I'm sorry for such a massive gap in between chapters, I hadn't originally planned to continue this but ppl seem to liek it so here ya go. Let me know if you'd like me to continue. Yosh, please enjoy!

Things were starting to spiral out of control. L knew this. But after his strawberry initiative had failed, feeding L with only inconclusive results, he was forced to increase his efforts and therefore the unrelenting tension surrounding himself and a certain Kira suspect. Light-kun had, as L predicted, allowed L to feed him (such as Kira would have) but he had done so with such defiance and spiteful determination in his brown eyes that L struggled to spot anything else lurking in him. He saw nothing of any malice, lechery or derisive amusement gleaming in the eyes of a killer; only the honest strength and irritable vulnerability of a seventeen year old boy. Afterwards, the boy had blushed until even his ears grinned red - but it wasn't a gushing kind of contact-embarrassment. L had heard Light-kun muttering furiously under his breath for minutes afterward, had practically felt him berating and cursing his actions in his head. Such a Light-kun thing to do. As if he were angry that he had blushed. Surely if this was Kira, taunting L through the embers of his murderous, pumping heart (that beat apparently only for L) he would have...well..not gone about it in such a typical Light way. Kira would have blushed openly and probably extended L's gesture of intimacy further. Unless he knew what game L was playing.

Sigh..You see? Inconclusive. Thus, L was unsure. This had led to great irritation and annoyance on his part. This had led to the next few days being riddled with subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) gestures of intimacy.

It hadn't been difficult, in retrospect, to create spontaneous moments of chemistry between the two of them. After all, they were chained together. L simply had to be sly, and seemingly innocent about it. And calculatingly seductive. He stood nearer to Light-kun than usual, sat closer, leaned over Light-kun when he spoke (once he had arched over the back of Light-kun's seat so low that he saw his breath tickle the nape of Light's neck; the little hairs had wiggled and jumped to attention as soon as they felt the sudden air whisper over them. Light had jumped about a foot in the air and automatically swatted the satiable prickle). He knew he had Light-kun's helplessly undivided attention - their hands caught a few times at L's instigation; lifting paperwork, pointing at the computer screen, reaching for the sugar bowl, but each time L's fingers grazed the back of Light-kun's knuckles or swiped at his palm, Light would immediately jerk back from L's cool, languid fingers. L had done everything a psychological deducting genius of a social recluse could think of. Short of openly verbally flirting with Light-kun or standing up and kissing him, L was running out of ideas. And he desperately (perhaps unconsciously so) wanted to avoid the latter.

It was maddening. He seethed every time Light-kun froze up or burnt red or jarred away until the chain sprang them back together again like a grueling elastic band. L even tried being conventionally nice; he offered to share his sweets, he gave Light the last of his mochi, he even constructed a sugar cube Coliseum for him, distinctly Flavian Amphitheatre-ish, which he insisted Light eat (giving in, Light only tasted one - the same glare of defiance blazing in his eyes - leaving L to sulkily cram the remaining powdery squares into his mouth all at once), and he then even personally made Light a cup of tea (which the boy pointedly let grow cold until Matsuda-san, and eventually Yagami-san, chided him for being ungrateful, - most likely believing that L's suspicions of Light were growing weaker - making Light shakily (from anger) take a sip, only to instantly spit it back out again, whining of tooth decay and cancerous sugars). L personally really didn't know what he was talking about, he'd only put in five. And some honey. Plus a few mint humbugs - but that was just to give it a festive boost! It was almost December after all.

And so it was not surprising that, on his way back to his seat by the monitors (L perched, rolling along with him), a towering stack of paperwork in hand, L stuck out a bony ankle in annoyance (inwardly scowling in frustration) and tripped Light-kun up. Light's shin caught the curve of L's ankle and stumbled, his torso lurching forwards. The papers went flying, Light's chair rolled away unscathed and Light hit the floor, sprawled on the linoleum with a oomph.

Light groaned, momentarily winded. A scattered paper drifted and danced down to settle on his head. A rush of voices directed their immediate concern, despite the sound of Matsuda-san attempting to muffle his laughter.

"-Light, are you alright?"

Light-kun was on his feet in seconds, his expression stormy and furious. "That is it, Ryuzaki! Do you know how long I spent organising that paperwork? I've had it with all your attempts to trip me up - literally!" His eyes looked murderous. Hmm, L pondered. That was more like it.

"I apologise Light-kun, but I assure you, I had no intention of tripping you. Your foot must have caught on my chair as you were passing."

