AN: So... this is the last chapter, I wrote it quite fast but I still don't know what to think about it. It's how I see it in my mind. And for that part, I didn't see much. I mostly heard. Maybe you'll understand after reading.

Disclaimer: Come on, this wouldn't be a fanfiction if I owned Death Note!

Warnings: a very strange chapter, I don't know much about religion, I'm agnostic so I don't mean to be disrespectful of any religion, god, shinigami... okay? That moment just wrote itself anyway and then I thought that well, if they wanted to talk about that, they could have their fun. This is the last chapter after all

The text after the end was written just after the death that got me to publish this story, just so you know.

If the perverts are hoping for a miraculous surprise in the last chapter, the answer is no.

If the ones who can't stand reading any mention of boy love are still reading (for reasons I don't get, but well) and hoping for a sudden change in the character's sexuality, sorry guys.

If the feminists want to cry for the lack of women in this fic, well, I'm the first one crying but let's just say that Wammy's is quite the macho house, isn't it?

If the grammar nazis are hoping they'll still have hair on their head, well, I hope so too but I'm not English so mistakes can happen... Just tell them to me so I correct everything so that at least the next grammar nazi's hair is saved! (to all grammar nazis, I love you, you must be the only kind of nazi I like! please, don't be hurt by this way of calling you.)

If you liked this fic... I'm sorry, it's the end. I don't know when I'll publish something else. It took me a year to write and publish a 4 chaptered fic and all my other projects are longer (well, there's the matter of the one shots... I'll publish one after a very special and maybe stupid event but the other one... maybe if you ask for it?). Anyway, if you are nice and patient, something new will come!

If you didn't like this fic... I'm sorry but at least it's the end. Thank you for sticking with it nevertheless though I'm not sure why you did. Make sure to tell me why you did and what you didn't like so all your suffering wasn't for nothing.

Enjoy!

Near and Matt

Chapter four: Alone

.

If there was one choice Near would never regret, it was the one he did on that night, the one he did when he told Matt it was alright, that if he could help Mello, then any mean would be okay. The one when he decided he'd let Mello go. And even at night, when he shed lonely tears, he didn't regret his choice. Mello was happy, Matt was happy, and it made him happier. It felt so strange when he was alone with the blond, the one he'd never be able to call his any longer. But had he ever been his? There was a tension between them. A tension made of why-s, how-s, what-could-have-been-s, what would never be. A tension that was unbearable for both to feel. However, they weren't often alone so they didn't have to go through this a lot. How Mello's competitiveness doubled was a lot more noticeable. A way not to remember their sweet time together maybe. A way not to have Matt worry about a not so dead relationship? Or maybe it had little to do with their tumultuous love life and a lot more with the new case, L's new case, Kira.

Mello was following the investigation with an incredible interest. Matt didn't seem to do so but then again, it was Matt. The one who had hidden his activity as a hacker to everyone in the house during years. Everyone including L. And Near followed it too. Because the more he thought about this logical reality, the less he thought about his emotional reality. He had no right to blame Mello or the Wammy boys for what hadn't worked out, and even less right to blame Matt. It was frustrating but it was life. He had had his chance and had lost. In love, he was a loser, a failure. But nothing had ever proved him as a loser when it came to logic. He was like L. And maybe one day, he'd become L. Maybe one day, he'd forget Mello. Maybe one day, Matt and Mello would be a happy couple and he'd be the happy friend. As Matt had managed to be once. Minus the repressed love feelings.

.

Mello's bike has disappeared. Seems that Matt's diversion was even more efficient than planned! Mello would be pleased to know. But Near knows none of them care. Right now, it's Matt's time. Finally, Matt has a definite role to play.

.

"What's wrong Roger?"

"L's dead."

Emptiness. Near looked at his puzzle. L. The unvanquished L. Dead. He couldn't talk. But Mello sure could.

"Dead but how? Do you mean he was killed by Kira? Is that it?"

"Most likely, yes."

By Kira. L the winner, the one who could have saved the world had failed. If L had, then what would they be able to do? Between an overemotional Mello, an emotionally broken Near and an unpredictable Matt? The gears were beginning to turn in his head, he had to be the logical one. Mello was reacting enough for them both.

"He was going to get Kira the death penalty and now… he's dead… Is that what you're telling me?"

It was predictable, something they all knew could happen. And yet, it was totally unexpected, as if L was supposed to live forever. As if it was impossible for him to lose. As if... wait... if this was unexpected then...

"Mello…"

"If we don't win the game, if we don't solve the puzzle, we're nothing more than failures."

Here, it was said, it would begin. Near knew what would happen and had made his choice.

"…How about you both work together?"

Near knew what would come if they did. Tension. Unbearable tension. But he'd done all he could to avoid that. Now, he had a role to play. He'd let Mello settle things.

"Yes, agreed." Your turn Mello.

And as usual, the blond didn't disappoint. On that famous rainy night, the blond thunder was outside in the storm.

There was one thing Near hadn't planned. So he nearly snorted when he discovered he had received an e-mail from Matt at the same time they had been summoned to Roger's office. Unpredictable, indeed.

