Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story nor do I own the story that they hail from.

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"Would Light-Kun like some cake?"

Barely giving the detective a glance, the teenager shook his head as he shrugged on his jacket, turning his attention to the zipper instead,

"No, I really don't care for sweets." Like I've told you several times already.

"It is a shame that Light-Kun detests such wonderful foods…" The raven murmured, shoveling a piece of his own cake into his mouth, "I believe he does not know what he is missing out on."

Scrunching up his face in slight disgust, Light glanced at the dessert in question passively,

"Isn't it a little early to be eating something so sugary anyway?" He reasoned, "It's only seven in the morning."

"Yes, thank you, Light-Kun, but I am well aware of the hour. As for your question, it is never too early for sweets, especially because to me it is not early."

"I'm sure you are one of the few people in the world that would think that."

Opting to end their slight argument, the brunette picked up the backpack positioned beside his side of the work desk and headed towards the door.

"Well, I'm going, L."

"Going? Where exactly is Light-Kun going?"

Giving his former handcuff partner a curious glance, the insomniac swiveled his chair around to face the escaping teen, "Is it not too early for Light-Kun?"

"Normally, yes, but I have classes at eight thirty and the bus route usually takes about an hour."

"Classes? So I take it Light-Kun has decided to reinstate his schooling now that he is no longer forced to remain at the headquarters with me?"

The teen nodded in response,

"I've already missed quite a bit of school work because of taking time off when I was being kept in solitary confinement and when I was a suspect. My teachers are threatening to drop me if I don't start showing up." Light muttered, his tone somewhat bitter at the memory.

After taking such a long break his teachers had informed him that although his excuses were understandable (what precisely his so called excuses were for missing school for so many weeks he was uncertain, however knowing Ryuzaki it was probably either something embarrassing or over the top) he was still expected to return to school soon to get back to work.

Luckily for the young genius he knew he wouldn't have too much trouble catching up on all his missed assignments, seeing as he probably already knew the majority of what he missed, the only thing he was dreading was spending all the time to actually do the work. Easy or not work was work and it could sometimes prove to be incredibly time consuming. Especially college tasks.

"I see."

Giving an understanding nod, the detective rose from his chair and grabbed another strawberry, scarfing it down before walking past the now curious teen and stalked through the already opened door, pausing only to look over at Light,

"Is something wrong, Light-Kun? I was under the impression you required to leave for school now."

"Yes, you are correct…" The brunette began, his words hesitant and careful as he studied the waiting man, "But where are you going?"

"Is it not obvious? I am going to school with Light-Kun."

"You are what?"

Narrowing his brown eyes slightly at L, Light frowned,

"I thought you were going to my school just to keep an eye on me. Now even you yourself said that I wasn't a suspect."

Ryuzaki nodded his head in agreement, although they both knew fully well that Light was still far from being innocent in the insomniac's eyes.

"Then why are you still going? It's not like you actually need to take any of those classes."

"I could say the same for Light-Kun." The detective pointed out, idly scratching his right ankle with his left foot in an almost bored fashion, "I am certain that there is nothing important to learn at school that Light-Kun is not already aware of. Besides, I have already offered Light-Kun a job working with me on this case, so he will not need to worry about finding a job with no degree. Why is it that Light-Kun still insists on attending his classes?"

Because I need a break from you. Light thought irritably.

"Think of it this way, Ryuzaki," The teen began, feigning a smile as he regarded the impatient insomniac, "I've only just turned 18, I want to spend some time with my friends and experience college. Besides, your offer is great and all but what about after we find the real first and second Kira and close the case? My employment with you would become null and void when you moved onto the next case and I wouldn't have anything else to do. That's why I need a college degree, that way I can join the police after and become a detective."

He gave the detective another charming smile, amused by how easy it was to lie to the so called 'World's greatest detective'.

He honestly couldn't care less about seeing his acquaintances at school nor did he even worry about getting a job after the Kira case was 'solved' (Half because he knew it would never be solved and the other half because he knew that even if it was solved it would be long after he had killed L). Anyway, being the god of the new world was a job itself. One day, once everyone stopped fighting against the inevitable and accepted Kira he could reveal his identity and pass free judgment over the population. It was all just a matter of time.

The brunette paused in his thoughts, wondering why it was that now his plans seemed so very laughable, even to himself.

This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all.

"I must say Light-Kun is incorrect in that statement because I have a job and have never gone to college." L nonchalantly pointed out, his thumb coming up to rest against his lips, "Going to Light-Kun's school was the first time I have ever actually been enrolled in any type of public education system."

