Episode 10: Life Note

"I am having fun," Near muttered and looked at the mirror that was outside the car. That same black car was still behind them. "…Mr. Callaway, we're being followed," Near told him and began to put his toys away.

"What?" Keel looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"There is a black car behind us that has been following us all day," Near replied and brought his finger up to his hair and began twirling some around his finger. Keel swallowed nervously from where he was and kept his eyes on the road.

"Uh…we're in Rancho Cucamonga now," Keel told him. "And why are we being followed? Are you being chased or something? Because if you are-

Near cut him off. "I don't know what they want, Mr. Callaway," Near told him. "But you need to stay cautious now," Near warned him as he eyed the black car again from the mirror. It seemed that the black car was speeding up as fast as it could.

"Hey, Nathaniel, what's going on?" Keel shouted. "I need a cigarette!" Keel dug into his pocket and pulled out another cigarette. After that he lighted it up and began smoking it.

Near's eyes widened when he realized what was about to happen. He had wanted to tell Keel to give him the wheel so he could drive but it was too late. He was too slow on reacting.

The black car sped up right beside them on Near's side and made a very rapid turn, crashing into them. The car immediately went flipping, turning many times before stopping upright again. The black car drove on hurriedly.

Keel Callaway let out a cry of agony as he looked down at his leg. Somehow the key to his home that he kept in the glove department of the car was embedded on his left thigh. His neck was all bruised because of the seatbelt that was still on him and blood was trickling down the side of his head from an unknown wound. Keel removed his seatbelt with shaky hands and turned his head to look at Near. Near had gotten the worst of it. Apparently, Near had forgotten to place his seatbelt back on and his back was to the door. Lots of blood was trickling down the sides of his head, his legs seemed all scarred up due to the many rips in his jeans, his white shirt was covered in blood in his chest area, and bruises were all over his skin.

"N-Nathaniel…?" Keel called in a small voice. He had to get out of the car and get Near out. The ambulance will be here soon, they had to come. They were on a freeway after all. Keel struggled to move his left leg but found that he couldn't because of the key embedded in his thigh. He let out a groan of pain and managed to get the door to the car open. Luckily no other cars had hit them when they went spinning and tumbling. Keel pushed himself to get out of the car and fell onto the street. People were all around them watching curiously. Keel looked up furiously at them. "…well? What are you waiting for? Help us! Nathaniel needs help! He's still in the car! He could die at any moment!" Keel yelled furiously at them with anger in his eyes. He collapsed onto his side in pain. "…you idiots!" He shouted at them and watched them hesitate.

Suddenly a small black car drove up beside them. Two guys got out of the car and approached them. Keel watched as they went over to Near's side of the car and opened the door. They took Near out and carried him over to their black car. After that they put him in the back seat. One of them then approached him and bent down to his level. "Don't worry yourself, Keel Callaway, the ambulance are on their way," He told him before going back to the car and getting in. After that the car took off at a fast pace.

Keel had no idea how that man knew his name and he had no idea if those men were good or not. Keel heard the sirens of police cars and the ambulance before passing out due to the great amount of pain he was feeling…

Near stared at the person in front of him who had his hands deep in his jeans pockets and with an emotionless expression on his face. He was also a little hunched over as well. Near just continued to stare at him, unmoving. "How is this logical?" Near thought as he took a small step forward. "…L?"

"Yes, I believe so," The person in front of him replied with a small shrug. "I am standing in front of you, aren't I?"

Near slowly walked towards L while still clutching his stomach in pain. Once he made it to him he surprised L by wrapping his arms around him in a hug. L felt very awkward as well as Near. L then hesitantly patted the top of Near's head with his hand and Near pulled away from him, taking a few steps back. "Forgive me," Near told him as he sunk to the ground in pain. His legs were aching really badly now. "That was uncharacteristic of me," He mumbled while looking down.

"Yes…it was," L agreed as he brought his thumb to his mouth and began chewing on it slowly, being careful not to draw blood while doing so.

"How is this possible?" Near questioned as he looked up at him from the ground. L got down on the ground in his usual crouched position and stared at Near with those big eyes of his. "L…you had died…what happened? Why am I all bandaged up? I just don't remember," Near moved his eyes to look down at the ground in deep contemplation.

L tilted his head to the side and continued to stare at Near who was trying to keep a straight face. He was trying not to show a face of pain. "…you look hungry, Near. Would you like a piece of strawberry shortcake?" L questioned him. "We could discuss everything while you eat,"

"That sounds reasonable," Near nodded. Near really didn't know how to feel right now. But what he did feel was pain. His body ached everywhere and he had no idea why. His eyes then widened and his head snapped back up to look at L who was still staring at him. "Where are my toys?"

"They are safe. It was in a black backpack, right?" L said while still nibbling on his thumb. Near nodded and some memories came back to him. The memories of when he was on the plane sitting next to a woman with flaming red hair whose name was Meridian Zephyr. And the mysterious letter also came back to him as well. Near was about to ask about the letter but L cut him off. "The black envelope is in my possession, no need to worry about that. But I did take a look at it and found it quite interesting," L told him while standing up and placing his hands back in his jeans pocket.

"I see…" Near shakily got to his feet and was about to fall but L caught him by his forearm. Near mumbled a thank you and they began making their way out of the room.

"Xavier will prepare you some strawberry shortcake," L told Near as they arrived in Near's room where he had woken up at.

