Zero Percent

12/5/07

Zero Percent (A Death Note Fic)

SPOILERS:
Death Note - L's real name. O.o
Fight Club - A bunch. Best not read this if you don't want stuff ruined.
Warning - Pretty violent relationship... but not too bad.

So I just read fight club in college... and it got me to loving it which got me to comparing it to Death Note.... which means they had to meet. ^^; I must warn you all there are a LOT of Fight Club spoilers... which is odd since the story is focused around Raito and L. :shrug: Lots of yaoi goodness too. If you don't like yaoi or this pairing... then you'd best not read it I suppose. :shrug:

Disclaimers: I do not own L and Raito or the characters of Death Note. Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata are the wonderful creators and owners of said characters, manga, and show. I do not make money off of their characters or this story.

I do not own Tyler or . . . the not-Tyler or fight club. ^^; They belong to Chuck Palahniuk. All the rules are taken DIRECTLY from his novel. As is the quote "I know this because Tyler knows this." These things do not belong to me.

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We'd been fighting again... didn't it always turn out that way? Which was when I'd gotten the idea stuck in my head. I grabbed the slightly older man's hand and drug him out the door of his giant skyscraper. The streetlights shone brightly against the darkness. He had kept us up late with his stupid cases again. Perhaps it was my lack of sleep that had initiated the fight, along with his childishness. Whatever the cause, it was after midnight, and there was only one place I wanted to take him.

It had all started when he accused me of being Kira again. Sure I was used to that... but it was the WAY he said it. There was nothing else for it. In that damn cocky emotionless voice of his, he simply stated, "I am 15% certain Yagami Raito is Kira." This of course I was accustomed to, but he carried on to say, "This is 2% more than previously," and, upon seeing my glare, "Which pales in comparison to the 98% certainty of Yagami Raito's being homosexual." There was no thought before I reacted... rare for me, yes, but necessary. My fist connected with the side of his face, before he could blink those creepy eyes of his. He went flying across the room, and sat where he landed for less than half a second before racing back towards me. His foot connected with my eye, and I punched him in the mouth. He responded by nearly breaking my nose. I kneed him in the stomach. Then, at the exact same moment, we threw a punch that was so perfectly mirrored that our knuckles met between us, neither punch actually landing on its intended mark. That was when I knew. There was only one place to take L at that exact moment.

"Where are you dragging me, Yagami-kun? We have much work to do on the Kira case," even now, being unceremoniously drug from his secret detective's lair, he still slouched. Only I truly knew how graceful those long legs could be when he wanted. The poor posture was just another of the many things about him. He chewed his thumb. He sat with his knees curled up to his chest. He hardly wore shoes, never socks. He rarely slept. He ate too much sugar. Also... he was brilliant. The most intelligent man... person I had met in my entire life. The only one who had ever been close to my own level of genius.

You're just going to come out and ask me, Ryuuzaki? Not even attempt to puzzle it out for yourself, I tsked. It was so much fun to rile him up, even if he barely ever showed any emotion. Angry was a face I was sure he could never make. Yet when he smiled, if only I could make him smile like that. That was a ridiculous thought. Although, it was sort of only me that ever could make him smile. The few times I had seen a grin lighten his pale face was when he was winning the upper hand in the Kira case. Unfortunately that meant I was losing.

"Are you angry that we've been fighting again, Yagami-kun? Is that why you're dragging me away from our case... or, perhaps, Raito-kun IS Kira and is merely trying to distract me from finding proof? My suspicion has risen to 16%," this man could be so infuriating, his opaque brown eyes shining up at me. I wondered how tall he really was, if only he would stand up straight.

Don't be dumb. Why would I jeopardize my own case over one of our fights? I actually enjoy fighting with YOU, Ryuuzaki. Also, if you choose to believe I am Kira, then I will only have to try harder to prove you wrong. Where we are going, I interrupted as he opened his mouth to yell at me for questioning his intelligence, is FIGHT CLUB.

"Fight cl-"

The first rule of fight club is don't talk about fight club.

"And yet you just told me about it."

My eyes narrowed, The second rule of fight club is don't talk about fight club.

"It's a ridiculous rule," he blinked his eyes, dark bags lining his lower eyelids.

I wouldn't expect YOU to understand, I smirked, pulling him more quickly towards our destination.

He huffed quietly, sighing, "Are there any other rules I should be aware of?"

I ran through them, still dragging him down the sidewalk, The third rule is when someone says stop, or goes limp, even if he's just faking it, the fight is over. The fourth rule is only two guys to a fight. The fifth rule is one fight at a time. The sixth rule is they fight without shirts or shoes. The seventh rule is the fights go on as long as they have to. The eighth rule is if this is your first night at fight club, you have to fight, I knew without a doubt he had already committed the entire list to memory.

