AN-This...is moving a lot faster than I thought it would. Truly. I'm taking the time to write this properly. I've deleted sections two and three pages long and re-written them because I didn't feel they met a quality standard...one I didn't even realize I'd set for myself. This will be the best story I write, I've decided. It will be a yaoi, but again, tasteful and non-physical. I am a sexual writer, but I will not write smut. I'm labeling this AU, like I should have from the beginning. It will be just as serious as Concerto, if not more so. I hope to write this with the same passion I started it with, and if nothing else, thank you for sticking with me. It's going to be long. Consider yourselves warned.

Step Lightly,

Kani

XXXX

The months following were easier. Much easier, though it still bothered him to acknowledge it. L was not only a genius, capable of thinking just a quickly as Light himself, but he was also an incredibly intellectual person. He loved to discuss the music, the work, the theatre, and the history…all of it. He never bored of music, and Light found an inane pleasure in being able to tell his own views as well. The little observations he'd made, his various conclusions and suggestions…they all went over easily, each considered and discussed at length over two paper cups of coffee and some form of candy on L's part. It was a rare treat, for Light, to have someone to talk to that completely understood him. He never had to repeat himself, or lower his expectations. It was incredibly satisfying, and he felt himself lucky for finding a fellow genius.

Light didn't tell him his address, still. That was something that he didn't quite trust him enough for, and in reality, he doubted he ever would. L stopped asking after the first two rides, and it became customary for them to part ways at the train station. Light even began to enjoy the walk afterwards. If the weather was fair, it gave him time to think over whatever they'd discussed in the car. Six more concerts passed in this fashion, and L had wordlessly handed him his new season pass when the old had expired after the fourth.

He supposed that was nice too…it saved him money that his family didn't exactly have to spare. Still, his pride ate at him on occasion, and it was all he could do not to feel like a date. He wasn't treated like one…but there was still something annoying about having his door opened for him. He started writing it off and comparing it to a servant instead. It wasn't that he felt L beneath him, not at all, but it eased that flutter of irritation before it grew into something worse.

XXXX

Six days and two hours until the next concert, and Light was going to go insane. He had three classes to finish before he graduated…just three. He'd be done then, out and free for the rest of his life. He could join the police academy, earn his badge, and begin working alongside his father. He'd be fine.

He couldn't wait that long. On nights like this, when he was trapped in his room with nothing to do but study or read he often felt as though he could drop out of the university and never go back. Damn them all, and let them burn, they simply weren't worth the aggravation they inspired. He spent hours just staring at his ceiling from the bed, too apathetic to even glance through his notes. He knew them all, why bother? Tonight he just didn't care…

And if it wereThursday, he'd have been sitting in the stadium right now, nearing intermission.

Thinking about the coming concert did nothing to ease his mood…he found himself craving coffee. Rolling his head to the side, he ended up staring at the stack of CDs his family had purchased for him, trying to ease his pre-concert mood-swings. They helped…sort of. They felt hollow, because they were recorded, but they were something at least. He couldn't have a live performance in his house everyday, after all. His mouth was dry, and he could really use some coffee…black and bitter, and he grabbed the Bach CD as he sat up. If he couldn't have the real thing, he'd do them all a favor and settle for the next best. He slipped his CD player out of the drawer and plugged the headphones in.

It was ironic really, what these little headphones had come to symbolize in the Yagami household. It was an unwritten rule…if Light had his headphones in; he was practically bestial for the day. Except for his mother…he was never overly rude to his mother. His father, being a fellow man, however, was fair game.

He set the CD in and tucked the ear buds into his ears as he headed downstairs. The T.V was on and his mother and sister were watching a reality game show. Light knew it was out of boredom…his mother just wanted to know what was popular, and his sister hated them. She only watched them so that when her school friends gossiped about them everyday, she could participate in the conversation. His father was in the dining room, and Light pulled out a bud to call that he was making coffee.

