Chapter Text
The monitor kept beeping. The lights were white, cold, unfamiliar.
—He’s awake!
—L! Can you hear me?
But he didn’t respond.
His eyes were wide open, his breathing rapid, his body tense as if he were still in the middle of that war. As if he still had to run… run to find him.
—Where is…? —he whispered, barely audible.
A nurse approached gently.
—You’re safe, okay? You’ve been asleep for several days. But it’s over now, everything is going to be fine.
But L couldn’t calm down.
—Where is Light…? —he asked more forcefully, moving abruptly—. Where is Light?! I have to go back to him!
The nurses exchanged glances.
—He’s confused —one of them murmured—. Probably a side effect of the coma… he must be disoriented.
But L wasn’t confused. He knew what he had lived.
He knew how Light’s hands felt, he knew the color of his eyes, his hair, his skin, the softness of his voice calling him “my L.”
—Let me go —he begged—. I have to go back. I… I can’t leave him alone… not now.
Hours passed.
When the door opened, his parents walked in, their faces worn down by exhaustion and their souls broken with worry.
—L! —his mother exclaimed, running to him with tears in her eyes—. My love, thank God you’re okay…
His father also came closer, gently stroking his messy hair.
—You scared us so much. We were so worried about you…
L looked at them… but said nothing.
And then, someone else entered.
—L…
It was Mikami, with a serious expression. L blinked when he saw him… his mind pulling together fragmented, intertwined memories from the other world.
—L… I thought that… well, that you might like to see me —Mikami said hesitantly, placing a small plush toy on the bedside table—. You were unconscious for many days.
L stared at him. And then, he spoke:
—Where is Light?
The silence was immediate.
His mother frowned.
—Light…? Who is that, sweetheart?
—I have to go back to him —he repeated—. He… he protected me. He taught me how to fight. He took care of me. I have to know if he’s okay!
Mikami took a step back, confused.
—L…?
L ignored everyone.
—Light… my Light…
And in his voice, there was a mix of desperation, sadness… and love.
That night, L couldn’t sleep.
He stared at the ceiling, motionless, his heart pounding. Everything had felt so real… the soldiers, the wars, the jokes, the glances under the rain… the kiss.
—You… existed —he whispered into the darkness, touching his chest.
And a tear rolled down his cheek.
—Light… I love you.
₍^. .^₎⟆.....
The days passed.
The hospital grew quieter. The visits were the same. The questions too.
But L never stopped talking about Light.
—He taught me how to use a sword —he said while looking out the window—. His skin was tanned by the sun. He had war scars… but he told me each one was worth it if I was safe.
His mother watched him with sorrow.
His father only sighed.
Mikami… only listened.
—Sweetheart, that was a product of your coma. Your mind… —his mother tried to explain gently.
—No! —L interrupted forcefully—. It wasn’t imagination! You can’t tell me that something so real, so deep, so… so mine… was just made up!
—L, maybe you need to rest —his father said uncomfortably—. To process things…
—Light exists! He loves me and I love him! Why can’t you understand that?
The nurses began to look at him with suspicion.
One afternoon, Mikami sat beside him.
—I don’t know whether to believe you or not, L… —he said softly—. But you’re not someone who hallucinates. If this is real to you, then that’s okay… I respect it.
L frowned at him.
—You’re believing me?
—I’m believing in you. But… I still think maybe you just dreamed it.
—It wasn’t a dream —L murmured firmly.
Mikami sighed, looking away.
—L… if all of that was so intense… why would you come back? Why return here?
And L answered without hesitation:
—Because I died.
Mikami went pale.
Later, alone in his room, L began to investigate.
With his laptop on his legs and medical cables still attached to his body, he started searching.
Keywords, names, dates…
And then he saw it.
A small note in an old article, buried among outdated data, mentioned a newly explored archaeological zone…
A mural. An image. A figure.
A drawing carved in stone.
And there they were.
Light… and him.
