Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note. I am only borrowing the characters to do whatever I want to with.

Warnings: There is swearing, some smoking, a brief mention of murder and blood and a nice scoop of Mikami creepy-ness to top it off with. Have fun reading.

*For those interested in how Light and L met, well I included that scenario into this long awaited chapter just for you, and I'll probably add a little more about it with each new chapter. ^ ^ Happy belated Valentine's Day*


Chapter Seven: Suspicious

Matt watched with curious eyes as the strange guy carried Light into an apartment building. Who the hell was he? And more importantly, why was Light hurt, and allowing this man to obviously take him home with him?

Interesting Light, what ever shall the darling fiancé in another country say about your rendezvous with a certain tall dark and handsome?Matt thought to himseld, watching as he lit a cigarette and pretending he lived in the building as well.

He followed the two inside, even stepping into the same elevator. The dark haired man struggled to keep his hold on Light as he pushed the number four button. He then turned to Matt, asking with his eyes what floor.

"Oh, uh I'm heading to the fourth floor too."

The guy nodded politely, but his eyebrows scrunched together in a bit of confusion. "I'm sorry, but this building is non-smoking."

Damn, he was always being discriminated against.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Quickly he puffed hard on his cigarette, then after removing the cigarette, he rolled his tongue around inside his mouth for extra saliva. Bravely, he then placed the lit cigarette onto his tongue, and in one dab, had the small flame extinguished.

Mikami and Light watched in silent horror as Matt then placed the half smoked cigarette into his vest pocket as if he had not just scorched his own tongue. Which, with enough practice as he had in his life, he didn't.

"I'm sorry, but, are you new in the building?" Mikami asked when the shock wore off.

Think quick. "Yes. Just moved in this morning actually."

"I didn't think I recognized you. Welcome. I'm Mikami Teru."

Oh shit. He now had to give a name as well. He didn't prepare for that!

"Uh, I'm…" He tossed out the first name that popped into his head. "Kyu Sakamoto.(1)"

This time Light turned his head not caring at all to take a look at Matt with his own eyebrows lifted in curiosity, or confusion, Matt couldn't tell.

A bit nervously he added, "It, It's a family name?"

Mikami suddenly smiled and nodded. "An honor then."

Honor?

"Thank you." I think. Maybe he should have told L he didn't speak good Japanese. He was terrible at it.

As the elevator dinged and the door opened, he followed behind the two men down the hall. At his door, Mikami sat Light down to lean against the wall as he played in his pocket looking for his keys. Matt pretended to be looking for his own keys in front of the door across the hall.

When Mikami lifted Light back up and carried him in, shutting the door behind him, Matt relaxed his tense body.

"Damn it all. I should get paid for this shit dude."

After making sure no one was around, Matt opened his vest to find a secret pocket hidden inside the coat. Within the pocket was a small plastic box that when opened, revealed three miniature cameras that were no larger than the size of a walnut.

Taking out one of the cameras, Matt stood on tip toe as he mounted the camera on the wall, just above the door across from Light and Mikami.

"Tiny and discrete, but you'll do the job."

He waved to the camera, then stepped back on the elevator where he then placed camera B into the top right corner. "You guys won't be able to leave without my knowing. And if you do, I'll follow."

*LXLightXL*

Mikami felt a pinch of excitement to see Light laying in his bed beneath the covers. The boy was getting drowsy and looked simply adorable to Mikami who didn't want to leave his side. He was better than whoever it was Light was engaged to.

Unlike that so called fiancé he would never leave Light on his own, no matter the reason. Light needed someone at his side at all times. He would make sure Light had everything he needed plus wanted. He would treat Light like a prince.

And right now the Prince needed supper and his medicine. After turning on the television across from the bed, he handed Light the remote and made his way to the kitchen.

Light shivered once the older man was gone. He hovers way too close for comfort. He thought, pulling the covers up and tossing the remote to the side. Light wasn't a television person.

He sat up reaching into his back pocket for his cell phone. No missed calls or text messages. Well, what was he expecting? L to call him a million times a day?

He wondered if L was keeping safe, and maybe, thinking of him. Light twirled the ring on his finger thinking of the day they met.

Light was leaving a class late. He had stayed behind to help clean up after festival week and was exhausted.

It had been raining, causing the grass to become slick and the dirt to turn into mud. Light was wearing his new khaki dress pants along with a white button up top with long sleeves, but his umbrella had been forgotten at home that morning, leaving the teen to get drenched by the falling rain from head to toe.

