Author's Note: Well, this has got to be my most descriptive chapter yet! It's one of my most emotional too. Poor Near and the usual stresses and pressures of the Kira Case. Ah, well, I hope you enjoy! Wow, ninth chapter already and still so many supporters and readers! Thanks guys! Chapter 10 coming up soon! (:


It was 5:30 in the morning, just before the rising of the sun. It seemed as though the entire nation of Japan was on their toes. Silence threatened to shatter the tension. The Special Provision for Kira Headquarters loomed over small buildings, casting a long shadow and darkening the sky. Deep within the confines of the SPK, sat a troubled teenage boy. He had just awoken from a nightmare; he was still in his bed. One pale finger reflexively reached for a lock of his soft, white hair, twirling it nervously. His normally stoic expression was now masked with the expression of pure fear. Near had never been one to be afraid of nightmares, but this one was different. It had seemed so inhumanely realistic that even he could not believe that his own subconscious had conjured up such a thing. He slowly laid back down in bed; his senses were so awake now, that even the soft rustling of the covers and sheets seemed loud.

He closed his eyes, his finger still in his hair, but he immediately opened them, his lips parting to gasp. The images still flooded through his mind, every last, intricate detail glowing clearly from behind his eyelids. His ears throbbed as the faint sounds of his nightmare echoed within his memories. Screams of terror seemed to fill his head and he pressed both palms over his ears, hoping to keep the noises from becoming so loud. It only seemed to make it worse. He groaned as he sat up again and leaned over to switch a squat lamp that rested on his nightstand on. The warm glow of the lamp comforted him to some degree but it still wasn't enough for his heart to stop accelerating. He sighed and pressed on his temples gently, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to take a grip on reality. For minutes he sat there, his expression pained. It was only until a low voice sounded from the threshold of his door, broke him from his thoughts.

"...Near?" Rester's familiar voice called. Near looked up, his hands still at his temples. Rester was already dressed in a suit and he appeared ready for the day's work that was ahead. Quickly and quietly, Rester moved from his spot at the door to Near's bed, his eyes full of concern. Near guessed that his own expression must've alerted Rester that something was wrong. Rester sat on the end of his bed and looked at Near, his mouth slightly open as if to say something. He shut it again and tried to recollect his thoughts. He finally found out the right words to say.

"Near, are you okay?"

Rester's words registered immediately in Near's mind and Near leaned forward, tears reaching the brim of his eyes. He reached for Rester, who scooted closer, and clutched him, his sobs louder and more dramatic. Near couldn't understand what it was in Rester's words that had shaken him so. He was not angry but distraught and confused. He was certainly not alright, but saying that simply did not explain it to it's full complexity. His throat became hoarse and dry as he cried, his body shuddering with violent sobs. He managed to cry his way into Rester's lap and curl up into a small white ball. Rester awkwardly placed his arms around him in a father-like manner and rocked him gently. Near's wails of pain and sorrow echoed down the hallway and it seemed like nothing in the world could stop him from crying. He had always been the quiet, stoic type that never showed his emotions, but he had been holding in his feelings for way too long. The nightmare had been the proof that he needed to express himself. And Rester seemed the right guy to run to.

Near cried for hours, sobbing and mumbling incoherently, although he didn't care whether or not Rester understood him. Finally, when Near felt he had cried himself to the point of dehydration, he looked up at the calm face of Rester.

"I...I'm sorry about that..." Near muttered, slowly crawling back to his place on his bed. Rester shook his head and leaned forward, giving Near yet another hug.

"Near, you don't need to worry about it. You've been under an amazing amount of stress, what with Katsumi, the recent discovery of Shinigami, and the whole Kira case in general. You deserved to let it all out."

Near did not smile, but nodded, his head drooping. "It just seems like every new discovery leads us further away from it. L..." Near's voice cracked and Rester saw small tears fall from his eyes onto the bedspread. Rester patted Near's head.

"L is very proud of you. Wherever he is."

Near nodded, still not looking up. "L...never would have been stressed like this." He muttered. "He never got overly-panicked and cried."

Rester shook his head. "I'm sure L had his days where he cried for hours at a time at night. I'm sure there's a lot about L that we don't know. I'm sure if Watari was still alive, he could tell us. He's the one who truly knew L."

Near nodded again. "Watari...L...they all, are gone. Mello, Matt. God only knows what they are doing now. Even seeing that blond-haired idiot seems comforting to me right now."

"Then prepare to get some serious comfort!" A second voice sounded at the door. Near's head snapped up and his mouth hung open in shock. There, standing in the doorway, one hand tucked in his jacket pocket and the other clutching a chocolate bar, was Mello. He snapped off a corner of the chocolate, making a loud snapping noise. He smirked at Near and sauntered into the room.

"Oh, how the mighty Near has fallen." He said, looking down and sneering. "I got a call from your ol' buddy Rester here and said you might need some help."

Mello reached out a leather-clad hand. "It took him some major convincing to get me over here, but...now that I am. Ready to get this case rolling again?"

Near looked up, his eyes wide and his voice apparently gone with the rest of his dignity. He uneasily placed his hand on top of Mello's and Mello pulled him up from the bed, draping his arm around his shoulder and pointing dramatically to the window with his chocolate bar.

"Then let's do this!"