"And you've been there before?" he wondered, staring up at me with wide black pupils that nearly engulfed his entire eyes, and chewing on his thumb again.

Yes. There was nothing more to say. I had been there. Many times. The first time was an accident, and, just like now, it had started with a fight between L and me. I had gone walking the streets late that Sunday evening. I was trying to walk off my anger. I was furious with the man. I had wanted to drink it off at a near bar. I was 18 still, but a fake id was nothing to a genius like myself. Unfortunately the bar was closed, and yet I could hear screaming. I went around back and snuck in. There was only one light in the center of the room, and there stood a man who simply resonated power and control. You could not help but want to obey whatever he ordered. This man was Tyler Durden. He started fight club. He made the rules. He is brilliant, perhaps nearly on a level with myself. All around him, over a hundred eyes reflected the light back. I had not meant to get sucked in. I had no idea what was going on, but I shut the door behind me and listened to him yell out the rules; listened to everyone yell them right back. He reached the eighth rule before I could back out of the room. Then his eyes met with mine. "I challenge you to a fight," he said. I knew that no one would dare oppose him. I had no choice. We were the first fight. I dodged a couple of his swings, but it was no use. Within a few seconds, he had me bleeding on the floor and screaming for him to stop.

I do not know why I came back the next evening, but I did. Perhaps part of me wanted another chance to beat him, with a clear mind as to what was going on. Another part of me knew it was just a release. Even being beaten so badly that I had needed stitches, I had lost all of my anger. I returned to L's stinging speculative remarks about my injuries and found that I did not care. After what I had just been through, nothing could hurt me. I was above it all. The other reason I had to go back was that I wanted to beat Tyler for the sake of beating him. He was a threat to me. He was powerful and intelligent. There was no place for a man like that in Kira's new world. I needed him to back down. Sadly, when I arrived the next evening, no one was there. It did not take much deduction power to realize it only happened on Sunday evenings. I went every Sunday, and Tyler was always there. A fellow fighter explained to me what an honor it was to have him come so often. Somehow I knew he came for me. One of us had to win, once and for all. I lost the next six times. L's scathing quips were worth the broken nose or the cast on my arm. The seventh time, Tyler Durden screamed stop. That evening we realized that neither of us was going to win. We were both rulers of new worlds, and with a shake of our hands we silently agreed to stay clear of each other's domain. We could visit now and again, but we would never interfere. He smiled, "You're always welcome in fight club." I smiled back, You're always welcome in MY world, too. Somehow I think he understood.

Ever since then, I've gone every Sunday. Tyler never showed up again. He had other clubs to tend to, a world of his own to dominate. I had not expected him to return. These, however, were not things I shared with L. I only told him, Yes. This was not my first time. The detective did not say that this explained away all my injuries on Monday mornings. Only the less intelligent voice the obvious.

"I would hate to get blood on my nice jeans, Raito-kun," L mentioned in a bored tone.

I stopped short, never releasing his wrist, and turned to face him. His left cheek was swollen, and his lip was puffed and bloody. I must have looked a wreck myself. I could hardly see out of my probably blackened left eye, and I could feel the blood slowly dripping from my nose. We honestly looked as though we had already been to fight club. A nearby streetlight flickered. You already have blood on your pants, I pointed out.

"True, but it is your blood."

What difference does that make?!

"Every bit."

I sighed, exasperated, but continued dragging him to the bar. I did not want to be late. We reached it just barely in time, I could hear them calling out the seventh rule. I pulled the sugar-crazed man through the door in time to hear them say, "you have to fight."

Instantly my hand flew up, L's wrist still grasped in it, I challenge newcomer Ryuuzaki! It was not long before we were shoved towards the center of the room and into the light. Everyone was whispering. If anyone else had dared speak out of turn like that, there would have been Hell. It was different for me. I had beaten most of them. Not only that, I had beaten Tyler Durden.

The leader laughed at us, "You two look like you've already had your fight this evening."

It's his first time. He has to fight, I rebuked.

"That's true. There can be no questioning the rules! Does anyone have any objections to these two fighting first? No? Alright. As soon as we finish signing up all the fights, you two can go at it," he handed the list around the room, after I'd written Raito and Ryuuzaki upon it.

"Yagami-kun?"

Yes?

"Why are we here. We do not need a crowd to fight each other, as you're black eye must surely remind you."

It's not about the crowd, Ryuuzaki. It's about fight club. When you're here... you're not yourself. You're whoever you wanna be. You can fight anything and everything, and then nothing can ever touch you again. It's about more than the fight club, I shook my head, It's about freedom.

One hand in his pocket, one thumb in his mouth, his eyes glinted back at me in the lamplight, "Very well. If this is important to you, then I will fight. This one time."

Thank you. I don't know why I said it, but I did. Somehow it meant something to have him there; to share fight club with him. Then the match began.

