Ahhh, I barely missed the deadline for this one. I finished it before midnight, but it got submitted a little after, so it's technically no longer the thirteenth... Oh well. The fourteenth will still get its chapter.

On another note, I was surprised at how well the twelfth day was received. XD It was fun, don't get me wrong. Most of my quotes I drew from Monty Python skits, Spongebob, and Unrelated Captions submissions. Here now we have the longest chapter to date. It's a more serious tone compared to yesterday's - though anything could look serious compared to yesterday's - and was another prompt I enjoyed writing immensely.

Please continue to leave reviews! They've all been wonderful. :)

I don't own Death Note.

December 13
Ice Cream Day and Violins Day

As Light was pulling on his clothes , starting with one of his many pairs of dress pants, he thought back to the previous evening in amusement. L sat on the bed and was fiddling with some string, seemingly oblivious to his amusement. Oh, he remembered that moment quite well.

L had finally gotten out of the shower, dressed in fresh clothes and still drying his wild hair with a towel. Light was seated calmly on the bed and facing him, his hands on his lap and a small smile on his face. The detective instinctively stepped back.

"What seems to be the matter, Ryuuzaki?" he asked, oh so sincere.

L frowned. "Nothing. I just expected you to try to mind-rape me again. I am seriously considering having you institutionalized."

Light laughed a bit. "And here I thought you were thorough with your research!"

"I'm afraid I don't follow."

His grin only widened. "Well, you see…I was fully aware of the holiday for the twelfth of December. Allow me to elaborate." Light cleared his throat, reciting what he'd found the previous evening. "On National Ding-a-Ling Day, you should brace yourself for bizarre and crazy behavior, from all of the people you encounter today. Even normally conservative people have been known to go a little crazy on this day. Ding-a-Lings will be everywhere: on the road, on the street, in stores, and even in your house! So, in other words…I was simply acting the part. Would say my acting skills were adequate?"

L simply gave him a deadpan stare. Light almost wanted to feel unnerved. Almost. However, he kept his grin firmly plastered to his face to further ire the detective.

Without any warning whatsoever, L flipped him the bird and exited the room.

Ryuk had been hysterical about the exchange, laughing it up for what was probably hours. And, Light had to admit, it was perhaps one of the most gratifying experiences he'd had. Never had he gotten under L's skin that much. Once it had gotten dark that day, L had returned and congratulated him…which seemed very strange, but he was always willing to take a compliment. Apparently they were on speaking terms again?

"Light-kun, today we have a very particular dress code to which we will need to adhere."

The younger man turned to look to him curiously, a shirt and blazer in hand.

Somehow, the dark-haired man changed clothes while Light had his back turned. And by a change of clothes, it was certainly not what the man wore day in and day out. Dark black jeans, a black long-sleeved shirt, black socks (that was a little shocking), black gloves… What the hell?

"Tonight it is imperative that we dress entirely in black. We are going to go into a restricted area and stealth is key." He scratched the back of his head a bit. "Wear anything that will allow you to be mobile that's black, if you would."

"…we're breaking in an entering? Isn't that against your moral obligations?"

"As I explained before, this task of December holidays is vital to the Kira case. If it proves successful, such things will be well worth it."

Light sighed. "Whatever. Isn't part of today about ice cream?" He resumed dressing, but he reached for one of his black sweaters instead, putting what he'd planned on wearing back in the closet. He knew somewhere he'd find his black beanie hat (he remembered the incident with Penber fondly) as well as some black tennis shoes somewhere on the floor. Undoubtedly he had black gloves in his coat pockets…

"Indeed." L slipped off of the bed to stand. "But, that's not what we're 'breaking into.'"

Perhaps he'd enjoy the day more than he thought.

L very carefully stuffed the two small containers of Häagen-Dazs ice cream into a black backpack along with spoons, a container of sprinkles, and napkins. Once finished, he placed the pack filled with valuables onto Light's lap. The younger man complied, putting it on his person securely while L pulled up the enormous collar of his shirt over his face. It seemed perfectly reasonable that L was concerned about his identity, but he hadn't quite noticed the peculiar collar before. The detective had absolutely refused to tell him details about their destination on the way. Surely L wouldn't be one for theft?

Wordlessly Light took the scarf he had wrapped around his neck and secured it around his face, following suit. To his surprise, L's next action was removing the chain from his and Light's wrist. The younger man looked to him uncertainly.

He quickly explained, "The way in may call for us to perform certain feats of agility. But really, it would be very inconvenient to perform any type of 'break-in' while chained to another person. I trust you will follow and not err from my path?"

Light nodded. "I trust you already know the blueprints of our destination?"

"Completely, I assure you." The detective glanced out the window. "We're here."

