AN- Kay, I'm back at home now. I feel much more at ease. Here we have a bit of Soichiro, Light's father. Why? Because that man was amazing. Absolutely amazing. People say father, I think Soichiro. I only hope that I live up to that definition of parenthood. Here, we have an angry Soichiro...muahahaha. The boys are in trouble. Reviews make me happy...I've been hearing from people who never reveiwed before, and I'm on Cloud 9 about that. For those just joining, Welcome, I hope you like it. Now, Onward to scolding!

Warning, Mild Light bashing ahead.

Daddy.

The door slid open the next morning, and the team stood in shock. They'd fought before, they kicked, punched, scratched and bitten…but this was something else entirely. Whatever had driven L from the investigation room two days ago had triggered a new level of brutality between the two. They entered limping, the both of them, L's body angled into a variation of his usual slump. Badly bruised about his chest and stomach, if nearly thirty years on the Police Force served Soichiro right. Light wasn't much better, leaning forward slightly, his mouth in a grim line as he forced himself to keep from wincing.

It hurt to see his son like this. The pair hobbled into the room, greeted only by silence. Even Matsuda's infectious cheer dimmed somewhat at the sight of them. Whatever happened had to have been terrible. Soichiro moved forward and put a fatherly arm around Light's shoulders. The immediate tensing told him he'd hit something sore. He pulled back and put a hand at his elbow. The boy flinched and his father gave up…Light was so badly hurt that Soichiro couldn't even touch him. The elder man felt an anger rising into his chest. The same tired anger that he'd felt while sitting in a cell next to his son. He'd known the extent of his confinement, and didn't trust himself to stay sane if he had to watch it.

This was something else entirely.

L stepped up onto his chair and crouched, the movement as slow as an old woman's. He turned to find Light's father scowling at him. He merely quirked an eyebrow in response. Light settled into his chair and breathed a sigh of relief. For once, he wouldn't mind being in one place for eight hours. He tensed immediately at the sound of his father's voice. He'd never heard his father angry…ever. Again, perfection taking its toll.

"Ryuuzaki…"

"Yes, Yagami-san?", L began dropping sugar cubes into his second morning tea, stirring them gently.

"What happened?" L cast a glance at Light, who was watching his father now. He pressed the hot cup to his battered lips for a moment before replying.

"One of our usual arguments."

"Don't insult me, Ryuuzaki. I know the difference between a stress-relief session and a beating. What happened?"

"It was a minor altercation, a direct result of our confinement, and I assure you, it was nothing more."

"It was important enough to shut the investigation down for two days?"

"Yagami-san…"

"Ryuuzaki, do not interrupt me." L stared at him. Light's mouth dropped open. This was…Soichiro in father mode. It was surprising, and though Light was far old enough to take care of his own fights, it was so different from his father's usual attitude that Light didn't say anything. He was content to watch.

"I've bent over backwards for you since you joined the investigation, Ryuuzaki. I've sacrificed time with my family, and even part of it, to accommodate your efforts." L nodded quietly.

"However, I cannot sit aside and watch as you two tear each other apart. To be frank about it, I'd rather you put Light back in his cell than watch you beat him within an inch of his life every few days. I raised the boy, and I never had to ground him, much less take a belt to him. I find it hard to understand you having so much trouble with him now, especially since he's grown."

"Yagami-san this was hardly…"

"Ryuuzaki, I am not finished." L sipped his tea in annoyance, but motioned for him to continue.

"If you cannot refrain from hurting my son while he is in your care, then I will remove us both from the investigation. I did not entrust him to you so that you could exact your own form of a death sentence."

"Dad, it's not that…"

"Light, stay out of this."

Silence fell over the investigation room. L sipped his tea, and Soichiro stared hard at the smaller man. L seemed to be seriously considering the offer. Light was sure that three days ago, he'd never have blinked at it before turning it down. Once again, it drove home the extent of the damage to their pitiful connection. Light couldn't bring himself to call it a relationship.

"Yagami-san, You have been of utmost importance to me since you joined the case. Not only have you given me the compliance that almost every other organized government in the world has denied me…you have also gifted me with the use of your son. His intelligence staggers me on occasion." Light reeled at the compliment. Where had that come from?

"However…" L, put more sugar into his tea, stirring gently.

"It is hardly my fault that he has reached the emotional maturity of an eight-year old."

Ouch.

"When he thinks…when he reasons, and keeps his feelings out of the matter, he is a profound intellect, an insightful detective that any father should be proud of. Thankfully, he is in the habit of detaching himself from his surroundings. When he doesn't, when he becomes frustrated, angry, or upset…He's worse than Miss Amane."

Light was staring at L now, his face turning various shades of red.

"In fact, I've never worked with anyone more petulant than myself," L held up his tea and sugar. "And I consider myself very child-like in many ways."

"On that note, allow me to explain. We only fight because we are so much alike. Our recent issue involved guilt. I believe Light has finally done something that he feels bad about, and I'm more than willing to rub it in his face for you. You're an outstanding Father, Yagami-san, but I daresay a dash of humility will do Light some good."

He paused for moment before adding quickly. "Besides, he started it."

Soichiro visibly relaxed. If that's all it was, than he really didn't feel the need to worry. He knew his son well enough to admit that Light was lacking in that particular area. He turned to address his son.

"In that case, Light, I forbid you to start anymore fights."

Light would kill him. He, would, die. Light almost couldn't breathe as he struggled to regain some composure.

"If you two are quite finished dissecting my moral character, I believe we should get to work. Father, sit down, you're not going anywhere."

L smiled behind his cup. Typical Light…feel challenged, start ordering. The boy could be so predictable.