(A/N) I'm so terrible. This is so late.

Regardless, updates will be a lot more frequent now. I worked really hard this time to keep L in character, which was quite hard. Please enjoy!

Thank you to alphadark4, AnimeRANDOMNESS, Moth Mask, "Blondie" and deathcabforkira! Thank you guys so much for your awesome reviews and for being patient with me! *grovels*

I do not own Death Note or any characters that appear in this story.

My heart pounded as I ran through the woods, panting as I raced against time.I had to be well on my way by the time they noticed I was missing.

I couldn't let them go through with it.

I couldn't let them kill A, like I myself had once done with my neglect.

I couldn't let them kill Light, either. Despite it all, he could be saved. And I truly believed that.

I had sent both of them to their graves, and I had to make sure that it didn't happen all over again.

I pushed harder, lungs burning and muscles aching. I already knew that Light expected- wanted –me to do this. In fact, he was counting on it; his plan hinged on my taking the proverbial bait. He wanted me to try and reach him, to act alone. He planned on using me as a lure and then eventually collateral when dealing with Beyond and the others. But things would not go as he had planned, because I would drag that goodness out of him, front and center. I would succeed.

If not…

His plans would still not work out, because I had a secret, a last resort that even he couldn't have allowed for.

I would win, one way or the other.

Light had planned out each of my steps, so he had to be somewhere that I could find him. There was one logical place within walking distance of Beyond's home. The place where our final meeting would take place was also the sight of our first battle, where I first met Light.

To-oh University.

The university had been shut down years ago, due to rumors of L and Kira. No one had bought the land yet, and now the crumbling buildings and overgrown weeds added to the ambiance. I shivered involuntarily when I stepped onto the campus ground, memories washing over me. a breeze ruffled my hair, and I walked slowly forward.

After a few moments, I reached the cracked tennis courts. There were dandelions and grass poking up from the faded green turf, and my bare feet scuffed up years of dust and dirt. I walked instinctually to the center of the court, where the net had once hung.

Here. It will be here that Light-kun chooses to meet me. I have allowed him to choose the place, and the parameters, as always… but that is all that I will allow him.

Another breeze touched me, but it was an unnatural wind, from above. I glanced up, and spotted a dark shape swooping overhead. He glided upward and then banked, wings beating as he came to a smooth stop, landing lightly to face me.

"Greetings, Ryuzaki," he said, opening his arms and bowing low at the waist.

"It has been quite a while, my friend."

My legs trembled as they never had the first time I was alive. His huge wings, black with glittering silver splotches, slowly folded, leaving not a Shinigami standing before me, just Light-kun, my first and best friend.

"Yes," I said, struggling to keep my voice level, "and I have missed you, despite it all."

"I as well, Ryuzaki," Light said, smiling warmly. "I've missed our games of chess, and my tennis partner. I'm glad you came."

"They've decided to kill you," I said bluntly, "but I'm sure I don't have to tell you that. You've figured that, and much more, out already."

Light nodded. "I have."

"Yet were confident that I would come to you first," I continued. "You bet on that fact as you lay your trap."

Light nodded again. "You knew it was a trap, and you still came. I know your thought process as well as my own."

I wavered for a moment; could I have made a mistake? I shook my head, telling myself that it was too late for doubts, and it truly was. I still had… that. Even he couldn't have thought that far ahead.

"Of course I came," I replied, scratching one ankle with the other foot nervously. "I had to come, and you know it. I could not be responsible for your death a second time. I failed before; I failed to stop Kira, because you died an evil man."

Light smiled, but there was a touch of bitterness in it. "You haven't changed, Ryuzaki. You're as childish as ever, with those ideals of yours. That's what I was counting on. Now that you're here, everything is drawing to a close. I truly am happy to see you again, my friend, on this last day of your life."

An involuntary shiver ran up my curved spine. "Hopefully both of us will come away with our lives intact" In some shape or form.

"Don't you see?" Light asked, beginning to pace. "As soon as your little group is gone, Kira will rise again! And this time, he'll be immortal! A true god!"

