A/N: Thank you all for your sweet reviews! It's alright for me to skip lunch because I can just eat in my next class so don't worry and I enjoy working on this. I hardly ever want to leave the monitor, caught in the dream of the story as I am.

-

Songs For a Kingdom Now Lost.

seven.

After the initial shock of Mello having said yes to his proposal, Near paused to think and then told Mello that they would have to begin as soon as possible since they only had a month, now, twenty-nine days until the auction. He told the blond to come to his room the next day around five o' clock so that they could start.

"Why not earlier? We'll need all the time we can get - like I said before, you're not L."

"I'm aware, Mello, but for me, the best light to paint by is sunset and nightlight. And… besides that, I think that's what will be in the painting. It will be more realistic, don't you think so?"

"Whatever. Five?"

"Five."

"Alright."

So Mello went back to his room and Near went back to his and went to sleep through many labors. He dreamt in the color of Mello's eyes and hair and mannerisms. He went through everything he'd seen the boy do in the past weeks and everything he could think of him doing. Much of how good the painting would be was the substance, it heavily relied on Mello's body and face and expression. As Near continued into unconsciousness, he wondered what would make the people swoon over Mello even more than they did now.

In Near's dreams, Mello was languidly hung over on all the furniture of his room – he was scowling, laughing, eating chocolate and telling the world what to do. Near had a feeling his very first painting of Mello had been somewhat on target. If anything, Mello was colorful beyond the capture of a paintbrush. But to beat L…

Near determined to capture it.

-

The next day at around eleven in the morning, Matt was out on the campus, walking around with his goggles on along with a pair of wrinkly jeans that he and Mello had been sharing for the past week or so. For once, neither his DS nor PSP were on him. Not even his age-old Gameboy Color that he sometimes carried around for fun. He was told by his partner to meet him in the teacher's lounge in the central building at eleven and Matt, truth be told, was truly ecstatic. He had never been a model before and hadn't even considered it but when Raito had asked him, something just told him to say yes and he did.

Students didn't usually have too many Sunday classes, if any at all so the campus was alive with its pupils all in the courtyards and on the grass. Matt walked through them, waving at some who said hello to him first and then declining invites from his fellow photographers to hang out.

"I've got work to do!" he called, walking by.

"Work?" one asked, incredulous. "Since when do you work?"

"I'm paired off with Yagami for the fundraiser."

"Aw, what? A sculptor?"

"Better than pairing with your lazy ass!"

They laughed and let Matt go on about his business. The weather was breezy, it hadn't rained in a bit but the grass was still somewhat wet with past rains. When he got inside the central building, he headed for the second floor and a few doors down; he found the teacher's lounge. He opened the door, unafraid of being caught or reprimanded and was greeted with the sight of his partner and L sitting at one of the tables by the snack machines.

"You're going to die from all that sugar, you know," Raito said, looking mildly at his raven-haired colleague as he worked on his second slice of strawberry shortcake. Raito himself was having a peanut butter sandwich and ate with a dignified look about him.

"It seems to me," said L, "that I would die anyway, Raito."

"Call me Yagami."

"Alright, Raito."

Matt came over to announce himself, not able to help his grinning at the two's conversation. He nudged Raito with his knuckles and the man looked up at him. Matt smiled widely. "Hey, Rai – Yagami! How's it hanging? Ready to get to work?"

Raito regarded him calmly. "You may call me Raito, Matt."

"Uh… really? But you're always so anal about that."

Raito glared slightly, clearing his throat. "I don't intend to be anal about anything but I think formality is the way to go in a school environment. However, you and I will be engaging in intimate activities for the next month and I think it essential that we are on a first-name basis. … What?"

Both Matt and L were staring at the brunet, the former blushing slightly.

"What? What are you looking at?"

"Raito, you sound very perverted describing the relationship between you and your model," L remarked.

"Uh, yeah, man. You know, not that I mind…" Matt coughed.

"I did not sound perverted! Don't be mad because I am more versed in the English language than you, Lawliet. And only Matt is permitted to call me Raito!"

"I meant no harm," L said innocently. "I only noted that you may be a pervert."

"What?"

"Maybe you are not suited to have Matt as your model."

