I thought that it was about time to write a new story, so here it is. Don't worry; I'm still working on 'The Conversion'. I was just having a little writers' block. And what do we do when we're already suffering? That's right, we make ourselves suffer more. Oh, joy. Anyway, we'll try this thing out and see where it takes us. I had the idea for this story yesterday when I was brainstorming ideas for chapter seven of 'The Conversion.' I was thinking of the whole concept of Death Note, dying, and the afterlife (if there is one). And I thought, 'What if L's ghost came back for revenge?' Well, that might be interesting.

Disclaimer: I do not, and will probably never own Death Note. Sad, isn't it?

One more thing I forgot to mention. This story is told from Light's point of view…For now. It might switch later. But we'll find out when we get there, won't we?

"Watari?!" Ryuzaki screamed at the monitor.

Just as planned. Everything was falling into place.

"I had a feeling this might happen. Everyone, I want you to-"

He was unable to finish his sentence.

"Ryuzaki, what's wrong?" Matsuda asked in concern.

Can't you see he's dying, Matsuda? You really are slow. But not just you… Ryuzaki, too... Ryuzaki, and everyone else in this room.

All of the fools gasped as he suddenly fell out of his chair.

"Ryuzaki!" They all exclaimed.

Knowing that I still had a role to play, I caught Ryuzaki just as he was about to hit the floor.

I stared at the blank expression he had on his face. But then again, he never showed his true feelings to anyone. He always looked the same, talked the same, and acted the same way. He was a formidable opponent, but I was one step ahead. I knew what he was thinking… At least I thought I did.

But now I thought I could make out a hint of distress crossing his features.

He almost looked scared…Which was not like him at all.

I gazed in wonderment as shouting went on around me.

Could he be trying to tell me something? Was this all a mistake? Was I actually bullying a poor child who was forced and had no way out?

Thoughts of caring for someone else crossed my mind. I thought things I had never even comprehended before.

All of the sudden, I didn't want it to end like this. I regretted what was about to happen. I realized what I had been doing all along was wrong.

And for the first time, I shed tears. Actual tears. Not what I had learned to do for public appearances.

A few of my tears dripped onto his cheeks.

He looked up at me and stretched out a hand to wipe my tears away.

I thanked him by rubbing his hand against my face.

I didn't care if others were looking. I wanted this moment to go on forever.

But as his hand brushed my cheek, it felt cold.

I looked back at him, and I could tell he was no longer among the living.

His eyes looked glassy and empty, almost as if there was never a soul in them to begin with.

I stared blankly, unable to pull myself away from that look.

That look that said, 'You know it's all your fault.'

--

"It isn't your fault, Light." My father patted me on the back gently.

"I know." I responded weakly.

In truth, I thought the opposite.

It was hard to deny, seeing as the truth was staring me in the face.

We were at Ryuzaki's funeral.

The setting sun cast an orange glow across the sky, and the glow reflected the buildings and the people.

'A beautiful day,' my foot.

It wasn't beautiful at all.

Especially when the one person that I truly cared about was taking a dirt nap about six feet below me.

Perhaps now some people know why I shot them a death glare when they mentioned how nice the weather was today.

It was a private funeral, so only Ryuzaki's closest friends (or just the people he had spent many hours with recently; the Japanese Task Force) were allowed to attend.

I looked at the tomb stone next to Ryuzaki's.

Watari was buried right beside him.

I felt jealousy surge through me.

It's amazing how much you miss people once they're gone.

My father once again patted me on the back and tried to comfort me.

I was so consumed in my thoughts that I didn't notice at first.

"We'll all miss him."

I didn't answer him. I just nodded my head slightly.

There was a silence.

"I'll be waiting in the car, so just come when you're ready."

"No…I won't be home for a while. I'll take a bus. You can go on ahead."

My father seemed to understand, because he left me alone after that.

I knelt down on the earth above where Ryuzaki was resting in peace.

If I could, I wanted to disturb that peace.

I wanted him back.

I would go crazy other wise.

It seemed that my insanity had already begun, because I started to talk to his grave. Hoping that maybe he would hear me and come back into my arms.

"Ryuzaki, please wake up. I'll go mad without you here. I'm so sorry for killing you. Please, please forgive me."

I began to cry again. Just like the tears I shed before, these tears were genuine.

I hoped to God that my feelings would get through to Ryuzaki…even if he was on the other side.

Meanwhile, in the afterlife…

"I do hate to see the poor boy suffer like that." L said to Watari.

"But sir, he killed both of us." Watari said in what he thought was a convincing tone.

"Perhaps, but he looks so desperate. Maybe I should go back." L said.

"...Whatever you say, sir. Just promise me that you'll come back." Watari responded.

"I'll try." L said. "But then again, it's not like I have any where else to go." L smiled as he spoke.

Watari smiled back.

"Very good, sir."

L jumped into the air and dissolved into it.

"I promise." He said once more.

"I'll hold you to it." Watari said once L had dissolved completely.

Back at L's grave…

My crying continued for several minutes.

After a while I realized that my cries wouldn't do anything more than make my eyes and throat sore, so I stopped.

I stood up and started to walk away.

"Whoa, hold on a minute. I thought you said you would go crazy without me."

I turned back towards Ryuzaki's grave.

There he was, floating directly in front of me.

I couldn't believe he was actually there, so I assumed I was seeing things.

"You aren't seeing things. I'm actually here." Ryuzaki said, smiling at me.

I shook my head.

"So-so you heard me, then?" I asked him, embarrassed that he had.

"Are you kidding? All of heaven heard you, with you whining like that." Ryuzaki teased.

"Well, then. You know I have feelings for you, too?" I asked him, thinking he already knew the answer.

"You have feelings for me?" L asked, completely oblivious to what I was saying.

I smacked myself in the face.

This was going to take some time to explain.

"Let's go." I said, striding away from him.

"Where?" He asked.

"Home." I responded.

So, what do you people think? It's weird because I'm only on chapter one and I've still started with a plot twist. This story will be relatively short, and will not have any yaoi (oh, darn), even though it's shonen-ai. I have a straightforward plot, other than some twists here and there, and the Wammy boys will not be included. Sorry about that. But this was my first attempt at sci-fi, so tell me what you think. Please review!