Author's Note: I've gotten way too many reviews saying that I need to update this. So I will. Problem: I didn't plan on what happened last chapter...at all. So, this chapter is completely made up as I wrote it, seeing as I still couldn't figure out any plot for it. I'm sorry...But, to make up for that part, I kept wanting to write more, even though there were a few great stopping places. The result? Uber long chapter.

Now, I promised to dedicate this chapter to an amazing reviewer who gave me one of the sweetest reviews I've ever gotten. ^-^ This chapter's for you, Aqua Asif! And there's a special gift inside not just for her, but for every one of my readers. You'll see...((NO, NOT A BIG REVEAL!))

Warning: ANGST! Well, what did you expect? Light just lost his bestest friend. TT-TT Oh, and damn there's a shitload of swearing! XP

Disclaimer: If I owned Death Note, I'd be rich. But seeing as my parents bought me this laptop three years ago and the keyboard looks insanely worn from all my typing, I don't look very rich, now, do I? ^_- I do, however, own Life Note and all it's awesomeness.

Chapter 11

Mirrors lined the endless hallway. The ones on the right, while Light walked past, held just himself. His reflection was cloudy and squiggly, almost as if he was passing fun-house mirrors. But he could still tell that there were tears in his eyes through the images he saw.

On the left, if he even chanced a look, Light could see an image as clear as day. He and L holding hands, walking by. But if he looked down, he would see his left hand grasped nothing. Still, he seemed content in those images, smiling at L.

Below him, there were also mirrors, depicting a sunset sky. He could see a figure looming above him in them. The figure was lanky and dark, wings supporting it. Nevertheless, if he looked up, there was only darkness.

Light knew that he needed to get to the other end of the hallway, but the darkness there scared him. He reached his right hand out to take hold of another's hand. But that person wasn't there either. That's when he looked behind him, worried that he left whoever it was behind.

There, he could see two figures. White light behind them forced them into silhouette, but he could still make out the red and blond hair. They were holding hands, facing him, but he couldn't see their faces, which were cast in shadow.

And he knew that this was what he was walking away from. But his feet wouldn't stop moving. As if underwater, his head whipped around to face the dark expanse in front of him. The mirrors on either side and below him vanished and all that was left was the light behind him being blocked partially by the two others.

Rain started pouring from nowhere in the darkness. The water stung his skin, and he finally stopped walking. The rain was coming down harder and he turned around slowly to see if they were still behind him. But they were walking away now too, done waiting.

No, come back! He tried running, but a pair of arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him flush against the other's chest. He began crying and tasted the rain accidentally. It was salty, just like his tears. The rain kept coming, but a single large drop was forming above Light's head. He tried squirming out of the other person's grasp, but it was no good, and he had the odd feeling he didn't want to leave the embrace.

Finally, just as the arms let go, the raindrop fell and consumed him. He couldn't breathe; he was drowning.

Light woke up in a cold sweat, breaths coming in gasps, as if he really was drowning before. He was sitting up in bed, the sheets pooled around his waist, street clothes sticking to his body from the sweat. He glanced behind him to see L lying down next to where he must have been.

Those must have been the arms he felt in the dream.

L's eyes were worried. One glance at them and Light collapsed into L's waiting arms. He felt the still-wet tracks his tears had made in his face, but his eyes still replenished the never-ending supply and they trickled down his cheeks into his hair or onto L's shirt again.

The spirit was glowing, as always, and Light took comfort in the light surrounding him, no pun intended. He couldn't understand why he was such an emotional wreck from just getting kicked out of his best friend's house after having a huge fight with him and revealing emotions and thoughts he never wanted to share.

Oh, wait, yeah, that gives him a right to be an emotional wreck.

He didn't want to fall asleep after that nightmare, but he was thoroughly drained. The next thing he knew, morning had come, and his room was flooded with late-morning sun.

Light opened his eyes to see L's white shirt clutched in his fists. He quickly released the fabric and scooted backwards. He was just as shocked as L was at that display of need—though L was quite happy with it. The teen immediately missed the warmth and comfort L provided, but he felt sticky and dirty in his clothes.

L might have covered him in the middle of the night, but he respected Light enough not to change his clothes.

Oh, dammit, these were the clothes he was sweating profusely in during his and L's…time in the closet. Barely thinking, he immediately stripped himself of all his clothes, even his boxers.

