Chapter 6: Near

"Mello, where are you going?" Julia said. He had stood up and was headed for the door of the motel room, grabbing his furry jacket as he went.

"I already told you I need to see Near," Mello said, pulling his arms through the sleeves. "He has something of mine."

"And you're going to, what, point the gun at his head?" Julia wondered as Mello grabbed his weapon and shoved it under the belt of his pants.

"Hm, maybe," Mello chuckled. "But no this is actually for Lidner." Julia furrowed her eyebrows.

"Getting rid of her?" she wondered hopefully, though she didn't actually want Mello to go out and shoot someone.

"Not exactly," Mello smirked. Julia was curious now, and so she stood up and grabbed her coat as well.

"What are you doing?" Mello asked her.

"I'm coming with you," she told him, reaching for the door. Mello stepped in front of her, shaking his head.

"No, I'm going alone. I don't need you there getting in the way."

"Of what? You and Lidner?"

"Among other things," he said, eyeing her expression. He was hoping the idea of Lidner would drive her away. After kissing her, Mello was starting to doubt his decision. It wasn't the first time they had kissed but now he could see that Julia had been acting different. Not to anyone else, but Mello saw it. A slight hope in her eyes that maybe the two of them could be together.

Julia ignored his comment and swung the door open, nearly hitting him with it. He glared at her from behind his bangs, and she shot him a look.

"I'm coming," she said. "Or I'm not letting you leave." Mello scoffed, but gave in to her demands. He had better things to do then stand here and argue with her.

"What the hell are you doing?" Julia demanded, grabbing his arm as he headed through Halle Lidner's small apartment, toward the bathroom where she was obviously taking a shower.

"See?" he snapped. "You're already getting in the way." Julia threw his arm down and crossed hers.

"I'm sure she'd appreciate it if you at least waited for her to come out of the damn shower."

"According to you," Mello said, but he didn't continue toward the bathroom. Instead he stood there and grabbed his gun, waiting. Julia just looked at him from the corner of his eye. Why did he make all those offhand comments about Lidner? Probably just to get to her. She didn't understand him. He kissed her, and yet now he acted as though nothing had happened. The first time they kissed, she had initiated it so she didn't expect much from it which was why she had never mentioned it again. This time, he had kissed her, which meant something. It pissed her off that he was acting so nonchalant now, and she was determined to kiss him again to see what would happen.

Finally, footsteps led from the room and Lidner appeared, a white towel wrapped around her torso and her hair dripping wet. Mello already had his gun drawn on her as Lidner spoke. "So you're alive." She glanced curiously at Julia as Mello bit his chocolate. She kept quiet, however, as Mello swung his gun toward her bedroom.

"Get dressed," he ordered, "You're coming with me." He quite obviously looked her up and down when she turned away, and Julia clenched her fist. Mello smiled just the slightest to himself. He was pretty sure it was working.

"Mello, welcome," the boy named Near said as Mello walked in the room, holding the gun to Lidner. Julia walked in behind them, setting her sights for the first time on Near. She was caught off guard by how bizarre he looked. Sure, Mello didn't always have the best sense of fashion, but Near was beyond that. He looked as though he was wearing some type of pajamas, and his hair was white. He was crouched on the floor, playing with toys. This was the guy Mello always lost to?

"Drop your weapon!" A big blonde man that Julia didn't know commanded, whipping out his gun. Julia heard Mello groan beside her before Near spoke again.

"Everyone, please put away your guns. Having a shoot out here would achieve nothing." Well, at least he appeared to be reasonable. Julia could see why he and Mello didn't get along already. Near was the total opposite of the blonde beside her, obviously completely calm in all situations whereas Mello was driven by how he felt. The competition to succeed L surely didn't help their relationship.

"Sir, with all due respect, Mello is the one who killed our partners," an attractive dark haired man informed the white haired boy.

"Please don't make me say it again. Remember that our primary objective is still to catch Kira. Killing Mello right now would do nothing to benefit our investigation." At his words, both men on his team reluctantly lowered their guns.

"Hmm, alright," the blonde one said grudgingly.

"It seems like things have been going just as you planned Near," Mello said, still holding the gun to Lidner. Julia almost smiled. Even if Mello had some type of feelings for this woman, he sure as hell didn't have a problem using her to get what he wanted. For a moment, Julia thought that this was probably the same with her, but Near brought her out of her thoughts.

"Yes, I take it you've already heard all about the second L from Lidner by now. I've pretty much figured out who Kira is and it's thanks to everything you've done." Mello was looking pissed now, and Julia bit her lip nervously, knowing he was about to overreact. As if to prove her right, Mello didn't hesitate in whipping out his gun and pointing it directly at Near. The two men on his team instantly pulled their guns out again.

"Shut up Near!" Mello yelled. "I'm not just a tool for you to use in order to solve your puzzles you know!"

"Mello, if you really wanna shoot me, then go ahead and do it," Near said calmly. Julia looked to Mello and knew he was struggling. He wanted to, that was certain, but his hand shook and he couldn't. Or at least that was what Julia hoped. Lidner jumped in front of him before Mello could prove himself.

"Stop!" she yelled. "If you shoot him, then the rest of us will have no choice but to shoot you too! What would it solve if both of you die?"

"Hmm, you have a good point," Mello admitted. Julia rolled her eyes at yet another example of his failure to think things through. "Anyway I'm only here for one thing. I came to take back that photograph you have."