It was bloody, brutal, and violent. Neither of us missed a throw. Both of us were covered in the red liquid pouring from our skin. It was hard to say who was in the worse condition. If I looked anything like L, then we both should have been dead. The fight went on for fifteen minutes. No shoes or shirts. He didn't like taking his shirt off, but he never really wore shoes anyway. It made no difference to him. The fight went on for thirty minutes. I could hardly see, between the blood and the swelling. He was limping. Three of my fingers were probably broken. He could not seem to move one of his wrists. The fight went on for forty-five minutes. I could hear the leader actually considering breaking us up. We should have both fallen to the floor ages ago, but neither of us was willing to give up. L pulled me into a chokehold, and whispered into my ear, "I do not think Kira would stand to lose this match, no matter how injured he had become. 19%."

Bite me, Ryuuzaki! I hissed, bringing my foot up behind me, straight into his crotch. It was low blow, I admit, but he was pissing me off again. He did not stumble or curl away to protect his injury. The fight went on for sixty minutes.

That was when both of us went flying in opposite directions. L looked back at me, sporting a freshly blackened eye. My own had already been wounded enough, without the new punch. Our gazes quickly redirected to Tyler. "I had the feeling I should come down here tonight," he raised an eyebrow.

The fights go on as long as they have to! I screamed, You have no right to stop us! Get out!

"That is the rule, but it has come to my attention that we are in need of a new rule: 'No man should die in fight club.' We are all friends here. Fight club connects us. No deaths, because of foolish pride," he reached out a hand to L, who ignored it and stood by his own power. He turned to help me up, only to find that I had also already risen to my feet.

"We are fine. I assure you. Let us finish our fight," L shoved his hands in his pockets.

Tyler took the list of names, "Ryuuzaki?" he held his hand out to shake, "Tyler Durden," he introduced himself, before smiling widely, "This your first fight? Not bad. Even I have to admit to actually being beaten by this young man."

"I am not surprised. Raito-kun is a skilled fighter and far more tactful than yourself," L brushed the blood from his mouth with the back of his fist.

Laughter shook through Tyler, "He is certainly one of the best opponents I've ever had the pleasure of facing. I don't know if I'd call him more tactful, though. That's a bit unfair, don't you think?"

"He is 64% more intelligent than you. So your 52% greater strength is easily overcome."

The great creator of fight club was taken aback for only a moment, but retaliated quickly, "Then isn't there a 99.9% chance you should stop this fight before you both end up in comas?"

No! I interrupted, We're not done fighting!

"I'm sorry, Raito. I think you are," he motioned to all his followers to start leading us towards the door.

Tyler! You can't do this! I came here to fight, damnit!

L's hand rested on my shoulder, "Easy, Raito-kun. We can finish our fight later. Let's go home, now." It was not until his finger brushed against my eyes that I realized I was crying. He had already led me out of the light, so at least no one else noticed.

Tyler had followed us to the door. He sighed at me, handing us our shirts and shoes, "You're a good fighter, Raito... but I think you should take a break for a few weeks. OK? I won't always be here to drag your butt out of the light. Or at least don't fight this guy anymore. Fight someone you can take in ten minutes." He winked at me.

Yeah, yeah, I hissed. Fight club was supposed to make me feel better. So why did I feel a million times worse?

"Thank you, Mr. Durden. This was fun," L smiled softly. I blinked. He had specifically directed his smile at me, even though his words were directed at Tyler. That was odd.

"You're welcome here any time. Both of you. Just don't kill each other," and he was gone back inside the basement.

Ryuuzaki?

"Hm?"

Why're you smilin' at me like that?

He chuckled softly, "No reason. Let's go home, Raito-kun."

When we arrived back at his giant skyscraper where we lived as well as worked, I flopped onto our couch. "Raito-kun, please do not drop your bloody butt upon our clean couch," he called, having walked out of the room to do some unknown task. Our shirts and shoes lay forgotten by the door. We had both walked home barefoot.

Bite me. I'm tired, and I hurt. If I wanna sit on OUR couch, then I will, I leaned my head backwards over the back of the couch, feeling the blood rush to my brain. I heard the sound of running water, What are you doing, anyway?

"Apparently you have not yet noticed, but we are filthy and injured. I, personally, do not wish to become infected," he reappeared behind the couch. I stared up at him, upside down. "Come."

Back off. I'm tired. I'll shower later.

"Now."

Go eat some damn cake. I'll do it LATER.

"Now."

Later.

"Now," and with that, he pulled me over the back of the couch.

I cried out as I hit the floor, all of my wounds screaming in pain, What the Hell is wrong with you?! I hurt, Ryuuzaki! Lay off!

"I apologize, Raito-kun, but I will not stand by and watch you die from a punch I threw," he pulled me to my feet and directed my steps towards our bathroom, "Shower. Now."

