I woke up and left Mello curled up under the blankets. It's not that I cared if he came along, I just didn't care enough to wake him up and wait for him. So, I scribbled a note, promising to be back in a few days. Then, I set off to Light's town-Lawliet's home town. I knew he wouldn't be there; I had checked a few times in the past. Besides, how could the climax to such a fantastic game be us bumping into each other in his home town? No, our meeting would be extraordinary.

That night, I barely slept. Lawliet's face, his pure, sweet face, imploded my memories. A war raged on in my head. I snuffed out the fire, lying in the total darkness, trying to relax my thoughts. But, his eyes, his lips, his voice taunted me. Called me. Beyond, come get me. I squeezed my eyes shut.

I pulled a jar of jam from the pantry and sat on the side of the table opposite from Lawliet. My new house guest hadn't spoken in a few days, probably recuperating from whatever had happened to him.
"Would you like some?" I offered the jam to Lawliet. He shook his head.
I sighed and stood up, heading to the bathroom. When I came back, I found Lawliet digging through my pantry.
"What are you looking for?" I chuckled.
"Something sugary."

I rubbed my temples, trying hard to force any memories from continuing to invade my brain. Finally, I drifted to sleep.

As Lawliet gazed in awe down at the body by his feet, I congratulated myself for corrupting the boy. It was quite easy to mold him; quite easy to convince him he was someone he wasn't. Lawliet's willpower had evaporated a long time ago, and I was there to pick up the pieces.
"See it wasn't too bad," I snickered.
"I suppose not," Lawliet answered, his voice cool.
I grabbed the boy's blood stained hands and kissed him softly. Lawliet didn't flinch and after a few seconds, he began to kiss me back.

The sun woke me up. Only two more days and I would finally be able to lay my eyes on Light Yagami. I kidded myself, deciding that Lawliet probably held some grudge against him and Light Yagami was no threat. I tried to distract myself, wondering what Mello was up to. Somehow I couldn't keep focused on his fragile body. Lawliet's large eyes always intruded my thoughts. I told myself over and over it was just a game.

Short and sweet.
I always took my time when I would void a body of life. But, tonight was different. The woman gagged and collapsed to the floor. Nearly perfect timing; her clock read 10 seconds.
I smiled to himself, wondering what Lawliet would say. I could hardly wait to get back to the boy, who I knew was waiting on my bed.

Three long days through the perilous desert. I was exhausted by the time I reached the town. It was pitch black. Higuchi had told me he'd be waiting for me somewhere in the town, but he never said where. I pulled in front of saloon and tied my horse's reigns. He was no where to be found. I searched the saloon (twice) and checked the two hotels in the town, keeping my eye out for Light Yagami. But, according to the townsfolk, Higuchi didn't exist. And Light was no where to be found.

Suddenly it hit me. His lust for Misa-he would be near her. I began to explore the houses, searching for Higuchi's horse hidden in the shadows. Finally, at a rickety, tiny house I spotted Higuchi's horse gnawing at the leaves in the trees. I peered through the window, only to find a young girl, no older than 20, tied to a chair. Her stomach was bulging with child. Higuchi sat in the chair next to her, yelling about something. He really knew how to make a fool out of himself.

I casually walked through the front door and walked to the dining area. Higuchi jumped up, his gun aimed right at my face. "Oh, Beyon', don go scarin' me like that. I almost blew yer face off."

"Please help me!" Misa cried out. Misa Amane-seven minutes and twenty-seven seconds. How convenient. "Li-Light's somewhere, I dunno where, but please, sir! Don't kill me! I'm pregnant, please! Don't kill my baby." She whimpered and hung her head, sobbing softly. Poor, pitiful Misa. Little did she know that even if we hadn't have shown up, her baby still wouldn't have been born.

"I told yew, Beyon'. I'm good at what I do," he grinned maliciously as he pressed his gun's barrel against Misa's cheek. She moaned, continuing to beg. "When I get done with her, I'd say he'll be perty torn apart by tomorrow."

"Don't kill her," I said. "Let me."

Higuchi threw me a puzzled glance. It was rare I dirtied my hands in front of others, but Higuchi knew who I was. And it was so unbelievably close to her time. It was destiny.

