Haeliegh – this chapter's for you ;)

ShadowDancer – I know I promised you this chapter, but I'll dedicate the next chapter to you because I couldn't come up with any puzzles for this one! haha I know you will catch all of my puzzles xD

RaspberryBloodTablets- you're incredible. Love you, oneechan!

ArtistofLight- I'll try to update once a week for your cravings! xD

And to my darling BB (you know who you are) – clean up your jam next time you come over. Stop leaving it smeared all over the place. Love you 3

Alright, now on with the show…

Chapter 12: Dove & Grenade, part 1

Ryuk returned to Light's bedroom, releasing his restraints and passing him a fresh set of clothes that one of the guards had hunted down for him. Light had been captive for a few days, and in most of that time, he had been naked. Ryuk enjoyed seeing Light's naked flesh, but he knew the caramel would appreciate some clothing.

Besides, Lawliet had just arrived back at Wammy's several minutes before.

Ryuk checked his cell phone, noting the time: 9:30 p.m.

Nearly show time.

"Thanks," Light mumbled, taking the clothes and quickly putting them on. The long black pants were too big on him and dragged on the floor, but Light didn't complain. The white t-shirt was plain but clean, and fit him snugly. Light ran a hand over his scuffed wrist, making Ryuk feel bad that the kid had red welts from the manacles.

"It's nearly time," Ryuk said, sitting in the white chair, juggling an apple he had swiped from the massive gourmet kitchen, "Lawliet's back."

Light nodded, his brown eyes giving away nothing. That made Ryuk a little worried: Light was smart, no doubt, but of course he had no idea of how to get out of this situation. Ryuk hoped that Light kept reason and didn't try to do anything too stupid or juvenile while they both tried to play this game and get out.

Of course Ryuk had no intention of leaving QW, but he was genuinely trying to save Light. If anything, Ryuk had completely disobeyed L and potentially destroyed himself in "lying" to the recording systems.

He had outsmarted Lawliet, in a sense. Which did not make Ryuk feel the least bit better about the situation. If anything, it made him more paranoid. Only one person had ever outsmarted Lawliet, and that person was BB.

Of course Lawliet had lost a handful of bets, wagers, and games, but Ryuk was not one to consider this plan a victory. He wanted Light but knew that Lawliet would not hesitate to hack the teen to pieces if Soichiro did not release BB.

It was all in the hands of Light's father: the outcome of the game rested in his hands.

There was a knock on the door and Marshmallow popped his head in, his face blank of emotion, "Buchou summons you. The theatre."

Ryuk nodded, not surprised. Lawliet was known for being eccentric: the house even sported a small plush movie theatre that could accommodate up to fifty people in velvet-soft chairs. The news was hitting the big screen for this proclamation that decided the fate of a college student.

Ryuk sighed, "Don't be stupid. Don't even think about running. Follow me."

Light actually gulped at Ryuk's tone: it had become quite dark. Light didn't trust him in the slightest, but at the moment, he was the only alliance he had. Light would have to play along to survive in this new world. It was the only option.

He nodded, seeing Ryuk relax a little bit as he led him out of the bedroom and into the labyrinth of hallways.

Soichiro Yagami paced back and forth, his few coworkers staring at him like he was a terrifying caged lion. Aizawa stood off to the side, his arms folded over his chest, his jaw set in determination: the entire news station was running around as if they were being pillaged. There was complete disorganization as station managers barked orders to camera men, makeup artists scattered to do their work, and the newscasters took their places, talking excitedly and animatedly to each other about tonight's "special presentation."

It all made Soichiro ill. How could everyone be so carefree about this? It would definitely boost the station's ratings, but there was the life of a young man on the line. Of course the nation would eat that right up: drama and bloodshed always got attention.

But there was no going back now. There was no other way.

"Mr. Yagami," a grunt assistant gestured with a clipboard, "please take your place over there."

Yagami nodded, feeling sick. His legs were actually numbing under all the stress and were shaky as he made his way to the desk as Aizawa sent him worried looks.

He sat. The lights blazed to life, red dots flashed as cameras turned on the newscasters, the manager yelling the countdown, "3, 2, 1…and we're live!"

The jingle music began, the cameras panning, the red dots of the video feed blinking, all the lights seeming to crush Soichiro. He could hear the newscasters introduce themselves with smiles as bright as the lights, giving a quick introduction to the crisis at hand and how Chief of Defense Soichiro Yagami had joined them for the evening to make an announcement to the "terrorist" known simply as Ryuzaki.

This was it. There was no going back. Soichiro took a steadying breath and stared deep into the lenses of the camera that seemed inches from his face.

He had made his decision.

"Are you nervous?" Lawliet asked Light, taking a bite of something that smelled extremely sweet.

"No," Light said, sounding confident, "My father isn't like you. He will do the right thing."

"And what is that? The right thing?" L said, looking curious, "What is the right thing? Soichiro is, at his core, a cop. To a cop, the right thing would be to keep Beyond Birthday from being free, to keep the world safe from his murderous intentions. But to a father, a sense of morality would blind his brain and demand a son be returned to his father. Do you believe your father will save you?"

