Sol of Luna: A New Age
Author: Gakusangi
Author's Notes and Acknowledgements:
This is a Death Note fan fiction. Many of the characters presented here are not mine, but the legal property of the original manga writer Tsugumi Ohba, and artist Takeshi Obata. Additional characters from are the legal properties of authors Nisio Isin and M.
Chapter 01: A Life of Luxuries
Three months before Coyote Midnight…
"Until we clear out some suitable accommodations," The palace attendant, a portly man who was balding with a monocle and long, thin mustache, said hastily, "You'll all be staying in the Prince's quarters. The bed is more than large enough for all four of you, and some extra blankets and nightwear will be brought up for you."
They were walking down a long corridor. The walls and doors were all made of either thick paper or very thin wood, white with red, flowery designs on their surface, and the floors, rather than being carpeted, were hardwood planks, undoubtedly polished to a shine, laid over with thick, but firm padding. Everyone had removed their footgear, as was traditional in these settings, to avoid staining the floor and forcing the palace staff to constantly run behind them with a bucket of water and washcloth. The children hadn't minded. The only thing they had objected to was the removal of their weapons, but argument did little in that instance, no matter how stubbornly Mello had protested. So they were unarmed, but not entirely defenseless. They were weapons in their own right, well trained and cunning. That's what it was to be guildsmen, which they all officially were.
That is, of course, except for the small, ivory haired boy that followed along side the blonde elder, or eldest rather, boy. Near wasn't entirely soft either, he had proven that during their travels together, but he wasn't a guildsman or even a cadet for that matter. He walked in silence, as usual, curling a lock of his bleach-white hair with one pale, slender finger. He was at least a full head shorter than everyone else, and yet it seemed the attention was drawn to him. Maybe it was his bizarre appearance, such a sharp contrast to any of the others or even his, at the moment, extravagant clothing. But whatever it was, he almost seemed to glow among them. Mello regarded the smaller boy with a sideways glance that either went unnoticed or was outright ignored. It was hard to tell when it came to the ever silent Near.
Matt and Linda were busy taking in their new surroundings. Never had any of them, Mello included, been brought up in such luxuriousness. The ceiling reached far above their heads, lamps hanging over them, their orange resin coverings shedding warm light over the hall. Mello hated the warm lighting. After such a long trip into the capital, and surviving solely on adrenaline, the lazy, orange glow made it difficult to keep his head up and clear. He wanted more than anything to sleep, but he wasn't willing to let his guard down at the moment. It was long still before dawn, and at least one of them had to keep up with Near's backward hours. Mello cursed silently within his mind. It was as though everything in this place had been set against them and worse yet…they were in enemy territory now.
At long last the attendant finally stopped just outside a pair of sliding doors, identical to all the others, and yet the man had stopped before it with practiced ease, having come here often enough to memorize which room was, in fact, Near's. He slid doors open and stood aside to allow them in. Mello stepped in before Near and stopped immediately, taken by what met his weary, but still sharp, blue eyes.
"Great, merciful God." Mello murmured in surprise.
Matt and Linda were beside the blonde boy in moments, both rendered speechless as they stepped across the threshold and into the Near's room. Spacious was not a word to describe it, for its expanse was almost overwhelming, and yet almost every inch of space was somehow occupied by some sort of toy of makes and kinds of any and every variety a young child could have dreamed of. It was like some kind of wonderland, dreams of every child sleeping beneath the smiling face of the moon, almost unsettling in its innocence. It was as though it were a feigned sort of joyousness that filled this place, empty objects of innocent play that were only there to veil the coldness of the place.
Near stepped past them, the attendant sliding the door closed behind him and leaving back down the hall. Linda noted the slightest of violet that rose in the ivory-haired boy's pale cheeks as he curled his hair. She had an eye for such small things and it was the only thing that allowed her to detect such a subtle change. Mello shook himself out of his shock, and followed the ghostly boy. It didn't take Matt and Linda long to come after them. But then they all paused a second time. Near had lead them to his bed, but the bed was not so much a bed as it was soft mat that lay in the center of the room, covered with a white sheet and a thick blanket, deep blue in color. That in itself was not so splendorous enough to cause pause, but what really shocked them into silence was the fact that the bed was large enough for at least twenty or so full grown individuals to nestle into comfortably. What luxury the royal family truly lived in, that they could sleep on furniture that was capable of resting a whole family and their immediate relatives.
Matt lifted his goggles from his eyes, and let them rest lightly upon his coppery colored hair, a grin spreading across his face. He dashed past everyone, leapt into the air, somersaulting and landing upon the bed. He began to jump on it, testing its springs, which allowed him to bounce high into the air. Mello and Linda both watched in silence. Matt's grin only broadened. He bounced one final time, and landed on his back, waves rippling through the mat as he landed. Once the sheets and blanket settled, the redhead gave a laugh.
"Oh, this is gonna be great!" Matt panted happily.
Mello came up beside the bed, frowning.
"Are you finished goofing around?" The blonde boy snapped.
"I'm just getting started." Matt said, sitting up and flashing a big smile to his best, but still very much annoyed friend.
Mello let out a frustrated sigh that was more like a growl, and stormed to one corner of the room, possibly the only one that wasn't filled by some kind of toy.
