Oh, it's dangerous
It's so out of line to try to turn back time

I'm sorry for blaming you for everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself

By hurting you

-Hurt. Christina Aguilera-


A piano's graceful tune filled the speakers of L's computer and floated elegantly throughout the barren room. Endless onyx eyes flitted over to the screen to see the back of his once enemy. Once his companion. His once greatest rival. Swaying his head contently and slowly to side to side as the song Canon in D played flawlessly. His fingers danced across the ivory keys with a tiny smile gracing his features.

Resting cheek into the palm of his hand, L leaned forward, propping his elbow onto the desk a small smirk began to grow as he listened to the raw emotion portrayed in the music. 'You were meant for more than this world gave you. Destined for greatness but given mediocrity. You were always so talented. Yes, you were intelligent. But, it was our failing for not seeing the rest of your gifts. We locked you in an ivory tower and forsake your creativity… That's why you became the way you did… Maybe you were never destined to be my successor. Maybe you were always supposed to be B. Not Backup.'

The music silenced as a long contented sigh escaped the plush lips of the younger raven. His crimson eyes trailed along the walls as he lifted himself from the bench. Raising an eyebrow in curiosity, Beyond started moving more boxes to be sorted into the main room. He lifted old boxes one after another, as he lifted the final box to be sorted a violin clattered to the floor, dust covered, missing strings and dented. "Hello little friend… My, you're in a shape aren't you?" Beyond set the box down and reached for the violin before hissing in pain, recoiling his hand and slapping his it over his right eye. "I remember you…"


Sanguine eyes peered around the corner and pale spindly fingers grasped the doorframe. A mess of midnight hair fell over the young boys resplendent eyes, looking as if he was only six or seven. His whole body flinched in fear when a firm voice spoke. "Wrong! Do it again!" Her voice always carried throughout the halls. B always found enjoyment in watching L practice his violin. Though, upon closer inspection, L didn't seem to like it much.

His ruby eyes fell onto another young boy with scrappy black hair, pale and lithe form, in an awkward position fumbling with a violin. B could never fathom why he would subject himself to a strict candy only diet. It made him look malnourished. B crinkled his nose on the memory of himself trying to only eat sugar as his diet. 'What a dreadful experience. I was sick for days… Maybe that's what L did… Maybe he was sick.' A silent gasp followed his thoughts, 'Maybe his still sick! That's why he doesn't want to play anymore!'

"Boys! Come on!" A harmonic voice carried through the air with a fresh scent of lilac and fresh air.

B scented the air and smiled brightly, that perfume belonged to only one woman in the world as far as he was concerned. He squeaked as he started running for the front door, "Aunt Lizzie!"

Ebony hair floated through the air as she turned away from the mirror with a blinding smile. Her endless ashen eyes, painted with an tasteful light blue and ruby red lips. "Little B! Where's L? We're going to be late!"

The stiff woman at the top of the stairs scowled at her while folding her arms. "Miss Wammy. I'll be keeping hold of your son until he gets this last song right. You'll just have to see him afterwards."

Lizzie recoiled slightly tucking B behind her leg before stammering out, "Y- yes, Lady Brochman. Please tell him I'll have a surprise for him when I return." Reaching behind her, she tugged on B's shoulder, signaling him to put his jacket on as she opened the door.

Taking a final glance back, B could see L standing behind the tyrant of a music teacher with tears in his eyes. "Aunt Lizzie? It's okay, I don't want to go without L. It's not his fault, it's a very hard song. Let's stay home and cheer him on."

Crouching down to his level, the sun nearly reflected from her porcelain skin from the open door, "I can't. I have a couple errands to run. Come with me? We can go run my errands and then we'll pick up a nice surprise for L, you can pick it out! We'll be back sooner if we skip the puppet show." She playfully winked and B nodded cheerfully.

From one shop to the next, Lizzie sold her paintings and stopped at the bank. She held the clip of money in her left, B's hand in the right. "Once I deposit this into my account we'll be able to head to the shops the pick out a nice present for L." She flashed a happy smile, triggering B to do the same.

As they approached the counter, B took in the sights around him. He'd never been to a bank before. Quillish always went alone. The bank was large with cream stone floors and grand cream stone pillars. He felt a tug on his shoulder as Lizzie turned to leave. Holding her hand he continued to inspect the building. A deep royal red rug leading to the tellers and sharp black leather furniture.

They walked into a large shop with assortments of toys and candies. Every kid's dream. B spotted a large teddy holding a box of chocolates. The belly of the bear read, 'I Love You.' Giggling while he ran up to it, "This one! For sure! He loves chocolates and the teddy will give him something to hug!"

Quietly laughing behind her hand, "But that's a Valentine's Day present."

B grabbed the bear almost the size of him holding it up high as to keep its feet off the ground. "That's okay! I think he'll love it!"

Shaking her head with a delighted smile, "Alright. What about you?" B quickly shifted his stare around the shop and spotted a black stuffed horse. Lizzie smiled remembering Sharon's love for horses. "Yes. I think that one is perfect."

