The brunette looked around, stunned. His peaceful house had been transformed; everything dyed red. He stretched out his hand to grasp his sister's hand, but all his fingers found was air. He took a step backwards and stumbled over his own feet. As he fell, a pair of bright red eyes watched him. Those eyes seemed to laugh as he fell. Looking down, all he could see was black with bits of red splashed randomly.

"No," he whispered. "No, no, no, NO, NO!" By the end he was screaming. All he wanted was for someone to help him, pull him out of this nightmare, but no one came. There was no one to help.

"Light," the red eyes seemed to whisper to him as he fell. "Light. Come on, Light."

"NOOOOOOO!" Light screamed once more. His eyes flew open to find a startled L staring back at him. Light looked around quickly, taking in everything around him. He wasn't at his house. L was here. He was here; he was fine. Everything was fine.

"Light, what…?" The raven-haired man asked him, moving closer to Light. He reached out and put a hand to Light's cheek, and Light became aware of the fact that he was crying and shaking uncontrollably.

"I-I'm sorry L, I just-I don't…." Light trailed off, unable to finish his sentence, and knowing he didn't need to. L sighed, and signaled for Watari to leave. Once the old man had gone, L's gaze returned to Light. The brunette was a pathetic sight, curled in a ball in the desk chair with tears running down his face.

"Light, you're going to make the chair wet. Come here," L motioned to the couch next to him, and Light obliged. Once he was seated on the couch, L went to the bedroom to look for a blanket. Coming back, he found the brunette staring into space, his eyes dim. L sat next to him, wrapping them both in the blanket. He pulled Light into his chest, feeling the young man go stiff.

"Light, it's okay. I won't do anything to hurt you I promise," he whispered into Light's ear. Light nodded slowly against his chest and gradually relaxed.

"Ryuzaki?" Light's quiet voice made it's way to L's as L was nodding off.

"Hmmmm? Yes Light, what is it?" he asked groggily.

"You won't…. leave me…. will you?" L startled and sat straight up.

"No, Light, I won't. Whatever gave you that idea?" he asked, looking into Light's eyes. Those big brown eyes were Light's secret weapon. When L looked into those eyes, he felt he could go crazy any moment.

"Nothing, just…. I just…" Light stuttered and looked away. Whatever his dream was, thought L, must have spawned these thoughts. Or the stress of the case could be getting to him. L looked down at the younger boy who, at the moment, seemed so fragile he would break apart at the slightest touch. L held him close and caressed his head like he would comforting a small child.

"It's okay Light. It'll be okay."

Light seemed to lean into L's touch and soon L heard the steady sound of someone sleeping. He looked down at the man he held so tenderly and smiled.

"Oh, Light," he whispered. "Crazy, little Light. How did you manage to turn my world inside out, I wonder. This mystery might be one even I can't solve." He smiled and soon fell asleep himself. The last thing he heard before falling completely into the void of sleep was Light.

"Ryuzaki," he whispered, snuggling closer to the detective's chest. L smiled to himself and slipped fully into the void of sleep.

1 year earlier…

A lone man wandered through the dark night streets, his only possession a little black book in his hand. He glanced back every few minute to make sure no one was following.

"Paranoid much?" a voice whispered close to his ear.

"Shut up, Ryuk," The young man said, swatting the shinigami floating along next to him. Ryuk grunted and rubbed his nose.

"Aw, c'mon Light. No one's there, and I'm hungry. When are we getting home? I want an apple," he complained to the brunette beside him. Light glanced at him and sighed.

"Later, Ryuk. Later."

Ryuk looked at the brunette next to him and sighed, knowing that Light wasn't going to give in no matter how hard he tried. Ryuk sighed and Light stopped suddenly. Ryuk looked at him and nodded. Light picked up his phone and dialed.

"Hello?" a gruff voice answered.

"Hey, Dad, it's me," Light responded.

"Oh, Light, what a…surprise. What do you need?" Chief Inspector Yagami asked, knowing that when his son called him on his cell, he needed something.

"Well, Dad, someone's following me. It's not a task force member or Misa," Light said, trying his best to sound scared.

"WHAT?!" his father's angry voice rang through the phone, making Light wince and pull the phone away from his ear.

"Ow, Dad, seriously? I think you just burst my eardrum," Light complained, switching the phone to his other ear and continuing his talk.

"Sorry, Light, I just… okay get home as quick as you can. I'll call the police."

"Dad," Light said, hitting his forehead. "Dad, you are the police."

"Oh, yes, right. I forgot. Anyways Light, be careful," his father responded and hung up.

"Thanks for your help, Dad," Light said to the dead phone he now held. Light looked at Ryuk and started off at a light jog. Ryuk followed suit and floated faster. His pursuer also quickened his pace, and Light ran faster until he was running full speed towards his house. He ran to the front door, opened it quickly, and jumped inside; taking care to make sure Ryuk was inside before he shut it. Light slid down the door and sat in a heap on the floor. Despite himself, he smiled. He outran whoever was chasing him, and he had needed some exercise anyways. Sayu came in and gave Light a questioning look. Light stood and slipped of his shoes.

"Hey Sayu. How was school?" He asked, noticing that his little sister was still in her school uniform.

"Fine. The same as always," she replied with a shrug. Light laughed and ruffled her hair.

"Okay, well, tell mom I'll be in my room if she needs me," Light said, already starting for the stairs. Sayu nodded and moved back to the kitchen to finish dinner. Light took the stairs two by two until he reached the top. He opened the door to his room carefully, checking to make sure all his safety precautions were still in their respectable places. He locked the door and flopped onto is bed, turning on the TV as he did so. Ryuk grabbed an apple from the bag of apples that was now permanently stationed in his room.

"Let's see who we can kill today," Light mumbled, flipping through the channels until he found the news. A previous report was just finishing up when he turned on the channel.

" … and that concludes our interview with Mr. Takishima. Now we have breaking news coming to you. The killer who is commonly known as Kira now has a rival," the news lady explained, causing Light's head to shoot up. "The great detective known as L to the public eye has agreed to investigate the case. L's terms of agreement and such…" The news lady continued, but Light's thoughts were elsewhere. Now he had to deal with L? The L? He couldn't believe it.

"Light! Your father needs to speak with you!" His mother's voice reached his ears from where he was sitting.

"Coming!" Light yelled back, cursing under his breath. Now his dad wanted him? This day was going great. Light walked downstairs, Ryuk remaining in his room eating apples.

"Yeah, Dad, what is it?" he asked seeing his dad sitting at the kitchen table. This couldn't be good.

"Well, son, I thought, since you're old enough, I thought you might want to help me with a case. Wait, no, you will help me with this case," his dad said, looking Light directly in the eyes.

"Okay," Light said, a hint of suspicion in his voice, "What is it?"

"You are going to help with the Kira case, and we are going to meet with L right now. Get dressed, and meet me at the car in two minutes," his dad responded, walking out of the room signaling the end of the conversation. Light was stunned. He was going to help solve a case where he was the culprit? He walked up to his room in a daze.

"Whamph happenemf?" Ryuk asked through bites of apple.

"I'm solving my own case, apparently," Light responding, picking out a crisp white polo and black dress pants from his closet. He found a black tie in one of his drawers and put it on. He ran out the door grabbing a suit jacket and shoes as he went. His dad was already in the car when he got there. Light slipped in and buckled his seat belt.

"You're late," his dad told him as he started the car.

"Sorry," Light mumbled, his mind still elsewhere. His day had gone great.

A/N

Hey guys! This is (drum role please) my very first fan fiction! Thank you, thank you. anyways please read, review, and i will post more chapters later! Have a great day!

-IntriKit