Near's nineteen now; he's too old for toys. But when they offer visual representations, they are incredibly useful. And finger puppets offer the best visual representation.

Most of the puppets from the Kira case have been destroyed. All but three- well; five- were stacked into a pile and set alight.

Those five saved puppets; one in blue clothes and a collar, one with red eyes, one with messy hair and a comically pouty mouth, a miniature Hamburglar and a blonde puppet with a scar running down the left of his body. These puppets had been ceremoniously sealed in an old shoebox, but now Near gingerly slides them over his fingertips; L on his thumb, then A, B, Matt, Mello, because not even in his worst nightmares can Near imagine A without B or Matt without Mello.

In the shoebox with the puppets, there had been a one-eared rabbit and a small teddy-bear. When Mello had first left Wammy's, Near had chewed the poor rabbit's ear off, worrying about his dear friend. The ear had hung from his mouth, white fluff falling to the floor, as tears had streamed down the then-fourteen-year-old's face.

Near takes up the rabbit, and its detached ear, and hugs them close to his body. It has a vague smell of smoke. Near nibbles on the ear, like he had when he was a child, and squeezes the limbless toy, his eyes filling with tears that refuse to fall. The ear tastes like strawberries and sugar, and is strangely sticky.

But of all the old toys, it's the teddy-bear that breaks Near's heart. The rabbit and it's limb fall to the floor, more white fluff escaping, as Near grabs the bear and clutches it to his chest. It smells like chocolate.

When Mello left, the only things he'd left were a couple of video games he'd stolen from Matt, and this teddy-bear. Near had claimed the stuffed toy, but never played with it; it was an inspiration, a reminder of what Near was, and probably always will be, to the rest of the Wammy's boys. Near was the youngest, the smallest, the baby. The others, Angel especially, had made it their duty to look after him, like his adopted older brothers.

Angel childised Near, but Near had never minded. Angel was brought up by a paedophile, and just wanted to show someone the compassion he'd craved. Beyond was the fun brother, who'd set up intricate pranks, with Angel as his beta, on Roger. Matt would teach Near to play video games, and they'd sit up for hours on multi-player. Mello was the brother who hated him, but still loved him deep down.

Mello and Near's relationship was an odd one. Near beat Mello constantly; more intelligent, more patient, more mature, and Mello hated Near for it. He'd throw tantrums, aimed at Near, throwing his toys, pouring paint over his white clothes, even hitting the young boy. But, every night, Mello would sneak over to Near's room, begging forgiveness, and every morning, Roger would find Mello fast asleep in Near's arms, with Matt curled up on the end of Near's bed, and Angel and Beyond would be somewhere within the vicinity. The quintet were the only family each other had had, but they were forever competing to be L. That's what killed Angel, that's what caused Beyond to snap, that's why Mello left, and Matt had followed, and that's why Near's the only one still here.

*line*

The faceless girl doesn't stir as a boy storms past her. The boy, with shoulder-length blonde hair, icy-blue eyes and who is clad fully in leather, strides up to the shining gates, and straight out.

A red-head and a pale man in a white shirt shout at him to stop, to come back.

Mello turns, snarling. Matt freezes, and even Lawliet pauses. Mello growls in challenge, and they both back away.

A fourth joins the situation; a blue punk, with brown leather boots, and a collar with matching cuffs. His face is angular, his stance in calm and confident, his eyes are a piercing blue.

"Mels, you're on'y gonna 'urt 'im," Angel says, raising his hand in an attempt to calm his banal brother.

"He is hurting!" Mello screams.

"Jus' wait, Mello. He'll come eventually. Wait."

"I don't want to wait! He needs someone there, now."

"Roger…"

"Is taking that Baynton kid to the hospital!" Mello interrupts. "Near's alone."

"Except he isn't," Beyond appears behind Angel, "he's got us."

"We're dead, B!"

"He's got a horde of angels," Beyond carries on, "no… more like a family of angels, watching him. He'll never be alone, because we're still with him."

"I don't give a fuck about your namby-pamby nostalgic shit!" Mello shouts, storming off, none of his brothers even bothering to follow him. Mello is stubborn, and won't change his mind easily.

The faceless girl watches him march to the edge of the clouds, and jump.

*line*

Near squeezes and coddles the bear, basking in its chocolaty scent.

Something cold brushes his cheek. Near looks up to a shadow looming over him, stroking his face lovingly, kneeling down to his level.

The shadow is significantly taller than Near, with close-fitting clothes and shoulder-length hair. He's colourless, completely grey, except for his eyes which shine blue. To many, those eyes would be ice-cold and unforgiving, but before a select few, they become warm, and sparkle like an innocent child's.

Mello's translucent fingers caress his brother's cheek. All Near feels is cold.

Tears dribble from Near's eyes, straight through Mello's hand. Mello leans close to Near, his mouth moving, but the words won't form. He presses his cheek to Near's, his hand resting on Near's jaw.

"Mello… Matt and Mello…" Near sobs, "You're both gone… I'm… alone."

Alas, time is short. Mello begins to disintegrate before Near. He only manages to say "I'm sorry, Near. Please forgive me," just like he would when they were children, when he would fall asleep in Near's arms, then he's gone, leaving Near completely alone, but not quite as empty as before.

A/N

Seriously, type 'Hamburglar Matt' into Google Images

There's some angst for you. Next chapter; another murder, a few links made, and an interview with Near's favourite prime suspect (me)

-Laurel Silver