His father apparently had company. Fine with Light, but they'd better like it strong, or they wouldn't be able to drink it. He let the bud dangle over his shoulder as he slipped the CD player into his back pocket. His father loved Columbian roast coffee, and tonight, that's what Light was craving too. It had a faintly smoky flavor to it, one that he was fond of simply because he'd grown up smelling it. It was a scent associated with his father. He listened to the quiet voices behind him, passing in front of the dining room door in his quest for a mug. He couldn't understand what they were saying with Bach blaring in his left ear, but the white glare of paper from the corner of his eye told him that it was business as usual.

The coffee was a done a moment later, and Light poured himself a cup. Curiosity finally overrode his anti-social fit, and he moved to stand in the door. His father was deep in conversation with someone…someone that Light couldn't quite believe was standing in his dining room. Paranoia shot up his spine like a jolt of electricity and he moved to back out slowly, but it was too late. The conversation fell dead as L looked up and noticed him for the first time. His father glanced up and saw him too, and there was a smile there. The other two just continued staring at one another.

"Ah, there you are. Light, this is L…he's been working with us the last few months on our cases."

Light nodded slowly. "He's a detective?"

L sighed gently as his father went on with his monologue, explaining that not only was he a detective, but one of the best in the world. Light never blinked.

"And you're…LightYagami?" L finally interrupted, and his father nodded.

"Yes, this is my son, the one I've been telling you about."

Silence fell again. L still wore his usual white shirt and baggy pants, and Light almost felt out of place in his t-shirt and cotton pants. There was a tense moment as they stared each other down, eyes full of questions. The one that was glaringly important was whether or not to tell Light's father they already knew each other. Would it change the concerts, and if so, would they want him to know? L shook his head almost imperceptibly no, and Light agreed. They'd been sharing the escape for over a year now…there was no need to complicate things. At least, not any further than having his companion randomly appear at his house…because that was enough of a problem in and of itself. He finally cleared his throat and said the first thing that came to mind.

"Coffee?"

Both men nodded and Light escaped into the kitchen. So much for never telling the bastard where he lived…why did he have to have coffee tonight? He could have stayed in his room and avoided ever knowing that L…the detective, apparently, knew more than Light had ever planned to tell him. He brought out two more coffee cups and set them on the counter. Yes, he could have stayed squirreled away in his room, his door locked and his music loud, and L might never have know that he was Light Yagami, Chief Inspector Soichiro Yagami's son. He opened the sugar canister and paused, scoop in hand. His father only liked about a spoon's worth of sugar in his coffee…but L…

Light threw a dash in one cup, and dumped the rest of the scoop into the other mug. About a quarter of a cup, and he sighed to himself, because it would take a good five minutes just to dissolve all of it. He pulled a spoon from the drawer, and shoved it with an irritated clink to the bottom of the cup. The ceramic rang with the force of his stirring. What was with this man? Really, there was a line somewhere that he crossed, there had to be. Normal was not in this man's vocabulary.

Light picked up the cups in one hand and returned to the table. His father reached for the one on the left and Light warned him off.

"No, not that one." Soichiro hesitated and then took the other. Light thrust the other at L handle first, ignoring the heat coming off the ceramic and burning his hand. No one, not even his father, would have been able to tell that he was angry.

L knew. L always knew. He could tell from the way he took the cup and glanced back up at him, eyes questioning. Light just shook his head a bit, no don't worry about it. He supposed it wasn't really his fault after all. Not like he could tell the man not to come to an address without giving it to him. He watched the detective sip his coffee cautiously, and felt a rush of pride as his face lit up. The drink was practically syrup, but that didn't matter. L took a bigger sip and Light, satisfied that it met the man's odd specifications, turned to peer over the table.

"What's the problem?" L pointed to a picture near the corner.

"This is our suspect, but he has no apparent motive." Light frowned.

"You checked for insurance?"

"Yes. Nothing there." Light crossed his arms and glanced over the information arrayed on the wood. Then he pulled out a chair.

