The orphanage buzzed with excitement, the news of L taking up temporary residence sending the children into something that resembled delighted chaos. The kids were ecstatic to hear about L's arrival. Up until then, L had only visited Mello and Near. Only a few other kids gotten to see him.

The children waited anxiously all day, awaiting the moment when the black car pulled into the driveway. According to Mello, who boasted about his relationship with the secretive detective, L loved sweets, so groups of young girls had spent the day baking. Everything from homemade ice cream to cookies, they worked in the kitchen, determined to make enough treats to satiate L. Some kids wanted to decorate, but Roger would have none of it.

"He's coming to stay for a few weeks. Yes, this is exciting, but no reason to throw a party. Ryuuzaki, as you have to call him, will probably only want to stay in his room and work. He needs a quiet place."

At 2:24, the children all rushed into the front hall, rows of tiny faces peering out the window to catch a glimpse of L's car. He said he'd be
here at 2:30. The caretakers shook their heads at the eager kids. It was laughable, how elated they were.

"There!" a boy shouted the moment the vehicle came into view. The rest watched intently as the car parked, the back door opened slowly and the eccentric detective emerged from the vehicle. The driver, his personal servant, Watari, went to the trunk and collected L's bags. L's eyes flickered on the window, smiling slightly when he saw the impatient faces looking back at him.

Hushed whispers of "He's here!" and "Shhh!" spread through the children. They watched as the two men walked to the front door. They heard the doorknob fidget, saw it turn, and L let himself in, Watari directly behind him. He turned his head and looked at the kids. They looked back, in shock and awe.

Mello broke through the crowd, dragging a blushing Near behind him by the hand. Mello threw himself at the detective, who had dropped to one knee and wrapped one arm around the blonde, and the other around the petite boy who had hugged him just as fiercely but with less force.

The other kids looked on in amazement as L looked down with affection.

"How long are you staying?" Mello asked excitedly.

"I don't know." L replied. "A while, I know that for sure."

"Why?" Near questioned.

"That," L said, turning his attention on Near, "is something that must wait until we're alone." the two boys nodded in understanding.

L got to his feet and glanced at the children. He noticed a small group of girls looking at him nervously, each holding a bag. A girl with dark
brown hair and amazing blue eyes approached him.

"R-Ryuuzaki?" she asked, not looking L in the eye.

"Yes?"

"Mello told us that you like sweets and that you didn't like to go outside and that you worked a lot so we all made you cookies and things so you can have sweets but not leave the orphanage to buy it!" she said quickly, holding out her bag. L looked at it, and then at the other girls, before taking the bag and peering inside it.

Inside he found a dozen golden brown cookies. He licked his lips when he smelled cinnamon. He reached one spidery hand into the bag and grabbed a cookie, sniffing it before nibbling off some.

His eyes lit up as his taste buds were assaulted with the pleasant taste of perfectly baked cookies. "Snickerdoodles." He announced. "With the just the right amount of cinnamon." The dark haired girl beamed up at him, a rosy blush tinting her cheeks.

The other girls swarmed around him, shoving bags of their own cooking in to his arms. L was careful to take a bite of each and give a kind compliment. When he was finally able to stand up again, bags of confections hung off of his arms. In his hands he held everything that couldn't be hung, had no idea how he was going to get through to many sweets before they went stale.

"Ryuuzaki!" He heard some boys yell. He turned his head to look, and saw some boys with banners and various toys. L blinked at them, not sure what to do. His little run in with the sugar-giving girl pack was enough child interaction for on day.

Roger, thankfully, must have noticed L's current dilemma and swooped in to save him, asking L to follow him to the room they had prepped for his arrival. L nodded, bid Watari and his successors to come with him, and left the room. He heard whispers trail their departure, but payed them no mind.

His room was on the top floor where no children were being housed. As Roger explained as they walked, that L had a whole floor to himself to work peacefully in stomp around angrily, listen to music, or break a window if he must, although Roger made a point of hoping that the last wouldn't happen for no good reason, and that the kids were told that the floor was restricted, and if they were caught up there, they would be punished.

L thanked Roger and dismissed him, asking Mello and Near to stay.

