Wow, I'm really surprised I managed to update again so soon. The mass of reviews within 24 hours of the last chapter got me fired up. I apologize for this chapter being smaller than previous ones but if I go any further it'll get a bit out of hand. Anyway, no matter how this chapter may seem the story is far from being over. So don't any of you worry your pretty little heads.

Also, my computer keeps chopping out random letters from my writing so if there are any problems then just let me know so I can fix them. I tried to look through it before posting but somehow something always slips trough the cracks.

Enjoy chapter 16 everyone!

Kowa glanced around the interrogation room uneasily. He was alone this time. No computer seated neatly on the table. No guard to keep an eye on him. No anyone. He swallowed thickly, eyes darting around the room. He'd been brought here by some kid who couldn't keep his mouth shut. He'd been told to wait in here until further notice. He had no idea what was going on but he doubted whoever had ordered for him to be brought was on his side.

And then the door finally opened, making him jump at the suddenness of it all. He stared at the person who'd entered, unable to bring his bad-boy attitude to life. He simply froze as the other took a seat across from his and folded his hands beneath his chin, gazing at him with such burning eyes that he was sure a hole was forming in his forehead. "Remember me?" Light asked simply, voice void of any emotion except the anger in his eyes. Kowa nodded stiffly. "Of course you do. I'm not here to trade pleasantries."

"Why are you here?" he asked, "You said you had nothing more to say to me, and you definitely aren't a detective. So why?" Light shrugged.

"I may not be a detective...," he said, "yet. However I'm here because the idiots you're so loyal to took not one, but two friends of mine and I'm not very happy about it." Kowa gulped and Light gave a malicious smile. "Now you have one shot to tell me where your little friends hang out or else I fear you won't be having a very happy ending." Now Kowa sneered, though it was shaky.

"And what are you going to do to me?" Light tilted his head slightly, expression remarkably like a cobra who's caught easy prey.

"Hmm...I could always convince L to revoke your protection for starters. He doesn't particularly like you." Kowa paled, sneer sliding right off his face. "Or I could always tell your friends that it was you who ratted them out to the cops. I bet they'd just love that. I doubt even protection would save you at that point."

"Alright," Kowa said quickly, "Alright. Gin has this warehouse rented out under a false name. Its just outside of town near where I worked." Light nodded and his smile slid away.

"You'd better hope he's still there Kowa," he said in a tone that sent chills down Kowa's spine.

"That's where he was the last time I saw him," Kowa said, "If he isn't there then I don't know where he went." And he was telling the truth. Light could easily see that.

"Good," he said standing. Kowa struggled to keep an eye on his with his hands cuffed to the table.

"Gin will be waiting for you," Kowa threatened, "He wants you, not them."

"I know," Light said icily, "I'm planning on it."

"No wonder L was dead set on you being Kira," Mello said once Kowa had been put back in his cell, "You're fucking creepy at times. Creep me the fuck out." Light shot him an unamused look and he grimaced.

"Good to know," he stated simply. He continued to strap on a pistol of L's that Watari had lent him with a blank face.

"So what's our plan here?" Matt asked. Light glanced at him before unsheathing the pistol to check the ammo.

"There's no our here," he stated as the clip snapped shut, "You three are staying here. The last thing I need to worry about are you three." Mello growled softly and even Near looked mildly annoyed.

"Then what's your plan you idiot?" Mello ground out. Light brushed by him without much thought.

"Trade off," Light stated simply, "Kowa was right. He wants me, not L. Hell he doesn't even know Ryuuzaki is L. He'll make the exchange. After all," he turned back to look at them, "He hasn't broken me yet."

"Besides the fact that we have no fucking idea who these people are," Matt said, "You're a retard. You know that right?" Light didn't respond, instead pocketing more bullets for the gun. Near cleared his throat.

"What did these people do anyway?" he asked.

"Ask Ryuuzaki later," Light told them, "Tell him I said its alright." With that he walked out, the door shutting softly behind him.

"We're not really going to just let him get himself fucking killed are we?" Mello asked.

"I may not like him but L does," Matt stated, "That's enough for me." Near nodded in agreement.

"Let's start plotting shall we?"

L woke to the feel of his skull splitting open. He groaned and forced himself to a seated position. He felt dried blood on the back of his head and face. He rubbed a hand at it to ensure it truly was dry before gingerly touching his forehead. The cut wasn't bad so he ignored it to take in his surroundings.

Metal walls loomed up around him and wooden crates were stacked all around in large stacks. He noticed his limbs were free and tried to stand, wincing as something dug into his throat. The hell? He grabbed at it and identified it as a thick metal band wrapped around his neck. Turning he saw that he was chained to the wall by this thing. He swore softly and looked around for something to break it with, only then spotting the form lying a few feet from him.

