Beyond clung to the doorway, firing at the invaders. Each time he pulled the trigger, a man toppled off his horse. He laughed triumphantly as the invaders fell constantly. Beyond skillfully placed his own men, instructing them how to hide and where to go. Most were posted on the roofs, giving them the full advantage. Some were dead already, though, slumped over the roof. Blood rained onto the street.
A drop plummeted onto Beyond's hand. He snickered as he retreated into the house to reload. His tongue ran down his arm. The salty blood tingled on his tongue. When he turned back to the door, he watched in horror as hundreds of men headed towards the town in the distance. He cursed under his breath and headed straight for Lawliet's room.
He slammed the door open and wrapped the boy's black hair around his fingers. "How did you do it?" he snarled. Lawliet groaned softly; blood leaked from the corner of his mouth. "Tell me now and I won't go in and blow Light's brain out!"
"Li-Light's the only one w-who knows it-it's true location. He to-took me." Lawliet coughed.
Beyond hesitated for a moment. "Then we'll have to bring him, won't we?" Once Lawliet revealed the secret, he would shoot Light on the spot and take Lawliet for his own. He held back the excitement boiling in his stomach.
Lawliet struggled to speak. "There's a-a foun-there's a fountain."
"A fountain?" Beyond growled. "Where is this fountain?"
"In the-in the middle of the de-desert. About a th-three days journey."
"Thank you, Lawli."
He bent towards his trembling captive and began to unravel the ropes. His lips grazed against Lawliet's forehead and, for a moment, they lingered by Lawliet's lips. The sudden closeness sent blood rushing to Beyond's head. He waited so long to wrap Lawliet around his fingers. He pressed his lips against Lawliet's as Lawliet started to sob.
"What's wrong?" Beyond purred as he scooped him up.
Lawliet didn't answer as Beyond opened the door and kicked down the door for Light's room. The boy was slumped in his chair. Blood covered his body. Mello was leaning against the wall, his eyes bloodshot.
"Untie him," Beyond demanded. "And help him up. We're leaving."
"I can't do this," Mello mumbled.
"Shut the fuck up," Beyond growled. "Now fucking untie him, you worthless piece of shit."
Mello trembled as he started to untie Light. Light's eyes flickered open and, as soon as they met Lawliet's, he jumped from his chair, only to collapse again. He glanced around, bewildered by the sudden company. Beyond ground his boot into Light's broken fingers, smirking as he writhed from the pain.
"Light, do you remember the location for the fountain?"
Light's eyes widened. "Lawli, you didn't," he murmured. Beyond stomped on Light's fingers as the sounds of gunfire drew uncomfortably close. "Why!"
"I'm sorry," Lawliet murmured.
"Do you?" Beyond snarled.
"Just tell him," Lawliet begged. "Light, don't be an idiot."
Light's face froze as he gazed in horror at Lawliet. "An idiot?" he whispered. "Do you realize what you've done."
"Please," Lawliet said as Beyond's foot dug harder into Light's hand.
Light cried out, "Fine!"
With that, Beyond turned from the room and demanded Mello to bring Light. They fled out the back door and hoped into the carriage Beyond had waiting, in case an invasion occurred. He applauded himself for being so well prepared. They left behind the effort Beyond put in to corrupt the world. But, if this fountain really prevented death, Beyond would rule the world.
Aiber glanced around his shoulder, firing his pistol at a man on the roof. The man cried out, collapsing out of view. Aiber smirked to himself, surprised how well he was doing. So far, he killed twenty-six men. Beyond Birthday planted hundreds of men all over the town but, thanks to Matt's speech prior to the invasion, Aiber and his men were completely pumped with adrenaline.
'Now,' he thought to himself. 'Where are these captives?'
Matt left Aiber in charge, promising him he had his own mission. Although Aiber immediately believed Matt to be a coward, Matt soon convinced him with a letter. The seal held the famous 'L' symbol, which convinced Aiber of it's legitimacy. Matt's job was worse than the rest's.
He shook Aiber's hand before he left, informing him Beyond probably had captives. It wasn't Beyond's style to kill everyone. While the rest of the men fought, Aiber searched the town for them. It only took a few minutes; they were in the jailhouse.
'Easy,' Aiber smirked. He shot the men guarding the door before they had a chance to notice him. He ducked inside, kicking another man waiting at the sheriff's table. Dozens of people glanced up at him from behind the bars. Dirt and blood covered their faces. But, when they noticed the new face, their eyes lit up.
"Aiber!" someone cried out. Sheriff Matsuda pushed passed the crowd and gripped the bars.
"Good to see you, Sheriff," Aiber laughed as he grabbed the cell keys. "I heard your town got invaded. I guess I just assumed you were dead."
The people cheered as he slid the keys into the lock and turned them. They immediately poured out, until Aiber held his hands up. "None of ya'll are equipped with any weapons, so we're gonna have to wait here until the fightin' ends. Matsuda and I will go grab weapons from the dead. Just, wait here. We'll be right outside the door."
Matsuda and Aiber peaked their heads from the door. Blood poured like a river down the street. Smoke from guns permeated the air but, from the looks of it, they were winning. Aiber grabbed the guns from the men who were stationed outside the door.
"I think Sheriff Yagami is in the individual jails next door. Can we get to 'em?"
Aiber smirked. "Of course."
They dropped off the weapons, handing them to a few who promised they knew how to handle guns. After he carefully instructed them to wait, Matsuda and he sneaked around the back and headed into the individual cells. Surprisingly, these were more guarded then the others. Aiber and Matsuda took the guards down without a problem, though. These men all had thick heads.
They pried open each door, discovering a different person inside. The first was Sachiko Yagami, Sheriff Yagami's wife. She cried when she saw Matsuda's face. The second held an elder man who Matsuda introduced as Watari. Sheriff Yagami was located in the last one.
His breath was shallow as Sachiko ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. She sobbed into his chest. He placed his cheek softly on the top of her head. "My love," he muttered. "Are you aw'right?"
"Yes," she sobbed. "Are you?"
"Never been better," he chuckled softly.
"Let's get them back with the rest and wait there," Aiber turned to Matsuda. The determined Sheriff nodded.
They helped Sheriff Yagami up and they all hustled from the individual cells. As they headed towards the jailhouse building, though, Sheriff Yagami's body gave way, causing both him and Aiber to collapse. Everyone struggled to help the Sheriff up, but it was too late; they were spotted. A man held a pistol towards them, calling for back-up. Matsuda fired at him, but missed terribly. He cursed as they all began to run, except Aiber.
He planted his feet firmly on the ground and steadied his vision on the man. He fired. The bullet soared through the man's forehead and he flew backwards. But, where he fell, other men came. Aiber smirked, glancing one last time at Sheriff Matsuda and the group, who were hiding behind the jailhouse.
"COME ON!" Matsuda cried out.
"You go," Aiber mouthed. With that, he fired at the other men. A bullet struck his gut. He stumbled, still holding his gun with shaking fingers. He shot again. Two men dead; three to go.
"Thirty-two," he smirked, as he pulled the trigger again. Another man fell as another bullet sank into his leg. Aiber collapsed, shooting again.
"Thirty-three."
Blood poured from his lips. He shook, holding his chest up from the ground. Another bullet plummeted into his non-shooting arm. "Come on, lucky thirty-four," he coughed, firing again. Another man collapsed.
One man left. The man steadied his pistol, aiming it for Aiber's head. Aiber made a promise to keep everyone safe, and he fulfilled it. Death was only his friend, now. He chuckled as the man pulled the trigger. Darkness clouded Aiber's vision.
Matsuda ran from the shadows, unable to stand the sight. He fired wildly, piercing the man several times. He collapsed to his knees, turning Aiber over. Blood gushed from a hole in his head, but the man still held a small smile. Matsuda whispered a small prayer.
"Thank you, Aiber," he murmured, closing Aiber's eyes. He stood up and ran towards his friends, who waited with solemn faces by the jail house's door.