OoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoO

       "We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all."

                                                  - Andrew Clark

    OooOoOOoOOoOOoOOooOOooOOOoOOOOOoOooOOooOooOOooOOoOoOo

Raito had no idea why his amber eyes were still glancing at Lawliet, while nimble, tan fingers and thumbs twiddled away; playing with the pencils and pens Principal Aizawa had left for the five, tools that would enable them to write their essays.

Like any of us will write that stupid thing…

…He hasn't said anything-AH, Raito, stop it…! You don't care, so stop saying anything about him, stop thinking about, stop…wow, he's kinda cute when he just stares off into space like that-AGH!

The brunette laid his head on the wooden desk, letting out a tired sigh; he had eventually had to shirk away from Misa Amane twenty minutes ago, the girl had continued to squeal and swoon over Raito in such a loud and obnoxious order, that the Yagami told her he had a "headache" (truly, it was only a half-lie), and that he wanted some time alone, so the genius chose a lone, solitary desk, mostly away from the group.

All five had been silent as mice within the past time, only Mello and Matt had spoken up, and only to each other, hushed whispers, the blonde one sometimes ruffling the other's ruby locks. Misa was pouting, playing with her cell-phone that held a Gothic charm upon it; Lawliet, well…Raito would not go there again! He had been going there for the past twenty minutes of the doldrums, and the popular student was not at all pleased.

Sepia eyes closed, trying to relax, gain some confident ground, and not let his mind wander over to the pale, enigmatic male glancing around the room with a morose expression, sometimes lifting a pencil to draw in his open sketchbook; but Raito's serenity was disturbed when footsteps wandered over to the corner of the room the young man was seated at.

"'Sup?"

"…" Raito opened his orbs to see the Jeevas boy trying to discreetly light up a cigarette, and the brunette gave the other a look.

"What? I need a smoke, give me a break."

"You know if Aizawa catches you-"

"Aw, screw him, I don't care, I need a drag and NOW." The bar of tobacco was lit, and indeed, Matt took a drag, "So…You gotta thing for Lawliet, or what?"

"EXCUSE ME?"

All heads in the room turned towards the roaring Yagami, including the despondent Lawliet.

"Er…YEAH, I KNOW, right?" Matt was trying to cover for the Yagami and he spoke in a loud volume, "I can't believe they're gonna get rid of CHEESE STICKS for lunch EITHER!" The red-head shot the other a look, and whispered angrily, when the others were not gazing in their direction,

"What's your deal, man? Keep it down; I'm trying to give you some advice. I shouldn't, since you hurt Lawliet like a bastard, but...I don't know, I think you got a thing for him, don'tcha?"

"No! I don't! Where the hell are you getting this?!"

"Well…" The gamer drawled out, "I'm a smart kid, smart enough to hack into the system and change grades, so I think I can tell when someone likes someone else like that. And that's not even counting that you've been looking at him for…oh, how long?"

"Er…" Chocolate eyes darted around the room, trying to find something to lock onto, and eventually failing in their mission.

"Yeah, I knew it," Another drag on the burning-with-embers cigarette, "Listen…You guys are like rivals, I know how you behave. You act like you hate each other, but there's never been a more perfect match for you, right? But it's not like you really have a chance NOW, nice going, Mr. Genius."

"….I hurt him that badly? I mean…We could have at least been friends, I'm certainly not saying I LIKE him in the way you're thinking!"

"Sure, sure…And yeah, you did. Look, you might not have known everything about him, but you were just lucky enough to step on numerous land-mines with that nice, little rant of yours."

"I figured…" Raito let out a sigh, "I…I normally never feel this guilty…Maybe it's because-"

"He's giving off the 'Chibi look of sadness'?" Matt laughed, putting out the cigarette by throwing it to the ground, smashing it with the heel of his shoe. "Look. Just do it. Just go and get off your ass and apologize. Or you just might regret it."

