Ab Aeterno

Silent Dagger: Sorry for the long wait for this chapter. I wrote the whole thing over the summer, couldn't upload it, read it, hated it and had to rewrite the entire thing xx Anyway, I'm trying to spend an equal amount of time on each of my stories, I'll probably be focusing on In Paridisum the most since it's almost done.

Chapter Seven: When the Past Collides with the Present

Ryuuzaki said nothing after Light had turned his back on him with the intent to sleep once again. He sat in utter silence, even his thoughts far away until the even breathing of Light filled the room as the younger man drifted off to sleep once more. Ryuuzaki sighed and returned to looking out the window, the rain lashing against the pane heavily, thunder booming in the distance. He had not told Light the reason they were changing rooms. B undoubtedly knew exactly where they were right now, he'd been able to locate the hospital easily enough. This was a safety measure. B probably expected them to keep changing locations to mix him up. Indeed, they were going to make it appear as though Light checked out though in reality they were just changing the room. It would buy them some time, though Ryuuzaki knew B would figure it out soon enough and then they really would have to change where they stayed.

He sighed heavily. Beyond Birthday…B…Rue Ryuuzaki. The second child brought in to be trained as his successor. A had not been able to handle the pressure. He had ended up killing himself in the end. B…well, B snapped in an entirely different manner. He'd grown obsessed. He'd grown insane; the sleeping beast dwelling within him had reared up to show its fangs. He felt he could only prove himself better than L by being exactly what L was not. A criminal, a murderer, all to gain Ryuuzaki's attention. An almost desperate cry for it.

Ryuuzaki remembered everything perfectly. He remembered first meeting B. He had felt apprehensive about the younger man from the start, but never would he imagine that things would turn out this way…

"L, we need to bring in another child," Watari said.

L was still a child himself. He was only ten but he was more mature than most adults ever would be. He was sitting in the library at Wammy's, reading a thick book about law, one that he was thoroughly disgusted with but interested in finishing nonetheless. He regarded Watari with his dark eyes and simply nodded, though there was some curiosity in his stare and Watari caught it, sighing.

"It's too much for A…he's breaking. We need back up just in case choosing A was a mistake," Watari finished.

"Where is A now?" L asked.

"I believe he has locked himself in his room and refuses to come out. Roger is trying to get him to get something to eat as we speak," Watari said.

"I see," L replied.

Even at this age, L was incredibly blunt and hardly showed any emotion towards others. It was how he was brought up. He'd already been solving cases for two years now. He could not get caught up with wasted emotions. He was justice, which was all he needed to be, nothing more.

"Roger and I have been keeping our eyes on one child in particular. He's a bit odd, but he is extremely intelligent and his powers of deduction and observation are intimidating," Watari continued.

"Hmm…are you bringing him here?" L asked.

"Yes, we will be retrieving him in two days. His parents were recently killed and at the moment he is in an unsuitable foster home."

"I see, I will meet with him then," L replied, turning back to his book to show that the discussion had come to an end.

Two days passed uneventfully for L. He was updated regularly about A's condition. Fortunately he had started eating again and was being slightly more social. L figured the idea of having another successor was a large burden off of A's mind. To be the sole one responsible for succeeding L must have been a huge responsibility. Especially when A was a few years older than L already. L could imagine what it must have felt like, to be dwarfed in skills by someone younger, though the thought was not concern and hardly bothered L.

"L, he's arrived," Watari said upon entering L's room.

"Very well," L replied.

He hopped off his chair, shoving his hands deep into his baggy jeans and slouching off after Watari. They entered Roger's office and L saw his second successor for the first time. Shaggy black hair falling to his shoulders, pale skin and a delicate frame, L noted how similar their physique was immediately. However, there was something different. His eyes…his eyes were scarlet, they were the color of blood. L immediately felt tense when he looked into those eyes for the first time.

The boy was about two years younger than he was and looked a bit nervous, but was doing a very good job of hiding it. He stood relaxed, composed, though his eyes were darting about the room, observing everything. L noticed how they seemed to travel to the spot directly over everyone's head, settling there for a moment as if studying something before quickly darting away again.

"L, this is B," Roger replied.