Time flew. Hours went by between the three of them, and as the pile of papers finally began to shrink, as cases were either closed or hinges uncovered, Light's mood gradually lifted. Around midnight or so, he felt back to normal, and made the second pot of coffee without being asked. The girls went to bed long before they'd even gotten comfortable, but this was something that all three of them shared a passion for. Files were returned to the office down the hall, or tucked into briefcases, all with hand written notes and sticky-papers attached, detailing the night's findings. When they were opened at the station the coming Monday, there would either be a warrant for arrest to fetch, or a new lead to follow.

Eventually, Soichiro pushed back and downed the last of his coffee. Light glanced up and noticed for the first time in a while how old his father was getting. He knew that part of it was the work, but it was disconcerting to see the wrinkles and gray in his hair. It seemed that every year, he grew more and more tired. He'd begun wincing when he stood, a sign that arthritis had already begun to plague his lower back. Soichiro was not one to complain, but he couldn't hide that sort of thing from his son…they had agreed, however, that when it became bad it would be necessary to tell his wife.

So tonight, when he stood and stretched, Light made his suggestion without thinking.

"Why don't you head out for the night, Dad? You're tired…"

"…I think I will. I'll leave you to see L out then, if you don't mind." Light's eyes fell on the other man, sitting across the table, and for a second or two, he hated himself. The situation was awkward enough as it was, and without thinking, he'd just guaranteed himself another pointless, strange, and likely infuriating conversation. He sighed to himself and forced a smile for his father's sake. L already knew he was upset…no need to play nice anymore.

"…Yeah…not a problem at all."

"Well, then…Goodnight boys."

"Sleep well, Yagami-san. You've done well tonight."

"Night Dad."

The silence that followed his father out of the room was one of a clarity that Light hadn't heard between them in a while. Even after the quiet click of the bedroom door closing up the stairs didn't deter them from the staring match they'd entered. In truth it was either stare, or talk, and at the moment, talking was the less desirable option. Light's hand tightened around his cup. He briefly considered going back to work, but the detective hadn't so much as glanced at the papers again. Something, anything really, needed to be said, but Light didn't trust himself to be civil just yet.

L broke it. He stared into the depths of his coffee cup as though considering a cookie that had burned. "You're angry."

"I suppose. Disconcerted, really."

"Understandable. That's likely the only reason you're so upset…you don't seem the type to handle confusion with a smile and a wave."

"I'm not overly familiar with it, I'm afraid." Light took a sip of his coffee and crossed his arms on the table. "What has my father told you?"

L smiled fondly and took a drink, glancing back up at the young man across the table. "Nothing of great importance, I assure you…the usual proud father ramblings about your school work and accomplishments."

Light considered the blatant dodge, but decided to let it pass. "I see."

"Have you been enjoying your walks?" Light tensed. He was referring to the five blocks from here to the station, he knew, but that was another topic he'd hoped to avoid. The ride home would have been a great deal shorter if he'd just allow the detective to drive him straight there, but again his pride and paranoia forced him to the sidewalk every time. It was Light's turn to take a drink and dodge the question.

"Very much. The evenings are nice when the town is peaceful." The quiet came back, and they regarded each other over the table. Light sighed, and took another drink, sloshing his coffee around his cup for lack of something better to do. "So…you're the great L, huh?"

"…You believe your father then?"

"He wouldn't lie about something of that magnitude. He's also not inclined to exaggerate, either."

"What if I lied to him?"

"Well…then you're a fool playing a very risky game, I'd imagine."

L smirked over his knees. "Risky?"

"Yes…someone as powerful and driven as L is sure to have enemies. I don't know that I'd go around claiming them, no matter how good of a con-artist I may be."

"You obviously don't know many, discounting yourself of course."

Light's eyes narrowed. "I'm fairly honest about myself, in reality."

L's eyebrow rose just slightly, and Light re-thought the statement. "I'm more inclined to just not tell anyone anything at all rather than lie to them to shut them up."

