[[switches as well, shifting a little on the couch to be more compact, as if somehow that would keep the conversation more secret as he matches Mello's tone.]]

...only once? But...

[[he trails off. He had though that L had at least had his replacements as company at some point... to not even have that...

There was a slight pause.]]

He can. I know he can. But I don't know if he knows that yet...

He's not the same person he was when he first arrived. None of us are. So I think... I think because of that, it can be done... Since that title doesn't exist here, not outside of all of you, right? There's no one saying what it has to mean any more... So Ryuzaki can just be Ryuzaki.. and not that title.