(A/N) The last chapter!

I'm sorry this took so long! At least I got it done before school!

Thank you so much to my reviews ShadowedSerenity and Za3ra! *hands out Panda March cookies*

I do not own Death Note. I do, however, own an L plushie! *huggles L and squeals*

I chose a bay stallion.

I bridled the chosen animal; there was no time for a saddle. As I pulled the straps tight, I began to shiver, fear flooding my senses and effectively halting any movements.

I was remembering what it was like to lose control.

The horse reared up as the lighting crackled. I pulled at the reins, jerking them, trying to subdue the frightened animal. It was in vain, though, as the palomino was wild with panic.

I lifted one foot, internally chastising myself. No more of this! I told myself, taking hold of the reins. I hesitated, though. I doubted I could bring myself to mount.

"Oh, wow, Lawliet! You're amazing!"

I looked down from my perch on the pinto mare at my little brother. He was looking up admiringly at me.

"Would you like a ride?" I asked, and extended a hand down to him.

Deep inside that memory, that ecstatic ride with my little brother, it hit me.

One life lost.

One soul broken.

But now…

Three lives could be saved.

And maybe… just maybe…

A soul could heal.

I mounted the horse, feeling the animal's strength as it shifted under me. The reins felt good and familiar in my hands, and a sudden confidant conviction flooded into me. I spun the bay stallion and prayed I remembered how to do it.

I dug my bare feet into the bay's side, spurring it out of the stables. My body was jostled, and I realized how strange it was to ride again. The stable doors seemed to explode as we burst through them, the stallion flying out into the storm. The wind hit us with gale-force, and the rain was like a hurricane swirling around us.

I saw Light and Watari staring, open-mouthed, as we sailed past. At any other time, I might have been amused at how dramatic I must have looked. The bay's hooves hit the turf, sending shockwaves through my body.

And then, we were flying.

The gorgeous stallion's hooves pounded relentlessly, propelling us through the torrents of rain. My body fell into the familiar rhythm of the ride, and I directed the horse without a single error. My eyes were narrowed against the rain as I urged the horse nearer to the Old Oak.

I heard sobbing children, and fire crackled. I wheeled the horse this way and that as I fought in a desperate race.

I bend further over the bay's neck, tightening my legs around its flanks. The river was coming into sight; it was no longer a river, but a deluge of violent water, wider than I had ever seen it. It roared above even the wind and rain. But across it… I could see three huddled shapes; a large one curled around two smaller ones.

"Matsuda-saaaaaaaaan!" I yelled, pulling the stallion to a halt.

The officer's head shot up. I waved high above my head. I wouldn't have much control over my landing, and wanted to give Matsuda warning. Then, I backed the stallion up a couple of yards.

"Okay," I murmured to the stallion. "Okay, we can do this…" I patted the bay's neck. "Let's go."

I dug my heals into the stallion's side, urging it into a hard gallop. We came closer to the river with each thundering hoof beat.

The horse's hooves left the ground. For a second time stopped. The noise died down, and we were suspended in mid-air, the horse perfectly still under me. Then, we hit the ground.

For a moment, I dared to hope that the landing had gone well. Then, I felt the rear of the stallion start to slip. The bay scrambled, but its hooves sunk into the mud and it slid backwards. With a panicked cry, the horse skittered. The bay's high neigh echoed that of the palomino as we tumbled though the air.

SPLASH!

The bay and I hit the icy water. It buffeted my body like a typhoon, and it was all I could do to keep a one-handed grip on the reins. My body was lifted like a scrap of moss as I churned desperately. The stallion's hooves missed my skull by inches as it flailed.

I surfaced, coughing and spluttering before I went under again. The water surrounded me with a muffled roar, murky and stinging my eyes. I managed to get my head up again, but only for a moment. Dirty water filled my mouth, and I coughed up blood. Swooning, I struggled desperately against the surging torrent. I could feel my consciousness blurring as I was pummeled furiously. The reins were ripped from my grasp as I fought.

Suddenly, something grabbed me. Well… it didn't grab me… that was when I decided that I hated how insufficient the Japanese language was. There was something there, but I was still alone in the icy tide. There was something holding me, but I was still struggling. And then… I had surfaced. Gagging and spluttering, I floundered there. My logic told me that there was no way I should have been staying afloat. And yet… I was able to tread.

A surge beside me startled me, and there was the bay. I looped my half-numb arms around its neck. Before I knew how, we were lying on the muddy bank.

I was panting and shivering, my body vibrating with shock and cold. I hacked up some water and mud, red with blood, and then struggled to my feet. I mounted the bay, and glanced back at the river.

Bobbing on the water was a log. And on that log sat a child. He had dark, tousled black hair, and sparkling black eyes. His body glowed despite the storm, and there wasn't a drop of water on him. He smiled hugely and waved. I blinked water from my eyes, trying to put all this in the context of logic. It didn't fit at all.

Because I was staring at my little brother.

It was only a heartbeat before he vanished. It happened so quickly that it would have been easy to explain away.

I didn't try to, though.

Because in that instant, clear as bells, I heard his voice in my head.

With a firm nod, I wheeled the stallion away from the river. There was no fear now, simply determination. When I reached Matsuda and the children, the water was less than a foot away from them, where they huddled at the base of the Old Oak.