I allowed myself to be led there and listened to the door click shut behind us. L turned the lock. The shower was already running and quite steamy behind the curtain. It was one of those weird part bathtub, part shower fixtures. I sat on the toilet lid, refusing to be bossed around any further. Unfortunately L did not appear to care what I wanted. He walked closer to me, pushing his face up close to mine. Before I knew what was happening, I felt his hand pulling down the zipper of my pants. Fuck, Ryuuzaki! I can undress myself! I shoved him.

"Then do so."

No!

"Then clearly you cannot undress yourself, and I am forced to help," he finished undoing the zipper and began on the button. Having accomplished that, he lifted my feet and pulled by the legs of my pants. I grasped the waistband for dear life. There was no way in Hell I was going to let this man treat me like a child. I was Kira, damn it! I was God! Some lowly detective who sought to stop my righteous judgment had no right to treat me thus. He pulled harder. I clung tighter. He punched me in the face.

My hands flew from my pants to my bloody nose. I moaned miserably, the taste of blood engulfing my mouth. My pants were gone.

"Sorry, Raito-kun. You left me no choice."

Shut up! I hissed, moving my hands to glare at him. I did not expect what happened next.

L's lips were pressed firmly against my bloody ones. The red substance flowing from my nose was getting all over both of us. He pulled away swiftly. It was a chaste kiss. I wondered why he had done it. "Do not make me hurt you again. I do hate having to do so."

You've been beating me up all night, L! I hissed, Why find a conscience now?!

"This is the first time that you have not hit me first. You know I am a firm believer of an eye for an eye," he was rummaging through the cabinet under the sink, and came out holding a cloth. He ran some water over it in the sink, then turned back to me. Slowly and softly, he ran the cloth over my nose and mouth. I winced. "Sorry," he whispered, but did not stop. He continued clearing the blood from my face, before moving to my eyes. I hissed as he wiped the blood from my swollen eye. The one both he AND Tyler had hit viciously. "Shh," he whispered, but did not stop. When he finally pulled the cloth away, his face was near mine again. Swiftly he closed the distance and kissed me again. I started to say something, but he interrupted me by nibbling at my lower lip.

Stop it! I shoved him, What the Hell are you doing?

"Kissing you, Raito-kun. Surely all the blows to your head this evening have not harmed your deductive abilities?"

I meant: why are you kissing me?!

"Because you are homosexual."

That's not a reason! And I'm not gay!

"Because I am also homosexual."

I said I'm not-- Wait. What was it he had just said? He said he was gay too? Of course I wasn't gay! I would certainly have been the first to know if I was.

"The chances of you not being attracted to men are highly illogical. There is hardly a male out there who is 'straight' who would turn down Misa no matter how annoying and unintelligent she can be. Honestly, can't you figure it out yourself? Do not tell me you have no clue that you are 'gay'?"

It was odd that I had never been attracted to Misa... or any other girl I had dated for that matter. It certainly would make sense that I was gay. Perhaps he was right on that account, but I was not going to allow him to get off that easily, That's still not a reason! You'd kiss me just cuz we're both queer?

"Please do not talk about it like that. We are homosexual. I will even accept your 'gay' term, but queer is not a fair way to discuss it."

That's not what I asked. Damn it, Ryuuzaki! Why'd you kiss me?!

"Because I am in love with you, Raito-kun."

My jaw dropped mid-yell. I stared at him. I stared at him some more. What was I supposed to say to that? That I loved him too? I wasn't sure I did. But you think I'm Kira, I managed to choke out.

"It would be most upsetting if it turned out that Yagami Raito IS Kira. I certainly hope that, for just this one instance, I am wrong," he was close to me again. His face was bloody too, mostly my blood.

What if I WAS Kira?

"I would hate to be forced to turn Raito-kun over to the police. It would be best, if Yagami Raito IS Kira, that he did not allow me to catch him." His damn bloody face was pissing me off. I didn't know why. I didn't care. I snatched the cloth from him and, far less gently than he had, began to wipe the blood from his face. He did not wince or cringe. I knew it must be painful for him though. I wanted it to be painful for him. Just like this whole situation was for me. When I had finished, I threw the cloth at his face.

Leave me alone.

"We still have yet to take our shower," he removed the cloth and placed it on the sink.

I'm not taking a shower with you. Leave me alone.

"I cannot do that," and he proceeded to grab at the band of my underwear.

Stop it! I grasped his fingers tightly, trying to halt them in their task. His stupid hands were too damn close to me. I twitched. I prayed he wouldn't notice.

"We must take a shower."

Stop it! I refused to loosen my grip. I twitched again.

"Would Raito-kun feel more comfortable if I was to be naked first?" he managed to slip his fingers out from under mine.

W-what?!

