Steel Drums and Island Dances-Haha. And thank you!

icywarm-Epic rant :) I learned quite a bit from that, and enjoyed reading it. And I'll definitely check them out.

WindSpirit1111-Viola! Yeah, sorry bout that little cliffy. Normally, I try to avoid doing those, but...I thought it would be best to end that one, and this one, like that. :)

Secretly Twisted-dun dun dun! Here it is! ;)

AyameRose-Thank you! Actually, I got the idea for this story last year, and it's just kind of stuck with me until I finally decided to let it out and write it. Glad I did. (:

HybridRebellion-Itciban. I'll use that. Thank you. :)

l L . C h A n-Totally. And sorry for making it so spacey! It wouldn't stay, otherwise. I have no clue why it wouldn't, but it just wouldn't. So sorry!

Aya Toshu-I think he freaks out a bit...But who knows? :)

ILuvYa44-In truth, I never really liked Mikami, either. But I did feel bad for him at the end. He was only doing what he believed in for his 'God'.

PockyPlease3-Neither can I! It's fun seeing what all the people say after I update. So, here ya go!

CocoBunni96-HI PACO!

I was glancing through at the names of everyone who's reviewed for this story, and there are some really interesting names. Good job for creativity.

Y'know what my friend told me yesterday? Have you ever looked at Light's last name, backwards? Yagami. Imagay. I'm a gay. Ironic, huh?

L TIME

I tread carefully through the Chief's room. I couldn't be too loud, for fear of being caught.

It is hard to look for something if you don't have even the slightest clue of what it is.

I'd searched the entire bedroom for anything suspicious before I thought about the mattress. Criminals are always hiding things under there. Stolen money, lists of victims, lists of soon to be victims, dead bodies, guns, list of 'friends'...you see a lot of things in this business.

Shifting it over slightly, I saw the corner of something black peek out. Pushing the mattress all the way over, I saw it fully. A dark book with the title "Death Note" on it. This was obviously something, right?

I was still, silently pondering what this new development would mean, how it would affect-

"Get your ass back to my room now!"

I mentally jumped, and my head swung up as well. I clutched the Note to my chest, my heart racing, bumping in my chest. But it was just Light. I relaxed for a fraction of a second until I heard a thumping coming from the stairs. Eyes widening, we ran to his room.

As we entered the room, I felt a shove on my back, and I went sprawling into the closet. A moment later, he joined me there.

"What'd you take from his room?" His eyes were serious, boring into mine. I felt the corners of my mouth tug down.

"Light, do you think you can you keep a secret?"

He looked at me strangely, before looking down to ponder my question. I remembered this habit. Always looking down at his feet when nervous or thinking. Some things really hadn't changed over the years, thank God.

His shoulders stiffened. His arms tensed. His head came up, and he stared into my eyes.

"Ry...yu...za...ki?"

I blinked-that wasn't what I'd expected at all. His eyes were glassy. He looked like he could shatter at any moment.

Not now! Of all the times, why right now? He isn't safe yet!

I tried to remain calm. If he broke now, I couldn't handle it-I'd shut down with him. That would NOT be good, or helpful, in this horrid place.

"Hey." I managed a little grin. "How's it been going?"

Light Light Whoopdeedoo It's Light

If it's possible for a person to die of shock, then please expect me to keel over any minute.

"How's it been going? Really?" I was trying to pull myself together, I really was. Maybe a little sarcasm would help?

He gave me a long look. "We need to go. You need to get out of here. Now. Get Sayu and your Mom if you wish, but we've gotta go. Do you know what Kira is?"

"How could I not? After the little stunt L pulled, Father got mad and thrashed me around a bit. Only bruises, though. No broken bones."

He nodded, and I could see he was thinking hard about this new information.

"How often does he...you know..."

"At least 5 times a month. Sometimes more, if I do something that doesn't please him."

In the momentary silence, we could hear ruslting in the other room. Then, a gasp of disbelief, and an angry sound of knuckles popping.

"LIGHT! GET YOURSELF IN HERE NOW!" No cussing? Geeze, I'm honored.

No, sarcasm is definitely not helping me here. Not at all.

L Is Freaking Out

Now, of all the God Damn times? I can't let him go over there to be beaten, but if he doesn't go, what will happen? Has he ever tried to resist before?

Grabbing my chin and forcing my eyes to be level with his, he said, "This conversation isn't over. Use the distraction as time to get the girl's out of here. Get them to safety before coming back for me." He paused for a moment, as if deciding something, and came a bit closer. I could feel his breathe on my lips. I closed the small distance. His lips were warm, as they'd been the last time, years ago. It only lasted a second, but even after he slipped out of the closet, my lips tingled.

Turning on the small microphone/receiver, I said, "Matsuda. Make sure he doesn't get to hurt. Tell me if I need to intervene at any point, if it becomes too threatening. Send someone down to receive the two women and take them to safety."

I'm trying, and failing, to sink back into my cold, hard, exo-skeleton. The one I'd built to protect me from getting so attached to something that it hurt to be apart and to let them walk into danger alone...

Okay, I thought you guys deserved a little something, even if it was just a peck. Early Merry Christmas! If you celebrate something other than Christmas, than have a great time!