Light was just about done when Watari finally made his appearance. A dropped lollipop had resulted in what Light could only describe as a tantrum.

The accomplice/butler ghosted towards them in his usual inconspicuous manner. A brief interlude between his sighting by Light and the time when he presented himself to the two geniuses confirmed what Light had hoped would be the case. Watari's slight turning up of the lips was enough for Light to know that finally, he might be able to help L.

L did not turn at Watari's presence, although Light knew that L, unlike him, had developed the superhuman skill of detecting the butler without actively looking for him. It was a skill that Light envied enormously. Watari had caught him procrastinating at the computer far too many times.

'L, could I speak to Light for a moment?'

L looked confused for a moment, before Light saw flustered comprehension dawn on his face.

'Ah...of course.'

L undid the handcuffs with a little more vigour than was necessary, and Light felt a sort of misplaced anger radiating from L. He consoled himself with the justification that L wasn't very well at the moment.

Light followed Watari to the same room that they had utilised before. He turned to face his concerned comrade.

'One should be enough.'

With that, Watari pressed a vial of small pills into Light's hand.

'But wait, Watari-how do I get him to eat them?'

Watari looked abashed. It was the first time Light had seen such an emotion on the stoic man's face.

'I hadn't thought of that.'

Light thought for a few moments. Then he realised how simple it was.

'You prepare his cakes for him, yes?'

'Yes.'

'Well why not just incorporate the pills into the cake?'

A quizzical look was bequeathed unto Light for his suggestion.

'Have you seen how much cake L eats? He would overdose within minutes!'

If there had been a table on which to execute such a move correctly, Light would have face-palmed.

In a savage manner.

'Is there anything that L eats in moderation?'

Light pondered on the fact that this question might take more brain power to answer than the police had as yet invested in the Kira investigation.

After several tumble-weeds had rolled across the bleak floor of the exchange, Watari finally spoke.

'I make him drink a glass of orange juice everyday.'

'Why didn't I notice this?'

'He waits until you are otherwise distracted to discreetly drink it.'

'But...why?'

'He's embarrassed.'

'Of?'

Light was sorry he had asked. It was clear that Watari held paternal feelings for L, and L was probably embarrassed to be shown to bend to the will of someone else.

Patching up his blunder, Light quickly became businesslike.

'Could you arrange it so that he drinks it at night? And disperse the powder contained within the pill into the drink?'

Light then realised something important.

'Wait-can you do that? Or does it render it inactive?'

'It says here that you can dissolve the pill contents into a drink if you so wish, so I do not think so.'

'Good. Then we are in accordance. Operation orange juice.'