Author's note: Not with a bang, but with a whimper...

For those who stuck with me to the end, thank you all.

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Mitakihara Hospital

They say that, over five years ago, a violinist who's hand miraculously recovered resided in this very hospital room. Not that such a fact was any comfort to L, who was forced to lie and was unable to continue his work.

The most painful part, however, was how the doctors refused to allow him to take sugar. He craved for a cup of coffee or a piece of cake, but the doctors were adamant.

"Is there... no hope?" Homura asked. L simply shook his head.

"It's not surprising." Kyubey swished his tail. "Even for a human riddled with weaknesses, your body was extremely fragile. You have all sorts of human diseases. The insomnia. The torturous schedule you have and your neglect of basic human needs. That horrible posture. Your Alzheimer disease and the mountainous amount of sugar you used to combat it, not to mention the horrible malnutrition that it lead to. Frankly, it's a miracle you managed to live this long."

L sighed. "Akemi-san, it has been so long... How is everyone doing?"

Homura shook her head. "The Pleidas Saints are gone. Kyouko is gone. Mami is gone." She took out her soul gem, which was almost pitch black. "I'm probably soon to follow."

L nodded. "What about Chitose?"

"...She's fine. She will last a lot longer. Kyouko has been taking good care of her until the very end."

L sighed. "I see." he closed his eyes. "It's strange. I've experienced this many times. I have died as many times as you have seen Kaname-san die. However, this time is different. I feel... I feel like it's the end of a long journey... the closing point of infinity." The heart monitor began to beep irrationally, causing L to realize his time was at hand. He glanced at the one thing he brought with him to the hospital; the teaspoon given to him by Madoka. "Kaname... san... the last challenge... I... I win."

And with that, Homura and L disappeared.

XXXXX

The sounds of laughter filled the space. Children played peacefully on the lawn of Wammy's House. In the centre of it all, L and Madoka sat.

"So... it's come to an end." L then corrected himself. "No, I suppose it's only the beginning of everything."

Madoka nodded. "The future that we've all worked hard for... Ryuzaki-sensei, do you think it will be fine?"

"Absolutely." he nodded. "The future is not an image we aim for. The future is something that constantly changes; there is no end point. Each generation will work hard to provide an even brighter future. The future has no ideal image. The future is infinite; ever growing. Just as we have made their future brighter, they will strive to make the future brighter for those who have yet to come as well." He glanced at a window to the orphanage, which showed Near, who had apparently successfully transitioned into his role as L. His hair was now white – L hoped it was dyed- and despite his sharp mind, he still had toys around him. L recognized his most treasured one, the robot everyone gave him. "Chitose," Near said into the mike, "according to my theory, the demons should spawn at this building at 11 pm. Can you take care of them?" L could not hear the reply, but he had a feeling he knew what it was. Near and Chitose working together. That was unexpected, but he supposed it worked.

There was one other thing he had to ask Madoka thought. "Kaname-san... I must ask, why did you give me a soul gem without asking me for permission?"

Madoka looked down. "I... I thought it wasn't fair."

L stopped. "You mean... the last rule of the Death Note?"

When a human dies, the place he will go is nothingness.

"It wasn't fair... you did so much to make this paradise possible, yet you were going to disappear... It just... it was just so hard to accept... so I..."

L glanced at his teaspoon. The jewel shone ever so brightly. "I never let it leave me. Even as my heart failed, I kept it with me."

Madoka smiled. "Thank you for taking good care of it."

"There is just one thing I don't get, though." L shook his head. "It had haunted me for five years. Oriko did so much to try and make witches a reality again, yet when her friend transformed into one, she was so traumatized... just as she finally achieved her goal."

The pink goddess gave a small laugh. "I suppose that part of you will never change, Ryuzaki-sensei. Oriko... that child tried her best to do what she believed was right. She thought that it was for the best and kept that belief, but she never saw just what witches were..."

"...all they ever found in there was a single grief seed that didn't hatch." L realized. "She never knew what sort of monster that a witch would be... seeing such an abomination... she must have realized just what she created."

Madoka only smiled. "Well," she sighed. "I'm afraid time is of the essence."

"I suppose as well." L sighed. "Well, I always wondered what after life would be like." he muttered.

It had been a long road.

It had originally been a single question of a series of kidnappings.

It then escalated into magic.

In order to clear a way to break the cycle of despair, he sentenced himself to over a thousand deaths.

Finally, at the end of that, he had finally finished it.

A brighter future.

XXXXX

Near kept his face impassive. The day had come. His teacher had died. From the jungles of Thailand to the streets of Japan, he had come a long way. Now, he found out why.

Staring at the screen, he read the files L had written. How he had originally picked up a few strange kidnapping cases and had gotten mixed up in magic. How he created the gambit of a thousand deaths. How he was fighting forces wishing to counter entropy.

He knew what L wanted him to do.

He would not let grief triumph again. However, he would not let Oriko's vision come to pass either.

He would surpass L. Not only would he stop the incubators, he would reverse entropy. He would do what L could not, or rather, ran out of time to do.

Just watch, L. I will succeed. That is my promise to you. From student to teacher, I will take the future you have given me and make it even more brighter.

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"I suppose Near would be fine." L nodded. "I left him enough clues. Given time, he will surpass even me."

"Don't you feel a little sad at that?" Madoka asked.

"Nonsense." L replied, using that single word. "I hate losing, but I'm not losing. I've won and left a record. He's simply going to beat that record, that's all." There was a moment of silence, then a bright light began to fill the peaceful orphanage. Voices could be heard from the other side.

"Heyyy! Ryuzaki-sensei!"

"Ryuzaki-sensei, it's good to see you again."

"I saw you at that hospital. Man, you must have been hungry."

"...come, L Lawliet. Thank you for your hard work."

L looked up to see everyone. Mami, as dignified and poised as ever. Sayaka, with her ever relaxed attitude. Kyouko, who, unsurprisingly, had food. Homura too, waiting with an impassive face but a smile in her eyes. He could also swear he saw Watari, with his grandfatherly like smile. The Pleidas saints were there too, all seven of them. Oriko, with a calm smile, and with her friend, Kirika Kure by her side, together forever at last.

Everyone was there. Everyone would wait for everyone else together.

For the first time since an eternity, the weight which curved his back was lifted. The bitter taste that required every bite to be coated with sugar disappeared. The bags under his eyes disappeared and he was finally relieved of his duty as the only one who could bear the weight of justice.

Closing his eyes, L headed to his final resting place.

XXXXX

L Lawliet

Rest in a peaceful slumber

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The End.