Intangible Connection

A/N: Well, hello and welcome to my first fanfiction! Before you start, let me tell you that English is not my first language, so if there are any mistakes or expressions that seem unnatural please inform me. That aside, this story is completely AU and therefore to a certain extent OOC. There will be OCs as well. I will also use L's alias 'Ryuuzaki', I hope it won't bother you. Well then, let's start with the prologue to 'Intangible Connection'! :D

Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing with exception for the storyline and a few OCs.

Prologue: The Boy who looks like Halloween

Two hours have passed, since a five-year-old Light Yagami has suited himself on top of the stairs and continued looking trough the window with a curious stubbornness which only intelligent toddlers like him could possess. He was focused on the current on-goings related to the house across the street. Light was currently witnessing the arrival of new neighbors, an incident which of course would prove itself worth being observed by the genius kid. His patience was, considering his young age, remarkable since the only information he could gather was the sight of some worn-out looking furniture being carried inside the house and a short glimpse at the neighbors themselves. There were two of them, Light concluded. One was a relatively young woman with raven-black hair and a petite shape. She didn't look Japanese, though, at least not fully.

The second newcomer was a toddler, apparently the same age as Light, with the same ebony hair and thin figure as the woman. He was also remarkably pale and continued licking on a hand-sized lollipop whose mere sight gave Light eye-diabetes. During the progress of the furnishings the pale boy let neither go of his lollipop nor of the hand of the woman, who was most likely his mother.

Light was unpleased at the very least. The fact that the new neighbor-woman had a son his age was distressful. Light could almost smell the socializing his mother will set up for him and this diabetes-boy. If it were at least an older boy, maybe Light could find some intellectual stimulation in it, but that sugar-addict looked as promising as the idiotic TV-shows for kids in which animated characters would talk to their audience in a retarded way in order to provide knowledge.

Light's trail was interrupted when a soft hand laid itself upon his fragile shoulder.

"Light, what are you doing? You should be in your bed by now"

The soft voice of his mother calmed Light's inner turmoil and he turned around to be confronted with the welcome sight of his mother's loving smile. And, even better than that, Sayu was obviously already brought to bed, so she couldn't cling to his mother's arm 24/7.

"Who is that?", Light asked and pointed to the opposite house demanding information.

Sachiko's smile intensified and she patted her son's awfully bright head.

"We're going to welcome them tomorrow. But you should sleep now, Light"

Light winced inwardly. He knew it. More happy Get-That-Light-A-Playmate-Time for Light Yagami.

Resistantly he stood up and let himself be led to his bedroom on the first floor. It was too big, one could assume, but Light liked every inch of it. It even had a balcony, although the door was carefully locked.

Sachiko hugged her son and gently wrapped the blanket around him. She kissed his forehead and bid him a good night.

All upcoming nuisances forgotten Light closed his eyes and drifted almost immediately into sleep.

Light's daily progress used to be the same more or less, including little exceptions only. So Light couldn't approve of the fact that his usual reading time in the afternoon was replaced by meeting those stupid new neighbors; stupid welcome-flowers and smiley-faces inclusive. How could this be considered amusing?

But, of course, Light left his antisocial comments for himself and followed his beloved family, consisting of himself, Soichiro, Sachiko and Sayu. Right into the imminent doom.

Soichiro was the first to ring the bell and some rustling sounds and soft voices came from inside. Finally, the door opened and the head of the young woman appeared.

Looking closer, Light could definitely say that she had to be at least partly foreign. She possessed beautiful, Japanese facial features but her complexion was a bit too dark and her eyes didn't fit the common Japanese genetic. They were big, round and as dark as a deep abyss. However, they graced the guests with friendly glances.

"Good afternoon", Soichiro announced and bowed slightly.

"Good afternoon", the woman replied in a soft and melodic tone. "How can I help you?"

Only now Light noticed the slight exasperated sound in her voice. She must have been working. And being a single-mother certainly didn't help sparing effort.

Soichiro introduced himself, then his wife, then his son and finally his daughter.

"We only came over to welcome you" Sachiko said and timidly handed over the flowers. The woman's face lit up instantly and now even Light couldn't deny her beauty and youth.

"Thank you very much! They are wonderful! I am Rue Sakura, by the way, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

Sakura gestured them to enter her house.

"Feel free to come in! Although I have to apologise, it's currently a bit of a mess since I'm stuck in the middle of preparations…"

Light had long stopped listening to the constant babble. He looked around to catch a look at the Ghost-Boy, who was nowhere insight. Maybe he would just appear out of thin air and start howling and…

"Ah, I almost forgot, I wanted you to meet my son", Sakura said and, with a side glance at Light, she continued: "He should be your age now, Light"

Light merely shrugged.

