Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note.

Watari watched as a fuzzy scene of children playing was shown. It was followed by more children playing, and one crying off alone. The sound of a the gears of the clock tower overtook the cries as more scenes flashed of the orphanage and a church. The clock started ringing on a scene of snow falling, with himself standing there holding a young L's hand in front of the gate.

It gave off an entirely too ominous feeling for his orphanage, and it didn't bode well for the content of this episode.

Light managed to pause it,"Is that you, Ryuzaki?"

"I don't remember my early life that well."The detective replied.

The inventor smiled,"That is him."He confirmed.

"And that's the orphanage?"The college student turned to look at him.

"It is."He nodded again,"It is a much friendlier place than what you've been shown, I assure you, and the other images are from the church just down the road."

"It's Ryuzaki's point of view."Light noted,"And a new environment can be overwhelming."

He was probably correct. It had taken L longer than most children to adapt to the orphanage. He never truly integrated himself with the other children. He didn't make enemies, but he wouldn't have considered the other children his friends either. It had taken a lot of time for the house to become his home.

"Let's just continue."L stole the control back,"My past is irrelevant."

No, the focus of that wasn't his past. It was the clock tower, more specifically, the bells that chimed.

The scene cut like an old film, fading to the future, where he was sitting behind his many screens. It was once again from L's point of view as the young man stared at him. It then switched to a different perspective as he turned to see the young man, inquiring if something was wrong.

It was one of those few times where L seemed vulnerable, where he needed him. He could tell just by looking at him. It was rare for him to see him in person when he could just as easily communicate with him through the computer. A personal drop in meant a personal reason, and he half wondered if he was scared of his impending death, or if he wanted specific preparations made.

They didn't get to hear what his concern was before the scene switched again, this time to L sitting on the couch as he asked Rem questions about the capabilities of the Death Note.

He noted that Kira was still there, despite being free to leave.

"I'm not in the mood for love or anything else right now."

Not that Kira would be able to love.

He noted the edge in Kira's voice. Where there would have been a lilt of teasing in the younger Yagami's, now there was steel. What should have been a harmless sentence suddenly felt a lot more threatening. Was that because he knew he was Kira or would he be able to pick up on it if he were to regain his memories here? The staring was even different, no more curiosity or openness.

It went to Misa getting dressed, Light's instructions overlaying her actions. The promise of a new world as long as she continued to kill criminals for him. She finished getting dressed in her strange outfit as the chimes of another clock went off. Then she began to sing as she walked through the city.

It was a haunting melody with matching lyrics.

"Careful what you do, cause God is watching your every move."

She truly did worship him. She felt safe with that murderer around. She thought that Kira would help her if she ever got into trouble again, she put all her trust into a being that didn't deserve it. Even her eyes seemed dull, as though she were only a doll, something inanimate that the criminal could manipulate to his liking.

"But what happens when I know it all, then what should I do after that?"

He raised his eyebrows. Was that doubt? Or did she know that there was only so much time before she wasn't useful to Kira anymore, and she didn't know what she would do once she was cast to the side? As she sang that last line she looked out over the edge of the bridge she was standing on.

"That was creepy."Matt commented, shifting slightly closer to Mello.

"Fucking creepy."The blond agreed.

He wondered if it had dawned on the second rank that L would likely be dying in this episode. From the way Matt looked prepared to intervene, he hadn't. Near also shifted so he could prevent an outburst. He hoped the two of them could handle the third member of their little trio.

The task force reassembled once the deaths started up again. Chief Yagami, Aizawa, Matsuda, and Mogi all looked confused. Kira played the role admirably, but still not well enough to trick L, who immediately made the connection to Misa. His suspicion of Kira also increased as he considered the possibility of using a torn off piece of the Death Note to kill.

The connections Kira wanted him to make in front of Rem.

"Thirteen days. That's the only problem."

He was going to test the rule to prove that Misa and Light were the Kiras he knew them to be.

"The least we can do is execute the killer!"

"It's not a very humane way to do things, but the higher-ups would probably want to take measures like that."

Watari could see the brilliance of Kira's plan. It depended on L doing his job and investigating thoroughly once he had reason to believe that the thirteen day rule was incorrect. As long as the detective played his role he was signing his own death warrant. The Shinigami came to the same realization, and started cursing Kira in her head. He really did have everything planned out in his favor.

"The only way for me to save Misa is to write Ryuzaki's real name in my notebook."

Which would kill her. Leaving Kira with no opposition that he knew about.

