A/N: Hi, friends! So! Some of you have kind of predicted where this chapter's going. And we're going to be wrapped by the end of the month, so…It's about to be a cavalcade of holy shit in the next few weeks, so hang in there. Get yourself some water. Maybe a snack. I'm going to be…You know. Around. Curled up in a cozy corner of the binary code. Love you x

Even when he's miles and miles away from him, L still knew how to take care of Light. And sometimes, that care comes in the form of another person. It's not like Light was cheating on L or anything silly like that. L understood that Light had a close relationship with his sister and whether he liked it or not, they were a package deal. Not that L would complain. In his time with Light and in his time in Japan, he's learned to adore Sayu dearly. Besides, she was his mole. He couldn't hate her for that reason.

However, even L knew that when Light took Sayu anywhere, just the two of them, that would be a major shot to his bank account. Even though L's bank account was at a place where a nuclear bomb could hit it and he'd still be fine. And Light wouldn't hesitate to spoil his sister. She deserved the world in his eyes. If he had the means to give her the world, why not do it? So, that occasionally means the trips to Omotesando.

At the same time, though, Sayu sat across from her brother, noticing the vacant look in his eyes. What could be rattling around in your head right now? I know L's not in town, but…It can't really be getting to you this bad…Could it? Sayu couldn't handle it anymore. She hated seeing Light like this. It wasn't often he got truly depressed to the point where Sayu saw it with her own two eyes. The last time things were this bad were when you and Misa broke up. And I don't have any ice cream on me. We haven't even had dinner yet.

"Light?" Sayu gently nudged him under the table, "You're awfully quiet."

"Because whenever I take you out," Light joked, hoping to ease some of the tension at the table, "I normally talk your ear off? Isn't it usually the other way around?"

"Light…" Sayu saw right through him. She knew when he was deflecting. And bitter sarcasm was always the telltale sign.

"What?" Light tried to brush her off, but that was Sayu. Once she was on a scent, she turned into a bloodhound at an airport.

"Talk to me," she begged, "Please? You seem kind of down. I'm sure venting would help."

"I am kind of down," Light came clean, taking another sip from his wine, "When I go home, the bed's going to be empty. When I go to work in the morning, I don't get any respect. It's just…Shit's been rough lately, alright?"

"No wonder you've been such a downer," Sayu figured.

"Thanks, Sayu," Light grumbled, "Always appreciate your commentary."

"You know what I mean," Sayu took his hand, "Are you ok, Light? Really?"

"Ish…" Light shrugged, "I'm sure I'm just being a baby. It's not like it's the end of the world. I'm just a little depressed."

"If you want," she offered, "I'll come crash with you. That way, you're not walking around your apartment all by yourself."

"I'm not totally alone," he pointed out, "Watari's still there. L said he wanted to go on his own. I wish he would've at least told me what he was leaving for, but he said it was business. I appreciate the offer, Sayu, but you don't have to do that. It's not the first time I've been home by myself. I'll be ok."

"Even in the old days," Sayu remembered, "I'd still come stay with you. That's when you were still living in Omotesando."

Because God forbid Misa lived in squalor, "I know you're trying to help and bless you for it, but maybe bringing her up when I'm not exactly in the right frame of mind might not be the best idea, Sayu."

"Sorry," Sayu bit her tongue, "But my offer still stands, Light. If you want me to come over like I used to, I'll be more than happy to."

"And subject you to the task force in the morning?" Light chuckled to himself, "I don't think so."

"It's just Dad," she rolled her eyes, "And some of the guys he works with."

"And you don't need to deal with them," he assured her, "It's bad enough I have to deal with them."

"One of them is still our dad, Light," Sayu argued, "You think I can't have him wrapped around my finger when I want him to? Please. You're not the only smart one in this family."

"I know." Light has seen firsthand Sayu's power over Soichiro. In a way, he admired her for it. Sayu's powers of manipulation were something special. Mostly because she didn't bring them out often, "But still, the less you know about this investigation, the better."

"So, I hang out at your place for the day," Sayu shrugged, "I don't see the problem."

"I do," Light put his foot down, "No."

"Fine," she let it go, "But you know where I'll be if you change your mind."

"He called earlier today," Light smiled a bit, "He had just landed in Honolulu. He said he was going to try and get some sleep."

"That's kind of sweet of him," Sayu awed, "At least you know he's ok…Wait, what the hell is L doing in Hawaii?"

"He's on his way to Washington DC," Light told her, "He didn't tell me why. He just said it was an important trip he needed to make on his own. It'd be nice if he came home soon, though. It's weird walking around the task force headquarters and he's not there."

"If I didn't know any better, Light," she assumed, "I'd think you were worried."

"I am worried," Light admitted, "It's not like him to take off on his own like this. I don't like it. I've seen what he's like when he's somewhere unfamiliar. It's not pretty. I just hope he knows the time zones don't matter with us."

"I think he'll be ok," Sayu kicked her foot up on the empty chair next to them, "Are you two still in regular contact?"

"Yeah," Light nodded, "As much as we can be anyway. I found a note on the kitchen counter when I sent everyone home for the day."

"What'd it say?"

Light knew L and Sayu had an innocent friendship that made him beyond happy. And with that came the extension of Light's situation, "He said you deserved nice things, too."

"Damn right, I do!" she squeaked, "Thanks, L."

"Thanks, Sayu," Light giggled to himself, "I needed to get out of my head for a while and I'm glad I got you."

"Of course, you got me," Sayu rolled her eyes, "Why else am I here? If you didn't have me, your life would be so boring. It'd just be working on this case and walking around that empty headquarters, waiting for L to come back and you drowning yourself in the bottom of a pint of ice cream. Because that's your process."