L studied his new successor. Back up in case A failed. B…it was a fitting name. L never spent much time with A and it would be the same for B. He was already working on difficult cases after all, he could not be expected to waste his time getting friendly with them. They needed to be like him anyway, not attached to anyone, to just fulfill their duty and have no other concerns.

"Hi."

The nonchalant tone in which B addressed him surprised him slightly. Of course Roger and Watari would have already explained to B exactly why he was here and who he was talking to. When A had been introduced to him he had stumbled over his words, shocked that the boy before him was L, but B was just regarding him casually, a soft smile lifting his lips.

"Hello," L replied blandly.

"So you're L…and I'm your successor…" B mused. "All right, I won't let you down I suppose."

He was taking it far too lightly. L frowned inwardly. This was not simple job training. This was an important position.

"Please take this seriously," L said.

He noticed how Watari and Roger glanced at each other, clearly surprised at how this meeting was going. When it had been A, there had simply been a quick hello and L had disbanded. After that they had hardly exchanged words at all. B, however, was raising a dark brow and tilted his head in a very similar manner to L's.

"I'm sorry," he said, though he did not really sound sorry at all.

L narrowed his eyes very slightly and only nodded before heading out of the room. He made his way back to his study, prepared to concentrate on a case he was working on, but he couldn't get the meeting out of his head. He shook his head, scolding himself mentally. It was the only real conversation they would have, L didn't have to worry about B anymore and B would be far too busy being tested and trained anyway.

Apparently B just wanted to defy all logic. L had retired to his room for the evening, which meant that he was not to be disturbed. He had finished the book on law and was now reading one on forensics. He was just getting to a rather interesting chapter when he heard a knock on his door. L blinked in surprise. Roger or Watari would have simply entered the room because it would have been to discuss something important. Who would be knocking at his door at this hour?

The knocking continued and L frowned. "Enter," he said crisply.

The door opened and B walked into his room.

"What is it?" L asked.

"My name is Beyond Birthday," B simply replied.

L blinked. "You are not supposed to give out your real name, surely Watari and Roger told you this," he said.

B shrugged. "It doesn't matter, I felt like introducing myself properly since I'll be succeeding you."

L felt it again, that apprehensive feeling. Something about B was setting him on edge.

"Remember that the first in line is A at this point," L reminded him, hoping to close the discussion now so that B would leave him alone.

B focused those red eyes upon L's face and regarded him for a moment and L was once again struck by how similar they were in appearance. If B put effort into it, he would look just like him. The thought did not make L feel any better.

"A…doesn't have…" B began but then trailed off and looked away. "A seems to be in bad shape from what I saw of him. Very jumpy, high strung if you ask me."

L tilted his head. B had sounded as though he were going to say something much different than that for that was an obvious observation and not something L needed to have pointed out.

"Is that what you came here to talk about?" L asked.

"Think it will happen to me too?" B asked in return.

L blinked, not liking this conversation in the least. "I do not know, I should hope not."

B grinned. "I was just teasing you…it won't happen to me," he raised a finger and tapped his own head. "I'm strong."

Teasing him?! No one teased him! L's expression darkened considerably. "I see," he replied. "If you don't mind, I am trying to read."

"How am I supposed to be you if I have no idea who you are?" B asked.

L had turned his gaze back to the book before him, but on that statement he found his eyes shifting back to B.

"You're not becoming me…you're just training to take over in case something happens. You will take the title L, you will not take who I am."

B didn't say anything, he simply nodded and L figured he would leave at this point so he turned back to his book. Only when he felt a weight at the foot of his bed did he look up sharply to see B sitting there, staring at him.

"What?" he asked a bit snappishly.

"Why do you sit like that?" B asked.

"…It helps me concentrate," L answered shortly.

To his annoyance, B shifted so that he was sitting in an identical perch at the foot of the bed. L longed to simply lash out and kick him off, but he resisted the urge. Meanwhile, B seemed to be deep in thought and then his expression brightened slightly.

"Well what do you know…it sort of works," he said.

"Mmhm," L murmured, trying to show how uninterested he was in B.

"Hey…"

L decided to just ignore him.

"Hey L…"

He turned the page of the book resolutely even though he hadn't been finished reading the page in the first place.