As he attempted to make a short cut by crossing the school's yard, he slipped on the slick grass, his feet flying up from underneath him. In a rough, hard bang, Light hit the ground hard, and in pain.

The fall knocked the breath from his lungs, forcing him motionless for a moment, until he heard a voice asking, "Are you alright?"

"I. I'm fine." His cheeks burned fire as he was so embarrassed by the incident.

"You don't look fine. May I offer a hand to help you up? Watari, fetch the strange boy an umbrella from the car."

Strange? How rude, he thought to himself. Then replied, "Uh, no. No thank you. I'm fine." He struggled to sit up on his own, but the man dropped his umbrella to offer his help.

The stranger's hands were warm and gentle, but strong as he stood behind the fallen Light and helped him back onto his feet. Light wiped the rain from his face and turned around.

What he saw almost could have made him laugh. The man was obviously older, a good few inches taller than Light yet he was slouching horribly. He had black, dirty hair, and large, thick bags under his eyes, and oddly enough, no shoes. But he did have a lollipop hanging from his lips like a cigarette.

And this man had called him strange? Honestly, what was this world coming to?

"Thank you."

"You are welcome. What is your name?"

"Uhm, Yagami. Yagami Light."

"Hm. You're the son of Yagami Soichiro. Chief of the NPA, am I right? You scored first nation wide and you have one sibling, a sister. And you were a junior champion of tennis."

Huh?

Light tried to act smooth, like he didn't care this strange stranger knew everything about him but his social security number. "Uhm, I'm afraid I dont know your name."

"That's because I didn't give it to you." By that time an old man walked to them with an umbrella for Light, who gratefully took it, opening it up above him.

"It doesn't matter now, does it?" The strange man asked.

"Huh? What doesn't?"

"The umbrella. You are already soaked and caked with mud. You're shirt is see through its so wet. There really is no point in the umbrella now, I'm sorry. If only I were a moment sooner."

Light looked down and sure enough, his brown skin could easily be seen through the shirt as it was stuck to his stomach and torso. "Ah." His cheeks flared again in embarrassment and he attempted to cover himself as best as possible.

"May I offer a ride?"

"No. I don't even know you."

"But I know your father and I gave you an umbrella. Please, we aren't people that will harm you. Although in your best interest it would be dangerous for you to enter my vehicle. I am a stranger with more information about you than you realize and I am not dressed properly. I can understand the decision not to as I have already pointed out your shirt which makes you assume I am a pervert, even if I'm not. However, walking home now would only embarrass you further, seeing how your pants are covered in mud. It's your choice."

Light couldn't believe this. The man was so weird! Yes, it would be wrong to just hop into a car with this man, but Light would absolutely die if someone saw him like this.

"Uhm, okay. Sure, you can give me a ride." Besides, he was with an old man. What harm could an old man do? Light thought.

Light slid into the limo next the black haired man, sitting his school books between them to keep the distance. The man didn't seem to mind or take notice.

Light shut his door and the old man began to drive. Inside, the limo was warm and dry, making Light feel horrible for sitting on the seats with mud on his body.

"I apologize for-"

"It's fine. Think nothing of it." The man replied apathetically.

"But…you don't even know what I was going to say."

"You were apologizing for the mud."

"Well yeah, but…never mind. Listen, how did you know all that about me?"

"Your father is working on a case with me. I'm a detective. I'm offering my help to the NPA."

"Should you be telling me that?"

"No. But I would like to ask your help. Your father tells me that you have helped with cases before. I would like your opinion. That is why I have come to your school. I would have offered you a ride no matter if you had fallen or not. Never mind the mud completely, I have other vehicles to drive."

Oh, so that made a little bit of sense. But gee, what a snob.

Light looked over the fact that the man was a little young to be a detective who could work by his father's side. It took years to move up in the force and this man was just too young. Maybe this guy was some kind of genius, or maybe he was just a nut job.

Curiously, Light said, "Okay, shoot."

The man pulled an envelop from his back pocket handing it to Light. "You will find photos inside taken of a murder. Please, be careful looking at them as they are rather gruesome."

Gruesome did not do them justice. Half the photos were blood red, as the poor man in the photo was practically mutilated by his murderer. Light was forced to close his eyes until his stomach settled. His father had asked his help a hundred times over, yes, that was true, however, Light was never asked to help with anything more than burglaries and hostages. Obviously, his father didn't want his help on this specific case, but this stranger did. And Light could understand why his father would be against it. He'd never looked at real life crime photos of a murder and now he felt he as if was going to be sick.

