End is just the Beginning

"Ohana means family

and family means nobody get's left behind…

or forgotten."

- Lilo, Lilo and Stitch

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Chapter 8: Oranges

Feuille spent most of her evening plunked on the floor of the living room filled with scattered papers. She was meticulously rereading the documents, making sure no angle, no evidence and no important fact had been overlooked. Her mind was pondering about the children who were kidnapped but she couldn't find any reports on what had happened to them.

I'm so sick and tired of living under L's shadow. I'll go on my own way starting this moment!

The loud voice of a young blonde lad replayed in her ears. She stopped what she was doing and her mind traveled to another path of thoughts. Is he really serious about leaving? For a short time she'd been with Mello there's one attitude she'd learned about him. Once he said it, he does it. She told Watari her view about the subject matter but she was disappointed when he said, "Mello is old enough to decide for himself. If he prefers to go, we should not stop him." Feuille considers the contrary however. Her impulse to contact L and inquire of his opinion intensifies every second. Unfortunately, she wasn't allowed to have any communication with him. For safety's sake according to Matt. Yet that wasn't the only thing stopping her to take hold of her phone and dial L's number. Feuille's bitter feelings toward the detective filled her chest once more. "Three days ago he's so sweet and kind but now he won't even look at me. I know he wants to keep me out of threat but he could have at least talked to me before he left. He's so insensitive."

Suddenly she felt sickened with herself. Who is she anyway to be offered with special attention? Her features softened once realizing what Mello could have been struggling with. It is really tragic to be infected with attention deficiency syndrome, as she calls it. At this point Feuille heard heavy footsteps going down the stairs. She arranged the dispersed documents, stood up and hitched a grin onto her face.

"According to Watari Matt's recovering with an unusual speed— what's with that weird smile Myers?" inquired Mello.

"Listen— Mello—I'm sorry."

"I thought we've settled this." He sighed, "We're cool alright?"

"Please don't leave."

The smile faded off Mello's face. "Come with me, I'll show you something interesting."

Mello led her to the basement. That is, if it could be referred to as one. It was a hundred fifty-yard indoor range which has a back wall with a sloped earthen bank, with reinforced baffles additionally situated along the roof and side walls. Modern shooting booths providing ample room for position pistol and rifle shooting, stood sophisticatedly before them.

Mello bragged about the shooting range which he designed himself. "The automatic target retrieval system will place targets at any distance in one-yard increments from three to one hundred fifty yard. The unique backstop and sound baffling systems allow you to shoot rifle calibers up to and including .460 Weatherby Magnum!"

"You call this interesting?" chuckled Feuille.

"These lovely chicks?" Mello reached for two guns and ogled at them, "Definitely."

"Now I get it why you don't have a love life."

"Women?" He had a disgusted look on his face. "They're bunch of humungous waste of time."

"Is that so?" She raised her eyebrow.

"I mean those who are slut, whore, idiot, nincompoop…"

She rolled her eyes, "Why is there a shooting range here anyway?"

"Because I'm going to teach you how to fire right here, right now."

"No way," she blurted out. "I don't want to hurt anyone."

"Who says about hurting anyone?" said Mello. "You'll just learn how to defend yourself. Besides you have no choice. This is mandatory and I assure you I did not beg for the job."

"It is mandated by whom?"

"I think it would be beneficial for you Miss Myers."

Feuille's stomach clenched as her auditory sensors interpreted the deep familiar voice she had heard. She quickly turned around expecting to see a weird-looking young man in white cotton shirt and faded blue jeans. However what greeted her was a television screen inserted on the wall. It had the gothic letter L.

"I asked Mello to refresh your memories in gun shooting. I don't want to leave you completely defenseless," said L. "I shall call again and inform you about the time of your flight to China. You'd be assigned with Light Yagami to investigate in a warehouse filled with preserve human organs. I would also like to say job well done Miss Myers and Mello, and please do send my greetings to Matt. I will contact you once more after several hours."

"Wait a minute," said Feuille.

"I am rather in a hurry Miss Myers," he said coldly, "Please make it brief."

"Another time I guess. It isn't important anyway." She answered meekly.

"Well goodbye then."

The screen automatically shut down and there was silence. For some reason Feuille found that she did not want to look at Mello. She picked up the gun at the table in front her and she seemed to have become intensely interested on it.

