Yeah, sorry this took so freakin' long, but studies and other stuff got in the way, and I kept getting ideas for new fanfics. *sweatdrop* So sorry 'bout that.
Okay, so, enjoy!
A~*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*~A
"Nnnn…" Mello rolled over on the bed and slowly opened his eyes, blinking as he saw Matt bent over the book, reading. "Hn?" He sat up and leaned over his shoulder, blinking. "What'd I miss?"
"A lot." Matt said simply. "It's focusing on your group, so you can read it now." He passed the book to him. "By the way, are you in pain?"
Mello blinked and shook his head. "No, the pain's gone." He picked up the pen and then opened the book, an expression of concentration on his face.
"Mihael…" Matt murmured worriedly, holding the blonde's hand in both of his. "Please, wake up…"
'Welcome back, Mello!' The voice said cheerfully. 'Matt has been sufficiently keeping me entertained while you were away.'
"Hello, Book." Mello mumbled, and then he started to write:
Mihael's hand twitched and then he slowly started to stir, his blue eyes slowly. He glanced around, and then his eyes rested on Matt, a soft smile starting to form on his lips. "…I'm back." He whispered softly.
"Awwwwwww~!" Matt said, and the voice did the same in unison, using an adoring tone. Mello just rolled his eyes at both of them and then Matt looked towards the door. "Well, I better go tell Roger you're back in action, he'll want to know." He turned and dashed out of the room.
Mello sighed and then focused on the book. 'I better be on my toes, in case this happens again.' He thought, reading it. Then he started to write again. 'You had fun with Matt, but now it's MY turn again.' He thought, grinning.
"Yes…you're back." Matt smiled and then stood up, wrapping his arms around the blond. "I'm so glad…so glad…"
Mihael nodded and then he suddenly bolted up into a sitting position. "N! Where's N?!" He snapped, looking around for the young white-haired child.
Matt winced and then he looked away. "Sorry, Mihael…the pirates…they were too strong for us. And they look him away. We…We tried to save him, but…"
Mihael threw off the covers and looked around for his clothes, ignoring the blush that had creeped onto Matt's face to see him in nothing but his boxers. "I need my clothes, now. We have to get to N!" He said firmly.
"Alright!" Matt yelped, both glad to have a reason to leave the room for a bit and startled by Mihael's snapping. He dashed out of the room and went to Audrey's and Beyond's room. "Your Majesties!" He threw open the door to find them emmersed in a game of chess. "Your Majesties, he's awake!"
Beyond looked up and forgot about the game as he ran out of the room to go see him. Audrey smiled and then walked over to gather up Mihael's washed clothes. "He won't ever say it, but he was so worried for him." He said softly. "Because he can't see his life-span, he can never tell when that boy is going to die, so he panicked."
Matt chuckled a bit. "I figured as much. Well, let's get going, shall we?" He turned and walked off, passing by Linda's room and knocking on the door. "Oi, Lin'! He's awake, come see!" He said with a grin.
She opened her door and then rushed out. "Out of my way, Matt!" She snapped, dashing over to Mihael's bedroom. When she got there, though, she yelped, blushed, and glared at Matt before rushing away. "I'll see him when he's DRESSED!" She said admist Matt's hooting laughter.
Mihael had quickly pulled a blanket over himself when Linda looked in and was now shaking his head in disbelief. "Oh, geez…" He mumbled. "And I thought MY pranks were bad…"
Matt chuckled and walked in with Audrey. "Yeah, sorry 'bout that. I was just messing with her."
"I figured as much. Can I get dressed, please?" He reached for his clothes and then pulled the blanket over his entire body as he got dressed. He REALLY didn't want Linda coming in to watch him dress, because that was REALLY embarrassing! Once he was fully dressed, he throw off the blanket and then stood up, pulling his boots on. "So…they must've taken him to the other continent, since they're working with that guy." He said calmly, and then he looked at them firmly, his eyes sparking with fury. "Full speed ahead, let's go NOW!"
