Author's Note- Gee o.o I take a while to update don't I? Apologies :D

Also, all the chapters are going to be different lengths because alot more happens in some :L I'm sure you understand :D

As always, criticism is welcome just as much as praise so don't be afraid to speak up :) Because it's only going to make my writing better for you!

So yeah :3 Enjoy~

L's P.O.V

"Is Matsuda on the set with Misa?" Light questioned, tapping quickly on the screen next to my own.

"Yes, Light-kun. Why the sudden interest?"

"No reason, Ryuzaki. I just noticed it was a lot quieter than usual." Light's face twitched into somewhat of a smile. "Did you speak with Shadow? She was looking for you earlier."

"Yes I did, Light." I slurred uninterested of his presence. "Please do not feel the need to bring our conversation into discussion."

"No need to bite my head off Ryuzaki," he said. "…You still think I'm Kira."

"I never said that, Light. I'm just a bit depressed. But you should already know this…"

"But why? There's no reason to be- we have a lead now."

"True…" I paused, played with my bottom lip, and faced the curious 18 year old. Light's disturbed look met with my wide-eyed glare. "It may be that my suspicions are not clear of you yet."

Of course, Light's personal life was becoming insignificant to me. He had shown no sign of suspicious behaviour since he was released from confinement. And the Kira murders had continued along a different pattern of killings.

Kira had become less predictable, and more irresponsible. His murders began to follow a different line: money. Business. Which eventually lead the Task Force and myself to a group known as Yotsuba. A clear motive had been made out- all we needed was our evidence. But there was on thing I was definitely sure of:

We were no longer dealing with the same Kira.

The obvious reason my deduction being the link between the change in Light's behaviour… and Kira's. Almost simultaneously. Whether Kiras 'power' can somehow be passed on to another, leaving the previous Kira unaware of their crimes, or if Light has deliberately planned for this to happen and for his powers to be returned to him at one point or another in the future… Perhaps even after I had passed… Light had been Kira.

"I'm not Kira!" Light openly scowled at me. "How many times do I have to say!"

"Now, now Light. We wouldn't want to upset anyone with that temper." Inwardly, I smirked.

"You're the one upsetting people here," he grunted facing the monitor again. "Not me…" Light paused gazing at his monitor intently. Curious, I peered over my colleagues shoulder and rolled my tired eyes. Light had been instructed to keep watch over Shadow's room as a precaution that something was to happen whilst she was in there.

However, Light seemed to be enjoying the fact that she was getting ready for a soak in her tub.

"Huh? Oh!" Light's face flushed a deep crimson. "I wasn't- I mean- I-it caught me off guard as you can understand…"

"Unfortunately, I do understand." I teased the randy teenaged boy.. "I just find it hard to believe how you can perve on an older woman when you have a petite, blonde super model awaiting you in the next room."

"I wasn't perving!" he argued listening to Light's reasoning, I found my own eye lurring towards his screen. Shadow delicately slid her jacket onto the floor and began unbuttoning her lacy black top slowly. She paused, and looked in the direction of the camera almost helplessly.

A side of Shadow I hadn't encountered before was her vunerable side.

She quivered, undoing the last of the buttons on her blouse before sliding down her slender arms onto the floor below. "Please don't be watching…." she whimpered quietly. She pulled her skirt down to her knees and crawled into the corner. And cried into her bare knees.

"Oh my god…!" Light exclaimed.

"S…"

[Seven Years before-hand]

"Quickly! What's her current state!" Watari yelled out to the nurse through the flames.

"She's suffered from some really severe burns on the entire left hand side of her body! She has a gaping laceration across her chest and is losing blood fast! It seems like her arm has been crushed in the collapse! And her vitals are dropping fast!"

"God damn it! Where's the ambulance!" he growled heaving her limp body out from the debri and placing her flat on the ground.

"There was an accident nearby so we have a shortage, sir!" she choked through hot tears. "Who even caused this!"

"I'm not entirely sure." my heart raced. "She wasn't even supposed to be here…"

"Sir- are you a friend!" The nurse shouted over the devastation.

"…I'm her fiancé to be precise…"

"Oh…" she was silenced. I gaped down at her almost lifeless body and crouched down to my knees. "I hope the best for you…"

"Ryuzaki." I filled her in. "Thank you, Miss Salazar." She smiled sympathetically and fled from the scene in search for help.

"R-Ryuzaki…" Watari firmly gripped my shoulder. "You do realise…"

"I know, Watari." I followed the hot pulsing burn up the side of her body with my saddening eyes. Her chest rose in time with my increasing heart rate. Her face, coated in crimson, shimmered in the heat. "What were you thinking?" I asked irritably. "I told you this was dangerous."

