May I advertise the works of my wonderful friend Dotti55, she has recently begun writing and her stories are well worth the read. I hope that you will take some time to go and read them.

A/N; Been a little while since I updated I know, but this chapter is quite long so I hope you will forgive me for that... In other news... my finals are over! I'm through the horrendous ordeal they call the end of university! Sags in chair, I never want to sit another three hour exam in my life... I've done far too many of them recently.

As so many of you wanted to know the fairytale, indeed I think you all did, this will be written sometime soon. I'm not posting it here though, but as a separate one-shot so please look out for it!

Please read and review!

Chapter 11

L sat back in his chair staring at the table they had spread out all the documents on earlier in the day, now though there was also a stack of yellowing old papers scattered across the surface, coloured markers sticking out of them in odd places. He had known that the papers would only ever be somewhat useful and unlikely to be a source of any good information this late in to the case. What he hadn't realised was how much 'witness testimony' they would include from any random person they could find. Every time they had found any tiny piece of information from comments they had checked against records and found that these people had been interviewed by the police as well and their information was useless. However they had come across one very important fact.

Baker hadn't been called out to the body; he had been the one who had found the body, a small detail yes, but an important one. A detail they were inclined to believe. It was all beginning to look as if he was indeed covering for someone, if it hadn't been for the fact that he was dead then L knew he would have thought that Baker was the most likely suspect. A brief burst of annoyance flared through the detective then and he frowned. He was not about to fall for the same trick twice. His change of expression was enough to get the trio looking at him with worry.

"What is it L?" Mello asked a chocolate bar paused half way to his mouth.

"How do we know Baker is truly dead," L commented, rising to stare at the investigators picture and then the picture of what remained when he had been found, "With this level of ritual carving on the body how do we know?"

"What," Matt exclaimed, shifting from where he had been lounging in one of the rooms many chairs playing a game to come and stand by L and stare down at the coroner's photos as well.

"Shit," Mello growled, as he saw Matt's suddenly ashen expression. It was enough for both him and Near to realise that they really couldn't know. Though that had been almost certain from the moment L had expressed any doubt.

"Wouldn't they have done a blood test?" Near asked, a finger twirling in his hair the only sign of his inner tension, and that he had asked a question he already knew the answer to.

"Not to find out who is was," Matt sighed, flicking through the reports they all already knew by heart, while L stood motionless next to him staring down at the photos, "He was found with his police badge and his whole wallet."

"I've seen a man fake his own death using the man in his own prison cell to do it," L muttered, "I will not fall for it again."

"We need that body," Mello said calmly, fishing his mobile phone out of his pocket, "I'm just glad it's still in the morgue. I'd hate to be involved in bodysnatching from a police grave."

"Though to fake his death like that..." Near commented, "Does he have any family?"

"A brother David, and his mother Alison," L replied, his gaze not even shifting away from the dead man's face. If it hadn't been for the fact this had been done to someone's face the smooth swirls and runes that covered it would have been almost beautiful, knowing they were marked on a person made them grotesque. L was just glad he could look at them rationally and logically now; the difficulties of the case and the annoyance it posed had wiped away all fears he had once had.

"What's the likelihood of the body being David's?" Mello sighed, "Though it's going to be difficult to find out if we don't have a DNA sample for both of them. I think it's time we sent Matsuda on a little errand, time to get some samples without anyone knowing."

"You're going to send Matsuda?" L questioned, not in judgement over the choice merely in curiosity that their choice would be their liaison, their Wammy. Though he wasn't a father figure for them so it was perhaps more understandable.

"He's a lot more hands on than Wammy was," Matt explained, as Mello placed the call to Matsuda, "he enjoys it."

Despite the tense situation L grinned, he knew the old member of the task force had blossomed with the trio. The added responsibility and the fact the trio never failed to tell him when he had done well had allowed Matsuda to show all he could do, L knew that... he just hadn't realised the trio had corrupted him either. He had never thought of the man as a thief, that the man so enamoured with justice would steal.

...

