"Is there any reason you are still here?"

I quickly turned to see L standing in the doorway that had previously been closed. From my chair at the desk, I could see the dark shadows filling the room behind him totally opposite from my small office. Almost like when God created light, and made it separate from the dark.

Turning back to the chest-high stack of papers before me, I shook my head. "First because I was waiting for my dismissal," I said, scribbling a few words to one of L's 'clients', "and second because I have to continue working, as I believe this paperwork clearly shows." I gestured with one of the papers in my hands and continued writing.

Without looking up, I heard him softly patter over to the center of the brightly lit, green room. "Come," he called in a demanding yet gentle voice. "Please play chess with me."

Looking up at him, I saw his crouched figure setting up the chess pieces on the board lying on the white carpet. His cloud-pale skin made the white carpet seem dull or dirtied, forever incomparable to his skin. "Now?" I asked uncertainly. I'd just explained to him the amount of work still ahead of me...

He only continued to set up the game. I set my papers down, walked over to his childlike form, and sat on the other side of the chess table. "We both know I'll lose," I said, smoothing out my hair and pulling it from my face. "Why do you want to play against an opponent that is obviously much, much weaker than you? And when you know you'll win?"

L moved his first piece. "For the same reason you play with me even though you know you will lose," he whispered quickly under his breath. "Because I enjoy... playing against you as my opponent."

I glanced up at him shyly. His face was emotionless as he pondered over the board. There wasn't even a hint of embarrassment or anything remotely related to his comment. Moving my piece, I stared back at my lap, not even really thinking about my move. "Well thank you for putting up with me," I said, fiddling with my fingers. "It's very nice of you to play chess with someone who's fate of losing is inevitable."

For a few minutes afterwards, there was only silence interrupted occasionally by a piece being placed. But a voice so soft I could barely make it out breathed, "You're welcome."

I blushed as I looked into those black eyes blending in with the shadows that had crept in from his own room. There was no light left, no separation, everything filled with the same amount and same kind of substance. Everything equal.

The night continued on, and the light of morning would find us still playing the same game. I knew L was making bad moves for me, but I didn't comment. I was too thrilled that he was making them for me in the first place. It was the first time he'd ever made bad moves for anyone, and I was honoured and somewhat insulted at the same time.

More honoured, though.