Rival Game

Chapter 1: Children

A/N: (WARNING: SLIGHTLY PREACHY AND IRRITABLE TONE NEAR THE END OF THIS AUTHORS NOTE. I'M NOT USUALLY LIKE THAT. SORRY.)

Hey all! OK, so the other day, right the heck outta nowhere, the idea for this FanFic popped into my head and WOULD NOT GO AWAY. So, I sat down and started writing. Four pages later, I realized: I'm enjoying this! Now, the whole time-warp, non-Kira Light Fic isn't everyone's cup of tea. If you don't like it, that's cool. You don't have to. But unless you're going to give me constructive criticism, don't tell me you don't like it. I REALLY had fun writing this and unless you have a way to improve it or tell me that you like where it's going, just keep your flames to yourself. Sorry if I'm a bit harsh, but "I don't like this," or "This sucks," or "Wow. You can't write," are just annoying and downer-ish. I'm not usually this preachy or irritated, and I do apologize. But people. Please. If this isn't your story, then go read something else and let me have my happiness. Thanks and enjoy.

-AA

Tom Marvolo Riddle was six years old the first time he met the young prodigy. By that time, Tom had concluded that the entire world was against him and was afraid of him. He wouldn't have minded if they did what he said or stayed out of his way unless he needed them, but no. These people insisted on always pointing out whatever he was doing wrong. Tom had also realized that making friends was out of the question.

The Wool's Orphanage kids were on vacation out on an English beach, on break for the pleasant springtime. Tom desperately wanted to go exploring, but knew that if he left by himself, Mrs. Cole would make him stay alone in his room again.

Tom sighed and sat down on in the sand. He hoped that he wouldn't get sand in his jacket.

Tom heard a car pull up behind them on the street. Turning, he saw a dark-haired man step out of the driver's seat and open the passenger door for who Tom guessed was his wife. The woman then opened the door for a little girl with chocolate brown hair, a shade darker than her mother's. Finally, a young boy stepped out from the other side of the car, smiling at his father.

The boy looked hardly anything like the other three. His hair was a light, sandy brown and his face was clean-cut and intelligent. He looked closest to his mother, but had the look of calculation that his father possessed.

Tom watched the family as they got out a pink stroller for the little girl and the light haired boy asked his parents something. The two parents smiled at each other and then the man said something. The boy beamed and bowed to both his parents. Tom had no idea why, but assumed it had something to do with their apparent Asian lineage. The boy then raced off to the beach.

Tom watched him as he came closer, his collared shirt reflecting the sunlight and making it near impossible for Tom to look at him straight.

The boy then flopped down in the sand and laughed. Tom saw his parents chuckle, then tend to their daughter.

Tom watched the boy who was still smiling and laying in the sunlight. He didn't know why he even cared, but something about the kid made him annoyed, angry, and curious all at the same time.

The boy noticed Tom's eyes on him and raised his head and waved. Tom only narrowed his eyes and turned his gaze back to the sea.

He heard footsteps and the boy sat down in the sand near him. Neither of them said anything.

"Can I help you?" Tom asked, annoyed.

"Hmm? Oh, sorry. Am I bothering you?" the kid asked, still smiling. By God, he was annoying.

Tom sighed. "Yes, you are. But what do you want?"

"I was just wondering the same thing actually," the boy said pleasantly. "You were watching me before and I was just curious."

Tom blinked. Was this kid mental, or just thick? It's common to watch someone enter a place if they look different. Speaking of which...

"You're accent. Where are you from?" Tom asked.

"Japan. We're here on holiday."

"Why here? This is one of the shabbiest beaches in England."

The kid laughed. "It's not that bad. Plus, I have a cousin here. We're visiting her and her family."

Tom turned and sure enough, another car had pulled up without his notice. A man, woman, and two girls, both seeming older than Tom, got out and greeted the other family.

"Oh. Well, you still could have gone somewhere else." Tom ran his fingers through the sand.

The boy stood up and dusted off his clothes.

"My name is Light Yagami, by the way."

