It wasn't a game before L. Before L, Kira was a child playing in a sandbox; playing, yes, but not a game.

And then there was L.

The first time he turned to Light and accused him so arrogantly, Kira purred in his chest, recognizing the challenge. At last, here was an opponent, a foe. Kira had expected no less. Was there not a Lucifer for every god? Even later, when L accused him of being Kira, Light allowed his mouth to run and make the expected sounds of denial while Kira whirred away inside his mind, celebrating. Kira looked upon what he had created and he was pleased.

As the game continued, Kira knew he would win. He knew he was God, Justice, unbeatable. His confidence made him slip. L was playing a different game than he and, in his own game, he was the victor. The two games mixing made it…unpredictable. Kira was Justice, but L was Justice too. And when the two collided, something had to give. With the words, "I give it up", Kira took a chance. He knew he could win, but he would have to sit one round out. So, for the first time, it was only Light. Alone.

And then there was L.

They settled back into the game, recognizing each other as natural competitors, but the game had changed. Through Light's eyes, L was a different partner. That was the flaw in Kira's plan. Light was not Kira and so the L Kira knew was not Light's L. The game played on, and this time, neither truly knew where it would end.

"Disgusting" thought Light, watching in horrified fascination as L spooned the final delicate bite of the once a massive cheesecake into his mouth. He reached over to the single crumb left on the platter and pressed his finger to it, considering it before quickly bringing it up to his mouth. His lips moved as his mouth worked over the spoon and removed it, perfectly clean. Delicately, he turned his head towards Light, widening his eyes as they met his suspect's gaze and alloweding his jaw to relax. His lips parted slightly, revealing teeth, before bringing up his thumb to rest on his bottom lip. He cocked his head and stared blankly at Light for a few moments before Light dropped his gaze, flushing and ducking his head to look at his computer.

Light gritted his teeth in frustration and shifted angrily, causing the chain between them to rattle. Who are you, L? What kind of person locks someone up for God knows how long, handcuffs them, and then gives them that "what are you looking at" look? How dare you act like I'm the strange one for staring? Anyone would stare! He allowed his eyes to flick back towards the detective, staring deliberately, but involuntarily straightening his shoulders and raising his chin in defiance.

For the first time, he truly studied L. Hunched unnaturally, like a bird about to take flight, L's spine jutted out at crooked angles. He leaned forwards, his wide eyes and slightly parted open mouth creating a permanent look of mild surprise that conflicted with the blankness in his eyes. His pale skin glowed even paler in the light of the computer, so pale he could pass for an albino but for his impossibly black hair and eyes. Here, with the white wall behind him, and the artificial light blurring his edges, L seemed to melt into invisibility, blending into both the wall and the shadows. He looked decidedly not human.

That's what it is…thought Light, eyes widening in recognition of the traits that had disturbed him earlier. He doesn't look human. He would look fascinating, beautiful even as a work of art, or as a character in a show, or even in a zoo, but here….in a human office, stuffed into human clothes, he looks wrong. People just don't sit like that.

Light briefly indulged in a fantasy of an L exhibited at a zoo before smirking and turning away. L caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and was about to comment when a polite voice behind him called his name softly. Using his arms to propel himself, he turned and allowed Watari to place the new tea set in front of him and whisk away the platter upon which his plate had previously resided. As he turned back, he took the opportunity to subtly scan his team. Hmmm, interesting. They are all visibly upset at this chain, or rather, at me for implementing it. Soichiro openly glared. Sarcastically, he thought, Yes, Yyagami-san, I definitely made this decision just to bother you and impede upon your son's privacy. It certainly has nothing to do with this investigation, and please, ignore the fact that I am just as chained to him as he is to me.

Light shifted and smirked at some hidden thought and L's attention snapped back to him, forgetting his brief annoyance at Soichiro. His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. L ran percentages through his head, considering the likelihood that Light's thoughts had been about him (96% considering Light's amber eyes had been intensely regarding him leading up to the smirk), the possibility that Light was Kira 73%, up one percent after Light stared so openly at him), the chance that the investigative team would notice he put more effort into observing Light than the figures on his computer (only 7%, although it should have been fairly obvious he would investigate his best lead thoroughly before grasping for new ones) and the likelihood that Watari would bring him something with a high sugar to mass ratio (98%), as he was beginning to feel a distinct lack of buzzing in his bloodstream, but was still fairly full from the cake. Just then, Watari extended a bowl towards L filled with small hard candies and lollipops and pleased, L accepted it, ranunning his tongue over his teeth and glanceding up for a brief

"Thank you, Watari."

He unwrapped the first lollipop and put it in his mouth, allowing it to melt on his tongue and savoring the favor for a moment before breaking it with his teeth and eating through the candy as quickly as he could.

Light flinched when L began tearing through the bowl of candy and his stomach rolled when L pushed it towards him. Light took a breath and allowed his expression to settle into something that conveyed the proper appreciation for the offer before refusing with a polite shake of his head. On the inside he seethed. Is that meant to be a peace offering? I don't want your candy, L, I want my life back. I want to pretend that you don't exist, L, with your accusations and juvenile addiction to sugar and your damn…Light took a breath to calm down. He didn't usually allow himself to lose control, even internally but he was tired, very tired, and ready to go home and sleep. But I won't be going home tonight. You, he shot L a poisonous look won't let me. I wonder if we'll have one bed or two? Or how I'll go to the bathroom. Or shower. How we'll sleep. Light shivered, imagining going to sleep with L's impossibly black orbs watching him as they were now was going to be like.

L stared, fascinated by what he saw in Light's face. Light looked different from before his incarceration. His pupils were slightly more dilated and brought out the brown in his eyes, giving his face a younger look. His face was also less guarded, but L noticed how easily the polite denial and expression came to him after L's offer of candy. For a moment, he had seemed disgusted and then…calm. I have to remember that change. It will not do to forget what a formidable opponent Light is, or what a formidable actor. Frowning, L pushed the empty bowl away and leaned back, returning his thumb to his lip. Light Yagami, I will figure you out.

At 6:30 exactly, Matsuda jumped up, trying to stuff all his papers into his bag at once. As everyone turned to stare at him, he turned bright red and began stuttering an apology.

"It's alright, Matsuda, it is 6:30, you may go home." Said L smoothly, but Matsuda awkwardly waited for Aizawa and Mogi also gathered up their things to leave. Ide and Ukita followed closely behind, but Soichiro hung around, looking uncomfortable.

"Do you want me to stay? I could, uh, look at your room or…?"

Soichiro trailed off, looking uncertain. Light flashed him his brightest smile, looking for a moment like the top student in Japan, tennis champion, The- Best- At- Everything- He- Tried.

"We'll be fine."

Soichiro nodded and gave Light an uneasy smile, then opened the door, shooting a final glance back before letting the door shut behind him. L and Light were left to themselves alone. L continued working as though the time had not ended. Light shot a look at L and mentally shrugged before he too continued working.

Is that why he always looks so tired? Is he going to work through the night? I don't think I can pull of the crazed insomniac look…

Just before 8:15, when Light had almost worked up the nerve to say something, L turned off his computer and stretched. He extended a leg in front of him and adjusted his slouch so his torso seemed to glide forwards as he transitioned smoothly from sitting to walking without pausing. He continued to walk, getting two steps past Light before

THUMP

Light was yanked and fell out of his chair. L paused and turned towards Light, and in his usual monotone said,

"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot."

He turned back and continued walking, leaving Light to scramble to his feet to avoid being dragged face first behind the detective.