A/N: I decided to write yet another Death Note story. I really hope I can stick with it until the end and keep you guys entertained. Please enjoy and review. ^^

Striped Candies

Chapter One: Rematch

Day 1

Was it always this quiet during these long evenings? So quiet, silent, unmoving, dead? Was it, so much so, that he had to contemplate it?

No.

Of course not. He didn't need to strain his mind over such simple things. Easy things like why he noticed the silence, how other people would refer it as lonely or frightening, or even how they would never understand why he found it as peaceful as he did in this moment....Still, through all that established knowledge, it plagued his mind relentlessly.

Not that the detective needed to give that an examination either, no. He already knew why he enjoyed the serenity, the solitude. And as always for him the answer was simple: there were no distractions.

Well save one. His own struggling thoughts.

Have they found him yet?

The enigma suddenly scowled as his ideas had once again taken him away from reality. Reality being the disgusting taste of bitter tea that had barely made it to his tongue before being gagged upon.

"Uhmh..."

He whispered a dissatisfied cough to himself before begining to drop a long series of sugar cubes into the awaiting cup. Plopping each one in precisely as to not leave crystal residue on the hotel's newly polished glass table. Not that it mattered if he did but...well it kept his mind away from the matter that had caused him the unpleasant taste that still nipped at his senses.

The matter...Situation that had kept him from making hardly any contributions during the previous month. A situation that had made him, the "world's greatest" detective, worry.

How did he do it? How did he...

Heavy black eyes carelessly followed the glistening cube as it fell upon another that already sat in the lightening beverage. No longer trying to become interested in the task that had failed to keep their owner amused.

How?

L's dark eyes finally fell further from reality. His thoughts and memories taking complete control if only for a few moments.

His memories and concepts on the preceding months and how hellish they were.

Another cube dropped.

For starters, it wasn't exactly enjoyable to discover a mass murderer who could kill any one at any given time...under the conditions that they had their name and face of course. No, t wasn't enjoyable or fun for the detective though he had to admit it was turning out to be far more entertaining than he could have imagined. Not in a demented way but more so in the sense that he was starting to feel as if the world still needed L. Still needed him to solve problem.

'Plop' In went another sweet.

Second reason he was so disgusted? Change. That was all. And it may seem childish or selfish to most because it is. He was the first to admit that it was a pathetic excuse to call the recent events "hellish"....Hellish to him anyway. He simply wasn't comfortable with suddenly involving people in his personal affairs though he had had to in prior cases. Police, agents, FBI, CIA, and others. But that was different...Now they were working directly with him and not just them...His suspect Yagami Light too.

Liquid-like paste engulfed an already half dissolved cube as another sat upon it.

He finally blinked at this continuing routine but without much interest or care...No, his thoughts still had him trapped. Trapped within his final issue on why his mind would carelessly wander during such critical times....

His final problem without answer: How his succsessor, Beyond Birthday, had managed to escape from a maximum security prison, hidden it from being found out about by his childhood home for almost a week, and what his intentions were for such an act.

Yes, that was what truly plagued his thoughts. What plagued him even in this instant.

Wammy's House didn't know until the prison reported it as a breach...That was four days...Four days until the prison knew? No, until we knew. But how? He was under extreme surveillance...

He choked slightly as the flashbacks of the earlier events played out before him. Everything from B leaving their "home sweet home" to killing Quarter Queen in Los Angeles, from attempting suicide to being placed in a California State Prison, from several violations regarding his behavior to Watari telling him about the sudden escape...An escape that led to his biggest worry. Beyond's intentions.

'Smack'

"Huh?"

The investigator startled himself when his aim misfired. The sweet square that had been intended for the cup, crashing against the transparent table.

"..."

He took a heavy sigh, almost wanting to mimic the television shows in which overly dramatic people grasp their shirts thinking their heart will explode.

B...I wonder where Watari is?

L once again attempted to shake his so called "reflection" from his mind, the more comforting image of his assitant bringing back promised sweets trying it's luck at soothing him...Unfortunatly to no avail.

B...Murderer...just like Kira. Light-kun.

His expression twisted itself once again when his own mental ramblings caught him off-guard. How could he honestly compare B to Kira? The situation was completely different! The two were nothing alike, right?

Pale lips puffed out as his thumb pressed the lower of the two, his curiousity becoming too powerful to not seriously take the question under consideration.

"B. Kira." His free hand cautiously grasped a couple of cubes from their package placing them on opposite sides of the table before him. Representing both sides of the argument, perhaps? Maybe just his comfort of fumbling with things as he thought.

However, regardless of the reason why he did such things, there were two sides to compare.

On one hand, there was Beyond Birthday. A calculating, precise, cunning individual whose ultimate goal of surpassing his predecessor led him to kill three innocent people before attempting a horrific suicide...His goal resulting in failure when said person brought him to justice. A common case of obsession and delusion according to L's analyisis.

On the other hand, there was Kira. Living in Japan, over-confident in his abilities, intelligent, and more-than-likely has an agenda of becoming more powerful than any L-wanna be. Facts according to the task force leader and assumed by the rest.

The two were very different but the things they did have in common made them more alike than any other two people. The fact that they both kill despite the manner in which it's done and the unavoidable truth that their hatred is fueled by the one person who either stood or currently stands in their way.

I guess they are a lot alike...Light-kun?

His still thoughtful face made yet another warped look. A look he couldn't quite explain though he could feel how uncomfortable it was, how uncertain it made him feel.

I have no right to compare Light-kun to him...

Enormous orbs shifted position along with the male's feet changing their posture to sink toes into the cushion. Why was he suddenly unnerved? Because he didn't want to offend Light even in his own mind? No.

Because I have no proof Light-kun is Kira. It wouldn't be fair to judge a...friend.

His lips twitched into a slight smile. It was still new to him. Referring to someone as a "friend"...and he liked being able to though he couldn't admit it in fear of his feelings being played upon by his suspect.

"Light-kun," he akwardly removed the cup from the table, taking a relaxing sip before leaning over to replace it, "...I....!"

Large eyes by nature grew even wider when their stunned owner froze in place over the glass. His body unable to comprehend what was occuring, disabled from processing the ghastly reflection glancing over him, and completely paralyzed when an arm as lanky as his reached over his shoulder to steal a sugar cube.

"Boo."

A low voice whispered into his ear before his figure became truly immobilized. Captive from escaping when another arm joined the first to wrap themselves securely around his shoulders and over his stiff torso.

"You look like you've seen a ghost, Lawliet." Hot whispers fell into his mind.

"It's not possible. It can't." He choked.

"Ah, ah, ah." Beyond's right arm tightened it's hold, his left lifting to cup his prey's mouth. "No talking for you. You used to talk all the time, all the time. Remember? The computer screen and the gothic "L"? You used to talk to us all the time, Lawliet."

The older male instantly squirmed when realizing what his unwelcomed guest was saying...Or rather what he knew.

"L Lawliet, 743211. That's how long you have to live. It isn't very long at all so why don't we spend it together? Just us two?" Lips pressed against his "mentor's" cheek.

"Get off of me! Let go, Backup!" Muffled screams were echoed.

"Let's go? Is that what you're saying? Good because we don't have much time...Let's talk later when you wake up."

Shock, pain, fear, the detective felt himself go through all this in a matter of seconds. His mind still desperate to register what had just happened to cause all of it. What had caused the sudden jolt of pain in his head, what had happend to make that faint scent of strawberries so overwhelming, what had occured to make his vision so blurred and dark, and most of all he wondered if he could acknowledge anything before the real pain began?