Near was avoiding him. Near was avoiding him and Matt made sure to keep Mello as far away from the other boy as he could. Light had questioned L to why the two were working on opposite ends of the room, as commanded, but Mello had snapped that it wasn't any of his business.

Matt was sleeping on the floor between their beds, as if that would truly stop Mello if he decided to go after Near, but Mello stayed away, not sure what was going on. Had Near really remembered something? It wasn't possible. He hadn't used the Death Note… well, not that Mello knew of, anyway. Light hadn't mentioned Near using it.

So why would he be remembering now? Now, after Mello and Light had… was it because they had died and he hadn't? Was that the difference? Light said that Takada had also died. She had missed a day of school the day they all came back. Was she the only one who knew what was happening? Were Mikami and Misa oblivious?

But, if that was true, where was Misa? Or had she also died and Light was unaware of it? Were there others that they didn't know about? Was that the missing piece? If so, this was going to be much harder than they thought.

Who would kill Hirokazu Ukita and Lights teacher? Was someone trying to get his attention? Was someone aware that they were looking for the Death Note? Killing Ukita when they did was sure to send a message to L. It through off the other timeline completely. Was that the goal? To let them know that this Kira knew they were watching? Waiting?

"L, can I talk to you? Alone?" Mello finally asked, gaze flickering to the various people around the room. Mello looked up from his computer, eyes narrowed, while Near stopped halfway to adding another dice onto his creation. He carefully set the dice down, his hand wrapping in his hair as he stared at the floor. Light had his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at the blonde.

L stood slowly, motioning Mello to follow him into the bedroom off to the side. Mello did so, aware of the eyes following them, and closed the door swiftly behind himself.

"I assume this has something to do with Near?" L asked in his usual monotone, eyes staring unblinking into Mello's own.

Mello hesitated. He had to tell him, just in case he was correct, but shouldn't Near be the one to tell him what was happening? Hell, maybe Mello was wrong completely.

"That night, Near was talking in his sleep," Mello said slowly, unsure of how to phrase his thoughts. It was certainly easier to know something than to explain how you know it. "It sounded like he was reliving a memory… except he hasn't had that memory. Not in this timeline," Mello said, wincing at the explanation. "As far as I know, he didn't use the Death Note. But we are assuming every person that used the Death Note could have kept their memories of the event… what if it was only the people who were killed by the Death Note? What if the other people are slowly regaining some of them now?"

L looked thoughtful, his eyes now staring at the floor and his thumb coming up to his mouth. "It is a possibility," he said slowly, "however, I cannot see Near using such a weapon."

Of course not. Perfect Near would never do something like that.

"Yet Light did say he had the Death Note in his possession when the met at the warehouse. We cannot assume it is only people who used the note that are affected. There is a possibility that those who saw the Shinigami will also begin to regain some of their previous memories…" he blinked slowly, turning his gaze to Mello once again. "Please inform Light, Near, and Matt that I will be taking a short nap and will rejoin them in a couple of hours."

Mello gaped. "E-excuse me?"

L shrugged, slowly perching on the bed that he had yet to use, "You stated Near was talking in his sleep. If he is remembering, this explains why he has been sleeping so poorly. I too held the Death Note, according to the information Light gave us. I shall try to sleep to see if your hypothesis is correct."

Mello stared at the detective as he slowly spread himself out on the bed. "Thank you for the information, Mello."

"I'm sorry, he what?" Matt asked incredulously as Mello informed them of what L was currently doing.

"Taking a nap," Mello said yet again, tired of the question already.

"And why would he be doing that?" Light asked, eyes narrowed. "What did you two talk about in there?"

Mello didn't respond. A flash of white in the corner of his eye made him turn. Near was standing there, his eyes staring at him furiously. "Mello does not know for sure it will work," Near informed him, eyes flashing.

Mello blinked in surprise at the reaction. "It wasn't my idea. I just had a theory."

"A theory based on Mello's assumptions," Near retorted, hands tightening on a toy robot he had been holding.

"What are you two talking about?" Matt demanded, eyebrows furrowing.

Mello crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Near, silently commanding him to talk. Near ignored the demand looking toward the floor instead. "Well, Near? Was I wrong?"

Near frowned but still didn't answer.

"Near!"

The boy flinched as Mello shouted, eyes finally lifting up. "Based on the knowledge provided by Mello and Yagami-kun, I have deduced that it is possible I am… seeing portions of my counterparts life."

Light jumped to his feet instantly while Matt's mouth dropped open in surprise. "You remember?"

Near's mouth twitched, "I do not believe remember is the correct word, as it has not, and will not, happen in this timeline. However, I do believe I have some of the memories of the person I would have become."

"Some of them? Not all?" Light questioned tensely.

"Not all," Near agreed, eyes glancing over Light and away again quickly. "As of this moment, I have seen Mello and myself being informed of L's death, my first meeting with the American government, three conversations with Light, a meeting with Mello, the death of the SPK members, and the warehouse."

Mello flinched at the mention of the "meeting" and the death of the SPK.

"But, why?" Matt asked, confused. He had a frown line between his eyebrows as he attempted to out the pieces together. "Why would Near be… you held the Death Note. So did many other people. None of them seem to be remembering anything."

"Not remembering," Near said once again, only to be ignored by the others.

"Maybe because he had a connection to it, and he knows of its existence?" Light started, slowly sinking back onto his chair. "None of the other people who held the Death Note are aware that anything has happened. By Near being told of his other life, maybe it allowed those…memories to slip through."

"And L is hoping the same thing happens to him," Matt said in realization.

Light stared at Matt with wide-eyes. Mello had to bite back a smirk. Yes, if this works and L remembers what you did, this little relationship of yours will end. He'll keep you on a tight leash. Watch you. Demolish whatever trust you currently have…

The same way it all ended for Mello when Near began to dream.