Light peered out of the limousine, taking in the site of the back of an enormous building. It was difficult to distinguish where 'here' was, but it was clearly a place of importance. The vehicle quickly came to a stop and L got out at once, his black boots (it still blew his mind) crunching in the snow. Light exited soon after, the backpack still well-fastened to his person. He had to jog to keep up with L who was currently working at a rather old-looking backdoor of sorts.

It was locked, that was plain enough. L, however, pulled a small spray bottle out of the pack he had put together for himself at some point in time. Very carefully the detective sprayed the bottle's contents where he could spy the door's lock, being sure to continue moving the door's handle as far up and down as it would allow. Light watched him at work attentively, trying to discern exactly what was in the bottle and what effect it was supposed to have. Roughly forty seconds later, L pulled the stubborn door open.

He spoke to Light in a hushed tone before entering while carefully putting the spray bottle away. "I would suggest for Light-kun to not touch the sprayed area of the door or its fallen parts. The acid would make easy work of clothes, shoes, and skin."

He was in possession of an acid that ate through metal? Despite that fact, Light remained level and nodded. What else was the detective prepared for, he wondered?

They swiftly entered the building, Light gingerly closing the door behind them. The bolt of the door hissed quietly, the acid still at work on it as well as on the floor as drops fell to the tile. L was already turning a corner in the empty hall, Light still keeping up with the raven-haired man. There was another locked door in their path now, within a cubby hole of sorts of the hall, but the bottle was not deployed again. Instead, a pick was procured and made easy work of the clearly less-impressive lock. Both men entered at once and closed the door behind them, finding themselves in absolute darkness.

L's voice rang out, still quite calm and level but lowered in its volume. "We will wait until our eyes have adjusted. Tell me when you can see adequately. By that time, I will be ready as well."

Blinking several times, Light's eyes tried to pick out anything where he was. He knew that L was close, but that had only been because of his voice. The strain was uncomfortable at first, but a few short minutes later he could finally see the outline of the detective's body two short feet away. He faced Light and shifted from foot to foot occasionally. It was highly possible those enormous eyes of his could see perfectly in the darkness and were watching his every movement. The thought chilled him slightly.

"Ready," Light announced mutedly.

"Good. Follow me." L's form began retreating away from the door and Light could hear his feet delicately make contact with what sounded like wooden stairs. Following him as instructed, he heard L's voice ring out in the silence once more. "The length of the steps will vary and it will spiral upward."

Had Light not paid any attention to the pattern in which L went up the stairs which the young genius discerned by sound, he would have been forced to painstakingly trek up the stairwell. There were narrowly made stairs, ones two or more feet long, and others in between. The railing creaked terribly, so both refrained from touching it. Silently Light contemplated the high risk they would have ran getting splinters from the rail or tetanus from rusty nails. As they climbed higher and higher, a soft sound began to invade he near-silent space.

Furrowing his eyebrows, Light tried to pick out the sound while still taking note of L's ascent. Whatever it was, all he could make out from their distance that is was indeed complex, constantly changing in pitch and volume. Once the true color of the sound began to creep into his ears, he was more confused than ever.

Still traversing the staircase, Light whispered into the inky black. "Ryuuzaki…is that music?"

"Bravo, Light. You won the prize." The detective stopped, suddenly faced with yet another door. This one, however, wasn't even closed completely. It hadn't even possessed a lock, really.

"Are we…in the symphony hall?"

"Right again. Tonight features the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra's rendition of numerous Beethoven pieces. I hope you're not allergic to dust."

The two slipped into the room and closed the door fully, even though the action wasn't entirely necessary. Beams of light poured through cracks in the wood flooring, providing just enough for the younger man to observe the room. The room was mostly littered with instrument cases and a ratty couch or two along with several tables. L brought out several candles from his pack, placing them strategically and lighting them with matches.

Light blinked to get used to the sudden change in brightness, taking his chances and brushing off a couch to sit down. Luckily, it didn't groan in protest at his weight. He let out a small sigh of relief. L stopped to light a particularly large and stout candle on the table in front of him, the thing having several wicks. It bought a nice warm glow to the room, though not one of them had a scent.

"Light-kun, please unpack the ice cream and ice cream paraphernalia, if you would." The detective lowered the long collar, no longer masking the bottom half of his face.

Ah, yes. That. Being still a college student, the action of wearing a backpack was still a natural sort of activity and he'd almost forgotten that he'd had it on at all. L's was set aside on the other side of the couch as he attended to something on the floor. He could read the ice cream labels now in the candlelight. There sat his container of plain Vanilla Bean and L's Midnight Cookies and Cream. Light toyed with the spoon in his hands a bit, trying to focus on the faint tones pouring through the cracks. It was louder than it had been in the staircase, but it was still a bit too soft. He couldn't properly tell what they were playing still.

