Disclaimer: Don't own Death Note or any of the characters (though I would feel sorry for them if I did!)

AN - this chapter sets up the story and is pretty normal but beware it is going to get freaky! (eventual L/Light/L)

Chapter 1 - Why Me?

Light put his elbows on his desk and lay his head in his hands; this tedious work was getting to him. Irritating as it was, Light still had five more cases to go over before he could go home. Every other member of the police headquarters had long ago returned to their families and even his father was now probably snuggling down in bed for the night.

Light looked at his watch again. Nearly midnight; another few moments and he would officially have been constantly working for the past 24 hours. He had nothing better to do than work but lately the crime rate in Japan was at an all time low and Light had been assigned the job of sorting through the case files. It was also true that they could have waited until tomorrow and Light could have gone home whenever he wanted, but he was avoiding Misa. Misa was an actress and model and had been Light's girlfriend for the past year...Well at least she considered herself to be Light's girlfriend. She had attached herself to him and he had not had the heart to tell her what he really thought of her, which wasn't much.

So she had controlled the relationship deciding by herself to move into Light's tiny one bedroom flat a couple of months ago. What's more, she hardly ever appeared to be working and spent most of her time waiting for Light to come home. His only escape from her was work, which she had been forbidden from ever coming to, after distracting the entire task force on her last visit. Light was never very caring towards Misa and only let the relationship continue because it would be bothersome to try to end it.

He constantly wondered why Misa put up with him for so long when all he did was try his very best to avoid her or ignore her. The only thing he did enjoy was the sex…

Whilst Light let himself endulge in visions of sex with Misa a message envelope appeared in the corner of his computer screen and began to flash. Noticing this, Light clicked on the little envelope to open the e-mail. It was from an unknown sender. Wondering who on earth would be e-mailing him at a time like this and calculating the possibilities of it being one of the eight people who were the only ones to have his email address, Light proceeded to open it.

A blank white page opened before his eyes and then after a few seconds three words appeared in the centre of the page - CLICK THIS LINK. Then below that a link appeared in a language Light couldn't understand. He sat back in his seat and flexed his fingers as he considered what the link might lead to. It could be something to do with one of my cases, he thought, although considering the sender had gone to the trouble of hiding his identity and whereabouts he considered this unlikely. Maybe it was something to do with Misa's work? No; why would she give them a direct e-mail address when she had agents to deal with that. He went through a couple of other possibilities such as a prank from Matsuda but could come up with no reasonably logical explanation. Out of curiosity, and not considering there to be a very high risk, Light proceeded to click the link.

Once he had, his entire computer screen turned white and the letter L appeared in archaic font in the centre of his screen. Light was familiar with this image as he had dealt with L, the world's 'greatest' detective, before, and always through a computer screen like this, but he was shocked L would contact him directly at this hour. He thought again about a practical joke, as this was the sort of thing Matsuda would do, but then the synthetic voice that was L boomed out of his computer speakers.

He quickly turned the volume down to a reasonable level and then returned L's greeting.

"Hello L. What can I do for you?"

"Yes Light, I'm sorry to contact you at this late hour but I have something to ask you."

He didn't seem too sorry, Light thought as he simmered, annoyed at being disturbed by L at all.

"Not at all L," Light continued diplomatically, "what is it?"

"I'm stuck on a case."

L stuck on a case. This didn't seem likely to be true and Light wondered what the detective was aiming at. "Really, how very odd. Well what can I do?"

"I was hoping you could join me in Tokyo, I could use another head with a similar intelligence to my own."

Is he trying to butter me up? Light thought. What is the meaning of this - he can't possibly be serious.

"Are you sure? I'm not certain what I will be able to do, maybe you should choose someone with more experience. You know I have only been a qualified officer for two months." Actually, Light thought, I probably could do the job better than you, but just what are you up to?

"I have been watching you Light, I mean studying you, keeping tabs you might say, since you last worked under me."

"Oh." Light was seriously confused now. What was L playing at? It was very unusual for the talented detective to ask anyone for help.

"Yes, and I am very interested in you."

…Is he hitting on me now?

"I admire your brain - your deduction skills are almost as good as my own." Better than your own, Light thought. "I would much appreciate being able to work with Light."

"Well, I don't see it being much of a problem seeing as you probably know there is not much going on here at the present time. But of course I will have to clarify my leaving with the head of -"

"I have already arranged everything for Light. Your flight leaves first thing in the morning."

Huh. He is a bit cocky, no, presumptuous. It was not a given that I would accept his offer.

"Well then I guess I have no choice. I can hardly say no to that."

"Precisely. I look forward to meeting Light again."

"Yes." Light did not return the compliment but instead broke the link. What an arrogant bastard, he thought, I shall enjoy this.

Light finished off the last few files with a renewed sense of purpose and quickly left the main Japanese police headquarters and headed for his car.

"Oh, Fantastic!" Light kicked his clamped tire in rage and then began to curse L in pain. "If he hadn't distracted me I would have been out of here before one!" He stormed off towards the exit and took his phone out from his pocket. He flipped it open and then realising it was much later than he thought and was actually now after two in the morning, decided it was far too late to call anyone to come and get him. He didn't have the money on him for a taxi so he started the long walk back to his flat.

When he got in he was surprised to see that Misa had actually gone to bed before he got in for a change and was relieved he would be able to shower and pack for the next day in peace.

He showered first then dressed in his pyjamas. He couldn't see a thing in the dark of their small bedroom but didn't want to risk waking Misa up, so he rummaged through his drawers, choosing clothes to pack, by feel. It was easier than you would expect seeing as Light's clothes were neatly arranged into separate drawers for shirts and trousers, with different sides of each drawer for light and darks. He neatly arranged them in a holdall then realised he actually didn't know how long he would be away for and deciding it would be better to be safe than sorry, took the large suitcase down from the top of their wardrobe and put the rest of his clothes into it.

He zipped it up as slowly as possible so as not to make too much sound, as Misa was a light sleeper, but he caught the skin of his finger in the zip and let out a slight cry at the shock.

Misa turned over in the bed to face Light and blinked.

"Light, you're home!" She knelt up in the bed about to throw herself at him then noticed the suitcase. "Are you going somewhere Light?"

Even in the dark Light could tell Misa was making sweet sad eyes at him and pouting slightly.

He sighed, as he had hoped this could wait until just as he was about to go.

"Yes Misa, I have to go to Tokyo on a case."

"What case? Why didn't Light tell me before?"

"I only just found out myself," He let the annoyance at her neediness show in his voice and didn't try to hide it as he went on, "I have to leave in about four hours for my flight and I don't know when I am coming home. The case seems to be pretty hard to solve so I could be gone a while."

"OH. Misa could come with Light, to keep him company and help in any way she can!"

"No Misa." Light heard his words come out firmer than he had wanted and saw tears well in the young girl's eyes. "I'm sorry Misa - it's not that I don't want you to come along," Well actually it is, "but it could be dangerous," Probably not"and I don't think you would enjoy it. I will be working all the time anyway so you won't be able to see me. And besides, don't you have work? I will miss you Misa," I'll be so glad of a break "and you can call me if you like." Please don't.

"Yes Light, if you say so. But Misa will really miss you and will be very lonely."

"I know Misa, I'm sorry. But I can have Matsuda come around and check on you from time to time. I know he would like to spend some time with you."

"Okay," She wiped her face and crawled across the bed towards Light, "But let's make the most of the next couple of hours okay?" she threw her arms around Light's neck and pulled him towards the bed.

"Misa…" He was about to protest that he was tired or that he had a headache but he felt the tears on her cheek now pressed to his and decided it wouldn't be too bad to let her do what she wanted tonight. "Okay Misa."

He smiled at her as she now looked into his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist. He lay back onto the bed and let her climb on top of him.

She leaned down to kiss him and he took her head in his hands and wiped her tears away with his thumbs. Then he pulled her down to him and pushed his lips to hers kissing her deeply and closing his eyes to lose himself in the routine.

Tbc

Beta's note: tune in next time for 'what is L up to exactly?' and 'what the hell is Misa doing in a Light/L fanfic?' and '...Matsuda?_?' oh, yeah, and by freaky we mean in all senses of the word. XD