A/N; This is the beginning of what was going to be a one-shot, but has to be longer, of a birthday present for L.

Happy birthday L, and Happy Halloween. I hope you have a wonderful time accumulating many sweets tomorrow when you go trick or treating with the children at Wammy's.

Please read and review!


The Demon in the Mirror


Chapter 1

Light had felt those eyes upon him since the moment he had entered the inn; which had been over three hours ago. The black eyes of the stranger had bored into his back and had not left him. He wondered what was so interesting about him that would gain him such attention. Light glanced over his shoulder at the stranger, taking in the fine cut of the robes even if the stranger wore them oddly, there was no sign of weaponry, but that could mean nothing with the long black cloak that covered him; the stranger simply oozed power and covert danger. He took in quickly the mess of black hair above the all too pale face that housed that far too intense a gaze.

He did nothing though, he was able to defend himself, and the blade at his side was no toy, but he was never going to get into unnecessary conflict. He was a Knight of the Realm, he had responsibilities, and therefore he couldn't go around killing people... Okay so he had in the past, but that had been important, and it had helped save the nation. That had to be remembered, and he hadn't liked doing it.

Yet still there was something grating about being stared at all night, he would have been far more at ease if the stranger had just approached him. True, he knew he could have approached the man himself and asked his business but, there was something in that stare that did more than unnerve him. There was power in that stare, a power he didn't want to trifle with, at least not if he didn't have to. He sighed and turned back to his drink and the dreary report he was attempting to read.

"Light, Light."

Light looked up only a few seconds after he had begun to read as his name was called. As usual it seemed he had not managed to escape Teru Mikami for an entire night. His second-in-command, Teru, a tall, black haired, bespectacled and oh so eager for the job he did. Light often wondered how long he would have been safe in his own position had not Teru developed some sort of 'awe' for him. It was confusing, Light knew he was good at his job, but to have someone bouncing around you all day was annoying, and to have them find you and do it all night as well. Okay, so Teru didn't bounce, he just stood there and fawned, asked questions about old manoeuvres and was just too gods-damned helpful. Light couldn't stand it. He realised as Teru began to look crestfallen that he was glaring at the poor man. He tried to remind himself that Teru wasn't at fault, that supposedly working with him was a great honour... once most people got past the details of the incident anyway.

"I'm sorry Teru," Light sighed, "It's just the stranger in the corner behind me keeps staring at me. It's been happening all night."

"Ah," Teru murmured, "Well that's what I came to tell you about. Apparently someone's been asking questions about you."

"Teru, generally people are always asking questions about me considering my past," Light commented, "I'm not exactly an unknown figure, even this far away from the kingdom."

"I know," Teru said, pressing onwards, "but these seemed a bit more forward, a lot more personal than people asking whether you were the instigator of the rebellion-"

"It wasn't a rebellion!" Light said harshly, only just managed to shout, "I was just doing what was necessary."

"I know that," Teru sighed, "but that's not how it appeared to outsiders. All they saw was that you had killed -"

"Can we please not go into details here," Light muttered through gritted teeth. He glanced around at the nearby customers, they were so obviously not overhearing that they had to be. "Besides what does that have to do with him?"

"He's the one who's been asking questions," Teru said hurriedly, "At least he matches the descriptions I was given."

"That's it," Light almost growled, and he rose from the chair he had occupied for most of the night, forced his papers back into his knapsack, for once not caring if they got bent, and fished around in a pocket of his trousers before slamming two bronze coloured pennies down onto the table. The bartender was a broad shouldered man currently involved in a heated debate several tables away and completely oblivious to his leaving patron, but no-one would steal the money placed down by a Knight of the realm. Unfortunate things tended to happen to the perpetrators.

"You're going to talk to him?" Teru whispered, watching his patrol leader with wide eyes.

"No," Light sighed, "I'm leaving."

"That's not like you," Teru muttered as they made their way towards the door, their boots resounding heavily on the rough wooden floor beneath.