Suddenly, the notes began to pour into the room clearly and gave him goose bumps. Light confusedly looked around for the cause for the abrupt change. L, who must have been sitting on the ground, suddenly stood and padded over to the couch as well. He went to work at opening his delightful container of ice cream.

Light hesitantly picked his own ice cream off the table. "Ryuuzaki, what were you doing just now?"

The detective inhaled the scent of his now-opened ice cream. He sighed in contentment. "Oh, that. I opened a floorboard up a little. We're directly above the stage." He held his spoon ever so delicately and acquired some of his dessert with it, licking his lips. "I do believe that next on the repertoire is Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major, movement one, part one?"

Light started to eat some of the Vanilla Bean he held in his hands. It wasn't sickeningly sweet, which was why he always seemed to prefer the flavor. After a few bites he switched his gaze over to L. The man had paused in his devouring of the ice cream, eyes drooped almost all of the way closed. The spoon hung lazily from his mouth, as if deep in thought.

"Ryuuzaki…?"

Slowly, his eyes opened more fully. Once pulling himself from whatever would he'd immersed himself in, he turned to gaze curiously at Light. "Yes, Light-kun? I have to apologize; I was focusing on the end of the previous piece of music."

Light tilted his head to the side slightly. "Would you happen to have any musical talent, then?"

L nodded, eating another bite of ice cream. After swallowing, he replied, "A few different instruments. I never cared for brass, though… What about you, Light-kun?"

He shrugged. "I took piano for quite some time. I never had time in my schedule for a music class, but my parents still insisted that I'd do something in that realm…"

"How many years?" A soft sound bubbled from below once more, the concerto beginning at a pianissimo. The reed section poured a warm lyrical line.

"Eleven."

"Then would it be safe to assume that Light-kun is fairly skilled at the piano? By all means, don't restrain your ego…"

Light fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Yes, I think I can safely say that I'm proficient at it."

"See? Is it really so difficult to hold civil conversation, Light-kun?"

He sighed, leaning into the plush back of the couch. "Well, you did provide a free 'seat' to a Tokyo Symphony Concert when we very well could have sat in the living room and listened to a CD instead. I suppose I can be generous tonight." Light swore he could hear Ryuk chortle somewhere. L continued feasting on ice cream. Light then said, "You said you've dabbled in music as well, but you never specified what it is that you play."

"True."

"What do you play?"

"Well, since you asked that question, I'll answer." L began to collect some of the melted ice cream on the sides of the carton. "Well…the ones I like the best are piano, violin…and clarinet. I never particularly liked brass, but I can handle woodwinds…not saxophones…. Drums are too noisy. Hm…cello."

He had to admit, he was impressed at the man's range of skill. While he had only bothered with a piano his whole life, L had gone to experience the word of strings and woodwinds. Light felt slightly jealous, but he'd barely had the time for his piano lessons growing up, let alone any other instruments… He stared into the glowing flames of the large candle on the table, the concertmaster heard clearly from down below as the solo began.

Out of nowhere, L spoke again into the silence between the two. Light had been to absorbed with the music, the ice cream, the candle… It unnerved him that he'd allowed himself to lower his guard as much as he had while around the ever-vigilant detective. His sudden speech almost made him jump in surprise, but Light had learned to become a master of his emotions. He had Kira to thank for that.

"This place is far more pleasant than the last time I visited."

The statement puzzled Light, for the storage area of sorts was less than glamorous. Moveable floorboards, dust, clutter… "Why is that?"

L paused, listening to the concertmaster release a delicate trill. "My previous time in our present location was for a murder case."

Well, that was unexpected. Light raised an eyebrow. "When and what case, exactly?"

The detective brought a spoonful of ice cream to his mouth and ate it thoughtfully. "Seven years ago… He was a face-snatcher who happened to be fond of doing his work to the music of classical composers."

"In here?"

"Yes." The fact didn't seem to bother him at the slightest. "I know what you're thinking. All evidence of what occurred was removed completely."

"Still, it's a little disconcerting to know that you brought me to the scene of multiple past murders."

"Afraid of the dark, Light-kun? I find the irony very amusing…"

"Oh, as if I haven't heard that one before…" He stuck the spoon in his ice cream. Light hadn't made close to the progress that L had.

"Eat some more ice cream and drown your sorrows…Lady Disdain."

"If you start that again – "

"You'll do what, Kira?"

"For the five-millionth time, Ryuuzaki, I am not Kira. I wasn't yesterday, and I'm not today."

"Just checking."

