A/N: Hi there! It's finally here for those of you who follow any of the other works I've posted in the past year! For those of you who haven't, it's so nice to have you here. I'm Alyssa! I'm so, so excited for this. I worked on it for over a year, so the whole thing is already written out. It just needs it's final edits, so I'll be releasing chapters once a week on Fridays.

The whole story came about because I was rather put off by L's death in the series, partly because I am a major fangirl of the quirky detective, but also because I honestly thought it was a bit of a cheap way to get him out of the way. So! I thought that I wanted to write a story about another case L worked on in a universe where he survived, and here we are.

With all that said, I really hope you like the prologue and that I've done a decent job of keeping everyone in character. The show holds a special place in my heart as does this story, so I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I have writing it.

ENJOY!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Death Note. This was made for entertainment purposes only with no intent of copy infringement.

~}(){~

The Price of Memory: Prologue

"To your grave I spoke,
Holding a red,
Red rose.
Gust of freezing cold air,
Whispers to me,
You're gone.

Spent a lifetime of holding on,
Just to let go.
I guess I'll spend another lifetime,
Searching for a new hope." - Broken Iris "A New Hope"

~}(1){~

L wandered down the empty corridor, his bare feet padding silently against the ground and head ducked lower than usual. Dread weighed on his shoulders almost as though it was a physical weight and made his steps sluggish and hesitant. It had been building steadily over the past few days, and now, it was reaching a peak, the beginning of the end – his final chapter in the Kira Case.

For all his genius, L was unable to find a way around the upcoming events that would allow him a total victory – a way without some losses. Perhaps, had he accounted for... No. Even if he had known certain facts earlier on, it likely would have resulted in the same outcome. Light was too smart to go down without a struggle, and even if certain events had changed earlier, another set would have replaced them. It was inevitable when facing an opponent such as Kira. Regardless, L did not care to think of the past in what ifs. It would not change matters and wouldn't help him find solutions. He found it a waste of time, a commodity he sorely lacked at the moment.

His feet paused of their own accord when he reached the door at the end of the darkened hall, light spilling out from the crack under the door and lighting on his toes. Although he knew he needed to divulge his plan to Watari as soon as possible, the great detective hesitated to enter the room just yet. L was not one for displaying his true emotions. To him, it was revealing one's weakness, and in the world he lived in, any weakness was exploited. However, Watari was his closest companion and would never abuse that. Beside that, Watari had seen him at both his best and his worst over the years, so there was no need to hide anything from him. He thought of him almost like a father, considering Watari had been by his side for the majority of his life. That also meant that L couldn't hide such deep distress from him even if he wanted to. Either way, it didn't matter. The dark-haired detective had to speak to him.

Allowing himself to breathe a shuddering sigh, L pushed through the door. However, he couldn't bring himself to look Watari in the eye, his gaze trained on a crack in the tile flooring not too far in front of him.

"What seems to be the trouble, Ryuzaki?" His inquiry came the moment L entered. Watari was always as helpful as he was loyal.

L didn't respond. Although he wanted, no needed, to speak, his words failed him, and silence settled, thick with unspoken concerns between the two. He heard Watari's chair squeak as he swiveled around to face him at the lack of response, realizing that something had happened.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

L swallowed past the lump in his throat, his mouth feeling dry, and when he found his voice, he kept it as disconnected and emotionless as he could manage. "Watari, I am certain you know this as well, but..." L finally glanced up, meeting Watari's concerned gaze for a moment before averting his eyes once again. It would be better to just spit it out. The longer he drew this out, the more difficult it would become for him. "There is less than a one-percent chance that both of us will live to see the conclusion of this case. The Shinigami knows more than it's letting on, and I believe it is planning something."

Watari hummed in agreement, his face pinched slightly in concern. "Our survival is very unlikely due to the supernatural aspects in this case."

Clenching his hands into the loose material of his shirt at his sides, L continued, "However, there is a slightly greater chance that one of us will survive." Of course, when he said 'one of us,' L was referring to Watari. Although Watari's chances were low, L knew that his odds were better. L had no doubt that if only one of them could be killed with the Death Note, Light would make certain it was him though it was still more than likely that they both would die in the end by Kira's hand... In that case, the responsibility of stopping Kira would fall to L's successors... It could take years before they were ready to do what he wouldn't be able to.

"I see... What of it?" Watari folded his hands over his lap after adjusting his spectacles. His voice seemed too loud to L. Or perhaps the room was too quiet.

"In light of this fact, I would suggest that if one of us survives, y-he", L corrected himself, "should attempt to fake their death, allowing Kira to think he's won. It would give us more time to continue our investigation unimpeded. If Light believes we both have died, he will be too busy celebrating to pay as close of attention as he should."

Watari remained silent for a moment, and L could see the calculating look he was giving him out of the corner of his peripherals. "Very well, Ryuzaki," he said gravely, rising to his feet.

