Raito finally sat up straight, his back stiff from staying bent so low and protesting at having to move again, and examined his handiwork. Seventeen pages. He was amazed he'd even gotten that far with such a depressing story. It helped that it was his own, but still... the number seemed slightly rediculious at the moment. The last part was a bit off compared to the rest of what he'd written, but he wasn't about to change it now. Maybe he was going crazy after all.

With a strangly contented sigh, he leaned back against the cold wall of his cell. He could only imagine how good it would feel to finally lay down and go to sleep with that weight off his chest. Unfortunatly, the possibility of actually sleeping on that stupid floor was basically nonexistant. There probably wouldn't even be a point in trying, but he chose to ignore that. It couldn't possibly hurt to try.

Wrong... Somehow...

His pained spine recieved only a few moments rest before the ill-oiled cell door swung open. Raito simply figured the guards had seen him finish writing and had returned to cuff him again. There really wasn't a point to the restraints; it wasn't like he could go anywhere at the moment. He let his eyes close, determined to ignore them for as long as possible.

There was a shuffeling sound uncharacteristic of booted feet. There was something strangly familiar about it... No, he must be hearing things. There was no reason for him to have returned, was there? Nothing had changed much in the last eight hours except the amout of paper that was covered with his writing. Surely he wouldn't be so interested as to visit again for something as simple as that.

The footsteps stopped right beside him, but Raito payed them no mind. If it was important, they'd bother him.

A rusteling of fabric on fabric. What were they doing, making themselves at home? If it was just the guards, they had a lot of nerve, messing with him like that. They knew who he was, what he was capable of. They wouldn't be stupid enough to play this kind of game after what they'd been told. Oh, well. Best to just ignore the moron and get on with the waiting.

The apparently-not-so-brilliant stranger just sat there for a while, shifting on occasion, never saying anything. His behavior grated on Raito's nerves, and, no matter how much he tried to ignore it, he found himself becoming increasingly annoyed at his silent visitor.

Finally, he sat up, irritation showing through in his expression. He was ready to throw some snap at the guy when he saw the stranger's face clearly. He simply stared, mouth half open, comment stuck in his throat.

"You really shouldn't do that, Raito-kun. It's very unbecoming."

"I... You..," Raito sputtered for a moment before landing on what he really wanted to say. "What are you doing here, Ryuzaki?"

The detective pouted childishly. "That's not very nice, Raito-kun. If that's how you treat a visitor, I might as well just leave."

Raito's expression softened into a slight smile. It was so like L to take everything so seriously. "You know I didn't mean that." He propped himself up on the palms of his hands, staring at the curious man he'd once called a friend. How he missed those days... "But, honestly, why are you here? I didn't expect you to come here once in the first day, let alone twice. Most people call that obsessive."

"It's nothing like that." Ryuzaki seemed quite relucatant to explain. It was almost like it was a subject he'd rather avoid at all costs, even if it was the reason for his spontanious visit. One finger traced a circle on the floor as he spoke. "I've been thinking about what you said earlier. When you said you'd do anything to escape the fate you'd been handed..." His voice trailed off like he didn't want to continue. "Raito-kun, I don't want to see you here."

The statement came as a shock to Raito. "Y-You don't... want me to be here?" he asked, unable to believe it. There was no logic behind that, no matter the reason. He, Raito, was Kira, the criminal that L had been so centered on trying to capture. Why would L want him out now?

L nodded slighty. "Unfortunatly, I can't figure out whether I heard Kira trying to talk his way out of his punishment or Raito-kun trying not to get killed over this ordeal. In a sense, it's the same thing, but... I honestly don't know what to do." He glanced over at Raito, who was about to say something. "Just remember that I won't be able to trust anything you say on the matter for the same reason."

Raito frowned. "You think I lied about all of that? All of this?" He gestured toward the haphazard pile of papers and shook his head. "I don't have a reason to lie anymore."

"That doesn't prove that you're not. You really aren't helping yourself, Raito-kun..."

"Then how can I? We don't seem to be getting anywhere."

"Oh, we are." Ryuzaki grinned at him. "You see, by just sitting there, you're telling me you're either honest or smart. Or unobservant, but that's beside the point." He pointed toward the door when Raito gave him a confused glance. It stood open, and the guards were nowhere to be seen. "I'm choosing to lean toward honest. I'd rather not let Kira got, but... like I said before, I don't like the idea of leaving you here." He leaned back, allowing his head to rest on the wall.

A pang of guilt ran through Raito's mind. Why? Why did everything that went wrong have to have to be his fault? He hadn't intended to make Ryuzaki second guess himelf; he just didn't want to die.

The detective spoke again, cutting off his train of thought. "Believe me, Raito-kun, there's nothing I'd like more than to let you out of here. If there was some way to make sure you don't become Kira again, I would have you released immidiatly."

"You could have me under constant surveilance like last time," Raito offered, his demeanor now hopeful.

Ryuzaki rolled his eyes. "That didn't seem to work very well last time." He moved to stand again, gaze trained on Raito's face. "And I never said I wasn't going to let you out. I was just trying to talk myself into it." He stuffed on hand into the pocket of his jeans and extended the other to Raito, who stared at it, somewhat amazed.

"You mean I'm getting out? No arguments or compromises?"

Ryuzaki smiled. "No, we already had our little fight earlier. Remember?" He sighed as Raito continued to hesitate. "Oh, come on. Would I lie to you..? Wait, don't answer that."

Raito laughed, the first honest laugh he'd had in a while. It was easier than he remembered.