Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note in any way, shape or form.

Summary: Light is a hustler in the red light district of Tokyo. He finds himself enraptured by a mysterious man who offers him escape from the shady lifestyle in exchange for helping him on a case of lust and betrayal in which they are both entangled. AU. Yaoi.

SANCTUARY

Prologue

This is your life, is it everything that you dreamed
that it would be when the world was younger,
and you had everything to lose?

Yesterday is a kid in the corner
Yesterday is dead and over

This is your life, are you who you want to be?
...
This Is Your Life, Switchfoot

- - -

A sticky heat settled over the city like the swarm of flies over greasy pancakes in the market place. The young man watched the light blue of the sky with a distant expression. Molecules in the air scattered blue light from the sun more than they scattered red light thus making the sky blue. He knew that since he was twelve, but it didn't matter. Not anymore.

His fingers searched the pockets of his cargos for change.

"It's alright," drawled Toshi, pushing the newspaper wrapped bundle towards him, "You can pay me back some other time." At this, he gave the younger man a look over, a suggestive smirk playing on his lips.

"Hai," replied Light with a smirk of his own before taking the bundle from the older man. He left quickly, melting into the crowd. There it was, the mixture of disgust and triumph, instilling itself within him.

Toshi was married with three of four kids who lived with him and a wife that worked as a teacher in another city. Her ambitions were the cause of his 'time-to-times'; he had told this to Light one night, after they had finished, stroking his hair absently. The air smelled of cigarette's and stale whiskey. "You know what I mean. A woman outdoing me in everything. Even the kids think so. The oldest left 'cause she thought I was a failure and her mother was stupid by staying with me. Hmph, imagine that, you're dad working as a vendor while your mom's all high-class." Light had simply shaken his head. He didn't want to think on things like that, like a father who told everyone his son had died in a car accident and a sister who wrote to him in secret every month. He just didn't want to think. Besides, Toshi was content with his non-committal responses. The man didn't want a conversation; he wanted someone to pour his thoughts, his worries, into. And he paid a fair amount for it.

As the sun beat down upon him, Light quickly made his way through the mass of people. Once or twice, someone would stop him with an angry stream of words at his pushing and shoving but he'd ignore them and continue his traverse, careful not to drop the heavy bundle. He made it to the apartment building a little before noon.

"Hey, Yagami, where's my rent?" Mr. Mondo emerged from his office in the hall with a stern expression on his wrinkled face. His bald head lacked the sheen on sweat that had settled on Light's face as he glared back.

"Where's our air conditioning?"

"Don't start this with me. You haven't paid up for two months."

Light pressed the button for the elevator. "One month. I was just late with the one before that."

"Huh. Oh, yeah. Well late isn't cutting it for me."

"I'll get you your money as soon as I get it, alright?"

"Oh? What's that you're carrying? I'm pretty sure you had to buy it."

"That's none of your business, old man." He suppressed a chortle, trying to imagine the older man's face is he knew what was in the bundle.

"Your rent is. I'm giving you a week."

"Fine, whatever." He pressed the button again. What was taking so damn long?

Mr. Mondo turned to leave but not before calling over his shoulders, "It's out of order. The power went out."

"Then how come your office…?" Light looked questioningly at the office in question with its lights on and air conditioning functioning normally.

"Generator."

"Eh, you took your sweet time," Teru yawned, sprawled languidly on the faded couch. He was dressed in nothing but his favourite checkered boxers.

"Elevator's out of order, your highness," Light threw the bundle at him rougher than he intended to and heard the 'umph' at the receiving end of the throw. He raced to the bathroom, pulling his shirt over his head.

"No need to be bitchy about it. I had to walk up here too. Fuck, this heat…did you talk to Mikamo? About the air conditioning?"

"He wants the rent first." Light all but stressed the accusation with the word 'rent'.

Teru got up and stretched, and shuffled over to the doorway of the bathroom. He leaned against the wood paneling, arms folded, watching his friend strip off his clothes. "Why the rush?" He kept his voice even, fighting the rush of blood to his face at the display in front of him.

"John wanted me at the House at noon." He stepped into the tub, grabbing the loofa and pulling the curtain shut. The sound of the shower water filled the room.

"Oh. You're late."

"Gee, you think?"