"Thank you." Tilting his head up once more, L forced his eyes to meet Watari's gaze and hold it this time. "For this reason, I would ask that you keep a vial of Tetrodotosin with you at all times." Using that was, in truth, an enormous risk in and of itself. However, L believed it was the only way to successfully convince someone as clever as Light of their demise, and risk was necessary to win the game, so to speak.

L saw his own sorrow and fears reflected in Watari's eyes, one of the reasons he had been hesitant to meet them. "You have no hope that you'll survive this, do you?" Watari said, less of a question and more of a statement. Even without confirmation, his companion knew exactly what he was thinking.

He answered anyways. "No."

Watari's face hardened at his response. "L, I hope you intend to carry some of this poison as well."

At the sudden change in demeanor, L scratched the back of his head. They both knew what Kira was capable of, and they both knew he considered L to be his enemy. While Watari also presented a threat, Kira had never directly called him out in the way he had L. "I don't see the point in it to be honest."

Frowning, Watari closed the space between them until they were less than an arm's length apart, and the old man rested his hands on L's shoulders in a comforting manner. "I'm afraid I must insist otherwise," he told him with an authoritative tone to his voice. "You know as well as I do the chance still exists. It would be foolish to rule it out entirely, Ryuzaki."

L knew this was just Watari's way of trying to console him, and perhaps it defeated the purpose if L knew what he was doing. However, it still worked, and the dread over his impending death eased just a bit, but it made him feel lighter than he had in days. Giving a slight nod, he said "Of course, Watari. You are right... as always." He didn't believe the words himself, and neither did Watari, in all likelihood. But that was something that would remain unspoken, and that was for the best. Voicing his fears would not beneficial in any way.

A smile twitched at the corners of Watari's mouth though there was an undeniable sadness to it. "I will make the necessary arrangements with Roger," Watari concluded, giving his shoulder one final squeeze before turning back towards his seat.

However, L's arm shot out before he could stop himself, grasping his friend's hand and returning Watari's attention to himself. "Thank you, Watari ... for everything." It was short and simple, and not near enough, L knew. He owed that man very much, more than he could ever give, and perhaps it was something he should say. But L had never been one to go on if it wasn't absolutely necessary, and Watari knew... He must have.

Much like he had that first day at the Wammy House, Watari squeezed his hand comfortingly before drawing him in for a hug to L's surprise. "It has been my honor, L."

Exhaling a little shakily, L stiffly raised his arms to return Watari's embrace. Even if it had been unexpected, it was not unwelcome, and a soft sort of sadness came to L then, a thousand memories of a thousand cases they had solved coming to mind. Finally, the old man patted his back once, twice, and then stepped back from the hug. Turning away, L released his hand and hastily exited the room before anything else could be said. What was there to say at any rate? Despite Watari's reassurances, L had little hope of surviving. Honestly, they both did. However, as a final gift, he would carry the Tetrodotosin with him as Watari had asked him.

Tetrodotosin was a poison found in puffer-fish When ingested, it covered one's nerve endings, causing a numbness throughout the body that reduced the heart rate to an extreme low and making the victim appear to die. However, if an antidote was not administered in the next seventy-two hours, the victim would die. Still yet, chances of survival even with an antidote were less than hopeful. However, it was a convincing way to feign one's death.

At that moment, to his dismay, L's gut told him that one of them would survive. Though, at present, he was unsure whether this was good or not.

~}(2){~

"Just a little more!" L cut off Soichiro before he could continue protesting the decision to make someone use the Death Note. Rem observed in silence, and though she outwardly appeared to take no interest in the current conversation, she was listening intently to the young detective's words.

"If we just clear this," he continued, and she tensed. In a way, she was almost certain she knew what he was about to say though she found herself hoping he wouldn't. It would be much simpler for her if he wouldn't. "This case will be solved."

Lightning cracked the sky, and as though protesting what she was about to do, the heavens roared. At once, Rem flashed to Watari's computer room, standing just behind the old man as he tapped away at a keyboard, not even aware of her presence. A brief note of reluctance played on her, knowing that she was in essence killing herself, and that was something she had never expected, nor wanted to do. However, Misa's smiling face flickered into her mind and strengthened her resolve.

'It seems as though you win, Light Yagami,' she thought bitterly.

Before she convinced herself to back out of it, Rem wrote the old man's name in her book and then watched dispassionately as he struggled to press a button on his computer. It was a simple movement, little more than a flick of the wrist, yet it was the action that sealed her fate. From that second on, she was on a time-table. 'Strange,' she thought as she watched the old man writhe and gasp, 'how it only takes a feeling to kill a Shinigami.'

At that moment, the first stab of pain clawed at Rem, signifying her own impending demise and reminding her she wasn't done yet. She only needed to write one more name. Then Misa would be safe.

"Watari!" L's voice was cut off as Watari managed to press the button, and the message 'All data deleted' flickered across the screens.

