Author's Note: Oh goodness! I'm so sorry for not having uploaded for so long. I've been uber busy lately. I'm still looking for a job, and the other day my brother came into town so I spent some time with him. Wish me luck on the job hunt.

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note, or anything remotely associated with it.

Spoiler Alert: This chapter contains material to episode 30.

It was an address to the nation from the president.

"Good afternoon, I am going to try and keep this brief." The three of us glanced quickly at each other; there was no way this was going to be good news. "The United States, will no longer oppose Kira." Reporters jumped at this announcement, all of them rapid firing questions at the president. My jaw dropped and Mello and stiffened beside me. "...Justice? No, I never said, that. But because of Kira war and conflict have ceased to exist," Yes, because what happened the other night definitely wasn't a conflict. There was still war alright; it was us versus them, the good guys versus Kira. "...Criminal organizations are in a state of ruin," Well at least THAT was true, "...anyone who defies Kira head-on will be killed, that is a fact," Yes Mr. President, it certainly was. "We are not acknowledging Kira as a symbol of justice; we are simply saying that as a country, we will not take any actions against him." The reporters went crazy again, but the president walked off his glorified soap box.

"Great," I started, "we're in the middle of World War Three and AMERICA has already folded? Not a good sign."

Matt sighed and reached into his pocket for something; a packet of cigarettes and a lighter.

"MATTHEW..." I was at a loss for his last name which I would have liked to use to emphasise my annoyance. "What are you doing!" I hollered at him. "You're not still smoking are you!" Well the answer to THAT was obvious. "You said you were going to quit!"

"I tried," he said and shrugged, pulling out a cancer stick. "Too much work," he mumbled as he stuck it in his mouth and went to light up.

I snatched it out of his fingers, "Hello! Kira's already trying to kill us, are you trying to help him? We're the ones trying to stay alive remember? This Death Stick will kill you just as easily as the Death Note can. Smarten up; you're the number three guy at Wammy's, you know better," I paused for effect. "Besides, you're not allowed to smoke inside this building anyway."

"Oye," Matt pinched the bridge of his nose and squinted his eyes in frustration and I bit my lip. Mello had pulled out a bar of chocolate in the mean time. I think all the pressure was finally getting to us. I mean, if the United States gave in to Kira, what was next? Good grief.

I needed bubblegum, I patted my sides looking for bubblegum that I always keep in my pockets, only to realise I currently didn't have pockets. I was still in my towel. It was time to change.

Once I was in my room again I placed my thumb under my lip and started thinking. Where were we going to go from here? My door opened again behind me. "Oh for Heaven's sake Mello," I turned on my heels and came face to face with Matt.

"Heh, probably should've knocked, but whatever," he chuckled.

"Oh my gosh Matt. What is it you want?" I gripped the top of my towel to make sure it was still tightly wrapped around me.

"Mello wants to know where you put the chess board he saw last time. We're going to have a game."

"That couldn't wait 'til I was dressed?" I asked incredulous.

"Hey, he was about to barge back in here himself if I hadn't come in."

"Well it's right where it was last time he was here. I haven't used or moved it since."

"He says it's not."

"It's on the end table," I said exasperated.

"That's where he looked." I arched my eyebrow at him.

What? Where was my chess board?

I got dressed in a hurry after that; but after thirty minutes of a fruitless effort of searching my apartment from top to bottom we gave up and Matt went back to my video games and Mello and I went back to planning. I was having a terrible time concentrating though; my missing glass chess set, keeping my thoughts occupied in the back of my mind.

We spent the next week or so doing the exact same thing. Matt played video games and practical jokes, Mello paced and pondered, I programmed and primped... hey, with two guys in the apartment I had to look my best. Besides, I already had an idea. It didn't matter though; Mello would never go along with it. At least that's what I thought until Mello said, "Well first we have to tie up some lose ends. I'm going to see Near."

Matt and I shared stunned looks. "Uh, Mel?" I asked timidly, "Freudian slip? Or did you actually just say what I thought you said?"

He turned to face me, "He's got something of mine."

As it turned out, Mello had been doing some programming of his own. Along with Matt, he'd done some research on the side. As it turns out there was one major hang-up in any plan we could come up with. Not only was Mello's name was now known... but his photograph was floating around somewhere. But not just 'somewhere,' rumour at Wammy's was that Near had it. And that is how we ended up half was across the country. While on the plane we had Matt do a little investigating into my old files for us to discover the address of one of the SPK agents working under Near. Because the location of the SPK was strictly confidential, we were going to use her to get inside.

