L said nothing as he held the single sheet of paper up before him, its top left corner pinched between his thumb and index finger. He stood with his right hand pocketed, his posture bent as though the ceiling was too low for him.

"...well?"  Naomi's gently inquiring voice broke the silence. Her fingers fidgeted with one another.

The detective's dark-rimmed eyes didn't blink as he lowered the document.

"It's him," he said plainly.

Naomi felt a strange knot form in her stomach. So it was true...

Beyond Birthday was dead.

His life had ended in a fire... just as he had wanted it to five years earlier.

"Are you going to investigate it?" Naomi asked slowly.

The fingertips of L's left hand delicately held the medical examiner's report down by his side. His right side faced Naomi, and his gaze was fixed pensively on the carpet before him.

The cause of the fire was still unknown, and no traces of explosive residue had been found. No one else had been present in the room at the time of the blast, and a thorough investigation was being conducted by the L.A.P.D. to determine the cause of it. The body had been burned beyond recognition, and so any hopes of identification via fingerprinting had been dashed. The medical examiner had then turned to dental records, which had definitively confirmed that the infamous serial killer behind the 2002 Los Angeles Murder Cases was dead.

Still, though...

L shifted his stance to crack his toes into the carpet, glancing at Naomi. She was still waiting for an answer.

"Well..." he murmured, lifting an index finger to scratch his sideburn area. "I've requested that anything related to this case be copied over to me. I'd like to wait and see what comes out of the police's investigation."

Naomi nodded, looking down and folding her arms over her chest. She sighed and lifted her eyes to L again.

"You okay?" she asked caringly.

L looked at her. "Yes," he said simply. Then he turned and hopped up onto the couch.

Ultimately, L did decide to relocate to Los Angeles, and, in the days that followed, much was discovered about B's five years in prison. He seemed to keep to himself for the first three years, sitting alone at meals and listlessly wandering around the yard during his freetime. He read a lot of newspapers, and his internet history when given computer privileges showed that he kept a close eye on the current events of the world outside... and more specifically, stories about criminal investigations and cases solved by the great detective L. His cell walls were decorated with newspaper clippings and internet articles, as well as a map of the world containing dates and pinpoints inked in red marker, each one corresponding with L's biggest cases over the last five years.

And then, two years ago, he had gained a friend. Seemingly out of nowhere, he obtained a clingy shadow in the form of a Japanese inmate by the name of Teppei Tani. Guards and other inmates reported that they spent every moment of free time together, and the L.A.P.D. confirmed this via security tape footage. They sat together at meals, they walked together during outdoor time, and they tracked L's cases together. Somehow, and for some unknown reason, Beyond's obsession had been adopted by the short, quirky Teppei, who went by the nickname "Pip."

Having been incarcerated on charges of theft and assault on a convenience store clerk, Teppei Tani completed his prison sentence two months ago. The day before his release, Beyond had inexplicably taken down all of the photos, maps, and articles from his cell walls, stacking them neatly in one corner. He didn't look at them again.

Teppei had visited Beyond once in prison four days prior to the incident at the hospital, and the two made generic small talk on phones opposite a pane of glass.  Pip had brought with him a case of strawberry-flavored water.

"You mentioned that you missed these," he had remarked, handing the case over for inspection. All of the seals on the caps were undisturbed, and so B was allowed to take the flavored water back to his cell with him.

However, four days later, Beyond collapsed in his cell moments after draining one of the water bottles. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, presenting with stroke symptoms. He was placed in intensive care and then died in a mysterious explosion hours later, around 4:00 a.m. The only clue linked to the cause of the fire was an unknown person dressed in scrubs and a surgical mask, who was seen pushing a large laundry cart into Beyond's hospital room, exiting moments later. The explosion occurred soon after; however, the complete lack of bomb residue caused its origin to remain a mystery.

The water bottle was examined thoroughly, and it was discovered to contain traces of methyl iodide, a pesticide that, if ingested, induced symptoms that mimicked a stroke. A tiny puncture was found at the base of the plastic bottle's neck, indicating how the pesticide was introduced into the water without breaking the cap's seal.