"You know if she were smart she'd kill Kira anyways."Mello said.

"But that would make Misa unhappy."Near shook his head.

"Because he's going to make her oh so happy without the threat of death."The blond rolled his eyes.

"Rem won't kill Light."Misa said stubbornly,"That isn't an option."

It was too bad they hadn't convinced her to be that protective over all their lives.

'In a snowstorm it always seemed, for a time, as if there were no enemies. In a snowstorm the wind would blow a gale; but it blew in a white cleanness and the air was full of a driving whiteness and all things were changed and when the wind stopped there would be the stillness.'

The quote came to mind as L watched himself stand in the rain. He was half turned away from Kira, who asked him what he was doing up there. He signalled that he couldn't hear the younger man, who shouted the question. When he still didn't answer, the college student went out into the rain to speak to him.

Perhaps Kira wasn't a hurricane, but a snowstorm. He had made him think there were no enemies close to him, only the distant Yotsuba group. He had created that moment of stillness, the illusion that it was over, the brief time in between Higuchi's death and Misa reclaiming her position as the second Kira. A moment of calm, where the world stood still.

Natural disasters served as a reminder that humans would never be completely in control of their own lives. Just as he was no longer in control of his own. He couldn't abandon the investigation, not even to save himself. He didn't think he was capable of giving up after getting that far, but he knew that if he continued he would certainly face an end in Rem's Death Note.

'There was a big storm and he might as well enjoy it. It was ruining everything, but you might as well enjoy it.'

Kira had certainly ruined his life. Unknowingly, Light Yagami had as well.

But somehow, he couldn't bring himself to hate him.

"It's just…I hear the bell."

How fitting. The book he'd been thinking of was For Whom The Bell Tolls.

Though Watari had been mistaken. The church in his flashback was not the same as the one near Wammy's, though it had always reminded him of it. It was the one from the funeral of his mother. He'd spent the entire time staring up at the ceiling because it was easier than looking at all the false sympathy around him. He could analyze the patterns there.

He'd never acted how people wanted him to. With his mother gone, he knew he was expected to show external grief, but he'd never been that attached to her. As he got older he figured out her resentment of him stemmed from his appearance. He looked too much like his father, and he died earlier in his life. After that she hadn't been his mother so much as someone who made sure he didn't die.

Still, that was the first time he was ever called a monster.

The monster who didn't even cry for his own mother.

He wondered if the funeral Watari would throw him would be shown. The task force would have to have something separate, since they weren't to know of the heirs in the future, which meant they wouldn't be able to know about Wammy's. He wondered what Kira's false mourning would look like. If that monster could manage a few tears for his most hated enemy.

"I wonder if it's a church…maybe a wedding, or perhaps a…"

"A funeral."Light finished, moving closer to grab his hand,"I'm so sorry, Ryuzaki."

He managed a small smile,"This isn't your fault."

"I can be sorry for your death even if it isn't my fault."He shot back.

On the screen, his future self said something self-depreciating. Kira made a noise of interest, but then seemed puzzled about why he was looking down, somber. While he was certain the Light with him would have tried to say something comforting or gotten angry at his depression, Kira went to dismiss his depression, turning it into a joke.

"There would be no end to my troubles if I actually took you seriously all the time."

He was bad at communicating exactly what he meant, especially to normal people who followed the many silent rules of interaction he ignored.

"But…I could say the same about you."

He was bad at communicating, but he didn't put on airs. He didn't try to portray himself as someone he wasn't unless it was for a case, and even then it was typically a change of name and his personality largely stayed the same. He had people he could be himself around, even if they were few in number, but he would have nothing but trouble if he considered every mask of Light's to be the real Light.

"From the moment you were born, has there ever been a point where you've actually told the truth?"

Light flinched at the question, but Kira just stared at him as the sound of rain stopped. Kira gave a long explanation about how lying was sometimes necessary, the same argument he himself would use to justify his deceptions, Light moved closer to him,"I have never been more honest than I have today."He squeezed his hand.

In the future, the two of them went back inside. He wasn't sure where the towels came from, but Kira sat on the top step drying his hair. He wandered over to him with a towel around his shoulders. The murderer was focused on his hair, and barely noticed him until he picked up one of his feet.

He felt a ghost of a smirk grow on his face. He was still able to unsettle him, even as Kira.

"I can give you a massage as well."

"L…"Mello groaned,"This is so awkward to watch."

It was a dramatic moment. He glanced at his heirs. Near had a confused frown on his face,"He's your suspect."

