The finale.

[Epic music plays here. DUN-DUN-DUNNN]

Please, please, please review. ): Lack of reviews make me unhappy.

Because of Near's insistent begging, L decided to stay in his brother's organization building while Near went to visit Matt a few hours away. L stood by the sliding glass doors of Near's hideaway, seeing the boy off.

"Be careful, L," Near said as he waited for Halle to pack his belongings in the black SUV. He was busy, as always, twirling a strand of hair around his index finger. "Stay in the building at all times; don't leave. Tell my assistants to get you what you want or need."

L couldn't help but smile; Near was acting like a strict, yet concerned parent. It made him miss his mother and father for a split second. It wasn't full blown nostalgia, though; if it was, he wouldn't have been able to grin at all.

"Of course," L nodded as a wind passed by. The cold reminded him of the day back when his mother had died. Was it a sign of some sort? "I understand."

"Call me three times a day; morning, afternoon, and evening," Near commanded with narrowed eyes. "If I don't hear from you all three times I'm coming back here. Got it?"

L rolled his eyes like an annoyed child. "Near; don't you think this is a li—"

"I'm done packing, Near," Halle nodded, strands of blonde hair flying in her face and red lipstick. She took a quick bow and smiled at L knowingly. L refused to smile back.

"Thank you, Halle," Near kept his eyes glued on L for one last moment, and then looked away. "Be careful, L. I'm telling you."

"I kno—"

"If anything happens to you, I swear I—"

"Near," L snapped. "I'm a grown man; I can take care of myself." He waved the boy away. "Now, be safe."

Near stared at L for a long time; a longing, saddened stare, and then tore his eyes away. "Yes; alright. I'll be going now."

"Preparing the engine, sir," Halle saluted, and then went into the drivers' seat, closing the door behind her. Both stared at the tinted window until a low rumble erupted from the SUV.

"Take care," L silently said, crossing his arms across his long-sleeved white T-shirt. A wind picked up and penetrated the fabric, leaving goose bumps on his pale skin. Or at least that was what he assumed had happened.

"Take care," Near mumbled back, and then opened the passenger seat door. Stepping into the car, the boy gave L one last look, and then closed the door behind him.

L took a step back as exhaust puffed out of the back of the car. He looked up with his dark gray eyes and watched it swirl and twirl until it was completely gone. And then when he looked back down, the SUV was gone, only a gray puff left in its wake.

"Right this way, L," as if on cue, Stephen Gevanni stepped out of the building and outstretched his arm, as if to lead a senior citizen across the road. L snapped out of his thoughts and looked back at the orderly man, and then nodded.

"Yes sir," he muttered, and then walked past Stephen and in through the automatic glass doors.

XXXX

"Welcome, boys," an old man stood at the front steps of the orphanage that Beyond and Lawliet were sent to stay. It was a frigid cold morning; Beyond was still wrapped in the heavy duty police jacket while Lawliet only wore a thin long-sleeved white T-shirt and blue jeans. Not even socks were on his feet.

"My name is Watari and I will be watching over you for the duration of your stay," the man spoke slowly, but had a strong voice. He smiled widely and gave his gray beard a fast stroke before pushing his circular glasses up the bridge of his wide nose. His eyes were so naturally narrowed that it was hard to tell if his eyes were closed or open.

"…Where are we?" Lawliet asked quietly, his head bowed and his jet black spikes shielding half his eyes. The cold blew right through his cotton clothes, but he ignored it. He was used to the biting winds from years of being in England.

"Is this the Wammy house?" Beyond asked as he tossed his blue gym bag over his shoulder. It carried both Lawliet's and his clothes in it.

"Why, yes it is," Watari looked surprised, which was hard to tell because his flabby skin and half-closed eyes gave nothing away. "It is one of the best orphanage houses in England. I lead it along with Roger Ruvie."

"I see," Beyond side-glanced at Lawliet with his crimson red eyes twinkling with excitement. "Will Lawliet and I share a room?"