"We both lie to some extent, Light-kun. It is…difficult, for people of our caliber to exist otherwise. We hide ourselves."

"L…what are you doing here?"

"I merely came to help your father sort through his work. He's a good man in a difficult position. That idiot running his department expects far too much from an aging officer, and your father is too proud to hand off the work."

"You're fond of him, then…"

"He reminded me of you." It was Light's turn to raise an eyebrow, and L regarded his cup in that quietly thoughtful way of his. "I thought it mere coincidence about the names…or rather, I refused to associate you with my work in any way, so I told myself it was coincidence. He shares some of your mannerisms…the quiet air of intelligence that surrounds him, the passion he shows when he works. You are most definitely your father's son, Light Yagami."

"I am proud to be. He's a good man." Light leaned back in his chair and relaxed a bit, finally. L obviously had not come here with any ill intention…he felt a bit of an ass for his earlier demeanor. L pressed his thumb to his lips and for a moment, they were just quiet again.

"I still make you uncomfortable don't I?"

Light sighed, crossing his arms over his chest again. "It's not something that you do…it's just the fact that you exist, and that…I've befriended you. I'm not one to…share myself…or any aspect of my life for that matter."

"Your father often worries because you do not date." L nodded to himself. "He fears he's put too much pressure on you to do well in your scholastic endeavors."

"He shouldn't. You are right though…we do not adjust as easily as other do. We adapt, but we cannot change…we know that we are different, whether it shows or not."

"I supposed as much." L smiled suddenly. "…Though it is good to know that the camaraderie is mutual."

Light shook his head as he sipped his coffee. "Hmm no…I still don't like you being here. I don't like knowing that you know where I live."

"You are quite paranoid, you know…and arrogant. Do you really believe that I'm going to do something as crude as stalk you?"

"No, but you are entirely too forward for my liking. I'll tell you this, the day you show up at my door just to talk to me will be the day I stop talking to you at all."

L smirked and shook his head. "Amazing…"

"What?"

"It just…amazes me that you can be that arrogant. No don't…" L held up his hand to cut him off. "I don't mean that offensively. In fact, I find your confidence to be refreshing."

"I simply meant that I am not a social person. You don't know me at all, L. You have no idea how…much, I've already done. What a step it is for me to get into your car every time, for me to sit with you. It matters."

"…I understand. I will respect your home…shall I call ahead to warn you that I'm coming here with your father?" The sarcasm was not lost on Light and he stood to leave. Even being in a separate room would be better than sitting here while the detective mocked him.

"Light-kun, wait."

"I asked you to take me seriously, L. I didn't realize that was such an undertaking."

"I am not mocking you. Believe me…I am one of the top ranking detectives in the world, Light-kun…you do not know the meaning of paranoia. I can't even bring myself to tell you my real name, and I know it must be unnerving for me to suddenly appear here, in your home. Truly, I do."

Light stared hard at him for a moment before returning to his seat. He may not understand his every move, but the detective at least understood that much. He stared into his now empty cup and ran a hand through his hair. "Email me next time."

"Email?"

Light raised an eyebrow. "You mean the greatest detective in the world can't hack my father's contact list?"

L chuckled and downed the last of his coffee. Light winced, only being able to imagine the thick syrup that must have been in the bottom of the mug. "Don't encourage me to pry, Light-kun. If I wanted, I could find out what your favorite candy was as a child."

"Toffee." Light returned with a smirk.

"Well…you're no fun." Light reached over and scribbled his email account onto a sticky-note and slid the pad across the table to the detective.

"Just do me a favor and don't make a habit out of this."

"I won't." L put a leg down to tuck the note into his pocket. "You know, I never thought I'd see you in casual clothing."

"Well, I damn sure never thought I'd be serving you coffee in my dining room."

"Agreed. It's nearing three…I should be going." L stood and Light led him to the door.

