Author's Note: I'm am so sorry this chapter took so long to post! My muse ran away, and when it returned I was too sick to write.

This is rated M for potential future pairing between Light and L. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note, or the characters therein.

Light frowned. "And that, Ryuzaki, is why you will never get a confession from Kira. You are looking at Kira solely from your viewpoint, the viewpoint of a detective. Your analysis of Kira is simplistic."

"I thought my viewpoint was rather complex, Light-kun. However, I would welcome your opinions and analysis of Kira yourself."

I'm sure you would. Light kept his thought to himself.

"To start with, your analysis doesn't explain why Kira killed your doppelganger or the FBI agents. Kira was clearly aware they were 'good' people, at the very least innocent of wrong-doing. If Kira truly viewed the world with such dichotomy, he wouldn't have killed them.

I don't think Kira is killing people because he views them as good or bad, but rather something more complicated. Kira has a high sense of personal morality. In other words, he has his own personal morals and imposes them on others using the Death Note. Look at the people he killed. Many of them were criminals who pled out to lesser charges, had charges dropped, or were released earlier than they were supposed to. Many of them got off on a technicality."

L bit his thumb as he gave serious thought to what Light was saying. "What about Kurou Otoharada? He was killed by Kira before he was convicted of anything."

"He may not have been convicted, but he was in the process of committing a serious crime. Kira probably felt he had to act in order to protect the children being held hostage. I bet if you asked Kira, he would tell you he has a strong sense of justice. He doesn't think what he is doing is wrong. He probably believes the criminal justice system is at the very best flawed, at the worst corrupt. From that viewpoint, anyone within the criminal justice system that opposes him, such as the Kira taskforce, the FBI agents, and even yourself, are part of the problem, not the solution."

L stopped biting his thumb, leaning forward. "And what is the solution, Light-kun?"

"According to Kira? Himself. He is the solution to all of the corruption and injustice in the world. Kira will systematically eliminate anyone who violates his personal morals, as well as anyone who tries to get in his way."

"It sounds like you are saying there is no way to get Kira to stop killing." L watches Light closely. Light shrugs.

"It depends. If Kira believes the justice system is corrupt, then the only way to stop him from killing is to either kill him, or eliminate the corruption within the system." Light yawns. "You may not need sleep, Ryuzaki, but I do. Let's continue this conversation tomorrow."

Both men stand up and walk towards their rooms.

"Thank you, Light-kun. Our conversation has been very illuminating. You gave me much to think about. Sweet dreams."

"Good night." Light shuts the door and leans his back against it. He glances at Rem but says nothing to her as he walks to the bathroom. Soon, he is surrounded by steam. Rem follows him. Light appears to ignore her as he washes his hair. He speaks softly. "Did you give her the message?"

"Yes, Light, but she wasn't very happy about it."

"Did she understand why? Did she agree to follow my instructions?" Light takes his time rinsing his hair.

"Yes to both questions."

"Good. The next few days will be interesting. If everything goes according to plan, Misa and I will be free of L forever. Don't forget your part in all this."

Rem huffed. "I won't forget, Light."

"Good. I'll see you around, Rem." Light turns his back to Rem to finish his shower. He half expects L to come bursting through the door again, but the rest of his shower is without incident. Soon, he is lying on his bed, going over his plan now he knows Misa will cooperate. Satisfied, he closes his eyes and is soon asleep.

L watches the Shinigami in Light's room. The steam makes it difficult to tell if the two are talking to each other. The only sound he can hear is water.

Light-kun, what is so important to say to the Shinigami you go to such lengths to hide your conversation?

L knew there could be a perfectly logical reason for the Shinigami to be in Light's room. She had visited each member of the taskforce at least once, then disappeared for a day. Based on the direction she left Light's room, L knew she was heading to the kitchen. She didn't seem to like apples, which made Kira's taunt anomalous.

Could there be another Shinigami in the Human World? A second Death Note would explain how both Kira and the Second Kira were able to kill. In fact, it's the only logical explanation. The Second Kira's journal said "My friend and I showed off our notebooks in Aoyama." We know Aoyama is where the Second Kira found the First Kira, which means this was the true message intended for Kira. The Shinigami already refused to tell me if there is another Death Note in the Human World. Misa is the logical choice for the Second Kira, but there is the 13 day rule…f I could only get help from the Shinigami, but she is less than helpful. Almost as if she is helping someone else… L's eyes widen. Of course, it made sense. Now he just had to come up with a plan to get the truth to come out.