"Cold war?" said Mello, smirking. "What the heck happened?"

"I wish I knew." She said timidly.

"L is extremely difficult to comprehend at times." Mello pointed out, thinking what to advise next. "Just get use to it."

"Thanks my friend. That is so…comforting." She smiled sarcastically as she wore her ear protector.

"I know he can be so infuriating at times but he has reasons. Everyone does." He took a gun and shot four bullets, each going at the same hole of the shooting target. Mello had a proud grin on his thin lips, "Bull's eye."

"Then you're saying that you also have your own reasons for abandoning this investigation, yes?"

"Change topic," said Mello dismissively. "Are we going to start or not?"

"Are we going to start or not?" mimicked Feuille.

Mello gave her a chilling death glare. "Bitch."

"Okay I'm serious now. Let's begin." Said Feuille at once, not wanting to get at Mello's bad side.

Mello confidently began his discussion. He sounded like a college professor when he fervently explained several mathematical concepts, various physics laws, and a number of his self formulated techniques with relation to gun shooting. "But in the end, all you have to do is practice, practice and practice. Now check your grip. Aim with your sights perfectly aligned and hold still on the aiming mark. Now start pressing your trigger as before and as you are pressing it, stop thinking about it. Just stay on aim and focus hard on the foresight, maintaining that perfect alignment. Now fire!"

Feuille aimed at her target and missed the goal six times but hit it on her seventh try.

"Good, I can see the improvement. This time, go for the center." Said Mello.

Feuille angled her arm while holding the heavy pistol. After three tries she was able to hit the bull's eye. A satisfied grin became apparent on Mello's face. "I don't want to sound too pleased but you're learning incredibly fast Myers. Very good, keep it up and you'll be able to kill hundreds in no time."

"I'm not good," she said in pure modesty. "Maybe I'm used doing this thing before, I just forgot. Like what L said, your objective is to refresh my memories."

"Don't be so self-effacing besides you became that excellent because your mentor is immensely outstanding."

"Could you be more conceited than that?" Feuille gave a laugh.

"Lessons over. We'll train again tomorrow." Mello returned the equipments they've used to their proper places while Feuille helped remove the worn-out shooting targets. While doing so, she opened up a conversation. "When I said that you're immature, I was way too wrong."

"What are you blabbering about this time?" said Mello, frowning at her.

"The painting on the wall— the one beside the stairs. It was an activity at Wammy's for Valentine's, right?"

"How did you know?"

"There was a date silly. Moving on, so to match the celebration you drew your puppy love."

"No I did not. Are you blind or what? It's an abstract stupid!"

Not minding what he said, Feuille resumed talking. "But because Matt would know who she was, you concealed it under dark colors to make it appear like an abstract."

Mello opened his mouth but Feuille didn't give him time to have a say.

"The girl you painted was Emily but when Matt revealed to you his feelings you chose to give way for your best friend. To add seasoning to your predicament, you realized that Emily likes you too," she said coolly. "But letting your emotions take over would ruin your friendship with Matt. Betraying him would never cross your mind."

"Stop this crap Myers. You're wasting my time—"

"At that age when every kid is supposed to place his own desires above the needs of others and think only about himself, you stopped pursuing your own wishes and valued other people around you. That my friend is maturity. I'm so proud of you Mello!"

"You're insane," said Mello. Feuille was smiling eagerly at him. His cheeks were becoming crimson then he had a deep sigh, "Thanks."

They didn't talk to each for a moment and proceeded finishing their cleaning. Once every thing was back in place, Mello asked, "Just wondering. How did you figured out that Emily had a crush on me?"

"Her painting."

"But that was a creepy scarecrow with two large yellow eyes and wheat sticks for hair."

"It's you hot-blonde says so on the back," Feuille said giggling. "Good likeness, she has talent."

Mello threw the rag he was using to erase their fingerprints at her. It hit the television screen on the wall and fell on the floor. Then a gothic letter W became visible and shouted, "Mello! Feuille! Security has been breached. I repeat security has been breached!"

-ooo000ooo-

"You are making a big mistake L." A smooth cold voice erupted. It came from a boy who was sitting on the floor, meticulously constructing a long complex pattern of black and white dominoes.