He undid his pants and slowly slipped them off his legs. He was so damn skinny. I wondered how he managed that with all the sweets he ate.

I'm not taking a shower with you!

He grasped his own boxers, slowly slipping them down his thighs.

Stop it! I jumped up from the toilet and grabbed his hands again to stop him.

"My apologies. Would Raito-kun like to remove my boxers himself?"

I could almost feel my heart stop. Idiot, I hissed, I don't want your boxers off at all!

"Your face is flushed. I do not believe you."

We're not taking a shower together! I'm not gay! I'm not attracted to you! Stop this! I was grasping his fingers so tightly that my own knuckles were turning white.

He wasn't looking at me. Not my face anyway. He was staring at my boxers. Bloody Hell, at what point during this had I gotten hard?! Slowly his eyes turned up to meet mine. He did not point out that I was hard. He did not state that it was clear I had been lying. He did not order me to get in the shower. He just looked at me. Softly. Lovingly.

Damn it! At what point had I fallen in love with him too? That was a stupid question. I knew as well as L that I had been in love with him for a long time now. I had just been ignoring it. I didn't want to be gay. I didn't want to lust for him. I didn't want to be in love with the man who I would have to kill if I was every truly going to become the God of this new world. I didn't want to kill my Ryuuzaki.

I wanted to kiss him.

For the second time that evening, I did not pause to think. I pressed my lips to his. Shoving L against the wall, I pinned his wrists above his head with a single hand. My fingers throbbed, but I held fast. My free hand moved to his cheek, and I used my thumb to press his jaw open further. I slipped my tongue between his lips and devoured him. Neither of us fought for dominancy, but our tongues slid against each other firmly. You're too damn sweet, I hissed, before kissing him more harshly.

"You're not sweet enough," he managed to whisper into my mouth.

Bite me.

His teeth came crashing down on my tongue. I cried out, and he pulled free from my grip. The metallic taste of my blood was once again in my mouth. Quickly I found the counter that held the sink pressing into my back, and Ryuuzaki's teeth clashing against my own. My tongue was sore, but it swiftly became less important. I was quite wrapped up in the detective's mouth. Then he rubbed his hips against mine. I half-moaned, half-cried out into his lips. I'd never felt anything so intense. Not with Misa. Not with anybody. "Still think you're not gay?" he challenged.

Maybe a little, I shot back.

"Only a little?" he had moved to nibble at my neck.

I leaned my head back to give him better access. Only for YOU, I corrected.

He paused for a moment. I could feel his smile against my skin. Then he began biting his way down my shoulder. His thumbs hooked into my boxers, as his teeth brushed against my nipple. The pain-filled pleasure sparked from his bite and out through my veins. My hips jerked towards him. His thumbs began to pull downwards. He ran his tongue from my chest to my bellybutton. He was slowly leaning back on his ankles; his thumbs were even lower. My fingers swam their way into his wild, though soft, hair, trying to find something to ground me. His tongue dipped into my navel, then danced down even further. My boxers were at my knees. L was sitting just like he always did. His knees curled up to his chest; his feet firmly on the ground. He bit my hipbone and sucked at it, probably leaving a clear mark for the following morning. My underwear was at my ankles. He smiled up at me with those innocent eyes. I closed my own lids. I was almost embarrassed for the first time in my life. What if Ryuuzaki was bigger than me? What if I wasn't big enough for him? My drawers were lost amidst the rest of the clothes on the tile floor. The steam from the still-running shower swirled about us, as if things weren't hot enough without it. Then came the tongue.

Fuck, Ryuuzaki! I bit my lip to try to hold back the primal moans that threatened to tear from my throat. I was completely lost in the warm, wet cavern of his mouth. Everything in me begged me to thrust, but I held myself back.

"Honestly, Raito-kun," he whispered about me, the vibrations of his speech echoing up and down my shaft, "I would not be doing this if I did not wish to hear the delicious sounds you should be making." He drug his teeth over the head, and I growled. He began playing me, learning what actions elicited what sounds. Sliding his tongue into the slit at the tip made me purr. Nibbling down the vein drew a guttural moan out of the back of my throat. Biting down so hard I nearly bled made me scream out his name, as my eyes rolled back into my head.

Ry-Ryuuzaki..., my voice came out huskier than I would have liked.

He released me from his tongue's mercy and stood as slouched as ever. "Shower?" he held out his hand.

Y-yeah. That would be nice, I smiled, my eyes half-lidded. I took his proffered palm. Having been pulled to my feet, I drew closer to L. I could feel every inch of his soft skin rubbing against my own, save where his boxers still protected. I ran my hand across his stomach, following the blackish-purple shade that danced across his abdomen. His belly pulsed, though I could not decipher whether it was caused by pleasure or pain. I'm sorry I kneed you, I bent down and blew gently over the bruise, sending more shivers rippling across his skin.

"Actually," the detective could not keep his voice from cracking, "I was more upset when you escaped my headlock."

That was kind of a low blow... even for me, I whispered, not meeting his eyes.

"Indeed. Quite a Kira-like move. 20%."

Instantly I was glaring daggers at him, Even NOW, Ryuuzaki?!

"Always I must be considering the possibilities of your being Kira based on your actions, Raito-kun. I do believe I already warned you not to allow me to catch you," before I could argue, his lips were against mine again.

You're an idiot, I hissed, pulling away and smiling devilishly down at him.

He blinked up at me from his slouched stance.

You're an idiot, BECAUSE, I continued, any sensible man would not still have his boxers on. Without any more warning, I slid my hand down the front of his shorts, grasping his erection sharply.

His eyes slammed shut, and I could see the effort he gave to hold back the hiss threatening to escape his mouth.

Still smiling viciously, I ran my nails up his arousal, jerking him off as ferociously as I could manage.

"I-I disagree, Raito-kun," he whispered, eyes still tightly closed.

Why's that? I touched his nose with my own, daring him to open his eyes to me.

"I am highly intelligent. It is you who have failed to remove my boxers before now."

My smile vanished, and I stopped my hand at the base of his cock, tightening my grip even more. TouchŽ, I brought my free hand up and slid his shorts down his hips, past his knees, and letting them fall the final distance to his ankles.

"Ngh," he winced.

Something the matter, L? I sang, not loosening my grip.

Finally his eyes did meet mine, those beautiful large brown orbs, and he smiled calmly back, "Of course not... KIRA."

That tears it! I screamed, slamming both of my hands into his chest, knocking him out of his underwear and sending him stumbling over the side of the tub. He grunted as the back of his head hit the wall. There he sat, one leg forced up to his chest by the wall and the other bent at the knee over the tub, glaring up at me. Awwe, you look angry, Ryuuzaki... I paused. He did look angry. I had never before seen him look mad, but there it was. The shower was still running, and he had knocked the curtain askew so that the floor was also becoming damp. He was drenched, water plastering his hair to his face and dripping off his chin, and he was glaring. Ryuuzaki was glaring up at me with all the anger he possessed... and it was the fucking sexiest thing I had seen in my life. I bounded over the side of the tub, fixing the curtain as best I could behind me, and straddled his lap. Damn, you're hot when you're pissed, I breathed against his lips, Remind me to piss you off more often.

"I do not get angry, Yagami-kun. You are mistaken," he was fighting to keep his voice level.

Perhaps not... but you do certainly get wet, I punctuated this sentence by lapping at the water running down his throat. I felt his erection jump against my balls, because of the perfect position we were in.

He ignored his desires and cleared his throat, his voice tranquil as ever, and replied simply, "You are also equally wet."

The detective was correct of course; I could feel the droplets slipping over my skin. It was then I noticed the blood slipping down the side of his face. I could never tell whether it was his own blood or mine; either way, I reached gently over his shoulder for the soap. I lathered my hands up with the slick substance, allowing lots of the water to dilute it, and then placed the soap in his hands. He looked up at me questioningly. Much more softly than the previous time, I washed away the blood from his face. Taking my cue, he began scrubbing the dried gore from my own skin. We sat there silently for a few minutes, wiping away the evidence of our fights. As the blood slid away down the drain, tinting the water red, the soap was forgotten and our lips met yet again. This time there was no fighting or harshness, just the gentle push of mouth against mouth. I have no idea when it occurred, but eventually he was sitting in my lap, and my back was against the wall. I tangled my fingers in the silken threads of his hair, pulling his lips delicately closer. His hands disappeared from my skin for a minute or two, but I was too lost in his kiss to dwell on it. I was much more aware of when his hands returned. They were coated with soap, and he slicked my arousal with the lubricant. When he had finished this task, he rose slowly and positioned himself over me. I could only assume he had used those few minutes to prepare himself with the soap. A-Are you sure? I whispered. For the first time ever, I was frightened of hurting him.

"I believe Kira would want to top," but he was smiling and chuckling and there was no percentage attached. Slowly he lowered himself onto me, using one hand to steady himself against my chest and the other to guide me in. I thought my eyes would disappear in the back of my head. He was so tight and hot I could hardly stand it.

R-Ryuuzaki? I choked out. It was taking every inch of my willpower not to slam the rest of the way into him. He did not answer, but there was pain in his eyes. Once he had fully seated on my cock, his hands rose to my shoulders. I could feel his nails drawing little rivulets of blood from my skin, but I didn't mind.

He buried his face against my skin, "I-I'm sorry, Raito-kun. Please, allow me just a moment."

Shh. Of course. Take your time, I massaged his back in circling motions, trying to soothe him.

After what seemed an eternity, he rose almost completely off of me and dropped back down sharply. A moan escaped me that might have been an attempt at his name. He winced.

