A/N: Here's the second entry for the 100 Theme Challenge. It's not number two, but who said I had to go in order? This one is Death Note, too, which was a surprise. I'd never written a DN fanfic before I started on the Challenge. I'm really pleased with the way this and the one before it came out, but let me know what you think. Also, give me some pairing ideas for the Challenge. I've not got enough!

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note or any of the characters affiliated with it. They belong to Ohba & Obata.

#43- Dying

There were a lot of things that Yagami Light understood that many people never would. He understood most of the particulars of gene splicing, he understood the complex works of Shakespeare, and he was also adept at calculus and trigonometry. But one of the few things that Light would never understand was how the human race could let themselves do things that they knew would hurt them. And what he understood even less was how he could let himself do that very thing.

L was a danger to him as Kira, and so therefore L could not continue to live. L had to be eliminated; there was no question about it. But Light still couldn't help but feel for the dark haired man. And what he felt was unmistakable, because it was love in its purest form.

They were crowded around the computer, talking to Watari through the safe connection that was set up years ago. L was sitting in the chair right in front of the screen, his jean-clad legs pulled up onto the chair with him, his knees up near his face. Light sat next to the dark haired man, looking at the screen and L in turn, being careful that no one should observe him taking peeks at L.

Then, suddenly, Watari's voice wavered. A choking sound filled the room as every breath halted and the computer screen blinked a message.

"All data deletion?" Light asked, making sure that he kept up his role of the concerned genius and compassionate member of the Japanese task force.

"I instructed Watari to delete all the information he currently holds if anything unexpected should happen to him..." L's voice came quietly, almost like he was holding back sorrow. And Light was sure that was exactly what was happening. Despite his hatred for the feelings he possessed, he still felt a tug when he heard that note in L's voice.

"Unexpected?" Matsuda's voice broke. Aizawa's face contorted to one of understanding.

"Does that mean...?" Aizawa asked. L's grave look was all that was necessary for the entire task force to understand. Light wanted to laugh, he wanted to laugh badly.

For a moment, the room was filled with shouts and everyone paused to look around.

"Where is the shinigami?"

"The shinigami is gone!"

Light only looked halfheartedly, filled with a sort of unsteady happiness knowing that L would soon follow Watari. It was unsteady because he was uncomfortable with the death of the older man.

Light paused in his acting to look at said man, and was pleased that he was at least seemingly stumped. L was lost in thought, and if he had managed to live long enough to speak an entire sentence, Light was sure he would have been found out.

"Everyone, the shinigami is..." His voice stuck in the air, hanging like a sickness. Slowly, so slowly, L began to fall from the chair. For the first time in years, Light allowed himself to act on impulse and emotion. He skidded forward on his knees, catching L before he could hit the floor.

"Ryuuaki!?" he screamed, only part of his sadness faked. "RYUUZAKI!?" He forced a devilish smile onto his face, if only to send L to his grave with definite answers.

He saw the recognition flit onto the pale face in his last moments.

As L's eyes closed, a strange thought flew through Light's mind and he knew the answer to the question right away.

Is it possible to love someone, even as they lay dying? Knowing full well that their death will hurt?

And for him, the answer was yes.