'It's mourning day, I have to leave. I close the door, roll the window down. Don't worry Nate, BFF'

.

Near had a lot to do after that. He worked to rebuild trust and strength. His SPK was his only chance. Every member was as important as he was, if not more. He couldn't be seen. They were his body, his eyes, representing him in the rest of the world. He looked at everything L left behind, tried to see what had gone wrong. Planned some more to avoid sharing the same fate as the detective. Looked from afar as Mello worked his place up the mafia. And, sometimes, he would receive e-mails from Matt.

"I wonder what the difference between Jesus and God is." Matt wrote once.

"Jesus was human, he had a human body, he could be harmed. God has no body. He's something we can't see and we can't touch. He can't be harmed."

"So you're pretending to be God?"

"I do what is required to fight against one."

"A god... But what about the devil?"

"A lost angel, seductive, who loved too much. Harmful, yes, but he can't kill a god. He's part of the balance."

"You forget humans in your beautiful vision. Lack of faith can kill a God as well. If no one believes in him, even if he does exist, it's as if he doesn't. Humans are the unknown parameters in the equation of the world. The devil understood it."

"You'll have to prove it to me."

"We'll see about it."

They kept talking though those discussions were getting scarcer and scarcer, with the investigation going on, Matt finding Mello, Near contacting Kira, they all were busy. And one day, he received a strange call.

"Hey, Near, red is a mysterious colour, isn't it?" It was Matt. His voice was a bit husky, too much smoking maybe? Near hoped Matt wasn't calling to announce he was dying soon because of cancer.

"Hey Matt, what's with this greeting? Is that what Mello tells you?"

"No. I just think it is. It represents so many things. Blood, death, strength, anger, fire…" It didn't sound like cigarette caused it though, it sounded more like... tears?

"Why this sudden interest in that colour? Is it your new favourite one?" Near hated phones. When you called someone, you couldn't see their body reactions, so you couldn't read all the hidden signals. Even with Matt, he had to be clear.

"No. I hate it. I even dyed my hair brown. Not only is it death's colour but it's too easily spotted. I'm a spy now, I can't be seen easily. So brown it is." A spy? The future L snorted. Knowing Matt, he'd change his hair colour, maybe his clothes (from colourful striped skirts to black and white ones) but would never think of taking off his goggles.

"I'm not sure it's the only thing to bring the attention on you if you ask me." Matt had an annoyed sigh. Near had a feeling he wasn't the only one to tell this to his friend. Maybe someone was sad his lover's hair had lost their brightness?

"Think about it. Red is the colour that even attracts animals. In the arena during a bullfight, why is the torero's cape red?"

"Matt, you know it's because it's the colour of blood."

"Maybe… but maybe not. Have to go. By the way, you have something we have to take back." He hang up.

And the next day, Mello was at his headquarters, a horrible scar on his face. Fire. It was so strange, seeing him there, like that. Near had wondered who would come. Mello or Matt. But if the blond one had decided to go, then he'd receive him as should be done. It was a simple thing to do after all. And Near knew how things were supposed to be anyway. So, as cold as he could be, not to awaken any doubt in Mello's mind, he dealt with him. He gave him the picture. The only picture he had of Mello. The one he had received on their first day together. When everything was bright and clear. Gone. With Mello. And a dreadful feeling made him shudder as he saw Mello's back disappear in the traffic. He had the impression that this devil, who even had the mark of hell's fire on him, may get to know it even better soon. He shook his head. No time for fear. The investigation was waiting.

.

Matt is trapped. They're all pointing a gun at his car. Near surprises himself crossing his fingers. He stops. Just a thought in his head: 'please, somehow, be safe.' Matt comes out of the car. They raise their guns. The driver smiles. Stupid.

.

"Near, I bought a car."

"Really?" Why did Matt's happy tone didn't lighten the detective's mood? On the contrary, he felt something was wrong.

"Yes. She's beautiful! A Chevelle 1969, bright red and all! I can't wait to try it." Red?

"You haven't yet?"

"I'm waiting for the occasion."

"It may never come."

"I know it'll come soon. Hey, Near, I looked at the news yesterday, guess what they were talking about."

"Kira?"

"Nope. The Euro crisis." Silence. "Hey, Near, you know I've always thought this currency symbolized our friendship?" Matt's voice seemed full of nostalgia now. And a bit of fondness too. But Near felt better all of a sudden, because more than anything, it felt natural.

"Really?"

"Yes. But I wish I didn't." The white haired boy wasn't sure he was meant to hear that, so he didn't answer. "Hey, Near, do you think we'll have the same fate?" Matt was scared. It was so strange to have the hacker show how weak he felt.

"What are you saying? You know our friendship will last forever."

"Near, you know that's not what this comparison means." The boy was serious. But Near didn't want to be. The dread had come back and he didn't like it.

"Matt, humans aren't countries, friendship isn't a currency. That comparison was doomed to be proven wrong one day. Let's say that day has come."

"Yeah, let's say it has." answered Matt wishfully. "You're not angry at me, right, for all that happened with Mello?"

