The gunshot rings through the room with a deafening bang, making me squeeze my eyes shut a little. I open them quickly, regaining my sense and looking down in worry. I sigh a little with relief. B scowls up at me through his tears, laying on his back on the floor with me hovering above him. He turns his head towards the gun still clutched in his hand, and tries to point it back towards him. I grab his wrists harshly tossing the weapon away, and pinning his arms to the floor either side of him, digging my nails into his palms a little.

"Don't even think about it." I snarl at him. His eyes glint dangerously as he tries to twist out of my grip to no avail. He tries to kick me off, so I use my height to my advantage, keeping his hands still and pinning his legs down with my knees in a way that would obviously be painful so he has no choice but to stop thrashing.

"What the hell Kara?! Get off of me!" He yells, desperately looking towards the discarded gun. I shake my head, sighing as he starts thrashing again.

"Let me die Kara! For the sake of everyone who will die otherwise! Let me die!" His voice cracks and tears start prickling at his eyes. I soften my grip a little, shaking my head.

"No B. I promised I would look after you, and I will. Now please, calm down. Ok?"

Maybe he sees the desperation in my eyes, or maybe he's too tired to fight anymore, but I see him start to cry. Like the little boy I once knew. The boy who ran in the woods. The boy who loved his friend. The boy who loved his sister enough to put his life in the line of his father's fire to save her. Not the man I now know as a murderer.

He stops struggling, and I nod slowly removing my knees from his legs and pulling him into a sitting position gently by the wrists. I kneel in front of him, letting go of one wrist, and only loosely holding the other. He looks down at the ground and tries to hold back his sobs. I frown sadly, putting a hand on his cheek gently, and turning his face towards me. He reluctantly looks into my eyes as I shake my head at him.

"No B. Let yourself cry. It's okay..." I coax, running a thumb over his cheek and catching a tear. He starts to sob. I release his hand and stand up, picking up the gun and putting it back in its draw, after removing all the bullets. I then go back to where B is sitting, taking his hand in mine gently and pulling him to his feet.

I lead him to the living room where he sits with his knees tucked up against his chest in silence for a long time. When he stops crying he lies down on the sofa and sighs.

"Why do you care so much anyway? I mean I know you promised my mother, but I never thought you two were that close. Why would you stick with me after everything I've done?" He glances at me, and I simply smile.

"I have my own reasons."

The los Angeles Police-Kara

The weary detectives search the 3rd crime scene with confusion, finding nothing of any help. Not that they'd expected to of course. After all, this is obviously a skilled serial killer who knows what they are doing. One detective, a young man, studies the strange Wara Ningyo pinned to the walls in one room. There are two. All the police can gather from this is that the killer is using them to count down his victims. Which, much to their worry, means the killer is likely to strike again.

The victim, Backyard Bottomslash, had no connections to the other two victims at all, and all the killings have been locked room murders. Everyone is stressed, tired, and desperate for any sort of lead. Of course, Beyond Birthday has ensured that they will not.

That, I suppose, is the whole reason events play out how they do. For there is nothing I can do or say to stop him. Nevertheless, this is how it was always going to be.

Beyond Birthday.

The plan is only officially in motion the moment I crawl out from under the bed. Back at the scene of the first murder. Dressed in a white shirt, blue jeans and an L like slouch. I resist the urge to laugh at the alarmed look on the face of the woman before me, who had been talking to L on the phone moments before. She'll be worrying about how much I heard. I see her name above her head.

Naomi Misora

"Who are you?" She asks sternly, trying to be intimidating. But it's a laughable attempt.

"Nice to meet you," I reply politely and completely unruffled.

"Please call me Ryuzaki."

Some time later…

Naomi Misora is indeed a worthy helper for L…

She's solved it. With my help of course…

But my plan isn't over yet.

Kara screams at me to stop, but I douse myself in the gasoline anyway. Before she can stop me, I light the match, dropping it at my feet. The pain engulfs me, and I scream in pain as I hear a woman's voice yelling.

"Ryuzaki!"

I hear Kara's panicked voice.

Im dying. Finally I can beat L. By leaving him without a culprit, he can never get justice. I will have surpassed him.

But the pain is so excruciating. I wish it would end.

I cry out in pain. Who cares if I appear weak. No one but Misora and Kara is here to see it. Kara will be okay. She's a god of death.

I think of A as I fall unconscious. His face that I long to see again. I think of Alodia, who I long to hold close.

I think of Elsie, and Matt and Near.

I hope they can all live peacefully with me gone.

Please tell me this is the end…