Author's Note:

Many thanks to all of you who reviewed and have stuck with this story- with my son a bit older, it's much easier to find time to write again so updates should be coming along. And for the reviewer who stated he or she would like to draw Light with leather pants- I say, yes please!

Mature themes here. Be warned.

Chapter Nine: Lokasenna

10 October 2010, 7pm: Yagami Light's apartment, Higashi district, Shibuya, Tokyo

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Light shoved his way through the press of reporters in front of his apartment building, one hand held up beside his face to discourage the photographers. His father's broad back shielded him from the front, and L kept a reassuring hand on his own from behind. The detective was dressed in a conservative gray suit, hair straightened and pulled back neatly so that his entire face was visible for once; a judicious application of concealer and gel from Mello's stash had been forced upon the man before exiting the hotel suite. With his posture corrected and his expressive eyes fully in view, Light hardly recognized the handsome companion at his side as the unkempt eccentric he had been kissing not an hour previous.

Gods, don't think about that. I was unconscious while this was happening...it's all my fault. I survived, so someone else had to become Baldur. But how could this have happened? We took precautions!

"Yagami-kun." L spoke directly into his ear, leaning over his shoulder so no one else would hear. "I know that this is difficult for you, but you must not linger here on the doorstep. Near and Aiber are going to take care of the press."

"How did they even hear about this so fast?" Light snarled, making his way up the stairs with a leaden step.

Matsuda, waiting at Light's door, overheard. "Turns out the tipster called the press too. We'd like you to listen to the recording of the call, Yagami-kun. He didn't bother to disguise his voice, and you've heard Fenrir, right?"

"And Loki," Light muttered. "Loki was there in the alley too."

Soichiro turned in surprise. "He was? You've seen him, can identify him?"

Light shook his head. "He was in the shadows. I couldn't see his face at all, but his voice was very distinctive. I'd never forget it."

"Perhaps this horror can at least give us a clue, then." One large hand was clamped onto Light's shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. "Be strong, son. We can't change what has happened, but we can damn well make sure the ones responsible will never see the light of day again."

"We're with you, partner," Matsuda agreed.

Light took a deep breath and opened the door.

He wished he hadn't. There was a charnel house reek in the air that made Light certain he was never going to spend another day in this apartment again. One body was sprawled just inside the doorway, a tall blonde that Light did not recognize. A pair of handguns lay nearby, and the doorway itself was splintered from gunshot. Light bent quickly to examine the woman- caucasian, early to mid thirties, head hanging at a bizarre angle from a snapped neck. Fenrir's work, no doubt, Light thought. But she isn't posed, and there's no note or marking on the palms like the other bodies. She was collateral damage- just in the way.

"Her name was Halle Lidner," L muttered, kneeling next to Light. "Near's agent. She is former American intelligence, and had been working as a bodyguard for hire for several years now."

"I see."

"Light..." L trailed off, looking surprisingly unsure. His voice lowered to a mere whisper. "You don't have to see this. We can deal with the forensics and the examination of the scene. You have just regained consciousness from the attack on your person; do not push yourself."

Light slid his fingers across the carpet to brush the tips over L's knuckles. "Thank you, L. But I have to do this. I can't afford to forget what this bastard did because he couldn't have me. I won't forget it." His jaw clenched so hard it ground his molars together. "And he'll pay if it's the last thing I ever do."

"Stubborn," L murmured. He gave Light's hand a quick clasp anyway, helping him to his feet. "But very well. Steel yourself."

Light felt as though every step to his bedroom was in slow motion, his vision tunneling down to focus on the bed itself. Light owned a Western-style bed rather than a futon, a purchase he had saved for months to afford and now would have to burn to exorcize the image before his eyes. The body on the formerly pristine white coverlet was carefully arranged, feet together and arms straight out to the sides to form a cross. Pale palms were each decorated with a single rune in blood; Light recognized one from Loki's notes, the arrow shape forming teiwaz, the rune of justice and self-sacrifice. A note was placed on the pillow, the same rune on the outside envelope. Obvious bruises ringed the slender arms and were scattered across both thighs. The cause of death was the same as that of Ambassador Warren- a deep wound to the heart. Light felt his own break at just the sight of it. He fell to his knees, his bowed head just brushing the cold fingertips of his best friend.

My Misa. I'm so sorry. I should have been here to protect you.

She was just as beautiful in death as she had been in life, a porcelain doll forevermore. Her blond hair had been brushed to a gloss and styled, her makeup perfect and her white lace dress artfully draped for modesty. Mistletoe sprigs had been tucked behind her right ear. Light's fingers clenched so tightly that he could feel the blood starting to pool in his palms.