"This place is so big." Linda murmured, sitting down on the bed, and nearly sinking into it. "I get dizzy just looking around."
"Yeah!" Matt said happily, rolling over beside her and unzipping the front of his fur-lined vest.
There was a low rumble, and Matt's hand fell upon his growling stomach.
"Wow," Matt said in astonishment, only now coming to realize how hungry he was, "When's dinner?"
Near pointed in the opposite direction from where Mello now stood, his arms crossed over his black, quilted fencer's vest. There on the wall was a line of silk rope that led up a ways before vanishing into the wall. It was undoubtedly tied off to a bell for the servants and attendants that were at Near's beck and call. Matt sat silently blinking for a moment and then grinned again.
"I love this place!" He exclaimed, falling back on the bed.
Mello had reached his limit. He turned stormed out of his corner and made for the door.
"Where's the kitchen?" Mello demanded without looking at anyone.
Near came over and fell into step beside the blonde boy. They left together, leaving Matt and Linda to look on in confusion.
* * * *
Halle came walking into the warm colored office and gave a low bow to the Emperor, who was sitting behind his massive, dark wood desk looking over some paperwork. It seemed odd that such a inviting atmosphere would be the key dwelling of such a man as the Emperor, but she supposed it was just another aspect of him that alluded most others. He nodded to her and gesture to a seat before him. She sat down a waited patiently for him to address her before speaking. It was the polite thing to do, even if it was uncharacteristic for her. He was the Emperor, after all.
"I have an important task for you." The Emperor said, his voice and eyes lacking any semblance of life.
"What do you wish of me, my Emperor?" Halle asked.
"I want you to watch over my children." The Emperor answered flatly, not looking up from his papers.
Halle frowned. Watching the Emperor's offspring was exactly what she had been set to do in the first place.
"More specifically," The Emperor continued, "I want you to watch the three new ones."
He wants me to act as a spy. Halle thought. He doesn't trust them…do I?
"Keep your eyes and ears open." The Emperor went on. "Talk to them. Befriend them even. Then report your findings to me."
Halle nodded and rose from her seat. She left silently, allowing the Emperor to get back to work in peace. But his thoughts would be interrupted by a voice. It was the voice of a creature that only he could hear. A voice within his mind.
"I think they're starting to notice that you've been acting stranger lately." The voice belonged to Sidoh, the Emperor's Shinigami.
But how will they act upon it? The Emperor replied within his mind, where only the creature could hear. They have nothing to raise against me, nothing to suspect. I am safe, so long as I remain calm, and patient.
"So, you're still going to kill the kid?" Sidoh asked.
The plan has not changed. The Emperor thought. Yagami's death is only a setback.
"If he's really dead, you mean." Sidoh replied.
The Emperor did not comment on that, he only leaned back in his seat and fell back into his thoughts, so deep and dark that even Sidoh could not see them.
* * * *
Mello began opening cabinets, and drawers, seeking but not sharing what it was he sought. Near had a pretty good idea though. He came over and indicated one of the cabinets below the counter. Sure enough, Mello knelt down, throwing open the small door, and withdrew a handful of wrapped chocolates, his one addiction. He immediately unwrapped one, and popped it into his mouth, letting it melt slowly on his tongue. Thick, rich and sweet with only the slightest of bitter aftertaste, like coffee. Gourmet chocolate was unlike anything he had previously sampled. And he loved it…but at the same time he despised it, just another luxury of soft, cushy noble life. Near let him have his moment, remaining respectfully silent as he watched the blonde boy enjoy his treat. But Mello soon became aware of Near's dark eyes set upon him, and turned to meet them.
"What?" Mello snapped, pushing the chocolate into his cheek with his tongue in order to talk. "You can talk, but now you're giving me the silent treatment again?"
"You haven't said anything for me to respond to." Near said flatly, in his toneless and quiet way, his voice still a bit foreign to Mello's ears.
Mello snorted around his chocolate, switching it from one side of his mouth to the other as he did so.
"You're not happy." Near didn't ask a question, but made a statement.
Again, Mello's response was less verbal as he rolled his eyes and shook his head, turning away from Near and pocketing another handful of chocolate.
"I'm happy." Near said suddenly.
Mello turned around and frowned at Near, caught off-guard by his admittance. The white haired boy reached up and began to curl his hair, as he did his eyes broke away from the blonde boy's. It was something uncharacteristic and didn't fail to catch Mello's attention. All the same, he didn't allow his embittered disposition to waver.
"In all this luxury," Mello spat, "I wouldn't doubt it."
They stood in silence for a moment. Mello couldn't deny a certain sense of relief for being close Near and able to protect him. As he had sworn to do back at the crystal tower, but still Near seemed to be acting so strangely. It was a bit unnerving. The blonde supposed that there was a small chance that maybe Near felt just as relieved about having them all here with him. He also supposed that it should have made him feel better, but it only brought a measure of guilt, which he attempted to overcome by getting madder. Mello turned again and started to leave the kitchen. Near followed after him silently, his hand reaching up, but not curling his hair. This time it reached into the folds of his kosode, his fingers falling around the wolf fang that still hung around his neck by a black string. The one gift Mello had ever given him.