"…He probably doesn't even want to look at me ever again-"

"Oh, I wouldn't push all of your faith away, Yagami, you might just get some luck, ya know?"

"…Why do you care?" Raito asked just at Matt was strolling off.

"Eh? Because…Lawliet's my friend, and I hate to see him down. Especially when the guy he talks so much about treats him like shit, hehe…But be cool, see ya." With that last remark, the Jeevas kid strolled back to his seat, taking up sitting next to Mihael once more, chattering amongst themselves once again.

He…talks about me…?

…I guess I can understand that, we fight so much after all…And I've told others about him, so…

…Raito was not exactly sure when his brain confirmed the decision and idea to actually get up for the table; nor could he pinpoint the exact moment his legs had begun to have strength, and take him over to L's lone table, where he stood next to the crouching raven, whose ebony orbs were locked onto the sketchpad in front of the lanky body.

"…Ahem…" The brunette cleared his throat when Lawliet did not glance up at his arrival to the vicinity, and he did not glance at the man after the sound was made; he did speak up, stating in a bored, dull, drawl,

"Yes, Yagami?"

"Uh….Can I sit here?" The genius motioned with his handsome head to the empty chair situated across from the eccentric one.

Lawliet shrugged, "It is your choice, do not mind me."

Raito took that comment not as a positive sign, but a neutral one; it was better to have no hope than some futile wish. The young man did not even know why he was doing this, why he was seating himself at the same table that was already the roost of one man who possibly despised him, and frankly, only some great man of minds, perhaps Freud, would be able to figure that out.

Silence was the only object that echoed out between the two men, and Raito could feel the stares of Mihael and Matt on him, but the Yagami ignored them, clearing his throat again out of nervous habit, finally stating after five minutes of nothingness,

"So…what are you drawing? Anything-"

"Nothing." Lawliet interrupted with, not even glancing up at the other; in fact, the pale-one had not looked upon Raito's being at all during the past moments.

"Ah…Alright…"

Save for the scribbling of L's sketching pencil, there was no racket, no noise permeating the air between the duo; it was only shattered like glass when the raven spoke up, with,

"Did Yagami-kun have a purpose for coming to my table?"

"Er…Well…Actually, Lawliet, I'd like to…apologize for before…" Raito's voice had gotten softer with each passing word, "I…I was out of line, and-"

"Raito-kun was just sharing his honest feelings, was he not?" The switch from 'Yagami' to 'Raito' was not lost on the sepia-eyed one, and his face nearly twitched into a smile; instead, he continued with,

"I was just frustrated, that is all, Lawliet, and…and I took it out on you-"

"Raito-kun had every reason to be mad at me; I was the one who got him sent here this morning."

"Really, Lawliet, we're both to blame for that, wouldn't you say?"

"Hmm…" L tapped the end of his pencil against his chin in though, obsidian orbs trailing around the ceiling, not once locking onto Raito's own, "Yes, I suppose…" The man went back to drawing mutely, holding his pencil in such an odd way, with his forefinger and thumb, and yet, from what the Yagami could see, the man was drawing quite well. Raito had leaned forward, out of curiosity, but unbeknown to his own mind.

"Raito-kun enjoys gazing at my drawings?"

"Uh-" It was then the young male realized how close indeed his face had become; when had he leaned this much forward, until he was only less than a foot away from L's face? "…Yes?"

The pale one's head lifted this time around, his eyes boring into Raito's own,

"Raito-kun…is actually interested in my drawings?"

"I'm interested in you in general…Eh…" Where the hell did that come from…?!

Lawliet's mouth fell open just a tad, and he blinked owlishly, "Interested in me? My, my, Raito, you have a unique way of showing it."

"W-What I meant was…that…I…I would…I don't know, I wouldn't mind being your friend. We should put all that…quarreling behind us, right?"