L gasped. The mural showed them from behind, standing side by side, weapons in hand, hair stirred by the wind. Beneath it, a barely visible inscription:
*"The warrior who defied death… for his other half."*
—I knew it…! —he whispered, eyes filled with tears.
—I knew it. You were real! What we had was real, Light!
₍^. .^₎⟆.....
The hospital was silent. Only the hum of the machines, the soft movement of the curtains, and the ticking of the clock accompanied L in his search.
Keyboard in hand, his eyes moved from side to side, reading articles, theories about time travel, anomalies in archaeological zones…
Between every line he read, L smiled a little.
He remembered the times he talked with Light about his modern era, when he told him how much he loved romance series, video games, movies…
—“You and I would have been a perfect cliché” —L whispered tenderly.
A notification sounded.
It was a message from his mother:
> “We’ll come see you tomorrow. I hope you’re feeling better, son. Dad and I are worried.”
L sighed.
₍^. .^₎⟆.....
Hours later, his parents visited him.
—L… please —his mother said, sitting beside him—. You have to stop thinking about that boy. It was a dream. You’re home now, with us.
—I don’t want to be here —L replied, looking out the window—. Light is my home now.
—You’re confused! —his father interrupted, somewhat upset—. That boy doesn’t exist! Look at yourself, you’re losing your mind!
—And what if I am? —L looked at them directly, for the first time with a coldness that frightened them both—. I’d rather be crazy… if it means continuing to love the one who saved me.
Not another word left his mouth.
That night, insomnia returned.
L fell asleep in front of the computer.
And then… he woke up.
It was 3:00 a.m.
The room was dark, but a silhouette stood beside him.
An elderly woman with white hair and dark skin, deep eyes and a gentle voice, looked at him calmly.
—Easy —she said before L could scream—. I didn’t come to harm you. I came because you called me… not with words, but with your heart.
L froze.
—Who… are you?
—A traveler, like you. I’ve also lived between worlds. You’re not the first… nor the last.
L swallowed hard.
—Then everything I lived with Light…?
—It was real.
His chest heaved. Relief mixed with tears. He wasn’t crazy. He wasn’t crazy!
—How… how can I go back?
The woman pulled out a small scroll and a glowing stone.
—You must perform a process. A ritual. But listen carefully…
—If you decide to return, you can only come back if you perform the same process within 24 hours. If you don’t…
…you will stay there forever.
L took a deep breath. He had never felt more certain.
—I’m not coming back —he said firmly—. Light is my place.
The woman smiled sadly, but also with respect.
—Then prepare yourself. When dawn comes… you will depart.
₍^. .^₎⟆.....
The sun was just beginning to peek through the clouds. A golden glow spread across the land, warm and soft… and in the middle of that light, L appeared.
The ground felt familiar. So did the air. L’s heart pounded as he looked around. He was in the exact same place where he had arrived for the first time.
His feet moved almost by instinct. He knew the camp wasn’t far, though everything looked changed by the war. He walked for minutes, hope shining in his eyes, until a voice interrupted his search:
—Is it you…?! L?!
L turned quickly. A young soldier, his uniform worn and his gaze trembling, approached him in disbelief.
—It’s you! —the boy repeated, eyes glassy—. It’s really you!
L’s chest filled with emotion, and without hesitation, he nodded gently.
—Of course I remember you. You’re Matsuda, right?
The young man laughed, wiping away his tears.
—Yes!! My commander talked about you a lot! I can’t believe it, you’re alive!
As they walked toward the camp, the soldier spoke nonstop:
—We won the war. Light… Light did it. He defeated all the enemy leaders. The kingdom is finally at peace. But… since the end, he hasn’t been the same.
He doesn’t train anymore, he doesn’t go out… he doesn’t talk to anyone. He spends all his time inside his tent.
L stopped walking.
—Why…?
The soldier lowered his gaze.
—He blames himself for your death. He said that winning meant nothing if you weren’t there. Some days he cries. Other days he doesn’t eat. He even broke his sword against a tree when someone mentioned your name…
L’s world collapsed for a moment.
