Author's Note: All right! I'm very excited! This is starting to heat up a little bit! I just know you're all going to love this next section.

-------------------------

L woke up the next day craving chocolate. Not just any chocolate would satisfy this precise type of craving. He needed dark chocolate. The darkest chocolate he could find. He wanted Hershey's special dark. The one with 80 coca in it. Yeah. That one. L knew he had that exact specific bar hidden in the kitchen.

L clambered up into a squatted sitting position on top of his bed and looked around his room. Even though he'd been there for an entire eight days, going into nine, it still felt so very strange. This was not a hotel room. This was not a secret base. This was an apartment. And this room he sat in, which looked so very much like any other room with four walls and windows, was in fact entirely different. Because this was a bedroom. A real bedroom.

L could count the times he'd slept in a real bedroom. He had not had one at the orphanages. He'd shared a rather huge room with fifteen or so other children in most. And after Watari adopted him, they were almost always on the move. He'd stayed in one with Watari for a little while in the very beginning. That had been the only time. But even then, L understood that it was temporary. This was not. He would stay at this apartment, for however long he felt it necessary. This room he was in right now, was his room.

It had little to nothing in it. He had no personal possessions. He had four light blue walls, a bed with a dark blue comforter and a small dresser with about seven outfits in it, only three of which he really wore. There was also a nightstand and a lamp. That was all. The room was rather bare; there was nothing on the walls. There were no curtains. It was in fact, emptier then the hotel rooms had been.

But it was his.

This very fact almost drowned away his sudden desire for chocolate. He almost forgot all about chocolate. He felt sudden so overcome that even his precious sugar could not compare with this feeling.

He felt so many things now that he was in America. There were hundreds of things he didn't understand. Hundreds of things to be discovered. And a million more that he experienced for the first time everyday. It was wonderful, and horrible all at once.

L could not even begin to attempt to describe the joy it brought him to feel things. But it was also agony. There were dozens of times a day where he was sure all of these new emotions would tear him apart with their power. He was hardly used to having such powerful things inside of him. It was nearly unbearable as it was wonderful. He was desperate for more all the time, and yet he wanted nothing more then for it to stop.

On the outside, L gave no indication of this torrential tidal wave inside of him. He sat as quietly as ever curled on top of his mattress and blankets, arms clasped around his knees. His face was solid and unmoving, his expression almost stony. His black eyes did not focus on anything in the room.

Judging by the intensity of the light coming in through his naked windows, L deduced that it was still very early in the morning. Perhaps six or so. He was starting to sleep a little later each day. He used to wake around five.

His mind unwillingly wandered to Watari. Mainly because L knew that once he stepped outside of his bedroom, he would be alone. Light did not wake until at least eight, usually more nearer to nine.

L also knew that once he left his bedroom, he would find himself with nothing to do. Watari would have solved both of these issues. He was always up when L was up and he was always there for company. What was more was that he would provide snacks and ask L how he slept even though he knew that the answer was 'not well' every morning. Then, after a speedy breakfast, L would get straight to work.

None of that would be happening.

L's craving for dark chocolate became suddenly severe. He knew very well that it was linked to the sudden loneliness he was feeling. It was also linked to the feeling of uselessness.

What is my purpose? What meaning is there if I'm not putting criminals in the electrical chair? It was the only meaning in his life. It had been his sole purpose. Without it, L was more then lost. He felt almost like he was not himself. As if he was hollow inside.

What a fool I was…to crave freedom. What freedom is this? L's body let off a very slight tremor. Then he swung his legs over the side of his bed and let his bare feet come in contact with the soft carpet.

He went to his door and pulled it open stepping out into the small hall that would lead him to the living room. L was immediately surprised by an odd smell. It was wafting through the apartment and filling most every available air space. L sniffed it faintly. It didn't smell bad. In fact, he sort of enjoyed it a little. He did not recognize it however, and quite curious to find out its source, he hurried a bit more quickly down the hall then he would have.

L came out of the hall and into the living room. From there, he could see into the kitchen due to the one wall that was a bar. Through the small opening, he saw Light hard at work over the stove.

L was surprised that Light would be up so early, not to mention cooking something. He had not calculated to waking up this way. Without so much as a word, L shuffled carefully into the kitchen, his shoulders hunched, his curved spine keeping him from standing up straight. Very curious, L moved to Light's side, standing just beside him so that he could peer into the frying pan Light had a hand on.