The water in the large bath rippled and splashed against the edge as the person within slid down a little further inside with a sigh of satisfaction. It wasn't often they allowed themselves the luxury of such a long bath. After a day filled with the same tension he hadn't known for years though L felt he needed it.

"I really have changed," he said quietly, raising a hand out of the water and watching the droplets fall from it before submerging it once more. Then he smiled and relaxed back until he was almost floating. He definitely approved of this bath, you could get at least four people in here before you ran out of room, "Of course I blame you entirely Light, only you would want a small swimming pool in the bathroom."

L's smile widened, albeit with a sudden bout of nerves, as he wondered about all the reasons Light could have wanted the bath to be this big. He knew there had to be some form of dirty reason behind it, Light was like that. He knew his Light could appear to be all civilized and 'normal' and yet underneath was a man who craved for the ultimate power and control in a way that was far from the norm. L forced back a laugh as he felt a strange sense of pride that Light's sense of control over him was enough to have stopped him from wanting to take over the world. His grin broadening he let himself disappear completely under the surface of the water and bringing his hands up to run through his unruly hair a couple times before sitting back up, his face appearing out of the centre of the large bath.

Shifting back towards the side he reached for the bottle of shampoo that stood on the large raised area that completely surrounded three sides of the bath, glancing at the couple stairs that were on the only side not flanked by tiles. He shook his head at Light's creativity and wondered whether he should have given his partner as much free reign as he had. He had known that something like this would be present; he had just never paid attention to the details. He was never much of an architect; though he had to admit he hadn't been written out of their space despite this not being what he would have done, too many of the features were what he would have wanted not what Light would have specifically chosen. The bathroom was all white and chrome with no ornamentation besides the windows that were on the wall opposite the bath, on those a marvellous abstract pattern had been etched onto the surface in great swirls of frosted glass. L stared at it as he rubbed the shampoo into his hair; his movements slow as he tried to discern an image his brain kept telling him was there.

"Oh Light," L whispered as he finally saw what was there and he disappeared quickly back under the surface. There, almost completely hidden in the swirls of pattern, was the definite shape of a large ornate L. Even in the heat of the water he could feel a blush beginning to colour his cheeks, he hadn't expected to find a symbol of his partner's love for him in such a place. Hesitantly he placed his hands on the rim of the bath and rose up again to peer over the edge at the window once more. He had definitely not been mistaken.

L rested his head against the rim of the bath, his arms shifting to rest just over the top of it; he suddenly and very desperately wanted Light here. He took in a deep shuddering breath as he realised it wasn't a want it was a need, and if the sudden reaction of his body was anything to go by it was in more ways than one. For a moment he couldn't help thinking that Light could be there, shifting to be close behind him and placing gentle kisses on his neck and down his back, his arms coming round him to hold him even closer, his voice whispering all those things that would make L blush despite how much he loved to hear them...

In the definite solitude of the bathroom L made a small noise of dissatisfaction.

He had worked himself up and Light wasn't here. Attempting to ignore his sudden problem that was refusing to lessen even the slightest with all the motion of the water he attempted to continue on with his bath. It was difficult though as his mind stayed resolutely fixed on Light, his partner's face all too vivid in his mind adorned with the expression he loved the most and yet hated, the smile that made Light look all too angelic.

With a harsh movement he pulled up a lever, the water draining quickly from the bath. He reached for his towel as he stood and hurriedly wrapped the large sheet around him. He didn't want to give his problem even a moment's notice. He knew if he did then his control would snap. He didn't think his self control was so weak that he would need to do such a thing on his first day away from Light. He still gave a minute twitch though as the towel covered him, even that amount of sensation had been enough to keep him all too aware of his situation.

His own mind wasn't helping either. It was as if even his mental image of Light was just as evil in these situations as he was in real life. Every time he focused on an area of the room, be it floor, wall or back at the bath his mind supplied him with images that were far too delectable in his current state. Everything it seemed was something his mind could twist to such purposes.