—No… —he whispered, voice breaking—. Light…
The soldier placed a hand on his shoulder.
—Go to him. Please. He hasn’t stopped loving you for a single day.
Light’s tent was still intact, but the aura around it was cold and dark. L stopped in front of the entrance, trembling.
He took a breath. Took one step. Then another.
Inside, Light’s figure stood with his back turned, completely still. His sword (a new one) rested against a table. The fire in the hearth had gone out.
—I’m not seeing anyone —Light growled without turning around—. Go away.
L smiled. His heart was about to burst.
—Then I suppose I’ll have to leave.
Light turned sharply.
His eyes… those honey-colored eyes widened when he saw him.
—L…
His voice broke. He stepped back, unable to believe it.
—Are you…? Am I dreaming?
—No —L whispered, tears in his eyes—. I’m real. I’m here. I came back for you.
Light approached slowly. He raised a hand and touched L’s cheek, as if afraid he might vanish.
—You came back… —he said, his throat tight.
L nodded.
—And I don’t plan on ever leaving again.
In that instant, Light wrapped him in a fierce embrace, as if he needed him just to keep breathing. L returned it with the same love, the same fervor.
—I love you —Light murmured against his hair—. I’ve always loved you.
—And I love you —L whispered—. Thank you for continuing to believe… in me.
₍^. .^₎⟆.....
The rain had ended hours ago, but the sky remained cloudy, as if honoring the calm of that reunion.
Inside the tent, Light couldn’t stop looking at L. He held him in his arms, curled against him, as if afraid that letting go would make him disappear again. He didn’t understand anything yet. But it didn’t matter. L was there. Alive. With him.
—How…? —Light finally whispered, stroking L’s hair with almost reverent tenderness—. I saw… you…
L lifted his gaze. His gray eyes, sweet and bright, met Light’s.
—I didn’t die. Do you remember the coma? Well, when I fell into it… my mind, or something like that, traveled. To this place. To you.
And when… everything ended, I woke up in the hospital of my time. No one believed me, Light. They thought I was crazy. But I knew you were real.
Light clenched his teeth.
—I… failed. I didn’t protect you. I got distracted. I was an idiot. If I hadn’t hesitated… if I’d been closer to you…
—Light —L interrupted softly, taking his face in his hands—. You protected me as much as you could. You still do. And I’m here… thanks to you.
The silence between them was sweet, filled with emotions that hurt and healed at the same time. Light hugged him again, even tighter this time.
—Please don’t ever leave again —he whispered, closing his eyes.
L settled against his chest.
—Never again.
Later, when the tension had eased, Light pulled back slightly and finally noticed it: the blue overalls, the slightly wrinkled white shirt… just like the first time he found him.
—You’re wearing that again? —he asked with a laugh—. You look like a lost child.
L frowned, cheeks flushed.
—It was the only thing I found before leaving the hospital. I didn’t have time to look for something more… appropriate.
Light couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. His eyes filled with tenderness.
—You look just as adorable as the first time. Though… there was something I was missing.
He stood up, walked to one of the drawers in his tent, and after a few seconds returned with something small between his fingers: a wooden star, hanging from a finely braided thread.
L recognized it instantly.
—The necklace…?
Light nodded as he stepped closer.
—I took it off when I thought that… that I’d lost you. I couldn’t bear to look at it. But now that you’re back, I want you to have it again.
He knelt in front of him and, with utmost care, placed the star around L’s neck.
—There. Where it always belonged.
L looked down, touching the pendant with his fingers. His heart raced. He smiled softly.
—Thank you, Light…
—No —Light said, lifting his face gently—. Thank *you*, for coming back to me.
And in that moment, among whispers, soft laughter, and warm caresses, they both knew they would never let go of each other again.
The next morning, the sun peeked shyly through the clouds. It was a new day. And this time, with L back, everything seemed clearer.
In the camp, the soldiers didn’t take long to find out:
L was alive!
Disbelieving looks, muffled shouts, and laughter full of joy quickly followed. Many ran to greet him.