The room was scarcely furnished. A bed sat in the corner, pushed up against the walls. A desk with a lone chair and three T.V. Was pushed up next to the bed.

Watari was setting up L's computer on the floor as L gently shut the door and turned to the two boys.

"The reason I'm here is to track and find out what is causing the criminals deaths by cardiac arrest."

He walked over to the window and peeked outside before shutting the blinds, casting the room in near darkness. His computer whirred to life, shedding blue light on the trio. L looked almost translucent in the pale light.

"I believe that these people are being murdered somehow."

Mello's eyes widened.

"Even though these death haven't even been happening for a week, some people are starting to believe this is the work of God-- Divine Retribution."

"People will believe anything these days." Near sighed.

"It isn't to hard to believe. Criminals dropping dead for no reason? Autopsies have discovered no sign of poison. Either a very large group of terrorists have found a new drug that is completely untraceable, or this is something otherworldly."

"What do you think it is?" Mello asked. L looked at his computer."

"I really don't know. That's why I'm here."

L walked over to his computer and sat down, his legs crossed. Mello and Near sat down beside him.

"I'd like you two to do your own research. When you can, you can come up here to work with me. However, when doing research outside of this room, be secretive and don't tell anyone."

The two youth nodded in agreement.

"Very well then. Why don't you two go down to the cafeteria and eat? I'm pretty sure it's time for dinner..."

- - -

The mess hall was alive with the chattering of children. Everyone looked up as Mello and Near entered, treating them as if they were celebrities. Mello basked in the attention whereas Near shrunk away from it, grabbing an apple and accepting a slice of chocolate cake for L from a giggling girl before slipping out of the lunchroom. He hated being the center of attention. He instead took his lone apple and ate it as he made his way back up the stairs and into L's room.

When he entered, L was sitting on the floor, typing away.

"Ryuuzaki?" Near said quietly, lingering in the doorway. "I brought cake."

L's eyes flickered on the boy for a second.

"Didn't you eat?"

"I ate an apple on the way here."

L looked as if he were about to coach the boy on his eating habits, but decided against it.

"What kind of cake?"

"Chocolate. Another gift." Near replied, shutting the door and handing L the cake.

L thanked him and turned back to his computer, poking the cake with his fork.

"It's dry."

"I doubt she's that good of a cook; it is Dalia we're taking about after all..."

L nodded, and then seemed to promptly forget about the boy.

"Can I stay here with you?"

L turned his head to the young boy, giving him all of his attention.

"Excuse me?"

"I-I was wondering if I could stay here for a little while?"

L appeared to be considering it and after a pause, opened his mouth to speak.

"Do you have any assignments you need to work on?"

"We're on a break, but I do have an essay due at the end of it,,,"

L pointed to a computer beside one of the three T.V.s on the desk. "You can use that one." he said.

Near nodded his thanks and walked over to the computer. Soon, he became lost in his research and didn't become reality until the door was thrown open in a frenzy.

"Near!" The intruder yelled.

Near and L glared at the man, both angry that their extensive research had been disturbed. In the doorway stood Roger. He looked at Near, a look that couldn't decided whether to be fear or shock or embarrassment on his face. His eyes darted from Near to L and back
again.

L looked pissed. A contained anger, mind you, but anger nonetheless.

"Er..." Roger gulped. "I didn't know where you went."

"Well, now you know that I'm here, I'm okay, right?"

"I, er... Think you should go to your room. I need to talk to Ryuuzaki."

Near looked over at L before getting up from the computer and leaving the room.

Roger shut the door after making sure that Near was down the hall and out of sight, and turned to L.

"What is it you want to talk to me about, Roger? You seem quite upset."

"Yes, I suppose I am." Roger said, wringing his hands. "I need to talk to you about Near."

"What is there to talk about?"

"When Near was at the hospital, a nurse reported him muttering 'L' and 'Ryuuzaki' in his sleep."

"You're point being?" L asked blatantly, looking up at Roger with onyx eyes.

"She claims that he said other things that she believes, but is not entirely sure, about loving you, Ryuuzaki. More than he should."

L blinked slowly. "I'm aware that Near has feelings deeper than admiration for me.