"The envelope is not addressed to Odin this time," L noted, slipping on a pair of latex gloves to lift the letter free. "The symbol is the rune teiwaz- for justice, but also the symbol of the god Tyr." Grey eyes focused on him like a laser. "Loki told Yagami-kun that he was no longer Baldur. We can reasonably assume that the choice of victim and locale would mean that Yagami-kun is now Tyr, and that this letter is addressed to him. I shall scan the letter with my phone and send it to M for translation."

"Baldur was the god of beauty, most beloved of the Aesir," Light replied. "And he was killed by mistletoe, which Loki went to the trouble in his rhymes to mention. Further, he stated two would be brought down by Baldur's demise. Together, this indicates that Loki never intended me to be Baldur, but had Misa in mind all along. We were supposed to think that I was the target- this was designed to hurt me, even destroy me."

Light's eyes burned with the effort of holding back his tears, his voice climbing into a higher register in his rage. "Mistletoe is a symbol of love- he is saying Misa was killed because she loved me. And in the myths Tyr lost his right hand- a possible analogy for a best friend- to Fenrir." He turned and slammed his fist into the wall by the doorway, cracking the plaster from the sheer force. "What I want to know is why. Why this plan to break me down, when his stated goal is to destroy L?"

L looked away quickly, using the distraction of Matt's translation coming through to avoid the question entirely. Light was not fooled; L knew. He understood Loki's motivation, and may have even, from Misa's death, pieced together Loki's identity. It certainly appeared that the detective had a revelation he did not particularly like.

"The translation from M is complete. This verse is not from the Eddas, but from the Lokasenna; a collection of verses in which Loki taunts all the Aesir. The set included in this letter is one of his insults to the god Tyr.

Be silent, Tyr! | for a son with me,
Thy wife once chanced to win;

not a penny, methinks, | wast thou paid for the wrong;
Nor was righted an inch, poor wretch!"

L's blank mask did not crack during the reading, but Light could see the twitch at his lips as he fought a cringe. Light's own stomach had dropped, his anger fighting its way back to the surface.

"He...he didn't...did someone examine her yet?"

Light's father was grim as he nodded. "There was evidence of...assault." It was clear to everyone in the room exactly what he meant by the emphasis on the term. "Pre-mortem."

Light broke away before he could say any more, hurling himself into the bathroom and violently losing his last meal. When he finally stopped heaving, he became aware that L was holding out a damp washcloth.

"Oh gods. It's all my fault. I was fucking unconscious while she was...while he violated her. She never should have been in danger. I should have just died in that damn alley and then she'd still be here!"

"Light-"

Limbs shaking, Light curled into himself and dropped his head to his knees. "Don't. Just don't. How could this be anyone's fault but mine? I promised her, years ago when her family died, that I would protect her. And I couldn't even keep her alive."

"Light." L glanced over his shoulder to ensure no one else was in earshot, nudging the door to the bathroom closed. "Halle Lidner was a trained intelligence operative, and she could not save Amane-san. Your presence would not have changed anything. Further, do you think that Amane-san would have traded her life for yours, to have you die in that alley so she could live?"

"She wasn't like that," Light said, shaking his head. "She was a brave girl. But if I had never gotten involved with her-"

"From the overprotective stance Amane-san took on the phone the other day, I doubt highly that would have been her wish either. It is clear that Amane-san loved you dearly, Light."

"I couldn't love her the way she deserved- the way she wanted. She always said she understood, but she should have had better. Better than me, better than this...horror." Another shudder wracked his frame and Light gagged, forcing the bile in his throat back down. He lifted his head to meet L's eyes, concern warring with trepidation in their slate depths. "You know, don't you L? Why Loki wants to break me."

L nodded slowly. "I do not know that this is the best venue for such a discussion, Light. I am simply speculating, and I do not wish the entire team to hear thoughts that may not be correct."

The elder man helped Light to his feet and waited as the brunette brushed his teeth thoroughly and splashed his face with cold water before emerging from the bathroom. Soichiro was hovering near the door, face lined with worry and making Light acutely aware that his father was fifty five years old- something that the man's strength and resolve usually concealed. He wondered how Watari handled dealing with cases of this level constantly, since he must be two decades older than Light's father. Surely the man wanted to retire somewhere by now, to spend his days in a more pleasant pursuit? One glance at L, currently in the process of creeping out Matsuda with more of his blank stares, told the tale on that one; L needed a keeper. Even amidst his grief, Light felt a smile threatening at the thought.

"Raito, we've photographed the scene exhaustively. You don't need to stay here," Soichiro said. "I think you and Ryuzaki should head back and try to put together your attack with this one. I have the feeling you're on the verge of something- and we might be too. There was a slip up this time. A partial fingerprint on the doorjamb. We're going to see what we can do with it, and N has already taken the recording of the calls to the precinct and to the press. Go." Light was about to protest, but his father held up a hand. "Raito, you regained consciousness less than two hours ago. Get some sleep."