XXXX

L waited for Light to stop laughing before he passed him his coffee and accepted the sugar. "Is it true that you have decided to stay on another year at the academy?"

"Yes…" Light wiped the tears from his eyes and promptly burned his tongue. "Damn it…anyway, yes…they've made some changes to the curriculum. They've added a few more courses that I thought sounded interesting, and the government has practically thrown the money at me."

Light watched him set his cup down and take the lid off. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, the lead French horn neglected to zip his pants…I can think of no other reason for his crotch to catch the light like that."

"And on the televised night too..." L's hands faltered slightly as he ripped the sugar open. Light watched him closer now, his humor fading away. There was something on his mind, and he briefly wondered to himself when he'd begun paying enough attention to notice. L was his friend…his only friend…and he supposed that made him his best friend as well. Light had done precious little in the way of reciprocation and it made him feel like an ass sometimes. L bought his tickets, his coffee, drove him to the station every performance. He knew that three months was plenty of time to earn the money he was costing the detective, but it had never been that simple. The concerts, though months apart, were their own world…time did not move between or around them. Every time he walked through those doors, he felt he'd been there just the day before, and that he would come again tomorrow.

"Something wrong?" L glanced sharply at him, and Light knew he'd surprised him. He'd just now become friendly with the detective, truly and honestly friendly. He'd begun relaxing and shocked himself the first time he crossed his legs in the limo. That was something he solely did when he felt entirely comfortable in a situation. L didn't know the significance of…well, on second consideration, he probably did, but that was beside the point. Light only ever did that around his family…he considered it bad posture, and it made him feel lazy. Light had really begun treating him better, at least by his own standards…he owed the detective that much. L dumped the last of the sugar in and began stirring, staring back at him thoughtfully.

"You've become rather perceptive lately."

"Only because you allowed it." That was true too…once Light had started relaxing, the detective had as well. He supposed it was years of working with criminals, but if someone in the room were tense, so was L. Now that they'd become comfortable with each other, Light found he was able to read the detective fairly easily.

"I suppose I have. I have to leave for few months…" Light raised an eyebrow.

"Months?"

"About three concerts or so…"

"…so almost a year, in reality."

"Yes. I have accepted a case overseas…a rather pressing one, I'm afraid."

Light nodded and leaned back in his seat. So he'd be alone for the next few performances…like it used to be. He wondered whether he'd enjoy it…honestly he couldn't imagine a concert without the detective anymore. The man had worked his way into Light's perception of the theatre, and while Light usually thought he was better off for it, he used to worry he'd never be able to go back. He supposed he'd find out now, and he didn't have much of a choice in the matter. L snapped the lid onto his cup and pressed the panel.

"Ready. East Station please…" L took a sip, and even after two years, Light still couldn't repress his shiver of revulsion. It made L smile a bit. "I have arranged for you to receive another pass and the same treatment in my absence."

"You don't have to do that. I can buy my own…"

L gave him a flat look. "I do not have many friends, and you are the only one I'm allowed to visit and spoil. It should be ready by the fourth of the coming January. You will be acting as my representative, so please…don't run about naked or jump screaming from the balcony."

Light chuckled…the man had a strange sense of humor, to be sure. "Will they still let me in early?"

"If you decide to show up, yes." Light paused…would he really have a reason to show up an hour early, with no one to talk to? Not really. He nodded anyway, taking a drink of his some-what cooler coffee. His abused tongue complained but he ignored it.

"So, what kind of case is it?"

L chuckled and shook his head. "You know better."

"Worth a shot. Will you be back before the December showing?"

"I should be. I will write you if things change. Also, I have a request to make."

"What?"

"I want you to take taxis while I am away. I am not comfortable with you walking to the stations anymore."

Light turned to stare at him, but L was careful not to meet his eyes. L wouldn't make such a request without reason, without something drastic encouraging his caution. Light thought back to the way he'd tensed when he'd mentioned the fact that the night's performance was going to be recorded for a New Year's special on the news.

