Disclaimer: I do not own or make money from the anime death note

Suggested Listening: This is the Sound by The Last Goodnight; Every last Thing by Stars In Stereo

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Part 11

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Mello checked his phone for the third time that hour, frowning. Matt had not replied to any of his texts and while the redhead could indeed space out and loose track of time, or be at work, he generally did not disappear for twenty-three hours straight.

He did not want to seem clingy—oh he certainly was not—or overly worried, again which he was not, but it was strange not to hear from Matt. His phone buzzed and he fumbled with the screen to view. He frowned instantly. It was Misa.

With a low annoyed groan Mello tossed the phone onto the desk, glaring as if it were the phones fault he did not receive the text he wanted. He had hoped to go somewhere with Matt, or at the very least talk to him. It was already midnight, and Mello's hope fell. There was always the next day, though he would require an explanation, same one Matt would have wanted if he suddenly vanished. Mello let the brief annoyance carry over until he was in bed with the lights turned off. He was not worried.

He rolled over, eyes closing, and decided cell phones were useless when no one picked them up.

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Mello, despite the early turn in slept well into the morning, waking just after ten o'clock to the sound of arguing. With blurry eyes, clad in only tight fitted sleep shorts Mello hobbled groggily to the kitchen where the noise was loudest.

Halle had her phone held in front of her, staring incredulously at it. She smacked the 'End' button harder than strictly necessary, and swore, something she rarely did with her years of practiced composure. She glanced over at Mello as he yawned, and seemed surprised to see him. Then as if finally seeing him, raised an eyebrow.

"I rolled out of bed when I heard shouting."

Halle sighed softly, "It was nothing to worry about. Mother called. We talked." Her voice was hard and professional, the tone he knew she used when speaking to suspects.

"I take it the conversation was one-sided?" Mello asked and leaned against the doorframe. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he tried to process that he was out of bed, and yeah, awake. Why had he even slept for so long? He was not usually like this.

"The usual demands." Halle told him vaguely. He shrugged. If she wanted it to stay secret then so be it. It was none of his business. He was fine with that.

"Why are you home? Or 'rolling out of bed' for that matter?" Halle turned her questioning on him and Mello nearly groaned. He was most certainly not awake enough for an interrogation. Even so, his brain supplied a suitable answer before he could even process speaking.

"No reason. I just slept late." Though Mello had to admit part of it may have had to do with waiting for Matt. His eyes widened slightly. The reminder was enough to excuse himself back to his room under the guise of dressing himself, when his first action was actually checking his messages.

He was disappointed, and perhaps a little more annoyed, when there was nothing new—well other than Misa's fifteen texts. Those were unimportant as half of them consisted of "Mello are you theeeere?"

None were from Matt.

With a sigh, and the horrible feeling that he was being unreasonable, he sent a text to Matt asking him to call. Somehow, he doubted it would be answered promptly, so he gathered clean clothes and hobbled into the bathroom. He really needed to wake up before he fell. That was why he generally laid in bed at least a few minutes before getting up. Oh well.

He sat on the edge of the bath as he scrubbed the soap over his body, and rid himself of the previous day. The next appointment, he was going to ask about a model made to go In the shower. Life would be so much easier if he could just stand up in the shower.

He bowed his head and directed the shower-head to rinse his hair, and shut the water off after. Mello toweled dry, leisurely taking his time before securing his leg in the prosthetic sleeve once more. Feeling refreshed, he stretched to the side a few times until his back popped. "Ah!"

With a small grin he dressed, leaving his dirty shorts and towel in the hamper. Halle met him in the hallway with a cup of coffee, and Mello took it with a surprised blink.

"You were the walking dead. I figured you could use a cup before I went out. Just make sure to clean the pot before you go anywhere." Halle gave a tiny, knowing smile. As though she hardly expected him to be around the house for long. And maybe...she was right. His tolerance was slowly dwindling, and something else replacing it each hour he received no reply.

Certainly it was nothing like a car accident? Or mugging... or spontaneous combustion?

Matt was fine.

And he was not worried.

Right.

"I'll clean it. Thanks," Mello took a sip and managed not to spit it back into the cup, only just. He forgot, Halle's version of a cup of coffee was black and bitter. He needed at least two packets of sugar and enough cream to call it milk before it was drinkable. But it was the thought that counted.

Halle nodded and headed back into the kitchen, her shoes sounding like gunfire against the tiles. He supposed that was the point. It was enough to make anyone flinch.

Mello took the coffee into his room and set it by the laptop, though he had no intentions of drinking it until Halle had left. There was no need for her to see him fixing it up. Instead he busied himself with checking his email, and pretending he could not see his phone out of the corner of his eye. That lasted until an hour later, when Halle had finally left, and there was no background noise to distract him.