"If he wants to know more about me," Light said coldly, "I am not to make it easy for him. He doesn't appear dangerous in the way we deal with, and if he just wants to ask me questions... I'm not in any position to respond how I would want to a curious fool out to speak to the infamous Light Yagami."

"You're far from infamous," Teru muttered, as Light nearly shoved the door open and stepped out.

"Your opinion is skewed."

...

The owner of the staring black eyes couldn't hold back a chuckle as he watched the pair of Knights leave the inn. He had never been so surprised as he had been today, after all he had heard about the events so long ago he had been expecting, the hero or villain depending how you viewed events, to be some old, butch man... Instead he had been confronted with someone younger than himself who had no obvious strength. He had known the Queen had been no more than a child then herself, but he had never realised that Light had been too. It was all so confusing. It made him wonder just why it had been him.

Yes, he knew he needed his answers soon. He needed help, and he always found the best help. However he was not going to ask Light for his help unless he knew he could trust him, that the events he had been embroiled in were similar to his own. L knew all was lost if they were not. He would never succeed and he would lose more than his life in the outcome.

L debated briefly about whether to follow the man he was so interested in. Almost immediately he decided against it, if he followed him now he would be killed, and coming all this way would be for nothing, he couldn't have that. He had to find a way to get closer to Light without light being able to stop him. Absently he pulled up one of his legs and rested his head against it, he sighed as he became more comfortable. He thought over what he could do, and he realised with some despair that there was only one route left to him; and he didn't like it. He was never one for following orders.

"Another Mead," L said suddenly as the bartender left his debate long enough to pay some care to his patrons, "and a jar of honey."

L stared blankly at the wall as he waited for his order to arrive, he attempted vainly not to think and found it to be more than a losing exercise as his mind dwelt on his fraught future. He slipped a silver shilling out from his purses hiding place and placed it on the table as his very necessary order arrived. He gave a small nod of thanks as he received his ample change and spirited it away to join his other hidden coinage.

Ignoring the stares of the other occupants of the bar around him he proceeded to add honey to mead and stirred the resultant gloop around with the spoon he had graciously been provided. He didn't usually do something so extreme, even in his eyes, as add yet more sugar to mead; but tonight he needed it. If he were to attempt to join the Knights he had to mount up his defences somehow, he had a horrible feeling that Light was going to treat him badly any which way.

L smiled inwardly as a woman at a nearby table almost ran to the bathroom as he took the first mouthful of syrupy mead.

...

This could not be happening; Light knew it couldn't be happening because it just couldn't be happening. Yet it was happening. His stalker from the day before was stood before him proudly announcing that he wanted to join the Knight's, and for the life of him Light couldn't think of a valid reason why he could say no. It didn't help that it was also being hissed in his ear by Mikami as Light continued to glare at the man without replying. It also didn't help that he could hear Ryuk sniggering about it in the background, the strange man always found humour in his leader's quandaries and it pissed Light off. Just like everything else in this fine old day.

Light sighed as he realised he would have to speak, and thankfully he had found some way around, hopefully, letting this man join. He knew it was a slim chance, but he had to try it.

"We don't have time to train recruits in this outfit," Light murmured, "We're out on a mission and unless you can keep up and fight well you'll be nothing more than dead weight."

"I can fight," the man replied, his completely calm exterior not fracturing an inch, "Would you like me to show you?"

Light knew instantly that he had been defeated. He could pick anyone from his group he knew and somehow this fiendish creature before him would manage to at least put up a valiant enough effort to be worth having in a fight. He turned to survey his squad, the motley crew of Knight's who, despite appearances, were the best the kingdom had ever produced; from Matsuda already mounted on his horse, bow strapped to his back and crossbow hanging by his side, to Takada and Naomi both so apparently beautiful and not much else, yet deadly in a fight and Light had to admit, almost as clever and cunning as he was. He didn't want to send out any of those three though, if he sent Matsuda it would be a slur on Matsuda as he was a ranged fighter and an excellent tracker but useless in close combat, and if he sent the women he had no idea if the bastard behind him was going to be prejudiced or not. No, if he was going to send out anyone it would have to be Reiji, Raye, Ryuk, Mogi or Aiber, he was damned if it was going to be himself or Teru.

