Chapter nineteen:

The Shadows arrive screeching to a stop only to park where they've stopped.

Rai throws her helmet off rushing inside Silver not far behind her as he grabs his scythe he brought with him strapped to his back.

The other Shadows also rush in to go help.

As Rai and Silver begin rushing around trying to find anyone they stop when Maria and another orphan are running towards them being chased by two males.

Rai dashes forward pulling out the gun she had grabbed before leaving. She aims and fires at the two males making them fall to the ground as Silver assures the two scared orphans.

Silver points them in the right direction. "Go that way. Get outside and hide behind one of the cars." He says then joins Rai as they dash onwards heading deeper into the building.

…..

Mello takes a step back as it is Rodger who is blocking their path.

Near climbs out of Mellos arms but still slightly leans against him.

"And where do you twits think you are going?" Rodger says with a growl in his voice.

Mello glares a death glare at Rodger. "Anywhere as long as it's away from here."

"Oh I think that can be arranged." The woman grabs the gun from the one beside her then aims it at Mello as the three start to glance back.

"Mello look out!" Near says as he realizes what's going to happen.

BANG!

….

Rai and Silver keep running searching the building as they and the Shadows help any orphans they can along the way directing them to the quickest way out they spotted.

"Oh where is he?" Rai says worriedly. "This is the right building but we haven't had a chance to ask any of the people chasing those kids for answers before they were at least knocked out."

"Don't give up hope." Silver says trying to cheer her up. "We will find our brother." He says standing tall to assure her using his confidence.

Rai turns to her brother then smiles and nods.

They continue along their way dashing through the halls guessing which way to go to try to find Near.

Silver deep down has a bad feeling. 'Where are you?' He sends a message to Near through their minds.

The two siblings know that the family heirloom, that is the jewels each family member of their family gets that holds magic and is attached to their very lives, won't be able to locate Near when they need all the strength they can keep right now.

Rai looks side to side nervous and anxious for any possible way that Near could be in.

Silver is also worried for their brother.

….

Things seem to suddenly go into slow motion as the other two's eyes widen as they watch the one shot start to fall back.

"NEAR!" Mello cries out and catches Near only to fall to his knees.

Matt charges and attacks the woman trying to wrestle the gun from her.

The one the woman stole the gun from jumps to start wrestling Matt too.

Rodger smirks widely and evilly. "Oh too bad." He says with fake sympathy.

Mello looks scared down into Near's eyes.

Near is alive but weak.

Mello's eyes widen when he sees that the bullet when straight through the gem and into Near. His eyes start to blur with tears. "No …."

"Mello …" Near says weakly as his eyes start to close.

A man working under Rodger comes over with a flamethrower that he found in a storage room.

Rodger takes it and aims it at Near. "Say goodbye." He fires.

"NO!" Mello quickly shields Near's body with his own only to wince as the flames lick at his skin.

When Rodger stops believing that they are dead then Mello shivers feeling pain that ends up making where he was hit numb as he feels some blood running down his skin.

Near had slipped into unconsciousness and is getting cold.

Mello stares down helplessly at him. "Near …." He then falls forward just after a tear falls off of his face down onto Near's cheek. He falls into blackness passing out from the pain.

…

Rodger tosses the flamethrower to the one beside him then reaches for something in his back pocket.

…

Mello opens his eyes finding himself staring at a beautiful blue sky. He blinks a few times then sits up only to look around.

A single tree on one side and Near sitting not too far in front of Mello as they both are on a hill.

Hearing Mello shift Near turns to him only to get to his feet heading over to the blonde.

Mello quickly hugs Near. "Oh Near. You're ok."

Near is silent for a few moments just letting Mello hug him. "Mello …." He begins.

Mello feels his heart drop.

"I'm dead … Mello ….. And you're still alive right now." Near explains.

Mello pulls away enough to look at Near's face.

Near's eyes widen as he sees Mello's face. "Oh Mello your face." He gently reaches up trailing a finger along part of the scar Mello has received that in this place seemed to have healed his burns into a scar.

Mello feels a tingle of pleasure as Near touches the scar. "It's ok." He assures Near.

Near looks into Mellos eyes.

They watch each other for a bit.

"Near." Mello begins to say something as he leans his forehead against Near's own. "I have something important to tell you."

Near watches Mello's eyes silently telling him that he is listening.

Mello smiles softly though on one side it feels a little strange with the new scar. "Near." He begins. "I believe I have denied this to myself for a long time without realizing it." He says. "Please trust me when I say that I have a certain feeling for you."

"May I ask somethings?" Near asks.

Mello nods.

"Have I been a thought in your mind?"

"No."

"Do you think that I look alright?"

"No."

"Do you like me?"

"No."

"Am I someone you want to be with forever?"

"No."

"Would you cry if I left?"

"No."

Near frowns at Mello's answers and begins to pull away but Mello wraps his arms around Near's waist pulling the other against him.

"You do not look alright, you look gorgeous more gorgeous than I ever thought possible. You aren't a thought in my mind, my mind is always filled with you." Mello says once again leaning his forehead against Nears. "I don't like you, I love you. You aren't someone I want to be with forever, you're someone I need to be with forever. Finally I wouldn't cry if you left, I would die if you left."

Near blushes heavily at Mello's words and finds himself speechless.

"I'm not letting you go alone." Mello says moving his lips closer to Nears as their forehead contact starts to break to allow this new movement as Mello's eyes lower to being half open. "I can't live without you." He gently moves his lips to against Near's own as his own eyes close.

Near's eyes lower stopping for a moment at half open then closes them as he kisses Mello back.

No tongue but a kiss full of love.

They break apart when they need air and they smile happily at each other.

"Let me walk with you." Mello says.

Near nods and they turn to the way Near was facing when he was sitting on the hill.

"So it's this way?" Mello asks.

Near nods. "Yes it is."

Mello smiles a little more. "Then let us get moving."

The two walk down the hill and a distant gunshot rings through the air bt neither really seem to notice.

AN:

The saying Mello is saying is one version of some versions floating around on the internet. I just kind of put it in my own words but just thought you'd like to know that when Mello is telling Near he loves him the way it happens is not my original idea even if I kind of put it into my own words. Just thought I'd share if any wanted to know. It's up to where Mello says the stuff with I don't like you I love you then that's it for the kind of quote I am referencing.

Mello.