Authors Note: Wow next-day update! Well let's be serious, how can Misa-shmexings be considered a proper chapter now?

Opens with another entry in L's journals. This one was actually written while Light was off doing said Misa-shmexings, in case you were wondering. Also the majority of it would actually be written in code, not just in Latin and other languages as in the last, because he actually mentions Kira and other incriminating things. But of course, I'm not going to write it in code, what would be the point in that?

Replies to reviews are at the end. Shoved them there to keep them warm and fresh. Thank you everyone who's reviewed & fav'd n alerted throughout this fanfic! You are all made of awesome sauce and should be best pleased with yourself!

Family

Having a lover is a very strange thing that I find myself laying claim to. But it is a lover-friend I have nether the less. A partner that is all things to me, a mate for my very soul and mind. Such a being is almost a mythical thing to mankind – an imaginary role that is longed for but I had previously doubted could ever be fulfilled for anyone. I would have ventured to say that such a thing was but a delusion, a creation of fiction. And all the evidence I have witnessed would have supported me there.

But he and I are as one, we are twined together. It is frightening how strong this hold is that binds us together. But it has always been there I feel. Perhaps I could call it the bonds of destiny that tightened around us, that linked us. That taut connection has always held us. Although this is an unusual progression, it feels as rooted in fate as anything I have ever known.

I did not think I could change, I would still like to claim that I have not; both he and I are as we were, immaculate in our own way. But sensibility is ever-shifting, no-one however fixed in their mind and disposition can deny that.

He has cultivated something within me. And I have done so within him. And what has grown now so surely and completely can never be destroyed. It is too strong. It is organic under our skin.

We have cut all those threads to the past now.

There is only the time spiralling forward now and we carefully measure each action and attend to each component of our world.

His world and mine. This whole earth. Ours.

Kira and L.

I don't want it I tell myself, I don't want it. A part of me winces. And yet I know that this is what it shall be. It will be different, I cannot accept the alliance as it stands, as we both stand so opposite and alien.

But will be different – It will be cultivated.

He and I, L and Kira. Together.

It shall be our world, my beloved megalomaniac human God.

We shall rule it together.

- L's Journals, Friday evening, October 22nd / Saturday early morning, October 23rd

"I won't be long," Light said, for about the third time in the last minute, as he let himself and his lover into the house. His beautiful amber eyes glanced agitatedly at the other man who was casting his oh-so-innocent wide-eyed gaze around the comfortable suburban family home.

"It's very nice Light," L commented, his tones smooth and devious.

"I will just be a few minutes," Light told him, paraphrasing but essentially parroting the same sentiment in rough suspicious tones.

"Please Light take as much time as you need," L murmured generously as wandered through to the living room, his glittering eyes casting around in all directions, "I want to be sure that you have almost everything you shall need to be away indefinitely." Light kept his eyes upon the detective and hesitated in his position in the doorway.

"Would you not like to come up with me and help me?" Light asked pointedly.

"No thank you Light, I am sure that I shall be able to amuse myself down here whilst I wait for you." L's reassuring reply came as he leant over the mantelpiece to examine the ornaments that littered it with an interested eye.

"I will be as quick as I can," Light said, once more re-assembling the same sentence, this time with an edge to the words. "My mother and sister should be out doing the weekly shop so just wait for me and don't disrupt anything. Don't look for anything in the kitchen to eat either. There shouldn't be anything sweets-wise anyway as it's the end of the week but don't go eating anything."

"Light is a very inhospitable host," L commented, turning towards his lover to pout.

"This is not a visit, Ryuzaki," Light told him, the change in name indicating the different code in behaviour applied to this environment, "we are just going to be here for a few moments."

"Please Light I understand," L said and waved a hand at his lover impatiently, "go get your things." Light retreated, making his way up the stairs and leaving L to his own devices.

L flicked through the magazines that were in his view seeing what tastes the rest of the Yagami household had then crossed the room to open a cabinet and paw through the contents shamelessly.

"Why is your father not here?" He called out as he did so, his voice carrying up the stairs.

"He's at the bank," Light yelled back down at his friend. L sighed with disappointment and progressed to a set of drawers that held a random store of things.