It could only be concluded that the person with the laundry cart was Pip. After all, it was he who had brought B the water.

Beyond, as it turns out, was stubbornly determined to die the death he had been robbed of five years earlier. To accept that his original plan had failed would be to submit to another, and that was something he never did. He had found a way to finish the job, perishing at long last, shrouded in mystery and flame.

And Teppei Tani was now wanted for the murder of Beyond Birthday.

Amid the ongoing investigation, life went on as usual in the weeks following the news of B's death. Summer sunshine gleamed down upon the city of Los Angeles on a particular day in early June, and Naomi grinned as she reached up to take L's outstretched hand.

"You're getting good," she complimented as he pulled her into a standing position from the cushioned vinyl gym mat.

"Thank you," L replied. He let go of her hand and swiped his long-sleeved arm over his flushed, damp forehead. The collar of his white t-shirt clung to his skin, along with the hair on the back of his neck and the side of his face.

Placing both hands on her hips, Naomi smiled at him through winded breaths. "Maybe if you wore exercise clothes-"

"No." He cut her off flatly.

Naomi lifted her eyes to the ceiling, exhaling into a grin. She, of course, was wearing athletic leggings and a racerback tank top. Breathable and flexible, her attire was far more appropriate for practicing Capoeira than jeans and long sleeves. But, while there were some things she had been able to sway L on, his clothing had not been one of them. He hadn't even bothered to put on shoes, since the gym was right in the hotel. She shook her head and dropped her gaze to meet his again.

L took a step backwards and put up his fists, his fingers curled inward loosely.

Naomi dropped her arms to her sides. Her eyes narrowed in a wry smile as she readied her hands as well. With a swift duck to the right, she avoided a strong high kick, and quickly moved to the offensive, jabbing her left arm outward.

L evaded her attack by rotating on his pivot foot and dropping back onto one hand. His right leg bent and his left kicked outward in a maneuver that resembled break dancing.

Naomi spun into a reverse roundhouse kick and wrapped her leg around his, jerking it inward. His balance compromised, L's back slammed into the mat. Naomi grinned as she released his leg from the bend of her knee. She moved to offer him her hand, and he took it.

"Well done," he commended as he stood up, his voice slightly irritated in defeat.  He brought his hand to his left shoulder, rolling it a bit and pressing his fingers into the space just under his collarbone.  The area surrounding his prominent scar still bothered him sometimes, and it was likely that it always would, to some extent.  His fingertips moved in little circles as he looked toward the clock on the wall.

"You want to get going?" Naomi asked, glancing at the time as well.

"Yes," L responded. "I believe I'll be able to close the Chicago case tonight. The lab report should have arrived by now."

"Alright," Naomi agreed, and they moved together to a bench against the wall to retrieve their phones.

L picked up his mobile device, holding it by its top with only his thumb and first finger.  "I have a text from Watari," he mumbled.

"Everything okay?" Naomi asked as she popped open her water bottle.

L nodded as he returned the phone to his pocket. "Something has happened in the hotel's kitchen, and it's closed until further notice," he explained. "Watari has gone out to purchase a few things so that we remain well-stocked."

Naomi rolled her eyes a bit and nodded as she took a long drink of water. L running out of sweets would indeed be a crisis.

"I wonder what happened," she thought out loud as they exited the gym and headed toward the elevator.

L shrugged. "I don't know, but I'm starving," he grumbled. He poked the "up" button on the wall, and the doors slid open.

"There are some sweets in the fridge," Naomi informed him as they stepped inside.

"The fridge..." L murmured, perking up.

The doors shut, and the elevator hummed its way to the top floor. As soon as they reached the penthouse, L made a beeline for the refrigerator.

Naomi moved to a cupboard and began gathering things together to make tea as L rummaged noisily in the fridge. After a moment, he emerged holding a skewer lined with donuts, cream puffs, and other pastries. He shoved one hand into his pocket and took a big bite out of one of the glazed doughnuts, shutting the refrigerator door with his bare foot.

