Hello~! I'm not dead! Geez, it's been almost a whole year since I've updated this story... I'm really, very sorry for that. Around this time last year, my school work began to pile up (I graduated with my Associate's almost two months ago, and, in a about month, I'll be moving on to complete two more years of college for my Bachelor's. It's been a very busy process, but a rewarding one, too). I've focused very hard on it, along with personal writing projects that I'm working on for my future, but there have also been other matters that have consumed my time—matters that concern family. Most of these problems could have been avoided, if only my immediate family didn't live near certain people. They are selfish, irrational, and always make a spectacle of things. I really dislike these people. I'm sure those of you reading this right now are thinking of some of your own family members. I'm positive most people do have at least one nut in their family trees.

Anyway, on to the story! I left it off at a bad spot, in which Near and Matt are in the process of being abducted by Vince. Nice, right? This whole chapter is solely fixed on the situation between Near and Matt. I hope this chapter is still engaging enough to keep your interests in this story, though I've been away for so long. I've always appreciated you viewers for reading this, along with the commentary I get from time to time. Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own "Death Note" or any of its characters.

Chapter 20

Figuring

Near opened the back door of the car and immediately slid inside, not wanting to endanger Matt's life. With a steady, yet nervous gaze, he watched the man guide Matt swiftly towards the vehicle, knife still held to his throat. Soon, the masked man got into the back of the car's middle seat, brushing his knee against Near's as he pulled Matt down into the third seat.

Once the door closed behind Matt, the man removed his mask, revealing his dark hair, black eyes, and sharp features.

"Adem, drive," the man commanded, holding his knife towards Matt still.

The man in the driver's seat first took off his mask, allowing his thick, grey-dotted, brown hair to show, and backed out of the parking space. Near's eyes glanced to the rear-view mirror, catching the driver's face. Of course, it's "Mr. Caden." So his name is Adem. This man is a traitor, a liar… Adem's eyes briefly caught Near's in the mirror and then flickered back to the front of him. His expression was so… Although, Mello did say this man didn't seem to like what he was doing. Maybe…

Near felt his wrist being grabbed. He quickly looked to his side, staring into shady, grinning eyes. Near himself couldn't help but shiver a little at the sight of them.

"Ah, no need to be afraid," the man said, forcing the boy closer towards him. Near's eyes widened in shock as he almost fell into his lap. His heart jolted unsettlingly. "You'll be fine as long as you're good, remember?"

"You're Vince," Matt stated, keeping his eyes on the blade before him. His heart was pounding so much from this sudden situation; all he could do was speak the obvious.

"Why, yes, I am," the dark-haired man replied, teasing the young brunette by shoving the knife's point closer towards his face. Matt backed up a little, and Vince smirked in amusement. "You seem to be afraid as well, brother of Mihael."

"Of you?" Matt questioned, trying to straighten his tone, "N-No. Get real."

"Then why are you shaking so much?"

Matt hesitated and focused on his body's nerves. He was shaking…

Vince smirked a little wider and drew back the blade. "Question. Would you be more afraid if I did this, instead?" As soon as he said this, he jerked Near's body over his lap. He grasped Near's hair and forced his head down onto Matt's lap, firmly placing the knife underneath his chin.

"N-No! Stop it!" Matt yelled, his eyes widening in horror, "Leave him alone!"

Vince chuckled. "I could slit his throat right now and allow his blood to drain onto you. Would it frighten you?"

"You're insane!" Matt retorted, longing to push Vince away from Near. He was too afraid to move, for fear Vince might actually kill him. "Let him go!"

"Does this scare you or does it not?" Vince questioned again, upsetting Matt even more.

"Vince, let the boy go!" Adem demanded, his voice border-line desperate, "There's a bumpy section at the exit up here; you could really hurt him!"

Vince ignored Adem and pressed the knife into Near's neck a little harder, nearly severing his skin's surface. "It's just a simple answer."

"If you want me to say I'm afraid, then I will!" Matt shouted, his breathing becoming irregular from stress, "I'm afraid, alright? I'm scared as hell! Let my brother go!"

