Misa was, Near concluded, a rather interesting, if slightly dimwitted, girl. However, having someone to play with him was new and he found that he enjoyed it. Even though, Shizuku, which was Misa's character proved to be more troublesome than Matthew.

They had "solved" the murder when a rather dry voice made them look to their left.

"It is rather interesting to see, the game, I mean. I hope that my interruption wasn't too offending."

"Ryuga!" Both of them exclaimed at the same time.

They went to his bedside. Ryuzaki had sat up, and looked back in his old form. He was also perfectly aware of the fact that he would get bombarded with questions. Most likely, from Near.

"I realise now, how it feels to be a victim. It was quite an enlightening experience," he mused, drawing his knees up a bit.

"I had promised to tell Light when you woke up. See you. And Near, we shall play again, okay?"

Near slowly nodded, still confused why Misa was so enthusiastic about playing with him. If Ryuzaki had been Albus Dumbledore, he would have started laughing. But he wasn't, so he kept quiet. Rather, he was happy that Near had found a playmate. Even if it was in the form of Misa.

Misa flounced off to inform Light after kissing Ryuzaki once on the cheek. His bewildered face nearly made Near fall off laughing. His eyes clearly said to Ryuzaki, "Payback." Ryuzaki didn't comment on that.

"Now, Near, I am well aware of the fact that you are dying to interrogate me—," L began, trying in vain to divert him.

"No, only one. Why?"

L shut up. Then with his thumb grazing his lower lip, lazily, he began,

"In all honesty, I don't know that completely. Perhaps, it was the frustration of waiting that had prompted me to act, or perhaps it was my lack of sleep. Though truthfully speaking, it was the frustration, because I was too annoyed at that point, a bruised cheek wasn't helping either and I made a reckless decision."

"That endangered your life," Near said.

"That endangered my life," L agreed.

Near's blank look didn't dissipate, but he nodded and got up.

"You seem disappointed," L called.

"Because I am," Near bit back before exiting the Wing, resolutely ignoring Mello and Matt.

L sighed and closed his eyes. He was still tired. The near death experience hadn't done him any good and he could feel sleep take over just as Light burst in through the doors.

So much for social etiquette.

"Good evening," he said, shifting a bit to look at the harried teen.

He had put on a fresh change of clothes and looked picture-perfect as ever. His slightly red eyes were the only indication of what had happened.

If Light had been someone else, he would have pounced on the bed and hugged Ryuzaki to death. Which, in retrospect, was defeating the purpose of the action. Instead he sat down, running a hand through his hair.

"I am relieved that you are alive, Ryuzaki," he began, then lowered his voice, "I deeply apologize for not being of any use back there."

Ryuzaki held up a hand.

"Did my last words literally go over your head, Light-kun?" he said with a sigh. "If you seriously consider blaming yourself, then you will have worse than a broken nose and jaw."

Light looked slightly alarmed at the notion, because Ryuzaki looked dead serious.

"Fine, great, you are alive, I am happy."

"Oh, great."

For a fleeting moment, Ryuzaki wondered whether Light was happy because his alleged friend was alive or because L, who was one of the barriers for Voldemort was alive. He sighed, as he realised that it didn't matter either way.

"You are sighing a lot," Light observed.

"I am well aware of that."

The tenseness left Light's face for a moment, and Ryuzaki could see, a painful fact, which he sought to ignore.

"What's the time?" he asked, hoping to deflect the conversation.

"Nine thirty in the night. You slept for ages."

"I see. Shouldn't you be getting back into your dormitory by now? It is quite a long walk from here."

Light looked at him, biting his lip, before saying, "I suppose. I was just so relieved that you have woken up, I didn't pay much attention to the time."

"Your perfect attire says otherwise. Unless you like to admit that dressing up is a secondary function."

A flush appeared on Light's cheeks.

"It is a secondary function."

"Indeed."

This was Light's turn to sigh.

"You sound more like Sherlock Holmes than a seventeen year old."

"Considering that our professions are more or less similar, I am not surprised."

"Ryuzaki, Holmes was twenty seven and in an entirely different time period when the stories were written."

"This is the most roundabout way of telling me to act my age. Good job, Light-kun."

Light groaned.

Madame Pomprey bustled over.

"Ryuga needs sleep. And Light, you are disturbing my patient."

"Oh, not at all. Light isn't disturbing me at all, Madame Pomprey."

Ryuzaki winced at her look.

Light stood up, feeling hot and bothered all of a sudden.

"Good night, Ryuzaki. Good night, Madame Pomprey."

He turned around with a polite smile and a rather longing look in Ryuzaki's direction, which the wizard didn't see.

"How are you feeling now?" Pomprey asked.

"Like I have been drugged. Incredibly. The room is kinda blurry."

"Then sleep. Would you be needing the Potions—"

"No, thank you. I will forego the medicine, it doesn't do well to be dependent on medication after all."

Pomprey allowed herself a thin smile and pulled his curtains.

He sighed, massaging his stiff neck. He glanced at where the Basilisk had wounded him, even though Fawkes had cured him, a phantom pain lingered. He closed his eyes, lying down on the bed, knowing perfectly well that he would wake up after four hours. Most likely, screaming. The thought wasn't too comforting to him, but he pushed that away.

He was feeling feverish, and burrowed into the blankets, before nodding off to sleep and into dreams of huge snakes wishing his death and venom dripping everywhere.

His calculation was a bit off, because he woke up after three hours, gasping for breath and shaking. Idly, he chanced a glance at the empty visitor's chair.