Light gave another heavy sigh; he had come away from the Capitol to the furthest reaches of the kingdom to escape situations like this. Gone were the days when he had relished the challenge such events gave; such joy had been stripped from him during all that he had been forced to do during the incident. Anyone confronted which such knowledge of themselves would shy away from who they were before, and Light had a lot to run away from Gods knew.

Teru gave a small cough from beside him and Light realised he was spending far too long on his decision. He was beginning to be more than a little overtly rude.

"Aiber," Light sighed, "You're up. Perhaps you can show this man here-"

"L, my name is L," the fiend of a man said calmly interrupting Light, "I'm sure I already told you."

"- Perhaps you can show L here what it takes to be a knight," Light continued, attempting to pretend that the interruption hadn't happened.

Aiber's quiet grin of amusement as he stepped forward, his cloak shifting to show the segmented armour they all wore underneath and the weapons he favoured glinted slightly in the light. The sight did much to alleviate Light's annoyance, he knew how good a fighter Aiber was, he was almost the poster child for the organisation.

"So, all I have to do is win and I can join you?" L queried, already shrugging off his black cloak to reveal the suspiciously expensive black tunic and trousers underneath. Light was shocked to see the silver filigree trailing through the fabric, he wondered just what would have made such an obviously wealth man want to join the knights. He had a horrific feeling that it had to with himself and his past. His horror was made worse as he realised there wasn't even the hint of nervousness from the strange man; he looked as if he was out for a morning stroll.

"No," Light said, finally deciding to reply, "All you have to do is survive."

"Survive," L said slowly, and Light held back a laugh as the faintest trace of nerves became visible in his face.

"I don't think he's ever seen Knight's of the realm fight," Aiber commented. There was a faint chuckle from the squad and Light did smile then. It was good to know he had their support and they felt the same about this man as he did.

"I have heard the stories," L said softly.

"The stories don't quite do us justice," Aiber muttered, his face becoming more serious than it usually was as he squared up to L. He hadn't drawn his sword though, and neither had L. They merely stood watching each other, hands at the ready but neither moved.

Light was surprised to see that L's expression had become very serious too, it was as though the strange man was running through scenario after scenario to find the one in which he had the best chance of success. Light knew in that instant that L would win the fight, no matter how much it annoyed Light he knew it to be the truth. Aiber was going to be no match for him. Light was going to have to let him join.

Every citizen had a right to join the Knight's; if they had the skill, the inclination, and no criminal history then they had the right to join the group that defended the nation and protected the queen's honour. Despite how much Light loathed the sight of the man before him, he couldn't refuse his request. His thought's ceased as Aiber drew his sword and moved to attack L.

As Aiber struck though L seemed to have already anticipated the blow and had vacated the space he had been before. Light couldn't help staring open mouthed as L dropped to the floor and balanced there on all fours until the blade had continued its momentum fuelled passage above him. Almost as soon as the blade had covered its arc, and Aiber was about to ready for another swing, L twisted round as he managed a handstand and kicked Aiber in the face with a booted foot.

Aiber was not one to be so easily confused though, or someone who gave in so easily to pain, and he twisted the blade round and made to stab the person still so close to him before L had even finished his kick. Light stared in grudging admiration as L blocked the blade with a dagger he had not been holding a moment before. A move made all the more spectacular as L was pushing himself up in something akin to a back flip as he did this. L still managed to land on his feet and to Aiber's obvious annoyance re-sheathed his blade in his belt.

"Do you think it's wise to let them continue to fight?" Teru whispered suddenly, his voice only audible to Light, "Surely that one move proved all."

Light nodded, Teru was right. Light hated it, but Teru was right. If he didn't stop this they wouldn't have one bruised civilian to deal with, they would have two very damaged Knights'.

"That's enough," Light called, "It's good to finally meet someone who isn't all talk. It's been a long while I've had the satisfaction of watching Aiber get hit."

"Hey!" Aiber called, but there was no real weight behind it, he had caught the compliment. He knew Light well.

