An SPK Christmas. Chapter Two

Disclaimer - the great Gods, Obata and Ohba, own the characters... and probably Japan, too. I just kinda own the arrangement of the words again.

Hope you guys enjoy this, it was kinda written quickly... Just to put it up and keep it moving.

Okay, so the random ramblings earlier were all cleared up when my friend told me the chapters for me. It's funny, I looked at the picture again and cracked up.

Now, it might stray a bit from the storyline, but I plan on finishing it where it's just a filler story!

Enjoy!

That Wonderful Time of Year Again

by Darkness Princess

:x:x:

Invitations, Denials, Suspicions

Life was dreadful. He lay on the couch of his friend's horrid apartment, the scent of smoke and chocolate filling the air. He had already gone through seven bars of chocolate that afternoon alone and it irritated him to think that he might have to stop eating these. He hadn't gotten his check from Wammy's House, and he didn't think he would have it in time to last his next few chocolate bars.

In the pantry of Matt's shelf sat four bars, enough to last him... around three hours. He tugged the wrapper down the current bar he held, sniffing it for a moment or two before gingerly taking a bite. He didn't trust his throat. Ever since basically inhaling burning air, he hadn't been able to eat much at all. Just now could he really blink his left eye, vision not always working perfectly, though it was fine enough for him; he was smart enough to at least close his eyes when he rigged the explosions.

But right now, it really sucked. He hadn't moved much, using this afternoon as his break. Though he didn't take many breaks, a trooper at heart, he wasn't in the mood to put up with idiots and murderers. Strangely, he received a laugh when he told Matt, who ever-so-kindly reminded him of his mafia days just a few months before.

Speaking of Matt... He had his cell phone resting on his lap, waiting for the phone to ring. Earlier, he sent Matt out on surveillance, and the brunette was to alert him if anything suspicious met his eyes. Plus, he was also supposed to return by around six, hopefully with dinner, and call if anything had happened or if he was going to be late. He hadn't called, and Mello was getting a bit irritated.

"Damn it, Matt..." Mello muttered, lifting the bar to his teeth. He took a small bite, then rolled his eyes upward, breaking off a rather large piece. Using his tongue, he slid the piece further into his mouth, then closed his dark orbs, his tongue returning to the bar as the piece dissolved into his mouth.

Life was horrible.

Now, why wasn't Matt calling? It was almost seven!

The phone vibrated and buzzed along his thigh, and Mello couldn't help but grin around the bar. It was a funny feeling, but it did tell him that he had a call. He flipped the phone open and held it to his ear without reading the screen.

"Where are you, Matt? What, no ramen in Japan at all?"

"Of course there's ramen in Japan..."

It wasn't Matt's voice. Mello stared with wide eyes, moving it from his ear once before returning it.

"Near?"

"Yes. Are you hungry, Mello?"

Mello couldn't help but give a slight laugh. "No, I'm not. Matt's out looking for food," he replied. "But that's completely beside the point. What do you want, Near?"

"I'd like to extend an offering to you," Near replied. "Christmas. You can bring Matt if you wish, but I want you to join me for Christmas."

That... was the weirdest offering Mello had ever heard. Immediately, he knew he wouldn't like it, whether it came with a catch or was just a friendly offering. There was no way in hell he could agree to meet Near; they were enemies, sworn opponents to the one who could prove himself as L's successor. He wasn't going to give in just because Near wanted him there!

"No."

"Please come, Mello," Near spoke again, his voice calm and level.

That was bad news. This wasn't an offering, this was an order.

Like Mello followed orders. The blonde laughed, crunching into his chocolate bar loudly. He ate calmly, oddly, and snickered into the phone, his voice a tad muffled when he spoke, due to the melting chocolate on his tongue. "No, Near. Merry Christmas."

:x:x:

Near couldn't bring himself to frown. Mello was being disagreeable as always. He didn't cooperate with Near, not since their childhood, and rarely even then. The blonde would rather hold grudges than work toward a common goal; but if Mello wasn't going to agree, then Near couldn't do anything, right?

Near returned his Kira lego to a branch of the large evergreen tree sitting in headquarters. Rester found it to be a bit annoying, for it blocked a portion of the hallway, and Rester wasn't as thin as Hal or Gevani or as attached to the floor as Near was, but he never voiced many of them, only through grunts. Near turned to his tall, blonde employee and a small, cunning smile formed on his face.

"Rester..."

"Yes, Near?"

"May I send you to pick something up for me?"

:x:x:

Once again, Rester sat in the driver's seat of a car, his hands tightly gripping onto the steering wheel. He was getting a bit annoyed with Near's random trips to who-knows-where, but right now, he was okay with it. Of course, he agreed to the terms mainly because he didn't have to always use brute force. He wasn't sure why Near insisted he wear the Santa hat, but so long as he didn't kill anyone and wasn't very recognized, he'd be alright.

His dark blue car finally slowed to a stop outside a convenience store, the first location given by Near. Though he didn't know where his blonde friend was, he knew the location of the accomplice. Inside the store, he could see four customers and two employees. Both employees had jet black hair and wore bright blue aprons with the store logo imprinted on the front; one wiped the floors, one stood at the counter. There was an old woman, a young teenager, and two young adults walking about in the store.

The one customer in question caught his eye immediately, from the orange goggles to the striped shirt, and the seven chocolate bars in his hand. Near knew that the accomplice would most likely buy chocolate, and this location was one of the only three which sold Mello's favorite brand. Though it was winter, it didn't seem to bother the subject since he didn't even appear to feel it as he just took his bag and made his way outside, pulling a cigarette from the pocket of his jeans.

Rester took this as the time to act. He took a few steps forward, and the young man looked up.

"Hmm...?"

"I need you to come with me."

He lifted his jacket to show his gun, and the boy in front of him frowned. High chance was, he wasn't armed, due to the gun policy in this country.

"Isn't there something against that?" he asked calmly, speaking in muddled English behind the cigarette.

Rester grabbed his arm.

:x:x:

At the SPK headquarters, a car arrived, a passenger sitting unhappily in the back seat, Rester driving the car. Near smiled to the lego toys in the Christmas tree.

.twoEND.

No, I don't quite know what I'm doing anymore, but I hope you guys like it! Do read and review, tell me what you think of this less-than-one-hour installment!

And if I work this quickly, I might get up another chapter or two tonight!

:Darkness Princess. On a sugar low and caffeinated high.