Hey everybody! Here's chapter 13 of Picking Up The Pieces. I'm so glad at how this story has been going. Thank you everyone who has reviewed. Your comments make my mental writers keep functioning. Keep reviewing for more chapters and let me know how I'm doing.

Especially thank you to High On The Rainbow. You've been with this story all along and your comments are so helpful. Oh, and don't worry one bit. All your questions will be soon answered.

Enough of my babble. On with the chapter.

"Stop rubbing at it," Light hissed as L rubbed at his eye for the third time in the hour they'd been there, "You'll knock it out of place."

"I think it already moved," L muttered, blinking as his eye watered slightly. Light cupped his face, inspecting the contact in his eye. L blushed slightly and hoped that Light didn't notice.

"It's still in place," Light told him, letting go of his face, "so stop messing with it." L nodded and resisted the urge to rub at his eye again. He hated these stupid contacts. Hopefully they'd find out something useful so they could go home. "Remind me what the hell we're looking for?"

"Some way to arrest him without making a scene," L explained, "Watari's waiting with the car outside." Light nodded, but the look on his face said he wasn't convinced it was possible. L turned his gaze to the his current target. Kowa looked as nonthreatening in person as he had on file. He was filling drinks on he other side of the room, smiling and talking with the people at the table. Kowa turned away from the table, catching L's gaze on him and coming towards them. L glanced at Light but it appeared that the teen hadn't noticed yet.

"Hello," Kowa greeted once he'd reached them. Light tensed at the voice, his gaze purposefully trained at something off to one side. "Did you need something sir? I noticed you looking at me."

"I apologize," L said, wishing that the boy would leave, "You look like someone I know." Kowa flashed him a smile, cheeks turning slightly pink.

"I get that a lot." He shifted his gaze then, eyes resting on Light who was still staring at anything else that he could see. "And your friend," Kowa stated, "he looks...uncomfortable." Light stood then, walking away without saying anything.

"Excuse me," L said, following without hesitation and leaving Kowa standing there in confusion.

"What odd people," Kowa muttered, walking to another table.

"Light?" L whispered as he walked into the bathroom which Light had entered before him. The teen was standing at the sink, staring into the mirror with a blank expression. His fingers were gripping the edge so tightly that his knuckles were as white as the porcelain. "Are you alright?" Light didn't reply, just staring at the mirror. L approached him cautiously. "He didn't recognize you," L stated in his calm monotone, "Your own mother wouldn't with the way you look right now." A strained smile appeared on Light's face.

"It wasn't recognition I was worried about," the teen muttered, shifting his gaze from the mirror to the sink as L walked up behind him.

"Then what was it?" He asked, wrapping his arms around Light's waist and smiling when he relaxed into him. Light sighed, moving one hand to grip L's arms.

"He seems so innocent," Light said softly, "As if he'd been dragged into the whole thing without wanting to actually do it. That's what I always thought." L nodded. Kowa definitely had that air about him.

"But that opinion has changed hasn't it," L said more than asked. Light nodded slowly.

"When he looked at me in there..." Light shuddered against him, swallowing thickly, "He had such a cold look in his eye. It was like he didn't see me as an actual person but as some kind of plaything instead."

"We should let Watari know," L said before pulling back, "We'll be able to arrest him after he gets out from work and there aren't many people around to see."

"Trying to be inconspicuous again?" L smirked.

"No need to let his buddies know we're on to them. Now come on." He took Light's hand and began leading him out of the room when Light stopped him, pecking him on the lips softly.

"Thank you," he whispered. L smiled and pulled him from the room.

They'd barely gotten to the car when L felt his phone go off. He opened the door and slid inside, Light following with a curious look. "Who's calling?" L pulled the phone out and frowned when he didn't recognize the number.

"I'm not sure." He picked up the phone swiftly. "Hello?"

"Ryuuzaki?" L blinked in surprise as the door clicked shut.

"Hino?" he questioned. Light shot him a confused look and he shrugged in response.

"Yeah. Please tell me Light is with you," the urgent voice said.

"Yeah he's sitting next to me," L said, brows knitting together as he got more and more confused. Light sighed and grabbed the phone, hitting a few buttons.

"What's up Hino?" Light asked, holding the phone between them.

"Light!" Hino exclaimed. He did not sound happy. "Care to tell me why the hell you haven't answered your phone for the last hour and I got some temperamental kid instead?" Light reached into his pocket and sighed.

"I must have left it on the table," he said before something occurred to him, "How did you get this number anyway?"

"The kid with the attitude problem gave it to me."

"Mello," L said at Light's odd look, "He must have answered your phone when it kept going off."

"Why would he-"

"Enough about the kid already!" Hino snapped, shocking both of them. "Next time don't leave your phone at home!"

"Just calm down a second," Light told the boy, "You still haven't told us what the problem is?"

"The problem is that Gin knows you're on to him," Hino said quickly, "So abort whatever suicide mission you've gone on and get somewhere safe. Where the hell are you two anyway?"

"We're at Cloud Peak," Light said.

"Seriously!" Hino yelled. Light flinched away from the phone a bit. "Out of everywhere you choose to go you go to where one of those idiots work?! I can't let you out of my sight at all."

"Calm down," L said calmly, "He never realized we were there."

"Doesn't matter," Hino said, voice cold with anger, "Gin. Knows." Light froze, the phone almost slipping from his hand as his eyes widened. L took the phone and took it off speaker phone.

"Are you sure?" he asked, glancing at the now stunned Light.

"I wouldn't tell you something like this if I wasn't," he said, calmer now, "Just get the hell out of there before he shows up." With that Hino hung up and L sighed.

"We'd better be heading home Watari," he said.

"What about the kid?"

"Forget him. We'll have to get him later. For now we'll have to think of a new plan." He glanced to Light who was still frozen and staring at the back of the seat in front of him. "And hopefully this doesn't make him jumpy all over again."

"Wow," Mello said when they walked in to the room, neither looking particularly happy, "The great L comes home without his target." He turned to Near who was seated beside him. "Has this ever happened before Near?" The smaller boy rolled his eyes and promptly ignored the blonde.

"There was a change of plans," L stated, "I'm afraid I may have to get someone to arrest him for me." He looked at himself for a moment. "After all, two teens arresting someone in broad daylight won't exactly seem normal."

"Like that's stopped you before," Matt commented as he walked in and sat beside Mello, drink in hand.

"I myself do not arrest them Matt," L pointed out.

"True," The redhead replied, "And in addition to that you'll be happy to know that we've found absolutely nothing so far. Catching this guy is like trying to catch a ghost."

"Stop complaining," Near said coolly before going silent once more.

"Matt has a point you know," Light told L softly.

"About Kira being a ghost?"

"No," Light said, shaking his head, "But what if Kira isn't someone we could normally see." L stared at him for a moment before answering.

"You think the Shinigami is behind the killings?"

"I don't know. Maybe. The death note does belong to it after all." L pondered this for a moment. It made as much sense as anything else on this case.

"Perhaps you're on to something." Light smiled slightly. God how he loved that smile. "We should go get out of these outfits."

"I want my stuff back by the way," Mello said without looking at them, "And Matt's stuff too."

"Of course," L stated.

"And this shit better come out of my hair Mello or so help me," Light said with a scowl. Mello laughed, looking over his shoulder.

"Relax pretty boy," he said, "It washes out. Might darken it a little though." Light growled softly before walking out. L sighed when Mello burst out laughing and followed.

"I'm starting to hate him," Light grumbled when he entered their room.

"I think that's his goal," L said in amusement before tugging the shirt off and tossing it onto the bed. He tugged on his own shirt and sighed, "I am never wearing Matt's clothing again," he stated, tugging the jeans down and off. After he pulled his own loose jeans back on, grateful that his legs were no longer restricted, he turned around. Light was lying on the bed, struggling with Mello's pants. The shirt was already discarded onto the bed beside him. "Is something wrong Light?"

"Mello is way too skinny," Light huffed, "And his jeans don't help matters." After another minute of trying to pull them off Light sighed.

"Do you need some help?"

"No," came Light's instant reply. He laid there, unmoving, before letting out another sigh. "Yes." L tried not to smile as he walked over to the stuck teen.

"What exactly is wrong?" He asked. Light rolled his eyes at the amusement in the detective's voice.

"They're stuck on my hips," he stated. L couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips.

"How did you manage to get them on then?"

