AN: I have no idea how this ended up being a twoshot, rather than a oneshot.

And, this ended up being altered circumstances after all. Go figure.

I both like and hate this. More of the latter than the former. :|

When they told Beyond that he has a visitor, Beyond expects a sorrowful, maybe even vengeful, relative of the people he's killed. He expects maybe even Roger or Wammy or (a slight chance) that Naomi Misora.

They sit him down in front of a see-through window, and Beyond is more surprised than he has been for years.

"Hey," a greeting. "Didn't expect to see me, huh?"

Beyond adjusts his face back to his usual expressionless one. "No, in fact, I did not expect you at all, Matt."

The redhead smiles. "So, this means I've finally been able to surprise you, huh? My life is complete."

"You must have had a pretty meaningless life then."

"Jeez, that's harsh," he says, in mock offense. Then, quieting, "So, do you have anything to say to me?"

"I was just about to ask you that, Matt."

"I have a ton of things to say. Like, what the hell were you thinking?" Matt's voice has suddenly increased in volume. The tone is one of disbelief, confusion, hurt. (But, there is no scorn, no hatred.) "I mean, you murdered and mutilated three people just to get L to notice you! That's-!" Sighing, he stops, unable to continue.

Beyond is not sorry, and the only thing that he regrets about the plan was the fact that he had been unable to die, unable to leave behind a perfect crime.

"Jeez, Beyond, it's just... I can't believe you did something like that..." A sigh. "When we heard, Mello was freaking pissed. He swore that he would beat you to a pulp next time he saw you."

"It seems that Mello has not changed in my absence."

Matt smirks and smiles bitterly. "Yeah, he doesn't seem to have changed at all."

A short silence.

Then, "L is dead."

Beyond is not as surprised as he should be.

"Wammy is dead too."

"Is that so?" He doesn't know what else to say.

"They were killed by Kira."

Beyond has heard the name before, spoken in fear among the inmates, but it holds no particular meaning to him. He has no interest in someone with a twisted sense of justice and a god-complex killing off criminals beyond the fact that they are L's enemy.

"Both Near and Mello were chosen to succeed L." Matt winces at the memory. "Of course, Mello wasn't happy. So, he stormed out and left Wammy's without a word to anyone. Kinda like what you did, except angrier."

Beyond laughs. "How petty."

A grimace. "That's just how Mello is."

"But, this conversation isn't just about L, or Wammy, or Mello, is it?"

"No." A pause. "Well, yes." Another pause. "Both yes and no." Matt is uncertain, anxious. "Well, the thing is, Mello apparently joined up with the mafia while Near's getting the help of the government and formed his own team to catch Kira. And, I haven't been in contact with either of them for years, since they both left."

"And, one of them contacted you." It is not a question.

"Yeah," Matt confirms. "It's Mello. He wants me to go to Japan to help him. He also mentioned something about being caught in an explosion and having all his other mafia members killed."

"In other words, he got completely defeated by this so-called Kira." A laugh, almost cruel. Then, "So, you're leaving for Japan." Again, it is not a question.

Matt nods. "Yeah, I am. But, before I go, I just wanted to... well... say goodbye properly."

(Since we never said it back then.)

The redhead takes off his goggles, running his hands over them. "I kinda want to give you my goggles... You know, for safekeeping."

"This is a maximum security prison, Matt. You can't give me anything."

A small, sad smile. "Yeah, I know."

Silence.

After a while, Matt snaps his goggles back on and stands up, preparing to leave. "Yeah, well, it was nice-"

Unexpectedly, Beyond interrupts with, "Does it still protect you?"

Matt stares at him, uncomprehending. Then, when realization dawns, he laughs. Tapping his goggles, he answers, "Yeah. It does. Maybe the luck thing really worked."

Beyond shakes his head, a noncommittal reply.

Another silence.

"So, this is goodbye, huh?"

"Yes. This is goodbye."

Their final farewell tasted of unsaid words, unspoken promises, and unshed tears.

(a beautifully painful memory)