"Is that what you think Near?" L responded calmly after taking a sip from his warm cup of tea. "Agent Myers is a sharp lady with incomparable intelligence. I daresay that she's extremely competent even with her memories wiped out."

"It still doesn't change the truth that she once had fabricated your assassination," Near replied with the same composure in his tone. "Don't you remember the reason why she had a relationship with you? She wants revenge for the death of her comrades whose lives had been terminated because they you sacrificed them."

L lowered his cup on the table and surveyed Near with his round black eyes. "Even given that reason, I know she had loved me."

"Suit yourself. Plant your own seed of dilemma which later on will grow and devour you," Near said with conviction. He lazily stood up and stared on the floor where small dominoes formed the name of the world renowned detective he respected. "L, dispose her back where you got her. You don't need a woman, she doesn't love you. You're just making a fool out of yourself."

L smiled tenderly, "The concept of this intricate emotion I have is very hard to fathom even by geniuses like you. I don't feel the need to explain myself any further though. I greatly respect your perceptions about Feuille so in return I expect that you respect mine. Besides there are many challenges we've been through which you know not. I suggest you avoid making any prejudices." L placed seven more cubes of sugar in his tea. "Feuille will stay until justice had been served to the victims of this GKIS genocide. And if something unpredicted occurred to me, please aid her in ending this felony."

"That will never happen." Near pushed the last piece of black domino and the rest tumbled one after another.

L's phone vibrated inside his pocket. "Excuse me." He gingerly picked his thin cell phone and placed it on his ear. "L we been attached by a group of armed men and they have detonated the entire headquarters. The events were fast— I failed to inform you— sorry—" a voice of an old man said breathlessly.

"Watari, where are you?" said L urgently.

"I will send you our coordinates," Watari replied.

-ooo000ooo-

"We're loosing him. We're loosing him." A doctor informed the other medical professionals.

L felt his heart racing while watching a number of physicians and nurses trying to revive a red-haired young man. Near who was twirling his hair in an unusual manner muttered that L should not worry because Matt has nine lives. Two weeks had come to pass since a vicious group of trained assassins attacked Watari and the juvenile detectives. Mello was badly scarred on his face, Feuille was bruised all over her body, Watari had a sprained ankle and Matt is in crucial stage.

"Patient has no pulse."

"Prepare the defibrillator. Charge it to two hundred forty volts… clear."

"Patient still has no pulse."

The machine's agonizing sound of static rhythm covered the entire room. L felt a terrible pain in his chest. He doesn't want to hear the doctor's confirmation. He refused to accept that Matt is really…

"Time of death, 5:48 a.m."

"Matt! Matt!"

L heard a loud voice rang across the hospital's corridor. "MATT!" Mello bawled while running frantically. He stopped dead on his tracks upon reaching the door. L faced his direction and slowly shook his head.

"No… it can't be," said Mello whose whole face was white. He quickly moved inside the room and saw the nurses pulling out the needles and removing respiratory equipments attached to Matt. His expression was inscrutable, "What the fucking shit are you doing?" he roared. "Put those back!"

"Sir, we've done our best but there is nothing we can do now." The nurse replied apologetically.

"BITCH! I SAID PUT THOSE BACK!" Mello yelled wrathfully.

"That's enough Mello, that's enough," L clapped a comforting hand on Mello's shoulder.

But Mello hastily removed it. "WHY WOULD I STOP— DON'T YOU EVEN FUCKING CARE IF MATT DIES— WELL THAT'S NOTHING NEW BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER CARED ABOUT IS THAT ALBINO BASTARD!" He angrily pointed a finger at Near. Mello stormed out of the room and immediately vanished. It didn't took time though before L found him in his room sitting mournfully, his head bended low and strands of his golden locks hid his scarred face.

"Don't sympathize with me L, I don't deserve it." Mello said. "I admit the fact that Near is superior to me. Anyway I'm nobody but a failure. I let Feuille get hurt and Matt…and Matt…" he said very quietly.

"You had secured the GKIS files and let your face be burned to protect your three companions. You are rather successful in my opinion." L's expression was calm, almost detached.