Not wasting anymore time, Rem headed for the main room, not quite brave enough to use her powers in this state.

~}(3){~

"I told Watari to erase all information in the event that something happened to him."

So … It was time.

"If something happened..." Aizawa trailed off.

"Could it be?" Matsuda asked, his voice shrill with panic as they all glanced frantically around themselves.

"Where's the Shinigami?" L inquired, and with their attention diverted, he pulled out a small vial of clear liquid and downed the contents. Before they turned back around, he slid the empty container through a small crack under the desk. It would be highly unfortunate for him if Light found it. As paranoid as he was, the brunette man would realize something was wrong.

~}(4){~

Rem gripped the pen so tightly her knuckles hurt. However, she barely felt it compared to pain in the rest of her body. As a being who had rarely experienced any sort of physical sensation, she had not it would hurt this much, and the process of disintegration was taking its toll on her faster than expected to her frustration.

Her vision kept blurring, and she was having trouble focusing Resolutely, she forced herself to keep the Death Note steady even as the ends of her hair turned to dust, feeling each and every particle burn away. She began scratching out the name. L L-A-W-L-I-E-

Rem released an animalistic cry as she dropped her pen as the fingers on her hand dissolved. No! She had been so close to finishing it. There was only one more letter left. This was very bad. If no one killed L, Misa would be caught and murdered.

Dropping to her knees, Rem groped for the pen with her hand-less wrists. Maybe, she could still finish it. However, the rest of her body was disappearing fast, and all of a sudden, she knew she would not be able to do it. She was out of time. Rem screeched, hunching over in despair. This wasn't supposed to happen like this. After a moment though, she straightened, closing her eyes. She was a Shinigami, and she wanted to die with dignity even if she was going to die alone.

"I'm sorry, Misa. I tried. Perhaps Light can keep you safe," Rem said to empty hallway as she crumbled into a pile of dust.

~}(5){~

"Everyone ... The Shiniga-" L cut himself off, widening his eyes. This needed to be believable Not only was he faking a heart attack, but he was giving the poison time to take effect as well. Beyond that, his audience was not full of idiots.

Dropping the spoon he had been toying with and letting himself list to the side, L began to fall. Then Light ... that murderer had the gall to catch him even after he had just murdered Watari. Then again, L had expected nothing less from Kira, the murderer who had killed hundreds. The great detective fought against the urge to let his sorrow break through his facade. As he "died," L stared into Light's eyes, which were, quite convincingly, brimming with tears, and searched for any traces of the person he had wanted Light to be even when he knew he wasn't.

But then, L felt the poison begin to take effect as his lips and appendages numbed. In truth, it surprised him that the Shinigami had not killed him yet. Obviously, it would consider him a threat even more so than Watari, so why wasn't he dead? Maybe he was, but the poison prevented him from feeling the heart attack – possible, but unlikely. As the poison integrated into his system, he watched Light smirk triumphantly and closed his eyes to prevent his own reveling from showing.

Light bought it, and he'd also revealed himself.

At last, L had the definite, undeniable proof for his mind that the brunette boy was Kira. 'Thank you, Watari, my friend. I couldn't have done it without your sacrifice.' This was the last thought L would remember having before the poison took full effect.

~}(6){~

With no small difficulty, L's eyes slid open, feeling crusty and gummy all at once. Along with a severe dryness in his mouth and throat, a relentless throbbing pounded against his temples, the dehydration setting in. He stared at the ceiling, not moving yet, and simply blinked a few times. Well, this was a surprise as he hadn't expected to awaken again. Perhaps he was getting rusty.

Snorting derisively, he dismissed this immediately.

However, that still left the question of how he had survived. Why would the Shinigami not kill him as well? It wouldn't make any sense at all to let him live after making an attack like that. No.. It didn't make sense. The Shinigami would not have left him alive if it could help it, so then, it must not have been able to finish its task for some reason. Hmm.. That was worth considering further. Perhaps, though it was only a theory, it was a sign that gods of death were not meant to save lives. Ignoring his headache, L pushed himself into a sitting position and fought past a wave of dizziness from having been idle for so long. The one thing that was certain was that laying around would accomplish nothing. Carefully removing the IV attached to his arm, L swung his legs over the edge of the bed in time to see an elderly man with white hair push through the door, smiling when he saw L sitting up in bed.

"Hello, Roger," L rasped, mentally noting the prudence of acquiring a cup of coffee as soon as possible. As well as a tray of sweets. He didn't care what kind, but he could tell that his system was reacting negatively to the lack of sugar.

"It is good to see your eyes open once more, Ryuzaki. You've had us all rather out of sorts seeing as we've never seen them closed before." As though reading his mind, Roger pressed a cup of steaming coffee in his hand, the familiar weight and warmth comforting to him. "For a moment, I feared you would never regain consciousness."

L nodded. "I had not expected to, in truth," the dark-haired detective admitted. He took a sip of coffee and tried not to wince. It wasn't nearly sweet enough. "May I have some sugar, please?"

