this is the final chapter.

the next story will be posted tomorrow under the title 'round two'. i'll explain more about why i picked that for the name in that story. but for now, go read.

also, no lyrics in this chapter. i couldn't find any to fit like i wanted.

enjoy.

It was Friday and it was the last school day before the weekend. The last day for Matt to see Mello before they were separated for two days and forced to spend time at their respected homes. Matt had hoped that Mello would be there, but all signs of his return were pointing against his wishes. Mello was absent again.

Matt tried calling him after school the previous day to tell him that he missed him and that he hoped he hadn't been too rough with the blond. When Mello didn't answer, but instead sent a text saying that he didn't feel well, Matt took it for face value and told him to get some rest and that he'd tried to stop by after school the following day. Mello responded with a simple 'okay' - something completely unlike him.

He remembered staring at his face and waiting for a lengthy response on why coming over was a bad idea. That text never came. Matt wanted to believe that it was because he didn't feel good, so he decided not to bring it up until they saw one another after the weekend was up.

It wasn't until school had officially let out for the weekend that Matt finally realized that something was wrong. The sky was grey, the storm that the news had warned them about was approaching, and the students were rushing to their bus or car to go home for the evening. Well, all except for person.

"Sayu," Matt greeted with a slight nod. He was leaning back against his car, his hands occupied by his nintendo ds.

"Hey," she said. Matt could hear the waver in her voice.

"What's up?" he asked, pausing his game and looking up at her.

"We need to talk."

"Okay." Matt said, turning back to his game to save it and turn off the device. "About what?"

"Mello." Sayu answered softly as she came to stand beside him. Matt lolled his head back and looked over at her, curious green eyes taking her in.

"What about him?"

"Well, I wanted to tell you why he hasn't been here."

"He told me he wasn't feeling well, which I understand." Matt told her what he knew of Mello's absence.

"Yeah..." she chewed on her bottom lip before continuing. "That's not exactly true. Well, it might be. He might not feel good, but there's more to it than just that."

"Really?" Matt questioned, looking at her with confusion. Since when did Mello keep things from him? Especially things that other people knew.

"First, I have something for you. I don't want to tell you anything until I give you this."

"Okay...?"

Sayu reached into her pocket and pulled out the rosary. She held out her closed hand and indicated for Matt to hold his out with her free one. The redhead did as instructed, flexing his fingers open as her hand came to hover over his. With a shaky hand, she dropped the rosary into his. It felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders the minute it fell from her palm and onto his. She almost couldn't believe that she'd been walking around with it for the past two days, but she had been because she didn't know how to confront Matt.

"What's this?" Matt asked her, holding his hand up and examining the rosary that lay balled up.

"Mello's rosary," she told him. "He got it sometime before school started, I think."

"Ha. Mello with a rosary," Matt snorted, tracing the small cross with his eyes. The irony was too great. "Why would he have something that's supposed to be revered as God's object?"

"He didn't say, just that he wanted you to have it."

"Why?"

"... Matt, he also told me that he doesn't want you to be angry with him, though he understands if you are." Sayu hurriedly spoke, pushing away from the car and stepping in front of him, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Why would I be mad at him?"

"I'll tell you that in a minute, okay?"

"Yeah, alright." Matt said, straightening his posture and slipping the rosary into the front right pocket. He watched her as she watched him; neither knowing how to continue the conversation, but both knowing that they needed to.

Several minutes passed before Sayu opened her mouth to speak again, and this time, it was in a hushed tone and broken voice. She looked like she wanted to be anywhere else.

"Mello wanted you to know that he loves you. Very much." Sayu said to him, clearing her throat so that she could continue to talk without interruption. "He wanted - no, he wants - you to know that he understand if you're angry with him, like I said, but that it's okay because he understands.

"Mello also said not to f-forget about him because he's not going to forget about you. That was when he gave me the rosary. He made me swear that I'd give it to you and let you know that it's a sign of his promise to you, that he'll be back." Sayu struggled to say, fighting back a round of tears that she'd been trying to keep at bay for the last day. "Mello said that he doesn't want it done this way and that he wanted to tell you this himself, but he wasn't able to."

Matt blinked, looking at her like she'd grown two extra heads and just admitted that she was from another galaxy. He took a step toward her, stopping only inches from her as he silently egged her to finish what she was saying.

"Wasn't able to tell me what?"

"He wanted me to tell you goodbye, Matt." Sayu whispered as she closed her eyes, letting her resolve go and allowing herself to cry in front of the redhead. "They shipped him off, he's not allowed visitors and he leaves next week."

"W-what...?" Matt asked her, wanting to make sure he'd heard her correctly.

"His parents found out that... that he was lying to them. He's gone," Sayu spoke, opening her eyes to look at Matt, who was staring at her with wide eyes.

"For how long?"

"Until graduation."

"That's like two years from now!" Matt shouted. Sayu flinched.

"I know, but he'll be back. When Mello makes a promise he doesn't forget it."

"He expects me to wait around for two years like a lovesick dog?" Matt asked her, his anger starting to get the best of him. Matt looked at her and could visibly see her shaking as she tried to keep herself in check. She was just as hurt and upset by it as he was and she had only been the best friend.

"I don't know, Matt. Maybe he was thinking that you wouldn't give up on him." She said softly as she turned away from him and began walking towards the school to wait for her brother to finish with his student council meeting.

Matt watched as she left him alone to deal with his emotions. He watched as she entered the building and he watched as the door closed behind her. Matt was truly alone, once again, and this time he didn't know what to do.

Last time he was able to run from his problems and start new after his dad told him they were moving. This time, however, he would have to face Mello leaving him every single day and wonder what they could have done differently to keep it from happening.

At some point during Matt's emotional break down, his tears began to mix with the rain that was coming down in buckets. He couldn't bring himself to get into his car, even though he was starting to get cold and his hair was sticking to his face. Matt just wanted to drown in the downpour. It seemed like an excellent idea.

It had been quite some time before he finally got into his car, turned it on, and thought about what he wanted to do for the rest of the day. He definitely didn't want to go home - the only things there were television and video games, two things he didn't feel like dealing with. This was mainly due to the fact that he'd probably break something and then regret it when he finally came to his senses. At least he was thinking rationally.

"I'll be here," Matt whispered to the inside of his car as he awkwardly pulled the rosary from his pocket and fixed it onto the rear view mirror. If Mello had faith that he would be able to get through two years then he could do it too.

They'd see each other again and this time there would be no one to tell them that they were wrong.

sorry if that seems rushed, but it was done that way on purpose.

i apologize a lot. lol.

review. please and thank you.

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