A/N: Hello there! Sorry for not updating for two weeks, but I had a little trouble doing the part after...oh, do you care?I have had a few reviews telling me how A is dead and B isn't at Wammy's and everything, but I'm telling you now: it's AU! It's fanfiction! It's fine if everything's not according to the main plot! Now that I've got that over with...

AUness: A isn't dead, B didn't do the LABB cases, and this is right after Higuchi's been captured. Yosh!

Disclaimer: Death Note no mine. Okai!

On closer inspection, the man wasn't quite L.

Despite looking like L in every respect, his voice was different. And, as Light shifted his eyes to get a better look, he seemed to be wearing makeup. Probably to disguise himself as the genius detective. Although why he would do such a thing escaped even Light's mental capacity. L was, to put it plainly, a freak. And there really was no need to pretend to be him anyway. It didn't get you closer to being L.

Light's eyes darted from the real L to...the other L...waiting for someone to explain the situation to him.

"B didn't expect L to show up after so long," said the intruder, grinning slyly, and cocking his head to one side. Light winced, half-expected to hear a crack. It looked painful.

L allowed himself a pleasant smile. "Nor did I really, Backup."

Light swore he saw B's crimson eyes glance up at the spot above L's head...the spot where, he knew, the name and lifespan of a person would appear. The red eyes seemed foreboding, as if just looking for trouble. His mind was always thinking, always planning. Backup wasn't any ordinary orphan. He was dangerous.

"B didn't think L would bring someone to Wammy's House. Have you lost your sense of security?" His eyes darted up above Light's head, and he frowned just slightly, before grinning widely again. "Yagami Light seems very suspicious to B."

At this, Light tensed. He could almost see L's eyes glow in surprise and satisfaction. Who was this B? How did he even know his name? And how could he know about Light being Kira without any evidence? Even L hadn't mentioned that yet. Unless...

"How so, B? Surely you're not just guessing?" Light took his chance. "You don't have any evidence to base it on."

B's eyes grew sinister, and Light could almost feel Death touching him. "Yagami Light seems very confident. Does he have a connection to Kira?"

He said it so boldly. Light fought down the urge to strangle this newcomer. Backup or not, he was not going to live for very long.

"What's wrong, Backup?" L asked. "Is there something about Light-kun that doesn't satisfy you?" His large panda eyes x-rayed Light, and the cogs in his brain whirled. Already, there were two more people who thought Light was suspicious, even if they had no proof. L trusted his successors more than anyone else in the world, save Watari.

There was silence for a moment. Light stared at the imitation, fuming inwardly. This guy...how dare he make fun of me! To kill B was dangerous, though. L would probably figure out the connection, and his percentage would go up by at least 10%. It was better to let things be for now.

"B doesn't think L can trust Yagami Light. Is he a suspect?"

Speaking in third person annoyed Light immensely, but he was in no position to argue. B had just openly declared that he was not Kira's friend.

L raised a thumb to his lips thoughtfully. "That was quick thinking, Backup."

B smirked. "Of course. B is better than L, after all."

"What makes you think I'm Kira, B?" Light narrowed his eyes. He couldn't believe it. All of a sudden, this guy shows up and accuses him of being Kira. Even L had to have months of preparation! This was outrageous.

B's scarlet eyes glinted. "You have something that nobody else has. Or should I say...you're missing something."

Light's eyes widened in surprise. The only thing a potential Death Note holder was missing was...the lifespan. Could this orphan at Wammy's know about such a thing? Light rolled his eyes at himself. Ridiculous.

"I'm missing something? I don't understand what you mean," he said, feigning innocence.

"B thinks you do," the boy replied back smugly.

"That's enough, Backup. We can't accuse Yagami-kun of anything yet," L intervened smoothly. Light noted that he used 'we' and not 'you'. He was sure B heard that too, for the orphan's smirk grew wider. "The more important question is," L continued on flawlessly, "why aren't you in class?"

Light hardly thought that was an important question, but B grinned. "B was taking A to the sick bay, but then B spotted L."

Sick bay? L's expression grew serious at once. "What happened, Backup?"

"Nothing much," B replied, and Light heard a nasty tone in his voice. "We were playing volleyball, and A just wasn't careful enough."

Those words, and especially that attitude, didn't sound apologetic in Light's point of view. In fact, they sounded more like they were goading A. "It wasn't anything too serious, was it?" he said, trying to steer the conversation away from himself.

"Nothing you should be worried about, Yagami," B shot back.

"A can look after himself," L said contently. He had apparently missed the point.

Light wasn't stupid enough to tell him, but at that exact moment, the sound of a shrill alarm pierced the hostile silence, causing him to jump. "What was that?" he growled.

L shrugged. "Just the bell."

The bell? I thought it was a fire alarm! Light looked around, watching for any other unnecessary surprises. It wouldn't do to be caught off-guard in a place full of geniuses.

"Dinnertime," B said cheerfully. Without saying a word, he retreated, even steps fading as he crossed the threshold and made his way back into Wammy's.

"We should go too, Light-kun." L's eyes misted, and Light knew he was thinking of all the cakes and sweets there would be for desert. Leaving the tennis racquets and net as they were, Light hurriedly followed L into the dining hall. The tables were placed in a haphazard fashion in the huge room, as if the students rearranged them on a regular basis. B was already there, sitting awkwardly with his legs on the chair, and knees folded up against his chest.

Light mentally sighed in irritation. Not only did B copy L in appearance, he copied him in every aspect! As he watched, the orphan unscrewed a jar of red jam and dipped his fingers into it, scooping out a blob and shoving it down his mouth. Light tried and failed to suppress his disgust.

"Is something wrong, Yagami-kun?" L asked innocently, viewing the wide variety of cakes with a glint in his eye. Light quickly came to realize that this was a sort of buffet, where everyone could choose what they wanted. Thank goodness, or he might have died of starvation.

"N-No, nothing, L," he said with gritted teeth. He chose something any normal person would eat – spaghetti. Beside him, he watched incredulously as L loaded a giant, three-decked ice-cream cake onto his plate, and moved to sit opposite the jam-eating copycat. Reluctantly, Light lowered himself into the chair next to him.

It was still early, and hardly anyone was here. There was only a white-haired boy in pyjamas sitting quietly by himself in a corner. Although hardly anyone could call it 'sitting'. It was not as eccentric as L, but he had one foot on the chair, and the other on the floor. He wasn't eating anything, but was rather playing with a set of robots. Light raised his eyebrow. The boy looked about 13, perhaps younger. A little too old to be playing with childish toys.

The boy looked up and cold, lifeless eyes met Light's curious gaze. He withdrew hastily, aware that he had been caught staring.

"That's Near you're staring at," interrupted a rude voice. Light looked up just in time to see Mello slide in next to B, and Matt after him. Mello was holding a bar of chocolate (hardly anything close to dinner), and Matt, Light was relieved to see, was eating something relatively normal – fried rice. However, he ignored it and continued to press furiously at a handheld PSP, goggled eyes glued to the screen.

Light looked down at his food, feeling his appetite vanish in an instant. With L delicately plucking at his cake, B drinking jam, and Mello breaking off chocolate with a crack every three seconds, it was hard to still eat normally.

He decided that this place was hell.

Light pushed his meal away from him, reflecting that he luckily had brought his own food. Even thought the prospect of instant noodles wasn't very brightening, it was at least better than sitting here, eating with these...freaks...There was no other word to describe it.

"It isn't often that there's a crowd here. Hello, L," said a calm voice.

A blonde girl sat down cautiously next to Light. L leaned over curiously, big bulging eyes seeming to x-ray her.

"You're..."

"It's Linda," the girl smiled.

"Ah, Linda, of course." L nodded sagely, and Light had the urge to smash his forehead against something hard. It was obvious that L hadn't remembered her at all.

Linda either didn't notice, or chose to ignore it. "Who's the new kid?" she asked, eyeing Light. The latter breathed a sigh of relief. There was someone relatively normal in the palace of freaksl!