"Light," L groaned through gritted teeth, not knowing if he called for his partner or was moaning in annoyance that he was doing this to him and didn't even know it. He made his way as best he could to the bedroom, annoyed with himself and Light despite the need that filled him suddenly. With forceful movements he dried himself off as best he could, collapsing down onto the side of the bed as he worked at his hair with the towel. A small wry smile appeared on his face as he thought about how Light would have tutted at this in disapproval of the harsh way he was suddenly treating his hair.

He reached out with one hand to search under the covers and pillows for his pyjamas, but his search was in vain. He gave yet another of his sighs of annoyance of the evening as he realised Wammy must have tidied it away, the bed had certainly much neater than he remembered it being when he left it. He glanced at the chest of drawers but he knew without a shadow of a doubt that it wouldn't be in there, it wasn't for clothes. They could only have vanished back into the wardrobe, and L couldn't fathom why Wammy would have done it. Yet still he couldn't find them no matter how much he searched, even though he was hindered by his irrational need to keep the towel wrapped around him.

With great reluctance he rose up from the bed, towel just managing to hide the problem he was steadfastly trying to ignore and yet failing to, and made his way into the walk in wardrobe. He looked along the rows for his much desired clothing but couldn't find it, his inner tension growing with each passing second; he knew his control was gradually breaking. He wanted desperately to touch himself and he needed to put some sort of barrier in the way. It was more than just a matter of pride... it had been years since he had done such a thing without Light around, to a part of him it felt terribly, terribly wrong. Of course the feeling of it being a taboo only made it seem even more appealing.

Then his gaze fell on the white box left alone on one shelf and all thoughts of trousers and barriers faded away.

Almost in a daze he reached forward and picked up the box and held it close. It was the strangest thing, but yet having it close by made him feel as though he was closer to Light. It was so stupid he knew, yet he couldn't help but feel it. His brain then proceeded to betray him once more, filling his mind with the thoughts of how wonderful it would be to wear it again, and while he was relieving his building tension too...

In the quiet of the small room he groaned, and his eyes fluttered closed.

He knew his control had broken, and the heady anticipation and sudden nerves that filled him only made it seem all the sweeter a decision. Clutching the box to him he turned and fled the small room, wanting the comfort of the bed. A moment later and he was sat with the sheets pooled around his waist in a great mound that he was beginning to regret creating. The towel was left forgotten on the floor and the box was held before him in shaking hands.

With some trepidation L opened the box and lifted out the contents. For some minutes he simply sat running his fingers along the soft band of leather and over the small metal fixings. His need seemed to have lost at least a little of its urgency now he knew he was going to give into it. At last with a long intake of breath he raised the collar to his neck and fixed it in place. Closing his eyes at a sudden burst of pleasure that passed through him at the feel of it around his neck, he ran his fingers slowly along the collar and the skin of his neck. He shivered at the feeling and collapsed back onto the pillows behind him.

Unbidden his mind replayed the last time he had ever touched himself and how it had ended. All that had been done to him, for him and by him... He groaned and his eyes opened in surprise as his back arched off the bed slightly and his toes curled. L only realised his hand had moved to his erection and was finally giving it the attention he had been withholding himself when a burst of arousal forced him onto his side, his free hand gripping wildly at the sheets.

He had wanted to take it slowly, wanted to spend his time over this once he had decided to do this, but his body had betrayed him. Every cell was suddenly screaming at him for release, for the overwhelming sense of yearning he felt to reach some sort of completion. His fingers dug deeper into the sheets, almost clawing at the fabric as his other hand moved faster forcing a strangled moan from his mouth before he buried his head into the pillow. Despite accepting that he was going to do this, he still wanted to hide and it still felt so naughty.

L shuddered as that one word filled his mind, hearing it whisper through his other thoughts in Light's soft and silken undertone. The tone that had always promised him so much in the past, he tried to swallow past his suddenly dry throat as he remembered that he had been promised much for the future too. What he was wearing around his neck was an indication, the surest sign that the absolute dominant side of his partner was back.

