an: I like the previous chapter as the ending, especially since I know that the manga writers said that in the Death Note verse when people die they go to Mu (nothingness), but this is a bonus optional epilogue to this story if there were an afterlife.

This is also the first chapter of my story ash, which is a kind of AU sequel to this one, because I really wanted to see L and Light's interactions after everything (and I kind of just didn't want to stop writing for this story even though it was over).

epilogue: deadlock

Lawliet, when Light found him, was crouched on the edge of nothingness and holding a piece of cake.

Light's footsteps made no noise and he was not breathing, but Lawliet sensed him anyway.

'I hated seeing you that way, Kira.'

Light sat down next to him. 'I know.'

Lawliet looked at him sideways, eyes like shadowed prison walls. 'Did you do that just to anger me?'

The sky, when Light looked at it, was heavy with gray mist, and starless. 'Like you said, L: Kira is childish, and hates to lose.'

'You hate to lose so badly that you would rather demean and destroy yourself than admit defeat.' It wasn't a question.

Light looked at him. 'You did the same thing, you know.'

The fork paused in the air. 'I did not know that you saw it that way.' The fork moved again, carving off a piece of the cake.

'Yes, you did,' said Light.

'Yes, I did,' agreed Lawliet, and held the fork with the bite of cake out towards him. 'Do you want some cake, Kira?'

'No.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes.'

Lawliet turned his dark gaze away, and the fork retreated. 'More for me, then.'

Light looked out over the nothingness before them, and Lawliet ate his cake.

'I'm not sorry,' said Light, after a long time.

'Neither am I, Kira.' The second to last bite of cake was balancing on the fork. 'Last chance for cake, by the way.'

Light glanced at him. 'We're dead, L.'

'I know that, Kira.' The piece of cake was eaten.

'Yeah, I know,' said Light, almost petulant. 'But the least you could do is act like it.'

'I do not plan on giving Kira that satisfaction,' said Lawliet, almost vindictive.

'Yeah,' said Light, and sighed without breath. 'I figured it was too much to hope for.'

Lawliet scooped up the last piece of cake, staring at it. 'Well, Kira always was delusional.'

Light gestured to the fork. 'What does it taste like? The cake?'

'Regret,' answered Lawliet, meeting his gaze without expression. 'Want to try some?'

'No.'

'Suit yourself,' said Lawliet, looking away, but the piece of cake did not disappear into his mouth.

Light was watching him. 'I'm curious, though, what it is that the great L regrets.'

The piece of cake was carefully laid back down on the plate. 'I'd be entertained to hear you guess.'

The sky was just as gray and starless as the last time Light had looked at it, and all the times before that, as well.

'You regret not finishing that last piece of cake, don't you,' said Light, after a while.

Lawliet was almost smiling. 'Kira knows me quite well.'

Light shrugged. 'Know thy enemy, as they say.'

'Yes,' agreed Lawliet, watching him. 'And Kira does not regret anything.'

Light almost smiled. 'No,' he agreed, 'I suppose at this point I don't.'