Authors note: I've been super busy getting ready to go back to school. A lot of stuff has happened and through all of that I've been able to finish this chapter. Hopefully I'll be able to post the next chapter before I'm out and without Internet again. So please read, review and enjoy.

Treasured

"Near have you eaten today?" Matt's voice was lighter than it had been in past days. It had been nearly two weeks since the fight with Mello and he had been alternating his time here with Near and back at his base where they were sure Kira was hiding. The red head hadn't mentioned anything of significant detail since he returned besides that the group trusted him slightly more since he rewrote the whole system for them. It was good that they were so accepting. Mello sat a few chairs away watching the monitors with a dull expression and taking down notes like he always did to make decisions. The two of them hadn't spoken a word since two weeks ago.

Near spun in the chair holding the figure of Matt in his hand. He had been questioned about it a few days prior by Matt who seemed to feel special Near went through the trouble of making one of him. That was, of course, before he dropped his cigarette and found the decapitated version of Mello that lay just under the sea of monitors. When asked about that one he merely said, 'he broke.' Matt didn't question it and Near didn't give details.

It was now that the blond slowly glanced over to watch the two of them together. He had spent whole days thinking about it. He couldn't get the idea that he had lost to Near out of his head. If he told himself he didn't want Matt back at his side he knew he was lying to himself. If he told himself that this was just a phase it didn't change anything he would also be lying. Matt had completely thrown their friendship away and he felt lonely. He felt betrayed and in the end it was all his fault. He just wanted a few minutes alone with Matt to be able to at least apologize but Near had made that impossible. He scowled coldly. He was making it so that he couldn't get Matt back and he had to talk to him before his other side came back. Near with Matt's other side was like an impenetrable wall.

He barely noticed that the two were talking in front of him. They never talked in front of him. If anything their words were few and far between unless it looked like he was leaving the room. They both knew he had too much pride to make it known that he was listening in on them. It seemed like they had finally stopped caring now.

Matt was holding a multi-grain bar in front of the boy's face with a wistful smile on his face. He grinned when Near snatched it and turned back around in his chair. He slid into the chair bedside the white haired boy continuing their conversation.

"I asked you if he had an actual name." Near was repeating taking a bite of the bar and then looking down at it unfavorably.

Matt shrugged, "I would guess Matt." He replied lightly laying his head down on the controls. "If I'm Mail then his rightful name would have to be Matt." He watched Near think about it. "Unless he gave himself a name and he never told it to anyone." He wasn't wearing his goggles most likely because of the crack in them. Near continued to stare blankly. "What? You like him or something."

"No." Near's voice held humor in it but he didn't smile. At the distance Mello coughed. He glanced over watching the other with tired eyes but the blond looked completely refreshed. "Is there a problem Mello?"

He looked away back at the monitors. "Nope. Unless you think there is?" Near shrugged one shoulder his other hand was now holding Matt's lightly. Mello sneered but turned away completely from the both of them. "They haven't said anything to you about the case Matt? I thought that they were beginning to trust you or something." He mumbled a string of things under his breath but they were repressed by the air conditioner in the room.

"They haven't said anything Mello." His voice was light but it was coldly directed towards the other. "I thought you weren't talking to me anymore?" He felt like he was seven again and Mello was upset because he wouldn't give him the chocolate cake on his plate. He remembered when that was the worst thing he could have did to Mello.

The blond frowned, "I don't know where you got that idea." He replied in the same crisp voice that he used instead of complete sarcasm. "Maybe Near's been doing his best to keep me from talking to you."

Matt frowned, "We both know that's not true. Come on Mello, grow up." He watched the others fist tighten and bristled. He wasn't in the mood to fight the blond right now but he simply released it and turned back towards the monitors. "I'm sorry Mell."

Near frowned slightly turning his head so the other two couldn't see his face. Mello glanced over once more, "About?"

Matt shrugged, "Everything. I don't think we should be friends anymore but I apologize if you feel like I betrayed you somehow."

Mello sneered, "Betrayed? To betray someone you have to trust them. Matt, you're nothing but failed competition to me. As far as I'm concerned we were never friends and we never will be. Don't worry about it, I don't need your apologies. All I want is to get this finished so I can go home and probably move somewhere else." Mello felt his body tense at his own words. Why was he still trying to hurt Matt? Why was he saying these things when all he wanted was to have the red head back there with him? He truly was an idiot. He truly didn't understand any of this…friendship but he knew he didn't want it to end.

"Matt is always welcome here with me." Near spoke quietly still keeping his face turned away.

