It's 2:30 in the morning, I'm listening to the Avenue Q soundtrack and I'm tired at looking at this. With that in mind, forgive typos and thank-you for reading n' reviewing.

And fair warning: I love the Ryuk x Light thing in most any form from owner and pet -with either as master- to platonic friends. Don't be surprised if it shows up, but I'll try to keep them canon. I'm trying. XD

Chapter 2

"Are you sure you're alright, Ryuuzaki?" Light turned in his chair from the main control panel to look at the detective. While he was mostly looking at his own computer screen, his eyes kept jumping to look at different places in the room. Considering they were alone in the control room with the other members at lunch, save for Matsuda, it was even weirder than usual behavior for L. "You seem rather distracted."

Distracted was an understatement. There was a tall, gangly god of death hanging around the control room that provided a book of death and no one could neither see nor hear him. And he was currently hovering right behind Light-kun. It seemed to enjoy floating behind him; L didn't enjoy the thoughts that followed. Yes, it could be said that L was distracted. "I'm quite alright, Light-kun. I'm just tired. I think I may be coming down with a cold."

Light held his suspicion that something was up with his companion. He had not only been acting strange last night, but there was that issue of him being out of it this morning as well. It was so bad that despite Misa hovering for a few hours right after they got up he didn't say a word or blink. It was like he didn't notice she was there. Light wished he was also as lucky. However, there was no point in pressing the issue. It only lead to aggravation in attempting to argue with him. "Well, don't hesitate to stop working and take a break. I won't mind."

"Thank-you for your concern." L bit his thumb. Taking a break wouldn't do any good. He couldn't talk to the shinigami as long as Light-kun was around and that meant waiting until he was asleep. For now, he'd continue with observation and keep his brain working. This 'Death Note' was brining light to the Kira situation in ways that L couldn't have foreseen. This information was vital, but something was holding him back from sharing it with the team members. He snuck another glance at the shinigami behind Light; it was chuckling. "But I'm fine."

"You're sure."

"I'm sure, Light-kun." L tried to ignore the shinigami as it laughed and bit into his thumb. He needed proof that it wasn't just all inside of his head. That's what he needed. Proof he was real and then he could tell the others about it.

"Oi, you."

L twitched as the Ryuk started hailing him from across the room. He wished the thing wouldn't talk to him; it's not like he could reply. So he glared at the thing instead and willed it to leave him alone. No such luck.

Ryuk laughed as the detective started putting more sugar into his cup. He just kept piling it in there until the brown frothy liquid was overrun by the sweet crystals. Seems he wasn't the only one with a fix that needed to be filled. "I want apples."

L twitched. It was a demanding thing to boot. He'd been asking for apples since they got into the control room. L wondered if the thing realized he couldn't just go out and get them for him with people around to see. He was handcuffed to another person for goodness sake. "Notice anything new today, Light-kun? Like in the news reports?"

"Not really, it's all the same." Light sighed and clicked through the pages on the recent murders. Just like he did every day since L let him out of the cell. "No patterns, no leads, no nothing."

"Don't worry," Matsuda assured while bringing in yet another stack of documents from the other room. He had only heard the tale end of the conversation, but felt like giving his input in just the same. "I'm sure we'll catch a break soon. We just have to keep it up."

"I'm serious. I want an apple." Ryuk nearly pouted. He has asked the L kid for an apple the night before after explaining the Death Note, but he didn't get him one. Light always got him apples. Then again, Light also had a high sense of self-preservation. "Get apples."

L nearly growled to himself. The shinigami was starting to grate on his nerves with the constant begging and talking. L tried to reason in his head the consequences of ignoring it completely.

"I'm starting to get a little angry at being ignored." Ryuk chuckled. Threats were almost guaranteed to work – and most humans have should share Light's high self-preservation senses. They were just so amusing. "Or did you forget some of the other stuff I told you last night?"

Oh, and I'll be the one to eventually write your name down and kill you. Shouldn't forget that part. How could L possibly forget that little tidbit? It seems L had no choice but to cave to the terrorist demands. How bothersome. "Matsuda-san."

The younger man looked up from the documents he was sorting. He needed to make sure all the files were in the right spot this time. He didn't like it when Yagami-san was disappointed in him for misfiling. "Yes?"

"I think Light-kun is right." L bit his thumb and pouted. "I am feeling much more under the weather than I earlier predicted. I think I will take some time off."

