The next chapter is up and I feel good about it! I'm just bummed I waited so long to post it.

Hmm, wonder if everyone has totally given up on this story?

Oh, well, I'll finish it, anywayz, I guess.

Hope this is a great chappie for you guys! In my opinion it's a bittersweet chappie that I shall not speak of anymore and risk spoiling it for you wonderful readers.

~Luv, Fairylust~

The blonde got out of their shelter flinching when the rain made contact with his previously warm, dry skin and clothes. "You and Near can sit tight I'll be back as soon as I can." He said loudly over the rumble of thunder. He watched as the redhead nodded waving goodbye as he started off in search of the phone booth.

It wasn't hard to find. It was just up the street a little ways. It was a twenty-minute trip at most. When he was inside the booth he silently thanked God for the temporary shelter from the rain. Putting the coins in Mello quickly dialed his home number waiting for someone to pick up. He figured that if L or Light cared at all about their whereabouts they'd agree to come get them. If not, well, Mello knew he could count on the other two phone numbers he had memorized. At least one of them would help them out…hopefully.

A blue and white flash of lightening made him jump a bit in fear.

Light had gotten out of the shower to find that the house was quiet. He was glad about this for a split second then realized it was unnatural for the children to be so silent. Mello wasn't throwing a fit in his room, nor was there sounds of video games being played in Matt's room. He felt a bit worried at this. So he went and checked out their rooms only to find the two boys were gone. Don't panic, Yagami. He had told himself. The little monsters are probably just messing with you. Check Near's room, maybe they've hid out there.

Sadly, however, they weren't there at all. He found the stuffed animals and pillows and really began to get concerned. He decided to search the house to make sure they weren't hiding out someplace waiting for Light to go crazy from worry.

He looked just about everywhere but couldn't find them. It was not until he went to the kitchen to call L that he noticed the slip of folded paper. He unfolded it and silently read what had been written.

To: Light or L

From: M & M

It has been brought to our attention that Near has ranaway. We're guessing he has been gone for about a few hours or more now. It's most likely because of how things are turning out so far, but than again who knows? We're leaving, too. Sorry.

From: Matt & Mello

P.S. Our names are in alphabetical order, but in real life Mello is higher ranking than me, because he is slightly smarter and has a calmer attitude in stressful situations to back that up.

Sincerely, Matt

P.P.S. It was I, Matt, who wrote this note to let you know we're going to be leaving for a bit. Dunno if or when we will come back. If we come back. Good-byez for real now.

From: YKW (You Know Who)

Grimacing he moved as quickly as he could to call L. He called the panda-eyed man without much calm about him worried that he was about to lose his job and the only real relationship he felt he had with another person.

"Hello?"

"L! They're gone! And I don't know where they're at and I'm real worried because I think they ran away and I am so sorry, really I-"

"Calm down." L interjected sounding annoyed as well as curious about what had Light wound up. All he knew from where he was at the moment was that his children were involved. "What are you talking about? What have they done now?"

"What they did isn't important." Light said after taking a deep breath. He felt calm, but at the same time sick as he forced himself to speak. "I think Mello, Matt, and Near have ran away. They left a note and are gone."

"What? Are you certain?"

"Yes. I can't find them anywhere."

"I'll be there as quickly as possible." L said sounding really bothered, despite his monotone voice that made him sound impassive and at ease. "Please, Light, do keep looking around. They must be hiding, playing a horrible joke on you. They couldn't have run away. They were there earlier."

"Yeah, so I'm thinking that if they have ran away they couldn't have gone far."

"Please, just keep looking until I get there." L said sounding as though he were now moving hurriedly from one location. His tone changed a bit and Light could tell he was already greatly upset at the news. "I'll help you then and if we can't find them, then we'll look around town."

So that was how the whole thing started. They had searched the entire house from top to bottom. And now they were in the kitchen, L looking over the note with teary eyes. Of course he knew that he wouldn't really cry in front of someone, but this seemed to really tear him apart inside.

Light bit his lower lip slightly wondering what he could say to make things better. Of course, he was smart and knew nothing he could say would make this state of affairs any better. Almost nothing could match the pain of losing a child, let alone three in one single day.

"It's all my fault."

"N-no it isn't. You haven't done anything wrong."

"Yes." He argued numbly. "I had a fight with Mello. I pushed Near away. Matt didn't even want to speak with me. They all hate me and I don't blame them."

