A/N:

Cali: Alright! Another chapter down! So, this will be the last of the 'tying up loose ends and actually making this story plausible' chapters. It's all new plot from here, baby!

Coral: If you can actually write your half.

Cali: Hey! I can write my half! Maybe not in a timely manner, but it gets written!

Coral: It'd better. I'm running out of pointy things to jab you with.

Cali: Finally! Also, thank, thank you, THANK YOU to our reviewers! You guys make us want to write even more than we already do! I kinda wanna hug you all, so big mental hugs all around! I love hugs, especially free ones! No really, I'm getting a t-shirt. . .

Coral: Standard disclaimer applies, until we figure out a way to switch universes and make it our own. Until then, enjoy!

Chapter Three- Starting Again

It had been three days since Light began his nostalgic litany, and thankfully it wasn't nearly as consuming as the almost three days of apologies had been. Sometimes he would stare blankly into space, and sometimes he would cry. Often, he would begin to randomly talk. Mostly to L, though L made sure to keep his responses to a minimum, at least for the moment. He had no idea what might set Light back into his apologetic trance. For now, it just seemed like Light was bored. He probably was.

L tried not to take too much malicious pleasure from that.

On the afternoon of the third day, L clicked away at the local online newspapers. It was a fairly recent habit, to make sure that both Misa and Yagami, along with the rest of the investigation team, were behaving. He had Wedy and Aiber for intelligence in that aspect, but seeing it from the public eye was a comforting perspective. So far, the only information that had been released was that Kira had been apprehended.

Apparently that's a big deal.

L shook his head to rid himself of his own sarcastic inner monologue and continued reading. Most was useless drivel- conspiracy theories on who Kira really was, alleged claims to have known Kira or L – he read through those slightly slower, just in case- and so forth.

His eyes were caught by an odd name in the obituaries. It was Light's name, along with a small article, telling of his heroic endeavors to catch Kira, and how it ultimately ended his life. The information was vague, only alluding to his actual participation in the investigation. He had wondered how Yagami Soichiro was going to handle this situation. Apparently he decided that his son was in all practicality dead to him, and now the world knew it.

L hit print and decided on a new tactic.

Light looked up as the basement door opened only to have his eyes travel downward, following the paper that fell at his feet. Light saw his name and his insides froze. It was one thing for L to tell him that he was dead to his father. Now he was dead to everyone. His Mother, Sayu. Hell even Misa. No one would ever look for him. He glanced at the paragraph, "great student", "promising investigator," some "fighting the good fight" bullshit. He crumpled it up and threw it away where it bounced against the far wall.

L just watched. At least he hadn't regressed.

"I need you to really tell me the whereabouts of the other Death Note," Light merely looked confused.

"I did,"

"Except that it was not in any of the clearings fitting that description north of town that Watari and I checked. I fear my hands are beginning to blister." Light looked up sharply. Unsure if that had been an attempt at humor. L merely blinked at him.

"I… Maybe I don't remember correctly. I could show you."

"Unlikely as you are not permitted to leave that cell. And I find it highly improbable, particularly after your extremely detailed apology to everyone you have ever met, that you ever forget anything. I believe this is a ruse to attempt escape, and I assure you that is quite impossible."

"What's wrong with wanting out of this hole? At least real prisoners get yard time; they get to walk the halls. Hell they aren't handcuffed every second!" Light gripped the bars, growling.

"Nor have any of them killed nearly the amount of people you have." Light sagged, falling to his normal position against floor and bed. He nodded.

"I thought I gave you the correct directions, I really did." L nodded to him and left the room, trying to ignore the painful tugging in his chest, or the catch in his throat.

L was inclined to take Light up on his offer to show him after another three days and two actual blisters. L had Watari rig their handcuffs with an electric current. If L pressed a small button set on the outside of his own cuff, underneath the new (bulky, but necessary) battery pack, or if Light pulled too hard, he would get a rather unpleasant jolt. The rubber lining added to the inside of L's cuff should, in theory, prevent him from receiving the same shock.

In theory.

The seven watt battery had enough charge for several shocks at eighty thousand volts- roughly the same as a lower end stun gun. Not enough to harm a healthy young man, but it still wasn't pleasant by any means.

After all, it would be rather problematic if Kira got lose and found another Death Note after L supposedly caught him.

Light watched L's approach, but didn't say anything until the detective open the door to the cell. Despite his predicament and almost all-encompassing bad mood, he'd been tempted to say something along the lines of, I ' smelled you coming, Clarice-' but held his tongue. Seemed like a good move on his part, as L didn't seem to be in a very jovial mood. Straight to the point was better.

"Why're you here?"

A dark brow over an equally dark eye quirked up at that.

"It's my building. I can go where I want."

Light snorted. "Not what I meant, and you know it. Is there something I can help you with?" The question was meant to be sarcastic, but when L held out the cuffs, it was Light's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"You're letting me out?"

The other man stepped forward to secure the cuff to his own wrist, and then Light's, before removing the smaller pair the auburn haired man had already been wearing. Light couldn't help but notice the add-ons, but didn't bother to ask. He mostly likely wouldn't get an answer anyways.

"You are being let out for the moment, yes. Whether or not you stay out depends on your own behavior."

"My behavior? Where are we going?" He didn't actually expect to be let out any time soon, despite his little blow up from earlier in the week, but it seemed like he was getting the chance. L tugged on the chain gently, urging Light up and out of the cell, towards the elevator.

"We are going to retrieve the other notebook, as it seems you must have given me the directions incorrectly." His spindly, pianist's fingers jabbed at the buttons inside the elevator, giving away his tension.

"Incorrectly? I told you exactly where it was! Just because you can't find it doesn't mean it's my fault!" Light clenched his hands into fists, then threw them out for balance as the elevator started its journey abruptly. L rounded on him.

"I would like to remind Light-kun that this is his fault- all of it. So even if your descriptive details aren't lacking, and there is an error on my part –which isn't likely- and we manage to find it in a more timely manner with your cooperation outside of this building, then it is still Light-kun's fault."

Light watched L's seething, frame and decided that now was a bad time to point out that he was slipping between narrative forms and that mixing first and third person in one sentence made him sound petulant. Although the anal retentive, perfectionist side of him really wanted to. He didn't realize L was watching him now, as his emotions flickered across his face. He really was easier to read without the notebook's influence.

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened up into a hallway, which led to the main lobby. Light unconsciously took the fist step forward, and L allowed him to lead down the hallway.

As much as L wished to stay angry at the younger man, it was getting increasingly difficult to do so. This wasn't a killer. This was an intelligent boy who'd had his world ripped out from under him and- if he was to believe the evidence thus far- was literally possessed by an otherworldly notebook.

Evil, mind-possessing notebooks. What will I deal with next?

L found that his inner thoughts were getting increasingly more sarcastic as of late.

Watching Light move towards the lobby, however, he felt that tugging in his chest again. He knew what it was. Guilt for keeping the boy locked up. Not that he had much choice, but still.

Despite the handcuffs, and sanely knowing he was the world's worst criminal, Light actually looked excited. One of those things he missed was sunlight. And birds. And trees. This small trip actually included many of the things Light professed to missing.

The lobby was filled with early afternoon sunlight, and both males squinted at the sudden onslaught. Light's hair almost seemed to catch fire with the shine, despite being slightly greasy. He had been taking showers in his small cell, but it was still the minimum amount of upkeep possible.

At the doors to the outside world, he paused, looking back to L, who sighed and pushed them open, slouching towards the waiting car and Watari.

"Might as well get this over with," he mumbled.

After fifteen minutes of driving, first through densely populated city streets, and then the more suburban parts of the city, L realized what was bothering him. Light had been mumbling directions to Watari through the fold-down of the tiny limo, barely audible, and refusing to look up. L noticed with some amusement that Light almost looked ashamed, as if he was addressing a parental figure that knew he'd done something wrong.

L barely kept himself from snorting. Watari was, if anything, a sympathetic supporter of Light. Oh, he'd never say anything in Light's presence, of course, but L knew the truth.

Twenty four hours after Light's incarceration-

L was trying -and failing- to unwind in one of the various living areas in the skyscraper. It was evening, and the sun had just vanished underneath the city's horizon, casting the spacious room in a heavy orange glow.

"Watari. . ."

The elderly gentleman looked up from the magazine he was reading. Inventor's Weekly. L had read it earlier that day, in hopes of keeping his mind off Light. It hadn't worked, and he'd returned it to its rightful owner. Watari already had several pages dog-eared, and L knew he'd be rereading those articles later.

"Is this correct? How this is supposed to end?"

He watched the older genius carefully fold another corner of the magazine and set it down on an end table. Eyes that he felt at times were far wiser than his scanned over his form. L was currently upside down in an overstuffed armchair, feet kicked over the top, head dangling over the seat. He had figured that the opposite of his normal thinking pose- upside down and sprawled out- would lessen his brain power. It was only serving to give him a headache.

Surrounded as he was by his normal array of junk food, he could only imagine the sight he made. He popped another taffy into his mouth, and thought his saw Watari's mouth twitch upwards by the smallest degree.

"Who says this is the end, L?"

He considered a moment, which was rather hard to do with so much blood rushing to his brain for a sustained period. It made his eyeballs hurt.

"Well, this is the end of Kira, anyways. What should I do now? It is true I can continue to solve cases, but what about the ones that require me to be closer to the actual investigation? Granted, it doesn't happen often. I cannot very well drag a criminal mastermind all over the world with me- it's dangerous keeping him in this building, even as well built as it is."

"What criminal mastermind are you referring to?"

L paused in the unwrapping of yet another taffy, then abandoned it altogether, opting instead for somersaulting off the chair to land right side up and cross legged to better see the other man. He shuffled a moment and pulled the almost empty taffy bag out from under him.

"Watari, you are aware that I am currently holding Kira captive, correct?" He hoped the elder's mind wasn't slipping- that was not a complication he needed right now.

"I don't think you are. Not anymore, anyways."

L bit a nail, considering. "I concede that yes, Light-kun is no longer the cold-hearted criminal he was while in possession of the death note, the fact remains that he had to want those deaths in the first place. His conscience may be free again, but he is still intelligent, and still undeniably dangerous."

Watari was silent a moment, and then he asked L the same question he asked when they first met, many years ago. "L, if you could achieve world peace, would you?"

"Of course." He knew where this was heading.

"At what cost?"

That was the question, wasn't it? L knew that killing people was wrong, and Light obviously was aware of this too, what with his negative reaction to the return of his true emotions. But Light's strong sense of justice, along with his will to actually do something for the world, had all but led him to ruin upon the finding of such a corrupt tool.

If he had found the notebook would he have done the same thing? His mind screamed no, it would never take that chance with another human life, but what if? Light most likely hadn't tested the power the moment he got it, he was probably in possession of it for a while before it was actually put into use.

So what if that was the key? Using the notebook obviously ridded the mind of the base need to preserve life, and choose instead to end it, at least to some degree. What if just owning the death note- having it in your possession for long enough, was enough to corrupt a person? To warp the mind just enough to take that step into writing down a name, thus leading to the resulting madness?

If that was the case, then Light wasn't guilty of murder at all. In court (whatever twisted, insane court would accept such a bizarre case) it would be pleaded as temporary insanity, and it would most likely hold.

"You make a valid point, Watari."

"I do?" L could see the knowing spark in his caretaker's eyes, and knew he understood.

"But Watari, I still cannot free him. Even negating the possibility of the second death note, we have no idea what the long-term affects of handling such an item may be. What if his Kira side comes back?"

Watari sighed and stood, and L did the same. In the rapidly dying light, the man he respected most in the world did something that shocked L to the core- he hugged him.

"Lawli, this is no doubt one of the most difficult ordeals you've ever been though, whether or not you show it. You know I can tell. Even compared to what happened years ago in L.A.-"

If L had stiffened at the nickname he hadn't heard in years, he practically froze at this. Watari drew back and held him at shoulder length.

"Even in comparison, this was most likely more difficult. But right now what you need to keep in perspective is that you're not the only one going through a trial.

"That boy in the basement knows that he alone is responsible for one of the largest mass murder cases in the history of mankind, and it wasn't truly his fault. Now you can keep him locked up down there, until one or both of you dies from old age, or you can give him a chance at redemption- don't look at me that way, let me finish- and you can let him put that genius mind of his to good use.

"I' m not saying you should usher him out the doors and send him on his merry way, but I do think giving him a little space to breath would be good for both of you. Him to heal and you for peace of mind."

With that, he patted L's shoulder and quietly left the room.

L stood for a long time in the fading light and glows of the city, and realized that was the most he had ever heard his old friend say.

L looked down at the cuff on his wrist, slowly flexing his fingers.

This probably isn't what Watari meant by 'space' but it's the most I'm willing to give. At least for the moment.

Still, that wasn't what caught his attention in the first place. It had been the tiny digital compass on the dash. He leaned forward, over Light and inciting a yelp of indignation. No, he hadn't misread it.

He blinked and turned to Light, who was currently trying to dislodge L's knee from his stomach.

"This is not north, Light-kun."

"Sure it is." He managed to get a hold of L's calf, hauling it up and incidentally dumping L back in his seat.

"No," L readjusted, then leaned back over Light and pointed to the compass in the rear view mirror. The glowing green letters read 'NNW'.

"See? We are going North-North-West. Clearly Light-kun did not travel here in a car equipped with an internal compass. You distinctly said 'North' in your description."

"Well where did you start at?"

"The center of town naturally since you said north of town. Where do you suggest that we should have started at?"

Light stared a moment, as if L had grown a third eyeball. L reached up and rubbed his forehead.

"My house?"

"Why would you count north from your house and then expect me to find it when you describe it as north of town?"

"I guess I hadn't really thought about it. The part of town I'm most familiar with is around my house. And it would still be north of town. You over thought this."

"Impossible,"

"Admit it. Your big bad brain read a little too into that one."

L merely hunched over in his chair, chewing his thumb. His only consolation was the tiny, barely perceptible smirk on Light's face. He was enjoying this, and the bands around L's chest loosened a little.

"There, now just drive until the road ends." Light instructed Watari. They rode in silence for another twenty minutes. Light had taken pains to keep this notebook hidden apparently.

Watari stopped as the road ended and they exited the car, grabbing the shovel and proceeded to walk another quarter of an hour.

"Here!" Light looked around, smiling as a bird flitted from branch to branch, offending a squirrel.

L stood in the space, aghast.

"Light-kun, this is not a clearing. This is an incredibly small lack of trees."

Light stared a moment then snickered.

"That's generally what people refer to as a clearing. What were you looking in? Baseball fields?"

"Of course not, it would be completely impractical for anyone to play baseball out here for one, and for it to be a clearing one should at least be able to see some sky."

Light merely shrugged and gestured to the place where he had buried the other death note.

It was only minutes before Watari unearthed the second notebook, L having been unable to wield his shovel due to his blisters, which he almost proudly showed to Light as proof that he'd done manual labor.

He didn't let Watari pick it up, however. One person was all it took. Truthfully, he didn't need to physically touch it either, but he was, for lack of a better word, curious. And as long as it was destroyed within the hour- he'd consulted Light on the way over, apparently it had taken him several hours to actually decide to try it out- then he should be safe from any mind altering affects.

Kneeling in the freshly upturned earth, he gently retrieved the plastic bag that held the second –or first, depending on how you looked at it- notebook. Quickly, before nerve failed him, he opened the plastic bag, grasping the note and shoving it in his pocket. He was distinctly aware of the fact that Light was only a few feet from him, still standing and watching over his shoulder. Needless to say, he was staying as far back as the chain would allow.

L straightened, earning himself quite the shock as an upside down, incredibly ugly face entered his field of vision, leering at him. Although prepared for it, he still jumped, knocking into Light.

"Hey- careful!"

L blinked. He knew this must be the second shinigami, but the shock of having it two feet from his face froze him for a moment. He blinked again, shuffling forward to peer more closely at the demonic creature hanging upside down from a tree.

"You must be Ryuk," and he pulled an apple from his pocket- more consultation from Light when he'd been in his chatty mood in his cell had revealed this as the best way to introduce himself.

L watched Lights eyes follow the apple, and squint as it disappeared in three bites.

"Hyuk, hyuk, seems you won." Ryuk swung down from the branch and landed between L and Light, sneering not an inch from the latter's unknowing face, "What did he think of that? Did he throw a fit? He did that once, you know."

L glanced over to Light… What did a Light tantrum look like? He imagined it would be funny if one could nullify the murderous aspect.

"You know I've promised to kill him should things get boring. What are you going to do with the book now?"

"I am going to destroy it, as we did with Rem's,"

"That sounds boring, why don't you just turn it back over to me?" Ryuk asked blowing on the back of Lights ear and making him twitch, laughing as he made Light swat at him.

"You are the original instigator of this whole mess. Your concept of interesting is criminal. I believe I shall continue with my intended plan."

Ryuk huffed and straightened, tousling Light's hair as he did so.

Even taller than Rem, L noted.

"Alright. But you should know, I'll probably stick 'round, even if you can't see me. So no boring stuff, kay? Rob a bank or something once in a while."

L grit his teeth.

"I'll see what we can do."

The ride back to the high rise was both amusing and nerve wracking, at least for L. On one hand, he had a mind possessing notebook shoved in his back pocket with the original owner of said notebook sitting not two feet from him, and they were on their way to destroy said item.

On the other hand, watching Ryuk scrunched up in the tiny space and blow Light's hair into his face for the fifth time in as many minutes was as funny as it was insane.

Light swatted his hand out yet again, letting out a frustrated noise and attempting to smooth his hair back in place.

"I really can't take much more of this! Get him to stop, L!"

"Now, children-"

"L!"

When did he stop referring to me as Ryuuzaki too?

Not important. What was important was making sure not to miss a minute of this show. He was quite certain he was the only human in existence to have witnessed such a thing.

"He's staring at me, isn't he?"

L's eyes snapped back to the other two in the back seat, and he almost choked at the scene. Ryuk was pulling some of the most disturbing faces he had ever seen, all of which included sticking his tongue out at Light. His tongue, apparently, was a dark blue, and was fractions of an inch from Light's nose.

Light was attempting to glare at the shinigami, but was only succeeding in glaring over his monstrous shoulder at the upholstery.

"I suppose you could call it a glare. . ."

L changed his mind and promptly averted his eyes to the window. He hoped he could block this memory from his mind.

Watari had already prepped the incinerator for there return. As they stared into the fire's dying light, and as the last of Ryuk's eerie chuckles faded away, along with a warning of, "Remember, keep it entertaining!" Light turned and asked a question in a surprisingly strong voice,

"What now?"

L realized that he still didn't have an answer. Chewing on his lower lip, he turned and held up his end of the handcuffs.

"Can you behave?"

"What am I, a dog?"

"Answer the question, Light-kun. Otherwise I will put you back in the cell."

Light slumped and stared at his wrist, encircled in shiny silver. It was better than a cell for the rest of his life, that was for sure.

"Yes, I can behave."

L smiled at that, and even if it was a small smile, it was still the first he'd truly meant in weeks.

"Then in answer to your first question, Light-kun, we go eat dinner. I'm famished."

Light's head snapped up. L could see the questions in his eyes. That easy? That simple?

"As long as you behave."

The younger nodded slowly, and they turned towards the elevators together. The small trust between them was still unsteady, still on shaky ground, but it was there, and that was important.

As L turned the tiny key in the lock near the elevator, he looked up and began speaking to the ceiling again.

"Watari, could you please prepare dinner for Light and I? Whatever he would like, and a fruit salad with whipped cream, a slice of Boston cream pie, and chocolate chip macadamia cookies for me. We still have a few of those left, right?"

Light couldn't help but roll his eyes. It didn't matter that their world was changed forever- some things would never change.

A rail thin man examined his face in an ornate mirror in an upscale home, just on the outskirts of L.A. It was hard to tell due to the cracks spider webbing across its surface, but he'd have to say that the years of solitary had done good things for his complexion.

He stepped back, over the body of some obscure somebody or other, who's face was the reason the mirror was so cracked. She would live, he was positive. But she would awaken, and there wouldn't be a shred of evidence to be found- no skin samples, no fingerprints, nothing. He was finicky like that.

What she would find, however, was an empty wallet and a stolen identity, along with a few missing clothing items, and a bathroom devoid of any makeup. He was quite capable of blending in with society, given the appropriate items to do so.

Pausing on his way out the front door to the beat up, blue Honda Accord he'd acquired earlier in the week, he could help but admire the city lights coming through the French windows of the woman's living room. Blood red eyes, hardly human and far from sane, squinted up in a happy, if somewhat deranged smile.

"Kyekekekeeh! I've missed you, world. Have you missed me?"

And with that, Beyond Birthday stepped out into the night.

A/N: We hope you enjoyed it! Next chapter soon to come!