"Okay." Matsuda smiled and nodded. "Everyone feels a little off sometimes, right?"

"That was a quick turn around, Ryuuzaki." Light stopped typing and stretched his hands over his head. He was glad that L was stopping to take care of himself. Maybe if they got all this feeling-off mess out of the way things could go back to normal. Or as normal as L got, anyway. "Though, I'm glad. I could tell that something was off."

"Yes," L stood and glared at the shinigami. He wished the stupid thing would stop smirking. "Matsuda, tell Watari and the other members that we've gone out for a bit. I think fresh air would help me greatly. Come, Light-kun."

"Hey, wait up." Light felt himself being dragged along by the chain as L hurried off to the backroom to grab a pair of shoes and make a bee-line for the elevator. "What's the rush?"

A shinigami is chanting about apples behind your back while chuckling. L frowned licked his teeth and scratched his head. "I'm a little edgy from feeling so out of sorts. I wish to get better as quickly as possible and get back to work."

"Okay, I guess. Not that I'm complaining about your new motivation, but." Light rubbed his wrist where the handcuff had pulled tightly. He then turned his attention to L, who's attention seemed to be glued to one spot in the corner of the elevator. It was almost like he was glaring at something. "Are you sure you're just feeling bad? You could be sick."

L narrowed his eyes. "I'm not sick."

"If you say so." Light shivered when he felt a small breeze go down his spine. He'd been getting chills all week and it was starting to worry him. Maybe he was catching a cold, too. At least he was getting enough sleep for a change. L seemed to have dropped his little adventures in boredom for the past week. But now he had this whole new quirk to deal with. He sighed as he turned to his fidgeting friend. "Where are we going?"

"The market."

"The market? For what?"

"Apples."

"Apples?"

"Apples!"

L nearly smacked his face when Ryuk added in his own delighted cheer at the sound of apples. He must really enjoy eating that fruit; L preferred strawberries himself. "Yes, apples. I've got a craving."

"Couldn't Watari get it like everything else?"

L sighed. Light was far too inquisitive for his own good sometimes. "The point of this is to get some fresh air, wouldn't that defeat the purpose?"

"You don't have to snap at me." Light frowned and tilted his head up while crossing his arms. "I know you might be sick, but that's no reason to be so irritable."

L rolled his eyes and let the other boy sulk. Light-kun could be such a brat when he wanted to be. The walk to the market down the street would have been pleasant, if not for the stares that the handcuffs acquired. Light-kun was looking mortified and it made L smirk; seems Light-kun had forgotten about them. That was all well enough and thankfully they reached the market with only embarrassment and a shinigami at their heels.

Though, it was odd. L noticed right away that despite Ryuk's claim that he was haunting L that he usually floated behind Light-kun. It was just like when he first arrived, and now while walking through the market with a basket of apples he still stood behind the younger boy. In fact, he had been floating behind him in the office and everywhere else as well. He watched Light-kun rub his forearms briskly when Ryuk leaned over him to drool over the apples. Curious. There was a connection here, and L was going to find it out in detail.

"Is something wrong, Ryuuzaki?" Light turned up to L who was staring out into space. He looked over his shoulder to the spot, but all he saw was a sign that was advertising some bran flake cereal. He doubted that was what held the detective's interest.

"Nothing, Light-kun." L held a finger to his lip as he pulled a bag down and began to stack apples in it. As Ryuk changed 'More more,' he thought of the things he needed to get through once they got back to the room. Convince the others he was fine, get Light-kun to bed and interrogate a supernatural phenomenon with a craving for apples. What a fun evening.

Light was curled up slightly into a ball as he slept on the wide bed. His breathing was steady and it was making a small airy noise. There was something amusing about knowing that his sleeping habits hadn't changed from when he was guilty to when he was not guilty of mass murder. The shinigami grinned. He really had found an interesting human to play with, hadn't he?

"Ryuk, I have some questions for you." L turned in his swivel chair to the shinigami. He was going to confirm his suspicions once and for all. And now that Light-kun had finally gone to sleep for the night, he had his chance.

But, his human wasn't the only interesting one around. "I thought as much." Ryuk chuckled and munched on one of the apples L had retrieved for him. Good thing the detective learned quickly or he'd have to kill him and give Light the Death Note back directly to get his fix. "Can't guarantee I'll answer." Ryuk drew a finger to his face and paused. "Unless it has to deal with the Death Note rules, then I can tell you for sure."

