Author's Notes: Hello, I'm LilyChan and this is my first Death Note fanfic. Please be warned that this is an alternate universe. The characters will be most likely out of character, though I would appreciate feedback on my characterization. This also contains slash – between two male characters. The choice pairing is Raito and L. I will refer Light as Raito. I will occasionally switch between Hideki Ryuga and L. Also, I do not claim ownership of Death Note. That is Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's property. In any case, here is my fanfic. I hope you read it and enjoy it enough to leave a review.

You Can't Have Love Without L

By: LilyChan

Chapter One

The day was boring in the life of Raito Yagami. Everything was the same thing. He'd wake up, take a shower, get dressed, go eat breakfast, go to school, have yet another girl confess their love for him, ace a test, come home, eat dinner, watch a little television, do homework, and then off to bed. It was the same old routine day after day. Sure his parents would occasionally try to spice up his life by dragging him and his sister to a restaurant. But the excitement never lasts. It eventually would fade away into the background as another chore in his daily life.

Raito was also pretty popular with the ladies, which was quite obvious. He dated some girls and occasionally a guy. But they didn't seem any different. In fact, the dates would be exactly the same – although it depends with each archetype of person they are. However, either way, they were all the same. He really wanted something to spice up his life – it was too boring. Too predictable.

When Raito came home from school, his mother and sister appeared to be in some sort of shock while staring at the television. He figured it was some sort of suspense from some drama they were watching. Being nosy, he glanced at the set to see what was so shocking.

Instead, it was shocking to him as well. Apparently the police had found some bodies in a warehouse, who wore a rope around their necks. It was evident, though, that it wasn't a mass suicide because it seemed that all of their hands had been slashed off. Perhaps this was the kick he was looking for.

Doesn't matter though, he thought. They're just going to catch him in a matter of months.

He turned to get a quick snack before heading upstairs to check his e-mail when finally his mother spoke up.

"Raito, you better be careful when you go out from now on."

He froze in mid-step as he heard this.

"Why should I be careful?"

His mother got a little indignant but she tried to calm herself down.

"It's because," she paused, "the victims were high school students from the area."

Raito stood in place as he digested this information. He couldn't believe that someone was sick enough to not only slash off their hands, but to hang them all and then placed the bodies in an obvious place. He wondered how he managed to do it. With those thoughts in mind, he headed upstairs to give him to time to think of a probable solution, or at least something to dwell on about the now mass murder case.

In fact, it was so quiet; you could've heard a pin drop. Also, everyone froze. The situation at the moment was as scary as could be and it would be beneficial to see what was going on with it.

oooo

When Raito was at school, the principal's voice resounded across the school's classrooms and hallways. It echoed as though he were in some sort cathedral. The students who were noisy had shut their mouths immediately since the old man had the tone of voice that was extremely serious, and if one were to be fooling about… well. Dead men tell no tales.

"Attention students, please report to the auditorium." The principal stated, in an extremely surprising calm manner.

Some of the students started to question on what was going on. Apparently they hadn't seen the news the previous night, although he did hear some girls crying. He turned around to see a group of girls hugging one of them. Evidently, she had known someone from the pile of students that was very close to her. The teacher had entered the classroom late and a student had to tell him what the principal announced. The teacher looked a bit… scared, but it could be from the shock of it all. The teacher was a bit pudgy. He had a pug's face with little hair on his head. The man also wore a brown suit with some loafers, Raito assumed at one point to seem more professional then what he really was. He nodded at the student as he took his seat at his desk. The teacher had reached for his handkerchief and wiped it against his brow.

Soon he had gathered up the students and, as well as some other classes that were a bit late on the intake, headed towards the auditorium. On the way, however, Raito had met up with his friend, Matsuda. His hair was rather tamed compared to his attitude. He looked tired compared to the jittering students around him.

"Hey Raito." Matsuda stated as he yawned. The taller boy glanced at him in acknowledgement. Matsuda tossed his arms behind his back in order to stretch his already tired limbs. Of course there were other students who talked amongst themselves; however they seemed afraid to speak aloud. Raito heard them whisper to each other of what they allegedly heard from other sources such as family, older friends, or even the media. Though they could also have been making up lies just to gossip about such silly things, such as aliens or what have you.

"Did you hear what happened?"

"Yes." Raito responded although he was sure his comrade was going to remind him sooner or later anyway.

