Whoah. It's been way too long since the Christmas chapter. I really apologize, but going back to school wiped me out. I was so incredibly exhausted that first week back...

But here we are again. The holiday isn't mentioned between the two necessarily...but I'm certain you'll pick up on who's unknowingly participating. :) Also, this one's eventually more dialogue-heavy. I have my reasons, though. It focuses eventually on the simple box-step style of a waltz and, well...I don't fancy repeating the description of a box-step and I'm certain no one wants to hear about that, either. It's pretty repetitive.

However, this means some songs are mentioned. I highly recommend listening to them all throughout, especially the dialogue sections. They're all by Chopin, and I'm assuming the third is in a major key. The title of the video (that one song I don't have, the others I do) didn't specify.

First - Prelude No. 15 in D flat major, "Raindrops"
Second - Waltz in E flat major, Op. 18
Third - Waltz in A flat Op. 69 (Urtext Rubinstein 1963 recording)

Thanks to everyone who reviewed! There's more to come, don't worry.

I don't own Death Note.

December 26
Whiners Day

Light knew he was starting to rouse from his slumber. Consciousness was slowly but surely returning as were his senses. Touch came first. He could distinctly feel that he was most certainly not in the bed. It wasn't an unpleasant new location by any means, but not nearly as comfortable as that bed had been. He'd always been confused as to why someone who never seemed to sleep would buy a bed of such high quality, but he wasn't about to complain. Light loved that bed perhaps more than his own. But, where was he now? For something soft, it was awfully lumpy. He shifted around just slightly, not wishing to alert L that he was partially awake. There were different sorts of blankets of varying thickness and textures and…pillows? It was as if the surface he was sleeping on was an afterthought. He'd gotten to somewhere with his blankets, realized there was no bed or other soft piece of furniture, and scattered random pillows on the floor. However, he distinctly remembered going to his own bed. Well, L's bed. He may have loved that bed, but he certainly didn't plan on forming an emotional attachment with it by claiming it as "his" in a sense. It was like naming an animal. At that point, there was no way you'd be able to rid yourself of it. Even if it was a hideous spider or house fly, Larry would have to stay. Light mentally shook his head of such thoughts. He had to continue to take in his surroundings to figure out where in the hell he was.

Sounds meandered into his ears. They were soft, perhaps gentle in such a way that even while completely awake he would have to concentrate to hear it properly. Light had to almost strain to hear what it was. A piano, perhaps? It could have very well been L's laptop. He didn't doubt that L probably kept music files on there as well, as he'd shown his own interest in music at the classical concert. Besides, when had he ever seen a piano in the task force building? It had to be a digital recording. Though he had to admit, whatever song it was, it was immensely soothing. He was almost tempted to sleep in a bit. Almost. The only thing that stopped him was the fact that Light Yagami simply never was the one to sleep in. That, and there was a major change in dynamics. Things went from a nice, quiet pianissimo to a rather robust forte. He was almost jolted completely awake.

Shit, was it bright! He had to bring his hands to his eyes at once to block out those artificial rays. As he peered groggily through those hands, trying to adjust to the sheer amount of light, he began to remember some things. Yesterday had been Christmas. He had gone over with L to spend Christmas with his family. There were gifts. After gifts there had been… Oh. Dear. Lord. Surely that wasn't one of his memories, it had to have been a warped part of his dreams. Perhaps if he continued moving along and rifled through the day's events, it would make some sense. Yes, that had to be it. There was dinner. They had played games, and he and L beat everyone else miserably. A movie was popped in and…L had went for his hand twice. Twice. This was not looking good. Then they left to go back to the task force building and…well, fuck. They had made out for a second time that day, but in the back of the limousine. That made the time in his own bedroom actually real as well. This was not good. At all.

But what had happened after that? He had to dig even farther in his memory banks for that one. His brain simply wouldn't cooperate until he got coffee, so the task was particularly difficult. Well, he could remember that they had both felt the vehicle stop. With that L had torn himself away abruptly, and he'd only had the ability to think two things at that present time. One: Look normal before Watari opens the door. Two: Did I seriously just make out with L the entire car ride from my house to the task force building? That wasn't a petty five or ten minutes, it was a minimum of a twenty-five or thirty minute ride! Moreover…kissing L? Kissing. L. L! Was there anything good about that? He swiftly pushed his conscience into a locked closet before it got a chance to point out to him the fact that he'd actually enjoyed it. That sort of information he wasn't quite sure he could process without his head imploding. Kira wasn't about to kiss L. Light wasn't about to kiss L.

Somehow they had made their clothes and hair look normal before the unusually spry elderly gentleman made his way to their door and opened it. L practically leapt out before Light got the chance to step out. He could only follow, still in a daze from the entire experience. Not only had it been the single longest amount of time he'd kissed someone but…as much as he loathed to admit it, L hadn't been too shabby at it. That fact really disturbed him, in retrospect. Wasn't the man supposed to be a social recluse? After that, it was almost as if they had completely ignored each other for what remained of the evening. He supposed it was pure shock and awkwardness, as he knew he hadn't been too inclined to look the detective in the eyes after…well…being far too comfortable with each other. How had they gone from throwing punches and kicks to that? What had happened in between? At some point he'd fallen asleep in a t-shirt and sleep pants, but he was certain he fell asleep in bed.

So, how was he here? Wherever "here" was. His eyes had finally managed to adjust properly to the light around him. There were somewhat plain walls, though there was something slightly peculiar about them. There were odd sorts of panels here and there that appeared to serve to soak up reverberations, as if it were a room designed for music. The ground around him was a very shiny, well-taken care of panel flooring. One wall, he now noticed, was almost completely black and reflective. It seemed to be a glass of sorts, the kind you would imagine to see in interrogation rooms or recording studios. Still, it made no sense. L had never mentioned a music room in the task force building unless…

…he didn't want them to know there was a music room. But why did it matter, really? Why did he care to keep it a secret?

However, he couldn't help but come to realize that the sound of the piano he'd been hearing was much closer than he'd originally perceived. And, it sounded far more real than a digital recording. Light turned his head to look behind his shoulder. Behind him was perhaps the largest grand piano he had ever seen outside of a piano dealer's store. It was the kind of instrument that would utterly drain your pocketbook unless you had some serious cash to start with. And there L was, his feet actually touching the floor while sitting on that piano bench, playing the piano to himself. It was as he hadn't even noticed Light had jolted awake so suddenly. His eyes focused only on the keys and nothing else, bare feet working at the pedals. However, Light wasn't about to continue to sit there dumbly and listen to L play (even though he was unimaginably skilled at it). He had questions, and L was going to stop his god damned playing and answer them.

Stiffly, Light pushed himself onto his feet. The piece was winding down, that much he could tell. Offhandedly he noted that it sounded something like a Chopin piece, but the thought was quickly shoved aside. It didn't matter if he was playing Beethoven or Debussy. He made a few deliberate steps toward the piano bench and just as he drew the breath to begin to give the detective a proper Light Yagami morning verbal lashing the man started another piece. Oh, and it wasn't a calm little prelude or what have you like before, heavens no. It started out bright and loud and overall obnoxious. He felt his teeth grit together slightly in annoyance.

And then, just as he was about to try to say something for the second time, L went ahead and spoke, still going about with whatever piece he was occupying himself with. There wasn't any sheet music on the piano that he could see, so it was impossible to tell what he was playing in particular.

"Good morning, Light-kun. I'm afraid I had to transport you here last night. I got rather bored and I felt like playing so…here we are." There was then an abrupt key change, tempo change, dynamic change, and he still managed to start a conversation?

Well…he supposed that answered one of his questions. Still, he wasn't going to be letting him off so easily.

"What the hell was the deal with yesterday?" Light asked, voice forcedly calm. He wasn't about to let L rile him so soon, despite his lack of a morning coffee.

"I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific," L responded, still moving his fingers about on the keys. The song went on without the slightest mistake. "It was Christmas, which is known to be a fairly eventful holiday, if I'm not mistaken."

"You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"Do I?"

"Yes, you do!" Light hissed.

"Hmph. No need to be so ebullient, Light-kun."

Now he was just toying with him. Light was most certainly not in the mood for this.

"Cut the crap already, L." It felt strange to say the word aloud, but he pressed on. "I am seriously considering ending that waltz piece myself, perhaps with your face."

L stayed silent for a moment, perhaps focusing on the music, perhaps just ignoring Light.

"It seems I did not have enough foresight for this situation. If I had perhaps had Watari prepare a cup of coffee, then we would not be where we are…"

"This has nothing to do with the coffee, and you know it."

"Why is Light-kun so afraid to say outright what's bothering him?" The piece had grown more lax, L's eyes having never left the keys to look up at Light. "Could it be…that he is embarrassed by it? Or, even better than that, he is embarrassed that it was enjoyable?"

Light could feel his face growing red. For once, he was glad the detective was rude enough to keep on playing and prefer to look down at his piano. Light couldn't help but to feel a twinge of envy staring at that instrument. He'd never gotten to lay a finger on a piano of that scale of grandeur, and it had such a lovely tone… No, this wasn't about the piano. This was about yesterday and L.

"Even if I did, it hardly even matters! Why did you do it in the first place?"

There was another bout of silence from L. It was difficult for Light to tell if the man was pondering the matter or not, however. The piece continued as it had earlier, unaffected by the conversation and perhaps even L's own thoughts. His pale fingers just went about their work as if they were detached, free-thinking things on auto-pilot. Just as Light was about to take matters into his own hands, L stopped his playing altogether with a rather loud clashing chord. Light had to shudder slightly at the sound with his trained ears since it was by no means a pleasant choice of notes. Which, upon further thought, L had probably intended on.

Chord, however, was quickly dampened. L spun around to face a very irate Light, his legs still hanging off of the piano bench. He stared for a few seconds, unblinking, before speaking.

"I'll give you a proper answer if you do something for me."

Light looked at him as if he were a madman. "Are you insane, I am absolutely not going to –"

"Relax, Light-kun. There is no mistletoe anywhere in the vicinity. I am referring to something entirely different."

Light could feel his muscles loosen ever so slightly. Well, if that wasn't it…what was he getting at, anyway?

"Follow me."

With that, he slid off of the bench and headed towards a door on the wall of the enormous sheet of black glass. Light trailed behind the hunched-over man, soon discovering that it was indeed a recording studio of sorts. However, it appeared that L wasn't entirely familiar with the equipment, as if it was new and he hadn't visited the area much. He fiddled around on a computer screen, going through hundreds of song files. It was long though until it appeared he found what he was looking for. With that, he simply shuffled back out of the room, dragging the younger man behind him.

Soon enough they had made their way across the smooth flooring, putting distance between themselves and the piano. Light still eyed him with suspicion, uncertain as to how he would proceed and when he'd actually be supplied with sufficient answers. L brought his large eyes back up to meet his.

"Do you know how to waltz?"

"Sure, I suppose, but…wait. Are you going to say what I think you're going to say?"

Blink. "If you mean 'Light-kun, if you expect me to answer you at all then you're going to have to join me in a waltz,' then yes. You would be correct."

"…I am not going to waltz with you."

"It's not as if this is a slow dance at your high school prom. The tempo for the quarter note is well over one-hundred, after all. You could say that it sounds Viennese."

"It's…been a while since I waltzed. We could…discuss it over coffee?"

L let out a heavy sigh. "You act as though I'm going to give you cooties. If that were the case, you would clearly already have them by now. So, we should assume the position seeing as though the song will begin in precisely twelve more seconds."

Before Light had another chance to get a word in, L had already taken hold of both of his arms. One of his hands was placed on the detective's shoulder, the other held gingerly in L's own hand. Light could feel himself flinch at the sudden contacts, especially when he felt L's other hand make its way to his waist. So it appeared that L had assumed the lead. How was he not surprised?

L seemed to be unaffected. "We'll do a simple box-step to maintain conversation, primarily."

"Why, of all things, did you decide to ask for me to dance with you?"

"Ah-ah. No questions until the song has started."

Light gave in, allowing himself to roll his eyes. It wasn't long until the soft tinkling of piano keys was heard over speakers in the room, signaling the beginning. L was quick to go into the dance. He had a straight posture, something that Light had taken notice of at once. He supposed a slouch would have been impossible, but the sudden change was startling almost. And, the detective had been right about one thing. The song, whatever it was, was initially very brisk indeed. In fact, it appeared to be identical to the one he had been playing last.