L shrugged once more, "If Raito-kun is up to the task, though I am sad to admit, the quarreling that you speak of keeps myself on my own toes, it is quite thrilling."

"Thrilling?"

"Hm, indeed. Everyone else-mostly everyone else-bores me."

"…Same. Is that sad?"

Lawliet chuckled deeply at the question, "Sad? Is it not to be expected? Not everyone is a jock, a popular boy, like you. Neither are they basket-cases like I am."

"Basket-case? Oh, come on, Lawliet," Raito chirped, "You're not THAT bad."

"Mm, if only you knew…" The other trailed off, his aura turning mysterious, "I've been known to stick my noses into other people's business, and I am just weird and a basket-case in general."

"So you're a little artsy, how is that like a-"

"I am artsy, silent the majority of the time, my looks and appearance, my voice…all of that is odd, is it not?" L probed the other for a heartfelt answer.

"Lawliet, that does not make you that odd; it makes you unique, mainly."

The raven blinked, his eyes as wide as saucers, "…You truly believe that?"

Raito nodded, "And who said weird was a bad thing? I know…" A light pink blush danced across the young boy's cheeks, shame flashing on his face, "I know I called you a freak earlier, but…I wanted to apologize for that…You're not a freak, you're just special. Unique."

L paused with a nod, thanking the Yagami for the indeed sincere apology, and continued on a few moments later with, "…I once dumped a girl's purse out onto a classroom floor because I suspected her of having paraphernalia or drugs..… I could have sworn I smelled peppermint candies in it as well, which tweaked my senses, and clouded my judgment, so I-Oh, Raito, see…You're looking at me as if I am…insane…"

"…That's just…" The Yagami did not complete his statement, just continuing to stare quizzically at the other male.

"See? I blame my…my goals for my future really…"

"Oh?"

The porcelain-skinned one did not answer right away, his eyes darting to the floor, locking onto the carpeting, choosing his words carefully, like a master chef chooses his perfect ingredients: precisely, carefully, with great execution, "I…I wish to be a detective."

Chocolate orbs widened, "Really?" Raito's tone was actually not mocking, which surprised the raven.

"Y-Yes…" He said no more, fearing teasing remarks; but when the young genius remained quiet, he continued with, "But I do not get that much support."

"You're kidding." Raito smirked, "You're a smart guy, why wouldn't you?"

"…"

"…Lawliet?"

The crouching male twiddled his toes, the appendages hanging off the edge of the chair that L was situated upon, "I…"

"Look, I...I know I haven't been that great of a person to you, but…"

"He ignores me…"

"Who?"

"…My grandfather…"

The Yagami tilted his head, "I…am not following, I'm sorry."

"…I suppose I should really explain why I was so upset with Raito-kun's words from before."

Raito paled at the memory, "You have no reason to. I said…I said terrible things, I'm surprised you are even talking so civilly to me!"

"Well, I did have the urge to kick Raito-kun in the posterior for his words and hurtful statements, but I realized a moment afterward that I possibly would have stated similar lines. We were both angry at one another."

"Yeah…But go on, what were you saying about your grandfather? And how does that tie into what I-"

"Patience, Raito." Oddly, the young student's heart leapt this time at the exclusion of a suffix to his name, the addressing being more intimate; was his heart supposed to leap like so? "I shall address my grandfather in time, but I must start at the beginning. First, my parents are dead."

"…Wow, that was a blunt way to state that."

"Raito, they are deceased, and became so when I was five, my brother just being under one year old. It was so long ago, that I am fairly neutral on the situation. Do I feel bad that it happened? Why, yes, of course, they were my birth parents, but I do not weep and sob over it. It could not have been stopped, it was just an accident; car, to be precise. And strangely, your words just…made me upset. When you said 'Mommy'…I am unsure why, even at this point, why you affected me so…"

"Ah…I see…So let me guess, you went to live with your grandfather, you and your brother?"

