Chapter: Naïveté and Life's Mysteries

Shalan's Blurb: HOYA! Okay so from now on there are two DIFFERENT sections to each chapter. It will hop from Light to L and back to Light and sometimes to both of them together. You'll see their lives as Light becomes accustomed to normal life.

&&&

"So then he'll be in my care until he turns 18?" Lawliet unfolded his legs and leaned forward slightly.

"Yes sir, all you have to do is sign the papers and he'll be your ward," Light looked from the soft spoken woman to his caretaker curiously, his lips pursed as he tilted his head. "Is that alright with you Mr. Yagami?"

For a moment Light hesitated. His mind raced as he took a glance towards L. If he said yes would it start all over again? Would it, if he allowed L to be his guardian, mean that he would be contained again and treated as trash? Was it an act, all the things that Lawliet did for him to make him comfortable? Would it be taken away as soon as they got back to the apartment?

L sensed his hesitation the instant it happened. A pair of worried brown eyes searched for answers in his own grey ones and for once, he didn't have one for them. He knew it had to be Light's choice, and as he watched the inner turmoil reach its boiling point he smiled, the cogs were free wheeling in Light's head and L could almost see the smoke. Then a gleam twinkled in the younger's eyes, an assuredness and confidence that he hadn't seen before.

"Yes… that's alright with me," Light looked toward the woman behind the desk. L sighed lightly before turning his eyes towards the woman.

"Where do I sign?" His grin was evident even hidden behind an attempted straight face.

The wind was horrendous as they stepped into the street. A biting, icy hand slapped the face and whipped jackets and coats up and around. Light looked up at the sky, squinting behind his expensive sunglasses before he was dragged off down the street by his shivering companion.

"So what do you want to do first?" The aforementioned grin was plastered across a wind burnt face as they stepped on the elevator of their high-rise apartment building. As the brunet turned his head a question popped into his head.

"What did you do to earn so much money?" A still silence filled the elevator as the doors opened.

"Money?" L blinked. Light nearly cracked at the odd look of utter confusion on L's face.

"Yeah, you know, the expensive apartment, expensive clothes, expensive chauffer… money," Light shrugged his shoulders suggestively. "Eh, I guess it doesn't matter," he stepped off the elevator, leaving L in shock in the corner. "You okay?" He swirled around and tilted his head.

"Oh, huh?"

"Blank as a white board…" Light touched his fingers to his forehead and slid them across.

"I just didn't hear you!" Came the immediate protest as his cohort stepped out of the elevator.

"Sure," an extended drawl accented the word and irritated the older man.

"Don't be a smart ass," his jaw jutted as he tilted his chin up while the elevator doors closed behind him.

"Whatcha gonna do about it?" Light grinned then turned to run as L sprinted after him. "NO!" He slammed his bedroom door.

"THAT'S CHEATING!" A mad cackled came from the other side of the door.

"Attacking me while I'm not paying attention is cheating," Light's laughter clipped the words short.

"You put out the challenge," a curt reply followed. Lawliet smiled to himself, he really was a goofy kid. He peeled off his jacket and tossed it onto the couch before flopping down in his favorite chair. Fine, let him stew.

&&&

Light scanned the street as he quick stepped towards the subway, Misa had promised to meet him for lunch and celebrate. It seemed a silly little frivolous exercise to go to lunch with a friend but he and L had fretted over the outfit for almost an hour. In the end a Ralph Lauren cable knit green sweater was chosen with a pair of 7 jeans. He felt a little out of place momentarily as he stepped into the subway, until he saw the other expensive clothing around him, it appeared it was a statement of wealth. He turned his head and heard a gasp then a rush of whispers. That was when he saw them.

"Who is he? He looks like a model…"

"I know! Maybe he is one, on the way to a shoot?"

"He's looking! He's looking over here!"

He smiled and they smiled back. He had almost forgotten the power good looks had over women. In the hallways of his high school girls used to look at him but would never talk to him. He didn't have the clothes, the hair or the looks they wanted. Back then he was emaciated and bruised. Now he had everything, including the expensive wrap around glasses. He loved the glasses, childish really, they gave him a mysterious look, like a spy in a movie.

He tilted his head and lifted an eyebrow to receive a giggle from one of the girls as he lowered his sunglasses. Most of the Japanese had black hair and dark brown eyes, with his sleek chestnut hair and golden eyes he could almost snap his fingers and a girl would jump at him, but for some reason the girls on the train seemed, superfluous to him.

"My stop," he grinned boyishly then stepped off. He could hear the residual giggles as he walked up the stairs.