"On a Saturday?" L called back, the annoyance tingeing his tones.

"We do errands on Saturday L," Light called down, a note of reprisal in his raised voice. L made an irritated noise and then gave a sudden murmur of delight as he pulled open a cupboard and found several large photo albums and scrapbooks. He pulled them all out eagerly spreading them across the floor carelessly and flicking through them.

The sounds of Light hurriedly sorting through his possessions could be heard very vaguely from above him as L settled down contentedly to invading the Yagami family's precious memories. Now and again he peeled back the plastic to remove a picture and slide it into his pocket. He grinned happily as he un-stuck a picture of Light when he was approximately four years old and glaring towards the camera in an extremely arrogant manor that was only charming because the narrow-eyed boy in question was dressed in dungarees.

His ears pricked up when he heard the sudden click of the latch and the front door opened. From around the corner of the sofa he saw a young girl with her hair in small plaits burst through carrying several extremely full white plastic carrier bags. The layout of the the room and the energetic speed of the girl as she made her way through the house meant that she only caught sight of the man seated in the middle of the floor when was about to turn and make her way into the kitchen. He saw her jump back in an extremely amusing manor and drop the plastic bags to the floor with a swift thud.

"Mum!" she squealed, instinctually it seamed as soon as her eyes met L's glittering black ones. The young girl's mother entered the room within the next moment, crossing over to her daughter asking,

"What is it Sayu?" before she too caught sight of the man that it seemed had torn apart her living room and too took a step back, startled. L lifted his head up to look at the appalled pair – and grinned. Both mother and daughter took another step back.

L slowly stood up and then took a step forward. Sayu and her mother stood frozen as he did so, wide-eyed as they stared upon this pale hunched figure that was progressing towards them. L turned his head to Sayu and as he looked at her his grin doubled in its intensity. Sachiko gripped her daughter's shoulders protectively. Suddenly L's arm swung out and both mother and daughter jumped again at the unexpected action.

"Is this you?" L asked, addressing the younger member of his audience, tilting his head to one side as he looked at her. Both pairs of terrified eyes managed to focus on the thin photo he was holding out. It depicted a dark-hair infant chewing on a doll's head. The pair continued to stare at L in silence with their mouths hanging open in disbelief. L let his hand fall down and let out a little breath,

"heh," his smile stayed in place but he lowered his head slightly, "I'm Light's friend," he told them, "Light's upstairs just picking up some things."

Gradually L perceived the muscles in both the faces before him slack as the words sunk in. "I'm sorry I startled you," he added in his usual unapologetic dead-pan tone.

It was at this point that Light, seemingly perceiving something of the actions that were taking place downstairs, hurried down the stairs and through into the room to join the little gathering. He cast his eyes back and forth between his mother and sister and his secret lover. He caught his breath and gave a little smile.

"Sorry, Mum, Sayu, this is Ryuga Hideki."

"It is not!" Sayu objected indignantly glaring at the distinct lack of teenage male pop idol and abundance of sallow-skinned, dark-eyed freak. Light looked towards the girl, who had recovered from her shock beautifully, with a reproachful gaze.

"It is just a name," Light said gently, "you can however also call him 'Ryuzaki,' he is a member of the Kira investigation team." At this statement Sayu's irritation towards her brother's pageantry of falsehood and inability to present her with a handsome teenage celebrity dissipated and was replaced with a shining immature excitement.

"Really?!" She squealed, practically launching herself towards L, "That's so cool! Is he one of the FBI agents they called in??"

"No," replied Light wearily deciding to forego once again the explanation that there had in fact never been a huge number of specialized FBI agents deployed from Interpol, "he is just a detective."

"Oh, have you done any cool stuff though?" Sayu asked exuberantly, unperturbed by the slight setback.

"I have detained a woman for nearly a month in heavy restraints and subjected her to torture that is banned in every country in the developed world and under every constitution and article of human rights and liberty," L replied in his usual monotone.

"Really?!" Sayu squealed, "Oh my god that's amazing!!"

"He's joking Sayu," Light said smoothly lifting his gaze to his mother's, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you we were coming, but I only meant to be quick while I picked up some things."