"I am ignoring you, Lawliet." Raito huffed childishly and turned to Matt who was still a light shade of pink. "Matt, we will go in a minute. I've been waiting to see who Lawliet has chosen for his model, he should be joining us soon. I have heard it is a student in one of my basic classes."

"Really?" Matt blinked.

"Yes," L said, looking towards the door. Only a few seconds passed before the door opened and a young man with ink-like hair and a dark blue tee-shirt on came flying in. He was flushed in the face and sweating a little. He recognized his professor and L right away and hurried over to them with a smiling face.

"S-Sorry I'm late! I woke up and ate and then forgot about the time, please forgive me!" he cried, bowing over and over again as he stood next to Matt.

Raito's left eye was twitching. "Matsuda?"

"Yes, professor?"

"Uh… Ahem. Um, Lawliet, this is an… interesting choice on your part." Matsuda can barely work with wood without chopping off every one of his fingers! He is so clumsy and simple… a complete danger to himself and those around him. How could L choose him?

Matsuda turned to Matt and stuck out his hand. "Hello, I'm Matsuda! Are you Professor Yagami's model?"

"Uh… yeah, I'm Matt. Hey." He shook the student's hand, half-smiling. What a happy guy…

Raito stood from his seat and pushed the chair in. "We should go now, Matt."

He nodded. "Sure."

"Us as well, Matsuda." L stood and brushed the front of his shirt free of all the cake crumbs. He ignored Raito's sneer at his messiness and told the boys to continue out into the hallway. They did so, Matsuda talking a mile a minute at Matt who was trying to keep up and when the door swung closed, Raito turned to him.

"Why?" he asked desperately.

"You don't approve of him?"

"He… he's a good person," Raito admitted. "Very friendly. But he knows nothing about art and he's a fidgetter; hardly suitable material. And I want to beat you at your best, not when you're paired with Matsuda."

"I assure you, Raito, I will be at my best. Although my first choice had been Near… but this will be fine too. And when I do defeat you yet again, you will have to make good on your end of our bet."

"Just be prepared to lose, Lawliet. We have ideals."

"As do we."

The door opened just a bit and in popped Matsuda's eager face. "Come on, L! ... Oh! I can call you L, can't I?"

"Yes, of course."

"Great! Let's go! Oh wow, this is so exciting!"

Raito chuckled. "I bet you can't wait to get started."

"… I suppose…"

-

Of course the rain couldn't be abated for long. As the day grew towards the afternoon, the rain started up again, softly spreading over the campus, driving some of the students who had earlier lounged about on the fields inside to their dorms or the cafeteria but this was the time which Near decided to come out of his room where he had been holed up all day. He thought it was strangely uncharacteristic of him to skip the only class he had had that day but this seemed so much more important to the point at which he no longer cared about his offense and, really, his teacher probably wouldn't miss him.

He came out of his room quietly and through the window in the hallway, he could see it drizzling outside and the trees were dark colors and soaking. Not many people passed him as he went downstairs and crossed the breezeways away from the student dorms and went to the painter's building beside it. There were three floors and an auditorium and Near made sure to check every floor to check for what he sought.

It had occurred to him whilst in his room that he had never laid eyes on the painting that had won first place at last year's fundraiser. He thought he should go find it for many reasons and maybe one of them, though he really did not want to admit this reason to himself just yet, is he wanted to see how good L could be out of a professional environment. He was almost sure that L would not spare any exertion to make even a small school-fundraiser painting one of his best and with Mello as he subject, Near was sure it was brilliant.

His footsteps were quiet from the protection of his socks that were probably muddy on the bottom by now. He'd covered the floors and then went to the lobby where the doors to the auditorium were placed on the other side. He made his way across the linoleum and was almost at the doors when something caught his eye and he looked to the left – and there, suspended on the wall, was Mello. Near walked over as if caught in a dream to the portrait that was almost as tall as he was.

Mello's body was stretched vertically along the length of the canvas, clad in his usual leather attire and colliding with blacks and whites spiraling into him, filling his clothes with the darkness and filling his skin with off-white tones. Mello's face was at the bottom of the painting, seeming as if he were hung upside down but Near knew that was probably how L had intended it. Near studied the way the spirals of dark and light were spread and splotched on the outside of Mello but other than that, it was uniform. All except Mello himself. The way he held his left arm dangling to the side and his right arm was crossing his chest, his hand over his heart.