"A moment," Roger agreed, nodding, as he exited the room.

Glancing up at his surroundings, L caught his reflection in a mirror hanging on the wall and studied it, trying to decide if he looked healthier than normal or not. On one hand, the dark circles around his eyes seemed to have eased up, which he blamed on his extended nap. However, his cheeks were more gaunt than he remembered. Either way, L didn't care as he had never been one to worry about his appearance. Likely, it would all return to the normal state soon enough, and that's all that mattered. As long as it didn't affect his mind, he could ignore it.

"Here you go, Sir." Roger pressed a box of sugar cubes into his free hand.

A pang of sorrow hit L at the memories the familiarity brought with it. How many times had he heard that exact phrase from another man over the years?.. Watari was... No. He wouldn't dwell on that now. He needed to focus on catching Kira. That would be the best way to honor his fallen companion. At the moment, it was the only way. Nothing he could do would bring Watari back, but at the very least, he would stop Kira. He wouldn't let Watari's sacrifice have been in vain. He would defeat Kira for the sake of justice, the ideal Watari had always striven for by his side.

"Thank you," he murmured distractedly, dropping the cubes into his beverage until it was less of a liquid than a sludge. Setting the box on the small table at his bedside, L picked up the spoon Roger had brought with his fingertips and stirred his drink, staring down into the dark liquid.

Roger broke the silence they'd fallen into for the past few moments. "I see you've somehow increased your sugar intake."

Glancing back up at the man, L slurped his drink. "Hm? Oh, yes. I have. It was necessary."

"To solve the Kira Case?" the elderly man clarified, one eyebrow raised in interest.

"Yes..." L nodded, not in much of a mood to talk overly so. After being unconscious for so long, he was ready to begin working once more. "Tell me," he said after the pause, "exactly how long did I sleep?" While speaking, he continued sipping his coffee. "I am assuming it's been around a week from the stiffness of my body."

"Indeed. It has been precisely six days since we retrieved you from the morgue and switched out the caskets."

"There were no complications in the operation then?"

"Thankfully not," the old man told him, standing with his hands clasped behind his back. "The others are all content to believe that you were killed by the Shinigami."

"I see..." He trailed off, hesitant. "I suppose there has already been a funereal." Not speaking,

Roger nodded in response, eyes downcast, knowing what L was really asking. Watari's funereal had already passed as well. After another moment of silence, the older man offered, "If you wish, we could hold our own ceremony for him."

Nodding, L answered, "Perhaps afterwards. For now, we should focus on the Kira case. Light has played around enough already." With one final loud slurp, L set his cup aside, standing. Glancing down at himself, he frowned at the hospital gown they had dressed him in and picked at the material. It was far from what he normally wore – as the same with most people – and he was ready to get out of it as soon as possible. "Was this necessary? Never mind. Take me to my things if you would."

"This way." After they stepped into the hallway, Roger added, "It's not far."

It was a simple building with non-descript carpeting and walls, dim lighting, and few windows, but L knew from the glimpse of the city he had caught from the window that they were in another sky-scraper type building only a few blocks away from the Kira Task-force Headquarters. Trailing silently behind Roger, L fidgeted with his hands at his sides. He wished to shove them in his pockets like he normally did and once more thought of how eager he was to change into his usual attire. The gown was uncomfortably breezy, and the material scratched against his skin. Without his normal clothing, he felt ... off. Then again, if he was being honest, the whole situation was doing a lot to add to the askew feeling. The world was off right now with the appearance of Shinigami, books that could kill with only a name and a face, a genius madman who thought he was justice, and the death of one of the greatest men who ever lived.

Roger led L down the narrow corridor, turned left twice, and then entered the first room on the right. Inside, the room was dark, light from several monitors the only source of illumination, and rather small with simple white walls and tan carpeting Sitting on a U-shaped desk, half the monitors displayed alternating images of both the building L assumed they were in and of the Kira Task Force Headquarters. The other half showed non-descript pages of writing, presumably his and Watari's own notes on on the case. In front of the computers, a crisply folded bundle of clothing sat. And L knew this would be where he spent most of his time in this new workplace.

"Thank you, Roger," L said, heading for the clothing set and pulling the horrid gown over his head without any consideration for modesty.

Caught off guard for the action, Roger coughed a bit incredulously before regaining his composure though it was obvious that the man was uncomfortable still yet. "It is no trouble. I shall leave you to change then," he offered, all but running from the room in his haste.

L hummed thoughtfully, stepping into his jeans. What was his problem? After L finished dressing, Roger returned to see what L wanted him to do next. Climbing onto the office chair they had provided, L settled into his customary position, tucking his knees to his chest and resting his hands atop them. "Roger," he began, pressing his thumb against his lower lip, "has any progress been made on the Kira Case in my absence?"

