Disclaimer: Clearly I don't own Death Note. I wouldn't be writing fan fiction if I did. Death Note belongs to Ohba and Obata. I'm just an adoring fan.

Author's Note: What's this? An update? SHOCKING!

Look guys, I am so, so, so sorry. I am going to be perfectly honest with you, yeah uni was busier than I thought it would be and then any time I had it was dedicated to play Final Fantasy 4, Sonic Generations, and Skyward Sword. Death Note wasn't on the top of my mind but I have finished 2 out of 3 games, I rewatched the series and I am on break until March. I promise you I never ever intend to abandon this story, I will keep with it until the end! I'm so sorry you had to suffer such a long time but to make up for it, this chapter is quite Light and L heavy and we haven't had a chapter like that in a while. So, once again I apologize, I hope I haven't lost my touch with these characters, and I hope you read, review, and enjoy!

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"Yeah, I'll have a regular coffee and a salad sandwich." Light said to the woman behind the counter as he opened his wallet, readying the cash.

"Any sugar?" She asked. Her voice was too friendly, the kind of friendly you only ever get from people who work in stores.

"No thank you."

These days Light felt as if he had no time to himself. He knew there was a time when he used to feel nothing but boredom; nowadays he was lucky to even feel bored for a passing moment. Between cleansing the world, and pretending to help on the Kira investigation, Light also had to deal with Misa, university and whatever study he needed done, dealing with the successors – particularly Mello – and seeing his family. The only time he found a moment for himself was when a university class ended and he was either waiting for another one to start or about to head home. He missed Ryuk sometimes but Light enjoyed his own company so before he went home from university he always went to one of the onsite cafes, bought some actual food and coffee, and sat down to read the newspaper or just think. He was even willing to put up with the ridiculously priced food just to be alone.

It is without saying that as he was putting his wallet away and picking up a paper only to hear two voices, a soothing one and a raspy one, chattering away in English, he was rather annoyed. Light turned around and scanned the area until his eyes landed at the table with the two odd looking foreigners with a paper open on their table deep into a discussion. Light closed his eyes and sighed, preparing himself to go over to the table.

It was L who had seen Light approaching first, as Near was the one reading the newspaper, and had beamed one of those off putting smiles at him.

"Hey Light-kun!" He said in an only slightly happier tone then his usual range and switching into Japanese. Near looked up just as Light had reached the table. His eyes flashed on him briefly before turning back to the paper.

"Light." He spoke softly. Light paused a moment as he looked over the odd pair once more.

"What are you doing here?" He asked them both, hiding just how annoyed he was but allowing a little bit of it through, just to get the point across. L's large eyes flickered innocently over to Near before flashing back onto Light, retaining that so-called innocent look.

"Natsu wished to leave the house and my dear friend who is no longer with us always scolded me for staying indoors for too long so we decided to go get some coffee. I remembered this café from my time as a student here and decided to bring my friend here with me, is there something wrong with that Light-kun?"

Translation: Near was bored looking over stats and files, and I wanted to see what you were up to so we decided to stalk you at university.

Light raised an eyebrow as he peered into his coffee.

"No, I suppose there's nothing wrong with that." He sighed.

"Good." L said, half smiling. "Care to join us?"

"Sure." Light replied as he switched to a lighter disposition. He pulled up a chair and sat between Near and L, who sat facing each other. "Mason didn't come?" Light asked. L's eyes stared blankly at his coffee, switching back to his "L" persona, before as he replied.

"I've spent enough time with Mason in the past. I've never had the real pleasure of spending a free moment with Natsu." Light saw as Near shifted uncomfortable in his seat.

Here's that crack again. Near is the favourite to become the next "L" but Mello, most likely from being in the orphanage longer and being more emotional, has spent more one on one time with L. So there's more to this than just an intellectual competition.

"Oh." Light said. His eyes lingered on the slightly agitated silver hair teen for a moment before he turned his attention to L.

"So, what are you doing anyway?" It was Near's quiet voice that answered.

"Catching up on other current affairs other than Kira related news and discussing it." He did not look up once. The way Near hardly ever tore his attention away from his activity to pay attention to another sometimes amused and sometimes angered Light. Was it a tactic to make others feel inferior? Was he truly not interested? Or did he not realise it was rude? Judging by his role model's it was most likely the latter. Though when Mello was rude he usually meant to be rude.

"Yes," L spoke with a sigh. "Unfortunately even your university written papers are riddle with rumours or opinions on Kira and our investigation."

"Really?" Light question. Near cleared his throated and lifted the news paper up slightly.

"Whether Kira is too great of a match for the genius and elusive detective "L", or "L" is just losing his touch is debatable. It is possible that this Kira figure is as much of a genius as they claim "L" to be. However "L" has been around for a very, very, long time – two decades if I'm correct – presuming he was a young man when he gathered his credentials then he should be a middle aged man by now who is past his prime. What is not arguable is that Kira is in the right here. I am not a blind columnist, ladies and gentlemen, I can see where this mysterious detective and the police are coming from, but I can also see how we benefit from the world Kira is setting up for us. Lets face it, since Kira has been a presence in our society crime rate has plummeted, our world is a much safer place. Have you ever felt so safe walking the streets at night? Do you not feel like those who commit atrocious crimes are getting what they deserve? If you ask me Kira should be made law and the great and mighty "L" should stop while he's on the top. "L" should take a page from the powerful and aging Prospero from Shakespeare's "Tempest" and drown his book and burry his staff now that he has reached his potential." Near placed the paper down and gave L a crooked smile, one eyebrow raised.

"You look great for a man in his late forties." The cheekiness clear in his raspy voice. L gave him a cheeky smile back and shrugged. That was probably the most earnest moment Light had yet to see between L and his greatest successor.

"Doesn't it concern you that people feel that way about you?" Light asked L sincerely. L looked at Light and merely shook his head.

"People are entitled to their opinion, we cannot change that." He said in a matter of fact voice. "Clearly I am not a middle aged man, you know as well as I do that I am not past my prime. My dearest friend was past middle age and into elderly and was one of my greatest assets so I do not believe that one can simple peak. What this reporter says about my career does not bother me in the slightest."

"Prospero only gave up because he obtained what he wanted and no longer needed his sorcery." Near added, actually looking up at Light with those eyes that matched L's so closely. "We have yet to obtain what we want." Light faked a smile.

"You guys have a good outlook when it comes to other people's opinions, I wish I thought that way." He said with a laugh.

"You never struck me as the type to care what another person may think of you, Light-kun." L mused, thumb resting on his bottom lip.

"Just because I don't care too much about hanging out with people my age doesn't mean I don't care what people think of me. I don't like it when you accuse me of being Kira." L gave a shrug.

"That's true." He replied softly.

A moment passed as Near continued to read the paper and all three of them silently sipped their cooling coffee, or in Near's case tea.

"This paper does interest me, however." L spoke. Light glanced over to the page header of the paper. It was the one he always read. Damn it. "The young writers at your university have an interesting view. How often does an issue come out, Light-kun?" Light watched his coffee for a moment as he contemplated lying. If L found out he was lying it could only end up hurting him further.

"About once a week." He decided it was safer to tell the truth in this case. One less lie to keep up on.

"Would you mind bringing us a copy when a new issue comes out each week? Natsu and I would appreciate it."

"Very much so." The little voice added.

Damn it! Light thought to himself. You could say no. Just say sometimes they're out of copies by the time you get here. Or just tell him that usually its filled with trivial things about pop stars and movie stars. They'd lose interest then.

"Sure."

"Thank you, Light-kun."

"Yes, thank you very much, Light Yagami."

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Author's Note: I can't be more apologetic guys, seriously. I just hope you haven't all abandoned me :P. Anyway, review please! More reviews mean I'll want to update sooner! PLEASE STILL BE HERE!