A/N: Hahaha! I'm back on schedule!

I got this chapter done during the weekend! WooT! 3

Let's see if I can get the next chapter done by next weekend. :3

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Death Note Characters. However, this story is mine.

He's lying. This isn't the real investigation.

It had been a couple of weeks, and now Light was positive that L was hiding something about this case. However, Light never thought L was hiding the entire case. At the moment of realization, Light half wanted to slam his forehead against the desk top and keyboard. Light's gaze lingered over the keyboard for a moment longer, still thinking slamming his head was a possibility. After a second past, Light shook his head and tossed the idea away.

The young man turned his attention away from the computer screen and over to the older detective. L sat in his usual yet unusual position. His knees were up against his chest, his bare feet pressed against the edge of the chair, letting his toes dangle off the edge. He learned forward, one of his arms wrapped around his knees while he lightly nibbled on the thumb of the other hand. His midnight black bangs fell in his face, but his obsidian black eyes remained visible and locked onto the computer screen in front of him. He appeared extremely concentrated on the screen and the screen alone, but Light knew even with L concentrating on the monitor, L was still observing on his surroundings at all times. L never let his guard down. Never.

In front of L lied a plate of vanilla cupcakes. On the tops of each cupcake rested a single strawberry with whip cream encircling it. Originally, twenty cupcakes lied on the pearl white plate. Now only six remained after the passing of only seven minutes. Light never really understood why L had such a love for sweets. Besides an occasional snack of fruit, Light almost never saw L eat anything other than desserts and sugars.

Light's eyes narrowed. And he's trying to play it off as if these files actually pertained to the actual investigation. How long did L think I was going to accept this as the truth without questioning it? Did he really think I was going to blindly look through these files and not question a single one? Light mentally shook his head in irritation. It was frustrating enough that Light believed this lie for almost a month now.

Only a minute passed before Light's gaze became noticed by L. The detective, without turning away from the monitor, asked, "You seemed troubled by something."

Light gave a slight frown. How am I going to approach this subject? Would it be all right to approach the subject directly? No, L would only abject to the idea that he was lying. Even if I did go the round about way, wouldn't he still object to the idea anyway? After debating it for a short moment, Light stated truthfully, "I'm getting the feeling, Ryuzaki, that you still do not trust me."

For a moment, L gazed away from his computer screen and over to Light. He stopped nibbling on his thumb, but he kept it placed against his lower lip. "And how did Light come to this conclusion?" He asked calmly. Waiting for Light's reply, L casually reached down for another cupcake.

Light gave a small chuckle before retorting, "I was wondering how long you expected me to believe that these files actually pertained to the case you're working on."

Light watched as L hesitated in bringing the cupcake up to his mouth. Pausing for a moment, L's expression grew serious as he stared at the vanilla pastry in his hand. He turned it in his fingers for a moment before asking, "Why don't you think those files pertain to the investigation? What reasons would I have to give you fake files and a case of fraud?"

Just as I expected. Light mentally frowned. L's denying the fact that he's been tricking me. I just don't understand it. Why would L have me work on a fake case? If he didn't want me to work on the case, why didn't he just deny my offer the first time? Well...I guess I really didn't offer. I kind of made it to where he couldn't deny my help. Still.... A small sigh escaped Light's lips. Did he suddenly change his mind? Is he going to say that he doesn't need my help after all?

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Light stated bitterly. "Did you change your mind? Did you somehow realize that you didn't want my help for this investigation? Or...." Light paused before narrowing his brown eyes and finishing, "Or do you still believe me to be Kira and somehow you believe this case will reveal that?"

"You are the one who brought up the Kira factor, Light, not me." L noted calmly, his onyx eyes closely watching the young adult.

Both of Light's hands tightened into fists as frustration and anger began to bubble inside of him. "Would you come off it already?! How many times are you going to make me say this?! I'm not Kira!" Light shouted irritably.

"I am not making you say anything, Light," L reminded knowingly.

This only made Light's anger intensify. Now with his insides filled with bitter anger, Light mentally sighed. I knew that he'd deny it, but I still don't understand. Why does he still think I'm Kira? I know that's what he's thinking. That would be the only logical reason he'd keep me here.

I mean, what other reason would he possibly have...?

"Now tell me, Light. How did you come to this conclusion of your's?" L asked while finishing the cupcake he held in his hand, making sure to eat the strawberry last.

Light regained his posture and placed an open file on L's keyboard. Now feeling calm, Light explained, "It was quite easy to figure out this wasn't the case you were working on. No, I did not snoop onto your computer," Light added, not wanting L to excuse him of anything else. "Rei Nara has been jailed for the injustice of thievery and premeditated murder. Looking at her other files, she has previously been put on trial for thievery in the past. It's obvious on this certain case that the judge and police have jailed her on the whim that she was up to no good. The evidence they had against her didn't match anything pertaining to her."