Tom looked up. The boy was directly in the sun's path, so he looked like a shadow had risen from the ground and taken shape. His hair fluttered slightly in the spring breeze which Tom hadn't noticed up until now. The boy's eyes gleamed and for a moment, Tom thought he saw something there, a challenging look. But the glance was gone as soon as it came.

Tom realized that the boy was holding out his hand, not for him to shake, but rather to help him up.

Tom stood up by himself, his eyes narrowed in defiance.

"Tom Riddle" was all he said.

The boy still had that half smile on his face, which Tom had originally thought looked dopy and thick. Now, he looked mocking and almost arrogant. Tom's eyes flashed.

"Nice to meet you, Tom," Light said.

"Yeah," Tom muttered, their eyes locked. "A real pleasure."

As they walked, Light asked, "So, what's your idea then?"

Tom glowered at the sand, his eyes watching his boots instead of the nine-year-old next to him.

It had been three years since they met, and, of course, Light Yagami had come back to the same beach as Wool's Orphanage had come to every year. Why had Tom told him that? Why had he even mentioned that they came here every year? Now, Tom would always have to face the little brat that had plagued him every single year.

Still, Mrs. Cole had taken a liking to the Yagami family the moment they met. She went on and on about how respectful and polite Light was and how sweet his little sister was. Tom had learned more about Light's family than Light probably knew himself. If he told the boy half the things he learned from Mrs. Cole, Light would most likely declare him a stalker. Maybe that would be a good idea actually...

"Hello? Tom?"

Tom was shaken from his thoughts by Light's voice, who was looking at him curiously.

"What do you want?" Tom asked, irritably.

"I said, what is your idea? You said that was why we were going to a cave in the middle of nowhere."

Tom thought fast.

"There's an old legend about a treasure that was buried by pirates in that old cave," Tom lied easily. "I thought it could be fun if we went to check it out."

Light raised an eyebrow. "You actually want to go exploring with me? I thought I annoyed you and you hated me."

Tom stared at him. He knew?! This brat knew that Tom hated him, and pestered him anyways?!

Light saw the look on Tom's face and laughed.

Tom inwardly shook with anger. This PROVED that Light was the arrogant manipulator Tom had made him out to be.

"I'm just kidding you know. Well sort of," Light grinned. "Loosen up, Tommy." The sandy-haired boy whacked Tom on the back, perhaps a little too hard to be purely joking.

Tom glared. Light had taken to calling Tom "Tommy" last year. By this point, Tom had given up on correcting Light and just winced inwardly whenever he said it.

The two nine-year-olds reached the cave and Tom smiled. This may be the day he rids himself of the pest forever.

In the past years, Tom had done some "testing" with the other children and realized that he had certain powers. Powers, he was sure, that Light did not possess.

The two went into the cave, careful not to slip on the rocky path.

There was a shallow pool of seawater where the tide came in. According to Tom's research, the tide should be coming in that day, but that wouldn't pose a problem. Tom would be long gone by then, and Light... well, he didn't particularly care.

After sliding along the ridge for awhile, Tom said, "This way" and climbed down onto a path, overgrown with moss.

"You know, you seem to know a lot about this cave for someone who's exploring," Light called, climbing down after him.

"Yeah, well, I did come here before," Tom said truthfully. "But I want to try to get a bit farther than I could by myself."

The two followed the dark path for a while, trying to ignore the cavernous pit slowly filling with seawater. The boys entered another area of the cave, a place with a high ceiling and a lake.

"Is that fresh water?" Light asked.

"Yeah, it is. I'm not sure how, but the sea water never mixes with the water in this lake," Tom said, flashing his light around the cave.

"So, what was it about that legend again?" Light turned to the dark-haired boy, but noticed that there was something different on his face. A look of hatred and anger.

"Listen to me," Tom said, his voice ringing with authority in the cavern. "You are not going to follow me around anymore. You will leave me alone and never talk to me again. Pretend that you never even met me."

Light stared at Tom, his eyes a mix of confusion and concern. But Tom didn't care. He didn't know why, but he had never liked Light. Everything about him made Tom angry and annoyed.

"Alright," Light said, his voice hollow. "We never met. Got it."

