Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note, nor do I own 'Newbies, I am just borrowing the characters for the plot and the night club for the scenes ^ ^

Author: So either you guys are super polite or your math skills are as horrible as my own. It's not 15 yrs left for L, it's 27 and a half. Although that's still not very long once you think about it...but still better than 15 ^ ^ Right?

On the plane, L disobeyed the rules of proper seating as he kept his legs pulled to his chest, all while his eyes gazed out of the window. Looking out, he could see the sea below, the waters smooth and calm, the very opposite of what he knew he was about to face.

How had Raito screwed up his life and in only a year? What could he have done to be placed on probation? That was not like Raito. Raito believed in punishing criminals, not becoming one.

Wait, L thought, Raito went through hell to save L. He practically lost his mind in his own attempt. Raito also claimed they had stood together in the rain twenty times. So why was L thinking this could be so easy after only one little try? Besides, he gave away half his life span to a shinigami with an apple addiction, of course nothing was going to be easy.

But then again, Raito had more to deal with than what L was going to face. Raito had to face two or three Kiras at one time, L had one little teenager.

So Raito was placed on probation twice and was skipping classes, that was not so bad. Teenagers got bored easily, needing an outlet, a different scenery. That was the most probable cause. His grades were still perfect, as to be expected, so it was not a total disaster. Raito was a teenager, they sometimes got into trouble. That was life.

As L saw Japan's shoreline coming into view, he relaxed. All he had to do was help Raito get back on track, perhaps even speak with the judge who had sentenced Raito and have this mess exonerated.

Yes, it was not going to be all that hard. Raito was sensible. He should be glad to have someone of L's status to help get him straightened back out.

Watari of course was doubtful about L's trip to Japan. That was to be expected. Watarai was clueless of L's actual intentions.

"I would like to go on a vacation." L had stated rather calmly.

"A…vacation?" Watari was quite surprised at the eight word sentence. L had never asked for a vacation, much less stated he was going on vacation.

"Yes. Japan is my interest. Will you manage without me?"

"But, what about.." Watari's voice began to waver as he looked down at the files scattered on the table.

"I will solve each and everyone of them upon my return." And with that promise, L found himself and Ryuk on a plane, with bags packed and a credit card with no limit, in under three hours. He did, however, manage to escape without Watari. This would be the first time in his life that he would travel with him. Watari was worried, as he should be, and tried his best during the three hours to convince L to at least take someone with him.

Preferably Watari. Just for precautions. But L made it perfectly clear that he wanted to do this on his own. He called, 'my one chance to do something on my own'.

Watari eventually caved, looking desperate to come up with a reason to forbid it, then realizing L was not the little boy he once was.

And now, L dropped his legs down to the floor, and pulled out his file on Raito, looking for his address

(*)(*)(*)

So this was where Yagami Soichiro and his family live? L had seen the house from his surveillance cameras. The kitchen, the bedrooms, the bathrooms, Soichiro's office, everything. But he never saw it 'in the flesh', per say.

It was tall, big, and nicely kept. One would think a wholesome family lived inside, a happy family complete with a traditional mother, father, son, and daughter. Secretly, L was a little jealous. Raito always seemed to have everything, so how is it he always manages to screw up his life?

He approached the front door, and bravely rang the door bell. When Soichiro pulled the heavy door open, laying his eyes on him as if he were inspecting him for a crime he didn't commit, L swallowed hard.

Compared to the man that had stood with him in the rain at Raito's funeral, thanking him for being Raito's only real friend, Soichiro looked…hard. Angry. Lost. Maybe confused.

L decided to speak first. "I am looking for Yagami Raito. I'm a friend of his. May I speak with him?"

Soichiro smirked as if he knew it was a lie, then glanced L up and down, taking in his appearance. The bags under L's eyes were thicker, and much larger than normal, making the pupils of his eyes much bigger than they were. His raven hair had become tangled and messy from the napping on the plane. His clothes, which had attained wrinkles during the same plane ride looked dirty even though they were far from needing a washing as of yet.

L could only imagine what Soichiro was thinking. He recalled the very first time the two met, during the original time line when Kira was just beginning his reign. Soichiro had looked at him as if he were a crazy person, then later, with much respect.

But now, now he looked on him like L was some type of dirty young man who was about to ask to for a handout.

"Raito isn't here." Soichiro strongly announced before quickly attempting to shut the door.

L slipped his sneaker covered foot between the door stopping him. "I am aware that it is rather late. He is most likely studying, but please, I only need a moment with him."

Soichiro let lose a heavy sigh in annoyance. "Look, I told you he isn't here."

"May I leave him a message then?" L wasn't sure what kind of message you could leave for someone who did not know you, but he sure would try. "Maybe you could tell him-"

"No! I am donedelivering messages for you people. If you want to talk to my son you can go find him yourself. Now leave before I call the police." Soichiro slammed the door in the detectives face, leaving him confused. Ryuk roared with laughter above him and said something, but L wasn't listening. His mind was still dealing with 'police'.

