The Death Note was gone.

In the early morning, when Sachiko was out at the refugee center, when Sayu and Soichiro were fast asleep, Light Yagami had gone to retrieve the book from its now-unusable hiding chamber. As he'd stepped into the taped-off part of his home, what met him was smashed lumber, torn pieces of cotton, and with a couple more hours of searching he realized: [color=d88d21][i]the Death Note is gone.[/i][/color]

Light cursed inwardly. Clearly he put too much trust in the daily forecast.

[b][color=f49ac2]"Light?"[/color][/b] His sister's voice interrupted his train of thought. When Light blinked down at her, her head was tilted in concern. [b][color=f49ac2]"What's wrong?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=d88d21]"Oh, I..."[/color][/b] he answered sheepishly, quickly allowing his own expression to mirror Sayu's troubled one. [color=d88d21][i]I let my guard down.[/i][/color] [b][color=d88d21]"I'm just worried about Dad. He's growing old, you know. I'm not sure if his injuries will heal in the most ideal way."[/color][/b]

Sayu's brow furrowed. [b][color=f49ac2]"Yeah, I'm- I'm really worried too. What if..."[/color][/b] She drew in a breath. [b][color=f49ac2]"What if he..."[/color][/b]

[b][color=d88d21]"Don't worry, he'll survive. What's concerning is if he'll ever be able to work again."[/color][/b]

Sayu nodded silently. She looked slightly relieved at the reassurance, but lines of worry still marked her young face.

Light offered her a consoling smile. [b][color=d88d21]"Cheer up, Sayu. We're almost home, and we got medicine."[/color][/b]

The smile he just showed his sister, however, all but disappeared in a couple seconds. Who was that at their front doorstep? Light's eyes narrowed. [color=d88d21][i]A friend of Sayu's? No, that girl isn't from around here. I need to keep her from—[/i][/color]

Too late. Light's sister had already approached the blonde stranger. [b][color=f49ac2]"Hey, are you looking for somewhere to stay?"[/color][/b] Sympathy tinged her voice.

Light pursed his lips, about to protest when Sayu spoke again.

[b][color=f49ac2]"Come [i]on[/i], Light,"[/color][/b] She turned to look at her brother with a self-assured, yet pleading, expression. Could she read his mind? [b][color=f49ac2]"We have an extra room. And Mom would totally agree with me."[/color][/b]

[color=d88d21][b]"Why don't you actually ask her why she's here first?"[/b][/color] He approached the stranger, carefully positioning himself between her and the door. Light's height would initially tower over the blonde girl's, but he made an effort to bend down to meet her eye-level, giving her a reassuring smile. [color=d88d21][b]"I'm Light, and that's my sister. We live here. Do you need something?"[/b][/color]