"Then you must understand why I don't think he should be alone with you!"

L turned his eyes away from Roger and instead on the ceiling. "I do not understand that."

"It's obvious, Ryuuzaki! If Near likes you then--"

"I doubt Near would act on his emotions. Near is not that rash. He has most likely realized the danger of his feelings and will act accordingly. Why would I deprive him of my company? Besides," he looked back at Roger, his gaze penetrating. "I'm the one you should worry about."

Roger's eyes widened. "W-wha--"

Putting his thumb to his lip, L looked back at the ceiling. "He is an attractive boy. He's intelligent and isn't one to get in your way. Young, yes, but very mature, and I doubt a relationship between us would become sexual immediately. He is an ideal partner."

Roger took a step back. "Ryuuzaki, think about what you're saying!"

"I am." L replied, rising to his feet. "And I think that Near would make a fine boyfriend."

"You can't be serious!" Roger gasped.

"I might be, I might not be. Near is still just a boy. I also know that you wouldn't dare press charges against the Great L." L cocked his head, he face dangerously close to Roger's. "Would you?"

Shakily, Roger shook his head.

"Besides," L said, un-invading Roger's personal space and walking away. "I'll have to wait and see what Near does."

L didn't see it, but Roger nodded and left the room. L heard the door click shut.

He sat back down on the floor, resuming what he was doing.

He stared at the screen, eyes blurring and distorting the words.

"Did I really just say that to Roger?"

- - -

A week passed and Kira, as he was now called, was calling international attention. His motives were quite clear at this point; rid the world
of evil by killing off the criminals.

But despite the commotion, Wammys House decided to have a little field trip, for the end of the summer. They were going to a water park before it got to cold.

Near, however, fell ill the night before they were planning to leave. His fever was still persistent that morning, so he wasn't allowed to go. He sat in his bed, hating his frail, sickly body and attempting to make his fever go down by thinking about it. He was sitting there, a nurse getting him some medicine, when a thought came to him.

He was practically alone with L.

"Check my temperature." Near said after the nurse had given him a spoonful of medicine.

"Near, I just gave you medicine..."

"I had some last night. Please check."

The nurse sighed and grabbed the thermometer off the table and stuck it under Near's tongue. It beeped in even intervals before giving off a series of four consecutive beeps, telling them that it was done.

The nurse looked at it. "99.6." she read aloud.

"That's better."

"But not best."

"But I want to go visit L."

"You can visit him later, when your temperature is all the way down."

"But I have to see him."

"Why?"

"He asked me to come. I needs my help."

The nurse gave Near a scrutinizing look before sighing and allowing him to go. "Just be careful!" She shouted after him as he trotted excitedly down the hall.

He knocked quietly at L's door and waited for L to call him in. He slowly pushed open the door and entered.

"How do you feel?"

"Better." Near said, walking over to L and sitting on the floor. L peered at him.

"You still look a little ill."

"I'm not cured, just feel a lot better."

"Are you sure?" L asked, leaning in close.

Near nodded, his cheeks flushing deeper with a hot blush. L looked hard at Near, before doing something quite unexpected. He pressed his forehead to Nears.

Near made a sound of surprise and felt his cheeks grow even hotter.

L's skin was cool against his own heated flesh. It was soothing. He looked up at L's large, black eyes, distorted by their proximity to each
other. Light peach colored lips were open slightly in concern, tempting the supposedly innocent boy. He could kiss. He should kiss him.

He didn't kiss him.

He started to chew on his lower lip, accepting the light tendrils of pain instead of the softness of L's lips.

L cocked his head. "Is something wrong?"

"N-No.." Near stuttered. "I'm fine."

"But you're getting hotter. Your cheeks are a deep red."

Near's eyes widened. "Could he really be so naive? So dense?"

L pulled away. "You're the only one left behind, right?"

Near nodded.

"Well it's not fair. Do you want to go do something?"

"Like what?"

L shrugged. "I don't know, Video games, a movie. Something other than work."

When Near didn't reply, L continued. "We could go into town, go get something to eat. Find a carnival, go shopping, go to a pet store--"

"A pet store, Ryuuzaki?"

L stopped counting on his fingers and looked at Near, smiling kindly.

