L rested his head on the bed next to Light's leg. A nurse came in and offered him some water. L took the water and sat back in his chair, by now the hospital staff had stopped harassing him to leave. L watched out the window as snow began to fall, as well as another page off the calendar. L didn't even respond when Soichiro came into the room.

"Ryuzaki… I don't know how to say this." Soichiro sorrowfully stuttered.

L hardly moved, "So, just say it bluntly."

Soichiro sighed, "The thing is, we're not able to keep him alive anymore, it's been two years. Nothing has changed… We can no longer afford his medical costs and—"

"You never once asked for help. So, what is this really about?" L snapped.

Soichiro looked down, "Both financially and emotionally it's become a burden, Light's mother and I can no longer shoulder."

L's right arm started to shake, "Then don't. Sign consent to me, I'll pay for what funeral expenses you want done. However, I can't let you pull the plug on him, he has no living will stating to do so, and I have no limit to my resources."

Soichiro closed his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows trying to fight the tears. "L…"

L turned around with a hardened face, "What difference would it make to you? You'll no longer be taking care of him financially and instead of killing him you can just move on. No one will think less of you, and if need be I'll have him transported to England so you can carry on this visage of your son's death."

Soichiro sighed and put his hands up. "Okay. Let's begin the paperwork."

L and Soichiro sat in the Dean of Medicine's office drawing the paperwork of legal guardianship. As L signed the last line a nurse came through the door, "Ryuzaki! Light! He's…"

L didn't hesitate he just stood up knocking the chair over and ran out of the office with the nurse pulling ahead of her. She stopped to catch her breath and she waved at him to keep going. L never stopped to look at her, he pressed on, with the Dean and Soichiro far behind him.

L slipped and hit the floor at the entrance of the hospital room. He quickly scrambled up and rounded the corner. L stopped dead in his tracks when his eyes landed on Light who was sitting up watching the snow. L released a sigh of relief. "I honestly thought he died… I guess I should have let her finish her sentence." L thought to himself with a faint smile.

Light watched the snow with a small smile. He turned to look at L and made a puzzled face. "Who are you?"

With this question L watched Light blankly, then sat in the chair next to him. L sunk into the chair, "My name is L, and you and I are very close friends. Or, I'd like to think we were."

Light furrowed his eyebrows in deep thought. "I remember someone with black hair and large eyes… I remember this person made be think of an owl… I suppose that person is you. But, I'm sorry, I have no memory beyond that." Light looked around the room, "I heard someone. Was it you?"

L hung his head, "Maybe, what did they say?"

Light touched his right hand with his left, "Please don't go and I love you… I had a strange dream, what happened to me?"

L reached over to Light's head, "You got shot." L gently touched the spot on his head and let his hand drop, "You were protecting someone who didn't deserve it." L closed his eyes and gave a pained expression.

Light analyzed L's movements, "It was you."

L smiled, "Sharp as ever. I'm glad to see that, you'll be able to move forward with your life…" L stood up to leave, "Your father is here."

Light called to L, "Wait! Where are you going?"

L slowly turned to Light, "The memories I have to offer you… They aren't worth the trouble they'd cause you. You'd be better off not knowing." L took a deep breath but couldn't hold back one single tear. "Everyone will be so happy to see you."

Light tried to move and reached for L, "But… I want to know."

L closed his eyes and hung his head, "Your father will tell you everything you need to know, just know that, you were a wonderful man, who understood the true meaning of justice and knew no meaning of the word fear, but lived your life through knowledge and courage." L walked out of the room and turned on the only cell phone in the world that had the direct line to Watari. "Watari… I'm ready to come home. No, Light won't be accompanying me. No, please. Just send transport, I'll wrap up my final things here in the mean time."

Light leaned as far as he could before pulling himself out of bed, "Wait! Stop!"

Soichiro stopped in front of Light and picked him up. "Light, my son, thank goodness!" He held Light tightly.

"Dad… That man… I need to know everything about him." Light searched his father's eyes desperately.

Soichiro adjusted his glasses, "The man you just met is the greatest detective in the world, and you helped him solve the biggest case the world has seen. He was your friend… Probably the first friend you ever truly had. He waited by your side for two years. Eventually, he stopped leaving and sold his home and most of his possessions that he had here to be here with you. You stopped a man from murdering him before the case could be solved, as a result you were shot, and lost your short term memory."

Light stared at his father distraught, "Stop him, he's leaving!"

Soichiro sighed and held his son tighter, "That might be for the best."

Light watched the oddly haunched, eccentric detective open the elevator doors and give one last sad look towards Light. Light reached his hand out, "Please, don't go!" Light stopped and dropped a tear, "Wait! I love you, too!"

L gave a pained expression to Light, looked away and boarded the elevator.