Snape stared. It was 3 days since he had first met L, and he still stared. That young man was simply the oddest person Snape had ever met. He wondered what Dumbledore would think of him.

L had told him about Yagami's imprisonment a few days before he met Snape at the bus stop. Now that was curious. Somehow, Snape just did not see Yagami doing that out of faith. He mistrusted the boy greatly. Something about him made Snape uneasy.

He was currently staying at a hotel, thanks to L. He wasn't sure he was ever going to be able to extricate himself from this situation. The shinigami fascinated him though. He hadn't mentioned the thing to L at all. Perhaps he should. Or maybe that would be bad for Yagami. What was Yagami doing?

He had found out a bit more about his situation. It seemed L was investigating a serial killer who murdered criminals, named Kira. Yagami seemed to be helping with the investigations, having originally been considered by L as the prime subject. Now, after subjecting to confinement, Yagami had proved himself innocent and had been released, along with that Misa girl who had apparently been his accomplice.

Snape was no fool. It was clear to him that Yagami must be this Kira. He and the Misa girl were clearly still working together. But how was he to prove it? Should he prove it? He disliked Yagami and distrusted L. Wouldn't it be better for him to find some muggle way of transport and get back to Britain? This was nothing to do with him.

Every time he had that thought, he realised he was in a decidedly strange situation. L knew about the wizarding world. He must not be allowed to carry that knowledge. Snape was unwilling to leave him alone for long, in case he let something slip. Yagami had clearly not been told of what L knew.

The tensions between those two were strange. Sometimes he thought they liked one another, then he saw each turn his back and coldly consider what the other had said, little sign of friendship between them at all. They were both of extraordinarily high intelligence, that was of no doubt.

This whole thing was a battle of wits, the stakes: millions of lives.

Suddenly, he heard a noise behind him. Yagami.

"I could kill you at any moment."

"Why don't you?"

"I want you to tell me what you are."

"What I…..am?"

"Ryuk refuses to tell me. I know L knows. What are you?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Tell me."

"Tell you what?"

"…very well. If you wish to play that game, so be it."

Yagami stalked from the room.

Oh dear, thought Snape. This is not good at all.

AN: um, filler chapter because i'm really really busy and I am having a bit of writers block with this story. Thanks very much to all the people who wrote reviews and favourited the story, i read every one of 'em :D.

It may be a while yet before I end up updating, but rest assured, it will come.