A/N: This is basically a replacement of Altar Stone(my original version of this fanfic), basic plot altered slightly(otherwise I wouldn't have deleted my original), though I believe that this one will be more enjoyable (to read and write), though I don't think you can tell much from the prologue. My prolouges are naturally not so great, and my characters are speaking from previousness…Even if it is an LxLight, don't expect me to jump to the hugs and kisses immediately. Stonehenge does play a big part, as does Beyond (I love his character)...

Disclaimer: What the boldy thing says. Yay.

Chapter 1 Prolouge

Wammy's House, April 26th, 1997, 6:28 am

I remember him leaving, my idol, everyone's idol.

L, almost 16, was preparing to leave Wammy's House that morning. It was before I knew of the competition for his title, the competition that would come only a few months later. I wanted to tell him goodbye.

I wanted to, but I didn't.

Instead, I went to the library.

At that early in the morning, the library was empty. It was nice, having the entire library to myself. My favorite chair, that soft, leathery one, was in the corner, as always. I had walked over to that chair, had just sat there.

I didn't know, I still don't know, for how long.

Then the door opened.

I can still remember a little girl walking in, no older than myself. Her hair was deep ebony black, and her eyes were wide pools of chocolate.

Chocolate.

She looked around the room, and when those chocolate eyes met sky blue, she started.

"Oh, hi," she had said to me. "I didn't think anyone would be here this early."

"Yeah, I came here for that reason," I stated simply, not really meaning much by them.

"Oh. I see. I came here to look for my sketchbook. Have you seen it?" she asked. "It has a blue cover."

A blue notebook? Yes, on the windowsill.

"Yeah. Over there," I said, pointing towards the transparent glass. Out of…boredom? Courtesy? I got up and picked the object up for her. It was indeed a sketchbook. This time, it must have been out of curiosity. I opened the book and skimmed through it.

I remember that the pictures were amazing. But what else to expect from a Wammy child? We were genii, after all. But I couldn't help but be amazed. I barely noticed that she came up to me.

"Jaylin…" I read. "Is that your name?" I asked, handing her the sketchbook.

"That's what they call me," she replied, smiling.

Of course. No one ever used their real name at Wammy's, not that I had known why, not then, when I had barely been at Wammy's for a month.

"I'm Mello," I said.

"Mello? That must look so…pretty."

"Look?"

She laughed.

"Yes. Like the physical embodiment of your name."

Physical embodiment?

"How does that work?"

"Well, you know, like the physical embodiment of hate, or love, or beauty."

"There's a physical embodiment for 'Mello'?" I asked, intrigued.

"Of course. Everything, all concepts have a few."

"That's…neat. What…would 'Mihael' look like?" Revealing my name like that probably wasn't a wise choice, but I don't think I could have known any better, not then. Perhaps now, but not then.

"Mihael…I think that would be…a rose, with petals made of diamond, for the uniqueness purposely given that must have been from love…or hatred. Passion. The firm stability and the million-perspective jewel and flower that represents passion."

Coming out of someone who must have been around seven or so, the words would have been surprising, had it not been for the fact that it was Wammy's House they were living in.

"That seems nice," I said, smiling a bit. It seemed nice, yes, to know my name had a physical embodiment like that.

Outside, the clock tolled.

Seven. It must be seven.

At the same time, the door opened again.

This time, it was Wammy that entered.

"Oh, Jaylin, there you are. Did you find your sketchbook?" he asked, not unkindly.

"Yes, Mello found it for me," she said, turning to him.

"Good. L's ready to go, he's been waiting for you. Come on." He walked over, and took her hand, smiling kindly at the little girl.

"Alright." She turned to leave. "…Wait."

She turned around, meeting my surprised look. My thoughts, I remember, had been, She's leaving with L? Why? No, maybe it's something else.

"Bye, Mello. It was nice meeting you."

"I…yeah. Bye," I said, confusion still lingering.

"Goodbye, Mello. Take care with your studies here. L will be back to visit sometime in the future." Wammy had addressed me that time.

I nodded obediently.

When they walked out of the library, I just stood there, waiting for my thoughts to clear up. When they did, I walked over to the window, peering out in anticipation, waiting.

There, sure enough, that little girl, L, and Wammy entered a sleek black vehicle. And then left the chocolate eyes.

I felt a sudden surge of jealousy. Why did the girl get to leave with L? But no, it wasn't fair to the nice child whom I had spoken with.

But then again…I would learn later that Jealousy was a feeling I would grow used to, a concept whose physical embodiment was, is, and always will be twisted and ugly.

New York Headquarters, June 26th, 2003, 4:03

"Janelle," I said, softly, to the dark-haired child.

The sleeping girl blinked before focusing on my face.

"Y…yes, L?"

"I'm leaving today."

Her eyes widened slightly, and she nodded.

"When are you coming back?"

I smiled gently. I wanted more than anything to tell her, Soon, of course, and then we'll continue working on cases together. But no, that, with such assurance, would be a lie. With Kira's capabilities so evident, 'returning soon' might become a problem, if I returned at all. True, I expected, no, knew I would win, in time, but I was not so certain about the cost.