Mello failed to notice this as he and Near returned to their room. Mello took his spot back over in the corner, popping another chocolate into his mouth, looking a bit intense and somewhat brooding. Near sat silently at the edge of the bed, right next to Linda, who placed an arm gently about his shoulders. He was so small, and still so warm. Why did that always surprise her that he was warm? While Linda was taking a moment to try and comfort Near, if he really was in need of comforting, Mello's mind was drifting back to his first visit to the capital. He had walked the streets for a while as Roger was busy breaking the deal with Near's mother. His thoughts began to focus on Roger and his final sacrifice, which made the blonde boy's stomach knot, the chocolate becoming bitter in his mouth.
"Roger's service is going to be held soon." Mello said quietly.
"Yeah," Matt murmured, "They'll notify us when a date is set…I think."
"We hope." Linda sighed from her spot on the bed. "I probably won't get a chance to finish the mural before then."
"It can't be helped." Mello said, his eyes falling on the white haired boy beside him.
We have a responsibility, Mello thought groggily, 'that' takes priority. Roger would agree…if he were here.
"I could speak to arrange for us to go sooner in order for you to finish." Near said, again his response seemed sudden and cam as a surprise while all eyes turned to him.
"…We?" Mello frowned.
"I'll go too." Near nodded, as though it were already something agreed on. "I owe Roger that much."
Mello was silent a moment as Matt and Linda turned to him, not looking for him to make a decision, but just worried what his reaction might be. Mello only nodded slowly without a word.
* * * *
The sun began to rise over the palace outside, shedding warm light with the first birdsongs of morning, but the children only knew this because Near suddenly let out a small, exhausted yawn. It was a relief really, since all of them were worn out from recent events and almost non-stop travel. One of the palace servants had already brought them a change of clothes, and they went ahead and handed off what they had been wearing to be washed and mended. The pajamas that had been selected for them were silky, button-down and pure white in color. Near, with his hair, and pale skin was like a ghost now, but the clothes seemed oddly suitable for him.
"Who's taking first watch?" Linda asked after they were all finished dressing.
"I will." Mello replied immediately, his voice firm.
"No." Matt said, and his tone was oddly firmer than it normal as he addressed his friend. "I'll do it, you need some sleep."
Mello regarded the redhead with a severe look, but Matt laid a hand on his boy's shoulder, his expression lax.
"Let someone else be the masochist for a change." Matt said with a smile.
"Here." Linda said coming forward and handing the red haired boy a small dagger she had managed to smuggle in without detection.
"Thanks." Matt replied, tucking the weapon in the waistband of his pajama bottoms, and concealing the handle with his shirt.
He gave them a smile, pulling his goggles over his eyes, doing a good job of hiding how tired they looked, but everyone knew that was the only reason he had done it. Once the lights went out, the goggles would be off so he could see clearly. Matt wasn't foolish, at least not in these instances. Mello turned to Linda, his face serious, but tired.
"Near sleeps between us." Mello stated with authority in his tone. "And keep him close."
Linda nodded and thought she saw Near blushed a little again. The three slipped into the massive mat that was Near's bed, taking their spots. Matt turned down the lamps, and room was filled with darkness. There were no windows in Near's room, and for good reason, since sunlight was harmful to him. But the high ceiling, where – apparently – it had been special treated with some odd combination of chemical paints, so that as the lights dimmed, an image was revealed. The image of the night sky, filled with stars and large crescent moon, shined down upon them, shedding an odd, but warm bluish-green light over the room. Every one looked up in stunned silence for a moment.
"This place…" Mello remarked quietly, but that was as far as he got before he rolled onto his side, and closed his eyes.
Matt knew better than to hover around the bed. Even if it wouldn't make the occupants nervous, he would be spotted immediately. If someone was going to come for Near or any of them he wanted to be out of sight, while still keeping the bed in sight. Linda had already taken the liberty of rearranging some of the pillows and blankets to give the impression that there were actually four people in the bed instead of three. Matt smiled to himself. That was Linda for you, always considering the details.
Matt found a good hiding place not far from the others. In the gloom, it would be hard to notice him, so long as he didn't move or make any noise. He could feel the cold blade of the dagger tucked in his waistband press against his thigh, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. Linda had come through for them and now it was his turn. The only problem was sitting still. Matt was worried that any length of time without movement could lull him to sleep, given his exhaustion. But moving around would give away his position and he might wander too far from the bed too far.
The redhead tried to set his mind to work, while his body remained stationary. If he could keep himself sharp, he could avoid falling asleep during his watch. He found that he could shift his weight silently from one foot to the other, which helped for a while, but then began to make his hips and calves sore, so he stopped before they started to lock up.
The Sword alone can right your wrongs, all brave men now must own it. The Sword to freedom's cause belongs. All history past has shown it.
The first thing that ran through Matt's mind was the hymn. It was engraved in his memory, in all of their memories. Repeated time and time again, ground into them mercilessly. They loved it, they hated it…they embraced it all the same. The hymn was the way of the warrior. But Matt quickly shook the words from his mind. It was too repetitive to be effective and too old for his liking. He reached back a little further into his mind. There were always songs and plenty of them. Something he had learned or even sung, though Matt wasn't much for singing since he didn't have the voice for it.
