A/N: Sorry for not updating in a while. I had this all written, but I didn't have a chance to type it up until now.

And, thank you to all my faithful reviewers. ~ I love you guys so much. Thank you for keeping me motivated. (:

Chapter 3: Kiss Yourself Goodnight

Even at this late hour, the city below was so busy and full of life, which was made clear by the neon signs and car headlights, standing out against the darkness like a splash of color against a blank canvas. It had always interested L, even as a child, to watch people pass while he attempted to determine things about them from their appearances. What was their life like? Why did they dress the way they did? Did they have a family? What little of his childhood the raven-haired man could vaguely recall, he knew this had always provided him with an endless source of amusement, fruitless effort though it was. It was a source of amusement and entertainment that he had only shared with Beyond Birthday.. the one person who had ever seemed to understand him.

"Ryuzaki?"

The detective turned from the window, slowly shaking himself from his thoughts. "What is it, Light-kun?" He paused, adding as an afterthought, "I thought I had left you in the bathroom.."

Light sighed and held up his arm. One cuff was clamped firmly around his wrist, the other dangling helplessly on the other end of the chain. "You seem distracted. I think it's time you got to sleep." Tired brown eyes studied the detective intently, as if attempting to discern the cause of L's odd behavior. Rather than putting up a fight, L nodded his head and followed Light back to the room they were forced to share. Light tumbled into bed, all too eager to sleep, and L followed suit, pulling the blankets up over his thin body and being sure to keep a more-than comfortable distance from Light. Within a few minutes, the suspect had fallen asleep, and L was left alone with nothing but the brunette's gentle snoring to keep him company.

"It's all your fault!"

With an enraged yell, a fist connected with L's face, sending him flying backwards. He could feel the warm blood trickling down his face, but he made no move to get back to his feet, instead responding with a quiet, "I know."

This only seemed to further anger the younger of the two, who gave the dark-haired detective a swift kick to the ribs. Not really wanting to suffer from any broken bones, L curled into himself and turned his face away as he was bombarded with yet another round of blows from an angry BB.

"It's all your fault that A's gone!"

Most of what happened blurred together after that, but L could remember the ripping sound his thin white shirt had made as it was torn from his fragile body, and the glint of the knife's blade in the light. He could recall the cold feeling of metal against his skin, followed by more warm blood gushing from the wounds, which - as he found later - formed a crude letter 'B'.

Now, the detective found himself staring up through the thick darkness at the ceiling, tracing spindly fingers over the scar he knew was there. He could feel it through the thin fabric of his baggy shirt. But he knew it was his fault. He deserved it, and that was that. Perhaps that was why he had not tried to escape the wrath of his friend that day, and simply took the beating he had (in his mind, rightfully) been given. Watari had found him shortly after the incident, and when L explained, he instructed the elderly man not to blame B. ..Maybe he had a soft spot for BB then, and he was well aware that he still did. He rolled over on his side, facing Light. Watching the brunette sleep, he could imagine, for just a fleeting moment, that it was B; and that gave him some comfort, however temporary it may have been.

Because, the truth was, he was lonely.

"...Ryuzaki, what's wrong with you?" Light's voice was groggy from sleep, and he sat up a bit, rubbing at his eyes. "You aren't yourself today."

Instead of launching into the expected, full-blown lecture of how he could not possibly be anyone but 'himself', L simply shrugged. "I suppose I am not. Now go back to sleep, Light-kun. I do not wish to hear you complain about being tired in the morning."

Grumbling to himself, Light complied and was quickly sleeping once more.

"Now, now, Lawli, don't be like that."

L looked up at B through half-lidded eyes, unable to believe that the same person who had just finished beating him almost senseless was now cradling him carefully in his lap, as if the detective were a precious china doll. "..I am s-sorry, Beyond.." Why he was the one apologizing, he did not quite know.

B reached out a hand to touch L's bruised face, smiling a bit when the elder of the two flinched. "I don't like hurting you, you know. But you made me angry... it's alright, because you've learned your lesson, haven't you?" B's smile was sickly sweet, and a slight nod from L prompted him to continue. "A wasn't fit to be your successor anyway; he was too weak, and gave in to the pressure of succeeding you."

Beyond's sudden mood swings were beginning to frighten L, but all he did was agree with him, not wanting to be hurt anymore than he already was.. but more importantly, not wanting to upset B again. Despite all this, he still disliked seeing the younger hurt. "Whatever you say...," was all he could manage before his dark-rimmed eyes began to flutter closed and sweet unconsciousness started engulfing him.. though not before he felt a gentle kiss on his forehead and heard a mumbled 'I love you.'