Now, L was thoroughly shocked. Right in front of him, the boy he'd been seducing for the past few days was naked and not caring if he took a gander at his fine body. Light exercised every day at school during PE, and worked out every Sunday, as he explained before. It showed. His muscles glided underneath his taught, tan skin. And his ass looked just so…inviting, the way it wagged in the air as he was grabbing clothes from the lower drawers.

Light turned around to see L staring at his ass. He blushed and quickly pulled on his boxers, but didn't say anything to the spirit. Something had changed, L could tell. But what was it?

In reality, Light was just too tired to really think about what he was doing. He didn't feel like arguing with anyone at the moment, maybe ever again if he could help it. Though, with L constantly with him, he knew that fighting with him would be inevitable eventually.

But there was also that realization that L had already seen him naked. He'd seen him completely naked, hard, sweating, moaning…making out with him. Fuck, they almost had sex! And Light was still unsure how he felt about all that. Still, he knew that L would make that adorable pouting face that he could barely resist—especially in this state—if he were to not change in front of him. It was all logic, really.

As he pulled the rest of his clothes on, L just sitting on the bed watching him with his perverted eyes—that also were quite curious—Light tried thinking about only certain things that happened yesterday. Those certain things included making out with L, being stuffed into a closet with L, almost getting off by watching his friends at it with L, and almost doing it…with L.

He seriously almost gave himself to the spirit. He was actually going to have sex with the damn Life Note spirit!

Light glanced at the clock at saw that he only had time for a quick brunch if he still wanted to head out to health club. He ran down the stairs, fixed himself some toast and cereal, and grabbed an apple to eat in the car on the way to the health club.

While eating, he contemplated his feelings for L, who was standing quietly to the side, able to tell exactly what Light was thinking, and knowing it wasn't his place to talk right now. He wanted Light to figure it out for himself. He contented himself to eating a slice of cake he cut himself—Light didn't even notice.

What did he feel towards L? Was it love? Was it attraction, lust? Yes, definitely yes to the second one. How else would he be able to be with L like that if he wasn't attracted to him, wasn't lusting after him? And Michael's words from yesterday reverberated in his head.

"Well…since I'm your best friend, then I also know when you, Light, are madly in love with someone too. Just admit that you're in love with L and both of your lives will be so much easier!" Was Light seriously madly in love with L? Could he be? Was it even possible?

What else had Michael said?

"Oh, come on! Everyone who knows you knows that you have a goddamn crush on L, the—last time I checked—fictional manga character! You drool over his anime voice—especially the English dub—and cry at his death, not even your own!" Well, L was a witness to the crying part. But it was just so horrible for the detective to die while being held in Kira's arms. They were friends and he just betrayed him like that. He still killed him after all they went through!

It was still for the greater good, Light had to admit, but L…you can't kill L! Sure, go ahead and kill Matt and Mello; they were kidnapping one of Kira's people. Go ahead and kill the damn bastard Near; he caught Kira. But don't kill L.

But wasn't that mindset what got him in trouble in the first place with this "crush" business. He sighed. Maybe it was true. Maybe he really did love L.

He thought back to the fanfictions he had read in the past. What were all those reasons the writers said that he and L were the perfect match? Well, they were mentally equals, both matches for each other physically, and were both crusaders of justice. Those were just a couple of reasons, of course, but then Light's mental process suddenly came to a halt.

L sniggered across the table from him, but then stuffed his mouth full with the last bits of cake, diverting his eyes as well.

Light had just realized that he read LxLight fanfictions. He read romances between practically himself and L. He actually had read a lemon or two! Okay, maybe a few more than that… And God dammit, he'd gotten hard from a few of them! And no, he didn't personally like LightxL fanfics, as he hated L being reduced to a whiny or maiden-like innocent uke. Really, Light didn't like himself going that low either—so degrading—but they were easier to read as long as he remembered the Light in the stories wasn't he.

Still, if that didn't prove he was at least bisexual, nothing would. All of his earlier thoughts, even ones from yesterday while he was with L, came rushing back to his head. Everyone else knew it—besides Nicole—but he could just never figure it out.

Light really was in love with L, wasn't he?

He shook his head vehemently and abruptly stood to clear his place. Once his and L's plates were washed, he grabbed his gym bag and car keys and headed to the car. L followed.

