the news to her. As soon as he walked in, however, he knew that this night would not go as he planned. The lights were off and all over the apartment there were lit candles, giving the place a lovely, ethereal glow. As he stepped further into the apartment, he noticed the furniture was arranged differently as well to make more space in the middle of the room.
"Why do I feel like I'm walking into a trap?" He said to himself. Before he could turn around to shut the door, he felt someone sneak up behind him and slip a blindfold over his eyes. It could only be Misa.
"Misa, what are you doing?" Asked L as she tied the blindfold behind his head. She leaned in close to him, her body grazing his and whispered into his ear, "You'll see..."
L felt a shiver down his spine at her suggestive tone, his curiosity winning over. Misa smiled coyly and took the blindfolded L by the hand as she led him to sit on the couch. L let himself be pushed down onto the soft furniture. A voice on the back of his head was frantically yelling at him to snap out of this wonderment before it was too late, that he'd come here for a specific reason and he needed to get to it. She kissed him and then kneeled on the floor in front of him.
"Ok. You may remove your blindfold!" She announced.
L did as she instructed and was immediately impressed. He looked around and saw that in the center of the room, Misa had laid out several layers of blankets on the floor, creating a makeshift bed. Throughout the rest of the room and around the improvised bedding, she had placed bowls, platters, and glasses containing all sorts of sweets, pastries and fruits. There was a chocolate fountain, a bowl of chocolate-covered strawberries, cheesecake with marmalade, a wide selection of bonbons, a frosted mousse tart, a few small edible arrangements, as well as sweets that he didn't even recognize. The dim candle lighting made the place look like some sort of palace full of his favorite things.
Then there was Misa, of course. She was dressed in nothing but satin midnight blue panties and a revealing bra that threatened to spill her perfect boobs for his viewing pleasure. What more could L want? At that moment he really did feel like the luckiest man on earth. He had all the sweets he could ask for, and the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on, all before him.
He sat there speechless for a minute, taking everything in and secretly wanting to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
"How...how did you do all of this in just one day?" He asked, in awe. Misa was flattered by his amazement.
"I have my ways..." She told him playfully. She parted his legs and raised herself up between them to kiss him. L tore his eyes off the things in the room and kissed her eagerly.
"There's also something I've never done that I want to try with you" She whispered. L looked at her and caressed her cheek.
"What is it?" He asked, his curiosity once again trumping his judgement. At this rate, he would never tell her what he came here to tell her, though, he didn't mind that as much as he should have. His logic was quickly being trumped by his lustful urges. Misa blushed noticeably at his question.
"You'll see" She said.
She kissed him fully on the lips, and L reciprocated hungrily, their tongues entwining sensually over one another. L felt his heart quicken as Misa moved her hands over his arousal, causing him to moan into her mouth.
They continued to kiss as she undid his jean button. L sighed his encouragement as Misa fished inside his pants for his erection, pulling it free from its confines with long firm caresses. She hesitated for a moment and L looked at her with lustful eyes before taking her lips with his own.
With renewed confidence, she abandoned L's lips and instead encircled L's shaft with a gentle suckle.
"M-Misa" L whispered as she swirled her tongue around his member.
"You don't like it?" She asked, worried.
"No! I do like it" He corrected quickly. "It feels amazing" He said looking down at her perfect form. She smiled and kissed him lightly before getting back to pleasing him with her mouth. She was happy he was enjoying it, and although she would never admit it, she had been thinking about pleasing him this way for days. She just had to work up the courage to do it. Her suckling on his member was timid at first. However she grew bolder with her actions until she finally took him fully into her mouth, loving the sounds he was making to express his pleasure.
L let his head fall back in ecstasy under Misa's administrations, thoughts of his original intent for tonight long suppressed. He instinctively put his hand in her hair as she worked her hot mouth over his length.
"...Misa" He said delirious. What she was doing to him with her mouth felt incredible. He caressed her head as a small gesture of appreciation. As he did this, L could not help think that for it being Misa's first time doing this, she was a goddess at it already.
-Meanwhile, elsewhere-
Light was laying in bed, naked, next to a very flushed and exhausted Kiyomi. He looked at her, admiring his handy work before laying down on his back and staring up at the ceiling, thinking.