"I DON'T FUCKING CARE!" Mello yelled at him and snatched up a flower vase and flung it across the room. It shattered into hundred tiny pieces against the wall. "I'VE HAD ENOUGH, I WANT IT TO END. I'M LEAVING. I DON'T CARE ANYMORE! MATT IS DEAD!" Mello got his foot on the ground and ran to the door, seized the knob and wrenched at it. However the door would not open. Mello turned back to L and pointed a gun at him. L was quite curious how he possessed the weapon.

"Let me out." Mello said in a voice that was cold and almost as composed as L's.

L stared at him, "Shoot me if that will lessen the pain inside you. I do not plan to hinder your departure. You can go but not until I have had my say," said L serenely.

"Do you think— do you think I give a damn— I don't want to hear anything you've got to say!"

"Mello, I care about you and Matt a lot…" L said simply. "…even if you don't want to believe."

Mello remained still, glued his eyes on the white floor then lowered his gun. L walked slowly to his direction and took the gun from his hand. "You know this metal object actually reflects the inner human in you. If there is anything more scarce and rarer than ability, it is the capacity to recognize ability. Mello can't you see that you are an individual fearfully conceived for excellence? I am proud that you have grown to be a person of strong will and determination. You know where to strike and how to do it."

L lifted up Mello's somber face with his cold hand. "Yet like a gun, you need a hand for direction. You need someone to click the trigger. Who can do that better than your family— we are your family. If there is any place more adequate for you to achieve your dreams, to discover your life's purpose, it is here. Here with the people who love you." He paused and smiled, "That is the purpose of the oranges I had been giving you my dear Mello."

"You?" said Mello, his jaw dropping. "But the DNA results pointed to Emily—"

"I asked her to do me a favor." L placed his hand on his pockets.

"Are you telling the truth? I mean—" He sounded guilty for not appreciating the fruits he had been receiving.

"Indeed I am. Here have this." L took a fresh looking round orange from his pocket and tossed it to Mello. "Would you kindly open it for me?" Mello glared at him for a moment, still drowned in disbelief. Afterwards he did what was asked of him.

"Tell me, what do you see?"

Mello shot him a tentative look. "Stop making fun of me L."

"What do you see?" He asked again.

"Of course it's a fruit, a regular sized sphere about two inches in diameter. It is a circle of sections held together but separable."

"Exactly." A grin curved in his lips. "If the family were a fruit it would be an orange. A circle full of distinct divisions, held as one but each segment separable and exceptional. Each threw themselves into the interests of the rest, but each plowed his or her own furrow. Their thoughts, their little passions, hopes and desires, all ran along separate lines. Family is like this - animated but collateral. True enough in Wammy's we are a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing ideas and toothpaste, coveting one another's books and desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing toys, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, learning, laughing, and defending. Mello what do you think will happen if one section of this orange fruit will leave?"

Mello did not answer. L walked towards the windows to watch the sunrise. "Matt was finally called by the Creator. If you go away, what do you think will happen? How can Matt's soul rest in peace if his murderers are still on the loose?"

L heard a loud bump on the floor. Turning around, he saw Mello on his knees and his hands on his face, and then the blonde young man broke into a storm of crying.

"Mihael," said L compassionately, walking over to him. "It's alright. Let all the pain out." He said soothingly as he lowered himself and console Mello with an embrace. It took time before Mello stopped sobbing. L removed his arms around him and handed him a white handkerchief.

"Thanks." He said in a weak voice while mopping his eyes. They lifted themselves from the ground.

"Could you do me a favor," said L. "Taste this orange fruit just this time."

Mello took it, ate it and had a genuine smile, "It's sweet. Taste better than chocolates."

Seconds later, L and Mello's attention was caught by loud knocks on the door. When L pulled the door open, a lady was standing there with tears spilling out of her eyes.

"Feuille," L and Mello voiced at the same time. L stared at her with pure concern. He was currently mental blocked on what to do to comfort her. Mello however managed to say, "You have to be strong Myers. Matt would not want to see you crying."

"Matt…" she was gulping now, mopping her eyes frantically with her cuffs. L and Mello were surprised when Feuille showed them a big smile, "He's… alive."

To be continued...


Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Hope to hear comments from you guys. Writer Crafter, my ever beloved friend, thanks. Kiong Hee Huat Tsai everyone! (Happy New Year)