Momentarily forgetting his task while trying to keep up with the waltz's pace and remembering how to do the dance in the first place, Light ended up asking a rather trivial question. "Ah, what's the song…and composer?" He focused his gaze right over L's shoulder, not too keen on looking him in the eyes. They had a comfortable distance now and he wasn't about to get trapped looking into those eyes.

He answered easily, "Waltz in E flat major, Op. 18 by Chopin."

Light felt a frown tug at his lips. This wasn't supposed to be a recreational activity. He wouldn't so easily be distracted and lose sight of his goal. He needed some kind of insight on what possessed L to suddenly think it was a perfectly good idea to make out profusely with a murder suspect. Where had his logic disappeared off to?

"Please do explain why you decided to…kiss me yesterday."

Light stole a glance over at L's expression, which perhaps faltered only slightly. He didn't answer so quickly this time around, leaving Light to focus on the steps and the tune. Neither had any shoes on really, Light wearing only his socks and L in his usual barefoot. It made for an interesting waltz, to say the least…

"Well…"

Here it was. He was going to get a god damned answer already. It had to be part of L's absurd December investigation, he just knew it. Any moment now…

"…I don't really know."

"…excuse me?"

"I will repeat myself only once, which I often will not do. I don't know."

"WHAT?"

"Inside-voice. You're louder than the music, Light-kun."

"What do you mean, you don't know! You have to know something!"

"Very well." The tempo of the piece had slowed. "I had a certain motivation that caused me to decide to act as I did, but…I am questioning whether or not that was my original intent. I do not wish to delve into specifics. But essentially, I have begun to confuse myself. Or rather, you have as well."

"Oh? And how have I done that, exactly? I wasn't aware that I was."

"Hmmm…nothing in particular." L's hand readjusted itself with Light's, causing the younger man to tense slightly. "You haven't been doing anything out of the ordinary. Or rather, you have been acting as you would in certain situations."

"How wonderfully vague of you." His hands feel incredibly soft… Wait, no. No. Not going down that route. Back to business. "Why do you choose to be vague in your answers?"

Another tempo change. Things were faster again, and Light could've sworn they had gotten just a smidgen closer than before… Then again, it was nearly impossible to tell. His mind was too preoccupied with the dance and staying on task.

"I can't exactly give you a proper answer because I can't think properly myself. No matter how many strawberries, candies, cakes, pies, cookies, puddings, cherries, mousses, tarts, crumbles, or chocolates I've eaten these past six hours, I can't quite seem to get my brain to return to its normal processing capabilities…"

"Six hours…? I fell asleep at ten, so that makes now…"

"Four AM. To be specific, four sixteen AM."

"So instead of sleeping, which I should be doing…I'm waltzing…with you."

"That is correct. But, this is more productive."

Light sighed heavily at the realization of his loss of precious sleep. "Why did you even want to dance with me in the first place? Surely you could be doing better things, too." Like analyzing me, which you're probably up to now…

"Well, I haven't had a dance partner in several years. I'm typically very busy, as you well know…and I stay inside for the most part. Watari has aged too much to be a proper dance partner, after all. My last one was…my dance instructor, six years ago? Yes, that sounds right. Another 'why,' if you'd like to call it that, is that you were very tense upon waking. I thought a nice waltz would allow you to loosen up and have some entertainment." L's feet still managed to move across the floor silently, not once stepping on Light's in carelessness. "You haven't had any proper physical activity for some time, also. The only time which I can remember is our tennis match, which was ages ago…"

"I see…" Damn. Now what? "I'm still on your Kira suspect list. I assume that goes without saying, correct?"

"Agreed. Where is Light-kun going at with this?"

"If I am on that list, why would you decide to kiss someone who could potentially be a mass-murderer? Don't you regret taking that risk?" It did seem fairly reckless, even for L.

"No."

Huh. He hadn't expected that one. "What…what do you mean? 'No'?"