"You want me to heat you some leftovers?"

"I'll eat when I get there."

"When has John ever let you eat before a job?"

"Teru."

"Fine, fine, sorry for looking out for you."

The scrubbing stopped momentarily. "Did anyone call from the employment agency?"

Teru sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. It needed a cutting badly but cash was short as usual or at least with him. God knew how much money the younger man made with his line of work. Or maybe God didn't want to know. And honestly, neither did Teru.

"Teru?"

"No."

"Not yet," Light turned off the water and stepped out, grabbing the nearest towel and wrapping it around his waist. Last thing he needed right now was Teru all over his wet body. Literally, if things got out of hand. "Things will look up." He smiled at his older friend.

"Y-yeah," Teru replied too quickly, trying not to let his eyes stray from Light's face.

But Light had already walked around him and into the single bedroom they shared. It was more for necessity than anything but Teru liked to tell himself Light wanted it this way. It was a small room with only room for two twin beds, a table and a closet. There was barely any room to walk so they had to often climb onto and over the beds. As usual, Light's 'side' of the room was neat; the light blue duvet free of creases, and the books and boxes alongside each other on the table. He had gotten the bed by the window – Teru knew Light secretly enjoyed having a view of the skyline no matter the time of day.

"Are you going to stand there all day and stare at me?" Light joked, rolling on deodorant and combing his hair. Drying himself quickly, he pulled on a pair of dark jeans and a fitting red shirt. They both hugged his body in a way that made Teru sick and wanton at the same time.

He wanted to say 'yes' but his throat was dry. Maybe it was the heat. "Light. I'm sorry."

"About?"

"Damn it, Light, why are you always acting like there's nothing wrong? This isn't how you wanted it. We both know that. You never wanted it like this."

"You say it like it's a bad thing," he snapped, grabbing his bag and throwing in his deodorant and a change of clothes.

"And you say it like you enjoy it," came the teeth-grit response, "Do you? Huh? They're all strangers fucking you. You don't even know them."

That struck a nerve. "If you're so concerned about the rent, you should get over it and keep a job long enough to move out and leave me be."

Before Teru could reply, Light was gone in a flurry of movement. The door slammed loudly behind him.

Teru sank to the floor by his bed, shaking. Light was right – 'of course he's right' – he needed to get over it. It being Light Yagami.

When he got to the House and put his bag in his cubby, John was already at the counter, watching the wine swirl around his glass with a frown on his face. He was a petite Chinese man who reminded Light of a spider with his beady eyes and the bony fingers that loved the feel of money. He was also the Boss. "Late again, Light-kun." He had a loud, boisterous voice, tinged with a strange accent due to his native language, that easily rose above the music from the jukebox in the corner.

A couple of people looked up at the scene.

"Had to do something for a friend," Light said, slightly out of breath. Running in this heat was becoming a repeated occurrence; one he hoped wouldn't become too frequent.

"A hand job?" Inquired Kim, taking a seat beside John.

There was a peal of raucous laughter at the comment and Kim smiled slyly at Light, batting his long eyelashes. He was going on twenty-seven, a little old for the business, but his lithe, feminine frame (among other things) kept clients coming back.

"Hey, knock it off," John warned Kim, "Why can't you be more like Light-kun?"

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Kim bit his lip, feigning hurt.

"Never mind," the Boss shook him off, "Light-kun, you're wanted at Megumi Hotel in five minutes." He handed him a few bills and a scrap of paper. "Take a taxi. The directions and room number's on it. Don't lose it. Good luck."

"Of course," Light nodded, ignoring the scathing looks he got from the other men. They were jealous, of his position, both inside and outside the House. If he played his cards right, John would take care of him. If he made the wrong moves...well, he'd end up like Coco, John's last 'favourite' who had made the mistake of stealing from a client. Coco bled to death on his bathroom floor. The wounds were self inflicted or so the police concluded hastily after they contacted his employer.

He left the House, feeling a bit lightheaded as he entered the mesh of people once again. It was going to be a long day. He just knew it.

A/N: Honestly, this was supposed to a one-shot lemon but I was like heck, why not another multi-chaptered project? And whilst exams too. Yep.

Review and let me know if it's worth continuing.

Cheers,

elomelo