Disclaimer: All I own are my DVDs, L plushie, and strawberry smoothie. Oh and I guess my OCs, but they're not important….right?

Chapter 17 Experiments

~Rei's POV~

I was currently sitting in one of the many rooms that made up L's hotel suite, dressed in pajamas that L had Watari purchase for me going over information that L and I had already discussed dozens of times. Everything about this situation just screamed bizarre. I sighed and brushed my hair back out of my face only to have the offending locks obstruct my vision again. I repeated this process several more times before loudly blowing on my hair. It immediately fell back over my eyes. I groaned and flopped back on the couch. Why wasn't I putting my hair up again? Oh right because I'm vain and L told me he liked it better down.

I sat up again only to find L peering at me over the edge of his laptop, smirking while he toyed with his lower lip. Ugh! Did he have to look so….

Cute?

I never said he was cute.

You didn't have to.

Shut up.

Once I had finished arguing with myself, and I had to admit that I probably had lost, I decided to voice aloud the question that had been bothering me for quite some time.

"Ryuzaki?" I asked. He quit the "secretive" looks he had been sending for the past few minutes and gave his complete attention.

"Yes, Rei?"

"Why am I here exactly?" I flushed embarrassed at the implications of the statement. "Not that I mind being here! Its just I'm sort of wondering why you need me here. It's not like we're looking at any new information…" L smiled softly and I felt my breath hitch.

I told you that you think he's cute.

Shut up!

"I understand. I am not in any way offended. I suppose you are here," he began pausing slightly, "because I felt that judging by your reactions towards Light this evening you would not be comfortable being alone with him for long periods of time. I also felt you would not feel at ease on depending on your mother for comfort when she was also clearly distraught. And I suppose I should add that I have grown fond of your presence," he explained easily, like he was telling me why it was warm in the spring.

Ahhh screw it, he was cute. And he was "fond" of me. I mean what guy talks like that today?

"I see…" I trailed off lamely. "Oh! Thanks for the pajamas."

"It was no trouble. I did not think you would want to spend the night dressed in something of mine."

"Not necessarily," I muttered under my breath. My eyes widened and I slapped my hand over my mouth. Did I really just say that? Bad Rei! Bad bad bad bad Rei!

"What was that?" L asked sounding pleased with himself.

"Nothing!" I said waving my hand dismissively. "Nothing at all."

"I see," L answered mysteriously. What? What did he see?

We worked in silence for the next few moments while the blush that I constantly seemed to have on my face in his presence faded away. I really needed to pull myself together. I mean really, L and I together? It would be impossible. I mean say I were to exclude any of the other factors such as age distance and the fact that my dad would never approve, it still wouldn't be probable. I mean, L is the world's greatest detective. Even right this second he was working on about thirty other cases besides the Kira case. In the long run, all I would be was a distraction right? And when L decided to focus back on the important things, I would just be pushed aside. It was better how it was right now. At the very least I could still be considered a friend. I would still have a piece of his life. That is until the Kira case was over….

Which led me to the next question. What was I going to do when the case was over? Finish school and join the police force hoping that one day I'd become renowned enough to work with L again? And who knows how long that would take? I could very well be in my thirties before I saw L again. So what do I do? Take a chance and have everything be awkward between us for the remainder of the case and never see him again? Or do I keep up with the pretense that all I was interested in was friendship and then never see him again? Ugh. See Sayu? This is why I never dated!

I blinked, suddenly brought back to reality when L got up and took a seat on the couch beside me.

"Um, Ryuzaki?" I asked in confusion. He merely scrutinized the files in front of me before tugging the ones I had in my hand out of my grip and laying them on the table. He didn't say anything for a moment and it was clear from the expression on his face that he was steeling himself for something.

"Rei, would you agree to participate in an experiment with me?" he questioned.

"An experiment?" I responded turning to face him. He nodded. "Doe it have to do with the Kira case?"

"Hmm…no. This is merely something I have been looking into during any free time I have."

"So virtually never," I finished. He smiled.

"Exactly. Which is why it would be extremely helpful for you to participate." I considered my options. Knowing L it wouldn't be anything bad, maybe a social test or something?

"Alright," I agreed. He blinked in surprise.

"Alright?"

"Alright," I said again. It was my turn to be amused with him for once. He almost seemed…nervous? "Are there any rules I need to follow or anything specific I have to do?"

"No," he said shaking his head. "All that is required on your part is to close your eyes." I quirked an eyebrow.