Are you okay? We can s-stop, I prayed he wouldn't agree to stopping.

"I'm fine. Honestly, Raito-kun, I'm not a child. Stop fussing," he rose again and slammed down even harder. This time both of us moaned. I gave him a look that clearly asked why he was no longer in pain, not that I was complaining. He smiled softly, barely touching my lips with his own, "There is this wonderful thing called a 'prostate,' Raito-kun... and I do believe you have just found mine."

Perfect, I hissed, and took over the pace. I locked my hands against his hips to pull him against me as I thrust upwards. With each plunge, I aimed for that exact spot, continually increasing the speed and strength. Soon L's head rolled backwards. He was still clinging to my shoulders for dear life. I was getting close to my limit, but I wanted him to come first. Vaguely I wondered if that was something Kira would want. Say my name, Ryuuzaki, I grunted, not slowing in my pace. He was pushing back as best he could to match my every thrust.

"Only if you say mine," he breathed back.

I stopped short, I don't know your name.

He whined, taking over in bouncing up and down on my shaft, "Don't stop."

I don't know your name! I said more forcefully. I could not fathom why he would have said such a thing.

"I was going to tell you, of course," he was trying his hardest to get me to move again, "Don't STOP."

But you think I'm Kira. Wouldn't it be dumb to tell me your name?!

"Wrong. I don't think you're Kira. I know."

I grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to stop, So you're 100% certain I am Kira.

"Wrong again. There is 0% chance that Yagami Raito is Kira."

B-but you just said...

"I am positive that Yagami Raito is Kira, thus there is no possibility of the fact. 0%."

So you...

"ZERO percent," he growled, kissing me harshly. Suddenly I understood. There was no possibility if something was true... but he wasn't going to tell anyone the fact that it was true. He was saying that he was willing to forgive me for being Kira. He was willing to go against everything he believed in for me.

I love you, L.

"Say my name, damn you."

Tell me.

"My name is... L Lawliet."

Seriously?

"Am I not always serious?"

Smiling with as much kindness as I possessed in my sin-drenched heart, I slammed back into him, I love you, Lawliet. I truly, truly do.

"I love you also, Yagami Raito."

A few more slams and he was calling out for Kira, his walls clenching tightly around me. With one final forceful thrust, I came after him, screaming out, L!

The shower was still spraying us rhythmically with bouts of water that dripped alongside the sweat down our bodies. Our heavy breathing echoed loudly through the hazy atmosphere of the room. His head slumped slowly forward, till his forehead was resting on my shoulder. I followed suit and laid my own head against his skin. Each breath shuttered through us, and I tilted my head to nibble at his neck. My arms twisted up around him, pulling him closer to me. One of his hands was still fisted in my hair, while the other absentmindedly stroked up and down my spine. "I must ask you never to call me Lawliet, unless we are both naked."

I sighed in annoyance. Couldn't he be quiet even for a few minutes, simply let us enjoy the moment in silence? Releasing my teeth from his skin, I replied, Then you are assuming that we will only ever be naked in private.

"What other setting would we have reason for being naked within?"

You never know... but it's too late now. I agree to the naked thing... My Lawliet.

"Keh," he smirked, "Very well then, Kira."

Don't make me punch you again.

"Now, Raito-kun, don't you think there's been enough violence for tonight?"

Ryuuzaki?

"Hm?"

Shut the Hell up.

The next morning found us sleeping in. We did not wake until far after noon. Having already found the refrigerator empty, the detective's eyes were upon me, and he was begging for cake. As much as Ryuuzaki ever begged that is, which was in a completely complacent voice. Considering the fact that he'd basically allowed himself to lose the biggest case he would ever have out of affection for myself, I assented. Thus we set off walking towards the nearest cafŽ.

While he was ordering, I slid myself into a booth to wait for him. I looked up and noticed a familiar face sitting at a table directly across from me. Hey! Tyler! I called, smiling brightly. Strangely he didn't look up. I walked over and sat down in a chair next to him, Tyler?

Finally he put down the newspaper he had been reading and turned to me. There was something strange about him. He looked different; there was no power in his eyes. His gaze focused upon my blackened eye and he sighed miserably.

Tyler? I asked again.

He picked up the paper and waved it towards me, "That Project Mayhem sure is getting into a lot of shit."

Is something wrong, Tyler? I've never seen you like this... You don't look like yourself, I was trying to get him to meet my eyes, but he refused.

"Look, Kid... I'm sorry, but you've mistaken me for someone else. I'm not this Tyler you're looking for. I'm just not. Okay?" I was starting to get concerned. I knew Tyler's face better than anyone; I had certainly thrown punches at it enough times. I was positive it was him.

At that moment, a waiter with a clearly broken nose took the liberty of walking by. "Yo! Tyler!" he called out, waving happily.

