"Where are they?" Near glances around looking for the other two until he spots B up ahead. "B!" He races over to the raven.
B turns to Near. "Ah Nate. Glad we found each other. Now we need to find A. Then we can get out of here."
Near nods and they begin their search for A.
They tense upon spotting something or someone stumbling towards them.
B's eyes widen as the figure comes closer. "NO!" He rushes forward with Nate following behind him. B catches A just as he collapses. "Always!" He screams his lover's name. "Speak to me! What happened!"
Nate's eyes begin to water and his hands fly to his mouth upon seeing the deadly wound in A's stomach that looks like a stab wound.
A coughs up some blood.
"Don't worry we are going to get you help. You'll be ok." B's eyes start to water, he knows the truth but he just doesn't want to admit this happening. "Please!" He prepares to pick up A bridal style but A weakly grips B's shirt.
"Beyond. Nate." He croaks out and he shakily grips the wrist of Beyond's hand that has a knife in it. He weakly guides it till the tip of the blade is facing his chest. "Please." He weakly croaks. "Please… End my… suffering." He begs them.
Beyond's tears start falling down his face and he shakes his head in disbelief as well as horror.
Nate falls to his knees. "Mother." He chocks back a sob as he shakily reaches towards Always.
B starts to shake as his tears start to fall like waterfalls. "Always After my dearest love." His voice cracks. "Who did this to you!" He demands.
"Please." A begs.
Nate looks to Beyond. "Daddy. What's going to happen to mommy?" He fears he already knows the answer but he doesn't want to believe it's happening.
Beyond looks to Nate who is like his son and sniffles. He wants to be strong for Nate he really does but how can he when his lover is in his arms dying? He drops the knife on the ground and reaches towards Nate gently putting a shaky hand on Nate's cheek to gently try to wipe away the tears slipping from Nate's eyes. He wants to assure Nate that A will be alright and they'll continue as the trio but he can't lie to Nate…. Especially not at a time like this…. Somewhere they made a decision that shortened A's life span so now he is laying here with no hope of surviving. "H-He's going t-to a b-better place." He stutters trying to keep his emotions calm but they are overflowing like his tears are overflowing from his eyes.
Nate's tears become worse for flowing down his face.
B let's go of Nate's face and picks up the knife he dropped. "He's suffering in pain." His voice is cracking in so much sorrow he can barely hold back his sobs. "I don't want to see him in so much pain." He sobs bringing the knife to A's chest as he lets the sobs out. "Please A. Please wait for us." He leans down kissing A on the lips.
A smiles softly and a tear slides down from his eye to down his face. "I promise…. Beyond….. Nate….. Promise…. Me something…." He weakly says. "Promise me to…. continue to….. live making me…. Proud." He looks to B then to Nate.
"I promise!" Nate quickly says as tears overflow from his eyes. "I promise you mommy! I will make you proud!"
A smiles. "I know…. You will…" He looks to Beyond meeting his lovers eyes.
Beyond sobs out. "I promise you I will avenge you my dearest. We will be reunited and just watch you'll be so proud. I love you more than the world."
"I love …. You too…. Both of… you…." A responds weakly.
Beyond shuts his eyes tightly and he uses all of his will power to shove the knife into A's chest to his heart. He opens his eyes half way. "A my love." He chocks slightly on a sob.
A smiles having a moment of pain on his face but it turns to peacefulness as his eyes slip closed. "Thank you…" His eyes slip closed and his body becomes limp and cold as his life slips away from his body.
B quickly takes the knife out of A and drops to the ground beside him. He clutches A close to him letting Nate drape himself slightly over A's body sobbing. He throws his head back screaming in pain and sorrow. "NO!"
The people chasing them hear this and they rush over towards the sound skidding to a stop seeing the scene in front of them.
A's dead body with B and Nate crying over it.
Their hearts break upon seeing this.
B picks up A's body bridal style but stays crouched. He looks to Nate with teary eyes.
Nate understands climbing onto B's back holding on as he buries his face into the ravens shoulder.
B stands rushing them back to the orphanage desperate even though he knows it's too late.
Nate hangs on and they are followed by the others but they don't care.
B takes them to the infirmary and once there Nate drops from B's back. B looks to the nurse in deep sorrow and hurt. "Please." His hoarse voice croaks out.
The nurse comes rushing over but right away she can tell A is dead. She looks sadly to B and Nate. "I'm sorry. I can't do anything." She says sympathetic taking a step back.
B walks over to a bed laying A's body on it and he holds A's hand.
Nate goes over to the raven and hold's B's other hand.
B lowers his head till his chin is against his chest in sorrow. He whispers something but only Nate hears what it is. "L is to blame for this."
Nate looks away whispering too so only B can hear. "If he had just left us alone mommy would still be alive." He agrees.
B nods and glances to Nate.
Nate glances to B.
"My son." B whispers to keep their conversation between the two of them.
"Yes father?" Nate also whispers.
"Things may be different now but that doesn't mean that me and your mother love you or care about any less." B whispers taking his hand out of Nate's to sweep a piece of hair to behind Nate's ear. "Never forget that."
