A/N: HI EVERYBODY!

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?!

GOOD?!

Me too. ;D Lol. Omg, I just realized that we've hit the halfway point of this story! Isn't that AMAZING?! I know, I didn't think the day would ever come either. XD

Oh, and I would like to thank all the nice reviewers who made me feel tons better after the last chapter. Truthfully, the rant really did help take a lot of bad crap off of my chest, but it's always nice to know that other people both agree and really do wish to read the shit I manage to come up with.

You guys are so nice! ^.^

Anyway, OLG. :) Uh, anybody like some plot to add with that side helping of fluffy angst I've been handing out? Lol. Oh, OLG, how you keep me on my toes. Hope you guys enjoy!

Title: One Last Goodnight

Chapter Ten: To Forgive But Never Forget

After sending his father a routine text (the man must have been worried sick whether Watari had spoken to him or not) and smiling back at his father's reply (You little brat! You're lucky I didn't have a heart-attack when you didn't come home last night! We are going to have a LONG discussion when I get home, mister!), the weary brunette gazed at his home in intense relief before running up the familiar pathway and just about slamming his door open with the force of a wild animal.

Raito sighed as he entered his home and glanced about the house, not surprised at the state of disarray surrounding him. His father was not known to be the most organized man in the world, so Raito wasn't the least bit phased to find his home to be as disorderly as a garbage dump after a couple days of absence.

'Well… I guess I have something to do after all.'

Setting down his bag by the door, the young boy mechanically toed off his shoes and made his way into the kitchen, his hands itching for a rag and broom.

'For once, I would just like to fade away…'

Letting his thoughts dissipate against the euphoric nothingness that was now consoling him, Raito began the arduous task of cleaning his home, not noticing as his own thoughts began to slowly stray…

'Fade away…'

'Fade away…'

L sighed in bliss as the young boy's voice unconsciously filtered into his mind, gently stroking his own arm in mock comfort. The darkness of the room was neither suffocating nor tense, a call of slumber soothingly easing his consciousness into a lull of tranquility that it had not felt since… before.

'Raito… don't…'

Eyes closing without his consent, L reached out into his mind in one final attempt to call out to the boy who was so intricately woven into his psyche; the boy who had brought him back from the dead not once but twice.

'Don't fade away again.'

Not knowing whether his message had been heard (or even if it made much sense to the teen at this point in his life), L let go of the tightly-reigned connection that held him together and let the soft blanket of sleep contain him.

The low hum of affection buzzed within his mind as he drifted off into his dreams, a tiny whisper crawling into his mind even as he succumbed to the weakness of his exhaustion.

'I won't.'

The beginnings of a grin lay over the vampire's lips as the darkness finally swallowed him whole, a familiar sense of warmth blanketing him.

'Then neither will I.'

'Then neither will I.'

Raito halted in his mopping as he smiled, the voice within his head both comforting and sweet.

Something he neverthought he would associate with the stoic nightwalker, mind you.

'How is it that I can pinpoint his voice exactly; that his presence is one I can identify with little to no effort whatsoever?'

If Raito was to go by L's explanation, it would be due to their old connection being ripped open after being shut away for nearly three years; a connection that had been hampered with by L himself.

But why?

If L had cared as much as he had, why had he made him forget?

It seemed like every single one of his question were being answered except the most important one-

"I don't… I don't want to do this! It's not right!"

"It's the only way!"

"But it can't be! You're just taking the coward's way out, L! I'm sure if we just waited this out, we could fight this!"

"Raito, I'm sorry… but I can't take that chance. They are coming for you… for us, and I will not let them finish this on their own terms!"

"No, don't do this, please!"

"For once in my God forsaken life, I will notbe the selfish one. Even if it means… never loving you the way I wish, I will do what I have to, to keep you safe. This is your chance, Raito. The one you have always wanted…"

"L…"

"I will-"

Raito gasped as he grabbed his head and dropped the mop, breathing heavily as his body met the floor in a sprawl of limbs and rumpled clothing.

'What…?'

The voices faded back into the void in which they had appeared, the picture never all there. Blurs of green, white and brown swirled together in the moments Raito had heard the familiar voices speaking; the weight of the moment (memory?) drowning him with its heady familiarity.