His hips shifted back and forth without conscious decision, his hand pausing in its brisk pumping ceasing to swirl his palm around the head, gathering up the precum already gathering there and causing another moan to fight its way past his laboured breathing. Each breath sounding loud in his ears with his face buried into the pillow. He tried to imagine Light was with him, that his partner was in the room, that he was the one touching him, leaning over his back and smiling down at his partially hidden face in the way Light did whenever he felt he had even the smallest amount of control over L.

"Light," L groaned and he knew as he whispered the name that he was close. He could feel the tightness in his body increasing and he felt that if he moved too far in either direction he would fall, his mind filled with images and sounds from all he and Light had done in all the years they had been together. His eyes screwed shut as he curled up even further on the bed, closing in on himself as the weight, no the tumult of arousal thundered through him sounding just as loud in his ears as his pulse.

He begged silently in his head for this onslaught of arousal to end, for the release and relief that he knew waited for him on the other side to arrive.

It never did.

Twice more in all too quick succession he felt like he was reaching the edge that if he could only reach that extra inch he would get what he so desired, but it never happened. For two long moments he lay there tense on the bed, hands clawing into the sheets as he lay curled up on his side, his harsh gasps for air loud in his ears and distracting his already addled mind as he tried to work out what was wrong. Then his eyes widened as the truth dawned, his memory supplying him with all the information he needed. He bit his lip as a sudden jolt of tension gripped him. He knew what he needed to do to 'solve' his problem, but he didn't like it one bit.

...

Light lay in the large and now very empty feeling bed, a small smile on his face as he idly read through the book held in his left hand outstretched before him. He was reading a rather fantasy novel that could almost be called a romantic novel, and to his great horror he was finding he was enjoying it. It wasn't the sort of book he would usually read, but his sister had sent it to him so he thought he should at least attempt to read it... he only wished he had known what he was getting into. He was only glad L wasn't here to hear the quiet laughter at the character's antics; it would have horrified him as much as it was horrifying Light himself.

His reading was cut short though as his ever present mobile rang quietly from its place on his bedside table. He looked up at it quizzically wondering who would be ringing him at this time. Slipping his bookmark into his reading material he sat up and picked up his mobile. He smiled as he saw the caller ID and he wondered at how much he and L had been in contact today despite his partner being away in the UK.

"Hello L," Light said as he answered at last and flopped back to lie on the bed, his head landing securely on the pillows.

"Hello Light," L whispered and Light could tell instantly that there was something wrong. He had rarely ever heard his partner's voice sound so quiet, and so plaintive he realised.

"What's wrong?" Light asked, suddenly feeling a lot more serious and awake than he had been just seconds before. The scenarios that filled his mind were far from pleasant.

"You're what's wrong," L replied and all Light's worry turned into outright confusion as L continued on, "I can't... You've been planning this from the very beginning haven't you?"

Light frowned and rubbed at his forehead with one hand, he couldn't fathom what L was accusing him of, and in such emotional and breathy tones it was as if he was almost moaning down the line. It was quite unusual. Then the inkling of an idea dawned, there was only one time when his partner truly became emotional and if he was phoning him to accuse him of something it most likely meant that his habit of always wanting to order L around in such times, even when all his other domineering habits had stopped, had borne unexpected fruit as it were. In the privacy of the bedroom he grinned, he only hoped his reasoning was correct.

"Light," L moaned suddenly and Light realised he had probably be silent a bit too long, his smile faded... of all the times L had to find out it had to be when they were so far apart... but then if they hadn't been it was unlikely they would have found out.

"I want you to tell me precisely what is wrong L," Light replied, keeping his voice as steady as possible, "I won't get anywhere if I just guess."

The silence that descended then made Light smile. He knew now that he had been right. Unbidden a clear memory rose in his mind and his smile grew...

"For you Light, I would kneel, crawl, beg, anything if you told me to," L moaned, pressing up into Light's hand his own hands clutching at Light's back. He groaned as Light nuzzled at his neck, his force increasing.

"Then come for me L Lawliet," Light commanded, a moment later he knew that L had been telling him the truth. He would do anything Light told him to.