"That's fine." L tilted his head to the side in thought. That just meant he had to ask the right questions. This had the potential for fun. "Can you confirm whether or not something is true or false if I guess or make a statement without breaking a rule?"

"I suppose. Granted you didn't hear it from me, if you catch my drift." Ryuk took another chomp out of his apple. He hoped that was right, anyway. If Rem could tell Misa how to kill a shinigami, than he should be able to confirm what a human already figured out.

L lifted an eyebrow. So, Ryuk has to answer to others. That's interesting. "Deal. If I make a statement and it is correct hold up one finger. If it's false, hold up two. For questions, if you can't answer just hold up two fingers."

"Alright." This could prove amusing. Ryuk laughed and took a seat on the bed. Light's sleeping form leant slightly into the dip that the shinigami's weight created. Ryuk noticed that he mumbled a bit from the movement, but he stayed asleep. It was sort of cute. "But only because I'm bored."

L paused. The shinigami was doing it again: watching Light. L found himself biting his thumb again without his control. "And if possible, please avoid lying. I do not think that I could tell if you are or not."

Ryuk laughed outright and turned his attention back to the creepy detective. "Well, no promises."

"Then let us begin." L took in a deep breath and gathered his thoughts. There was one question he really wanted an answer to first. "Light Yagami was the previous owner of this death note."

Ryuk smirked and held up one finger. He should have known that was going to be his first question. Not only did the detective want to find out if he was correct, he also seemed to have a healthy interest in the young man.

"Light Yagami is Kira."

Two fingers and a chuckle. Trick question.

L paused. Light used to own the Death Note, but he's not Kira? Something was wrong and L turned to look at the boy sleeping quietly on the bed. Still looking innocent as a new born babe, like he didn't have a care in the world right now. Now. Maybe that was it. The tense was wrong. "Light Yagami was Kira."

Boy's smart. Hyuk, hyuk. What fun! Ryuk held up one finger.

So that's it. It makes sense; he doesn't have the notebook anymore. L thought to himself. But that left other questions open. Why doesn't Light have the notebook now? Was this part of some plan? Did he know that the shinigami was going to bring it somehow? So many questions were filtering through his mind he could barely choose the next one. "How does one lose ownership of the notebook?"

Ryuk sighed. He knew they were going to have to get back to the boring rules stuff sooner or later. "The human can loser ownership of the Death Note in two ways. One: he can die, or two: give up his ownership."

"What does giving up ownership entail?" Now L was curious. What would cause someone to give up this sort of power? Other than a conscience of course, but he wasn't quite sure that Kira possessed one of those.

"The owner loses all memories of ever owning the Death Note, doing anything with the Death Note and if they made the Eye Trade they lose the power. So, it's like they never had it in the first place." Ryuk reached behind the stringy kid in the chair to grab another apple. His pile was quickly getting smaller; he'd have to learn how to slow down again. "That's about it."

"Light gave up the Death Note."

One finger.

"Amane Misa was the second Kira."

Another single finger.

"She too, gave up the Death Note."

Ryuk rolled his eyes and held up his one finger. He was tempted to start lying just to screw with his head. "I'm pretty sure you already knew that."

"I knew she was the second Kira, but not that she gave up the power." L stopped. Things were clicking into place like a puzzle and his eyes widened. "Light and Misa both gave up their powers while in confinement."

Ryuk was quickly getting bored of the finger game. "Take a guess."

"Yes." L quickly shifted his attention back to the bed and the sleeping figure. Light's breathing was steady even with the shinigami sitting so very close. "So, right now Light-kun has no idea that he is, nor ever was, Kira?"

"Exactly." Ryuk chuckled and took another bite of his apple. "Not a clue, can't even see me anymore."

L was right. He was right the whole time, but now things were complicated. Technically speaking, the Light-kun he knew right now was innocent. Which means that he was telling the truth when he said he wasn't Kira. But could that change? "What happens if Light gets the Death Note back?"

Ryuk thought for a moment. Is it breaking the rules to explain things when the owner already knows about the previous owner? He wished Rem was around –she'd know. But, he was just explaining how the Death Note worked, so he shouldn't get into trouble. He just needed to make sure to keep names out of it. "When someone who has given up the Death Note touches one that they used to own, they get all their memories back."