"Mmm, Light. I love you" She said as she curled up next to him. She stared up at him adoringly, awaiting a response.
"I love you too, Kiyomi." He said blandly. His mind was more preoccupied with a petite blonde that now carried L's kid inside her. The thought bothered him to no end, causing him to frown as he mulled over his current predicament.
'How could I have lost this badly to L?! I must be an idiot to not have paid closer attention to Misa. I suspected there was something going on between them, but I never imagined that they were screwing each other.' He thought. 'This complicates things...although...there may yet be a way. L's little runt may prove useful for what I'm thinking.'
A sinister plan was forming in Light's head and a smile graced his lips as a result. Kiyomi noticed this and looked at her lover with curiosity.
"Light, what's so funny?" She asked. Light turned his eyes toward her.
"Kiyomi, did you know that Misa is pregnant?" He asked her. Kiyomi gasped and sat up on the bed. She looked at Light with wide eyes and mouth open, afraid to ask what was on her mind. Light looked at her, annoyed, knowing exactly what she was thinking.
"Relax, it's not mine. Apparently it's L's" He said, answering her question. Kiyomi visibly relaxed but then threw an accusative glance at Light.
"Is that the reason why you've been coming to me every night this week? To forget about that little harlot?" She asked, holding the blanket up to cover her.
"Of course not." Said Light, deflecting her argument. "I had to admit that at first I was shocked. I still am as a matter of fact. However, the more I think about it, the more comfortable I am with the idea. This could be a good thing that I could turn into an advantage for us" He said, giving her a smile. He sat up on the bed and kissed her lightly on the lips. When she seemed to relax completely, he encircled her in his arms and brought her back down onto the bed.
"What are you thinking about doing?" She asked him, settling her head on his chest.
"Well...first I have to wait a few days until things calm down at Taskforce. Then I'm going to stick to my original plan of returning Misa's memories. Once that's done, I'm going to use her bastard as an excuse to bring her back to my side. After all, what mother doesn't want to save her unborn child's life? Especially when the father is out to put her on death row?" He asked.
"You really think L will put Misa on death row if he found out she's the second Kira? Even if she's pregnant?"
"It doesn't matter if L would or not. All that matters is what Misa thinks L would do to her and the baby should he learn her secret" Said Light, smiling. His eyes were shining with malicious intent. Kiyomi looked up at him with adoring eyes. She moved in to kiss him once again, and Light welcomed her into his arms as the two entwined themselves once more.
-The next evening-
L's plan to speak to Misa was foiled yet again. When he went up to see her in the late afternoon, he found her dressed up to go out. She was wearing boots, a fitted black tank top, a black ruffled skirt with a few studded belts, and a jean jacket.
"Are you going somewhere?" Asked L, eyeing her from head to toe, biting his thumb.
"I have a date" She said, beguiling him. L gave her one of his "you can't be serious" looks, which told her that he was not amused to hear this.
"In all seriousness, Misa, where are you going?"
She enjoyed the hint of jealousy in his tone. "I'm going on a date with the cutest detective ever, silly!" She said smiling at him. When L did not react, she pouted in feigned annoyance. "Ugh! Men! We're going out! Don't you remember you promised me last night that we would go to the park and ride again, only this time it would be a proper date?" L thought hard, trying to remember when he said this.
"...I don't recall ever saying that" He told her honestly. Then again, he was not thinking at all last night, so it was very possible that she had asked him. After the things she did with him, he would have agreed to go to the end of the world for her.
Misa rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Well... whatever, doesn't matter. We're leaving now, and it's gonna be great and you're gonna like it!" She said, taking him by the hand and dragging him out of the apartment. L reluctantly followed behind her as she dragged him down the stairs.
"Alright, but I have to talk to you-"
"You can talk to me on the way there! We have to hurry if we want to get on the Ferris Wheel in time for the sunset. It'll be SO romantic!" She boasted as they walked out past the main investigation room.
