TCLA: And now for a something a little different. Take it away SweetHearts4L!

SH4L: Finally! After battling a snow storm, a really bad fever and frostbite in both of my feet, I have come to say that TCLA does not own Death Note or any of its characters. She only owns Rei and Tai and my future children cause I love her stories! :3

TCLA: I own your children? Because my country soooo didn't fight a war about making slavery illegal… Just kidding. Thanks for the enthusiastic greeting! I wish you much luck on your fanfiction!

Chapter 26 Intermission

~L's POV~

Rei was anxiously pacing the length of the darkened hotel room, her hair in disarray as she muttered to herself while wringing her hands. Despite her frazzled appearance at learning of the plan I had prepared in order to allow Light and Misa's removal from confinement, I felt a sense of relief at seeing her frantic behavior.

During the fifty days of Light, Misa, and her father's confinement, she had been…lifeless. There had been a sense of dull acceptance in her eyes. If Light had been truly convicted, I truly believe the Yagami family would have lost three of its members.

Following that, the distinct feeling of comfort at seeing her exerting so much energy was to be expected. As she passed by me during her frantic circuit, I caught a snatch of the mantra she was saying to herself. "What if the gun goes off? What if Misa does kill Dad?" What if. What if.

Catching the desperate girl by the shoulders as she made to pass me again, she turned her wide brown eyes up at my dark ones. Her eyes were darting nervously, though she made no move to back away from me. She was biting her lip, resisting the impulse to twist away from me and resume wearing away the plush carpet the hotel had installed.

"Rei…" I began and saw to my pleasure how she relaxed at the sound of my voice. "If I thought this plan had a high risk of failure or accident, do you think I would have suggested it?" She paused, and then hesitantly shook her head. "Then you should know that I believe almost certainly the plan will succeed." She ran a hand through her hair exasperatedly.

"It's not you I'm worried about. I trust your opinion absolutely. It's the other interfering factors that are killing me…" she trailed off.

"It's starting soon," I said softly. My hands slipped from her shoulders and I extended one towards her. Letting out a sigh she took the hand and I led her to the monitors.

~Rei's POV~

"Are you sure this is necessary Ryuzaki?" Light asked skeptically, holding up his wrist which was encircled by a silver handcuff attached by a chain to a matching one on L's wrist.

Personally, I felt being handcuffed to L was hardly an issue after being confined for fifty days and then made to believe that our father was going to murder him. But that's just my opinion.

L stared in distaste at the connected rings of metal. "This is as difficult for me as it is for you," L answered with a slight frown after sending a quick glance my way. Well that was flattering; and for once I wasn't being sarcastic. Misa popped up in between L and Light her expression confused.

"So is this what you meant by being together twenty-four hours a day?" Misa asked. Her expression grew coy as she spoke again. "Looking at you, Misa never would have guessed. Are you on that side of the fence Ryuzaki?" Misa teased. Oh dear, did I just snort? It appears so if the bewildered stare Light gave me was any indication.

The snort evolved into full on laughter after seeing the dry glare L sent my way. Misa looked proud at having invoked such a reaction.

"I'm glad you're amused," he said sarcastically. "But I'm surprised the idea doesn't offend you." Misa's eyes widened in realization.

"Oh! Right Rei! Sorry! Misa forgot you and Ryuzaki are together!" Cue faceplam on my part. Ugh…well maybe Light wouldn't attempt to murder someone…not that he had any issue with it before…

"What?" Light asked dangerously. Well crap… I shot L a look hoping he would take the initiative. L nodded at me and straightened to his full height for once. Wow, when his spine was curved in a hazardous way he was as tall as Light.

"I believe what Misa meant to say is that according to society, Rei and I are in a relationship," L explained stoically. Rather than going a psychotic rage like I expected, Light simply looked shocked.

"Seriously?" Light looked at me for affirmation.

"Yes," I answered rolling my eyes. "Why?" Light looked flustered.

"It's just that, you and Ryuzaki…really don't go together." Light finished lamely.

"Is us being together a problem?" I pressed.

"Well, no…but yes. I mean, I don't really approve, but I'm… Nothing I'm going to say is going to change anything is it?"

"Nope." Light's shoulders sagged.

"Fine…but just…if he touches you in front of me…" Light trailed off suggestively.

"Yeah yeah. You'll go Karate Kid on him," I said mockingly.

"Light," L called. Light turned to him to see L poking my shoulder.

"…"

"…"

"I believe that constitutes as touching Light."

"Shut up, Ryuzaki."

"And it is as I told you Misa," L said actually getting back on topic. "I'm not doing this because I want to."

"But Light belongs to Misa!" Misa disagreed loudly. "Misa doesn't wanna share Light with you! If you're with Light twenty-four seven, how are we supposed to go on dates together?"

