Another chapter into the story. *Nonchalantly claps* I don't really know how to explain how I feel right now, but I'll try. It's like there's a voice in my head telling me to type or it's going to shut my brain off. So because of that, I am typing. Don't know why. Don't even care. But it's a win for all of you, so don't question my brain and its strange tactics. Sorry for the delay though. My D in Chemistry prohibited me from using the internet. I still can't... but I'm sneaky.

I awoke to a scenery that wasn't the bathroom. Oh, that's right... The cake...and bed? I was piecing together the night before. How much of that had actually happened? Probably none of it.

I looked up. Ryuzaki was in his normal sitting position, but sleeping. It just wasn't right. That's not a good way to sleep.

I sat up and stretched. Reaching over to shake him I said, "Come on, Ryuzaki. You shouldn't sleep like that," I groaned. It really bothered me actually. I was uncomfortable just looking at him.

His eyes fluttered. "Light-kun."

"Yes, Ryuzaki."

"Are you done being angry?"

That's right. I'm seriously pissed off at this jackass right now. That dream left me confused. It was a dream... Now that I think about it. Whatever point it was trying to make, it was lost in the sweets and confusion. Remembering the dream made my eye twitch.

"Well regardless," he continued, "you've had your freedom. You should consider yourself lucky."

"Lucky! I was practically molested!" I sat up quickly in bed. "You call that lucky? That's completely sick! Some symbol of justice you are!"

Saying nothing, he snapped on the cuffs.

My eye twitched. "I don't want to be anywhere near you today!"

"That doesn't matter."

I threw off the covers and leaped out of the bed. "Yes it do-" My vision fizzled out and I lost my balance. I'm pretty sure that son of bitch Ryuzaki caught me before I hit the ground though. Just what I want- his hands all over me. Yeah, just perfect. I was internally seething.

"Light-kun, can you hear me? Are you alright?"

"Yes," I said spitefully.

"You really should relax. You haven't eaten in over twenty four hours. I'll have Watari bring something up. What do you want?"

I thought it over for a moment. Then it hit me. I wanted eggs. The need was undying and irrefutable. "Eggs! I want something with eggs!" That statement was said in anything but a classy and collected attitude.

He looked at me for a moment before getting on the phone and making the call. "Ten minutes, Light-kun."

"I don't think I can wait that long," I grumbled.

"Don't bitch and moan, Light-kun. It's not attractive."

"What do I care if you don't think I'm attractive? You are not getting on my good side."

"Light-kun has a good side?"

"Yes. And you are not on it."

"I thought I was your friend, Light-kun."

"After last night, I don't know what you are," I confessed.

"What about last night?"

"You did... what you did."

"So what?" He made it sound like what he did was completely normal. Or that he didn't care. I didn't like it.

"So that's not the way I wanted that to happen."

"And which way did you want it to happen?"

"That's not what I meant!" Oh, great! Now he's going to take this the wrong way.

"Then share with me Light-kun. What did you mean?"

"I-I thought that you were going to..."

"To what?"

"To touch me." I'm sure that my voice was full of pain.

"Light-kun, I would never do something like that without your consent."

I lowered my head, "Then what was last night?"

"A test. You wouldn't come clean willingly. Besides, it can't be that new to you. Miss Amane is all over you all the-"

"I would never let her touch me," I snarled.

"So contrary to the majorities' belief, you've never..."

"No. No one has ever been allowed that close. I don't let anyone get close to me." I might be considered a tease or a womanizer, but I'm not just about to give myself away.

"Why not?"

He's like a freaking psychologist. What's his game? What is he trying to get from me? Even without knowing, I gave him an answer. "Because they'll see the real me. I would make them want to run." This act I put on for everyone... It works too well. Because of it I've always been on top. It's all I've even known. Everyone puts me on a pedestal. All it takes is a wink of the eye or a flick of the wrist and they're putty in my hands. You're the only person to have looked past my facade.

"I have seen the real you, but not once have I thought of running. I even know that you haven't told the truth a day in your life."

"Th-that's not true!" He has seen the real me. But can he really tell me that he likes who I really am?

"Then what's with the stutter? I'm beginning to wonder if you've ever once spoken the truth."

"Not everything I say is a lie." As far back as I can remember I've always lied. To be just that much better than everyone else. I've never had any competition before you. Everyone just accepted that I was the best, the one to go to for help. I was just that person. There were no doubts about me. That's what made it easy. That was me before I met you. Now you rival me. Now everyone has something they doubt about me. Every day their trust in me weakens. You've done in half a year what no one has been able to do throughout my entire life. What makes you able to do this? Is it the fact that you're L? Of course it is. Why else would you have been chosen if you weren't skilled in this sort of thing. It's like you were manufactured to bring out the worst in me. To bring me to my end. But why are you able to do it? Why does it have to be you?

"Then tell me one truthful statement that you have shared in your time of knowing me."

I was at a loss for words. I couldn't think of anything. Not one thing. He was tearing me down.

"That's what I thought."

Ryuzaki's POV

"I have seen the real you. But not once have I thought of running. I even know that you haven't told the truth a day in your life." That may be exaggerated a little, but I'm making my point.

