Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note. I wish I do.

--Chapter 5--

--Beyond Confrontation--

L sat in his usual position in front of the computer as the two children under his and Lira's care run amok around and around the room. It was not as clean as it had been before when only he and Lira occupied it. The miraculously clean rug had been littered with several chocolate wrappers and stray video games. L sighed as he tried to concentrate on his work. Sure, a little bit of noise and children with so much pent-up energy did raise Lira's energy. He could not blame her, though. His cold treatment towards her has lowered her activities almost to zero. He tried to continue his work typing in something in the keyboards of the computer, stopping every now and then as he thought of what to say next. And then, it happened. Matt chased Mello a little too near to the place where L at and the poor-chocolate loving, feminine looking child tripped over the several wires protruding from L's computer and fell over, accidentally knocking over the plugs from the socket on the floor. Mello then began crying out of the pain of his fall and out of fear that L might be shouting at him again.

The adolescent's eyes widened as the display in front of his computer vanished and the screen became pitch black, only reflecting his face staring at it. Then, it hit him; he did not save the file he was working on! He spun around quickly in his swivel chair to see Mello sprawled on the floor, crying while Matt patted his shoulder trying to persuade the younger boy to stand up. Then, he did what he never expected himself to do. He stood up, picked a fresh chocolate bar from beside his table and crouched in front of Mello.

"I'll give you this chocolate if you stop crying," He told the child who was trying his best to stifle his sobs. Mello looked up to see L holding the chocolate bar with his thumb and forefinger. The boy wiped his tears with the back of his hand and reached for the chocolate bar.

"Aren't you angry with me?" Mello sniffed as he began opening his bar of chocolate. Matt, deciding that Mello would be just fine, walked away and sat at the couch that Lira usually occupied. The owner of the chair is currently outside, maybe driving people crazy by hiding from them at the most impossible places.

"No, I'm not. It's not your fault anyway. I could have shouted at you if you intentionally unplugged my computer but you tripped, didn't you? Just be careful next time," L said with a hind of a brotherly smile and patted Mello's head.

"But, you were working on something!" Mello retaliated, somehow wanting to blame himself for the accident.

"I could always repeat it. Anyway, I haven't got that far yet. Don't blame yourself for it. I could repeat typing that for about a hundred times. Remember, I'm the top kid here," L said and plugged the computer back. Mello still sniffed on the floor, while biting gratefully on his chocolate bar.

"You're sure you're not angry with me?" The boy insisted.

"I'm positively sure. For a man of justice like a detective, anger is one of the enemies. Actually, I think all emotions are enemies. Hinders the working pace of a person, you know. So, if you really want to be what Lee said and succeed me, you should at least keep most of your emotions at bay. Like, for example you should be able to stand up this instant and munch on your chocolate without a single sob. That would be a fine start," L said turned his gaze back to the computer. Mello, mastering himself, stood up and walked over to that couch where Matt is sitting on and ate his chocolate bar without another word. Something about L really made the boy toughen himself up. From that day on, Mello looked up to L, more than a big brother but an idol.

Meanwhile, Lira sat on a bench under a large maple tree outside the orphanage. She was waiting for him to come. And she was counting on every instinct she has or she may have to sense him coming. The master of disguise, the successor. A rustle of leaves told her that he had arrived and soon enough, a boy with large round eyes flopped beside her on the bench, sitting as he did so. Lira turned to look at the boy sitting next to her. He was about thirteen years old. About ten or so years ago, he would be sitting on Lira's lap, giggling happily and chatting animatedly about the sweets he had feasted on. The years did make their change on Beyond Birthday. He was no longer that kid who called L and Lira his parents. He had become a vengeful spirit trapped inside a human being.

"Why did you ask me to come?" Lira asked without further ado.

"I just wanted to talk to my mom. What's so wrong with that?" B answered.

"I know you don't treat me like a mother anymore. You never dropped by our room and that's a good enough sign," Lira replied. B chuckled.

"So, you saw through me, huh? Well, how about an older sister?" B said.

"That would be more appropriate. Now tell me why you asked me to come?" Lira asked.

