Author's note: Christmas is a working day in Japan. Christmas of 2003 fell on a Thursday. The holiday is not very religious in Japan due to the lack of a strong Christian population, and Christmas is viewed as more of a romantic holiday. Despite this, students do get a winter break at the end of the year. New Year's is a very big deal.

December 25th, 2003

Japanese National Police Agency, Kira Task Force Headquarters

The Task Force Headquarters was mostly empty. Only five people were left in the room now: L, Watari, Touta Matsuda, Soichiro Yagami, and Light Yagami. L was perched awkwardly in one of the chairs and looked completely apathetic as Watari distributed peppermint hot chocolate to each person in the room. Matsuda sipped it merrily, but the two Yagamis stared apprehensively at L, wondering what had caused them to be called in after the resolution of the investigation.

"This is a de-briefing of sorts." The Yagamis both relaxed slightly. "To begin, the people in this room, aside from Kira and the Shinigami Ryuk, are the only beings in the world who know of the existence of the Death Note," L said, thumb resting against his lips and muffling his words slightly.

"What?" Matsuda looked conflicted. "Shouldn't we have told the heads of government, at least? They're the ones who decide what to do with Kira, after all."

L nodded and sipped his hot chocolate. Ah. Good.

In the time it took him to do this, Light had stepped in and begun to deliver an explanation. "Normally that would be the case, but imagine a weapon like the Death Note falling into the hands of one government or another. I'm sure you can imagine how easily it could be abused. Even if the government with possession of the Death Note didn't abuse it, other governments would still be suspicious of all of their actions and any unexpected deaths in other countries. By withholding the information about the Death Note, that can be avoided. Anyway, the world governments don't really care about the method of killing as long as the murders stop."

"Exactly," L said, feeling put-out for no good reason. L hated to explain such things, and Light had done it very well, but he wasn't used to someone else taking that role from him. It was a very odd feeling. "That said, it is imperative that none of you reveal any information about the Kira case or the Death Note, as the world governments have only been given the barest details and a culprit. It is highly unlikely that anyone would believe you even if you did say anything, but it is best to remain silent—just to be safe."

Matsuda, Light, and Soichiro nodded.

"On a related note," L's lips twitched downward. "Kira has not been sentenced to death."

"What?" Matsuda, Light, and Soichiro all demanded at once.

"I'm not happy about it, either," L said, "but it cannot be avoided. When Kira was presented to the governments, they were also baying for his blood, but his ranting about purifying the world for his God convinced some influential people that he's insane and should be put in an institution. The best I was able to do was arrange for him to be placed in the highest security institution available, with as few freedoms as possible, and with no chance of ever leaving there alive. His stay will, at the very least, be uncomfortable for him."

Light gritted his teeth and inhaled the scent of the hot chocolate that he gripped tightly in his hands. "What of Ryuk? He'll still be with him; will he cause trouble?"

"No. He says that he is satisfied in his new location as long as he gets a steady supply of apples. Being in an insane asylum is interesting enough to hold his attention, he says." L sipped his hot chocolate as he recalled having that conversation with the Shinigami. "That said, I won't say that I trust him completely. He has no real loyalty to us. Still, as long as he is happy there, he should have no reason to cause a fuss."

Light did not seem completely placated by this answer, but he nodded anyway. L wasn't really happy with the situation, either, but it was the best possible resolution at the moment. They did not think Ryuk would sit by and let them destroy the Death Note, but they couldn't risk having Mikami give up the Note, either, in case Ryuk decided to randomly drop it again. This way, they still had the notebook, but it was technically still in the possession of Mikami, so Ryuk would stay with him.

"That is all to do with the investigation," L said, and the three men stood up. "Light, I would like to speak with you alone, please. Don't worry, Chief Yagami, he is not in trouble."

Light furrowed his brow, puzzled, but remained behind as Matsuda, his father, and even Watari left the room. "What is it?"

"You are in a very elite group, Light Yagami," L said lightly, sipping his hot chocolate again to cover his uncharacteristic nerves. "There are only four people in the world, apart from me, who know my true name. One you do not know. The others are Watari, Kira, and you."

Light blinked, thinking back. That's right... Mikami had hissed it right before demanding the notebook. Light cracked a little smile. "It's not funny, really, considering the circumstances under which I found out, but it is rather clever—your pseudonym."