On the ride there, L was quiet as Misa ranted on about this and that. He looked at her in silence, mesmerized by her cheerful tone, and the small things that she found amusing. Half the time she talked about movies and famous actors and things that L didn't know much about, but all the same, he listened and found himself unable to ignore her. Again, that voice in the back of his head was telling him to wake up and get serious. But it was hard, he was feeling very strange today. Something was really bothering him, like a weight in his chest. It was as if he really needed to tell her something more than just his issues with fatherhood.
Once there, the two walked the park holding hands, taking in all the sights and smells. There were a lot of rides and concession stands and games at the park, but the two were not in any rush, simply walking with each other was enough. Misa leaned her head against his arm and L noticed the envious looks other men threw him at seeing who he was with. He simply ignored them, and went on about their date in peace. He would not allow a bunch of covetous pricks to ruin a date with the woman he loved. At that thought, L stopped short on his tracks. Misa noticed this and turned to look at him.
"Hey, are you alright? You've been really...pensive today. I mean, you're always like that, but today more than usual" She said with concern. L simply gave her a blank stare, lost in his realization.
'I...love her?' He thought, looking at her pretty face that was now frowning at him. He didn't need to answer his question, as the quickened beating of his heart and the fluttering feeling in his stomach answered for him. 'This is bad...' He was in love with Misa.
"HELLO? Is anyone in there?!" She asked, lightly knocking on L's forehead, bringing him out of his trance. "What's the matter with you?" She asked. L's eyes met hers and her heart skipped a beat. They stood there looking at each other until finally L moved in and kissed her gently on the lips. They stood mouth to mouth, as though the rest of the world didn't exist. Then just like that, he broke the kiss and kept walking, his hand still holding hers. Misa gave him a puzzled look.
"It's almost sunset. We'd better get to that Ferris Wheel" He told her. She smiled, sighed, and walked beside him. They made it to the Ferris Wheel just in time to admire the sun's last glow as it disappeared over the horizon. They were toward the top of the Ferris Wheel and they could see the entire city, as far as their eyes could see, bathed in the sun's evening light. It was absolutely breathtaking. Misa had her fingers interlocked with L's as they sat looking into the distance. She sighed, trying to remember the last time that she was this happy.
"It's so beautiful." She whispered in awe. "This moment is perfect."
L said nothing. A gentle breeze blew by and she closed her eyes as it whisked her bangs off her forehead gently. It was then that she noticed L's grip on her hand tightened just a bit, and he seemed somewhat tense. She turned to him, intrigued. L did not turn to face her as he continued to look out at the sun's last gleams.
"I think I'm in love with you" He said, not looking at her.
Misa's breath caught in her throat and she swore her heart did a somersault. He'd told her he loved her! She was officially the happiest woman on earth! Misa smiled and turned his head toward her. He locked eyes with her and she pressed her forehead against his.
"And I love you as well" She said, closing the gap between them in a kiss. Right then, the sun went down, casting a perfect silhouette of the two lovers kissing atop the Ferris Wheel. They stayed that way for some time, just kissing and smiling at each other, their lips barely touching. L felt as though he'd gotten a huge load off his chest. He supposed that was something that had been weighting on his conscience and had surfaced just now. Either way, he was glad he'd told her.
The two stayed for a while longer after that, holding each other as they walked from ride to ride, chatting and whispering sweet things into each other's ears. Any passerby may have mistook them for blissful newlyweds.
The ride back from the park and ride was comfortably silent as the couple cuddled in the back seat. Their sudden closeness did not go unnoticed by Watari, who was overjoyed at seeing them that way. They arrived back at headquarters and just before Misa took off for the stairs, L tugged her hand.
"I'm coming with you. I have to talk to you." He said seriously. Despite the awesome date they'd just had, L was done stalling. He had to tell her.
"...Okay." She said a little worried. Something told her this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation. They climbed the stairs in silence, feeling more and more uneasy with each step. L only hoped that she would see things his way and understand where he was coming from. He didn't want to ruin what they had. The couple entered her apartment, and she sat on the couch. L remained standing, looking down at the floor.
"Well? What's up?" She asked. L shuffled his feet a little and just got straight to the point.
"Misa, I know you're excited about this pregnancy, but I don't see myself being a good father and your skills as a mother are unknown. This is neither a good time nor a good situation for us to bring a child into this world." He said plainly. His words fell on Misa like a bucket of ice water. She sat there, trying to digest his words, her hand instinctively moving to her womb protectively.
"...What?" She asked weakly.
There was a long silence. He raised his gaze to meet hers. She was afraid of what he would say to her next question, but she had to know.
"So... are you saying you don't want our baby?" She asked, her heart sinking.
L thought about her question. Truthfully, he didn't know what he felt for his child. Right now, 'his child' was a completely foreign concept to him, a thing he'd never imagined, something or someone he's never met, let alone love. It wasn't a person that he could feel anything for. At best, he felt indifferent towards that creature and at worst, he simply saw it as a burden neither of them was equipped to carry.
"I don't know if I want it or not, but I do know that this is not a good idea." He told her. "There are just too many variables to consider... think about it."
"No! There's nothing to think about! This is a terrible idea, I know. I'm the queen of terrible ideas. But that doesn't matter! This baby is real and we have to make it work! We have to!" She lashed out.
"No we don't and we won't. There are other alternatives, for example, you could terminate the pregnancy." He told her. She paused for a second, blinked back her tears, and then looked at him dead serious.
"Are you seriously suggesting that?" She asked, fighting to keep her composure.
"For once, think Misa. This isn't some doll or a pet that can be easily be dealt with, we're both ill-equipped to care for a child and you know it. Consider the interests of that life form-"
"So you have cold feet about being a father and you want me to kill our baby?! I love you, but I won't do that! I don't want to! I want us to be a family together, why don't you want the same thing?! You said you loved me, then why don't you want us to be a family?!" She cried, shaking her head vigorously. So much for her seeing things his way. "I want this, L...I love our baby...please understand. This could be the best thing to happen to us..." She pleaded, her hand hovering over her flat stomach.
A tense silence filled the room, each waiting for the other to yield. She looked at him standing there, thin lines furrowing his brow as he battled with himself on what to say next.
"Please, love..." She begged him with tears in her eyes.
L sighed. "Fine. If you want to have it, then have it. I'll see to it that you're both taken care of financially. He or she will not be lacking anything."
"Anything except a father... is that right?" She said, anguished.
"Misa, please understand, I can't jeopardize everything for this careless mistake."
That was the wrong thing to say as she covered her mouth and choked back a sob.
"A mistake? A mistake?! That's what you're calling our baby? Just because it didn't fall into your neat little plans it's a mistake?! How can you... you monster... how could you say that about something that's a piece of both of us?!"
L looked at her with tight lips, unwilling to continue this anymore. He walked out without saying another word. Clearly Misa and him had reached an impasse and neither was willing to compromise so there was no use in him wasting his breath.
'This is exactly the reason why I chose to end things with Naomi. I never wanted anything like this. I'm going to have to put an end to this, one way or another.' He thought resolutely as he walked toward the elevator. The idea of ending his relationship with Misa hurt him more than he cared to admit, but he saw no other way to make her see reason. He couldn't force her to abort the pregnancy per se, but he could perhaps do something to make her reject the idea of having a child with him...
Misa sat on the couch, still looking at where L had been standing moments before. She covered her mouth with her hand, choking back sobs, and with the other she caressed her stomach comfortingly. She curled up on the couch and tried to calm down, remembering the doctor's orders to not to over-stress herself. She took a few deep breaths and decided to try to sleep. It was hard to fall asleep after that discussion but after about half an hour of crying, sleep finally claimed her.
Meanwhile, L was perched on his chair, tense. He was trying to focus on his work but he was finding it extremely difficult.
'I hope I don't regret this...' He thought as he typed furiously on his keyboard. He'd set a plan in motion but he was already starting to doubt it.
-a couple of hours later-
Misa awoke from her light slumber. Her eyes were sad and her face was still puffy from crying. She decided that she needed to talk to L, more calmly this time. She wanted to tell him that she understood his insecurity but that he should give it a try. Things had gotten a little out of control during that conversation and they probably weren't thinking properly. This was something that they definitely had to discuss with cool heads, and a lot of calm. She got up from her bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up before going to see him.
L noticed from the cameras that Misa was awake. If his prediction was correct, she would come down to talk to him any minute now. He looked at the time and just as he was about to call his guest, she arrived. Weddy walked into the main investigation room, a suitcase in hand.
