I Can't Love You – You Don't Exist

Captain of the 10th Division Tōshirō Hitsugaya

Head of the S.P.K. and L's successor Nate (Near) River

A/N: Hey guys again! Sorry it has been so long between updates. I've been so busy with school you have no idea. Plus marching band as well, but I love that, best part of my life. LoL, but I'm gonna update two chapters for you today! Hope you enjoy and keep reviewing! Thanks to those of you that did, it really means a lot. Happy reading!

Warning! Same as before, shonen-ai/yaoi and spoilers for both series

Near was stacking dice into an elaborate fortress, deep in thought. He told himself he was thinking about the Kira case but unless Kira was a certain teal-eyed man he wasn't being completely honest with himself. "Commander Rester," Near said, "Please see if you can contact Mello." Rester complied, setting up the necessary scrambling codes. Near was calling Mello partly to distract himself (Mello always did get so angry at the slightest things) and partly to get a better lead then these so called "Shinigami." Really, what was L thinking?

"Near," Rester called. "I've reached him."

"Good," Near said. "Mello?" he addressed the screen, blank white with an archaic M in the middle.

"Whaddya want Near?" Mello snapped. Near smiled, this was the exact reaction he'd expected Mello to have.

"Temper…," he reminded him coolly. Mello told him exactly what he thought of "temper." Near was silent. There was an angry sigh.

"What do you want Near?" Mello forced out through gritted teeth.

"I was wondering if you had any new leads in the Kira case."

"And what makes you think I would tell you if I did?"

"So I'll take that as a 'no.'" There was silence on Mello's end. Near could tell he was dangerously close to his boiling point. He didn't know why he was goading him like this; Mello just got angry so easily. Plus, it took his mind off a certain man…

"Go to Hell, Near," Mello's voice came back, the fury clear in it. "I'm father on this case then you're ever gonna be. And I'm gonna win."

"Really?" Near asked quietly.

"God! Yes, Near! Really!" Mello exploded. "That's what I said the first time! Jesus Near, I don't have time for this, get on with it already." Near had been ready to end this bizarre conversation with him, but Mello's outburst had given him an idea.

"I do have one more question for you," he said. "Do you believe in ghosts?" There was a pause.

"What?" Mello asked, seemingly surprised at the question. "What does that mean? Are you ragging on my faith again Near? If you are, I sear I'll—"

"Mello," Near interrupted. "I'm not, as you put it, 'ragging on your faith.' I am simply asking a question."

"What makes you think I'm gonna answer it?"

"Please, Mello, just hear me out," Near gave an exasperated sigh. There was silence. Near took that as consent. "So," he began, "I take it you received the same files from L that I did."

"Yes…," Mello said. "What about them?"

"Well, to start, have you read them?"

"Of course," Mello said defensively so Near knew he hadn't.

"Okay then I assume you read the part about how L thinks there are shinigami involved in this?" There was a beat of silence before Mello burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, shinigami? Really? Hahaha." Near wasn't quite sure what to say to this. This wasn't the reaction he'd expected from Mello. Though to be honest he wasn't sure what he expected. Mello's laughter had died down. "Oh," he said. "This is why you asked me about the ghosts, isn't it? Aww, is poor wittle Near all ascared with the ghosties and shinigamis running around?" Mello began laughing again.

"Shut up, Mello," Near said, coolly. Mello was still laughing as he hung up.

"Well, we're here," Tōshirō said, glancing around them. Right now "here" was New York City, Central Park to be exact, and "them" was Tōshirō and Rangiku of course but also accompanying them were Ikkaku, Yumichika, Renji, and Rukia.

"It's beautiful here," said Yumichika. Ikkaku rolled his eyes at his life-long friend.

"Where to next chief?" Renji addressed Tōshirō, who didn't reply. He was staring around him, not paying attention in the slightest to the conversation. Rangiku called hi name repeatedly but it wasn't until Renji burst in with, "Hey! Short stuff!" that he snapped to. He glared icily at Renji. "What?" he asked. "It was the only way we could get your attention. What were you thinking about so hard? Are we lost already?"

"No, of course we're not lost." Tōshirō snapped, avoiding the other question.

"Then where are we, taichou?" Rukia asked. "And where do we need to go?"

"Well right now," Tōshirō began, "we are in Central Park in New York City and we need to go—"He broke off suddenly and whipped his head around, sensing a sudden spike in spiritual pressure. The rest of the group froze and turned to face the same direction.

"What is it, taichou?" Renji asked all business now. Tōshirō wrinkled his brow in confusion. "I felt…" he hesitated. "But it's gone now…" He looked over at Rangiku to see her face stricken in panic. "You felt it too right?" he confirmed. Slowly, she nodded.

"But why…why would he come here? Why would he follow us?"

"I don't know," Tōshirō admitted, groaning in frustration. There could be devastating consequences if this man decided to stay.

"Would you two speak English please?" Ikkaku finally burst out. "What's going on? Who is here?"

"No one," Tōshirō said abruptly as Rangiku opened her mouth to speak. She shot him a curious look and he shook his head at her slightly. "I thought I felt a familiar spiritual pressure, but it was nothing. Just a random spike."

"Was Rangiku imagining things too?" Renji asked a slight suspicion clear in his voice. Rangiku opened her mouth, hesitated.

"Yes," she finally said. "I…I was imagining things too." There was silence for a moment.

"Right," Tōshirō said, "Now, we need to…"

Far across town, Ichimaru Gin laughed to himself, his ever present smile growing in his mirth. "This is gonna be almost as much fun as tourturin' ma 'Zuru…"

A/N: Hehehe, I love cliffies! Hope you guys liked it and if you did please please please leave a review! They mean so much! Next chapter will be posted soon! Love, IbelongWithTheCullens 3 :D *