Lawliet nodded, "Yes…and…Well, it had been downhill for some time. My younger brother, Nate, is…well, what is the best way to say this? A prodigy of sorts."

"But aren't you?"

"Indeed, many would believe that as well, but Nate is six years younger than I am, twelve years old, and my grandfather Quillish has gotten the idea into his head that Nate is whom his attention…should belong to most of the time…" The raven's voice had trickled down to a whisper at the end of his sentence.

"….God, Lawliet, I…"

"Raito-kun is lucky, his parents support his endeavors. My grandfather Quillish has been so obsessed with getting Nate into the best academy, getting him the best clothes, the perfect friends, and whatever his little heart desires. So…I turn to my art, I suppose…It is all I have to turn TO, really…"

"What you've just told me…it…it explain a lot as to why you were so upset at my comments, Lawliet. But…I have to disagree with you on something."

The last statement resulted in L's curiosity spiking, "Oh?"

"Yeah…What you said, about my parents supporting me…Let's just say that pressure and support are not the same things."

The pallid one said nothing for a moment, but gave way to a mute nod, urging his companion to continue on, dive into further details; L's interests were at the highest peak, he felt the pure desire to know more about Raito Yagami.

"My father, he just pushes me to do everything, it's just…"

"Hurtful? Stressful? Do you feel as if you are not living up to their expectations?"

"His, mainly, yes. And it's all that you just said…I feel that I have to be this...this perfect son of theirs. 'You have to be the best, you have to win!' he always tells me that…"

"Mm, yes…It seems that we have, in a way, the opposite of what each of us are really seeking; I wish for just…some attention, some encouragement, and you wish for…?"

"For my father to not pressure me…My mom isn't as bad, but…I just wish they'd treat me normally."

"Raito-kun has abnormal intelligence; therefore he shall never be treated with 'normalcy'."

Raito snorted, "You think so?"

"I do indeed, for I have never been treated normally, and I have high intelligence, Raito-kun."

"You're also not normal in other ways, Mr. Basket-Case…"

Lawliet laughed, "Oh, is Raito using my own words against me, to prove his point?"

"Nah, it's just funny to bring that up again, call you that…"

L scoffed again, adding a slight chuckle to the sound in the end, "Raito is teasing me?"

"…Perhaps…" The brunette shot a smirk to the other, "All in good jest, of course, no harm, no foul."

"Of course, of course…"

The duo fell into a silence once more, but, to their mental surprise, it was not awkward in the least; the opening up of minds and hearts, be it brief, that they had shared had torn down the brick walls the argumentative natures they had, the fights and quarrels they took part in, had built up.

"Can I ask you something?" Raito's voice echoed out a few moments later, and when L nodded, he continued with, "You…threw a drawing away earlier…why?"

"…No reason…" The other mumbled, his drawing pad becoming immediately the most interesting item in the entire room, eyes of midnight hue staring at it as if it was holding the secrets to world peace and cold fusion at the exact same time.

"…You're lying."

"Hmm? No, I am not."

"Yes, you are. There was a reason you threw that away."

"No, there was not." L's voice was firm, commanding, in essence telling Raito to drop the subject immediately.

"…Well, maybe I'll just have to see for myself?" The brunette stood from his chair, and strode over towards the wastebasket situated in the corner of the room.

"Th-There's no need to look at it, Raito-kun!" L called out, his tone having gone from strict to insecure, it giving off a sloppy, dull command that not one soul would take seriously.

"Sure, sure…But hey, now I get a close look at your skill, right?" The Yagami pulled out the paper and with deft hands, unfurled the wrinkled ball into a flat piece once more, and stared at what was before him.

"…Raito-kun?" Lawliet knew what sepia eyes were glancing upon, and a rush of red reached his pallid cheeks so quickly, he had not the time to summon the mental strength to make the bashful blush vanish.

"…Is this…?"

"Yes, Raito-kun, that is…you."

