Death Note: Game Over (An AU fanfiction)

Mello's Meltdown

Mello held a slim black volume in his hands. 

L imagined that Mello was probably thinking thoughts similiar to the ones L had when holding it the first time. 

How could something so ordinary looking be so evil? Could it really be that something so benign as writing a person's name in a notebook could kill them? And of course, how does the death note work?

L knew he must show himself soon. But it wasn't the mafia members around Mello, lounging on couches or cleaning their weapons that made L hesitate. Mello needed a moment with the death note. It was moment all people who came to possess a death note had go through. The moment that would determine if they would use the death note to kill or reject it entirely.

L watched as Mello flipped the deathnote open and read the roles. He then looked at the names. After a second or two, however, Mello closed the notebook. He didn't reach for a pen. That meant there was still hope for him.

"Congradulations. You now possess a death note. Now what will you do with it?" L said.

Mello whirled around to stare at L in shock. The mafia members pointed their guns at him.

"Where did you come from?" One demanded.

Another lowered his gun and laughed. "It is a kid. Some dumb kid sneeked past our security."

The rest of the mafia blinked and lowered their guns. L didn't look like a threat that required a firearm. L ignored them and watched Mello.

Mello for his part was studying L with wide eyes.

"So you decided throw in with Near, Ryuzaki. What did he send you here to do? Steal the notebook? He kept on eye you after you washed out, didn't he," Mello said.

"I didn't wash out Mello. I simply had no more time to spend there. So I left."

Mello gasped as he finally realized just who he was looking at.

"Mello, who is this kid?" the mafia boss demanded.

Mello turned to the mafia boss for moment. His mouth moved several times without sound coming out. When he finally managed to speak, it was in a hoarse whisper, "Someone from my past who should not be here. I need to speak to him and find out why he snuck past security to speak to me."

"Ok," One of the mafia members said and then he reached for L.

L lashed out with his feet in a blur of motion and in seconds the man was on the floor gasping.

"I have been in handcuffs too many times this week. I will go where you direct me, but lay a hand on me and you will be sorry."

The mafia members now looked uneasy. They recognized trained reflexes when they saw them.

Mello held up a hand, "Leave Ryuzaki to me. This is just a personal matter. After all my service to you, I have earned that much right?"

The boss nodded. "You and the kid can have some privacy. Just pick a place."

Mello nodded. He still looked dazed, "Ryuzaki, if you will follow me."

L followed Mello into the room next door.

It contained only a table and three chairs. Bound to one of those chairs by ropes was the crumpled form of Sochioro Yagami. His brown suit was rumpled, his hair was more grey then L remembered, but the same broad honest face remained.

"You are L," Mello stated.

"Yes," L said simply.

"WHY?" Mello exploded.

"Why?" L echoed.

"Why let everyone think you died! Why tell Wammi's that you were dead!" Mello roared.

L gave a mental sigh. Mello was quite brilliant. If only he didn't let his emotions rule his intellect.

"You don't want to know the answer," L said simply.

"I think I do!" Mello snapped.

"I died. That is why."

"Don't lie to me!" Mello shouted.

"I didn't. If you would just call down and think you would realize that," L said.

Mello bit his lip and took a deep breath. "What is stopping me from going next door and admitting to the mafia that you are L?"

"Because you don't want me dead. That is how it would end. I will never agree to serve the mafia," L replied.

Mello clenched his fists and finally deflated. "Why are you here, L?"

"I am here because I failed," L said.

Mello blinked, "What?"

"I failed to catch Kira on my own. Despite the taskforce, I fought Kira alone and in the dark. I now know that was a mistake. I need you and Near with me," L said.

And not just to catch Kira. I left my successors unprepared and divided. I don't know how long my second chance will last and I must make the most of it, L thought.

"You want both of us."

L nodded. "Mello, regardless of which one of you I choose, the other will still be a detective. My hope is that I will leave behind, not just another L, but also another detective like him. I wish to leave the world better off then when I entered it. I want you to join Near and the SPK."

"Really? after all I did. Isn't joining the mafia a bit out of line?" Mello demanded.

"You are not like the mafia, Mello. You joined them because it was easier to use the fear Kira had created in criminals rather then find the few good people who would risk their lives against him. I know that. It is not fear that will defeat Kira, however. The SPK has the best chance of defeating him, but only if you, me, and Near work together," L said.

Mello frowned. "First I need to know for certain you are L. Fortunately, I have a way to confirm for certain. Mr. Yagami here was on the task force L used to hunt Kira with. If anyone can confirm your story, it is him."

L looked across at Mr. Yagami to see he was stirring.

L appeared calm, but inwardly he was torn. The last task force member he wanted to see him was Mr. Yagami and that included Light. He didn't want to do it. He didn't want to explain the truth to Mr. Yagami. Having seen how Mr. Yagami reacted when Light was in custody as a suspect, L knew the knowledge would destroy him utterly.

He wanted to tell Mello not to do this. To plead with him. It was already too late, however. Mello had already left the room and Mr. Yagami was already stirring.

L had no choice.

As he sat waiting for Mr. Yagami to awaken fully, L realized that for the first time he could remember, he was terrified. Kira and the prospect of instant death had failed to terrify L. Even when he was dying, L had been annoyed instead of terrified. He had a feeling that dying was going to be easier then what he was about to do.

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If you have seen the original anime, I would really appreciate a comment about today's post because I am entering new territory for L. L in the original anime showed emotion very rarely. But exciting stuff in this one with Mello making his first in person appearance. Be sure to come back next week for the next part of the story: Light Yagami is Dead.

Technical difficulties mean that today's picture isn't loading properly, but special thanks to death note tumblr for it.