A/N: Finally! An update. Please don't hit meeee. I've been going through a kinda crappy time these past months. Sorry if this chapter isn't as long as the others, but I just don't know what else to put in here. X(

Anyways, my lovely little readers, enjoy!

Mello froze in shock and made a muffled sound of surprise. Near desperately clung on, trying to make the half-frozen kiss last as long as possible. Thoughts of Mello leaving him, Wammy's, everyone and everything behind still plagued his intelligent mind with inescapable fear and he wanted to get as much of Mello as possible.

Mello couldn't take it anymore. Without trying to hurt Near, he placed his hands on Near's shoulders and pushed the albino away. He really didn't want this and he had a feeling he knew what Near was trying to do, the younger boy was trying to get an excuse for Mello to stay, to trap him.

Near let out a whimper and kept his grip on Mello's shirt as he bowed his head so that the blond wouldn't see the tears that had started to fall incessently down his cheeks. Near truly couldn't understand why he crying, it was as if his mask of cold stoicness had been ripped off him and stamped on until it was a million useless pieces. It terrified Near to no end, knowing that if Mello wanted to, he could use this new, broken Near to his advantage.

"Near," Mello's voice was shaking with emotion, "I can't go along with that... I'm sorry, Near." He sat up and leaned his back against the wall where the head board should of been, pulling himself out of Near's grasp. Mello looked at the top of Near's head as saw the boy was shaking. Mello reached out and layed his hand on Near's snowy locks. The pale boy flinched under the touch.

Mello only realised Near was crying when the latter took shuddering breath that ended in a wince. Guilt tugged roughly at Mello's heart. He'd never seen Near like this before, and it made him feel terrible that he was one who seemed to have finally broken Near. Yes, Mello was mean to Near, but only because he knew Near could take it, that not he, not anyone, could actually break him. The petite boy really was quite strong, maybe not physically, but certainly mentally. Mello had known that fact for a long time, but only subconciously. It was just at the back of his mind, waiting to show itself.

It was then that Mello also realised that Near wasn't trying to trap him, but trying to save him. The more Mello actually thought about leaving Wammy's alone, the more out of the question and down right stupidly dangerous it sounded. Near seemed only to want Mello to be safe. The chocoholic couldn't help but be touched by this behaviour, especially coming from such a supposed emotionless boy.

Without really thinking, Mello started to bury his fingers into the soft hair that lay beneath them, gently massaging the scalp. His gaze was fixed on the wall across from him, his icy eyes glazed over with thought.

'Near really isn't lying. He truly cares for me. I know that he couldn't act if his life depended on it...'

Near calmed down slightly under Mello's touch, because he couldn't not calm down. He quickly tried pulling all of his emotions together again and lock them away. But one seemed to slip through his fingers everytime. Fear. Fear for Mello, not himself. Near knew that Mello wouldn't survive out there in the big wide world. Even if he did, it wouldn't be the right way. Mello was bound to get into something illegal or immoral, it was an undeniable fact. Near had a feeling that even Mello knew that.

Mello looked away from the wall he was focusing on, looking back to Near. He pulled his hand away when he saw what he was doing. Not because he was disgusted by the action, but because he wasn't sure whether or not Near really wanted that kind of attention at the moment.

When Mello's fingers slid out of Near's snowy locks, the albino felt rather relieved, because the feel of them was starting to make him succumb to sleep.

The blond looked away, not wanting to see Near in this state.

"Near," Mello spoke for the first time in what felt like hours, "may I ask you something?"

There was a short period of silence, then a small, wobbling voice, "Yes?"

It took a while for Mello to form the words on his tongue, then a little while longer to actually speak them, "How long?"

The tension in the air increased at the question, the silence that took place was almost bone-crushing.

Mello looked back at Near and saw that the albino was shivering. With out really thinking, Mello bent over and wrapped his arms around Near's thin frame. Ignoring the tension that struck through the tiny boy's body, Mello pulled him up so that Near was practically sitting on Mello's lap and leaning on the blond's chest with his back. The chocoholics arms were crossed over Near's flat stomach, loosely holding him in place.

Fatigue took over Near and he allowed his head to fall back and rest on Mello's shoulder. Warmth washed over him when he felt the older boy's breath skim over his cheek lightly.

"You don't have to answer." Mello murmured.

Near turned his head until his mouth was hovering above Mello's neck. The blond shivered as warmth spread over his skin like liquid.

"It's hard to say..." Near finally whispered, it appeared that he was talking to himself more than anyone else, "These feelings, they just sort of... grew. It could of started the moment I first saw you for all I know."

Mello turned his own head toward Near's to look into those large, coal eyes, rimmed with red puffiness from the crying. Their breaths mingled hotly and they could practically taste each others breath. It was almost too much.

As Mello stared at the tear-stained, emotional Near, into those charcoal eyes, at that skin that would certainly give Snow White a run for her money and those lips... The very lips that were pressed against his own just a few minutes ago.

Under Mello's gaze, Near started to blush. His fingers tightened their grip on his own white shirt insecurely.

When Mello spoke, it so sudden compared to the peaceful silence that had taken over the room that Near almost flinched.

"I can't say that I know exactly how you feel, Near." Mello said, "But I know that you're telling me the truth about all of this."

Near lifted one of his hands to rest it on Mello's, which was resting on Near's side. The blond tensed slightly under the touch. Before Mello could stop him, Near placed a small, light kiss on his neck.

"Thank you." Near sighed. His eyes slid shut and he relaxed completely.

Sleep was starting to creep over his body. His eyelids grew heavier by the second, his hand fell away from Mello's, his head rested against Mello's shoulder, weighing it down slightly.

Mello waited for Near to fall asleep. Even after the smaller boy lost consciousness, Mello didn't move. The chocoholic simply sat there and thought...

L's death...

Near's confession...

Who will success L?

What will happen to the loser?

Does there have to be a loser?

"How about you two work together?"

Roger...

Would it really work?

"Yeah, sounds good."

It's clear that Near thought so...

L...

Help me...

That's when it hit Mello.

The answer was in front of him. The answer was sitting on his lap, resting it's snow-white head on his shoulder. The answer was breathing warm air on his neck. The answer claimed to have feelings for him. The answer was...

The answer was "Yes."

Yes, Mello and Near could work together. They could be L. They could surpass L.

Mello clasped Near's limp hand with his own, a genuine smile grew across his face. His once fatigued orbs now shone brightly with determination.

Together...

Together, they would defeat Kira. Together, they would avenge L.

Mello's smile broadened.

'Kira, watch out.'

Mello lifted Near's hand to his lips and gently kissed it.

'We're coming to get you.'

Mello only realised what he'd done to Near's hand a few seconds after he'd done it. In more surprise than horror, he looked at the appendage with wide, aqueous eyes.

'Why did I just do that?'

Mello looked down to check on Near. The second his eyes focused on the serene, pale face before them, they couldn't look away.

Those lips, slightly parted, warm air emerging from it. That skin, so smooth and pale, it was like warm porcelain that glowed in the moonlight. Those eyes, hidden away under icy lids. Mello suddenly twitched, his body jerking violently for no apparent reason.

Mello finally managed to tear his eyes away from that suddenly beautiful face and to their hands. Their palms were facing each other, Near's simply laying on top of Mello's. As if to test something, Mello moved his hand so that he and Near's finger's slipped between each other.

Mello could only stare in awe.

Despite the differences. The difference in size, colour and age...

Their hands seemed to fit perfectly.

Still seeming to be experimenting, Mello rose his hand along with Near's and press each of those slim, pale fingers to his lips.

It terrified Mello. It terrified him that everything seemed to fit so well, be so perfect. It annoyed, angered and terrified Mello.

Why was this happening? Why not before? Why could he and Near barely in same room before and now be in the same bed? Why do they fit like two of Near's puzzle pieces?

So many "Why?"s, they flooded Mello's brain, drowning every piece of logic he had for just a moment.

In that moment, Mello tightened his grip on Near's hand, slipped his hand further over Near, pulling the boy closer, he turned his head so that his nose and mouth became buried in those soft, snowy locks.

Even after logic returned to him, Mello still clung to Near like a lifeline, afraid to be dragged under all the questions he couldn't answer.

Before he knew it, tears were welling his eyes.

"L." he whispered desperately. Tears ran from his eyes into Near's hair, "L, I need you. Help me. Answer my questions. Give me a clue. Lend me a hand. I cannot solve this. I need an answer..."

Suddenly, Mello's eyelids started to grow heavy. Despite trying to stay awake, he was starting to nod off.

In an attempt to keep himself awake, he bit his lip. His canine buried itself into the skin. The pain woke Mello up just a bit. Only just enough to see him.

There stood L, his eyes once again hidden, but an easy smile on his face. The tension he'd always had around him in life was now gone. He was standing near the door of the room, a good few meters away from his two successors.

Mello stared at him, still trying to keep his eyes open. He could barely keep his grip on Near's hand anymore.

The ghostly raven rose his right hand, splaying out his forefinger and thumb into the shape of an L. Mello frowned in confusion at the gesture.

L's smile widened slightly and he rose one more finger, making three.

Sleep was now beginning to completely take over Mello. He bit his lip again, achieving nothing but a sore mouth.

He desperately tried to understand the gesture. He tried to understand why L was there. He tried to put together the pieces and solve this mess.

But it would to wait until tomorrow, it seemed.

Mello finally allowed sleep to take over him. But not before weakly flipping off the ghost of his idol for being so damned confusing.

A/N: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I know it's short. But quality over quantity people! ^.^

Anyways, hope you had fun reading it, I had (stressful) fun writing it. X)

Please drop in a little review and make my day!

Laters!

PS: ZOMFG! I almost forgot, people. I'M NOW 15 AS OF LAST SUNDAY!!!! XDDDD