Okay so first, MEGA apologies - my computer got a virus! My friend is trying to kill it, and meanwhile i'm using his computer, which is why i haven't thanked u guys or updated in a while :(
But that aside, thanks for the help with the age and the reviews and such!
Warnings: Check the other chapters - i'm too lazy to write them again
WARNINGS CONCERNING VIRUSES: If you get a message saying "You have 7802 viruses, click here to erase them," don't click it, because that GIVES u a virus (yes, i was dumb enough to click it, not once, but twice)
Summary: they had aspired to become him, but no one could replace him
CHAPTER 3: Sorrow in the Amazon
It was dark, and it was damp. It was cold, yet it was warm. It was a room composed of dry ice, melting to water on the floor. In reality, it was a morgue, and the water was streaming from Near. But Mello forced himself to think the former; a room of ice just made more sense.
The sight of his rival crying(1) was a foreign, impossible image. Since the day they had first met, Mello had never seen Near in tears. Regardless of the setting, Near maintained a stoic front. And yet, his face had broken once it fell upon the corpse's.
Mello watched him mutely, unsure how was best to respond; consoling Near was out of the question. You didn't hug someone that you hated... and yet, to his surprise, Mello felt his arms extend. From the corner of his eye, he saw Matt's brow raise in shock. The expression seemed to question, "What are you doing?" or "What the hell?" Neither could Mello answer; he wasn't really sure.
Walking closer to the casket, Mello muffled his common sense. In a mere matter of seconds he would crumble an unbreakable boundary. Such a simple act as a hug would not be simple if shared between them. The slightest showing of compassion could change their lives forever.
But luckily, or unfortunately, Near turned around before it could happen.
The stance in which Mello stood could be mistaken for one of violence. Mello looked about to pounce, and Near suspected that he might. "Mello, what are you doing?" Near questioned, just had Matt(2). Feeling foolish, Mello lowered his arms, and his original gesture turned into a shove.
"Move it," he ordered hastily, concealing his embarrassment. He pointed to the casket and stated, "I want to get another look." Though this was far from true, it was more believable than answering honestly. Obliging, Near stepped aside, attempting to hide his face, and for once in his life, failing, as the falling tears could not be hidden.
Mello didn't tease him, and was unsure why he felt no urge to. He rationalized it as him being cautious, just in case L's body had the same effect on him. It almost had already, and that would be embarrassing... to call Near a cry-baby, and then cry himself... Mello would not allow that.
Yes, Mello was being cautious; he wasn't being caring.
Casting aside his thoughts, Mello looked at the corpse before him. It had been shipped there over-night, like baggage, not a person. And as the mourners back in Japan prepared to put the man to rest, they had no idea that he was in England, and that his Japanese-coffin contained a stand-in(3). A dead stand-in, of course, whom would be buried in a few days.
L would want to be buried here. He'd be buried tomorrow morning.
...After he was put back together.
The autopsy had been disgusting; Mello and Near had not been qualified. Watari's had been even worse, and had given them no information. To Mello's surprise, neither had L's, so far as he could find. It had seemed so obvious that there'd be something, some clue as to his killer, but all there seemed to be were questions left unanswered.
"I can't believe we didn't find anything useful," Mello dismayed, pounding the wall. "There has got to be some answer! L must have known that this would happen."
"Maybe not," Matt chimed in, approaching the other two. "If he knew he'd die, he'd have tried to avoid it. He'd be so concerned with his safety, he wouldn't think to leave us answers."
"That makes sense... sort of," Mello agreed half-heartedly.
Absolved of tears, Near turned to face them. Though expressionless, Near seemed angry. "Matt, that's incorrect - L would never give up on a case. If he knew he was going to die, his top priority would be in leaving us clues to his killer." Matt was taken aback at the unnatural edge in Near's voice.
"Then why didn't we find any clues?" Mello spat back harshly. Though surprised by Near's sudden mood-shift, he was more concerned with winning the argument.
Near pointed to L's foot. "Maybe you didn't, but I did."
Mello looked where Near was pointing, and felt suddenly glad he hadn't hugged him.
It was a dreary day for Light Yagami, but not because of the funeral(4). He was happy that he'd be attending, a lot happier than any one should be. No, it was something else, something else which was haunting his thoughts. As he sat in the bathroom stall, beads of sweat ran down his face.
"Even in death, L won't give up!"
Light's hands were slightly shaking, continually bouncing the item in their grasp. It was a thin, bottle-shaped test, which he had never thought he'd need. But several moments before, he had used it, just to be sure. And to his surprise, to his disbelief, the results had come out positive.
Yet that was beyond incomprehensible, because L could not have won. Light could not have lost, and this situation could not be happening. But somehow, it seemed it was, to Light's horror and Ryuk's amusement. But Light refused to believe it:
Kira COULD NOT be pregnant!
(1) Probably a better word would be "tearing," 'cause I can't imagine Near openly sobbing or anything. Just thought I'd share that XD
(2) Matt's expression basically questioned that - only pointing it out 'cuz it confused Dan (the guy whose computer I'm on)
(3) That's referencing the deleted funeral scene - if you've never seen it, I suggest you do, being that it is interesting and that the next chapter won't make sense if you don't read it XD. it's on youtube, and though i personally liked it in a way, i also think it is completely messed up and should have happened differently!
(4) it's not the day of, it's the day they started planning it
Sorry it's short, but I only have a small amount of time to write each day until the virus is killed. Grr. Hopefully, that will be soon.
Special thanks to ForbiddenSoul562 for putting up with my crap and for giving me an idea! XD Also thanks to Quarter Queen and Peaches-Destroyer for help with the ages (the time-skip will be after the next chapter). Share your thoughts and review! - Then mayb Dan will let me write more... he says no, but i think he's lying XD