Chapter nine:
Mello blinks at those words. "What do you mean? What happened?"
Near slightly looks up to Mello. "Seems Matt didn't tell you... What happened..."
"Near... Tell me what's going on and what happened. My memory gets blurry starting at a certain point."
Near looks away quietly for a few moments before turning back to Mello. "That other vampire... He... He injected venom into you. You were going to die... So... So I..." He closes his eyes with a soft sigh. "I drank your blood until I could no longer taste the venom."
Mellos eyes widen in surprise upon hearing this. "You... You..." He begins unsure what to say for half a second. "You saved my life."
Near looks back down. "I was scared that you wouldn't wake up. That the venom got too far into you before I could save you." He explains making Mello realize just how close to death he truly came to.
Mello smiles softly and puts a hand on Nears shoulder. "Hey. I'm still here right?" He tries to assure Near with a gentle look that appeared on his face when he smiled. "Just think that now we can return to Whammys or start a brand new life."
Near doesn't look at Mello still. "Mello
I can't."
Mellos face falls. "Why not?" He asks.
Near closes his eye for a moment with a soft sigh. "I already sent a message as I said earlier."
"What are you talking about?" Mello demands.
Near opens his eyes half way and slightly turns to Mello enough to stare into Mellos eyes. "I'm going back to live with the two I see as parents to me. Beyond Birthday and Always After."
Mello frowns. "But why?!"
"Because since I have drunken human blood I am now a fully fledged vampire." Near explains letting only his eyes flicker away. "I am returning to them as I have only them to help me with the ways of the vampire now that my body has made the change."
"Oh... I... I see..." Mello says disappointed.
"Mello?" Near raises his eyes again to the other.
"I'm sorry Near. I guess... I just wanted things to be well where we will be able to see each other." Mello closes his eyes softly and tilts his head up to the ceiling. "That we wouldn't have to say goodbye."
Near finds a pink blush dusting his cheeks at those words. "Mello..." He says feeling lost for words. He wanted to describe the feeling of hurt he's been feeling ever since he came to realize that he and Mello will have to part saying goodbye... He... He just doesn't know how to explain it... This pain he feels deep down inside of his soul.
Mellos eyes snap open as he if remembers something which is why he did that. He lowers his head turning back to Near. "Make a contract with me."
Near turns his head fully to look to Mello. "Mello-" he begins but the blonde cuts him off.
"Near. Please. Do this so we can stay together. Make a contract with me so we won't have to say goodbye."
Mello smiles kindly. "Also there is a second bonus mainly for you." He adds. "It is that you won't have to hurt or kill other human beings."
Near blinks and his eyes scan Mellos own for a few small moments of silence. "Mello... You've felt the pain that happens when a vampire bites its victim." He begins. "You're not thinking about that. You'll be feeling that over and over again."
Mello shakes his head closing his eyes softly with a soft smile. "This time I think it is you who doesn't understand Near." He opens his eyes half way and looks into Nears eyes. "I understand the pain of the bite. I understand what I am getting myself into."
Near opens his mouth to say something but Mello shushes him by putting a finger on his lips. He closes his lips as Mello puts a finger on his lips.
"Near..." Mello says and Near looks up from Mellos finger to look to Mellos eyes. "Please understand that I understand what it is I am getting myself into." He removes his fingers from Nears lip as he continues to watch Near with half open eyes. "But... I just can't lose you. Not just because I need to beat you fair and square but because... Because I've finally figured out this strange feeling inside of me."
Near tilts his head softly in question.
Mello smiles a little more. "I like you Near. You're not an enemy. You're someone I care for. I just never truly realized it or understood it until you saved me from death. Then it all became clear." He tells Near who moves his head to its rightful angle. "So please Near... Don't make me lose you..."
Near feels speechless at what Mello has just told him. He opens his mouth but can't find his voice so he closes it again to try to find his voice.
"So what do you say?" Mello asks smiling a little more as he sees the speechless Near. "Will you make a contract with me?"
Near pauses for a few moments then he finally finds his voice. "I don't want to lose you either." He responds.
