A.N: If you think I'm really crazy, clap your hands- *clap, clap* If you really wanna maim me, clap your hands- *clap, clap* If you think I'm really crazy for starting a new story, if you think I need a good bashing, clap your hands- *clap, clap*

But all that aside. XD I promised myself I would never fall into this trap of a story; I DEMANDED it of myself, damn it. And yet I failed. T.T Woe is me. Lol. Cookies if you can guess what kind of story this is going to be! *Waves cookies* Though one automatically goes to Kit-chan, so maybe I should just say cookie. Oh well. ^.^ Let's see what kind of response this story gets, and whether or not it get's dibbs on first priority after finals are over and done with...

Many thanks to Kitsune55 for beta-ing by the way! Woot!


Title: One Last Goodnight

Prologue: Under the Night Sky So Bright


"Sachiko…"

"Yes, dear?"

"Is he alright?"

"Of course he is, darling. Look… perfectly intact."

"Good, good…"

"You make it sound as if he were so fragile."

"But isn't he?"

"Oh, Soichirou… he's only as fragile as you make him believe he is."

"Aren't you all philosophical now. But don't mind me… I find it very cute, in fact."

"Well… as long as we're careful, he'll be fine… And really, koi, I can't help it if my mother and father wish to see him from time to time as well. They see it as their right, and I can't begrudge them that. They've been so good to us so far…"

"I… I understand… it's just…"

"Soichirou…"

"He can never know, you know. It's only a matter of time before we have to keep them all away from him, and you know that will only anger them all the more. I just don't want them to get too… attached."

"… … … I know."

"I'm sorry."

"No, Soichirou…"

Dark brown eyes glanced up at the man barely a hair's breath away from the young-looking woman's face as she cradled the baby within her arms, pale skin glistening underneath the vanquishing sunset as dark purple skies overtook the dusky oranges and roaring red watercolors splayed across the dying horizon.

The baby within the woman's arms cooed, their warm amber eyes sparkling fervently as the young mother dug deeper within her secret husband's embrace, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Not like I am."


Tanned hands firmly gripped the aging book within their grasp as light chocolate-colored eyes scanned the words implanted onto the yellowed pages letter to letter, his mind soaking in the information on the sheets of paper like a sponge; quick and efficient in all of its accuracy and understanding.

Not paying any heed to the people around him, the words of Paul Féval enticed the 17-year-old further into the gothic land of make-believe the old author had created in a spin of folklore and bursts of imagination, the dark imagery and confusing maze of mystery spinning the boy's head around in circle after circle after circle...

"Raito?!"

The boy felt his eye twitch in agitation.

'Damn it… just one more freaking paragraph…'

"Raito!"

Raito sighed as he twisted the thick volume of literature within his calloused hands before taking a deep breath and shelving the book, promptly titled "Knightshade," back into the large expanse of space in front of him. Glancing over at his father waving over at him, still clad in his business suit and round-rimmed spectacles, he had to wonder just what it was that was so important that his father had to interrupt his necessary 'Raito-by-himself' time when it was most necessary.

"RAITO! TURN AROUND! YOUR FATHER IS HERE TO TALK TO YOU! I'M AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE WAITING FOR YOU WHEN YOU'RE REEEEAAADDDYYY!"

Raito felt his fist clench in agitation.

'And people wonder why I hate my life.'

The little amount of people cluttered around the brunette discreetly turned over to stare at him as he rolled his eyes, his youthful expression of annoyance not bothering his father in the slightest as he continued to excitedly beckon him over to the entrance of the grand library.

The little burrows of aisles coved within each section of the library was not enough to hide Raito as his father then began to fully enter the large foyer. the librarian's desk was filled to the brim with extra books which hid a rather doughty-looking old man whom always greeted everyone with a warm smile, his dark eyes and graying hair lightening up his wrinkled face and lips, framed by a large mustache as silver as the hair on the top of his head.

He nodded over at Raito's father, making the boy sweat drop as he was pulled away from the bookcase which still called his name, the semi-thick book he'd been wishing to read in particular now no longer calling his attention as his father continued to make a complete ass out of himself.

Many of the girls, excluding the rather shy ones deliberately moving away from his proud stride, giggled as they murmured excitedly to themselves, the teen's brilliant smile cockily hanging from his lips as he attempted to smother the self-satisfied euphoria at being praised, even if silently, once again.

"Raito!" The girl's giggles escaladed as Raito let the smirk slowly slip from his face, wondering if there was some sort of law about father's embarrassing their son's in public, or not…

"Yes, father?" The brunette brushed some stray locks away from his tanned forehead as he glared heavily at his still grinning father, eyes burning a faint crimson from irritation.

"Get that look off your face and come with me, young man! You are never going to believe this!" Grabbing his hand, the older of the two began to pull the young man out of the library as Raito gasped in shock, barely getting a chance to wave goodbye to the librarian who was almost like a mentor to him as his father continued to pull him out the large see-through heavyset doors.

"See ya later, Watari!"

"Goodbye, Yagami-kun!" Watari chirped as he continued to rummage through some paper work, the slightly open door behind him creaking all the more as Raito finally stumbled out of the building.

"You are never going to meet with him if you continue to hide behind closed doors as you have continued to do these past five years, Ryuuzaki." Watari whispered, not having to turn around to see the familiar dark eyes ringed with black and pale gaunt face haloed by a shag of dark scraggly hair to know it was there, still watching the now rapidly disappearing figure of the boy whom came to visit the library almost every single day of the week at just about the same exact time. "He is such a nice boy, as well. It would really do you well to become friends with him… especially with your small… affliction."

"… … Perhaps." The younger of the two simply stated, still keeping his gaze directly at the closed set of glass doors as the retreating figure of a familiar brunette completely dissipated from his rather desolate view, a small sigh echoing softly to himself before the dark shroud of a decrepit room was all that was seen once more.

Watari only rolled his eyes, glasses slipping off of the bridge of his nose as he shook his head in exasperation, once again thumbing through the large amount of paperwork that never seemed to dissipate.

"Teenagers."