"I will accompany Yagami-kun back to headquarters, Yagami-san. I assure you that he will rest whether he likes it or not," L replied, taking Light by the elbow to lead him through the apartment. "We do have much to discuss along the way, Yagami-kun."

"Yes, I suppose we do Ryuzaki," Light sighed. "I suppose we do."

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10 October 2010, 7 pm: Loki Taskforce Headquarters, Peninsula Hotel, Chiyoda, Tokyo

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Near was having a bizarre evening. He was supposed to be checking the anonymous call for voice identifiers. He was supposed to be attempting to liaise with Weddy to track down the whereabouts of Mikami Teru. He was supposed to be ensconced safely in his room downstairs, performing the aforementioned tasks while finishing his matchbox model of Tokyo. What he was actually doing was worlds away from those things. Near stared at the brunette huddled under his arm and sniffling into his white handkerchief as though she were a different species. He realized on an academic level that grief could make strange bedfellows, but had not expected that learning of Amane Misa's death would cause Yagami Sayu to fling herself at him for comfort during her fit of tears. L hadn't given him a second glance as he left the headquarters for the scene, a heavily bruised and battered Light in tow. Light had paused long enough to ruffle his hand through his sister's hair, but L had dragged him through the door immediately, assuring him that Near would take good care of his sibling. Matt and Mello had also given the girl a brief hug each before departing for assignments unknown, leaving him alone with Sayu-chan. He had wracked his memory for the socially approved gestures in situations like these, and ended up patting her shoulder awkwardly while she wept into his neck. Twenty minutes later, and not only had the storm subsided somewhat but his stilted comfort had become a more comfortable stroking of the girl's hair. It seems strange, Near mused to himself, that her hair can feel so different from my own. It's so...silky. It slides right through my fingers- my curls never do that.

"So...thanks," Sayu whispered, blowing her nose into the cloth and finally looking Near in the eyes. "I must have surprised you a bit, but it's really kind of you to have stayed here with me."

"You are grieving. It seemed rude to leave you by yourself."

Sayu favored him with a watery smile. "For someone so obviously stumped by social interaction, you're not so bad at it." She snuggled into his chest, laying her head on his shoulder. "You know, it's because of Misa that Raito and I are close now?"

"Is it?"

"Mmmhmm," Sayu hummed. "Raito was always so distant when we were growing up. I get that it's because there wasn't anyone to keep up with him, but it kind of made me sad. I think he saw me as a nuisance. But then in high school he met Misa- her whole family had been killed and she was the one who found them. She wouldn't talk to anyone. Dad brought in Raito because he'd worked with the NPA before and he thought maybe someone her own age would be able to connect with her." Sayu laughed a bit. "Weird, right? Raito hated people. But he loved justice with a passion- and Misa could see that he cared about finding the ones that destroyed her family, so she opened up to him. When they became friends, she would come over to the house and spend time with me; she talked to me about boys and clothes and stuff like that, the kind of things a sister would do. I guess she told Raito that he shouldn't take me for granted, since she'd have given anything just to be able to see her sister's face one more time."

Near frowned, trying to comprehend it. Like most of the children at Wammy's, Near couldn't remember his own family. But...he supposed that should Mello or Matt or L suddenly be gone from his life, he too would feel bereft. "And this admonition of Amane-san's changed Light?"

"Yeah. He started to spend more time with me, helped me with my homework, paid attention to the things that I liked." Sayu's grin this time was genuine, the corners of her warm sepia eyes crinkling at the corners. "I guess Raito's attitude problem sort of rubbed off on me over the years. A lot of how I act is for him, you know- he needs someone to fight with and someone to berate or he gets bitchy."

Near found himself returning that smile instinctively, thinking about how much of his cool demeanor was a deliberate construction designed to drive Mello insane. "I believe I can understand that, Sayu-chan."

"You're a really great listener, Near," Sayu said, picking up his free hand in her own and giving it a squeeze. Near could feel his cheeks grow hot as he looked at her small, tanned fingers twined with his own pale digits. "I really am glad it's you here with me."

"I...think I am too, Sayu-chan."

