Chapter sixteen:

Kira stands there with a group that are ready to attack. He is smirking widely at them with a sword already drawn.

"Get out of the fucking way!" Mello snaps at the other glaring. His shoulders tense and his feet shifted a little apart in a strong stance.

"You really think that I'm going to just let you through?" Kira laughs as if that is the funniest thing he has ever heard. "Nope. I always knew you were soft Mello but to think you'd be soft enough to side with the enemy."

"It's not going soft. It's understanding." Mello corrects him on that making Kira look like he just wants to laugh. "They are not what we thought that they were!"

"Understanding? Understanding!? You're a liar." Kira points his sword at Mello making Near tense even more than he already was. "Either that or you have chosen to be too naive to see the truth that is right in front of you."

"The truth is that they really are just trying to live their lives just like us. They never asked for the war. They want to stop this war. They don't want lives to be needlessly lost if they can help it." Mello attempts to try to connect with anyone in the group hoping for help. He is well aware that not only will him and Near not be able to win against Kira's group, but that if they lose then they won't be able to stop the war.

"Oh. So now you're blaming the Barens?" Kira questions narrowing his eyes and a few in the group mummer with each other. "The group that raised you!? The group that let you be a part of it's family! You dare turn your back on them."

"That's not what I meant. Don't try to twist my words." Mello protests though it became clear that Kira was having none of that.

"You're a traitor to those who showed you kindness. And for that you will die alongside the scum that you betrayed everyone for." Kira lets out a battle cry and leads the group in charging to attack the two.

Elsewhere….

"There!" Light points out the Barens leader when he sees him.

Jack nods. "Alright. All I need you two to do now is help me make sure that I reach the leader. I will handle things from there."

L and Light nod to this then moving alongside the Feather Freedoms leader they make their way towards the fight. They make sure to take Jack the way through where they'll dodge as much fighting as possible. They are just two people and Jack has to get to Quetzal so this war can be ended once and for all.

A Baren leaps in front of them making them stop.

L is the first to move as he charges straight for the Baren.

The Baren charges towards L as well.

L slightly skids to a stop then he ducks his body down with one leg swinging upwards. He slams a powerful kick to the Barens jaw sending said Baren almost flying backwards however gravity seems to pull the Baren down to the ground. He lowers his foot to the ground only to turn to the other two. "Go! I've got this guy handled!"

The two nod and go to hurry past though Light pauses for a moment by his lover.

"Please be careful. Stay alive." Light then hurries after Jack who he manages to quickly catch up to.

L turns having watched Light even now as he is heading off and away. "I will. But the same goes towards you." He speaks quietly to himself as Light had to hurry away before he could speak. He turns to the Baren that he had kicked who is now attempting to get to his feet. "No matter what happens I love you." He adds under his breath like a silent promise. He shifts his feet hands very slightly raised as he gets ready to fight the Baren who has stumbled to his feet.

The Baren glares at L with such anger and hatred that makes L all the more ready to do everything he can to defend himself. "Oh. You think you're something special huh?" The slightly deep voice of the Baren says with a growl in his tone. "Fine. Fine then. Come at me you piece of shit!"

L doesn't charge as he calculates that this enemy that he is facing has a trick up his sleeve.

The Barens smile turns downwards towards a frown when L doesn't seem to take the bait. "Oh? You think you're so clever do you?" He throws the question to the other. "Well don't because I made that obvious." He charges towards L who shifts his foot ready to strike the other. He swings a punch in the others direction in which the raven Feather Freedom dips his head in a dodge. He barely manages to jump back to make one of L's attacks miss. "Ha! You can't hit-" He is suddenly cut off when L swings his foot around smashing it into the Baren's cheek.

The Baren is knocked to the ground harshly. He tries to sit up and spits out some blood from his mouth to the ground he is on. His glare turning one of a death glare to his enemy who looks ready to go again. "Oh. That. Is. It!" He snaps at him sharply with an enraged snarl. "You are so dead!" He tries to pull out a knife attempting to make sure that L won't notice it.

In the meantime Light and Jack are getting closer and closer to Quetzal who has his back to them. Just before they can reach him the other turns and spots them causing him to fully turn around.

Quetzal smirks at the two of them as the two slow to a stop. "So. We finally meet on the battlefield." His eyes drift to Light's direction. "Oh. And would you look at that. You brought the traitor along with you." He raises one hand to be by his shoulder yet away from his body. "How touching." He snaps his fingers and two strong looking Barens who had been hiding step out into view to stand with their leader. "Now you both are going to die." He snaps his fingers again then right after he points to the direction of Light.

The two that had come to the Barens leaders side rush forward attacking Light while ignoring Jack. One swipes a switchblade in the brunettes direction while the other tries to get around behind said brunette to grab hold of him.

Jack is about to attempt to help Light but movement makes him turn back to look Quetzal who is starting to advance.

"Don't you fucking dare forget about me." Quetzal snarls in rage as he keeps his focus on Jack.

"Too bad it's so easy to do." Jack responds knowing that he needs to fight the other; so he hopes that being blinded by rage might help make the opening he needs.

"You are wrong!" Quetzal slashes at Jack who leaps back pulling out his own sword to get this fight underway.

"I will do." Jack pauses in his speech to swing his sword at Quetzal who manages to dodge. "What I must. To protect those that are under my care. Even if it mean taking your life."

"I don't think so." Quetzal responds in which their swords clash together with a heavy clang.