Sorry that this took so long, but I've been preoccupied with a few different things! ^-^; But, at least your patience is rewarded!

A~*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*~A

'Mello?'

Mello blinked and put down his pen. "Sorry, I was spacing out. I'm a bit worried about what B's castle will look like, actually."

'Personally, if I were you, I'd be more concerned about Matt, the bandit, molesting me in the night.' The voice said with a smiling tone.

"Shut up. I can handle myself. And I'll protect Near, too." He grumbled, picking up his pen again.

'If you insist.'

"And I'm not sure what to think about A and B…they both seem like they're hiding something. Suspicious." Mello tapped his chin with the pen, thinking of what to write next as he watched the book writing.

"It'd be cool if you could remember. And, hey, since you have Mihael, maybe I can go hit on Mello!" Matt chuckled.

"No!" N frowned and clung to Mihael. "You can't have either!"

'You find them suspicious? Tell me, what do you think of A?'

"Huh?" Mello blinked, startled by the question.

'Do you think he's cool?' The voice giggled a bit.

"I think he's moody and I haven't really gotten to know him that well yet, so don't ask my opinion of him right now."

'…'

"Book?"

'Yes?'

"Why did you ask me that?" He leaned over to write.

"Hey, what? I'm suddenly your possession, now?" Mihael raised an eyebrow, but smiled a bit at N's childish clinging. "Listen, I don't belong to anyone. I'm sticking with N because I have to and want to."

'No reason.' The voice replied. 'Maybe you should try to get to know him? Maybe you'll get to like him.'

Audrey laughed and leaned back in his seat. "No one belongs to anyone in particular, unless they're married, Matt. Unless they're enslaved by the person, but slavery was outlawed centuries ago!"

"Your Majesty, I'm a bandit." Matt scoffed. "I don't live by the laws, remember?"

Mello nodded. "Yeah, I'll do that." He then wrote his reply.

"You try enslaving me, Matt, and I'll kick your ass SO HARD you won't be able to sit!" Mihael hissed, fingering his gun in its holster. "I kid you not."

"Holy fuck." Matt's eyes widened and he backed away.

"What's a 'holy fuck', A?" Beyond asked innocently.

"It's what people call God having sex." Audrey said seriously, a grin on his face.

"Ohhhh!" Beyond giggled.

Mello face-palmed. "He's kidding, right?"

'Of course.' The voice said calmly.

Mihael frowned. "You don't joke about stuff like that, Your Majesty."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Audrey smiled. "I forgot that we had an Angel in our midst. I will refrain from the sacrilegious remarks in your presence." He gave a mock-bow.

"You're mocking me." Mihael looked away.

"Oh, we can see my castle now!" Beyond said excitedly, pointing to a large, midnight-black shape in the distance. "Isn't it cool? I wanted blood-red, but my advisors said it'd scare people away, so I chose black."

"It's still scary." N said, clinging tightly to Mihael. "I liked Lawliet's castle more; it was white."

Beyond nodded. "Yeah, so does he." He frowned. "…I hope he's okay."

"What did the monster look like?" Mihael asked, looking at him.

"Well…it was a black creature, and really tall. And our weapons didn't seem to work…" His ruby eyes were shaking fearfully.

"All we had were knives and our fists and legs, anyway." Audrey said, sighing. "Maybe if we'd had your gun, Mihael, we could've stood a chance."

Mihael looked down. "Sorry we were late; we were kind of focused on a voice in our heads and not being grabbed by shadow-spiders."

*~*~*~*

"What did the monster look like?" Mihael asked, looking at Beyond.

"Well…it was a black creature, and really tall. And our weapons didn't seem to work…" Beyond's ruby eyes were shaking fearfully.

"All we had were knives and our fists and legs, anyway." Audrey said, sighing. "Maybe if we'd had your gun, Mihael, we could've stood a chance."

Mihael looked down. "Sorry we were late; we were kind of focused on a voice in our heads and not being grabbed by shadow-spiders."

'That's right…' Near closed his eyes. 'I felt a strange pain in my head before that voice spoke…Was that because of my memories or…' He frowned and opened his eyes again, looking at them. "What if…that monster is suppressing my memories? I feel a great deal of pain when I am trying to remember, and I can't help but feel that the monster is involved."

"If that's the case, then we need to find out who you are even more." Audrey said, nodding firmly. "We need to know your relationship to this monster."

Near nodded, frowning. 'Mello…Who are you?' He thought, gripped his shirt tightly. 'Why does my heart ache so much when I think of you?'

"N." Mihael opened the door and offered him a hand, smiling. "Let's go in."

Near nodded and took his hand, stepping out of the carriage and holding his hand tightly as he was led inside the large, black castle.

