All right, chapter 5 ^.^ None of this is from the book because I have lent my book to someone else and haven't gotten it back yet, but I still wanted to update so... here's the result!

And I'd like to extend some more thanks to my editor, mangaluver34. Without her my stories would probably be a lot worse. Check out her stories, give her some reviews and some favs.

Chapter 5

B wrapped his hand around the bedpost and used it to help him stand. "Well Misora, I can safely say that there are no other clues to be had here. About time we should leave, wouldn't you say?"

Naomi nodded, relieved that she could finally leave the crime scene, and consequently, Ryuzaki. B rubbed his hands together. "Misora, how about we meet at the second crime scene tomorrow, at ten o'clock?"

Naomi paled. "Um… sure," she said, and B figured that while she was surprised by the offer, she felt obliged to accept. B nodded and turned, shocked to see L standing in the doorway. Of course, he wasn't dressed as L, but rather in the same garb as last time, but still… what's he thinking? Almost immediately, he realized the benefits of showing L himself. Mainly, he could gauge B's reaction and see if B recognized him as the man from Whammy's (ignorant of the Shinigami eyes, of course) and see if Naomi was in any greater danger, and also to just scope out the place and see how they were getting along. Not a bad tactic, B had to admit. However, the main benefit hinged on him revealing that he recognized L. Shifting through his options, he decided to let L know that he recognized him. Partly out of a type of pride, and partly so that L would feel more strongly about keeping Naomi on the case, since B had probably made it clear that he didn't want to hurt her. "What are you doing here?" asked B, narrowing his eyes, trying to figure out how to send a message to L without alerting Naomi or get Naomi out of the room without seeming overtly suspicious. He stared hard into L's eyes, and grinned slightly at the reflection in them.

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L was panting heavily, carefully observing every move and gesture B made. He was slightly worried about Naomi being suspicious because he was so nervous, but would seem natural for him to seem nervous anyway. And as for B… It was still unclear as to whether or not he recognized him or not. Is it because he realizes who I am and doesn't want to tip me off or does he really not know me…? "Oh… uh… didn't expect you to be here again. Err, I don't see why you would mind me looking at the crime scene… do you… mind, that is?" In the actual presence of B, his carefully plotted out lines vanished from his mind.

Naomi stepped in and stated, "Yes. There is. First of all, the pictures that give us any idea of anything are too graphic for someone such as yourself to view." At this L felt nauseous. Mostly because he realized exactly how much of his innocence he had lost; he was able to look at worse photos and feel nothing…

"Shoot, I think I can handle it," L said casually, walking into the bedroom and leaning against the bedpost next to B. B glanced at him briefly then nodded. "I agree with Naomi Misora. You should leave."

L shook his head, his black hair becoming disheveled. Ahh man… he thought. His hair was back in its natural state and looked disturbingly similar to B's. B's expression hadn't changed at all, though. "Naomi Misora, you must be tired. Why don't you leave? Tomorrow at ten, we'll meet. "

Naomi was baffled at Ryuzaki's sudden change of mood. "No, I can stay here."

"No, I insist. It's just an unruly teenager, I can handle him."

Naomi opened her mouth to protest, then caught herself. Why was she so worried about leaving Ryuzaki alone with this kid? Ryuzaki would probably never do anything to harm the kid, and her presence wasn't needed anyway. Also, she wanted to be out of Ryuzaki's presence as soon as possible. With a slight inclination of the head, she left, leaving B and L alone.

When B heard the door slam, he turned to L and grinned toothily. At that, L coughed slightly and asked, "What's that grin for, man?"

B sneered and stuck his nose right in L's face, causing L to fall back onto the bed. B got on the bed with L and straddled him, looking down him with crazy eyes, his hair hanging haphazardly in his face. "Didn't ever expect to see you again," he said smoothly, trailing a finger down L's shoulder to his wrist. L was shuddered at the touch, nearly petrified. What have I got myself into? He felt B's hands clamp over his wrists, making it impossible for him to try and shove B off. In this position, he couldn't even try and kick B off the bed with one of his surprisingly powerful strikes. He was completely helpless. L calmed his breathing and heart rate, and adjusted his face into its normal, expressionless façade. "Why, hello there B."

B's smirk sent chills up and down L's back. "Why hello there, Lawliet."

L's mouth dropped open slightly. So… he did remember?

A scene from when L had first visited Whammy's came rushing back to L's mind. He had been walking down one of the luxurious halls, eating a slice of cake, when B's shoulder happened to brush against his. L, looking up from his cake, saw a blur of black and white, and then felt words tickling his ear. "Hello Lawliet." With that, L whirled, sending cake flying off the plate and landing on the floor. There were few things that could distract L from the casualty of one of his precious shortcake slices. The revelation that someone knew his real name, and presumably his identity, was one of those rare occasions. L stared into B's eyes and stammered slightly, but before he could say anything, B turned unhurriedly on his heel and rounded a corner. L ran (it also takes a lot to make L run) after B, but when he rounded the corner, B was nowhere to be found. With that, L had sighed and had scraped the cake off the wooden floor, called Watari to mop up the remaining icing, and proceeded to eat the slightly ruined cake. He had pondered that incident for weeks and months; how could B have possibly known his real name? L himself even forgot it at times, and other than that only his real parents, who had been long dead, knew his actual name, which had been erased from every conceivable record when Lawliet became L. There was no logical way B could have known L's real name. None.