Light couldn't believe that he had been so blind, so stupid. He had been watching Death Note for years, reading it for even longer than that. The collection he had of all the volumes, guides, episodes, books, and movies took up a full shelf on his large bookshelf. He had a few posters on his walls, even a couple of figurines. And nobody knew that he bought an L plushy at a convention just a year or two ago to hold when he was lonely.

It was hidden in the back of his closet. He never took it out of there since he brought it home, but snuck into the closet to hug or snuggle with it. It was just so adorable! And L would understand him if he was there when he was depressed…

Dammit.

Oh, and dammit again. He finally got that "in the closet" joke. Not only for the stuffed L, but for Michael's closet, too.

He had such an urge to close his eyes and rub the bridge of his nose, but knew that that was one of the stupidest moves a driver can make. L silently thanked him, though he didn't realize so.

Once at the health club, Light parked the car and got his things out of the back. He walked to the automatic doors and entered the foyer. Once inside, he climbed down some stairs and headed for the locker-room to put his things inside so he wouldn't lose anything.

The only things that he kept were his water bottle, his weight room pass, his MP3 player, and—sadly—L.

Light then jogged up two flights of stairs to get to the indoor track for a warm-up jog. It ran around the basketball courts and a few younger teens were playing a half-court game on one of the courts. The other court had a dad teaching his daughter how to shoot a basket. He smiled at them and their easy, less complicated lives.

Off to the side, he put down his water bottle on a ledge and put his earbuds in his ears, putting on his workout playlist. Once that was done, the brunet stretched out his muscles, mostly those in his legs and back, but also those in his arms.

He jogged onto the track, making sure his water bottle was in a safe place—the same place he put it every time he came here. After a lap, he finally noticed L jogging beside him. Not only that, but he was wearing shoes.

Light's eyes bugged out and he was about to ask what L was doing before he realized 1) that they were in public and nobody could see L and 2) he could easily talk to him in his thoughts.

He let his hand bump into L a bit, not looking suspicious to other joggers. L looked up and saw Light was asking why he was wearing shoes and why he was even jogging in the first place.

"I simply felt like it. And it is much easier to run in shoes than not," L answered truthfully. A wild glint appeared in his eyes and he smirked. "Speaking of running, would Light like to have a little race?"

That sparked Light's attention. He nodded his head once, a loud "yes!" answering in his mind. After all, he hadn't been able to really test his abilities against L except when beating the crap out of him—sorry, trying to beat the crap out of him—or when they were making out. Neither of those times was fair to him.

Now, he could prove himself.

They jogged around until they got to the starting markings. L was slightly ahead of Light, on his right, as the track was obviously curved and therefore L needed the same amount of track to run, not any more than Light. There was nobody in the centermost lane, the one Light was in, but two joggers were in the second and third lanes. L knew he could pass through them with ease, so they didn't bother him.

Light made sure his headphones cord was not going to whip him or get caught on anything, then looked at L, who was waiting patiently for him. He nodded his head slowly, as if to himself, glanced at the clock above their heads to look like he was racing against his own time, then looked at L again.

The spirit called out, so Light could hear him over his music, "On your marks…get set…GO!"

The two shot out like they were made for the track. Light personally liked tennis better, but knew that playing against an invisible opponent was not the best idea. And if he played against anyone else, not only would the other be boring, but also L would feel left out. He'd already thought about it while he was stretching.

But right now, while he was running, the only thought going through his mind was that he had to be as fast as possible, faster than L. He had to beat not only his own personal best time, but L as well.

After the curve, they were neck-and-neck. Who would be faster? Who would be the winner? Sweat cascaded down Light's back and from his armpits. His feet hit the ground hard. And L was starting to fall behind.

But at the last second, he caught up and they finished literally at the same time—the perfect tie. Light glanced up at the clock to finish his act.

"Fuck!" he exclaimed, but not too loudly, almost in a hiss.

He walked the outside lane to cool down, L walking beside him. He was breathing heavily and a bit of sweat had collected on his brow, the nape of his neck, and his armpits, but it wasn't nearly as much as Light. And for that, he was pissed. Was he even giving him all his strength? Was that a pity tie?

L sighed, but decided to answer. "No, that wasn't a pity tie. Light is correct in assuming that I, as a spirit, have excess energy and power compared him, a human. However, I do know my limits as a human body and know when my spirit energy and power kick in. I made sure to stop that energy at all costs and only use what my human body could do. And for that, we are equals."

Light gave him a weird look. Human body? But he was a spirit. Wasn't that a spirit body?

