Chapter 13: Beyond this Romance

I had fallen asleep. No, to say fallen would imply that it was peaceful. I cried myself to sleep. The sun was far into the sky when I woke up. It was maybe three? I stood up and put my feet on the cold floor. My mind started to focus, and a single thought made my heart jump. Beyond. I knew I had to see if my Beyond was back, or if that demon was still using his body. I walked hesitantly over to the door. I opened it a crack, only enough to peek through. There was nobody there. I opened the door a bit wider and slipped into the living room quietly. I looked around, Beyond wasn't in sight. I walked over to the couch and forced myself to look behind it. The body was gone too. Then I heard the shower start. The running water filled the apartment with noise. I jumped. Who was in the shower? My Beyond, or Beyond Birthday? I ran to the kitchen counter. I opened the drawer and pulled out a large carving knife. I would never use it on Beyond's body, but I sure as hell could threaten Beyond Birthday with it. I took a deep breath and made my way to the bathroom door. I opened it slowly, my heart being the only audible noise coming from me. I walked into the room, the fog from the shower half-blinding me. I took steps toward the shower curtain. Then I took a deep breath and pulled it to the side.

Beyond stood there naked and confused. He grabbed the curtain and covered himself with it, blushing.

"Akin! Amica said no funny business!" He gasped.

I stepped back. Would Beyond Birthday know something like that? Does he have Beyond's memories? I was skeptical. I raised the knife.

"Do you...know what you did?" I asked firmly. He looked down, ashamed.

"Yes... look just let me get dressed. I'll explain the best I can." He said. I nodded and left the bathroom.

(Beyond's Perspective)

I toweled off and put on the last pair of clean clothes I had. It was a black shirt and blue jeans. I walked out of the bathroom and into the living room. Akin was waiting on the couch. I sat next to her. She looked at me silently asking for the explanation I dreaded giving. I grasped her hand.

"My love, I'm so sorry for what you witnessed. That... that wasn't me ,I didn't kill him. I blacked out like something took over my body. I don't remember it, but it did need to be done. They wanted to take you away from me, I couldn't let that happen. I burned the body, they'll just assume him missing. Nobody saw. The memories of it lie within ashes now." I spoke my words carefully, trying to show her that I had regained all sanity. She bursted into tears.

"Beyond... it wasn't you... you left me..." She whispered through her quiet sobs. I grabbed her wrists and forced her eyes on mine.

"Akin... I will never leave you alone again.. I promise.." I said this firmly, holding her tight.

She wrapped her arms around me and continued to sob, releasing all of her leftover tears. I stroked her hair and watched her lifespan shine in my face. Nine days more days, it said. No... I wouldn't let it happen. Nobody was going to take her away from me, even if I had to murder all of L's damn henchmen. I was going to protect her... and Beyond Birthday was going to protect her too.

(Matt's Perspective)

"Mello, did you find anything yet?"

"Nothing." He said to me as he shifted through computer files. He bit into a chocolate bar, not taking his eyes off of the computer. I lit up a smoke, and pushed him aside.

"Let me at the computer." I said, pushing him out of the computer chair. Mello rolled his eyes.

"What do you know about computers?" He asked, arms folded.

"Not a damn thing. Never used one before, but I have to be better at it than you." I said. I went into Akin's file trying to find useful information. I read through the file carefully.

"Acadia Lyndon: Eyes, Brick. Hair, Hershey. Age, sixteen. Height, 5'5"" It gave her insurance information, blood type, then at the bottom it said who to contact if she was harmed.

"If harmed contact the following people: Lawliet Lyndon, Amica Misora." Amica Misora? It gave the woman's number at the bottom. I grabbed a pen and wrote it down quickly.

"Mello! We have a lead!" I shouted. Mello put down his candy bar.

"Damn, already? You're pretty tech savvy Matt. What's the name?" He asked, impressed.

"Amica Deaffine Misora. Here's the number..." I gave him the number I had written. He left the room and returned with a phone.

"Is it home or cell?" He asked with the phone in his hand. I looked at the screen.

"Cell." I said. He began to dial. He put the phone on speaker and it started to ring. After a moment we heard a woman's voice.

"Hello? Who is this?" The women asked. I grabbed the phone from Mello.

"Hello, Ms. Misora, could I ask you a few questions?" I said into the phone as politely as I could. The woman sighed.

"Yeah sure but make it quick. I gotta take care of my mom, I don't have time for this kinda nonsense." She stated with an aggravated tone.

"Alright, do you know a Miss Lyndon? Acadia Lyndon?" I asked as professionally as possible.

"What do ya want with that girl? You leave her the hell alone, do ya hear me?" The woman began to shout. I tried to put on a soothing tone.

"Miss, I just want to know if the two of you are close. Do you consider yourself close to her?"

"Now you listen to me! I want ya to stay away from her. Keep out of that poor girl's business and don't call me again, ya hear?" She didn't wait for a response. She just hung up. Mello sighed.

"I guess we're not going to get an answer." He said, picking up the candy bar once more. I smiled and shook my head.

"No Mello, that was our answer." I said. My smile got wider, and Mello started to smile too. Him and I had found our lead.