"I…wanted… you…to" she gasped heavily. "Follow…your…heart…"

"That's physically impossible-"

"No…L…" She held her hand out. "Nothing is… impossible…just…a…challenge…"

"You shouldn't have come here. I told you not to…"

"If…I… hadn't…would…you have…even…come?"

"I wouldn't have had a reason to-"

"Beyond…" she swallowed what I assumed to be her own blood rising up her throat. "deserves…justice…You…we are…justice…"

"Shadow…" Devastation had struck me, I gently caressed her hand in my own. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because…nobody…deserves to…die…not Beyond… or his victims… and I wanted to stop that… even… if it meant… sacrificing mine…"

"But what use are you to people dead?" I stumbled on my own words. A feeling arose in my chest- what I imagined to be the same pain she was enduring.

"At least…I don't die… in vain…" she heaved out in agony. "But you…can't die… until… you follow your own… ambitions… Promise me… you won't be stupid… like I… have been…" She opened her eyes exhaustedly. "Promise me… you will help…serve justice…"

"I can't keep a promise like that Shadow…" I felt her squeeze my hand gently pulling me towards her. Not fighting her wishes, I leaned in gazing into her youthful eyes.

"Promise…me…" I nodded and sadly smiled down at her.

"I promise." She let out a small laugh before triggering a coughing fit. My hand fixed into the gaps between her fingers firmly and held it to my chest.

"Good…" she smiled lightly. "It's not… death… do us part… it's… until we… stop… thinking… of one another… ok?" I replied again with a long nod.

"No, Shadow… You stil have a ten percent chance of survival…"

"But… my life span… has come to an…end…" she frowned, her poetic license confusing me. "Good…night…"

"Shadow do not give up!"

"Lawlie…" She gasped for air desperately, blood splattering over my shirt with every cough. "I lo…ve you…"

Given the circumstances, I pressed my nose against hers and pecked my lips softly on her own. The heat draining from the hand I was holding, and quickly spreading to her lips. As I pulled away, Shadow's head fell lifelessly to the side. I had taken her last breath away from her.

"Ryuzaki…What shall we do now?" His crinkled eyes set on mine.

"We shall assemble a Task Force…And start a new case." I calmly spoke. "Please have all the documents about Shadow… burned. I want to see no more of this."

"Very well…" he confirmed. I took one last glance upon my only friend… My first love… And released her cold hand onto her chest. From there, Watari and I left condominium up in flames.

Along with the last, and unknown, victim of the L.A B.B killings.

[Present Day]

The marks stared me directly in the face. The fading, but all the while noticeable, burns spread out from her waist downwards and a deep scar tearing through her left-hand side of her chest. "What in the world happened!" Light gawked at her. "It looks like someone has tried to rip her heart out…"

"What has happened to S has nothing to do with the Kira case." I spat almost venomly at him. "Please avert your eyes."

"A-alright Ryuzaki…You don't have to tell me."

Instantaneously, I remembered the events of that day. I remembered the vows I had made to Shadow, I remembered the ache that still remained in my chest to this day,

And I remember how the night before, I had specified how I couldn't have a 'Corpse Bride' after she made it abundantly clear that it was not death that shall do us part, but rather our thoughts.

And she never left my thoughts for one second.

Shadow's P.O.V

Wringing out my sopping hair, I stared into the mirror opposite me. Look… how ugly. I frowned lost in my own self esteem. I'm sick of having to see this in the mirror every time I bathe… I gathered my dirty clothes form the floor and wrapped a clean towel around myself. I walked through to the bedroom throwing my mucky laundry over the bed. I opened my wardrobe doors wonderously. "What should I wear today?" I said aloud smiling.

"SHADOWWW!" I heard a squeaky blonde howl outside the door. "LET ME IN IT'S IMPORTANT!"

"The door's open." I tightened the knot of the towel I was wrapped in as she barged through my door excitedly. "What's wrong?" I asked worriedly.

"Oh perfect you're not dressed yet! Here-" A pile of assumingly clean clothes were thrown in my direction. "Put this on- it's urgent!"

"What?" I gulped. The outfit was… revealing. A cropped top with a heart cut in the chest revealing any cleavage and a pair of slim fitting hotpants- both in black. An eact copy of what Misa was wearing. "Misa- I can't wear this." I stated, watching her face grow impatient.

"You have to- Matsuda's life is at stake here!" she pouted throwing her arms up in the air dramatically. "And Ryuzaki is counting on you!"