He felt B shifting on the bed again and figured he was finally getting up to leave, but that weight moved closer and when next he looked up, B was leaning in towards him, invading his personal space more than anyone had in his entire life and making his eyes flash in warning.

"I'm trying to talk to you," B said and he sounded slightly irritated at this point.

"I suggest you go find company in A," L replied. "I'm not interested in talking to you."

B settled back on his haunches, away from L and shrugged. "All right, fine," he said simply, getting up and leaving the room.

B had not visited his room again after that first night and L was immensely relieved about that. Two years had passed and the two had hardly spoken, however, his trepidation about B had not been alleviated. B followed the cases L worked on religiously, watching L's every move, an intense look upon his face. Meanwhile, cases he worked on he solved in record time, surpassing A easily.

As for A, he was beginning to crack again. He felt pressured, oppressed, hopeless…first he could not match L and now the second successor, the one who was only meant for back up, was quickly surpassing him. L, now at the age of twelve, had already made a name for himself. Of course the world did not suspect that he was still so young, but already people spoke in awe of the detective L.

He'd just finished another case and had decided to go to his room early that night as he was exhausted, however, as he was nearing his room he saw B standing outside, knocking. He frowned, what on earth could B want with him? L did not like B. He wasn't sure if his hair was falling into place naturally or if he was styling it, but it looked closer to his wild disarray every time he saw him and he too opted to wear baggy shirts and jeans now. It was strange, seeing B look more and more identical to him with each passing year. But that could wait, L wanted to know why he was trying to get in his room.

"What?" L asked in his customary blunt tone.

Instead of answering, B suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist. His grip was incredibly strong and even though L twisted his wrist trying to break free, he couldn't. B started to drag him further into the manor, ignoring L's angry hisses and threats about what he would do if B did not let go.

The younger boy led L up the stairs and towards A's room. Only when he walked in did he let go of L and simply pointed. L, rubbing his wrist angrily, followed B's finger to A's bed, where A lay face down. L only had to stare at him for a few moments before realizing A was not breathing.

"Go get Watari," L ordered.

B left the room while L approached A's bed. He looked over his first successor. Death's icy fingers had already claimed him; his once fair skin was sickly pale and almost looked transparent. L observed the setting quickly and located the cause of death. Three empty bottles lay scattered on the floor about the bed. L bent over and picked them up. Sleeping pills and two different types of pain killers.

He heard footsteps outside the door and soon Watari and B entered the room. Watari took one look at A and then at the bottles in L's hands and sighed sadly.

"Oh…A, this should have been prevented," he said heavily.

L set the bottles down on the table by the bed and looked at B. "It's up to you now," was all he said before leaving the room.

"L, we should bring in more successors," Roger said later that evening.

"You do not have faith in B?" L asked.

"I am afraid that the same thing will happen with him that happened to A. Being the sole successor is too much of a burden," Roger explained. "I believe we should bring in several more, it's not safe just having one anyway."

"Do as you wish," L replied and with that said he returned to his room.

An hour passed and he heard knocking at his door. He sighed. "Enter," he said. As he expected, B walked into his room. He expected his successor to be nervous about being the only one, to be sad about A's sudden death, but if he was, there was no sign of it on his face.

"What is it?" L asked.

"I'm better than A," B said with an almost fierce pride coloring his voice. "I won't end up like that."

L didn't say anything and those red eyes locked onto his charcoal ones, blazing with determination and something else…something dark.

"You don't have to worry L," he said softly. "If something does happen, I will take your place, I will…be you."

"…B, I've already told you…you inherit the title…" L said.

"Not who you are, yes, I know," B finished.

There was a moment of silence and when it was clear that B planned on sticking around, L cleared his throat and stood up with every intention of just leaving the room. He was passing B when suddenly B's hand was on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

"It's better this way…me being the one," he whispered.

"B…A's death is not convenient," L replied coldly.

"He was getting worse though," B pointed out. "You didn't see, you were too busy with your cases…I talked with him. Every time he was more on edge, more shaken up. He wanted to escape all of this."

L's eyes widened. "I should not have to ask this…but you were not involved in A's death in any way were you?" he asked.

B paused and just stared at him. "No."

L stared at him flatly, not really believing him and B sighed. "What A did in the end didn't concern me. My only concern is you."

