Standing on the very tips of his toes, Matsuda held his breath as he neatly tied a bow, successfully hanging the cheap, store-purchased party streamers at the top of the door. This was his party, and he was determined to celebrate the capture of Higuchi whether anyone else was coming or not. And, it didn't really look like anyone else was coming.

After hanging the streamers, Matsuda slumped down onto the couch, unable to help but feel put-out and plagued with the sense that this would be one occasion that he would have to celebrate on his own.

He eyed the unopened bottle of sake, sitting by itself on the low-lying table in the middle of the room. He wondered briefly if he should open it; it wasn't as if there was anyone else to share it with.

Then he thought that maybe he didn't want to get that drunk. This was, after all, a celebration—not a pity party.

(Though maybe that's what it was rapidly turning into.)

That's why he was surprised when the door suddenly opened. A glance upward revealed that the person who might have actually decided to join the party was none other than L.

"Oh, R-Ryuzaki!" Matsuda greeted, a wave of nervous excitement crashing over him.

"I heard there was cake."

Matsuda stood up, awkwardly. "Oh, uhm, yeah. It's right over there."

Before he could even finish his sentence, however, L was already on his way to the pastries, plate in hand. Matsuda could only watch as L plopped the entire cake down onto his plate. He began heading over to sit down on the couch.

"R-Ryuzaki!" Matsuda cried. "That cake is for other people as well!"

L looked around the room as if to say, What people? and sighed, walked back to the cake bar, and picked up the knife. Cocking his head to the side, he sliced a tiny sliver of cake and placed it on another plate. Carefully, he held it up to Matsuda.

"I apologize," L said, "would Matsuda-san like to have his piece?"

Matsuda sweatdropped. "Errr, don't you think it's a bit tiny?"

L dropped his eyes down to stare at his portion of the cake, almost in disdain. He looked so torn with indecision that Matsuda finally said, "Uh, it's okay. Never mind. Just leave my piece up on the counter; I'll eat it later."

Nodding, and seemingly perking up a bit more, L put down Matsuda's plate and carried his own over to the couch. Sitting down, he began eating.

"So..." Matsuda began, trying to start a conversation, "I'm sure you're glad that the handcuffs are finally off."

"Actually, it's a bit lonely."

Matsuda was unsure he had heard the detective correctly. L didn't seem like the type of person who would, or even could get lonely. Wasn't he always alone, before the Kira case? "You're lonely?"

"It certainly seems that way, doesn't it?"

Matsuda didn't know what to say to that. "W-well, I guess that's understandable. I mean, you two were chained together for a long time."

L nodded, and the conversation lapsed into a bout of awkward silence.

Determined to break it, Matsuda said the first thing that popped into mind. "Soooo...uhm...out of curiosity, because I've kind of been wondering about this for a while...is your closet just filled with, uhm, a ton of the same outfit?"

L nommed a piece of cake. "Well, yes. Did you think that I just wear the same pair of clothing repeatedly?"

"Ahh! No."

The conversation having ended, it spiraled into yet another uncomfortable silence.

Suddenly, Matsuda let out a little laugh. Struck by the spontaneity of the action, L looked over at him, questioningly.

"This isn't much of a party, is it?" Matsuda commented.

L shrugged. "I wouldn't know."

Matsuda was taken aback. "Haven't you ever been to a party before?"

"I can't say that I have."

"What?" Matsuda clasped a hand over his mouth, having not meant to sound so shocked. But, what kind of a man had never before been to a party? Parties were where you picked up girls, or went out to drink. They were a social event for most everyone to enjoy. And Ryuzaki had never been to one?

"Well, it isn't as though I have very much time to spend on recreation in between my casework," L reasoned.

"B-but, surely you don't work all the time."

"But of course. I've solved over 3,000 cases entirely by myself. I need to work all the time."

Over 3,000?

Suddenly, Matsuda was struck by the thought that maybe L wasn't actually real at all. That he was some extraordinary machine designed for this.

In awe, before he could stop himself, Matsuda reached out a hand and caressed L's face. L stared, wide-eyed. Realizing what he was doing, Matsuda snatched his hand back.

"S-sorry..."

"Why did Matsuda-san touch my face?"

"Errrr...I just wanted to make s-sure that you were...real?"

L blinked.

"I can assure Matsuda-san that I am very real."

"W-well, I knew that; I just w-wanted to, uh, make sure."

"...I see."

They both were quiet for a moment, and then Matsuda said, "W-well, I'm sorry that this wasn't a very good first party for you."

"By what logic?"

"Uhm! You know...no girls, no people...you only really had one person to talk to."

L was silent for a moment, but then said, quietly, "Perhaps I found that one person's company very enjoyable." L got to his feet, heading out the door.

"Wh-what—"

"Goodnight, Matsuda-san."


OH MAI GOD. I've been planning this story for over a year! I can't believe I've finally started it!

So, it turns out that I still get to use internet while attending the mental institution. Things will just be a bit slow, however, as I am spending much time focusing on getting treatment.

Soon, there will be more plot to this. Please keep an eye out for the next chapter! Thank you for reading, and reviews are so much love.

~Ratt Kazamata, 7/04/2012