A.N: I have to say, you guys are so awesome! I didn't think this story would get such a great response, but I guess I don't know what I'm talking about. Lol. Many thanks to all you guys for the support, and I hope you enjoy the epilogue of our... epic (Epic? Really? Erm... I plead the fifth. o.O;) adventure.

Many thanks to Kitsune-55 for beta-ing, along with all of her awesome suggestions as well! Gold star for you!

Side Note: Ha ha, not done rambling, but let me just get this out of the way while I have the chance. A lot of people have asked about the references I've used in this fic. I could tell you all of them... but that wouldn't be any fun (for me). Lol. If you really want to know (Like, it's life or death... or whatever.) I guess I'll let you know. For now, just stew in the ambiguity of it all.

Disclaimer: Oh, yay... a disclaimer for the whole story. I don't own Death Note. There. Now leave me the hell alone. I have cookies to go splurge on. (Yay!)

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll still land among the stars.”

-Les Brown

Title: Shoot for the Moon

Epilogue: Beyond the Stars

Raito felt the air in his lungs dwindle into nothing as he ran out of the police station, gasping for each breath as if it was his last. Head whipping in all directions, mocha-brown eyes narrowed in frustration as Raito realized that he had missed Ryuuzaki (excuse him, L) once again.

Book-bag straps falling down his shoulders, the tired brunette nearly kicked the stonewall surrounding the station for decoration and turned about-face, too angry with himself to even go back inside to see his father.

'This is just too much…'

Three Days Later…

“Come on, L…”

“…”

“L… it’s going to be alright.”

“…”

“Are you honestly going to just stay inside your room ALL DAY AND NIGHT?!”

“…”

“This is ridiculous. You’re being completely immature and unprofessional. The longer you mope, the less these things stay unresolved and become much more complicated!”

“…”

Sigh.

“It’s almost three o’clock, L…”

Squuuuuueeeeaaaakkkk…

“Really?”

“Do you realize how sad it is that you’re willing to get out of your room for a boy who doesn’t even know you but you won’t even try to fix your reputation so that you can continue your job?”

“… … Maybe.”

Staring at the wily detective as he moved past the door and shoved his bare feet into his untied-sneakers, Watari sighed as he crossed his arms and marched past the pouting man-child.

‘There’s only one last thing left to do…’

“L, I’ll meet you in the car. I have to go make sure the kids made it back alright.”

“Two days after the fact?”

“I was taking care of you the whole time, remember?”

“… … Fine.”

Watching the dark-haired depressed man walk out of the hotel room with an even bigger hunchback than usual, Watari slowly snuck his cell phone out from his slack-pocket and moved into the bathroom, quickly selecting the number he had been given just a day before.

Listening to the phone ring emptily within his ear, Watari secretly prayed this would not blow up in his face.

“Hello?”

“Is this Yagami Raito?”

“… … Yes… Who is this?”

“I’m not all that important, but I’m pretty sure you know whom I might work for if your father has spoken to you like he’s told me he has.”

“I see.”

“I must be quick, but please listen to what I have to say.”

“Alright…”

“Don’t say it.” L muttered as Watari sat across from him, the plaza now alive with pedestrians and the occasional performer. “I know what you are going to say to me, and you know that I will not listen.”

“…”

“…”

“… … I-“

“Ah, ah, ah…” Holding up a finger, L glared at his old friend, looking around him, and not seeing the familiar head of auburn hair sitting at his usual table. “I said it wasn’t necessary.”

“Fine, L. But…” Watari smiled to himself as he began to get up, looking over L’s hunched form and moving to get back into their vehicle that lay on the other side of the street. “I would just like to say one thing, if nothing else.”

“And that is?”

“Good luck.” Watari ended mysteriously, waving over his shoulder as he winked. For a moment, L was quite sure that the old man had lost his mind.

“Ryuuzaki?”

But then, that familiar tenor filled his ears, and L couldn’t gather the will to actually care.

Turning his head back, honey brown eyes widened with recognition as they sparkled with glee (Glee? Really? Was that even possible when concerning himself?!), rushing toward the sitting detective with a speed that even took L off-guard.

“Oh my Gosh! I haven’t seen you in a good couple of months!”

“Uh…”

‘Stop it, say something you idiot! He’s standing right there and he REMEMBERS you-OH MY GOD, HE’S COMING CLOSER AND PRACTICALLY SITTING NEXT TO YOU SAY-SOMETHING-BEFORE-HE-FIGURES-OUT-THAT-YOUR-SO-ANTI-SOCIAL-AND-WEIRD-IT-HURTS!’