A breeze came by just then, leaving goose bumps on the back of Lawliet's neck. Back in his old home he didn't want to sleep with Beyond so badly that he stayed in the cold basement. His mother and father were worried about him sleeping down there alone, but Lawliet insisted. But now… now there was no escape.

Watari let out a chuckle; the kind of chuckle that parents made when they saw two young children hugging or holding hands. Or the kind of chuckle that teachers made when their kindergartners asked questions that they did not realize they even had the intelligence to think up.

"Come this way and I'll show you where you stay," Watari fixed his red tie, and then turned around, opening the heavy double oak doors. A blast of warm heat slapped against all three's faces as soon as he did so.

Lawliet knew it was supposed to be welcoming, but he felt nothing. It was as if he were being led to a jail cell for the rest of his life, or being sent to the "time-out room," as his parents put it.

Beyond's arm wrapped around the other boy's shaky shoulders and guided him inside, but as soon as they entered Lawliet slapped it away. He didn't want to be touched by anyone, especially Beyond.

Children ran to and fro, yelling joyfully and smiling widely with toys clutched in their tiny hands. One almost collided into Lawliet, but Beyond shoved his brother away at the last minute. Lawliet refused to thank him, so he didn't. Instead he sent a glare Beyond's way, and then looked away.

"Be careful," Watari smiled back at the two, and then began climbing the oak staircase to the rooms above. Beyond followed quickly behind, but Lawliet lagged, just examining his surroundings.

"Hurry up, brother, or you'll be left," Beyond's voice was full of laughter and mockery, only angering Lawliet.

Refusing to look Beyond's way or reply, Lawliet continued to take his own sweet time. Obeying his brother was like suicide; only in this situation, suicide meant being made fun of and getting stared at constantly by Beyond himself.

Suddenly Beyond's hand roughly grabbed Lawliet's wrist, taking the boy by surprise. With a soft bang, Lawliet was pinned to the wall and Beyond was standing right in front of him, blocking his path.

"What'd I just say?" Beyond asked huskily, his mouth beside Lawliet's ear. Lawliet struggled to remove himself from Beyond's painful grip, but the boy stood his ground, showcasing amazing strength for a 10 year old boy. His mouth became closer. "Keep up or you'll be leeeft behiinndd…"

Lawliet shook his head crazily side to side, trying his hardest not to be turned on by the feeling of his brother's hot breath against his ear. "Let go of me…! BEYOND!"

Watari, whom already turned the corner, was oblivious to the situation. Lawliet decided that if he was ever to be free he'd have to scream his loudest so Watari would realize that the two were no longer following him.

"BEYO—"

Beyond's mouth smashed hard against Lawliet's, knocking his head against the concrete wall that stood beside the staircase. The grey-eyed boy let out a soft whimper from the pain that traveled through his skull and to his neck. He tried to swing his head crazily side to side again, but Beyond's hand gripped his chin tightly while the other pinned his right hand against the wall, also.

"Mhhmm..!" Lawliet realized that it was too late to close his mouth; Beyond had gotten him mid-sentence and crammed his tongue inside quickly. Lawliet debated biting down hard on Beyond's tongue, but that'd only anger the psycho, and an angry Beyond was not something Lawliet wanted to be face to face with at the moment. So, tired and cold, Lawliet surrendered, hoping the other boy would just hurry and get the kiss over with.

Beyond forced Lawliet's legs open wide enough to push his knee in between. Their waists were now tightly against one another's. Lawliet shivered at the feeling of warm hands brushing up his shirt and against his pale stomach. Now that his right hand was free, Lawliet gripped Beyond's shoulder and pushed with all his might. Not that that did much. His brother barely budged from the impact, his tongue still exploring Lawliet's mouth, and his waist still up against his waist.

"Boys!?" Watari's voice was near and worried. Happiness bubbled in Lawliet's chest after hearing it. He just needed to walk a few steps more and Beyond would be forced to release him! Freedom was onl—

"Boys!?" The voice came again, but it was farther than before. Lawliet, frustrated, gave Beyond's shoulder another desperate, hard push. It miraculously worked to send the other boy back a few steps, separating their mouths.

