I sat staring in disbelief. No. This wasn't happening. I was going to sit up in bed any second now, and I'd be late for a photo shoot. That's it. I'm having a nightmare. I closed my eyes for a moment to collect my thoughts, and opened them again.

He was still there, staring at me with those big, blank eyes. He hadn't changed a bit since…since….no. He wasn't there. Dead people don't come back. It doesn't work that way.

"No…" I whispered, more to myself than to anyone, or thing, else. I brought my hands to my face, wanting to wake up more than anything.

"Misa-chan…" He, it, said.

I looked up, horrified to see that I was still in that god forsaken room with…that…THING. A fresh round of tears began to build in my eyes and roll down my cheeks.

"You're not real…this is so unfair…" I muttered, burying my face again. If I couldn't see it, it wasn't there. Suddenly, I felt a strong pair of arms lock around me in a hug. My eyes opened wide to a lean shoulder clothed in white cotton, and a little spray of black hair.

"It's alright. I understand that you are afraid. This is abnormal." Lawliet said, releasing me and backing up. He stood a few feet away in his signature slouch.

"R-r-ryuuzaki…." I said, staring straight at him, utterly stupefied.

"I called you here," He said, climbing into his chair, sitting in that odd way he always did, "because you are the only person that could possibly understand what has happened to me."

I stared in absolute disbelief as he poured himself a cup of tea and dropped 1….2…3…..4…..5 cubes of sugar into it. He looked down while doing this, stirring it silently.

My eyes traveled up and down him, trying to get used to the idea of him being back. Was it really him? Ryuuzaki? L? The black hair, mussed up like he had just rolled out of bed, the wrinkled white tshirt, jeans perhaps 3 sizes too big. It had to be him.

What really sealed it though, were his hands. For me, they'd always been so distinct. They were long, pale, and elegant. And he was always holding things or fidgeting with them, so they always stuck in my mind.

What.

"Ryuuzaki…" I started.

"Please. Call me L." He said, never once looking up from his tea. "I trust you now that Light is gone."

I looked down at my purse in my lap, remembering how horrid Light was.

"L-L…." I said, looking up again. I jumped a little to find those big, dark eyes staring into mine.

After a moment of keeping his eyes trained on my face, he looked down at his tea again and took a sip.

"What happened?" I asked quietly, fidgeting with my purse.

"Well," He said, settling into his chair, "When I died, I found myself in the realm of the Shinigami. Apparently, my death was premature, and what Rem did was against the law of the Shinigami. Therefore, I was allowed to come back to Earth and live the rest of my life."

My jaw dropped slowly, which I quickly corrected.

"Did they make you trade anything?" I asked, knowing how tricky the Shinigami were.

"A small price…" He said, turning to gaze out the window wistfully, like he was looking for something dear that he had lost. "No matter." He said, turning back to me.

"I called you here because you could understand, and also because…" He trailed off nervously, a first for the detective. "Because I wanted to really live for the rest of my life. Since we destroyed the Notes, I feel like I can get out and see the world like a normal human being. I thought you could show me what it means to live life."

I was shocked, flattered, and wanted to hug him all at once. A smile began to tug at my lips, and it grew into a full blown grin.

"Well, L. I promise to show you the best time you've ever had." I said, throwing up an involuntary peace sign.

L smiled gently, another first, and it strangely warmed my heart. "Some things never change." He said, shaking his head slightly.