"L, that isn't true, they don't-"

The phone suddenly rang three times. Sighing Light moved over and answered it. "Yes?" he said looking over his shoulder to see L had gotten up and headed out of the room, seeming to be in a daze. Light felt really worried for him. When there was no reply on the phone he repeated his greeting, listening hard and hearing background noises.

There was the caller's breathing and there was rain pouring and a car speeding by. He guessed it had to come from somewhere in town. Knowing this he felt a bit nervous knowing that at this time all the people he knew were busy and due to the circumstances he hoped this was a wrong number.

"Hello?" he said a second or two later becoming impatient. "Who is this?"

"Hi." The voice was dead and empty, sounding tired. "It's me."

"Me who?"

"Mello."

"Mello! Where are you? You've got L upset and I've been going crazy looking for you around the damn house, you little prick! What in Hell were you thinking running away like that?"

"I knew I shouldn't have called."

"No, no! Don't hang up!"

"I knew you'd just yell at me! I knew you wouldn't care! I should have just called someone else and saved money."

"Mello, stop! I won't yell anymore, just tell me where you are."

The boy was silent and for a second Light feared he had hung up. "I'm calling from a telephone booth a few minutes away from Near and Matt." Mello said. His breathing had sped up. There was no doubt in Light's mind that the boy was crying, falling apart in fear and hysteria. "We're scared and hurt and we just want to go home."

"Mello, calm down. We'll come get you, just tell me where you're at."

"I-I can't."

"Yes, you can." Light said feeling like a knot was forming in his stomach. "Where are Near and Matt? Has anyone hurt you? Are you being threatened or something? "

"Matt and Near are hiding." He said sounding like he was holding back sobs. "It's raining really badly and I am cold and shaking. I don't know what street we're on. I just know it's scary and someplace in town. Some guy attacked Near. He's really beat up. And nobody is threatening anyone, but there are some men watching me from across the street and I'm scared. They look like they would want to hurt me."

"Mello whatever you do stay away form those men." Light said sternly hoping to calm the weeping child. "I will tell L and we'll start looking for you, okay? From how panicked you are I'm gonna take a guess that you're in the bad part of town."

"Yeah, like I was gonna run over and ask for directions." Mello said sarcastically giving a nervous laugh. Silence came and then was destroyed by his loud sobs. "Light, I'm sorry, please, tell L I'm really sorry!"

"Mello, what-"

"They're coming over here I have to go! I'm just sorry, okay? If I ever see him again I won't stop letting him know that I'm just really sorry."

"Don't cry and don't run or else they'll follow and you might lead them to Near and Matt."

"I love L." Mello continued to ramble in his haste and terror. Light could just picture him with a look of terror on his face. Over on Mello's side of the phone he was actually glancing up at the approaching men, then back to the phone, before letting his eyes settle on his feet. "I never said it before but I do. He's my dad and he's a great dad, the best. I never mentioned it to him before, but I really do think that. And I don't wanna die without him knowing that."

"You aren't going to die!" Light protested. He swallowed wanting to be there to defend the frightened blonde from whatever approaching danger there was, even if he had been a real brat to Light beforehand. "Mello, you need to calm down. You have to-"

"Oh, God, they're almost here!" he gasped. "I'm sorry!" he wailed. He sounded sincere as well as horrified. Light was stunned at the mixture. "Please, please, just come get them. I promised them they'd be safe and get home in one piece. I swore! They're even more scared than me, so forget about me and just find them!" Light knew that when the blonde said 'them' he meant Near and Matt.

"Listen, Mello, listen." Light said as calmly as he could. "I need you to go to someplace safe and call from there, okay?"

"Light, please, don't forget-" he seemed to cut himself off and Light heard voices in the background. Those men must have been closer than either of them had thought.

Mello suddenly let out a loud wail for help, his voice sounding distant from the phone. Light guessed it was far too late for him to run now. Mello was caught. Those men were going to get him, if they hadn't already gotten a hold of the unfortunate boy. He heard the blonde give one last cry for help, and the line went dead then. Standing there frozen in horror the brunette didn't want to imagine what sort of horrible things were happening.

"L!" He shouted knowing that he had to tell him everything. They had to get over town as fast as possible and look for the boys before it was too late.

End is a cliffhanger!

Man, you guys MUST totally HATE me for ending this chappie like this. I know I do it various times, but you must admit: it's pretty damn good.

;3

~Luffles Until Next Time, Fairylust~