Well, L was right about one thing…eating more ice cream did help. It was no wonder people used the stuff to fill gaping holes.

"There's something else interesting about this room, Light-kun."

"Hm?" he said, still eating the vanilla ice cream.

"I'm certain you've noticed the many instrument cases here and there. However, they've stored quite a bit of décor and old music as well. I myself am fond of the old pieces of artwork and sheet music." It was then that L departed from the couch, leaving an empty container of ice cream behind. He disappeared around a corner consisting of cellos and basses in worn-looking cases.

Light surveyed his own ice cream. To his surprise, he'd eaten half of the thing. Now that never happened. He'd be lucky not to get sick later, but now "exploring" didn't seem half-bad. Serial killer or not, he still had a curious streak a mile wide and places like these were just itching to be examined. The candlelight stretched rather far and illuminated to some degree the nooks and crannies from what he could tell. Glancing around for any sign of the detective – which there wasn't – Light pushed himself up and off of the couch, immediately drawn in by a large covered picture frame.

The cloth was yellowed with age and covered with a fine layer of dust, as everything else was. Carefully Light picked the bottom of the cover up, folding it over the top as to not completely disturb it. There, framed behind the glass, was a vibrant Japanese maple tree, light pouring through the leaves. Oh, the thing was undoubtedly old; Light knew that for a fact. The style was unquestionably naturalistic, a movement that had been around roughly a century ago. A few finger trailed over the reflective pond that mirrored the oranges, yellows, and fiery reds of the leaves.

The orchestra became silent. Intermission had begun, and the groans of the boards were all that more apparent. Light cringed when he took another step.

Amongst all of the dilapidated violins and violas, oboes and clarinets, another particularly impressive framed object caught his eye. He pushed not all the way locked clarinet case aside and got down onto his knees to better view it, finding it even more transfixing than the idyllic scene from before. All that was within it was a single person holding a chocolate brown violin in their arms. The person's face was barely visible, their back turned to the viewer of the artwork, though a sliver of what appeared to be their chin and cheek could be seen in the surrounding faint glow. Their thick black hair almost melted into the shadows along with the black sweater they wore, making them seem to be caught in between the two degrees of light and dark. The turn of the head just barely toward the viewer's perspective was driving Light absolutely mad. They had such clear, pallid skin with their black hair strewn about. If only he could touch the glass at precisely the right moment and just slightly turn their head…

Light let out a sigh. He'd never seen quite a peculiar piece before, and why it was packed away he couldn't possibly imagine. L's voice rang out, seeming to have heard him.

"Find anything interesting, Light-kun?"

Before responding, he returned his gaze to the painting that had been such a mystery. For a moment, he forgot how to properly breathe as the subject of the painting had moved. Their violin hung lazily at their side, black owl-eyes searching through the darkness. Had he…been absorbed a mirror that held the image of L the whole time? Finding the whole situation unreasonable, he shifted his own position to try to reflect himself on its surface.

Sure enough, he was looking into his own wide eyes in the dim candlelight. Suddenly, the two watchful black eyes appeared behind him. Light quickly composed himself, turning to face the detective.

"Of course, Light-kun would find a mirror…" He blinked, perhaps scrutinizing his own reflection for a brief moment. "Are you done fixing your hair yet, or should I perhaps give you another minute?"

Light merely gave an annoyed look as he stood back up, brushing off his pants. L held before him the violin he'd been holding, just like in the "painting"…

"I could hardly believe it, but nestled in the corner was a weathered Stradivarius. It's still lovely, wouldn't you agree?" Holding it gently by the neck, L's pallid fingers ghosted the wooden surface of the instrument. "It's missing the bow, unfortunately. Would you care to hold it?"

A Strad? Light stared at the thing dumbly, as if it were…Christ, he couldn't even compare it to anything! It was a fucking Stradivarius! He was staring at one of the most sought-after pieces in the history of music, and L had the pleasure to have cradled it like a child. After the shock passed, Light's hands hesitantly reached out to the violin, almost afraid to hurt it. Clearly unimpressed with the rate at which he was moving, L placed it into his open hands. L's hands barely brushed the backs of his fingers as they drew away.

He took in a breath. He was really getting too worked-up over the entire charade. It wasn't as if he were a child anymore, playing make-believe and searching for treasures. Candlelight was altogether strange and –

"Light-kun?"

It took him a second or so to find his voice. "Yes, Ryuuzaki?"

"I'd like to thank you for trusting me enough to trespass on private property, which even had an undisclosed location and unspecified objectives. All in all, I would say the evening was rather…fun. You're not such bad company, when you choose to be."

The soft sound of strings floated through the floorboards once more. Light could feel the warmth lingering on the violin.