Chapter 1: It's Been Five Years

A/N: Because I control the world of this fanfiction, I'm saying that L was 21 at the time of the Kira investigation. L is now 26 and Light is 22. Just for the hell of it. Let the madness begin.

Disclaimer: Death Note is not my property.

Warnings: Mentions of violence and abuse, also eventual LxLight pairing

Length: 1221 words, over four pages.

NOW let the madness begin.

"L?" An elderly man, neatly dressed in a black suit, with impeccably groomed white hair and mustache, appeared at the doorway.

The detective halted his reading and looked up at his caretaker from the sprawled position he was in on the leather sofa.

"What is it, Quillish?" He asked in his usual monotone.

"There's a call."

"About a case?"

"Not exactly."

"What then?"

"Kira."

L waited for Quillish to continue, when he didn't, L posed another question, "Who is calling and what is the nature of the call?"

"It is a call from the Saint Joseph Penitentiary warden concerning a problem regarding the incarceration of Kira."

"Did he say what the problem was?"

"No, he didn't."

"Did he say why he was contacting me about it?

"He didn't mention that either."

L sighed and swung his legs onto the floor, stretching his arms. "That's not very helpful."

"Will you take the call?"

"I may as well, I just closed the Bangladesh case and have nothing else to do at present."

Quillish smiled, "The man sounded incredibly nervous."

"Did he really?" L smirked slightly, as he stood up and strode in the direction of the tech room, where there was a microphone and voice scrambler that he used when indirectly addressing people. There were also top-of-the-line computers and other useful technologies there.

Having reached the tech room, L settled at his swivel chair before his monitor. It had been sometime since he last heard mention of Kira. He found himself curious. L pressed the button to put through the warden.

"Hello, this is L." He greeted in perfect Russian, his voice distorted with computer programming.

"This is Artem Kozlov, warden of Saint Joseph Penitentiary," a gruff male voice replied. It was well hidden, but L could detect an underlying of nerves in the man's voice; Quillish was correct.

"I understand you are calling me about one of your prisoners, a Light Yagami."

"Yes, I'm contacting you about Kira. I realize you probably don't get very many calls about the criminals you put away. We didn't know whom else to call, though. The situation is what we would normally contact family about. Kira, of course, is not permitted this sort of contact. However, we're required to inform someone about his condition. You're the only person who has the clearance to be contacted for such a situation," Kozlov related matter-a-factly.

The man was babbling slightly. L decided to cut to what seemed the crux of the matter, "What exactly is the situation?"

"Merely that Kira has been exhibiting suicidal tendencies as of late," Kozlov said indifferently.

"Suicidal tendencies?"

"Yes, that's all that I needed to report to you. I won't take up anymore of your time "

"In what way is he exhibiting suicidal tendencies?" L cut him off.

L could almost hear the man's frown over the audio connection, "I'm not quite sure of the specifics."

"Mr. Kozlov, as you have contacted me in lieu of Light Yagami's family, I would like to thoroughly inquire into the matter."

"If you wish to pursue the matter, I could connect you to Dr. Iskra Dubrovsky, the psychologist who reported the suicidal tendencies," Kozlov mused.

"Please do so."

"I'll connect you in a moment," Kozlov promised.

L drummed his fingers idly as he waited for the psychologist to be patched through. He didn't have to wait long.

"This is Dr. Iskra Dubrovsky," a cool female voice said. This voice did not have an undercurrent of nerves.

"This is L. I understand that you are the psychologist in charge of Light Yagami and that you have noted he is exhibiting suicidal tendencies."

"That is correct, Mr. L."

"I would like a report on Light Yagami's current psychological condition."

"Very well. I have not been working with the patient for long. I was transferred to Saint Joseph from a different institute approximately six months ago and replaced Dr. Viktor Morozov as Kira's primary psychologist," Dubrovsky related.

L remembered meeting Morozov. "Why was Dr. Viktor Morozov replaced?"

"It was discovered that he was abusing one of his patients. Light Yagami."

"In what manner?"

"Mostly mentally, but some physical violence as well. He was witnessed violently slapping the patient, and admitted to other infractions. Both he and Mr. Yagami were unwilling to expand on specifics." Dubrovsky's tone of voice suggested great disapproval.

"Continue with your report," L prompted.

"From Dr. Morozov's notes, it seems that when the patient first entered the institution, he was diagnosed as a megalomaniac with antisocial and narcissistic personality disorders. He is now severely traumatized and I have diagnosed him with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression. I believe that he has suffered abuse from other prisoners as well as from Dr. Morozov."

"He no longer exhibits symptoms as a megalomaniac or of an antisocial or narcissistic personality disorder?" L's voice betrayed not a hint of emotion.

"He does not."

"He has been exhibiting suicidal tendencies. Please expand on this."

"He has attempted suicide twice now. The first attempt he endeavored to jump from a balcony but was slowed by his shackles, so a guard was able to intervene. That guard failed to report the incident, so nothing was done in response to this. The second time he attempted strangulation with his bed sheets and was again prevented by a guard. This incident was reported and measures have now been taken to prevent these incidents from reoccurring," Dubrovsky said evenly.

"What sort of treatment is he receiving?"

"Talk-therapy and antidepressant medication."

"How effective are they?"

"So far, there has been no improvement and the patient seems uninterested in improvement. He also has expressed a damaging level of self-hatred."

"Prognosis?"

"Bad. I believe that improvement under current conditions would be unlikely."

"Why is that?" L inquired.

"The patient has strong, negative associations with the Saint Joseph Penitentiary. In addition the patient has no support network."

"And if he was moved to a different location?"

"He would have an increased chance of improvement, but lack of a support network would continue to handicap improvement."

"As his psychologist, how do you intend to proceed?"

"I will continue with talk-therapy and narcotics, but as I said, I do not have much hope for improvement." Dubrovsky sounded regretful.

"Would you recommend that Light Yagami be moved to a different location?"

"That would be recommendable and I have inquired about it, but due to security complications, it is impossible."

There was a pause. "Would it be possible for you to fax me specifics on Light Yagami's condition?"

"Yes, it would be."

L related a fax number, than promised to contact Dr. Dubrovsky after reviewing the case notes.

After the call disconnected, L remained seated and thought. He hadn't thought much on Light Yagami for these past five years. Still, the Kira Case remained the most challenging case on his record and the case he had gotten most personally involved with. And Light Yagami, he remained the greatest adversary L had gone up against. Yagami had been cunning, charming, brilliant, daring, and challenging. L had had to use every once of his own ability to defeat the young genius.

He ought to tell Quillish what the call had been about. L stood and began walking back toward his book; Quillish would most likely be there. As L walked down the window-lined corridor he reminisced about the case. He and Yagami had been the greatest of enemies, but because of how involved the case became, had also become rather close. While they had both claimed friendship towards one another, neither claims had been sincere, but still, they had been close. Perhaps that was why L was bothered by the situation of the young man.

In his mind's eye, L pictured Light Yagami as he had last seen him. He could see the boy's smooth features twisted with rage and snarling incoherently.

A/N: Since when does L sprawl and whatnot? Hmm.

Anyway, thank you for reading, and please let me know what you think about how I've portrayed L. And Quillish. And what you think of my Russian people. And what you think of the writing. Actually, I'm incredibly interested in whatever you may be thinking.

Also, just so you are aware in advance, I probably won't update quickly (I'm slow ^_^;) but I will eventually finish.