𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙊𝙇𝙑𝙀 | l lawliet

Truth

The 2nd of November. It had finally come.

Hikari did a terrible job of hiding the anticipation on her face, and an even poorer job at hiding her astonishment at L's neutral behaviour.

Well, since he was gonna be cold, she might as well tease him more.

"By the way, how did you even learn to kiss so well? Bet you were lying when you said it was your first time..."

He stayed silent for a few seconds, a tint of red distinctive on his cheeks, before gaining control again.

"I have done a fair share of research on it. I knew this day would come."

Hikari rolled her eyes.

Right. What else could you expect from the world's greatest detective.

"So, this is what you do in your free time. Research relationship advice. How productive."

The man furrowed his eyebrows in the slightest.

"Is that an indication that you are unhappy with it?"

Hikari scoffed.

"Enough of this small talk. Either your mind has gotten so messed up that it can't identify the time-space continuum, or maybe you're wanting to hide your excitement to protect your ego."

"I'm simply not keeping any expectations from the future. After all, anything could take course in the next 24 hours."

She pursed her lips.

"I thought you were the world's greatest detective? Aren't you supposed to able to process plain words? You're not. going. to. die."

Motivation was a rare feeling she felt. It was usually just curiosity that was dragging her forwards. But, now, the girl was converting her fear into a solution, effective or not.

She got up.

"I'm gonna go get some coffee. You want some?"

"Yes,--"

"Six sugar cubes per 100 mililitres, strong. And room temperature," Hikari interrupted in a tone filled with unnecessary pride.

She left the room, returning with two cups of coffee, one large and steaming hot, and the other an elegant tea-cup which practically looked like a sugar slushie at that point.

Handing him his cup, she muttered something about it being an absolute insult to black coffee, which made him chuckle.

"Better hurry up. The chief will probably be here in an hour, and we both know how eventful things are going to get from there."

The raven narrowed his eyes, his thumb back on his lip.

"Wouldn't doing it in Yagami-san's presence just make the wound deeper?"

She sighed.

"Maybe, but in a way, it'll give him closure. The plan was never to reveal Light's true identity to the world, but rather to make the world see him as a victim. It's gonna be hard, but..."

Empathy. Something she'd learnt to push down a long time ago. She was no saint, she'd admitted and accepted that. But, this was cold, even for her.

If I'm so worried about L dying, then that's a father-son relationship. I've really become a monster, haven't I?

She forced a smile, trying to laugh it off.

"No. This is the right thing to do for the world. All you're doing is making sacrifices."

She wasn't even surprised at that point.

"We both know why I'm doing this, L. And it's a fact that I am being selfish with this."

"I doubt anyone has the slightest concern for the 'why'. It is useless to try and accuse yourself. You have the goal, the brains, the influence, and that's why you stand here, instructing a Shinigami to kill an 18 year old."

Thats what she needed. The truth. She had to face the truth, that this would make her a murderer, but for what cause?

Directly or indirectly, she was saving the world from the cruel reign of Kira; more importantly, she was saving L. That's all that mattered to everyone, and all that mattered to her.

And as the empty walls of the huge building were filled with the echoes of the whines of Touta Matsuda and the deception-conceited words of Light Yagami, she could sense it coming. Victory.