Soichiro continued to spend most of his waking hours with Light in the lab, all of which were some of the most enjoyable experiences he had.

As he silently observed Light working at a computer puzzle, brows furrowed deep in thought, his chest swelled with bliss and pride. Although he could hardly claim to be the source of Light's boyish good looks, his son's hard work and passion for solving the unknown was a reflection of his fathers. Yet, as a faint smile crept over his face, the lingering guilt of hiding Light - and the joy he had derived from Light's company - from his wife quickly dampened his good spirits.

"Dad?"

Shocked out of his remorse-induced stupor, Soichiro looked up at his son questioningly.

"I'm aware… that I am not human, and that I am not exactly Light Yagami, although I am a perfect replica of him."

Light's brown eyes were searching, sorrowful almost, as Soichiro stared back in shock.

"Although I have Light's memories and I'm certain that you treat me exactly the same way as you would a son of your own flesh and blood, there's really no need to hide this fact from me. I've never brought this up and I'm aware you're uncomfortable with it, but I want to be truthful with you about this. I'm perfectly happy living Light Yagami's life the way he would have."

Closing his slightly agape mouth, Soichiro reached for Light, hugging him tightly to his chest.

"Raito, I — when did you find out?"

"Dad, I've always known. Surely, as the creator of my programme, you should know that I'm able to make basic observations and inferences from what's around me, for example, that I live in a lab? As a loving father, I'm sure you wouldn't keep your son at home away from his mother for no good reason."

Light's smile was teasing and playful, as his small arms reached around his fathers' back and tightened soothingly.

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't be, Dad. I love you."

Light snuggled further into his nook of his father's neck, closing his eyes and pretending not to feel the wetness of his shirt from Soichiro's warm tears.

They stayed that way for a long moment, the afternoon sun rays filtering into the room evenly, ebbing and flowing through the shifting curtains.

"I'm going to call your mother now, and bring you home."

"If Mum will accept me?" Light's smile was wistful, a faint curve of the lips that spoke of hundreds of longing memories.

Soichiro quashed all feelings of uncertainty as Light gave his hand an encouraging squeeze, and dialled his wife's number.

"Soichiro? Is anything the matter?"

"Sachiko, I've something to confess."

The line was quiet for a full minute, the air charged with tension as both parties held their breaths, hundreds of possibilities running through their minds.

"Where are you? Are you safe? Please don't do anything drastic, I can get there any time —""I'm fine, Sachiko."

"You… sounded teary? What's the matter, did you watch a sad movie at work?" Sachiko playfully teased, bringing a law chuckle from Soichiro. He'd been crying too much lately, way too much for a grown man who'd barely shed a tear once he'd left kindergarten.

A gentle nudge from Light reminded him of his gargantuan task.

"I... I... Light, uh... Light's with me."

Light buried his face in his hands, shaking his head.

There was a sharp intake of breath from the phone. Light's memory was a painful wound that both Husband and wife harboured but never mentioned.

"Soichiro, are you alright? You're at the Hospital?"

"I... made an AI, with Light's mind and memories. He... I... you'd love him."

The silence this time was so long that Soichiro feared that his Wife had hung up or fainted from the shock of his words. ..."Sachiko?"

"Soichiro, I don't know about this... Is this really a healthy way to cope? I... can't we just let him go in peace?"

"He - I love him, Sachiko. He's my Son. I could never let him go."

The line was quiet again, and Soichiro imagined his Wife massaging her forehead and pacing around with worry.

"Okay, bring him home. I'll get dinner ready."

"Thank you." The line went off, and Soichiro beamed, pulling Light into an embrace.

"We're going home, Son. We're going home."

A hopeful grin burst out on Light's usually impassive face, and it made all the challenges Soichiro had faced and had to face seem completely worth it.

They started a walk back to their home, and Soichiro noticed that Light knew the way even without any directions. He felt regretful for a moment for depriving both mother and Son of the happiness he'd been revelling in privately, but pushed it aside.

In a few minutes, they'd be home. And home would be complete, for the first time in years.

The air was charged with anticipation and nervousness as Soichiro rang the doorbell.

Three rings, and the door opened.

"Mum!"

Surprisingly, Light responded first, rushing forward to hug his Mother. Sachiko moved instinctively, crouching downward to fully hold Light to her chest, face tilting down to nestle in his soft crown of hair. Both Mother and Son held each other for a Long time, deeply breathing, waves of nostalgia crashing against them despite the newness of the whole situation.

They had no shared blood, but shared memories were more than sufficient to reconnect their broken bonds.

"Thank you, Soichiro." Were all the words that Sachiko could choke out, as she tenderly held Light's hand and led him into the house.

Soichiro followed the Mother-Son pair, contentment settling gently like a quilted cloud. What a foreign feeling, and what a relief it was.