Failure (A Death Note/L Love Story)

Chapter 11

We only had a few minutes until midnight. I wasn't looking forward to the meeting, but at least I was there and not on my way to America. Still, a direct confrontation? I wasn't sure about it at all. Not only because it was risky, but because L's social skills may have as well been nonexistent.

I peered over at L. He was staring out a window. He was in deep thought again. He hadn't spoken to me since I convinced him to let me stay. I couldn't say I was too surprised that he was mad. Letting me stay was almost like a form of defeat. After what I said about us dying, I knew he'd never force me out. It was the one thing I knew would work, so I used it to my advantage.

Maybe it had been a little low. I knew L wasn't afraid of dying. He didn't want to, but he was prepared for it. Or at least, that's what he always told me. I didn't believe it for a second. No one could really be prepared for their own death. I could believe that he wasn't afraid of dying because I knew he wasn't, but I think he still was afraid of dying alone. I hoped I had least gotten through to him that I wasn't prepared to let that happen anytime soon.

I gasped when I heard the two knocks on the door. Was it midnight already? Actually, it was past midnight. It suddenly hit me that it wasn't just L's first appearance as L, but it was also my first time being introduced as H. Before then, no one had even known I existed besides Watari and L. How was that supposed to go over?

L walked to the middle of the room, saying loud enough that they could hear outside, "It's unlocked. Please, let yourselves in." I stood up and hid halfway behind L.

The Task Force members piled into the room. They gasped when they saw L. I didn't understand why they were so shocked about what he looked like. What other image had they put in their heads? Well, I guess he probably wasn't as sharp as they expected. He was wearing what he usually wore. A white shirt, blue jeans, and of course, no shoes.

"I am L," he introduced himself in a bored tone. I was sure he was only acting that way because he was irritated they were late.

"Hm...." Yagami hummed. It seemed they were all still in shock.

"And this is my associate, H," L motioned to me. I was forced to step forward and bowed.

"Hello, nice meeting you all," I smiled, straightening up. I could tell L wasn't really listening anymore.

"I'm Yagami of the NPA," Yagami introduced. He was the oldest of the group. He had glasses and graying brown hair. He held up his badge. The others copied him.

The man with shoulder-length black hair and was the youngest of the group said, "Matsuda."

The one with kind of curly black hair followed suit, "I'm Aizawa."

"Mogi," the tallest man with spiky hair said.

"Ukita," said the one with the shortest hair. L slowly looked at them.

Yagami apologized, "I'm very sorry we're late. Currently, the five of us are-"

He was cut off by L making a fake gun with his hand and pointing it at them. "Bang."

While I understood why he did it, I slapped his arm and hissed, "That isn't very polite!"

He rolled his eyes, "Don't worry about it."

"What the hell was that?" Aizawa demanded.

As L lowered his hand back to his side, he explained, "If I were Kira, you'd be dead, Mr. Soichiro Yagami, chief of the NPA." They gasped. He turned halfway towards the living room area. "Kira needs a face and a name to commit murder, but I'm sure you've already figured out that much, haven't you? Please, don't give out your name so carelessly. Instead," he walked into the room, "let's value our lives."