"That's fine Light dear, but you should stay a little while, you don't need to rush around all the time."

"Yes 'Light dear'," L piped up, his sing-song tone almost exactly the same mocking type that might be displayed by the friend of a teenage boy, "I don't see why we have to rush around all the time, why don't you want to spend time with your lovely family?"

"Just because you don't have any family," Light threw back.

"Don't you have any family??" Sayu squeaked staring up at L with eyes bursting with affectionate sympathy.

"No I'm an orphan," L replied, "I was raised by an eccentric millionaire inventor who brought me up in his institution for child geniuses."

"Really??" Squealed Sayu again.

"No he's still joking, obviously," Light said while his mind wondered about that statement curiously, "I meant he hasn't got any family here because he's not from Japan and is studying and working abroad."

"Oh?" Sachiko said with polite interest and surprise, a stark contrast with her daughter's un-restrained vocalisations. Since the situation had been explained she was now looking at the unusual young man that was her unexpected guest with genuine interest. "Do you also study at To-Oh with Light?"

"Yes but I'm currently doing an advanced law course part time so we don't actually have any lectures together and only see each other around campus," L replied smiling graciously at Light's mother.

"Really?" Sachiko responded impressed.

"Ryuga's joint with me as the top scoring student in the university, our scores on the entrance exam were both a perfect hundred. We did the opening address together because of that. That was how we initially met."

"Wow!" Cried Sayu staring up at L with admiration, "I never thought I'd meet someone who scores as highly as my brother on tests! Turns out you're not so special huh Light?" She said turning to her brother, "you can't say you're number one, top student now!"

"We were joint-top Sayu," Light replied with irritation, "we're both number one."

"There's only one number onii-chan!" Sayu objected, her voice ringing out teasingly, "that's why it's number one!"

"But Light said you work together as well," Sachiko said curiously.

"Yes but I met Light first at the university," L replied, "although at the time I met him I knew that he would be being invited to help with the investigation as well."

"That is amazing though," Sachiko remarked, "you're so young as well and if you're from abroad surely it must have been hard for you to study and work in Japan?"

"Ryuga speaks 27 languages fluently mum," Light told her. Sayu gasped.

"No way!" She exclaimed, "say something in English!" L politely indulged the young girl and she squealed with excitement and then promptly requested German, then French, then Spanish, then Polish, then Scandinavian. Light sighed and turned away from the pair.

"Would you like me to help you unpack the shopping mum," he offered, "since my little sister seems to have taken possession of my friend for the afternoon."

"Yes, thank you Light," Sachiko replied smiling down at her son. Light helped her put away the food while Sayu sat on the sofa beside L quizzing him on all the languages he could speak and requesting him to teach her how to say certain things in different tongues. At one point Sachiko interjected sharply,

"Sayu I don't think you really need to know how to say that in Italian," but other than that the flow of conversation between the two carried on unabated.

"Light won't you and Hideki stay for dinner since you're here?" she asked.

"Yes Ryuga-sempai please stay for dinner!" Sayu exclaimed to L eagerly.

"I'm not sure whether that would be a great idea," Light said slowly, "L has quite difficult tastes."

"Huh?!" Sayu cried disappointed, giving her brother an irritated look and then turning to Ryuga to ask, "Don't you like Japanese food Ryuga-sempai?"

"I can have a sensitive stomach at times," L replied quietly, "but I'm sure that what ever you cook with be fine Yagami-san." Sachiko smiled at L sweetly and Light glanced at him briefly before shrugging and saying,

"Okay."

"Yay!" Sayu cried triumphantly, "will you sit next to me Ryuga-sempai?" Light rolled his eyes.

"I'll help you then," he said turning to his mother.

"You don't have to Light," Sachiko said, smiling at her son affectionately, "you should entertain your friend."

"My friend seems to be being entertained just fine by my sister," Light said with a smile, "please, I don't mind." So then he started helping his mother preparing the dinner, wondering while he chopped vegetables, whether L would actually eat it and considering the very image of the man eating anything that did not contain an over fifty percent sugar content.

"It's nice knowing you've made a good friend," his mother said quietly, "you never seem to keep in touch with any of your old school friends."

