(Near P.O.V)

L never told me what happened to Mello. He had simply left with Matt late at night, then came back with the blonde in tow. Something had happened too… I just couldn't see it.

It made me angry that I couldn't read Mello's face. He hid everything behind a wall of strength and anger. It was obvious that something had happened, but only a select few were aware. Roger, L, Watari, and Matt were the only ones to know at the time. It must have been something terrible since it was kept from everyone else.

Mello's demeanor changed a bit when had returned as well. He no longer liked to be touched by anyone. Only Matt was allowed to be close to him, and sometimes L. Everyone else had no value to him. From this I deducted that someone had inflicted some kind of pain to him, but when I asked L about it he told me to stop trying to find out the answer. He told me that this was none of my business and shouldn't get involved. It worried me that L had gotten so defensive, but I complied. I didn't look for answers anymore. At least… not for a while.

We had just been let out for the rest of the day and I had gone outside for the first time in what seemed like forever. For some reason, I wanted to be outside that day.

There had been other kids on the playground, but I didn't bother to go near them. I wanted to be alone… but, then again, I hadn't really wanted to be. I wanted to hang around Matt and Mello for the rest of my time. I knew Matt wouldn't have minded that, but Mello would've been a different story.

I had noticed them sitting under a tree and went to turn the other way when I heard Matt call my name.

"Near! Come sit with us!"

I looked back to see Matt waving at me frantically, but Mello just continued to read his book. Completely unaware of Matt's invitation.

I was timid, but I made my way toward the two and sat right in front of Matt. Still Mello continued to ignore the world around him. Whatever book he was reading was obviously intriguing.

I guess Matt noticed my interest in Mello's book. "He's writing down some story L told him last night. He said it was good enough to remember. It had to do with a case he just finished and, knowing Mello, he's trying to remember everything L told him for future writing purposes. Funny, he never gets this intrigued when it comes to other stories. Though, whenever he does work on one, they almost always turn out awesome." He nudged Mello's arm. "Hey, maybe you should be a writer! You could write about the Wammy's house and all the awesome stuff that's happened here."

Mello glanced at the red-head, then went back to his reading.

I had heard Mello was a good writer, but never had I read anything of his work. He never mentioned this talent to anyone. People just found out about it. He was so determined to be L's successor that any other profession was moot to him.

I saw him take a pencil from his pocket and jot something down. It was known that he was a perfectionist when it came to his writing, no matter how fast or furiously he wrote it out. One would call him a grammar-Nazi nowadays considering he corrected almost everyone when it came to their linguistic skills. Matt never really got corrected, for obvious reasons, but anytime someone made an error while speaking or reading I could see Mello cringe in pain. I admit it's a pain to listen to supposed geniuses fumble on some words now and then, but it always looked as if the blonde was suffering from the mistake.

Since Mello was busy with his notes, Matt just started talking to me.

"So what's been happening with you? Haven't been seeing you around lately."

I twisted a strand of my hair with my forefinger as I spoke. "Doctor's. Roger set up appointments for me."

"For your headaches?"

I nodded.

For the past few weeks I had been suffering from extreme headaches, verging on migraines now, and Roger was getting worried when I wouldn't leave my bed due to the pain. When I had gone to see the doctors they said it had to do with my physiology. Basically, my body wasn't exactly made for the lifestyle I chose and was now trying to adapt…however painful it was.

"Can they do anything about them?" He asked with just a hint of caring in his voice.

I was silent for a moment. "Yes, but I have a choice in the matter."

"What do you mean?"

I looked down at the grass beneath my feet. "Well, they could give me a medicinal drug that would ease some of the pain for me. I would have to take these for the rest of my life, or until my body adapts completely to my lifestyle."

"And… the other choice?"

I plucked a blade of grass and began to twiddle it in my fingers. "The second option, is to allow them to conduct an experimental surgery. It wouldn't take long, maybe a day or so, and there is a guarantee that I'd leave with my life. However," I dropped the blade of grass. "There's no Promise that my headaches will be gone forever. And I'm not too fond of the idea of knives being close to my brain… or around me at all."

Matt grinned a bit at me. "So you're afraid of the surgery. That's normal for any kid. I was afraid to have my appendix out, but I'm fine."

This was true. Not long ago did Matt have his appendix out and yet he still stood before us. Poor guy was in a massive amount of pain too. He had been complaining of a stomach ache for the day, but no one paid much attention to it until gym started and some kid hit him too hard with a dodge-ball. Everyone thought he was putting on a show when he fell to the gym floor screaming in agony. It wasn't until he began vomiting that people knew something was seriously wrong.

Once he was taken to the hospital, the kid that had thrown the ball had stayed as far away from Mello as physically possible for the rest of the week. The blonde almost found him too, but luckily Matt was out before he had the chance to punch him. I was very lucky to not have been that kid.

"Look, Near," Matt caught my attention once more. "I know it can be scary going under the knife, but your headaches are only gonna get worse if you don't do anything about it. Drugs will only help numb the pain, but if there's a chance that you could get rid of them completely then go for it! L will make sure you have the best doctors looking out for you, and of course we'll be there to support you. Right Mels!?"

When the blonde didn't answer, Matt nudged him.

"What? What are your guys talkin' about?"

"Near's afraid of the surgery they're offering him for his headaches. I told him we'd be there to support him. Right?"

Mello looked at me for a split second, then agreed. "Yeah, whatever. I'll be there."

Matt shrugged. "I guess that's as good as we're gonna get."

I looked up at the red-head. "You really think I should?"

"Heck yeah! Unless you want to live with your migraines until the day you die."

I blinked, then looked away. "I'll think about it. Again, I'm not too fond of the thought."

Matt shrugged. "Do what you want, then. I'm just thinking about your health."

I mentally grinned at that. Matt didn't care who you were or what you did. He cared for people when it came to their health. One would wonder why he was Mello's friend, considering the two were almost polar opposites on the outside. Whilst Matt hated confrontation, Mello was all for it. Matt cared for many, Mello cared for few. However, if you got to know them on a deep enough level… you'd see why they needed each other.

I was there in the library the day Mello pushed Matt into the shelves. It caused a lot of commotion, and many were calling the blonde a menace. But had they just looked into his eyes and had seen the pain in his heart after hurting Matt, they would have thought differently. Matt was his only friend… and had just burned the bridge surrounding this friendship. Had he not run away he would've seen the red-head chasing after him, apologizing. Everyone was aghast that Matt was apologizing, and told him he had no reason to. The red-head only told them to shut up as he left the demolished room to find Mello.

I was always happy to see the two together now. Before, I was jealous that the two had something I never could. Now… it was just good to see that no matter what, Matt would be there for Mello, and Mello for Matt. It's the way it was supposed to be around the Wammy's house.

Matt had offered his company, along with Mello's, for the surgery. The only thing reserved for each other. Maybe that's what made me cement my decision.