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10 October 2010, 7:45 pm: en route to Loki Taskforce Headquarters

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Light was really beginning to hate L's car; the most horribly intimate yet awkward moments of his life seemed to happen in its plush seats. Immediately upon entering the vehicle, L had unearthed a box of chocolate pocky and was methodically stripping each stick of its chocolate coating; he had kicked off his polished dress shoes the minute the door had closed, curling his socked feet underneath himself and trying unsuccessfully to assume his usual crouched pose. The three piece designer suit had prevented such a maneuver, forcing L to sit upright like a normal human being, but not before sending Light's OCD twinging at the thought of the wrinkles set into expensive wool pants. Furthermore, the man had taken to staring at Light with an intensity he otherwise reserved for cake. Light almost felt as though he was gazing into a pair of black holes- L's eyes seemed to draw Light's own to him with the gravitational force of a collapsed star.

"So were you going to tell me anything you deduced, or are you simply going to sit there with your chocolate like an ass?"

All right, Light thought to himself as L frowned, that probably could have been said more diplomatically. But he knows what this means to me and that staring...

"I had thought to wait until Light-kun had calmed down somewhat."

"And how, pray tell, was Light-kun supposed to do that with you staring at him like an exhibit in a zoo?" Light sniped.

"Light-kun is very touchy today, but I shall forgive him as he is grieving. Very well. Shall we begin with Loki's motivations in harming Light-kun?"

Light's raised eyebrow was all the answer L needed.

"It is quite a childish motivation, really. Obviously our Loki has been keeping himself appraised of my movements and cases inasmuch as he can. Most likely this is through the services of Hel, who we have already deduced belongs or did belong to an American intelligence agency."

"Go on."

"Does Light-kun not see?" L replied, exasperation creeping into his tone. "If Hel was maintaining surveillance upon my movements, it would likely have been through the movements of my agents, as my own are quite secretive. Thus, Hel was likely tracking the movements of M and N. And if she tracked M and N in the last year..."

"Then she would have been able to deduce that they had in turn been keeping tabs on me," Light finished. "Which implies..." Light's guts twisted, the answer striking home with a vengeance. "Which implies that Loki knew I had caught your attention. Good gods, he's jealous."

"Indeed, Light-kun. So you see, when I stated that Light-kun should not blame himself for Amane-san's fate, I was most sincere. Light-kun should blame me. My...interest...in him has perhaps been the spark for this entire case."

Light forced himself to meet L's eyes again, and was shocked to see open pain roiling there. L was, for all intents and purposes, correct. If Loki had been obsessing over L for years, desiring vengeance of what he saw as his greatest foe, the knowledge that L was in turn obsessed with someone else would drive someone with that level of psychological instability mad. He would in turn lash out at not only the target of his obsession, but at the one that in his mind had supplanted him as his target's focus. He would seek to hurt Light, to break him down utterly and prove to L that Light was unworthy of his attention before moving to strike the detective himself. Only then could he consider his victory over L complete. Light's hand moved to cover his mouth of its own accord, the bile rising in his throat once more- this whole debacle, all this death, was due to L becoming sloppy in his desire to learn more about Light. He shook his head vehemently.

"No. It's still my fault. I have spent every moment from the time I was a teenager trying to surpass you. My career was designed to make you notice me, so I could test myself against you. How does that make me any different from Loki?" Light said, huddling into himself and staring out the window at the sleet now battering the car.

"Well Light-kun did not attempt to gain my attention through the murder of innocent civilians. That is certainly a major difference," L replied. His thumb migrated to his lips again, a flash of teeth showing as he bit the pad. "Light-kun is also not a sociopath. He cares deeply for his family and friends and, while he does not care much for normal people in specific, he cares for humanity as a whole with a passion."

Light snorted. "Caring for friends and family is self-serving. Those are the people who will give you something in return. I don't care at all for 'normal people' as you put it; that is a much more altruistic trait, to care for people who give you nothing in recompense."

"Light-kun's career speaks otherwise. He has devoted himself wholeheartedly to the pursuit of justice, which is, I can say from extensive experience, not advantageous to one's self."

"I-"

Light's angry retort was halted by L's fingertips laid over his lips. "I believe myself to be an excellent judge of character, and I have placed trust in you from the moment our eyes met; more than I have trusted anyone since I was five years old and Watari pulled me out of the London slums." L's fingers slipped to the side of his face to cup his jaw, thumb brushing over his cheekbone. "I believe in you, Yagami Light. Do not let the actions of a madman keep you from believing in yourself."

Light laid his own hand over L's, closing his eyes as the detective leaned in for a gentle kiss. He pulled away after only a moment, but Light felt the weight lift from his chest just a little at the affectionate gesture from such an aloof man.

"We have returned. Near should have analyzed the call by now, and we also have the translation of Agent Loud's research as well as a photographic array for Light-kun to peruse as he attempts to identify our Fenrir. Come."