"Disgusting..!" Lawliet said as he used his sleeve to wipe away the saliva that escaped his mouth and trailed down his chin. Behind did the same, but instead used his fingers to take it up and his tongue to lick it. Lawliet felt slightly disturbed from watching him.

"I love you too… L," Beyond's laughed, despite the lack of breath. Lawliet only then realized that he himself was also gasping for air. He backed away from Beyond before he came back for more and leaped up the stairs two by two to find Watari.

He didn't bother look back to see if Beyond was following, all he wanted to do was get far, far away.

"…And your roommate is Mihael Keehl. Please take good care of one another!" Watari smiled at Beyond and Lawliet. Their room was pretty spacious; there were two bunk beds with an oak dresser sitting in between. In the right side corner of the room was a TV with empty chocolate boxes and game consoles surrounding it.

"The name's Mello!" the one referred to as Mihael, snapped. He looked very young, seven or eight years old, with big eyes, chin length, perfect blonde hair, and a girlish figure.

"He doesn't want Kira to know his real name," Watari whispered to Beyond and Lawliet, smiling like a disappointed mother. "He's afraid Kira might kill him or something…"

"Is he looking for Kira just like Lawli is over here?" Beyond asked with wide, innocent eyes. Lawliet wanted to punch him in the crotch.

"You're looking for Kira?" Watari asked, his voice rising in laughter. Lawliet narrowed his eyes angrily and looked away. "What makes you think you can find him? The best detectives in the world can't figure it out!"

"Looking for Kira?" Mello perked up. "You are?"

"What makes you think I can't?" Lawliet answered under his breath. "Just leave me be, please."

Beyond snorted. Lawliet elbowed him in the ribs. Hard.

"Oww!" Beyond laughed as his gripped his stomach.

"I understand…" Watari tried to control his voice now. "Take care." With a quick bow, he left the room in a hurry.

All three watched until he was completely gone before speaking. Mello jumped off the bed and walked over, outstretching his hand towards Lawliet for a handshake.

"The name's Mello," Mello smiled. "But I'm sure you know that."

"Lawliet, but please call me L," Lawliet reached to shake Mello's hand, but stopped immediately. "…I would shake your hand, but it's covered in chocolate…"

Mello's face flushed. "Oopsie! S-Sorry…" He wiped his hand on the back of his black latex skinny jeans.

Beyond dropped the blue gym bag on the top bunk bed, claiming it as his own. "It stinks of milk chocolate in here. Is it you, little girlie?"

Lawliet, hesitantly, sat down on the bottom bunk and pulled his knees up to his chest, biting at his thumb fingernail. From there he could smell Beyond's signature scent; strawberry jam and a spicy aroma of some sort. He could never put his tongue on what spice it was, exactly.

"Little girlie!?" Mello's face flushed with anger. "I have you know, little faggot pussy face that I'm NOT. A. GIRL!" He flipped Beyond the bird and stormed out.

"She has a temper, doesn't she?" Beyond leaned off of the top bunk and stared at Lawliet. Spiderman style, Beyond's face was upside down right in front of Lawliet, lips almost touching. Now it stunk of Beyond's signature scent.

Lawliet rolled his eyes as he backed up a bit. "Stop being rude. You should go after him and apologize."

"Apologize for what?" Beyond asked. Lawliet watched as his crimson red eyes twinkled with amusement. He looked so much different with his hair hanging out of his face and eyes. They were believed to be twin brothers, but Lawliet knew they were anything but twins. Beyond was cruel, heartless, and even his appearance was completely different from Lawliet's.

"Fine," Lawliet inhaled sharply. "I'll go apologize for you, then. Just don't tease him; he's obviou—"

Beyond's lips suddenly met Lawliet's, but unlike earlier, it was a gentle kiss. Lawliet pulled back as if he touched a hot stove, his cheeks red and his eyes wide.