"Aw, see, now was that so hard?" Vince asked the fuming brunette, as he removed the knife and lifted Near's head from Matt's lap. His eyes were completely round, showing more disturbance than fear. Vince carelessly tossed Near back into his seat, causing the younger boy to strike his head against the door's window. "All it took was a simple answer."

"What was the point of all that?" Matt snappily retorted, watching Near in concern as the other rubbed his head.

"Fun for me," Vince bluntly replied, earning a disgusted look from Matt. "You two aren't only my hostages, after all. I should at least entertain myself."

"Vince-"

"Adem, not now," he interrupted him, "We'll be away from the hospital shortly. Just keep your attention focused on the road, rather than on me."

"Entertain yourself," Near repeated, looking directly into Vince's eyes. "You want to toy with us while you have us. That's why you didn't knock us out like our guards."

"Aah, you're a smart one," Vince amusedly replied, pulling Near towards him again. He got him into his lap and pressed his body against his chest. Matt nearly jumped at Vince, but stopped when he saw the knife aimed at Near's back. He just watched and listened quietly, seething in abhorrence for the man. What on earth was he doing?

"You're exactly right, Near," Vince continued on, forcing Near's head to rest against his shoulder. "I didn't subdue you or Matt here because I want to have some fun with you," he chuckled a little, "Ah, there are many little "games" I would like play before Mihael comes."

Near's eyes narrowed in thought, squirming lightly at the up-close sound and warmth of his captor's breathing. "What… do you mean by that?"

Vince breathed another chortle of laughter under his breath. "Now, why spoil that? Huh…" His hand stroked through Near's hair. Near's skin chilled, as did Matt's. "My, such an interesting hair color…"

Near's eyes raised to Matt's, as Vince's gloved fingers wistfully continued to fondle it. Both felt extremely uneasy, though Near was far more tensed. He felt very defenseless and troubled by this man's actions and words. Vince must be insane… yet he still remembered what Mello had said days ago. He had said that Vince appeared to jump from one persona to another in an instant. He had done it on purpose. Was he playing that same act out now, just to bother him and Matt, or was it his own absurdity revealing itself? If everything he had done so far was truly an act, then he was certainly doing well in leaving an impact on Near's nerves…

Matt wanted to break Near out of Vince's hold, but he continued to sit quietly in his seat and watch him. He was still petting Near's hair and holding him in his lap, as if he were some kind of pet… and the knife Vince had was still tightly grasped in his hand, its point touching Near's back. Matt was afraid that Vince would hurt Near if he moved even a little. He sat there silently, keeping Near's gaze as the car drove onwards. His heart was still racing and his nerves were on edge. They had expected something to happen, but he still couldn't believe Vince had taken them both like this, not to mention so quickly. Mello had been entirely right about who Vince was and how he portrayed himself.

The ride had seemed to go on longer for both Near and Matt, but, truly, it had barely been five minutes since they had been taken from the hospital. Now they were driving onto the grounds of a clearly abandoned storage area. Adem drove the vehicle towards the back of the lot, out of general sight, and parked under the branches of a sheltered, overgrown tree.

Vince abruptly threw Near into Matt's lap, causing both teenagers a little shock. Vince only grinned and reached an arm to their sides, his hand gripping the handle of their car door. He smirked, moving closer towards the boys as they backed closer against the door with wary expressions.

"Here, allow me." Without another delay, Vince pulled the door's handle and pushed it open, causing both Matt and Near to tumble out of the vehicle. Matt fell onto the hard cement, wincing as he held Near around his waist. A cruel, amused laugh sounded, and both boys looked up to see Vince out of the car and towering over them.

"Ah, haha, your expressions are quite enjoyable," Vince teased them, nonchalantly closing the door behind him.

"Vince, please," Adem sighed, stepping out of the car as well, "Can you not just leave them alone? What we're doing is more than enough."

Vince shot his henchman a quick, warning glance and stooped down to the ground. He snatched Near out of Matt's arms and then stood up, roughly pulling the albino to his feet and causing him to stumble.