He turned on his heels, leaving disappointed. "What happened to you, Soichiro?" He whispered to no one in particular as his shoulders slumped.

All of a sudden a soft voice called, "Hey, you. Wait a second!" Surprised, L turned back to the house. A young, sweet looking girl, with long, swooping almond brown hair pulled into a pony tail, came walking out of the door.

Sayu, he thought. Pictures of her laying on her bed and kicking her feet as she gossiped with other middle school children flashed through his mind. The way she looked now saddened him. Something about the air around her told him she no longer had a hyper, care-free spirit.

"Yes?" He asked her as she approached him bravely.

"You're looking for my brother?"

"Yes, I am."

"Why?" She folded her arms critically, looking cold in her short sleeve pajama shirt as the wind blew around them, causing the sleeves to flap against her arms. "What do you want from him?"

Ah, siblings and their protective love. It's something that you can not break. Or so L has read somewhere…

"I…" Think Lawliet. You can come up with something. Don't let the fact that you are 100 percent shocked about everything here, keep you from giving an intelligent answer. "am a class mate. Raito has not been to class in several days, I am worried for him."

Sayu laughed. "You think we haven't heard that one before? It's the oldest in the book."

"I do not understand."

"Look, I don't know who you are, but I have a pretty good guess as to what you want. You're making my mother cry every time one of you come knocking. He isn't here anymore because he doesn't live here anymore. Ok? Spread the word to the rest of you pathetic losers."

The rest? He wondered. Who has been bothering them?

"I mean no harm, I can assure you. If you can tell me where I may find him, I would be very appreciative."

"That's very good acting skills you have. But I'm still not buying it."

L scanned his memory for Raito's schedule, then picked the class Raito skipped the most and replied, "Psychology partners." He let her fake, insulting compliment slide as he came up with more of the lie, "We were working on a report together, when he stopped showing up for class. We will both fail if he does not contact me soon."

She seemed to be pondering the new information, running it over and over in her own mind, looking for holes that told her it was a lie. Then, looking almost satisfied, she dropped her arms and bit her lip. She took a deep breath trying her best to let her guard come down just an inch.

L watched as she let out the air, blowing thick bangs from her chocolate eyes. He could not help but to think, 'Yes, this is Soichiro's daughter'.

She started, "Are… Are you really a student at his school? A class mate? Don't lie to me because…because.." She was a child. She had no real threat and she knew.

"I do not lie." He told her confidently, but of course, that in itself was a lie. He was L. The question is when does he ever tell the truth.

"You can usually find him at Newbies." She blurted it all out so fast and so soft he almost began to think she didn't say anything at all.

"What?" He asked.

"Newbies!" She shouted embarrassed. "Look do not tell him I told you." Growing nervous, she folded her arms protectively back over her chest. "I have to go now." She said as she took baby steps backwards.

"Wait, explain 'Newbies'. Is this a place?"

"Look it up." She didn't wave a single good bye as her baby steps turned into a run as she ran inside the home. L could hear the lock on the door being latched.

"Newbies? Is this a place? Ryuk, do you know what she is talking about?"

"I dunno. But you know what? She smelled like apples."

L rolled his eyes, then gave his feet permission to carry him anywhere they wanted. The moon shinned down against his hair, making it appear cleaner than it really was. He hunched his shoulders as he tried to think. Raito never mentioned Newbies. Ryuk was obviously no help. When was he ever?

Getting further out of the neighborhood and further into the town, L pulled out his cell phone dialing Watari.

"Yes, L?"

"Look up Newbies for me. I am sorry I have no more information to give to you other than 'Newbies'. As for the spelling...your guess would be as good as my own right now."

"Give me five minutes."

L hung up then called a taxi.

Once sitting inside and buckled behind the leather belt, the older gentleman asked, "Where to?"

"Just drive." L told him. "I am a tourist and I wish to view the sights."

"Buddy that's going to run the meter pretty high…"

"Money isn't really an object for me. Please, just do as I requested."

"Okay. If you're sure."

L gazed out the window, looking at the tall buildings. The taxi actually passed To-oh university. L smiled as he remember walking with Raito, not really minding that the entire time Raito was probably thinking of ways to kill him.

L's back pocket vibrated. He lifted up, retrieving the phone and opening the new text from the unknown number:

Located in the Kanto region, Newbies is a gay gentleman's club open every night, 9 p.m to 4 a.m.

A second and third text from Watari gave the owner, the address and a simple 'be careful, take care of yourself and do NOT reveal who you really are'.

Sitting back in the car, L pulled his knees close to his chest much like the way Sayu kept her arms wrapped around her chest.

He needed protection as he began to feel vulnerable, scared, and maybe a little bit guilty. He saved Raito from dieing a tragic death, but he just may have made matters worse..as Raito's life may already be ruined.