"W-What was that for!?" Lawliet covered his mouth and averted Beyond's eyes.

Beyond laughed. "You actually didn't hit me or anything," and then he smiled, a surprised one. "Are you actually blushing?"

Lawliet slammed his fist into Beyond's nose, a cry escaping his brother's mouth as he fell off the top bunk. He was lying on the ground, grabbing at his bleeding nose and whimpering.

"Fuck you…!" Lawliet shouted, and then took off running out of the room in search of Mello.

After 15 minutes of exploring his new surroundings, he finally found Mello sitting in front of the TV, watching the news. As usual, reports of new killings from Kira were on. 13 new criminals had died in their jail cells.

The lights in the room were turned off, the light from the TV flashing against the floor and Mello's rocking body. The blonde never noticed anyone had come in; his eyes were still glued to the TV screen. The volume was set on low, but the voices rung in Lawliet's ears as if it were loud.

"Mello?" Lawliet asked quietly. He took one cautious step in, and then continued to advance closer and closer. Mello's eyes met Lawliet's gray ones, and then his blank expression turned into one of joy.

"Hey, L," Mello patted the spot beside him. Lawliet gladly sat down, strangely happy to finally be accepted by his fellow peer. "…Are you really looking… for Kira?"

Lawliet opened his mouth, ready to fib, but then decided against it at the last moment. What was the point in lying? Beyond and his dumb ass had already told the whole world. "Yeah… I am."

Mello set his eyes back on the TV screen, watching as the newscast interviewed the people who had lost their loved ones due to Kira. He gritted his teeth at the sight and curled his hands into tight fists, his knuckles white. "L…"

Lawliet looked at Mello's balled fist, and then placed his hand on top of it. He felt Mello relax underneath his gentle touch. "Yes?"

Mello closed his red lips against, staring at a blonde, overweight women cry as she told her heart felt story. He closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to ignore the sorry truth, but Lawliet could tell he was struggling. Did he really care this much? Had Kira done something to his family?

"Please…let me help you, L," Mello said quietly, but Lawliet heard him loud and clear. The blonde slowly opened his eyes again, tears gathering. One slipped down his cheek, plopping onto the carpet. "I want to help you get rid of Kira."

Lawliet wanted to say no, but the Mello looked so beat down. He wanted him to feel important. "…Of course."

And after that it was silent; Mello just rested his head on Lawliet's bony shoulder as they both watched the TV for hours. No one said a single word the whole time.

XXXX

L woke up crying in his sleep. He shot up in bed, eyes wide and cheeks tear stained. He gripped at his forehead, silently cursing himself for remembering Mello. Of course he didn't want to forget him; Mello was one of the most important things to him, but he just didn't want to remember him in such a way.

He looked around the room he was staying in. It was Near's room; the boy had insisted he slept in there. Random toys scattered the floor near the bunk bed L was lying in. The bedroom door was slightly open, the very dim light from the hallways spilling in.

"What's going on with me?" L asked himself quietly, wiping away the tears. "Is it Beyond who's making me so weak? That man… he should be in jail for life. Or better; killed."

But it was easier said than done. Killing Beyond meant a waste of knowledge. Knowledge that L could've used to his advantage. His twin brother was very useful in that department, but completely useful in all the others.

Suddenly L's phone began to ring. He reached out and felt around the white bedside dresser until he felt the shape of it. Taking the phone, he flipped it open and checked the Caller ID.

UNKOWN.

L pressed SEND anyway and pressed the phone against his ear.

"Hello?" His voice cracked as he spoke.

Silence.

L frowned. "Please don't waste my ti—"

"I guess I got the phone number right on my first try," a deep voice replied, and then chuckled. The "Hehn-Hehn-Hehn" was too familiar… and so was the voice… L froze.

"B….Beyond!?" L narrowed his eyes. "How'd you get my num—"

"Near," came his simple reply.