There was a sudden sound that disrupted Matt's train of thought and made his muscles tighten. It was a quiet whining of floorboards, followed by a light padding across the mats that covered them. Outside, someone was making their way stealthily down the hall. The steps were strained in an effort to keep them as silent as possible, slightly out of rhythm here and there as the feet attributed to them probed the next space on the floor, testing its give and trying to detect a hint of noise that might stir the slumbering occupants of the room. Matt almost grinned. Whoever was moving around just beyond the thin, papery walls of the room was pretty good at avoiding detection. If it weren't for his trained senses he might not have noticed at all.
The red-haired boy crept from his hiding spot and moved along the wall. It was so thin that he could practically feel the body heat of whoever was creeping on the other side. There was something else as well, a dim glow that was warmer than that in the room and encircled a section of the wall, moving along. It was odd for a potential killer attempting to be so undetectable to risk such a thing as a light source to give them away, but Matt didn't dwell on it long. The dagger came out slowly, the blade glinting in the low glow of the ceiling art as the redhead followed the light along the wall. Matt was more than prepared for a fight, his grip tightening on the dagger's handle. The person was almost to the door now.
The door slid slowly to the side, almost silent as it opened. Matt saw the warm flicker of lamplight bleed into the room from the hall. His muscles tightening inside his slender, but strong build ready to snap into action at any instant. Matt pushed the goggles up atop his head. He would have preferred to keep them down, but they would only limit his vision in the gloom. His eyes adjusted quickly and he spotted a head of blonde hair poking cautiously into the room. The person came inside, silent and graceful and a grin painted itself across the redhead's features.
"Can I help you?" Matt said suddenly.
The person, whom Matt immediately recognized the moment she entered the room, stumbled back in surprise, the lamp falling from her grip. Matt's movements were shockingly fast as he dropped the dagger, seized the lamp before it could meet the floor and caught the girl. However, Matt was ever so slightly off balance and the girl was, in fact, a little heavier than she at first seemed. Matt was pulled down with her, landing atop her as they hit the floor. Matt stared down into the blue eyes of Near's elder sister, blinking and blushing.
Misa stared into the emerald eyes of her new younger sibling, the one with coppery hair and devilish grin. But he wasn't grinning at the moment. No, he was blushing, his cheeks bright red with embarrassment in their awkward position. With their eyes locked, the boy's name flashed in Misa's mind, as though it had always been there and there was no other name by which to call him. She had always thought that alias were a caution taken only among her household, but it seemed that others fell back on it for security. She couldn't imagine why, it all seemed so silly. But then again no-one had ever managed to hide their real name from Misa.
The boy quickly rose, bringing the lamp up with him. He was still blushing and seemed, maybe even, a little nervous, unsure of how she might react. His emerald eyes twinkled in the blue-green light, shadows sprayed across his face by the lamp held in his hand and Misa found herself overwhelmed with a sense of fondness. Back during the meeting with her father, the boy had seemed so calm and maybe even a little cheeky with the way he was always grinning, but right now, while he was all flustered, she couldn't help but notice how young he really was, that he was only a child, maybe just older than Near, if that. Just like the first time Misa had really acknowledge that Near was her little brother, she came to that same realization now, with this boy. Misa smiled reassuringly and Matt found that it wasn't so difficult to collect himself as it had seemed just moments ago. His grin returned.
"Sorry," Matt apologized, "I didn't mean to startle you."
It was a lie of course, but it was what came out. Misa only continued to smile and rose back to her feet, her silky nightgown wrapping around her in little folds and her golden hair down and straight instead of tied up in her usual tails. He was only a little taller than she, but he had an air of someone much older for some reason, even though it had only been painfully apparent seconds ago that he was merely a boy. How odd these children were, but Misa shrugged it off before another thought suddenly occurred to her.
"Why isn't Mail in bed?" Misa asked, raising an eyebrow accusingly, her tone almost scolding.
"I could ask you the same." Matt countered playfully. "Isn't it well past your bedtime, Princess?"
Then his eyes went wide as her words milled over in his mind again.
"…What did you call me?" Matt asked with a worried frown that seemed entirely out of place for him.
Misa paused, her thoughts racing.
That's right, Misa thought frantically, he uses a different name! Stupid Misa!
She couldn't, for the life of her, remember what he had called himself earlier, during their presentation to her father. It wasn't safe to let her secret slip, so she had been told for years. She had to do something and fast. She racked her brain trying desperately to bring the name back to the fore of her mind, to no avail. But then another idea occurred to her, one that just might get her out of this jam.
"Miles, right?" Misa said. "Miles introduced himself as Miles?"
Matt blinked and tension in his shoulders did seem to ease slowly.
"Matt." Matt said flatly. "My name is Matt."
"Oh, Matt." Misa said with feigned embarrassment, even managing to make her cheeks flush a little. "Matt said his name was Matt."
"Yes, Matt did." Matt replied, seeming a little confused by Misa's speech.
A silence passed between them, a bit awkward but not entirely uncomfortable.
"So…you're Near's big sister, huh?" Matt said, just the break the quiet that had settled.
"I'm Matt's big sister too." Misa stated with another gentle smile.
"Oh, right." Matt chuckled with a nod.
"Misa came to check on Near." Misa admitted at last.
Matt looked at her, nodding slowly. He was certain that she was telling the truth, he could see innocence in her eyes and hear the honesty in her voice. He turned down the lamp and gestured for her to follow him. They were both soon where Matt had initially taken his post. He indicated the large bed and Misa peered over his shoulder. There laid Near, fast asleep, one of Linda's arms thrown protectively over him and Mello lying with his back to the other two, the blonde boy's eyes moving beneath their lids with fitful dreaming.
"I was taking first watch." Matt explained without prompting. "Keepin' an eye on things while they got some rest."
"That's very kind and…" Misa sought the appropriate words. "Thorough of Matt."
Matt decided that it was a compliment and offered her another smile.
"Would Matt like some company, while Matt keeps watch?" Misa asked.
"That would be nice." Matt replied.
If anything, Matt thought, it'll help me stay awake.
* * * *
Commander Rester entered the Emperor's office, giving a low, silent bow to the ivory-haired man and holding it before he was motioned to rise again. He stood at attention as the Emperor finished packing the documents he had been looking over into his large desk.
"I'm arranging for a dinner here, between my household and the Imperial Council." The Emperor announced blankly.
"We'll have security reviewed." Rester nodded.
"Your being here is a bit of something in that regard." The Emperor replied.
Rester raised an eyebrow.
"My Emperor?" Rester said in confusion.
"It's my children." The Emperor said. "All of them. These new ones especially, they're the adventurer types. Even knowing that they are members of the Imperial household, they'll cast the air of caution and weight of responsibility aside."
Rester nodded in silent agreement. He would, even if he didn't agree, it was more of an acknowledgement.
"As much as it weighs heavily on my heart," The ivory-haired man touched his chest for emphasis since his tone had none, "I'm afraid we're going to have to clip the little ones' wings."
Another silent nod.
* * * *
Matt's eyes fluttered open, and his blood chilled as he realized he was lying on his side with a warm blanket draped over him. He had fallen asleep. The redhead bolted upright, the blanket falling from his slender shoulders and drifting around his middle where it rested in flowing wrinkles. Linda's head snapped around and her emerald eyes met Matt's with a measure of alarm. They softened quickly and a reassuring smile crossed her face. Her hair was hanging down, like Misa, not done up in the usual tails and she was still wearing the white pajamas that had been provided for them.
"Misa woke me up right after you drifted off." Linda explained. "She seems really…nice."
Matt nodded, the cold sweat of fear still drenching him and his nerves still shot and shaky. Misa had roused Linda to take up the watch while he slept…that meant something.
"We can trust her." Matt said quietly.
Linda nodded. It wasn't halfhearted approval. Matt had a knack for feeling people out, knowing what was going on deep down, where it counted. If he said that they could trust the Princess, then they could. It was that simple.
"You should get some more rest." Linda said gently.
Matt nodded and shuffled over to the bed, taking up Linda's old spot and even drawing the still slumbering Near close to him as she had. He fell into a light sleep almost immediately. Mello shifted his position, frowning a little with whatever dreams were troubling his sleep. A low, mournful sigh escaped him, leaving Linda to wonder. What could be plaguing the blonde boy so?
* * * *
Mello was moving cautiously down a narrow passage, with a low ceiling, torches dimly lighting the scene. His eyes darting left and right, even though there were only beige bricks there to meet him. He moved slowly, his pulse quick and his breath came in sharp, almost painful gasps. He came to large, iron door, which was slightly ajar. As he approached, he noticed that the lock had been compromised, damaged to allow entry without need of any key. Mello reached out with one trembling hand and pushed the door open, crossing the threshold as it screeched on its hinges.
At first what met his eyes caused him only to pause in confusion. There was a body lying in the center of the room, amid a pool deep-red blood. Then Mello's own blood went cold in his veins, the room lost its color and any sounds that were present seemed to deafen in his ears. He recognized the person lying in the center of the floor. Messy red hair of coppery quality that he could never forget, tattered jeans with knee-high, buckle boots and a tan vest with fur trim. Mello didn't want to believe it. He couldn't believe it. Matt lay motionless with his front stained a deep red. Mello ran forward, placing his hand on his best friend's chest wound, feeling the still warm blood run thickly over his fingers, making them sticky…but felt no trace of any heartbeat beneath. Matt's goggles were missing, his eyes closed and his cheeks wet with tears that had just recently been shed. Lying beside the redhead was a small, straw doll. But Mello paid it no mind as he leaned forward, bringing his face close to his best friend's, which was almost without color from the blood loss.
"Matt!" Mello cried, shaking the boy roughly. "Matt, wake up! Come on!"
He shook a few more times, harder each time, but still the red haired boy did not stir.
"Matt!" Mello called louder, his voice breaking an his eyes beginning to burn. "Matt! Wake up! Damn it, Matt! Open your eyes!"
Nothing…just more silent stillness. Mello closed his eyes tightly, hot tears pushing beneath the lids and streaming down his cheeks. No, not Matt. It couldn't be. There was no way. Matt had always been there, always so full of life and vitality. He would always be there. That was the promise. Damn it. That was what they had promised each other all those years ago. He couldn't be gone. He wasn't gone. This couldn't be real.
* * * *
Mello drew in a sharp breath and bolted upright, causing Matt to stir beside him in his sleep. Mello, drenched in a cold sweat, his eyes wide and his breath coming in panting gasps, looked to his redheaded companion, just to confirm his slumbering presence. Relief washed over him like warm, revitalizing water, easing out the tension in his quivering muscles and stilling his disquieted mind. Just then he heard a soft sound. The blond boy looked past his friend and into his arms, where lay curled a small form with a shock of white hair. Near had also stirred in Mello's sudden waking, but had quickly fallen back into a gentle, peaceful repose. His sleep was so sound that Mello was half tempted to reach over and bring his hand close to the pale boy's face, just to feel his breath against his palm and be sure that he was breathing at all. The urge left him once he was aware of eyes upon him.
Mello whirled around and spotted Linda in a dork corner of the room, not too far away. She was only now replacing the dagger in the waistband of her pajama bottoms, having drawn it quickly during Mello's startled awakening. She looked up at him, seeing the fearful traces of unease in his sweat-glistened face and offered a warm, soothing smile of reassurance. Mello took in his surroundings with an odd sense of profound confusion at first, but quickly remembered where he was. It was Near's room…in the Imperial Palace. They were the Emperor's newly adopted children.
Mello closed his burning eyes, unable to determine whether it was sweat irritating them or tears and wiped his brow with the sleeve of his silky, white pajama top. It had all been just a dream…a nightmare. The scene had played itself out before, but not with such intensity. At least, not since the moment he had happened upon it in the labyrinth on their way to the Emerald Sage Watari. He stole another quick glance at his best friend, just to be sure and then took a long, slow breath to steady himself and regain his composure. There was no need to lose his head if there was truly nothing to lose it over. It had been an illusion then, and a dream now. Nothing more.
"Is it time for my watch?" Mello asked quietly.
"Close enough, I suppose." Linda replied.
She came out of her spot, moving beside the bed as stealthy as a shadow. She pushed the grip of the dagger into Mello's palm and the blonde boy quickly tucked it away. Mello carefully moved over the other two occupants of the expansive bed and as he passed Linda, she spoke to him in a whisper.
"Misa was here earlier." Linda said, immediately snagging the blonde boy's attention. "Matt says we can trust her."
"Then we can." Mello replied without any hesitation, so confident was he in Matt's instincts.
Linda nodded in silent agreement, and slid beneath the covers. Mello walked silently over to the spot that the other two guild members had occupied, noting how good of a position it was. Linda passed gently into another calm slumber, much as the other two were in at the moment. Mello's mind, however, wandered back to the horrifying scene from the labyrinth. How real it had been. He could smell the torches burning, feel the cold breeze the passed as his opened the door and even the warm, damp, stickiness of Matt's blood beneath his fingertips. So real…But it wasn't. Mello shook the image from his head. He couldn't afford to get distracted. For every second they spent in the Emperor's house, they were in peril. Near was in peril and Mello had sworn an oath. They all had.
* * * *
It was odd to describe. Mello never saw the moon rise, but he could feel it poke its ghostly face over the lip of the horizon and shed its silvery light over the Imperial palace. Linda and it was only natural since she had just fallen asleep not long ago, was the first to wake. She stretched, the line of her pajama top lifting to reveal her navel, and slim, but moderately toned abdominal region. For a moment, Mello was caught staring. Sensations of her soft skin beneath his fingertips still fresh in his mind from the last time they had been together, almost two years prior. Linda smiled at him, a bright and loving thing, like a sibling rather than a lover. A smile that could still ease his nerves and occasionally set his heart aflutter…but that was all done and over with now. They were friends and comrades, nothing more.
Matt was the next to rise and this didn't come as a surprise either, since Linda and he had that empathic bond that only two blood siblings could really share. He rubbed his eyes and yawned almost silently, and stretched his shoulders, all in a brilliant display of multitasking. Matt was one who could walk, talk and chew at the same time. He looked at his sister and smiled lazily, his hair messy from his sleep. It was in moments like these that he seemed so much younger than the other two, even though that wasn't entirely the case. It was all part of his charm, the thing that had made everyone fall in love with him. Matt had a quality and even Linda couldn't help but smile back.
There was a small sound then and everyone watched as Near sat up beside the redhead, his eyes dark and unfocused and still half-lidded with sleep. His ivory hair was matted to one side from sleeping in the same position all day and his cheeks were rosy, probably from being too warm with someone constantly draped over him while he slept. If it had been anyone but Mello observing this, they might have found it quite adorable, but the blonde boy only snorted with mild amusement. Near placed one tiny, white fist against his eye and began to rub the sleep out of it, much as Matt had.
"Morning." Linda said, though it was the beginnings of early evening, it seem appropriate to her all the same.
The greeting had been to no one in particular, but Mello assumed that it was directed at Near. He felt something flare for a moment, but it was soon doused by his sudden confusion at what may have caused it in the first place. Surely he wasn't finding Linda's kindly gesture to their charge as some kind of threat? That would be ridiculous, even for him. Still, as Mello studied the still waking little boy sitting beside his best friend, he couldn't help but silently click his tongue at the bitter taste that had risen in his mouth. Anger was nothing productive at the moment, especially considering that it was directed at the one person he was meant to protect and so Mello decided to douse it with cold indifference, something that Near would have been very familiar with…at least in the Blonde boy's opinion.
"Morning." Matt chimed, stretching again.
Mello realized then that it had been a general expression and couldn't help but feel an odd sense of relief. However, this did nothing to change his decision towards how he would approach Near.
"So what's the plan?" Matt asked Mello.
Mello had thought hard during the night about this very thing. What were they going to do? The first step, he had decided, was to try and level the playing field a bit. In order to do that, they needed to know their surroundings and creatures in them.
"I want to cover as much ground as possible." Mello replied with a slow nod. "That means we're going to split up."
Matt and Linda both nodded. Near reached up slowly and began curling his hair. He no longer looked tired, his dark eyes focused on the blonde boy with an odd sort of intensity, even though they still seemed somehow dead. Mello looked to his fellow guildsmen, their roles having already been assigned in his mind.
"Linda," Mello said and she snapped to full attention, "You're going to wander around the palace. I want everything, every door, every passage, every stair…every crack in the wall."
Linda nodded. She was good at the little details and this task was more than in her range of abilities. Mello turned to Matt now.
"Matt," Mello began, "I want you to get familiar with the staff. I want every name and the face that belongs to them."
"You got it." Matt replied, giving a small salute.
"Be discreet." Mello told both of them. "I don't want anyone to suspect that we're snooping around and sizing them up."
The two siblings nodded in unison, something that Nancy had always found amusingly adorable.
"Where're you gonna be?" Matt asked, though the answer was pretty obvious.
Mello snorted.
"I'm babysitting." Mello said bitterly, indicating the white haired boy beside the redhead.
* * * *
Matt approached, what at first had seemed to be, two guardsmen. The first was tall and powerful man with a blond heir, cut short and graying at the edges. His eyes were piercing and his posture was straight and rigid, like something chiseled out of stone. As Matt took in his uniform, he could see that, in fact, this person as a man of rank and high rank at that. At his side was a shorter fellow with a lean build and dark hair. He watched Matt with a sort of caution as came forward to speak with them. The redhead had already interviewed at least thirty individuals thus far and he was just getting started. Among them, there had been nearly a dozen attendants, a handful of guards and three blushing, giggling housemaids. Whenever his mind was allowed to wander, he found that their smiling, pretty and slightly reddened faces would suddenly pop into his mind. But childish crushes were not to take priority…at least not until after the job was done.
Upon his approach, the two men gave a low, respectful bow, at which Matt blinked in surprise before he waved his hands passively.
"None of that, none of that!" Matt pleaded. "I'm not used to such treatment."
The two men looked at each other, seeming confused, but straightened up. Matt sighed, his cheeks with hot with embarrassment.
"Our apologies, highness." The large man rumbled.
"None of that either." Matt said firmly. "My name is Matt."
The smaller one blinked again and then nodded.
"Err…Matt." He said.
"To what occasion do such finely decelerated officers, such as yourselves wander the halls?" Matt asked, loving his rolling of polite and sophisticated jargon.
"…Uhh…guard duty." The smaller fellow replied.
"Guard duty?" Matt repeated with a frown. "Elites such as yourselves?"
"Bodyguards, sir." The large men said deeply. "We're charged with the task of ensuring his highness's…the safety of all the Emperor's children."
Matt blinked
"…You're our escort?" Matt frowned now.
"We were on our way back when you caught us." The little one replied.
"It's not safe for any of you to wander at this time without protection." The big man said, a firmness in his tone.
"My siblings and I aren't in need of an entourage, but thanks for effort." Matt sighed.
"I'm afraid it's beyond our decision…and yours." The large man replied.
Matt tilted his head and opened his mouth to say something before he was interrupted.
"We should take your highness back to his quarters." The big man said.
"When you put it like that, it sounds like a don't have a choice." Matt replied.
The large fellow took the redhead's arm firmly, just above the elbow where his nerves could be pinched and his limb disabled, not to mention that it would hurt like hell. Matt wasn't unfamiliar with holding techniques.
"You don't." The man said.
* * * *
Linda had been wandering around for some time, her bare feet patting lightly against the clean, padded floors of the Imperial palace. She was wearing her pajamas, since no other clothes had been provided for them. Not even Near, who undoubtedly had an extensive wardrobe, had been given anything new to wear and since Linda had no ribbons, strings or bands with which to tie her hair, it hung down, long and draping over her shoulders. It was silky and straight, very well-kept for an adventurer.
From what she had seen, there were only two entrances into and out of the palace, but Linda knew better than that. Undoubtedly there was at least one other passage, probably a well-guarded secret, which led out of the structure and more than likely, far out of the capital as well. That was why Mello had set her to this task. She could pick up on subtle things, such as a slight draft that might indicate that a wall wasn't entirely solid – things like that.
So Linda wandered, seeming aimless but in all honest very well calculated in both her movements and navigation. She listened to the padded floors carefully, for any signs of loose floorboards. Her eyes sought out anything that might sudden snare her attention, such as discoloration among the bricks in the wall. Her skin was aware of every draft and temperature change, for any could indicate the presence of a hidden passage.
