[I don't own Death note or any of the Characters...or something like that.]

Strip joint

The drive had been quiet enough, both Matt and Mello moving around from strip club to strip club attempting to locate this girl. They hadn't been sure if Nears information was too sharp until they reached the last place. It was a seemingly large club, several woman walking around giving personal dances to the 'gentlemen', a few standing around talking quietly looking over Matt who was back to playing his game. Mello shoved him forward, if they wanted to talk to the red head they could talk to the red head. He wasn't good with people but he was sure that Matt could manage to talk with these girls long enough to find out if they knew Crimson.

He looked back, orange goggles eclipsing his eyes from the other man. "What? you want me to talk to them?" He asked raising an eyebrow. Mello nodded crossing his arms to show him that his decision was final. That didn't make much sense, Mello ever going back on his word. Just before Mello had told him to stop drooling over the dancers and now he wanted him to talk to the dancers. He hated talking to people, woman included and those looked like they were going chew him up and spit him out. "...Right. I'm on it." Oh Near had better love him for this. Well, his term for love his buying him games, that's what Mello did all the time to shut him up.

He strolled over smiling sheepishly as the girls giggled. They seemed as if they were new but they looked older than the girls on the stage that he was willing himself not to look at. Looking at them would earn him a nice slap in the back of the head from the blonds hand and it didn't seem like Mello would have a problem supplying it on a day like today. He was already irritated from looking in strip clubs and nothing was going to put him in a better mood than finding Crimson and beating Near at his own game. To Mello beating Near was most likely more important than their relationship and it hurt to know that deep down.

"Well hello Sailor." The youngest out of the group commented first leaning against the the bar table. "What brings a fine looking man like you in a place like this?" She liked her lips gently, "Looking for a dance?"

He shook his head laughing softly, "No. Not me. Actually-"

"Your friend then? Is he getting married or something? We do bachelor parties." She grinned as he shook his head again frowning. "Then what? Is there something else you want, we don't do happy ending here sir." She rolled his eyes as the group began to disperse.

He glanced back at Mello who shooed him forward to chase. "No! No! No! Nothing like that. I'm looking for someone actually, an old friend of mine. I've traced her all the way here I was wondering if you could tell me if she worked here." He gave the group puppy dog eyes after removing his goggles. "Please?"

The young girl nodded, "Yeah, what about this chick? I mean are you sure she works here. You look fairly young, I'd say if she's close to your age you're a baby." He smiled gently. "We let young girls work here but they have to be eighteen and they have to be skilled on the pole and attractive. Without those aspects there's no use in allowing anyone work here that's young." She shrugged. "the youngest we've hired is nineteen and her name is Lulu. Is that your friend?" He shook his head slowly.

"Somehow I doubt that she would name herself something like Lulu." He laughed gently. "She could be going by Rebecca?" He offered as the group shook their heads. "No one named Rebecca? Um, how about Crimson?" He tried as there was a group realization of whom he was talking about. "There's a Crimson? Can I meet her?" He asked excited now. He nearly wanted to bounce but thought that would be too childish of him. They already looked at him like he was some kind of kid so he guessed it best to play it cool. He turned slowly giving a thumbs up to Mello who seemed to be growing more and more uncomfortable in this place.

The woman nodded, "Yeah. There's a Crimson she's in the back though. She arrived actually just before you did I think she's getting ready but I'll go get her!" She seemed happy just to be able to help as she ran to a backroom looking for Crimson.

Matt strolled over grinning like sunshine. "Oh Mell, apparently she's going by Crimson around here and not her real name!" He cried bouncing a bit. "Can you fucking believe that she was really in the last place we decided to look?" He saw the confused look cross Mello's face. "The saying. What you lost is always in the last place you look."

Mello sighed, "Because when you look there you've found it. Afterwards there's no reason to keep looking Matt." He replied taring at the other like he was dumb.

"Where are you pushing me to..." There was a loud thump before shuffling forward. "I don't give a flying...oomp!" She was shoved into Matt's back as he buckled forward mumbling something about being careful where she was walking. "Who the hell are you looking like Trinity from the Matrix?" She questioned seriously looking over Mello's form, "And are you sure you're in the right place? This is a female strip club, the gay joint is across the street."

