_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Me: Near, I just want to say I am SO Sorry ;___;

Near: And why is that? Also, where is Mello and Matt?

Me: I had to get rid of them. Right now, they don't know about this chapter. ;__;

Near: I'm beginning to worry. What exactly did you do?

Me: *SOBS* I AM SO GOING TO REGRET THIS CHAPTER. SO MUCH DRAMA! It's like a one-shot, I guess....

Near: Now I'm afraid... o.o

Me: Uh, on the bright side, sales of "The Adventures of Nekked Matto" have shot up by 1000%! So many copies sold! ^///^

Near: For every copy sold, Matt dies a little on the inside.

Me: OH SHUT UP.

Near: Make me.

Me: "Kinky Legos: Near's Night in Paradise" is now on sale for $12.50! HA, STICK THAT IN YOUR JUICEBOX AND SUCK IT!

Near: -_- Anyway, Misseh does not own Death Note or its characters.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Act Nine: Private Affairs

The next morning, you woke up halfway off the bed, at risk of falling to the floor. Mello slept soundly with his limbs sprawled out across the bed, leaving you no room. He had his quirks, sure, but his sleeping habits were beginning to get on your nerves.

"Mello!" you whispered, shoving his shoulder. "Wake up! I've got no room!"

Mello groaned, opening one eye to look at you. "What do you want?"

You pressed your cheek into his shoulder, sighing. "For once, I would like to get a full night's sleep without falling off the bed."

You turned over, staring at the clock. "…but it's no use now, anyway. I've got work. Maybe I'll make it on time for once today."

Mello grabbed your arm, hugging it tightly. "Don't go to work today. When you're in the hands of that little white freak, I never know if you'll make it back," he whined. You shook him away, heading for your closet to change.

"Mello, I can't skip. How do you think I afford to live here? Not only that, but you guys just add to my expenses."

Mello frowned, grasping your hand again. "Then I'm coming."

You sighed. It's like trying to reason with a spoiled kid, you thought. "Mello, can you stay home today? I need someone to watch over the place, anyway. I mean, even though Matt wrote in jam on the wall, I've still been on edge about safety in here."

Matt floated lazily into the room on his back, yawning. "Why am I always blamed for everything? I didn't mess up your wall."

You lifted your eyebrow, confused. "It wasn't you? That's weird…do you think maybe I attracted more than one ghost after me?" you said, laughing.

It was a strange mystery, but you pushed it aside. If you made it out the door now, you might actually be on time.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You pushed open the doors to the SPK investigation room, a wild smile spread across your face. "Near!" you shouted. "LOOK! I'M ACTUALLY ON TIME TODA-"

You stopped dead in your tracks when you saw the room was empty for everyone except the said albino.

"Hey, where is everyone?" you inquired, setting your things down on your work desk. Near sighed, twirling his hair from habit.

"Well, I called everyone today to let them know that there were no cases, so they could stay home. I was going to call you three hours later than everyone else, however, seeing as you're always late. I suppose luck is not on your side, since you chose today of all days to be on time."

You felt your heart drop. "So it doesn't count?"

"No."

"Aw, damn it…"

You sighed, sitting in your chair with a pout. "Should I just go home, then?"

Near was silent for a moment in thought. "Well, I don't know, it's up to you. However, if you like, I have to run some errands, and it would be appreciated if you came along."

"I don't have a choice, do I?"

"No."

"I thought so."

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Near was like a kid in a candy store, and he certainly looked the part as he walked through the Toys isle of Wal-Mart, looking up and down the tall shelves.

"This is your 'errands' you had to run?" you said in annoyance, struggling to balance the bags of toys you carried for Near in your arms. Near was almost unresponsive; most of his attention was focused on choosing which color car he wanted, or what type of robot was more suitable.

When you finally followed Near to the checkout counter, you felt as though your arms were going to fall off at any moment. You almost threw all the toys onto the conveyer belt, heaving a sigh.

"E-Excuse me?" the nervous female clerk asked. She couldn't have been over 16; most likely this was her first job. "A-Are you sure you're old enough for a credit card? O-Or you're young enough to be 20? I-I mean, I don't know….white hair, but so short and baby-faced…."

Near frowned, narrowing his eyes. "I am twenty, miss. And I certainly am old enough to have a credit card."

