Light pried his eyes open forcefully in any attempts to see. He initially assumed he had slept so hard because of the looming cloud of depression that seemed to dwell over the whole household. His eyes remained unwilling to focus he could hear quiet scrambling. He began to recognize symptoms, extreme fatigue, dizziness, nausea, even a burning sensation in his hands and feet. He knew then, he'd been drugged. He was aware, but still asleep. His motionless body remained still, while his mind screamed.

'Trace it back. When would I have ingested any kind of sleep aid? It wasn't dinner, Quillish or Caspian would never. Especially Roger, he seems to fear us more than we would fear him. When was it? Think, Light, think.' He could feel a rouse from his body as he remembered the sorrow laced smile of plush lips; broken but with an unseen strength, the late night air blowing through the window, cool and crisp. He remembered cards of some sort. Then it hit him, the memory, in full colored detail, vivid and bitter.

-x-

A screaming high pitch resonated into the dimmed kitchen, as cold air rushed through an open window.

L sat haunched in one of the chairs circling the smaller oak breakfast nook table, his cards laying face down, his index finger placed on his lower lip while staring with his dark charcoal eyes, carefully eyeing the other players. Caspian scowled at his hand of playing cards with a lit cigarette hanging from his mouth. Light glanced at Beyond who insisted on making tea for everyone, something to settle their nerves and their minds, camomile.

Light played his turn as Beyond to the table with a pot of tea and four cups. They all sat and talked for roughly an hour while playing a card game.

-x-

Light's eyes snapped open as he took a deep breath, he could move, this was a good sign, until the light of morning poured through the window. He held his cheek slightly and couldn't focus his mind, 'Why do I remember a kiss? Was it a dream?' Light closed his eyes and tried to focus on the thought. 'A kiss on the cheek, it felt like a finger tracing circles on my right hand… 'I love you? I'm sorry?' I can't…'

Loud shouts could be heard as Caspian near knocked the door off the hinges, a panicked expression highly evident. His golden locks fell into his sapphire eyes as he rested his back against the doorframe. Light sat up in bed and strained to hear his words. But his lips were easy to read. "Beyond is gone. Where is L?"

Light watched his newly adoptive parent hug his knees and rest his head onto them. Quillish ran past the room and straight for the attic. Light could hear a muffled yell. "L is here! He's breathing with a strong pulse, but seems to be unconscious! What happened last night?!"

Sayu came running into the room, her eyes soaked with tears. Before Light could comprehend she was in his lap curled in a ball, sobbing. Light's eyes fell onto Beyond's bed, neatly and obsessively made, his side of the room spotless, his favored possessions removed from their places. His bed almost looked ready to receive a new tenant.

-x-

Quillish, Roger and Caspian all stood quietly talking to themselves. L crouched next to Light on the couch. Both eagerly awaiting what was to happen next. L pressed his thumb to his lower lip, almost making a pout face. "What do you suppose will happen?"

Light gave a lifeless shrug as the children all swarmed towards the kitchen. Matt, Mello and Near all stopped and stared at the scene that was unfolding, then shifted astonished stare in L's direction. Light watched L's seemingly stilled body tense slightly. Mello opened his mouth but was quickly silenced with L's hand in the air. A deep menacing tone growled out from the eldest boy. "Not now." The three

The three caretakers turned to Light and L, all wearing solemn expressions. Light watched a subtle twitch in L's left eye. Quillish took a deep breath and sighed. "The decision to retrieve Beyond has been made. Two to one vote not to go after him. Caspian turned his head and bit his lower lip before pushing past the two elder men. It isn't in our best interest to chase a runaway. This will obviously affect your decision, L."

Light watched the raven make a tight fist before standing, shaking his ebony locks into his face, his gaze still downcast, his voice crestfallen. "My decision stands. Beyond is, and will always be, my successor. End of discussion. Training on the other three is to cease, immediately. By my order. Should you chose to continue to train them, as a professional investigator, whom is not a minor, I forbid you to use any of my cases or my tactics." L turned to leave before his attention was brought back.

"We can't go on a wild goose chase."

L nodded and continued for the stairs. "No one asked you to."

Light remained still before standing up to leave without a word. Quillish cleared his throat. Stopping in his tracks, casting a caramel hued, murderous stare. "You'd do it for L. Actually," the brunette turned to the remainder of the group. "This whole thing is messed up! Anthony was more than a number, he was more than a potential successor, the stress killed him! Beyond is kind of a head case, but he's wicked smart and a prodigy of anything he tries! You treat this so coldly, acting as if you have other options! You don't! Even if L didn't pick Beyond, he's still a person! A person you promised to raise and keep safe!" Light scowled at the elder men and turned his back. "You place an oddity on a pedestal, and if someone else can't compare to that you act as if it's a shame and wash your hands of them. You should be ashamed." His lethal gaze fell upon the other "successors" before cracking a sinister smile. "From L's mouth himself. Beyond is the next L. Like it or not, retrieve him or not. If you don't? The mantle of L dies with the original."

The three boys lingering in the kitchen doorway all dejectedly hung their heads as Light darted up the stairs.

-x-

Light sat in a pitch dark room, mostly empty save for his belongings. The door creaked open and a small amount of light remained visible for only a moment. Never moving Light sighed and flatly addressed the other in the room. "What?"

He perked up a little when L's voice was heard. "It's time you knew." He heard near silent footfalls come closer to his bed. "Beyond is my brother. He is as much my blood as you and Sayu. We're half brothers. Your mother is mine. His father is mine. What do you say?" Light felt a nudge on his shoulder a pale, spidery hand was visible in the moonlight. "Will my brother help me, find my other brother?"

Light's cold gaze fell onto the spindly fingers before cracking a small smile and clasping their hands together. "What's the plan?"

L scoffed quietly before returning to Near a whisper. "I have my own money. Has he ever spoken of anywhere he wanted to go?"

Light thought for a moment before snapping his fingers. "Los Angeles."

L nodded and lifted a smartphone, the screen illuminating his intense stare, quickly tapping on it. "L.A it is then."

Glancing his golden eyes around uncomfortably, "What about Caspian?"

The monotoned voice of L could be heard as he retreated into the dark room, "We see how far he got. Pack your bag, we leave in thirty."