"I take it you are now sure of my abilities?" L asked, with the faintest of smiles.

"Sure of them, yes. Sure of you, no," Light sighed, "but you can join. I can't stop you, it's perfectly legal, but don't expect us to go easy on you. As I said before, we don't have time to train recruits, but I must admit you do seem to have abilities."

"Thank you," L said with a bigger smile.

"I wasn't finished," Light said his tone suddenly harsh, "If you're serious about wanting to join up you are going to have to learn how to obey orders. Starting with this one; why did you want to know so much about me yesterday?"

"I wanted to join the Knights," L replied blandly.

Light stared at L with a cool expression, he knew quite well that joining the Knight's had not been the reason L had been asking questions; from Teri's, and later the rest of the squad's, comments. He couldn't say no to L's request though.

"Is there anything else you need to fetch before we leave?" Light asked, wondering if his squad could rush out of town without him. Cowardly he knew, but this man brought out the irrational in him and he barely knew him.

"No," L muttered, hefting a pack up onto his back. It wasn't a large one; it seemed L favoured the way of travelling with the bare minimum of supplies. Light had to grudgingly approve of this too, it was the method he enforced in his squad. "Though I do wonder why he gets a horse."

Light smiled at this and decided not to answer the obvious question. It was up to him what his squad knew, and while he believed in sharing all information, with L he was prepared to make an exception. Matsuda needing a horse was fairly obvious, Matsuda was their scout and it was imperative he could travel fast. Despite his initial appearances the once clumsy Matsuda had blossomed in Light's squad, and he was now an indispensable member of the team.

"Matsuda has a horse," Light said with a smile, "Because it's his horse."

L gave him a look that told Light how much he knew it to not be a reply. Light enjoyed every second of it, and he realised with a sudden acuity that having L around would give him and the squad some much needed entertainment.

"Time to move out people," Teru sighed as L and Light continued their staring contest. He had a sinking feeling his Captain was going to be quite difficult to deal with in the future.

"May I ask what we are going to be doing now?" L asked, and the hint of nervousness had returned to Light's ear.

"It's a surprise," Light said, and he gave L a smirk that chilled him to his core. Suddenly his plan to get closer to the Knight did not seem as good as it had before.

...

L trod along at the back of the squad, trying to stop himself from staring at the back of Light's head as much as he could. He had succeeded in joining the squad, but he had a horrible feeling that the worst was yet to come. He replayed the smirk once more in his mind, and he felt like ice had settled in his stomach once more. He knew all too well what he must have done to Light now, and he was already regretting asking so many questions so close to this squad. Of course he had not expected to have to hide who he truly was for so long, he had thought he would just have to march up to Light and instantly employ him. He had made his task much harder from himself.

He shifted closer to one of the other members of the team, Naomi he thought her name was. He needed more information and knew he needed to have at least one friend in the squad. He walked next to her in silence for a few minutes before finally deciding to speak.

"If I ask you what we are off to do will you give me the same reply as your captain?" L asked.

Naomi gave him an appraising look and to L's surprise actually gave him a small smile.

"No, I won't," Naomi said softly, "and you seem to have forgotten he is your captain as well."

Not for much longer, L thought, and he hoped that he was thinking the truth.

"Okay, what are we off to do?" L asked, deciding to be as precise as he could.

"We are the top squad of Knights in the country," Naomi replied, her tone matter of fact, "So we get the toughest jobs, you do realise this."

"Yes, I do."

"Then you shall understand when I tell you we're off to slay a dragon."

"A dragon," L said, his tone bland, "You're not being serious are you? I'm no good with jokes."

"No she's not," Light said suddenly, his voice startling everyone in the squad, "It's not one dragon, it's a whole family of dragons. Nine dragons in total."

"Not regretting your decision L?" Ryuk laughed.

"No why should I?" L said, forcing his tone to be as mild as it usually was. Inside though he felt just a little panic, he had faced many dangers, but nine dragons?

L seriously hoped they were joking.


A/N; So happy birthday to L, and I hope you enjoy future instalments :D