"You can still go on dates, but will have to be the three of us, four perhaps, if that would make you more comfortable," L answered referring to me.

"No way! Are you telling Misa we're gonna have to kiss in front of you and stuff?" Misa asked shrilly. I laughed under my breath at the, "and stuff." Subtle Misa.

"I'm not telling you to do anything," L answered boredly. "But yes I suppose I would be watching," he added as an afterthought.

"That's so gross! You really are a pervert aren't you?" Misa accused. L looked at me as to ask if I was going to let his honor be questioned like that. I merely grinned back at him, and he sighed. Turning to Light for help, he said with almost a whine,

"Light, please make Misa stop talking now."

"Listen, Misa. That's enough," Light ordered. "The police have already established it was you who sent in those tapes, so you're lucky to even be here right now. They have every right to keep you under surveillance," Light chastised. He sounded like a mom… I shared this with L, who's lip twitched in response.

"Huh? Light? How could you say that? In case you forgot, I'm your girlfriend! Don't you trust your own soul mate?" Light stared at her in horror.

"What do you mean soul mate? You're the one who said you fell in love with me at first sight, Misa," Light said shifting the blame to Misa. Her eyes welled up with tears and her pigtails went up like an anime character's.

"So why would you kiss me if you didn't have feelings for me? You took advantage of me? Stupid! Stupid! Stupid…" Misa chanted as she pounded Light's chest, though the weak blows glanced off. Light looked down at the tiny model, unsure to be apologetic, sympathetic, irritated or amused.

"I wish we fought like that," I said to L. "It's so romantic…" L sent me a pained look.

"Do you enjoy forcing my mind to create such disturbing images?" he asked playing up his pitiful expression.

"Yep." L nodded in resignation.

"About this love at first sight," L cut in addressing the lovebirds. "It happened in Aoyama on May twenty-second didn't it?" Misa puffed her chest indignantly.

"So what?" L started towards her, closing in on the willingness to reveal information.

"Why did you choose that day to go to Aoyama? And do you remember what you wore?" L continued. Well that certainly wouldn't get rid of Misa's suspicion he was a pervert…

"It's like I told you. I just happened to go there. I don't know why. I don't know how I felt, and I don't even know what I was wearing! Anyway, since when do I need a reason to hang out I Aoyama? Huh?" L ignored the childish remark.

"And somehow when you returned from Aoyama you knew you were in love with someone named Light."

"Yes," Misa answered stalking up to L to get in his face

"And you yourself have no idea how you came to know his name?" L questioned unperturbed by the lack of personal space in between himself and the hyperactive model.

"Yeah, so what?"

"And that doesn't strike you as odd," I muttered sarcastically, unhappy with the close proximity between the two of them.

"Now tell me, what if Light Yagami was Kira?" L asked intently. "How would it make you feel?"

"Huh? How would I feel if Light was Kira?"

"That's right." Misa eyes gained a dreamy quality as she skipped over to Light and seized his arm.

"That'd be wonderful," she said with a breathy sigh. "I mean I've always been grateful to Kira for punishing the man who murdered my parents, so if I found out that Light actually was Kira it would be like a bonus for me. If anything, it would make me love him even more. Even though it's practically impossible to love him more than I already do!" Misa exclaimed while she nuzzled Light's arm.

"It's Kira though. You'd love him even more for that?" I could see the cogs in L's brain turning as he added each piece of information into Misa's Kira percentage. "I mean wouldn't you be afraid? What if he tried to kill you?"

"You're talking about Light being Kira? He wouldn't be scary at all!" I would have to disagree. I could still imagine the chilling glares Light had sent my way. "I'm a supporter of Kira, so if I found out my Light was actually him, I'd think of ways to be helpful!" Misa had basically just confessed to being the second Kira. Impressive.

"That's very generous of you, but I'm almost certain Kira does not need your help. Well Misa, based on what you just told me…there can be no mistake that you are the second Kira. But you made it so obvious I don't really want to believe it," L admitted.

"Whatever!" Misa answered in irritation. "It's not believable because I'm not the second Kira! Okay?" Misa stuck out her tongue to emphasize her point.

"Anyway," L went on unbothered by the childish display, "for the time being you'll be under surveillance. When you do go out if needed, you'll have to contact us using the room's extension. For the most part, your life will return to normal. But from now on for all private and work related affairs, Matsuda-san will be accompanying you as your new manger, Matsui. Your agency has been paid to keep quiet and the police don't know. Don't blow his cover," L ordered.

"This old guy's my manager? Oh you can't be serious!" Misa complained.

"Misa, exactly what age is old to you?" I asked, but she ignored me.