Yet he did.

The next day, everything was normal. B was as stoic and anti-social as ever, and treated L with the same deferring yet contemptuous manner he always had. He made no mention at all of the incident; nay, if that memory hadn't been so ingrained into L's mind, he would have thought it was just his imagination.

Now, as he lay there under a smirking B, who called him his real name for the second time, all of L's forgotten feelings arose again, causing him to squirm. B's sneer never left his face, but he did grasp L's wrists all the tighter.

L stopped moving and took a breath. He couldn't allow himself to show fear…. Fear only fueled B's sadism. L managed to work up a slight smirk as he said, "It's been a while, Backup." He realized it probably wasn't a good idea to be riling B, but he was trying to emanate an aura of control, even when he obviously wasn't in control.

The word didn't even phase B. "Too long, Lawliet. Much, much too long. When was the last time we saw each other? About four years ago, was it?"

L nodded calmly. "Four years, three months and twenty one days."

"Oh, you counted! I'm flattered." With that, B released L's wrists and hopped easily off the bed, landing on the carpet. L scrambled off the bed much less gracefully, but managed to regain composure and stare B steadily in his eyes. His dark, obsidian eyes. A toothy grin broke out over B's face. "You figured out who my last victim will be yet?"

At that, L snarled. "You're a monster now, B. Why? Why kill the innocent?"

"Why kill the innocent? Who said I killed the innocent?"

"You killed a thirteen year old."

"Is anyone truly innocent? No. We've all done something to hurt other human beings, and in my eyes, we're all guilty. Equally and shamefully guilty. You are just as bad as I am, yet you prance around as if you're the most perfect creature on the face of this earth. Being the 'number one detective'," at this B snorted, "doesn't make you morally better than anyone."

"I never thought it did."

"Then stop whining about how I killed 'innocents'. Just whine about how I killed people."

At that L set his jaw and tried to contain his growing anger. "So you don't care? To you this is just a game?"

"With very high stakes, yes." B's head cocked to the side and his smirk disappeared. "Of course, that's what you consider this, too. "

"Ha," L said dryly. "I do not consider people's lives toys or pieces to be manipulated…"

"But you still use them, don't you?"

"I give them choice…"

"What choice do they have when you ask them for assistance? They don't. Your imposing status makes it so that they have almost no choice in the matter, and you force them to do things that they otherwise would not do. In this way, how are you different from a criminal? Sticking your dirty, guilty, sin laden hands into people's lives and twisting them to fit how you think they should go. Explain how you're innocent of mass extortion."

At that, L was silent. In fact, this same question had bothered him many a night when he had first began his long, 'glorious' 'career' as the head detective in the world. He had learned to set aside the concern, but the fact that B could so skillfully remind him of long buried feelings unnerved him.

B smiled sweetly. "That's what I thought, Lawli."

Bristling, L snapped, "Don't call me that!"

B smiled. "Why not, Lawli?"

L licked his lips and sighed heavily. "How did you even know my real name?"

"Does it matter? All you need to know is that I know it. Knowing how I got it won't change anything, will it?"

L opened his mouth to say something then shut it. He was going to mention how it could help with the case, but that would reveal he had basically nothing that could convict B. Also, L felt himself getting much too friendly with his previous successor. He was feeling almost at ease. How does he do that?!

"I suppose it doesn't." L's voice came out dry and almost grating, as if he was talking with a scratchy throat. L swallowed. His throat was dry. Very dry. He looked up and B was gone. Gone? Gone! How can he be gone? L darted out the door, crashing into B, who was holding a jam jar. L bounced off of B, B emitted no reaction except a small smirk. "In a hurry to find me?" With that, he set himself down comfortable on the edge of the bed, twisted open the jar, and tossed the lid unceremoniously onto the carpet. He ran his finger around the edge of the top of the gelatinous mass to loosen it, then tilted the jar back at a steep angle, set his lips to the edge of the mass and sucked. In a matter of seconds all of the jam was down B's throat and into his belly. He hadn't spilled a single drop. He tossed the jar the way of the lid and stared at L, unblinking. "You know, I don't hate you. Never did. I don't like you either. My quarrel is with your position, I suppose. I'm doing all this to prove that I am worthy of your position. This isn't personal."

"It doesn't matter." L sighed, almost wanting to sit on the bed next to B and chat for old time's sake, but he resisted the urge. He really was a likeable fellow… he had been popular at Wammy's when he had been young, despite his dark tendencies. "You have committed crimes, it's my job to apprehend you."

"Of course. Otherwise, this whole game would be for naught." At that B slid easily off the bed and left the room, glancing over his shoulder to leave a parting remark: "I wonder who will win."

The closing of the front door broke the heavy silence for a split second, then L was forced to reconcile with his thoughts once more.