Light's eyes flickered to L and he smiled in a sly manner. L knew that Light had planned this and had known L would come to inspect. Still…L no longer cared as much about weather or not Light had planned something, or plotted a scheme. L knew this was most likely because whatever plots Light made were not created to kill him. Maybe a practical joke. But that was the most harm L had to worry about.

That was one thing that was very nice about this new life. L enjoyed the closeness he suddenly had with Light Yagami.

"Pancakes," came Light's voice. L blinked looking at him, and then glanced back into the pan. Yes. They were pancakes. There was a bowl of a soupy mixture next to the stove and next to that was a plate of already finished cakes. Light was on his sixth.

L knew immediately what Light's little plan was the moment he saw six pancakes. Light wanted to try and make L eat something other then a dark chocolate Hershey bar for breakfast. That was why he'd gotten up so early: to make sure L didn't eat anything beforehand.

This discovery was both amazingly rewarding and also incredibly upsetting. L could not even understand half of the joy he felt at that moment. Light had to have set his alarm clock to make it out of bed before L. L understood how much the younger man valued his sleep. To wake up earlier then he desired was an amazing feat. Not only that, but he had to have planned this in advance. He had to buy the pancake batter at least the night before. Then, on top of this, Light had to cook it all at the proper time, so that L wouldn't eat anything earlier.

It was the nicest thing Light had ever done for him. Ever. In the entire time they'd known each other, Light had never done anything this thoughtful. Normally he was the type to take care of himself, and not bother with trying to care for someone else.

It was an absolutely amazing feeling…to feel like he was worth being cared for.

But it was also quite upsetting as well. This type of display also meant that Light craved control. L had already known this about Light. It was one of his least favorite features about him. Light wanted to control what L ate. He wanted to overstep his bounds and force L to eat something that he perhaps didn't want to eat. L knew Light. He would not take no for an answer. Not after all this hard work. When Light decided on something and worked for it, he finished it, no matter who was in his way. It would not matter what L wanted at this point. It was too late in his plans. Now it was about controlling the morning, and controlling L.

L would not be controlled.

"I know you have a large appetite Raito-kun, but do you really think you'll eat that many?" L asked the question innocently enough. Light glanced over his shoulder at the older man. L hadn't changed yet and was in a white tee-shirt and blue boxers. Light on the other hand looked like he'd already showered and was ready for the day. He chuckled.

"No. You're going to help me." It wasn't a question. L did not like the demand.

"That's kind of you Raito-kun, but I'm afraid I don't like pancakes." It was the truth. It was flour and tasted much like bread. It certainly wasn't a sugar product. Light's grin only grew.

"Oh, you'll like them when I'm done with them. You just wait." L did wait. But entirely out of curiosity. He watched Light cook up the rest of the batter. Then he watched as he turned off the stove and put the pan in the sink for later. Then, L's eyes grew large as Light pulled out of an upper cabinet: syrup, powdered sugar, processed strawberry sugar sauce, regular sugar, whipped cream and chocolate syrup. He put all of them onto the counter.

L eyed the ingredients with awe. Involuntarily, his mouth started to water. He quickly swallowed to try and hide the reaction, but Light noticed. He laughed in his usual way.

"Told ya you'd like em." L didn't respond. He only watched as Light took out a plate. Light drizzled on some chocolate syrup first. Then he put on some strawberry sauce. Then he laid one pancake on top of the already soaked plate. On top of that pancake, he put more of the same ingredients, only he added regular syrup as well. Then he stacked on a second pancake On top of that, he drizzled more of these three ingredients. Then he dusted it with some powdered sugar.

L stared, his black eyes wide with wonder. Maybe Light hadn't done this out of selfishness at all. Maybe it wasn't about control.

"R…Raito-kun, that…that's enough. I won't eat more then that." But Light wasn't listening. He stacked on a third pancake. This one was the queen. He put all the ingredients he had on it, dusting it with sugar on top of the syrups. Then on top of it all, he finished with a nice, big, spiral of whipped cream. It looked almost like a regular cake. There was no hint of health left in that stack at all.