His blue eyes were the only thing colored in something other than black and white, not even his hair was blond. But his irises were wide and jumped out at Near and the way Mello's lips were parted and his tongue, soft and inviting, could be seen in his mouth. Yes, Near could see that Mello's body made this painting, everything about his posture was so sensual and Near thought that that was why it had won. Yes, the painting that L had done was beautiful and skilled but Mello… Mello.

Near tilted his head to the side and lifted his hand up to his hair, twirling two locks at the same time as he considered. He noticed how much of Mello's body was covered by the leather. That was something Near had a problem with – and had he been anywhere else, he would have laughed at the thought of him critiquing L's work – they way all Mello had to offer was not being used properly. The sexuality of the work was just bubbling over the horizon, mainly exposed by Mello's posture and the opening of his mouth. But oh, all the things that could be felt just by seeing the skin on Mello's thighs or his chest.

"You were not used properly," Near whispered, tugging on his bangs.

"You think so?"

Near gasped and turned his head to see the real thing standing behind him, looking down at him and grinning slightly. The dusky light coming through the large windows on all sides of the room lit Mello's face up.

"Mello…" Near sighed, quickly regaining his composure.

"It's so weird to see you out of class or our room," he remarked casually. He was looking up at the painting again, his eyes calm as he surveyed it. "Do you think you could do a better job with me?"

Near paused. "Yes. I know what to do, it's just…"

"Just?"

"Just a matter of being able to do it."

Mello cracked a smile. "We should get to it then, don't you think?"

"Yes."

Just then the clock at the top of the dorm building signaled the time and the bells chimed five times in a row. Mello and Near looked at each other and Mello started off in the direction of the dorms, used to leading the way and not about to follow Near around. It didn't take long for the two to make it back to the dorms and Near swiped his cardkey down the pad, opening the door for Mello to walk through first.

"I'm not a girl, Near, you don't have to… hmm." Mello walked in anyway and Near came in afterwards, shutting the door behind himself. Mello stood a few feet from the door, surveying the way the room was; the furniture moved all out of the way and there were boxes upon boxes of toys on either sides of the room. The couch was turned towards the door and pushed to the opposite side of the room and the only other thing out in the middle was a easel and a medium-sized canvas facing the couch. Both of the drapes on the windows were thrown widely open, letting dust time light fill the room. Mello tilted his head. "You moved everything by yourself?"

"Yes," Near said, coming around Mello and sitting on the couch, one knee drawn up as usual. He looked at Mello, seemingly considering, and then patted the seat next to him. "Please, come sit. We'd best get started."

Mello smirked, finding this to be somewhat cute. It was, in a way, like seeing a young boy play pretend, just like Near's other games and Mello supposed that he was the boy's playmate instead of Matt. Just this once.

He came over and sat next to Near, leaning back into the cushions. "Okay. Now what?"

"Well, now I'm going to position you."

"Oh, are you?" he asked, still smirking.

"Yes. But I require that you remove some clothing."

Mello shrugged and moved to unbutton his shirt. When it was off, he tossed it to the ground and grinned up at Near, holding up his hands. "Ready now?"

"More," Near said.

Mello paused. "More? Well, I don't have anything on under the pants-"

"Yes, that is what I want."

There was silence then, both boys staring at each other; Near's eyes were languid and relaxed as he studied Mello's torso and Mello's expression was one of confusion and disbelief. He searched for words. "You… you want to do a nude picture?"

"It will be tasteful, I assure you. But for art some things must be sacrificed."

"… Like dignity?"

"There is nothing undignified in nudity. Are you not proud of your body?"

"H-Hey, don't try that reverse-psychology shit on me!"

"Would you not undress for L if he asked?"

Mello blinked slowly. That was sort of a good question. Would he undress for L? Wouldn't that cross some lines between teacher and student? And even if it did in a normal school, this was art and they would have been partners. Didn't that change the playing field a little? Mello groaned, turning his head away. "Hell if I know. And L would never ask that of me anyway."