Adem shook his head and hunched down to the ground beside Matt and, more gently, took hold of his arm. Feeling greatly disappointed in himself, he apologized silently through his eyes. Matt's eyes narrowed in curiosity as he got to his feet. He really does seem to hate this…

Vince and Adem led the two brothers inside the storage building, guiding them down the dim passageway of closed sectors. Soon, they were at one, particular closed unit at the furthest end of the building. Vince shoved Near into Adem's chest and then unlocked the compartment. He lifted the door of it, revealing a single, cardboard box in its center.

"Go inside and do what he says," Adem whispered to both boys. "I'm truly sorry; I really am."

Near and Matt glanced at each other and stepped forward, knowing they didn't have a choice regardless.

"Go in and put on what's in the box, both of you," Vince ordered them.

Matt and Near felt nervous about this order, and hesitated briefly, but they still went towards the box. They knelt beside it and peered into it.

"C-Clothes?" Matt questioned, looking back up at Vince.

"Of course," he replied, that aggravating and confident grin still on his face. "Adem told me about the trackers in your clothing. It's a necessary precaution, for me."

Matt sighed to himself. Thought so. We didn't expect anything different.

Near and Matt looked towards Adem, and he glanced away, looking dreadfully ashamed. Even though both boys felt natural betrayal towards this lackey, they didn't feel as angry towards him as they once had. He truly seemed to hate all of this; it was as if he was silently telling them that he didn't have another choice, that he was truly remorseful. Near was especially good at judging a person's thoughts and intentions through expression, and the one Adem showed them didn't seem like an act…

"Go on, do it," Vince urged, "Strip of your clothing entirely and put on what's inside the box. We don't have much time."

Matt's eyes enlarged as he thought of Near's modest nature. He didn't want to do it either, but Near was much more reserved than he was. Vince was going to see him without any clothing on, and that really bothered Matt. Maybe I can shield him with my body while he's changing.

Sighing to himself, Matt reached into the box and pulled out two sets of light grey pajama shirts and pants.

"I tried to get them in both your sizes," Vince frivolously told them, "I certainly hope they fit."

Near and Matt both adorned troubled expressions. Vince was truly something else, acting with so many different fronts.

Matt leaned down into Near's ear and told him to change behind him. Near felt internally relieved by his brother's kind gesture, but, just as he shifted behind Matt, an unsettling click was heard. They both looked back and saw a pistol pointed at them.

"No, I'm not having that," Vince said, his tone strangely chipper and calm. "You'll both change in my sight. I can't afford any tricks from either of you."

Matt immediately felt his brotherly instincts kick in. After witnessing the way Vince held Near in the car, he did not want him to see any private part of his little brother's body. Even though Mello had said Vince had only acted like he was a pedophile before, Matt still didn't dismiss the thought that he could still be one. This man changed personalities so much; what if Vince truly did want Mello or Near, or even Matt himself, like that? What made him worry more for Near was the way he physically looked: small in stature and size, child-like in appearance, vulnerable… He stood in front of Near, glaring directly into Vince's eyes.

Adem felt a shiver travel through his body, seeing Matt's response to Vince. Please, kid, don't challenge him. He will shoot you.

Vince just cocked his head in amused interest, still pointing the gun towards the boys. "Ooh," he softly muttered, "I see…" Thought so.

Near reached up and placed his hand on Matt's shoulder. Matt turned his head and met Near's eyes. "I know what you're doing," he whispered, "and I thank you, but we can't do this. I won't lose anyone."

Matt swallowed tensely, feeling Near's energy through his hand. Near wasn't revealing his discomfort on the outside, but the slight twitch of his fingers clearly showed it to Matt. Just that brief, little shudder within Near's fingers told Matt that he was nervous.

"We don't have a choice," Near murmured, stepping out from behind Matt and gripping the collar of his white shirt. "I'll be alright."

Matt looked at Near with pitying eyes and sighed lightly. Nodding shortly, he took off his shirt and cast it into the box. Near followed his brother's lead, sliding his oversized shirt up and over his head, off of his arms, and into the box as well.

As Matt uncomfortably maneuvered himself out of his jeans and boxers, he watched Near hesitate at removing his own pants. His hands just rested at his hips, grasping the white fabric.