L may have lived a secluded life, but he knew that a gentleman's club was just a sugar coated, classy way of saying 'strip joint'.

(*)(*)(*)

The man Raito was trying to serve could not make up his mind. He sat at the table Raito seated him, and stared at the menu in his hands as if it would magically change, or start flashing lights like he was some kind of winner on a game show. Raito wanted to snatch it and smack him directly in the face with it. Maybe the shock would stimulate his brain enough to decide on a drink. Who knew?

The man's company, a much older man with grey hair, apparently got annoyed as well, as he suddenly chose a light beer for the both of them. Raito breathed a mental sigh of relief. Thank you.

He quickly jotted it down and grabbed a trey from the bar, moving to the next table where the group of business men he had been serving all night instantly began their flirting again.

"What time do you get off?" A black haired man asked, smiling his pearly whites and reaching out to touch his arm, but Raito brushed him off as he gathered their empty glasses. The two men had managed to drink three beers in the five minutes it took for the teen to seat the other men.

"I don't." Raito replied calmly.

"Aaw, you have to leave sometime. Why not when you get off we hit the town? Just me and you pretty."

"No thanks. Do you need anything?" Raito hated to ask because he already knew the response, but he had to if he wanted a nice tip and to keep his job.

The man chuckled. "Just you. Right here." The man said as he pointed to his crotch and the other men began roaring with laughter. Raito took his chance to just walk away back to the bar. He pulled the nicer men's ticket out and handed it to Lenny, the American bartender who was only six years older than Raito, but had a much rougher family history.

Lenny laid his hand on Raito's tense shoulder. He said, "Think of it like this, if you flirt a little, you're tip will be huge." He gave the teen a small, sympathetic smile. He had watched Raito being harassed by the customers for the past six hours. At first it was a little funny, now it was stressing.

"Screw the tip." Raito decided. "Those men are disgusting."

"Well honey there is always the pole. Money's good, they can't touch you, and all you have to sacrifice is your pride."

"No thanks."

"They all change their minds eventually."

"Let me get my ass pinched a few more times and I'll think about it."

Lenny laughed. "That's the spirit kid."

Raito grabbed the light beer, and headed back to his misery.

(*)(*)(*)

L Lawliet starred at himself in the mirror. Was he dressed properly? Over dressed? Under dressed? He had no clue. The add for Newbies in the phone book he had found in the hotel room, showed happy men dancing, drinking, and wearing nice clothes. L decided his white shirt and wrinkled jeans would not do. New clothes were in order.

He called for another taxi, asking the man to take him somewhere he could buy clothes. The man dropped him off at a two story men's apparel store. The ladies inside were hesitant to help, but when he pulled out his credit card, they quickly jumped at the chance to dress him in a pair of faded Levi jeans along with a plain black, cotton shirt that clung to his every muscle and curve, and stylish, black leather jacket. As uncomfortable as he was, he did look nice.

They chose white sneakers for his feet, and he slipped them on. As for his hair, it was a little hopeless, but a young blond ran a comb through it, then a little spike gel. She smiled sweetly saying, "We don't get men like you coming in here. I feel like your James Bond the way you just walked in here and flashed your money. Are you like, a secret agent or something?" She teased.

Ryuk laughed. "No one ever thought Raito was a secret agent."

L looked into her blue eyes. Obviously, her education went no further than high school. She was far too young to have a degree but far too old to actually believe he was a 'secret agent'. He smiled just to be polite, the way Raito always did. Apparently, Raito taught him more than how to tie a tie because her own smile grew brighter and her eyes seemed to light up.

"Something like that." He told her. "Am I dressed properly enough for 'Newbies'?" He asked.

"Newbies? That gay club down town? Why are you going there? Are they in trouble?"

She obviously did believe he was some sort of agent. "I have someone I am meeting."

The woman looked shocked and somewhat disappointed. Something in her eyes told him it was not his supposed sexuality that made her pretty, wrinkle free face give him that look. It started to eat at him. He asked, "Is there something wrong?"

"Oh, no. Just, there is usually a certain pattern of men that go to Newbies. You don't really look like the kind of guy who would go to a place like that unless you were a cop."

A place ike what? L wondered. Just what has Raito gotten into?

Before L could question her further, she had charged his credit card, shoved a receipt at him and bid him good day.

Cautiously, L got back in the cab and told the man his destination as he bit his thumb. He expected a look from the cab driver, the same one the pretty girl gave him, but he got nothing but a bored expression the whole way there.

L paid the man, then got out. In front of him stood a building lit up by a few bright neon signs reading, "Newbies".

Well, here he was. The club didn't look run down, nor did it look distasteful. If L was a man who enjoyed strip clubs, this looked like a nice enough place. Perhaps the girl misunderstood. But Soichiro and Sayu's reactions were still something to feel uneasy about.

L approached the door to the entrance, turned the knob, and stepped inside.