L took a step away from B but B placed both hands on L's shoulders, gripping him tightly.

"L…I will succeed you, I will become the world's top detective, believe in me. Never worry about anything happening, I will be better than back up, I will be the best," B said, a feverish glow to his eyes now.

"Let go of me," L replied.

B blinked and released his vice-like grip and L frowned at him. "Remember B that your words only hold true if something happens to me and as I am incredibly careful I doubt that you will have to worry about it so much."

B's eyes traveled unnervingly to that space above L's head and he seemed to be calculating something quickly before they traveled back to his face. "Yes L, I understand," he said and there was a smirk playing about his lips then.

L frowned and looked him over. B was wearing a white shirt and blue pants, they looked almost as though B had stolen them from his own drawers, and his hair…his hair was more spiky, more like his own. "B…stop dressing up as me," he growled.

"So you noticed," B said triumphantly. He grabbed L's shoulders again and spun him around so that he was behind them and they were both facing L's mirror. "Look," B commanded, standing behind L, gazing intently into the mirror.

L did look and two identical figures looked back. "I fail to find any amusement in this B and if you do not cease these antics I will grow forceful with you," L said, glaring at B through the mirror.

B only smirked again and shoved L deeper into the bedroom before punching the mirror. Glass shattered and fell to the floor and buried itself into B's knuckles, the blood staining his pale hand. He did not wince from the pain he only turned his head to look at L.

"You need no mirrors…I will be your mirror," B whispered.

"We're finished here," L said.

B didn't seem to hear him. Instead he just walked closer to him and looked into his eyes. "The one thing that tells us apart," he whispered. He lifted his hand as if to brush his fingers across L's cheek but L fixed him with such a glare that the hand returned to B's side.

"Just get out," L snapped.

"As you wish…" B replied.

L waited at least half an hour after B had left before he quickly left his room to go tell Watari about the incident.

Four years had passed since the mirror incident. L had rather hoped that it had just been A's death that had made B act that way, but unfortunately for him, B had decided to continuing copying him. It wasn't only the fact that he was dressing up as him though. He was starting to memorize and mime L's habits. From the way he sat, to the way he held things, even his diet, though he took a particular liking to strawberry jam and it remained his favorite treat even though L wouldn't go near it.

Not only that, but B had taken to following him. It was almost as if he were a shadow. It was highly unnerving. L had spoken to Watari many times about it over the years as it seemed to get worse with each passing season. Watari's only solution was to bring in more successors, however, the ones that were brought in were clearly below L and B and were more there to interact with B and get him away from L.

It did not work as well as L had hoped.

Now sixteen, L was anxiously waiting for his next birthday because once he hit seventeen he could leave Wammy's and thus B behind him. He was already the world's top detective, none matched his prowess, and already he had gone head to head against Eraldo Coil and had outsmarted him, taking the name for himself and thus becoming two of the top detectives of the time.

He was in his study, preparing for his imminent departure when the door open and one of the younger successors came in crying. She noticed him and gasped.

"I-I'm so sorry," she whimpered. "I d-didn't notice you were in here."

"…It's fine," L replied. "What happened?"

He didn't really care, but he'd rather not hear her wailing down the hallway because he was mean to her.

"B isn't normal," the girl whined.

L blinked. "How do you mean?"

"There was a little fawn outside and B said it was going to die in ten minutes and did, fell into the water and couldn't get out," the girl explained shakily.

"And this happened in ten minutes?" L asked.

"Uh-huh…he counted down and everything," the girl sobbed.

L pondered this. The logical explanation was that B calculated the deer's path that it had been traveling. He probably measured the speed of its walk to the distance from the water and thus figured the time the deer had before reaching the water. But how would he know that it would slip in? Well it did rain last night, so the bank would be slippery, but the chances of the deer falling in where still low, he'd place it at about twenty percent, if that.

"Go find Roger," L said and the girl nodded and left, still sobbing.

L was going to pass it off as luck and just store the information away in case such a thing happened again when he remembered something. A's death…what B had started to say… "A doesn't--" no, it was impossible…but he was still curious about it and so he got up from his chair and made his way to B's room.

He did not knock, he simply entered and closed the door behind him. B was sitting on the floor, his hand covered in jam, the jar set off to the side. L regarded him coolly and B stared up at him and smiled.