He crawled over and turned the unconscious male onto his back. Hino. He too was chained to the wall by a thick metal collar. Again he swore, trying to shake the other awake. When all Hino did was groan he sighed and sat back. How the hell was he going to get out of here? And with an unconscious person too.

He stiffened when he heard voices approaching and scurried back to his original spot, pretending to still be unconscious as he slumped against the wall. Footsteps approached him and he fought to keep his breathing slow and deep. Carefully he cracked an eye open so he could see. Kaito was walking towards him, Gin only two steps behind him.

"You're right about one thing Kaito," Gin said, crouching down in front of him. Fingers gripped his chin, turning his face this way and that. He felt sick. "He's a cute one. Is he a virgin?"

"I...don't know," Kaito admitted, "I highly doubt that he hasn't ever had sex, especially being that kids lover, but I don't know if he's ever," he swallowed, "been on that side of things." Gin released him.

"Pity," the man said, "Waste of a cute face. Oh well. Maybe we can train him eventually." His heart jumped into his throat and he couldn't help the hitch of breath in his throat. "Looks like he's awake too," Gin said with a sickening smile, "Its no use to keep pretending there cutie." Fighting the urge to puke, L opened his eyes, glaring at the man. "Feisty too. Like the other one." He laughed as a low growl sounded in L's throat before standing. "Don't worry you'll see your little boyfriend again soon." He turned to Kaito. "Any sign of him yet."

"No," the brunette stated.

"Keep an eye out." With that Gin walked out, humming a little tune under his breath. Kaito glanced at L one more time before following.

'They're waiting for Light," L realized, 'but there's no way for him to locate where we are.'

'Yes there is,' his traitorous mind said, 'Kowa's still there. He could tell him everything he needs to know.' He pulled on the chain connecting him to the wall. It didn't budge. He swore and slumped down. He hated being so helpless. He hated not being able to do anything.

He hated it.

He sat back and sighed, staring up at the ceiling and stuffing his hands in his pockets. A groan sounded from beside him and he turned to see Hino waking at last. "Are you alright?" The brunette sat up, shaking his head slightly.

"I think so," he groaned, "Where are we?" L shrugged. "Okay...any idea how to get out?"

"If I had something like a pocket knife I could pry these collars off," he replied. Hino's expression lit up.

"I think I have a pocket knife in my pocket." He reached into his jacket, producing a small switchblade. He flicked it open. "Will this work."

"Perfectly." L took the pocket knife and wedged it into the seam of the collar. The metal gave a groan but didn't give. He drove it in further to no result. "Or maybe I won't be getting them off after all." He tried once more to no avail before handing the knife back.

"Hang on to it," Hino said, "It'll be more use to you than me." L nodded and slipped it into the pocket of his jeans. "What do you think they want?"

"Light," he replied dryly. Hino shifted in agitation, eyes burning.

"Bastards," he hissed, "He wouldn't do something that stupid would he?" There was the sound of a door screeching open and an angry voice calling out. L inwardly smacked himself.

"Yes," he answered, "He would be that stupid." They heard Gin order Kaito to fetch the two of them and the brunette appeared around the corner with bolt cutters. He snapped the chains and held on to the ends tightly.

"Move," he said simply. L glared at him but did as he was told.

When they got out from behind the crates L could finally see Light. The teen was clearly pissed off, gun out and leveled at Gin's chest. His eyes were narrowed dangerously, amber color blazing. "See," Gin said, "They're fine." A click from the gun as Light cocked it back, ready to fire.

"Set them free," He ordered, voice dripping with pure anger. Gin nodded to Kaito who raised the bolt cutters to split the collars before taking each of their arms in a rough grip. They clinked to the floor and Hino breathed out a sigh of relief. L, however, watched Light closely.

'Don't do anything stupid,' L mentally pleaded. Light glanced at him, a small, sad smile briefly gracing his lips before his expression became cold once more.

"Let them go Gin," Light ordered, "They aren't the ones you want." He took a deep breath. "I am."

"Light no!" Hino protested, Kaito grabbing him more forcefully to hold him back, "Don't be an idiot!" Light ignored his protests, still glaring at Gin.

"Perhaps you're partially correct Light," Gin said, smirking when the teen visibly tensed, "Kaito, let go of the brunette." With a doubtful look Kaito pushed Hino towards the exit. The brunette stumbled before turning back.

"Go Hino," Light ordered, "Now." The older male nodded and, with a final regretful look, left the building. "He'll get the police you know."

"He won't get there fast enough," Gin commented, "It takes forty-five minutes to get to the police station from here on foot. Then it'll be another fifteen minutes before the police get here." Now Light smirked, causing Gin's smirk to slide off of his face.