"Hell if I know." L slid on to the bed beside him.

"Suck in and I'll see if I can pull them off." Light did as he was told and L tried to work the skinny-jeans off of the teen. "They're really stuck on you," He grunted. After a few minutes they finally freed him and Light sighed in relief.

"Finally," he groaned, "I think I was starting to lose blood flow in my legs." L didn't reply. He tried not to stare at the almost naked teen lying next to him. Light met his gaze, eyes softening. He leaned up and slid one hand to the back of L's neck. "You might want to get those contacts out," he said softly, "I'm going to go wash this dye out." L nodded dumbly and sat back. Light stood and headed to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

It was almost 25 minutes before Light came back out. L had already returned Matt and Mello's stuff and returned to the room to make a phone call. He'd barely put the phone down when Light exited the bathroom, fully clothed and hair back to its normal coloring. He'd obviously taken out his own contacts at some point. "He's a lucky kid," Light said darkly.

"Mello just wants to mess with you," L told him, "My suggestion is don't let him." Light sat beside him, running a hand through his hair.

"I'll keep that in mind." He leaned against him, making a noise of contentment when L wrapped an arm around him. "Hey Ryuu?" Light questioned softly.

"Yes Light?"

"Do you think Kira can be caught?" L pondered the question for a moment.

"I do," he told the younger male, "Why do you ask?" Light looked down.

"I just," He paused, thinking, "I just hate how Kira thinks he has a right to do something like this. He's no better than the criminals he kills."

"How did I ever suspect him?" L wondered. When Light looked up at him and smiled he inwardly sighed. "That's right. He's too damn perfect." He gave a smile smile back. "I agree with you on that. However, at the moment at least, there's nothing more we can do that we aren't doing already." Light looked back towards his lap and sighed.

"I guess you're right," Light said, not at all looking happy about it.

"At least we can make some progress on your case," He said in an attempt to bring some happy news into the conversation. It didn't work since Light didn't even look at him.

"Why's that?" he asked simply.

"Kowa's being brought in tomorrow," L explained, "I called someone to take care of bringing him in. Tomorrow I can examine him all I want to get some answers."

"You sound so sure of yourself."

"I've never failed at getting answers yet."

"Never?"

"Well maybe not never," L admitted, "but definitely not in a very long time." Light hummed in response.

"I see," Light said, "And what will you do if he does give up names?"

"Charge him and bring in the others."

"You'll want me to identify them I assume." L sighed and tightened his grip.

"Unfortunately yes," He said, "I can't charge them otherwise. Either you identify them or I'll need a confession." He felt a hand brush against his chest and looked down. Light still wasn't looking at him, yet he had placed one hand against his chest, fingers slightly curled into the fabric of his shirt.

"It's fine," he said softly, "I'm not made of porcelain you know. I won't break just from that."

"I know that," L thought sadly, "You're much too strong for your age. That's what worries me. I want you to feel safe lowering those walls. I don't want you to feel the need to hide behind them anymore." He was pulled from his thoughts when Light looked at him with a coy grin.

"Besides," he said and L blinked at the mischievous tone in his voice, "If I can be chained to you for months on end I think I can watch that bastard squirm a little." He leaned up and nuzzled into L's neck. For a few minutes they sat in silence and L could almost hear the gears turning in Light's head.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked, fully embracing the teen beside him.

"About Kira," Light admitted, pulling back with a guilty look, "I know I shouldn't be grateful for this but...if he hadn't started killing then I never would have met you Ryuuzaki. It amazes me sometimes how if one thing hadn't happened it would all be different." L nodded.

"Sometimes, when I have enough time to ponder it, I think the same thing." L frowned slightly. "Although...I wish it hadn't taken accusing you of being a serial killer for it to happen." Light laughed at that.

"Trust me when I say you aren't the only one." He stood, pulling L up with him. "Come on. Let's get something to eat. All this worrying can wait until tomorrow." L nodded and allowed Light to pull him from the room.

L smiled as he watched his friend-his boyfriend that is-look so happy. Slowly, piece by piece, Light was opening up.

He couldn't ask for anything more.

And there we go. Please review while I start popping out the next chapter. It'll be up as soon as my brain can flesh it out and I can get to internet again.

Until then,

Goodbye!