That didn't mean he couldn't care about him. It just meant that he shouldn't.

"I think it's cute."Matt shrugged,"In a weird way."

L decided to ignore their comments. They were unused to him doing anything like this, so naturally it would make them uncomfortable. The task force seemed more or less accustomed to the unusual intensity involved in their interactions.

"You're still soaked."

He wondered if there was anything of Light left in this future Kira. He dried his hair enough so that it stopped dripping on him, before simply staring down at him as he continued washing his feet.

Foot washing meant a few things to different people, but his mind was drawn to the religious context. When Jesus washed the feet of his disciples he intended to show them that they were equal. That the leader was no greater than the servants, and he did it to purge their hearts of selfish ambition. The lowly act killed their pride. It taught them selfless love.

Jesus also washed the feet of Judas before the disciple betrayed him.

He was no Jesus, he had no divine power within him, he couldn't wash away another's sins, no matter how much he would like to.

But he had hoped to be the savior to the boy he still was chained to.

"I'm sorry."

He had failed in the future. He listened to the sad sounds of the piano playing as it showed him continuing to dry the other's feet. His instrument, playing all alone without the interruption of a guitar or drums. A lone piano.

"It'll be lonely, won't it?"

"It will be."Light whispered, as his future self got confused by the question,"And I think Kira will be as well."

As much of a thrill as there was at winning a challenge, there was also a sense of loss once a competition was done. When their game was over…it would be boring.

"You never kill anyone you want to kill in a war."He muttered.

"What's that from?"Light inquired as a phone call interrupted their moment.

"Oh thank God."Mello complained.

"For Whom The Bell Tolls."He answered, getting a flash of recognition.

"Hemingway?"The college student tilted his head,"I've only read A Farewell to Arms."

He was surprised he had read any,"A romance?"

"It is a war novel."He drew his hand back.

He chuckled, quickly deciding on a scene,"And you'll always love me won't you?"He quoted the scene that foreshadowed her death.

"Yes."Light humored him.

"And the rain won't make any difference?"

"No."

"That's good."He held out his hand,"Because I'm afraid of the rain."

There wasn't much time left for this episode. His death as it would have been, and still could be, was about to be shown. He could see it coming, but it was only natural to fear death. Even if they were only watching it.

"I can keep you safe."Light drew closer to him, taking his hand again,"I know I can."

That brought a smile to his face,"Nobody can help themselves."

The warmth of Light reassured him that the future they were watching would not come to pass. He wouldn't allow it to.

Matt had thought the foot thing was a little weird, but if Mello was going to just take things at face value that didn't leave him much time to really prepare. So he had to miss teasing L over it. The entire thing had been a strange version of an apology and a goodbye. It had been an admission that L knew he was going to die.

Of course, his friend was too far in denial to see how this episode was going to end.

L announced his plan to test the thirteen day rule. The rest of the task force protested such an extreme measure. He did too, but he didn't voice it out loud since he knew where this was going.

The detective wouldn't live to be able to test the rule.

"If we work this out, the entire case will be solved."

The storm worsened, and at the flash of thunder the power temporarily went out. The screens darkened to an ominous whiteish red. It switched immediately to show Rem standing behind Watari. He was struggling through his heart attack to press the button behind the screen, but managed to delete all the data before he collapsed to the floor.

"Fuck."He whispered as he noticed Light whispering to L. The great detective hadn't been expecting Watari to die, and neither had he. Nothing the Shinigami had been thinking suggested that she thought it necessary for the old man to die too.

He wasn't close to Wammy personally, but the man had opened his home up to any wayward geniuses. If it wasn't for him, he'd probably be a criminal in Serbia. His age was the only thing that saved him back then. It wouldn't save him now. He also wouldn't have met Mello, or Near, or any of his other friends.

He was a good guy. He didn't deserve to die like that.

Mello tensed, his entire body unmoving as he watched the scene. Near met his gaze on the other side and they both prepared for him to start screaming.

Future L was shaken by Watari's death. It took him a moment to realize that Rem was no longer in the room with them. The other members of the task force panicked.

"Everyone! The Shiniga-"

They could hear his heart beat its last while the chorus behind it let out one last emphatic Kira.

Time slowed on screen as L's spoon fell out of his hand. He started to fall to one side, his body glowing red from the screen. Red. Kira's color. They all watched as Kira stared at him. He didn't look triumphant yet, and then he lunged forward to catch the body, crashing to the floor at the same time.