"Good. Now leave the cave. Go back to your parents and don't mention a thing that happened here."

Light turned from the cave, walking with his head slightly bowed. Tom had won. Light had lost. And that was that.

Tom had never felt so happy.

Tom waited a few minuted before exiting the cave himself. A smile played on his lips, still proud of his victory. Never again would that pest bother him.

As he was thinking this over, Tom heard the roar of the ocean as it entered the cave. No matter. Tom would be out long before the tide washed in fully.

As he walked up to the ridge, Tom stuck the flashlight in his teeth and reached for the rocky wall where the handhold was. He then raised his foot onto the wall as well and boosted himself higher.

His other boot caught on the wall for a moment, but then slipped and he lost his traction. Tom hung by only his hands on the slippery wall. Behind him, the roar of the ocean grew louder and louder and he realized that the spray was starting to reach the lower ledge.

Grunting, Tom heaved himself back into the proper position on the wall and this time his foot caught. Reaching his other hand up, Tom grabbed the top of the ledge. Too late, he realized that was the wrong spot.

The sharp stone cut into Tom's hand and he let go instinctively. His foot slid and the dark-haired boy fell 20 feet to the mossy ledge below.

On the way down, Tom had lost his flashlight, which had skidded across the path and below into the rising pool, which was now climbing the rocks. Tom felt a sharp pain in his left leg. Oh no.

Tom got shakily to his feet, trying to stand. When he put pressure on the leg he fell on, Tom cried out and fell to the floor. Wincing, the thought came clearly into his mind. My leg is broken.

Gritting his teeth, Tom crawled forward, trying to find the ledge. He was shivering, clothes wet from the moss and spray. The water was rising now, much faster than before. Was it always rising like that?

A frantic thought popped into Tom's head.

"They don't know I'm here," he whispered, eyes darting in the dim light. "Light was the only one, and now he can't tell anyone."

Tom reached for the ledge again, but moved his leg in the process. It his a stone and he screamed, terror and pain fueling his hysteria.

Tom grabbed the wall as the sea washed over the path, reaching his pants and waist, soaking them both.

I'm going to die here, Tom thought, his screams dying away, being replaced with a rapid breathing and the rushing of water. This will be the end of me.

Above the ocean's roar, Tom heard the pounding of footsteps. Someone was climbing down the wall. Impossible... no one knew but-

Tom's eyes widened as a boy in a white, collared shirt dashed down and into the water, pulling Tom onto his back.

"Put your arms around my neck," Light commanded. Tom did as he was told and Light grabbed a hold of the rocky wall. The sea had risen up to the three-foot mark by now as Light pulled them both up the wall, despite the fact that he was soaking wet and carrying Tom.

Finally, they reached the top and Light swung himself over, landing on his knees as not to hurt Tom's leg.

The lighter-haired boy winced as a rock cut his leg, but got up and ran from the cave, still carrying Tom on his back.

Rounding a corner, the two burst into the light of the fading sunset. The sand gleamed as Tom's eyes adjusted to the light.

He let go of Light's neck as the boy fell onto the sand in exhaustion. Tom's leg was still throbbing, but he watched as Light slowly raised himself to his knees. Light's clothes were soaking wet and he was covered in sand. There were moss stains on his brown slacks and his cut was still bleeding. Still, the nine-year-old boy stood and walked to Tom, taking one of the black-haired boy's arms and putting it across his shoulders.

Light led Tom back to the beach where the rest of the group was. They stumbled through the sand, trying to keep off Tom's foot.

Tom looked over at Light, the boy's expression completely neutral. That was the moment he knew. That was when Tom actually realized who he was dealing with. Light wasn't normal. The fact that he had disobeyed Tom's orders had proved that.

He would never admit it, but Tom was extremely envious of Light. His name was original, his parents were kind and caring, he was smart, talented, and still loyal and kind. But Light's loyalty and kindness were things that Tom didn't understand. How could Light go back for him when Tom made it clear that he never wanted to see Light again?

Tom knew now. That was just how Light was. He was annoying and troublesome and stubborn and arrogant. He was also the most true-hearted person Tom had ever met.

And Tom hated him for it.