A/N: All right, I updated! Now, I'll apologize right off the bat: sorry that this chapter is short. But, it's a special one, because it's a POV chapter. This is the first of three that will be found sporadically throughout the story. This particular one is, obviously, in L's POV.

Disclaimer: Honestly, do I have millions of dollars? No, because I don't own Death Note! XP

Chapter 12: Insight

Chilly torrents of rain poured one November day, thunder and lightning sometimes providing the sound effects for an overall unpleasant scene. Normally, people wouldn't dare venture from the warmth of their homes to such monstrous storms outside. Then again, L had always contrasted from average people. He stood in his poor posture on the topmost floor of the high-rise that had served as headquarters for nearly a month now. Truthfully, he merely desired to escape the increasingly dark environment that lurked within this building. A shinigami, white as bone, constantly floating in the background contributed to that. He could scarcely believe that this case had taken a paranormal turn.

A few months ago, V had indeed strived toward the right direction when she mentioned that the notebooks talked about in the diary entry were murder weapons. When they arrested Higuchi, one of the Yotsuba members, he had confessed to killing using a black notebook. Oddly enough, he died of heart attack moments later, shortly after L had the particular notebook snatched out of his hands by Light. The detective preferred to rule it out as sheer coincidence that Higuchi would die after the still prime suspect received that accursed book.

But then, things became even worse after this incident.

Reluctantly and truly feeling cornered in the sense that he was losing, L removed the handcuffs that attached him to Light and vice versa. The college student decided to remain on the task force, whereas his girlfriend was free to go. Recently, the now twenty-five-year-old detective (his birthday had nearly been a week ago) had to contend with Rem, the shinigami that everyone saw once they touched the notebook. V, the ever calm, studious girl, barely reacted to seeing this horrific creature of death, if at all.

Yet, even she maintained an air of blissful oblivion when it came to the harsh truth: he, the world's greatest detective, had lost. Insight informed him of morbid future events to unfold that deemed this fact so. As much as L hated to admit it, he even recognized that Light had somehow returned to his plotting self, the self that barely anyone saw. He couldn't grasp why; it was only inevitable, as well as alarming. A cold awareness impelled him to feel depression, something he hadn't felt in ages.

The morbid sense had arrived when he first started speaking to Rem, whose wary, predatory golden eyes bored into his own blank black ones. It was as though time had fast-forward to a fateful, crucial event that could destroy all of humankind. Despite his seclusion, despite his carefully laid-out precautions, even he wasn't safe from this. He knew that. He despised knowing that, but the awareness remained the same nonetheless. Coming into this case, he thought he would solve it in a week or two. Kira would be behind bars, and he could move on to the next case.

How regretfully he, L, had miscalculated.

Now, as the wind whipped his hair, already drenched with rain, he began to genuinely worry over V. Supernatural malevolence had seized this case; he would loathe himself forever if he lost his sister, his only sibling to it. The same went with Watari, who had served as a father, a grandfather, and a friend. Bells tolled in their haunting manner, foretelling pessimistically of what would come. However, in a sense, they acutely reminded L of the church bells that rang on Sundays on an hourly basis near Wammy's. Childhood memories came back to him, however miserable they were.

Why did they, the loyal task force members, decide to risk their own lives on his account? Even Aizawa, who returned to help arrest Higuchi, had resolved to do this not once, but twice. All of the members led content lives before this case—why put them on the line like that? Watari aka Quillish Wammy was one person that L comprehended as to why he accompanied him...but the others?

Yes, he could have dwelled on this long ago; now that the case seemed to near to a close, though, he couldn't help but question. And V...he could still scarcely believe that she faithfully remained like she did. She was the one he had hoped would aspire to college, the one who would lead a much happier life that he would not even bother to achieve.

Instead, she steadfastly took on a role in the task force, her alias still cleverly being held up after all this time. L proceeded to curse fate, to curse chance in general.

That damnable shinigami inside this building could kill her at any time, snuffing any faith that L had rested in her out like candle flames. But, no...V was so much more sensible than to allow herself to die, so very capable to look out for herself.