"Man, that's crazy isn't it? I wonder who the killer is." The boy wondered out loud. Raito grunted in response. The boy wasn't all that interested on who the killer was (though it lingered at the back of his mind) – he was just interested in the thrill of catching him. This was the thrill he was searching for. Then again, he was studying on becoming a police chief – like his father. But he wanted to surpass him; Raito wanted to become something more then just a mere police chief in a crime infested city.

Though, Raito wasn't sure what he wanted to be. He wanted to keep going to the top to where there weren't any more ladders to climb. In truth, he never wanted his life to be boring. He wanted it to be constantly exciting. He was sure his future would bring a lot of twists and turns.

Raito blinked his eyes and realized that he was now at the auditorium, listening to the teachers yell at the students not to climb chairs or tag the walls. He crossed his arms as he frowned.

It was just a mere childish dream. He could probably be nothing more then a police chief at this point if things kept going against him; such as his infuriating classmates. He was sure that if he could, he could have a way to get rid of the good-for-nothings…

However his attention was taken away by the sound of his supposed friend and him pretty much falling to the side. He turned to Matsuda to give him a talk about telling him when he realized that he was sitting next probably the most obnoxious female in the school.

Misa, or as she was known as, Misa-chan. He groaned inwardly as she automatically latched herself against his arm. Even though they had set clothing system, the females would, of course, alter it so they would gain attention from the male students or otherwise. And Misa-chan led the way.

She's a model for something called Gothic Lolita and she was very popular amongst the women and the men. She always wore gothic clothing and had all sorts of chains and crosses and whatnot. Yet she had the optimism of which the people who love her despised. Perhaps it was politics. Perhaps they lie to her. Perhaps they're too busy admiring her clothes to care. Either way, she made it to the top. She missed school, of course, for photo shoots and whatever else models did.

Although, she had this annoying habit of calling herself Raito's girlfriend when in fact they just happen to live in the same neighborhood.

Raito heard her chains and her trinkets clinking against each other and felt her dyed blonde hair against his hand as she pointed everything fashionably wrong with someone. Matsuda, however, nodded and tried to add his 2 cents. But it was in vain for she only tolerated Matsuda because of Raito. And even then, she'd pay more attention to Raito – even if a nuclear bomb landed, her sights would still be on Raito – much to his dismay.

"Raito-kun!" she squealed in her fake Japanese accent. Raito cringed. "I'm scared! What if the killer likes cute girls like me? Would you protect me?"

He wanted to tell her no, but Matsuda chimed in before he had a chance.

"Raito? Nah! He'd probably too busy trying to analyze him! But don't worry, Misa-chan, I'll protect you!" as he pointed proudly to himself.

Misa gave Matsuda a glare and tightened her grip on Raito.

"Nu-uh! Raito loves me too much! He'd protect me! Right, Raito?"

He glanced at her and said, "Well…"

But he was interrupted by an obnoxious beeping. It was Misa-chan's cell phone. She reached down by her books and picked up the phone. It was a phone where you can flip it open; attached to it was a small bell she had apparently found one night while coming home from a party. Raito could practically hear her white makeup crack when she dropped her jaw at the tiny screen before her.

She pulled Raito to his feet (they were still apparently trying to get the students seated) and dragged him away. He glanced back at his friend to be rescued but he was stopped by a teacher and he received on what looked like a vicious lecture.

oooo

Raito walked back to their homeroom with his hands in his uniform pocket as the woman kept attached to him as though, without him, she would die. And she was talking his ear off about the latest model or rather studio drama. The brunet didn't care. He wanted to basically send her off to wherever she was supposed to be gone to and go back to that assembly.

However, when they arrived at the homeroom, they saw a very strange student. His hair was extremely wild as though it hadn't been brushed in weeks, no – months! He had unattractive bags under his eyes as though he had a bit too much fun with the eyeliner or if he had stayed up for months. He was slouching over and he didn't look too comfortable in the school shoes he was assigned to.

"Who are you? Why are you wearing the school uniform?" Misa shouted as she obviously feels threatened by this strange guy.

He didn't answer. He stared at the two, mainly Raito.

The boy got out his gangly and very pale hand from his pocket and extended towards the baffled couple before him.

"I'm L."

oooooo

Ending Notes: Finally, chapter one is finished. You see, it's hard not to write fan fictions that are quirky and just fun. This is my first thriller, mystery, and romance. So if I screw something up, don't worry. I'll come back to fix it when I'm refined or more knowledgeable in this sort of thing. In any case, you know the drill. Reviews and constructive criticism are always welcomed and encouraging. Flames aren't. I'll try to get out the second chapter as soon as I can. Thank you for your time.