The REAL Conversation Roger Had With Mello and Near After Being Informed of L's Death

Mello was outside, cruelly playing football, (Or soccer, as some of the American children put it.) With a gang of unimportant kids who I do not feel like mentioning.

"That hurt, Mello!"

"Ha ha!"

Irony.

Near was solving a puzzle, one knee tucked under his chin. In the hallway, Linda spoke. "Near, why don't you come outside for once?"

Click.

"No thank you." was the quiet response.

Some equally unimportant kid with glasses and a really ugly bowl cut said, "Forget him, Linda."

From the window of his office, Roger Ruvie looked out at the kids playing. His picture of Quillilsh. Quillish Wammy… Watari… The orphanage's founder… And L. He flipped open his cell phone.

20d15h46m54s

Twenty days, fifteen hours, forty six minutes, and thirty nine seconds later.

15s.

4s.

1s.

0.

Transmission.

Roger glanced up nervously from his writing. The layout had zeros all across, then it changed. L is dead. He got up from his desk and stepped out into the hallway. He ignored the turmoil of random unimportant kids tumbling by as he waited for one in particular.

"Oh, Mr. Roger." He ignored the staff women.

Coming in from outside, Mello was somewhat roughly grabbed by the wrist. "Mello."

"Huh?"

"And Near, come to my room." Near looked up from his almost completed puzzle. "Yes."

In Roger's office, Near placed his puzzle in front of him, continuing. Mello stood by him, his stance defensive and wary. "What is it, Roger?"

"L is dead." The elderly man with the funny curly-Q bit of hair on top of his otherwise bald head except for his graying sideburns said solemnly, looking down at his desk. Near had the last three pieces of his puzzle in his cupped hand. The three pieces that would complete the plain L floating randomly in the upper left hand corner of the otherwise blank puzzle.

Mello gaped, his eyes wide and his jaw hanging open. Near was slowly placing the last three pieces in, not looking up or even reacting in any way visible.

"D-dead?! Why?!" Mello's voice was raised, he was dangerously leaning in on Roger.

Silence.

"Y… You mean he was killed by Kira? Is that it…?"

"Most likely." Roger really didn't like having Mello yell right in his face like that.

Click. The last piece was set in.

Grabbing Roger by the collar, Mello screamed, "HE PROMISED HE WOULD SEE KIRA DEAD!!! L WAS KILLED…? ARE YOU SURE?!!"

Breaking the tension emanating from Roger and Mello, Near tipped over his puzzle, restarting. "If you can't beat the game, of you can't solve the puzzle then you're nothing but a loser."

The ends justify the means.

"OMIGOD?! Did I hear correctly?! L DEAD? No fricking way!" Bang. Great. Trust Linda to ruin the serious moment. "No Linda, L is fine. Please leave." Roger was at wit's end. He really did hate children… "But… But!"

"Linda."

"Fine!" She left with a pout.

Looking away from that minor distraction, Mello turned back to Roger. "So then which of us did L…"

The pieces clicked together. "Neither of you, yet. He can't choose now that he's dead." What an obvious and feckless statement. Ludicrous. "Mello, Near… How about you two work together…?" Roger spoke hesitantly.

"Yeah, sounds good." Near said quietly. On the other hand, Mello eyed Near, giving him his signature Omigod-holy-fuck-no-way look.

"That's impossible, Roger. You know Near and I don't get along… We're always competing." That story was true, until a couple of weeks ago. Now it was just an easily believed cover story. In actuality, Mello and Near got along a little too well, if you catch my drift.

Mello hardened, understanding Roger's questioning gaze. "It's fine Roger… Near can be L's successor. Unlike me, Near will calmly and unemotionally solve the puzzle." More pieces clicked into place. Verbal irony.

"I'm going now, I'm leaving the orphanage too."

"Wait." Said Near, not looking up. 'Wait' was such a symbolic word to Mello and Near. Roger couldn't possibly have picked up the importance of Near using that word.

"Yes, Near?" Mello said, hesitating at the door. Near pulled a slightly crumpled piece of paper out of the pocket of his white pajama pants and held it up to Mello, not looking at him. Mello took it roughly, to keep his act of not liking Near all the more realistic for Roger.

Looking at the paper, Mello noticed it was song lyrics.

'Tink of me

Forget me not

Remember me

Where ever you go

I am yours

And you are mine

Remember me

Where ever you go.

"Yeah, Near. Sure." Mello said gruffly, stiffing the paper into the pockets of his black jeans. He turned for the door. "Mello." Roger said, standing up. "I'm almost fifteen anyway, Roger." Mello glared through gritted teeth. His final words were, "I'll live life my own way." And with that, Mello closed the door with a slight bang.