Light lifted the plate in his hands then and turned to face L who was practically trembling from the creation he had just witnessed. Light grinned quite cockily. Clearly he was proud of himself.

"Want some pancakes Lawliet?" L blinked in something close to shock. Was he dreaming? Maybe he hadn't woken up yet and he was still in bed? Surely that was the explanation.

"R…Raito-kun, why…why did you do this?" An odd expression played across Light's face when L had asked that question. L wasn't quite sure what the expression was, or what it meant. But quickly, Light's usual firm resolve took over.

"I've decided that you have to eat more properly. You had nothing at all but junk yesterday while I was gone. You're thin and pale and if you're not careful you're going to get sick. You're at least sleeping a little better now, but nutrition is the key. I don't expect you to jump right on in, so I thought this might be an easy start. Underneath all of this garbage is actually three real pancakes. There's got to be some nutrients in that."

L gaped, his mouth falling open in utter astonishment. Light had done this because…he was concerned about his diet? He'd done this because he was…worried about his health?

He's worried about me? L thought back to yesterday and the discussion they'd had about his sugar addiction. He hadn't realized Light had been that serious. Light truly wanted L to be healed of his affliction. And L knew what Light was thinking, and he knew it was true. It wasn't healthy. Not physically or mentally. But L had always been too afraid to try. Without the sugar to keep it at bay…it hurt inside. There was much pain. A lot of it that L was sure he'd forgotten. He was afraid of these deeply buried things and didn't want to bring them back up. He did not want to suffer.

But at the same time…he recognized that he was suffering right now. He understood just how sick he really was. His mind had been warped. But it had been warped in such a way…that he was a genius. If he tried to fix it, if he tried to correct it all…would he lose his talents?

There was really no way to tell. A person's mind was far too intricate to solve. Current memories were connected to older memories. Older memories were connected to smells, sight and sounds. Those were connected to things a person couldn't even remember. The subconscious was a vast, unending place.

I'm wired in a ludicrous way. L thought. But it works. Like a computer that is wired wrong. It strains with excess or too little power, the screen may flicker and it will be on the frits with bugs and such…but it works. If a person tried to correct the problem…there's no guarantee that the computer will turn back on.

And then it was all too much all over again. Just like everyday had been since he'd come to America. He simply felt too many things. It was overwhelming. He didn't know weather to be overjoyed, or angry that Light would dare mess with something as amazing as his miswired mind. L didn't know what to think or feel or do. He gazed from the pancakes up to Light's face. Light was waiting for an answer. But L just didn't know how to give it. Did he want this? What was it he wanted anyway?

All L knew was that whatever was happening to him these past few days, hurt. It hurt more at times then others. And right now, it hurt horribly. But there was an odd sense of healing in this pain. Somehow, L was sure it was good, despite how much he hated it. He hated feeling it, but was sure it was making him better. In some weird way, it was mending him. Was this just a tiny portion of what he would go through if he accepted this challenge?

"You mean…give up sugar entirely?" The question had come timidly, and L heard his own fear in his voice. He cursed internally. He certainly didn't want Light to know he was afraid. Well…it was too late now. He'd given himself away. Light frowned at the question.

"I didn't think that far ahead. I just thought that we'd give it a shot. A real and genuine shot. We won't be able to decide something like that until much later on." L stared at Light unblinking. Was it possible? Could this actually happen? Could he possibly be cured of a deeply rooted physiological affliction that he'd had literally his entire life, since infancy? Would it be possible to be happy without sugar? Would it be possible to feel like he was worth something?

L's face started to contort as he thought about that answer. No. He really didn't think it was possible. Not without the proper support. And Watari wasn't there. Light would not be understanding enough. He didn't understand exactly what he was asking of him. He didn't know what it meant, how deep this affected L. L had just begun to shake his head negatively when Light interrupted him.

"Lawliet…I know it's possible," he said, arguing against the exact words L had thought. "We'll go really really slowly. This will be the only meal of the day that's controlled. OK? The rest of the day, you eat how you usually do. And every time you have a sugar product, make a tally on a piece of paper. We'll see just how much you eat a day. Then we can cut out just one tomorrow and see how that goes for a few days. OK? Does that sound so bad?"

L stared at Light, his black eyes absolutely huge. Light was being so…kind.

