Chapter 11:

January 21, 2004 (part 1)

"Has anyone seen L?" Watari asked Matt, Near, and Light.

"He didn't come out of the room," Light said. "In fact, he seemed kind of upset."

"Did he now?" Watari mused. "Did he happen to tell you why-"

"Kira killed him," a monotonous voice said behind Watari. Watari jumped slightly.

"L you are standing right there. How could Kira have killed you?" Watari scolded lightly.

"Not me…" L said. "Just tell me how you did it Light…"

"Did what?" Light asked. "I didn't kill anyone; you were with me the whole night!"

"L, just who did Light Yagami supposedly kill?" Near asked.

"No one you know…" L sighed. "His name was Beyond Birthday, Rue Ryuzaki, Backup…"

"That's a lot of aliases," Light commented.

"He was a Wammy's child," Matt stated. "All of us have got lots of aliases."

"Why?" Light frowned.

"That's none of your business," Mello grunted, slamming his tray down next to Matt.

"It's obvious anyways… there's no harm in telling him," Near said.

"Beyond Birthday…" L sighed. "How could Kira have gotten to him…?"

"L, the LABB murder cases were made public," Watari reminded him.

"But he doesn't know his real name," L said. "I don't know his real name, Near doesn't know his real name, Watari doesn't know his real name, Matt doesn't know his real name-"

"What's going on?" Mello asked.

"Kira killed someone named Beyond Birthday," Matt said. "And it's hit pretty close to home." Near took this as his cue to get up, going the long way around the table.

"Beyond Birthday? Rue Ryuzaki from the LABB murder cases?"

"For someone who has amnesia you have a good memory," Matt said sourly.

"Jealous that I don't remember you?" He was stunned to say the least when he felt something cold fall into his head, dripping further down his hair and onto his clothes.

"What the hell, Near?!" Mello demanded, springing to his feet. Matt grabbed onto Mello's waist before the blonde could lunge at the albino. L moved quietly to stand in front of Near, stopping Mello's attempts to get away from Matt and allowing Matt to let go of the infuriated blonde.

"What did you remember the other day, Mello?" L asked quietly.

"Stupid, stupid Mihael," his captor sang.

"H-how do you know my-"

"Don't worry, Mihael. You won't suffer, just don't make me mad and I'll-"

"Shut the fuck up!" Mello tore out of the rope bonds that he had been working on, tearing the hospital mask off of his face. He felt weak, drowsy...

"I was captured by someone… he knew my name- I thought it was you at first, L…" Mello said. "He didn't wear white, he wore black… There was a hospital mask on my face and I tore it off."

"Beyond Birthday had kidnapped of you…" L said. "I knew there was something odd about you disappearing off my radar…"

"What radar?" all three heirs asked.

"You really don't think that I don't keep tabs on you?" L asked but there was no humor present.

"What the hell was with the water treatment, albino brat?" Mello hissed.

"Actually, Mello, you might as well remember yourself," L said. "Come with me. We're going to visit Beyond Birthday's old jail cell and jog Mello's memory."

"Does that include me?" Light asked.

"Yes," L said. "Near, you know how to use a pistol… Matt, you know how to use any gun… Mello, for fear of you shooting Near which is a high probability at this rate, you don't need a gun. You can take care of yourself. Light, you stay with me or Mello. You don't get a gun."

"Why me?" Mello grumbled.

"Because you know how to best take care of yourself and others in a physical fight… and there will be a lesser chance of me having to file paperwork upon his death," L said.

"Is that all I am to you? Potential paperwork?" Light asked. L looked at Light with big eyes.

"In a way... you are thirty-six point five percent likely to be killed... although basically walking in the street just gives you a fifty-fifty ratio... so I suppose you are," L said. Light gaped at him. Matt snorted with a roll of his eyes. Mello smirked. Even the edges of Near's mouth were upturned.

"Now if everyone's done eating, let us go," L said.

"That can't be healthy," Light commented when Mello bit into his third chocolate bar. Matt hit his head against the seat in front of him. Near let out a quiet groan. Mello turned to glare at him. L sat happily content. Mello had taken the front seat for fear that he'd probably kill someone. Light was on the left side of the passenger's limo seat and L was next to him, followed by Near and Matt.

"Yagami, are you trying to get yourself killed?" Matt asked.

"What can he do? Sure he can kill me but if L and you guys witness it, it won't go unpunished," Light said.

"Not if I'm the witness..." Matt grumbled.

"Why would Mello be anywhere near me when he kills you?" Near asked.

"I don't like paperwork..." L said. "Watari would have to fill it out and Mello would not be foolish enough to get caught... He could just as well have someone kill you-"

"Are you trying to get me killed by giving him ideas?" Light demanded.

"No,"

"Hey, where are we going anyways?" Light asked.

"LA," There was silence.

"What?!"

"It wasn't obvious?" L asked.

"They aren't called the LABB murder cases for nothing," Mello said. "Los Angeles Beyond Birthday Murder cases."

"You didn't really think he'd bring one of the original Wammy's house occupants who was a murderer back to England, did you?" Near asked. "So close to us?"

"Well with your hot tempered friend..." Light mumbled.

"I am not hot tempered!" Mello snapped.

"No fighting in the limo," Watari ordered. There was a sound silence... again.

"Have you ever killed anyone, Mello?"

"What do you think?" Mello asked coldly.

"So... you have?"

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Mello snapped.

"No-" The limo skidded to a stop and practically everyone was thrown off balance. Light and Matt grabbed onto L to keep him from sliding forward and hitting the back of the chair. Near was forced to put his food down.

"I told you to wear a seat belt, L!" Light groaned.

"Watari is trying to kill us," Matt grumbled to Near.

"At least we'll know who is our killer when we die," Near sulked.

"Come on boys, out you go," Watari said cheerfully as they scrambled to get out. "And I'm not trying to kill you; just teach you a lesson, there's a difference."

"Next time, I drive," Mello announced.

"Then we really will die," Near said.

"You want some of this, albino brat?!"

"No,"

"But I do," Matt said, grabbing Mello's jacket and kissing him.

Me: I love this story! Well here's a notice: I might not be able to update as often because of school starting but I'll update when I can.

Matt: Review.