"As soon as I can," I replied.

"When will that be?" she pressed.

What could I say?

"I don't know."

She slid out from her bed, and wrapped her arms around me. I embraced her in return.

Although her mind was far more advanced than the average adult, she was still a child.

"I want to go with you."

I stiffened. The very thought…it was far too dangerous.

I sighed. "Janelle…you know I can't let you." For once, I let my reasoning ability drop by that 40, just so the child could fit into my arms.

"Come back soon," she whispered. Then, she added, lower, "Please."

"Yes." It was not an answer to her plea. No, it was agreement, another plea, to no one in particular. Please.

Briefly, I pressed my lips to her forehead, one final time.

Kanto, Japan – 26th floor of the Kira Investigation HQ, July 29th, 2008

Fury.

The fear…the humiliation…the loss…of losing. My pride could stand no more. He had the evidence, and though Light Yagami, Kira, hated to admit it, L, the world's three greatest detective, had beaten me

Now, strapped in confinement in a blank, dull room, I couldn't stand it anymore. I've never lost, never, not to anyone before, so I wouldn't know if I'm a sore loser or not. But, as most humans saw it, denial might maintain slight pride in losing, but in the end, it will only cause more damage to the dignity than it will preserve.

So.

Let the bastard know that I'm Kira.

"I am Kira," I answered, to his previously spoken question. "I am God. I am Justice! Or are you so blinded by your own stupidity, that you can't even understand that?"

The skinny detective blinked.

"Light-kun, Kira is a murderer, cold-blooded, nothing else. Please, direct that last sentence to yourself."

Fury.

That was it.

The fury.

Fury at being degraded. Fury at the idiot's misunderstanding. Fury at losing.

One mishap. A single step out of place in my goddamned plan. Ryuuzaki, Ryuuga, L, he never removed the hand-cuffs. Not even after reading the 13-day rule of the death note. Not even after being yelled at by the other investigators.

"Light-kun, your face color is a tad bit off. Are you okay?"

The fucking goddamned bastard.

How I longed to kill him. For him to die, right then and there. I could almost give the death note for it. Almost.

"For…for the time…Kira reigned…the world was safer. Crime rates dropped dramatically! You…you can't tell me that you didn't notice. Before Kira, all you did…all you did was send them to jail, and…and they'd escape, they'd be released, they'd never be tried! People lived in constant fear!"

"People lived in constant fear with Kira around. Did you think about the innocents you killed? The FBI agents, Misori Naomi, Watari and I, if you had the chance? And those that deserved a second chance, those willing to reform? And what about the innocents that were accused?"

"L, you should know better than anyone. Sacrifices, there will always be sacrifices. A paradise cannot exist without sacrifice!" I hissed.

"Your paradise can never exist at all," said the detective coldly.

"Because you stopped me!"

"No, Kira," he stated. "Your vision is beautiful, shared by many. Who wouldn't want a world like such? But it is an impossible dream, one that cannot, should not, be attempted, least of all by a human, least of all with the death note."

"How would you know the possibilities? I knew, I know that I can do it! I can, me, and only me! The task was given to me! No one else could do it! I couldn't just sit and watch the world rot, not when I was given the chance to do something about it, not when the solution was sitting right in my hands!"

There was quiet, as my adversary pondered on who knows what.

"Light-kun. You were, perhaps still is a kind person. But you have far too much ambition. When the death note fell into your hands, when you had the power, you used it, because you had the ability to. But what changed? What turned Yagami Light into a monster? What turned you into Kira?"

"I am Kira! Justice! God!"

He ignored me.

"Yagami Light fell into the most deadly, most dreadful clutches of the evils of mankind."

"Damn you! I was—"

"And when he was consumed by it's grip, Kira emerged. But Kira cannot be Kira without power. And if Kira dies…"

"So that's it, huh? You're going to execute me." My voice was calm. But inside, I was shaking. Execution…death…The human who uses the Death Note cannot go to Heaven or Hell.

"And I wonder…if Yagami Light can be retrieved from that clutch."

What was that?

Hope? No, I couldn't let myself feel hope. Not now, for my pride…

I remained silent.

"Kira, Light-kun, do you know what Justice is?"

Silence.

"I will show you. Yagami Light, you will work with me, to serve justice for the rest of your life, for all the lives you've taken, all the things you've done."

What…the hell?

I couldn't speak.

"No," I said, the voice foreign.

"I did not give you a choice. Yagami Light, a human will receive one life only. You cannot return to it. If I let you die, you will never understand. Therefore, I'm giving you another chance. Do not treat it as kindness, for kindness will be to execute you, right here and now."

I refrained a surprised expression from slipping, as the detective walked up to me. Suddenly, his pale face was barely an inch from my own.

"Kira will suffer. Yagami Light, you will see, you will understand, and you will not be happy, all in due time. And when that time comes, you will realize what a terrible thing Justice can be."

A/N: I thought i should post the first chapter with this...but I'm not really done. Oh well. I'll go write the rest now...