Glancing around the spotless kitchen, Raito slowly picked himself up and limped out of the room, the silence now more of a painful reminder of what he couldn't remember than a comfort of what he did.

'Sleep… I need to sleep.'

Hopefully all he needed was rest.

Hopefully.

The old librarian sighed as he let his head fall into his hands, his elbows leaning against his aging desk.

How to do this with the least amount of conflict, he wondered.

The phone next to him lay unused, it's beige gleam taunting the age-old guardian into reaching for the handle and just getting over himself to do what was necessary-

But he couldn't-

He wouldn'tdo that Raito.

That boy was his to protect, even from L of all people, and he wouldn't betray his trust in such a way ever again. Even with his consent.

Sighing once again (the sound of his breath falling from his lips was beginning to become a daily occurrence) as he straightened himself up within his chair, Watari grabbed the phone and gulped.

He could do this without giving his youthful charge away. He could.

He wouldn't allow for anymore of this deceit to continue now that Raito was finally gaining back what was truly his; what shouldn't have been taken away from him to begin with. Dialing the number, Watari felt the corners of his lips tilt down almost subconsciously.

'Damn.'

Soichirou sighed as he felt his cell-phone vibrate within his pocket, pulling it out quickly and snapping it open with a rather annoyed look on his face as the number was fully recognized.

'Great.'

Biting back the retort hanging off of his lips as he pushed the phone to his ear, Soichirou gulped as he managed a moderately polite greeting.

"Hello, Quillsh."

Honestly, his head was already pounding and the man hadn't even said anything yet.

'Why isn't it that I just can't have a good day for once?'

Cinnamon-brown eyes stared out the window, the last couple hours nothing but a blur.

He had slept…

Hadn't he?

Tracing the insignia branded into the piece of cloth, Raito smiled up at his mother, who was more than satisfied with his response.

"Good job, Raito! You'll be mastering this spell in no time flat!"

Or…

Maybe he hadn't.

"I like that one." The little boy grinned as the arm perched around his shoulders squeezed him, dark eyes glowing a translucent blue against the warm lights cascading their lithe figures.

L shrugged as he gave the man in front of him the money and handed Raito the cone filled with vanilla ice-cream, delighting in the smile given to him as he did so.

Raito held his head within his hands as the lowering sun outside his window taunted him with its gleam.

'No…'

"Raito, you are to stay home, and that is that! You don't know who's out there or what they even want!"

"But father, they could be in danger!"

"You don't know that!"

Raito almost cried as he swirled around, tears clinging to his eyes as he grabbed his best friend's hand.

"And neither do you! Tell him, L!"

The fabric of his comforter was pushed from his body as the young teen sat up and growled, eyes blazing a fierce reddish-gold.

'I can't take this… anymore…'

"You'll always be here, won't you?"

Staring down at the small teenager gazing up at him with such sad bright eyes, L knelt down and smiled.

"No matter what happens, Raito, I shall always be by your side."

Holding back a quivering smile, Raito grabbed the older man and let his head fall to the crook of his neck.

"Thank you, L…"

"Just STOP!"

And just like that…

It actually did.

The voices halted as the images running through his head disappeared in mere milliseconds, making the boy's head spin uncomfortably.

'Why…?'

Yet, what was done was done.

L had mentioned something about his mind re-discovering the memories on its own…

But how?

Raito sighed as he lowered his feet to the floor and let one of his hands fall from his head, reaching over to the night-table beside him.

What was so important that his own mind would rebel against a spell that was apparently so powerful, it had no immediate reversal? It was like he was trying to remind himself of something with the small glimpses he was being granted, but he still didn't get it.

If he kept going like this, those torrents of emotions he couldn't exactly explain were going to eat him alive, and he would never get the answers he was looking for.

Smooth leather finally met his fingertips as Raito sighed, relief pouring over him like a gasp of cool air hitting his lungs. Lying back down on his bed, Raito pulled the book open and slipped the marker that had rested on his previous space it had inhabited.

