Miko: So here it is. My story of B, A, and L. I decided to write this as a continuation of Fighting Fate(there won't be any Mello or Matt in this, or if there is, it will be mentions or a phone call). You don't have to read FF to understand this one, but it does help.

To clarify, this will be the normal layout of the chapters. The first will be L and Raito(in L's POV) and the next B and A and L(in young B's POV). I needed to do this because B is so biased in his judgement that L would seem like a monster. Plus, I adore Raito and L. Though I'm afraid I'll always write them as if something could break them up at any moment. Or at least that's how I see L as feeling.

So, reviews are lovely. And I'm really looking for a Beta for this story. If you are willing to, I'll give you cookies! And you'll get to read the next chapter before anyone else. -dangles bribes in your face- Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy it!

Past and Present

Collide

"L!" At Raito's voice, I jumped to my feet and went running. Ever since his runin with B, I had been wary of him regaining his memory.

I had told him, at Matt's suggestion, that he had been kidnapped and knocked out by Mikami, who he didn't remember, at B's urging and been rescued by Mello and Matt. It took all my power to get him to stay with me in Japan and not join Matt and Mello in their search for B. Raito came around the corner at the same time I did and I knocked a black book out of his hand. I leaned down to pick it up, concerned.

"What is this, Raito-kun?" My stomach clenched when I looked at the book in my hand. I had seen it before, but it had been years. I hoped I would never see it again. It was thin and ratty, as if it had been opened often. I knew it had. There were two words written on the front – Death Note. Inside, I knew I would find B's writing, for this was his diary.

"It came in the mail for you, L." Raito said. I wanted to be mad at him for looking at my mail, but I had promised him total access to everything. "What is it?"

He slid behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I quickly shut the book and turned to face him. He pouted and I kissed him gently. He was reluctant but I was insistent. This book had set events into motion that even I could not foretell but I feared it would end with me loosing Raito forever. If that were the case, I would enjoy what time I had left with him. Finally, I pulled away, once again glad for Raito's arms on either side of me.

"This, if I am correct, is the diary of a very famous Whammy student from when I attended." I tried to sound casual, but Raito tensed against me. He didn't pull away.

"It's B's." He said; a statement, not a question. I held the offending bok in my finger tips, as if I wanted to drop it and make it vanish.

"Before we read this, I need to tell Raito-kun that I lied." At this Raito tried to pull away but I wouldn't let him. "I will not tell you the truth because I don't want to lose you, but I won't try to stop you from finding out what really happened in Los Angeles. Just please – don't leave me, Raito-kun." I knew I was pleading. Raito knew too because he leaned forward and brushed my lips gently.

"I will never leave you again, Lawliet." He pulled me against him and I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heart beat. Once again, I was struck by just how lucky I was to have Raito. I wished we could have stayed like that forever but I forced myself to pull away.

"How about this – you go to the living room and get settled and I'll get you a piece of cake? Then we can read the diary together?" I was hesitant to let Raito out of my sight now that I knew the timer had started to run down on our happiness.

"Very well, Raito-kun." I walked into the living room and settled on the large couch. The details of the room faded away as I looked at the black book in my hands. I pulled my knees to my chest and waited for Raito. Even when he came in I didn't take my eyes off the book.

"Eat this, Lawliet." Raito handed me the cake and sat with his back against the arm of the sofa. Gently , so as not to disturb the cake, he pulled me down so I was sitting against his chest with his legs straddling me. He wrapped his arms around my midsection and put his head on my shoulder.

"I cannot possibly eat my cake with you distracting me, Raito." I said. He chuckled, a pleasant rumble against my back but he didn't move. I scowled but ate the cake any way. Every few bites, Raito would open his mouth and I reluctantly gave him a bite of the strawberry cake. All too soon, the sugar was gone and Raito put the plate on the coffee table behind them.

"I will read it to you, but I'm afraid not much will be fact. B was…special. He saw reality in his own way. I admit I am not free of blame in this story, but B believed the fault lies fully with me." Raito murmured his acknowledgement and I pulled the book up and opened it carefully and began reading.

