"Light," L said, sounding just ever so slightly confused, "You have a call on your private line, and it's not from a family member. Is there anyone else who you've given this number to?"

"A few people from school," Light told him, "And why are you monitoring the calls coming in on a phone that you've practically confiscated from me? If I were Kira, I'd have been careful not to have any accomplices call that number."

"I suppose you're right," L murmured, "But I'll ask that you take the call."

Light took the phone from L's outstretched hand and pressed "talk".

"Hello?" he asked tentatively. He didn't have a lot of friends who called him.

"Light!" he recognized his friend Makoto's voice. He was probably the best friend he had, but that wasn't saying much.

"Uh, hey Makoto," Light stuttered, "What's up?"

"It's about the band," he started, but Light cut him off.

"My musical career is over, and I've told you that. I'm not singing for you," he said flatly.

"I know, and I totally respect your decision on that," Makoto agreed, "But we're out of musical inspiration. Could write us a song?"

"Makoto, I -"

"Please?" Makoto begged through the phone. Light could practically see the puppy dog eyes his face undoubtedly held. Light looked to L, and he shrugged, signifying engaging in the activity would be fine.

"I'll see what I can come up with," Light resigned.

"Yes!" Makoto exclaimed into the phone, "Light, you're a lifesaver! I owe you so much! Whatever you ask for, I'll give it."

Light sensed the slightly seductive tone in his voice, and thought it best to cut off the conversation quickly.

"Okay, well I'm going to go get started," he said smoothly, "See you."

"Yeah, bye!"

Light sighed and closed his phone. Honestly, did the words 'one night stand' hold any meaning for him? He had his own problems to deal with. Being God, for example. Or rather, not wanting to be God. He looked over at L. He thought again for the hundredth time about revealing his feelings, but he shut out the thought.

"It appears that they've booked the school's auditorium on the eighteenth," L told him, "I assume you would like to attend."

"Don't waste your time looking up ways to enhance my social life," Light pinched the bridge of his nose, "Work on the case, Ryuuzaki."

"I was thinking of attending as well, that's why I looked," L said simply. Light stared at him in disbelief.

"You're going to the show?" he asked, completely dumbfounded.

"I'd like to see a demonstration of your musical talents," L told him, turning back to his computer screen.

"I don't think it'll be all that interesting," Light insisted, "My talents as far as music goes are a bit out of practice. I really don't think it's worth your time."

"Don't be so modest Light," Soichiro approached them, "You've always had a gift for singing, and you can read sheet music like it's a book -"

"Dad," Light stopped him. It was the first time in his life he'd ever been so embarrassed he actually blushed.

"Modesty becomes you," L commented, "Although it is completely unnecessary in your case."

Light's blush deepened. Matsuda snickered. Light turned back to his computer and purposely ignored everyone at taskforce headquarters for the rest of the day. Near the end of the day, Light found his eyelids drooping with each passing minute.

"Do you need more coffee?" L asked, looking over at his half asleep companion.

Light nodded. However, before he received his coffee, he fainted from the exhaustion of saying up for weeks on end with no sleep.

"Light!"

L and Soichiro were next to him almost instantly, and the others held their breath.

"L, he doesn't need coffee," Watari said, approaching them, "He needs rest."

L looked to Watari and back to Light, who seemed perfectly content to remain unconscious.

"I'll take him upstairs," L conceded, and lifted Light off the floor.

"You can carry him that far?" Matsuda blurt.

"I'm a lot stronger than I look," L told him, rather proud that he was able to show off his hidden muscle mass. With that, he stood up with Light still in his arms, and headed towards the bedrooms on the second floor. He was about to enter one, when he had a very strange thought. In any case, he decided to act on it. Once he reached the seventh floor he entered his own bedroom and lay Light across the bed.

"Kira, you don't look like a mass murderer when you sleep," L murmured. Light shifted in his sleep and wrapped his arms around himself.

"You're cold?" L asked, pulling the covers out from under him and wrapping them around Light's sleeping form.