“Ye-es… I suppose it has been quite awhile. I’m surprised that Yagami-san remembers me, if truth be told.”

“Well, you’re pretty unforgettable.” The boy replied with a blush settled over his cheeks, fiddling with the book within his hands rather uncomfortably.

“Yes, but not in the same way that Yagami-san is.” L stated almost sadly, his eyes not reflecting the misery he had begun to feel the very day he had laid eyes on the gorgeous brunette and his world had virtually turned upside down. “I am, rather, the person you wish to forget, but can’t, while Yagami-san is the person everyone can never forget, and are glad not to be able to.”

“Well, I get why you didn’t want to see me if you feel that way.”

“What?”

“Not a lot of time… right, L?”

“Well, that is tru-WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!”

Raito blinked as L just about fell out of his chair, looking a bit concerned as he leaned in forward.

“Well, my father, he-and, and your associate, I guess, he called me and we talked a bit… I mean, that’s why you didn’t come back, right? You were busy with the case, right?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Ryuuzaki…?”

“Are you only speaking to me because I am who I am?” L bluntly asked with a blank look on his face, the monotone within his voice betraying no emotion.

“I won’t lie. Partly, I am extremely interested. It’s not everyday you meet the world’s greatest detective…” Raito blushed at the admittance. “But… I meant it, when I met you the first time. I wanted to see you again. You were different, but special. I couldn’t describe it; it was like I met another me. Someone who shows the world one thing, but hides who they really are internally. And I was right… I want to know you.”

L almost stammered as the boy pushed his chair next to him and smiled-

“I… uh… ok?”

And proceeded to make a douche of himself in front of the most gorgeous man ever.

"Just don't expect your little reign to last forever." Raito smirked as L's own lips twitched up in amusement. "Being the best isn't as permanent as you might think…"

"Oh, really?" The skepticism in L's voice made Raito twitch, chocolate-brown eyes narrowing in anger.

"Don't believe me?"

"Prove me wrong then, Raito." Giving the boy a saucy smile, the giddy (Giddy. L, the best damn detective in the world was giddy!) raven-haired investigator nearly laughed as the brunette college student pouted at the teasing comment aimed his way. “So… tell me, Raito-kun, is this the part where we connect on a personal level and proceed to live happily ever after?”

“Is there really such a thing?” Raito snarked, wondering just what the detective was expecting from him at this point. "Besides, I wouldn't consider this conclusive, would you?"

“I shall give Raito-kun that one."

"Good."

"… … … Does this meeting end with a…" L stifled a grin at is thought, making Raito squirm in his seat uncomfortably. "happy ending, at least?”

“Happy… end-oh, wait, c’mon!”

“I apologize, Yagami-kun… I just couldn’t help myself.”

“I can see that.”

“Oh, if only.”

“Ryuuzaki!”

Watching as the two young men quietly laughed at something L had said just moments before, Watari slowly slid the cell phone up upon his ear with a small bump of his shoulder.

“And they’re talking!”

“Yes… and perfectly well, in fact.”

“Mission COMPLETE!”

“Right… now please, do concentrate on not getting thrown out of Whammy’s for the rest of the year, and perhaps I can set up another meeting with a far-less angry L, yes?”

“WATARI, YOU ARE AWESOME! AND I MEAN THAT WITH THE UTMOST SINCERITY AND TRUTH THAT CAN POSSIBLY BE USED TO INJECT ITSELF WITHIN THAT ONE SENTENCE I’VE JUST SPOKEN! YOU ARE NOW OFFICIALLY THE COOLEST PERSON EVAR!”

“… Don’t push it, Mello.”

“Yes sir! Peace out, old man!”

Clicking the phone shut with a smile, Watari gave the boys one last lingering glance.

“Well, I did tell you so, L…” Watari sighed as he got in the car, quite sure his charge wouldn’t be needing a ride for quite awhile, if the look on both of the boy’s faces were any indication. Feeling a swell of accomplishment and satisfaction burst within his chest, Watari mentally gave himself a nice pat on the back.

‘This one was for you L.’

Yet after this emotion seemed to pass, one horrendous thought snuck within Watari’s head, making him depressed all over again.

Who else was going to clean up the horrid mess left in L’s and the boy’s wakes?

‘Oh, freaking hurray for me.’

Fin.