Mello had insisted he could do this alone, but I pressed to go with him. I don't know why, maybe I was developing attachment issues. It'd be really bad if that were the case; I painfully recalled the last time I had been attached to someone; the same someone who had been killed by the Note Book. And then again when I'd become attached to the same person I was now. What would happen if Mello left me again? Maybe that's why I was going; maybe I just wanted to make sure that he couldn't run out on me again.

We broke into her apartment; what was her name, Halle? She was one of the members of the SPK that Mello had been in contact with during my absence from his team. She was so obviously in the shower. I half wondered if Mello didn't come here at this time because of that. But he couldn't have known... right? What was it with him, and walking in on chicks in towels?

Mello looked in deep in thought for a moment as he wandered around her apartment. An idea seemed to hit him, because he walked over to the TV in the living room and turned it on. He then motioned for us to wait on either side of the door leading into the living room from the hallway. Halle would have to pass us to go check out the TV.

Mello tossed me a gun and we waited breathlessly for a moment before we heard the water turn off, and the bathroom door open. Footsteps creaked and stopped, and then creaked again. I pressed myself up against the wall and she came through the door. Mello instantly raised his gun; it was level with her head.

"So you're alive," She said flatly as Mello took a bite of his chocolate. I raised my gun and cocked it. It didn't look like she knew I was there. She turned towards me and gave me a quizzical look, but she wasn't surprised; I just sneered. If she could play the 'Too Cool' attitude, so could I.

The SPK's headquarters weren't too far away from Halle's apartment surprisingly. We made it there in no time. All the while Mello had his gun trained on Halle. He kept it in his coat in public, but when we reached the building that housed the SPK, he pulled it out again. We walked emphatically through the hallways and corridors like we were fighting back some invisible force. I made a mental note of the surveillance cameras placed strategically here and there. I had a flashback to Mello's old base; the big difference of course was the level of class each place had. Whereas Mello's base was all but in ruins, this base was a high-tech, new office building. Near certainly was eccentric.

Ahead of us there was a steel plated door with a dozen different locks on it. it slid open with bleeps and flashing lights as we approached.

We walked forward, gun still trained on the back of Halle's head. Two members of the SPK had their guns trained on Mello.

"Mello, welcome... Jewel." Neither of us answered him. I don't imagine Mello felt he needed to reply, or wanted too with two guns aimed at him. Me, I just didn't know what to say. I hadn't seen Near in what, four years? And now I was suddenly at his door step; with Mello and a gun? Yeah, what do you say to that? I settled for biting my lip.

"Drop your weapon!" The two men with guns ordered, as they cocked their own guns. I pulled the one Mello had given me out of my coat pocket, aiming them at the two men who were aiming at Mello as a counter.

My older brother Near sat on the floor, in the center of a circular train track, blocks, action figures and other such child's toys. He was older than me in so many ways, but he'd never really grown up.

"Everyone, please put away your guns. Having a shootout here would achieve nothing." Sure, he was mature enough to say that, but he was still playing with trains and Heaven knows what else? Although, putting our weapons away was the logical thing to do, maybe it didn't take maturity at all.

"Sir, with all due respect, Mello is the one who killed our partners." Not, exactly. The Death Note killed their partners; and Mello wasn't the one who'd written in it anyway.

"Please don't make me say it again," Near voiced. I don't know how they were taking him seriously. He was an eighteen year old albino who was crouched in the middle of a train set, playing with toys. "Remember that our primary objective is still to catch Kira. Killing Mello right now will do nothing to benefit our investigation," that's right Near, just ignore me. Mello's the smart one, I have nothing to contribute to this investigation. And by the way, is that the only reason you'd keep Mello alive anyway? just because it wouldn't 'benefit the investigation'? How about because he's a person, and... was it terrible that I could think of no other redeeming qualities for Mello at the moment?

"Alright," the one said, and they both lowered their guns, I lowered mine in turn, and Mello lowered his.

"It seems like things have been going just as you planned Near." Mello finally spoke up.

"Yes, I take it you've already heard all about the second L from Lidner by now," No, he heard it from me when I joined him months ago! "I've pretty much figured out who Kira is, and it's mostly thanks to everything you've done."

That was the wrong thing to say Near. His words pushed Mello just a little too far, and had him raising his gun again; this time it was aimed at my brother's head instead of Halle's. NOW what do I do!

"Shut up Near!" Mello cried, and Near's two body guard types had their weapons aimed at Mello again. I raised mine and we were back in our original standoff position. "I'm not just a tool for you to use in order to solve your puzzles you know!"

"Mello, if you really want to shoot me than go ahead and do it," AHH! WHAT WAS WITH THESE TWO! They were both geniuses bit neither of them had an ounce of actual intelligence between them... at least when it came to each other. Good grief. My brother was volunteering his life, and my... and Mello, was ready to take it from him. They should just both be shot for their stupidity and arrogance.

