Watari sighed internally as his phone began ringing. He rolled over, taking it from his bedside table and holding it up to his ear. "What is it, Ryuzaki?"

"Wrong Ryuzaki," a voice spoke from the other end, and a chill ran through Watari.

"Beyond?"

"That's right, Wammy." Beyond's voice purred from the other end of the line. "And don't worry, your precious L's safe. But we would like to speak to you, if it isn't too much of a bother."

"How did you get here, Beyond?"

"I'll tell you everything, once you come here and explain why you told Ely I was dead." Beyond's tone remained unchanged, but there was an underlying note of anger now.

Watari blinked. So, they had already gotten into contact with each other. This was either the best thing that could happen for the investigation, or the worst.

"Beyond, I can explain – "

"You can come explain when you come here." Beyond interrupted. "See you in a bit."

The line cut, and Watari dropped the phone with a groan. He was getting too old for this.

xxx

Upon entering Ryuzaki's room, Watari witnessed what he believed to be the strangest thing he had ever encountered in his career. The Task Force members sat in a row on the couches, while two Ryuzakis – no, only one Ryuzaki, the other must be Beyond – sat in front of them on two seats facing each other, sipping tea in unison.

Hearing the creak of the door, Ryuzaki and Beyond turned their heads toward him. It was almost surreal to see the two identical men acting at the same time, as if they were opposite sides of a mirror. No, not identical. Both men had changed since they last met.

"Watari," Ryuzaki's disappointed gaze pierced Watari like a thousand knives. "Could you please explain why you made me to believe Beyond had been killed by Kira?"

Watari dipped his head. "I'm truly sorry, Ryuzaki. But when you first deduced that Kira need a face and a name to kill, you immediately thought of Beyond. I would not allow you to work with such and underhanded monster."

Beyond scoffed. "I'm right here, you know."

Ryuzaki ignored him. "Watari, you know that solving this case is more important than anything else."

Watari nodded. "Yes, Ryuzaki. I understand."

Ryuzaki sipped his tea again before placing in on the coffee table. "Now, we have something else to address." he turned to the Task Force. "I must know whether or not you are alright with having Beyond work with us on the case. You must understand that I will do whatever possible to track down Kira – to track down any criminal, and that includes using other criminals."

The Task Force stared at Ryuzaki as if he had just proposed they ride a herd of pigs off the roof and hope they sprout wings. Yagami cleared his throat. "But, Ryuzaki, you are L. You control the law enforcement of every country in the world. And now you're saying that you've worked with criminals in the past?"

"Yes, and very capable ones, at that." Ryuzaki replied. "And remember, Beyond wasn't always a criminal. He was formerly second-in-line as my successor, and as solved a number of minor, yet difficult, cases. And we need his ability."

"Second-in-line, huh?" Aizawa leaned forwards. "So, who was first? And why did he run off to become a criminal, anyways? I think we all need to know that before we decide." The rest of the Task Force mumbled in agreement.

Beyond's vermillion gaze turned cold and Ryuzaki looked at the floor. Neither of them said anything. Watari cleared his throat. "This is a very sensitive matter, gentlemen. I think you will understand why neither of them wish to discuss what happened in the past."

"Does it have anything to do with why Beyond looks like he ran through a wildfire?"

"Matsuda!"

"Wildfire, huh?" Beyond stroked the scars on his face. "I guess you could say that it has something to do with it."

"Either way," Soichiro Yagami sighed. "We can't turn down a lead like this."

"I agree." Mogi stroked his chin. "He can stay until the investigation is finished, and we can send him back to his asylum."

Aizawa sighed. "Fine, I guess we have to."

"Ah, ah, ah," Beyond wagged his finger. "Ely, I don't think this is fair. You're going to make me work for you, and then throw me back into the nuthouse to be tied up for the next fifty to sixty years?" he grinned. "I don't think that's fair."

Ryuzaki stood. "Think of it as another chance to surpass me."

"Still," Beyond kicked his legs over the armrest and leaned his head back so it dangled off the side. "Even I know the probability of me beating you to Kira is lower than three percent. Chances are, you already know who he is, but you lack sufficient evidence. You just need me to confirm it for you."

"Correct."

Beyond turned his face to Ryuzaki. "But I'm not going to give that information to you for free." he cackled.

Ryuzaki narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"

Ryuzaki raised a fist. "Three things." he flicked up a finger with each request. "One, no more asylum. If I ever have to go into a straightjacket or a padded room, I'll probably go insane for real – stick me in the LA State Penitentiary instead, at least I can have some fun there; Two, I want a shorter sentence. Twenty years instead of life; And three," he sat up and leapt out of the chair, landing directly in front of Ryuzaki. He sneered, straightening his back so he was taller than Ryuzaki. "I want my name back."

Ryuzaki's eyes narrowed. The Task Force looked at each other, evidently confused. Beyond turned his head to Watari. "Nobody else has claimed it yet, have they? That would be a shame."

Watari glanced at Ryuzaki before sighing. "No. We have blacklisted the letter B in every system."

"I thought so." he turned back to Ryuzaki. "Once I'm out, you'll let me come back to Wammy's house. I'm surely more competent than anybody else, including your precious Near and Mello." he let out a couple of hyuk hyuk hyuks. "So?"

The Task Force exchanged surprised looks. What were they talking about? This doesn't make any sense!

Aizawa looked suspiciously at the two men, clenching his fist. Do we know anything about Ryuzaki, really?

Ryuzaki glared at Beyond, before speaking in a low, barely controlled voice. "I will grant you the first two things. But the third is out of the question. Wammy's House and I stand for justice. And, I swear on my life, that you will never return, not as long as I run it."

Beyond made a 'tsk' noise. "Fine, it was worth a shot. But," Beyond turned serious. "Don't think that just because you've grown more eloquent I'm still going to carry out on my promise."

Those words almost made Watari's heart stop. He inhaled sharply. "Beyond –"

"I know," Ryuzaki cut him off. "And I won't try and stop you."

Beyond gazed coldly at Ryuzaki. "You sit upon a throne of lies."

"Perhaps," Ryuzaki tilted his head to the side like a curious child. "But we all deceive and mislead, don't we?"

Yaaayy I finally got to use the line that I've been sitting on for the past two months! (you sit upon a throne of lies)