A/N: I've been mulling over the idea for this story for a while now but because I haven't fully finished the series (I had someone tell me what happens and I've scanned the later books) I wanted to wait till I had finished so I would have all my facts right. But after reading a number of amazing stories in this category I figured I'd give it a shot anyway. This is my first DeathNote story please be kind, criticism is welcome though as long as it's not a full on flame.

Disclaimer: If I owned this story do you honestly think I'd be writing these stories for it?... actually I would… okay point is, I don't own Death Note despite how much I wish I did so no suing!

Title: Self Demise

Chapter 1: Behind Hollow Eyes

There was something wrong with L; Light could tell just by watching him out of the corner of his eyes. The detective had been quiet most of the day and when he did speak he didn't say more than four words.

He and L had been working on the Kira case all day now (along with the rest of the task force of course), and all day Light had suspected something was wrong with the detective.

His normally large eyes were half closed and unfocused, as though he was fighting some kind of internal struggle with himself and had left the outside world behind completely. And whenever Light tried to bring him back to the case by asking him what his opinion on some kind of evidence was, L would ask him what he thought and then agree.

As Light pretended to look over a report now on the computer screen he was sitting in front of he couldn't help but let his brown eyes travel over to the detective who sat on his part of the couch with his knees up to his chest, and his thumb still on his sealed lips.

The teen's eyes then traveled down to where their hands sat, oddly closer to each other than normal; every few moments the detective's fingers would twitch as if holding back from some kind of action. The chain that bound them both together was limp, hanging over the side of the couch.

Light contemplated what he wanted to do.

He could continue to do nothing and leave L in his own little world, maybe then it would force him to make some kind of mistake, to miss some little detail that would, on any other day, be unheard of for the detective.

But on the other hand, he could try and force L into telling him what was bothering him. By doing this it would supposedly bring them closer together and ultimately closer to gaining the information of what L's true name was; ultimately leading to his death.

Then Light turned back to the screen, beginning to think over that option more in detail. It made sense on the outside of why L would keep his name hidden from him, Light was pretty confident that L wouldn't go to those lengths to get a Kira-like reaction from him. But he could if he really wanted to, he could reveal his true name to Light and if he ended up dying it would only prove that he was Kira.

The teen let the thought slip from his thoughts to focus on the situation at hand; he once again turned to L with his decision in mind.

"Ryuzaki."

"Hm?"

"Are you okay?"

L's deep eyes came back into focus and flicked over to Light, a sudden chill ran up his spine that assured that he was being evaluated even now. "Sure, why do you ask?"

Light gave him a confused look, "just sure?"

"You're evading my question, Light-kun." L said.

"You're evading mine."

L continued to stare unblinking at him so finally Light sighed, hoping he would be able to draw out a proper answer later on, "well you just looked really distracted, so I figured I'd ask."

"Oh," L's eyes turned back to the computer screen in front of him, still unseeing it fully, "other than being distracted, I suppose I'm alright."

Light's confused look only deepened, "why are you so distracted?"

L was silent for a long moment, the look on his face said that he was definitely in turmoil within himself only this time closer to his surface; something said he was contemplating whether or not he really wanted to tell Light, his best friend, what was on his mind. "I just have a lot on my mind." He finally said.

"Like what?" Light asked.

"Why are you so prying today, what are you trying to get at?" L asked, Light tried to ignore the fact that L was accusing him of being Kira in the hopes of causing enough frustration in the teen that he would drop it. Light tried not to let that get to him for the moment.

"Because I'm your friend and I want to try and make it better."

L was the one to give him a confused look, 'help me?' L thought to himself, 'he wants to help me by making it better? I would have never thought Light the kind, I was sure that his side of our friendship was just a façade, but now… now I'm not so sure. If he was Kira there's no way he would ever care enough to even ask what was wrong with me, he would simply let me continue on in the hopes that I'll make a mistake. But if this is just Light talking, maybe… Could it possible… could he…?'

L could feel nervousness raking his body as he finally decided that now would be the time to tell his friend, Light. He couldn't be sure if there was going to be a later anymore.

"So?" Light said, bringing the detective back to the present again.

"Well… I… Light-kun, I," as his words refused to fall in proper sentences he felt his left hand that was on the couch move ever closer to Light's, he felt his very body begin to move closer, he could feel the addicting heat that resonated off of the teen's body.

Light felt himself frozen in place as L came closer to him with a shyness in his usually confident movements; his eyes were locked with L's coal orbs that held him with a promised security.

He felt a warm hand touch his cheek and at that moment he knew he was lost to the temptation. He wasn't sure if this was really right or wrong, but at the moment he didn't really care. Something in him told him it was right for all the wrong reasons, but the fact that it was right in any way was enough of a reason for him at the moment.

Still L moved closer, his hand was shaky, shy and unknowing. Finally they were mere centimeters apart. Light could feel the detective closer than ever to him; he tried to move to give him a straight shot to his lips if he really wanted it…

"Light," the sudden sound of Soichiro Yagami's deep voice entering into the room threw L back away from Light in one vicious motion, he looked over his shoulder to avoid meeting Light's now widened brown eyes, "are you ready to go?"

Light's eyes went to his father, then over to L, who was fumbling in his pocket. The detective suddenly came out with a key and began to unlock the handcuffs that were keeping them locked together.

"Ryuzaki?" He asked, not trusting his words at the moment, his mind was too cluttered with thoughts to make sense of anything.

"I'm letting you go home, I'd hate to keep you stuck with me all night again and away from your family for even longer than need be."

Light's look only turned more into confusion, his head slightly turned to the side, he couldn't figure this guy out. He observed L's diverted gaze that seemed ridden with sadness.

L's eyes flicked to Light, "I'm sure you'll be happier this way." He said.

Their eyes locked together for a moment that seemed the stop time. Light could almost see into the deep recesses of L's soul; he could almost read what was going through his head and feel what he was feeling. Something was screaming at him to just stay where he was and try to figure the detective out.

Light finally stood up after removing his handcuff but continued to stand next to the couch they had remained on; L's eyes had followed him and black orbs locked with brown ones once more. There was something in them now, an emotion that almost begged him to stay despite not being handcuffed together anymore.

"We'll continue this tomorrow, I guess." Light said, his voice barely over a whisper, guilt washing over his every word. His better instincts told him not to leave, to stay and try to do everything in his power to erase the depressed look that was painted on L's every feature. But the other part of him knew that he needed to go home and plan, and to write more names in the Death Note.

"If you say so, Light-kun." L said while diverting his eyes away from the teen.

Light forced himself to turn away and to walk to the door, "see you tomorrow, Ryuzaki." Light said as he took the handle of the door in his hand.

L didn't respond.

A/N: Okay, so there'll be one more chapter to this short story. So that makes this a two-shot. I guess it's a good start for this category. Anyway, next chapter will be up shortly. Send me your reactions, comments, criticism, ect. Thanks! (No flames please, keep in mind this is my first DN fanfiction and I'm already wondering about how well I kept them in character.)

Please review!

-Forbiddensoul562