"Of course," Near agreed. "I got it from the orphanage. It was only one and no copies have been made. I've already gone ahead and dealt with everyone who knows your face, both inside and outside of Wammy's house. They'll keep quiet." Julia couldn't help but wonder what he had done to the poor people as Near flicked the photo from his hands. Mello caught it between his fingers effortlessly before Near continued. "I can't say one hundred percent for certain but it shouldn't be possible for you to be killed by the notebook. Is that the only business you had with me Mello?"

"Near…let's get one thing straight. I have no intention of working together with you on this," Mello informed him.

"Yes I know."

"At the same time I can't just take my photo and leave. That wouldn't be right so I'll settle my debt. The killer Notebook, it belongs to a Shinigami. Anyone who touches it is able to see a god of death." Julia was confused. He wanted to beat Near so badly and yet here he was giving away information. She rolled her eyes, realizing he wanted the fight to be fair. He wanted to beat him on an even playing field. Moron…

"That's crazy," the blonde man commented.

"Who the hell would believe in something like that?" the other commented.

"I would," Near responded. Julia didn't like the fact that he refused to face people when he talked to them. It was weird. "I believe him completely. What good would it do for him to tell an outrageous lie like that? Even if he had something to gain he could at least come up with a more believable story. Therefore these gods of death must exist." Julia was glad he could believe it so easily. She had barely believed it until she had seen that disgusting thing for herself.

"The notebook I obtained had previously belonged to another Shinigami," Mello continued. "Perhaps even Kira himself. Also, some of the rules written inside are actually fake. That's all I can tell you for now." He turned and walked away, saying "Near" as he did so. Near responded with "Mello."

"Which of us is gonna reach Kira first, I wonder," Mello asked, biting his chocolate. Julia wanted to root for Mello, but Near was so calm, and it almost seemed like he would come out on top.

"The race is on," Near said.

"We're both heading towards the same destination. I'll be waiting for you." And with that, Mello left his rival behind.

"This is a cute picture," Julia commented as she gazed down at the picture that Mello had retrieved from Near earlier that night. It really wasn't that adorable, aside from the fact that he looked so young and innocent. Julia wondered if it was taken before this insane fight with Near began. Mello held his hand out to her and she handed it to him. He glanced at it for a moment before placing it in his pocket.

"So what's next?" Julia said. She was lounging on the couch, and Mello was standing nearby. He turned toward her as he spoke.

"I beat Near," he said. "We're in a fair race now and I intend to come out first."

"I should have known," Julia said. Mello sat down beside her and pulled out his chocolate, biting the corner off without hesitation.

"What I meant was, are we just staying in this motel room for a while?" Julia asked.

"I guess," Mello answered. "It's not like we really have anywhere else to go right now. As long as I'm getting work done I don't care where I'm at."

"Well I'll be here with you," Julia told him, glancing toward him. He met her gaze, and she found herself leaning towards him. She was nearly at his lips when Mello turned his head away.

"What are you doing?"

"Kissing you," Julia answered, still attempting to get close to him. "Trying to anyway."

"Don't," Mello said flatly. Julia groaned, and pushed his chest to distance the space between them.

"Well in that case," Julia said, not being one to keep her thoughts to herself if she could keep her nerve up. "Can I ask what the hell you kissed me for the other day then?"

"Can't you just drop it?" Mello asked.

"No, not really," Julia responded, much to Mello's annoyance. "You have to know how I feel about you by now." Mello just bit his chocolate, so Julia continued. "I want to be with you Mello. Why the hell do you think I stick around through all this shit?"

"Because I asked you to," Mello replied easily.

"Oh, so you do know how I feel then," Julia said, nodding. "Using it to your advantage no doubt. There was no reason for you to kiss me, and it wasn't the most opportune moment either. Just admit that you felt something."

"It meant nothing," Mello said, taking another bite of his chocolate. "I had to get you out of there somehow." Julia had been preparing a response, but that last part caught her off guard

"You…?"

"Yeah," Mello said, standing up and heading for his bed. "So no, I didn't feel anything. It might be good if you try to do the same. My goal is to catch Kira, not form a relationship." That much was true. He didn't want to form a relationship by any means. That would be nothing but a distraction. Not feeling anything…that might have been a bend of the truth, but she didn't need to know that. All she needed to know was that he wasn't about to fall in love with her.

"I don't need a relationship," Julia shrugged. "But an honest answer might be nice. There had to have been more reason to kiss me like that."

"Think whatever the hell you want," Mello said, sitting down on his bed. Julia had been pretty calm, but she was starting to get upset.

"Goodnight," she said finally, heading to her own bed and lying down.

Mello shut off the light without returning the comment, and instead said "Damn, I forgot to call Lidner."

"Call her now," Julia shrugged. "She'll be up, or at least she would be for you." She said the last part bitterly, and Mello grinned to himself. She was definitely jealous, and that was perfect. If he played it out the right way, he could make him and Lidner seem somewhat involved, even if they never were or would be. But if Julia thought so, then maybe it would help her along in forgetting her feelings towards him.

"I'll just call her tomorrow when you're not around," Mello said, rolling over. Julia clenched her jaw. She didn't know what he was up to with that, but it pissed her off. And before she fell asleep, she promised herself that Mello would love her, no matter what it took.