I don't like where this is going… "Light-kun," I took a step forward, "you can't mean that?"

Light chuckled darkly. "But I do. Think about it from my position, Ryuzaki. What would you do?"

I paused, actually thinking. Then, I blinked. "I cannot fathom it. Killing people is unthinkable."

"Even for the betterment of the world?" Light pressed in a honeyed voice. "Think, my dear, dear friend, just for a moment. Can you truly look me in the eye and tell me honestly that you have not, for a single day, wished for divine judgment?"

I opened my mouth, but no denial came out. Light continued.

"We are cut from the same cloth, you and I, so you should be able to imagine it for just a moment. What would you do given the power to create a safe world, a peaceful utopia; a secure and joyful future, where every child is smiling; an ideal world for all the pure hearts? Tell me that you wouldn't use it for just that purpose."

"… It's still killing," I said quietly, "and that, in and of itself, defeats your own purpose. There are other ways to change the world. As were are, as you say, cut from the same cloth, you should be able to see that as well."

"Do you have a don, L?"

The sudden topic change caught me off guard, even though I knew full well where he was going.

"Come out, love," Light called softly, and I saw a nasty smile tug at the corners of his lips.

A heartbeat later, a small face appeared from behind a half-crumbled wall. His green eyes shone with a light all their own, and he stepped fully out. My breath caught as he walked slowly over, coming to a stop at Light's side.

"A…" I murmured, lost for any other words. "My dear, sweet A…"

I had only truly loved one person, in all my life.

And that was A.

His green eyes glinted, though, with malice, and his lip curled. "L," he acknowledged coldly.

"I… I'm so happy to see you…!" I breathed, taking a single step forward. That love, its intensity long ago forgotten, bloomed again in my heart, taking me by surprise. I cared for the other Wammys, and I cared for Light, but those feelings were pale in comparison. I had known A before I was able to harden my heart at will; I had been young, and foolish, and allowed the bond to take a hold of me.

Now, I knew with a sickening certainty, that weakness would break me.

A recoiled, and Light lay one wing across the boy's shoulders, drawing him close. A clung to him.

"Stay away from me," the small boy said bitingly. "I hate you. I hate you with my whole being."

In that moment, my heart cracked. I looked, devastated, to Light, but he only smiled.

"He has made his decision," the Shinigami said matter of factly. "So I guess my answer is 'no.' You have no son."

"Son?" A asked curiously, looking up at the Shinigami. "I am no one's son but yours. I belong to you."

"What have you done?" The force of the question surprised even me. "What hell born brainwashing technique have you used?"

Light looked at me, his expression innocent. "I haven't brainwashed anyone. This beautiful child has simply realized that you and your little friends never cared for him. I do, though. I have given him New Life, and the love he so desperately needed, and deserved."

My mind went suddenly dark, all color literally draining from my vision. I fought to hang onto the logic and sense that had been my guiding force, but even they seemed to have deserted me. The only color that remained was the emerald green of A's resentful eyes. Everything in my body rebelled, fighting the hopelessness that threatened to overtake me. But I couldn't stop myself from falling to my knees, the emotions I had long ago locked out finally returning to destroy me.

"It's over, Ryuzaki," Light said, moving to my side. All business, he pulled out a gun. There was an icy arrogance in his tone that rubbed me the wrong way, nearly reviving me. "The others will be here soon, and I have no other uses for a broken man."

"… I… am not broken," I forced out, looking up at him. Yet the foot that shoved me backwards begged to differ, and I hit the ground.

"You've outlived your usefulness," Light said simply, looking disdainfully down. "Human emotions are troublesome things, aren't they? If you control the emotions, you control the man. And this little child is all I need to control you."

That was when it hit me.

I had failed.

Again.

(A/N) Looking pretty hopeless, isn't it? I don't know if I'll manage a hint for my lovely reviewers this time (please review anyway), but that's only because I'm going to rush to get this story done. The final plotline is ironed out, so the next chapter should be up in a couple of days. See you then!