"Th-that's not true!"

"Then what's with the stutter? I'm beginning to wonder if you've ever once spoken the truth."

"Not everything I say is a lie." He sounds like he's not only trying to convince me, but himself as well.

"Then tell me one truthful statement that you have shared in your time of knowing me."

He fell silent immediately.

"That's what I thought."

"Just because I can't remember everything I've ever said doesn't mean I've never told the truth."

"That's a pitiful excuse."

"Only you think it's an excuse."

I sighed. "How about we start with this. Give up the pretending."

"I've told you two million times, I'm not Kira!"

"It would be nice for you to give that up, but that's not what I'm talking about."

"Then what?"

"I'm starting to wonder if you're really as much of a genius as people make you out to be."

He stood there and glared at me.

"You are gay. So give up the act."

His face turned a deep shade of scarlet. "Why do you care so much about my sexuality?"

"Because it's not healthy for you to lie about it when there are people perfectly willing to accept you." Even though that's not the only lie you've ever told and it certainly won't be the last.

"You seem to be the only one convinced that I'm lying about it."

"That's because I know you. And your tactics are old to me," I affirmed.

"What if I really am straight? What difference does that make?"

"Well you're not. So it's a moot point."

"Then what if I'm gay? What difference does that make?"

"Then it means that I was right. Nothing more and nothing less."

"So you're making my life hell just so you can be right?" I could see the skin of his knuckles whiten.

"Basically." I didn't have to put in fancy terms.

I expected him shout and scream at me for being a selfish, childish, inconsiderate bastard, or something like that. But he didn't. He didn't punch me either. What surprised me a little was that he slapped me. The way it stung was almost petty enough to make me laugh. Why he resorted to that, I will never know, but it just strengthened my theory.

He looked so flustered. The look on his face was classic, like he was trying to be mad but with a twist of embarrassment. It was kind of cute.

I ignored the pain in my face. "Can you put aside your pride for even a moment and just come clean? You can't hide the truth forever."

"Shut up! You don't know me! It's not even any of your business."

"You are a Kira suspect. Everything you do is my business. Even if it is another man."

He blushed even harder. "I'm tired of that being your excuse just so you can get into my business."

"But it works," I stated simply.

"Can't you be considerate to my feelings for once in your life?"

It's not my job. "Does that mean you want a hug?"

"No, god damnit, I don't want a hug!"

"Well I'm not going to give you a kiss."

"G-good!" His blush renewed itself.

"You're stuttering again."

"N-no I'm not!"

"You did it again." Now I was just teasing him. I can't say that it isn't fun though. Seeing his face change into so many shades of red almost makes me chuckle.

"I'm telling right now that I'm not gay, Ryuzaki. For someone so observant you sure can't get your facts right! Why would I have any reason to lie about this? I can't tell what you want me to confess to more; if I'm gay or Kira? Just give it up already! You have no solid evidence and it's a waste of time!"

I shrugged. "I have all the time I need."

"That is not the point," he growled.

"Then just confess and this can all be over."

"I can't confess to something that I'm not guilty of!"

"Well then it is a good thing that I am not telling you to do so."

His jaw clenched tightly. He was angry at not being able to find a way out of this conversation. Both that and the topic were straining his pride. "Where would you even get the idea that I like boys? It's completely ridiculous."

"Your response to my actions just no-"

"I'm a teenager, Ryuzaki. We have hormones and if you do things like that our bodies tend to override what our minds really want," he reasoned.

"That is true, Light-kun. You however, are a different story entirely. I have observed you long enough to know that you are not easily influenced by the predilections of your body. And I suppose it first occurred to me when you let that statement during lunch slip."

I saw the recognition dawn on his face. He was probably scolding himself for not being as collected as he should have been throughout that situation.

"God fucking damnit! Just stop," he yelled.

Or maybe not… If I can just get him angry enough, he may let something slip.

"Yelling will not convince me of anything, Light-kun," I deadpanned. "You just sound like a child desperate to hold on to his last bit of dignity. You gain nothing by lying to me. In fact it may just be better to come out and say it."

He was visibly shaking due to rage. I could see it in his eyes that he was hiding the truth. Has he even come to terms with it yet?

Somewhere I had heard that forcing someone to 'come out' was not a very, for lack of better word, nice thing to do. It would be better for said person to 'come out' on their own accord. Something to do with trust and whatnot. Though I had also heard that lying about one's sexuality lead to decreased happiness and overall lifespan. In a way I suppose I was doing him a favor… along with satisfying my strange need to torment him.

I took another look at him. He was still shaking and clenching his teeth in a way that couldn't be considered good. He was glaring intensely in my direction, though it might be more accurate to say that he was glaring through me. He didn't seem entirely focused on anything but his own thoughts.

I decided to push my luck. I slowly walked a few steps closer to him and poked him in the shoulder. "Light-ku-"

"I'm fucking gay, you asshole," he growled. His statement actually caught me off guard. It thought we could keep this going for a little while longer.

"Are you fucking happy," he continued. "This is just too much hassle. It's not even any of your business."