"You know, my son has a little trouble finding friends since he is a bit eccentric, so…"

"Oh, don't worry. I'm sure Light is an excellent playmate for your son", Sachiko ensured and Light's insides turned. Now he had to play all friendly to some retarded social crippled freak… But alright, Light was sure he would manage to find a polite way to get rid of him anyhow.

"Ryuuzaki! Could you come downstairs?"

The whole Yagami family listened to the sound of a door opening and the patting of feet on the ground. Sayu made a little sleeping noise to disrupt the silence.

Finally, a small frame came doddered down the stairs. Light could finally elaborate his first impressions with a more thoroughly observation.

The boy was pretty thin and fragile-looking like his mother, but the palish-white colour of his skin made the look seem unhealthy and somewhat unnatural. His face was marked by those large, deep eyes, but in contrast to his mother's eyes, they were sharp, too sharp for a boy his age, and it seemed like they would explore every pore of your soul merely by looking at you. Light shifted uncomfortably. Nothing was supposed to unsettle Light Yagami, especially not some ghost freak, who, on closer sight, didn't even wear socks.

So Light simply continued to stare, even as the eyes met his and created a most uncomfortable tension.

"Ryuuzaki, this is Light Yagami and his family, Light, this is Ryuuzaki", Sakura announced unnecessarily and Ryuuzaki brought his thumb to his lips.

He still chews on his thumb?, Light thought gleefully and surprised at once.

Some seconds passed and Light grew fed up with those black orbs staring at him, so he decided to take him off guard. Everybody knew him for his directness, anyway.

"You look like Halloween", Light said innocently and gazes met him, a few not approving, a few indicating typical for kids his age.

But Light didn't pay attention to them, since the Halloween-boy in question actually started to smile. Maybe he was even dumber than Light originally thought.

"Please, could you further explain your recent statement?"

The low, apathetic voice surprised Light not as much as the thing being said. Was this person mocking him? Did he really not know that Light was mocking him? And what kind of kid would talk like that? Did he think of himself as some kind of super-genius or what?

"I said, you look like the personification of Halloween. You know, the thing taking place in October with ghosts and demons and stuff?"

Light could have sworn that this smile suddenly intensified. It was hard to tell with that thumb blocking your sight.

"I disagree", he said, still in that same, emotionless voice.

"Huh?", Light made a surprised sound. That was definitely not what he had expected. This little bastard had turned the tables and took him off-guard. That was something that, regardless his age, only a few people were able to do.

"I disagree.", the demon-owl repeated. "People do associate Halloween with fear and gruesome creatures not being found upon the earth's surface. However, I have statistically proven that people, while looking at me, get the distinct impression of adorableness."

Light actually snorted at this point.

"So you want to tell me that you have created statistics to prove that you're adorable, which I'm vehemently rejecting, by the way? That's quite the pathetic thing to do, even for a little pale owl-face as you are"

"Light!", Sachiko exclaimed appalled. She had never heard her son talking like this.

"Oh, no, Yagami-san, it's alright. Please do not blame your son. My open demeanor often triggers such reactions, although I have to admit Light-kun's level of snappy counter arguments is quite remarkable for his age. Do you mind accompanying me to my room, Light-kun?"

Light wanted to refuse, desperately, but upon making one side glance at his mother he knew he had to compensate for his behavior. Damn him and his snow-white west!

He graced the little owl-face a smile that could easily match the colour of his metaphorical conscience.

"Sure, let's go! I apologise if I insulted you earlier"

Ry-owl-zaki gave him a look that indicated that he perfectly looked through Light's little act, but he played along nevertheless.

Soichiro and Sachiko observated their son suspiciously while he trailed along after the pale boy.

"Please, follow me into the kitchen!", Sakura smiled and pointed at the room in question.

Sachiko and Soichiro could now fully admire the combination of an on-going move, the busy life of a single-mother and the presence of an overly bored little social outcast. 'A mess' wasn't quite the term that could meet this state, it was rather… well, Light would bluntly call it an apocalyptic nuclear after-war state. Or a dump, to be less dramatic. But that somehow took the edge. Sakura's guests took their seats and watched the busy woman absently stroking her hair out of her face.

"Do you want some tea? Coffee? Water?", Sakura offered and opened the fridge which, unsurprisingly, revealed a little collection of various sweets.

"Tea, please"

"For me as well"

One boiling-water-session later the three adults sat around the old table and began leading a conversation. Sakura was indeed the open and lovely person she appeared to be and talking to her prove itself as pretty comfortable.

