SO I'm reading this whole story again 17 years later! It's just so nice to read it again. You really did a nice job. Just wanted to let you know and thank you for the great moment. Now I'm going for the Friend or Flame one!

Lovely, this story's so lovely. A bit of nostalgia too, fanfics these days are different from the pre-2010 ones, yet some things never change, like how top tier the writing is. Old or new, gotta love em all. An utter delight to read. Thank you for sharing your story.

Hello all, this is Keith (Spotofpaint) the author. I got a review recently that called to my attention the transphobia that is in this chapter. I was surprised and alarmed by the review, so I went back and read the chapter. Since it's from 14 years ago, I barely even remembered this chapter.

Re-reading it now, I'm quite horrified. I am a transgender individual (FTM.) I started transitioning 4 years ago. Clearly, back before I accepted myself and who I really am, I must've had some internalized transphobia going on. I struggled for a very long time before I accepted I was trans. Reading this now, I can see how I had been struggling with it at the time. I imagine I must've been subconsciously trying to work things out.

This is not an excuse. I'm simply explaining myself and where I believe this kind of writing might have come from. I'm sincerely sorry for using such hurtful language. I was pained to re-read this. Especially the part where I had said that Tana wasn't a real woman. This is never acceptable and I'm concerned that I caused my fellow trans brethren and readers harm.

I hope you all can forgive me. This is the furthest thing from the views and values I hold today, and I was a much different person back then. Stuck in the wrong body, I had raged for a long time.

~Keith (Spotofpaint)

I'm loving this fic a lot, L and Light are so in-character and reading about the other guessing what the other is thinking, why the other is doing x feels a lot like reading the manga all over again! It's really good! Now, and I know this fic is from 2007 so that's the only reason I'm not giving up on it, as a trans person this chapter felt quite transphobic and it hurt a bit, I'm sure it doesn't reflect your opinions anymore, I just had to take these words off my chest. Anyway, I'm sure that after this chapter I'll continue enjoying it immensely as I was before!

years later, this is still my favorite fanfiction to ever be written :)
I love your writing! This work of yours (as well as the sequel Friend or Flame) is my gold standard haha.

This was an amazing fanfiction! You both have an amazing replication of the characters, and also such a creative mind that you made it your own ️ I just want to say thank you for dedicating so much effort to this work! I truly enjoyed it, thank you!

I'm glad that time in the investigation room with explained... Because when Light was talking to Misa, it was kind of confusing at first but I kind of felt that it was a trick. Also the way you ended it was pretty good, this should be left open... Just in case you decide to do a sequel in the future that is if you feel like doing one.

So it really is split personality? That's so complicated. Watching L get brutalized was pretty horrific :-(

Damn straight you should feel guilty Light D: Somehow, the fact that L is willing to take a chance on Light makes Light not seems as hateful because L finds something worth saving in him. When we got to see why L found Light worth trying for, he wants even his bad parts because it helps him feel human when he can fight back, I just want to let L do whatever he wants.

Light's pscho reign is exasperating, funny sometimes but mostly exasperating, I hope he is not successful in killing L. It was nice that L got to meet a nice person in Kamiko, it's too bad it couldn't work out, they would've been a cute couple. Saving a tiny sea turtle, d'aw.

I am relieved that L didn't blame Tana and apologized to her for the situation. Light made L cry... maybe an accident needs to occur so Light will no longer needs to be of this world, there are plenty of unsolved crimes, his will jus be another.

I'm not the sharpest knife in the block, don't know what to expect so I'm just going to enjoy this as fluff. L and Light's day out at the beach :D

This is full of cornering turns. I haven't read Death Note fanfic for long but the ones I've come across, L is pretty much entirely independent like he is his own kingdom, not actually having to answer to people excepts who he chooses to and his connections, this story shows him with a leash and Watari as his minder which is completely terrifying because whole government is over his head, they can kill him or cage him or other horrible things already mentioned in this chapter. I don't see how he can be free and live under the radar except die so I definitely look forward to how you will give L his freedom.

This is sad because of L's crappy childhood, sad because Light really is out to get him and sad because L might possibly think Light has some personality disorder or is possessed and they just need to exorcise him.

Does L really forgive so easily? I know they aren't together but I call domestic abuse, Light is the worst.