• Red eyes seemed to glow in the darkness as I walked slowly down the sidewalk. It was midnight, basically, so the streets were almost completely empty and of course only fools would walk around in a city after dark. Not that I was a fool or anything. Honestly, it was quite the contrary, and dressed in a white, long-sleeved shirt and baggy blue jeans with no shoes on my feet, I understood I most likely looked like a hobo. I'm sure my messy black hair didn't help either. Regardless, I was definitely far from homeless, foolish, or weird... Well, actually I could say I was weird. That comment was thrown around a lot when describing me.

    Peeking out past the black bangs that hid my eyes from view, I saw an approaching figure, shrouded in darkness. I sighed, crouching as I walked, my fingertips grazing the pocketknife in my jeans' pocket. As the figure come closer, I realized that, like me, they were also crouched, and awkward position that wasn't made everyday. I slowed my pace, and they appeared to do the same, probably spotting me as well.

    We were approximately two feet apart with we stopped moving altogether. It was like looking in a mirror; we each had the same hair, the same bags beneath our eyes, the same outfit, and we each had our hands in our pockets. Except for the fact, of course, that my image didn't possess the Shinigami eyes that I had since birth, we were like twins. But we were only the same on the outside. I fingered the pocket knife, and one word left my lips.

    "Lawli-Pop."

    The figure jumped slightly, surprise and realization evident in his dark-gray eyes. It was then that he understood who I was, and spoke with a seemingly calm voice, "I thought that was you, Beyond."

    "So you remember me, Lawli-Pop? Why are you out here tonight, anyway? You know just as well as I how dangerous streets are at night.." My fingers curled around the knife in my pocket, as I faked a worried look for the older man. Hm.. I've always wondered how the insides of L. Lawliet would taste like.. My mouth began to water as I thought to myself.

    Would he scream? Would he try to run? Most likely yes to both, people always did. But L was always different in my eyes. It was a stupid thought though. If my precious Lawli-Pop was to be murdered there would be a good chance the killer would be tracked down and caught. I am smart enough to thankfully not get drawn in by those known worldwide.

    "I could say the same to you, but I'm guessing you can handle things yourself if you get in trouble?" L sighed, snapping me out of my thoughts, and for the first time I noticed he looked..tired. More so than he usually looked, what with the permanent bags under his eyes and such. "As for me..I just needed to..go somewhere." Delicately the detective pulled out a lollipop, removed its wrapper, and placed the candy in his mouth, holding the stick with two fingers.

    I raised an eyebrow, glancing above his head as if drawn there. Of course, as with everyone else I've met so far, I could see the numbers above his head, indicating his remaining lifespan.

    00:00:00:15:59

    I was surprised, yet at the same time it seemed inevitable. Only fifteen minutes and fifty-nine seconds? With a sigh, I brushed by him, leaving him nothing but the few words that slipped past my lips..

    "You really shouldn't be outside tonight."