Page 3: Concept

L could not sleep that night. He could feel it in the dark. Outside, storm clouds gathered. Slowly, L positioned himself upright with his left arm. He drew back his knee and threw his right arm on it. He peered out into the darkness, and saw a flicker of movement. "Who's there?" L asked calmly.

"You see me," The being froze and the light allowed L to see its head turn back to look at L, "Good, then I am correct. I am Ryuk."

'Ryuk? That name does not sound familiar, and it sounds foreign. No, not even of this world. It gives itself a fool's authority, like "Hades."' L pushed off of the bed. "Ryuk, of what am I the owner of? Something that belongs to you?" The detective asked to seem stupid.

"In a matter of speaking, however, whether I owned it is unimportant. I want to know, do you like it?"

"Like 'it?'" L inquired continuing his act, "Ryuk, you have not told me what 'it' is."

"The notebook of the God of Death." L's eyes widened in surprise. He moved forward and flicked the light switch on the wall, and without surprise, there stood a creature this world has not seen for 1000s of years, maybe longer.

'A Shinigami?' L thought. 'This proves it . . . I should call Watari and tell him to stop the test.'

"Shinigami, why are you here?" L questioned as he took out his cell phone. He pressed a speed dial for Watari's number.

"Because the note was dropped here."Beyond vocalized words Ryuk's thoughts continued, 'With this guy, I figured I would have to persuade him. I can kill him if the death of Quillish does not help me.'

"What?" L questioned allowed, "Watari is not answering . . ." Slowly, his mind considered a sickening possibility.

"Who's 'Watari,'"Ryuk asked the boy. This time, the Shinigami was completely confused in voice.

"He is an older friend of mine, a father-figure I suppose. He always answers . . . I will try again." L redialed the number when Ryuk took up the Death Note. With his back to L, he flipped the pages and found that no one had been written in. Ryuk continued to wait for L to realize what had occurred.

"Perhaps, 'Watari' is busy?" Ryuk asked with pseudo hope under toned his voice.

L sighed deeply. The only explanation is Watari is sleeping heavily tonight. 'Perhaps he was up late and has not answered the phone because he needs to be up early this morning.' L reasoned. He looked the clock perched on his night stand. 'I should sleep some tonight. Still,' he looked at the Shinigami over his shoulder who began picking up random items and looking at them, 'he bugs me. L wandered over to a chair, and sat down, gripping his knees. 'NO! Watari would always answer. Could this Shinigami plan on killing those around me to entertain himself? That does not make sense though...'

Through a miracle of drowsiness, L managed to doze off with the lights on, still sitting upon the chair. Apparently, the Shingami did not need sleep.

As L awoke with the early morning Light, the thoughts of last night came apparent again. He immediately drew his phone and dialed Watari, who did not answer. He left the phone on his bed and headed for his bathroom. As he took off his shirt, he noticed the Shinigami come through the door.

'I cannot get used to this.' He thought blandly, "What, Ryuk?"

Ryuk turned his head toward L. L lifted his left foot and used his big toe to scratch behind his right leg. Ryuk, stunned slightly, turned his head to evade L's deep gaze. Naturally, the shingami remained impassive as L continued to shed his clothes.

"Can I have your apples?" The Shower water started. L stepped into the shower before answering the creature God of Death.

"Why do you want apples?"

"I like apples."

'...' L replied, "I see."

"Like an addiction for me, they are, on earth, how you say...Juicy."

Ryuk took out an apple from a rarely used pantry. 'This is as bad as an apple from the realm of death.' The Shinigami ate the dried out fruit. He then thought, 'Nope.' He looked around to find too many sweet things to count before finishing his thought, 'This apple is worse.'

Finishing a brief survey of the apartment, Ryuk could tell a few things about L:
1) L is under too much stress. 2) L likes sweet things . . . a lot. 3) L does not eat fruit much if at all.

L planned on a quick shower, followed by coffee, then a search for Watari. However, his shower became a drown out, semi-warm bath. Bitter and without sweets. L felt helpless. So many memories. This became the one thing he attached to, and Quillish might be gone too. L, the greatest detective in the world, was broken down. He resigned himself to little comfort as he felt overcome by a force more strange than weariness. He might hold the emotion off for a while, but in the dark connors of his mind or in the seclusion of his bathroom, even L breaks down. Even rocks crack, and tears fell past the dark, half moons beneath his eyes.

A/n:

SURPRISE! I AM...ALIVE!! Okay, yes, a short chapter for a long, long wait. How...rude of me. Anyway, I plan to get restarted because I have time now. Woot! Later guys!