The yellowed pages glinted as the dimming light frolicking over the closed window cast shadows over the boy's face, making it a bit more difficult to read; though not impossible. Sharp maroon-colored eyes read over each word lovingly, caressing every stroke as if it were a treasure or a keepsake.

Though…

It was, wasn't it?

'Mother…'

My dearest and most beautiful ray of sunshine-

I feel as if I have lost you, even though you still lay here by my side.

You, a being so tiny and fragile, hold every part of me that I can never show, yet soon, I fear as if our time will be coming to an end.

How can I let you go, my love? How?

I look at both you and your father, and I find myself wishing the rest of the world to Hell; if everyone else must burn for us to be happy, then so be it!

But…

I can't think like that.

That isn't the way I wish for you to be, Raito.

My Light.

My most precious creation…

One day, you shall love, and you will realize just how I feel, but until then, I suppose what I say may seem irrelevant. I hope against the Gods stacked against us that you don't ever truly understand what it is I am trying to say, but if the way a certain someone looks at you is any indication, then I don't have a say in the matter do I?

My poor dear. Are you lost? Is there someone with you holding your hand? I have so many questions, and yet here you are, still lying next to me.

I suppose my questions are not for the boy lying next to me, but the man he will someday become. Why think of the future, you may ask?

But if I do not, then who will?

I can't help but feel as if we are running out of time…

But if that's the case, then I will make the most of what little time we have left.

I won't ever truly leave you, Raito.

Just think of me…

And I will come running; I swear.

Until then,

Goodnight.

Shaky fingers gripped the paper with an intensity that even Raito couldn't have anticipated, a wet sheen enveloping his corneas.

'I don't want… I don't want you to be just another memory I can't latch onto, mother.'

Without realizing it, a blockade that had formerly caged him within his mind shattered; though Raito didn't notice. Leaning forward, a sudden thought invaded his psyche, and his fingers moved on their own accord.

Raito chewed his lip as he flipped through the journal filled with beautiful cursive writing until he hit the last page, flipping it over-

Staring down at the familiar insignia, Raito smiled, tracing its pattern with well trained fingers-

And dropping the notebook with a clatter, now-brown-eyes widening with astonishment and… fear?

'This just keeps getting weirder and weirder…'

Closing his eyes, Raito let his mental exhaustion take over him once again as the refreshing cradle of sleep held him until he lay limp within its grasp and the darkness, for once, was a welcome companion.

'I don't want… I don't want you to be just another memory I can't latch onto, Mother.'

Sachiko almost fell over her own feet as she closed her bedroom door behind her, clutching onto her pendant in panic. A mental wall had crumbled; one that had been forced upon her by someone who had been willing to sacrifice his own life for her son and his former-guard.

'Raito…'

"He did it." Smiling as she picked herself up, Sachiko quickly dusted herself off and sped off to the library. "I knew it. Grandfather… you were right. He did it."

Unbeknownst to Sachiko, a small figure danced around the corner they were hiding behind, red locks and green eyes burning with curiosity.

'What did she mean by that…?'

Loki shrugged as he trotted behind her, steps quiet as his fox-like ears swiveled cutely over his head.

'I guess I'm going to find out!'

"WELL?!"

Misa sighed obnoxiously as the men behind her scuttled over to her; the graveyard they now inhabited both dreary and just a bit scary.

"Do-Don't you think you should be a bit quiet, Amane-san?" The youngest of the male-crew whispered as he rubbed the back of his neck, a metal stake clutched tightly within his other hand. "We don't know who's out here or what they might do if they find us out here!"

"That's the point!" The blonde growled out, her short lacy skirt flying slightly as she huffed out in annoyance, her corset-like top practically sealed against her skin. "I WANT them to show themselves; how else are we going to kill them if they stay hidden, Matsuda?!"

"Uh…"

"I hate to say this," the man with a large afro pointed at Matsuda with a knife, dark eyes narrowed with distaste "but I agree with this fool. It's not safe to go around yelling out our location, Misa. With their enhanced senses, they'll be able to tell if we're here without having to announce to anyone ELSE who we might not want to have an encounter with."

"Whatever, Aizawa." Misa pouted as she turned to the last man lagging behind all of them, heading up the rear of the rag-tag group of men. "Eh? Et tu, Mogi?"

