Disclaimer: Nope. Not mine.

Author Note: I was, and still am, very busy lately with all of the end of semester exams. So I am sorry once again for a long wait. Also this chapter is a little choppy, and the writing isn't exactly up to standards. I'm sorry for that too


Anger filled him from head to toe with a dark warmth that matched the hot tea Watari was refilling his tea cup with. This case was the most ridiculous case of his life, and yet, no other case had terrified him to the point of shaking. A killer inside Wammy's made his skin crawl. He was the legendary L, but what was he suppose to do when his a successor could not remember what day or time he had found the Death Note? Normally, L would use his skills to make a chart, and using Matt's schedule, he would figure it out. But he couldn't when Matt skipped classes all of the time with Mello, and when Matt had found the Death Note, he kept it hidden, completely afraid to turn it in at first.

This was all so ridiculous! And just what if it was a student who was the owner? What would L do then? Punish them? With what, the death penalty? Sighing he picked up his warm cup of tea and sipped long and hard, until it was all gone. It tasted like ash on his tongue, but he requested Watari to refill the cup anyways.

And what about Kira's damned shinigami, Ryuk? L thought he could make him useful, but it seemed Ryuk only found humor in anything L said or asked about this new notebook. In fact, the shinigami seemed to go off into laughing hysterics. L found it frightening, and repulsive all at the same time. However, Kira paid no attention, as he kept to himself the past three mornings in a row. He made himself a little schedule and he kept to it. He would wake, shower alone after L, eat his oatmeal, dress in clean boxers, then go stand outside on the balcony, as if in mourning over the lost tennis ball. His eyes would scan back and fourth over the ground below, but he still wouldn't find it.

As L waited for Watari to bring up the lunch treys, he allowed his eyes to glance over at his pet who was currently out on the balcony, as he had been all morning. At first, L chuckled. It was just a ball for crying out loud. But now, it was just annoying.

L stood, placing his hands in his pockets, and walked to him, placing a hand on top of Kira's head and running his fingers through the silky tresses. "Kira can not stay out here all day."

Kira pulled away, sliding down the balcony's banister.

"I won't let you." L rudely added with a bored tone. "Come in, get dressed, and we can go for a walk. The day started out cloudy, but now the sun is out. We could both use a little exercise. Plus, I'd like to go up onto the roof and try to see if I can find anything. After lunch of course."

Kira didn't move, didn't speak, only continued his search as he bit his bottom, pink lip losing hope of ever seeing his ball again.

"That was an order Kira."

The pet shuddered, then turning to face his master he bowed, and mumbled an apology. "Forgive me Master."

L starred into those eyes that once held so much passion and heat, then held his hand out as if he cared. Kira took it politely, and allowed himself to be led back inside the room where L walked him to the closet. Surprisingly, inside were several shirts with nice dress pants, all in Kira's size. L explained, "I can not allow you to roam around here in boxers and a leash. Consider yourself very lucky while I have this case."

Kira reached his hand into the closet, touching the shirts and pants as he had done before at L's house, as if he could not believe his very own eyes. And perhaps, he didn't.

"Pick whatever you would like. Watari, where are my shoes?" L asked as Watari entered with the lunch trey, consisting of a giant piece of cheesecake for L, and the usual bento box for Kira that the pet seemed to enjoy.

The old man pointed to the top of the closet annoyed. "L, what are you doing?" He asked causciously.

"I am taking Kira out for a stroll. We are going to explore the roof." L said as he reached for the plain white shoes, just as Kira reached for a red button up t-shirt, removing it from it's hanger.

Watari's eyes widened in disbelief. "What if he is seen? What if someone recognizes him? L no. Just no. That is far too dangerous. For you both."

"I will explain that you are retireing very soon and that he will be taking your place and is in training. That sounds believable enough to me. If no one believes it, it is not as if they will know he is Kira. Look at him. He looks nothing like himself."

" Matt knows. Are you sure-"

"Matt has let me down in many way, yes, but he won't tell anyone of Kira's existence. I m sure of it. Why would he? He is running to be the next L, he would not want to jeopardize that."

"L, I am only concerned for you. I care for you like you were my son. Interpol will-"

"Right now I don't give a damn about Interpol!" L shouted, interrupting the old man as he lost his patience. "What did I say before? This is my prisoner, Watari. I caught him. Not them. Let them find out. What could they say to me? Honestly Watari, what could they do? Rip up our contract? Tell the man who is never wrong that he is wrong?" L laughed. "I doubt it very much."

A little taken back by the sudden anger fueled defiance, followed by a bitter laugh, Watari nearly dropped the tea kettle. But as he took a long look at L, the man he raised from a shy toddler to a hard young man, his eyes softened in sympathy for him. With what seemed like a comforting whisper, he asked that L only be more careful from now and to take care of himself.

Kira, who had been frightened by the sudden outburst, had gotten his clothing and moved across the room to dress alone. He was not going to be in the way when Master L was angry...he had learned better.

He continue to dress slowly, watching his Master slip on the pair of expensive looking tennis shoes. He buttoned up his shirt that fit perfectly, and zipped his pants that felt like silk against the skin on his legs.

After some silence, and his shoes were tied properly, L's shoulders slumped and he gazed back at Watari with actualy guilt inside his eyes. "Watari, I apologize for that. I never meant any disrespect."

"It's quite alright L." Watari gave him a gentle, all too knowing smile before leaving the room. Kira wondered how close the two were. Obviously, they were closer than L and Matt. The two seemed close when Matt showed up at first, laying on the couch playing his game, and L smiling when his eyes laid on him. But then later, he just looked annoyed with his very presence.

Confused, Kira shook his head. That was not his place.

"You look nice Kira." Startled, Kira blushed. He looked up to find L starring at him with that familiar hungry gaze.

"Thank you, Master."

L made no move to come closer as Kira began to fear. Instead, the detective grabbed his plate with the cheesecake and sat in his usualy style on the bed. With a mouth full of cake he stated, "Place your collar back on. After we finish eating we will depart."

"Yes sir." Kira moved to the night stand. He picked the metal collar back up, and placed it around his neck, pulling the shirt's collar high so no one could notice.

***********

*********

The running track blurred under their feet as the twenty students in gym class felt the adrenaline surged throughout their bodies, the steady thump of their footsteps echoing in their ears. Mello was currently at the head of the line, leading them down the track. He was followed by Kei, who kept a steady, rhythmic pattern to his running, ignoring the others around him as he concentrated. Behind him, scattered, were a few girls and boys struggling to get past one another.

Then came Matt, running at his own pace, not caring about who was ahead of who.

Finally, forgotten by most, but certainly not Mello, came Near, at the very end of the pack, walking casually, still dressed in his pajamas, as always.

For Matt, as the others wore themselves out to get to the front of the line, he didn't care about the competition. He didn't care who came in first. It was just gym. No matter who won today, they would all race again tomorrow, and the winner from yesterday would be forgotten. The pattern repeated until winter, when gym moved indoors to become inside volleyball.

Beads of sweat began rolling down Matt's back, chest, and forehead as he began sweating under the heat and bright sunlight. Dressed in his sneakers and his gym uniform consisting of shorts and a black and white stripped t-shirt, Matt sped up, his sneaker covered feet bounding into the asphalt. He couldn't get Kira and L out of his mind. He thought if he ran fast enough he could run it out, but he just couldn't.

Was he suppose to blindly continue to follow L? Is that what everyone else would do? It seems like that's what Watari was doing.

Matt shook his head hard, and when he came to the finish line he plopped down on the cool green grass and relaxed as his chest heaved desperately. Mello who had already won, sat next to him panting just as hard. The two sat together trying to catch their breaths, elbows and knees skin to skin.

"Looks like you won dude. You beat Near at something." Matt said, after his lungs seemed to have calmed down.

"No. I didn't beat him."

"What?" Matt looked at the blond, who's eyes were watching Near finish his walk to the finish line lazily and half-assed.

"It doesn't count if he's not even trying. I didn't beat him. But I will someday."

Matt half smiled. "Right." He wondered if he could tell Mello about Kira. Or Kei. Maybe Near. They might could help him, or maybe they could explain how to understand it all. Maybe there was just something he wasn't getting.

Matt lifted up his bottom half just enough to feel his back pocket for his smokes. Their coach was inside so it was not as if he would get caught. He pulled a thin cigarette out of it's packet, then slipped it between his lips as he fumbled his other pockets for a lighter. He hadn't smoked since back at L's and then it was only half of one. He had barely tasted the nicotine on it before L snatched it out of his mouth.

Now, he could savor the glorious flavor as the nicotine filled his lungs and spread throughout his veins soothing him when he spotted the cause of his jittery nerves. He also decided to go with Mello. He had known him all his life, so who better to talk to?

"Hey Mells… can we talk about anything?"

"Sure." Mello's response was garbled. When Matt looked he realized Mello was munching away on a chocolate bar. He tried to fight the urge to think about how hot Mello looked and stay focused on his question.

"What about secrets?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, can we keep a secret between each other?"

This caused Mello to sit up, eyes glowing as he starred at Matt. "Yeah Matt. We can share a secret together. I won't tell anyone. What is it?"

Matt looked at the blond. What was he getting all excited for all of a sudden? "What if the secret was a confession?" The specific question had Mello actually put his chocolate bar down on the ground as he scooted close to the gamer.

"I won't tell a soul. You can confess anything."

"I know but…I'm scared of what you will think." You will probably think I'm a liar.

Mello smiled, getting his own idea of what Matt's confession could be. "I won't judge you. I mean, I may have a little confession too. What is it?"

Matt took a long drag before leaning into Mello's personal bubble. "I mean a confession that might be…immoral. Wrong. Something that you might not agree with."

"Matt I'm your friend. Nothing will change that. I mean, I would hope not anyways."

Matt licked his dry lips, and removed his goggles, lifting his arm and wiping away the sticky, salty sweat that had formed from all his running.

How could he start? Mello, L is not who we think he is. Or maybe, L really is hiding something and it's Kira. No maybe he should start with, Mello, L is a liar. He is a big phony.No he should be more subtle than that. L was Mello's hero. Matt would need to be gentle.

Very gentle.

Matt crept his face just inches from Mello's causing both young boys to gulp from the tension and the closeness. "Mello…"

Here goes. Matt put his cigarette out in the grass and turned his body towards Mello's.

"Yes Matt?" Mello whispered, allowing his warm, caressing breath to blow over Matt's lips.

For Matt, just feeling that little bit of warmth made his heart skip a beat or two and a tingly feeling to start spreading through his groin as he noticed Mello had a few beads of sweat on his forehead, his beautiful forehead.

Being this close to Mello should be against the rules. Or something. Matt's brain seemed to be no longer cooperating. Maybe it was Mello's eyes. Matt had starred at them often but now he was truly realizing how golden they really were, like the sun fading on a warm afternoon…

"Yes, Matt?" Mello repeated, noticing how mesmerized Matt suddenly looked.

"I.."

"You?"

"I think…"

"What do you think?"

"That.. Mello…I, I like you. A whole lot."

WHAT?? Why did those words slip out?

Now Matt's brain decided to kick in. Now of all times! After he made a fool of himself! What happened to 'L is not L anymore'? What happened to 'L is a liar and has Kira for a pet'?

Shit.

Shit.

Shit.

What now?

Mello sat stunned. Matt couldn't blame him in the least. Jesus, what had caused that confession? "M-Mello, look, I, I don't know why-I mean I'm sorry. I-I know you just think of me as a- Mff!"

Mello's lips tackled Matt's in an all out battle of uncontrolled dominance. Matt's body was melting like chocolate in a summer heat and he was losing his mind. The only thought that the gamer was able to process was, "He's kissing me! I am kissing Mello!"


Author Note: I know this story has scared a bunch of people away (what with the last chapter, it's understandable) but to those of you still sticking around and leaving me reviews, you guys are awesome and I thank you so much! :)