"Come on, Near, we don't have all day," Vince addressed the boy, "Speed it up."

Swallowing anxiously, and feeling the tips of his ears and cheeks heat up in personal embarrassment, Near forced his hands to pull down the rest of his clothing. He and Matt both stepped out of their lowered pants, focusing on each other rather than Vince. Matt picked up both of his and Near's sets of clothing, handing Near the seemingly smaller articles. They wanted to cover their bare bodies as quickly as they could.

As they put on their new sets of clothing, Adem kept a vague watch on Vince, trying to decipher his thoughts within his steadied eyes.

Vince looked at each of the boys' naked forms, thinking of the strong points of their possible stamina. Matt was a healthy size, with broad shoulders, toned arms and legs, and a well-developed chest and abdomen. He was also a little taller than Mihael. He felt that Matt could endure like the blond could, physically and mentally. He had strength in his eyes, though Vince plainly knew his weakness… Near, on the other hand, was shorter and thin. Not terribly skinny, but lean and rather soft. Even the lines of his torso, waist, and legs possessed some feminine traits in appearance. Vince had noticed this earlier in the car, when he had him positioned in his lap. The boy's overall nature was withdrawn, matured, and presented with the similar air of a female's. Near could easily be subdued. He didn't pose any sort of threat towards Vince… He found him interesting. Vince was intrigued alone by Near's pallid exterior and small body and felt the urge to bully him, bother him; especially in front of Matt. He would be able to trouble and torture them both so easily. Vince restrained the urge to grin, thinking through his plans and ideas.

After Near and Matt had finished dressing themselves in their new, loose-fitted clothing, they placed their other clothes—including shoes and socks—inside of the box, at Vince's command. They walked back to their captors, and Vince re-closed and locked the compartment. He then took Near by his arm, as Adem did Matt's arm. They headed back down the passageway. Before they were to exit, Vince halted and grabbed a rope hanging on a hook by the door. He turned Near around—his front facing Matt and Adem—placed his wrists together, and began to tie them. He purposely constricted the ropes, causing Near to visibly wince.

"Hey, lay off!" Matt demanded, leering towards Vince.

"So it bothers you?" Vince asked, tightening the knot again. Near's eyes twitched in response. "We can't have anyone attempting to escape, after all."

Matt clenched his teeth, refusing to humor Vince. He then felt his own wrists being tied behind his back. He could hear another soft apology from Adem as the ropes around his wrists tightened. He can't be faking it. He just keeps apologizing. This isn't a bad guy, but what's he doing working for someone like Vince? Maybe if I get to ask him later…

After Vince had Near's wrists firmly tied, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a strip of white cloth. He placed it over Near's mouth and securely tied the ends of it together at the back of his head. Adem did the same, pulling a strip of cloth out of his own pocket and tying it around Matt's mouth. Both men then hurriedly led their captives outside the storage building and back towards the car.

"Adem, hand Matt to me and open the trunk," Vince ordered.

Adem complied, allowing Vince to grab Matt's arm. Adem rushed ahead to open the trunk as Vince approached.

"Here, hold him," Vince ordered, abruptly pushing Near into Adem's hands.

Near looked up at Adem, once again seeing his apologetic eyes. Like Matt, Near recognized that this man couldn't possibly be a bad guy. He didn't check out as one. He also hoped to get some answers from him, if it were possible.

As Matt was dragged towards the open trunk, he resisted and turned his questioning eyes towards the dark-haired man.

"Well, I can't possibly allow either of you to see where we're going," Vince told him, beginning to maneuver Matt's body inside the trunk. "This is the best way to ensure that you won't. Oh, but, don't worry, you and Near won't be in there for too long."

Matt rolled his eyes at Vince's kind voice. He's so annoying!

Once Matt was laying inside the trunk, Vince turned back to Near and grabbed his arm, pulling him towards him. He smirked down at the boy and began to bend down. "You're next."

Suddenly, Near found himself being scooped up into Vince's arms. He fidgeted uncomfortably as Vince settled him within his grasp. Almost as soon as he had been lifted, Near was being lowered again, right beside Matt. Both boys looked back up at Vince as he began to close the trunk's lid.