"Well, they were more of acquaintances, mum," Light replied.

"But Ryuga is a real friend?" she asked.

"Yes," Light replied and he slid the knife through the peppers, "he's my best friend."

"I'm glad, dear," Sachiko said, "because…I know you must have been having a hard time lately with all this work and the investigation….It's nice to see that you're okay." Light mediated for a few seconds on the wonderment that was an association with L being considered a sign of well-being.

"Yes," Light replied after a few moments, his eyes down on the task at hand, "things are much better now." Then he lifted up his head to look at his mother and asked,

"What do you think of him?" His mother met his eyes thoughtfully.

"He seems very nice," she said, only faltering a little. Under a look from Light she conceded, "well he is a little unusual, I was a little taken aback by him at first. But I can see why you like him, he's very intelligent and you have a lot in common. You must get on very well."

"Well," light turned away, back to the chopping board, "we used to sometimes compete with each other and fight a lot but now, and anyway overall, yes we get on very well." Sachiko beamed at him. It was at this point that the sound of the door being opened and shut sounded through the house. Light stiffened for just a second, but not long enough to be perceived, and then continued chopping as if nothing was wrong. Sayu sat up on the sofa, leaning over, and cried out cheerfully,

"Welcome home dad!"

"Thanks," Soichiro said smiling at his young daughter.

"Dad, dad!" Sayu started excitedly, "guess who's here!"

"Yes guess who's here," L said in his quiet low tones also leaning round the sofa to smile up at the police chief. Soichiro stood still for a few moments in the middle of the room while Sayu squeaked at L,

"No no, you ruined it! I was gonna say- Its Ryuga Hideki!" She smiled up at her father and spread her arms wide in excitement, "but it's not the real Ryuga Hideki after all! He just has the same name!"

"Yes, Sayu-chan, your father knows who I am. We work together," L said, his black eyes still on the older man.

"Oh!" Sayu said, "oh yes I forgot!" Soichiro remained stood still with his eyes boaring into L's and wearing an expression that read, 'what is he doing in my house' so clearly that he didn't actually need to ask the question.

"He came by with Light," Sayu explained, her expression wilting, apparently disappointed by her fathers distinct lack of enthusiasm upon the occasion.

"I," L announced slowly, "am staying for dinner." Soichiro narrowed his eyes at the other man for a few minutes more after L pronounced this statement so proudly and then he turned away from L, simply saying,

"Oh I see."

"He's going to sit next to me, aren't you Ryuga-sempai?" Sayu boasted happily.

"Good," her father commented moving through to throw himself into a chair.

An awkward silence would have dominated the room following the police chiefs arrival but luckily Sayu managed to keep the room filled with conversation right up until when they began to sit down at the table and her mother started serving dinner.

"Ryuga-sempai, is Ryuga Hideki really your real name?" She asked as L shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable. He was sitting in a natural position and making it clear, through his irritated movement and fidgets that this was making a special effort.

"Yes," he said, "but we were assigned fake names during the case, mine being 'Ryuzaki.' This suits me fine as my name does cause me a lot of irritation."

"But you're not from Japan are you?" Sayu queried.

"No but I am part-Japanese," L replied, "and my father gave me a Japanese name. I decided to come study and work in Japan because my father also used to live and work here and I remember Japan from when I was young and used to visit." Light's face was passive whilst this information was divulged but inside he felt that thrill he always knew whenever he heard L lying fluently and beautifully.

"Wow," Sayu exclaimed, "that's so cool! What did your father do?"

"He was also in the police force," L said turning his attention to the food in front of him. He delicately picked up the chopsticks, using them perfectly and took a small mouthful. It was amazing how normal L could appear when he wanted to.

"That's unbelievable you're just like Light!" Sayu exclaimed, "No wonder you're such good friends!"

"Sayu," Soichiro said suddenly, his voice a little stern, "maybe you shouldn't annoy our guest so much while he's eating, you haven't even touched your dinner yet." Sayu hastily took a big mouthful, chewed, then swallowed and turned right back to L.

"Do you and my dad and my brother all work as a team or do you work as a separate agent of the team?"

