In Motion

♦ L & Maki. ♦

Tear stained. Chains. Lies. Façade. I looked at the man in front of me. Both of his hands were clasped tightly against the walls, the huge metal cuffs straining his movement. His feet was tied with chains and his eyes had a few tears falling from it.

Liar.

My hands came in contact with his cheeks and the slap I have given him resonated along the poorly lit corridor. A chuckle escaped his lips. Pretender. “What do you want from me?” He asked, calmly voicing out his thoughts. The wind blew, seeping in through the rusty railings of the cell and it seemed like I was the one in need of desperate help instead of him.

“Feeling guilty, huh?” His calloused finger surprisingly reach my ankles. And I arched my eyebrow threateningly towards him. Immediately, he released his hold on me and without hesitating, I stepped on his hand pleased to hear his desperate cries.

“You killed him, didn’t you?” I questioned him as he move his fingers trying to reassure himself that I didn’t break a single bone in the process.

“Rude.” He muttered, looking up to me in an intimidating manner. “Is it right for you to treat your best friend like that?” He continued, a sinister smile on his face. I kicked him on his abdomen in return.

“You’re disgusting. How can you call yourself my best friend after what you did?” I crouched down, leveling his eyes with mine. His knees was propped against the cold, hard ground and his clothes was torn into shreds.

Unconsciously, I closed my eyes in pity before I let every regret stay at the back of my mind. For once, I was given a clearer vision of his thoughts as I looked onto his eyes. In a moment, his orbs which was covered in full black flashed a hint of sadness before it returned to its original state of plain lifeless and cold. “L let’s not make this hard on us anymore, did you or did you not kill him?” I prodded.

However his mouth remained shut. At times, he would lick his lips as if trying to prevent it from cracking before he would look at me again. His face not showing the slightest sign of guilt. “I have nothing to say. Nothing to confess.” He stated. “Maki, do you even trust me?”

“No.” The immediate reply came. “At least not now.” I made it clearer. My vision blurred and as I stand up, I heard his monotone voice.

He was admitting it. “I killed him.”

I clenched my fist. It felt like it took forever just to hear that life changing confession. Who knew three words could change so many things?

Life was never full of rainbows and unicorns. That statement, is one I can prove myself. Who knew that this guy who had been there for me for almost my whole life is one who’d break my heart in a blink of an eye?

Good girl. I believe in you.

I remember him saying those words to me ten years ago believing that I was a girl who has the ability to forgive and forget. When I was in the verge of losing sanity, he kept me warm and help me to find comfort against his arms. I always knew him as the man with no emotion. The mysterious man who love sweets and always walked in that creepy way of his.

I was just a lost girl before. The girl who was seeking for vengeance due to her father’s death and it was during that first five days of meeting him that I had taken a liking to him. He was a great friend to be exact like an older brother I can rely on. Only knowing about my father, he took me in with no hesitation and looked after me as I grow. He helped me receive the justice I was searching for but why is it that I was depriving him of that now?

“L.” I mumbled his name. Taking a step back. I was doubting him so much in so many ways. Believing that he was the one who killed my lover that night I woke up with a bloody man beside me. It was clear to me how my expression turned into a chagrin one when my eyes landed on him with a knife on his hand, under the moon light, he looked lost after what he had done.

“Then why did you do it?” I questioned him, my heart thumping loudly. He craned his neck upwards to get a better view of me. He looked into my eyes.

“For fun.”  He carelessly let out the words from his mouth. I was shocked on how blunt he seemed to be.

“But you knew how important he is to me L! You clearly know how in love I am with him.” I cried, he remained stoic.

“Am I not that important to you?” He spoke almost inaudibly.

“You are L that’s why I thought you’d understand!” My strength had now failed me and I was kneeling in front of him. Weak and helpless like before.

“You should be punching the life out of me right now, you’re not a detective for nothing.” He commented, his back hunched as always. The dark skies perfectly accompanied the mood. Rain was pouring and I grab onto L’s arm.

“Are you L Lawliet?” I was turning mad.

“Yes I am.” He responded.

“What have you done?”

And soon enough, I found myself attached to him. I allowed my head to rest onto the crook of his neck, calming myself like I always did before.

“You didn’t kill him.”

“I did.”

“No you didn’t.” I insisted.

“The rightful punishment is death. Should I be expecting for my head to be cut off tomorrow?” His tone didn’t seem any different. Still relaxed.

“L.” I shook him. He gaze at me, his face pale like usual.

“What more do you want to know?”

“Tell me you didn’t kill him for fun. There has to be a better reason.”

“None. There’s no other reason. Do you feel upset that all that torture I had gone through was just because I wanted to have fun? I’m sorry to burst your bubble but I don’t have other reasons.” He answered.

“But can I ask you a favor?” I looked at him puzzled. “Please remember me as L Lawliet. The kind L Lawliet who looked after you.” He flashed a smile. In all the years that I was with him, this was the third time he gave out a smile as sincere as that. Most of the time, his lips just created a thin line as if he never felt anything. Pain, sadness, happiness, I would never be able to decode what he feels unless I would study his face carefully. And usually, I would end up looking at his eyes. It was like a portal because through it, I could understand even just a little bit of how his mind worked.

“Well goodbye.” Was the last words I heard him say before he fired a shot.

I noticed the empty gun carrier on the upper side of my hips, my pistol was nowhere to be found. Silence consumed the place and I find it hard to breathe. I was left walking in between the thin line of misconceptions and clarity. Blood dripped out from his head, his corpse blown by the cold wind. I mourned and yell, at the end, I lost everything important to me.

L’s POV

I lifted the gun, happy that she hadn’t notice it. I just want to peacefully go. I didn’t want to explain anything more, everything is over with. Living her with good memories about her lover is the last gift I could give her and it certainly wouldn’t help if I tell her that I killed him because he almost took advantage of her. I laughed inside my head, I’m finally dying and I didn’t even admit I had fallen for Maki. What a coward.

“Well goodbye.” I tried to keep it casual as if I would be seeing her again. I pulled the gun’s trigger and somehow I caught the shadow of a death god above me. Perhaps, this was really it. In a swift shot, my heart had stop in motion.

≈ FINISH. ≈