"Welcome back, Lord Birthday." A maid dressed entirely in black, gothic clothing said, bowing to him.

Beyond smiled and then he frowned, looking at Mihael and Near. "Okay, what the fuck?" He grabbed Near's hand and tugged him along. Mihael, of course, had no choice but to follow.

"B-Beyond?" Near blinked, confused.

"It's been bugging me for a while…but, I never thought to bring it up." He turned to them once they were away from the staff. "You guys…I can't see your names and life-spans!"

"What?" Mihael raised an eyebrow.

Beyond started pacing. "I can normally see someone's name and life-span – I can see when they'll die – but I can't see either of yours! So, either you're both walking dead, or you're not of this world!" He looked at them firmly. "Which is it?"

Near whimpered. "I-I don't know…" He held his head. "Ngh…hurts…Whammy's House…Mello…N—ahhhhh!" He fell to his knees, holding his head in both hands.

"N!" Mihael knelt next to him and pulled him close. "N, get ahold of yourself!"

Beyond had frozen up, confused. "…A, get over here!"

Audrey ran over with Matt and Linda. "What's up?"

"Does 'Whammy's House' exist?" He looked at him firmly, his red eyes narrowed.

"No…but, we DO know a Quillish Whammy." Audrey walked closer. "Why?"

Mihael picked Near up, trying to soothe his shaking. "N just said 'Whammy's House' and 'Mello'." He informed them. "I'm going to find N a guest room, you guys can talk about this while I calm him down!" He ran down the hall, carrying Near.

"Hey, wait!" Matt ran after them.

Near clung to him tightly, shivering. He kept seeing flashes of images, names and faces he knew but didn't know…

'So, you remember that much, my pet? I'm amazed; your mind must be stronger than I originally thought.' The voice from earlier cackled in his mind. 'But, our little game is far from over!'

"Ngh!" Near clung tighter. His head hurt so badly!

*~*~*~*

"Near…" Mello frowned. "He's remembering…but, it's causing him so much pain…"

'Pain is an art of life. Obviously, the monster doesn't want him remembering. Have we heard it talking since we were running from the shadow-spiders?' The voice asked cheerfully.

"No…but, I'm going to ask Near when he's recovered if he heard that voice in his head again." Mello nodded firmly.

'Yes and, if he has…why only him?' The voice wondered.

Mello shrugged and leaned over to write, carefully watching for anything that might cause Near pain. The book was a mean one, that's for sure.

Mihael gently lay N down on the silken, black sheets of a bed in a guest-room he'd found, and then sat next to him with a sigh. "N, you feeling any better?"

N nodded slowly and slowly sat up. "M-Mihael…I just heard his voice again…" He said shakily. "H-He called me his 'little pet', a-and said that our 'little game' was far from over!" He clung to him. "I don't know what's going on~!"

Matt walked in and frowned. "…Neither do we, N. But, from what you're saying, we're gonna have to deal with a lot of shit from this guy." He stopped by the bed and looked at Mihael. "Are you SURE you don't know anything about his past?"

Mello froze. 'Shit, I can feel that cold gaze from here!' He thought, shivering. '…What if I DO share what I know? Damn, I'd have to tell them about the book…'

Mihael glanced at him, not really making eye-contact. "…Once we get Lawliet and Ambrosia back, I'll share all that I know." He said softly, looking down. "Right now…I'm not sure what would happen if I told you what I know, and I want everyone involved with us when I DO tell."

N looked at him calmly and smiled. "Alright, Mihael. We'll wait until then."

"Thanks, N." Mihael smiled at him and then hugged him close.

'Are you sure about this?' If the voice had eyebrows, Mello knew that one would be raised. 'Haven't you ever heard of the "fourth wall", Mello?'

"I know." Mello said softly. "But, this is the only way to let them know what Mihael knows. And…tell Near who 'Mello' is." He nodded firmly.

Matt sat down on the bed. "Well, you better keep that promise. Tomorrow, we board a boat and set sail!" He grinned and then lay down. "Mind if I use your bed, N?"

"Yes, I do." N said, hugging Mihael tightly. "Go get your own room, this one belongs to me and Mihael!"

"Tch." Matt sat up. "Damn, and this isn't even my domain." He shrugged and waved as he got up. "See ya." He left the room, closing the door as he went.

Mello smiled a bit. "Wow, defensive and possessive of me."

'He's a fun kid.' The voice said, a grin in his tone.

N nodded firmly and then got up to go lock the door and keep Matt out. "I'm not taking any chances after your…question." He said, stepping away from the door.

Mello chuckled. "Silly Near." He then leaned over to write.

Mihael sat down on the bed, chuckling. "Thanks for rescuing me, N." He said teasingly. "Although, I'm pretty sure I can fend off Matt's advances just fine."