Mogi sighed, running a hand through his short spiky hair, other hand holding a short crossbow in a semi-tight grip.

"I'm just tired. Can we get this over with so we can get home, already?"

The darkening sky was indeed making them all a bit weary; dusk had passed well over a couple hours ago, and they had yet to find anything out of the ordinary.

"I knew this place was a bust." Aizawa sighed, hitting Matsuda behind the head as he bent over a grave and poked it. "We should just go back to our own to-"

"No." Misa froze in her spot, the small sword she held within her hands shaking slightly from the strength of her grip. "There's something happening here… I just can't figure out what."

"Like that's a surprise…" The afroed-man muttered under his breath, barely flinching at the blue-eyed glare he received for his trouble.

"Something big is going to happen here, and I refuse to let those blood-suckers try to take advantage of it in any way! There's a dormant power ready to be unleashed… and little leaks of it has been bursting through the barriers placed over it; whether as a shield or something else." Misa flounced as she huffed out a small sigh, holding back a smirk as she heard the three men scramble to keep up with her suddenly neck-break pace. "So we're staying; AND THAT'S FINAL AI-ZA-WA!"

Mogi shook his head as Matsuda nodded enthusiastically, Aizawa the only one of the bunch sporting a semi-agitated expression over his face as the girl continued to sprint.

"Brat…"

"I HEARD THAT!"

Loki sighed as the woman in front of him continued to thumb through a large ancient-looking book, not even noticing his presence as he almost tripped over himself (twice!) and nearly gave himself away with a sudden sneeze/cough.

He could see why Akio-sama never gave him much more important missions, now that he thought about it…

And speaking of Akio-sama-

An age-old link pulled at him; smothered him as he continued to watch the short-haired woman read with vigor. Trying to at least get a tiny peak of the title of the book, Loki bit back a curse as the mind-link became painful-

Letting go of the space he now held, Loki let himself fall back into darkness and drifted out of the library.

Sachiko lifted her head as she felt the suffocating presence of the kitsune youkai finally dissipate, letting the book fall from her hands as she walked around the table and picked up the real reason she had entered the library to begin with.

'How juvenile…'

As if Sachiko couldn't read behind Loki's motives; or rather, Akio's motives.

'You won't stop me that easily, Akio…'

Not this time.

"Well?!"

Loki cowered behind his master's cylindrical throne, bright eyes downcast and scared.

"I-I wasn't able t-t-to-"

"You failed me yet again, Loki?" Akio felt his lips twitch with trembling rage, holding the brandy bottle with clawed fingers as he poured himself another drink. Cracks lined the outside of the pristine bottle, gleams of light reflecting off of his golden eyes glowing with a ferocity that would have scared a normal man out of his wits.

"No, Akio-sama!" Still quivering behind the plush pillows and golden vines that made up his master's space, Loki frantically shook his head. "I was following Sachiko-sama today and found something very interesting-"

"Really?" The aging man deadpanned, his silver hair contrasting greatly with his sparkling eyes.

"Yes! As she left her room today after her daily rest, she crumbled onto the floor without warning and clutched her pendant, saying something about somebody being 'right'!" Loki mindlessly spoke, not noticing the grip his master held over his glass tightening painfully- "She rushed into the library and picked up this laaarrrrrgggeeeee book and began reading it-"

"LOKI, YOU IDIOT!"

Squeaking out in shock, Loki whimpered as the power surge from his master blasted him off of his throne and against the wall before bouncing onto the floor in a heap of painful bruises and, he was sure, newly broken bones.

"That… she's…" The glass shattered within Akio's hands as he let out a ferocious, almost animalistic yowl of fury. "What possessed you to not inform me of such a change, you fool?!"

"Uh…"

"NEVERMIND!" The window on the furthest side of the room cracked as Akio growled, his face distorting inhumanly. "I… shall have to change my plans, then. Stay here; I need to go speak with some of the others to see how this may affect our plans."

Without another word, Akio spun around and left the now partially-demolished room, leaving a slightly broken servant and pool of alcohol in his wake.

