A/N: Alright guys, the story's getting kinda long here, so I'm thinking of ending this around the time when Mello and Near take over in L's place, then starting a new story around the time when they're the one's in charge. Let me know what you think, because I could either write a new story after Mello leaves Wammy's, or continue on in this story.

Reviews appreciated

Enjoy! :)

(Matt P.O.V)

It had been a few years later before anything relatively exciting happened again at Wammy's again. Before then, everything was just everyday things. We learned, we played, and the days came and went. Mello and I were growing bored of the everyday lifestyle. We ended up wreaking havoc and getting into trouble when we were done with class. Some stuff we got away with. Others… not so much.

We were teenagers now, but the hormones didn't kick in for another two or three years. Mello was verging on fourteen, and I would be thirteen until February. I would never tell him this either, but he still carried a very effeminate form even as a teen. I think he failed to realize that he sometimes sashayed when he walked, or flipped his hair in a rather… girly sort of way.

But, he was still Mello.

He still defended me from bullies, still kicked ass when people deserved it, and still hated Near for being top of the class. He hadn't changed much over the years, other than his physical form. Losing all his baby-fat, almost sickly sort of thin, and he went about keeping himself clean and kept together. Myself? I pretty much stayed the same. The only thing that really changed about me was my physique. I had gotten stronger, despite my hours on my video games, and was only starting to lose my baby-fat. I couldn't complain much though.

Near had stayed exactly the same as always. He still looked like a child to the untrained eye, and his more noticeable features – like his white hair – were still in place. He was like a statue that never moved. I almost suspected he'd remain this way for the rest of his life. But maybe I just wasn't paying attention enough to him.

As for L… well, you've probably guessed as much.

Speaking of which, I think now we're getting to the more interesting part of our story. Well, if you wanna call it that.

We were hanging around in L's room while he worked on a small case near London itself. Mello was studying for exams, as per usual, I was playing on my DS system – which L had gotten for my thirteenth birthday, complete with games – and Near was creating a card castle on the floor. Not much was said between us until Watari had shown up.

He had handed a folder to L and the man quietly looked it over. He didn't seem chiefly interested until he got to the end of the page. That's when his eyes began to widen just a bit.

I was brought from my game when I heard L say, "And they have no leads? Just that they're heart attacks?"

"Precisely." Watari commented. "The first of these were major criminals. I thought you may want to look into this, considering…" he paused.

We all suddenly looked at him. What was he avoiding?

L too was looking up at the old man in curiosity. "Considering?"

Watari sighed. "Considering one of the victims… was B."

The room fell silent. We couldn't believe for a second what we had just heard. B… had been killed.

L seemed the most surprised by this. "B? Are you sure?"

Watari nodded. "It would seem he was telling the truth. He knew his time was up. It was good you went to see him when you did."

That's right.

L had gone to Los Angeles to see Backup when he was in prison. Mello had told me about him going on a killing spree and almost committed suicide in the process. He had even changed his name to Beyond Birthday. But, how had he been killed? How could anyone get to him?

L put the papers down. "Well then, Watari. It would seem we have important matters to attend to."

"Where do we begin?" The old man asked politely.

"We start by going to Japan. I'll explain why later."

"Of course. I will go pack he bags." Watari then left swiftly. Leaving us to speak with L.

"What's going on?" Mello began. "What was Watari talking about? Who killed Beyond?"

"We don't know yet. But it would seem that someone has been inflicting heart attacks on criminals around the globe. One of them was B. This is unlike any other case I've been involved in. I'm sure there's an answer to all this, but it's still puzzling."

"Well," I started, "we all know how much you love puzzles."

L gave a small grin at me. "I'm afraid there may be more to it than just a puzzle. Still, I'm not one to back down from a challenge. I'll be leaving tonight, at the latest."

"So soon? This must be of interest to you." Mello added.

"Not only that, but I believe I owe this to Backup… to Beyond. He was a criminal, but he was also a member here at the Wammy house. I just pushed him too far." He said the last part so quietly that I almost didn't catch it.

Near still hadn't said anything yet, but I knew he was listening. The kid didn't really talk much these days. And when he did, there was something unnerving about the way he spoke. It was hollow, almost unfeeling. I worried that there was something wrong with him.

I shook my head. "You think you can catch him before Christmas?"

L hummed a bit. "No, I don't. This may take longer than normal. But I'm certain I can find whoever's committing this outrageous crime."

Mello nodded happily. "No doubt in my mind that you can."

I only shrugged. We all thought L would find this guy in no time. He as L. How could he not? Still, something nagged me that this was all a bad idea. I mean, the murderer and gotten to Beyond. Beyond and hell knows who else. Would he have been able to get to L? No, he couldn't have been able to. L was as careful as could be. There was no way.

L stepped down from his seat. Before he said a word though, he looked at the three of us. There was something in his eyes I hadn't seen before. It looked almost like fear, or maybe he was thinking too much again. I don't know. Maybe I was just trying to read something that wasn't there.

He scratched the back of his head. "Perhaps I should choose soon."

"Choose?" Mello perked at the word. "You mean… for your successor?"

L stood for a moment before nodding. "I've just realized the danger here, and I don't want to leave anything I may regret."

Even Near seemed to jump at the news. Was L really going to choose his successor? Right now?

Mello stepped in once again. "Stop it. You know that guy won't be able to get anywhere close to you. No one's smarter than you, not even us!" He then grinned a little bit. "Mind you, it wouldn't be too terrible to know who you're considering."

I rolled my eyes. Mello had been waiting for a day like this since… forever. Poor guy was going stir crazy from waiting.

L grinned at Mello. "Maybe I should wait until I return. Give you a chance to catch up to Near."

"L, I want to learn NOW." Mello pleaded. "C'mon, we've been waiting for years, and now when you decided to bring it up you try to cast it away again? No way! Give us some information about your successor."

L looked at the blonde for a few minutes before caving in. "The most I can tell you right now, is that it's between you and Near." He looked at me then. "I apologize, Matt."

I shrugged. "I'm cool with it. As long as Mello and I can work together, I don't care whether I'm L or not."

L nodded at that. "Very well then. I still have to decide between the two of you. Until then, keep in mind that I think the two of you are both equally able of being my successor. Which one I will choose… is the next question to answer."

When L walked out of the room then, Mello slumped back into his seat. "Well, I'm close."

"Could be worse." I stated.

"How?"

I chuckled a bit. "Could be between you and Stephanie."

I hadn't seen the pillow hit my face, but the force almost made me lose my battle in my game. I had to quickly save then grab a pillow of my own before chasing Mello out the room. We had knocked over Near's card tower by accident, but he didn't seem to care. He only shook his head at us with a small grin on his face. Sad, the little kid was more grown up than the teenagers.