"Simply put, it was my first kiss. And, it was rather pleasant. So, whether it be from Kira or Miss America, I do not regret it. I imagine it's something everyone values, no matter who it was who gave it to them…"

It was official. His brain actually had imploded now. L had used his first kiss on him, admitted that he liked it, and on top of that claimed that he would practically treasure the memory. Light was at a loss for words. What was he supposed to do? Well, it was obvious he had to continue the waltz. It didn't sound very wise to bolt from the room all of a sudden, which would be a rather foolish attempt anyway seeing as though L was still chained to him. Since he couldn't necessarily come up with any responses or further questions because of his temporarily out of order brain, Light figured it would be best to keep his mouth firmly closed and continue with the dance.

Though all of a sudden, it sounded as though the piece had changed into an entirely different one. L's grip had not lessened on his hand nor had his hand left Light's waist. Therefore, he could do little but keep at it. It was L who broke the "silence" amid the new piece.

"Who was Light-kun's first kiss?"

Not having expected the question, Light's eyebrows furrowed. He didn't bother to look at the detective's features, so he was uncertain in the man was gazing at him or not. He simply couldn't wrap his mind around the concept that L wasn't continuing to watch his every move, analyze his each and every word… He inhaled briefly. Right. Worry about L's question first.

"I suppose…a girl in my junior high school." Light continued to rifle through his memory banks, digging for specifics. He barely noticed that his feet no longer had a problem keeping up with the dance, moving along with L's most nicely. "Her name started with an 'I.' The school had a dinky little dance, and my parents saw it as an important social function. She was the first one I ran into the day after my parents told me that, and…I thought it was only proper to kiss her after the evening of the dance."

"I see. Was there anything spectacular about it?"

Light swallowed, immediately comparing his innocent little peck on the lips with the girl to…whatever that had been with L.

Voice still quite level, Light replied, "No, not really. We were both young." How were they talking about personal matters, anyway? Hadn't he been trying to avoid this sort of thing to begin with? But what if L wasn't analyzing him…? He claimed that he was confused, hadn't he? A thought then struck him. What if he threw something else into the mix to further bewilder L?

"L?" The name still was unreal to say aloud.

"Yes, Light-kun?"

"About that…well, the formality, that is. You've allowed me to call you by your name rather than an alias, so it only seems proper that you don't tag any more honorifics to my name. It's hardly necessary. I've spent well over a month chained to you, for god's sake…"

"I suppose that's fine…Light."

An odd sort of feeling settled in Light's stomach. Suspicion, perhaps? Why had the detective said it in such a manner, anyway? Sure, it was only natural to see how a word sounded on the lips, but to linger on it like that… Still caught off-guard by the sound of his own name, Light decided to steal another glance at L. L, however, was staring right back at him. Not only that, but Light found they had steadily gotten closer throughout the second piece. How hadn't he noticed something like that? Was he really able to get careless and feel that comfortable around the detective? The rush of sensory information came into his mind like a wave.

"My head's not feeling…too well," Light found himself saying.

L's dark black eyes still stared into his own. "Perhaps a bit light-headed?"

"Yeah…"

L's head tilted to the side only slightly. "I feel the same. Perhaps it's from all the spinning." The two pairs of feet finally slowed to a halt, though the detective's eyes had the younger man held hostage. L, however, continued on, "Maybe we should stop…"

Unable to move a muscle, Light could only remark in a quiet tone, "We have stopped."

"Light, I…"

Light finally found he could blink, quickly saying, "Yes?"

Mere inches were the only thing that separated them. Fear pumped through Light, realizing that the detective had minimized that gap, but ever so slightly. Could he pull away this time around? He wasn't bound to any holiday rules as far as he could tell. But those eyes…he thought he could see –

"Never mind," L said suddenly, dropping Light's hand and removing his own hand from the other's waist. "You're doing fine. Waltzing, that is… Thank you." He drew away from Light, returning to his typical slouch, and headed back to the studio room. The last few bars of the tune still trickled through the speakers ever so softly.

Light felt oddly cold at the sudden leave of his dance partner. He followed just enough to allow L to get to the computer he'd visited previously, the detective then turning off the music and devices altogether. Light's eyes followed him as he shuffled back out as well, unsure of exactly what had almost happened.

"I need to get back to work on the investigation," L stated, reverting back to his usual monotone. It was a security blanket and Light spotted it a mile away. "You may go back to sleep in the bed while I work on my laptop, Light."

Somehow, sleep didn't sound all that plausible anymore.