—L?! Is it really you?!
—We thought you were dead!
—Light went crazy when we lost you! You have no idea how much he suffered!
L, a little overwhelmed but happy, smiled shyly. He greeted each of them, remembering their names, their stories, their jokes. The soldiers didn’t hide their happiness—some even had tears in their eyes.
One joked that Light would finally smile like he used to again.
And right at that moment, Light appeared behind L, wrapping his arms around his waist.
—Stop overwhelming him —he growled, though there was affection in his tone—. He hasn’t even eaten yet.
The soldiers burst into laughter. One shouted:
—There’s our boss! All soft again for his L!
Light rolled his eyes but said nothing. He just held him tighter.
Hours later, when they were alone in the tent, L watched the shadows on the ceiling while Light checked some papers. Suddenly, his soft voice broke the silence:
—Light…
—Hm?
—What were your days like… when I wasn’t here?
Light froze. He lowered the papers. His expression grew serious. His eyes locked onto L.
—They were hell.
Every day I told myself I had to focus on the war, that I had to be strong for the soldiers… but when I came back to this tent, I broke apart.
He approached slowly and sat beside him.
—I couldn’t sleep. Sometimes I thought I heard your voice. That I saw you walking through the door… but it was never you.
I lost all sense of victory, L. Winning that war meant nothing if you weren’t there to share it with me.
L listened in silence, his heart tightening.
His eyes were already damp.
Light looked at him.
—And you? What were those days like without me?
L nestled against his chest, his fingers playing with the fabric of Light’s shirt.
—I woke up in the hospital. My parents, Mikami… everyone thought I was crazy. They didn’t believe me when I talked about you.
They tried to convince me it had only been a dream. But I knew you were real. I felt it. Every night I dreamed of you. Or rather… I remembered.
Your voice. Your touch. Your scolding when I pretended something didn’t hurt…
And then… I found a way to come back.
Light stroked his hair, closing his eyes.
—Thank you for not giving up. For coming back.
—I was always going to come back to you, Light.
Even from a distance, even without knowing if it was possible… I chose you.
Light lowered his gaze, and with a sad but loving smile, pressed his forehead against L’s.
—And I would choose you again, over and over again.
₍^. .^₎⟆.....
The war was over.
L was back.
And for the first time in a long while… Light allowed himself to rest.
That morning, Light woke up before L. He watched him sleep in silence, his hair messy and his expression peaceful.
It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.
Light leaned closer and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. L stirred slightly and, still half-asleep, murmured:
—Mmnh… is it daytime already?
—Yes… but today you don’t have to do anything. Just be with me.
L opened his eyes, blinking slowly.
—Why does that sound like an order?
—Because it is —Light replied with a mischievous smile—. Today I’m kidnapping you. No soldiers. No war. No duties. Just us.
Light took him to a field not far from the camp.
Everything was covered in green grass and small flowers. The blue sky seemed to smile down at them.
He had prepared a blanket and a basket with simple food, but made with care.
L sat on the blanket, surprised by everything.
—Since when did you plan this?
—Since I knew I wanted a future with you —he answered without hesitation.
L blushed instantly, lowering his gaze with a nervous smile.
Light stepped closer and took his hand.
—L, I want you to listen to me carefully.
I lost you once. I won’t make the mistake of letting time pass without telling you how I feel.
—Light…
—I want a future with you. I want to wake up next to you every morning, even if you sleep weird. I want to cook for you, even if you get picky.
I want you by my side when I’m angry, when I’m happy, when I’m tired.
I want a life with you.
L looked at him, eyes wide and glassy.
—And what if there are no wars? No strange timelines?
—Then even better —Light replied, moving closer—. That way I’ll have more time to love you.
L couldn’t help laughing through his tears as he hugged him tightly.
—Idiot… I want that too. I can’t imagine a life without you, Light.
Never again.
They stayed like that, holding each other in the middle of the field,
the wind caressing them and the sun warming their backs.
A day just for them. A day they would never forget.