Note: Hello all. Thank you for all of you that have read, and all of you that reviewed too. You've inspired me to continue posting my story. And I wish to finish this. I'll try to post once a week, but sometimes I might not be able to, and it'll just take me an extra week. I don't know how long this story will be but maybe it will be long. At any rate, it sure is getting better!


Chapter 2

The trip back to the main room was quiet, quite contrary to the usual boisterous Misa. This new unprecedented occurrence left Light questioning who this very person was beside him. From the start he thought her as an idiot, but she planned ahead and proved herself worthy of Kira's presence. And now this proved that she wasn't always so loud.

Light decided that Misa wasn't just a stupid, loud, dirty blonde. There was more to her than meets the eye. "Misa." Light said, wondering why he'd been the one to break the silence, when he complained Misa of the very same thing not even two days ago.

"Yes?" she answered, pivoting her head, eyes falling on his. A look of understanding was in her eyes. Even before he had said anything, she knew that he was looking in her and not just at her. He was finally seeing her for who she was. A smile tugged at her lips, and she resisted against smothering Light with her love as usual. She waited patiently for Light.

Light was torn from telling her off, to deny the very existence of Misa's new "personality", and conversing with her, to tell her that his thoughts about her have changed. It wasn't easy for him to swear to himself that he wouldn't think of her as anything more than a tool of war, but the honest truth was that he didn't think of her as a tool anymore. "At first, I thought I knew who you were. But there's more to you than meets the eye. I'd like to get to know you more."

There was a gleam in her eye as he said this. She'd been waiting for him to say something like this, and to her, this was one step closer to having Light Yagami fall in love with her. "Of course! Misa shall tell everything about herself to Light. Where shall Misa start?" She asked. There was so much to choose from, she couldn't decide for herself, and rather than ramble on and annoy Light like she usually did, it was best to ask.

The two were discussing trivial topics about favorite items, animals, the works. It was a long pointless discussion, that Light grew bored of eventually. It hadn't taken long after all before Misa was rambling on. Although, he could tell she was trying her hardest not to, and he had to give her credit. For someone of her caliber to desist with a "necessary" function such as talking 50 miles a minute was no easy feat. And even though for most of the conversation he tuned her out, he did mention how impressed he was with her at an appropriate time.

They, of course, reached the main room as their dull conversation ended, and they greeted the others as they entered.

Matsuda and Mr. Yagami were going over papers L had assigned them to look over, as a one last time precaution. Apparently L had suspected Light still, and although there was no proof, the killings had stopped after the third Kira had been apprehended. If they could not find a lead, L would have to call the mission off and go home, where he'd appoint himself another case.

Not to far from them was Aizawa, who was conversing lightly with L as L scanned through some sites pertaining to the Kira case. So far, L had found nothing. Mostly, it was just garbage information whose accusations couldn't be proven.

Light and Misa had gained their attention as they walked through the door. They greeted them back faintly before returning to their work.

There was a distress signal from Watari on L's computer. L answered, and a W written in extravagant, bold calligraphy appeared on the screen. Watari's voice echoed through the machine in a cold, monotone manner.

"Master L, There is a police officer who'd like to schedule an interview with you about the recent events in the Kira case, sir. What shall you do?" Watari asked.

"Well meeting this police officer could disclose some valuable information to the media, what little can be anyways. There is still the percentage that Kira is still among us, though there isn't much we can do for the time being. The rest of the information will be handed over in secret. We'll chalk it up as a case unsolved." L said, a bit hesitant. "Though we can view this again later once new leads arise.

"I'd like to schedule the meeting for tomorrow afternoon at Cat café. Around 2 P.M would be nice." L finished.

"Yes, Sir," Watari replied languidly, and the transmission abruptly ended.

L spun in his chair habitually, in a state of thought. It had been over a month since the death of Kyosuke Higuchi, and not a single death by the hands of Kira. Although there is a slight percentage of Light being Kira, with each passing day, it was dropping. All evidence was now pointed at Kyosuke now, and Kira seemed to have vanished along with him.

Light had found an opening. When L goes to that meeting, Light will go in search for R. He had maybe two hours, but he could use just that little time to find a clue. Something that would lead him to R, unless R really was as smart as L. But Light was sure he wasn't, or he'd be up there in the world's most famous detectives. He could have just gotten lucky.

"Perfect! Misa can take Light on a date then?"

L contemplated on how his answer was going to be. He regretted doing this. He felt as if apart of him had died today, finally admitting there was nowhere to turn on this case. There is undoubtedly one more notebook, but there is no way to determine who has it, if it is even able to be found. L reluctantly allowed it.