She noted every door and corridor, as well as where they led and how easily they could be gotten to or defended from. These things must all be taken into account, for a guildsman's- a guildswoman's survival may very well depend on it at any moment. Linda new this lesson well. Roger and the others had been kind and nurturing, but they had also been hard teachers. Not graduates of the guild like the children were now, but hardened through experience and adventure of their own. Even gentle as a lamb Nancy was a strong woman. In her old age she still could have throttled some of the most well trained soldiers. Linda and many of the other girls had looked up to her for this reason, she as their unofficial vanguard to lead them in a male dominated organization. It was a bit of an excite that the new head of the Guild was woman now and a very impressive outsider at that.
Linda suddenly paused as something tingled against her. It was cool, making the folds of her pajama top bush lightly against her. Was it a breeze maybe, down these seemingly vacant halls? Not likely. She eased her tensed muscles reminding herself that calmness was the best way to approach anything. L had been calm at the Crescent. His unwavering, cool exterior had been something a bit inspiring. That was to be expected. He was Legend. Linda closed her eyes and focused on the shifting of her garments before turning and moving over to one of the sidewalls. Her eyes still closed, she ran her hands over the smooth, ivory bricks slowly, feeling it all out. After a moment of this, she stopped, her eyes slowly opening and a grin crossing her fair features.
* * * *
Mello had been sitting on the edge of the bed and watching Near move around some toy soldiers for the better part of an hour now. The white haired boy was lying on his stomach, not exactly playing with the little tin figures, but setting them up in various, strategic formations around a large, stuffed bear with red ribbon tied around its neck. Mello was no stranger to these formations and what effect they would have if the bear were a 'real' threat. Mello wasn't sure why it surprised him that Near was familiar with these military maneuvers, since he was a high born and therefore privileged to a higher learning than most people his age. Still, there was something odd to see the seemingly gentle boy lay out a battle plan and a damned good one at that.
Mello fell back on the bed with a loud groan, seemingly bored out of his mind. He laced his fingers behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. The glowing stars were not present, hidden in the white with the dim, freshly lit lamps burning overhead. No clothes had been laid out for any of them, so Mello and Near were still dressed in their white pajamas. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it seemed lazy. Lounging was affordable only to the rich and powerful. The nobles. Naturally, Mello hated it, but for the moment there was nothing he could do about it.
"You have any books or anything?" Mello asked and after a moment of no response, he sat up again. "Hey!"
Near didn't even look up at Mello as he played, ignoring the blonde, it seemed.
"Anything would be better than watching you play with toys." Mello muttered. "Aren't you a little old for that?"
"I don't think so." Near replied calmly.
"Some day," Mello began an old thing Roger had once said to him, "It will be time to put up childish things."
It was eerily mechanical, the way Near suddenly stopped in his playing and rose slowly to his feet. He patted off out of sight and Mello began to rise to go after him, wondering if maybe he had upset the younger boy. However, before Mello's feet had even touched the ground, Near returned with a stack of books in his slender arms. He set them on the bed beside Mello, and immediately- and wordlessly -went back to his tin soldiers on the floor. Mello picked up one of the books, not bothering to read its title as he popped it open.
"So long as you occupy your mind with something, you never have to worry about it losing its edge." Mello murmured, another thing Roger had told him, though he was certain someone had told it to Roger before.
"It happens to people all the time." Near stated flatly. "They're minds get slower and more easily confused. The brain, like a muscle, requires exercise in order to stay fit."
Mello blinked, a bit impressed but at the same time slightly embittered that Near had stolen a bit of his thunder. He started reading, just to have something to do. Another hour in, Mello was no less frustrated. He tossed the book aside, and didn't even bother to look at the others. He rose from the bed and stretched. In all the time that he had been reading, Near had been silently playing with his toys. Mello had never seen anyone who could go over the same repetitive motions like the small, white-haired boy. He obviously didn't bore easily. Mello was more than a little relieved when the door slid open and Linda came quietly into the room. She seemed oddly light about something. Mello came forward to hear her report.
"Did you see anything interesting?" Mello asked.
"You have no idea…where's Matt?" Linda frowned and looked around.
"Not back yet." Mello sighed.
"Well, I think I got something your going to appreciate." Linda smiled. "From the looks of it, no one's been using it for long time."
"What is it?" Mello blinked, his interests immensely piqued.
"I should show you, but we need someone to watch Near." Linde nodded at the ivory-haired boy still playing on the floor.
Mello sighed and shook his head. Just then, the door slipped back and Matt stepped in, looking oddly irritated, the door closing behind him. Both Mello and Linda looked upon the redhead with curious concern. What could have gotten under Matt's skin?
"…Report?" Mello finally spoke up after a brief silence.
"Not good…I hardly made a dent in the number of people here." Matt replied. "And it gets worse."
"What?" Linda tilted her head.
"We're prisoners here." Matt mumbled darkly.
To Be Continued…
Author's Comments:
Hopefully this came out soon enough.
I know, it's long and the first of (hopefully) two chapters that are actually made up of recycled chapters from the opening of The Four Winds.