"I hope you're comfortable," Vince said, smiling nicely as he shut the trunk, darkening Matt and Near's cramped surrounding. They listened to Vince's fleeting footsteps, the sound of car doors opening and shutting, and then the start of the car's engine. They felt the tremor of the car's movement as it turned and pulled away. They were moving now. They both tried to move, to see if they had an opportunity to kick the brake lights, but it was impossible. It was just too small of a space. They had no choice but to stay put.

Though Matt and Near were unable to speak, they still had each other's presences. Matt touched his forehead against Near's and sighed deeply and shakily through his nose. He was expressing his frustration and anxiousness through his breath, and Near could tell. It was as if he were apologizing, too.

Near moved closer to him, responding with a reciprocated touch of his forehead to Matt's and a nod, which the brunette took as gestures of reassurance—as if to say, "We'll be alright." Matt then hesitantly wrapped a leg around one of Near's, trying to return that feeling of trust. This was not going to be easy. Vince was definitely going to do something to them. They didn't know what Vince meant by "games" before, but they had to endure it together. That was how they were going to have to be until help came.

I still can't believe this, Matt thought, swallowing lightly as he closed his eyes in memory of the abduction. Vince really kidnapped us; he really broke the barrier twice. We expected this to happen, but this soon? We don't have the trackers anymore. L will find another way to find us somehow, but… God, what does he want with Mello? I know he'll use us as bait for him. It's scary how persistent he is… What'll Vince do to us?

Near thought similarly, pondering on his and Matt's capture and what Vince intended to do with them; especially Mello. He, like Matt, wondered why Vince was still so determined to have Mello—despite some likely and unsettling theories he had—but Near also understood that Vince wanted to toy with him and Matt, too. He had told them that earlier, after all. He'll trap Mello with me and Matt as a lure. When Mello finds out, I know he won't think twice about coming for us. Whatever Vince wants with him, whatever he'll do to us… He really is a disturbing man.

And this is where I will leave it again. Do you understand the title? Matt and Near are trying to figure out their own situation, while Vince is figuring them out. Adem is also trying to figure Vince out more, for he really doesn't understand what Vince intends to do. There was a lot of thought circulating going on in this chapter. Poor Matt and Near; they're going to have to endure time with Vince. What Vince intends to do, well... Would anyone like to guess, or would you rather not think about it and wait to see? I can't reveal anything until the time comes, anyway. ^^'

To answer one question that might pop up: Yes, L, Near, and Matt expected an outcome like this in leaving the hospital and were willing to take the risk. Matt and Near were already planning to go to the new apartment to set up things thoroughly, but they also knew there was a good chance of being kidnapped by Vince. Why would Vince just do it? Because, like Near thinks in the final paragraph of this chapter, they know Mello would immediately seek them out if Vince did take them. Near and Matt initially had the idea, and they were insistent to carry it out, if it meant catching Vince might be made easier. L, though worried, decided it might work if they went out with the trackers in their clothing as always. If Vince took them, L could just trace them and capture Vince. Vince hides in the shadows and never leaves physical traces of himself behind, after all. He needed to be brought out with an enticement. It was a rash plan, but not really a bad one, considering what they're dealing with. Even though they were also aware of Adem possibly revealing to Vince that they had trackers in their clothing, while he was "Mr. Caden," it was still the only chance they had of getting to him. Of course Adem had to tell Vince. Vince would make him spill anything he had. He's still just trying to protect his son, though he wants to protect Near, Matt, and Mello, too. Now L is going to have to think of something else. Probably wait, since Vince wants Mello more than anything and isn't necessarily aiming for the possession of Near and Matt. It's not exactly a good situation, though. You know, with Vince being a complete psycho and all...

As always, thank you for reading! I hope this was interesting and written well; especially with how the characters are. I just want to do the best I can. I don't know when the next installment will be out. It could take some time, but I am going to finish this story one day. I don't want to leave anything I've started unfinished. Until next time, then! I hope you'll want to read more!