"Have you heard back from Scotland Yard about the Windsor case?" Naomi inquired as she filled the kettle with water from the sink.

Before L could answer, all of the lights in the suite suddenly flickered off, and the ever-present hum of the computers abruptly died. L and Naomi both lifted their eyes to the ceiling.

"That's weird..." Naomi observed, wrinkling her nose.  She shut off the water, and the drips that followed seemed to echo in the strange and sudden silence.

L's eyes traveled to the light coming from underneath the suite's main door. The electricity in the hallway was still on.

Odd...

The kitchen inexplicably closed, now this?

His head snapped over toward the computer monitors in the living room that were now blank and powerless. Slowly, he set the skewer down on the countertop.

Naomi was watching him.  "L, what-"

Quickly, he lifted an index finger toward her.

Naomi froze, unsure of what was going on. But L seemed to think something was amiss, and she had learned to trust his heightened sense of intuition.

L remained alert, like a bloodhound with its ears perked. He brought a thumb to his mouth and continued to stare toward the computers through shadowed and unblinking eyes.

It was so quiet with all of the computers suddenly turned off. Naomi could hear the muffled voices of some other hotel guests in the hallway, and a wall clock ticked over and over, monotonously disturbing the peculiar stillness.

"The security feeds..." L mumbled, his voice trailing off uneasily.

Naomi looked to where his gaze was locked- to the wall of lifeless computer screens.

Was someone trying to hide something by shutting off the power?

Just then, the suite came back to life. All at once, the lights came back on, and the computers all awoke and began to start up again.

But L remained motionless.

"Something is wrong..." he muttered with his thumbnail between his teeth.

Naomi looked around slowly, as if her surroundings were going to provide her with answers.

L's eyes suddenly sparked. "Watari," he said firmly. Without a second thought, he turned and bolted toward the suite's front door. Naomi followed him instantly, grabbing her jacket on the way out.

Hastily, the two made their way back to the elevator and all the way down to the ground floor. L said nothing, and Naomi didn't pry. He needed to think, and she knew to let him.

With a ding!, the doors slid open. L made a sharp turn and headed away from the lobby, towards the dining area. His hands were pocketed, and his back was curved sluggishly like always, but his strides were long and fast. Naomi had to almost run to keep up with him.

L tromped past the tables and the long buffet and was about to go through the silver door with the round window that lead into the kitchen when Naomi grabbed his arm. He looked at her quizzically.

Wordlessly, Naomi pulled a black 9mm Glock from the leather jacket she now wore and switched off the safety. She wasn't about to let L burst into a potential live crime scene unarmed.

L nodded and let her go around him.

Holding the gun with both hands and pointing it upwards over her shoulder, Naomi pressed her weight into the door. It swung open, and immediately, she stepped into the kitchen, holding the firearm out before her.

The bustling kitchen all at once broke into a frenzy of voices and cries of "Whoa, hey, what the-!" A metal tray clattered to the tile floor. The white-clad workers all dropped what they were doing and put their hands up, the entirety of the room instantly immobilized amid frantic voices.

With one hand, Naomi retrieved her falsified badge and held it up. "It's okay! We're federal agents," she said firmly. The door behind her swung shut and L stepped up beside her, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Naomi looked sideways at him, desperately hoping he had a plan. To say that they certainly didn't look like any kind of agents was an understatement.

The tension in the large room was heavy, but L took his time, slowly scanning the room with narrowed eyes. At last, he spoke.

"What happened to shut the kitchen down?" he demanded.

The kitchen staff all looked at one another confusedly.

"Uh..." one of them began slowly. "We're not shut down..."

L stared at the man in the white chef's coat and the tomato-stained apron. "The kitchen has not been shut down at all today?" he asked directly.

"No..." The chef looked around at the others for support. "We... we've been fully operational all day."

L stared a moment longer. Then he turned on his heel and shoved open the door with an open, outstretched palm. Naomi lowered her gun, clicking the safety back on, and tucked it again into her leather jacket. "Thank you for your time," she said with a nod. Then she turned and left the kitchen.

"What was that??" her mind whirled.