It was a perfect sketch of Raito's profile, with his chin resting in his hand, a bored expression on the brunette's face; the pose having taken place about a hour ago, unbeknown to the young Yagami.

"…Umm…" Sepia eyes traced over the lines, the face, the eyes…everything that Lawliet had drawn with such expertise in such quick moments, "Lawliet, I-"

"I just…found Raito-kun to have a very nice profile…" The other murmured timidly, his head bent a tad, his eyes flickering between the surprised young auburn-haired genius, and the floor.

"…Why did you throw this away?"

"Raito-kun was enraged with me, I figured he and I would not have any civility towards each other, and keeping the drawing would...might have been a painful memory….or something along those lines. Sometimes, Raito, even I am not sure of my thought processes."

"…" Raito sauntered back towards the seated raven, golden orbs glimmering with so many feelings, emotions that were surfacing, unexpectedly, in the young man's heart; a tan hand reached out and pulled back the chair, the body seating itself in it, and scooting closer to the embarrassed artist, "Can I keep this?"

Lawliet's orbs turned to have the circumference of the full moon, his lips parting just a inch in shock; it seemed, in Raito's eyes, that the man had just been told he won the Noble Peace Prize, "E-Excuse me?"

"Can I keep it?"

"...Why would you do that?" Lawliet's tone held great perplexity.

"Because I like it?" Raito's own voice held confusion, even more so than L's did, "Is that a bad thing?" He paused, then, "Has anyone ever seen your drawings?"

Lanky shoulders shrugged, the black turtle-neck's fabric moving, "Only Ayaka-sama. She enjoys them, and has put them in a few of the art-shows, but…Not many of the viewers really notice me."

"But you just said-"

"Raito, they do not notice me…"

"…Oh."

"Yes…"

The duo fell into silence once more, until Raito whispered quietly, "I…I noticed you."

Ebony eyes blinked, and the Yagami was shocked to see a tiny smile gleam upon the raven's face, "Yes, Raito-kun did."

"I've um…I've noticed you a lot."

"Yes, Raito-kun has…"

"…People should notice you more…"

"People should notice other people more, in general, Raito-kun…Humanity ignores one another."

"Why do you think that?"

"…" Lawliet paused, and then let out a sigh, "We…Humans are so busy nowadays. We have barely any time to notice one another anymore…"

"That's a dreary thing to say, isn't it?"

"Since when was reality not dreary?"

Raito shrugged, "Well, aren't there positives in life? You sound as if the world just has problems, no good things at all."

"Name something pleasant in your life, Raito-kun."

"At this very moment?"

Lawliet nodded, "Yes, name anything."

"Well…" The young male trailed off, and instantly, an idea hatched into his head, "Meeting you was a pleasant thing." There was a minute, smug smirk tugging on Raito's lips, and he prayed to the Higher Beings above that the raven would not notice.

"Er…" Indeed, Raito got the response he was seeking; a flustered Lawliet, who lit up in another blush, "Raito-kun, that's…"

"Well, it's true?" He's pretty cute when he blushes like that…

"…Raito-kun is just playing with me, isn't he?"

"No, I'm not."

"…" Lawliet went silent, twiddling his toes. "Raito, I-"

"HEY!!" Aizawa's voice came out of nowhere, booming in through the doorway, "WHAT did I say about no talking?!"

"…Nothing?" Mello piped up when the other four remained silent, "C'mon, you can't expect us to not talk this entire time, right?"

"You're damn right I expect that!" The afro-jiggling man stepped closer to Mihael Keehl, "Now…Be silent, and do your essays!"

The man screamed the last three words of his statement once more, for no particular reason other than to emphasize some inane point that went over the younglings' heads; the four men and one female were far from interested in any essay.

"…Hmm…" Once Aizawa had left the room, the leather-clad blonde sneaked towards the library's main door, observing it carefully.

"Don't do anything stupid, Mello."