L's stomach did a funny jump that he quelled immediately and promptly lied to himself that it was simply because he was unused to compliments. He gulped hot chocolate and muttered, "Thank you. Now, given that you do know my true name, Light Yagami, I will have to ask that you never reveal it to anyone."

Light leaned back in his chair. He had never even considered the idea of revealing L's name, but if he could use it as leverage...

"I don't like that look, Yagami."

"I promise to keep your name a secret," Light said easily, "if you promise to keep in touch."

L raised an eyebrow. It disappeared into his fly-away hair, and Light fought a smile. "I hardly think Light Yagami is the sort of person who needs to resort to blackmail to get a pen pal."

"Very amusing," Light said dryly. "But I'm serious. You're the first person I've ever met who's on my level, intellectually. I can't read you and you're not predictable. You're interesting. And if a little blackmail is what it takes to get a little mental challenge every once in a while..." Light shrugged, as if it was no big deal, then looked away, blushing lightly. "You're a friend." A shy glance out of the corner of his eye, to see how this comment would be received.

And L had been trying to invent ways to keep tabs on Light's life. It seemed he wouldn't have to. His lips quirked into his crooked little smile, and Light turned his head back, looking hopeful. "I suppose I have no choice," L sighed. Light's face dimmed a little, and he continued, "After all, I also consider Light to be a friend." Light's face erupted into a bright smile. "In any case, I still have to beat you at tennis."

Light laughed a little at that, withdrawing a new journal from his coat pocket. It was of a very good quality, bound in black leather. He carelessly ripped the first page out of it and began to scrawl on it with a pen he took from the same pocket. "If you say so. I know you can probably obtain all of this information in a heartbeat—or worse, you already have it—but I'd really rather give it to you myself." He finished with a flourish and handed L the piece of paper, which had an address, a phone number, an e-mail address, and an IM user name printed on it in Light's impeccably neat handwriting. All but the street address were brand new.

"I cannot give you my own contact information," L said, tucking the piece of paper into the pocket of his jeans. "But I do have something else for you."

Light watched curiously as L stepped off of his chair and walked to his father's desk. He ducked underneath it for a moment, then stood up with a small box in his hands. It had holes in it.

"...L?" Light asked cautiously. "Please tell me that that is not what I think it is."

"I am not a mind reader, Light. I'm sure that I have no idea what you think it is." L stared at the box for a moment, then, seemingly remembering something, fished a small bow out of his pocket and attached it to the top of the box. "There. Happy Christmas, Light Yagami." L held out the box, for once holding it properly, and not as if it were diseased.

Light took it hesitantly, but did not open it, simply staring down at the sloppily attached bow. "Are you Christian?"

L's finger found its way to his mouth and he gazed darkly at Light, still waiting for him to open the box. "No."

"You do know, then," Light said slowly, "that people in Japan don't typically give gifts on Christmas, except to very close friends, or lovers?"

L swallowed and shoved both hands into his pockets. "Yes."

"We're not close friends or lovers," Light said, frowning down at the box. "And you must know that, in Japan, reciprocity is a very large part of gift-giving?"

"Yes." L felt bizarrely as if he was a criminal on trial.

"Well, because we aren't close friends or lovers," Light said, sounding very frustrated, "I don't have anything to give you in return." He glared at L, presumably for his audacity at giving him a gift.

L smirked a little. "Oh, I daresay you'll get me back somehow."

Light frowned. He hadn't missed the fact that L had said 'get me back' instead of 'pay me back'. He now looked down at the box in trepidation.

After a time, L sighed heavily. "Light Yagami, it is traditional to actually open the gift so that the gift giver may delight in the surprise and joy on the face of the recipient. I have a plane to catch in a matter of hours, and if you don't get a move on, I shall miss it."

"All right," Light said, exasperated. "All right." He opened the box.

And groaned.

L smiled slightly as he saw Light's reaction to what was in the box, because even as he groaned, a smile was spreading on his face.

"What am I supposed to do with a puppy?" Light asked, picking the tiny thing up out of the box and cradling it gently in his hands. It was very small, and very asleep.

"Name it?" L suggested. "It's a German Shepherd. They are supposed to be some of the very best guard dogs in the world. He'll also double as an alarm system and companion. For when you miss me terribly." L added mischievously.

"Probably smarter than you, too," Light remarked absently. "After all... his name is Sherlock."