"I'm trying to remember what I liked to do at your age, and I liked petting animals."

"You'd go into pet stores and play with the animals?"

"I'm good with pets."

Near nodded and started twirling his hair, thinking about what would like to do with L. "A movie sounds nice."

"I'll get Watari to take us."

Near went to get up, glad that he was getting to do something with L, eager to get going, but he felt L's hand grab his shirt.

"How do you feel?"

"Hmm? Oh, better."

With L on his knees, and Near standing, they were relatively close in height. L decided to check Near's temperature one last time, and put
a hand to the boys forehead, frowned, and replaced it with his forehead .

"I've never been good at checking temperatures." he explained. He smiled slightly when once again, heat returned to Near's face.

L was considering kissing the boy when a knock at the door pulled them back to reality. They both looked up, still close together. Watari blinked down at the scene. Near jerked away as if they had been doing something wrong, and L frowned.

"Yes?"

When Watari didn't reply, L sighed. "I was checking for a fever."

"Are you ready to go?" Watari asked, ignoring the current situation.

L looked over at Near, who nodded, and then got up. "Let us grab our shoes and we'll be ready."

After both shoe despising geniuses had adorned nearly unused sneakers, they walked to the car. L ate a bag of Skittles agonizingly slowly,
and Near daydreamed until they arrived and got in line. L looked at the movies playing and turned to Near.

"There are two romantic comedies, one R-rated horror, a movie based on sports and a pg-13 thriller/suspense about werewolves and vampires."

"Supernatural movie." Near said without hesitation.

"There is a serial killer in it."

Near sensed the worry on L's voice, He smiled. "I'll be fine."

L walked up to the counter and asked to buy two tickets to the movie Near chose.

"How old is he?" she asked, pointing to Near.

"10."

"This is a PG-13 rated movie."

"I am his legal guardian."

"Can you prove it?"

L leaned in, his eyes as sharp and cold as onyx.

"He is an orphan. He has many guardians. He was left behind on the biggest field trip of the year because he had a cold. I wanted to treat him to a movie and would be most appreciative if you would allow him this privilege."

The girl looked taken aback. She was young, upper teens. She was cute, a little to much black eyeliner. He could tell that if he appealed to her emotions, she wouldn't ask any more questions.

"An orphan?" she asked quietly.

"Yes. I'm the closest thing he has to family."

"The poor thing..." she murmured, putting a hand to her mouth. She quickly took L's money and gave him two tickets. "Enjoy the movie."

L nodded, took Near's hand (He wanted to look more legal guardianish), and walked through the glass doors.

L took the immediate left, still holding Near's hand, and stood in line for treats.

"What do you want?" he asked, fishing out his wallet with his free hand. Near looked around the others in line, at the glass counter displaying the confectioneries.

"Popcorn. Oh, and those chocolate covered cookie dough balls." he said quietly, his heart beating at an unbelievable rate.

"Am I on a date with L? Would this be considered a date? Oh my God, what am I going to do?"

When it was there turn, L slapped a 50 dollar bill on the counter and ordered one of everything. The clerk stared at him, Near stared at him, and all L did was point to the soda machine and sat, "Oh, and a large Dr. Pepper."

Five minutes later, the due found two seats and sat down with bags of food.

Because it was the last showing of that movie, the theater was practically empty. A few couples sat in the seats, spaced out in the almost empty room. Most were in the back, probably for privacy. Near felt a little out of place, going with L and sitting in a room with nothing my hormone driven teenagers. They were all on dates, why couldn't Near and L be on one too?

The movie started. It was dramatic, almost overly so. Not the kind of movie Near would usually go too. It was about a vampire that preyed on humans, drinking their blood and leaving them dead. However, when one of the vampires unknowingly attacks and kills a werewolf, it starts a huge conflict between the two species. Near knew it wasn't supposed to be that scary, but the truth is is that it was scaring the Hell out of him. There were the jumpy parts, where the pitiful audience would break apart and stop sticking their tongues down each other's throats long enough to gasp, in some cases scream, before once more returning to their make out session. There was foreshadowing, where the creepy violin music played up to the jumpy part, and of course, the obligatory creature-looking-in-window scene.

