=ch10=

Extended to Infinity and Beyond

By Khorose

Summary: A vacation in L's summer home became a disaster. L, Watari, Light, Matt, Mello, Near, and Beyond must find out who was responsible. Suspicions arose, danger lurks in the mansion, and Light's the prime suspect.

Chapter 10: L is for Lost

As black imbued black, so was rendered the pitch of darkness
That befogged this godforsaken yard of graves -
And too the dank, 'til now forgotten chapel that
Did little to grace these forlorn grounds.

"I've got evidence! There is no slipping out of this, Kira!"

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I'M NOT KIRA!"

"Really! How do you explain the stories, then?"

"Someone may have stolen my notebook and framed me on purpose!" Light said stubbornly.

"I'm not believing that."

"Screw you."

"When we find L, I'm turning you in. So you'd better tell me who is the second Kira!"

"I told you, I don't know!"

The two continued to bicker as they neared the kitchen. Watari was brewing tea, and an untouched plate with strawberry cake was on the table. It was melting, the frozen icing slowly dribbling down onto the plate, creating a sloppy mess.

"Children," Watari interrupted them, "Have you seen L?"

He looked tired, although looking for something the entire morning. Many hiding places were turned over, and the the oven was upside down for some reason.

"-and because of that, he's going to be shot!" Mello was yelling, gesturing wildly. He then noticed Watari, "Oh. Hi."

"...L is not here?" Light asked, feeling dread pool at the bottom of his stomach. He had a sinking feeling that L probably wasn't going to return, especially if he was going to be 'kidnapped and shot' as stated in his diary.

Watari sighed, not aware of the importance of the information he was giving out, "Yes. He still hasn't come back from that temper tantrum he had at you, Light. Sorry."

Mello huffed, "What do you have to feel sorry for him for? It's his fault L is gone!"

Light dipped his head down, ashamed. It probably was his fault. He had listed Matt, Beyond, and L in stories that was about how they died. It was sickening, now that he thought hard on it. And Kira had used that information to attack them. He hurt Matt, he killed B, and he was responsible for L being missing.

"Mello," Watari chastised, "What happened to L?"

The two kids froze.

"We have evidence that L has been kidnapped by Kira." Light said in a small voice, fearing Watari's wrath.

"We found Light's diary, and there are evidence." Mello waved the black notebook about.

Watari was quiet as he read over the pages. No emotion could be seen on his face, "L went to the library." He finally said, "You can begin your search there."

He left the room, and neither of the kids knew what he was thinking about,

"Hey," Light said suddenly, "Where was Near?"

This was a striking moment of realization as the two went silent. They both stopped abruptly and thought for a moment, before Mello jumped to his feet angrily, dashing down the hall with furious determination.

"Damitdamitdamit..." Mello cursed under his breath, "Near was Kira after all, or maybe second Kira. He must be Light's accomplice..."

"Mello!" Light called, "Wait up!"

Mello didn't even look back as he ran towards the direction of the library. They passed rooms, stairs, secret passages, and-

"Wait! Secret passages! Maybe that's what the Kiras used to sneak about without being detected. And there must be secret rooms underground as well. Maybe a hidden basement."

Light tried, but he really couldn't keep up with the hyperactive seven-year old through the twists and turns and forked roads. Ultimately, he got lost.

"Curse that maniac," he grumbled as he stormed around aimlessly, "Couldn't he do some thing as nice as to wait?"

He sighed as he took the Death Note out of his pocket. Light stared at the jagged letters on the cover.

"You have caused me a lot of trouble." he told the diary. There was no reply (which was expect, and if the notebook had said something then Light would have screamed).

Without thinking, Light reached down to the black cover to rip it in half. His fingernails scraped against the sides, straining against the cardboard-like texture.

"What is this thing made out of." Light grumbled, giving up. It was impossible, like the notebook refused to be destroyed before it accompolish one final task. But that was impossible because books don't have a mind of their own. It was not like the Death Note was a notebook that could kill by someone writing a name inside.

(In an alternate universe A.K.A canon, Raito Yagami sneezed before writing Lind L. Taylor's name down in the Death Note. Ryuk just laughed.)

Light shook his head. Nope, totally impossible.

"L was heading towards the direction of the library, so perhaps there was a secret room under there too." Light poundered, "So Mello and I started in the kitchen, which was seven rooms away from the library. If every room had a secret passage or room underneath, then I could probably find my way down here too."

And hopefully Mello realized that too, because Light would never dare to confront Kira on his own.

Yes, ladies and 'gents, a part of the mystery of this case is solved:

Light Yagami is 100% not Kira.

Since this is AU, Death Note is only an ordinary diary, not the killer notebook in canon. I used Raito for Canon!Light's name to distinguish the difference between them.