"I'm not that bad," Light nudged her under the table, "I would not be walking around aimlessly in the tower. I'd find something to keep me busy."

"Like six cats and some Haagen-Daz?" she teased, "They do make flavors with alcohol in them now, so…You know…Two birds."

"Shut up," Light held his face in his hands, "You know you're exhausting, right?"

"I'm your favorite distraction and you know it. Don't try and give me that."

"What kind?" Light asked.

"What kind, what?"

"What kind of alcohol are in them?" Light got a little excited, "Maybe a little more than a bottle of wine wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."

"For you?" Sayu thought, "I'd go with rosé and cream."

"That doesn't sound half bad," Light admitted, "But I'm thinking rocky road before I go to bed would be better."

"Why rocky road?" Sayu wondered.

"It's L's favorite," Light explained, "And he's gotten me to do rocky road before bed once. Maybe that wasn't L. Maybe it was Watari. I don't remember. It's been a while. All I remember was not being able to sleep and rocky road ice cream being involved."

"You two are adorable," Sayu gushed, "Did you know that?"

"We have our moments," Light smiled, "But enough about me. What about you, Sayu? What are you up to these days?"

"Not too terribly much," she shrugged him off, "I go to school. I come home. I might go out with my friends. Yippee. I live vicariously through you, Light. The excitement in my life lives and dies with you."

"That's not a heavy burden to put on me." This girl really needs to get out more often.

"It doesn't make it any less true," Sayu argued, "Hey…Can I ask you a question? And you have to promise me you won't get defensive."

"You're a fantastic conversationalist, Sayu," Light jabbed, "But I promise. What's on your mind?"

"If the opportunity came up," she treaded lightly, "Do you think you and L would ever get married?"

That was a question that felt like a knife in Light's heart. It tore him up inside more than Sayu could have ever imagined. But how was she supposed to know? It's not like L wore his heart on his sleeve. Not like that anyway, "I don't think so…"

"Why not?"

"L's kind of sketchy about the whole marriage thing," Light sighed out, "It's not something to…really bring up around him."

"Commitment issues?" Sayu figured.

"Not exactly," Light winced, remembering the whole story. But that wasn't his story to tell. It took a lot for L to tell it to him the first time. It's not like Light's going to repeat it, "It's more like L doesn't want history to repeat itself. At least, that's what I think it is. It'd take a lot for L to want us to get married. And I mean, a lot. It's definitely not commitment issues."

"Wait, wait, wait," Sayu stopped him, "What do you mean, he doesn't want history to repeat itself? Has L been married before?"

"No."

"Then, what was history?" Sayu's investigative nature got the better of her.

"That's really not my place," Light shot her down.

"Come on, Light," she begged, "You know you can tell me. It's not like I'm going to tell anyone anything. I've known about you for ages and I haven't told a soul. I know everything there is to know about you and haven't told anyone. It's fine. Besides, I'm sure L would tell me himself anyway."

"Not this," Light shook his head, leaning in a little closer, "He lost the woman he loved. She wasn't the type for marriage. L respected that. But then, she told him she got engaged and she died a week before the wedding."

"Oh…" Sayu felt an ache in her chest. So, that's why he's twitchy about marriage. That had to be hard on him. First, she says she doesn't want to get married. Then, she tells him she's engaged. But then, there's her death on top of that. Poor L, "How'd she die?"

"No," Light stopped her, "I already told you too much. We're not going to go down that road anymore. Can we have a less depressing topic of conversation please?"

"Yeah…" Sayu couldn't have agreed more. It's too bad. I feel like your wedding would be a fun one, Light. I'm not sure why. Just a gut instinct.

On the other side of the world, the second leg of L's flight had landed in Washington DC. And he couldn't have been happier to be on the ground. In a perfect world, I'd never have to fly anywhere again. People who bring teething babies on a flight over an hour long should be shot. And there's a special place in hell for people who bring teething babies and three fussy toddlers that would not leave my fucking seat alone for the last ten hours.

L shook off his bitterness and regained his bearings. I need to call Light. I'm sure he's worried. What time would it even be in Tokyo right now? He checked his phone. Thirteen hours, between here and there, isn't it? So…It's a little after two o'clock right now. I'm sure Light's asleep by now. At least I hope he is. I didn't take all of my sleeping pills with me. Mostly because if L took all of his sleeping pills with him, TSA would likely pull him off to the side for additional screening and accuse him of drug trafficking.

I should go check in on Nina. If I knocked on her door, I'm sure she'd break down. And I'd rather not deal with her in tears. Once in my lifetime was plenty. I will see her while I'm here. I have no doubt. That's a top priority. But…It's not why I'm here. L felt a little guilty for not telling Light about his reasoning for a sudden trip to Washington DC. It's not like Light would've judged him for it. If anything, he'd understand. Because that's the kind of unicorn Light has always been for me. Still…I don't need him to worry about me.

L got into the car that waited for him outside. Light made most of L's arrangements. That much was true. However, there were certain ones that only Watari could do for him. And that meant making sure L always had a driver. The driver poked his head through the privacy screen, "Where to, Mr. Ryuzaki?"

"I'm sure Mr. Wammy explained to you," L shook him off, "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather skip the small talk."

"Fine by me."

And so began the long, quiet drive to the reason why L came to Washington DC. And on his own. I knew he was going to ask me about my trip. My flight. Why I'm here. None of that is his business. And this isn't going to be easy, but it needs to be done. When the car pulled up to a pair of wrought iron gates, L got out of the car, "I shouldn't be long. Keep the car running."

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you." L walked through the rows and rows of stones until he found one in particular. He got down on his knees, running his fingers over the engraving.

Hello, Naomi…