"But that's the thing, Ryuzaki. You don't know anything about the real world. You've been so sheltered your whole life that it doesn't surprise me in the least that you don't understand the importance of a college degree."

A moment of silence passed as L seemed to mull that thought over in his head before he pulled his thumb from his mouth, instead placing both his hands in his pants pockets.

"Perhaps Light-Kun is correct. I do not enjoy being around others and thus have had no reason to engage in social situations… I suppose that gives me all the more reason to continue going to school with Light-Kun then."

Shit. He had him there.

"Wait, but, what about the case?" Light asked, dejectedly attempting to persuade the detective from coming with him. After all, the last thing he needed was to be stuck with the raven at college as well. That was where he was finally allowed time to think about his motives without being interrupted by the childlike man. "If you go to college with me you won't have as much time to find the first and second Kira."

"Hm?" Tilting his head to the side in a show of feigned innocence L turned and walked out of the door, replying idly as he left, "Oh, Light-Kun needs not worry of that. I am already well aware of who Kira and his follower are, I just lack the evidence."

Clenching his fists at his sides, Light sighed and shook his head, quickening his pace to catch up with L,

"You're talking about me, aren't you?"

Giving a small, sly smile the black haired man glanced over at his first friend,

"Why ever would Light-Kun think that? But yes, he is correct."

"I thought you said I wasn't a suspect anymore."

"Ah, yes. Well, you see, Light-Kun, I lied."

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"You know, Ryuzaki, this isn't necessary…" Light insisted, his hands resting in his lap in slight discomfort, "I was perfectly fine riding the bus."

"Perhaps Light-Kun may be but I am not." The raven dismissed, his focus on the selection of different candies laid out before him, "I feel much more comfortable having Watari take us."

"Yes, I understand that, but was taking a limo really necessary?"

"Yes. "

Rolling his eyes at his acquaintance's stubbornness, Kira ceased his fruitless questions and instead leaned his head against his palm as he gazed out the small back window of the overly sized limo.

This wasn't going how he wanted it at all and it did not sit well with him. He needed time away from the detective, yet no matter what he did it seemed like he could never get the man to leave his side. It felt almost as though they were still handcuffed together and it irritated Light quite a bit.

Narrowing his eyes at the cars passing by them, the brunette noticed with limited interest a car barreling down the street failed to stop at the red light they were waiting at. Instead it zoomed right past, narrowly avoiding a head on collusion with another van who had the right away.

Watching with distaste as the red sports car continued down the road at a speed certainly exceeding the speed limit the boy almost missed something the detective said to him as the lawbreaker's car disappeared ahead.

"That car did not heed the laws of driving." Ryuzaki pointed out, his eyes glued to Light's.

Kira shrugged in return and sent the raven a bored look.

"That happens all the time in Japan, especially during the morning rush." He dismissed, focusing back at the land whizzing past them as the light changed for them once more.

"Do you think he will be killed by Kira?"

"Killed by Kira?" Looking at the detective from the corner of his eye, the brunette rested his chin on his upturned palm, "Why would someone speeding be killed by Kira?"

Though he wouldn't admit it, Light was slightly offended at the mere idea of killing someone for something so minor. Sure his ideals were iffy at the moment, but he was certain that even when they were steady before he never would have gone so far as to focus on trying to find the identity of a mere person going over the speed limit.

"Because the driver of that car was a criminal." L explained as thought it was obvious, "He broke the law."

"It was just a speeding violation. People get that every day but they don't need to die over it."

"So then you think Kira believes in excusing evils, Light-Kun?"

The brunette frowned at the insomniac's questions and finally tilted his head to look fully at him,

"Excusing evils? Ryuzaki, why are you asking me these things?"

"Will Light-Kun not amuse me with a response? I am only curious as to what he thinks, seeing as he has already admitted that Kira's ideals are similar to his own. In that case I believe it would be easiest to uncover Kira's personality by dwelling into Light-Kun's own beliefs."

Damn him…

Giving L a hard look, the teen mulled his opinions over in his head for a moment, attempting to distinguish the lesser of two evils in this situation.

On one hand he could refuse to answer any more of Ryuzaki's questions on the grounds that he was not and never would be Kira so he would have no way of knowing how the murderer passed his judgments, but Light was certain that if he did that the detective would find his lack of an opinion suspicious. Yet if he was to give his honest views on absolute evil and absolute good or the lack therefore it would only prove how alike Light Yagami's ideals are to that of Kira's which would still only rise L's suspicions of him.

