Matt
I followed Halle Lidner to a large building. She parked outside and stepped out. I got out of my car as well. Quietly, I walked up behind her, gun in hand. I put it up against her back. She stiffened and was about to turn around and no doubt attack.
"Don't move or say a word without my saying so," I whispered in her ear. "If you do I will shoot you. Answer yes or no if you understand."
"Yes." She said quietly.
"Is this the building Near is hiding in?"
"Yes."
"Take me to him."
She began to make her way inside with me close behind her.
Near
"Near I think you should take a look at this." Rester spoke sounding a little annoyed. I soon found out why.
When I looked at the screen that showed the perimeter security camera I felt like I was experiencing de sha vu. There was Halle Lidner escorting a man into the building at gun point. Only this time it was Matt instead of Mello.
"Well, well, well isn't this interesting."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Let him in."
"Sir last time we did that you were almost shot."
"That's true but this one has a much better control over his temper and other emotions than the last one ever did. No ones in any danger, not even Lidner."
"Very well." Rester didn't sound like he wanted to follow the command but he let them in anyway.
Matt
"Hello Matt, long time no see. I suspect things are going well on your end after successfully kidnapping Takada," Near said in his usual monotone as I entered the room.
He was sitting on the floor with his back to me playing with a toy. I expected as much from him.
"Enough with the pleasantries Near, I'm not in the mood." I said bitterly.
He looked over his shoulder at me. His face unchanging but I could tell he was surprised by my tone. "What may I ask has you in such a foul mood? It's not like you Matt, it's more like Mello."
I couldn't help but flinch at the name. Near noticed and tilted his head to the side a little.
"Ah I see." He said in that annoying voice of his. "You had a fall out with him and he took things a step to far. Your still upset over what he said and don't know what to do about it. Was it your video games he insulted? Or was it your smoking habit?"
Every word he spoke just made me angry and angrier. "You don't know anything Near! You know nothing about me and M-Mello!" my voice shook on his name.
"I know that you two have been having romantic relations for approximately a year and a half now. Also judging from the fact that you are battered and bruised after making a clean getaway with Takada I'd say you and him get into physical fights often. Not to mention the obvious engagement ring you have on under your glove says that you two have gotten engaged. How's that for knowing nothing?" As he finished his last sentence his monotone voice had a slight smug undertone.
I wanted nothing more than to strangle him in that moment. He thinks he knows so much about people just from noticing small bits and pieces of them. He thinks he really knows so much about me and Mello but he doesn't! This is the stuff that always aggravated me about Near, he always thought he was right and he always thought he knew everything. It's the stuff I could kill him over but I needed him. I'm not going to be able to find Kira on my own and he was the only person that could help me find him now that Mello was gone.
"A few quick corrections Near. First Mello and I had been together for two years not one and a half. Second the bruises are from getting a TV remote, my DS and a leather boot thrown at me. But above all that the main thing you got wrong was the fact that you think a fight between me and a certain hot-tempered blonde is what's got me in a bad mood"
"Well then correct me Matt. What has a man who must have the patience of a saint to put up with Mello in such a foul frame of mind?"
"Mello's dead."
Near's eyes widened by just more than a centimetre. I knew he wasn't expecting that no matter how hard he tried to hide it. He turned around fully to face me his hand moving up to twist into his hair.
"Ah I see. I'm sorry for your lose. But the fact that you are here states that you are not just here to tell me this detail."
My eyes narrowed. So this was just another detail to him? Mello is dead and he doesn't seem to care. It doesn't matter if they were rivals Near should still care at least a little.
"No that's not the only reason I'm here. I want revenge. Kira was the cause of Mello's death and I want to be the cause of his. I'm asking to help you bring down Kira."
Near was silent for a moment while he thought over my offer. "I'm sorry I can't allow that."
"What? Why?" I yelled at him.
"Well you see I already know who Kira is. In fact I have set up a meeting in order to catch him. I could bring you along but that won't go over well with him or the others he's bringing."
"Let me guess, the new L is Kira and the 'others' he's bringing are the task force. Am I right?"
"I see you and Mello had already worked out more than I thought. You are, infact, correct Matt. This is why I can not allow you to get involed. I have promised that all of the SPK attend and the number of members was mentioned. You were not apart of that number so I'd be going back on my word."
"Can't you work something out? Say that I'm an informant gathering information from other countries. Say that I was so far away that you thought I wouldn't be able to get to Japan in time for the meeting, but I did. I'm sure they'll accept that."
Near was silent again for a moment. "Alright I'll give it a try. I hope you realise I'm doing you a large favour by doing this Matt. Also as an extra favour for old times' sake you can store Mello's body here. You'll be too occupied to arrange a funeral, even a small one. So you'll have to keep him somewhere."
"Thanks... I guess."
I turned to exit the room and retrieve Mello's body. I paused right in front of the door. I glanced over my shoulder at Near still crouched on the floor. He met my eyes and I spoke firmly. "Just so you know this doesn't change anything. You're still an albino fucktard to me."
"I never expected anything else."