A/N; I hope you all enjoy this most recent instalment of Thieving Moon.

Please read and review! I do so love to hear what people think.

Chapter 10

"Are you sure what you did was entirely wise L?" Wammy asked, as L finally began his journey home.

"I'm not sure I truly care," L replied, "I knew who he was Wammy, it was safe.''

"Meeting with a thief in your line of work is never safe,'' Wammy sighed, L had explained everything to him, But Wammy knew he needed to hear the voice of reason if his emotions were winning him over.

Wammy knew of L's feelings but he cared more about L's safety than about feelings. He also worried whether L truly felt as he did towards this Tsuki, or whether it had just become another aspect of the game.

"He's just bored," L replied, "he hasn't had the options I have.''

Wammy had never thought to hear L speak of the tragic accident that had claimed his parents and his little sister, or the terrible life at the orphanage before Wammy had found him as 'options', he didn't know whether his heart was breaking or he was just feeling happy for his charge. Wammy sighed as he saw L shuffle in his seat and glance forlornly out the window. The detective never did anything like that, it just wasn't in his nature. It finally dawned on him what L must want, what L was thinking, and at the next roundabout he complied. He guided the car fully around the roundabout and back in the direction they had come.

"What are you doing Wammy?" L asked harshly.

"Joining you in irrationality," Wammy explained." We both know what he will be doing tonight, even after your date-"

"Don't call it that," L interrupted, "He didn't know I knew who he was."

"Your date," Wammy continued,'' and you want to catch him in the act."

"That is true Wammy." L sighed, "But would he want me to? … I don't want to anger him any more than I did that night."

"If he loves you as he so professed to you on that night," Wammy said quickly. "He will want you to."

"Why are you suddenly being so helpful?" L asked.

"I only wanted to check you were serious."

"Check I was serious?" L murmured, for once he didn't understand his guardian at all.

"I didn't want to encourage your relationship with him if you just wanted to play another game," Wammy answered as they sped back into London, though their journey would soon be hindered by traffic he knew, ''I don't ever want to know what he would do if you played him like that."

"With him though Wammy'" L sighed, "I think everything will become a game."

"It is the type of game L," Wammy added, forcing back a frown as L was his usual pernickity self again, "Shall I phone ahead and alert the museum?"

"Yes, please do so," L said with a nod, slightly annoyed with his guardian's ability to think ahead of him occasionally. "I want the entire museum completely clear."

"Not just the routes to the clock sections?"

"They're too big to steal," L replied, "he will be elsewhere."

"Do you know where?" Wammy asked.

Silence descended in the fast moving car, L's eyes drifting occasionally to the needle on the speedometer. He was only grateful his cars were on the index of special dispensation, the speed they were doing… L would have said something, but it was nice to be shown proof of his guardian's care; he rarely saw it. L smiled as he realised the thief was doing more for him than just providing him with an interesting game; but then it had gone beyond that hadn't it? He realised where Light, oh to know his name, was going.

"Oh yes I know," L said with a smile, but said no more. He liked to keep some secrets from his guardian.

…

Light gave a small, happy laugh as he walked into the British Museum, his keys for the car he had recently rented now secreted in a pocket. There would be now way he would do this and leave with a dependency on public transport. In all honesty he had never expected it would have been so easy, he would never have thought getting into as respected an institution as this would… Light came to an abrupt stop as it dawned on him what had happened.

L had happened.

There was only one way L would have known where he would have struck next, and when. After a month even L wouldn't have known where he could resurface… the only conclusion Light had that was plausible, was that L had realised who he was this evening. Sudden shock ran through Light, followed by a surge of such happy pleasure that his knees felt weak. He thought back over the whole evening, L had to have known from the beginning; from almost the moment they had met in the Clock section… that could only mean L had only come with him because he was Tsuki, because…

Light really did slump to the floor as he fully understood L's actions; the detective had turned it into a new game to save Light from worry over him being a detective. L had gone to a restaurant with him… Light wondered why he had been so stupid, L would never have gone to a restaurant with a complete stranger… Or acted in such a way….

…

Light couldn't help but smile as he watched the detective try to sit in a roughly 'normal' manner, it seemed that his crouched position was very important to him. In fact he had never seen the detective act so nervously, it was doubtful anyone else could see it, but Light could. Oh Light could. He had studied L's face intimately.

The nervousness seemed to increase as L studied the menu, a little twitch of one eyebrow was all that showed his inner turmoil. Light couldn't understand it, it was an odd reason to be nervous, well it was until he remembered the midnight meeting. L had provided all the sweet things in the world, but no savoury dishes. There had to be some deep seated reason why L just didn't want anything savoury, he wasn't about to ask; but there was something that Light could do.

"I can feel your nervousness from here," Light said softly, "Something must be troubling you. If it's any help order what you want. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, that was never the intention of tonight."

Light couldn't help feeling a little odd in having almost the same reason as L had when he had provided such a late night snack, he shook himself mentally as he realised he was under observation, L's black eyes bored into him and they were full of question, but Light was immune to L's stare by now and he merely smiled back with an honest expression as he could manage.

