Disclaimer: Otaku-Sage-of-Llamas does not claim to own Death Note and its characters. Rather that privilege belongs to Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata.

Warnings: There is AUness, OCCness, and yaoi. Also, beware of spoilers (for the anime/manga AND the Another Note novel) and the authoress' sad attempt at writing.

Genre: Drama/Romance

Pairings: implications of past BB x L (in Act II) and Raito x L

Rating: M

Contusa Persona

by Otaku-Sage-of-Llamas

Act 1

- Intentio -

The world's greatest detective currently stood on top of the Kira case headquarters' roof. Rain was pouring down, masking the tears that strolled down his own face. The shinigami known as Rem killed Watari and she disappeared from the earth leaving her own notebook behind on a pile of sand.

L could not bear to reveal his weakness to the other investigation members so he fled onto the roof temporarily forgetting all thoughts of Kira, justice, and his own persona of L. For this one moment, he would lose that stoic mask of himself.

Watari was a fatherly figure to the detective, which meant a lot more to him since he was an orphan. Otherwise, he had no one to look upon for support. On top of that, Raito was his only and first friend, even though he was still convinced that he is Kira. A brilliant student and a skilled actor, Raito exemplifies perfection.

"Ryuzaki," a voice brought the detective out of his musings. He turned his head to look into the honey eyes of Raito Yagami.

"A penny for you thoughts?" he commented as he approached the detective.

"That's such a cliché line, Yagami-kun."

"Well, I didn't know what else to say…Watari must have meant a lot to you," Raito said solemnly.

"He did but I can't change the past."

"Would you?" L tilted his head down causing his hear to conceal his eyes.

"No," he finally uttered after a few moments of silence. Rising his head, he looked at Raito and noticed the skin through his white shirt, now transparent. Two pale pink nubs easily stood out. For awhile, the detective had been harboring feelings for his lead suspect. Though he kept it hidden, it could easily be revealed if Raito caught onto his lustful stares and timid glances.

"Ryuzaki," the calling of his alias caused him to open the eyes that he didn't realize were closed during his trance.

"We should go inside," the younger man seem to add as an afterthought like he was trying to avoid something. Raito's auburn hair, which normally combed straight and perfect in every way, now was plastered everywhere across his face as a result of the rain.

The detective headed back inside headquarters forgetting about the presence of Raito as he left him behind in the rain as if troubled by something.

Immediately, L headed for his personal bathroom to dry himself off. He stripped down to his birthday suit with a dry pair of his usual attire nearby. L wrapped a towel around his waist while with the other he attempted to purge the water off his skin.

When the bathroom door opened, the detective nearly jumped from shock of the intrusion but instead accidentally dropped the towel that was around his waist. The intruder, whom he suspected to be Raito, now had a clear view of his entire back side.

He cursed mentally as he forgotten about the tattoo design on his back. A shiver ran through his spine when the intruder came closer and touched the design, doubtful of its existence.

"A phoenix?" the detective's suspicions were now confirmed. The head of the phoenix started between his shoulders and the body followed down his spine. Raito's finger lightly traced the path of the tattoo.

"What is it that you want, Raito-kun?" L wanted to know why the younger man invaded his privacy like that. Forgotten still was the towel that had formerly been around his waist.

"Why a phoenix?" he asked in response, purposely evading what L said.

"Raito-kun, with his intelligence, should understand its significance."

"Rebirth? I don't see how…" Raito started but was immediately cut off.

"Do you know that Watari founded an orphanage? Not an ordinary one, a place that houses gifted students. Eventually it became a place to train possible successors," the detective's face was blank of any emotions.

"To whom?"

"L," the detective let out a sigh.

"Why are you telling me this? It could compromise your safety."

"It doesn't matter anymore," Raito immediately turned the detective around to face him.

"Are you just giving up!? After everything that has happened!?" he shook the older man out of anger.

"I plan on returning there…" the detective uttered out weakly. His words were soon followed by a loud punch that echoed in the bathroom.

Raito's fist landed at the detective's face and caused him to move backwards, his head barely missing contact with the tub. Following him onto the floor was Raito, who straddled L's naked waist.

"Raito-kun, please get off me," the detective pushed at the younger man's shoulders but to no avail. Raito used all of his weight to keep the detective pinned down to the floor. The hands that resisted were easily restrained over his head by the other's hand. L tried again to escape by bucking his hips forward to only fail again.

"No! I won't let you go!" Raito yelled.

"What about all those people that died trying to bring Kira to justice? Their sacrifice would then be in vain if you give up!" he added mercilessly.

"Raito," L forgot the honorific as tears threatened to stroll down his face. For once, all of his pride was broken. Here he was, lying on the ground stripped of his clothing and the mask that hid all of his emotions.

"This isn't like you, Ryuzaki," he commented as the tears took control of the detective's face and streamed down like a waterfall. With Raito's free hand, he tried to wipe away the detective's tears with the tip of his thumb while L turned his head to the side.

Raito shifted unconsciously, creating a heated sensation to run though his body, especially affecting his lower regions. He knew that L felt the same sensation when he let out a soft gasp. The only barrier between them was Raito's dry clothes. Raito muse have changed before tracking down the detective in the bathroom.

"Get off," L yelled with a faint tint of pink on his face. But Raito held his ground. In retaliation, the detective shoved Raito with newfound strength and ran out of the bathroom without any consideration for the younger man or his own nakedness.

L fled into his bedroom and locked the door behind him so that Raito could not follow.

The remaining pieces of the mask had finally crumbled as the detective broke out into tears.

To be continued…