He then dashed out of the room, taking his gun from Beyond's hand and then checking it for ammo. He had to be ready for ANYTHING, since he doubted they'd be met with little resistance when they went to get N back.
Matt came out after him and smiled. "Well, glad to see you're back on your feet and just fine. Don't worry, we were going to head out after him as soon as you woke up." He wrapped him around his waist. "Anything I can do to help you right now?"
Mello sighed and then ducked to slip out of Matt's arms before he scooted forward a bit and turned, throwing up a leg. "Train with me! I have to improve myself, so that doesn't happen again!"
Matt laughed and nodded. "Alright, let's train!"
Audrey walked over. "Miheal, aren't you hungry at all?"
"Hungry, yes!" Mihael stopped and looked at him. "You got any chocolate? What's on the menu? How soon until we get to the other continent?" He asked as he walked into the cabin, walking backwards so he could see Audrey walking behind him.
"Yes, I have chocolate, you can choose what to eat, and we don't know. We've never been there." Audrey said calmly. "I assure you, though, we are going at full-speed."
"Good." Miheal nodded. "Where's your chocolate?"
Audrey chuckled and then led him to the kitchen, where the food was stored. "We don't have too much, but…"
"Just get me something." Mihael waved his hand dismissively. "If I don't get chocolate soon, I'm gonna panic."
Audrey smiled. "I see." He picked out a smll package and hnaded it to him. "Here you are. Eat up."
Mihael took it and opened it before he took a nibble. Then he let out a sigh as he turned to go out again. "I'll be in the crow's nest!" He called as he went out.
Mello sat back and sighed, looking over at the door as Roger and Matt came back in. "Mihael Keehl is back in action." He grinned.
Roger coughed. "Ah, yes. I wanted to talk to you about something, Mello." He looked at Mall. "Matthew, please go out for now."
"Awww!" He whined, but left anyway.
Roger sighed and walked over. "I'm…concerned. What if someone reads this book and learns your real name?" He asked softly.
"No one will know that it's my real name." Mello smiled. "And this book is never leaving the orphanage." He looked at it. "It's staying where we can keep an eye on it."
Roger nodded. "I see…well, what if Near figures it out?" He smiled.
Mello glanced away. "…I'll deal with it then. If it's bad, that is." He mumbled.
Roger nodded. "Then, I'll let you get back to to the book. Do ensure that Near is safe." He smiled and then turned to go. "You seem to be taking care of him well."
Mello nodded and then looked at him. "…Roger? I still want an answer about the names in this book."
"And I will give you the same as I will always give you; I cannot say." He said calmly, going to the door
"If you were to hear his voice, would you recognize it?" He looked at him sharply.
"Whose voice?" He blinked.
"The book's." Mello said simply.
Roger stared at him for a bit before he shook his head. "Books don't have voices, Mello." He said walking out.
Mello frowned and focused on the book again. From the looks of it, the others were talking about him after he left. He shrugged and read it, but then picked up the pen. One of them was coming up to talk to him.
"I'm going to go talk to him." Beyond said, turning to go. "Maybe he can answer it for us." He walked off, going to the crow's nest.
Mello closed his eyes and started to write, opening his eyes halfway. 'It's about time he asked for more information on N…' He thought.
Mihael heard Beyond climbing up to him and turned to face him. "Did you need something, Your Majesty?"
Beyond nodded. "Yeah, I have a question to ask you." He leaned against the wall of the crow's nest. "When N talked about Mellow, you seemed…a bit…hesistant to answer. I have to know, and I'm not going to wait until you tell everyone else; are you 'Mellow'?"
"Wha?!" Mello blinked. "What does this have to do with asking what else I know about N?!"
'Well, how will you answer?' The voice giggled.
Mihael gripped the pen tightly and then slowly moved to write again.
Mihael stared at him for a long moment before responding. "…And, if I am?" He asked softly. "What makes you ask this question, Your Majesty?"
