Ryuzaki was a brilliant detective, that was true.

It was also true that he suffered from insomnia.

It was, also true, that besides Light he didn't have anyone to call a friend.

It was, also true, that he needed a Parselmouth for investigating the Chamber Of Secrets. He couldn't do it by his usual methods.

As Light slept, he sat, biting hard on his thumb, wondering how to get one. There weren't any Parselmouths around them, as far as he knew. He paused, eyes widening. No one would say that they were a Parselmouth due to the stigma. Therefore, it was entirely plausible that a Parselmouth did exist, apart from the one who had opened the Chamber.

He ignored the bangs that fell into his eyes, trying to remember exactly what he knew about the Horcruxes. It had been two months ago when he had attained a specific speed for solving most cases that he could devote his time to another mystery that had baffled the public and being unsolved made them live in terror.

It wasn't much, just the claims of a few stray Death Eaters that their Lord was immortal. He had reasoned that Voldemort would say so, to boost his own ego and get over his fear of death. However, Snape's words had proved otherwise and something Dumbledore had said had made him look into the deepest darkest pieces of Dark Magic.

Recoiling with the awful scent surrounding such things, he had discovered the theory of making Horcruxes. His eyes had narrowed and suddenly all those haphazard killings had made sense, and he realised that Voldemort had split his soul up to make Horcruxes.

The prospect had been horrifying, but he knew it to be true. In fact, he was sure of it. Dumbledore had agreed, which led him to lead a secret search consisting of only one or two completely trustworthy people to scan the locations for Horcruxes. They were under strict instructions to not touch them, as their effects would be harmful.

Dumbledore was the last person to listen to his words. He should have known better than to touch one. The infection had spread rapidly, only Snape's frantic spell-casting had sealed the Horcrux and prevented it from doing further damage and contained the infection. All the more reason he had been tired and definitely not at his best when he had been confronted.

Though he knew perfectly why Dumbledore did it. Didn't mean that he was less irritated. Preservation of people like Dumbledore and L was basically preserving national and worldwide security. If either or both of them fell, there would be trouble.

Manipulating Slughorn hadn't been hard, and that's how he knew the total number of Horcruxes. He reasoned that one had to be the snake, otherwise there was no reason why Voldemort would have a living snake with him. Another was the Slytherin Locket, then the Ravenclaw Diadem, then the Hufflepuff's Cup and another was one he didn't know. He didn't have any doubt that Voldemort had split his soul exactly into seven pieces, which meant six Horcruxes and at last, the man himself. Though, he couldn't have been more careless if he had tried. He chewed on his fingernail, wondering about the only Horcrux he had no clue about.

Which was, quite frustrating. He did reason that that unknown Horcrux X was currently creating trouble as the Heir of Slytherin. But, the fact that it's looks were still unknown to him made it difficult. The fact still remained that he didn't have a Parselmouth yet. However his goal wasn't only to stop the so-called Heir from beginning a reign of terror, it was also to get the Horcrux.

Also, they needed the Basilisk fangs to destroy the Horcruxes. Otherwise, they would lose for sure. He hadn't had faith in Dumbledore and relocated the Horcrux to a safer place, which only he knew about. Which was good, considering the last stunt the old man had pulled. He had almost bitten his finger from thinking too hard and with the pain came the realisation of where he was.

He looked at the sleeping boy and sighed before getting up. He was going to take a walk to clear his mind. With a swish of robes he left, tucking the Map into his pocket and casting the Disillusionment and Sound-absorbing charms onto himself.

Light would wake up after some while, yawning, to find him gone. He would definitely not stick around and get back to his dorms. All good. The last thing he needed were others in trouble. Especially useful ones. He had almost convinced himself that the only reason he stuck around him was because he was intelligent and powerful which was needed to beat the megalomaniac snake-man.

The cold night wind made him shiver, reminding him, once again, that it was November and winter was soon to set in. He wrapped his scarf tighter around him neck, burying half of his face in it. Good thing was that he had brought a cloak, so he wouldn't exactly face a problem. He was had come quite far away from the main castle and was almost at the gates. He looked up, wondering whether he should just get out and take a trip to Hogsmeade. It wouldn't hurt, the teachers couldn't and wouldn't say anything to him.

