Blue night engulfed Japan, stars glimmering in the sky as though they were small holes poked in the fabric of the night that blanketed the city. Traffic was nearly nonexistent, with a hush falling over the busy streets. Trees stood tall among the cityscape, stretching their branches upward like fingers, occasionally rapping against windows as a gentle breeze rustled the leaves.

In this most still of nights, Light Yagami was up, sitting by his bedroom window on the night after the greatest day of his life. His wedding to Misa had been everything he could have asked for, and after the reception had ended, they had made love like never before. Misa had fallen asleep a little while ago, exhausted both from the surge of emotions the day had brought on and her pregnancy, but he was wide awake, thinking of something serious.

He looked up at the moon that hung in the sky. It's fullness allowed light to stream in through his window and bathe him in the secrecy of the night. There was something about the night that made him feel protected and secure when thinking over his deepest thoughts, and he'd needed that now.

Staring out the window, the realization had come upon him suddenly. He was going to have to quit the Task Force. There was no aha moment, no point in his day when the thought built up in his mind to lead him to the conclusion. It was instinctual knowledge.

He thought about what had happened to Misa and the baby. He couldn't put his family in danger like that. Kira worshippers were coming after the task force, unaware that Kira was actually a mole hidden among them all. He couldn't take the risk with his family. He thought about his father in that moment, how he had reacted with the knowledge that hunting Kira would cost him his life, how his wife and daughter had begged him to stop, and how he hadn't yielded. Much as he wanted to stay, to keep tabs on the investigation, he knew it was not wise to do so.

He would have to have a conversation with his father about this in the morning. He knew he was supposed to be L's successor, the second L, but he just couldn't do it under these circumstances. He didn't care about endangering his own life, but Misa and his child were different. They needed to have lives. They needed safety and security and he couldn't give them that if he was still working this case.

With a sigh, he went and climbed into bed next to his bride, but he didn't sleep that night.

He awoke early the next morning, changed into a shirt and khakis, and told Misa he was going out for a little while and would be back later. Then, he went to his childhood home.

It was nearly 5:30 in the morning. His father would be awake by now, getting coffee before heading off to the task force. He still had a key to the house and let himself in. He found his father standing in the kitchen.

"Hey, Dad."

Soichiro Yagami might have started were he not such a disciplined man. Instead, he turned around, calm but pleasantly surprised.

"Light? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at home with Misa?"

"I needed to talk with you. Is that okay?"

"Sure."

They both sat down at the kitchen table, Soichiro with a steaming mug of black coffee and Light with a small cup of Cinnamon Spice tea.

"Dad, I think I need to quit the Task Force." He said.

Soichiro set down his mug in surprise. "Light…"

"With what happened to Misa and the baby… It's just not safe for them. I don't want to stop working the case but if I do I'll put them both in danger again. I can't do that to them." He said softly, looking down at the floor as though afraid he would disappoint his father.

Soichiro Yagami picked up his mug and took a slow sip of coffee. "I had a similar debate when you were born. And again when Sayu was born."

Light's head shot up in surprise. "You did?"

Soichiro nodded. "I remembered holding each of you and wondering if what I was doing was really worth it. For all the danger I put your mother and you and your sister in because of my profession. I knew I wanted justice, but at the same time, I was starting a family. I didn't think there would be a balance between the two. Do you know what I found?"

"What?"

"Between Justice and Family, there will hardly ever be any equanimity. One will always outbalance the other, and there is no good way to find a balance between them. I made my choice, Justice first, family later. It's what I've always done it seems. For the most part, I don't regret my choice, but I do have regrets about the moments that I missed with you and your sister growing up." He said, and leaned forward to his son a little. "Light, I want you to be free to make your own choices. You're starting your own family now, and only you can decide what's best for your family. You're going to have regrets, and you're going to make mistakes along the way. But that's what fatherhood is, and you must embrace it. Whatever decision you make may not have been the one I would have made, but as long as it's right for you, that's what matters."

Light smiled a little at that. "Thanks, Dad." He took in a breath. "I can't work directly with the task force, but maybe I can do some on the side if you need it. But Dad… I want you to take my place. You can still keep me informed of everything that's going on, and I can help you with the case, but… I have to keep my distance. I can't let Misa or the baby get hurt like that ever again."

"As you wish, Light." Soichiro said, bowing his head slightly to his son.

"Do you want me to come in for one last day today?"

"No, that's quite alright. Go home and be with your wife for the day, and I'll break the news to everyone."

Light smiled. "Thanks, Dad."

He gave his father a brief hug, before he went back to his apartment.