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I like this chapter a lot. I think it's ranking one of my top favorites. What do the rest of you think?

Chapter 21:

The Simplicity of His Mind

It had to be a cliché. What else could it be? There was C-4 rigged to go off, a psychopath in the room, holding a mutual friend hostage, and the saviors were stumped at what to do. It had to be a cliché. No, it definitely was a cliché, Near decided. He exchanged a look with Mello. The blonde looked how Near felt- murderous.

"Tell us more about A," Near said. Beyond Birthday looked up curiously at Near and Near hoped his poker face was in place. "You loved her, didn't you?" Beyond Birthday nodded, an emotion showing on his face of what Near assumed to be a remnant of his old self showing through. L held his breath. He knew what would happen if Beyond Birthday didn't take the bait. He'd probably dig the scalpel into L again and then Mello would be set off. Matt would try to stop Mello and- and it wasn't going to be a pretty sight.

"She was never fond of studying- she was just smart on her own. She only studied because of the thought of becoming the next L," Beyond Birthday sneered.

"Matt, can you get the C-4 unrigged?" Mello whispered, lips barely moving as Beyond Birthday continued his story.

"She looked so surprised when I brought her food one time," he continued. "Our keepers weren't kind enough to think that we were people. We were just puppets."

"Make sure he doesn't notice I'm gone," Matt said and then he disappeared into the shadows, with Mello's eyes watching him until he couldn't turn without drawing attention. Near caught Mello's eye and nodded slightly, eyes shifting back towards Beyond Birthday.

"We're all puppets," Near said. "At Whammy's house, that's all we are. Why did you ever think anything different?"

"And now they even have you brainwashed!" Beyond Birthday laughed. "I thought you were number one, Near? Even A realized that we were puppets at one point in time!"

"A?" Beyond Birthday blinked sleepily.

"Can I sleep here?" A asked.

"What if Roger finds out?" he asked but he moved over obediently.

"You don't care if Roger finds out," A said. She settled on her side. Beyond Birthday didn't make any move to hold her. He wanted to- her numbers were almost out- but he knew she wouldn't let him unless she made the first move.

"Did you enjoy the dance?" he asked.

"I suppose," A said and he looked at her. Her numbers were scarily low. They had climbed slightly when L had paid attention to her- when he had danced with her but when he left, they had dropped slightly. Beyond Birthday still couldn't stop worrying even though her numbers climbed up and down- down more often than up. But her numbers hadn't been that low when he had last seen her.

He sat up abruptly, turning her onto her back so that she was pinned under him. She looked up at him, surprised.

"What happened?"

"Nothing," she lied. "Why aren't you wearing a shirt?" He wanted to shake her. Why did she always care about their state of dress at the wrong times? As it was, he squeezed her shoulders tighter, to the point where she winced. He wanted her to be scared. He wanted her numbers back up.

"What happened?" he repeated. She sighed and tried to turn on her side again but he refused to let her. "A? Did he use you? Did you have sex with him?"

"What? No!" A shrieked, sitting up quickly so that he had to fall back or risk being hit. "How can you even ask me that? I'm going back into my room." Beyond Birthday rushed up after her, and beat her to the door just as she got it opened. He shut it and blocked it with his body.

"A, what happened?" Beyond Birthday asked. She looked away.

"We're puppets, B," she said quietly. "We're all puppets."

"Why did Beyond Birthday think A had sex with me?" L asked quietly.

"Her numbers were so low!" Beyond Birthday howled pitifully. "I thought of anything that would make them drop that low!"

"What are these numbers you speak of?" Near asked.

"Oh, that's right. You can't see them," Beyond Birthday said. "You don't have the eyes!" He cackled. He looked at Light then. "I wish A's numbers had been like yours. I wouldn't have had to watch as they went up and down. I would have been off put at not knowing her lifeline but it would have been better than knowing the exact moment she was going to die."

"I told you, now move," A said.

"No," Beyond Birthday snapped.

"B-"

"It's Beyond Birthday," he snapped, grabbing her by the waist and kissing her.

"And you, M… you remind me of her the most," Beyond Birthday said. "You have the same want, the same goal as she did… You want what is just out of your reach. You want to be L. Your goal is to be L… and you can't even see what's right in front of you- or behind me, rather." Mello's heart stopped as Beyond Birthday turned around, throwing the scalpel blindly. It missed Matt but the red head's position was now revealed to the psychotic laughing man.

"If you make me move," Matt said neutrally, "you'll blow all of us up- including yourself."

"You sound as if you don't care," Beyond Birthday snickered. "Do you? Do you care?" Matt glanced at Mello.

"Don't you already know my answer?" he asked and his attention turned back on Beyond Birthday as if it had never left.

"I do but I think everyone else should too," Beyond Birthday laughed. "After all, N over there wants to believe you care about him! Mello can't understand the simplicity of your mind! L knows the truth and Kira over there probably doesn't have the slightest inkling of what's really going on in your mind! Enlighten them! Shatter their thoughts about poor, precious, neutral Mail. Go on! Tell them- and I'll know if you lie."

Matt's hand rose towards his goggles, adjusting them slightly.

"And why don't you take those off too, while you're at it? Just so we can see those pretty, pretty eyes of yours?" Beyond Birthday smiled. Matt's hand stilled. "Go on, or I'll just blow everyone up right now!" Matt pulled his goggles down, revealing his eyes.

"Matt, it's okay," L said.

"I… I only care if Mello lives," Matt said. Near looked away. Light stared at Matt, not sure what was going through the redhead's mind. Mello held a stone faced, furious expression. He knew Matt cared about him. He knew Matt cared very little about himself.

He just didn't think Matt was willing to give up his life for him.

"Do you understand, Mello?" Beyond Birthday cackled. "The simplicity of his mind? Do you understand how his world revolves around you and only you-"

"Shut up! Shut up! He doesn't need to know! Just SHUT UP!"

Me: Sorry, the character death warning came a little bit early. Oops... and for SyC0bEaR's amusement;)

Matt: Review.