"You cause a ruckus no matter where you go Laaaaiiiiight…" a flirtatious voice rang in his ears as an arm hooked through his.

"I guess I do these days," he smiled as Misa beamed up at him. Her smile was sparkling, a cheerful, glittery greeting as she talked his ear off.

"You don't talk a whole lot," I do seem to be dragged around a lot around here though… he thought wryly.

"How can I get a word in edgewise?" He chuckled and she blushed as they walked into a restaurant.

"I'm sorry I talk a lot," she shot her gaze to the floor.

"No, not at all, I don't talk much so your talking fills the space that I refuse to," he smiled again as she whirled into a seat, all skirts and silk.

"Miss Amane, how nice to see you again." Immediately a waiter was at the table as Light helped her with her coat.

"Hello, Ichiro." Misa smiled that same glittering smile but kept her eyes on Light as he sat down, adjusting his seat accordingly. He was so… she couldn't find the word for him as he looked up at her, a queer gleam in his eyes.

"Mister?"

"Yagami, Light Yagami…" Light responded without looking up, instead he was sliding his napkin out from under his utensils and pressing it neatly across his lap. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little compulsive." He smiled up at the waiter named Ichiro.

"Mr. Yagami it is then," Ichiro smiled. Misa squeezed his knee and grinned at him across the table as he relaxed. "What can I get you?"

&&&

He leaned back in his chair as the others babbled amongst each other. It was his first day back at work since the recent addition to his home, and everyone was curious as to what would happen now. Lawliet sipped his tea, scanning the men at the table, learning more about them by the second. There were only two that stood out immediately to him, and only two that he really found interest in.

Toda Matsuda. He was a young detective, nearly 23 he was fresh out of the police academy, but L liked him, he was silly and most of the time fairly observant. His hair was longer than was normally worn but again, it seemed to fit him. His dark eyes were fitted beneath a sloping forehead that, at the moment, held a rather large, rather oddly shaped bruise… a bruise that L planned to inquire into.

Nathan River. Also known as Near or N. He was Lawliet's right hand man, a genius in his own right Nate seemed to exude an aloofness that L nearly detested. The boy, almost 20, came from the same orphanage that Lawliet had come from and also wore a messy batch of hair on his head, eerily similar to L's own.

"So." Everyone at the table jumped. "I hope you all had a happy Christmas, now I expect you to be prepared every day for your job," Lawliet scanned the faces again. "But of course, you shall receive New Years Eve and New Years off if you wish. Though I know some of you don't celebrate it." His eyes cast their way towards the end of the table and back.

"I think our killer took the winter off!" A jovial holler from the end of the table and the others laughed.

"Perhaps, but we should be ready in case he comes back." L leaned his elbow on the table. "Are we prepared?" His glance was sly, catching body nuances of concern and awkwardness.

&&&

"So what are we going to do next?" Misa caught his hand in hers as they stepped out into the street.

"I, have no idea…" Light glanced around him, people crossed and crisscrossed around each other, in an intricate and well practiced dance. Faces were somewhat blurred as they moved with the crowd.

"I think I do, have you ever been shopping in Harajuku?" He shook his head as she grinned. "Ah, that's what we're going to do next," he shrugged in acquiescence.

"I should probably call Lawliet and tell him where we're going…"

"You need to report into him like a drill sergeant?"

"Well he just likes to know I'm okay," Light shrugged again, then looked at his cell phone. "Maybe I don't have to call him right now… he's probably busy." But his conscience told him otherwise. Maybe I'll call him in an hour, we ate quickly so it'll seem like it's still lunch to him… but somewhere deep in his mind he knew that Lawliet wouldn't be fooled so easily.

&&&

He sipped his cognac slowly, the aroma was strong, smooth and dark. His grey eyes glittered as he watched the clock, his mind running through the check list.

Maybe he got lost… in his mind an image of a panicking Light surrounded by city lights and murderers. Lawliet smiled wryly. He was sure Light could handle a few thugs, even if he was abused.

He's been kidnapped… Christ, he's only been my ward for 14 hours you would think I would be a better watcher… he glanced at the clock again. Maybe I should call, it's half past 11. But if he doesn't answer his cell phone?

I should put out a watch for him… It had been a long day for the detective, something had clicked in his head and he pinpointed the location of the next murder… correctly. The offender had been caught, Lawliet poured another glass of cognac and sipped again, another dirt bag off the street. He hadn't been all that hard to track down, Lawliet just wanted enough evidence to put him in jail without parole.