"Ryuzaki?" I stammered nervously. "But…" I took a second look at the outfit. Knowing that, if I were to wear it, the truth woud be revealed. My distinguishing scars would be on show for everyone to see.

And then L would know for definite that I had died that day in L.A.

Misa grabbed my shoulders firmly and shook me out of my thoughts. "Just put it on and meet me in my room! The Yotsuba group will be here any minute now!"

"Yotsuba?" I repeated the name. "A-alright. I'll be a few minutes. Happily, she beamed at me throwing a pair of go-go boots at the side pf my wardrobe. Black ones.

"Meet you there, Shadow!" And she left. Leaving me to change. Quickly, I undid the tight knot in my yellow towel and slid the tight-fitting shorts over my thighs. Then pulled the crop-top over my head and adjusted myself so that everything was placed where they were supposed to be. "No time to spare- I hope this is important…" I thought aloud once again. Rushing down a flight of stairs, I entered Misa's room, which was conveniently placed right next to the stairs. I looked around- about half a dozen of girls, wearing the same erotic outfit, were stood in a semi-circle.

"S-Shadow!" Misa pulled me over to stand beside her. "Wait here- they'll be arriving any minute now!"

At that moment, Matsuda pushed the door open and smiled nervously. "Please come in! Haha!" he chirped. Members of the Yotsuba group, that we had being monitoring carefully over a course of three weeks, poured into the room.

"Good evening, Yotsuba!" All the girl sang out almost seductively. I glared over at Matsuda flashing him an awkward smile. Oh Matsuda, you idiot…

"Please make yourself at home!" Misa giggled as the girls all claimed a CEO for themselves. I shuddered, feeling heavily stared at by perverse eyes. A man, who I knew as Kyosuke Higuchi, swaggered over to me.

"Hey there, I think I'll have you." he snickered. Creepily.

"I'm sorry- but I'm engaged." A phrase I was too used to using.

"Oh really?" he arched his eyebrow and placed his large hands around my waist. "What's his name, sweetie?"

"Who else?" I faked a smile running over to Matsuda and claiming his right arm. Shocked, his arm stiffened and he blushed lightly. "This cutie here! Isn't it right, Matsu?" I stroked his arm playfully. "That we're engaged."

"Ah- yes! Haha!" he smiled getting on board. "Only a week from now! I can't wait to see my beautiful Grey in her wedding dress!" he lightly touched my waist. "Walking down the isle…"

"You're so sweet, Matsu!" I pressed my nose gently against his affectionately feeling the heat emanate off his face. "But yet- so shy!"

"Very well, then." he grunted, eyeing up Misa on the other side of the room. "Goodbye, for now…"

"Y-yeah." Matsuda grinned. "Shadow," he whispered stealthily in my ear. "What do I do now?"

"I'm not even fully aware of the situation, Matsuda." I folded my arms staring down at the beige carpets. "I'm sire L has something planned Otherwise, I wouldn't have been instructed to get down here…"

"O-ok." he lamented. I cautiously stiffened up, feeling Matsuda's hand stroke my arm to catch my attention. "Shadow… A-am I going to die?"

"No- you have a long life ahead of you still." I smiled reassuringly. "Trust me- I know."

"If you say so- I think we should go sit down now! Haha…" he smiled anxiously down at me. I grabbed his wrist softly.

"Loosen up- you look suspicious." Confirming so, we strolled over to the sofa hand-in-hand. Keeping up our act as a 'couple' happily in love. After a few drinks, Matsuda looked down worriedly at me as we snuggled close together. "Hey Matsu!" I 'seduced' him sprawling myself over the couch. "Want to go in the bathroom for a while? I'm sure the bedroom is going to be taken sometime soon by one of these lovely men- so what do you say?~" The room watched Matsuda expectantly as we made our way to the bathroom suggestively. I slammed the door shut and faced Matsuda. "Get your phone out- ring Ryuzaki."

"Got it!" His hand rummaged through his pockets and dialled the number, whilst still, for some unknown reason, holding my hand with the other. "Ryuzaki! What do I… W-what! But that's…! Oh… Ok…"

*beep*

"What's happening then?" My heart pumped with adrenaline. Not feeling so alive since my first case.

"H-he wants me to die, so I can live…"

"I see…" I furrowed my brows questioningly. "I think I understand what's happening."

"I'm glad one of us do." He sighed holding his head in his hands. Feeling sorry for him, I brought his head down to my level and smiled.

"Don't worry- I know Ryuzaki- he wouldn't be so risky unless it's absolutely necessary. You will not die. So do as Ryuzaki instructed and you'll be fine."

"Alright…" He breathed slowly on my face. "Ok- I trust you."

