A/N: I'm trying to get back into my Death Note stories since Star Ocean is becoming a dead fandom. I'm starting with Friend with Fangs and then I'm going to work some more on Death Doll. Let me know what other stories you want me to finish next, okay?

Disclaimer: I wish I owned L and Light. They're jus so cute.

If Mikami had been less than thrilled about Light taking L to Crystal Creek, he was downright furious after L's return. He met the group outside school the next day with a dark scowl. "Did you really have to take him?" he complained. "He's going to tell and then we're all going to get killed."

"L's not going to tell," Light insisted. "L likes to keep to himself." He slung an arm over L's shoulder that L immediately pushed off.

Mikami scowled. "I don't like it. We should keep some things to ourselves." He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall, glaring irritably at L.

Light shook his head. "L has to know what he's getting into. He's too stubborn to accept our help unless we give him some details."

"We should have left him on his own," Mikami snapped. "I'm not letting one pathetic little human be the death of us all. He knows too much."

Light snorted. "What's he going to do, have it printed in the school paper?" he scoffed.

Misa sucked in a breath and her eyes widened. "Light, you know how they are. If they get word of-"

"Light should know better," Mikami interrupted. "It's not a joke. Learn to control your little pet or we'll all be dead," he spat. With a last venomous glare at L, he spun around and stalked off.

"What's he talking about?" L inquired. He looked at Light questioningly.

Light sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "The two guys working on the school paper. They interviewed you, didn't they?"

L blinked. "But I thought there were three of them."

Mikami halted abruptly. Time seemed to stop as he slowly turned his head to look back at L. His face was pale. "You saw three of them?" he whispered hoarsely.

Light snickered. "I told you he was special."

Mikami ignored him. He took a shaky breath and walked back over to L. He looked him over appraisingly. "Impossible," he muttered. "You're lying. Everyone only sees two."

L shrugged. "Mello and Matt interviewed me. There was another boy named Near, but he didn't actually interview me. He only told me I was in danger and then left. I take it Near is not very sociable."

Light and Mikami shared a glance. Mikami sighed. "How much did you tell him?"

"Just enough," Light said gruffly. The amber eyes glowed with determination.

Mikami nodded curtly. "Very well. If Near was willing to talk to him, we'd better pay attention."

L looked curiously at the two of them. He didn't know what he had said, but Mikami seemed to finally accept the fact that L needed to stay alive. L supposed he should be grateful that they both wanted to protect him now, but he still had no idea what he needed protection from. Light apparently didn't think L needed to know that part.

L sighed heavily. "What is the big deal about this Near person anyway?"

Light glanced at Mikami questioningly. Mikami sighed and nodded reluctantly. "You might as well tell him. He'll never rest until he finds out." He shook his head sadly and headed towards the first period classroom.

Light nodded briskly. He leaned in close to L. "You see, most people can't see Near." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Near's not even human, not anymore. He's a ghost."

L's eyes widened. Yes, strangely enough it all made perfect sense. He had never seen Near talk to anyone else except Mello and matt. Perhaps even Near didn't know that L could see him. He hadn't let on that he had heard Near's whispered warning and Mello and Matt hadn't really minded that Near left without interviewing L. They probably had never expected such an interview to happen anyway.

"Near was warning me about something," L said slowly. "I didn't find out exactly what it was because he simply left."

Light sighed. "He didn't expect you to see him. I suppose he figured it was worth a try. I'm still not exactly sure why you can see him, but I always knew you were special. Humans aren't really supposed to see ghosts, but supernatural creatures like us can see them just fine." He smirked. "We just have to pretend that we can't see him or we'd all be busted for what we really are. Near has a pretty good idea about us though. We try to ignore him, but he knows. He was warning you not to get too close."

L frowned. "I thought you claimed to be the good guys. Why would he warn me about you?"

Light heaved a sigh. The bell rang for school off in the distance. Matsuda and Misa were gathering up their stuff. They hurried off, leaving L alone with Light. Light walked with L slowly towards first period. "It's a complicated situation," he murmured. "There are some people who believe all vampires are abominations, evil creatures who must be killed. People always assume the worst. They're scared of all of us even though most of us are completely harmless, choosing to kill as few people as possible. Vampire hunters rarely make the distinction between good vampires and bad ones. If they find out we're vampires, they kill us on the spot. They don't bother to check to see if we've given up killing humans because we have a thrall to sate us. Matt is training to become a vampire hunter. If we're not careful, he could eventually find out what we are."

"I wouldn't tell him," L insisted. "Mikami has nothing to fear."

Light smiled sadly. "I'm not the only one that can force you tell your secrets." Light tapped the bracelet circling L's thin wrist. "This will protect you from Matt. Normally, he could tell from your aura whether you've been around vampires. But since we're all wearing bracelets, he'll never know unless Near tells him. Although, there could be complications with Mello."

L sighed. "Dare I ask why I should be concerned about Mello? He seems like he's all talk."

Light smirked. "He's Matt's partner. Both of them are vampire hunters. But Matt's got some snazzy new stuff that will force you to tell them exactly what they want to know. It looks like a simple recording device. But once they turn it on, you'll tell them exactly what they want to hear. You can't lie and you can't keep yourself from answering their questions." He shook his head. "And don't underestimate Mello. He's far more dangerous than Matt is. You wouldn't like him when he's angry."

L rolled his eyes. "Mello is merely an annoyance. I fail to see how he can be more deadly than Matt when he doesn't have Matt's effective equipment."

Light's eyes glittered. "Mello isn't human. It's hypocritical that he'd go after vampires when he isn't even human, but he's helping Matt all the same. In fact, I'd say Mello is actually the one in charge. Mello hates us, but his kind have always held a grudge against us."

L sighed. "Okay, what exactly is Mello? Your town has an unusually large amount of supernatural creatures."

Light paused in the doorway of his first period classroom. He smirked. "Mello is a werewolf. That's why I really wouldn't go out after dark if I was you." He flashed L a bright smile and nonchalantly strolled into class.

L let out a heavy sigh. Well then, there went his sleep for the next week. He had convinced himself that the noises outside the house at night were nothing, but Light had quickly dispelled that quaint illusion. As much as he hated to admit it, perhaps Light had a reason for not allowing him to walk home by himself. If werewolves and other supernatural creatures were prowling around at night, it was a good idea for him to stay home. Of course, Mello and Matt wanted to kill vampires, not helpless human beings but who knew what methods Mello might resort to in order to find out the truth about Light and his group.