"I don't want him to do any advances!" He said, running over and hugging Mihael tightly. "I don't want anyone but me to…" His face turned a reddish hue and he looked away. "To kiss you…" He mumbled.

"Is he…jealous?" Mello blinked, his own cheeks a bit red. He felt…strangely happy about Near's jealousy. "…Wow. I never took Near to be the jealous type."

'Awww, you're blushing~!' The voice said adoringly. 'How cute; young love!'

"Sh-Shut up!" Mello sputtered, looking back at the book and beginning to write.

*~*~*~*

Mihael sat down on the bed, chuckling. "Thanks for rescuing me, N." He said teasingly. "Although, I'm pretty sure I can fend off Matt's advances just fine."

Near smiled a bit, listening to Mihael talking, and then he turned to him. "I don't want him to do any advances!" He said, running over and hugging Mihael tightly. "I don't want anyone but me to…" His face turned a reddish hue and he looked away. "To kiss you…" He mumbled.

Well, now Mihael no doubt knew his feelings. Although, he would most likely tell him that he was too young, that the time before was purely accidental, that it would never—

"Do you…want to do it again?" Mihael's soft voice cut into Near's thoughts and he looked up at him, smilingly shyly. "I'm willing to if you are, N."

He wanted…to kiss him again? Did that mean anything special, or was it just him humoring him? He placed his small hands on the sides of Mihael's face, his eyes shaking. "Before…before we do that…I have to know…" His eyes were shifting, unsure of if he could say this or not.

'Come on, stupid! You can do this!' He thought, and then he looked at Mihael again. "D-Do you…howdoyoufeelaboutme?"

…That…didn't come out right. Did Mihael actually understand what he'd just said?

Mihael blinked and then looked away, thinking. "Uhm…how…do I feel about you…" He mumbled, his eyes shifting around.

Oh, great. Now he's gonna hate you, just like Mello—

'No, Mello and Mihael are different! Mihael doesn't hate me!' He scolded himself.

*~*~*~*

"Damnit, Near…" Mello held his head in his hands, shaking it slowly. "I'm not sure how to respond to that!" He closed his eyes. "How do I feel about him…"

Near's smile…

Near's laugh…

All of his emotions, so carefully tucked away in reality, were displayed for everyone to see in the Book, and Mello was getting to know the real Near.

The Near that shut himself off from everyone else…

'How do I feel about him?' He brought his hands down and smiled. 'I know how I feel about him.' He leaned over to write, smiling.

"N…" Mihael took special care to not care him away, choosing his words carefully. "I…I don't kiss just anyone. If that was the case, wouldn't I have let Matt kiss me whenever he liked? I've been pushing him away and pulling you close." He pulled him close and nuzzled him gently. "Doesn't that tell you how I feel about you?"

God, he was SAPPY! He pulled the pen away, staring at his own thoughts put onto paper. '…Ohmigawd, that's me?' He thought, blushing scarlet. 'I'm acting like a fucking Romeo, with all my sweet-talking!'

And, from what he could tell, Near was pulled in by it. 'Geez…'

N smiled shyly and nodded. "Yes, Mihael. I…I think it does." He wrapped his arms around his neck and gently kissed him, his ashen orbs slowly closing. "And I feel the same about you." He whispered into the kiss.

Mello pulled back, his heart pounding in his chest. "Shit, that's so fucking romantic!"

"Mello? Are you alright?" Matt called from the other side of the closed door.

Mello looked over his shoulder. "I-I'm fine!" He then moved over to the book and wrote his reply, ignoring the voice's giggling in his head as he interacted with Near.

"N…" Mihael stroking his hair gently, returning the kiss as he held him closer, deepening it. Then he slowly lay him down on the bed, his eyes shaking slightly. "I-I've never had a l-lover before…"

"N-Neither have I." N said shyly, opening his eyes. "I-I do not know how to be a good lover…but, I will try my best, Mihael. For, you have given me everything." He smiled. "Some of my memories…a heart to share…" He closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the pillow. "I am glad that you share the same feelings I do." He closed his eyes, lost in thought for the moment.

*~*~*~*

"N…" Mihael stroking his hair gently, returning the kiss as he held him closer, deepening it. Then he slowly lay him down on the bed, his eyes shaking slightly. "I-I've never had a l-lover before…"

"N-Neither have I." Near said shyly, opening his eyes. "I-I do not know how to be a good lover…but, I will try my best, Mihael. For, you have given me everything." He smiled. "Some of my memories…a heart to share…" He closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the pillow. "I am glad that you share the same feelings I do."