I heard the trigger being pulled back in Mello's hand. He wasn't SERIOUSLY going to kill my brother was he!

"Stop!" Halle and I ordered at the same time. I gave her an annoyed look as she jumped in front of Mello, and grabbed the end of the gun. Way to steal my thunder Halle, thanks a lot. "If you shoot him than the rest of us will have no choice but to shoot you too!" I'm here too, just saying, I have a gun too, just saying. "What will it solve if both of you die!" Finally a voice of reason! I may hate her guts, and I may hate them solely on the premise that Mello might like her, but you can't deny logic like that. "That's just what Kira wants." Okay, please stop talking now.

"You have a good point," Uh, I had that point too! Ages ago; just because I didn't say anything... Hmm, maybe I should just shoot her. How could he speak so civilly to her! If I had tried that I would've been yelled at! It would've been, 'Oh, so you're favouring Near! Oh, you're picking your brother over me! Oh, you think Near's better than I am too!' Good grief.

Mello lowered his gun and continued, "Anyway, I'm only here for one thing. I came to take back that photograph you have." How What was Near doing with that photo of Mello anyway? I mean, no one could deny that Mello's hatred toward Near was completely one-sided, but to keep a picture of him?

"Of course. I got it from the orphanage," Near held up the photo just like L used to hold things, barely touching it. "There was only one, and no copies have been made." I straightened my glasses and took a close look at the photo, as close as I could on account of Near was still holding it and that I was half blind even with my glasses. I was able to realise just how long ago it'd been taken. Mello must've been no older than fourteen; ages ago for us. "I've already gone ahead and dealt with everyone who knows your face, both inside and outside of Wammy's House, they'll keep quiet," Near flawlessly flicked the photo to Mello, not something that was easy to do with a piece of paper. Mello caught it without effort. "I can't say a hundred percent for certain, but it shouldn't be possible for you to be killed by the Notebook," Mello turned the photo around in his hands, examining it. "Is that the only business you had with me Mello?"

"Near," Mello scoffed, "let's get one thing straight, I have NO intention of working together with you on this."

"Yes, I know." All the rest of us just seemed to disappear; they carried on with their conversation like they were the only ones in the room.

"At the same time, I can't just take my photo and leave, that wouldn't be right? So I'll settle my debt... The killer notebook belongs to a Shinigami; whoever touches it is able to see a god of death."

"That's crazy!"

"Who the hell would believe in something like that!" the others finally cut in.

"I would," Near answered, "I believe him completely." The members of the SPK turned to Near in disbelief. "What good would it do him to tell an outrageous lie like that? Even if he had something to gain, he could at least come up with a more believable story. Therefore, these gods of death must exist."

"The Notebook I obtained had previously belonged to another Shinigami, perhaps even Kira himself. Also, some of the rules written inside are actually fake. That's all I can tell you for now," Why was Mello being so generous with his information in the first place! He wanted so badly to beat Near, in fact all he wanted was to beat Near, and yet he was helping him with the case? After how hard he'd worked to get even a step ahead? It couldn't just be because of the photograph could it?

Mello turned and started walking away; I followed him, taking one last look at my brother sitting on the floor. It took me until now to realise how much I actually missed him. We may've never gotten along, but he was still my brother. We still shared that blood, that bond.

Mello stopped so suddenly I almost ran into him, "Near."

"Mello,"

Mello pulled out a chocolate bar form his pocket, and I looked over my shoulder to see Near playing with a strand of his hair, "Which of us is going to reach Kira first I wonder?" I didn't have to see Mello's face to know he was smirking, you could hear is so plainly in his tone. Was he still so genuinely confident?

"The race is on," Near stated from behind me. What was with these two! One minute they were ready to kill each other, and the next it was like they were two old friends who were playing a simple game of chess.

"We're both headed towards the same destination; I'll be waiting for you."

"Right," and with that Mello and I continued out.

Author's Note: Okay, writing these past two chapters has be REALLY wanting to write a Matt FanFic after this, however I know I won't. I mean, Matt's the best obviously, he's so cool, but I just can't see him as being anything more than my OC's best friend kind if deal.

Also, the other day I was reading a FanFic and the author of that one had a great idea: A Question & Answer option. Go ahead and ask me any question; about my story, about my characters, my love of anime, anything :D

Oh and, I may have made my OC sound a little prejudiced against people who smoke. That's actually not the case. I don't mind people who smoke, and my OC was just worried about Matt's health :) Speaking of Matt, don't worry, I'll get his character right soon. I can tell myself he seems a little off at the moment.