L held out his hand as he exited the car. For a moment, Light's vision swam and he saw a white-bearded man with one eye in the detective's place. He knew, somehow, that taking his hand would mean more than just exiting an automobile. Something was changing, his future shifting if only he accepted it. Light reached out and clasped the extended hand firmly, L's steel grey eyes coming into focus again. Let it.

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10 October 2010, 10 pm: Loki Taskforce Headquarters, Peninsula Hotel, Chiyoda, Tokyo

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Light rubbed his eyes in irritation, his vision blurring as he flipped through page after page of photographs. M was L's public liaison, so the number of criminals Mello had come into contact with in just a few short years was impressive. L was little help; he had sucked in a sharp breath when presented with Stephen's list of questionable agents and disappeared into the bedroom with his laptop and cell phone. Every few minutes, Light would hear L's deep voice rise in anger or impatience, often in several different tongues. Apparently the identification of Hel was going about as well as Light's attempts to find Fenrir amongst Mello's cases. Sighing and taking a quick slug of coffee, Light switched to a new binder. Great. Mob cases. I hate organized crime- it's always such a futile fight. They never actually end up in jail.

The printer kicked to life with a whirr loud enough to make Light slop coffee on his hand. Cursing, he tried to mop up the spill with his napkin, blotting the drops that had spattered the binder as well. Damn. It spilled all the way to the center divider. Light dragged the entire array over to the suite's kitchen sink to find paper towels, only to stop short as his cleaning revealed a familiar face in the section on regional bosses.

"Well I'll be damned. There you are, you son of a bitch," Light crowed in triumph. "Near! I've got our Fenrir."

Near turned his chair slowly to avoid waking the sleeping brunette in the armchair nearby. Light had been rather bemused at the care the young man had shown his sister, and was beginning to get the sneaking suspicion that he was forming a little crush on her. Sayu, greatly subdued since the news of Misa's death, seemed to have no problem with development. The girl had hugged him tightly when he and L returned to the suite, then sat herself quietly in the corner by Near's workstation with a book. Light was grateful for whatever it was the boy had done to comfort his sibling in his absence. Near tugged a lock of frosty hair as his eyes fell to the coffee-tinted photograph in his hands.

"In the array of underworld criminals?" Near frowned. "Perhaps I should not be surprised. Mello went undercover in a California syndicate for some time. He was instrumental in breaking a major arms ring there, but his cover was eradicated by escalated violence surrounding the arrests."

"That makes sense," Light hummed, pointing to the details. "This says his alias is Rod Ross, real name Dwhite Gordon. Apparently L's case didn't stick- he got out on appeal at the beginning of the year. Can we find out if his passport has been used recently to confirm?"

"Certainly, Light," Near said. "However, I do not think we will have to go to the trouble. The printer behind you should have the report on the fingerprint analysis, as I just received the e-fax from the NPA."

Light retrieved the document, scanning the contents eagerly. The print was considered inconclusive; only partial, but the office was able to determine that it was a thumb print of large size, with a center whorl pattern. A short list of possible suspects from data in the Interpol system and, at L's request, in the American databases, were given as potential matches but the report warned that no complete determination could be made without further evidence. It mattered little to Light- he could identify Fenrir on sight and "Dwhite Gordon" was on the list from the FBI's database as a partial match.

"He's on the list of possibles. Between that correlation and my ID, we can certainly put a warrant out for his arrest," Light offered.

"We could," Near began, looking amused. "However I do not think that he will be so cavalier about appearing in public since you lived to identify him, or that Loki would allow such sloppiness to continue."

"Light-kun has a point," L interjected as he returned to the room. His raven hair was even wilder than usual, as though he had been pulling on it in frustration. Light could understand the urge. "If we were to distribute Fenrir and Hel's identification and image throughout Tokyo and put prefectural police on high alert, as well as funneling those images through the media, we could at the very least make Loki's life uncomfortable by restricting the deployment of his hired muscle and prized informant."

Light smiled in relief, though L did not return the expression. "I take it that means Stephen's information allowed you to identify Hel?"

Ignoring Light completely, L laid the papers in his hand on Near's worktop and turned on his heel to leave. "Near, distribute the information accordingly."

"Ryuzaki..." Light began, but L had already disappeared into the bedroom. He and Near exchanged an uneasy glance.

"Go after him," Near said, turning back to his work. "He becomes distinctly irritable when allowed to brood, but he has never allowed himself to voice uncertainties or personal feelings to us; perhaps because we are subordinates, perhaps because we have grown up idolizing the man we believed him to be." Near managed a tiny smile as he made a shooing motion with one hand. "You are the first person I have seen him consider as a peer. Matt is under the impression that is exactly what he needs."