"So he could be Kira again, just by touching this?" L stared at the notebook sitting on his desk. That such a harmless looking object could have such power baffled him. L wouldn't deny that he was tempted to let Light touch the notebook, just so he could get into the boy's head and find out what he was thinking as Kira.

"Sort of." Ryuk shrugged. "He only has his memories while he's touching the book. If you take it back than he'll forget again. You only get to keep the memories if you recover ownership while holding the book."

L lifted an eye brow. "That seems like it would be difficult."

"Not as hard as you'd think." Ryuk shrugged. "He'd just have to kill you while holding the notebook. I'm sure if he was desperate enough he'd resort to other means to kill you than writing your name down."

"You know him quite well, don't you?" L held in his smile. The conversation was heading in a more casual direction. If that was the case, L might be able to get more information than he originally thought.

"I should. I was with him twenty-four hours a day for quite some time." Ryuk shifted so that he was sprawled out on his side and holding up his head with an arm. "You get to know a person when they're the only one you can talk to."

"That is true, and you do like to talk." L tilted his head.

"Which is why I'm still mad at you for that whole bugging his room thing. I couldn't talk to him or eat apples during that whole escapade." Ryuk snorted and threw his apple core into the trash bin. "It was a pain in the ass."

"Ah, so he did know he was being recorded." L grinned. "How'd he know that?"

"He suspected it, and I confirmed it." Ryuk shrugged. "It would be trouble if I got caught on camera and Light agreed."

"So you talked with Light often?"

"Light loves to talk." Ryuk chuckled. "But I'm sure you picked that up. He'd tell me all of his plans all the time."

L crooked a tiny smile. "I'd imagine so. He probably told you all of his secrets, too."

Ryuk laughed and suddenly stood up from the bed. The sudden absence of the weight caused the bed to bounce, but Light slept through it easily. "Don't think I'm going to tell you that sort of thing."

"Drat, I've been caught." L tilted his head. Seems that was all he was getting tonight, though there was one more thing he wanted to know. "Why are you here, anyway?"

"Guess there's no point in hiding it. I was bored with waiting for him." Ryuk looked down at the bed and his previous human pet. His mouth was hanging open just a crack as he breathed.

L laughed and had to hold his mouth to keep from accidentally waking the other boy. "Of course, this is Light-kun. He'd have to have some sort of plan to get that book back even with his memories gone. So you came to give it back to him as planned, did you?"

"Yes, I did intend for him to get it. But it wasn't part of his plan." Ryuk scratched his head. He was going to take some heat for this when Light got the notebook back; he was sure of it. At least he could get some slack by reminding Light that he was going to kill him. "I kept dropping it next to him so he could wake up and get it. You just saw it before I could pick it up again. I hate that he's a heavy sleeper."

"So I'm a monkey wrench in the plan?"

"Sounds about it." Ryuk poked the detective in the heart. "So what are you going to do about it?"

"That is a good question." L leaned back in his chair. "I'm not sure."

"Well you've got some time." Ryuk stretched his arms over his head. He always hated it when humans slept. There was nothing to do.

The detective turned his attention to the sleeping figure on the bed. He kind of liked the idea of Light being innocent and keeping him that way. As long as he kept the boy away from a Death Note, than not only would the task force have peace of mind, but he could keep working with him. He had potential to be a great detective. Though, that did leave Misa. L stopped. If he had Light's old note book, who had Misa's? "Ryuk."

"What?"

"Does some one else have Misa's notebook right now?"

Ryuk shook his head and chuckled. Now that was too much information and he held up two fingers. "Not allowed to answer that one."

L studied the shinigami's face. It was twisted into an amused sneer like usual. But the chuckling hinted at something more serious. "I'm inclined to believe yes, considering that the murders are still occurring."

"So? What are you going to do?"

L smiled. "I'm going to catch Kira."

"Okay."

L opened the drawer where he had stashed the Death Note and held it in his hands. "And once I get his notebook, I'm going to make sure that Light-kun and Misa-chan can never get them again."

"Ahh." Ryuk licked his lips and grabbed one more apple for the night. He could always get more. He had plenty of time. "Humans are so interesting."

"And so are Shinigami." L added with a tiny smirk.

Ryuk laughed.