"Would you like a bucket?"

"No…No. That won't be necessary." Suddenly the window beside Light rolled down, allowing the heavy, cold rain to pour in and splatter against his once dry face. Light blinked confused.

"Mud is much easier to clean than vomit." The odd man said, as he scooted closer to his own door to escape the rain.

Light sighed and opened his eyes, looking again at the photos but taking his time before moving onto the next one.

Each victim was a young man around Light's age, murdered in his apartment by strangulation, then beheaded.

Fear rose in Light. Each victim was his height, his build, his stature. He began to reach for the door handle.

"How do I know the killer isn't you? Stop this car and let me out."

"Yagami Light I am no killer. I am merely a detective who wishes your help with a case. Your father refuses to involve you, as he is terrified of your safety. If you failed to notice, you're a perfect candidate to be the next victim. I am going, as you say, 'behind his back', to speak with you."

"How can I believe you? What if your just the killer wanting me to trust you? I'll have to see I. D. and everything."

"Alright." The man pulled out his wallet, flipping through it until he found a business card that he then handed to Light, who refused it.

"NO. That is a piece of garbage. I want photo I.D. and you to answer my secret questions."

Secret questions? Light normally would have scolded himself for that childish act but at the time he was frightened and wanted out of the vehicle.

"That is understandable." The man pulled out a photo I.D. with the name Hideki Ryuga printed across the bottom. It looked legitimate, but…still…

"What is your secret question?"

Light tried to think of something only a person who worked with his father would know, but Light could know as well. He decided to start out easy.

"What did my father wear this morning to work?"

"I can't answer that."

"Ha! Let me out NOW." Light tried to pull frantically on the handle of the door but it was locked.

" I can not answer that question because your father did not come to work today. Your sister's birthday was today and her birthday wish was an afternoon with him. Believe me now?"

"No. Anyone could know that if they followed my dad around the last week."

"Ask another."

"Uhm, how many sugars does my dad take in his coffee?"

"Yagami-san prefers cream to sugar with his coffee."

Damn, The man was right. "Yeah well, even if you did work with my dad, you could still be the killer. In fact that's why you work with my dad. That way you can keep track of the police and me."

"That could be true. A very good possibility. You're very intelligent."

"Don't patronize me!"

"I wasn't. Look, I can only ask you to trust me. If you can not do that, I'm going to have to apologize for taking up your time. Although, the case I'm afraid will suffer severely without your help. I doubt it could be solved on our own. My only regret would be the future victims. And their mourning families."

Thinking on what the man said, made Light let go of the handle again. Maybe. Maybe the guy was alright. Just because your father drills moments like these into your head and tells how you'll become some cannibal's dinner if your not smart, doesn't mean this man is crazy.

Thinking the situation through, Light gave the strange man the benefit of the doubt, sitting back and trying to relax.

"Okay. I'll help you. But, I want to meet in open places. Crowded, open places."

"Deal."

"Good. Right now though, I'd like to go home."

"Of course. Take the photos with you when you go. Keep them safe. They have yet to be released to the public so don't show them to anyone."

"S-sure." Oh darn, and I was just thinking of framing them next to Sayu's soccer photo in the family room for all to see. You know, for evidence after you kill me.

Light's memory was interrupted by Mikami's deep voice from beside him. "Light, I made you Yakizakana (2) for supper."

Still in smiles from his memory, Light turned to see Mikami standing next to the bed with a trey containing a meal for Light, a cup of hot tea, silverware wrapped in a napkin, and a small white vase with a rose.

Wow. Mikami Teru sure knew how to take care of guests.

"Jeez, thank you Mikami. You really didn't have to go through all the trouble."

"It was really no trouble Light. Not for you."

Mikami took the cell phone from Light, sitting it on the bedside table next to a lamp, and saying, "You won't need that while you're resting. I'll let you know if you get a call."

Light was uneasy not having his phone in his grasp. He wanted to snatch for it back, just incase L called, but Mikami already had the trey placed neatly in his lap.

"There. Need anything?" Mikami asked.

"Uhm, well…my-"

"Your medicine. I forgot it. I'll be right back."

Light tried to lean to the side of the bed for this phone, but it seemed impossible unless he wanted to spill something.

Oh well, L isn't going to call anyways. He thought to himself. Who am I fooling? He's busy with his case. I'm number two on his current list of priorities right now.

Feeling like a child, he pushed the thoughts from his mind and took a bite of his supper. It was surprisingly delicious. Mikami really knew how to cook.

*LXLightXL*

After installing his cameras Matt made his way back outside into the cold. He walked across the street to a small café/gift shop, and ordered a sandwich and drink. He was practically starving to death. He moved to a small table near the window so he could keep an eye on the apartment building.

He didn't trust that Mikami Teru as far as he could throw him. Which wasn't far considering he had no aim and was horrible at dodge ball. The scars on his legs from Mello were proof enough, but now he was getting sidetracked.

Matt took a bite of his sandwich taking his time. He knew he was suppose to check in with L, but frankly, he was too scared. What was he suppose to say?

Hey, I know where your fiancé is. He's sleeping in some other guys apartment. Then input a happy deluxe giggle at the end.

Dude! He'd be in an early grave if he attempted that. He also couldn't say Light was hurt. Definitely couldn't do that. L would flip. He'd say something along the lines of, "Why weren't you watching him? This is why you're third. This is why I never pay you. Did you want to see a Nintendo Wii under that Christmas tree? Too bad now." And click, he'd hang up. Christmas would be ruined.

Then there would be Mello, waving his chocolate stuff around and Near with a brand new robot and domino set. Matt would be empty handed and it would be all that damn Light's fault.

Realizing he was getting sidetracked again, Matt pulled out a pair of small binoculars from another hidden vest pocket, and aimed them up at the fourth floor. If his math was right, then the second window was Mikami's.

If he strained his eyes a little, he could see perfectly into the bedroom where what looked to be Light getting served supper in bed.

*LXLightXL*

Mikami brought back Light's antibiotics along with a sleeping pill. Light recognized the small blue pill immediately. He had watched L take them several times before.

"Mikami…Why the hell are you trying to give me a sleeping pill?"

Mikami looked stunned at first, then his face softened and he straightened his glasses. "You need rest, Light. I thought I would help you."

"I don't need a sleeping pill."

"But the pain from your leg might make it tough to get to sleep. I was only thinking of you."

"That's very kind of you, but in all honesty, I don't put anything not prescribed into my body." But I also don't really trust your idea behind it.

"Oh. I'm terribly sorry, Light. Well, in anyways here are your antibiotics."

Light took the tiny cup with two white pills, dumped them onto his tongue, and downed his tea. It didn't take long for Light's eyes to begin to close without aid of the sleeping pill. His day had been tiring. Mikami took the trey, leaving Light to rest in the quiet room.

*LXLightXL*

Yawning, Matt was growing bored watching the two, that is until Mikami sneakily pulled Light's wallet out of the boy's back pocket while he was sleeping.

What the hell? Matt zoomed his binoculars in. Mikami was calmly taking everything out and examining it.

Thief, was Matt's initial thought, but then he realized Mikami didn't steal anything. He only went through the credit cards putting them right back into their individual spots when done.

He didn't stop there however. After placing Light's wallet back onto the bedside table, he picked up his phone going through the previous calls and texts. Matt knew he wouldn't find any traces of L on there, but still, he panicked. What was this guy doing? What kind of person just goes through someone's stuff like that?

According to their claim in the hospital, they were looking at a building they wanted to work on for a class project. That obviously meant partners.

Matt wondered though… Why was Light spending a night at Mikami's apartment? He was hurt, yes, but if he needed care he could have went home to his mother, right? Isn't that what you did when you had a family who loved you?

Friends seemed close, but if they were just friends, why was Mikami going through Light's wallet? Matt knew boundaries between friends, and this seemed to cross the line.

Was it possible they were more than friends? Light did look awfully comfortable laying there in Mikami's bed. And L is away working on a case.

Suddenly, Matt wasn't so bored anymore.


A/N: This started to get pretty long so I cut it off before we got to any Mello-ness lol Sorry guys, he'll come up in the next chapter.

1. Kyu Sakamoto==This man is a household name in Japan, which is why it came first in Matt's mind. He was a musician that died in what is still history's largest plane crash. When Matt gives this as his name, Mikami and Light thought it was weird he'd have such a famous name, until he says it's a family name. Mikami is then honored because he thought he was his grandson. I guess it's equivalent would be if I said to you, hey my name is Michael Jackson lol

2. Yakizakana==Grilled Dried Herring with Eggs ^ ^ yum.

3. I didn't put a number, but I figured I'd mention it. The trick Matt performs with his tongue, I have witnessed people do this. It CAN be done. However, most people wash their mouth out with something afterwards since it leaves an amount of ash on your tongue. (Don't try it at home )