I'll call him…

&&&

Music boomed in his ears, people milled around him as the colors swirled together as she dragged him into another bar, only this one had a dance floor. Misa laughed and dragged him into the crowd of people. He looked around him curiously, and for a moment was uncomfortable, but the crowd hooted at him so cheerfully and engulfed him so quickly that immediately he smiled.

"Have you ever danced before?" Misa pulled him close. His pupils dilated as their bodies pressed together.

"Not the way you're thinking I think…." He spluttered as she slid her arms around his neck.

"Just relax and follow my lead," she drew him in close and pulled his arms around her waist.

The noise around him swam in his head as their bodies brushed and rubbed, her breath was hot and moist against his neck as they dipped and ground. It didn't take him long to figure out the intricacies of this kind of dancing. There wasn't anywhere hands couldn't go, honestly.

As they dipped she turned and plastered her back to his front, her hands sliding down his back to find his butt. His throat caught on itself and he nearly choked. This was an entirely new sensation. Her head rested on his shoulder as they carried through.

"You're not half bad Light…" her smile was devilish, he looked down at her as she leaned up. In his mind it went a little like this: 3… 2… 1… BOOM! Their lips met. She guided him through that too, a slow, deep kiss rocked his knees and made his body hum.

A vibration picked up in Light's back pocket, that was when he nearly jumped out of his skin. "MISA! What time is it?" She looked at her watch.

"Midnight, what's the problem?" She turned to look at him just as he sprinted out of the bar. "What in the hell?"

Calculations ran through his head, he could catch the 12:15 subway and make it home at 1. Yeah, that was a plan. He sprinted down the street, ran his card through the machine and hurdled towards the train.

&&&

A key jangled in the lock just before the door opened. Light poked his head in and, seeing that it was dark, stepped inside.

"Where were you?" A voice came from the shadows.

"With Misa, why don't you turn the lights on," Light flicked the switch. Lawliet sat on the big squishy chair in the den, his eyes watching Light's every move.

"I like it dark. What were you doing with Misa?"

"We went to lunch."

"Kind of a long lunch, 13 hours." L frowned. "You're sweating."

"I meant to call you. I thought about it when she took me to Harajuku but I didn't want to bother you… I just lost track of time I guess…" Light looked at his feet.

"You're sweating…" Lawliet said again.

"I ran here from Tokyo station," Light blinked, he hated that stare the old man had.

"Take a bath and go to bed. We'll speak of this in the morning," Lawliet stood and disappeared into his room.

"Okay," he was entirely disappointed in him. Lawliet was mad.

&&&

By the time breakfast rolled around the next morning Light had convinced himself to move out of the apartment and never come back. He was ashamed that he hadn't called, and left Lawliet to worry about him all night long.

"Sit." L stared him down. Light tilted his chin up in defiance. "Have some tea," L offered him a cup.

"You're mad at me?" Light sat down and took the cup of tea.

"Inheritance. Part of it was made by me and invested wisely." Lawliet sipped his tea.

"Huh?" Light's look of befuddlement made L snort into his cup.

"My money, you were asking about it. I'm a detective."

"Yeah, you told me that. But my dad was too and he didn't make all that much…" L held up a hand.

"I am a special detective. I am a private investigator. I do freelance work for whomever I wish and for whatever price I wish." Lawliet smiled and bit into a muffin.

"So…you're like me…" Light lifted his eyes to meet Lawliet's.

"A genius? Why yes, perhaps that is why I found you and you found me," the older smiled and tilted his head.

"Are you… have you ever been… you know… married?" Light folded his legs. There was so much that he didn't know about this man, even though they lived together it was as though they were still strangers.

"That is for me to know… and for you to eventually discover. My life is very simple once you understand but until you do it remains a befuddlement." L slid a booklet across to Light. "Here is your passport."

"My huh?" The brunet blinked down at it.

"Your passport. You'll be traveling with me from now on." Light watched the older take another sip of his tea.

"We're going somewhere?" His doe eyes lit up and Lawliet chuckled.

"London, England. I remember seeing that you were fluent in English?"

"And enough French to get by…" Light glanced at the floor.

"Good, we'll probably be visiting Paris as well," Lawliet seemed somewhat… deflated.

"You don't like Europe?"

"Of course I do, I was born there after all…"

"YOU?" Light's eyes were the size of dinner plates.

"Yes, you didn't think this was an Osakan accent you hear did you?" He laughed as Light hugged him.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

&&&

The bond that binds two people is tested by naïveté and nature's little mysteries. It seems sometimes that those who are innocent are more trusting and therefore get themselves into more trouble. But the more trouble for the protectee the more protective the protector gets. Once two humans are connected they are always bound by trust.