"You know, my son is actually at home right now." Soichirou deadpanned as he stared at the old man pouring them both a cup of tea, the kitchen protruding familiar warmth. "Do you think we can get this over with so that I can actually go spend some time with him?"

"Is it possible to actually have a conversation with you without having to suffer through your insufferable attitude, Yagami-san?" Sitting down directly across from the already-irritated father who was reaching for his tea with forced patience, Watari bit back an angry sigh. "Well?"

"Don't act as if you're so surprised, Quillsh. I've lost just as much as Raito; perhaps even more." Sighing in pure exhaustion, Soichirou put down his cup and gave the man a jaded smirk. "Whereas Raito is now gaining back everything he has lost, I don't have such a luxury. I love my son; I wish for nothing but the best for him, and I know that no matter what I say, if this is what he truly wants, nothing will stop him from achieving what he has to do to set things right.

"But Quillsh, in less than 3 years, I've had my wife ripped away from me, my son practically decimated from the inside out and having to deal with it all with a smile for my boy's sake." Taking another sip of tea, Soichirou held in the scathing insults and concentrated on the conversation at hand; there was no reason to take out all his anger on this person who had done nothing but acquiesced to Raito's own wishes, after all. "Anyone in position would be just a bit frustrated."

"I apologize, Yagami-san," Watari amended himself before he could insert his foot in his mouth, bright crimson-red eyes appearing just over Soichirou's shoulder as he finished speaking "but I only hold Raito's best interests at heart unlike many others who may come to you saying the same."

"I know, Quillsh. Believe me… this isn't personal. I know you would give your life for my son…" Soichirou reached for the cup once again, not even stalling as he rolled his eyes. "Isn't that right, Sachiko?"

"How do you do that?" Sachiko popped out from her hiding place, a nostalgic smile tilting up the edges of her lips. "Are you sure you don't have magical powers, Soichirou? With the way you always sniff me out…"

"If you call having something I like to call 'Sachiko-Senses' magical, then sure, I've got plenty of magical powers." Letting the cup fall onto the table with a loud clank, Soichirou ignored the leather-clad woman as she sat down beside them. "Well? What is it?"

"What?" Sachiko asked, startled.

"You both have obviously called me here to torment me, so let's get this over with so I can get back to my son already." Ignoring the wince the short-haired woman sent in his direction, Soichirou gave the white-haired man a stale glare. "So…?"

"Not quite…" Watari muttered under his breath, giving Sachiko a questioning glance under furrowed brows. "What are you doing here, Sachiko?"

Biting her lip as the tension within the room became a tad too much for her to stand, Sachiko pulled out a-

Dagger?

The hilt was golden encrusted in exotic jewels and vines of jade as the blade seemed to shine; a glassy substance made up the blade, the gossamer light emitting from it nearly blinding both men staring at it.

"Is that…?"

"He broke it, Watari." Staring at the older man with a mixture of pride and angst, the darkly-dressed mother nearly sobbed as her husband grabbed her hand instinctually. "He broke the barrier that lay between us; between our kind. It will only be a matter of time before they feel his presence within the counsel and he needs to protect himself."

"So he is the chosen one your father spoke of…"

"Yes. And if we don't do what we can to protect him, then my father's sacrifice along with all of our own personal… tribulations" Sachiko tried to keep her eyes off of Soichirou as she said this, his hand tightening over her own "will have been in vain."

"Raito was right then; from the beginning." Soichirou whispered, the veiled regret pouring over his gaze in rivulets. "If that's the case then… he needs his memories back; now."

"I believe L is taking care of that-"

"Is that so?" Both Sachiko and Soichirou echoed, giving Watari equally shared looks of disbelief and skepticism.

"Yes, he is." Pointing at the stairs, the elderly-looking man placed a finger over his lips in a way to quiet his visitors. "Though I do believe he may have angered young Raito this… morning…"

From the look on the despairing father's face, he could have guessed he knew that already.

"The war brewing between both of our worlds is growing by the second, and if we don't do something, then we'll be aiding in the destruction of millions, possibly billions of people." Sachiko whispered. "If L and Raito don't come together soon and release his memories, then we'll have lost before we even have a chance to fight."

Knowing the woman was right, Soichirou closed his eyes as he released his wife's hand and let his head fall forward.

