AN: I wanted to see how well the first chapter of The Night has a Thousand Eyes was received. Even if people hate it, I'm still going to work on it, but it is always nice to hear that people like what you are doing, and it works brilliantly as motivation.

Warnings: Slash, Raito x L, L's name, Matt's name (possibly), spoilers, OOC-ness,

violence, AU.

The Night has a Thousand Eyes

"The Night has a thousand eyes,

And the day but one;

Yet the light of the bright world dies

With the Dying Sun.

The mind has a thousand eyes,

And the heart but one;

Yet the light of a whole life dies

When love is done."

Francis William Bourdillon (1852-1921)

The cafe was quaint. It had a welcoming, friendly atmosphere, it was clean, and the waiters there were always willing to offer their services with a smile. The food was inexpensive, but plentiful and well-made. The cakes were especially delicious. Altogether, it was wholly unremarkable. The tables were rather plain, and set far apart from eachother, offering at least the illusion of privacy. There were a few cheap paintings on the walls, and plants in the windows.

On this particular day, at this particular time, the place was mostly empty. It was too early for supper, and yet too late for lunch, and so it was no surprise that there were only seven people in the cafe.

A young man with unruly black hair and bad posture sat in the corner away from the others. He received a few curious glances from the other patrons, but he didn't acknowledge them, and soon he was left to his own devices. He had a piece of cake, chocolate, sitting half-eaten in front of him.

The table closest to the unusual young man was filled with a pair of elderly gentlemen. They seemed to be close friends, and were sharing a cup of tea with eachother as they caught up with what had been happening in their lives.

"How was your trip to Japan?" asked the older one, who had white hair and a well-groomed mustache.

"Oh, you know," the other replied with a smile. "I have always loved Tokyo. It has such an energetic atmosphere. And the people! So interesting."

"Yes, I can imagine." The first man took a sip of his tea. "I have seen pictures. The young people, particularly, are rather eccentric."

"They're vivacious, but it is good for an old man to keep on his toes. I enjoyed meeting some new people. One in particular. What was his name..." the second man trailed off. "Well. I have some pictures of him." He reached into his coat pocket, and withdrew a white envelope, evidently the one he was keeping the pictures in. "Have a look while I think of that fellow's name."

The first man opened the envelope and pulled out the pictures. His hands seemed to fumble, and he dropped them. Brightly colored pictures of people and places spanned across the floor, a few coming to rest at the feet of the young man with black hair.

The young man stared at them for a few moments before looking at the elderly gentleman who was apologizing profusely and moving to stand up so he could retrieve the pictures. Quickly, the young man stood and gathered up the pictures before walking towards the table where the two men sat. He held them out.

"Thank you, young man,'' the first gentleman said before accepting the photos.

The man with the black hair merely nodded and went back to his table, where he proceeded to finish off his cake.

"Ah, yes! I've got it now." The second man smiled widely. "Light Yagami. A fine lad. He is a detective with the National Police Agency in Tokyo. Very intelligent. I had a wonderful time speaking with him..."

The two men continued with their small talk.

The man with the black hair stood once again, set a few bills upon the table, and left the cafe. No one noticed him leave.

Tucked into the pocket of his worn jeans was a picture of an attractive Asian man with auburn hair and reddish-brown eyes. Light Yagami

Target acquired.