Sleep deprivation is a real pain.

My nighttime schedule has always been hectic, especially when Kira popped up, But tonight it seemed to finally catch up to me. I was on my third cup of coffee and crashing slow enough to drive myself crazy.

Nonetheless, I was the last one hanging on to help L with the night work, and we had some things to talk about.

My hardheadedness trait kept my eyes open and my mind aware.

Watari collected the dirty dishes between the two of us, setting us up for another round as I insisted on pouring it myself this time. L was so lost in thought with the screen in front of him that he paid me no mind. I danced around chairs and sofa full of the men making up the Task Force, sleeping quietly but hard.

I mentally snuffed out a snicker, it was barely after midnight, and I couldn't imagine what L had been putting them through.

I brought back the freshly made pot of black coffee to my computer setup, placing it on a side table moved earlier for just this occasion. Watari was used to the way L and I handled things that would pop up from time to time in both our working and personal relationships, and said nothing when I poured the steaming liquid into L's and then my cup.

L said nothing, putting the cup to his mouth and I went back to work.

I was surprised that the noise didn't wake anyone up. A few short bursts of L choking on his unsweetened beverage and everything was still again.

I paid him no mind, as I dug out the zip-lock bag from beside me filled with all the cubed sugar in our room, placing two into my cup before stirring.

"You're mad at me,"

Geez, Sherlock, how'd you ever come up with that?

"Is it because of the surveillance?"

"Yes." I couldn't control the disdain in my voice.

"You've worked with me for many years before, I'm not sure why this is a problem."

I took a deep breath, deciding to ask questions first before reacting.

"How long, Ryuzaki?"

He looked over at me, thumb to his lower lip, and thought for a second.

"Hmm, the whole time."

I repeated the words inside my head, realizing he meant the whole eleven years.

"Not always personally, though. Sometimes through personal connections or federal branches."

The heat of anger painted my face hot, acting like he was allowed to worry about me when he was the one who left me in the first place.

"Why the hell-"

"Because, Violet, I carry no negative feelings toward you."

I sat straight up in my seat, tossing the bag of sugar to him. My whole body screamed to throw something at his head, but that bastard's words had absorbed through my wounded heart a little too quickly for my blood. I began to ask him why did he leave then, stopping myself from asking questions I knew the answer to.

The feelings of hate I'd been carrying around on my shoulders seemed to lighten just a tiny bit.

While lost in thought, my eyes wandered onto L's computer screen, which was on a popular website about up-and-coming local stars (I get bored in my downtime, don't judge). Curious, I asked what he was up to, only to be asked if I'll hack into something for him.

I chuckled at his bluntness, agreeing and turning to my screen. Within a few minutes, I was at the To-Oh university testing lists, pulling up the seating chart for the certain date L requested.

"It's almost full," I noted.

Quickly, I noticed the name Light Yagami on the list, pointing it out to L. He asked with a mouth full of sweets if I'd put the name Hideki Ryuga into seat number 162.

"You still think he's Kira, don't you?" I asked while typing.

"Don't you?"

"I think he's the best fit for the profile at the moment. Percentage?"

"Um, 7 percent."