"Yes…and no," was L's reply. "But I'd rather save that for another day when you're panting and sweaty for another reason."

Light almost slapped him, but stopped himself at the last second. Instead, a bright red blush appeared on his face and walked out of the track, grabbing his water bottle on the way and taking a long drink. He walked down the hall to the weight room and scanned his health club pass before going inside.

He walked over to an open area and grabbed a mat. That way, he could fully stretch out his body and keep himself flexible. He didn't even need L whispering in his ear for his mind to go automatically to thoughts like the reason why he would need to be flexible. No…L had finally contaminated him enough so that his brain was in constant pervert mode. God fuck it.

Wait, bad choice of words.

L stretched out a bit as Light did, but not as much. He was too busy checking out Light's body as it was twisted this way and that. He did a few yoga poses, including, of course, downward dog. Light knew that was a mistake as soon as he did it, but still remained that way until he felt a slap against his ass.

He bucked forward, but covered himself and made it look like he meant to go down. He shot a glare to his side, where L had quickly ran before he could be accused of slapping Light's ass…not that he couldn't not be accused of doing such.

Light cooled off his temper with a few sets of push-ups. He then went over to the machines to do sit-ups and then the rest of his normal routine.

Working out always relaxed him. It released so much stress in his body and cleared his mind from all thoughts except the here and now. L could sense this and left Light alone, opting for the track again—the only safe thing he could do without being caught. He also did some sit-ups and push-ups, just without the machine.

An hour and a half later, L was sitting on one of the benches outside the track, waiting for Light to come out. He'd ran for most of that time, also putting in a few other solo exercises every so often to keep the rest of his body in shape. He rather liked this Sunday routine of Light's…

But, as L had said earlier, he remained inside his human body's limits. He refused to tap into his spirit energies and not truly exercise. It was something he had figured out himself years ago—the only workout was only using the human body. Using spirit energy and power exhausted those things and exercised his mind, not his body in the least. That's also why he refused to race Light any other way.

As the two men walked to the men's locker-room, L explained this. Light was curious as to where L had gone, why he was sweaty, and why his shirt was off—the sweaty thing answering the third question.

Light unlocked his things to get his towel, flip-flops, and bathing suit so he could shower—the towel and flip-flops so he wouldn't get any disease from other people, and the swimming trunks because he didn't want anyone to see him naked accidentally. He always took another, better shower when he got home.

L slipped out of the rest of his clothes and stuffed them into Light's locker before he could close it again. Light just sighed and realized what was going on. He grabbed one of the club's towels—they were cleaned constantly, of course, but Light just couldn't be too sure for himself. L, on the other hand…didn't really care.

The spirit followed Light into one of the shower stalls and he turned on the water for the two of them. He forced himself not to look down to see L in all his naked glory—which he'd yet to see, by the way.

They showered together, L borrowing Light's soap and shampoo and trying to ignore Light's body with water cascading down it.

To say they were both relieved when Light shut off the water and grabbed both towels for them to cover up would be an understatement. L quickly dried himself as thoroughly as possible before handing the towel back to Light, who decided to wrap it around his hair in a turban to avoid people wondering why he had two towels.

Ew, he had a towel that had touched L everywhere wrapped around his head. Both perverted and disgusting.

And L was walking back to their locker naked. Well, better than a floating towel…or not.

They both quickly got dressed—L's clothes were miraculously cleaned. Must be a spirit thing. And Light obviously had a change of clothes. When they were ready, Light led the way back upstairs and through the front doors, barely waving at the people at the front counter who were always nice to him.

The car ride home was silent. When Light pulled into the driveway, he noticed someone waiting at the front door. The dirty-blonde crew-cut hair was the tipoff that it was Jesse Keen, Michael's father.

Light gulped, but parked and got out of his car. He pulled his gym bag out as well and walked to the front of his house, where Jesse was waiting for him. He tried to hide his grimace with one of his signature smiles, but the guy was quite intimidating.

Instead, he got a blank, almost angry look. Well, that was good; at least he wasn't actually angry. This was what he usually looked like, unless he was happy. Though, that was almost as scary as when he was angry.

L couldn't figure out how women fell for this kind of guy. Personally, he liked the charmers and connivers, like Light.

Jesse held up a plastic grocery bag. Inside, Light could see were his hair dryer and flat iron that he'd brought with to Michael's to do his hair. He knew he was forgetting something when he left yesterday. He remembered they were still hot after he used them and left them to cool off in the bathroom before picking out Michael's outfit, then taking him to his date, and finally coming back to clean the damn room. But he never actually put them back in his backpack.