"Xavier?" Near questioned. "Is this Xavier the one who gave me my shirt and shoes back?" Near pondered and, L, who was still beside him, answered as if he read his mind.

"Xavier is the one who gave you your shirt and shoes back. But you should call him X for now," L told him as they made it to the bed. Near slowly sat down on the bed and pulled the white sheets around himself because he suddenly felt really cold. L pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat down in his usual position while bringing a thumb up to place in his mouth. "I could go for some strawberry shortcake as well," He said suddenly.

"I see you're still the same, L. You are always eating sweets," Near told him in that same tone he always used. He was still in pain but didn't show it on his face. Suddenly, that same eighteen year old young man entered the room. He was obviously Xavier. He was rolling a table towards them with a big plate of strawberry shortcake on it along with two extra plates and two forks. He stopped next to them and gave L a smile.

"Here you go, Ryuzaki," Xavier said as he backed away from them. Near immediately looked at L with a questioning look in his eyes.

"Ryuzaki? You changed your name again, L?" Near asked him. L cut himself a piece of strawberry shortcake and placed it onto his plate. After that he got one of the two forks and began eating some. He then replied to Near's question with his mouth full.

"Yes," He answered.

"I see…" Near cut himself a piece of cake and began eating it hungrily with manners of course. Yes, he was starving but he wasn't eating like a wild animal. L suddenly spoke to Xavier without looking at him.

"You can leave us be, X," L told him with lots of cake still in his mouth. Xavier bowed politely before leaving the room, shutting the door behind him.

After Near finished eating his cake and was full enough he began speaking to L who was still eating strawberry shortcake. "First I would like to know what happened to me. I ache everywhere. I have bruises all over my skin; my stomach area is in pain as well as my legs. I need answers now, L," Near told him in a serious kind of tone. L was cutting another slice of strawberry shortcake now and was licking his lips hungrily after he had about five slices already.

"You were in a car accident, Near," L replied like everything was okay. He stuffed his mouth with more strawberry shortcake and chewed. Near was speechless for a moment and he suddenly brought his right index finger up to his hair, entangling it in it and twirling it around some. Near didn't want to admit it but he was startled a little. His hand began shaking a little and he narrowed his eyes a bit as the memories flowed back into his brain.

"Is Keel Callaway still alive?" Near questioned L. He didn't think of Keel as his friend but he was the one that brought him into this mess. Besides, Keel could have a family or something, perhaps a girlfriend or a wife. And Near didn't want to be responsible for his death.

"His injuries weren't as severe as yours, Near. He is probably at his home right now. The ambulance would have come, you did crash on a freeway after all," L said as he put his fork down and began eating the cake with his hands. "So it seems that he survived the accident,"

"I see," Near kept twirling his hair around with his finger. He was really tired now. "I have more questions. How long-

"You were in a comma," L interrupted him and began licking his fingers that had cake frosting on them.

Near's eyes got a little big after hearing this. "How long…was I in a comma?" He asked as he coughed a little due to his dry throat.

"Three months, two days, and three hours to be exact," L answered as he placed his hands on his knees. He was still sitting in that same odd position.

"That's quite a long while…" Near muttered and sniffed himself. He didn't smell at all. In fact, he smelt like hotel soap.

"Don't worry yourself," L said as he just stared at Near. "X took care of you throughout those three months," L told him while tilting his head to the side and bringing a thumb up to his mouth, nibbling on it a bit.

"I…see…" Near tried not to feel embarrassed but he felt his cheeks heat up a bit and he knew that L saw him blushing in embarrassment.

"There's no need to feel embarrassed, Near," L told him while still nibbling at his thumb. After a moment he pulled his thumb from his mouth and placed his hands on his knees again. Near shifted a bit on the bed before moving his eyes to look at L.

"How are you alive? I visited your grave once, L. How are you here?" Near questioned him seriously with a very serious look on his face.

L let out a heavy sigh before replying. "At first I wasn't sure. But I just woke up in some unknown place. Eventually I found out that this place I speak of was Japan. There was also something with me when I awoke. It was a small white notebook with golden writings on the front, much similar to the Death Note," L explained in a serious voice. Near listened closely with an unreadable expressing on his face.

"When did you awake?" Near questioned.

"Two years after I died," L responded while still staring at Near with those huge eyes of his.

"You have been hiding ever since even though you knew Kira was still out there?" Near asked him as he narrowed his eyes a little.

"Yes," L replied.

"Continue with your story," Near told him.

"This notebook was called the Life Note. I don't have it in my possession anymore. It used to be, but not anymore. It was taken from me," L explained. "But the Life Note can bring anybody back to life if you write a person's name down in the Life Note, and you have to have the person's face in your mind while writing the name down," L told him.

Near nodded, still listening.

"Apparently the person who took the Life Note away from me brought me back to life for some reason that is unknown to me," L explained further. "There are no creatures that have these Life Notes like Shinigami. The truth is, I have no idea what beings posses these Life Notes," L said while still staring at Near and that same expression on his face.

"If this person has this Life Note you speak of then this is not good at all. Because if the Life Note fell into the wrong hands then that person could bring back Light Yagami," Near told him seriously.

"Yes, I know," L sighed deeply and scratched the top of his head. "Anyway, that is enough about discussing the Life Note. Let us discuss about that black envelope with the interesting letter inside of it," L suggested. Near didn't want to discuss about the letter right now, he wanted to hear more about the Life Note but decided that he should obey L's wishes.

"Yes. That's fine," Near nodded in agreement.

(TO BE CONTINUED)