Light did not answer: he knew, deep in his heart, there was a chance Soichiro would not save him. After all, the life of a college student, no matter how brilliant, seemed a small price to pay to keep a serial killer under lock and key for the rest of his miserable life. But neither could Light picture his father, his noble, caring father, sacrificing him with a stone-cold face on national television.

Light looked over to L, meeting his eyes, his face calm, "He will do what is right. I believe in his decision. If I must die for the sake of justice, then so be it."

Light watched as L actually dropped the small sweet treat he had been snacking on, his face betraying nothing. Apparently though, Light had managed to surprise his captor.

"Justice is eternal," Light said, turning his eyes back to the screen which was now featuring his father's face, "human life is finite. No matter what he decides…I will still love him."

"Even if he betrays you? Forsakes you?" L asked quietly, his eyes also riveted to the giant movie screen.

"Yes," Light said, not able to help his grin, "even then. Everything happens for a reason: I believe in fate, Ryuzaki."

L grinned to himself, his head resting on his hand, "As do I, Light-kun."

Ryuk, L, and Light stared silently at the screen as Soichiro was introduced, his face as impassive as stone, his black eyes hard as diamonds. Light felt tears prick at his eyes, but he would be strong. He would not cry. He would face this as a man, like his father was doing now.

"Ryuzaki," Soichiro began, his voice strong, "There are no words to describe the heinous crime you have committed. Not only have you kidnapped an innocent youth, but you have threatened the precarious balance that justice obtains. I, Chief of Defense Soichiro Yagami, declare war against you and everything you stand for. I will not allow my department to stand idle while you reak terror and destroy order in our growing nation. You have proven yourself to be a dangerous enemy; you must be a man of great knowledge and great resources. As of now, I am not ashamed to say that I respect your intelligence, but that intelligence is being wasted on a life of darkness and destruction. Light Yagami is my son: I cherish him with all of my heart. He has made me the proudest father in the world; he has never disappointed me. I know, even now, if he is in fact still alive, he is not allowing himself to be corrupted by your twisted thinking. I raised him to be a man of justice: you cannot tarnish that, Ryuzaki, no matter how many videos you send me of your unspeakable acts."

"As for the department's answer," Soichiro paused, looking dead into the camera, his face looking ten years older in that moment, "I am unable to meet your demands. I cannot allow the convicted killer Beyond Birthday to be released from confinement. The balance of justice cannot tolerate it. I, as a detective, have prevailed, while as a father, I have failed. I can only hope and pray that you come to good sense and allow my innocent son to go free. He has nothing to do with our war, Ryuzaki, neither does he have a part in Beyond Birthday's confinement. Please, I beg you, Ryuzaki, let him free."

Light sat, stunned, unable to move. Yes, he had known this was a possibility, but…to have it actually happen…

He knew L was studying him now, looking for his reaction. The voice on the screen continued: "In these extreme circumstances, it has been arranged for Beyond Birthday to be executed by lethal injection in the next 24 hours. You demanded blood, Ryuzaki, and you have taken all of mine. My veins are hollow without my son. Therefore, I must return the favor. Your ally, your friend, however you view this killer, will be gone from this world as surely as you take the life from my son. His crimes, after all, are deserving of death. Be thankful it is by lethal injection and not my bare hands, Ryuzaki. That is all."

The screen changed as a young beautiful reporter by the name of Naomi took over, offering her condolences and finishing off the presentation with a call to justice: "Rest assured, the Department of Safety and Defense is doing everything in its power to keep citizens safe. Corruption will not triumph over justice any longer."

The screen suddenly went blank, as the next news stories were not relevant to L's game.

Ryuk sat quietly, still processing what Soichiro had said. He had done it. He had sacrificed Light for the good of mankind. But he had not given up: he had not allowed L to win. Would they really kill BB? Was he in fact already dead? They had not announced when the execution would take place, obviously for safety and security reasons, but…it was still all making Ryuk sick.

Light. Light was going to die?

"Well," L said, standing up, his hands in his jean pockets, "quite a moving performance by your old man, neh?"

Light still sat unmoving, his brain finally numbing to the truth.

"I knew there was a possibility of this occurring," L continued, moving towards Light and putting a finger on Light's chin to lift it up, "but I miscalculated. That chance was much higher than I originally planned."

Light stared defiantly into Ryuzaki's eyes, refusing to go down without a fight. L stared back, his dark obsidian eyes boring into his caramel ones, "What a waste. Simply a waste. BB will be free. There is not going to be an execution. Soon, there will not be an institution either. Your father sacrificed you for nothing, Light-kun."

Light still stared defiantly, but he could not hold back the burning tears as they slid down his cheek. L ran a finger over one of the wet trails, lifting it to his mouth and licking it, "Absolutely nothing."

Wowza, L's a cold-hearted bastard xD

…I think this is one of the shortest chapters I've ever done, but I wanted to leave it at something dramatic (and remember, the shorter the chapter, usually the faster the updates!) well…for me, anyways ;D

Will BB be executed? What's L's back-up plan? Will Light be dismembered and shipped through UPS? Will Ryuk manage to persuade L? Will L reveal his true identity to Light? Will Near reveal his secret footage? Will BB get around to killing that poor kid Mikey? And where the hell is Matt and Mello?!

PLEASE REVIEW! ;3