As they left the shop B skipped along the sidewalk towards the car with both stuffed animals wrapped up in his arms. Lizzie rolled her eyes as she opened the back door. "Aunt Lizzie? I'm a big kid now, can I sit in the front seat?"

Letting out a huff of laughter she opened the front passenger side of the car, "Yes, I suppose you are a big kid now." B happily climbed into the front and buckled his seatbelt. The car started rolling forward and they were off headed towards home.


Beyond could feel a sting in his eyes and a lump in his throat, "But she never came home… Did she? Only I came back… Only worthless little B..." He gently lifted the violin and blew the dust from it. Running his fingers along the sides he felt a deep hole in the side, jagged and broken. "It wasn't your fault…"


Quillish paced by the front door and L sat expectantly on the stairs. "Where the devil could they be?" Quillish was growing more worried by the hour. L watched him pace before perking his head up at the sound of a vehicle approaching. "Well its about time!" Quillish swung the heavy oak door open to be met with an unwanted sight.

"Sir? Is this the Wammy residence?" An unfamiliar voice asked. L noted the look on Quillish's face. 'What is that? Fear? Why would Quillish be fearful?' The unfamiliar voice continued, "I'm sorry, sir. There was an accident."

A small gust of wind pushed the door open further revealing a young boy staring straight forward with a haunted look, a stuffed animal in each hand. Dried tears on his cheeks, once a brilliant crimson shine, left dull, almost like dried blood. Then the observation came to L. 'It isn't just his eyes… He is covered in dried blood. But whose blood?'

"A truck sir, the brakes failed, weren't it not for her quick thinking in shielding this young man from the airbag. Neither one of them would be here." L felt his limbs grow cold and the sound around him began to muffle.

B was gently nudged by the officer for him to go inside. B walked towards the stairs without a glimpse of emotion, dragging the stuffed animals behind him on the floor. "B!" L stood up so quickly he felt himself get dizzy. "B! Where's mom?! Where's my mom?!"

B's preoccupied gaze slowly dragged to L. Dull red eyes welled with tears and his mouth opened to speak, but no words. Just a hollow breath and a quiet hitching sound from the younger boy's throat.

L grabbed B by the shoulders, "Where is my mom? Please! Please! You have to tell me!" L started to shake the younger raven. B's head jolted back and forth with the motions, but the same ghostly state remained plastered. Quillish shut the door quietly and shook his head towards L. L stared at Quillish as tears began to silently pour and his voice lost all power, reduced to hardly a whisper. "No… Why her?" His hands fell to his sides and he dropped his stare, hanging his head in silent mourning.


B placed himself on the bench and the violin next to him. A trembled breath withdrew itself as his fingers caressed the piano once again. A slowed version of Hallelujah began to fill the home and the speakers of L's computer. L stared at the violin and sighed sadly. "So… He remembered…" L pulled out his notes that he had been taking on Beyond. 'It seems the more I interact with Beyond, the more I'm realizing he has repressed most of our childhood. I can't say I blame him. Particularly of my mother's demise. He once cried to me after weeks of solitude in his room. 'Why does God take away all the mommies!' To my own discontentment, I shouted at him. I wasn't ready still… I think until recently I never was. I told him that 'God wasn't real, that no one took away my mother but him…' Now that I reflect on it. I'm not sure why he chose to remain so close to me until he left. Was it that he saw what I couldn't? That we are each other's only link to our mothers?'

L looked up to the saddened form of Beyond while playing the piano. "I resented you for so long… So much that it took a near death experience for me to want to embrace you back into my life…" A shallow huff of laughter followed. "I should have never done that. Especially after what you did to the music teacher. He did get her to resign."


B sat perfectly perched at a piano bench with Lady Brochman beside him listening to his perfect melody. A sudden stop and a cold emotionless stare met her. "It's your fault you know. If you would have let L go with us, we wouldn't have been there at that time. His mom would still be here."

She stared at B in shock as he continued playing exactly where he left off.

Lady Brochman climbed the stairs to continue her lesson with L who had been refusing all company for the last few days. As she opened the door she was met with a violent temper, "You! How dare you think you can come into my room?! It's your fault! I hate you! I hate music! I hate this stupid violin!" L slammed the side of the violin onto his desk making a deep hole into the side, the violin fell making several dents as strings snapped loose. "Get. Out!"

Quickly retreating herself to the hall, Lady Brochman walked herself to the kitchen and started a spot of tea. "It's been like this for weeks, what a fuss. I'm not sure how much longer I can take these temperamental children."

B walked into the kitchen to grab a sandwich that was preface for him. "You know what you could do." Lady Brochman stared at him expectantly, like a six year old would have the defining answer. B opened the cupboard under the sink and slammed the rat poison on the counter. "You could make all this pain go away." He stared at her with the same dead stare he had been giving her for weeks before walking out of the kitchen, whistling.

She stared at the poison in exasperation. Before writing her letter of resignation and grabbing her coat.