Sweet Tooth

Chapter One: Conflict

Lively yet quiet whispers rang out into the darkness that settled itself within the confined walls of the bedroom. Screams and yells of any and every opinionated individual that dared to expose themselves on the television, crying out their thoughts on the silent battle between the murderer known as Kira and the great detective known simply as L. Yes, each person being bold enough to say what they truly thought and of course the cowardly ones who spoke only out of kissing up to the "godly" killer.

Golden-brown eyes continued to watch this growing phenomenon with disinterest, though maybe their owner found it amusing that more and more television shows had begun to submit themselves to showing only Kira related programming. Sakura TV was no longer the only source for the latest news, no. Now there was around twenty or more stations that had dedicated yet inaccurate reports regarding the deaths of the selected criminals. Of course this was of no interest to the person behind the killings…He had other reasons for viewing these shows…He needed them to tell him which criminals had died that day and how many.

Yes, he was recently forced into this new routine of watching countless hours of useless information about himself. Hours of people claiming to praise him, to admit their feeling of how they believed criminals should die, and hours of spokespeople bringing out lists with pictures of newly arrested criminals. And through these long nights he only needed the last few minutes when they would announce the things he actually needed to know. Who had the Second Kira killed today and how many?

That was all. Two simple questions he had previously been able to obtain answers to with a phone call! But after only a couple weeks of working with the task force and him, he found that his usual way of doing things could no longer continue. With the enormous weight of suspicion against him, the stress to keep up his façade, and the ability to keep killing criminals closing in around him he couldn't keep his accustomed ways. To solve these issues he had come up with the easiest solution: with L having no knowledge of who the Second Kira is, Misa could kill criminals without being found out. But even with that solved, he couldn't ignore the fact that, he, himself was a suspect. Therefore he could no longer risk seeing Misa, calling her, or having any way of contacting her on what to do. All he had was that final day when he told her to just keep killing until he could reach her again.

Luckily, she was just as obedient as ever and followed his orders though she had several complaints against not seeing him.

The final name of the day was given out as the tired boy unraveled his crossed arms, extending one outward to snap off the small television before returning to his comfortable position. A creaking sound was issued from his chair as he leaned back carefully, a low sigh escaping from his mouth as he attempted to relief the stress he tired so desperately to hide.

Even through his intelligence and his understandings of every consequence that was facing him, he couldn't ignore the truth that he was thoroughly exhausted. After getting the Death Note, after deciding how he wanted to use it, after all the stages and traps he had endured to get to this point…He was tired. Any human would be after going through such a complicated process and unfortunately for him…he was reaching his breaking point.

"Maybe it's time for a change."

"Oh?"

The boy gave a smirk as he turned to see the enormous death god that stood hunched over beside him. Yellow eyes beaming at him with great curiosity and anticipation for what new entertainment he could expect.

"Yeah…I think it's time I move out of here."

"Huh? Why?" A surprised cackle escaped.

Light adjusted his seated position as he looked away from the shinigami, his mind quickly calculating and decoding the decision he had been thinking about for quite awhile…Or rather figuring out what to do about the feelings he had been having. Feelings of being caught in a giant trap wherever he went. At school he would occasionally see Ryuga, who would test him relentlessly, at the task force headquarters he was constantly accused, and when he got home he was stuck with his father who was being pressured into believing his son was a murderer. Even when he tried to go out on one of his fake dates he was followed.

"If I live on my own, L won't be able to keep me under such heavy surveillance. An apartment building won't be so easy to rig with cameras since L isn't trusted by the police, and even if he tried that again I wouldn't do anything incriminating. And I could start writing in the Death Note again without having to worry if anyone's going to come in and find it somehow." He sighed.

"Yeah but I thought that Ryuzaki was on to you…" He smirked.

"He is but it wouldn't be so strange that a person in college would want to be more independent and move out."