July 21, 1984

' I am different. Some say special. It doesn't matter. What matters is that I will never belong anywhere. For now I am at a place called 'Whammy's House for the Orphaned Genius.' Even here I do not belong. I am not an orphan. My mother and father are not dead. My sister is alive and well, loved by parents who hated me so much they abandoned me in the middle of the night hundreds of miles from my home.

A man named Watari came to the gate to greet me as if he knew I would be there. I saw his true name and when he would die but I was used to ignoring it by now.

"Hello, sir." He said. I scowled up at him. "What would you like to be called?" I didn't answer. I wanted nothing to do with this 'Quillish Whammy.'

"Well, until you decide on your name, I'll have to label you as 'B,' since A arrived a few days ago." He smiled kindly at me and offered a hand. I didn't take it. "Very well. Call me Watari. My full name is Quillish Whammy."

After that he led me into the House. He muttered at me about 'safety' and 'acceptance' but I recognized it as a speech he had given a dozen times. By now all meaning had drained from the words until they were polished to comfort small children who had just lost their parents. I knew that the minute anyone finds out about my 'ability' I would be out on the streets so I ignored all his words. Somehow we ended at a door to a room.

"You will be staying here. You are sharing a room with A." I waited for him to say more, but he just turned and walked away, leaving me looking at the door. I considered leaving, but I had nowhere to go anyway. Instead, I took this book out of the small bag I had slung over my shoulder and started writing. I do not look forward to meeting this 'A' and I pity him for having to share a room with me. I will only be here a short while anyway.

July 22, 1984

'When I opened the door I was greeted by the most beautiful boy I have ever seen. He looked up from the book he was reading and I was met by eyes so blue they glowed in the dark lighting. A smile broke his lips to reveal white teeth, with one missing on the top. His hair was perfectly neat, hanging down far enough to cover his ears and almost his eyes. Unconsciously, he pushed his bangs back, ending the gesture with a wave.

"Hello." His voice was slightly higher than mine, and it reminded me of an angel. "I'm A." Suddenly, I wanted to be good enough to stay. I needed to be good enough to earn a spot in A's life. Strangely, I couldn't see his name. I don't know if it is because he didn't have one, or because I didn't want to see it, but I still saw when he was going to die. To my relief, he will live a long life and probably die peacefully.

"I'm B…B yeah." I normally don't stutter, but the blonde angel caught me by surprise. A let out a giggle and raised his hand to cover his mouth, blushing.

"Pleasure to meet you, BB." He said. I scowled but I didn't want to correct him – I wanted him to say my name again. We exchanged a few more pleasantries, but I couldn't remember anything else he said because I was too lost in his eyes. Finally, I decided to go to bed. A promised me that tomorrow he would show me around the grounds. I never expected anyone to care about me before, but suddenly I knew what a friend was.

The tour the next day was delayed because of the rain. Instead, A showed me the inside of the House. I focused more on him than on his words. He felt the need to emphasize everything he said with hand motions, and every time he laughed he would try to cover it with his hands. I loved the way his attention was devoted to me and only me.

"Why are you here?" I asked. We were sitting at a table in chairs too tall for our five year old legs to reach the ground. We were eating jelly sandwiches – made by a proud A – and watching a few of the older kids play a card game.

"My parents died." He said. For the first time I saw sadness cross his face. "Just a few weeks ago. We were walking down the street past a big building and then there were gunshots. Next thing I knew everyone was running and I got pulled away from my parents. When I made it back, they were being covered by a sheet and loaded into a truck. Watari found me sitting on the curb and brought me back here." I blinked away tears and looked at A with new respect. He had tears shining in his eyes too, but his voice was even. "How are you here?"

"My parents didn't want me." I said. "I – They just didn't want me. I have a sister, Kelly. They love her. But…I never fit in. I think I scared them." A tilted his head and looked at me.

"You don't scare me." He announced. "I think we should be friends. No. Best friends! And we'll do everything together. And let's promise not to let anything come between us ever, okay?" I agreed right away. He had given me exactly what I wanted.

When I got back to the room I started writing this. A is looking out the window now and he says it isn't raining so we're going to go on our tour now. I'm not sure why I started writing this, but it seems fitting. I know I'm going to be famous some day, and maybe someone will want to know how I came to know my best friend. Maybe I'll even fit in here. I sure hope so.'