Light continued, "The threat letter she supposedly wrote didn't match her hand writing and was written by someone with a perfectly good wrist. Ms. Nara during that period of time—and even now, has her arm in a sling after a bad bicycle accident. Also, for someone as fit as Nara, it would be easy for her to commit this crime, yes. However, the judge and investigators failed to realize she has been diagnosed for lung cancer and has had a history of respiration problems her entire life. She has a fair amount of stamina, but actual speed she doesn't have. Therefore, there's another reason why she could not have committed the murder."

"As for the theft, it was obviously not her. After doing some research on her, she has had a history of theft. However, the pure gold and silver jewelery that was stolen was not of her doing. Rei only steals small foods such as snack bars, medical drugs, and bike equipment. Those are all things she has solid use for, and it's clear she would only steal things she has a use for. She'd have no use for the jewelery, therefore she wouldn't steal it. It's obvious that she is the innocent in this case."

He then paused. Light's tone suddenly grew grave when he continued on, "It was at this time I realized this wasn't the case you were working on. I figured everything out about Ms. Nara within a two week period. The case seemed too simple for you to take on. Sure, it is an injustice for an innocent to be labeled as guilty, but you still wouldn't take on this case for another reason. I did some more research after that, and it turns out that a detective named Ross Green is already taking this case on. He too believes that Rei is innocent and is on the verge of revealing the truth. It's at that point I realized you weren't working on this case. If you can reasonably object to anything that I've just said, L, then please do so."

After Light finished, the two of them remained silent. L's onyx eyes gaze down at the files in front of him. He stared for a long moment, but Light knew that L's attention wasn't on the files. L's mind was examining the words Light had just said, trying to think of the best way to answer. Light knew that L was going to try to abject to Light's explanation in some way; he knew it wasn't going to be that easy to convince L that Light knew the truth.

"I have no objections to what you've said."

Light's honey brown eyes widened. Did he just admit that he lied? Light gasped in thought. It couldn't possibly be that easy. He's going to throw some twist in his words....

"I thought you would figure it out sooner or later, Light," L began. "You're right. That's not the real case." L grabbed the file that were on his desk, stood, and walked over to the filing cabinets. He open one of the drawers and started to go through them.

As L began to pull a file out, Light began, "Why—?"

Light cut off his sentence when L flopped a file into Light's lap. The file looked different than the rest. The black folder appeared to be old and worn out as if the file had been within the cabinets for awhile. How long has L been keeping track of this file? Light opened the folder carefully. There appeared to be numerous papers within the folder, some old and some new. Like most of the files, on the inside cover of the folder was a picture of the suspect that had been paper clipped to the file. At seeing the picture on the file, Light's eyes widened.

Is that L?

No, it couldn't have been L. The appearance of the man in the picture resembled L's own appearance, but was definitely not L. The man had the same solid black hair as L's, but the spiky, messiness of the man's hairstyle seemed to be forced. L's hair naturally flowed in many directions. There was one thing about the picture that sent a chill down Light's spine. The man's eyes were bright red with amber speckles in them. The man's blood red eyes seemed to have a dark flame within them. A flame of vengeance that could only be seen within two types of people: determined avengers and violent murders....

"He goes by the name Beyond Birthday." L's words awoke Light out of his trance. "His other alias is Backup."

After looking more closely at the file, Light commented, "He attended Wammy's Orphanage." That's the orphanage L went to, isn't it? The one Watari founded?

"Yes, I know," L plainly responded before stating gravely, "He's broken out of prison. I'm trying to find out where he is and what he's after."

"When did he break out?" Light asked.

"A month and a half ago."

So that's why he was troubled when the Kira investigation came to an end. Even though that case was over, another case was still playing out. Beyond and L must have some kind of connection. Sure, it appears Beyond is a mass murder of many talents, so L would take an interest in this case, but since Beyond went to Wammy's Orphanage....L must know him in some way.

Light's eyes lifted up to see L place himself back down in his chair and pick up another cupcake. What could be so much different about this case that L wants to take it on alone? Well, I'm here, but it would seem like an investigation team would be needed for this. What's holding L back from gathering up investigators to help work on this case? This really is different. With these thoughts in mind, Light knew L was telling the truth this time.

"Having hard feelings, Light?" L asked after almost finishing his cupcake. "Do you believe I'm telling the truth this time or lying? Are you going to assist me on this investigation?"

Still deep in thought, Light stared at the detective. Light's eyes lingered down to the desk and a small, sly smile formed on his face. L raised an eyebrow, curious as to what Light was pondering. Before L could try to question Light's intentions, Light reached over and snatched up one of the cupcakes. After taking a bite out of the cupcake, Light's smile spread across his face. "Yeah, I think I'll forgive you and help on the investigation, L."

Watching Light eat one of his cupcakes, L pouted. His bottom lip stuck out childishly as he murmured, "I was about to eat that one...." At this statement and L's pouting, Light couldn't help but laugh mirthfully.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, L!!!

8D

I'm so glad I got this chapter done on L's birthday.

Sure, it doesn't have anything pertaining to his birthday or Halloween, but this chapter has L in it! :3

Happy Halloween everyone!

I hope none of you get sick on candy!

*throws out candy to everyone*

Have fun~