Yes, Mihael was his first lover…after all, even if he had feelings for Mello, Mello obviously didn't return the ones for him. And he deserved some happiness, didn't he? He loved Mihael, who was kind and gentle and cared for him so well and so often. 'I was so happy when he walked into the bathroom and saved me from Roger…' He thought, blushing as he remembered that their first meeting was something so…exposing.

Mihael blinked and stroked his cheek. "Why so quiet, N?" He said softly, his gaze loving and kind.

"I'm just…thinking." He looked up at him. "Uhm…how old do you think I am, Mihael?"

"I dunno." Mihael shrugged. "You look like a kid, but you could be an adult for all I know." He kissed his cheek. "Don't let your missing memories bother you, N. Live for the moment; your memories will come back in time."

Near sighed. "That's…not why I asked. Uhm…" He shifted slightly. "Uhm…d'you think…I'm too young for…anything intimate?"

Mihael's eyes widened and he moved back a bit. "Uhm…ah…I think we need to be well-rested for tomorrow, N. Big day, after all!" He pulled the blanket over him. "We can…think about…that stuff…later."

"But, we haven't had dinner yet. Why are we already sleeping?" Near frowned.

Mihael blinked and dropped the blanket. "…You're right. Anyway, we shouldn't think about stuff like that just yet. After all, we just started dating, and we don't want to go too fast, do we?" He looked embarrassed and flustered at the idea, and Near blinked in surprise.

"So…I guess that answers Matt's rather…personal question." He said, smiling a bit.

Mihael nodded. "Y-Yeah. I've never…done that stuff before."

Near giggled a bit and kissed him. "Alright, we'll wait, then!"

*~*~*~*

"Phew!" Mello let out a sigh of relief and put down the pen. "THAT was awkward, to say the least."

'Well, the kid's got hormones.' The voice let out a giggle of glee. 'But, are you really going to tell him about this place? What if his opinion of you changes?'

"Well…I'm sure he'll understand." Mello said, looking away.

'You sound doubtful. Do you think he'll really believe that gentle Mihael and cold and cruel Mello are the same person?' The voice asked teasingly.

"Shut up." Mello mumbled. "If you had a face, I'd punch it in, Book."

All he got was a giggle in response. He sighed and leaned over to write, frowning as he read the replies.

"Yeah, it might be a good idea." Mihael said, nodding as he shifted slightly next to N. "I mean…we're so busy…" He smiled and kissed him gently. "But, little things are okay."

"We leave you two alone for five minutes and you start making out! Geez, teenagers!" Beyond's voice drawled into the room.

Audrey looked at his raven-haired accomplice. "But, B…we're teenagers. We're not having sex and making out all over the place."

"Teenagers in their world?" Beyond offered playfully.

Audrey rolled his eyes. "Dinner will be done soon. Then we're going to all get some sleep and rest up for tomorrow. B's already got us a boat that's being made ready for us, as well as an armed crew, but I doubt what good that'll do against monsters. Perhaps N will be able to help with some hidden power?"

N shrugged. "I don't know if I have any hidden powers, so I can't promise anything."

"Near doesn't have any hidden powers…not normally…" Mello mumbled. "But, there's no telling what the book did to him."

'I'm not telling~!' The voice said playfully.

Mello rolled his eyes and leaned over to rejoin the conversation in the book.

"Okay, we'll see if he has any hidden powers later. But, I just want get one thing clear to you guys." Mihael stood up and crossed his arms over his chest. "It. Was. Just. A. Kiss. We're not 'having sex and making out all over the place', as you put it!"

"Yet." Both Kings said playfully.

*~*~*~*

Mihael looked ready to punch them, so Near quickly got off the bed and took Mihael's fists into his hands. "Mihael, please. Let's not be violent, okay? They're just joking around." He looked at the others firmly. "Right?"

Mihael blinked and then opened his fists, lacing his fingers with Near's. "Alright, N. I'll stop the unnecessary violence." He grinned and stroked Near's palms with his thumbs.

Near blushed a bit and slowly pulled his hands away. "Uh…uhm...let's go eat!" He ran past the two kings, going to the dining hall.

*~*~*~*

N blushed a bit and slowly pulled his hands away. "Uh…uhm...let's go eat!" He ran past the two kings, going to the dining hall.

Mello smiled. "Aww, so cute."

'So, if you're dating him in the book, will you still be going out when he's out here?' The voice asked innocently.

"…We'll see what Near says." Mello mumbled, looking back at the book. "I hope he won't hate me when I tell him the truth…"

A~*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*~A

Awww, Mello's so concerned. Yes, we have some MihaelxN love going, for those MelloxNear fans out there! And as for if N has secret powers…who knows? Near doesn't, normally, but maybe the book gave N some?

All this will be answered in due time, so review~!

(Holy shit, is this really 11 pages long? O.O The story's reached 56 pages now, and we're not NEAR done!)