"I've already told you Sayu," Light said to his sister, across the table, "Ryuga is not an FBI agent, he is just a part of the team. Of course we work as part of a whole team, there isn't any division."

"Light," Soichiro said, "I really don't think we should be discussing any details of the investigation like this. You know the rules."

"I'm sorry Yagami-san," L said looking up at Soichiro, "It's my fault; I got too absorbed in indulging Sayu-chan's questions. This probably is too detailed to be appropriate."

"It's not fair," Sayu grumbled, taking another mouthful of her dinner, "Light and dad never talk about the case. It's not like I want to know anything too earth-shattering."

"Hideki-san," Sachiko said suddenly. L looked up at her.

"Yes, Yagami-san?"

"Has Light been staying with you recently while working on the investigation?"

"Yes," L replied, "I have an apartment very close to the main building so it's very convenient."

"Are you renting it while you stay in Japan?" Sachiko asked.

"No I own it," L told her simply.

"Really?" Sachiko replied in surprise, "do you intend on staying in Japan then?"

"No, probably not for very long," L said, "I travel quite a lot."

"Are you rich?" Sayu asked him.

"Sayu," Sachiko said in a shocked voice, "that's not a polite question to ask!"

"Please its fine Yagami-san," L said, "I am excessively rich Sayu-chan." A short silence preceded this statement and Light could tell that his mother was trying to work out whether or not L was joking. L continued to eat, clearly not troubled by the situation.

"Light will be quite sad to see you go if you are leaving so soon, I'm sure," Sachiko said, considering what L had just told her.

"If I do leave soon, I am quite certain Light will be accompanying me," L said carelessly. Sayu choked slightly on the mouthful she had just taken and Sachiko turned to Light with a shocked expression.

"You'll be leaving with Hideki?" She asked him. Light shifted his eyes away from his parent's gaze awkwardly.

"Yes," he said quietly.

"But what about your studies?" Sachiko asked, her tone still aghast at what she was hearing.

"Light has had a lot of experience working on this case," L said, bringing all the attention at the table back to him, "he has already proved himself and he and I will be working together in the future. I have already informed his father of these intentions." Sachiko turned to her husband in disbelief.

"Is this true?" She asked him. Soichiro glared at L with undisguised hatred.

"He informed me of the possibility-" Soichiro began in a low voice but L cut across him,

"Forgive me Yagami-san, but I do believe I did actually, in our last conversation on the matter, phrase it as a certainty."

"You're really leaving Light?" Sayu cried, staring at her brother from across the table, "leaving for another country?"

"During our last conversation, Ryuga hideki," Soichiro spat the pseudonym furiously, "you did not give me a chance to even comment on this issue so I will tell you now that I do not wish for my son to be wasting his life-"

"Yagami-san," L cut across the older man again, his voice much louder and more commanding, "you can hardly call the career I am offering your son a waste of his life. Being a detective has always been his ambition and one that you have always supported and encouraged. This position is the most prestigious he could possibly receive. How can you possibly object to that?"

"You're a liar!" Soichiro threw back at him, "I object to you! Not the principle career choice! But to you! There is no job, just you dragging him round after you!"

"I assure you Yagami-san there is a job and Light has already made his decision on the matter, as well you know!" L replied, his eyes flashing viscously. Sachiko turned to Light.

"Is that true?" She asked, her voice trembling, "have you already accepted this job?" Light turned his mother and nodded.

"Yes," he said, "It's everything I want."

"Is that what you two argued about the other night?" she asked turning back to her husband.

"Yes," said Light quietly. There was a very tense silence which seemed to drag on. Then L raised his head to look at Sachiko and said,

"Your husband and I do not get on very well. We have managed to work together well in the past out of mutual respect but Yagami-san personally believes that I am arrogant, selfish and manipulative," he paused for a moment, considering his words then continued, "and I am. I'll admit that it is a fair judge of my character. However because of this he has taken a recent personal dislike to me as he believes that my friendship with your son is not sincere and that the job prospects I am offering him are not truly substantial. Here however he is gravely mistaken but I am unsure how I can possibly convince him of this." There was another silence however this one was briefer and less tense. L brought it to a close by turning to Soichiro and saying,

"I am sorry that there has been this disagreement between us but I hope that in time you will trust me on this matter as you trusted me in the past and that you will also accept your son's decision." After another quiet pause Sachiko said softly,

"Look we can discuss this later, don't you think?" After a few moments Soichiro gave a begrudging grunt which everyone took as a relieving vocalisation to the affirmative and Sachiko smiled.