Across the table, Mello seemed to have heard the conversation. "He's not a new kid, geez. Use your brains, people."

"Mello says he's Kira," Matt added, pausing to look up slightly before returning to his game.

"I did not!" Mello counter accused. "I just said it was possible!"

Linda shrugged. "Whatever. He seems nice to me."

"How would you know, he hasn't even spoken yet," Mello shot back.

Realizing this was true, Light uttered the first thing that came into his mind. "It's very...nice...to meet you," he said with gritted teeth.

Linda nodded understandingly. "It's a pleasure. It may be hard to adjust for the first few days, but then you'll fit right in."

"I'm not an orphan," Light decided to clarify. He inwardly chuckled at Linda's surprised look.

"Oh. I'm sorry, then." She took a sip of orange juice. Across the table, Mello smirked.

"I'm Yagami Light," he said politely, deciding against shaking her hand. Linda was more normal than any other person here, but a hand shake might be asking too much.

"So, Light-san, if you aren't a new orphan, what are you doing at Wammy's House?"

She was sharp. Not as sharp as Mello or B, but still very smart.

"Oh, well I was working with L on the Kira case, when he said he wanted to take a trip to Wammy's House. So I had to go with him."

Mello snorted. "Utter nonsense. He was staring at Near like some creepy pedo stalker."

Light backtracked quickly. "W-What? No! I was just curious," he said defensively.

But apparently, the blond wasn't one to listen. "Oi!" he called loudly, enough for half the room to hear. "Near! Yagami Kira is stalking you!"

Light opened his mouth to protest hastily.

"Mello, half the things that sprout out of your mouth are nonsense," Near said quietly, not even looking up from his wonderful assortment of entertainment. "Even if he is Kira, I doubt that he would take an interest in me. He would be more likely to kill L or A. Maybe you too, Mello, because you're so irritating."

Light blinked. His thoughts were defined perfectly.

Mello twitched. "You pathetic little brat!" he seethed.

Near merely shrugged. "Pathetic or not, I at least am worthy of succeeding L."

"You–!"

Linda's eyes narrowed. "Guys..." she said warningly.

Mello and Near paid no attention. "Mello, stop your ridiculous insults and actually do something useful for once – shut up."

"Why don't you, sheep?" The blond snarled back.

Near shrugged. "Your voice is louder than everyone in here put together."

At that, Mello merely seethed. "Near–!"

"Did I miss something?"

The group turned simultaneously to find A dumping his bag down and taking a seat next to L. Mello glared furiously, and bit off another slab of chocolate. Likewise, Near's eyes returned to his robots.

"No, A, you didn't miss anything," Matt mumbled. He had saved his game and placed the PSP onto the table.

"That's good."

Light faked a concerned look. "Are you okay, A? B told us you were involved in an accident..."

"I'm okay, Light-san. It was nothing major."

Light found no need to respond further, and turned back to the table, staring at it intently. Although he looked perfectly calm – although slightly flustered – on the outside, his mind was thinking rapidly. Had B lied just for an excuse to come and see L? Or had A really been injured, and wasn't showing it?

He frowned. This didn't really matter.

Linda seemed content just sitting there and eating. Light admired her courage. Just the thought of sitting here and eating with these weirdos made his stomach squirm uncomfortably.

"I...I'm full. I think I'll leave now," he said quietly, getting up as unnoticed as he could. Unfortunately, the moment he left for the staircase, Light felt L's dark eyes boring into his back.

As he had expected, L spoke up. "If Yagami-kun is full, then I shall accompany him to...our room." Without a word of complaint (probably because nobody dared to argue against L), he picked up his cake and slouched towards where Light was waiting, half-frozen. "Well, if you may, Yagami-kun."

Light nodded furiously, and trampled up the stairs as fast as he could in an effort to shake L off. But once again he had forgotten the detective's athletic ability, and he found L snapping at his heels. He could hear noises coming from the dining hall, but all the mattered right now was to not appear too suspicious. He jammed the key of their room into the lock, and the door swung open.