"Come on! What's wrong with me Misa Misa?" Matsuda asked earnestly. "Is it the tie? Cause I c-"

"Would you cut it out with all this dating, kissing, and Misa Misa talk already!" Aizawa shouted, changing from his earlier silent demeanor as he slammed his hands down on a small coffee table. "This is the Kira investigation! Stop messing around!"

"Sorry about that Aizawa," Matsuda apologized softly.

"No it's alright," Aizawa replied through gritting teeth. "I just figured out what the problem is. Misa Amane it's time for you to go to your room," Aizawa said pointing to the door while he approached the blonde.

"Why?" she asked in surprise. Aizawa grabbed her by the back of the shirt and started dragging her to the exit.

"Out you go!" Aizawa said trying to shove a squirming Misa out the door.

"Hey Light! Let's go on a date even if it is the three of us!" Misa called as the door slammed behind her.

"I was forgotten…" I said with a false pout. L sent me a small smile before turning to Light.

"Light, are you serious about her?"

"No way. Like I told you earlier, it's completely one sided," Light explained.

"Then could you at least pretend to be serious for the sake of the investigation? There are two things I know about Misa for sure. One she's involved with this, and two," L chuckled, "she's in love with you." Light blinked in surprise.

"You want me to become intimate with her in order to gain information about the second Kira?" Light asked, his eyes wide with innocence. It was so strange to see Light behave so honestly.

"Yes, I think you could do it without arousing her suspicions." But not without arousing something else. Wow that was perverted. Damn pervert boyfriend. "Misa would definitely be a valuable source of information for us. Not to mention it's the main reason I agreed to release the two of you." Light sent L a hard look.

"Ryuzaki…as much as I want to help you and as important the Kira case is to me, I can't manipulate a woman's feelings like that." The biggest womanizer ever born said what? "Please try to understand. To me, exploiting another person's feelings for personal gain is unforgiveable and I won't allow myself to stoop so low," Light explained with conviction.

I felt my jaw drop. He could say that after all the shit he put me through? I could feel frustration rising inside me. I could only imagine L felt worse.

"What's wrong, Ryuzaki?" Light asked when he saw L's dark expression.

"Nothing. I suppose you're right after all. However considering Misa will have a lot of contact with the public, it would be helpful if you could make sure she doesn't leak information," L requested. Light waved this aside.

"By the way, do you think we could come up with some sort of alternative to this system of moving from hotel to hotel?" Light asked.

"Yeah…" I added. "I mean staying in one hotel too long is suspicious, but switching so often is a little shady. People may start to catch on. There are only so many hotels in Tokyo after all."

"Yes. In fact, I had that very same thought some time ago and so…" L started towards his laptop and Light was unceremoniously yanked by the handcuffs to follow. I could already tell this was to be a regular occurrence. "I arranged for a facility to be built. Construction started right after my first meeting with Yagami-san and the others. It should be finished in a few days." L began typing frantically on his laptop, brining up a blueprint to an enormous skyscraper.

Twenty-five floors total; twenty-three above, two below. Two helicopters. The ability to hold sixty investigators. I let out a whistle. This was… impressive.

"Misa shouldn't have any complaints," L said dryly, "since she has her own floor."

"This is truly impressive," Light said, echoing my thoughts. "To go to such lengths…"

"Hold on a second," Masuda chimed in. "Where did you find the finances to build this thing?"

"As you can see, it is my intention to solve this case no matter what it takes. That's how it is," L said leaving no room for argument.

"I'm sorry, but how was that an answer," Aizawa asked. Or not. There was always room for argument where Aizawa was concerned.

"No, he's right," Light agreed. "The mass killings are bad enough already, but personally, I will never forgive Kira for putting Dad, Rei, and I through this. I want to solve this no matter what it takes."

"If you're serious about that you should try to get close to Misa to find out abo-"

"I can't," Light interrupted. "It goes against my principles."

"Right. You said that," L muttered sourly.

Aizawa cleared his throat, a sudden smile on his face. Dad sent him a questioning glance.

"It's nothing. I'm just feeling really motivated right now, Chief. Ryuzaki, Chief Yagami, Light, Rei. Let's get out of here and bring Kira to justice!" Aizawa encouraged.

"Excuse me. I couldn't help but notice you missed my name!"

Poor Matsuda.

~Author's Note~

Poor Matsuda indeed. A bit of a filler chapter, but a fun one to write. The chapter is called Intermission because it's a small break from the action and another arc I'm planning before the Yotsuba one.

Thanks for reviewing!

lookingforakingdom: Glad you liked it mega-chan and glad it made your day.

SweetHearts4L: Ahaha. Really the kiss was good? I wouldn't know. Woot for being an innocent freshmen. Thanks for the funny disclaimer! But don't think I won't take your children after that…

Clarice: So you liked the kiss? I'm glad, because I'm just an innocent freshman. Well…not so innocent, but you get it. Aww I have a number one fan…