"Matt is nosy," Light mumbled. Near's muffled laugh followed him as he left to pursue the detective. He found L standing in the dark, left arm pressed to the cold glass of the window overlooking the park. His eyes never turned from their contemplation of the glittering lights of the city even as Light rested a hand on one sharp shoulder. A quarter of an hour passed in silence before L spoke, but Light knew how to wait and watch; it was why he was such a gifted investigator.

"Eight years ago, a killer appeared in Los Angeles. His victims were drugged before death, redressed, mutilated, and wara ningyo left near the body. Each victim bore a clue as to the identity of the next, and all had repetitive initials in their names. An FBI agent investigated the crimes working with a man who she believed to be the private detective L; a man who went by the alias Rue Ryuzaki. Through a truly exceptional set of deductions, this agent came to realize that Ryuzaki was the criminal perpetrating the murders and that he intended to make himself the fourth victim so the crime would be unsolvable; he would have become the 'World's Greatest Criminal', thus besting the 'World's Greatest Detective' once and for all."

"Beyond Birthday," Light replied softly. "I studied the case and Agent Misora's followup interviews with him for my dissertation on the psychology of visionary killers."

"What does Light-kun remember learning of the agent on the case, Misora Naomi?" L still had not made eye contact with Light, but he felt as though he was squirming under the man's scrutiny.

"She was an exemplary agent in all senses of the word," Light answered. "Skilled in deduction and possessed a very high intellect, but also proficient in hand to hand combat and marksmanship. I remember thinking she must be a very compassionate individual as well, since the records indicate that she continued to visit Beyond Birthday in prison."

L sighed, lifting his head from the window to rub at his temples. "She was all those things Light-kun listed and more. Her colleagues referred to her as 'Misora Massacre' in reference to her efficiency. Misora-san was also engaged to a fellow agent, Raye Penber. The year after the LABB case, she left the FBI to get married and start a family with him." L closed his eyes tightly, as though to block out his next words. "Shortly after their marriage I worked a case involving an international drug ring based out of Los Angeles. Penber was one of the agents I chose from the local forces to work the case for me on the ground, but there were complications. I did not have the boys working with me as of yet, and had more limited information collecting abilities; we received a planted tip, and Penber was killed in a shootout from the resultant trap. Misora-san blamed me, and in her grief resumed a position in the FBI but with the hidden agenda of undermining my authority in the United States." A wry smile followed that. "To some extent it worked- I have since had difficulty in my dealings with American officials. But Misora-san's psychological condition became increasingly unstable and her superiors ordered a medical leave for treatment. Watari had been keeping me updated on her status, which had improved greatly in therapy. The last I knew she had been cleared for release and reinstatement in the FBI, but was considering a return to Japan to stay with her parents."

Light frowned, processing the information. "I take it Misora's name was on Stephen's list of target agents."

"It was. It was also the only name on that list that could not be accounted for in the last three weeks. Misora Naomi's last known location was an official visit to the California prison in which Beyond Birthday is incarcerated."

"She visited a psychologically unstable serial killer with an agenda against you right before she disappeared?" Light asked, incredulous. "Do you think it's possible that he..."

"Yes," L interrupted, turning to face Light fully. "And this is the reason for which I was detained on the telephone for such an extended period. It appears that closer investigation of Beyond's cell disclosed an unsettling revelation- the occupant was not the criminal himself, but rather a guard heavily disguised with makeup. It is a trick he has employed before, and he likely realized that his isolation in the prison would be ideal for keeping his escape undiscovered for as long as possible. Review of the security recordings for the day of Misora-san's visit show her entering a vehicle with the guard in question- Beyond in disguise, no doubt. From this we can conclude..."

"That Misora is Hel, and Beyond is Loki," Light finished.

"Just so," L replied. "It would explain everything; the extreme and personal nature of Loki's vendetta, the reasons for choosing the two 'children' we have identified, even why he chose Norse mythology as his theme."

"L," Light began, loath to irritate L but in desperate need of all the information for once. "This isn't just about vengeance against you. I deserve to know the entire story- why Beyond hates you so much. Why he is so determined to surpass you. The records from the case indicate no previous criminal record for Beyond; in fact, he seemed to sprout up from nowhere." L's eyebrows furrowed and his lips thinned into a clear expression of warning, but Light was undeterred. "Damn it. My best friend is dead. I nearly died. You owe me the truth."

L made a bizarre sound, half derisive snort and half chuckle. "Only you, Yagami Light, would seek to dictate terms to me- to tell me I owe you anything. Even the boys do not know the truth behind the Letters."

Light sat on the bed, crossing one leg over the other gracefully and raising a single eyebrow. "Don't try to distract me or talk around me, L. I won't stand for it."