"Good…" Turning my head to the side, I panicked.

The mirror above the sink had made it apparent that the scar on my left had been on show. I paused, becoming ever so distracted by it. "Shadow- don't worry. I-it's not that bad…" Matsuda comforted me. I nodded slowly, and shooed Matsuda quickly out of the door.

And quickly, the plan went to work. Matsuda stumbled from side to side giggling. "Man- I'm so drunk…" he snickered walking towards the living area.

"Oh Matsu! I did say don't drink too much tonight!" I rolled my eyes smiling amused at Matsuda current 'state'. Swerving in random directions, Matsuda eventually reaced the balcony.

"And now it's time for the Taro Matsui show!" he announced drunkenly.

"Hey is he going to be ok… He's had way too much to drink." A concerned member, Masahiko Kida, enquired, I giggled tapping him lightly on the shoulder.

"Don't be silly! He does this all the time! Right Misa-Misa?"

"Right!" Misa cheered. Everyone watched in shock as Matsuda lifted himself onto the edge of the balcony. Lifting his other leg over, he began to balance on the edge like a tighrope walker- minus the netting at the bottom… Suddenly, Matsuda lost his footing.

And tumbled over the edge falling to his apparent 'death'. Bloodcurdling screams echoed the room as everyone went to check over the ledge- including myself. Down at the bottom, a silhoette of a corpse could be seen. "MATSUI!" I cried out despairingly over the ledge.

"Ah crap! We need to get out of here!" Kida yelled as the Yotsuba grouped rushed into the hallways.

"C'mon Shadow! We'll use the stairs!" Misa gathered her girls and I before ran down the stairway hurriedly. When we finally got outside, an ambulance pulled up next to a distressed woman- or rather- Wedy. One of the newest additions to the Task Force.

"I-I couldn't believe it he just fell out of nowhere!" she cried.

"It's alright Miss, did you know the man?" A paramedic asked her soothing her. She shook her head, before pointing over to the girls I was camouflaged amongst . "Did any of you know this man?" I stepped forward, shaking with fear.

"I-'m his fiancee." I sobbed quietly. "Please… Don't tell me…"

"…I'm so sorry, Miss." he lead me towards the ambulance. "Please come with us, we need you to identify the body…"

"NO!" I wailed. "Our wedding's next week…!" Light softly nudged me into the ambulance and sat me down across form the second paramedic, L.

"Good performance there, girl." The body laid out in front of me heaved himself up. "Nearly as good as mine." Removing the wig, Aiber winked at me sarcastically.

"Thanks, I guess." I smirked, warily covering my side with my arms. "Although, it was a little short notice…"

"I know." L moaned. "And, I know we're short of staff but having to get the job done myself is ridiculous."

"Oh shut up, Ryuzaki. All you did was sit down!" I joked, feeling the whole ambulance, pardon the driver, observing the burn I had covered. "Stop looking at it." I snapped.

"W-we weren't…" Light smiled, hugging me from the side. "We're just concerned, Shadow."

"Ok…" I bit nervously on the skin on my finger.

After driving around the city aimlessly, we returned to the Headquarters when we believed the Yotsuba had finally cleared out of sight. I ran upstairs determined to change into my pyjamas. I don't need anyone questioning me right now… I slipped out of the uniform of sorts and into my red silk pyjamas I had been lent. Feeling at ease with my appearance, I went upstairs for some supper.

"Good evening, Shadow." Soichiro greeted me tiredly. "It's been a long day today- make sure to get some rest…"

"Don't worry, sir. I will." I walked passed him into the kitchen. Surprised to see no other than L. "Good evening, L. Grabbing some supper too?"

"I suppose." L searched the fridge ponderously. "However, I'll be getting more supper within the next hour…" he smirked at me pulling out the last slice of strawberry cheesecake on a plate. "Would you like some?"

"Only if you're offering." I laughed as L handed me a fork. Carefully, I cut off the tip of the cheesecake and scooped it into my mouth. "My favourite!"

"I know." he smiled lightly at me digging his fork into the cheesecake. "I have to go."

"Ah- ok."

"Shadow." he called my name, exiting the kitchen. "Do not fret. You're beautiful."

"L?" I gasped, but he was already gone. "Beautiful…"

[7 years ago]

"Papa- how does this look?" I twirled elegantly exiting my bedroom in my white, flowing gown. Watari chuckled happily.

"You look amazing, S. I'm sure L would think the same."

"Perhaps…" I checked myself in the mirror. My skin was flawless, as usual, and the dress fit nicely into my curved figure. "Papa…"

"Yes, my child?"