With a sigh he took his phone, and coffee into the kitchen after shutting down the laptop. He made two calls as he reheated the coffee, and added the sugar and cream. One was to Matt, and when it did not pick up, the second was for a cab.

Mello hated to spend what little money he had for something so trivial, but he did not own a car, and was uncertain how well he could drive one, if at all, with the current prosthetic. It was something he would need to remedy in the future. He could not depend on rides his entire life.

For now however, he had no choice.

He grabbed a jacket, and stuffed his cellphone and wallet inside, heading downstairs and outside on the curb to wait. It took less than seven minutes for it to appear. There had been one in the area, so his luck was not all completely gone.

He rattled off Matt's address and sat back as he was driven there. Matt had not picked up, and if Mello was betting, had not listened to his message stating he was coming over. Thirty-six hours and not a single text. Mello was not happy.

It would be a different story if even one of them had been replied to.

Little over twenty minutes later he was in front of Matt's apartment, where Mello paid the cab—fucking rip off—and headed over to the doors. He had never been inside, but he did know the number and general area to look.

Turns out it was not needed, as Matt bumped into him on the way out.

"Mello?" Matt stared at him from behind goggles that Mello had never once seen him wear except around his neck. He looked so completely miserable that all irritation fled from Mello in that moment.

"You have not answered your phone in two days, but it seems you are alright." Mello said, as he took in the redheads entire appearance. He looked as though he had not slept in days. And maybe he hadn't.

"Oh. I turned it off." Matt replied hesitantly, and though Mello could not see his eyes from the angle Matt tilted his head, he knew there would be guilt reflected in them. Matt was not saying something, a rather important something. Mello was uncertain if he wanted to push the issue or not.

In the end he settled on, "Any reason for not at least letting me know you were alive, or busy? Whatever it is." He tried to take the edge off his words, by giving a small smile. It was not returned and that worried him. Had Matt simply not wanted to talk... to him?

"Sorry," Matt shifted with a heavy sigh, the kind that sounded utterly defeated. "I does not have to do with you, I mean I just did not want you seeing me like this." Matt finished quickly, as if afraid of offending him. Perhaps if the wording had been off, it might have.

"Matt, what is going on?" He was, suffice to say, starting to get worried. If not him, then what had Matt sounding so depressed.

Matt bit his lip, glancing away for a long moment before replying. "Today is the anniversary of my sisters death. Next week is my fathers. I have never needed to worry about anyone seeing me like this," Matt gestured to his rumpled appearance.

Mello understood now, exactly what the goggles were meant to hide.

"I really did not mean to make you worry." Matt frowned and Mello did not have the heart to deny it. Mello was torn between wishing he had stayed home, and staying with Matt now.

He leaned over and placed a small kiss to Matt's cheek, "If you need me, you have my number. I will always answer." If Matt had not intended for him to know, then it was meant to be private. There was no need to intrude. It stung a little, but as Matt said, he had never needed anyone.

He turned to leave only to have Matt gently take hold of his arm, "Please, come with me?" Matt's quiet voice almost pleaded.

Mello did not smile at the action as he moved to stand closer, feeling the gesture inappropriate, but he did take Matt's hand, squeezing it tightly. "Wherever you need to go, I will be with you."

"Thank you," Matt managed to tell him after a small clearing of his throat. Mello did not know from personal experience, only what he had heard from others, but the kind of pain from loosing a loved one never went away. It was always there but it could lessen with time. Matt, he thought, was probably handling it rather well all things considered.

Matt did not say where they were headed as they got into his car, and that was alright by Mello. It was enough that Matt wanted him there. The stoplights seemed to work with them, each turning green as they approached, until Matt parked on the street in front of a flower shop. The sign on the window stated in bold lettering that it sold exotic flowers, and shipped specialty orders provided it was in bulk.

They were going to visit the graves then.

Mello exited the car, and let Matt lead them inside where the redhead went straight for the counter. "I have two pre-ordered boxes under, Jeevas." Matt told the cashier—a pretty brunette with long lashes and dark eyes—who nodded and went into the cooler in back.

She produced two large boxes a moment later, stating that everything was all set, and to call if he had any questions about the small order for next week, and to make certain they were put in water immediately so they did not wither.

Matt nodded, "That won't be a problem."

And though Mello offered to take a box, Matt shook his head with a tiny smile.

If there was enough flowers inside to scatter, or cover, both graves inside those boxes, then what was the order for next week? Did he go back on both days? Mello would rather not have him miserable for so long, if that were the case. He had however, no way to fix it.

He waited in the passenger side as Matt secured the boxes in the backseat before taking his place beside him, key already in the ignition. Matt buckled up and rolled into the traffic.