Light smirked. L allowed it? Then all hope inside of him was certainly lost, and the others won't question why Misa and him will leave tomorrow. Light could still fix his mistakes and come out as alright in the end. He is a god after all. And right will always prevail. Villains everywhere will tremble in their feet as they are extinguished. Violence, war, pain will end. Sacrificing one's life was worth it.

"It's getting late tonight." Light announced, "I think we should retire for the night."

Everyone was in amiable agreement. They were packing up their things. Dinner would come soon, and then home. They were all celebrating on the notion that Kira had been caught, that the case was finally solved. No one stopped to notice the pain that was practically reminiscing off of L as they cheered for victory. Not until he said "Everyone else go on. Don't come back. I'll stay here."

"L?" called Light. The others just took that as one of L's weird habits. He didn't want to leave a case unsolved. They wouldn't come back. Light was sure of that. What could L's problem be? He can't possibly… can he? Is that even possible?

"Light, are you coming?" Mr. Yagami called. Light replied, "In a minute, dad." Mr. Yagami shrugged and walked out with Matsuda and Aizawa. Now there was just Misa, L and him.

Misa could also tell there was something wrong with L, as he usually didn't display emotions. Normally L was cool, collected, but now he looked like a frightened little child.

"What are you waiting for?" L asked, "Leave me be."

Light knew he should have obeyed L, but he couldn't. Something was keeping him there. The look of hurt etched on his face. L … he's actually crying. Why is it so hard for me to breathe? I can't see this. The first emotion I elicit from him should not be depression. That's the last thing this insomniac needs. Light felt unknown pain for the first time in his life. He'd never experienced such a thing as this, and he knew that no matter what he did, he couldn't end L's misery.

Silent tears were falling down L's cheeks as he looked down, unable to face the two youths anymore. He couldn't hold back the tears. He felt humiliated and, now, ridiculed by the youths. He bit his bottom lip as he felt a sob coming on. Unfortunately, the other two had heard him fight back the sob, which, unbeknownst to L, pained Light even more.

I have to do something… I can't stand watching him like this much longer. I know I shouldn't, but… L is my friend, even if we're enemies. And friends should comfort each other. Light thought to himself.

L's chair swiveled around, startling him as he hadn't been the one to cause this motion. His crying halted as he was face to face with his mortal enemy, Kira. Light. The only man that was willing to comfort him right now.

Light's arms wrapped around L comfortingly. L was surprised, and even more surprised that his body went against his orders and jumped into him. L cried into his chest, sobbing and wailing. Years of buried pain and loneliness coming into the forefront of his mind. All of it was leaving his shoulders, he felt the pain in his chest being lifted. Having someone around to comfort you certainly was a nice feeling.

Light felt L relax in his embrace, and Light sighed in relief. L's pain had been subdued. They ended the hug, reluctantly pulling off one another. Both had forgotten that Misa was there, watching their every movement. How would she take this?

"That's so kind of Light!" Misa cried joyfully, "Misa saw how loving Light was to Ryuuzaki. Misa quakes in her boots over how much Light will show her one day."

Light and L exchanged looks of confusion towards each other. Light replied to Misa's strange outburst first, "erm, Misa. You do know how you just termed that, right?"

"Yes, Misa knows. Light has intimate relations with Ryuuzaki. Light likes Ryuuzaki. Misa will one day hope to acquire that love." Misa said.

Both Light and L turned green. They thought Misa might jump to conclusions, but it was still to much to take in at once. They were both disgusted at the thought of looking at one another in that way.

"Misa, I do not have a relationship with Ryuuzaki. He is merely a friend who is in need of comfort." Light objected. This wasn't at all how he planned his world domination. He should have felt glee in seeing L's depression, but instead it hurt him.

"No, Misa is certain she saw love in Light's eyes. Light loves him." Light gulped. Misa was so naïve. This could be a while.


R was sprucing up his new, err, old home late that night, putting everything in order. Dust and spider webs had accumulated over the years. The lack of human dwelling in the place has left the house to die.

R chuckled. He had heard about it somewhere before. If a human does not live there, then the place will fall apart. This theory proved to be truthful.

It was hours before R called it quits for the night. The house was large, and It took a while to set the place up just the way he liked it.

Like the old couch in his living room, for example, had to be moved from the door to his hall to the back of the room. He place it just where he liked.