What the hell was Beyond talking about? Near never gave his phone number to anyway, and always kept his phone with him, at that. But… Beyond never lies. He had said that himself, and everything Beyond had told him was nothing but the truth.

And then L's eyes almost fell out of its eye sockets.

"Don't tell me you…!" It was so clear now! Near driving to Matt's house… Beyond suddenly getting L's number from the only person alive who knew it…. The phone call….! "What'd you do to Near!?"

There was a long rustling… and then silence.

"BEYO—"

"Wait; what was that? I think I'm losing you," Beyond replied. "Can you hear—?"

L snapped the phone shut, tossing it to the ground. He jumped out of bed and pulled on his white, long-sleeved T-shirt and blue jeans.

"If anything happens," Near had called to tell him earlier. "Then there's a loaded gun in my closet hidden in the toybox."

And if L knew Beyond by now, the psycho probably found his way into the building and was looking for L right about now. And that meant it was time to do what he was supposed to do a very long time ago.

L jumped over the piles of toys and opened the closet door with his clammy hands. At his feet was a brown cardboard box labeled 'TOYBOX'. L quickly opened it and fished through the sea of toys.

And then his hand met a familiar feeling cold metal. He gripped it and pulled it out, toys tumbling down as he did so. Fumed by anger and anxiety, L got to his feet, grabbed his phone, and stormed out of the room with it.

"….And there's another gun in the kitchen; second drawer. It's smaller, but it'll have to do if Beyond gets your first gun."

Luckily, the kitchen was only down the hallway from Near's room. L ran down the hallway with gun in hand, his index finger on the trigger just incase Beyond comes out of no where. He listened to his panting and light footsteps against the thin, gray carpet.

He entered the kitchen, surprised to see what was inside. Empty strawberry jam bottles had littered the floors and counters, the left over sticky contents lying around, also. Beyond had obviously been past here. Which meant…

L rushed to the designated drawer and pulled the smaller gun out, stuffing it down his jeans and into his underwear. Now, time to-

Suddenly L's phone began to ring, causing the man to jump in shock. He stood there for a while, listening to it, and then finally pulled it out of his back jeans pocket. He looked at the Caller ID.

UNKNOWN.

Wonderful. Beyond again.

L answered the phone with one hand while the other gripped the gun tightly. "What do you want, Beyond?"

"Why'd you hang up?" Beyond asked, mock hurt in his voice. "I was talking, you know."

L frowned as he looked around cautiously. "Where are you? I know you're in here."

Beyond clapped his mouth as if he were eating something. "Well," he answered. "I was in the kitchen, but then I got bored and went looking for you."

L slowly stepped out of the kitchen and looked down the dimly lit hallways. There was a shadow against the wall way down there, but quickly disappeared as if sensing L's presence.

"That's not answering my question; where are you?" L spoke slowly as he took his first step out into the hallways.

And then—

BAM! Before L could speak a gun was fired and the bullet went flying into the arm holding the gun. With a loud screech, L dropped the gun and fell to the floor, both intentionally and unintentionally.

"AARGH—damnitdamnitdamnit!" L dropped the phone and grabbed at the wound, blood endlessly spilling out of it and onto the floor. Even some splattered a bit onto the walls.

A deep, menacing laugh came from the phone on the ground nearby L's face. L sent a pain-filled glare the phone's way as if it were Beyond itself. What the hell was going on here? If this was a game of cat and mouse, L was the cat and Beyond was the mouse; not the other way around…! But, Beyond always seemed to turn the tables. Even as children, Beyond got the upper hand.

"Why are you chasing me, Lawliet?" Beyond asked before he made a noise that sounded as if he were slurping back up his runaway spit. "I don't like being followed; I do the following. Just like when we're fucking. Remember that wonderful night when I had first escaped my jail cell? How I choked you and fucked you? I don't like being fucked; I do the fucking. And, Lawliet, if this is the way you want to end things, then I'll let you end things. It's my life or yours…"

L refused to speak, fear gnawing at his insides.