"This time, I won't let them win so easily." Standing up from the table, Soichirou nodded at Watari and gave his wife a tender glance, wishing to give her something more (though they both knew that such an expression of affection would cost them dearly…) but holding back at the last second. "Sachiko, are you keeping a thorough watch on the counsel?"

The woman nodded, feeling the same pangs of loss as her husband, yet hiding it extremely well.

"Good. Inform us of any changes; Watari, I trust you'll deal with L, then?" Watching the older man in weary acceptance, Soichirou smiled. "I know; sucks, doesn't it?"

"Like working with a pubescent teenager that knows infinitely more than you in all ways but the ones that count." Watari mumbled, twitching as the two other people within the room laughed. "But I can deal with it. You just keep Raito stable until then, Soichirou, and I'll make sure that L doesn't pull another one of his in the next few days, alright?"

"Agreed," the business man waved at them over his shoulder and strode his, his gait so much like the boy they were trying to save.

"It's like all of it never even happened, isn't it?" Watari whispered as soon as the older man was out of the vicinity, feeling a bit desolate as Sachiko then lowered her head.

"Do you think…?"

"Just give it time, Sachiko." Grabbing the now-empty cups, Watari winked. "Just give it time."

Raito sighed as sat down in his seat, the rest of the class ignoring him as usual. After nearly three days of this constant isolation, he had become used to it.

'What the hell is going on…?"

Usually his classmates were cold, but this was becoming altogether ridiculous. No one would even look at him, damn it!

But he couldn't go back home; after having to suffer through a rather long-winded lecture on his father's behalf, he had been given the choice of staying home until he was feeling a bit… better, or going to school. It was one Hell or another, and Raito would much rather the familiar sneer of his classmates than the painful silence of his home's walls and haunting thoughts that still clouded his senses.

On top of that, it had been nearly four days since he had last seen L, and it was driving him up a wall.

He couldn't bring himself to go the library, choosing to cocoon himself in some of the empty classrooms afterschool until it was time to 'get the hell out' as the janitors had so politely put it and for some strange reason the high school student couldn't fathom the nightwalker seemed opposed to going to his house and facing him head on.

All in all, the whole situation was driving Raito crazy.

But still, his need for answers didn't outweigh his need for space, and at the moment, Raito needed plenty of it.

"Good morning class!" The teacher suddenly announced as he entered the room, dark eyes scouring and agitated from the early morning hour.

The students rushed back to their desks and continued standing, staring at the teacher before bowing. "Good morning, sensei!"

Nodding slightly, the teacher smiled as the students practically fell into their seats and pulled out their books. "Before I begin our next lesson, I have an announcement to make."

Raito glanced up from the book he was reading, the words barely catching his attention. His fingers began to pick at the edges of the pages curled around their tips, a niggling of something picking at the back of his head; enticing him with a promise of-

(Power-want-need-this-need-it-now-don't-forsake-us-fight-for-this-need)

"We have a new student coming into class-"

(Power-want-need-this-need-it-now-don't-forsake-us-fight-for-this-need)

"So please make sure to help her feel as welcome as possible-"

(Power-want-need-this-need-it-now-don't-forsake-us-fight-for-this-need)

Raito felt his mind split in two as the spark of something became everything and all he could feel and hear and touch was this overwhelming sensation of being here instead of… of… where?

Where else would Raito need to be?

"Everyone, please welcome Amane Misa to our class."

A tiny blonde-haired girl with pigtails and a smooth grin entered the class and bowed, giggling as various boys (and some of the girls as well) gave her appraising looks of awe.

Raito, though, was not one of those boys.

(Don't listen to her, she doesn't know anything; fight it fight it fight it – don't let it CONSUME you)

Letting his head drop forward, Raito concentrated on this new voice; the soothing quality of its dulcet tone both loving and protective.

'I won't… I won't.'

Sharp blue eyes twisted over and kept their gaze on the boy sitting in the back corner of class, his amber-red eyes glowing without his noticing.

Misa smiled sweetly as her teacher assigned the mischievous blonde her seat, her silver cross hanging heavily over her neck underneath her school uniform.

'Gotcha.'