I smiled deviously. "Now was that so hard?"

"Shut up," he said spitefully.

Light-kun was a happy Light-kun now that he had eaten his eggs.

With this morning's conversation, I concluded that he'd never shared those feelings. At all.

"Ryuzaki, I need to take a shower." He sounded like a very bratty child.

He needs to stop interrupting my thoughts. "Of course you do." I rolled my eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at me. It's not my fault you don't take pride in your appearance."

It seemed like he was in a better mood... Well he wasn't mad anymore. "You care too much about your appearance. I thought it was what's on the inside that counts. Then again, if that were the case you might not have as many friends. If that's what you can call them."

His eyes narrowed. "I don't need to hear your griping this early in the morning."

"It's eleven thirty. That hardly counts as early."

"I'm taking a shower."

So there. Note my hint of mental sarcasm.

I was practically dragged into the bathroom. Nothing stands in his way of hygiene.

It was starting off basically the same. Except for the tension in the air.

"You know, you don't have to be in here. I'm perfectly capable of taking a shower by myself."

"You might do something incriminating while I'm gone. And you're always complaining that I'm not clean enough. Two birds with one stone." And this way, I get to make you squirm.

I turned around. His back was to me but I could tell that he was blushing.

"Light-kun-"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I'm just apologizing in advance," he replied.

"So you were planning on looking at me in the shower? Just because you're out of the closet doesn't mean that you can now give in to your perverted desires." Though you aren't quite hiding them anymore.

"I'm not planning on anything. And I don't get perverted desires."

"Suure. You might as well just get it out of your system."

"What are you saying? That I should just look you up and down?"

"If it will prevent any later incidents, then yes. Unless you're afraid that you can't handle it."

From what I could see, his blush deepened. "...That's exactly it," he muttered.

Does that mean that he finds me attractive? Or is that just his gay genes acting up? Did coming out to me make him less adamant about hiding his homosexual tendencies?

"Well if a problem arises we'll just have to deal with it later." I have to admit, things are different now.

"We?"

"Yes, Light-kun. We are chained together. By default it is we."

He groaned. "Just great."

"Well anyway, we should just get it over with." The first one will be the hardest, Light-kun.

"Agreed."

We both stepped into the shower.

Light's POV

Walk-in showers are one of the world's greatest creations. Without them, I would be forced into the only big enough for one person bathtub next to the walk-in shower. Either way, this was going to be uncomfortable.

The water was on and our backs were to each other. It at all costs needed to stay that way.

...Onto more important matters, my hair hasn't been washed in over twenty-four hours. If not washed soon, it might lose its god-like glossiness.

Heaven.

Forbid.

"Light- kun, I'm out of soap. Pass me yours."

"...Uh...sure..." Gaaaadamnit! I have to turn around.

What is wrong with me? I've never let anything beat me before. Why should I let this?

"Light-kun, I don't have all day," he reminded me.

"Oh. Right."

I bit the bullet and turned to give him the bottle of soap. He was already facing me. It took all of my willpower to keep the blood from rushing to my face. Well better that than other things…

I saw the water droplets fall, in what seemed to be slow motion, disbursing as they hit his body. They dripped their way down him to splash against the floor. His hair was plastered to his head. He looked like a drowned panda.

I absentmindedly handed him the soap, not entirely succeeding to stop the blush that crept across my face. Even after, I continued to stare. And I can't say that it was at his face the whole time.

"Light-kun, it's not polite to stare."

He broke into my semiconscious mind. Two words- bright. Red. Or flaming might be more accurate.

"I-I'm sorry!" I whipped myself around so that I could see none of him. Mistake. Because when you're in the shower, everything is wet. And because life is against me, I slipped. I hoped that I would hit the floor and crack my skull open so that I wouldn't have to deal with this person who so unfairly conspires against me with every ounce of being that he has.

I curse that day that gravity came to be. It was the only thing pulling me down.

I felt hands on my arms, a moment of balance, then I was falling again. I hit the ground. Hard. It was, however, softer and warmer than I had expected. I hadn't fallen on my head, but my ass instead. Great.

I didn't know how much more I could possibly be tortured by one person. Certainly there must be some limit, and falling in his bare lap had to exceed it. My blush spread throughout my entire body.

"Are you alright, Light-kun?"

"Yeah. S-sorry. "

"I'm fine, thank you for asking. Maybe some minor bruising later though."

Does he ever stop being a jerk? "Sorry."

"I'm fine. Now if you would be so kind as to get off of me, it would be much appreciated."

"Oh... Sorry."

I got off of him, but that didn't make it any less awkward. If I were a stranger coming upon this situation, I wouldn't come near this tension with a ten foot stick.

"My blush was just barely receding. "Sorry... again."

"Light-kun, if you apologize to me one more time, I'm going to smack you."

I simply glared at him.

"Thank you."

"Yeah... whatever."

"Don't be smart with me. I will hit you whether the law has a problem with it or not."

I rolled my eyes. "We sure are mature, aren't we?"

"Yes, light-kun. Yes we are."

I don't know how much more of this my pride can take.