After Light had finally regained his sanity, he panicked from the strange room. He swore to kill Beyond until Beyond explained everything, cooling him off. The two became close over the next few weeks as Beyond continuously took care of him. Light resisted trusting Beyond, especially since Mello would appear every so often. The first time Light saw Mello, he commented on his impressive burn. Mello tackled Light, ripping his new stitches opening and throwing his healing process back a few weeks.

Beyond explained Mello wasn't going to hurt him and, in fact, he was trying to form a gang of vigilantes. Light's ears immediately perked up. The idea wasn't half bad. With Beyond on his side, crime would become less tempting. He still doubted Beyond, especially since he'd known Higuchi. After a few weeks, Light expressed his concern. Beyond laughed, promising Higuchi was just a tool he used.

Mello didn't seem to enjoy the idea of a vigilante gang, but oddly he blindly followed Beyond. Light began to wonder where Matt was, but he never mentioned it, especially since Mello rarely spoke to him. Mello obviously wanted him dead, but Beyond became a sort of meat shield and Mello couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger.

"How are you feeling?" Beyond asked as Light walked into the kitchen.

"Much better," he stretched his arms over his head. His shirt danced up his torso, revealing the well-healed scar. "I wanna start tomorrow."

Beyond cocked his head, his black eyes shimmering. "You want to? Now Light, who would we judge?"

"Mello's group."

"Are you fuckin' kiddin' me?" Mello jumped from his chair. Beyond shot him a look, immediately shutting him up. He slumped back into his chair. "Fine, I don't care too much 'bout them anyway. They're all expendable. Just-spare Matt."

"Of course," Light sat down in the chair, his torso erect. His presence was overwhelming; looking upon him made the others seem so small. "After all, he did save my life."

"Fucker," Mello muttered under his breath.

They began their journey the next morning. Light barely spoke, only to discuss the plan. Dynamite strapped to their horse's saddles. Guns and bullets hung at their waist. The sun peered over the horizon, greeting the new day. It's orange beams beat down on their noses and the backs of their necks. It raised and they continued to cross the desert, barely speaking a word to each other. Light had one thing on his mind; revenge. Revenge for all the innocent that the bandits had harmed. Redemption for their families, for himself. That thing was dead, but it's friends still slithered across the Earth.

The sun set on the fourth day and, finally, Light recognized the ghost town in the distance. He heard Mello whimper next to him, but he barely noticed. His desires bubbled under his skin. He wanted to feel what he did the night he strangled Higuchi. The beautiful display of judgment. And these men would be next.

"Fear redemption," Beyond suddenly snickered. Light eyed him, but kept his lips pursed. There was something off about Beyond, Light couldn't put his finger on it. He would just have to continue to stay alert.

They approached the saloon just as the sun disappeared. They hid their horses from sight and the three snuck around to the side of the saloon. Mello peered into the window, his eyes scanning the room.

"Fuck, Matt ain't in there," he growled. "I gotta go find him. You two stay here. If you hear any shots, just light the dynamite."

He didn't wait for a response and burst through the saloon doors. The chaotic room suddenly fell silent. The hinges from the doors creaked as they swung back and fourth. Mello grinned. "Missed me?"

"Sure did," someone snickered from the back of the room.

Not much had changed since Mello left, except the place was a mess. There was trash all over the floor and Mello could feel something sticky yanking at his boots. Matt wasn't in the room. The silence was uncomfortable. Mello figured they wouldn't want to listen to him anymore, but if Matt was in the building, he had to find him. And if not, he'd just run like Hell. Their disgusting smiles shot shivers down his spine. But his face remained stoic as he crossed the room and headed towards his old room.

This wasn't what Light originally planned. He had a whole list of ideas and thinking about his face boiling from the disrespect made Mello giddy. Just because they were partners, didn't mean Mello had to listen to him. He opened his door. A putrid smell of sweat, blood and garbage pierced his nose. He clutched his nose as he peered into the room.

"Matt?" he called.

Something shifted in the corner. He opened the door wider, the light from the outside seeped across the room. Matt was chained to the wall. He batted his lids, trying desperately to keep his eyes open in the blinding light. Yellow bruises and scars covered his face and bare torso. His face barely flinched as they locked eyes. Mello's stomach dropped.

"Oh shit, Matt," he ran to him, yanking at his chains. "Fuck, fuck, fuck. I didn't think they'd do this to you. Fuck, I kinda thought-fuck I don't know what I thought. Are you okay? Matt?"

Matt whimpered, resting his head against the wall. "You wouldn't believe how mad I am at you," he chuckled softly, his voice disgustingly fragile. "But if you get me outta here, I'll think 'bout forgivin' you."

"This isn't a joke," Mello snapped. Too late. Matt's devious smile was plastered to his face. Mello pulled a lock pick from his holster and began to undo the chain.

"They're gonna kill us," Matt murmured. "The only reason they kept me alive was to use me as a punching bag. But, Hell, at least I get to see you one last time. No matter how much I hate your guts." He let out a soft, 'hah', and suddenly lunged forward, coughing. Mello pressed his hand against Matt's forehead; it was burning hot. He immediately grabbed Matt's cheeks and kissed the boy passionately.

"You're gonna be okay," Mello promised when he broke the kiss.

"Aw'right, you two," a gruff voice suddenly called from the door. "Yer gettin' disgustin'. Nasty homo-sectuals. I can't wait to shoot your brains scrambled."

"That doesn't even make sense," Mello snapped, whipping his gun from his holster and shooting the man down before he could utter another word. After struggling with the lock pick for a few more seconds, the chains fell from Matt's wrist. The sound of heavy feet stomped toward them. Many feet. "Christ, I was surrounded by idiots. Let's get the fuck outta here, Matt."

Suddenly, six gun shots rang from the front of the saloon. "A distraction?" Matt asked, swinging his arm around Mello's shoulder.

"I guess so," Mello sighed, wondering which idiot had run into the saloon. Probably Beyond. He enjoyed danger's thrill a bit too much.

"BEYOND!" Light shouted as Beyond ran straight into the saloon, emptying his chamber on any awaiting victims.

Six people fell dead and before anyone could react, he ducked behind the bar and tackled the bar tender, sinking his teeth into his new victim's throat. The barkeep choked, blood spewed from his neck. Beyond picked up his gun and reloaded, beckoning Light, who was watching from the window, to come inside. His eyes glistened with malice. Light sighed, debating whether or not to recklessly run into the saloon while the group of men shot at Beyond.

Bullets flew past Light's head as he burst through the door and ducked behind the bar. Beyond was waiting patiently, blood dripping from his lips.

"What are you doing?" he shouted over the explosions ringing from the guns. "Are you an idiot?"

"It's all part of my plan," Beyond tapped his head and suddenly, he jumped up, emptying his chamber in an abnormally fast pace.

"But not the one we originally discussed," Light said as Beyond collapsed back behind the bar's protection. He just continued to grin, excitement trembling through his fingers.

Suddenly, someone tried to leap over the bar, but Light's bullet sailed through the man's face. The man died before he reached the ground. Blood showered the two. Light gagged, covering his nose from the disgusting stench. Beyond started to cackle, wiping the blood from his eyes. Bullets whizzed above their heads and smacked into the bar's barrier.

"This is such a mess," Light growled. "Why the hell did you do that?"

"Because I could," Beyond laughed harder.

"You realize you trapped us behind a bar, and now we're gonna die back here?"

Beyond grabbed a jug of moonshine from behind him and tore off a piece of his shirt. "Want to see something beautiful?"

He soaked the cloth in the moonshine and left a tail sticking from the mouth of the jug. He lit the cloth and tossed the jug over the bar. Suddenly, an explosion ignited in the room. Gun's stop exploding. Men were shouting, some let out horrified screams. Beyond peeked around the corner of the bar, shooting at random.

Light jumped up, clutching his gun tightly. He cocked it and pulled the trigger, hitting a man in front of him right in the heart. The man collapsed to the floor. The place was ablaze. Light continued to shoot at the miscellaneous men running frantically around the room. It was like watching a flock of pigeons trying to break free from a cage. Light aimed steadily, shooting each target dead. He fed the desires that ached his heart with each man he killed. So far, he'd killed seven.

He sunk back behind the bar, reloading his gun. "That cocktail really wiped them out, huh?" Beyond applauded his quick thinking.

More guns fired. Heavy boots stomped across the floor, heading towards the bar. This was what Light dreaded. There was silence, suddenly. He closed his eyes, listening intently for movement. Suddenly, gun shots fired from the back of the room.

"Hey, fuckers," Mello shouted. "You forgot about me."

More explosions. Light couldn't stand huddling behind the bar anymore. He climbed up, perching himself above the men surrounding the room. With a few quick shots, some fell over. He jumped down, kicking one close by in the gut. He flew backwards, only to meet Mello's bullet. Blood exploded throughout the room. Light was drenched. Beyond was suddenly next to him. Before he knew it, everyone was dead.

Smoke clouded the room. Light covered his mouth and ran outside, his chest heaved as he absorbed the fresh air. Beyond came out shortly after, stretching his hands above his head. Mello and Matt shortly followed. Matt was beaten badly, but there was a smile plastered on his face.

"Well, that was easy," Beyond said.

"What's wrong with you!" Light shouted. "You almost got us killed."

"Almost," Beyond pointed out. "I couldn't help myself. They were all almost expired."

"What are you talkin' 'bout?" So, Beyond told him. Light gaped at him, unsure how to take the strange, supernatural claim. It was impossible, wasn't it? It only made sense if fate controlled their destiny's, which Light had learned a long time ago wasn't true. Only he could control his destiny.

"Do you believe in God's existence?"

Suddenly, the building exploded, flinging debris at the group. The air suddenly reeked of gasoline.

"Well, that was what would've killed them," Beyond snickered. "This is about the time they all were supposed to die. How absolutely coincidental!"

"Aw'right, let's go before anyone notices," Mello muttered, helping the struggling Matt onto the horse.

Light stepped toward the flaming saloon. He needed to leave another message, another reminder. He grabbed his knife and grabbed a plank of wood lying on the floor.

Fear retribution.

"Oh come now, you can't just repeat the same thing," Beyond said. "It'll get boring...I know!"

He snatched the piece of wood and the knife and underneath Light's carving, he wrote: Yours truly, Kira

"Kira?"

Beyond grinned. "You want to reign in terror, right? Well, you can't do it too well without an alias. And I've never heard of a bandit named, 'Kira'. It's simple, yet memorable."

Adrenaline pumped through Light's veins. Kira might just work.

A month after, the name "Kira" ran across everyone's tongues. Some whispered that he was working closely with Beyond Birthday, others believed he was an angry ghost, come back to kill everyone who caused it harm. Even just walking through a town, Light heard several different versions of who Kira was. Little did they know that he walked amongst them, watching them closely, waiting for one of them to fall out of line.

There was a knock at the door.

"Yes?"

An elderly gentleman walked through the door, carrying a cup of tea. "Did you decide what you're going to do about Kira?"

"Yes. I decided the moment I read about him," the detective crouched over piles of papers said as he dropped cubes of sugar into his tea. "I will give him a taste of his own medicine."

A/N: I thought the last part was a nice, short touch.
Reviews would be much appreciated!