"…Which one will you choose….? But the real question is: Which one will I choose…? Well… let the games begin…"

And then the line went dead, followed by a loud laugh that echoed down the hallways. But, the laugh wasn't from the phone. It was just a few feet away, in perfect earshot.

L grabbed his gun, and jumped to his feet, despite the pain. He abandoned the phone and ran down the hallway opposite to where he saw the shadow. Beyond had perfect aim; there was no mistaking it. From down the hallway and around the corner his twin brother had managed to get his thin arm perfectly and quickly, knocking the gun out of his hand.

"Ergh; God…" L winced as the blood left a huge stain on his once-perfect white T-shirt.

BAM. Before L had a chance to turn the corner, which was only two footsteps away, another gunshot hit its target: right into L's left leg. With another screech, L fell onto the wall, using it as his lean on. He panted hard, sweat beginning to form on his upper lip and forehead. He was so scared out of his mind that his body shook. Beyond was going to kill him! Fucking kill him! L was very skilled with a gun himself, but that was useless when you couldn't see your target! But, apparently Beyond saw him, and that was all that mattered. He was going to die without ever actually seeing his enemy.

L, desperate, began limping his way, and successfully turned the corner before any more gunshots flew his way. He was inhaling sharply, and exhaling slowly. He had never been so frightened in his whole life; even when he was raped by Beyond in his apartment was he ever this scared. Just imagining Beyond with a gun in his pale hands made L want to run for his life. Not that he could anymore. Limping was his only choice, and that wouldn't take him very far at all.

Another laugh erupted, but it was even closer than previously. It was very loud, like rock music set in between low and high, and actually sounded like it was getting joy out of this.

BAM. L was shot in his back. With another screech, and the air knocked out of him, L fell onto the ground. His gun fell out of his hand and glided slightly away from him, but the chamber was pointed directly at his forehead. Was it some kind of sign? L didn't want to know.

L looked up at the shaking hallway in front of him. Everything looked so much bigger from on the floor, and despite his blurry vision, he could still see an elevator door only a little ways away.

L could now hear his own heavy panting as he used his uninjured arm to drag his defenseless body to the elevator. Using one hand only took him so far with each pull, but he was fucking desperate. His vision was slowly dying; those eyelids wanting to close so badly, but he couldn't let them. That would be admitting defeat, and he was no quitter.

Blood was left in his wake as he dragged. And dragged. And dragged. He heard light footsteps, but he didn't want to look back. His full attention was getting in the fucking elevator.

"Where the hell are you going, Lawli-pop?" That deep, menacing voice was almost directly behind him. L didn't like the mockery in it; not one bit. Beyond was making fun of him; teasing him.

In a surge of anger, L used his uninjured hand to grab the extra, smaller gun and flipped around, pointed the gun directly at Beyond's face, and shot. BAM.

Beyond hiss-screamed, blood splattering onto the wall beside him. He clutched his face and fell backwards, the Derringer in his hand falling along with him.

With that, L continued to pull himself towards the elevator, now faster and more desperate. He had to get the fuck away from this lunatic before he got mad. And when Beyond Birthday got mad, hell was in place.

When getting close enough, L reached his hand out to touch the down arrow button. He had to crawl so close to the wall that his stomach was up against it, his index finger just barely touching the very edge of the button.

"L…" Beyond said quietly. L slowly looked over to find Beyond on his knees, head bent forward and hand clutching at his head. Blood dripped between his fingertips and was just gushing out, landing on the carpet. L began to try harder to press the button, escape only a small inch away.

"I'm done playing games…" Beyond continued, slowly and deeply. The hand that wasn't clutching his forehead quickly grabbed his Derringer and pointed it at L's hand, which had just pressed the elevator button. "…IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO BECOME MINE!"

The elevator door glided open, and L, frightened and tired, began to pull himself ins—

BAM.

XXXX

Or is it the finale? You'll have to wait to find out. ;D