Nate nods. "I won't." He whispers back.
B wraps an arm around Nate's shoulders pulling him close.
Nate leans against B.
Mello comes into the room and gulps upon seeing the scene. He looks down. 'Did they know? Did they know A was going to die? Was that why they were so quick in wanting to leave?' He approaches them but neither B nor Nate raise their heads as he does so. He glances to the nurse and she looks sympathetic.
The team come into the room with Rodger and they find that Always After one of the three greatest criminals is now dead.
Matsuda was in too much sorrow to come but the rest of the team have come to witness the depressing scene.
Beyond looks to A's peaceful but lifeless face then he looks to Nate who is crying like he is. 'Nate is my only reason now. I promised A but the pain is so great. My son needs me.' He notices the team out of the corner of his eye but he ignores them. "I will get my revenge. Always will not die in vain!'
A few days later A's funeral took place.
Beyond and Nate came even though it caused them great pain but there was no way they were going to miss a single second with A that they can. They have been staying in the infirmary with A's body until the funeral.
Beyond is hugging Nate close as the two cry and Mello is not allowed to be close to Nate…. No one is. Beyond chases them away and refuses anyone to be anywhere close to Nate.
Nate doesn't protest against what B is doing instead he sticks close to B.
Mello refuses to give up to get close to Nate wanting to comfort him in this time of need but he can't no matter how many times he tries.
Nate and Beyond have become more isolated especially after A's funeral. They don't even show up to class anymore. They stay in their room sulking in depression and hugging each other as they cry for the loss of their beloved family member.
The Whammy's leave them alone and the team are discussing what the next possible thing to do it.
They know they should put the two away where they belong but the two are so heartbroken they haven't done a single criminal act since A died.
Beyond has started to sink in madness as rumored and the Whammy's fear Nate may be going down with him.
This went on for a while until one day Nate and Beyond both came out of their room together surprising everyone.
Beyond is holding a backpack over his shoulder as they head for the front door.
They head outside to the front where no is and there is where Beyond turns to Nate.
No one but each other can hear a word they are saying but Beyond kneels down in front of Nate.
"Nate my son." Beyond starts. "Promise me one thing. One day you will surpass L. No matter how you do it just promise me that."
Nate nods sadly. "I promise."
Beyond smiles and the two share a final hug. Beyond even gives a kiss to Nate's forehead before turning and leaving.
Mellos P.O.V.
"Near?" I approach him as Beyond disappears in the distance. I don't know what Beyond said to him but I'm not just going to turn away from Near especially now that he will more than likely need me the most.
Near turns to me meeting my eyes with his sad stormy grey ones.
As his eyes met mine I swear I saw something deep inside of him shatter.
Nears P.O.V
Beyond... Always... What do I do? Mello won't even look at me... It hurts... It hurts so bad.
Mello's P.O.V.
As time went on Near became very distant and mentally seemed to be falling apart very quickly. It felt like he was falling apart in my hands as I tried to hold him to keep him together; but his pieces keep slipping through my fingers.
I try to be there for him, I try to keep him together the best I can and I try to support him. But I'm not doing good enough and for the first time ever I find I don't know what to do as he continues to fall apart.
It's nerve wracking and all I want is for my Nate to be back to me, the Nate I fell in love with.
The Nate that showed his feelings and the Nate that was more willing to do fun things like pranks.
I want my love back, not this empty falling apart shell of what he used to be.
I've noticed he's starting to play with toys and puzzles more and more now a days. I think it's either to distract himself from what's going on or he's trying to keep the presence of A and BB with him going back to a time they were together.
Near is becoming a robot or maybe you could say a puppet, doing whatever is expected of him following invisible commands like he is not an actual living being.
It's frustrating me!
Near's P.O.V.
I know Mello is getting frustrated at me for my new behavior but can you blame me for my actions? I did lose the two people in my life that I was closest to and loved very much not to mention the only two people that were with me for so very long.
Mello needs to understand that I can't just stay the same as if nothing happened! It's not that simple!
Losing those who were as close to you as A and B were to me will not that simple!
Losing those who were as close to you as A and BB were to me will not just be something that can blow over. It hurts a thousand times worse than all the most painful things in the world combined times ten.
I'm a little surprised I am not screaming in pain but I don't think I mentally can even produce a scream anymore. I don't want to feel anything… the pain is too much. I may seem like a robot now to the others but even so I will keep my promises to A and BB. I will continue to live making them proud like I promised A as he died! I will surpass L and become greater than he ever was one way or another like I promised B as he left with his plan! I won't let them down!
Mello's P.O.V.
Months after B left killings in Los Angeles has begun happening.
I can tell, by how closely but calmly Near follows it like a crazy fan will for what they love, that the killings are the work of Beyond Birthday.
It isn't too long before B's caught just before he died after lighting himself on fire. He was sent to an insane asylum since he broke out of the actual prison.
Near visits him as often as he can and the visits help him a little. He looks happier to at least see Beyond again and he seems to have more life in him before and for a day or so after visiting B.
Even if it's for a little bit I'm happy to have the Nate I love back.