"Close my eyes? That's it?" He nodded again. I obligingly lowered my lids. I shivered when I felt his breath near my ear.

"Now stay very still," he whispered. I nodded. I stayed completely silent, waiting for some sort of clue regarding his presence. I had almost thought he had left when I felt air blow across my lips. Very lightly, I felt his lips press against mine. The kiss was very brief, like two moth's wings that brushed during flight, but….I'm not sure how to describe it.

It wasn't like how it was told in books. There was no sudden electricity or flames between us. Just the feeling that I had been cold for a very long time and had just gotten warm. He pulled away and I opened my eyes slowly, like if I had looked at him immediately I would have scared him off. His face was emotionless, an expression I hadn't seen from him directed towards me for quite some time.

"Well?" he asked. "What do you feel the result of the experiment was?" I suppressed a smile. He was pretending like he didn't care. That rejection wouldn't hurt him. I pretended to think.

"Hmmm…inconclusive," I finally said. His eyes widened as I smirked. "I think we'll have to try again." Then it was my turn to capture his lips with my own. He stiffened and I was about to pull back when he began to reciprocate the kiss. I was very careful not to put to much pressure on him. I was aware that he had issues with contact and if I got too close too fast I might end up sprawled on the floor while he retreated to a corner.

But now I could get a better idea of how this was supposed to work. The kiss was clumsy of course. Neither of us had much (translate any) experience with this sort of thing, but that made it that much sweeter. We were hesitant and unsure and felt very young, but that's what first love is supposed to be about right? I finally broke the kiss and we pulled apart though he kept his forehead pressed against mine.

"Wow," I murmured softly. He chuckled under his breath.

"My sentiments exactly." Any embarrassment I had abandoned returned all at once. I tried to back away and put some space between us. He complied, though a bit reluctantly. His hand brushed my cheek softly and I resisted the urge to lean into the touch. We stayed silent for a while, the only sound in the room was that of air entering and leaving our lungs. Almost without being aware of it, we began to gravitate towards each other again when….my hair fell back in my face.

I stared blankly for a moment; my eyes crossing in order to focus on the strands haphazardly flopped over my eyes. I swiftly grabbed a pillow and put it up to my face. I then proceeded to scream my lungs out into said pillow. Then I dropped the pillow back onto the couch, making no move to do anything to my hair. Instead I chose to sit there sulking. L blinked. Or at the very least, I think he blinked. In all honesty I couldn't quite tell with my hair in my face.

"Rei?" he asked curiously, though I could tell he was suppressing mirth as well. "What are you doing?"

"I thought that would be obvious," I said loftily. "I am refusing to move my hair." He considered this for a moment.

"I see…but then why not simply put your hair up?" he asked slowly. I stiffened. No way I was telling him the real reason.

"Because that would be admitting defeat," I said stubbornly, crossing my arms. I'm sure I looked very intimidating. An eighteen year old girl in pajamas with hair in her face is the epitome of terrifying.

"Of course," L answered like this actually made sense and I was not behaving like a five year old. "May I try?"

"Knock yourself out." I scooted closer to him to give him easier access. He lifted the hair from my face with his normal two fingered grip while staring at it with a critical expression on his face. He turned his attention to the rest of my hair and after a few moments of consideration mussed it. I sat there waiting for it to fall back into my face. When it didn't, L gave me what I had decided to call his "panda smile."

"No way," I muttered, furrowing my eyebrows. L's smile grew into a smirk.

"I believe this is where I say, 'yes way,'" he remarked. I eyed the black mess that resided on the top of his head. Hmm…I guess if he could see through that he had some idea of what he was doing.

"I'm impressed," I said, reengaging in playful banter.

"You should be," he said solemnly. "I was the British Jr. Champion in the art of hair arrangement."

"But of course!" I gasped in false astonishment. "I read an article about that! You should challenge Light to that as well; though I have a feeling he would give you a run for your money…" We stared at each other, trying to maintain the "serious" air before breaking down into laughter. Well L didn't really break down laughing. A better way to describe it would be chuckling breathlessly. I ogled him, loving the sound.

"Yes?" he inquired finally, noticing all the attention I was giving him.

"Nothing, I just like your laugh. You should do it more often," I added casually. His hand reached for mine, and he intertwined our fingers. His grip didn't remind me of someone holding something disgusting this time, more like a person holding something very delicate and precious.

"I have laughed much more in your presence than I am normally inclined to," he admitted.