"I wonder what the boys are doing", Sachiko mentioned as they slowly ran out of things to discuss.

"Ah, I think they're getting along well. They've been strangely quiet, normally Ryuu would make quite the fuss in his room"

Sachiko and Soichiro exchanged glances.

"Erm, not to sound rude, but… are you sure it is alright leaving them by themselves? Ryuuzaki seemed to be… slightly exasperating for Light"

"Oh, I do apologise. He's been like that since he could think. Which was remarkably early. He is very intelligent, like your son. But he has a light form of autism"

"Autism?", Soichiro repeated. He had dealt with that kind of disorder before.

"Yes, which is probably both the source of his intelligence and his lacking social skills. He usually doesn't get around well with children who are not as clever as him. But your son is also very gifted, I could immediately sense that."

Sachiko had no time to be flattered, what she usually was when ever someone praised her beloved child, but instead she stood up from her seat and announced:

"I'd rather have a look at them"

Sakura didn't seem to be in the least offended by the reaction her speech provoked, but she took it with some kind of tired friendliness. She was used to people forbidding her son to play with their children, only because they saw him as some potential psycho-killer. Better crushing her hopes now than later.

The three members of the Yagami-family hurried up the stairs and Sakura opened the door to Ryuuzaki's room. Nobody was prepared for the scene presenting itself to the flabbergasted audience.

The first thing Light thought was… well, he didn't really think something that could be recognised as human speech since his brain was confronted with the messiest room he had ever seen. And if something was able to stop the gears inside of Light's brain, it had to be quite the crazy stuff. Something that Ryuuzaki's room was. Definitely some crazy stuff.

The room itself was plain white, like the asylum Light had Owli be transferred to if he were in charge, but it was literally scattered with random furniture covered in huge amounts of books, toys and sweet wrappers. Light couldn't navigate yet, whereas Ryuuzaki gracefully hopped over the floor-covering trash and curled up on top of some undefined object which had to resemble something bed-like. The way Ryuuzaki reigned over his land of trash like a freaky owl-monkey-hybrid made Light almost laugh. Almost. The mere sight gave Light's OCD-in-progress chills.

"Alright, now that we're outside your family's eavesdropping-radius, you can insult me as you like"

Light snorted. Something he had the feeling would be happening quite often around this little brat.

"Well, if you wanted intelligent stimuli, you could've just asked, you know?"

Ryuuazki made his little smiling thing with the thumb and responded:

"Yeah, but where is the fun in that? Light-kun surely would provide more amusement if he'd be agitated, am I right?"

He muttered it in a way that said 'Of course I'm right, I'm Rue freakin'-monkey Ryuuzaki, dude'

"I'm sure it would be funnier than sucking your thumb like the little child you are. Of course people won't interact in an intelligent way around you if you behave like a five-year-old!"

"I think this is not exactly convincing. You are five years old, aren't you?"

"But I'm not behaving like I am."

"Neither am I. I'm just behaving like an extremely spoiled adult."

"Damn right"

"You're cursing"

"You're annoying"

"Where did that come from, Light-kun?"

Light smirked. The freckles on his cheeks seemed to dance while he did so. Ryuuzaki was fascinated. He'd never seen a Japanese boy with auburn hair, eyes and freckles.

"Oh, my bad. I thought we were just stating the obvious here", the subject of Ryuuzaki's interest replied.

"Touché, Light-kun.", Ryuuzaki said and wriggled his toes in an excited manner. It was one of the oddest things Light has ever seen.

Silence followed and Light let his sight wander a bit. He discovered books called 'Japanese manners and traditions' and ' Japanese History Book 9'. These were books he'd be interested in as well. He hesitantly dared to make a few steps forwards and took in the sight. Aside from various books, there were other things like Origami-figures, scetches and Lego-buildings.

He picked up a little Origami-crane and held it delicately between his fingers. How could a little ugly boy produce something like this?

"That's beautiful. Did you make it?", he asked. Ryuuzaki merely nodded and stood up to take a look over Light's shoulders. It was a rather unnecessary and strange move, Light thought.

"I can teach you", Ryuuzaki proposed.

Light considered this idea for a moment. But then, what could he lose? It was not like he'd suddenly start to form a friendship with Owl-o, was it?

"Alright", Light said and Ryuuzaki seemed to beam. To beam? What strange phrase for the sunken, little, dead-like creature in front of him.

But Light was then distracted by said creature who gently held his sleeve and led him to the ground (something Light didn't really wanted to make contact with, thank you), where he, surprise, surprise, didn't curl up to a ball like a pill bug but instead sat down cross legged, with some sheets of colourful paper in front of him.