... Light wondered how much L wanted to hear those same words right now. Truthfully Light had never thought his commands would ever become this efficient... but it seemed close to five years worth of enforcement had been enough for even L.

"L," Light said softly, "You're not speaking."

"How do you always know how to say these things?" L whispered, and now he knew what he was looking for Light caught all the heavy undertones to L's voice, he was desperately on edge. Compassion rose in Light then, despite the sudden thrill of power that chased down his spine, he decided that if L admitted what his problem was he wouldn't deny him what he needed not that there was any way he really would have...

"There is nothing that you could possibly say to me that should embarrass you," Light commented, wincing a little at how amused he sounded, true he was thrilled that he had gained such control but he was more concerned for L right now.

There was a great sigh from L at his words and Light wished desperately that he could reach through the phone and caress L's cheek, anything to alleviate this tension he was palpably feeling.

"I can't orgasm," L said swiftly, and Light had to hold back the smallest of laughs at the sudden logical tone L had adopted and the words he was choosing. He was always so formal when he was feeling his most vulnerable, "and after much thought over the past few years I have to say I blame you for it. You have somehow trained me to be this way."

Light thought about how best to reply to L's terse comments, but it was L himself who spoke again, his voice quiet and strained revealing to his partner just how all this was affecting him.

"You must have known what you were doing."

"I see," Light managed to reply, "I must admit I never thought it would work on you. I never anticipated my order would become so tied in with your orgasm. I truly didn't."

"I wasn't asking for an apology, just..."

Light smirked then and in the privacy of the bedroom his eyes filled with sudden delight. L had inadvertently told him almost everything he needed to know. As he listened to L's plaintive breathing on the phone he shifted forward and quietly pulled open his bedside table drawer to peek inside before he slid over to look in L's as well. He grinned, and bit back a laugh as he saw what was plainly missing.

"Tell me," Light said, letting his glee show just slightly in his voice, "are you wearing the collar right now?"

"Yes," L whispered, and his reply was so quiet that Light would have missed it had he not been paying attention.

"Oh L," Light sighed, sinking back down on the bed, feeling a surge of his own arousal, "Oh Lawliet."

There was a sudden groan from L over the phone and Light smiled, he knew his partner was still as affected by his name being spoken by him as he had been the first time.

"I can assume then that it's more the tension you have at the moment and needing to tell me about it that is getting to you, rather than it developing?" Light asked, still smiling. He knew he had L now, as soon as the collar was mentioned he knew he had everything correct. L had actively sought an item that reminded him of Light, and not just that an item of such dominance. No, Light knew L couldn't hide without being a liar and he would never lie to him.

"Light please," L whimpered, and his breathing suddenly became much heavier. It dawned on Light then that his lover must have been on the brink; or close to it throughout their conversation, from the sound of L's voice it hadn't lessened at all. It seemed the realisation that he was in Light's power no matter what was more pleasurable for L than he would care to admit.

"Are you touching yourself now?" Light asked, and from the sudden intake of breath on the other end of the phone he knew his sudden change and his words had had the desired effect, "If not I want you to do so, and I want to hear you moan for me L, let me hear you."

Light's own eyes closed briefly as he heard the sudden, strangled cry sound loud down the phone. Followed by a series of quiet whimpers that had Light biting his lip as his own pulse began to speed and his own arousal grew. To listen to L so out of control was delicious, to know he had power over when this ended was thrilling.

"Light... please," L groaned, his words escaping through his moans and filled with so much pleading that Light was tempted to give in, but he didn't. He wanted his partner to wait for just a little longer, he needed to hear more.

"No L," Light forced himself to reply, "Not until you moan louder. Not until you stop holding back and let me hear how you are feeling completely."

L gave a long shuddering moan that sounded loud from the phone as he responded to Light's words. Followed by several drawn out moans that made Light's pulse race and yearn for his lover to be here before him so he could see him acting like this, and touch him to make him sound like this. However he couldn't, all he had was the orders he could give and the precious sounds he could hear over the phone. He took in a deep shuddering breath as he heard another long sigh of pleasure whisper down the phone and across his ear. He couldn't resist reaching down and stroking his erection gently, a wry open mouthed smile forming on his lips as he thought how easily L had transferred his problem to him as well.

He could feel his arousal making his blood pound and the hand that held the phone to his ear shook slightly from the mounting pleasure. He may not have been even slightly aroused when L phoned, but the call had left him closer to the edge than he had realised. Not until this moment had he understood how much he had missed dominating L, missed telling him what to do, ordering him about and using him in any way he wanted with the knowledge that L yearned for him to do it.

"Oh L," he gasped, and he grinned at the strangled groan he received. The sound of such plaintive need and heady pleasure brought Light close to the edge himself and he decided he had made L wait long enough.

"L, are you listening to me?" Light asked, putting as much force into his voice as he could despite his own need, and his sudden increase in attention to his own erection despite being determined that he would not cum until he had heard L scream out in pleasure as he came. He wanted to hear L lose absolute control and whimper his name as his mind collapsed.

"Yes," L managed to reply, his voice strangled and filled with the sudden hope that he was getting what he had craved for so long.

"Then L. Come for me," Light ordered, his voice filled with all the force he could muster.

The sudden exultant cry from the other end of the phone, so loud it could almost have been considered a scream, was one of the most beautiful sounds Light had ever heard. He even thought he could hear L's fingers tightening around the phone, and as he pictured in his mind just what his partner would be looking like in that moment, emotion written across every inch of his body everything about him completely open. It was one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen and just like the continuing noises he heard it affected him deeply. He finally let his partner hear how much he was aroused and moaned long and low into the room as he too came. His eyes fluttered closed as it swept through him, passing through each cell like a white hot heat and fracturing his thoughts apart, however briefly.

For a few moments silence descended again, both attempting to recover the balance they had both lost. Merely listening to the sound of the other breathing on the phone, enough of a presence for them both to know the other was still there, still close in some way.

"So," Light said at last, his near permanent smile of that evening returning, "did that help?"

"Yes," L sighed, and he sounded completely relaxed.

"Good," Light commented, "I'll call you tomorrow so we can talk properly. Just go to sleep now and don't you dare worry about this in the morning."

"That's debatable," L whispered, his voice already sounding as drowsy as he usually was after such activities.

"Try not to at least," Light said as kindly as he could, knowing full well that L would anyway, it was in his nature to, "Sleep well L."

Light hung up then, not waiting for L to reply. He knew that L was close to sleep already and he wanted to ensure that he did manage to sleep. If he woke up and his mind was allowed to dwell on what had just occurred... Light didn't want that at all.

Though Light had to admit that this new information was very interesting indeed. He reclined back more completely on the bed, his hands moving to behind his head. He knew he would have to change the sheets before he slept, but for now he was happy to lie there and contemplate all he could do now. Things were certainly getting more interesting again.

...

He stared out the rain splattered window down at the cars below. He wondered at the lives of each of them that passed and marvelled at how quickly they could be snuffed out... and how little they suspected it. People were so closed minded in his opinion, but then, if they weren't he wouldn't have been stood there all safe and secure in the knowledge that he was untouchable and unsuspected. So, he supposed, he owed something to them at least. Turning his gaze up towards the orange, rain cloud filled night sky, his lip curling at the obvious pollution, he thought back again over all that he had done to become active once more.

He had to make sure that no-one would suspect him.

With a small nod of his head he decided that he was indeed safe. He could continue on with this safe in the knowledge he wouldn't suddenly drop dead because of Kira, not instantly at least. He laughed then, his eyes suddenly glinting with dark humour. This was going to be such a fun game.

"I wonder," he whispered, his eyes flicking to focus on the ghostly reflections of themselves in the glass in front of him, "Will I find you first Kira, or will you find me? This is all quite... exciting."

With another small laugh he turned and strode towards the door just visible in the darkened room. It was time to become active again, time to find his first real victim in years.