Matt's couch made a pretty decent meditation ground.

Not that Mello was surprised in any way. After all, the guy had proved to be a marvel beyond comprehension, so he figured a little bit of that had probably rubbed off on the cream cushions.

Alright, time to think the way L taught him. What was the problem?

Matt.

Be a bit more detailed.

Matt was unbelievably difficult to read and made the most realistic world he'd ever seen. Probably more so than Near. And he was just a visitor...

I think Mello-kun should recall what recently happened to me.

"I remember. But I'm stronger, I know..."

No, giving in proves you wrong-

"No! That point isn't debatable anymore! He's already here, so I need to figure out how to snare him! In that respect, I'm going to be stronger!"

Mello-kun.

"You are dead. In a world of scruples, you'd be crowned king, wouldn't you? But you're even deader than most of us in a world of dreams and vanity, and I need this mirror. I've abstained for long enough. Longer than you, as you know."

Mello laughed when his mentor finally shut his all-knowing mouth, then slid backwards into the nice-smelling couch. "Do you miss your unrequited love, L? I know I do. He was smart for a pretty-boy."

Mello, send Matt back for your sake, if nothing else.

"I'd rather not spend eternity wherever the hell you are for doing that. And even if I can't read him, I'll just test him to find out what he likes. So long as Near keeps his nose out, I'll have my way with Matt."

L was silent, so Mello cracked his joints one by one to stain the blank space with sound.