The only graveyard that Mello knew was close by, was in the other direction, and it did not appear that Matt had any intention of turning around. Had they been buried at a different site? Or was there another stop before they went to the graves?

But as signs for the Beach started to pop up, Mello slowly began to understand what was going to happen. He kept his curiosity quiet, the need for a confirmation almost maddening to his analytical mind.

Matt glanced his way as he parked, and Mello unbuckled before the engine was even cut. It was his way of answering the silent, but important question. Was he still coming with him?

There was a soft breeze on the beach, not enough to kick sand into their eyes, but enough to make it a little chilly. Matt took his shoes off regardless, and left them inside the car. Mello followed suit and knew from experience that he would be picking sand off the prosthetic for the next few days. He hardly cared.

This time Matt allowed him to take a box, and he followed the redhead through the small crowd of other beach goers. The weather was reportedly supposed to warm by the next day, the small cold spell moving on, so in a way, they were lucky to be going that day.

"I have gone here every year, except the first one. I had been too wrapped up in myself to even visit the stones put up." Matt told him as he set his box in the sand. He looked up from his crouched position, hair already beginning to tangle near the ends from the breeze; Mello knew his own would be doing the same. He noted how Matt refereed to the graves as simple stones. Perhaps he viewed their resting place as not where the bodies lay, but where their journey to death had begun. In the water.

Until he asked, he had no way of knowing.

With hesitance that was surreal, Matt slowly pulled his goggle to rest around his neck. His eyes were bloodshot and red, and a little puffy. Just as Mello had expected. He said nothing, instead resting his own box beside Matt's.

"What now?"

Matt let out a humorless laugh. "Now I say goodbye again."

Mello swallowed hard, nodding. He hated seeing Matt so utterly depressed. His heart was breaking all over again, and it was all he could do to stay strong for him. This time, Matt was not alone. And if Mello had it his way, would never be alone on this day again.

Matt gently tore the tape on the box—Mello following suite—and pulled back the flaps to reveal a mix of red and purple water lilies.

"They were Amanda's favorite. She would always make dad order some for her and though they never lasted long without the stems, she would tend them every day." Matt took one out of the box, cradling it gently in his hands. He had a soft reminiscent smile, his gaze far off.

"They would have liked you a lot, Mello." Matt looked up at him suddenly, eyes glossy but not enough to shed tears.

"If your family was anything like you, I know I would have too." Mello told him softly. Matt smiled at him and stood, silently asking him to follow.

"I always toss in a test one, to make sure they wont wash back up on the beach. At least not while I am here." Matt rolled up his pants, and walked into the water. It did appear to be receding a little, enough that the flowers should be carried out to sea.

He watched Matt wade in to his waist, rocking as the water tugged on his body, trying to pull him further in. Matt released the flower and after a few long moments of watching the ebb and flow of the tide, the lilly drifted away from them. Matt looked back at him, stance wavering for a second, and Mello hesitantly stepped close to the waters edge, box in hand. He knew the prosthetic could get wet, though not necessarily submerged, and not for a long period of time.

He took a small breath and stepped into the water. Matt was more important. He still had the wheel chair at home should he fuck the leg up.

Matt met him before he could get too far in, and lifted a few more flowers from the box. Mello watched fascinated at how gentle Matt was with them, as if they, by being his sisters favorite, were an extension of her.

Mello wished he could have met her.

The second box went quicker, and Mello dropped the lilies into the water along with Matt, though he was slower with one hand. With one left in the box, Mello reached for it only to have Matt stop him.

"I always leave one out."

Mello nodded and along with Matt, trudged out of the ocean. They seated themselves only a few feet from the surf, the water just barely able to wash over their toes. The box, with the remaining flower, was placed beside Matt, though in perfect view of Mello.

If left out too much longer the water lily would begin to wilt and die. Mello believed that was the point.

"Mel?" Matt's gaze was on the water, colored red and purple.

"Yeah?" Mello watched his expression carefully, yet nothing was given away. Mello realized that this was a side of Matt he barely knew, an while it was not one he wanted Matt to have, it was one he needed to familiarize himself with. He loved him.

All of him.

"Thank you," Matt paused for a long moment, "Just... thank you." Matt hesitantly took his hand, tangling their fingers together.

He squeezed Matt's hand and rested his head on his striped shoulder, eyes turned to the ocean.

They sat like that until the sun began to set, and the last lily began to whither, nearly dead, in its box. "Let's get you home, Matt." Mello stood, gently pulling Matt to his feet with him. The redhead nodded and with boxes in tow, they made their way across the deserted beach.

Never once, did Matt let go of his hand.

-End Part 11-

AN: and we have another part :D

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Special thanks to reviewers: Keono, Lotta Devon, Awesomenessknowsnobounds, Amour en Rayures, LissaRojas , CatatonicVanity , Deadly Nightshade1395

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