The room looked untouched on the surface. Either nobody had come in, or someone had replaced everything extremely well. But then again, there was nothing precious in the room. Nothing that would lead to him being Kira. That was fine, for now.

"Is something wrong, Yagami-kun?" L asked from behind him. It was then that Light realized he was standing in the doorway, blocking whoever tried to come in.

"N-No, nothing, L," he said hastily and as smoothly as he could manage. But L, it seemed, wasn't fooled.

"You don't trust my successors," L said firmly. It was not a question, but a statement. And immediately, Light knew it was pointless to lie.

"Not really," he admitted. "They're an odd bunch."

Behind him, L's lips curved into a slight smile and he pushed past Light, settling comfortably on his chair again. Light sighed, grabbing a cup of Instant Noodles. He was just going to tear open the lid, however, when the door opened.

"Is Yagami insulting Wammy's House?" B asked slyly, poking his head through the door.

"B, leave him alone." Another voice, one Light identified almost immediately as the quiet, studious A.

"Why?" B jeered. "He has brought his own food when we have dinner downstairs. And he's Kira." His eyes flickered to the top of Light's head once more.

At this, Light decided to speak. "I'm not Kira, B. What makes you think I am?" Besides, who could eat downstairs with you around? He rolled his eyes.

B's eyes narrowed. "You don't have it," he said stubbornly.

A sighed. "That's enough, Backup. Leave them."

Light could feel three pairs of eyes on him. He had to choose his words carefully, for L was no doubt analysing every second of this conversation. "I don't know what you're talking about, B," he said evenly. "What don't I have?" But he knew. The only thing on top of a person's head was the name and lifespan. Light wasn't dead, so his name must be up there. But Death Note holders didn't have a lifespan...

He shook his head. That was stupid. There was no way a child from Wammy's House could possibly posses Shinigami eyes. But then again, the very existence of Death Note and Shinigami was questionable. He had to open his eyes to all the possibilities.

The red-eyed orphan smirked. "You know more than you let on, Yagami Light. B can see."

See what? thought Light suspiciously. B was mocking him. Could he possibly see my name, but no lifespan? But how could he if he isn't a Death Note holder? Does he have a Shinigami with him and secretly...No. That's impossible

This river of thought he had followed many times, but each was as mysterious as the last. It didn't really matter, Light decided. B still had no proof, and L wasn't likely to believe such a far-fetched story.

And then it hit him.

L.

The person who addressed himself by a thousand different aliases. If Misa couldn't see his name, then perhaps B...? It might be too much to wish for, but Light knew he could extract the information out of the orphan if needed. L was open in Wammy's House right now. Anyone could see his name and lifespan. Did he trust Wammy's House so much? If so, there only needs to be one traitor, and L's world would fall apart.

And B was the perfect person. With his supposed Shinigami eyes, he could see L's lifespan. Pay attention, B! Light thought intently. Have a good look at L's name and lifespan. And use it to kill him!

B couldn't possibly know about the existence of Death Notes. But if he had the Shinigami eyes, but some cursed chance, he was needed.

"B knows what you are thinking, Yagami Light," the boy smirked nastily. "Let me make something clear for you. I will catch Kira before L, and I will prove that B does not stand for Backup. B stands for Brilliant. For Better. For Best."

Light was reminded once again that in no way could B possibly be an ally. He had made his side clear the moment he set his eyes on Light. Besides, he wasn't sure he could stand working with such a freaky person. No, he needed someone who could work in the shadows. Be known, but not suspected. Understand, but not deduce too much. Someone who followed his line of thought, and was quiet and intelligent.

And then the answer struck him like a bolt of lightning.

The first child at Wammy's House.

The Alternate.

A.

A/N: Sorry to everyone who saw that coming, but it was inevitable...in the plot...

Anyway, will you review? Please? I tried my best, really! And my muse is extremely happy it published another chapter, so pweese?

Arigato yo! Bai bai! -waves-