"So... they left you behind, huh? It's just you left now." He stated bitterly, making it clear that N was the last one in his way, his mood switching completely now that he had Near right where he wanted him.

Near glared at the dark haired impersonator, now noticing the restraints clasped around his wrists just enough to let the blood flow through his veins, as he tried and failed to sit up. Slamming his head back down in defeat, he sighed impatiently, ignoring B's words completely.

"Jealously is not a very admirable trait B. I never admired it in Mello and I certainly wouldn't dream of admiring it in you. You'll never be anything compared to L, no matter how hard you try." Near spoke articulately on behalf of his mentor, seemingly unphased by his disadvantaged position.

Beyond reached out a hand, gripping his chin harshly and using his thumb to abruptly turn N's head to face him. Near's lips tightened into an expression of content as he raised his focus back to B's eyes.

"You think you're so much better than everyone else Near. You think you're number one! You think you can surpass L on your own. Well guess what Near, you're nothing, you're not going to be surpassing anybody, especially not L." he let out a manic laugh, ignoring the fringe that had now fallen as a result, covering one eye. "If anything... you're going to be joining that loser." He smiled almost insanely, waiting for Near to be scared.

Near suddenly felt a slight feeling of regret form as he briefly recalled calling L a loser when he was still at Wammy's House, although, he couldn't help but smile helplessly at the thought of joining L, however unlikely. He soon turned the expression into a smirk before Beyond could realise what was really going through his mind, as well as take in the shock of what was actually being implied here. B was obviously planning to kill him.

Whilst he realised that he should want to escape from this demonic lair that he now found himself in, there were a few things wrong with that desire. Firstly, he was restrained and Near knew himself well enough to know that he was nowhere near strong enough to make any attempt to escape from these restraints, or take on B on his own. Secondly, he was alone, and, whilst admittedly, that was all he ever seemed to wish for when his closest company was still around, being without the three was starting to take its toll on him. He had nobody to trust or confide in anymore, nobody that knew him. Hell, he didn't want anyone else to know him.

B must have been watching him think silently to himself before he spoke again.

"Aww... poor thing. You must be..." B mocked, snapping Near from his thoughts and back to what he had previously said as he slyly interrupted.

"I was number one though. I still am number one. At least Mello had enough pride to work on the same side as me instead of work against me out of sheer spite and jealously, knowing that he was second to me. You, however, have always been second to L, and always been last to all of us" Near smirked, proudly standing up for long-lost geniuses, his voice raised as he spat the words at B, hitting his weak spots with his words, well aware that he was provoking him. Although he didn't expect him to react so quickly.

Near closed his eyes as he, first, felt a waft of cool air hit him from the sharp movement of Bs arm. Followed by the cold, very real feeling of a pistol pressed against the side of his head, the sound of the gun being cocked right next to his ear.

"Shut up Near!" B yelled, face contorted into an outraged snarl.

He swallowed, eyes gazing into the distance, lost, and he had to stop himself from smiling whilst he let the feeling of déjà vu suffocate him. He briefly considered trying to manipulate B with reverse psychology by showing that he didn't mind whether or not he pulled the trigger. This could potentially save him. After all, B's main focus was clearly to hurt Near, to be number one. He didn't know that by following through with this he would actually be doing N a favour in ending his misery before it could progress any deeper.

Near knew he would have the potential to save so many more lives, and that it was almost immoral to not even try to save his own. He concluded, however, that maybe he should be selfish. Maybe it wasn't worth it. Winning the game just didn't seem all that much to him anymore, with nobody to be proud of him but himself. However, leaving B alive with nobody to stand for justice with knowledge of his existence. Near shook his head almost in agony. He'd had enough. Enough contradictions and second-guessing himself. Enough being alone. Enough games. Enough of... everything. He felt so weak for admitting it, even to himself, but he couldn't take it anymore. He had found himself wanting B to take him from this world. Exhaling in such a way that could have been interpreted as pleasure from this thought, he relaxed his body. He'd never been readier for this.

Near smirked fearlessly, accepting his fate as he repeated the same words that he somewhat wished Mello had acted on sooner:

"B..." he started confidently, taking a deep breath. "If you really want to shoot me then go ahead and do it!"

Near didn't need to see B's expression to know that he was shaking with rage right now. The same way he hadn't needed to see Mello's either. Near frowned as he almost hesitated, by then he heard the metal edging back coldly. Innocently, he closed his tired eyes, emptying his mind, filling the weary organ with nothing but thoughts of L, Mello and Matt. Invisible tears staining underneath his eyes. Photographic memories racing through his head as he allowed himself to smile genuinely one last time, drawing in his last breath. Silently wishing as he exhaled.

I hope Mello is waiting for me.

...

*BANG*

I don't know if you're all gonna be happy or sad at this cliffhanger kind of thing... well, new chapter soon...

Stay tuned... and please review guys, it would mean the world to me! *gives free cookies to people who review* :p

I will update soon c: