Hello all. This was not meant to be a fanfic at the beginning, but a script for my up-coming DN doujinshi. But I quite liked it and decided to turned it into a fanfic. Very short, ne. First time with MXM pairing. Actually, any Death Note pairing at all. Any criticism welcome.

And I don't mind flames.

--

"Hey, Mello?"

The twenty-year-old ex-Mafia leader looked up from his laptop, and with a half-eaten block of chocolate muting him, raised his eyebrows to indicate that he'd heard. The red head, who had spoken, saw the expression, saved his game on his PS and chucked the joystick.

"Do you remember when you were young?"

Mello let go of the chocolate and frowned, "What do you mean? We are young."

"No," a bemused smiled crosses Matt's face as he scratched his head. "I mean, when you were little. Like, before Wammy's?"

Mello eyed his friend with a surprised look. This was not the type of conversation the next-to-the-smartest children of Wammy's House would normally have after years of departing from there. Plus the fact that both Mello and Matt weren't exactly the type of young men who looked to the past.

"Well, I guess I do," replied the blonde after a few seconds of hesitation, "But I don't like to recall those memories."

"Really?" Matt seemed deep in thought.

Mello felt compulsive to extend his answer, "If I remember happy things back then I would also remember how my parents died."

All Wammy's children were orphans. And most of them would remember the deaths of their parents. It had always been through peculiar deaths that the candidates to be L's successor were chosen.

"And anyway," continued Mello after another moment's pause, "I like the way things are now." With a slight smile, he bit a chunk of chocolate and chewed.

Matt nodded, "Yeah, but still, I like to remember. It makes me glad that I got all the way here. And, when I remember Wammy's, sometimes I just feel happier. When I think about being at the institute with -- you."

Head tilting to one side, the blonde bit the bar again with a thoughtful expression, "Yeah…"

"Don't you like to remember at all?"

"Well, some things… yeah, I guess."

"People?"

"Huh?"

Matt looked at Mello uncertainly, "Would you remember people? Will you -- remember me?"

"You? Why would I need to remember you when you're right here with me?" Mello leaned forward in alarm.

Still uncertain, the red head cupped his chin, "What if I go away?"

"You're leaving?!" the ex-Mafia grabbed him by the collar with both hand, exasperated. Mello's eyes stared wide and shocked, something that can be expected from the emotional genius.

"No," Matt smiled, reaching out both hands to Mello's face, "I mean, if I ever die, will you still remember me?"

Mello simply stared, overwhelmed, at his friend and wondered. Why was Matt asking this? Did he expect himself to die soon? Why? Because of Kira? Because of Near? Or the worst possibility, because of Mello?

"Matt," the blonde murmured and released his grip, "Of course I will remember you. But you need not worry about that. You won't die before me, I promise. I won't let you die." Then he smiled, a sad, uncertain smile so unlike the hot head that he was, and hugged the other young man in a close embrace, "Even if have to die because it's the end of your life span, I won't let you die alone."