His poor babies were utterly forgotten! How could he?

L snorted.

Jesse spoke before Light could reach for his precious hair styling tools. "Mike said you left them yesterday. He said he was too tired to bring them to you. Damn right, he's too tired. He's been lying in bed all day. Glad he finally found himself someone who could actually get rid of all that energy, really…" he muttered to himself, knowing full well that his son was gay—wait, bisexual, if his words from a few days ago at lunch were true.

Light knew that Michael and Miles wouldn't have done anything like that after he left, and knew that he was quite energetic during their fight, which couldn't have worn him out that much.

The only logical answer then? He was just as depressed about losing his best friend as Light was.

"I completely understand and am quite happy for them, as well," Light replied. "And thanks for bringing these back for me. I don't know what I'd do without them!" He reached for the bag and hugged it close to his chest once the tools were in his arms. He was going to need them after his shower, anyway. Looking good on the outside always made him feel better on the inside.

"Yeah, well, you're welcome." Jesse grunted slightly. "You still dating that Miss America girl? I thought Mike had said something about you guys breaking up."

Light knew where this was going. Still, he answered, "You heard right; we broke up earlier this week. We just weren't meant to be together."

Jesse cracked a smile. "Good. You gotta stop torturing yourself with these girlfriends." Yep, Light knew exactly where he was going, but still couldn't believe he went there. Even his best friend's father thought he was gay.

He sighed. "It's alright, I'm done with them. Oddly enough, Michael finally got it through to me that I might just need to rethink my…uh…you know." He reached an arm behind him to scratch the back of his head in nervousness.

The father in front of Light, as he had learned long ago, was a wonderful man despite his outward appearance. His laugh was deep and warm, inviting. His smile could scare small children, but the laugh was able to coax them out of hiding. He slapped Light on the back and exclaimed, "Glad you're coming to your senses, Light, my boy." His blue eyes twinkled mischievously, staring at Light's neck.

Light's eyes widened and he quickly lost his smile and brought his hands up to cover the hickeys L had given him.

"What's his name?" he asked in a hushed tone.

Light was frozen. But he knew he couldn't worm his way out of this; he'd tried enough times with Jesse Keen to know there was no such thing as worming his way out of any mess with him. L whispered a name in his ear and he almost smirked. "E-Elliot," he stuttered out, mostly acting out the nervousness now.

The name wouldn't mean anything to Jesse, but Michael, Miles, and Light would all get the joke. Elliot—L. All they needed was for someone to say that they'd slept with a Nate and they'd have everyone with American names.

Jesse grinned from ear to ear, his skin pulling taught at the sides. It was utterly creepy. But Light was used to it…to an extent. "Can't wait to meet this Elliot," he said before patting Light on the back again, more softly this time, and taking off. He wasn't much for goodbyes, but he did raise a hand as he was walking away in a wave, though his back was to Light, biker jacket reading Mafia.

Did Light forget to mention that Jesse was part of a biker gang? Yeah, that's what got all the ladies. L nodded in understanding once he took in the jacket, also understanding the Mafia and Mello in Death Note.

Light brought his things inside, one final thought flitting through his head that he hadn't actual realized before. Dammit.

He was gay.

Author's Note: PFFT! Had to put in that ending. If you ask me what that dream meant and why the fuck I put it in, I'll say this: I have no idea. I wanted a dream b/c Light fell asleep last chapter, so I wrote it literally on the spot. ^-^ I modeled the health club after the one in my town just for ease of imagery for me. Just felt like it. Remember three chapters ago? Light said he worked out on Sundays.

The hair dryer/flat iron drop off was just an added bonus. So, I originally had Michael, realized that made no sense w/ their fight, thought of Miles, realized that would be a homocide mission, and settled on Jesse. Hehe, I just wanted to create him. SHIT! I always promised myself no OC's, and look where I've gotten? All the parents are OC's, but they're not that important. Jesse's fun tho...Tell me if you guys like him, 'kay? He might wind up in an original story of mine. ^_- Or even more of this story!

Alright, so, insanely long chapter to tide you over until the next time I update and 'cause it took so long to post it. Review, if you could be so kind. OH! And thanx so much to all of you amazing people! I CRACKED A HUNDRED FUCKING REVIEWS! I LUV YOU ALL!