The human placed his hands behind his head, his amber eyes narrowing as he thought of the freedom he would have soon. Freedom from his father, liberation to start writing names once more, and of course more slack from L.

The loud constant rhythm of chewing suddenly ceased as the poorly-made video began to play once more. A single distorted picture of the name "Kira" showing itself as a muffled voice began to speak in favor of the famous killer. Words of dates, times, and thanking the police for their assistance in helping the Second Kira find the first. Each and every tape being played and replayed as the duo watched with great intensity.

For the elder of the two it was just the same thing he had concluded when first viewing the odd tapes. Maybe a few things had changed…At first he had thought that it was Kira doing it but after being re-informed by L and his own son, his ideas had switched. It was the Second Kira doing all of it…But what other possible clues could they gather? They knew which killer was doing it, that they only need a face to murder, and that it was more than likely that the two mysterious criminals had met.

As for the second member of the room, he already knew that he would be unable to collect anything further from the videos. His theories already fit with the situation, his mind had gone over and over the clues, and he even had someone else come to the same conclusion…His suspect Yagami Light. But unfortunately for the entire task force and the case they had no other leads to follow. It was as though, after it was obvious that the two killers had met, that they both just seemed to vanish. The killing of criminals had continued without fail or skipping a single day but there was no where in particular that more had been dieing than others. It was everywhere, including other countries.

The familiar chewing sounds began again as the dark haired man continued to munch on his cake. His senses becoming weary from the video he could now recite word for word.

"Recently, many criminals that only had their face shown were killed. Therefore we know it's the Second Kira doing it…Unless the first has somehow obtained the power to only need a face."

"Before you said it was unlikely…"

"Yes, that's true", he looked over to see a tense Yagami Soichiro, "and I'm still convinced Kira does not have that power…we can't rule it out yet but…I'm guessing that more than likely Kira has instructed the second to do the killings."

"How do you know it's not both?" He rubbed his throbbing head.

"I don't but I'm also saying this assuming that your son is Kira."

"…"

A sharp glare was exchanged, both detectives analyzing the other without words. For the older man he was simply tired of having his own flesh and blood being accused of such unspeakable acts. He had agreed to place his faith and trust in Ryuzaki…but that was before he knew what would happen to his family.

For the younger of the two, this was merely a test of limits to see how much he could say about Yagami Light before the opposite man was willing to do anything to prove these theories right or wrong. Though it was becoming increasingly obvious that he would deny his son's guilt for the rest of his life.

"Yagami-kun understands my way of thinking, he is intelligent, and he has never fallen for one of my tests…This makes me suspect him even further and he knows it, it's not impossible that he was able to see the Second Kira without you or I ever knowing. And if that's the case then he would obviously not want to be seen with that person and would tell them to continue killing without visitation." He pressed another bite of cake into his mouth.

"My son could never be Kira…Never." He whispered.

"I understand why you wouldn't want to think that…"

"No," his tone grew, "it's not just that. Light is a college student, he stays up late studying, he has dates, he's busy moving out, and when he's not overworked he's here with us."

Suddenly, a sharp slamming sound was issued throughout the silent room. L's fork clinking against the plate he had dropped onto the tiled floor. His eyes widening as he stared at the older man with confusion.

"Yagami-kun is moving? Why wasn't the task force informed?" He pressed his lip.

"I-It isn't a big deal. About a week ago he said he wanted to get an apartment…That's why he missed one of our meetings, he's been moving things." His eyes shook.

"Why is suddenly moving out?" His tone calmed.

"He said he wanted more independence and it's even closer to his school than our home…It doesn't mean he's going to stop working on the case…"

The odd mannerisms of the younger male continued as he pressed his lip even harder, his body rocking slightly as he crept into his thoughts. Ideas of why his suspect had a sudden change, why he was distancing himself from his home, and why he had neglected to tell the one person that was challenging him.

