Hello loyal readers and new friends. I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that this is the last chapter of this story. The good news is that the first chapter of my sequel for this is almost done.

I'd like to thank you guys for everything you guys have done like reviews, PM's and of course just reading.

Now I know I said there would be two more chapters, but things didn't quite turn out that way, so enjoy my final chapter.

Berry-Chan

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The children ran about outside shouting and loudly playing games.

Mello kicked a soccer ball at tom's big fat head. That's what he got for saying Matt was a pansy.

"that hurt, mello!!" tom shouted, rubbing his throbbing head.

"ha ha!" mello loved this. Tom would never do anything about it. He was just a whiny little brat with no self esteem and besides...he was scared of him. What could he do?

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near twiddled th pieces of the new jigsaw puzzle he had gotten from L for Christmas. L promised he'd catch Kira. Near didn't want to doubt L's words but something about that Kira made him wonder...could L really do this?

Near put a solid white puzzle piece instantly into it's place and resumed twirling a piece of hair on his head. He hadn't even noticed he'd stopped.

He didn't know if he was ready to take L's place. Honestly, he couldn't help but be scared. Not only would him, a thirteen-year-old boy, be taking the place of the world's greatest detective, but he would no longer be with Linda, or mello, or Matt, or...anyone.

"near?"

he didn't look up. He didn't have to. He had that voice memorized.

She would be wearing what near himself had gotten her for Christmas. A neon orange hoodie. Her favorite color. And of course, he couldn't let her go bare foot. He bought her some orange chucks to match.

"why don't you come outside and play for once?" Linda said in a concerned tone. He wasn't himself lately...

"no thank you."

she was about to protest when a boy who wanted to play soccer with her spoke up.

"forget him, Linda."

she didn't want to listen to that guy. He drove her nuts! But something in near's tone told her he was thinking hard about one thing or another. It was best to leave him alone and just go play soccer with mello. Besides, he hated this guy as much as she did. It would be fun to watch him go to the nurse with a bloody nose.

Near placed another piece of his puzzle in it's place. He defiantly had some things to think about.

20 days later....

roger looked down at the time.

3...

2...

1...

BEEP!

Roger sighed and pulled out his cell phone. On que the phone flashed a message he had hoped never to receive.

L is dead.

He sat his phone down on his desk and stood up. He had to find mello and near. No need to tell Linda and Matt just yet. His only worry at this point was mello's reaction to this whole issue.

He headed down the halls of wammy's spotting the nanny in charge of mello's class group coming inside from recess. He walked as slowly as he could to their group of playing children.

"oh. Mr. Roger." she said with two young girls clung to her waist.

Roger walked past her and took hold of mello's arm.

"mello."

"huh?"

All mello could think at this point was...'how did that brat tom snitch so fast? I swear he never even left the playground'

mello struggled slightly while being pulled backward towards the room near always played in.

'maybe I am ready. Maybe I could be L.' near thought to himself.

"and near. Come to my room."

he looked up with an undetected glance of fear in his eyes. He'd never been there before...

once everything was settled, mello noticed how roger was sitting. One hand over the other. It either meant he was furious or dead serious.

"what is it, roger?" mello asked a little frighted. It was obvious he wasn't angry about anything.

He said nothing. He looked as if he were about to cry.

"L is dead.

Near stopped dead in his tracks.

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near stood at the graves of mello and Matt. They were so brave.

Near often felt guilty because thought that mello should have been chosen as L. he risked his life not only 2 save near, but to capture Kira. Isn't that what being L was about? Near may have had the calm part down, but he could have never had the action. He didn't even leave the SPK headquarters until he was positively sure he was safe. Before that, he made everyone else take the risk. Mello's life was on the line every second he was trying to stop Kira.

Mello knew he was probably going to die. The message mello had sent still fresh in his mind

"near:

If you are receiving this message, it means that either me, or Matt, but most likely both will die."

how bold.

"You probably know as well as I do that we need to catch Kira at all costs. This message was only to be sent out under the circumstances me or Matt believed we would die. I can't guarantee one of us will defiantly die, but I can guarantee we might. My only regret about leaving this world is "

"near?"

near turned to see a saddened face. A female who looked so familiar. Almost like...

"Linda?

The girl walked forward, examining near's face.

"u defiantly....don't look like a little boy anymore."

she looked him over once more.

"and thank god you didn't stay five feet tall."

she sniffed a bit. It was completely obvious she had been crying. Near stared into that tear stained face and the red puffy eyes.....of his old best friend, Linda. No doubt.

He looked her over. She was much more ....mature. Her auburn hair put up in a clip, not a hair out of place. It was fairly obvious her favorite color was still orange. And orange turtle neck tank top and blue jeans. She wore orange converse still, but obviously not the same ones near had given her so many years ago.

"you don't look like yourself, Linda."

"i...I'm an artist now.....I'm trying to dress accordingly."

it was obvious she didn't like how he life was going.

"so how's that working out for you?" deep down, he knew the answer.

"well....they love my art. It's not until they look at me that they start disliking it. They always say I'm too young. And frankly, when I first started, they shunned me because my clothes were immature."

Linda looked down as if examining her full attire. She had a look of hidden disgust and discomfort. Then she looked at near and tried to force a smile.

"so I guess roger was right. He only put up with it because it was all I had to wear."

her job wasn't going well. Her life was a mess. Near looked up at a clouded sky.

"Linda. Would you like to come work for me?"

"what?"

"Linda, you hate your life and you'll be so much happier. Sure, you'll have to deal with roger but..." he needed to get to the point. "i can't do it like this. I need help."

"of course!" Linda said as she flung herself into her best friend's arms.

CRACK!

It started pouring rain. As if on que, Roger's limo rolled up. The two of them got in, soakeed from head to toe in rain.

"hello, L, did u have a nice stay at the...." roger looked up noticing an extra passenger in the limo.

"miss Linda? is that you? Oh, but you're probably not a miss anymore, are you?"

Linda looked down at her feet sadly a twirled around her finger...something near hadn't noticed before. An silver ring that was on a black string around her neck. It obviously wasn't a wedding band...an engagement ring!

Roger noticed her expression and the ring.

"he must have been a very lucky man to have you Linda. who was he?"

she looked up then down and paused for a second.

"miheal keehl."

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ahh, I'm finally done. Yes I am kinda leaving you all with a cliff hanger, but there isn't much interpreting that needs to be done between this one and the sequel.

Also, if anyone has any suggestions for the next story or something you would like to see in it, feel free to PM me about it, and I'll probably put it in.

I hope you enjoyed my chapter and my story, I hope to have the sequel out soon.

Please review!!!