"Anyway if I do leave," Light said, "it's not like it will be forever. I will come back as often as I can. I would visit about as much as I would if I was working the same job in Japan."

"Will you bring me presents?" Sayu asked thoughtfully. Light smiled.

"Perhaps," he conceded. Sayu grinned.

"And I trust Ryuga-sempai," she announced.

"Thank you Sayu-chan," L said, "I will buy you some very big presents."

"Really?!" She squealed happily, "thank you Ryuga-sempai!" Then she looked up at her mother and said, "can we have desert now? I'm sure Ryuga-sempai would like some of that cake we bought!"

Omigod the mush. :D A little bit of grrr in there yes, but I always bring it back to the mush! Yay!

The choice of 27 languages I think I got from another fanfic: re-thinking things he never knew. In that it's 27 languages I believe. When writing this I thought 'yeah...that actually sounds about right' although 32 sounded good as well. But really, when are you gonna really use 32 languages?

My replies to the reviews:

Insanechildfanfic: Er…yes. (?)

AuraBlackWolf: Well I wouldn't expect you to get seriously upset about Misa. She's still Misa.

On the matter of penetrative sex, (that's one hell of a line) as lotsa you have asked about that throughout, Light and L will nots be having it, I'm afraid. If they did do it they would switch because I like them being equal. But they aren't really into it, Light's too like ocd about mess and they both like to be comfortable. (That's what I thinks anyway in zis ficcy)

Oh and the Watari thing will be answered later on. I was going to put in this chapter but it got too long, Sayu stole all the Watari.

Pazzie: Sorry; see above about the penetration thing. But maybes I'll just write a total lemon on the side. I have one in my head – but that's actually like a whole mega completely dominant L story so that wouldn't really be fulfilling any promise….It involves lotsa of bondage mind. Lol.

LuluRavinstar: Once again, see above.

Dotti55: Thanksashou! I wanted it to be interesting in its own right 'cos it's Light's general approach to shmexings and how he treats Misa. I mean in the actual canon series I imagine that he would haveta shmex Misa sometimes and it would just be to keep her happy with only base enjoyment on his part.

Hime: Also thanks for understanding!

Syrupdrip: Light hasn't got time to 'manipulate' everyone ya'kno so just enjoy watching him!

Lady Mayu: Lol sorry. I expected peoples would not be best pleased but, ya know it happens. I actually like Matsuda and I'm sure Light likes his dad too at least a bit so I think that the team will probably all be fine. (A lot of them though are already more fine then they should be as I put the entire team in even though some of them should of course be either dead or not there….)

Leesoca & Viskii: Ya I watch DN TAS, I thought people might get the joke! Hee hee. You two are super special awesome for doing so! Peace out!

dragongirl17: Yeah we all hate Misa but in the end she's justa girl who Lurves Light so let's try and see it from her perspective. Anyways LxLight is for the win, LightxMisa is just for the lawls.

DarkAngelJudas: Thanks! And there ya goo.

Foulodron: I'll probably maybe put a bit in about the situation feelings wise later but generally Light and L are both okay – if you can actually imagine that. The way that L and Light interact with people means that any contact is pretty much false. Light is used to using contact as just a tool, this doesn't mean anything. And L knows that. L also knows that his relationship with Light is the only true one – anyone or anything else is secondary. It's kind of like giving someone a peck on the cheek as a polite social gesture compared to a proper passionate kiss given out of affection – Neither of them view it as an issue. Later on when they are partners I imagine that Light will work from one angle and may charm and seduce people in order to gain influence or information while L continues to work a different angle and observes and investigates. – That of course will be a different story though. Literally.

Black-Dranzer-1119: Don't worry, never again! Soon she will be out of their lives forever.

Wiccachic2000: Lols, 'future in-laws.' Imagine if your son brought home an L….