It's true that most college students would feel more independence by leaving home…If it is closer to his school that would be easier. But why wouldn't he tell me? If he is Kira than he would know that I would be even more suspicious that he never mentioned it. If he's not Kira than he wouldn't worry about it…Still…

"…It's risky."

I could be killed by the Second Kira if they were to come back into contact with Light Yagami, however if I were than that would mean he was guilty…

"I wonder if Yagami-kun wants a roommate."

Laughter and chatter continued to build up throughout the enormous campus. Talks and mentions of this and that, love and war, life and death, and of course whispers about any of the latest rumors.

He listened in with the usual disinterest for anything not having to do with him directly. Of course he had had this same routine of thought even before he had become, well what the world knew as Kira. Discussing his life was never that entertaining, nothing ever happened to make it interesting or unusual and talking about death was something he rarely thought of. Rumors were useless garbage he only saw as a starting to point to conflict…maybe that was why he was so strict about killing people that only had minor offenses. As for war and love, neither were of interest to him. War was not his goal and love was merely a tool he had become used to using as a powerful weapon. Still none of this concerned him directly…

The world is still wasting away…

He felt his footsteps become heavier as he glanced at his surroundings. People still spitting out untruthful talk about their peers, others not bothering to stop the lies, some people screaming at one another as they caused a scene, and many people only urging the fights. Yes, this was the type of world he hoped to change. A world where scenery and people were vibrant and nothing looked as dead as it did in this instant. A world where there was a future to look forward to…

The slow pace he had kept up suddenly came to a halt, his eyes widening when realizing why he had snapped from thought. A familiar figure was sitting on the bench just ahead, someone he hadn't seen at school in a while.

"Ryuga?"

The older man looked up from his book, onyx gazing into amber as they both gave a shared look of surprise.

"Hello, Yagami-kun. Surprised?"

"Y-yeah you've been at the task force so much I didn't think you'd be coming back any time soon." He kept a firm hold over his urge to shake, now…No he was never ready to see L, public or otherwise.

"Yes but you said you missed me at school and I wanted a change of pace." He climbed off the bench to stand slouched before his younger friend.

"Yeah…"

"Yagami-kun, your father informed me earlier that you had a change of pace as well." He pressed his lip.

"…Oh I moved out, I just finished this morning."

Damn. Why did he tell him? I knew he would find out but this soon?

"He said you wanted more independence and it was closer to the campus." He leaned forward.

Light sighed, "Yeah well I figured that this case won't go on forever and when it's over I'd like to have some experience with living on my own."

"That's understandable…and I think I know how we can solve this case even faster."

"Hmm?"

"Well I'm leading this investigation and I already know that you have an amazing ability to think on the same level as myself…"

He bit his lip, "Where are you going with this?"

"If we were together more then we could exchange theories on Kira." He smiled.

"You want to live together?" He took a step backwards.

"Exactly."

The younger of the two opened his mouth only to choke on his own words. His entire reason for leaving home was to be alone and away from the stress…Though if he were to reveal that then he would be under further suspicion.

What is he thinking? Is he just trying to get a reaction from me?

He laughed, "Ryuga I want to live on my own, I explained that."

"But you could live on your own after the case is solved, right? And you'd still be learning to have independence." His childish smile emerged.

"…Why would you want to live with someone you think is a killer?"

"Because you wouldn't be able to kill me. You're the only one on the outside that knows I'm L, if I were to die while living with you, that would mean you are Kira."

"Ryuga…"

I can't let him…He's L…But if he's living with me and sees that nothing incriminating is happening that might lower his suspicions. It would be extremely risky though, if Misa were to ever show up that would be it for her. If I say 'no' though will that mean I'm trying to hide from him?

"It's only one bedroom but if you want you can take the couch." He cursed himself.

"Excellent, I'll have Watari bring the equipment."

Both boys exchanged a smile as they shared a secret knowing. For L, he knew that this was the perfect chance to observe and perhaps catch Kira. And for Light, he knew life was about to get very interesting.