"Nothing from the investigators on the task force or anyone else," Roger explained, his hands clasped behind his back once more as was his usual stance.

"Then the time has come for that to change. With that in mind, would you bring me a phone."

Moving to stand next to L, he fished a flip-phone out of his pocket and offered it to the genius detective without hesitation. "What are you going to do?" Roger asked as L plucked the phone out of his hand using his fingertips.

"I plan to finally put an end to this absurdity," he replied vaguely, punching in a phone number.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Soichiro Yagami, first of all, please keep the following conversation a secret from your colleagues. Tell me, are you alone?"

"I don't ... Who is this?" Soichiro demanded, his voice tinged with confusion.

So, he hadn't recognized L's voice. Or perhaps he had, and that was, for the older detective, more confusing than had it been a stranger. Rolling his eyes to the ceiling, L leaned back. "I will reveal my identity once assured of your solitude." Even as he spoke the words, he knew the probability of the ex-Police Chief simply doing as he asked, and mentally, L noted that it was good that he was using more caution now unlike he had when they first met. However, that didn't mean it wasn't annoying at the moment. Deciding to save them both time, he sifted through the surveillance feeds and confirmed that Soichiro was, in fact, alone.

"Perhaps I am," Soichiro admitted after an extended pause, and L could see him peeking through the blinds of his window, making certain there wasn't anyone suspicious hovering around outside. "Now, tell me who you are?"

"This is L," the dark-haired detective said simply, knowing the reaction it would provoke in the old man. He watched the monitor, amused at the sight of Mr. Yagami's eyes bugging out, and for a moment, L thought he might drop the phone considering the way his hands were shaking. He wondered if it was from disbelief or anger for the monitor made it difficult to tell what his exact expression was like.

"T-that's impossible..." The detective trailed off. Then his expression hardened – ah, so it was anger – and frowning deeply, he added, "I was at your funereal."

"Hm? Oh, that wasn't me."

"Let's say I do believe you... How did you survive? The Shinigami... It killed Watari and you. We all saw the bodies. We buried you both."

L frowned, hesitating a moment. That was the exact question he had been asking himself since he had awakened not so long ago, and he doubted he would get an answer until he finished this case. However, instead of admitting to all that, L simply dismissed his question, his voice sounding even more careless than usual. "It seems I am difficult to kill." After another pause, the detective continued to his actual reason for calling, "Mr. Yagami, I require your co-operation."

"Well, if nothing else, you can act like Ryuzaki... Still, you know I can't just believe you. How do I know you're really L?" Mr. Yagami asked, and despite his words, L knew that he already believed that he was who he said he was. It was in his tone, and if he didn't, he wouldn't have stayed on the phone at this point.

Ignoring his question, L explained, "I wish to continue with my previous line of investigation. In order to do so, I ask that you relinquish the Death Note to me."

There was a snort of disbelief that came from the other end of the line, and L saw him pull a face to match it. "You don't really believe I would just hand over something so dangerous without confirming your identity, do you? And I have more questions. If you are L, why would you fake your death in the first place? Why would you and Watari put us through all of that? Why would you put Light through that? He cried over you."

"I'm afraid Watari is not with me anymore," L told the ex-Police Chief tonelessly, not letting his emotion seep through. L watched as he crept towards the door of his room. "Mr. Yagami, do not leave the room, please. I wish for my survival to remain secret at present," the dark-haired man revealed. Soichiro froze, his features contorting in surprise, realizing suddenly that he was being watched, and L saw him glance up at the camera placed in the corner of the room. "As to why, it's because I am allowing Kira to think he's won, so I may solve this case without his interference."

"I'm.. sorry about Watari. He was a good man... But why shouldn't I inform the task force? Kira isn't among them," Soichiro insisted.

"Mr. Yagami, you are well aware of my beliefs regarding the identity of Kira. However, even if that were the case, which I do not believe, Kira is able to retrieve information at will from the task force at the very least, and I cannot allow him to know of my survival. Working in secret again, I'll be able to conduct my investigation more freely." It was tiring being the only one to see Light as anything other than innocent. Though, he supposed he could not blame them. Light was an excellent opponent. The man was the perfect sociopath. He knew how to do and say all the right things. Light was a leader; people wanted to believe in him, and so that's what made him so dangerous. However, L was better at this game of chess they played, and in the end, he would win. Justice was on his side, and now, he had Watari to add to the list of others that would be avenged with the capture and defeat of Kira. Concluding, L told him, "No... The fewer people who know of this the less of a chance of Kira finding out."

"I suppose that makes sense," Soichiro conceded though his tone sounded dubious at best.

L cycled through the camera feeds once again and noted that a specific presence was missing. "Mr. Yagami... Where is the Shinigami?"

Soichiro hesitated, not quite wanting to give out information so freely though he was warming to the idea of trusting L. "The night you and Watari... died," he began, voice unsure of his phrasing, "Light found a pile of dust. We believe it was the Shinigami's remains since we haven't seen it since then."

Pressing his thumb against his lower lip, L asked, "Did you find a Death Note in the pile?" The Shinigami's disappearance lined up with his theory about how they weren't supposed to save a person's life, and it seemed that it even killed them when they did so. For L had no doubts that it had been the Shinigami who killed Watari when it realized that they were about to catch Misa Amane, and in turn Light Yagami.

"No. It most likely disintegrated with the Shinigami," the older man theorized, looking thoughtful.

Possibly... Or possibly Light now possessed another notebook. Since he had been unconscious, there was no way of knowing what Light had done immediately after he was taken to wherever they had taken him. It would make sense that he would want to get his hands on the Notebook before the other officers could. With two – or more, he added in his head – Notebooks in his hands, Light was becoming more and more dangerous. It wouldn't surprise the detective if he soon handed the extra Death Note off to a loyal follower to throw the police off once more. L needed to disprove the thirteen day rule as soon as possible. "I would like to retrieve the Death Note tonight. I understand that you wouldn't be able to bring the entire book without rousing suspicion. However, I ask that you at least bring me a page from it."

"Will it even work without the whole book?"

L bit the end of his thumb, considering his words. That was something he was curious to as well, but it seemed he would find out. "It may not, but if that's the case, I'll come up with an excuse for you to use in order to give me the whole book. For now though, I would like to test my theory as soon as possible. Please meet me at the street corner directly south of the precinct."

On the screen, Soichiro's brow furrowed. "L... I thought you wished to stay in hiding. That street isn't exactly hidden."

"I know, and I do plan to stay in hiding for the remainder of this case.. However, you would likely refuse to hand over the Death Note, even a piece of it, to a stranger. For this reason, I must come myself," L explained impassively. "Meet me there at 7:43 P.M. sharp."

"That's a strange meeting time."

"Which is why I chose it. Most people would not meet at such a random time. Therefore, it is the best time to meet for those who want to prevent others from knowing they are meeting."

"I see. Very well, I'll bring what you asked for assuming I can do so without making anyone suspicious," Soichiro agreed.

"Thank you, Mr. Yagami," L said. That would be enough for the time being. No matter what it took, L would stop Light. There was no way he was wrong, and though he might have doubted himself for a time, the detective was sure of Kira's identity. The sight of Light's triumphant grin flickered into his mind, and L's hands clenched around his knees. Kira would lose. To the other detective, L continued, "Also, although you likely realize this, I would ask that you tell no one of this."

"I won't... for now," the detective added with a disapproving look at the camera.

~}(7){~

"As you can imagine, my idea had been correct, and after thirteen days passed, the inmate we had chosen to test the Death Note didn't die like the fake rule claimed he would. However, he was executed shortly thereafter..."

As he spoke, a gust of icy wind whirled around L, tugging at the loose clothing he wore and further disheveling his dark hair. It had been nearly five weeks since he had awakened in that bedroom by himself. For the past few weeks, the skies had been overcast, raining often as well, and today was no exception. Heavy dark clouds blocked out the struggling sun, casting the landscape in a somber gray light. 'Very appropriate,' L thought as he glanced across the yard, considering the circumstances of his visit.

"With this new development in the case and the proof to back it up, I was able to arrest Misa Amane under the suspicion of her being the Second Kira, and after a thorough search of her apartment, we found a Death Note hidden in her dresser before Light caught word of what was going on. Of course, she denied any knowledge of this despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary."

L allowed a bitter smile to twist his features, thinking of the dim-witted blonde woman's behavior. However, he suspected it came off like a grimace. Sighing, he continued the story, "It wasn't long before I was able to beat Light as well... Though it was not entirely a straight forward arrest considering who it was we were dealing with... With Misa in custody and charged with mass-murder, Light knew it was only a matter of time before we could connect him to being Kira. In the end, he made a last-ditch effort to save himself when the police force was closing in on him. Light had hidden a piece of the Death Note in his watch... Before they could subdue him, he wrote one more name, one of the investigator's who was sent to arrest him. Kira's final victim was Soichiro Yagami, his own father."

Curling his toes on top of each other to ward off the chill that hadn't come entirely from the air alone, he said, "Both Light and Misa were sentenced to death on charges of mass murder – to be carried out within one week. Although the time frame was considered too short by many people and there was public backlash because of it, the police hadn't wanted to chance their escape, and I had also urged that the sentence be carried out promptly. Since there was overwhelming evidence to support their guilt and due to the unusual circumstances of the crime, the court ruled in our favor... However, I did speak with Kira before he died..."

~}(8){~

"Are you certain you want to do this?" Aizawa asked, his arms folded over his chest, a frown spread across his face. "No one would think less of you if you chose not to." He, Matsuda – two of only three of the original task-force that had survived – and L stood in observation, staring through the one way mirror.

L remained silent for a moment as he studied the figure slumped in the chair. Even though any scraps of the Death Note had been confiscated, the police had cuffed his hands and feet and placed a blind fold over his eyes just as an extra measure of assurance. They were taking no chances with someone like Light, and Misa had been placed in the same situation. Also, in light of the bruising on his arms and face, they hadn't been too gentle with putting him there. Police weren't fond of cop-killers – especially if they had murdered someone as respected as Chief Yagami – and despite what the public chose to believe, Kira did not only restrict his murders to criminals. Watari was evidence enough of that.

"I am completely certain," L finally answered, not looking over at Aizawa before he padded over to the door. Sighing softly through his nose, he pushed it open and shoved his hands into his pockets. This would be the first time he had spoken to the other man since he had faked his death, and in all honesty, L could not see it going well. Without speaking, he crossed to the chair in front of Light and climbed onto it, the chair scrapping across the floor and groaning in protest of his weight.

A long pause passed before Light said anything. "Well, aren't you going to ask me something? They always do." Light spoke quietly, calmly, his voice carrying a mocking lilt too it. Without any need to hide behind his perfect son persona, the real Light had come out, the Light who had found the Death Note. Silence hung in the room for another long moment..

"I admit, I may have considered it," L retorted, just as calm as Light. "However, we both know there is little left to ask, Light."

Light tensed, recognizing the voice at once. "I-impossible," he said, the edges of his calm facade cracking, and L couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face. He was petty enough to admit that it was nice to see Light squirm after everything he had put the detective through.

"That seems to be the common reaction to my continued existence." L reached out, tugging the blindfold off. There was no way for Light to kill him, even if he did have a piece of the Death Note still hidden on him that he managed to sneak past those on the police force.

"Why are you alive?" The brunette man questioned, his eyes blinking rapidly at the sudden influx of brightness. After a moment, he focused his gaze on L, and the detective could see the hatred burning there. Though it was something he had known all along, he admitted to himself that it stung to see such an emotion directed at him from someone he considered his friend... Foolish, he knew. When L said nothing, Light continued, "I checked... Your name was in Rem's Death Note..."

When he said this, L's features remained impassive though he did tilt his head to the side thoughtfully. So, the Shinigami had tried to kill him after all. It was hardly surprising, however. The question was why it didn't work.. Perhaps because of the way it had killed Watari first... That was a possible reason; the rules were a little hazy when concerning beings such as the Shinigami, but L had to treat them like any other problem he solved. He believed that they followed a set of rules, evidenced by the Death Note itself, and since it broke the rules, it was possible that it rendered its powers useless.

"How did you survive?" Light questioned, his eyes searching L's face as though he could find the reason he was still alive when he should have died simply by looking at him.

L shrugged. "As it turns out, I'm a pretty lucky person."

Suddenly, understanding entered Light's eyes, and L knew he had figured out what had went wrong. His head dropped, his chin resting on his chest, and a deep laugh bubbled up from him. When he had composed himself, the young man smiled up at L. "Rem didn't have time to finish writing your name... I should have checked into it better than I did, so I suppose that's my own mistake." Here, he sat up straighter and leaned as far forward as his bindings would allow him to. "You know something?" Light questioned, his voice low and a little difficult to make out.

Understanding what Light wanted, the detective leaned forward as well so he could hear what he was going to say. "You should be dead, L Lawliet," Light hissed, and there was a triumph in his voice. Hearing his own name, L's eyes widened. "What?" he added, a cruel smirk on his face. "There are only so many surnames that end with Lawlie."

The Shinigami had managed to write that much? It was then that L realized exactly how close he had come to dying along with Watari... Who knew what would've happened if he had died there? And yet... No, he wouldn't think on that anymore. With that much of it revealed, it wasn't exactly surprising Light could figure the rest out on his own. However, it was strange to hear him say it aloud, something L himself had not done in a very long time. "Congratulations, Kira," L told him calmly, sitting back into the seat, showing Light how little it bothered him. "You finally figured out the identity of L... However, I'm afraid it will not help you much at this point."

"Perhaps not, but you never know... You finished your original investigation." It was a statement. Not a question.

"Of course," L said. Even though Light had figured it out already, he wanted to tell him exactly how he beat him. He had always admitted to being childish. "Your murder of Watari and apparent attempted murder of me only confirmed what I already knew."

"You must not have cared about him very much – Watari, I mean, considering you didn't even come to his funereal," the young man changed directions suddenly. It was obvious what he was trying to do, a way for him to strike out at L, try to upset him, and despite knowing exactly what the serial killer was doing, part of L still felt the sting of his words.

L narrowed his eyes slightly. "Unfortunately, I was dead at the time... Besides, it would not have brought him back."

Light chuckled bitterly. "But, that's not the point, Ryuzaki." He spat the alias. Shaking his head, the brunette continued, "You really think you've won, don't you?"

"I have won. You won't kill anyone else, Kira."