"Why is that?" I wondered and though I meant it to come off as a joke, it sounded much more serious than I intended. He smiled kindly at me.

"I believe the phrase used here is, 'you tell me.'" I returned the smile and gradually leaned towards him again when…

"Ahem," called a voice from the other end of the room. Due to my shock I fell off the couch and landed on the floor, with my arms and legs splayed at strange angles. My left hand however was still caught in L's grip, but he managed to stay on the couch despite his unstable perch.

"Yes, Watari?" L answered, completely at ease with the situation. I felt my face flush scarlet. Damn it! I thought I was finally done with blushing. Watari chuckled at the scene before him.

"I merely wanted to inform you that Rei should retire soon. She requires much more sleep than you do." He eyed my bright red face and linked hands. "Am I wrong in assuming that your experiment went as hoped?"

"No, Watari you are correct. Rei responded quite well." Ugh, did he have to act like I wasn't in the room?

"I see. Then I will leave you two alone for the time being." The moment the door shut behind him, I sprang up from the ground and buried my face in my hand. L surveyed the flush that was steadily making its way across the small portion of my face that was visible.

"I take it you are embarrassed?" L finally asked.

"Of course I am!" I exploded. "He's like your dad! How embarrassed would you be if my dad saw us in that position?" L soothingly stroked the back of my hand that he still hadn't forfeited possession of.

"I don't believe embarrassed would be the right word. I believe terrified for my life would better describe the emotions I would feel. You are forgetting that your father has an overprotective streak and has easy access to a gun." I leaned back considering this.
"While that is true…he wouldn't actually shoot you."

"I am not so sure of that," L muttered darkly.

"Besides, I think I'd almost rather get shot than have to face that again." L chuckled.

"Only you would find being shot a better alternative to embarrassment," he answered.

"If I haven't mentioned this to you before, I will now, I really hate blushing." L pondered this for a moment and then let out a wicked, and pardon my made up word, unjusticey smile. "And I should not have told you that," I said lamely. "Is there any chance I could make you forget what you just heard?" He shook his head.

"The chances of you succeeding in your attempt are less th-" I interrupted him by hastily kissing him. He responded immediately and I smirked a bit, pleased I could invoke this sort of a reaction. I pulled away, leaving both us gasping for air.

"How about now?" I asked with a wicked smile of my own. He blinked in astonishment.

"Considerably higher than they were a few moments ago." I nodded smugly. I thought so. "But I still remember." I sighed.

"Damn it…"

"Does this mean you will assault, I mean kiss me again?" he asked almost hopefully. I rolled my eyes and tossed a pillow at him. "No, I suppose you won't." His eyes went to a clock on the table stating it was near midnight. "However, due to the late hour, I believe you should take Watari's advice and rest."

"Alright," I agreed, not really in the mood to pretend to fight anymore. "Are you coming with me?" He blinked at me. I slapped my forehead. "Okay, backtrack. That could be misconstrued the wrong way. I mean will you stay with me while I sleep?" He visibly relaxed. Well that was sort of cute. He was nervous about that.

"I have no objection in doing so." It was my turn to relax. I was less likely to have nightmares if he was in the room with me.

"Lead the way," I commanded in a fake imperious voice. He chuckled and muttered something sounding like, "so dramatic," but complied anyway. The room we stopped at was just as lavish as one would expect from a five star hotel suite. The bed itself wouldn't have fit through the door of my room back home. I whistled appreciatively. I climbed into the middle of the over extravagant bed and sighed appreciatively when my body sank into the mattress. I stretched contentedly, while making a note that if I wasn't careful, I might not be unable to unhunch my back at the end of the day. L stood awkwardly off to the side, and I sat up in confusion when he made no move to sit or get on the bed.

"Would you prefer I sit in a chair near the bed? Or perhaps…" I cut him off.

"Ryuzaki. The bed is huge. If you sit next to it, I'm likely to forget you're there." When he still remained standing, I impatiently patted a place next to me. "Come on." He sighed and after what still seemed like an eternity settled into the place I directed, though he still remained hunched over on himself. I grinned in victory and patted his head. "Good, Ryuzaki."

"I am not a dog," he murmured slightly disgruntled.

"True. If you were a dog you would have turned around three or four times before lying down instead of standing there like I had asked you to adopt Matsuda." L's expression turned to one of horror. I couldn't resist laughing. "Is he really that bad?" I asked amidst giggles.