Relax. He mentally urged himself, careful as to ensure no emotions passed through his expression other than the pensive, thinking one he was feigning. He's only asking me this because he has no evidence. Even if I do answer this question and his damned percentages rise he still has no proof that I'm the first Kira. After all, I'm not the only one in the world that has this point of view. With the emergence of Kira more and more people are adopting my view; the view that the world is rotten and thus requires a higher power to purge this world of all the evil doers. People now rely on me to save them from the criminals slowly taking over this world….

Right?

He… He was justice… Wasn't he? He was supposed to do this. It was his destiny…

Yes… It is my destiny… He mused bitterly to himself as his thoughts took a turn, reflecting on the lighter point of view that was the old, innocent Light Yagami, It's my destiny to become a mass murderer…

"Ryuzaki… You are right that I admitted that Kira's ideals are like my own because it is the truth. More than once I have found myself wishing death upon a truly wicked criminal, although I would never even think about killing someone for doing something as common as breaking the speed limit and running a red light. It's in human nature to make mistakes sometimes. After all, even you have broken laws before, Ryuzaki."

"Mm… Light-Kun is observant… Yes, if my actions were to be compared to laws, I have no doubts that I have broken numerous rules that would label me as a criminal, which I suppose would be why Kira is set on killing me. However, Kira seems to be consumed with the urge to create a completely evil free world." The detective explained, plopping a hard candy into his mouth as he continued, "In that case he would have to rid the world of even those minuscule evils such as running a red light. They broke a law, which by society's definition would make them a criminal. To turn a blind eye to such a person would be to excuse evil and one cannot enforce a standard and expect people to follow it when exceptions are routinely made. Does Yagami-San not agree?"

Black eyes met brown ones as the two men stared at one another, a silent war waging between the two as neither faltered, refusing to be the one to look away and, in turn, lose.

Light's eyes were hard and cold as he glared at the detective, his anger barely contained as L's words seeped into his mind, riling him up more than he thought they should be able to.

After all, words shouldn't have been able to get under his skin like they did, especially not the narrow-minded words of his enemy. To be honest, he wasn't even sure why they mattered to him in the first place. It wasn't as though L was a friend nor was he anyone of importance to Light, so it was not that he felt ashamed that his views were different.

Perhaps it was because Ryuzaki's words were right and he knew it.

"It doesn't matter if I agree with you or not. Even though I did say that his ideals are similar to mine it doesn't mean they are exactly the same. Like I said, I only wish death on criminals, I certainly don't actually kill them, and so in that case I wouldn't know just what Kira was planning because I'm not him." Anymore...

Staring unerringly at the black haired man beside him, Light ignored the calculating look L was giving him and merely unbuckled his seat beat as Watari pulled up at their school.

For the first time in months Light had told the truth and he had to admit it felt pretty good. After all, he wasn't Kira… Or at least, not at the moment. He even seemed to cause the witty detective to go silent.

"Anyway, we're here." The brunette informed as he pulled his backpack over his shoulder, "But before we get out, I want to make something clear, Ryuzaki. I-…"

"Light-Kun, I must remind you that here I am Ryuuga, not Ryuzaki."

Feeling his eye twitch in irritation, the teen ignored L's interruption and continued nonetheless,

"…-I want you to promise me that you won't mention anything about the Kira case or your delusional idea that I'm Kira, alright?"

Black eyes blinked back at his honey ones as the detective bite the corner of his thumb, faking the innocent look he reserved only for when Light accused him of something,

"So I take it Light-Kun wishes for me to lie, correct?"

"What? No. I'm not Kira anyway, so it's not a lie."

"But what if I am asked about Kira? Am I not allowed to give my personal view?"

Light knew Ryuzaki was only asking these questions to get on the former Kira's nerves and quite frankly at the moment he was succeeding. Since when did the great and mysterious L have a problem with lying anyway?

"No." His voice was firm and final as he climbed out of the car, L following close behind him.

"Light-Kun can be so cruel and demanding. His percentage of being Kira has risen three percent."

"You really are ridiculous, Ryuuga."

Spitting out the name as though it was an insult, the teen sent his follower an indignant look before allowing it to return to his usual stoic expression.

"I am not ridiculous, as Light-Kun so put it." Ryuuga pointed out, sticking his hands in his pockets as he walked steadily beside his suspect, "I am stating my observations."

"Well then stop that. Look, if you want to go to a college than you can't act like a detective." He explained, gesturing to the campus, "You already stick out enough as it is, you don't need your personality to add to that."