"Aw'right boss," he grinned. "Whatever yew say."

Moonlight poured through the curtain. I had woken from a dream and was watching Lawliet, but couldn't bring myself to say anything. The boy was gazing longingly out the window.
It was always bad when I caught Lawliet pondering.
"L?" I finally purred, tracing the scratches gouged in Lawliet's back. "Come to bed."
"I'm not tired."

Five minutes. My fingers tingled with anticipation. It'd been about three months since I've killed; three long months that I had to suppress the dark desires that creeped in my stomach. They were not as loud or vicious as my obsession for Lawliet, but they were constantly there, reminding me of who I was.

"Do you know who I am?" I asked Misa, leaning close.

"N-no," she whimpered. "But I'm sure you're a real nice feller."

I grinned coolly, taking a knife from my holster. I dragged the blade across her cheek, admiring the crimson drops falling down her porcelain skin. "My name's Beyond Birthday."

She gulped, her eyes enlarging. The name that struck fear. I would always be branded by the terror I caused others. And God, it was fantastic. "Pl-please, mister Beyond Birthday. Please don't kill me."

"It's too late. You know my identity," I grinned, carving lines down her pretty face. She screamed, calling for Light. I slashed her lips and she immediately shut up. The silence sounded so pleasant. I took a deep breath. Two minutes left. I clutched the butt of the knife and flung the blade down into her arm. I yanked it out and slammed it into the other arm. She cried out, begging to just kill her.

"As you wish," I snickered, licking the blood off the tip of my blade.

Thirty seconds. I couldn't wait that long; the anticipation yanked at my throat. I plunged the knife into her heart and she whimpered one last time. Her head hung and finally, there was complete silence. I turned back to Higuchi, my heart raced from the adrenaline. Murder was better than sex. Well, it wasn't exactly murder, since she was going to die in thirty seconds anyway. It was...speeding up the process.

Higuchi clutched something in his hand and turned from Misa's lifeless body. "Let's get outta here," he grumbled.

His breathing steadied. Finally, he had fallen asleep. I turned onto my back, panting. Recently, I had to pound exhaustion into him until he cold barely keep his eyes open. Sleeping was becoming his nemesis.
"Light," he suddenly whimpered.
I gazed at him, my stomach tying into knots. Light. I would kill him someday.

"Let's give him a break," I said, resting the tip of my knife on my index finger. "Instead of him having to walk in to find this horrific scene, let's just take a match and burn her."

The truth was, I wanted to destroy any evidence Higuchi might have left behind. I was always careful, but I couldn't say the same about Higuchi. In fact, he was a huge oaf who could barely comprehend how to work a gun properly. A fire would cleanse the house and also allow me to watch Light from afar. I'd be able to decipher how broken he was; a trophy for my work. After I burned his wife, child and house down, I would go for his parents, siblings, anyone next. Higuchi barely gave notice he was leaving.

After washing the floors with alcohol, I tossed a match and walked out the door. The house behind me ignited. There was a tree a few yards away that was a perfect place to sit and enjoy. I leaned against the trunk, blending into the night. It didn't take long before I saw a figure running towards the house. As he got close to the inferno, the flames illuminated his face. Light Yagami: thirty-two years, fourty days, seven hours and two seconds. He had an impressive air about him. Even as he watched his family burn, his face remained stoic. But what did he have that drew my Lawliet to him? Why did he haunt Lawliet's dreams?

I pouted. I couldn't kill him, unless I waited thirty-two years. But, I'm sure Mello would be thrilled to take his life. The house crackled and the roof collapsed. Light suddely fell to his knees, his fingers trembled as they ran through his hair. His face remained stoic, though. Suddenly, he picked something up. Hatred flashed across his eyes. He dangled a necklace as he mounted his horse and took off. The necklace...had that been what Higuchi was holding?

Somehow, the idiot still messed up. I snickered; this would be quite interesting.

Lawliet's focus waned from me recently. I couldn't help but feel neglected. I yearned for the boy's body, but every time I would try to touch Lawliet, he would recoil.
Tonight, I decided, I would get what I wanted. No matter what it took.
"Get off, Beyond," Lawliet snapped.
I sunk my teeth into the boy's shoulder. Lawliet cried out.
"No," I grinned.