Bells rang as L saw his life flash before his eyes. He wondered what it meant that he thought of Wammy's in his final moments. The entire time the church bells kept ringing. For a moment, he thought Kira actually looked like he was regretting arranging his death, but once the images settled they showed him smirking. L's eyes slowly closed, that face the last thing he saw.

He died.

L actually died.

How could he just die?

That felt impossible, but there it was, being shown to them. It's what would have happened, should have happened.

Rem killed L. That's what they had in their future if Light didn't talk to Misa.

He wanted to hate Light, but he couldn't. Not after hearing his yelling when Kira took over. He also wouldn't hold future actions against him unless he thought the present Light capable of doing it. He got mad at the insinuation of torture cause he knew L would torture Higuchi if he didn't give him what he wanted.

If the hand holding and almost declarations were any indication, present Light would not do anything to hurt L. He almost looked as devastated as the rest of them, but again, they had basically all seen it coming.

If this were real though…he'd be in as much shock as Mello.

This could have happened.

Then Kira started screaming. He was almost amused by their attempts to protect themselves from the indefensible, but he kept glancing back to his best friend. Was he in shock?

Kira demanded the Shinigami come out, using that as an excuse to search for Rem's remains. He found them and her Death Note, which he tucked into the waist band of his pants before calling for the others to come to the room.

"I swear I'll avenge Ryuzaki's death!"

Damn, he was a good liar.

He'd really be a challenging opponent. He was almost scared of what he was capable of, even as Light Yagami.

But he was also scared of what Mello could do and he didn't let that get in the way of their friendship, because it only mattered what he did do.

"We put our lives on the line when we chose to be here."

Man, when he said that he sounded like L. Matsuda even said so. But the entire time he was talking at the end his eyes were shielded by his bangs. It wasn't until he was walking down the hall alone, and a flash of lightning revealed his eyes, that they could see they were red and his expression was sinister.

"I am the God of the new world!"

Huh. That meant it was their time to shine, right?

The ending music snapped Mello out of whatever funk he'd gotten himself into, and he leapt to his feet,"You fucking asshole!"He shouted, and Matt wasn't sure who he was yelling at. He got prepared to tackle the other to the floor as he stepped closer,"You promised me you were going to fucking win and this is what happened?"

He started towards the duo, and he leapt. He was the only person Mello wouldn't injure in a fight, but even he got elbowed. All the time, he was still shouting,"You fucking saw this coming, you dick!"

"Calm down."He tried to reason with him,"This hasn't happened yet."

"He fucking promised me!"He caught his arm, pinning it and then the other. At least when he was this emotional he was less coordinated.

"I know."Fuck, that was the wrong thing to say, even though he did know. He knew how much L and the position of L meant to his best friend.

"What the fuck do you know?"His friend hissed, and he was stunned enough that he loosened his grip. He was forcefully thrown to the side,"You don't even care!"

Right, he couldn't take anything irrational Mello said to heart, because ouch, he fucking cared otherwise he wouldn't put up with half this shit,"You need to calm down."

"You're being overemotional."Near said, rising from his spot,"Think about this rationally."

Nope, not the right thing to say either.

"At least I actually feel something, you fucking robot!"Mello yelled.

Matt reacted without thinking. He threw himself forward and punched him across the face. Shit. He definitely wasn't on top of his game right now, but he wasn't scared anymore to say Near was his friend and he didn't deserve his insults.

Still, he was better than this, normally. Maybe he was a little more shaken from the episode than he thought.

It made Mello freeze, then he returned the punch,"Of course you'd side with the sheep."

"Mello-"L rose from his seat.

"I don't fucking want to hear it!"He snapped, moving quickly to the door,"Don't follow me!"

He laid on the floor and groaned, staring at the ceiling. Near knelt next to him,"Your nose is bleeding."

"Is it?"He couldn't give a damn if it was.

Aizawa knelt on his other side and helped him sit up,"Sure is."

"I should go after him."Matt tried to rise.

"You should worry about yourself."Near muttered,"Did you punch him for me?"

"He shouldn't have called you a robot."The computer genius took Aizawa's offered hand,"You're my friend too, Near. He shouldn't talk to you like that."

"Thank you."The white-haired kid muttered as he was led off to the side.

He noticed L unlocking the cuffs and going after Mello. Good, if he'd brought Light he'd only have made it worse. Light grabbed Misa's arm, and led her away, so hopefully that would solve that. He saw Near grab the left behind notebook to begin reviewing, moving to the computer Matsuda wasn't on.

It looked like they were taking another break then.