Beyond narrowed his eyes and then pinned Mihael against the pole with both hands. "I looked it up. In all the directories of our three Kingdoms, there is NO Mellow, anywhere. 'Mellow' is not even a name!" His fists clenched. "You lied to us…"
"…Actually, 'Mello' is an alias." Mihael gently pushed him back and sighed. "…I am Mello, yes. But, I am also Mihael Keehl. And…N is actually 'Near'. We're from…another world." He gripped the pole. "I'm sorry, that's all I can tell you without the others. I didn't intend anything wrong by lying, but I needed an alias in here."
"So…if 'Mihael Keehl' is your alias here, and your alias is 'Mello' in your world…did you just swap names or something?" Beyond quirked an eyebrow.
Mihael chuckled a bit. "As to be expected of B…" He said softly. "You figured me out. Don't tell the others, okay?"
Beyond grinned. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me! Well, I better get back before Audrey gets lonely." He turned and went down the rope-ladder.
Mihael chuckled a bit. "Alright, see you."
Beyond waved and walked inside.
Mihael looked back out at the ocean and gripped the wall of the crow's nest tightly. "N..." He looked down. "Near…I'll save you. I promise."
Mello set down the pen and held his head in his hands. "Near…" He gripped his hair. "This is all my fault…If I'd only listened…"
Matt walked in and wrapped is arms around Mello's waist. "Blaming yourself again? Look, who found the book first?"
"Near…" Mello mumbled.
"So, isn't it his fault, then?" Matt pointed out.
"No, because he tried to call me for help, and—"
"In that case, it's not either of your faults." Matt's eyes narrowed. "It's the fault of whoever the fuck wrote this book." He gripped the pen. "Isn't that right?" He said to the book. The voice was either upset or insulted by his cussing off at it, but Matt got no response. Matt smirked and gripped it tighter. "Aren't you gonna answer me? I know your voice, I just need confirmation that it's you!"
'…Don't ruin the game, or you'll never get Near back.' The voice growled.
"What?!" Matt hissed.
"What is it?" Mello blinked.
Matt released the pen. "…Fine. I'll let you play your game." He mumbled, walking over to the door. "I'll go get you chocolate, Mello."
Mello nodded and looked at the book. "Near…" He sighed softly.
*~*~*~*
Near lay in his bed, his hands gripping the sheets as he dreamed of things that he didn't recognize. A lake…two people…his eyes slowly opened as he heard knocking at the door and he sat up, glaring at it. "Go away!" He snapped. "I don't want to see anyone!"
"Pity." The King opened the door and stepped in, closing and locking it behind him. "Because I so very much want to see you, Niatine." He smiled and walked over to the boy, extending a hand to him.
Near backed away from him, until his back hit the wall. "Get away from me…" He said, his eyes shaking. "You're the one that kept attacking Mihael and me…what do you want from us?!"
"It is not you that I want, child." The King cupped his face gently and pulled him close. "I want Niatine." He caught his arm and tugged him closer, pulling him into his arms. "Remember…remember all that you've forgotten." He gripped his hand tightly, chanting something as Near's hand started to glow.
"Ahh! No, stop! Stop it!" Near tried to pull free. "I'm scared!" He cried, and then he let out a scream as light engulfed the room. He lay still for a bit, and then slumped over into the King's arms, falling unconscious. 'No…'
"Niatine…" The King smiled and stroked his hair gently. "Don't worry, I can prepare some proper robes for you." He smiled and nuzzled him.
"…Get off of me." Niatine growled, shoving him away and glaring at him coldly. "Quillish…"
A~*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*~A
Yes, I know you're all going to freak out, but it's a cliff-hanger. It was just getting TOO big for me to not end it here, and I wanted to try a cliff-hanger for a change.
'Kay, so, basic facts we found out: Matt knows who the Voice is, and is now being blackmailed into NOT telling Mello. Dang.
We're gonna find out more about Niatine and Quillish in the next chapter, so review, or Near will never get out!