This was enough for him for the time being. He'd do some more cleaning whenever he could find time for it. Right now he needed to start thinking about a job. And as he lit a candle for the night, buying the place and paying for the necessities in life. After all, he couldn't survive like this forever, and there was no where else to turn. He still had time to contact L later.

"So." started Ryuk. The death god was endlessly amused about this predicament. "What's going to happen when you and Kira finally meet?"

R had that on his mind the whole time, from the time he stole the death note until now. He still had yet to come up with a plan, but he could think of something soon. "To be honest, I don't know. It's certainly going to be difficult to communicate to either L or Kira by themselves. I have a safe bet that the two are still living together, so I can't exactly talk one on one with L. And Kira will want to know who I am, my face and my name. Things could get complicated."

"So how did you come back into the past? You obviously aren't from this time period." Ryuk said. He lied down on the couch and began chomping on another apple.

"I can't say. Though there has to be a reason for my being here. I might have been brought back here to stop Kira. That is why I stole the death note. Also, if I hadn't, the situation would go completely out of control, and there'll be no way for me to stop Kira. But.. If I have the death note here, then everything will fall apart eventually anyways. Time. That's what I have, Ryuk. That's all I have, is time."

They fell into silence. R was approaching dangerous waters here. If he missed L by even just a single day, he'd be found by Kira and disposed of. And he didn't think that anyone would notice that the body belonged to anyone important, if he even had a body left after Kira got through with him. It was all depressing.

Then R felt pain in his chest. It was weird, he didn't think that it was being caused by the depressing notion of him dieing. A lot of strange things were happening now lately, now that he'd come back to this time. Maybe being back in time was distorting the future. Or maybe the past was changing him, making him new. Either one was probable.

Ryuk took notice in R's pained expression. He asked, as he finished the last remnants of his bright red apple, "Are you alright R?"

"I don't know…I got this emotion inexplicably. This is eerie." R said, slightly confused. He waited a few more minutes, and the feeling dissipated. And then he sighed, "Well if that wasn't the strangest thing in the world … I don't know what is. Scoot over will you."

Ryuk cocked his brow, but then did as he was told to. R walked over to the couch and sat down. Yawning, he said, "For now, this is my bed. There isn't much else in this dingy house so I'll have to make due with what I got."

Ryuk gave R room to lie down on the old cough by getting up. He thought to himself that it'd be best if he went out for the night, maybe see what Light is up to. It's been a while since he's talked to him.


A few weeks had gone by and there was nothing new. Light had gone out that day with Misa, but he had found no luck in finding a clue. R was a mysterious character, and he would likely stay in hiding until he deemed it worthy of revealing his presence. In which case, may become bad for him. Light had a piece of the death note, and he promised himself he'd only use it if he really had to. He wouldn't recklessly waste it on petty criminals' names. He'd use it on people like L and R.

Light was morose over the fact that he hadn't been able to find R, which meant that once R and L got into contact with each other, he'd likely be in trouble. R knows Misa, and he has the death note. Misa will get into trouble, and then Rem will blame it on him and write his name in the death note. Light is on thin ice here.

But there wasn't much he could do except hope and wait. If he told L anything about R, or if he started talking about how Kira is still out there, waiting out the authorities, L might become suspicious. That and it wouldn't do him much good in the end, for once L captures R, he'll be in the possession of the second note book, which meant criminals would be home free.

L wasn't fairing any better. He'd gone to the meeting with the police officer, and told him what and what was not appropriate for disclosing to the media. About 95 of the information had been left out of the media's knowledge. It was all they could do.

Having booked a flight to Britain, and then to the U.S where his successors were currently, L awaited for the time in which the flight would take place. It was near; only two days until the flight. L had already packed up most of his things, but he kept out the essentials. Food, a few pairs of plain clothing, tooth brush and paste, and, of course, a laptop.

Busying himself until the flight, L continued searching for anything Kira related. He was hoping something would be discovered that he had missed the first time he looked over it, but alas, that was not the case. He didn't find anything worth value.

He heard the door come in, which occurred much less these days, seeing as how he, Light, and Watari were the only ones that stayed here anymore. Misa only stopped by every so often. Light asked, "You still searching for anything on Kira? I thought you'd given up."

"Your words are suspicious. That brings your percentage of being Kira up by three." L said monotonously.

What? How could he possibly say that? That was the last thing I expected him to say. Wait a minute… Something isn't right. He told us all that he'd given up searching for Kira. Had he come into contact with R? No, that can't be it. L didn't suspect Misa of anything. It's hard to say this, but I think L's doing this purely out of habit. I dare say he might even miss this once he leaves. Light had no idea how right he had been, but then again. He usually was right in his deductive skills.

"Give it up, Ryuuzaki. You aren't fooling anyone." Light said, trying to sound as casual as possible.

L sighed heavily, having been caught. "You're right. The Kira investigation is over. I hope for good. Still, it feels as though there is something missing. Something that hasn't been uncovered yet. And I feel as if I'm unable to solve the mystery. Light-kun…"

"Yes?" Light replied.

He glanced over to Light, eyes full of emotion. Confusion, frustration, and hurt mixed together. He asked, "Have you ever felt defeated?"

Light stared at him unbelievably. Just where was L going at? I realized he already felt hopeless, but defeated? If Kira supposedly isn't around anymore, shouldn't he feel victorious? Had he been suspected me so long that he'd forgotten how to look at me any other way? "No."

"Neither have I." L replied. "Not until now." He sighed, closing his heavy eyes as a great wave of exhaustion poured over the insomniac. It was ironic how the guy who almost never slept was so tired, and after sleeping not so long ago (last night). "Not even the time when my parents were murdered by an assassin in England.

"I was only six at the time when they were murdered. Assassins almost never left tracks, but in the end I'd caught him, having cornered him in New York. I had found his journal, which he carelessly left in his apartment. I searched the contents, and found my parents names. The note was from a rich entrepreneur from Boston. I had him arrested as well for instigating my parents' deaths. It's funny."

"What is?" Light asked. He was engrossed in the story, feeling acute sadness for L. His sympathy for the guy reached out for him.

Light's hand touched L's shoulder, gripping comfortingly. L shivered at the touch, remembering the embrace they shared just two weeks ago. L continued, "My career all started with a note, and ended with a note." L smiled sadly as he held up the death note.

What the…hell is going on? He…didn't write his own name in the death note did he? But that's suicide! Light gasped. "You didn't…did you?"

L shook his head, somewhat dazed by Light's sporadic assumption. "I'm retiring from the detective business. I'm rich, and I can live the rest of my life without worrying about anything else. I think I deserve it. Don't you?"

He looked almost…Lonely. Light was tempted to suggest coming along, but he bit his lip at the last second. He was the one that felt like crying that time. L sounded miserable. More miserable than he has ever in his whole life that Light had known him. And he wanted to end L's gloom. But he was stronger then that. He wouldn't throw himself at L just because L was a little depressed. He had other things to do, like get the death note back.

A transmission unexpectedly broke the silence. A white screen containing a fancy R letter appeared on L's laptop.

Light widened his eyes a fraction at the letter. R had finally decided to contact L, eh? No…Everything will end if R tells him. And there's nothing I can do!

A computerized voice emitted from the laptop. "Greetings, L. I have finally gotten the chance to contact you. We have much to discuss pertaining to the Kira case. I have something that may be of some value to you."

L was also surprised that there had been someone else after Kira. Who would have known that there was a third party involved in the Kira case. "Who is this? I have never heard of R."

"Of course, I am not one of your successor's, but I am a detective none the less. For right now, you must call me R, and I must call you L. For security purposes." R said from the other side of the line.

"Hmm… You said you needed to discuss with me about something that involves Kira?" L asked wearily.

"Yes." R replied, "I have the second death note, and I wish to give it to you for safe keeping."

This couldn't possibly get any worse. thought Light. R is actually going to give L the death note? Then there will be no chance of me winning…Not that I ever had much of a chance to begin with.

That was it. Light would have to find R himself before L, kill him, and take his death note. Only one problem. How was he going to do this without drawing suspicion from either detective?


Chapter 2 Synopsis: Okay so this chapter mainly revolves around Light, but it does also give some perspective of L's and R's life too. And I didn't leave Misa completely out either. I didn't think it was right to completely bash her character so I gave her some normal qualities, or at least toned down those annoying ones so that Light does find an interest in her. You might have noticed that Light sympathized a lot with L in this chapter. It's pretty normal for a friend to want to comfort a friend, and that may truly all it may mean. Or could Light really be developing some feelings for L like Misa says he is? It really doesn't say in this chapter, although I do know that Light cares for him. The battle between the three is finally starting to take form in this chapter. Their situation is icy. Who will prevail? No one can say for sure. This has turned out better than I expected to.

Ask me anything if you're confused. Hopefully if you do find anything confusing, I can help clear it up in future chapters. Enjoy the chapter, and leave a review please. :)