"Who said he was walking?" Light asked in a mocking tone, "Next time you kidnap someone try to hide the car. You sent the message to my phone didn't you." L's eyes widened.

'Guess I should've seen that coming,' He thought, slightly embarrassed about the fact. He snapped back to attention when Gin laughed.

"Smart one aren't you," he teased, "but you won't shoot me." A single brow lifted on Light's face. "You don't have the guts to shoot me."

"You think?" he asked, lowering the gun slightly. Gin gave a triumphant smile.

'What is he-'

BANG!

Kaito's eyes widened with the sudden stinging in his cheek from where the bullet had grazed him. Gin swallowed thickly, staring at the gun in Light's hand which was now pointed at Kaito. He cocked it again, a malicious smile on his face. "I see that got your attention," Light said calmly, "Let my boyfriend go and I won't shoot yours in the head."

'Wait,' L thought, blinking, 'What?' Gin's face went from concerned to angry in a few seconds.

"Shoot him," Gin said darkly, "And he dies. Simple as that." Dark forms started to make themselves known, slipping from behind the various stacks of crates.

"Threaten him in any way," Light warned, angling the gun at Kaito's head, "And he definitely will die."

"Well then," Gin commented, "It seems we'll be here for a while. Shall we try to come to some form of agreement?"

"Yeah," Light said, "That's why I'm here."

"Move faster Matt," Mello hissed, nudging the boy's back.

"I'd rather not fall off the rafter you idiot," the redhead spat back. Currently the two boys were high up in the metal rafters trailing over the warehouse. Matt glanced down, spotting L being held by a brunette boy and Light with a gun aimed at another male. He shook his head and looked forward again and crawled along the metal beam again. "Just be pati-"

BANG!

Matt slipped slightly and avoided plummeting to the ground by Mello grabbing his waist. He looked back down to see that Light's aim had changed. "Is he crazy?" Mello whispered, "He's risking L being in the way."

"Let's just move before something bad happens," Matt replied. He slid along the beam until they were overhead, hidden in the darkness of shadows. "Ready?" he asked, pulling himself into a sitting position and pulling a bag off of his back. Mello nodded, pulling out a lighter. "Then let's-" he was cut off by Mello grabbing him and yanking him forward and pressing their lips together. The kiss was brief, considering their situation, and Mello pulled back as suddenly as he had kissed him. "What the hell?"

"Just seeing this," he waved a hand at the situation happening below, "makes me realize that something bad can happen at any point. I figured I'm going to make the most of now." Matt smiled lightly.

"You really are just a big softie," he teased. Mello huffed at him.

"You better not say anything about that," he muttered. Matt smiled and pulled something from his bag.

"Ready?" Matt asked again. Mello nodded and lit the lighter.

"Time to have some fun."

L was busy surveying the five others surrounding them when the first round of loud cracks went off. Kaito jerked back as several bright flashes accompanied the cracks by his feet. L, remembering the pocket knife, grabbed it from his pocket and twisted in Kaito's grip. The blade sank into the flesh of his thigh and he released him with a sharp cry. L hurried to Light's side, bloody knife in hand. Another series of loud cracks went off and one of the men, Rito, yelped as the sparks struck his clothed leg. "What the hell is going on?" Light hissed over his shoulder. L spotted another series of cracks and smiled.

"Firecrackers," L stated. Light shot him a curious look but ignored it.

"Find out where those are coming," Gin ordered, swearing as a firecracker almost hit him.

"Up there!" Lio called. L looked up just in time to see Mello drop onto a crate beside Matt. Mello stuck his tongue out and smiled.

"Get them!" Gin hollared.

"Go!" L called, bolting for the door, "Go now!" Matt and Mello scrambled and dropped from their perch. Mello chucked one last firecracker over his shoulder before charging after them. Sirens could be heard in the distance and they hurried through the door.

"Guys!" L looked up to see Hino with his car. The drivers window was down, doors open, and Hino's head out the window. "Hurry up and get in!" Light hopped in the passenger side door while L, Matt, and Mello piled in the back. The tires screeched against the road before they surged down the road past several police cars.

"Why the hell did you guys show up?" Light asked, more tired than truly angry. The boys shrugged.

"You were being a complete idiot," Matt stated before adding, "Aren't you glad we showed up now." Light looked back at them, face unamused, before his lips twitched into a small smile.

"Yeah," He said simply, "I guess I am."

So there you go everybody. Light acts like an idiot and Matt and Mello play with firecrackers. Originally I wasn't going to have that little 'moment' between Matt and Mello since this is meant to be a L and Light fic, but The Lord Of Insomnia wanted it so bad that I felt I should. After all you've been a great reviewer and source of support with your comments.

Thank you everyone who's reviewed so far and keep your ideas coming. I would hate to disappoint.

Until next time!