I raised an eyebrow.

The not-Tyler hissed, holding his head in his hands, "Damn fight club-ers are everywhere."

What's going on? I'm absolutely certain that you're Tyler, and you know about fight club. Still, here you sit, claiming not to be the man I know you are. Yet there's still something different in your eyes, I stopped, suddenly realizing he was staring at my hand.

Slowly his eyes met mine, "So you're not a part of it yet?"

A part of what?

"Project Mayhem," with that he lifted up a hand that held a scar in the perfect shape of a kiss, "Surprising. What's your name?"

Yagami Raito. Yours?

"So YOU'RE the one Tyler's been talking about."

I thought you said you weren't Tyler.

"I'm not, but I never said anything about not knowing him."

So he told you about me?

"Nope. Not once. I know you kicked his ass though. Good for you. It's about time someone did. He's always going on about how he wishes you would join Project Mayhem, but that he knows you have something bigger to attend to. Isn't that right," he lifted his cup of coffee before whispering, "Kira?" here he took a sip of his drink.

W-what?! I gasped. Of course I was aware that Tyler knew my secret, even if I'd never actually said it to him, but he would never have told anyone.

"Don't get all freaked out. He didn't tell me. I know this because Tyler knows this. Besides, I don't care. I've got to deal with Tyler right now, anyway," he did not put his cup down this entire speech and continued sipping at it between sentences.

Suddenly I understood every single thing he had been talking about. I was not entirely sure what Project Mayhem was, but I could only guess it was Tyler's notebook in a way. I see, I said softly, So you are Tyler's L?

He looked at me with confusion, but continued drinking.

Well, then, I stood, I apologize, Sir. It is clear to me now that you are NOT Tyler Durden. I was mistaken, I stretched out my hand to him, It was nice to have met you.

He reached up his hand that did not hold his mug and shook my own, "It was nice to meet a fight club-er who HASN'T been sucked into Tyler's scheme yet."

I wish you both the best of luck, I turned on my heel and retook my seat at the booth across from the man. At that moment, Ryuuzaki pulled into the booth as well, a slice of strawberry shortcake held victoriously in his hand. He sat, removing his shoes, and lifted his knees to his chest. He placed one hand over his knee, and the other held his fork between thumb and forefinger. It occurred to me how much I loved his quirks along with how much I appreciated him. I reached across the booth, pulling his free hand into the middle of the table, and simply held it.

"Is something bothering you, Raito-kun?" he did not look at me, far too engrossed in the cake.

I think... I think I just met Tyler's L.

"Hmm, the detective who is trying to stop his 'Project Mayhem'?"

Now how the Hell do you know about that, and I don't?

"You forget, I'm not JUST working on the Kira case."

Oh. That made sense, not that I was going to admit to it.

"So you met the detective, and now you realize just how lucky you are to have captured my heart?"

Kind of, but it's... different.

"How so?" this time he did put down his fork and turn to me.

I think his L... is his split personality. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I think it's true. The man I just met had Tyler's face, but his EYES. They just weren't Tyler's powerful eyes, I was running my fingers over the back of Ryuuzaki's hand.

"So you're unnerved, because you saw one man who was both of us all at once," it was not a question.

What does that mean for us? I whispered.

"Absolutely nothing. He--THEY have nothing to do with us at all. HOWEVEr," he added, seeing my expression fade, "if it were to mean anything, it would simply state that we are so perfectly compatible that together we make up the perfect person. Everything that one of us isn't, the other is. We complete each other."

That's when I realized: if L was willing to give up so much for me, I had to return the favor at least a small bit. I was going to have to start killing far less criminals. I could not stop; it was completely against my nature, just as he was not going to stop following my trail. The difference is that I would kill many less people, and he was not going to catch me. Together we were the perfect person, or so he had said, so we would just have to find some middle ground. I swiftly leaned across the table and over his cake, kissing him softly. The sweet strawberry flavor mixed in with his own taste, and I drank it all in.

"Raito-kun," he said after a minute, "is in the way of my cake."

Sorry, I rolled my eyes, returning to my seat. I noticed, happily, that his hand was still in mine. The fork quickly returned to its task of bringing sugar to Ryuuzaki's mouth. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the not-Tyler rise from his seat and head for the door.

The detective noticed my glance, "So who do you think will win in Tyler's battle?"

Honestly, I watched the man shut the door behind him, I think they will both lose.

"Why is that?"

Two separate opposite men who try to come together can find a happy medium. Two separate opposite men in the same body who are both fighting to be free can never agree on anything but a way out.

"Which would be death?"

I believe so... though I hope I am wrong. I admire Tyler, but I also like this new fellow.

"You really do think too much, Raito-kun." Before I could respond there was a fork full of icing in my mouth. "I believe you need to eat more cake."