"Usually I'm the one who goes to visit you," he said simply before bringing his hands to his lips and licking jam from his fingers.

"Can't you at least use a spoon?" L asked in disgust.

"I don't bug you about your habits," B replied simply.

L only frowned as B dipped his hand into the jam before standing up, sucking at his fingers before turning to face L, taking his hand away from his mouth and holding it out to L.

"Want some?"

"…No," L replied coldly.

"Not even a little?" B asked, clearly taunting him.

"I didn't come here to talk about jam," L snapped.

"Pity."

"I came to talk about the incident with the fawn," L said.

"Oh that," B grinned. "Did I scare them?"

"Yes you did."

"Then they shouldn't be here," B replied. "Something that insignificant creeping them out."

L paused. Had B really been jealous of all these new faces? Somewhere along the line, he realized he had missed a transition in B. Maybe it was when he had started dressing up as L, but the dormant side of him, the darker side that fed his fierce tempers that often left holes in the wall where he punched them if he did not get his way, that side was becoming dominant in him. L had always known B was disturbed slightly, the dressing up was one indication, the way he stared above people's heads was another. However, B was smart, very smart, probably at L's level even and so he hadn't mentioned it to Watari or Roger. But now…he was beginning to think that he should have.

"That girl said you predicted its exact time of death…that you counted down and everything. And before, four years ago when we were talking about A…you started to say something, but you changed the thought," L pointed out.

"You actually spoke to the girl? You didn't send her immediately to Roger?" B asked quietly.

"Yes I did, now please remain on the subject at hand," L frowned.

B was silent before suddenly lashing out with his hands and grabbing L's wrists, pulling him forward.

"What the hell are you doing?" L demanded.

B looked up into his face and his eyes seemed to be glowing. "You don't need to speak to such trash," he whispered fervently. "I'm the only one close to you, they are worthless, they are nothing…and you know they are nothing. They cannot see…they do not know what I know," as he said this, his eyes focused on that spot over his head again.

"They are here to stay, B," L replied coldly. "Let go of me."

B's expression turned almost desperate and instead of letting go his hold tightened painfully and he pulled L even closer. "No, no, no…you don't need them," he whispered quickly. "You just need me like I just need you…that's all."

L didn't see B after that. He had left Wammy's for good and at the age of twenty three took on a new case in Los Angeles. He was working with Naomi Misora, an FBI agent currently on suspension and he knew that he was working against B. B had been murdering people, but the method he used was a clear sign that it was him for the intelligence needed to solve his clues could only be found within L.

It was B's final call for attention. L knew he'd been informed that three new successors had already been chosen over him. Near, Mello and Matt would be the ones he ultimately chose from. B hadn't been able to handle that. After he'd been told, he disappeared. L figured he would hear from him again at some point. B's philosophy had changed. He was determined to be better than L, to surpass him and the only way he could do that was being the ultimate criminal to L, to being the exact opposite of what L stood for.

And so L had tracked him down in Los Angeles and with the help of Naomi they had figured out his game and put an end to it. B had tried to burn himself alive, to erase his features, to make L chase a phantom for ever while B laughed at him from hell. But Naomi had interrupted him and B had failed. He'd gone to prison and L hadn't heard from him since. Decided that he never would.

Until that fateful day that he had actually gone outside and been reunited with his successor once more…

Ryuuzaki snapped out of his reverie. Dawn was quickly approaching and somewhere out there, B waited and watched. He was planning Ryuuzaki's downfall, he was going to try and take his place. So far he was succeeding. Ryuuzaki was trapped in thoughts about B. And thoughts about B inevitably led back to when he'd been trapped under him, completely powerless as B effortlessly took him, claimed him as his own. The insanity that had just been breaking through out in full force now. His ardent desire to be better, to see the great L grovel to him overcoming any other actions.

And what was more, he wouldn't stop until Ryuuzaki was completely broken. He buried his forehead against his knees. How had this happened? Why did he let it happen? He should have prevented it. Why wasn't he strong enough to stop him? He was L, he was supposed to be higher than B, but B had turned the tables on him, made him realize that his position as the greatest was in jeopardy. He would strike again soon. Ryuuzaki knew that he was not satisfied.