Another muffled laugh rumbled in L's chest as the detective returned his gaze to the window. "Then let me tell you another story." The pale mouth twisted into a wry smile. "Once upon a time, there was a young man who became a very famous detective. His renown had spread throughout the entire world by the time he was 17, and it became obvious to both himself and his backer that he was now an idea that could not be allowed to fail. And so, the institution that raised the young man took two of its most promising students and trained them up in his ways, to follow him should he fall. Their names were After Always and Beyond Birthday, code named 'A' and 'B'. A was the front runner, but a fragile boy psychologically. B, cruelly nicknamed Backup by the other children, was brilliant but unstable and manipulative. Two years later, the pressure of his situation and future broke A and he committed suicide. B fled the institution the same day, determined to surpass his mentor by any means necessary. The detective looked for B for four years, tracking various threads of criminal activity around the world but always coming up wanting. Until Los Angeles. Beyond not only failed in his attempt to thwart the detective, but was burned severely in the fire intended to claim his life. The young man visited B in the hospital before the sentencing- the first time the two had ever met in person. B hated him, but asked him for one boon before being locked away- his true name. He proclaimed the detective owed him his identity as he had dedicated his entire life to first emulating then destroying him." L sighed, tracing a rune in his exhaled breath. Light recognized it as ansuz, Odin's rune. "And the detective quoted the words of the god Odin from a Norse poem he loved from his childhood, the Grimnismol. 'A single name have I never had since first among men I fared'. Beyond would have had plenty of time in prison to learn how apropos the Norse mythos was to his situation. Loki, once blood brother of Odin, chained and disfigured for defying the Aesir but destined to shake the world on its foundations. He would delight in throwing my own words back into my face."

"And," Light began slowly, "these very relevant details did not occur to you at the outset of this case?" L wiped his sleeve over the window in angry swipes, erasing his runes.

"Of course they did. I did tell you that checking Beyond's status was the first thing Watari did after settling into our headquarters here. I assumed..."

"Assuming is very dangerous," Light returned in a monotone rivaling L's own. "With a criminal as dangerous as Beyond, who possessed a clear motive and a connection to the rather obscure mythology of the crime, for you to rely on the assurances of American prison officials seems sloppy. And now-"

"And now people are dead because of it? Is that what Yagami-kun means to imply?" L twisted his long fingers into Light's shirtfront, hauling the younger detective off the bed with a vicious snarl. "How dare Yagami-kun suggest that I demonstrated such incompetence?"

"Because you did," Light replied evenly. "You were careless. You were arrogant. And you bear responsibility for some of the death that Beyond Birthday has unleashed here in Tokyo." Light laid his own hands over L's. "But not all or even most. Knowing his identity doesn't bring us any closer to knowing where he is or how to apprehend him. Knowing Beyond is Loki wouldn't have kept him from killing those people. It wouldn't have kept my Misa alive."

The storm in L's eyes settled somewhat, his grip on Light's collar loosening. "You're this upset because you were thinking every single thing I said already. You were blaming yourself, just as I blame myself for Misa's death. But we can't stop Beyond and his 'children' if we wallow in self-deprecation, L. We're human, no matter how much we pretend to be otherwise." Leaning forward, Light pressed his lips against L's in a gentle caress. "We're human. We will make mistakes, but how we recover and persevere is what matters."

L deflated, slumping against Light's chest and pulling them both down onto the bed. For a few long minutes they lay there in silence, L's hands resting on Light's pectorals while Light's arms circled his waist. L's eyes lit onto the bruises on his companion's neck and he heaved a guilty sigh.

"I know that it is unethical to place more importance on one human life than another," L whispered. His breath stirred the small hairs just under Light's ear, making him suppress a shudder. "But when I thought that it was Light-kun that might die..."

"Back to 'Light-kun' now are we?" Light teased.

L's lips brushed the hollow of his companion's throat as he smiled. "Is this not the part where we 'kiss and make up'? Have I mistaken the social conventions?"

Light smiled, tipping his chin down to rub his nose against L's. "Since when have you paid attention to any social conventions?"

"Since I have acquired a rather quarrelsome colleague, who seems determined to deflate my ego at every turn," L replied. "Perhaps I have realized that my lack of experience with social norms has made me more than somewhat ineffective in any undercover role. Light-" The detective trailed off slightly, drawing his thumb to his teeth. "Were I to have another case of this magnitude in the future, and were I to be forced to interact in this more direct manner with local law enforcement, my 'strangeness' could cripple me. My arrogance already has been detrimental to this case but..."

"But it's unavoidable for people like us," Light finished. "Honestly, L. Watari can't keep liaising for you for the rest of your career. He has wonderful social skills, but the man must be over seventy. You'll have to take this in hand yourself sooner or later."