"…The problem is here, isn't it?" L said nothing, and Light pushed again, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "The criminal you're looking for…they're here in Japan."

"It is a possibility…one I cannot overlook, because it jeopardizes your safety as well as my own." L frowned suddenly, downing about half his coffee at once. "You once accused me of playing a risky game…a few months ago, in your dining room."

"I remember."

"I didn't dissuade the notion, but it wasn't the game I thought. If they already know I'm here, then even our small contact may prove dangerous for you."

"Just me?"

"There is a reason I didn't press the issue when you refused to let me take you home. In truth, it was safer for us both….and for your family."

"So they really are here…and that threatening?"

"Oh I don't know if they've made it to Japan yet. I doubt it. Either way, once I am gone, you will no longer be of interest to them. I will return when the matter had been taken care of."

"…Are you sure I shouldn't buy my own ticket?"

"The detective L is not in any way affiliated with the theatre. I sponsor under an alias. You'll be fine."

Light leaned back, frowning. He hadn't realized exactly how much he'd come to trust the detective, and now, with this new situation, he found himself just as tense as he'd been the first night he'd slipped into this limo. It was unsettling to say the least…it rattled him to the bone to know that not only had he come to trust the man, he was now depending on him to keep his family safe. Light wasn't so much worried for his own safety, but his father was old. He was a seasoned cop, but the toll of age was not going easy on him. It left Light the strongest man in the house, at his prime at twenty one.

"Light-kun, please do not be angry with me."

Light realized that he'd tensed again and forced himself to relax. "I'm not angry, L…I'm just worried."

"So am I. Still, I am dealing with the situation before it truly becomes a problem, and I felt you had a right to know."

"Thank you. Is there anything I need to be careful of?" L considered his coffee, his sad frown almost a grimace. He knocked the rest of it back and shook his head.

"No…no, it's better for you not to know anything. There's no point in making you more paranoid than you already are, and if they have crossed the water and are watching you, you don't want to seem aware of the situation. If they think you know something, even if it's just that they exist, they'll act on it. Even with me gone, they may follow you, just to be sure…and I cannot protect your family once I leave. It'd be even worse if they knew that I'd been to your house. I'm going to discuss it with your father before I go, so between the two of you, you should be safe enough."

"You'll talk to my father about it?"

"Your father will know the kind of behavior they'd be looking for, and it'll be almost instinctive for him to avoid it. Aside from that, you are the only one in the house with an infallibly consistent routine, and changing it, or making it seem different in any way will only hurt our cause."

"…That's bullshit. Why won't you tell me anything?"

"Because I'm worried. It doesn't take much research to learn everything about you, Light…you've spent most of your life in plain sight because of your mind. There's no reason for them to think we're friends, and it's safer that way. If they do decide to dig, they likely won't make the connection anyway. On top of that, I've just told you that I don't think they've made it to Japan yet."

"And if they show up while you're gone? If you get wherever you're going to find you passed them in the airport while they boarded the return flight?"

"Then I will be back and waiting for them when they land here. Why is that difficult to accept?"

"…You haven't lied to me yet, L. However, while the attempt is noble, it's kind of pissing me off that you won't tell me anything on the pretense of my protection. I'm studying to do the same work that you are…"

"And at this rate Light, you will… possibly so well that we could work alongside each other in the future. However, your protection is anything but a pretense, I assure you. I do not take my friends lightly…I have precious few to risk playing games with their lives."

The phrasing drew Light's attention. "But you wouldn't risk someone's life… even if they weren't a 'friend'."

"…I haven't lied to you yet, Light-kun."

Light had trouble swallowing for a moment. The detective would kill? He would put an innocent at risk to further his own ends? Light stopped before he became angry, remembering that L fought for justice. He was one of the best the world had to offer, as well…Light had no idea the kind of choices he may have made, or would make in the future. L turned those dark eyes on him again, and answered a question Light hadn't realized he was asking.

"…And yes…I think you would too."