A/N: Here you go!! Was gonna wait 'til around 10:30 to post, but apparently my dad has to look for jobs, so my little sister's sleeping in my bed. Which means, no 10:30 computer for me. But enough of the ranting. Yes, you'll notice, my RP character, Aura's in here briefly, and my sister's OC was mentioned. Enjoy!!
Mello grabbed a hairbrush from the bathroom, nervously running it through his hair. He picked up a black ponytail holder and threw his hair back into a quick ponytail. He slipped on the small tuxedo that Roger had bought him in Japan and headed for the door.
He stepped outside his room and saw Matt in a suit as well.
"They're already gathering outside. Shall we?"
Mello nodded. "Where's Near?"
The sound of feet pattering down the hallway answered his question.
Near was wearing black pajamas, that were quite like his white ones, and a black hat.
Mello thought that black didn't really suit the small boy, but decided not to say anything. Today was not a day for fighting. Mello felt Near's hand slip into his own. He looked down at the shorter boy. If Mello didn't know better, he'd say that Near was scared.
The three boys walked outside, and Mello noticed as it got instantly colder. The sky was gray and the wind was bitter. It looked ready to snow, or at least rain.
"Mel, come here, there's a place in front where we can stand." Mello looked at Matt and saw where he was standing, just in front of the rest of the crowd.
The crowd was made up almost entirely of children, adults scarce and scattered.
"Mello?" Mello looked up. Aura, a girl who's room was next to Matt's, was standing in front of him.
"Hn?"
"Roger wanted to see you."
Mello tugged his hand away from Near, who reluctantly let the blond go. Glancing over his shoulder, he watched Near begin to cling to Matt, and Aura rocking on her heels, which Mello hated. The girl was too... girly, to put it loosely, to ever become L. He couldn't imagine why she was even here in the first place. 'No,' Mello reminded himself, 'She's a nice girl, and I should be nice to her today.'
He searched the crowd for the older man. Spotting him by the grave hole, he ran forward.
"You wanted me?"
"Ah, yes. Mello, I would like you and Near to speak a few words on L's behalf."
"W-what?!", Mello sputtered, "Why us? Why not Matt, or Aura, or Yuki, or Linda, or-"
"Because you two are next in line."
Mello sighed. "Fine."
As the blond walked back, small raindrops began to fall. Mello ignored it and continued walking.
He found Near and Matt at the front, and as soon as he was close enough, Near grabbed Mello's hand. As the ceremony began, the rain fell harder. Mello tried to focus on what the service men were saying, but failed as the white-haired boy's hand in his clenched tighter.
Mello looked down at Near, suddenly remembering what Roger had said.
"Near, Roger wants us to speak on L's behalf, you know, 'cause we're next in line an' all."
Near's grip on Mello's hand tightened.
"That's acceptable." His voice was flat, emotionless.
Near felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up.
"Here." Mello held a piece of chocolate toward him. Near just stared at him.
"It calms the nerves." Near nodded and took it, placing it on his tongue.
Mello looked forward again.
The service men began to lift L's body into the coffin, and he heard Near say "Oh, god." Near shoved his head into Mello's side, trying hard not to cry.
The service men placed the body into the coffin and began to lower it, and Mello felt tears on his jacket.
Near was crying. Mr. Emotionless was crying. Mello made a mental note to tease him about this later.
But today wasn't about fighting, Mello reminded himself. It's about L. Next to the coffin, Roger motioned to Mello to come over. He shook Near.
"Pull yourself together, let's go."
Near pulled away from Mello's side and wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve.
The two walked up to the others, then faced the crowd.
"We are gathered here today to acknowledge a great loss." Near surprised Mello by speaking in a relatively calm voice, despite his apparent mental state.
"L was a great man." Mello said, continuing Near's sentence. "Though some of us never met him, I can tell you he was kind, intelligent, smart....I could go on and on."
"As next in line, I can say, that I am only replacing the idea. I will never replace the man."
'There he goes again, making this about him!'
The rain was turning to snow now, and the two boys walked from the coffin's side.
Mello looked down at Near and prepared to yell at him, until he saw the small boy's face, etched with fear, yet only noticeable to those who knew Near.
"M-Mello?" Near looked at Mello.
"What?"
"Will you walk with me?" Mello realized they were veering away from the crowd, the crying children and those trying to comfort them.
"I don't see why not."
A/N: Ooh, cliffeh!! Lol, not really. I couldn't figure out where to cut the fic for this chapter, 'cause it was originally meant to be a oneshot. Next part'll be up tomorrow around 10pm my time, but the bits after that might be a li'l slow, as I've not yet finished them. R&Rers get dedications and cookies!!