Lawlight in Chains

L's Cake Shop

Light was out working on a case when he stopped in a cafe for a break. He took a seat right at the back and took out his files to look over. Many people had gone missing in the area lately, with no trace. Police suspected a serial killer, though they had literally no evidence.

"What do you want?" A voice interrupted his thoughts.

He looked up to see a rather dishevelled looking waiter. He was dressed plainly, in jeans and white tshirt, crouched over his pen and notebook. Light's mouth fell open as wide, black, dead-looking eyes looked over the notepad. The eyes widened further and Light noticed the eye bags had stretched to suitcases.

"Light Yagami?"

"Ryuzaki?"

They both spoke at once, then Light stood up and held his hand out. The other man looked at it blankly.

"L, it is you, right?" Light smiled. "You're supposed to shake my hand, it's polite."

"Oh... Yes, of course."

L grimaced slightly as he reached out slowly. Light took his hand and squeezed it briefly before letting go again.

"Still not a fan of human touch?" Light asked. "Funny that it didn't bother you so much when you handcuffed yourself to me."

"Light-kun, please keep your voice down or keep such personal comments to yourself. This is a respectable establishment, I have a reputation to keep."

Light threw his head back and laughed.

"I apologise. I wouldn't want to destroy your reputation. It's not like I'd accuse you of being a serial killer or something," His tone turned from amused to bitter.

L froze and stared at him like a freaking zombie.

"W - what is that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean. The Kira Case," Light reminded him.

"Oh that," Light could swear he saw a flash of relief cross L's face. But L didn't show or feel things, so he dismissed it.

"I've already apologised," L bowed and Light rolled his eyes and sat back down.

"It's fine. You did what you had to. All for justice. I'll take a black coffee and whatever cake you recommend."

"Hmm, you never were a fan of sweet things though," L replied, chewing on his thumbnail.

"For old times sake," Light smiled at L who nodded and left.

Light looked around the cafe as he thought of how he'd barely managed to get away with the whole Kira thing. He'd stopped killing and worked in the pyschology of killers now. Of course no one knew how he'd come to be such an expert. Besides his official studies, he was known as a genius so no one questioned it.

The person he'd planted the evidence on was still haunted by a shinigami, though no one believed them. The Death Note was still on Earth and the shinigami had been instructed to make sure Light had touched it to get his memories back.

L returned with the coffee which he plonked down in front of Light.

"You still carry things oddly," He observed. "I like this place, it's definitely unusual. Those wax figures are very realistic."

L actually smiled, albeit creepily.

"Thank you. I own this place and run it all by myself. I will be back with your cake, I'm making something special for you, since you are an old friend."

L shuffled away and Light drank his coffee until he returned with two plates of cake.

"You won't mind if I join you?" L requested politely.

"Of course not. This cake looks great," Light glanced up to see L staring at him greedily, rather eating his own dessert. Light quickly looked back at his own to avoid the awkwardness.

Just as he was about to bite into the strawberry laden gateau, L jumped up and knocked it from his hands.

"I - I apologise, Light-kun. I just realised that slice fell on the floor."

"Yes, because you knocked it there," Light frowned.

"No but earlier too. It fell in the kitchen too. I recognise the exact slice. I will just go and take another for you."

Ryuzaki scooped up the fallen cake and hurried back behind the shop counter.

"Still as weird as ever," Light muttered.

He read a bit of one file as he waited for L's return. The other customers all finished up and left but L didn't come back. Light was getting worried, so he walked up to the counter and called out.

"Ryuzaki? Are you OK? I'll need to leave soon."

There was no response so he leaned against the counter to wait. He considered leaving the money and leaving, but he was too concerned about his old nemesis. His eyes landed on a wax model and he felt his heart stop as his eyes moved onto the others, which were displayed all around the place.

"No way," He said aloud, taking his files back out and going to the missing person's photograph section.

Each photo matched up with a wax model. He jumped as he heard a noise behind him. He turned to face L, who raised a non-existent eyebrow.

"Figured it out?" He asked before moving to the front door to lock it. He came back to stand near Light, too near for Light's liking.

"Yes, old friend. I poisoned all these beauties for my collection. Everyone comments on how life-like they are but they are very much dead."

"But how didn't you get caught? Killing and then putting them on display? Have you lost your mind, Ryuzaki?"

"Oh, I have been caught. By him and him," L pointed at two of the dead figures. "I am careful about who I kill. It is easy to spot the people who won't be missed. No one reports these killings, only the police know of them. I hardly expected you to be on the case though. That was my mistake. Imagine my excitement when Light Yagami walked into my humble little murder cafe. You know I have never had the pleasure of meeting anyone as beautiful you. "

L took a step forward and touched Light's cheek. Light was frozen in place. Of all the people in the world, L was the last person he'd have ever expected to turn to murder.

"Why do you do it? "He asked.

"Because it's fun. You need not judge me, I only copied you. You made murder look like a fun hobby. I could not understand, so I tried it and became addicted. Then I had the chance to add the most beautiful of all... But I could not do it. I prefer you alive. So you'll stay with me but you get to live. "

"I have to arrest you, you know that," Light protested.

"No, you do not. I have the evidence to put you away for the Kira murders - "

"I'm NOT Kira!"

"Come, Light. We both know you were Kira. I let you walk free, I allowed you to plant the evidence on Kiyomi Takada. I did that because the world needs a mind like yours. A mind equal to my own. I just needed the killings to stop. Ironic, isn't it?" He asked, looking around at his own murder victims.

"So... I know your secret and now you know mine. I won't tell if you don't. Quid pro quo, " L licked his lips creepily, making Light shiver. "Perhaps you could come work with me. I will have to close down my precious cake shop now, the least you can do is run away with me."

"L, no. I can't - "

L pulled another "old friend" from his enlarged jeans pocket and handcuffed Light to a table before he could react.

"Or I could run away on my own and leave you here. You won't be found until it's too late. Your choice?"

"You're still a complete bastard," Light glared at him.

"Likewise," L closed the space between them again. "But we made a good team. It's you and I, Light Yagami."

L leaned in awkwardly and kissed Light.

"Well, I guess I have no choice. And he's a surprisingly good kisser," Light thought as he kissed back.

[Happy Halloween!]