~ Epilogue ~
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"What's up, Roger?"
Roger faced the two boys with an expression of complete devastation on his face. Near wondered what had happened too, as he sat, but felt no need to vocalise his question. Mello would do that for him, as he always had. Roger didn't look at them when he spoke.
"L... has died." Near's hand froze for a moment.
What?
...L had actually died? L could die? Of course he can die, he's a human too... But he always seemed so permanent...
"What did you- Roger?!" Mello was just as shocked as he, it seemed... Near thought as he resumed work on his puzzle. He didn't let himself think on it. Didn't feel it. Mello would do that for him... "Say that again?!" All Near had to do was piece this puzzle together and wait...
"L has died..." the look on Mello's face as the words struck home made Near have to look away; down at his puzzle. He wasn't sure if it was to keep from laughing or something else. Something weaker. Mello ran forward towards Roger's desk.
"Died!? Why?!" Why do you care, Mello? I thought you hated him... Near thought, another piece clicking into place. "Was he killed by Kira? Is that it?" Near rolled his eyes surreptitiously. Of course he was you idiot. What, did you think he'd commit suicide or something? … Near chanced a glance up at Roger's face. He didn't, did he?... If anyone had been looking at him, they would have noticed his already pale face turn ashen. No one was, of course.
"Most likely." Roger said, face serious. Mello couldn't take it anymore. He leapt up onto Roger's desk and grabbed him by the collar. "After saying he was going to sentence Kira to death, he got killed himself?!" Near froze his puzzle-solving, with only a couple of pieces to go. Mello's words had struck something in him. A memory of a soft, low voice. "I promise you that you will see me again."
"Is that what you're telling me?!"
"Mello-"
Both of their attention was distracted when Near raised his puzzle over his head and tipped it over the carpet. It was the first time he had ever done so before the puzzle was completed. He closed his eyes, breathing steadily through his nose. Clearing that voice from his mind. That horrible, beautiful voice. They looked at him in apprehension. As if he were about to lose it or something. Ha.
"Unless you win the game," He began once again to piece the puzzle together, "or solve the puzzle..." his eyes were dark, hidden behind his white fringe. It would be impossible to tell what he was thinking, or feeling. But that was the way that Near liked it. "...you're nothing but a loser."
Mello stared at him for a moment or two. Like he wanted to say something but couldn't. Didn't want to... or wasn't sposed to? Near glanced at him from behind his white fringe. Were they still holding secrets? Even now? Mello turned back to Roger.
"So who did L choose? Me or Near?" Near almost laughed out loud, but didn't. Because maybe Mello wasn't deluding himself. Maybe there was actually a possibility that Near had been written off as the number one candidate at some point after all that. Maybe they thought he was unstable now or something. Please. I'm more stable than Mello is. I'm probably the most stable person on the planet. Still, his ears were pricked for an answer as he pieced his puzzle together.
"He hadn't decided yet." Oh please, Roger. No one is buying this. "and since he's dead, he can no longer choose." Something about the phrasing made it hit home. L was dead. He couldn't choose anything. He would never solve anything ever again. Near would never speak to him again. Never shout at him, or argue with him, or laugh with him. He would never breathe in that scent of strawberries and tea, or touch that feathery hair. "I promise..."
...You liar.
Near hadn't thought it was even possible, to hate L more than he already did... but he did, somehow.
"Mello, Near, why don't you two try joining forces? How about it?" The words snapped Near out of his thoughts, and he almost snickered.
"Hmm, fine by me..." he said, hiding his smirk. Mello and he. Work together. If there was ever a plan doomed to failure it was that. Mello was too proud. And Near had too much of a vendetta. He couldn't help but wonder what the expression on Mello's face was, glancing at the back of the blond's head. Probably rather amusing. Could you do it, Mello? Could you stand the hate and guilt and fear that would come with working with me?
"That's impossible, Roger." I thought so. "You know that Near and I don't get along." Which is an understatement. "We've always been rivals." Which is a lie. But then I guess that's your fault too, isn't it Mello. "always."
Near continued to piece his puzzle together in silence, as the wind howled past the window.
"That's fine, Roger." Came Mello's calm voice from in front of him. Near looked up in curiosity. "The one who'll succeed L will be Near. Unlike me, Near can handle things calmly and objectively, like solving a puzzle." the words that were left unsaid hung in the air. "Like L trained him to..." Near finished the puzzle, clicking the last piece into place. New record...
"I'm leaving." Mello's voice shook with suppressed anger. "I'm leaving the orphanage as well."
"Mello!" Roger called. Near still looked down, at his puzzle pieces. Mello was leaving? Just because... but that didn't make sense... he'd known all along...
"Besides, I'm almost fifteen." he turned back before closing the door. "I'm going to live my life my own way."
Near sat immobile for a moment in thought. Mello could just go, and live his life his own way. If Near followed him out... If he just stood and walked out the door... could he do the same? His eyes grew dark. No. He couldn't.
He couldn't even stand on his own. He wouldn't survive. Besides. As the new L, he would have people who gave him what he wanted, who did what he wanted them to do. He would have puzzle after puzzle to solve, toy after toy to play with. He could have anything he wanted. He didn't need freedom. But it was more than that. Near wanted to solve this case. He wanted to be the one to catch this 'mass-murderer of the century'. Besides. L was dead now, and the world needed someone to step into his shoes.
Yes, L was dead... And Near was fairly certain he was glad, as he had told L he would be...
But that wouldn't stop him ripping Kira to shreds for killing him.
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Finis
A/N: Wow... Its the end... *is nearly in tears*... But since you were all so nice and lovely and really don't deserve this horrible ending to the story, I will probably be writing an alternate ending that isn't quite so... depressing... In any case, this is just a big thankyou to anyone who reviewed or favourited or alerted or just enjoyed it at all. Another thankyou to Suzie Blues, who beta'ed for me. Hopefully you liked what you read, I'm assuming you did, if you got this far. But even if it is finished now, that gives you NO EXCUSE not to review if you like it. Just because the fic is ending does NOT mean that I am dead, and you are exempt from giving feedback. =P
Sweet dreams, drive safe, and don't ingest any fatal poisons.
Love, always,
~CANDY
xXx