"Aw, shut it, Matt…Ah!" Mello exclaimed, and gladly grinned, that impish smile growing when he grabbed a spare chair, bringing it to the doorway, standing on top of it.

"Misa-Misa thinks Mello shouldn't be doing stupid things!"

"Well," Mello replied in a mocking tone, "Mello-Mello thinks Misa-Misa should just be quiet, and stop glaring at Lawliet in such a damn jealous fashion!"

The bubbly blonde female turned red with anger, crossing her arms, and shot a glare at Mello's back, and then one towards the raven, who just responded mutely, a look of puzzlement on his face.

"Ignore her, Lawliet." Raito proceeded to speak in a comforting tone, "She's just…"

"Obsessed with you?"

"Great way to put it." The Yagami chuckled wryly, "They're all obsessed with me."

"It is because Raito-kun is so popular, everyone loves him."

The man disagreed with a shake of his head, "They like being around me for their own egos. They…They don't really know me, the other students."

"…I know Raito-kun. Or, I at least know things he really wants, because he has told me so." Another ghost of a smile was plastered on L's face.

"Yeah…" A crash from near the door interrupted Raito's thoughts, and he turned to see the door had slammed shut, Mello running back to his seat, a few screws from the door in his hand.

"What did you-"

"Alright, WHO SHUT THE DOOR?!" Aizawa's voice was right on cue, the wrath in his tenor was so vicious, it made both Misa Amane and Lawliet shiver.

The principal tugged open the door, and stepped into the room, but he could not get far, having to stand in the doorway to hold the door open, the screws that had been removed from the door were the ones that enabled it to stand open.

"Alright, Mihael, cough up the screws."

"Screws? Why Sir, I have not had a screw in ages…"

Matt snorted, "I thought you told me you were really a virg-"

"SHUT IT."

"Yes, I agree, BOTH of you be QUIET!" Aizawa thundered, "Now, hand them over, Mihael."

"It's Mello, Sir, and what makes you think I have them? Crappy screws fall out all the time, right?"

"Not just randomly like that!"

The blonde shrugged, "I think they do. For you see, Aizawa-san, we're all pretty imperfect people, aren't we? I mean, I don't know what your boss says to you, directly," Mello's attitude took on child-esque innocence, "But you're not that perfect at all."

The elder in the room was fuming by this time, and it looked as if he was not in a position of authority, and if he was not principal, he would have hit Mihael right across his face, destroying his smile, which inside was mocking the man of power.

"…You better watch your tone-"

"What? More detentions, Aizawa-san?"

"You know what, why not! I'll have you all this month, and next month, and why don't we go for all of your summer vacation!?" The afro-man was in hysterics, "You are going to learn your lesson the hard way, I'll see to it! NOW, the rest of you, get back to work! And shut your traps! And YAGAMI!"

"Eh?!" Raito started at the cry of his name.

"Take a chair and block up the door! I want it left open so I can hear you delinquents!"

"…Yes Sir…" The brunette murmured, and did as he was told, taking another spare chair, and placed it in front of the door. Shaking his head, Raito returned to his seat, only to notice Mello trying to move the chair away from the door not five minutes later.

"Hey!"

"What?"

The Yagami gave the other a heated glare, "You know if you move that…"

Mello snorted, "What, you gonna ruin my fun? Gonna tell Aizawa on me if I do it?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. Do you want to take that risk?"

The Keehl boy glowered, invisible beams shooting between icy eyes, and honey orbs, and Raito looked as if he was going to shout another threat, when-

"Can you two please stop the bickering?" Lawliet spoke up, glancing between the men, "It is quite annoying at this time in the morning."

"But Lawliet!"

"But nothing, Mihael, now be seated."

Mello snorted, "You better not be fully on that pretty boy's side from now on just because you like him and you have a-"

"MELLO!"