"You know, I wish there was some way to make you stop," L told his unconscious companion, "I don't want you to die, and a face like yours doesn't belong behind bars."

Light went on sleeping.

"Is there any way for you to stop it?" L asked, "Or has your plan to kill me already gotten that far?"

L's knees were shaking.

"I don't want to die, Light," he whispered, "I wish you would stop pretending and tell me how I can help you stop."

"Are there cameras?" Light mumbled sleepily.

"No," L said honestly.

"Then shut up and hold me," Light muttered, "That'd be a good start."

"Is this a confession?" L asked.

"No," Light growled, "It's an order."

L sighed at his stubbornness, but moved next to him and draped his arm over Light's body. To his surprise, Light rolled over and buried his face in L's chest.

"I don't want you to die either," Light whispered. L just sighed and held him tighter. Light tilted his head just so, to keep his tears from making contact with L's shirt.

What if I really did stop it? Is he lying? I wish he would just make a move and let me know. If he gave his trust to me, he wouldn't have to die. I could tell him everything. What is he waiting for?

L wouldn't let himself fall asleep, but he was brought to a sudden awareness when he felt Light shivering next to him. L held him tighter, and felt the sweat that was forming on the back of Light's neck. L was momentarily confused. Why would Light be shivering if he was sweating? L only had one scenario in his mind that would make sense. He lay his hand on Light's forehead, confirming his suspicion. Light was burning up. L reached over and paged Watari.

His companion felt him moving, and woke up. He instantly felt terrible. Light pulled the covers tighter around himself in a failed attempt to make himself warmer.

"Ryuuzaki…" Light murmured, as he was caught in a renewed fit of shivering. L hugged him.

"You're sick, Light," he told him. Light suddenly moved away from L and hugged himself as he continued shivering.

"Light, what…" L reached out, but Light scooted further away.

"You'll catch it," he croaked. L smiled and moved his arms around Light.

"There's nothing you can give me that I can't deal with," he murmured. Light knew he wasn't just talking about his sickness. He was telling him that he would be okay if Light were to tell him that he were Kira - tell him the truth. Light's train of thought was interrupted by the discomfort that came with a sudden coughing fit. His entire frame was wracked with his body's efforts at cleaning the sickness from his throat. L held him tighter and rubbed his back in comforting circles.

Watari entered the room and immediately analyzed the situation.

"Does he have a fever?" he asked.

"Undoubtedly," L informed him, nodding once.

Watari took a deep breath.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked, glancing at Light's shivering form pressed against L's body.

"For now," L murmured, "We'll just give him pain medication. If he does not improve within a day or so, or if he gets worse, we'll call in one of my private doctors."

Watari nodded, and left to retrieve the Advil from their private storage.

"Are you going to be okay?" L asked, looking down at Light, who had curled up even more than he himself did. Light nodded weakly, and grasped lightly at L's shirt. It scared L for a moment, to think that the Light Yagami he'd come to think of as the strongest person he'd ever met was grasping so weakly against his shirt. A small child had more strength than he did at the moment. L reminded himself that it was Light's mind he'd come to think of as strong, not his body. Light was not a god, no matter how hard he might try to be. Light moaned.

"Shh…" L murmured. It dawned on him how much Light must hate this, rendered helpless by something as human as a fever. For someone trying to achieve the levels Light had in mind, it was demeaning.

Light clung to L, wishing the pain away. How had he let this happen? He hadn't left headquarters, and he hadn't noticed anyone there being sick. He had what was probably the world's best immune system, and even when he did get sick, it was never to this extent. He had a thought of L catching it again, and he hated himself for letting L hold him. He thought of L coughing, being bedridden. It brought on a wave of nausea. He realized that he hadn't caught this fever. He'd brought it on himself, along with the stress of killing L.

Killing L.

L dying.

L falling to the ground, lifeless.

Light fell off the bed and shoved his head into the trashcan just soon enough to throw up.