"I told you. I wanted to talk to someone. I never had any proper conversation with anyone else but you," B answered.

"You could always talk to L," Lira suggested. "He might be a pain in the butt but he will talk to you," She added.

"No! I will not talk to that guy!" B answered looking affronted at the very thought.

"Care to tell your big sister why?" Lira asked.

"A," B simply answered.

"What's the boy got to do with this?" The girl asked.

"He's got everything to do with this," B replied.

"Explain yourself," Lira demanded.

"Well, we all know that when A is still alive he's the first in line in succeeding L. He tried his best. He studied so hard. He tried to imitate L as best as he can. But what did that lead to? A cracked up and one day, he just decided to dangle himself from the dressing cabinet. He was pressured because of L!" B said.

"L's got nothing to do with this," Lira sighed.

"Yes, I know that. But it's about time that the children here stop treating him like a demi-god. He's still a normal person no matter how good he is," B replied.

"I know he's just a normal person. It's just that a lot of children really look up to him as a role model. I thought you did so too at one point in time," Lira replied, watching for any sign of emotion on the younger boy's face. But she never saw anything. He was as emotionless as L. a single leaf fell and landed on Lira's hair. B brushed it off and played with it for a while.

"Well, we can say that those days are over. After all, I'm thirteen now. Gone are the days that he will buy me off with sugar cubes and we will play family inside a tent. I've grown now. I don't need him anymore," B answered.

"Why?"

"I don't want to meet the same end as A. I won't pressure myself to be as good as L. I'll prove to him that the copy that the orphanage had so painstakingly created is better that the original. One day, Lawliet will be in pursuit of me," B said, a gleam in his eye Lira couldn't possibly explain.

"Can I ask you something?" Lira said meekly.

"Ask away. You've got nothing to do with that anyway," B said turning to smile at the girl sitting beside him

"How did you know my real name? L told me that no one can hide their real name from you. Could you tell me why?" Lira asked. B seemed indifferent at the sudden change of subject.

"I'll tell you of course. Children should always tell their moms the truth. But I doubt of course if you would believe me," B answered.

"I would believe you no matter how absurd it is," Lira assured B.

"I see the real name of a person floating above his head with numbers I cannot quite interpret what they meant. I don't know how I can see them but I know I'm the only one who can. I can see those names for as long as I can remember. There, I said it. I bet you're freaked out or something. I never told anyone before, even L. I know they would not believe me," B said.

"I would believe you, of course. A mother believes her son no matter how prodigal he might be. I assure you that," Lira said. B smiled and stood up, looking down at his so-called 'big sister'.

"Thank you for believing and also for that refreshing talk. I've never had one of those for a long time already. I shall go now. See you around," B said and turned to go but before he could take another step, Lira called after him.

"B!" Lira shouted at the retreating figure of the boy.

"Yes, anything?" B turned to look at Lira.

"About L. Is there something I could do to change your mind?" Lira asked hopefully.

"I'm sorry. There's nothing you could do," B shook his head with a smile.

"Are you sure?" Lira tried to confirm.

"I'm definitely positive," and with that, B had walked away from Lira who stood there, gazing at B. The years had really made their change on the once playful boy who enjoyed sitting on her lap. She turned around and started walking towards the orphanage where L and the two children under their care is waiting for her. She might have made a mistake somewhere in taking care of B. This time, she would not dare commit any mistakes with Matt and Mello. At least, the third generation of successor may come from either the two of them and at least, that successor would not see L as a bad image. Just like how children would look up to their father. She opened the door of the room she shared with L and the two children bounded up to her with open arms. Yes, there was no time to be stuck with the past. For the present is here and it is definitely more important that any guy who wishes to surpass the person he once looked up to as a father.

A/N: hmn…pretty short, isn't it? I'm sorry for that. Thanks again to those who reviewed. I definitely love you guys!  Near would be coming, I just haven't thought of how he would come yet. It would take a lot of pondering for that, I think..anyway, I hope you like this chapter!

(extra A/N: someone's spoiling me with cakes. Geez, I woun't give in to your whims that easily though. Lol. But I do love chocolate cake. Haha..)