"The basics are quite easy. I assume Light-kun won't have any problems with it…"

"Can't we skip the child's play and instantly get to the difficult stuff? Rest assured I can do better than that"

"…if he stopped being such a pimp"

Light didn't know the meaning of the word 'pimp', but it was certainly insulting, so he sulked a bit.

"Great. And now, follow my instructions.", Ryuuzaki continued unfazed.

And so Light did.

The first cranes were a bit wrinkled but he got better and better as time went on. Neither of the little geniuses talked, they were merely trying to create bigger and more complex figures (in which, Light admitted grumpily, Ryuuzaki was simply better).

So it came that, when the door opened and the Yagami-family entered, they found two little boys sitting on the ground completely lost in their work, with little beautiful Origami-figures all around them.

It was quite the reassuring sight after the revelation about Ryuuzaki's autism, Soichiro thought.

Light and Ryuuzaki lifted their head simultaneously and the persons in the door were confronted with deep, pitch-black eyes and shining brown ones. Both eyes could see the positively surprised expressions in the intruder's eyes. Ryuuzaki sighed inwardly. Has humanity really lost any faith in creepy, antisocial autistics? It's not like he was about to eat Light-kun or something. He would be taken aback by the taste of his all too minty shampoo anyway.

"Look, mommy, we were making cranes!", Light announced childishly and shoved his mother one of his creation in the face. Either Light behaved like the child he was around his parents intentionally or he really was extremely proud of his little folded piece of paper.

"That's magnificent, Light!", Sachiko praised her son and patted his flawless hair.

Soichiro smiled proudly and Sayu tried to grab the crane with her tiny hands.

Ryuuzaki observed this spectacle with an unreadable expression one could consider as completely expressionless.

His head snapped as a hand laid itself upon his shoulder. He looked up and saw the smiling face of his mother.

"Jealous?", she asked mockingly. Ryuuzaki loved her direct nature which didn't have its origin in impudence but respect for her son's mental capability. Only his mother knew how to deal with him. Only her.

"What would I be jelous of? His hair? No thanks, I'll pass"

Sakura laughed and pecked the cheek of the toddler. Light witnessed the slight sparkle in Ryuuzaki's eyes arising and decided that he liked it when that odd boy looked… well, more alive. And he was intelligent. He would give it a try, at least. Maybe he could develop some deeper friendship, not the fake ones he led with a few children from their neighborhood.

Later on everyone bid farewell and left the duo by themselves.

In the evening all the members of Light's family sat around the table and discussed the day's events. It seemed like Sachiko definitely approved of the new neighbors, she was endeared by how Light and Ryuuzaki 'played so well together', at which point Light had to stifle a cough, since he wouldn't call his free time activities 'playing' but rather 'researching'.

Soichiro sad nothing, but that wasn't a surprise since he loved listening to discussions his amazingly bright son and his beloved wife would lead. He'd only make a comment now and then, nothing significant.

And Sayu, well, one could count himself lucky when she produced something that was more than a mindless babble.

One hour after the dinner at the Yagami household had taken place, Ryuuzaki and Sakura gathered around their old table and began eating the meal. Ryuuzaki hardly ate 'normal' food, but when he did, it was his mother's cooking. Nobody else understood how to create the perfect balance between healthy and sugary meals. And since his mother was a confectioner her pastries were the best Ryuuzaki had ever eaten in his young life.

"So, what about that Yagami-boy? Do you like him?", Sakura asked. Ryuuzaki knew quite well that most parents had an ulterior motive when asking something like that, but his mother would only satisfy her curiosity. Another aspect he liked about her.

"He is intelligent, I assume. And a quick learner"

"That doesn't answer the question and you know that, you little sneaky thing"

L smiled slightly and then nodded.

"Yes. Yes, I think, I like him. He is interesting"

"I'm glad to hear that. He seemed to like you as well"

"What indicators lead you to this conclusion?", Ryuuzaki asked with round eyes.

"Well, he managed to stay with you in one room for three hours. Is that nothing?"

Ryuuzaki answered by throwing a vegetable at her.

A/N: Aaaand, that was the introduction to this little story! There will be Yaoi later on, I promise, but I always take my time to let the story unfold. And yes, I know that there are in fact many different types of autism, but I won't give any specific details here, since I'm not a expert psychology and I don't want to insult any people out there who might be reading this with my lack of knowledge. Though this whole thing isn't a crucial plot device, it just serves as a possible explanation for L's little quirks. Don't take this too seriously, please.

See you in the next chapter, hopefully! :D