Come Light...It's time to go.

It's dark.

I don't know if my body is still with me. I can still feel the corner edges of the stairs digging into my flesh, like a dull ache leaving the body. I hear the voices of the remaining task force members, shouting for an ambulance. It's too late. Kira is dead. They still haven't realized that Ryuk has written my name in the his Death Note. It's done.

Euphoria pummels me in waves, rushing in front of my eyes, through my nose, ears, skin as what is left of my soul detaches from its physical vessel. And for the first time since I wrote my first name down in that book, through the clarity of death, I am regretful.

I've lost everything.

Do only those people who's names are written in the Death Note feel this much terror as they die? Did I do this to all those people...

I float in the void for what could be eternity, able to think of nothing but Kira. Reels whiz past me as his actions replay in frightening detail. It's agonizing. "It's not me," I whisper desperately. Even with my eyes closed I see everything. The voice screaming and writhing in despair can't belong to me

Then a streaming ring, like a bell, fills my ears. It gets painfully loud before I bother to look up and see a speck of light somewhere in front of me growing brighter. Thought it hurts horribly to look at, I can't take my eyes away from the emerging figure.

"Ryuzaki..."

He looks down at me with bruised eyes, a hue of light surrounding his slight frame, blurring the contours of his body. He stretches a hand out towards me.

"Come Light...it's time to go..."

His voice pounds through my chest. He's never been so beautiful. My good friend.

"Ryuzaki...L...I'm so sorry." I bow as low as I can, dragging my nose and forehead across the ground pitifully.

"Light. Please don't be afraid." I look up, my heart fluttering. "Come with me."

"Where are we going?"

"I can't explain it Light. You have to see it for yourself."

Suddenly I'm angry. I want him to hate me, to list my sins as I grovel at his feet. "It's impossible for me to go where you are! I murdered thousands of people!"

"Kira killed them," L corrected kindly but firmly. "He has been properly disposed of. You're free. Now, take my hand Light-kun."

I don't think, for once I don't analyze. I reach out and cover the impossible distance between us. L's skin is so warm and he pulls me forward confidently.

"I was beginning to think I'd never see you again," he says lightly. "But of course, I knew in the end you'd make it here."

"You waited...for me? After everything I've done - hurt you."

"I forgive you, Light-kun. Please don't dwell on it. That part of you is gone. We have a new journey ahead of us now. Let's go in with a fresh start."

He squeezes my hand and I return it. "I can hear them," I proclaim joyously.

"Hmm?"

"The bells. I hear them..."

~fin~