I'm dreaming… Came L's thoughts again. This isn't real. Light doesn't care for me this much. The real Light would make fun of me, or try to bait me. Maybe this is all a horrible joke. At that thought, L's heart twisted in his chest. If this were a joke, L knew it would be critically damaging. He didn't know if he could even stand up to such a horrible blow.

No! That's Kira. This is not Kira. This is Light Yagami. Light Yagami does care for me. That's why he's doing this. He's not trying to hurt me… But L couldn't feel entirely certain about that. There was always a chance, that Kira hadn't been entirely killed so soon after the move. He could have been lurking inside of his first-ever-friend, just waiting for a tender moment such as this to strike.

And without sugar…how could he ever cope with that?

L shook his head "no" suddenly and almost wildly. His hand rose to his mouth and his forefinger found its way into his mouth where he began chewing it fitfully. His black eyes stared straight ahead at seemingly nothing.

L saw Light's face plummet through the corner of his eye. He hated to disappoint him, but was much more afraid of pain.

"You don't trust me to help you through this, do you Lawliet?" L didn't answer. It was true. He didn't. Light turned back to the counter, putting down the amazingly delicious pancakes he'd just made. Then, much to L's surprise, he started to move forward. He came toward him, each step being placed firmly, solidly on the linoleum. L did not move or back away. He wouldn't be controlled.

Light came right up in front of him, stopping only a few inches away. He stared down into L, unyielding. L stared right back, meeting the challenge head on. He wouldn't be moved.

"Lawliet…" Light lifted his hand and his fingers moved toward L's face. L flinched automatically in anticipation of touch. Light froze when he saw it, his hand stopping in midair. His almond brown eyes softened and filled with…dare L say…sadness?

"Lawliet…I know a little more then you think. I know how heavy this really is." He lowered his hand back to his side. "When you were in the hospital…when you had that…that thing in your throat…I came by to visit you. Watari told me not to come, that you weren't in a state to see me. He explained that because of your crushed windpipe, and the fact that you couldn't eat solids, you were in a bad way. He told me you didn't want to see me, that you couldn't see me. I went anyway, against his request."

L's eyes widened. He knew exactly where this was going. He already knew the ending of Light's explanation and he didn't want to hear it.

"When I got there…I saw what several days without any sugar at all could do to you. I saw what it meant. I looked in through the door while Watari was visiting and…and I saw you…curled up at tight as could be…sobbing. I...I'd never seen you cry like that before. I know how strong you are. So I know how much it must have been hurting you."

L inhaled sharply suddenly as if something icy cold were pressed into his neck.

"Raito-kun…stop it…" Light suddenly leaned forward, invading L's space. L leaned backward away from him, not liking the dominating effect Light was accomplishing by moving in so tightly. The younger man gazed almost harshly.

"Lawliet…I think this is the right thing. I want to help. And the only way to do that is to finally, finally wean you off of sugar." L felt something erratic happen inside of his chest. His heart picked up pace and within only half a blink it was pounding. The force of such blood pumping through his usually lazy veins was unnerving. It made his head hurt. Things were suddenly hazy.

L had always wanted to get himself off of his sugar kick. He knew it was the right thing. Light didn't have to tell him that. But it was still a terrifying concept. But now…now with this sudden promise…it didn't seem so horrible. Light was…promising to help. He said he'd wanted to help.

Maybe…I do have the support after all… That thought was comforting. Light was acting like…well…a friend. L hadn't expected it. He hadn't expected it at all. But if Light could be this thoughtful now, what was to say he wouldn't be later on when it truly mattered?

Light stood back up, giving L his breathing room back. He turned and stepped away from L, heading back toward the pancakes. L straightened himself to the best of his ability, amazed that his racing heart was suddenly slowing again.

Light reached the pancakes and picked them back up. He faced L for a second time, smiling.

"What do ya say? You wanna tackle this beast once and for all?" It was something in the way Light had said it. It was something in the way he was smiling and it was something in the way he held the pancakes out to L, offering them to him. For a split second, L was sure everything would work out, that everything would be ok.

And so, he moved forward, accepting the plate into his pale, thin hands.

"This looks delicious Raito-kun," L said in his usual tones. He knew he didn't need to give a "yes" or "no." Light understood his answer. They would tackle the sugar addiction. L was willing to take the risk.