"Perhaps," L agreed. Then he grinned impishly up at Light. "Or perhaps I shall simply make good on my threat to whisk Light-kun away so he can never reveal my identity, and force him to serve in that capacity. After all, Light-kun could charm the very fish from the sea were he to try." His smile grew even more pointed, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Now, about that kissing and making up...?"

Laughing, Light complied.

"Well, we wouldn't want to defy social convention."

.

.

11 October 2010, 7pm: Subterranean Tokyo

.

Long shadows flickered on the walls of the Cavern as Loki paced its length with angry strides. In the rooms beyond, he could hear Fenrir's pained whimpers and Hel's low, scolding voice as she ministered to her fallen brother. A god did not suffer fools lightly, and Fenrir had proved himself a great one. Sloppy. Careless. But what more could Loki expect from a former mob boss? They were not exactly known for their subtlety. He had chosen Dwhite Gordon precisely because his straightforward viciousness called to him of the Fame Wolf. He had been shackled by Odin just as Loki had- though the ravens were the agent of Fenrir's downfall. Disgraced, shunned from the organized crime syndicates for the loss of over a hundred million in drug income, Gordon had the broken, desperate mien Loki preferred in his subjugates. He was easy. Hel...

Hel was his great prize. The very woman who had served as L's arm in bringing him low, turned to worshipful obedience. She was the fruit of years of delicate, patient mental games; he had picked at the edges of her sanity one visit at a time, watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity. Her fiance's death had been the catalyst; even a brilliant child like his Naomi could be undone by something as crude as love. It served his purpose, though. Love and hate were but two sides of the same coin, and one could be nudged into the other with barely a breath. The strength of her passion for her fallen beloved was directed easily into obsession with the one who caused such calamity in her life. All those sterling morals and convictions were blown away like ash in a furnace, leaving a lovely bisque statue of vengeance in its place, kiln-fired to diamond hardness. He had plied his trade with care, seduction taken so slowly that she had hardly realized it was happening at all. The day she was foolish enough to meet him alone, without a guard present, he had beguiled her into consummation; her inability to refuse and the shuddering pleasure he brought to her completed her breaking. She was tarnished, ruined- and she was left with no other choice but to embrace it wholly as though that had been her intention all along.

Fortunately, he had not needed to repeat that action. Loki curled his lip in disgust; the baser actions of humanity repelled him, sex included. It was a useful tool to accomplish his goals, that was all. Though he admitted it had been easier with Amane Misa than any other of his targets in the past- just the thought of Yagami Light's angelic face creased with misery as he realized what Loki had done to his dearest friend fueled him to a frenzy. The only thing better, he mused as he licked his lips, would be having the beautiful young detective himself in full sight of his rival. Yes, that would be L's punishment- Yagami's death alone would not be sufficient. He must be humiliated, fouled, and then cast away to prove to L just how unworthy the creature was.

Hesitant footsteps echoed down the hallway and stopped just inside the arched doorway to the Cavern.

"Father? May I enter?"

Calm and respectful, the voice of his third child. As always.

"Yes, Jormungard. Do come in. And I hope," he hissed, throwing himself into the stone seat behind him, "that you have better news for me than your brother."

"Some, father," Jormungard replied easily. "Though I must report from my...associate...that both Fenrir and Hel have been compromised. Their true names and images have been released not only to Tokyo law enforcement but the media as well."

"I know this already, my son," Loki snarled. "Fenrir's carelessness has earned him quite the beating. The question is- has yours?"

Jormungard smiled, unfazed. Shaking his smooth dark hair out of his eyes, he advanced out of the shadows and knelt at Loki's feet. "My methods are not as crude as my brother's. The ravens are still unaware of my identity, as are Odin and Tyr."

Loki did not miss how his son's voice trembled on that name. "Tyr...you are still resolute are you not? That Tyr must die?" He tipped up Jormundard's chin to bring hazel eyes to meet his own burning gaze. To the serpent's credit, they wavered only a moment.

"Yes father," he said. "It is as you've said all along- he has been corrupted. His second life as Kira, the way he routinely bucks authority. I thought him perfection. You have shown me how very wrong I was to think so, and I thank you for it. Who knows how badly he could have tainted me if I was left in his company much longer?"

He nodded, pleased. Yes, his acquisition of Jormungard from the very heart of the Tokyo justice system was a coup beyond measure. That he was so close to Yagami was both crucial and a pleasant jab at the boy. For when the young god discovered the identity of their snake in the grass, his heart would surely continue to shatter- Loki would deprive Yagami of everything, his best friends, colleagues, family, and finally L.

His victory was so close Loki could taste it in the air. Just a few more deaths, and then the final confrontation. That night, his dreams were filled with the exhilaration of the kill.