"…" The leather-clad troublemaker re-established his derriere in his seat, leaving the chair in place, and leaving a shocked Raito to return to his seat across from Lawliet, only to state,

"How did you do that? He…He actually listened to you. And did what you…said…"

"Mello and I have that sort of relationship, Raito."

"Are you two friends?!"

The raven nodded, "Yes, Mello and I are friends. Though, due to his reputation, and because of his activities, he does not see me much, or speak of myself often. But when he has to, say, for instance, stand up for me, he will do so without hesitation. The same applies to Matt, except Matt is not as popular, so he associates with me more."

The Yagami realized that this explained, to a great extent, why Mihael and the other boy had stood up for Lawliet during Raito's verbal beat-down; only companions who cared about one another would do such a thing, and though Mello seemed to be standoffish, he was still human, Raito realized, and therefore had persons to care about. And since the raven had few allies in the school, it made sense the blonde would stand up for the weaker one, and that could even be applied to Matt.

"Mello and the other, Matt Jeevas, they are close to me because I have no one else, including people at home, to turn to. They know of my situation between my grandfather, my brother, and myself. It is nice to have…some allies in this world, would you not agree?" Lawliet quipped, and Raito found himself nodding,

"I just…I just wish I had known all this before, Lawliet, I think...No, I know I've made some harsh judgments."

L shrugged, "Don't we all?"

"Yeah…" Words that Keehl had stated moments before were coming back into Raito's mind, and he smirked, continuing on with, "So…Mello said you…liked me?"

"…I do. Raito is a good person, deep down, despite his massive ego and self-conscious attitude, and his obsession with looking good."

"Er-"

"But I feel that if he wishes, him and I could be good allies, friends."

"…Is that all you want, Lawliet?"

L tried to hide his expressions with a neutral mask, but it seemed that this 'mask' was harder to tie on, "What does Raito mean?"

"What do I mean? Well...Do you draw pictures of everyone, Lawliet?"

"…No…Sometimes I do, I like observing humans and animals…But I may not draw every single person, but Raito, that does not mean anything!" Lawliet's voice never, in all his young years, eighteen to be exact, had cracked as it had before.

"Are you sure?"

He's so…so adorable when flustered, how come I've never noticed-Oh, well…I've never really made him embarrassed before, just enraged…?

"P-Positive…"

"…Really, I am hesitant to believe that-"

"I-It's true!" Dear Lord, I am stuttering…

"…" Raito remained mute, but his eyes held a joking twinkle, and he continued speaking, though he had stared at the pallid one for some time, "Lawliet, you like me a lot, don’t you?"

The man in question's face was the hue of a tomato at this point, and the dark-haired one wished he could vanish, but having to pout instead, while stating, "Raito-kun only wishes I did."

"Oh? Do I?" Maybe…But you don't have to know that at this point…You're interesting, that's why I like you…And you're pretty cute…

"Indeed. I have already hypothesized that Raito-kun is of the homosexual persuasion-mmph!"

"Shh, don't say that when Misa's in the room!" Tan hands had clamped over ashen lips, golden gems gleaming pleadingly, and a hushed voice whispered, "Last time someone said that to Misa, she kicked them in the…uhm…"

"The nads?" Lawliet replied in a muffled manner.

"Yes, yes, the nads…Good way of putting it. So-Hah!" Somehow, in some way, a pink muscle from L's mouth had come out to lick Raito's hand, and skin burst into goose bumps, "H-Hey!" Raito jerked his hand away, trying to suppress a blush; that wet tongue…had felt all too good on the palm of his hand.

"So sorry, Raito, but that was the best way for you to remove your hand from my being."

"Huh…Well, aren't you creative."

Lawliet's responding smile was devilish, eerie, in a way, but Raito found those mental proclamations vanishing and turning down the route of: Wow…That smile is…sexy-NO, RAITO, stop it…Don't think like that…you just made peace with the guy, don't start having…d-desires like THAT this SOON…n-not that I should have them in the first place…!

"Raito-kun? Are you well?"