Again, he let out a grating laugh, his head thrown back and eyes glinting with a wicked madness that was more sad than unsettling. "Are you so certain? It's too late, Ryuzaki! The whole world knows Kira now. It won't end with just me. The people out there know... They know what I do and why I do it, and some of them will carry it on for me. Even if you kill me, they will continue you my work. Divine retribution cannot be stopped. You and I both know that I've already left my mark on the world. If you don't believe me, look at the crime rates. Look at how they've dropped. That's what I've done," he told him, a hardness coming to his eyes now. "And that's what you've sentenced me to die for – stopping crime."

"There are better ways to stop crime, Light. Murder is never an excuse," L reminded him.

"And what is the better way?" Light challenged, an eyebrow raised in mockery. His chains rattled as he sat back in his chair with a thump. "What you do? Ha! Is that really the case, Ryuzaki? Think about it. Think about how many people died because you investigated your way. You knew it was me from the very beginning... Think about how many people would have survived if you did things my way, if you had only killed me the moment you knew. Watari died because of your beloved process."

"Watari would not have wanted to survive if it meant abandoning justice."

Smiling at him in contempt, Light shook his head slowly. "Justice? You abandoned that a long time ago. If you would defend criminals from facing the punishment they deserve, how can that be justice?"

"Killing them is not always the punishment they deserve either. So that is justice?"

"Yes! You say they don't deserve it. You believe that a little time in jail will be enough to reform them, but you're wrong," Light accused, venom in his eyes and in his voice. "The moment they find their freedom, they'll commit the same crimes all over again because this world is a filthy, wicked world. And for every criminal you do catch, another ten never get caught. They deserved Kira. They have to be stopped, and it's your fault that so many criminals will walk free now, L." The more he spoke, the louder his voice grew, and by the time he finished, he was full on yelling. "You should know better than anyone how many people I saved! It's your fault that so many innocent people suffer!"

As Light spoke, L searched his eyes. Any trace of the man who had become his first friend during the investigation was gone. In its place was... Kira. He had known all along what he would find when he came in here, and yet he still did. What had he been hoping for? Light had always been hiding himself. Even when he had forgotten the Death Note, that was a way of hiding. But there was nothing to hide behind anymore, no reason to do so, and L found himself wondering why he was still there. Any trace of sanity was missing from him now, and there was nothing left for L here.

With that in mind, L slowly rose to his feet, taking a step backwards from the seething man, and cast one last glance over his face, knowing it would be the last time he ever saw him face to face.

"Running away?" Light mocked. "How predictable."

Closing his eyes, L said bleakly, "Goodbye, Light Yagami ... my friend." Without another word, he headed through the door.

Just before the door fell shut behind him, L heard Light snap, "Not now, Ryuk... I have things on my mind." That would be the last time he ever heard Light speak.

~}(9){~

"... Regardless, Light's execution proceeded swiftly and without problems to the relief of everyone involved. After everything that's happened, I've decided to retire the namesake 'L.' Not quit investigating, of course, just use my other titles instead. There will never be a greater case for L to solve, and it feels like the right time to let him go. L should die with Watari. The two were a team, after all... As for me... I've been occupying myself with solving cases as usual. Nothing's changed in that respect, and nothing will as you might guess. Compared to the Kira Case, they're hardly a challenge. It almost feels like putting training wheels back on a bike even though I already know how to ride it without them.

"Since the conclusion of the case, I've already solved half as many cases as before." L gave a bitter huff that could have been considered a laugh in a way. "I even dropped my principle of only getting involved after ten murders or if a million dollars is at stake... Kira believed that killing criminals was the only way to stop them... I've made it my goal to prove him otherwise.

"Either way, the god of death has finally been put down," L finished monotonely.

When he said this, he glanced up for the first time since he began telling him what had happened and read the inscription on the tombstone: Here lies Quillish Wammy, a great man who gave his life in pursuit of justice. What we keep in memory is ours forever.

When he continued, his voice trembled slightly, and the dark-haired man clenched his teeth, biting down on his sorrow. "Your death was not in vain," he promised the tombstone. "This case was only solved because of what you did to save me... It's even your doing that I carried the poison that allowed me to trick Kira. I will never be able to thank you enough for everything you did for me..." Crouching down in front of the grave, L traced the lettering of his name with a single finger. "Thank you, my dear friend. I wish you could've seen this ending.

"It's finally over..."

~}( To Be Continued){~

A/N: WHEW! So there it is! I can't believe the prologue was that long! However, I can't promise that the other chapters will be a lot shorter. I have a few that are this length, but for the most part, they stick to 6'000 words or so. Anywho, I really hope you enjoyed this. It doesn't have so much to do with the actual story part of it. However, it does set up quite a bit.

Next week is when we get into the actual story, so see you then!

Oh, and please review and let me know what you think and if I need to improve on certain things or so on so forth. Hope you'll continue with the story!

Thanks for reading!

ONWARD!

- Alyssa