Mello can't help but grin at this. "So you'll do it?"
"If Mello is absolutely sure he knows what he is getting into."
Mello puts and arm around Near's shoulders. "Don't worry I know."
"Now all that's left is to make it official." Near says turning to face Mello.
"How?" Mello asks.
"It's not that complicated. I just need to place a mark on you that will alert other vampires that you are in a contract with me or if they don't know then in a contract with another vampire." Near explains.
"And how do you do that?" Mello asks.
"With a simple bite in a certain spot." Near responds. "Right where your shoulder meets your neck. That spot is only bit by a vampire if it's their mate or someone that they are making a contract with."
Mello nods. "Alright." He agrees and raises a hand to move the collar of his long sleeved black shirt to expose the spot. "Let's do this."
Near swallows harshly then moves closer to Mello. He slightly stands on his toes as he opens his mouth exposing his fangs.
Mello closes his eyes waiting for the bite to take place.
Near spares Mello a final glance before sinking his fangs into the correct spot.
Mello clenches his teeth as he feels Near's fangs sink in. He holds back a hiss of pain as Near closes his eyes enjoying the warm delicious blood that floods his mouth.
The taste of the blood that can only be described as Mello's blood.
Near swallows the blood in his mouth then pulls his fangs out.
The vampire that did the bite cannot smell the small smell of the claim but other non-human creatures can letting them know to back off from that person.
Near pulls away from Mello and opens his eyes. He turns to a small table beside him where he placed the medical equipment that was used to help treat the bite on Mello's wrist. He bandages the bite he just made with a gauze square then he makes sure it stays there with medical tape as Mello opens his eyes to watch as best as he can. He puts the stuff down when finished. "There. Done."
Mello smiles. "Good."
"Now in exchange for feeding me your blood whenever it is needed I am bound to servicing you and protecting you." Near informs Mello.
Mello places a hand on the top of Near's head with a gentle smile. "Don't worry about it Near." He says trying to be assuring.
Matt has been watching from inside the room and turns away to the window even though the curtains are still pulled closed. "Well if this is how it is to be then so be it."
"Do you still need to go back to Always and Beyond?" Mello asks Near.
Near nods. "Yes." He tells Mello. "I need to make sure I can learn all that could not be taught to me before I became a fully fledge vampire." He explains.
Mello frowns but before he can speak Near continues.
"But you will be staying with me." Near gives a gentle smile. "You and I are now bound by the contract. So with that you will be coming with me."
Mello smiles seeming satisfied with that. "Sounds good."
Matt pokes his head out of the room. "Um. Am I being dragged along?" He asks uncertain as the other two turn to him.
Mello chuckles. "You won't be dragged along. You need to decide what you are going to do."
"Well where exactly is Always and Beyond?" Matt asks looking at Near.
"On the opposite side of town then where Whammy's is." Near responds.
"Oh. You know I think I'll start helping for when you two are done with what you need to do. You know so we can have a place to go once you two are all done." Matt says.
"You should look at getting yourself organized first." Mello comments making Matt turn to him.
Matt nods.
"Oh and your bags are on the coat hanger at the front door." Near adds.
Mello turns to Near. "Thanks Near."
Near nods in response.
"Let's go!" Matt takes the lead as they head to the front door.
They get there and sure enough the bags are there.
Matt grabs his then turns to Mello and Near. "Well. Good luck you two. Contact me sometime." He says knowing that Mello still has that cell phone that the two of them made together to stay in contact.
Mello nods. "Will do." He gives Matt a hug then Matt waves at Near before leaving off on his way.
Mello and Near watch him go for a few moments then Mello turns to Near.
"Where to now?"
"There is a train that will take us to the area we need to be in." Near says then turns slightly to look at Mello. "It'll be the safest bet since I am new to being a fully fledged vampire. We should get going right away."
Mello nods in agreement.
They grab their own bags, Near makes sure the safe house is locked up as well as putting on a pair of sunglasses then they head towards the train station.
Time for Near to return and for Mello to meet Always and Beyond.