Ryuzaki had patiently explained to Light that the fact that he wasn't interested to contact Naomi Misora was the least of his concerns for he had a lot more people who would love to do that work for him, in a manner of speaking. Light had grumbled, he didn't expressly have a problem to do that particular job, but it was a matter of his ego, which had been ruined enough due to his affiliation with this man.

Not to speak about the Apparition Classes which had started recently. Seized by some strange desire, Ryuzaki had attended it, and Light had been curious. He had been, however, pretty confident in his ability to master the ability before Ryuzaki.

What he hadn't expected was for him to be perfectly adept at it. Whether he just wanted to boast, or he didn't particularly care about making his skills public, he had calmly been standing in the ring in front of him, astonishing the Ministry official. Slughorn had patted him on the back and said that he was indeed a prodigy to which Ryuzaki had given zero reaction. Light had glared at him, irritated at having been beaten by him, and focused on the lesson.

He had managed to achieve the skill on the fourth day, though he was still ticked off at having lost. Ryuzaki had found his expression really amusing. Light wouldn't admit to his feelings, that would be losing again. Whatever he did, great detective or not, Light hated to be beaten by him. And punching him had given him that satisfaction.

Ryuzaki's spidery fingers touched the nearly healed bruise on his own cheek, smiling as if in amusement. He always seemed to be amused when Light argued or in this case, punched him. Exasperated, he averted his head.

Ryuzaki was, in actuality thinking about B. Now, he knew that B was in Hogwarts. He really hoped that he wasn't going for a doppleganger mystery, for that would be really disastrous and force him out into the open. Something he would love to not happen at all. However, knowing B, it wouldn't be so. B's only challenge was for L to find him.

He had accepted it. B was perfectly aware of the fact that L knew how the Heir worked. L frowned as he once again, wondered who had been the first Heir. This entire thing was turning out to be quite bothersome. He sighed, chewing on a thumbnail, debating his next course of action.

Light, who was feeling increasingly awkward with the silence of the situation, looked up at a silent Ryuzaki, who looked least bothered. He closed his eyes, wondering whether the man ever got irritated truly. He would love to get an actual rise out of him.

"Ego is a really bad thing, but it is something which humans cannot live without, I am afraid."

Ah yes. Ryuzaki's speciality to speak suddenly and take people by surprise when you blinked and had to contemplate for a moment, which gave him the chance to observe your unguarded face, perhaps making an entire character profile in that one moment of exposure.

"Something which is essential to one's existence isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is, in essence, said to be morally incorrect."

"Do you agree with that particular view, Light-kun?"

"Ego with a reason is meaningful, however loud and empty boasts is really pointless."

"Pointless perhaps, but is it evil?"

"What are you getting at?" Light asked, irritated with his mind games. Ryuzaki continued to look amused.

"Ryuzaki, unless you want another punch in the face—"

"I believe that Light-kun is perfectly aware that he would end up with worse injuries than I would."

Light gritted his teeth. Ryuzaki wasn't wrong and he resented that fact. He tried to change the topic.

"So, do you have a vague idea of where this person, Beyond Birthday is?"

"Sure, he is in Hogwarts, sitting right in front of you."

Light sprang up, wand in hand. Ryuzaki began laughing. In fact, he laughed so hard that he nearly fell off the couch.

"What the actual hell, Ryuzaki—" Light swore, suddenly wishing that he had punched him harder. Ryuzaki seemed to be aware of that too, as he wiped his eyes.

"You are overthinking the matter," he began in a placating tone, "B is in Hogwarts and he would be found by the end of this week. After which with Miss Amane's skills we would be able to vanquish the threat once and for all."

Light glared at him as he sat down.

"And what if people actually die?"

"That wouldn't happen. Not under my watch."

Ryuzaki seemed so sure of the fact that Light didn't question him further. They lapsed into silence again. Light was still glaring at Ryuzaki. Ryuzaki returned the look, but his dead eyes revealed nothing. In fact, now that Light thought, Ryuzaki's face didn't show any actual emotion. Everything felt like an act to throw people off. He, himself hadn't much to say, for he pretended to be nice all the time as well. However, Ryuzaki was different. He didn't explicitly lie, he just twisted and hid the truth or just diverted the conversation pointlessly.

Ryuzaki, himself, could admit that by far he was desensitized to most things. Every new murder, every new crime, every gruesome description and graphics of the murder didn't make him recoil with disgust. For all he was concerned, those were what he had been living on for so long. They just added to the ever-present numbness and increased his boredom and wish for a challenge. B wasn't a real challenge, he made too many mistakes, which is why he had employed Naomi Misora for the job. He wasn't interested in him.

However, as their staring contest dragged on, Light was an interesting specimen of the human race. He didn't hesitate to verbally berate him, and even physically attack him, if their views clashed. He was gifted too, as he had observed during the few lessons that he had attended. He told himself that he stuck around Light only because he was an intriguing human and because it was sort of necessary.

"If you had been a lesser wizard, you would have attempted Legilimency on me already. The fact that you haven't is quite wise, and quite amusing."

Light's gaze, if it had been angry before, was now furious. Anyone else would have run away, but Ryuzaki wasn't anyone else. No, he was L, who showed zero human reactions.

"That is quite a harsh judgement, Light-kun," Ryuzaki said as if reading his thoughts. Which he hadn't, but he was still irritated.

"Why do you sound so happy about wishing to bruise your cheek?"

"Well, aren't you happy to bruise my cheek?"

Light shut up. Arguing with him was just summoning a string of pointless remarks. He wondered, once again, why he was still sticking with him. He told himself that it was for the Chamber of Secrets, nothing more. He firmly squashed down any thoughts that said otherwise.

Ryuzaki looked disappointed at the lack of a response. Light took that opportunity.

"What? Looks like you are disappointed at the lack of a challenge."

"The statement isn't false, I will grant you that much."

"I am grateful for that."

"Mhmmm."

That silence again. Feeling bothered, Light stood up, preparing to go to the Slytherin Rooms. Ryuzaki's head shot up, but he didn't comment. Light could have sworn that he looked slightly disappointed. Possibly because there wasn't anyone to annoy anymore. He felt a twinge of regret for leaving him here, but quickly masked it up.

"Good night, Ryuzaki."

"Good night, Light-kun, be careful. Always expect the unexpected."

Feeling uneasy from L's last statement, Light exited the room. He checked his watch. It was almost six. Curfew was at eight, so he wasn't late. He walked towards his destination briskly, hoping that he wouldn't run into Misa, or God forbid, Slughorn.

Turns out that he almost ran into trouble.

A slow whosh of a spell caused him to immediately put up a Shield Charm and turn around. No one was there. His Shield Charm had protected him from the Spell. The attacker must have put a Disillusionment Charm probably. He gritted his teeth. It wouldn't exactly be unlike Ryuzaki to pull such a poor trick, but he doubted that it was him.

He put the wand in his pocket, realising how well Ryuzaki had completely deflected his question as to B's location. For all he knew, this had been him, a personal vendetta against someone who stayed so close to L.

Shivering slightly, he kept the wand in his pocket, keeping his Charm up, and proceeded to walk swiftly to the Common Rooms. He wasn't attacked again.

L had seen who it was. B's game was nearly up. Now, it was just a matter of perfect timing.