"No," L admitted. "As of late I have found his presence much more tolerable. But the idea that all the setbacks we are regularly forced to combat with on his account would be forever introduced into my working environment was horrific." I stared at him.

"Please stop reading the dictionary for fun. Or at least use shorter sentences," I begged. He smiled.

"Are you suggesting you are unable to cope with my constantly expanding vocabulary?"

"Don't make me pet your head again," I threatened.

"That I found enjoyable. It was your comment of, 'good Ryuzaki,' that I found irritating," he retorted. I sighed heavily, ready to let out another retort, when my sigh turned into a yawn. L smiled again. "Our conversation is becoming completely nonsensical. I suggest you sleep." I was going to protest, but another yawn stopped me.

"Fine. But for the record, you were losing." L shrugged.

"I will accept that if you will sleep. If it is clear that I am not taking good care of you, then your father will be less likely to allow such rendezvous in the future." I snorted while I wriggled under the blankets.

"You make it sound like you asked for permission this time."

"Sleep," L said firmly, leaving no room for debate. I closed my eyes, remaining still for a moment. Then sneakily, I wormed my hand free from the blankets and slid it on top of the comforter, searching for something. I smiled when L's hand grasped mine and gave it a small squeeze. Slowly, feeling much more content than for a long time, I drifted off to sleep.

~L's POV~

It became clear that she had fallen asleep when her hold fell slack and my hand was the only thing pressing our two palms together. I still carefully leaned over her to be sure, and was satisfied to find that her eyes were shut and her breathing low and soft. She was smiling. I allowed a small smile of my own to creep across my face. The evening had been much more fruitful than I had anticipated. I turned when I heard the sound of shoes on carpet.

"Ryuzaki?" Watari asked in hushed tones.

"She is asleep Watari," I answered.

"Would you like me to fetch your laptop or any other case files?" my oldest friend inquired. Watari was always concerned with my well being, though he had given up the battle of forcing me to sleep years ago when it had become clear that my insomnia was not detrimental to my work.

"Mm…no. Please bring the novels I requested you to purchase." I didn't want the rapid speed at which I typed to jar her awake.

"Of course, Ryuzaki." I sighed softly. I disliked the formal air that we had to treat each other with, but this was the norm. While I was working on a case I treated Watari as an employee, whether we were alone or had company, though company was rare. But by the time I had discovered my aversion to this, it had been too late. The routine had become inbred and I would have had trouble functioning with him on any other level.

I pushed those thoughts aside. That always seemed to be an error on my part, I never seemed to cease thinking and if I didn't have a case to focus on, I inevitably focused on myself. On mistakes and errors of the past, present, and even of the future. I could anticipate myself enough to understand that the mistakes in the future were the ones that were sure to lead to my early death. I was not going to delude myself into believing I would live a long life. Besides any belief on my part would only serve in exacerbating the guilt I already felt about the pressure I already heaped upon my successors. Why deprive them of their childhood if I believed they were not needed?

So many gone or broken. A, B, X, Y, Z, and countless others whom I had removed from the order, but not before tainting them with false hope and the burdens that L must carry. No, I shouldn't think about that. But it was because I recognized my life to be short that I had justified myself in reaching for this last taste of happiness.

So I contended myself to watching her sleep, aware that my presence would only hurt in the end when I was snatched away by death's cold hands.

~Author's Note~

There we go. Something to break up the fluff fest the rest of the chapter was. I feel so much more at home writing depressing stuff. Just shows you how messed up I am. Well I do kind want to marry Beyond Birthday…but he just makes blood seem so attractive….

Anyways. I apologize for "Fluffy L" as I have decide to call him, but this story isn't necessarily supposed to be with in character L. This is with L deciding to spend the little time he has left, happy. So sorry, but this story is mostly with L having out of character emotions, but still speaking in character and having in character mannerisms.

It was funny because a couple of you guys were all, "I sense cuddling," or "please make them kiss soon." I bet you all think you guilted me into it. Well you're wrong. I had planned it to be right in this spot since the beginning. So I win.

And now an important announcement. Next week, I will be camping. I'm leaving Monday and am not coming home until Friday. This means I won't be able to update Wednesday. I am going to try, try being the key word here, to get the next chapter up before I leave, but if it's not up, don't assume I suddenly hate you or I am dropping the story. I'm just gonna be gone. Yeah. That's right. I'm camping over Thanksgiving. My family is weird.

One more special announcement.

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Nicole: Haha happy now? Because I am ecstatic.