"I'm not the baby any more."

She had said these words so matter-of-factly with her quiet confidence intact. Perhaps he should metaphorically copy her notes on living life. In a way, she was practically a full-fledged expert on the subject, though had seventeen years to her name. Light's age...but, of course, she differed from Light. Thank heavens above she did, his intelligent little sister he had had to raise all his own.

And she turned out as well as he had hoped she would.

L wearily sighed, though realized that he briefly felt like a proud parent...or maybe he should just stick to classifying himself as the brother.

"Yes," he thought as a ghost of a smile curved his lips, "that would be better."

As the rain perpetually poured, he heard the bells yet again. Had an hour elapsed since the last series of peals? His self-meditation was lasting longer than he anticipated. He strained his ears to hear these melancholy yet consoling bells sing their songs to all of Tokyo. A flicker of optimism ignited his soul for just a fraction of a second.

He then proceeded to recollect on several plans he had made to himself over these past excruciating months. One of these aforementioned plans had concerned V, whom he told that he would willingly work together with her. While miserable only minutes ago when he wrapped himself up with worry and guilt, how could L forget that? With her knowledge of psychological terms and his deductive skills, they would make the perfect duo of sleuths. As for the task force, the members could work under them, if they so wished. Who knew? Maybe the police wouldn't mind cooperating either.

So many dreams and high ambitions for the future...that is, if Kira didn't destroy them all first, crushing them into the dust. L nearly shuddered from chill as well as apprehension to even think of that possibility.

Lightning maliciously sliced the sky in half, accompanied with the rumbling of its loyal companion thunder. Realizing that he had been dreaming like a wistful schoolboy, L sensed reality slap him in the face. No time to avert his attention to the future. He had other more important items on his plate, the proof required to arrest Light and let justice run its course being top priorities.

That conniving young man was never his friend, despite what he said. After all, L merely tossed the lie out there to test Light, to see if maybe he possessed a more human, compassionate side. The college student might have used to, but this Death Note seemed to be the key to his cruelty—that is, if L was correct in thinking this. But, if he erred in his judgment, he would lose massive credibility and cease to work in the law enforcement field.

Surely the answer to this extensive, complicated dilemma would come off as obvious. As he told himself many times already, he was L. And as L, he needed to meet a requirement to serve and protect. He would fulfill that need to his last breath in order to save as many lives as possible in the name of justice! Ridding himself of that despicable Kira, whom he knew for certain had to be Light, he would come out at on top. No criminal such as this mass murderer would ever see the light of day as long as he lived. And, best of all, no one would dare to trifle with him, the world's greatest detective, once Kira was behind bars or dead.

One exasperating question had to be answered, though. Was he a hypocrite?

He preached justice all over the place, yet he contemplated testing the notebook, a step toward the right direction of Light's guilt. To deter his rival, he would end up killing one single person. No matter what doubts he possessed regarding the matter, he must test the Death Note, even if one life ended. Besides, millions more could be saved. His brilliant mind contradicted everything, but his instincts (and he supposed his heart) were set on this final objective.

This key to unlock the undeniable truths of Light's guilt, resulting in a promising college student's downfall.

Nonetheless, it had to be done, even if no one would speak to him again after this. At last, L had made his decision, just as his sister V approached him.

A/N: OK, so I always wanted to write something regarding L's thoughts in the rain scene. At first, I put that he really thought Light was his friend, then I was like, "He definitely would not think that!" So, I decided to stress that L wants to win almost, if not more so, as badly as he wants justice to be served. That he wants Light out of his hair--I thought that was a better revision than what I had before in my notebook. Unfortunately, V does not know that L has a low opinion of Light for sure--because, in my opinion, L is about as good at acting as Light is.

So, that's the POV chapter. Tomorrow, when I update, it's back to V.

I'll just say a little something right now...after tomorrow, you guys might hate me. Especially since Chapter 13 is the V's birthday edition chapter. Geez, I'm not that great at being time appropiate. Review please!