L carded through Light's sweat dampened hair as he slept. Light's mouth was open, taking in the air he couldn't through his stuffed up nose. L knew his throat would be sore when he woke up, but it was either that or Light stopped breathing. It was an obvious decision. L didn't know why letting Light get a sore throat made him feel upset. He didn't feel guilty, because he knew Light needed to rest, and there was no other way for him to breathe while he did. However, for some reason, L was upset by it. Seeing Light in pain made his chest hurt. Light started coughing again. L rubbed his back, hoping that small comfort would allow Light to sleep through it.

"Ryuuzaki," Watari said through the doorway. L turned to acknowledge his presence.

"The case remains unsolved," he started, "And the taskforce is enough to move it along, but not enough to get it started again."

"Yes, as you've said, the case is at a standstill," L said, turning back to Light, "And it will stay that way until new evidence is uncovered. My assistance would be meaningless. Where I am needed most is here."

Watari sighed. He knew what was going on, probably better than L did.

"What will you do if Light turns out to be Kira?" he asked suddenly.

"That depends on what manner his guilt was revealed in," L said slowly, choosing his words carefully, "For instance, if it were to become obvious enough that the NPA was aware, it would be completely out of my hands."

"So, if the NPA did find out, what would you do?" Watari prompted.

L sighed, considering it a moment, "I'd cry."

Watari didn't want to think about L crying, so instead he asked, "And what if you were the only person who knew? What would you do then?"

L lowered his head closer to Light, so Watari couldn't see his face and said, "I'd turn him in."

"Look me in the eyes and say that," Watari challenged.

L turned and faced Watari, with pain filled eyes, and said in a very quiet voice, "I can't."

Watari sighed, and was about to scold L, when he was struck with the pure irony of it. He only partially contained the chuckle that built inside him. L eyed him skeptically.

"I'm sorry, it's just," Watari managed to compose himself, "Of all the people you could've fallen in love with, it had to be the leading suspect in the biggest case of your career."

L's eyes widened, "'Fallen in love with'?"

"Don't tell me that when you look at him you don't feel something," Watari smiled warmly, knowing this was L's first time experiencing those feelings. He wondered if L would accept them.

L turned and looked at Light for a moment, and then his and touched his chest, where he felt an unfamiliar warmth. The warmth was new, but pleasant.

Love? That's what this is? Well, now I can see why people cherish it. I wouldn't give up this feeling for the world. I never put words to it, but yes, I suppose Watari is right. I am in love with Light Yagami. Now the question holds, what should I do about it? Depending on his reaction, any action I take could end badly for everyone. Acknowledging these feelings is probably as far as it will get.

"Yes," L turned and looked at Watari, "I love him very much."

Watari smiled, and left the room. L turned back to Light and started carding through his hair again.

"Light," he sighed, knowing that even if Light was awake, it would be pointless, "If you would just be honest with me, I could save you. I'm waiting for you to tell me this, but eventually I'll have to test the thirteen day rule. I'm doing everything I can, Light, but I can't do this all by myself."

Light coughed again, and this time it woke him almost instantly.

"How are you feeling?" L asked.

Light didn't respond, but swallowed. A look of pain momentarily crossed his face.

"I'll make tea," L murmured, crossing the room. He made two cups, and he felt himself feeling he was wasting perfectly good tea for not putting any sugar in Light's cup.

Light gladly accepted the tea, and after a few sips, he asked, "Have you left at all?"

L shook his head.

"Don't you want to work on the case?" Light managed, taking another sip of tea.

"No," L told him, "I'm afraid you'll be caught if I do."

Light gazed into L's eyes, and he could almost see the sincerity they held in their inky depths.

"You should at least get up and walk a while," Light reasoned, "You've been in here since I got sick."

"I'd worry you were in need of my help if I left," L stated. Light stared at him. He didn't seem upset, but his words said otherwise.

"Why don't you ever show emotions?" Light asked him. L stared at him a moment.

"I find it difficult to acknowledge my emotions," L told him.

"Are they painful?" Light asked. He wanted to understand the man, and what kind of person he was.

"Yes," L answered. Light felt a twinge of sorrow for him. He couldn't help wondering what kind of past would produce a person like L.

"When you said I was your first friend…" Light trailed off, hoping he'd gotten his point across, as he took another sip of his tea.

"I meant it with every fiber of my being," L said.

"But, what about when you were little? Didn't you have friends then?" Light asked, his voice renewed once again.

"I was little at some point," L murmured, "But I do not recall ever being a child. I was forced to grow up at a very early age."

"What are your parents like?" Light inquired. L's stomach clenched.

I doubt their ashes are even left. But, Light, they were wonderful. They would've loved you.

"Ryuuzaki?" Light sat up a bit.

Light, can't you please just hold me and tell me it's okay?

"Are you okay?" Light asked, putting his hand over L's.

"No," L said.

"Were your parents abusive?" Light asked.

"No!" L exclaimed, his eyes widening. Light was taken aback. He'd never seen L show such raw emotion before. L was taken with a sudden urge to cry. He refused to show anything else to Light, and he refused to blink in order to keep the tears from actually falling. They eventually welled up enough that they fell anyway. L turned his head, but Light could still tell. L was crying. L, with his monotonous expression, was crying. He wasn't shaking, or taking deep breaths, yet his eyes overflowed with the turmoil he was keeping so well hidden. It had never struck Light as to just how much L refused to show. He wondered if L was actually in constant pain, and he just didn't know it.

"I'm sorry," Light tried, but L shook his head violently.

"No, it's not your fault. You have no way of knowing," he murmured.

"You can talk to me, you know?" Light tried again. L looked at him. His heart was aching, and he wanted nothing more than for Light to hold him and make it better.

"My parents, they…" L trailed off, feeling that he wouldn't able to contain sobs much longer.

"L?" Light forgot to use his false name, and that sent L over the edge.

"They're gone, Light," L gazed into his eyes, allowing his self control to die out, "My parents are dead."

With that, L flung himself into Light's arms, and allowed himself to cry. Light held him, trying not to cry at the revelation himself.

"God, Light, I miss them so much," he sobbed. Light held him as tight as he felt was reasonable. He rubbed his back, letting him cry it out. L needed this.

"It's okay, it's okay," Light repeated in L's ear, trying to comfort him. L eventually stopped crying and just let Light hold him. L slowly moved so that he could wipe the tears from his face.

"Sorry," L whispered, "That outburst was pathetic."

"No," Light shook his head, "You are the strongest person I've ever met. You've undergone a hardship that would make gods cry. Don't think for one second that missing your parents is weakness."

L embraced Light shamelessly, and Light did the same. Then, L did the last thing he expected of himself. He slept.

L awoke to Light scribbling on a yellow notepad.

"What're you…" L managed to put two and two together, even in his sleepiness, "The song?"

"Yeah," Light said absently, "I shouldn't slack off, otherwise Naoki and Makoto will never let me hear the end of it."

"How's it coming?" L asked, settling into Light's side.

"Okay," Light said, "But this one bit's a little off tempo…"

L smiled as Light began making violent motions with the eraser. He didn't know why, but watching Light write music was almost funny. L had always known Light to be talented as far as deduction went, but he had never thought about the other aspects of his character. He wondered if Light really was as good of a singer as he'd been led to believe.

"Light?" L looked up at him.

"What?" Light asked, directing his attention to L.

"Will you sing for me?" L inquired. Light stared at him a moment.

"What do you want me to sing?" he asked eventually.

"Whatever you feel like singing," L murmured. Light sighed and thought for a moment. He placed his notepad on the bedside table, and took a long drink of the tea on the coaster, although it had long since cooled.

"Nemuru anata wa kanashisou de," Light started. L pieced together the lyrics into English as he went.

You look so sad as you sleep.

"Warui yume demo miteru you da," Light sang on. L could've fallen asleep to the beautiful way the words slid off his tongue.

As though you're having a bad dream.

"How do I live without you?" Light flawlessly transferred languages.

"Anata to iu sora no naka boku dake wo tojikomete," Light passed back into Japanese. L turned his translation through in his mind.

The sky that I named after you only entraps me.

"Itsuka mita aozora wo sagasezu ni nageku kedo…"

I grieve without even searching for the blue skies I once saw.

"Hito wa minna sora no naka jiyuu to iu kago no naka…"

Everyone is trapped in the sky within a cage they call "freedom".

"Hoshi no nai yoru no sora yuku ate mo mienai me de samayou."

Under the starless night sky, I wander without a glimpse of where I'm heading.

"That was nice," L commented. Light looked at him, and realized that his singing really was being appraised. L just didn't know how to show his appreciation. Light smiled at him.

"Thank you," he said.