Matt stared. He first found himself thinking this couldn't possibly be the hot tempered Crimson that he had become so accustomed to over the years at Wammy house. Fighting Mello all those years earned her the right to talk big but...that Crimson was short and flat chested. and ugly. Well not ugly she just...looked unnatural. This chick was had grown into her form, a few inches taller than he last remembered seeing, long stunning ebony tresses and those lightning blue eyes they were mesmerizing. Oh and her chest wasn't bad too for them to look so natural...they were natural right?

"Who the fuck is Trinity?" Mello hissed as she just shrugged. "Judging by your look you don't have much room to be talking about what I'm wearing. You're half naked in a strip joint degrading yourself for men." His mafia air was coming back. The side that made Mello larger than life and a complete stranger to Matt as the man took a step away from his lover pulling his goggles back down.

She shrugged, "It's a paying job. Better than what a woman can get for having a mind. Wammy house fuck ups, the rest aren't doing all that damn great either and they stayed their full term." She didn't seem bothered by Mello's venom laced words instead choosing to look at Matt. The boy had certainly grew up, an inch shorter than Mello, his fringe long enough to hid his face from the world now, gamer clothes. Though she was unsure what was so attractive about horizontal stripes besides they were slimming to a degree. Yeah, that was Matt no doubt there. Matty.

Matt grinned lopsidedly from his cigarette blowing the smoke out. "Hey Crimmy."

She nodded shifting in her heels, "What do you two fuck ups want? I thought I had gotten away from the esteemed Wammy boys and girls. I'm tired of you fucks, don't come back." She turned slowly.

"L is dead." Mello interjected as she paused nodding. "Yeah. You know already, you went to his funeral didn't you?"

She shrugged taking a seat at the bar, "More or less. I showed up late, said my prayers, watched in go into the ground and cried like the bitch I am." She turned away from the two humming something to herself. "He asked me to stay and help him. Back then before he named me. He named me to spite me, he called me brilliant. He was the only person to ever think I was brilliant...Nii-san was the only person to ever call me brilliant." She covered her face, "What the fuck do you want Trinity?"

Mello growled, "Stay with him?" He asked aloud his eyes drifting to the smoking man who for once was actually paying attention. There was no response just the soft humming of the same tune. "Okay then. Near is looking for you. He's the fuck that became the new L."

She shrugged, "What's that have to do with me? Near can go jack off." She mumbled massaging her temples gently the humming beginning again.

Matt piped up, "It's about L. He wants you to help him catch Kira. He killed L." He knew the vendetta was there. It was in them all, even in Mello. All of them was retribution for what Kira had taken away and they believed they deserved it one way or another. Working together they would bring Kira off his throne and throw him to the dogs.

She nodded slowly, "Kira?" She sighed lifting herself from the seat. "Well when you put it that way cyberdork I don't think I can refuse such an offer to get rid of Kira. You're taking me to Near? Right now?"

Mello nodded gesturing to the door, "We need to go. He's in New York."

Matt frowned, "How the hell..." He didn't question it. Of course Mello would know where Near was. It was their own personal game of cat and mouse they had been playing for years. It was a game in which at any second the rolls could be reversed, at any second things could change. At any second...one could die.

"Then let's go to New York." She smiled gently strolling forward. "Hey Ruby, you know what I'm about to say."

"You quit?" The woman laughed gently from behind the counter gently wiping a glass. "See you later Crimson. Make sure you stop by from time to time."

She nodded slowly heading for the door with Matt and Mello.

Mello smirked pulling out his cellphone. Oh he couldn't wait to see the look on Nears face when he brought Crimson in. Game set and matched, Near.

"Hello?"

"We'll be there soon. I win." He hung the phone up with the same satisfaction as back in the day at Wammy house when he bested Near in something. It didn't happen often but when it did he would prance for hours.

Matt started the car, Crimson in the back seat humming again, Mello grinning to himself as he sped down the street turning the corner. It felt nice to be with friends, even when he hadn't seen her in years she was the same freaky chick he'd spend Wednesday night with playing computer games and the girl that bested Mello in scrabble before he threw the board game against the wall demanding a redo. He laughed gently as the two looked at him questioning.

"So...what happened to your guys?"

Mello and Matt laughed softly, "What hasn't."

[Ah, so Crimson has made her appearance. I'd like to know what you think about her though. She's nothing but a rough sketch compared to Matt, Mello and Near but I like her fiery personality. Next chapter is the first look at Near, he's been really just alluded to this far. Please! Please! Please Review! If you review I update! Or favourite, I update then too. :3 I'm not picky. Until the next chapter...]