Once again, typical horror movie music started playing as the movies heroine, a blonde girl with a cute body and was decidedly clueless, always getting in trouble and needing the sexy hero to come rescue her, was creeping around a warehouse, black blurs darting around out of focus. Near sat clutching the arms of the chair, taking shallow, shuddering breaths. He hadn't realized how scared he would be.

L sat beside him, appearing completely un-fazed. Near, however, was a nervous wreck. L saw this was thought that maybe he should have taken him to one of the romantic comedies.

He munched away at his Dots happily. Would it be too late to change movies?

Just then, the event that they had been setting up for occurred. A werewolf jumped from behind a box. Snarling and growling, he leaped at the girl. She screamed a typical ear shattering horror movie scream. Near jumped, yelped, and clutched onto L's arm.

The red Dot L was about to eat was jerked away from him as Near latched onto his arm. L peered down at Near from under a mess of raven hair. The boy was shivering from fear,

"Are you okay?" he whispered. "We can watch another movie you want."

Near shook his head. "N-No, I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Y-Yeah."

L cast one last unsure glance at Near before turning his eyes back on the screen.

When the movie ended, the duo walked out and into the dimly lit hallway. The audience poured out around them, chatting and laughing, telling each other what their favorites parts of the movie were although Near doubted that they had payed very much attention to it. Near was still holding onto L's arms, his legs quaking.

"What do you want to do now?" L asked, his voice soothing.

"I don't know."

"Do you want to go back to the orphanage?"

"No. Somewhere else."

"Ice cream?"

"Sounds good."

They walked out to the parking lot where L called Watari. They waited only a few moments for the car.

Watari pulled up and L and Near climbed in. the car started up again on it's way to the closest ice cream parlor.

L was a genius, yes, but he didn't wear his seat belt. Not for this car ride at least. Near was struggling with his, considering that the belt was
stuck and refused to come free. The moment he managed to jerk it free of it's prison, was the moment Watari made a sharp right turn.

The reason of this turn is unknown. Probably some idiot that Watari had to avoid. But we all know how inertia works, thus throwing L into the door.

And Near into L.

Near flew across the back of the car and landed in L's chest with an "Oof!" His arms had shot out to soften his fall, but all his reflex got him was a comfortable position groping L's chest. L, most likely on basic human man-protecting-child instinct, wrapped his arms around Near's slight back, holding him close.

The wild ride was over soon after it began, and the car ride was once again smooth. Near looked up at the older man, who's lips were so close that that one subtle movement almost caused a connection.

"L..." he whispered.

"Are you alright?" L asked, his breath ghosting over Near's skin, his black eyes soft and inviting. Near gulped, his heart starting a nervous patter in his chest.

"Yeah..." Near replied, his eyes focusing on L's lips.

A smile played on L's lips as he hugged Near closer, leaning forward as if to close the space between them. "That's good. I would hate it if
any harm were to befall you."

Suddenly, the car screeched to a stop. Near lurched forward, planting a kiss on L's collar bone instead of his preferred destination.

The door opened.

"I'm sorry, Sir." Watari said stiffly. "We're here."

L pushed Near away and got out of the car. Near, feeling slightly hurt, but knew there was a god reason to L's sudden coldness, crawled
out of the car after him.

They stood in line, Near brooding. Another opportunity to kiss, gone! Only, this time, it wasn't his fault. Near decided to cheer up and enjoy the last of his day with L. Who knows when he will have another time like this?

L ordered a simple cake batter flavored ice cream. He waited for Near, who was twirling his hair in thought. L expected him to order something common and simple like vanilla.

"Cake batter and mint chocolate chip with brownie mixed in."

Both L and the clerk looked at him like he was crazy. Near shrugged. "It's good."

They got their ice cream and sat down at a table for two farthest away from the storefront windows. Near smiled almost maniacally down at ice cream concoction before sticking his spoon in the center and licking it off.

"Though you'd get something plain." L admitted, eating a spoonful of his ice cream.

"The seemingly most normal people can have the oddest and most complex habits and tendencies."

"I'd hardly you normal."

"Then why would you expect me to get something normal?"

"You have a point."

The two finished their ice cream in silence. They rose and left the parlor, returning to the car and separating with a hug at the orphanage.

The rest got back an hour or so later, in time for dinner which Near skipped. He instead stayed up in his room and built and rebuilt a puzzle 56 times before climbing into bed.

He was running, his chest tight and aching, his breath ragged, the blood in his mouth and throat choking; drowning him.

Behind him a pack of werewolves howled at his heels. The leaders black fur was stained with blood. His blood.

He stumbled, fell, scrambled to get away from the snapping beasts, crawling through the mud in a hopeless fight to save himself.

They were on him. Blood spattered the ground. He screamed.

Near awoke, tried to sit up. Failed. He was entangled in the sheets, he struggled, withering around, making the mess worse. Cold sweat made freezing trails down his neck and spine, alarming him. He was convinced that it was his blood.

He finally calmed down enough to free himself from the suffocating hold of the blankets. He threw them off of him and onto the floor. He lay on his back, panting, wondering what to do next.

After a few moments he rolled out of bed: literally. He rose shakily to his feet and started out the door, down the hall and up the stairs to L's room.

He knocked lightly before entering.

"Ryuuzaki?" He croaked, his voice hoarse.

L sat on the floor in front of his computer.The blue-white light washed over him, bathing him in it's eerie glow, deepening the shadows below his eyes.

He looked at Near, who was cowering in the doorway, and didn't say a word.

Near let himself in, shutting the door with a gentle click.

"I had a nightmare." he explained, walking over to L. "Can I stay with you?"

"Do you mind me being up?"

Near shook his head. "I just didn't want to be alone."

L nodded toward the bed. "You can sleep there."

Near thanked L, walked over to the bed and climbed beneath the covers. "Goodnight." he whispered before closing his eyes.

"Goodnight."

L listened to Nears breathing, waiting for it to become even in sleep. His eyes lingered a moment longer on the monitor before he got to his feet and walked the short distance to the bed.

He looked down at Near. His eyes were closed and his mouth was open slightly, puffs of air playing with a stray piece of silver hair. He looked so troubled. Pained, as if the weight of the whole world was crushing him, not the usual at ease look people got when they slept.

The breath caught in L's throat. His heart ached-- a dull, persist ant hurt. He wanted nothing more at that moment than to comfort Near, to love him and hold him and kiss his worries away. He grabbed the blanket that was draped over Near's body and pulled it up to his chin. Near snuggled into the pillow.

"L... " he sighed.

L took a step back. "Could I be the reason for all of his pain?"

He felt an unfamiliar pain behind his eyes, and he suddenly realized that he was going to cry. He swallowed the lump in his throat and fought back the threat of tears. The turned back to his computer with every intent to go back to work, but instead clicked off the monitor and returned to the bed, pulling back the covers and climbing in beside Near.

It was way too hard to resist him.

- - -

Oh God, I am done with that. I'm sorry it took FOREVER to type. It was almost 39 (It's also 4989 words by the way, not including the A/N) written pages (Most of my chapters are 22 to 25) and I even had a mental conversation with it. (It was like, "Shelbey... you should type me." I was like "I know fanfiction, but I just... don't want to." Yeah. Then it started insulting me and such.)

I sort of scanned this chapter for typos, however, not very well. But I have good news. This summer break I am doing a mass revising. I am going through every single one of my fanfics and fixing them. However, if anyone who happens to be bored out of their mind feels like fixing a story or chapter for me, and then emailing me the end result at stardragon13 gmail . Com, I would be MOST appreciative.

Anyway, back to this story: Yay for fluff. X3 However, the next chapter will have some conflict. And I also know how this whole thing ends. But I can't tell you. Until it is the end. Then you'll know. (After reading over it, I accidentally based the movie they saw off of Underworld. Only slightly, but.. oops..)

I liked this chapter, I hope you did too, the next update will take a long time to get out, so enjoy this one.

Oh, and because I haven't done this in a while-- Thank you all for the kind reviews! I never thought any of my stories would get big, let alone as big as some of them have gotten. I love it so much, I love you all so much, and I love this story. Your kind words have helped me along the way and with a lot of things. Thank you!!

-Hybrid