Tilting his head to the side, the hunched man nodded slightly,

"I see. I must thank Light-Kun for assisting me on fitting in, however it is hardly necessary. Everyone on the campus is already aware of who I am from the entrance exam speech as well as our tennis match, therefore I have no need to attempt to act differently."

"Suit yourself."

Wanting the conversation to drop, Light subtly increased his pace, just wanting to get to his class so that he could be away from Ryuzaki.

"What's your schedule, Ryuuga?"

"My schedule…? Oh, yes… That would be whatever Light-Kun's schedule would be."

Stopping abruptly at the response, the brunette felt the detective run right into him, although he didn't exactly care. The only thing that mattered to him was the man's response.

"My schedule?"

"Yes. When I heard Light-Kun's father talk to him about returning to college I had the school change my classes so that my schedule was identical to that of Light-Kun's in case he did decide to return."

So he had this all planned out from the start, did he?

Damn it. Now the option of skipping one of my classes is gone.

Originally he had considered leaving the grounds to talk privately with Misa during one of his classes that day and then returning later to meet up with Ryuzaki. That way he could clear up his mind and plan without L knowing anything, but of course that was out of the question now.

"You know, you really take the whole 'keep your enemies close' thing too literal, Ryuuga." Light sighed, closing his eyes as he shook his head, "Can't I have any time to myself?"

"I'm afraid allowing Light-Kun time such as that is too risky to my case."

"Of course it is…"

Soon the two fell into silence as they walked side by side through the campus to where their now shared first class was. They were nearly there when a voice calling the brunette's name caught their attentions, causing both the detective and his suspect to turn to the voice.

"Hey, Light! Good to see you're finally back!"

Blinking in slight surprise at the familiar voice, the mass murderer forced a smile as his long term friend Yamamoto ran up to him, his hand waving as he grinned at Light.

"Hey, Yamamoto." He greeted back.

"You've been gone for quite a while and I tried to call your house phone several times but your mom said you weren't home." The spectacled teenager explained, stopping just short of the two boys, seemingly ignoring the raven in favor of speaking to the brunette, "Boy do I have a lot to tell you. You won't believe what I-…"

Yamamoto's voice cut off as he seemed to finally notice the detective standing there, his black eyes trained on Light's new friend with a mixture of interest and curiosity.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't notice you there." The stranger smiled sheepishly, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck, "Are you a friend of Light's?"

"I was about to ask Yamamoto the same question." The raven replied lazily, "But yes, I am Light-Kun's friend. I take it Yamamoto is as well."

His question was met with a nod.

"Yeah, I've known Light since we were in middle school. Nice to meet you…"

"Yes, I agree. My name is Ryuuga."

"Ryu…" The bespectacled man blinked, seemingly confused by the name as his gaze drifted from over the detective's head to his face, "Ryuuga…?"

This time it was the detective's turn to nod.

"Like the actor, then?" Letting out a soft laugh Yamamoto seemed to pull himself out of whatever trance he was in and smiled once more, "That's cool."

"I suppose it is."

"Anyway…" Throwing one last look at the insomniac, Yamamoto's smile seemed to flicker slightly before he turned to look at Light, "Well, I have to be getting to class. I'll call you later, okay?"

"Sure."

Giving his friend a small wave, the brunette watched in relief as his old friend left before he too began walking towards his class with L close behind him.

As they continued their trek Light allowed himself to fall into his thoughts, the Death note and Kira weighing heavily on his mind, that is, until he felt a hand brush against his thigh, quickly yanking him from his musings.

Looking over, he could just barely catch the sight of L's hand flee from his person to his pocket, his gaze trained innocently on the confused Kira.

"Ryuuga…" His voice was low, on the verge of sounding threatening, "What are you doing?"

He forced his tone to remain calm as he fought the blush from rising to his cheeks at the thought of just what Ryuuga was attempting to do.

"Light-Kun had lint on his pants." The detective replied monotonously, a coy smile playing at his lips as he regarded his suspect, "I know how much Light-Kun dislikes looking unorderly so I removed it for him."

Light looked unconvinced.

"Thanks… But next time, just tell me."

Resisting the urge to sigh, Light ran a hand through his hair, just knowing that today would be a long day.

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The actual plotline begins next chapter. This was more or less to set the scene and show more of Light's personality. In case it isn't obvious already, this story is a what if type of thing in which after he regains his memories he still remembers what he thought of Kira when he was under the impression he wasn't the murderer. Right now his Kira and Light sides are fighting for control, so he is very confused as to what he really wants and, of course, L isn't helping things at all :P

Anyway, thank you to everyone for following, reviewing and the one person who reviewed XD. It definitely motivates me :)