"Matsu-san!" I called, waving frantically.

Matsuda looked up, his eyes wide and terrified. He looked hardly capable of holding a coherent thought. I dismounted, unable to ride any farther. Quickly tying the reins to a branch of the Oak, I started to inch along.

"Matsuda!" I called again.

Slowly the officer stood, his hair soaked and hanging in his eyes. He picked up the two children as I reached them. I took one, and then grabbed Matsuda's hand. Together, we made our way back to where the horse waited.

"Get on behind me!" I commanded, mounting and then turning to help Matsuda up. "On child in front, one between us!"

The young man nodded shakily, and clambered up behind me. Then, I turned the animal and urged it on up the path. I felt Matsuda and the children cling to me. I felt the power of the bay stallion beneath me. I also felt my own strength, my own power. I was in control.

I had finally done it.

"You don't need to make amends, Lawleit," he had told me, "because it wasn't your fault. I've forgiven you long ago. Now it's your turn."

It was nearly dawn when we reached the orphanage. The sky was orange and pink. My feet were sore and bloody; I had chosen to lead the stallion on foot, as the animal was so fatigued. Matsuda and the children rode; the young officer's head was lolling.

I saw figures standing in front of the orphanage long before I could make them out. Then I picked out Watari and Light-kun, Mello and Near, and the new boy, Matt. I raised a hand as we came closer, and the five of them rushed forward.

I was nearly knocked off my feet by the children. I dropped heavily to one knee as I hugged them, exhaustion crashing over me. But it was a deep, contented exhaustion, and my heart felt strangely light.

I was finally free.

Free from the guilt.

Free from the responsibility.

And I was happy.

Watari came up and looked down at me. it was hard- is still hard –to describe what I saw in his eyes.

I saw concern; deep, parental concern.

I saw admiration; of what I didn't quite know.

I saw…

Damn the insufficient tool of language.

I saw something beyond pride, something deeper and more meaningful; something that only a parent who has watched their child do something extraordinary can feel and express.

For the first time, I felt extraordinary, too.

The great detective L… admired, exulted, romanticized and practically worshiped.

And for the very first time, I felt worthy of being alive.

Later that day, I sat, resting, eating a slice of strawberry cake. I felt…

The sunlight streamed through the window next to me, warming my body and lulling me into a half-sleep. Matsuda and the two children were being cared for, and I felt I deserved a bit of peace and rest, time to recuperate.

Complacent. To be lazily content.

Yes, I felt complacent.

The door creaked open. A young girl, maybe in her early twenties, peered in. her gray-green eyes large and soft, found me, and she smiled, her smile extenuating her beauty.

"L-sensei, may I come in?" she asked in a lyrical voice.

"Certainly," I answered, "if you tell me your name."

The girl laughed as she came fully into the room. She really was beautiful, with long legs and silver hair that sparkled when it swung. She closed the door behind her.

"I'm happy to introduce myself," she said. "I am Wammy's 'T.' You, though, may call me Tsuya, for it is my true name."

I bowed slightly, rising from my seated position. "It is a pleasure," I said. "You, as well, may call me Ryuzaki."

The girl, Tsuya, laughed again, and I smiled. I liked this young, cheerful girl.

"I simply had to meet you," Tsuya told me, her smile growing. "You truly do not disappoint."

"I'm glad for that," I said, then asked curiously, "but tell me, you look a bit old to be a star struck child. Why were you so intent on meeting me?"

Tsuya's eyes sparkled with joy. "Tsuya is my real name," she said, seeming to ignore my question, "but there is another reason I was given the letter 'T.' it stands for 'trust.' It also stands for 'time.'" Her eyes twinkled. "The time you gave me."

Everything fell into place. The odd familiar-ness of this girl; her need to meet me; what she had just said…

Once again I was crawling through the rain, clutching a frightened little girl.

"Ha!" Tsuya's face lit up with humor. "The look on your face! They say I'm good at catching people off guard, but even the great L?" Her face cleared, and she sobered. "That night it forever engrained in my memory. I know it holds terrible grief, but you will always have my respect, loyalty, and gratitude."

With an effort, I closed my mouth and wiped the dumbfounded look off my face. I smiled, and stepped forward.

"Thank you, Tsuya. That means a lot." I felt a strange urge to cry as I extended my hand.

Tsuya didn't take my hand, but instead threw her arms around me. I found myself returning the embrace.

"You've got a beautiful soul, Ryuzaki, I can see it."

"Please," I said, "you can call me Lawliet. It's my real name."

"Lawliet…" she tried out the sound of it. "I remember that now. An unusual and wonderful name for an unusual and wonderful man."

We still hadn't released each other.

I stepped back first, holding her at arm's length.

"You're so beautiful!" I exclaimed. "You've grown up so wonderfully!"

She laughed. "Thanks."

I paused for a moment, thinking. Then, I smiled.

"Would you like to go for a ride with me?"

She looked at me for a moment, seeming amazed. Then, she smiled, and took my offered hand.

"I'd love to."

THE END.

(A/N) Done! And I'm so happy with the result! I hope you liked this little fic! Could you please tell me if you did? Reviewers get sugared strawberries!

I'm so sad its finally over! TT-TT

By the way, would you guys enjoying seeing more of Tsuya? Tell me if you would!