Author's Note: Wow, Fucking, Wow. I just got done watching the final episode of Death Note in English. And Oh. My. Fucking. God. I was seriously impressed. I've watched it in Japanese before, but it was so long ago that I barely remembered. And man. That was masterful. Seriously. I had to update an entire blog on my reactions to the episode. Light; I have absolute utter sympathy for poor Light. Watching him flail and struggle and lose made me recall that first episode of Death Note. It was the first episode when I decided that I loved Light, because I understood his mission and I agreed fully with his logic. And because he was just a kid. Just a kid like me. And he was a kid with power, and he used that power to create a New World. But things got in the way, and he became a kid trapped under heavy burdens. And then, he was a kid that became a man without growing up. Although he was a man as he was shot, he was still just a kid...just a kid with a lot of power that lost something very important. And the ending scenes, as the credits were rolling, nearly made me cry. Also, (I know this Author's Note is WAY too long, but I can't help it!) I actually loved Near for a minute. I know. It hurts to admit. But I loved Near when he talked about Mello. Because, unlike the manga where he seemed almost snotty about it, he sounded so sincere. And that's why I liked him for a minute. He included Mello. And that's impressive. I also like how they left out a few lines from the manga, which really gave him a sincere voice. Anyways, this chapter certainly makes things interesting in Game Over! Onward!
Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note. Know why? MIKAMI. FREAK. OH MY GOD FREAK.
Warning: Same as previously. Come on, you know it. OH! Forgot to mention this: Who else screamed "Damn you!" at the television when Near said "You lost The Game?" xD I couldn't decide whether to laugh or scream. Onward!
"S-s-so…you're l-l-leaving?" Matt stuttered, limbs trembling awkwardly as he watched Mello brush his hair.
"Only for a little bit. Less than an hour, I promise. You'll be fine, Matt. I can leave one of my guys here with you, if you want."
"N-no…I, uh, Mello? Why can't I come?" Matt bit his lip, trying to still his voice.
"I don't trust Near. That's why. And I don't want you anywhere in public right now, especially in a coffee shop in downtown Los Angeles. You are safer here right now. Are you sure you don't want me to call Jay? He'll come sit with you until I'm back. But I swear, Matt, it'll only be an hour. Less," he added, "I swear it."
"J-just go on, Mello. I'm f-f-fine. Really. I'm fine." Matt pulled out his Gameboy and flicked the power on, nestling among the pillows, clothes, and blankets that somehow got strewn across the head of the bed.
Mello rechecked his appearance before donning a pair of dark sunglasses to hide his eyes. He wrapped one of Jay's knives in cloth and carefully strapped it to his ankle, hidden by his tall boots. Just in case.
"I'm going now, Matt. Don't let anyone in. Don't answer the phone. If you get hungry, there's still a bag of chips in the suitcase. I'll try to bring some lunch home for us, all right? I'll see you in a little while."
"Wait!" Matt cried, abandoning his beeping Gameboy to lunge after the blonde. "Mello, there's something I want to say before you leave."
"What is it, Matty?" Mello sighed, glancing at the clock. "I can't be late for this."
"I…I just wanted to say…" Matt took a deep breath, "…I love you, Mello. Come home soon."
"I love you, too, Matty," the blonde smiled, brushing the back of his gloved hand across Matt's cheek. "I'll be home soon. Beat that Gameboy game before you Game Over, all right?"
"Right." Matt slid back down onto the bed, taking the DS in his hands.
"Bye, Matty," Mello said as he slipped into the blinding sunlight.
It took nearly five minutes for his eyes to adjust to the startling sharpness of the outside world, even through heavily tinted sunshades. After being stuck in a dark hotel room for a few days, reality just seemed too…real. He gripped the thin railing tightly as he minced his way down the stairs toward the sidewalk.
The café was a short distance away from the hotel, but the walk felt like an eternity. Mello kept his head bowed as he passed busy people and dark alleyways, not pausing to look anyone in the eye. He ducked into the coffee shop, tensing at the ding that resounded from the bell above the door, and slid into an open booth in the very back corner. He forced himself to relax, pulling a magazine over from a nearby table. He flipped through it mindlessly, not paying any attention at all, and tried to make his mind grasp hold of the smooth jazz music floating over the speakers.
Thinking of Near got him on edge. Leaving Matt alone sent him flying over the edge. His fingers shook in rage at the idea of Matt being left alone at Near's whim; the more he thought of it, the angrier he got. But he wasn't made to wait long.
"Mello."
The voice grated against his ears. He carefully closed the magazine he held and placed it on the table before meeting the white-haired boy's gaze.
"Near."
"It's been quite some time, hasn't it?" Near said listlessly. Mello watched him slide into the booth, smirking at the baseball cap on his head. Even Near needs a disguise, or so it seemed.
"Hasn't it?" Mello smirked, flashing his canines. Every ounce of rage turned to confidence as he stared down his rival. "All right, Near, let's get this over with. Hand me the note from Beyond, and we can part ways again. I've got things to do, people to see."
"In a moment, Mello," Near spoke calmly, "First, I would like to discuss some things."
"Things? What kind of things?" Mello gritted his teeth, "Near, I don't have time to fuck around."
"I understand. I shall make this brief. First and foremost, how far have you progressed on the Kira case?"
"That's none of your business, Near. I am succeeding in my own way. I won't inquire how you're doing. I just want to get this over with," Mello spat.
"That's too bad," Near replied, completely unfazed. "I was willing to share my information with you. You know I've never minded working with you, Mello. I suppose I'll move on to the second point of business. How is Matt?"
"He's recovering," Mello whispered darkly. "I'm going to kill those bastards who hurt him. That's all there is to it."
"Ah, Mello, how typical. You really shouldn't admit to a crime you will commit. Especially to someone who has unlimited government influence. It is as good as admitting to L that you plan to kill."
"Don't say his name," Mello hissed. "Near, just stop. Give me the message from Beyond and let me leave."
"I am not holding you hostage, Mello. You may leave right now, if you wish. However, I will not hand you the message until I am finished. Thirdly, are you aware of the situation at Wammy's?"
"What situation?" Mello asked, narrowing his eyes. "I haven't heard a thing about a situation back there. I haven't been in touch with anyone from Wammy's, save for you and Matt, since I left."
"I figured as much," Near said casually. "It seems that the contest for L has driven the new generation of orphans into a chaotic state. Roger has had to hire security guards to keep the peace."
"What?" Mello's eyes bugged. "Why? Things never got that bad during our generation, or the one before. I mean, yes, Roger had his hands full with Matt and I, but security was never required. What exactly are they doing?"
"At last, something I've mention peaks your interest," Near smiled, amused. "There are four new candidates for our heirs. The new Rank One is a young boy, and is, as Roger describes, a mirror image of you when you were younger. Rank Two is a girl with a temper, and Ranks Three and Four are twin boys. Apparently, Ranks One and Two are involved in a war of sorts. Roger described it very similarly to the conflict you had with me, yet this new generation has grown terribly violent. There have been several instances where children were bullied and beaten to the point of hospitalization."
"And it is because of these prodigies that might become our heirs?" Mello's head reeled.
"It seems that way. Rank One has a tightly knit group of followers that do his dirty work. Rank Two has nearly every girl in the orphanage at her heels. Three and Four are double-trouble, always organizing plots against both faculty and students. It is, in a sense, anarchy."
"What business is it of ours?" Mello asked, knitting his brows in confusion.
"Roger wishes for our advice on the situation. If you have a solution to spare, please contact him. That is all he wishes to say to you." Near glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. "My final matter of business before I deliver Beyond's note is this: You owe me. I have placed a filter on the internet preventing your image to be posted. Several people want you dead, Mello. Your face was on three pro-Kira websites. I am not sure how your photograph got out, but I would keep a close eye on your mafia thugs if I were you. I own the only picture of you that should be in existence."
"My…my…what?" Mello gasped, wide-eyed. "How the fuck…?"
"Your face was online. I took care of the problem and added a special filter to track any other movements against you. Luckily, none of the websites had your real name on it. You should watch your back, Mello. I cannot baby-sit you forever."
"You bastard," Mello seethed. "I won't thank you, you know."
"I expected as much. Mello has always let his pride guide his tongue. I was simply alerting you to the situation. Now," Near spoke, pulling a thin envelope from his jacket, "I believe this is what you have been waiting on. Goodbye, Mello."
Mello snatched the envelope from Near's hand without a word, stuffing it in his own jacket securely. He stood swiftly, glared pointedly at his rival, and exited the café as though he had never been there.
He kept his hand firmly against his chest where the envelope stayed hidden. His fingers were itching to tear the envelope to shreds, to devour the note inside with his eyes. He couldn't wait to show Matt.
"Matt," he called upon entering the hotel room, "I got the…" Mello blinked in the dim glare of the television. "Matt?"
His eyes swept the room, a growing sense of dread gurgling in his heart. He crossed to the bathroom and looked inside. No Matt.
"MATT?" He screamed, and began to fling furniture and blankets out of the way. "MATT! Matt! Where are you? MATT!"
No Matt.
"This isn't fucking funny! Matt, where the fuck are you?" Mello panted, hysterical and hyperventilating. This wasn't happening. No way in hell.
"MATT?" Mello spotted Matt's Nintendo DS on the ground, blaring the Game Over message while flashing various colors.
Then he noticed the note. It was situated discreetly under the coffee pot, tilted toward the mirror. A simple note card with black ink, two small words, caused Mello's world to come crashing down around him.
"Found You."