"L I'm here. I removed all the wiretaps and cameras from Yotsuba Corp, just like you asked. Here they are" She said, placing the suitcase on his desk.
"Thank you for your troubles" He said. Just as he predicted, Misa was now leaving her apartment and descending the stairs. He was feeling sick to his stomach for what he was about to do, but there was no other way.
"Weddy, I have a special favor to ask you." He said, eyeing the cameras. The blonde woman arched an eyebrow as she studied the detective cautiously. She followed his gaze to the cameras and saw that Misa was coming down from her floor. She looked back at L with an arched brow.
"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" Asked Weddy. L nodded solemnly. Without any more explanation she understood the message, and what he needed from her.
"Ah, alright, but you lead" She demanded.
L nodded and stood from his chair. He took a step toward her and stood to his full height, as Weddy was much taller than Misa. He glanced back at the cameras to gauge Misa's distance from the main investigation room. 'Any second now she will be here' He thought. Without another word, he took Weddy by the waist and kissed her as passionately as he could under the circumstances. With feigned emotions, Weddy reciprocated willingly. She wove her arms around L's torso, snaking her hand into his pitch black hair and moaned into his mouth as he kissed her. As L deepened the kiss, he pressed Weddy closer to him and then stepped forward to pin her against his desk. Weddy wrapped a leg around L's waist as he let his hands roam freely over Weddy's curvaceous body. Weddy in turn arched her back and clung onto L's torso like a leech.
A minute later, L heard a "thump" and tumbling sound by the stairs. He opened his eyes and looked toward the stairs as Weddy assaulted his neck with kisses. His gray eyes met a pair of shocked and hurt hazel ones. Misa looked on horrified at them from the foot of the stairs. L looked back at her for a second before taking a deep breath and forcing himself to turn back to kiss Weddy once again. He heard Misa's footsteps as she ran up the stairs and just as he was about to step away from Weddy, he heard someone clear their throat loudly, announcing their presence. Both L and Weddy's heads snapped in the direction of the intruder. It was Watari.
"Ryuzaki! L! I'd like to have a word with you." Said the old man sternly. Watari's intrusion and commanding tone surprised them both. L released his hold on Weddy and she reluctantly did the same to him. She sighed and fixed herself up. Before leaving, Weddy stepped close to L and whispered in his ear.
"If you'd like to continue what we started here, you know how to find me" She said suggestively, and then she took her leave. L stood there, with his hands in his pockets and his eyes trained on the floor, hating himself for what he'd just done.
Misa limped up the stairs as fast as she could up to her apartment. She was trying to control her sobbing but she was still hyperventilating from the shock.
"What the fuck was that? What was that?!" She asked herself over and over again.
The last thing she had expected to find moments ago was the man she loved in another woman's arms. She was so shocked that she missed one of the steps and tumbled down the rest of the way, spraining her ankle. She could not believe what her eyes were seeing. Misa felt sick to her stomach at the memory of those two pawing each other.
"Oh god, they're probably still down there...doing more" She said out loud, her voice breaking. She covered her mouth as she got a strong urge to puke her guts out. She ran to the bathroom and collapsed in front of the toilet just in time to throw up her lunch.
"No no no...this is wrong" She sobbed. "What is wrong with him...why? Why? why?" She asked herself, doubled over on her bathroom floor.
She stayed like that for a long while, kneeling on the bathroom floor like a crumpled mess. So much for not stressing herself. Her doctors would be extremely disappointed if they saw her in the state she was in. Misa tried to compose herself but she could not get the image of L with Weddy out of her head. She kept replaying the way he'd looked at her with those gray, unreadable eyes and how he had the nerve to turn back to kiss that bimbo even after he'd already seen her standing there. At the memory, Misa wailed once more. She sat up on the floor and leaned her head on the toilet, crying. She started to sob uncontrollably and before she knew it, she was having a mini panic attack. Her breaths became uneven and rugged as the tears rained over her cheeks. She tried to calm down, but she was so freaked out, she couldn't do it. Everything started going black and before long, she was engulfed in darkness as she passed out on her bathroom floor.