"Why did L purpose?" I sighed, flattening out the thrills of my dress. "Something doesn't feel right- and why so sudden?"

"My dear…" he stood up straight, and placed his hands on my shoulders reassuringly. "L wanted to get the wedding over and done with so there was no publicity as such. You know it's a bad idea for his face to be recognised. And he wanted to get it done quickly in case something bad was to happen to him."

"Something bad?" I questioned. "Please don't tell me he hasn't caught that serial killer yet!"

"I'm afraid he won't try, the killer wants L's attention after all."

"That's ridiculous!" I raged. "People are dying out there and he will keep killing people until L recognises him! Who knows- L might be next!"

"That is what he fears…" Watari's eyes filled with disappointment.

"No." I said bluntly. "I'm not allowing that to happen- he can't die."

"But Shadow-"

"I don't care." My head throbbed. Recently, a number of murders had been occurring in L.A. The man, in question, requested that L was to be the one who solved the case. No other. However, since the killer was specifically asking for him, L was uninterested for what he had to say. Therefore, continuing as normal with minor cases. In secret, I began to investigate the case for myself. I began noticing patterns in the murders, I linked recent events to the time of deaths, and was determined to get in touch with the current handler of the case. Eventually, one thing lead to another and I had come to a conclusion:

The murderer was attending Wammy's.

Who else would conveniently know of L's existence and challenge him to a battle of wits? And the current drama at Wammy's only made the killer more apparent.

On 22nd November, Wammy's house suffered a grave loss. Entering the room of A, a gifted and optimistic teenager, Roger, an old friend of Watari's, stumbled upon a horrific scene. Dangling from the ceiling off a thick length of old rope, was A. His blood ran cold through his veins. It was too late.

However, less than 24 hours later, B was reported missing. B hadn't many companions at Wammy's, but A was a fellow rival. It had been said that he ran away under the stress of A's death. But L knew it was more than that. He knew B had other intentions.

Which is what lead me to believe B was the serial killer.

"I just wish L wouldn't set his standards so low," I adjusted my veil to fall perfectly over my face. "It's like he doesn't even care about all those innocent lives being lost."

"I know how much of a burden this is to you, S. However, I am not the man with the answers to your questions."

"I know…" A ringing sound from Watari's pocket beckoned me. After answering, Watari handed the phone over to me. It was L.

"-Hello, Shadow.-" he began.

"Good afternoon, Lawli." I smiled. "I feel honoured that you have called me."

"-Why? Who else would be ringing you at this time?-" he sarcastically replied. "-Does the dress fit nicely on you?-"

"Wouldn't you like to know!"

"-Yes, I would.-" he tempted.

"It's fine. I'm still not liking the fact I have to wear such a provocative dress though…"

"-I believe that is the whole point of a wedding dress, is it not?-"

"Not per say. I've always believed one's wedding dress should be comfortable, yet flattering."

"- Don't be so judgemental. I'm sure you're beautiful.-" A large tingling sensation filled my gut.

"Huh?" Shocked, I lost the grip I had on the phone. "Damn- uhhh- you'll be back for the… wedding right?"

"-Yes. I should be back in a couple of days. I'll shall see you then.-" Abruptly, the line went dead.

With L being such a distant person, I was took by surprise. Beautiful? Not a word I often heard. Perhaps all my doubts of how he felt were just pre-wedding jitters? Or perhaps he was putting my mind at ease in time for the wedding… After all, L couldn't be alone forever. And Watari only had less than decade left, who would take his place? Who else but his dedicated wife?

However, I also held a lot of foreign feelings. Like L, I was unable to socialise very well in large amounts. I was never in touch with my emotions. Did I feel the way a couple were supposed to feel in a relationship? Maybe I just longed to be protected and have the security I needed.

Or maybe, I just didn't want to lose the only person I've ever connected with?

Never the less, the wedding was less than a week away. And I was more than ready to take on the responsibilities marriage would present me with. "Shadow." Watari said. "I'm afraid I need to leave for a while. Will you be alright on your own in the hotel for a little while?"

"Of course." Smiling, I waved Watari goodbye as he locked the door shut behind him. I successfully zipped the back of the dress down, climbing out and into a pair of borrowed jeans L had given me on such short notice. I pulled a clean black V-neck over my head and threw my orange jacket on.

I walked into the kitchen and picked up my laptop on the bench top. "Weird," I mumbled, staring out of the open window. "That was shut not long ag-"

"Don't scream…" A large knife brushed lightly against my throat.

OOOOOOOH CLIFFHANGER~

I'll update soon :D I promise! But I'm going to try and include Hope into the story a little more now.

Please Review :D xXx