"Is Mello still able to smile?"

"When we're alone, yes. A bit. But he seems a bit strange nowadays."

"So I don't mind." Matt sighed. Was it why the boy had sounded so worried? "Matt, I have to go now. I have a very important meeting in four days, and have to be ready for it."

"I know. Hey, Near? I'm glad you're my friend. Good bye." Matt sounded a lot better now. Just when Near thought the conversation was over, the redhead added: "Hey, Near, I wonder if you'll wear white on that day too." But Near never got to answer. Mail had already hung up.

.

And here he is. Sat on his chair, looking at the scene in front of him, remembering this talk he had yesterday with the boy standing on the screen. Matt's arms are raised. He opens his mouth. No one breathes in the room. They all know what is to come, they all see how the fingers are stiffening on the triggers. He knows Mello is in danger too. He knows a simple motor cask can't protect his face. He feels Mello has no plan to live after. But all he can do is watch his only friend's last moments.

13 guns go off. 13 bullets. One dead. One tear.

"I'll be wearing black." He whispers. But there's no time for more tears, no time for sadness or regrets. He takes out his phone. Time to settle things with Kira.

The End.

Once upon a time, there was a great man. He was a great diplomat, a talented writer, a warm heart and a wise mind. One day, he wrote a book. A simple book. The content wasn't great; it was one of those books you read to pass the time, in the transports or in the toilets. But it was a big success. People were impressed: "with one title, he summarised all that I think! This man is a genius!"

One book. Only one. 40 pages. And with one book, the rest of his life disappeared. He was nothing but "the man who wrote the book".

Once upon a time there was a great man. But he's dead now and all we have left are the remains of his works and interviews. And the picture of his smile in our minds.

Once upon a time, there was a great man. And his father.

Once upon a time, there was the father of a great man. He didn't know what his son would do, but he was a great man himself and most of all a great friend. And though he died young, he taught a very important lesson to his son. A lesson of love and friendship. A lesson of life.

Once upon a time, there was a friend who had a great friend, who'd become the father of a great man. And that friend decided to write a book. That book became a success, a huge one. It told a story of love and friendship, his friendship. A young cineaste fell in love with that book and turned it, years, decades later, into a movie. That movie became a huge success.

Who were those two men? We'll never really know. A book doesn't tell the absolute truth about people, only parts of a romanced life. But the picture of an unfaltering friendship will always remain in our imagination.

Once upon a time, there was a girl writing a story. That story was inspired from a book and a movie. A story of love and friendship set in the universe of another story, where genuine love and friendship had no place at all. She had heard about it from many places, very different, one of them being information about a great man who had written a successful book. One day, that man died. On that day, the girl felt something strange. As if that story she had been writing, that little story that wasn't worth much, that didn't mean anything, was meant for him. And, though she didn't know this man, though she didn't like his book, though it didn't concern this man at all, she decided to show her story, with all the mistakes and errors it may have. Because that man was dead and with him died her link with one of the most beautiful proof of the human kindness.

Rest in peace, great man.

Very long AN: I hope you liked this chapter and this story. The movie that inspired it is called Jules et Jim. I never got to actually watch it but the little I heard about it made me think about this cast. That story of friendship is beautiful. At first, for obvious reasons, I wanted to make it into a Matt and Mells (or Mells and Matt) but then, that would have meant no MattxMello... I'm not sure I could do it!

The man I talked about in the beginning, whose death made me publish this story, is called Stephane Hessel. He was a thinker, a diplomat, and became internationally known thanks to a book: "time for outrage". I never read that book so I can't really say I hate it. What I hate is that this man did many things in his life, and people only talked about this one book. Anyway, he was the son of the Jules/Near of this story, the one that got dumped. I came upon an interview, some days after he died that made me glad I had chosen this cast in the end. In that interview, he talked about his parents. He said his father taught him not to be jealous, and here is what is said about is mother (Mello)

Your mother, Helen, was an incredible woman. She managed to make her decisions be accepted where they weren't common…
She was one of those women who broke any resistance. She wanted to be the one to decide. […] In 1938, when she understood that my father, who was in Germany, was in danger because he was Jew, she looked for him, took him with her, and married him again. They were divorced and the only way to bring him out of Germany was marriage.

Don't you think it's quite Mello-ish?

I had a lot of fun writing this piece. And I'm happy to see this project coming to an end.

The question about the car is something I wondered for sometimes, there's no true answer, or at least, no true answer that I can tell you (if you want to know why, a glimpse at the disclaimer should be enough) But it's the last game, I'll answer by PM if you want to try it out (you can try even if you're reading this in 2018!): what in this fic made you read it till the end of the last AN?

Thank you for reading!^^

26/10/2015: I've been told the dialogue about god and devil was confusing so I tried to make it a bit clearer, but I don't want them to explain everything. They're geniuses, they understand each others and make short cuts in their arguments, as they know the other will be able to understand where it came from. Anyway, tell me if you still find it confusing (or if you don't find it confusing, it would be nice to know the change worked!)