"Are you sure about that, though? I mean, it's illegal to-"

"May I speak to your manager, please?"

You put your hand over your mouth, trying to hold in your laughter. Wow, it's amazing how fussy Near gets when it comes to toys. You took a deep breathe, and decided to help out the poor, misunderstood boy.

"It's ok, Near, I got it," you said, opening your wallet. Though it's a huge bite out of my budget…

The clerk accepted your card with no questions asked, much to your enjoyment. You paid quickly, carrying the heavy Wal-Mart bags full of toys. Near followed suit, silently sulking in defeat.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You pressed your nose to the window of the limo, watching as you passed by countless cars on the freeway.

"Near, I'm pretty sure this isn't the way to SPK headquarters. Where are we going now?"

"You'll see. I wouldn't let your assistance go unrewarded, would I?" he said vaguely. You scrunched your nose in suspicion, expecting to fall into another trap. You watched out the window as the limo pulled up to what looked like an abandoned warehouse.

"This is the Yellow Box, somewhat famous as the place I put a stop to Kira," Near said in monotone. You felt your jaw drop, getting out of the limo slowly.

"Wow, Near…But what are we doing here?" you asked curiously, walking up to the entrance. Near held onto the doorknob, but not opening the door just yet.

"Well, I recall back in Wammy's you mentioning snow was your favorite weather. Since I bought this place, but had really no important use for it…."

Near turned the doorknob and opened the door, holding it for you.

"I turned it into this."

A cold wind hit your cheeks, blowing your hair away from your face. Your eyes widened at what was before you.

"No. Fucking. Way! Near, you didn't! This is absolutely amazing!"

Near had turned the entire Yellow Box into a winter wonderland, complete with indoor snow and a small ice skating rink on the side.

You felt Near drape a coat best he could on your shoulders. "I told you there was a reward."

You grabbed onto the albino's arm, tugging him into the snow with you. You dived into the snow, rolling around with laughter.

You took a deep breathe, lying in the snow with Near sitting beside you. "Wow, this is just…it's fantastic! I'm speechless!"

The corners of Near's lips tugged upward in a shy smile. "If you like it, then I'm….that's good."

You smirked. "C'mon Near, just admit you can feel, that you're glad. I always knew you weren't that robotic. Still, why go through all this trouble? I'm nothing special."

Near sighed, twirling his hair again.

"Everyone has always ignored me, claiming just as you do, that I was 'robotic', or that because of my genius I thought I was 'better' than they were. Even in Wammy's. But I always remembered you never did that, and went out of your way to include me….So, I made it my mission to go out of my way and return the favor."

You smiled, touched by his words. "That's sweet, Near. You're a great friend."

Near turned to you, a glint in his eyes. "I'm not finished yet…Also, you say you're nothing special, but I beg to differ. You are very much different from the idiots I see constantly in my life…considering you're still an idiot, but nonetheless…"

You scoffed, but quickly quieted, letting him continue.

"….nonetheless, I have always seen you as someone who had stood out. Someone who for once cared and noticed me, and….I c-care for you."

Your heart stopped. It was the first time you had ever heard Near stutter; the first time you witnessed deep emotion in him. You were confused, unsure by what exactly his words meant. In your mind, you prayed he was stuttering from the cold, and his red cheeks were from jumping in snow.

"M-Miss Harmony, I care deeply for you, though I may not be good at showing it. Mello may not be aware, but he did beat me in something. If it were not for Mello, I….."

Oh my God, no…

Near stopped talking, and leaned down to cup your face in his cold hands. He pressed his lips clumsily against yours only for a second before moving away, face flushed. He observed your expression carefully his eyes widening considerably.

He looks…regretful; almost scared…

"……."

"…..I-I'm terribly sorry….I do not know what-"

"Please, Near."

He shut up immediately, eyes glued to you. Both of you sat in the snow, the cold of both the silence and of the atmosphere engulfing you both.

You got up wordlessly, heading to the limo, Near following from a distance.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The limo ride was long and painful, the gleeful aura from before now long lost. When the car stopped in front of your motel, you sat in the car for a good five minutes.

"….Near."

He looked at you; it was the first word you had said to him in hours.

"Today never happened."

"Correct."

And so, you got out of the car and entered your building, labeling today as utter taboo. Life would go on normally; what Mello didn't know would hurt him, but you locked it away, for both your sake and his.