Chapter eight:

A raises his knife that he is holding with a battle cry.

Matt raises his gun aiming it at A then gasps as the brunette slams a knife into his head. He shoots knocking the other away from him causing him to skid on the ground.

Mello notices his chance and he takes it. He fires at the knife hitting both targets.

The knives dig into Matt's head and chest making him stumble back a little.

Matt begins twitching and seemingly to malfunction as he no longer seems able to do much anymore. He collapses to the ground laying there not getting up.

Near races over to A. "Are you okay?" He asks as he slightly helps A sit up.

"Yeah." A says. "I'm gonna feel that in the morning. I think I got lucky that he was malfunctioning." He then gasps. "B!" He races over to his lover stumbling here and there. He kneels next to him and sighs in relief as B looks to him. "You're okay."

"As best as possible babe." B snorts slightly. "I'm a little sore but the glitching probably saved me."

A smiles then pulls B into hug that the other accepts.

Mello is checking Matt and Near comes over.

"Is he dead?" Near asks in which Mello glances back to him.

Mello looks back to Matt. "Yup." He gets to his feet. "It's over."

"Does that mean that things will be different?" Near questions. "Will it change time?"

"We killed the Matt from the future. Not the one here." Mello says making sure both hands are hands and he crosses them over his chest. "The one here still exists before any of what happened took place." He turns away.

"What will happen?" Near turns to Mello.

Mello smiles softly. "The future is not something I should speak too much about Near. You'll have to find out future events on your own. The future is always a mystery and it can easily change."

Near smiles softly then nods. "Okay."

Mello turns to Matt. "Now then. I'll take care of this." He glances to Near. "Where will you go now?"

Near glances back to A and BB only to look back to Mello. "I don't think I'll return to Whammys." He admits.

"You can stay with us." A offers as him and BB come over leaning against each other slightly.

"That sounds like a good idea." Near agrees turning to them then he turns to Mello. "Will I see you soon?"

Mello smiles. "Perhaps. Though just not this me. The one from this time."

"Okay." Near nods then heads over hugging Mello making the other jump surprised.

Mello hugs him back. "Thank you Near. For everything." He says. "You have no idea how much you mean to me." He doesn't notice a tear falling down his cheek.

"Maybe I'll learn that in time." Near says.

Mello chuckles softly. "Maybe."

They step apart and Mello heads over to Matt.

"I'll get this guy back to the future." Mello says then glances back. "Those of this time are not ready for this technology."

"Good luck." Near says in which Mello smiles.

"You too." Mello responds. He gathers their stuff that is right here close to him then he pushes a button on his arm that can't transform into a gun.

In a flash of blue light Mello, Matt and their vehicles are gone.

A walks over to Near and places a hand on his shoulder causing him to turn to the brunette. "Ready?" He asks.

Near nods then follows A and BB as they head away to where they left the truck. "Where to?" He asks as they approach the truck.

"Well why don't we set up residence in the building we found you two in?" BB offers an idea.

Near smiles in agreement. "That sounds good." He agrees.

They head to the building and park the truck only to get out. They head towards the building only to find a man dressed in a suit looking at it.

"I'm never going to sell this place." The man sighs heavily.

"Are you sure about that?" A questions.

The man jumps then spins around to see the three. "You…. You're interested in this place?" He gasps in surprise.

"Better believe it." BB confirms crossing his arms over his chest.

"Name your price!" The man says in relief.

A offers the only money he currently has on him which is a twenty dollar bill.

The man takes it. "It's yours! I'll bring the paperwork later."

"Whatever." A shrugs and the man leaves. "We've got work to do." He says stretching his arms out forward as if preparing for this.

"Damn straight." BB says in agreement. "Well. No matter what happened today we should get some supplies."

They head to the truck to drive off to get what they will need to fix up the place. They decide to spend tonight in a hotel and start working on the place tomorrow.

Near is lying awake in his bed in the hotel facing the window that is closed right now. He can't help but wonder what exactly happens in the future that makes what happened happen. He closes his eyes deciding to let the future come to him for now. He eventually drifts off into sleep.

The next day…..

The three of them are wearing a hard hat and are working on the house.

A is using his strength to carry a whole bunch of planks of wood.

Near runs by as A watches with a smile.

BB is getting to be a little lazy right now in that he is working on the paper work that needs to get done.

Yes. Their start on a new life is going to be just fine.

… It takes them quite a while but they get it done and now they are living in the nicely built home…

They decided to let Near go to a school for the advanced to make sure that he still gets a good education while the other two have to look for jobs to help them settle permanently here.

Near is walking to one of his classes on his fourth day in school when an unexpected voice is heard behind him.

"You're new."

Near spins around to find a familiar male around his own age right now.