L was a ways ahead already, and Naomi nearly sprinted to catch up to him. She slowed her steps as she reached his side, though not much. He was walking very fast, his gaze fixed straight ahead. They reached the lobby, and L walked up to the counter. The smartly-dressed African American young woman behind it was on the phone.

L lifted an index finger and plunked it down to ding the little silver service bell.

The receptionist smiled courteously and gestured to give her one moment.

L's eyes snapped with impatience. He dinged the bell again. And then again.

Naomi gently reached out and lowered his arm, smiling nicely at the poor girl on the phone. She slid her hand into L's and interlocked her fingers with his.

Annoyed, L lifted his other hand to his mouth and bit down on the end of his thumb. He made a low growl in his throat, but his fingers closed around Naomi's. His hand was trembling.

They stood and waited only a moment longer before the receptionist ended her phone call and turned toward them.

"What can I do for you?" she asked politely.

"Have any rooms in the hotel recorded power outages in the last hour?" L asked.

The young woman furrowed her eyebrows and tipped her head. "Umm, let me check... Give me a moment, and I can call maintenance."

L chewed on the end of his thumb and watched the girl intently as she called to make the inquiry.

After another moment of waiting, the receptionist hung up the phone again.

"There was a thirteen second outage in the presidential suite about ten minutes ago," she informed them.

"And that's it?" L asked, his eyes narrowing with ferocity. "No other rooms in the hotel were affected?"

"No, sir. Our presidential suite is on a separate server, and-"

Before the girl could finish, L turned abruptly and walked briskly toward the elevator with Naomi in tow. Still holding his hand, Naomi was jerked away, but she managed a smile and a "Thank you!" to the receptionist as she was whirled around to follow L.

When they got in the elevator, L let go of her hand and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He pressed a few buttons and held it up to his ear. Almost immediately, he pulled the phone away and looked at it with a bewildered expression.

The doors dinged and opened again, and L and Naomi returned to their presidential suite.

Naomi shut the door behind them and turned to L.

"What is it?" she asked worriedly. "L, tell me what you're thinking."  Her heart was starting to pound.

L had taken a few steps into the large room and then stopped. He stood now with his curved back to her and one hand pocketed. The other hand was rubbing the back of his neck.

"Watari..." he mumbled.

Naomi moved to stand beside him, reaching out gently to take his arm.

"L, what is it? What about Watari?"

He just stared at the carpet with his hand still resting on the back of his neck. His long fingers moved listlessly back and forth.

And then L looked at her. There was a quiet panic kindling in his wide, grey eyes that Naomi had never seen before.  It made her stomach knot.

"What is the date today?" L asked slowly.

"Um... June 6th, but--"

"6/6."

"What?"

L's head turned to look at Naomi.  His voice was tight and clipped.  "Naomi.  What letter does a six resemble?"

Naomi instantly felt an icy chill travel the length of her spine.  The single letter escaped her lips in a whisper.

"...b."

L nodded.  "And how many seconds was the power outage in our room?"

Naomi's breath caught in her throat.

"...thirteen."

The number that resembled a capital B. 

Naomi brought the fingertips of one hand to rest against her mouth.

"Did... Watari not answer his phone?"

L didn't answer.  Instead, he extracted his phone from his pocket and handed it to Naomi.

"Call him," he instructed.

Naomi hesitated, watching him.  Her heart was pounding as she dialed and held the phone to her ear.

It didn't ring.  Instead, she heard a long beep followed by three short beeps.  There was a pause, then the beeps sounded again in the exact same way. 

Beeeeeeeep beep beep beep.

Beeeeeeeep beep beep beep.

Over and over again it repeated.

Finally, L reached for his phone, and Naomi shut it slowly and placed it onto his upturned palm.  Her eyes were on his troubled countenance.

"Morse code?" she asked in almost a whisper.

L just nodded.

Naomi swallowed the lump in her throat.  She didn't have to ask what letter the beeps represented.  L's face said it all.

And the words he spoke then only confirmed what Naomi already knew.

"Beyond is alive... and he's taken Watari."