"I wish to teach Linda a new song." Linda looked up to find Near, Matt behind him, standing in the doorway to her room. She put down the book she was reading and stood up.

"All right, Near." She said, following them both to the room where Aiber sat with Watari.

Linda, Matt, and Near were constantly questioned by everyone (Aiber was asked exactly once, and he said that one of those three would tell them, as he would not. No one asked him again) what song was new. The most they gave out was that it was something completely spectacular and no one in Wammy's would forget it. Ever.

It was the second night in a new town, and Near stood by Wedy and Aiber. Wedy nodded as he spoke.

"What's he telling them?" Linda asked Matt, who stood next to Mello (It was rare that Near asked to speak to the two adults alone and that was the only thing that sparked Mello's interest...so the blonde said). Mello shrugged, and Matt relayed that to Linda. She glared at the both of them and shook her head. "I'm leaving, I'll find out later."

"Me, too." The blonde muttered, annoyed. "I'm bored." Matt, looking back once, followed his friend.

The third night there, Linda smiled happily.

"Matt, we're going to perform our song!" She cried, jumping on the red-headed smoker from behind. Near smiled lightly as they nearly toppled over.

"Are we? Finally?" Matt's eyes locked with Near's and Near's light smile widened a fraction.

"Yes." Matt frowned.

"But..."

"Do not worry about it, Matt." Near cut off. "Matt will do his best, I'm sure." Matt smiled.

Linda sat onstage, the curtains drawn, on her knees as she bowed her head lightly, waiting for her cue. Behind her, Aiber started the piano and she took deep breaths---she had rehearsed this with Near and Matt hundreds of times, and hoped that Matt would do his best. After all, his part was in Italian (Italian! Poor Matt could barely say the words, all but butchering them each time he spoke!). Behind the stage, Wedy stood with Matt (who was waiting to step out and sing). Near was next to him.

"I pray you'll be our eyes,
and watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise,
in times when we don't know." Linda started, still on the floor as if she were actually praying. The audience grew larger as more and more people were drawn in by her voice and posture. Backstage, Matt stood straighter, ready to enter. A small hand on his arm stopped him and a fierce nod met his enquiring gaze. Understanding the unspoken meaning, Matt stepped back lightly. Ignoring Near's wince, he rubbed the albino on the head. Sighing, Near allowed the contact.
"Let this be our prayer,
when we lose our way.
Lead us to the place,
guide us with your grace,
To a place where we'll be safe." Linda took a breath and waited for Matt's voice to come up.

"La luce che tu dai." Came the soft voice, stepping out to stand next to Linda. She stiffened slightly and looked up---that wasn't Matt's voice. Her eyes caught with Near's and he smiled encouragingly, helping her up.

"I pray we'll find your light." She continued, her eyes staring into Near's dark ones with confusion in hers. He continued the song in Italian, ignoring her questioning gaze.

"Nel cuore resterà." He sang. Linda took a shaky breath, deciding to continue and just trust in Near.

"And hold it in our hearts."

"A ricordarci che." Near translated. Linda held his gaze, tears filling her own eyes slowly.

"When stars go out each night---" She started.

"L'eterna stella sei.
Nella mia preghiera." He sang as she vocalized briefly. Linda continued alone.

"Let this be our prayer."

"Quanta fede c'è." Backstage, Mello came up, looking at Matt curiously. Wasn't the red-head supposed to be up there?

"When shadows fill our day.
Lead us to a place." Linda lead Near closer to the front of the stage, finally understanding his plan. As much as she hated to help him with it (and Mello would give her hell later) she knew that she had to do it. Besides, he was already out there, on stage with her. There was nothing else she could do.

"Guide us with your grace." Near sang in english. Linda took a breath.

"Give us faith so we'll be safe." Near had been pleased, upon teaching her, to know that she had learned Italian when she was younger. Her father had traveled a lot, before he suddenly disappeared, and he would often take the small girl with him. She had spent about a year in Italy, he did not know precisely where, when she had been about five. That was where Wammy's picked her up.

"Sognamo un mondo senza più violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace e di fraternità." They sang together, and by the end of their duet, Linda had tears in her eyes, staring at Near. Near's gaze, however, was a little off. Mello, for the first time in weeks, caught Near's gaze in a heated questioning of their own. Linda noticed, but seemed to know who it was Near was staring at, so she didn't mind. However, Near's plan began to shape in Mello's mind. Mello's eyes widened, and he froze in shock.

"La forza che ci dia." Near sang. Linda took a shaky breath so that her tears wouldn't be heard in her voice.

"We ask that life be kind." She said. Backstage, Mello unfroze and made to take a step forward. Not alarmed in the slightest, Matt flew around and grabbed the blonde's arms, keeping him back.

"È il desiderio che." Near kept his eyes locked with Mello's---understand, I'm doing this because I want to---as Linda stared up at him.

"And watch us from above." Mello tried to fight Matt off and Wedy went in front of Mello, not breaking his eye contact with Near, and helped Matt. Alone, that would have done nothing, but together they managed to keep Mello restrained enough.

"Ognuno trovi amor." Unnoticed by anyone, someone in the audience broke away from the crowd and ran towards a building near the front of the town.

"We hope each soul will find." Mello froze as the rest of the lyrics came up and Near continued to look into his eyes unwaveringly---those lyrics were written with him in Near's mind.

"Intorno e dentro a sè." Near sang.

"Another soul to love." Linda translated for him. Mello tried even harder to escape the restraints of Matt and Wedy but nothing worked and he was forced to watch helplessly.

"Let this be our prayer." Near sighed, not taking his eyes off of Mello.

"Let this be our prayer." Linda's tears finally made their way down her cheeks as she touched Near's face softly. Near allowed her to touch him as he stared at Mello.

"Just like every child." A large group came into the back of the audience, and one member came towards the front of the stage alone, looking up at the display in front of him.

"Just like every child." Linda repeated. Mello fought harder---no good.

"Need to find a place,
guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe." Near and Linda sang together again, finishing the song in a duet. Mello's eyes finally filled with tears and Wedy looked on in surprise, not loosening her grip on Mello.
"E la fede che
Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salverà." Linda hugged Near and for a few seconds, as their voices fell back down to a normal pitch, Near allowed the contact. As soon as the song ended, however, Ryuzaki jumped on stage and pulled his cousin---rather forcefully---from the Wammy girl.

"Welcome back, dear cousin. You gave us such a fright." He whispered in Near's ear.

"NEAR!" Mello screamed suddenly, fighting harder than before. Aiber joined Wedy and Matt's struggle to keep him back as Ryuzaki took Near from the stage.