"…F-Fine."

"Are you sure-"

"PERFECTLY!"

Lawliet blinked at the yell, and then let out a laugh, "Does Raito have anger issues?"

"NO!"

Another laugh, "Oh, Raito, Raito…"

"What?"

"…" L just grinned, "Nothing. Now, why don't you help yourself to a book about that anger-OW!"

The Yagami had slapped the other upside the head, "HA! Serves you right for making a crack like that."

"Raito is mean to me…Abusing me!" There was a pout on the thin one's face, and the brunette felt his walls melting into goo.

"Er…I…Oh, stop that, I didn't hit you that hard!"

"Aw, but Raito…"

"What, do you want me to kiss it to make it all better, baby?" Raito's tone was mockingly sweet, like that of a mother's and the words made the raven turn an even darker shade of red,

"N-Not necessary! At all!"

Raito leaned in and whispered, "Then…do you want me to kiss you anywhere?"

"Er…S-Stop that, Raito-kun!"

The young high-school senior laughed, "Oh? Stop what?"

"T-Teasing me…Taking advantage of how I am a loner! How-How I am-" Lawliet did not finish his statement, gasping out a breath of air instead when he felt soft lips just barely graze the shell of his ear, only to whip away fast, Raito leaning back all the way into his seat, eyes suddenly finding the table extremely interesting and mystical.

"Um…"

"Well…"

Lawliet did not egg Raito to continue the statement further, only choosing to beam a ray of teasing happiness at the Yagami, who he himself felt a blush beginning to bloom upon his own skin, while a potpourri of feelings were debating inwardly…

S-Since when did I do that sort of thing…?

Wow…It just seemed so easy to do with him…easy, witty banter…flighty flirtations…

I've never really flirted with a male before…Mostly females, because I…well…I always felt I was supposed to; Dad would flip if he knew that I was attracted to men more than women…

And he's just…so mysterious…"basket-case", haha…Nah, he's a little eccentric, but not…not crazy…And he's sorta sexy-okay, really sexy…nice smile…I…Why didn't I see this all before…? Was I too busy arguing with him…? To notice that he liked me…? He does, that's obvious, he drew a picture of me for God's sake, and dammit, maybe he does that with others, but he did it for ME, and took his time, and, and…And I really appreciate that…No one has given me that sort of…gift…

…Hmm, Raito, you know what you want now, after all of this bull-crap, all this fighting…Now it's time you figure out a way to get it…

OoOoOooOoOOOoOOOOOoooOOOOooOoOOooOOoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoOOooooooooOOOooOoOoOOOO

"Why are you ripping up Shakespeare?" Matt spat quietly; he had gone along with Mello dragging him up to the second floor of the library, and taking him to a secluded corner for quote-unquote "chatting". But this? Oh, no, Mail (God, he hated that name. He requested every single person that he encountered to call him MATT, nothing else!) would not stand for the defaming of Shakespeare! Not great William!

"Because I can, genius?"

"OH, and that's a great reason."

"Well, it's not like…" Mello paused to glance at the play's title "'The Merchant of Venice' gets me off or anything…"

"Oh, that's a great thing to say about him, you know he was a master at his craft, right?"

Mello grinned, "You mean like how I'm the master of making you shiver?"

The red-head scowled, turning his head, "Stop that."

"Aww, come on…"

"Don’t you 'come on' me, Mello!"

"Psh, you're no fun…Can't even tease you, can I?"

"Not like that, you can't!"

Mello feigned hurt, pout and all. "…"

"Don't…even try it."

"I bet I can make it up to you…" The pout vanished into a sneak smile, and before Matt knew what was happening, an arm was around his waist, and his entire body was being pulled into the darkest corner of the library, and lips were meeting in a fiery motion…

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                        You ought to spend a little more time trying to
     make something of yourself and a little less time trying to impress people.

                                               - Richard Vernon

         OoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoO