A/N: Wow, it's been almost two months since I updated this. So keep the requests coming if you have any, people! I'm open to any that are A, B or L-centric :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note.

To: ImmaGummyBear.

Prompt: BB/A; a bit of BB/L.

Bows and Arrows, Blades and Apples

There was something peculiarly sensuous about archery, the sport of handling a bow and arrow. Whether it was the graceful curve of the wood, the soft touch of the feather fletching, the musical twang of the snapping string, or the silvered point glinting in the light before it pierced its target, it was beautiful. Controlled danger was beautiful. An art. And while it was useless these days in a world where wars were fought with shiny guns, gargantuan tanks and chemical explosives, archery still managed to capture the fascination of those who enjoyed folklore or hunting.

Beyond Birthday happened to delight in both.

Legend had it that long ago, in the humble Swiss village of Altdorf, a man named William Tell had been forced to shoot an apple placed atop his son's head. It was punishment for neglecting to bow in respect to the hat of the newly-appointed Vogt Albrecht Gessler's, which had been raised on a pole in the town's central square. Furthermore, the Vogt threatened the rebel with execution if he couldn't make the shot. But if he did, he would be set free.

William Tell made the shot.

The twist in the tale came when Gessler noticed that Tell had removed an extra bolt from his quiver before firing the first one straight into the apple. After the successful shot, Gessler questioned Tell about the additional bolt he had taken out.

Without hesitating, the rebel replied that it was meant for the Vogt's very own heart in the case that he missed his mark and killed his son.

After hearing this story from none other than expert marksman Quillsh Wammy, Beyond Birthday developed an incredible itch to try it out himself: splitting an apple clean down the middle from afar, just like the legendary William Tell. This feat would certainly impress L.

But first, he had to practice.

The Wammy's House property had neighboring woods that were perfect for recreational activities. Many of the orphans were fond of playing hide and seek there during breaks, but as Winchester approached winter, they receded into the main playing fields to frolic in the snow like the mindless puppies they were.

One early morning, when the faint orange sun was just peeking over the horizon, Beyond Birthday slipped into the woods with a sack of apples and his dagger. He went deep into the forest, deeper and deeper until the trees blocked out nearly all of the sunlight. His vision, which was at least three times better than an ordinary human's because of the Eyes, allowed him this luxury.

When Beyond Birthday reached his favorite clearing, he stopped.

A was already waiting there, just as she'd promised the night before.

Beyond Birthday paused for a moment to savor the sight. A's plump cheeks, accentuated by the girl's pixie cut, was flushed pink from the cold. She was looking up at him from the snowy forest floor, eyes bright with curiosity and impatience. She had been here for a while, he could tell. But she had come willingly, unquestioningly, and obediently, and that was all that mattered. He resisted the sudden urge to grab the young girl and kiss the warmth back into her winter-mottled face.

"Good morning, B."

"Hey. Thanks for coming," he said generously.

"So what's this about?" asked Alternative. She warily glanced at the objects gathered in his arms.

"You'll see."

A handful of threadbare trees outlined the clearing. Beyond Birthday selected one and began hacking away at the trunk at chest level. After he was finished, he gently set an apple on the flat stump and took his place at the opposite edge of the clearing.

"Stand aside," Beyond Birthday ordered his friend, and A did just that.

Backup raised his dagger once more. He had gotten it last year at the local flea market, shortly after discovering his talent for carving and sculpting. Unlike the common kitchen knife, both sides of the blade were sharpened and designed to seriously – fatally – damage. In short, the dagger was an even deadlier weapon.

He spun it in his hand. Shining. Stunning. Striking, in more ways than one.

It went whizzing through the air.

A let out a loud gasp.

The dagger lodged itself with a thwack in the decapitated tree. The apple toppled off the vibrating trunk and rolled away in the snow. Beyond Birthday clenched his teeth in frustration. At least he hadn't completely missed it, right?

"Get that for me, will you?"

The girl hesitated.

"Why are you doing this?"

"It's practice, for something better."

Eyes still clouded with confusion, A returned the fallen apple to its perch and retrieved the dagger for him. Beyond Birthday promptly threw it again, in one fluid slashing motion.

This time the blade struck the apple. The bright red fruit plummeted to the ground, cracking into two uneven halves.

"Something like that."

Alternative looked slightly alarmed. "Where'd you learn this?"

"It's ninjutsu," he answered. "It's very popular in Japan. You Westerners call its practitioners ninjas."

"I don't think this is safe –"

"Be a good girl and do as I say," said B.

A scowled but said nothing else.

Time flew by, and the apples quickly ran out. The pair took a short break to collect all the mutilated fruit and eat what was left of them. Alternative in particular hated wasting food, an attitude that she had inherited from her parents.

Afterwards, they used the cores as moving targets. A tossed them into the air, up, up, up high, like birds in flight, and Backup hit each one with deadly precision.

Thwack.

Thwack.

Thwack.

Beyond Birthday became so engrossed with his work that he didn't even notice the increasingly loud crunching of ever-nearing footsteps until it was too late.

"B? A?"

The new voice was soft, its tone indiscernible. Backup's attention snapped to the trees and his Eyes found the familiar name and lifespan of his keeper.

"Oh, no. L…" Alternative said in dismay.

L stepped out from the shadows. He was wearing a black overcoat that seemed a few sizes too large. Backup recognized it as belonging to Quillsh Wammy, their official caretaker.

"Oh, no," L echoed. His gaze swept over the macabre scene.

Beyond Birthday shifted awkwardly, unable to hide his dagger from view.

"You're not supposed to be out there without permission," L said gravely.

A turned redder than a tomato. "We know. We're sorry –"

"And with stolen food, no less. I thought you'd both know better than this."

B stayed silent. He knew he should be apologizing too, but all he could feel was irritation and disappointment that L had ruined his own surprise. His heart beat fast as he waited for L to reprimand him about the dagger.

He didn't.

L's unspoken disapproval was even worse than if he had yelled at him. Without even thinking, Beyond Birthday tossed the dagger away into the darkness of the trees, where it would remain, lost forever.

He looked at L expectantly.

"Well?"

The young man shook his head in exasperation, but his baleful expression was now gone.

Beyond Birthday breathed a sigh of relief.

He had done well.

L stuck out his hands, and Alternative and Backup each took one. They began to walk out of the woods and back up the hill, where a hot breakfast was most likely waiting.

"Remind me to never let Watari tell you bedtime stories again," L muttered as they trudged through the snow. "You kids are just too impressionable sometimes."

A/N: Not that it matters so much, but this one wasn't written in any context of a pre-established timeline unlike the previous others. Anyway, hope you liked it ^_^