"That's why I think we can win. If we stretch limitations that others won't, we shall certainly stand out, don't you think so?"

"But you have to appeal to the audience, Near," Mello said vehemently. "The people who buy these pieces are Irai's benefactors - fat, old, rich men and women. Who in hell is going to want a naked picture of me in their foyer in that category?"

"I said it would be tasteful."

"A penis is a penis! Tasteful does not come into play!"

Near blushed. "Honestly, Mello, I'm not asking that of you."

"What then?"

"Let me position you. You'll see. Please."

Mello snorted lightly and, with lowered shoulders, groaned to himself and began to work on the zipper of his pants. Near turned his head politely away while Mello took them off and threw them to the side. Near looked back and was unsuccessful at not letting his eyes linger. Mello was slightly flushed. "Alright, let's go."

"Lay down." Near motioned towards the head of the couch. "On your stomach…"

Mello did as he was told and waited for further instruction. Instead, Near came down on his knees beside Mello and took the teen's left thigh in his hands, causing a shiver to bounce up Mello's spine. He held back whatever was going to come out of his mouth - a curse, a moan - and let Near cross his legs over. He then went back up to Mello's torso and moved his left hand up to the armrest and let it rest there. Mello was breathing a little heavier than normal, maybe it was the chill from having his clothes discarded or maybe it was the fact that Near's eyes seemed so invading, so probing of every part of his body. He tried to avoid the cloudy eyes as much as possible until Near said to him, "Look at me."

Mello looked up, not moving his head.

"Talk to me."

"… What? What in hell do you want me to say?"

"Get mad at me."

"If you don't stop with the demands, I will get mad at you-"

"Can you cry, Mello?"

"What?"

Near backed up and stood, his hand twirling at a lock of hair thoughtfully as he looked down on Mello. He thought for a minute, trying to think of a way to make the teen pant harder. He had been breathing heavily when Near was touching him so maybe… Near reached down and gripped Mello's thigh again with pressure and Mello shuddered and slapped his hand away, sitting up.

"No touching. What the fuck is the matter with you? Did you do this just to see me naked and perv on me? Because you're acting very-"

"I need your body to seem exerted for the pose," he explained.

"Hell, tell me that then! That's what I'm here for, you don't have to feel me up to get something out of me."

You make it sound so simple, Mello. "Yes, I understand. Please do so for me."

Mello watched the boy suspiciously for a second before laying himself back down and placing his arms and legs back into position. He looked down towards the floor and for a second, said nothing, but his breathing became labored and soon he was lightly panting, his cheeks becoming slightly redder. He was probably embarrassed for doing this in front of Near and Near knew this but he told himself that Mello would have to get over whatever level of shyness he harbored. They were partners now.

"Thank you," he said softly, still twirling his hair. "You can stop."

Mello sighed a little, lifting his eyes to Near. Near went away to the easel, sitting at the stool there in his odd manner and regarded Mello this way. After a bit of silence, Near announced in monotone, "I will do the details of your face last. That is one of the most important things to me…"

"So I'm seriously going to lay here naked for the next month?"

"I'm looking at you through the eyes of an artist," he said placidly and shifted some things around on the shelf below the canvas.

"Yeah, yeah," he sighed. "Sometimes I wonder why I got into this profession."

Near held back a smile, lifting a brush. "Relax, Mello. Just stay that way… keep your eyes open. Arch your back into the cushion… Push your left hand up a little… And let your left leg dangle over the couch. There. That's it," Near said in a soothing voice as he spread the tips on a few of the brushes. He glanced up at Mello and saw the pinkish shades on his cheeks and the hazy, somewhat embarrassed look in his eyes. It was quite a contrast to the sharpness in his eyes when he was angry. Now he seemed more human.

"You're quite beautiful," the boy murmured, not intending for it to be heard.

Mello heard it anyway. "Tell me something I don't know."

-

to be continued.

-

A/N: I got this out a little early, hoping to make up for the last time. Plus, I really didn't have too much to put into this chapter but I got the main things done. XD It would help me greatly if you continued to tell me what you think, that way I know what to do. Thank you!