A/N: Because it's tomorrow and I have an Ouran update to do tomorrow, can we take a quick moment to wish our favorite little psychopath Light Yagami a very happy (early) birthday? Yes, I do celebrate anime character birthdays here. You should know that by now. Unless you're new. In that case, you know now. Usually, I celebrate them with a one-shot (see the one I did for Roy Mustang of Fullmetal Alchemist last year, appropriately titled Happy Birthday, Sir), but since I have a Death Note update today, I figured I'd leave that one alone. But nonetheless, happy birthday, Light! And…you know…kindly fuck off.

It had been a while since the last time I had seen L. I didn't like going years without seeing his face, but it's been six. And I missed him terribly. At least he kept me updated. Last time I had heard from L, he was working some serial killer case out of the country.

Speaking of killers and death, I had to let Ryuk go, too. He was getting to be quite the handful. If I didn't give him an apple every hour on the hour, he'd stare at me like a dog while its human ate a T-bone steak. So, I relinquished my control of Ryuk's Death Note and set him free. Every good mother needs to know when to let her baby go sometime, right?

One afternoon, I had gotten a call from my agent asking me if I could make another convention trip. I hadn't touched the circuit in a couple of years. Why not? Little did I know, it wasn't a convention at all. When my graphic novel had become such a success, a studio wanted to make it into an anime. The studio executives wanted to meet me in person, so I was on the next plain and here I am. Amidst the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, enjoying a cup of tea brought to me by beautiful butlers in a dimly lit cafe. Life was good.

Ring, ring.

And it was about to get even better, "Hi, baby."

"Hi," L chimed on the other end, "Where are you right now?"

"Sitting in a butler cafe in Tokyo," I dropped another sugar cube in my tea, "Why?"

"You're in Tokyo?" he gasped.

"That's right."

"So am I," L sounded a little nervous, "Do you think you and I could meet up while you're here?"

"Sure," I couldn't say no to him, "Where do you want to meet? Shibuya? Aoyama?"

"My hotel," he picked, "I really need to keep a low profile these days."

"L," I started to sweat, "Is everything ok?"

"Things are a little dangerous," he explained, "That serial killer I told you about is getting closer and closer. I can't let him see my face."

"You are..." I quivered, "You're keeping your anonymity, right? No one knows your name other than Watari?"

"Always," he promised.

"Good," I sighed out, "So, where are you staying? What hotel?"

"Watari will give you the details," L told, "Make sure you keep your face covered when you come into the building."

"I will," I got up, "Is now a good time?"

"Of course."

"I'm on my way," I threw two hundred yen on my table, "I love you."

"I love you, too, Mama," L mumbled. Then, the line went dead.

Beep!

Wow. Watari was efficient. Like he was the Alfred to L's Batman. As long as this serial killer doesn't find out that L is Bruce Wayne, I'll be fine. That boy never could stay out of trouble, could he? Between the love he has for what he does and his strong sense of justice, I'm not surprised. Worried to all hell and going prematurely gray, yes. But surprised? Not in the least bit.

Once I got to the building L had told me about and Watari described in his text, I couldn't help but be a little overwhelmed. This place was huge. There's no way it was a standard hotel. When I walked in, I made sure my face was covered like L told me to.

Let's see. According to Watari's instructions, I take the stairs on the right of the moniters where some guy that looked about my age, maybe a bit younger, had dozed off. My god, he was like a security guard in a cartoon. From what I understand, though, L's been working around the clock to catch this guy, so I'm sure these guys have been, too. I'll let him get some sleep. There's no way that was comfortable, though. I grabbed a pillow off one of the couches and slid it under his head. Rest well, Mr. Cartoon Security Man.

I took the stairs up to an elevator and took it to the fifth floor where L said he'd be. Or where Watari said L would be. Room number seven. That was at the end of this hallway and to the left, right? Sure. This place was huge. I'm sure it'd be really easy to get lost in here. I knocked on L's door and waited.

And a younger man, younger than the guy watching the moniters answered. Cute, too. Younger than L, but not by much, I'm assuming, "Hi. Can I help you?"

"Hi," I smiled back, "I'm looking for L."

"I'm sorry," he shot me down, "Are you supposed to be in here? How did you get in?"

"Watari overrid the system for her," a familiar voice chimed behind him, "Come in."

"Hi, L," I beamed. It might have been six years, but my baby hadn't changed a bit.

"Hi," he sat across from me. And I noticed a shiny bracelet on his wrist...that attached to another shiny bracelet on the wrist of the guy that got the door with a long chain.

"Um, L," I gave him a look, "What's with the handcuffs? Did you get into my nightstand drawer by any chance?"

"The handcuffs are strictly for surveillance purposes," L explained, "They're a necessary evil."

"So, it's not a kinky thing?"

"Ryuzaki," the other guy asked, "Do you know this woman?"

"Ryuzaki?" I wondered, "Is that what you're going by these days? It's cute. It's got a ring to it."

"Light," L introduced, "This is my mother. Mama, this is Light Yagami. He's currently working this investigation with me."

"It's nice to meet you, Light." As I shook his hand, I noticed a little more than just his shiny bracelets. I saw a shadow behind Light that took a form I hadn't seen in quite some time. And that shadow recognized me. As soon as I was sure neither one of them were looking, I put my finger up to my lips, hoping to God he'd keep his mouth shut.

"It's nice to meet you, too," Light gave me a little forced smile, "I don't think I caught your name."

"You don't need to know her name, Light," L stopped him.

"So," I kicked my feet up on the coffee table, "What's new?"

"This serial killer we're after," L began, "It's starting to get personal. Like he's taunting me. It's really quite maddening actually."

"Any suspects?" I asked.

"A few," he went on, licking the bottom of an ice cream bowl, "However, two of those suspects are staying in this building, so I guess we can chalk that up as progress. By the looks of things, he's outsourcing some of his killings to someone that shares his power."

"Ryuzaki!" Light freaked, "You can't share information like that! What if she's Kira?"

"Mama, are you Kira?" L asked.

"Nope," I shook my head.

"She's clean."

"It's that simple?" Light's tirade continued, "All you had to do was ask her, she says no, and you believe her?"

"Of course," L nodded, "I trust this woman with my life. Only two people in the world can say they have that trust."

"But I still have to be handcuffed to you?"

"Yes."

"I'm guessing you're a suspect, aren't you, Light?" I assumed.

"But I'm not Kira!" he squealed, "How many times to I have to tell you?"

"You are getting awfully defensive," I pointed out, "I'm not surprised that L thinks you are."

"She makes a very valid point," L commended, "And your innocence has yet to be proven, Light."

"Great," Light pouted, "There's two of them."

"We'll come back to that," I put it on the back burner, "But L, you are taking care of yourself, right? You're sleeping, eating, drinking plenty of water?"

"Not necessarily," L stared into his laptop, "Too busy most of the time."

"Dammit, L," I rolled my eyes, "I have half a mind to move in here while I'm in Tokyo. I'm sure the studio executives will understand and give me a little time off."

"Studio executives?" Light came out of his sad corner.

"That's right," I wrapped my arms around my son, "I wrote a graphic novel series a few years ago that became rather popular very quickly. And this little angel was the one who inspired it. It's going to become an anime for the upcoming season."

"Congratulations, Mama," L praised, "If anyone deserves it, it's you."

"Thank you, baby," I kissed the top of his head, "But could you do me another favor?"

"What is it?"

"Don't OD on caffeine," I demanded, "And catch this Kira person. No matter how many of them there are. Take them down."

"I will," he swore.

"Right then!" I chirped, "I'm going to go grab something to eat. You want anything?"

"No, thank you," L went back to his computer.

"Hey, Light," Ryuk played him, "Ask her for some apples. I'm dying up here."

Light looked over his shoulder like someone was there talking to him with a quick glare. When I first met Ryuk, he did say that the only ones that can see him are those who have come in contact with his Death Note. Oh, Ryuk...You did it again, didn't you? Clumsy shinigami...

"Light?" I asked, looking over at Ryuk from the corner of my eye, "You want anything while I'm out?"

"Actually," he caved, "If you could bring back some fruit, that'd be nice."

"Sure," I agreed, "I'll be right back!"

I skipped downstairs and past the sleeping guy at the monitors. Sleep soundly, guy. Sleep soundly. Hopefully, there'd still be a market open at this time of day. If you wanted some apples, Ryuk, why didn't you just ask me? Why did you go through Light?

Unless...

Light's got a Death Note, too, doesn't he? And not just any Death Note. Light's got Ryuk's Death Note. And unfortunately, Ryuk on a leash. It's no wonder L suspects Light of being Kira. The power of a shinigami in the hands of the wrong person could prove to be disastrous, catastrophic. Hell, I'd even go as far as to say cataclysmic.

There was something in Light's eyes. He's been at this for a while. At least a few months. The Death Note changes people. If it's used for a prolonged amount of time, it could turn someone into a mass murderer. It's so simple. Write a name, kill a man, and walk away without anyone knowing.

It made me wonder if Light made the shinigami eye deal. No. Because if L's been at this as long as what Kira has, wouldn't Kira have killed L by now if he had the eyes? L had already made that connection that Kira needs a face. That's why he told me to keep mine hidden. But if Light had the eyes, L wouldn't have let him see me. He just kept my name out of it.

I guess I was safe. For now anyway. L wouldn't have done anything to put my life in danger like that. Not something so reckless. I had no doubt in my mind that Light was using a Death Note to kill anyone that stood in Kira's way and he was trying to figure out how to kill the number one person after him. Little did he know, it was an unwise move to piss off a mama tiger.

Especially when she played her cards right. I've said it once and I'll say it again. No one comes close to L. I'm going to protect him in any way I can. See, I was smart. After I last saw Ryuk and he went away never to be heard from again, I told him I was keeping the Death Note around for insurance purposes. I might not have wanted him hanging around me anymore, but that didn't mean I didn't keep a few pages, just in case.

A/N: So, Mama's got some tricks up her sleeve. And she knows that Light is Kira. Or has a better grasp on that than what L does. And she's at task force HQ possibly considering moving in because L isn't taking care of himself like he should! I would, too! This is how sick I am. I started rewatching Death Note again (because I was told by someone in the Ouran fic, a couple of someones actually, to take a knee for the weekend) and it got to the point where Light was giving his speech for his college entrance ceremony and once L got up to the podium, I kept squealing about how proud I was of my baby. And I realized how disturbed I was. And I glared at Light so much…But all that aside, we've gotten to the Kira investigation! We've gotten to the thick of the story. Things are about to get so much more exciting! Even more exciting than Matsuda (WHO DESERVED BETTER) sleeping at the monitors. So, I'm going to keep some spoilers to myself and I'll see you next chapter! xx