"Thank you," L said at last, and he held out a hand slightly to catch a passing waiter, "May I have the dessert menu please?"

It was obvious to Light that the waiter here was not too keen on serving such an under dressed guest, this was a very expensive restaurant, and Light only blended into the guests because he always wore a suit. Well almost blended in, he knew not all the stares they were under occasionally were just for L. It wasn't false pride that made him think that way, it was the way so many men and women acted towards him; it had told him all he needed to know about his attractiveness.

Light attracted a lot of stares a moment later as he laughed out loud for the briefest second, when after what appeared to be a studious perusal of the dessert menu, L ordered everything.

"You take humour in my order?" L asked, and Light immediately ceased laughing, and he looked at L momentarily panicked.

"No," Light explained hurriedly, "but did you not see the waiter's face? Considering the number of things you have ordered you have given them most of their night's profits in one sitting. He went from disdain to sycophant smiles."

"Really? I had not noticed," L replied, "and despite your explanation your laughter at it is still inexplicable."

"I'm sorry Ryuzaki," Light sighed, "I suppose taking amusement in people's idiocies is amusing for me, if I didn't find it amusing I would be completely despairing of this world."

To Light's surprise L had only given him an understanding smile.

"I now understand," L said, still smiling, "however I fear in describing the joke the joke has been destroyed."

Light couldn't help laughing again.

…

Light knew now that L had only been so understanding when Light had laughed at his order, because he knew the real reason, that L liked to surround himself with cakes. There hadn't been much else of much real 'note' to what could only be termed now as their date, both of them had been content enough to sit almost silent in the others company. True they had talked a great deal, but it had only been discussions about the people in the restaurant too far away to hear their discussions. That sort of conversation was merely to avoid creating a well of silence that would attract attention, and they had both found it amusing of course.

Light knew he was not only losing his concentration he was stalling, for if L was the reason for the silence in the museum tonight it could only mean one thing.

L was here.

Light pondered what to do, for if he met with L now all their games would be over. Whatever this was between them would hopefully still continue, but this added spice would not. Light found he didn't want that, he loved L and he loved playing games of genius with L. With hurried movements he checked through the equipment he had brought in his backpack and was grateful that he was paranoid. What he wanted to do wouldn't have been possible if he wasn't paranoid. Light liked to plan for every eventuality. With deft movements he prepared what he had, he had never thought he would have to use it, but he had always felt more comfortable to have it. Light didn't want to ever own a weapon, he knew killing someone no matter how inadvertently would probably change him forever. He didn't want that… so he had this.

He only hoped L wouldn't mind, well wouldn't mind much… eventually.

Carefully Light removed his shoes and placed them in his bag, before shifting the night vision goggles into a more accessible position.

Preparations complete Light stood and went in search of the man who was now his prey.

…

L started in the dark of the room as he heard the sound of the far door easing open and closing softly. He had not turned the lights on for fear of keeping Light away, but now he was regretting that decision. He edged forward and tried to move as quietly as he could towards the wall where he knew the switches were situated, it was a dangerous task, this room was littered with small display cases and one false move would give away his position. He was ninety percent certain it was Light, but if he was wrong… he didn't even want to think about it if he was wrong.

He cursed himself silently as he moved forward, he knew he should have procured night vision goggles, but something about wanting to be fair to Tsuki had always stopped him. It was stupid he knew, he was L and he had access to all the technology he could ever want…

L frowned as he collided with something, and a faint sound of the contents shifting could be heard all too clearly. He was sure this case had not been here before, just because the room was dark didn't mean he shouldn't have been able to navigate through it successfully. It was all just a matter of pacing surely… L's frown deepened as there was a small chuckle from almost directly behind him. He hadn't even felt the intruder's presence.

"Hello L."

L didn't feel any better knowing that the person so close to him was indeed Light. He felt his shoulders slump further down than usual.

…

"Hello L," Light laughed, and he wondered if he was close enough to allow his breath to touch L's neck.

"It appears I was correct about your next museum of choice," L sighed, deciding Light hadn't earnt a greeting yet.

"Oh indeed," Light replied, "but considering what I know about you I am not too surprised."

"You don't seem to be carrying a grudge from our last meeting," L commented, refusing to rise to Light's bait, and providing one of his own instead.

"Well, that's easy enough to explain," Light whispered, stepping closer to L, "it's because of what I want to take tonight."

L felt a shiver of realisation run through him and he froze, unsure whether he wanted to feel afraid or just nervous. He forced himself to ask the question he was being led to. He knew he couldn't fight back, he couldn't fight against Light and he was too fretfully curious to not let Light do whatever he wanted.

"What are you planning on taking Mr Thief?" L whispered, and his hands twitched against the line of his pockets as he waited for the answer.

"You L," Light whispered into L's ear, his voice low and full of promise.

L's suspicions were confirmed a second before something soft and slightly damp was pressed against his mouth and nose. He didn't have time to struggle against Light, as he took in an inadvertent breath and the anaesthetic claimed his mind.