The red head was silent for several minutes staring at the blond who was actively lost in his own world. "Yeah, I may take you up on that Near."

~*xXx*~

"Thank you for coming on such short notice." Raito took a seat on the opposite side of the table the red head already sat at. The other looked stressed, almost to his breaking point as he stared at him. His eyes held dark rings under them and he seemed perpetually tired. He almost thought about telling him to go back to the room and get some sleep but this was more important. Matt would have plenty of time to sleep in his new world. Until then there would be nothing but push and no one was safe. "There are something's that I wanted to talk to you about alone."

Matt flashed a smile but it didn't reach his eyes. He almost looked sickly. He had been spending long times either locked away in his room or gone to a place where Raito had yet been about to follow him to. He would have asked but at this point that would be overstepping his boundaries. "It's no problem at all." He replied not looking up at the other. He kept his gaze locked squarely on his hands but the other did note the lack of goggles to cover his face. He looked lost and slightly out of place. He couldn't help but smile at that. "What's the problem?"

The brown haired man smiled, "No problem. I just thought that maybe it would do you some good to get away." He offered noticing the look of surprise on the others face. "I don't know where it is that you go but it's not doing well for your health." The red head looked up locking eyes with him. The emerald orbs bespoke of so much intelligence that Raito wanted to pick his mind. He wanted to divulge everything to him. He wanted to make the red head his so that everything that passed between them would be their secrets. It would be between them, and Raito though King, would not feel alone.

Matt made a choked sound and alarmed the other but it was a laugh. He shook his head slightly, "My family is caught in a huge argument that started with me. I have to make sure they're not killing themselves or each other every seven seconds." He took a sip of the water he had ordered before the brown haired man had arrived. "I'll be fine once everything is over."

You have no idea…

Raito shook his head, "sometimes it's better to just let family fight. They love each other right?" The look that the red head gave him almost made him cringe. "Or not. I guess they don't love each other?" Matt shook his head slowly taking another long sip. "Well either way it's best to intervene only when it's needed. If they truly cared they wouldn't be running you down like this."

Matt shrugged lightly. "Maybe. They're like my kids."

He nodded, he didn't know what that felt like but he could only guess that's the same feeling he felt for Misa. "Maybe you should get away for a while. If you'd like we can go together. Maybe to the beach?"

Matt laughed again, "you want to go to the beach with me?"

Raito leaned back, "If you want you can think of it as a date. If it makes you feel more comfortable." He watched the others mouth open before closing. He had caught him off guard in the best way possible. The blush crept from the exposed part of his collar up to his cheeks. "I'd like to get to know you more unless you want to turn me down?"

Matt shook his head. "Um no but my family…"

Raito reached forward and took the others hand. "Can wait." He finished for him. "Take some time out to de-stress." He knew he basically had this in the bag. Only an idiot would turn him down.

"Oh." Was Matt's only response.

~*xXx*~

"Da fuck you mean you're going to the beach?" Mello's voice rose several octaves. Nearby Near sat twirling his hair listening in. "Don't you comprehend that we're working our asses off to catch Kira and you're going to the motherfucking beach? Fuck that shit, bring your ass back over here." He was silent for several minutes before nearly erupting. "What the fuck do you mean that you don't have to listen to shit I say? I swear for God Matt I'll make you pay for saying that. I don't give a fuck if we're not friends anymore. As far as I'm concerned you're still my bitch." He threw the phone abruptly in Near's direction.

The white haired boy almost had to jump from the chair to avoid being hit but luckily due to Mello's anger his aim was off. He reached forward taking the phone, "I'll take care of Mello. Have fun Matt." He said simply ignoring the sound of Mello slamming his fists on the keyboard. He hung the phone up.

"What do you mean take care of me?" Mello hissed looking like he was ready to spring.

Near shifted, "Go pack Mello. We're going to the beach."

A special thanks goes to...

bloo buscus: I love Near and he's turning into one of my more complex characters and more evil also.

Carottal: Mello's just getting started. If you think he's been bad so far he's getting ready for more.

Awesomenessknowsnobounds: Near's working things the only way he knows how. He has reasoning behind everything but it'll slowly be revealed. The best you can do is look for subtle hints in the way he acts towards the different characters.

Teenage-Vampire-Girl: Thank you so much for reading! This is going to sound crazy but I can't read my own work. Thanks for doing it for me! Matt two will be returning...eventually.

Guest: I know exactly what you mean. Thank you for reading.

Thank you to all the people who reviewed and read the last chapters. Please keep it up and I promise to keep the chapters rolling out!