However the reminder that Voldemort was still out at large and Dementor attacks had occured in Hogsmeade many times made him pause. Conjuring a Patronus, for some reason, for him was hard. He, of course knew the theory, but he couldn't exactly find a memory happy enough to conjure one. His memories were numb and devoid of any major emotion, unless it was sadness and regret that tainted some of them. Therefore, going out of Hogwarts would be foolish.

He sighed, turning back towards the school. This Lord Voldemort was really ticking him off. He couldn't even go to Hogsmeade alone. The grass crunched his feet as he retraced his path. He wasn't cold, but he really wished to shrug the cloak off, along with the muffler. They were annoying him.

Making his way into the castle, he decided to grab a slice of cake from the kitchens. That was when he felt it. The chill behind him. He paused, forcing his eyes shut. An unknown voice hissed, and he stood there, frozen, hoping that his charms were strong enough to make him pass unnoticed from the Basilisk. If he had opened his eyes, he would have seen the culprit, but he would have died along with that.

Putting one's life on the line and doing something that would totally rob you of it were two entirely different things.

He had taken a huge risk in coming to Hogwarts. The risk had paid off for now, but the prospect of dying didn't seem like a really inviting thing. He held his breath, waiting for the creature to pass. The slithering sounds gradually grew fainter and fainter until they completely disappeared. He stood there for ten more minutes, wanting to make sure.

Cracking open one eyelid, he saw that the corridor was deserted. Not waiting for another minute, he ran to the Room Of Requirements, slamming the door shut after him and collapsing on the floor.

Which, happened to make Light fall off the bed.

"RYUZAKI!!??"

He couldn't really blame the other boy, but he had just escaped with his goddamned life right there. Exhaling, he looked up at one annoyed Light Yagami.

"What the actual hell happened?" he asked, "You look like you have seen Voldemort."

"Not Voldemort," he said, struggling to level his breathing, "But I escaped from my encounter with the Basilisk."

Light's mouth fell open.

"What?"

"Yes," he said, gathering his knees up to his chest. He hadn't noticed that he was shaking.

Light stood there stunned for a second before comprehension dawned on his face.

However, even for someone with his tongue, he couldn't exactly formulate a proper sentence at the moment. However, guessing what he was thinking Ryuzaki began, in a shaken voice,

"I have a habit of roaming the castle at night. I had cast a Disillusionment and Sound-absorbing charms to avoid detection. I had been on my way to the kitchen when a slithering sound reached my ears and I heard hissing. I stopped, squeezing my eyes shut so as to stay alive. Well, considering that I am in one piece, I must be really grateful."

Light sat down in front of him.

"And yes, I was possibly somewhere near to a washroom at that moment."

With the last words, he looked up, trying to recollect his thoughts. On one hand, now he was certainly sure that it was a Basilisk but he was terrified as well, mind automatically charting the numerous possibilities that could happen. Also, that meant that there would be a victim this night. Despite orders, students were prone to not obeying them. The room began spinning around him, as a low confused mess of voices invaded his brain.

"Ryuzaki, breath, at the moment you are alive and just think that."

The world came into sharp focus. He had ended up panicking. Light was looking worried. Great. Gritting his teeth he got up. Light removed his hands from his shoulders and moved back to give him some breathing space.

Ryuzaki closed his eyes and ignored him, which was fine by Light, who sat down on the couch to think. He really didn't blame Ryuzaki for not finding out who the student was, because any normal person would be terrified. Scratch normal, any person would be terrified. No one wanted to die.

And judging by his paler than usual complexion and sweat, it had scared him to death.

"I am sorry for the disturbance."

Light's head snapped up. Ryuzaki was sitting in front of him in his customary crouch. He might have never left the room if not for his still shallow breathing.

"First off, there is no reason to apologise. Second off, drink some water."

Ryuzaki looked at the table where a jar of water came into existence along with two glasses.

Downing one glass, he sighed, curling up into himself. Light felt as if he should say something, but didn't know what to say, so kept quiet.

They didn't speak another word as Ryuzaki slowly drifted off to sleep. "So much for not needing sleep," Light thought, staring at the sleeping detective. However knowing him, this was probably his first sleep this entire week.

He sighed, himself, taking a book up because he wouldn't be getting sleep at this rate anyways. He cast a last glance at the boy, who looked young and almost peaceful in his sleep.

What could have happened to make one's back be constantly hunched under all the guilt, remorse and regret?

How much had the world become bitter for him so that every bite he took needed to be full of sugar?