Miko: Another one from Light. Since this story is primarily about his progression, and he and L are no longer in the same place, I have to write these. I have to admit, though, that I really enjoy writing the relationship between Light and Kira.

Sorry this one took so long. To be honest, I had no idea where the story was going. I found the sheet I made at the start of the story, and the actual path has veered so far away the ending I had planned will no longer work. I love to see how my ideas have changed, though. For instance, Kira was never supposed to speak to Light. At least some things managed to happen (Sayu's wedding for instance).

Anyway, enough of my rambling. Enjoy this chapter, and I'll try to get the next one out sooner.

Walking

Light's POV

It was easier than I could have imagined to fall back into my old life. I fit in without trying, sliding into my spot in the family as if I'd just been away on vacation. At first I would catch my parents giving me side long glances that were a mix of pity and disgust, but soon they seemed to forget I had been gone at all. It was as if Kira didn't exist. But he did.

It was a different relationship we shared now. My mind gave him a physical form, though I knew he existed only inside me. He would sit on the bed beside me and talk to me as I fell asleep. His words were seldom kind or comforting, but they had a ring of truth about them in the way no one else would speak. There were no coddling or gentle lies to soothe the truth. His words alone could draw tears from my eyes, break me into pieces while at the same time gluing me back together.

What do you want, Light-kun? The question was familiar, as was the mocking tone it was spoken in. I was facing away from the cameras that had been found moments after being placed in the room. They gave fuel to the suspicions Kira whispered about L's mistrust.

"Nothing." I whispered softly. It was the wrong answer – it was always the wrong answer. I knew that, and yet still every night that's what my answer was. When it was no longer true then I would answer something else. As I knew it would, my response provoked the demon sitting beside me. He crouched down so our faces were inches apart and he bared his teeth, a strangely animal expression to see on a human.

You want to be free from L. Did I? I wasn't sure. The first few nights I had fought back, but each night my arguments got weaker and weaker. It had been two weeks now, and I couldn't remember why I had ever advocated for the detective. Say it, Light.

"I want to be free from L." I whispered. There was no need for my lips to move for the conversation to take place. No one was in the room to respond. The only response was in my head. But I persisted in speaking out loud.

Why? Why, Light-kun? There was the tone of testing in his voice as he drew back, surveying me from above. I didn't look up at him, keeping my gaze straight at the wall in front of me. These words I knew. These I would speak by heart, part of our sick ritual.

"He doesn't care about me." I said. "He feels guilty. He deserves to feel guilty. He deserves to die." I fought back a shudder at my silent whisper. My counterpart shuddered, but his was of pleasure, not fear.

That's right, Light. He said, smiling down at me. He was almost beautiful when his face wasn't contorted by hatred and rage. It was the only time he looked remotely human. He doesn't care about you at all. Not like me. I care about you.

"Why did you try to kill me, then?" I asked, sitting up. I pulled my legs up to my chest, taking care to keep my face angled away from the camera so L couldn't see my lips move. This was the first night I'd questioned my alter ego. He didn't look pleased about it, but he wasn't yet to his breaking point. I would recognize that point when it came.

I didn't know what was going on. Kira said, keeping his perch on the edge of the bed. If I had, we could have worked together from the start. We would be unstoppable by now. Even gods can make mistakes, Light-kun. It was strange to hear the arrogant man apologize, I thought, even as I realized he hadn't actually sounded sorry. He sounded like he was humoring a child.

But it isn't too late, Light-kun. We can still create our perfect world. And this time, we can make it together. Together. I nodded, accepting his words. Perhaps part of me questioned him, but the part grew smaller and smaller every day. It was so easy to just listen to him. And he was so truthful, using his words to lure me in the way I could use my whole body. And after all, he hadn't tried to take control away from me at all since we'd started speaking.

"Together." I echoed his words, lying back down to continue our routine. He didn't want to stick to the script, apparently. Because he lay down facing me, inches away from me. As always, his movement didn't shift the bed even a hair. We lay there, looking into a mirror, for hours it felt like before he broke the silence again.

You're thinking about him aren't you? I didn't have to ask who 'him' was. I also didn't need to deny it. You still love him even though he tossed you aside. You're worthless; pathetic. He continued talking, his voice gradually building so he was shouting. He stood up and started pacing, stopping every few cycle to bend over me.

I fell asleep to his shouting. If he'd been a physical person, he may have slapped me, or pushed me so I had bruises that could been seen. Instead, my bruises were on my spirit. And yet during the day I could pretend everything was normal. During the day, Kira stood beside me and encouraged me, never leaving me alone.

I can't remember whose idea it was to go on a walk the first time, but I know that Kira turned it into a way to escape from the cameras. The first night, I made my excuses to my parents and went outside before they could remember that I was supposed to be under surveillance. The walks started as innocent things, and they were never more than ten minutes and I never lost sight of my house. Then they started to get longer.

I thought it was an accident the first time we ran into Misa. She was sitting on a park bench dressed up in a black wig and a school girl outfit. I wouldn't have recognized her except for the notebook she was holding in her hand. I stopped dead in my tracks, standing still for I don't know how long. Kira stood beside me silently. He didn't look nearly surprised enough, and his patience was suspicious, but I was too terrified to remark on that. Before I could run, she was headed towards me, black hair bouncing with each step.

"Light!" She wrapped her arms around me and I found myself hugging her back. Kira was smiling over her shoulder and I couldn't bring myself to be mad at her. "I knew you'd come back for me, Light." She was all smiles and with her in my arms I could almost forget L. Almost, but not quite.

"Hello, Misa." I said, carefully extracting myself from her. She twined her fingers in mine and leaned against me. I hated myself for it, but it was comfortable walking with her. Of course, with her around I couldn't speak out loud to Kira, but since my alter ego wasn't answering anyway, it didn't matter. "How are you?"

"Misa-Misa knew you were just joking about L." She said.

"I wasn't joking, Misa." I said, forsaking the familiar comfort of Misa to pull myself away from her. "I thought he cared about me. And I never did want to hurt you. But…I don't love you." My head was suddenly pounding, aching. Kira looked furious; I'd never seen him so angry. But I pushed on. Outside, with people around, I wasn't as completely under his spell as when we were alone in my room.

"Don't be silly, Light." She said, deciding to respect my physical limits. She just smiled up at me, and I found myself pitying her. "You're both boys. That would be…My Light wouldn't do something like that." Her eyes seemed to ask a question, and I took a step back.

"I have to go, Misa. I shouldn't be out here anyway." I refused to run away, but my speed increased with every step and before I realized it I was back in my room closing the door and leaning against the wall for support. Kira was sitting in his customary spot on the bed, seeming to look down at me even though I was standing. He didn't dare speak yet; I wouldn't answer while I was facing the cameras. I still had that much control at least. I clung to it, dragged the moment out as long as possible. It was only a few minutes, and they only made him even angrier, but it was my small way of deifying him.

A/N: I forgot a few things before. I hope you all have a great Christmas(or whatever holiday you celebrate). My birthday is the 26th so I probably wont update until after then.

In other news, I'm co-writing a story with the amazing Insanity-Realm. It's called 'Once Upon a Time,' and it's a LxLight story as well. I'm the co-author from the 6th chapter. Check it out if you've got time. (: