The woods behind the orphanage [L x Reader] • Death Note [Discontinued]

Chapter 20 | L's secret

L was hiding something.

Mello knew it.

Ever since he caught L awake that night, he knew L was hiding something. And he was determined to find out exactly what it was. The upside to being a small kid meant he could sneak around and hide in small gaps without being spotted. Which is how he managed get between two bookshelves in the library, knowing L would come in as he usually does.

"Hey... Miss Applebee?"

That was him. Mello peeked around the corner of the bookshelves and watched as L walked over to the librarian.

"Yes my dear?" She replied.

"Can you sew?"

"Every lady my age can sew dear, what for?"

"If I wanna keep exploring I need a disguise so I won't get clocked. (Y/n) said I could pass as a yokai if I had the ears and tail" L explained.

"That you could, they have good ideas that (y/n). I'll see what I can do" Miss applebee replied.

Mello was confused, what the heck did that mean? Disguise? Clocked? Yokai? See he was definitely up to something, Mello just couldn't figure it out yet. He'd need to do some more spying. L being his babysitter means he'd picked up a few detective tricks, and he was determined to gather evidence for this case.

"What did you get up to last time?" The librarian asked.

"They took me swimming and showed me their cottage. Also cats have wings down there?! Did you know that?" L replied.

"Certainly the first I've heard of it. Interesting".

Winged cats?

Ok as if Mello wasn't confused as hell before, now he was even more confused. None of this conversation made sense. He was completely unaware of Nears claims about fish people as well, which would definitely help his investigation...

Speaking of Near.

As Mello continued his spying, Matt had tried to get Near to join in a game of tag with the other kids. But as usual Near refused, preferring to play alone.

The back gate was open today, and with the staff supervising the kids were allowed to play in the outskirts of the woods. They followed the strict rule of not going past the pine trees, otherwise they'd get lost. The gateway was much past those pine trees, far too deep for the kids to find without getting scared of the big bad woods and running back to the orphanage.

Instead of playing tag, Near decided to collect rocks for his towers. Wandering in and out of the trees picking up the smoothest and shiniest rocks he could find, carrying them all in his pockets making him clink as he walked.

He knew not to go past the pine trees or across the fence that was where the neighbouring vineyard was. The vineyard had yummy grapes but the owner used them for wine, and he was much too young to drink wine.

"And I await the day, we can sail away, to the lovers bay for our eternal lives..."

He suddenly looked up from his rock hunt, looking around the area upon hearing the sounds.

Was that singing?

"Under the wing of Aphrodite, I ask for thee to return my feelings of glee..."

Where was it coming from? It sounded kind of like a ghost... were the woods haunted? Most kids would have turned and ran, but something struck Near that made me curious. He knew what to wander too far, but with no one around... surely he could go a little bit further if he didn't get caught?