"That's bullshit Ryuzaki and you know it! These past couple of days you haven't let up on me once - I know you tripped me, I saw you stick your foot out!" Light-kun glared at him; L tried to look innocent and pragmatic but, bizarrely, he felt an overwhelming urge to smile.

Soichiro Yagami's calm deep voice rang, "Ryuzaki, is this true?" he sighed, sounding tired. "Did you trip Light?" When L didn't answer, he added "Are you still suspicious of Light's identity - do you still suspect him of being Kira?"

"Yagami-san, I did not trip Light-kun. Light-kun probably stumbled over my chair, not looking where he was going. He was carrying a large stack of papers. Why would I want to trip him? I would not want to undo hours of work Light-kun completed, aiding the progression of our case. And in what way does tripping Light-kun, more so, causing him physical harm extend the theory that Light-kun is Kira? I have no desire to hurt Yagami-kun."

Light fumed at L, his hands curling into fists as if to stop himself from throttling the pale detective. L couldn't be too smug, after all - anger was a predictable emotion to display after being hurt.

Aizawa-san mumbled something to Mogi-san and they set to work, stooping to gather the scattered papers.

Yagami-san sighed and glanced at Light, then back to L. "I believe you, Ryuzaki. Light, you do look tired. Are you sure you're getting enough rest? You have been more clumsy as of late...acting unusual.."

"I am fine! Any reason I've been acting odd is because of him!" Light shakily jabbed at L.

L raised his ebony eyebrows. "Light-kun if I have offended you, I-"

Light seemed to boil with anger. "You..are...dead-!" he lunged at L; it took Soichiro and Matsuda's combined efforts to restrain him, but unfortunately, because of the chain that tied the two of them together, they could not put much distance between them.

"Calm down, Light-kun."

"Ryuzaki, this is clearly putting too much strain on Light. We all need to work together, as harmoniously as possible if we're to make real, efficient progress. This infernal chain should be removed."

Yagami-san was demanding but L gazed at him calmly with impenetrable black orbs. His gaze fluttered to Light and then back. "At least for a while, if nothing else." Soichiro said when Ryuzaki didn't answer.

L looked at Light-kun again. As if L could release what little control he already had over Yagami-kun's alternating emotions and fluctuating actions. He needed to keep an eye on him at all times. He needed to scratch the surface to reveal the monster underneath. "The chain stays."

L allowed himself a small smile. Light-kun's eyes flashed dangerously. Light-kun growled. "May I have a word with you?"

L smiled more widely. This should be more interesting, I may be able to actually compile some testable data..This could be a deciding vote...if such things were open to a vote. Hands up everyone, who thinks Light-kun is Kira?

Show yourself monster.

"Certainly, Light-kun."

"In private."

Soichiro glanced warily at Light. "It's alright, Yagami-san. I have no intention of fighting Light-kun. I shan't reciprocate even if Light-kun childishly instigates." L told him, and Light didn't wait for another word. He stormed from the monitor room, dragging L by the links of the chain behind him.

"You know Light-kun, evading the others in search of privacy is pointless. There are camera monitors all over the building. Even in this room."

"Yes but none that monitor or record sound."

That's what you think, Yagami-kun. They crossed the corridor and entered an empty room, grandly furnished. The team often used this room as a break-room, as it was so close to all the monitors across the hall. The door snapped shut and Light turned to face L, glowering.

"Look, Ryuzaki. I know what you've been doing - I know exactly why you're doing it but I want you to stop."

L raised a thumb to his lip, and bit it gently. "I'm not entirely sure as to what Light-kun is referring." A ghostly set of fingers scratched idly at L's temple, onyx irises narrowing in confusion.

Light tried to swallow his anger but it seemed to get stuck in his throat on the way down."I'm referring to this." He closed the distance between them and abruptly took Ryuzaki's face in the palm of his hand. Light's skin was a sunset as his fingers brushed against Ryuzaki's cheek.

L instantly flinched. All calculating and logical thought had been wiped from his brain. All thought had been wiped from his brain. He struggled for a moment just to remember to breathe, before then remembering that breathing was an involuntary action; a process that his body carried out for him, just as his cells continued to respire and divide, regardless of the fact that Light-kun was again, touching him. L's peripheral temperature receptors in his epidermis registered the heat from Light's hand, and L felt his warmth quiver down right through him, from his cheek, trickling down into his toes. He repressed a shiver. But the sudden warmth jolted his brain into action.

L tilted his head away from Light-kun's open palm. His thumb never wavered from his mouth.

"This, Light-kun?"

Watch you squirm!

Hope you liked, please review if so! Feel free to question or suggestion ^3^