It was a day after Mello had moved into the Kira was always quiet between us, silently working on computers. Even when Mello found a lead, he usually told Rester to tell me, instead of talking to me directly.

That night though, I broke the silence and asked a question of him.

"Mello?"

The blonde glanced over.

"May I please ask a question?"

He just stared at me with blue orbs that showed no trace of hatred. Then, Mello slowly nodded.

"What's something you liked about Matt?"

The question startled him, probably the mention of the redhead's name, breaking through the tense stillness.

Mello sucked in a gasp and blinked, eyes wide.

"...Matt?"

"Yes. Forgive me for asking." I knew this would probably spark his anger. Surprisingly it didn't

He swallowed. "Well..." I waited patiently through a long pause.

"When he would always play his video games..." Mello's voice was barely a whisper. " I would come in the room and say hi...He'd look up and be kind of startled. Then he'd say "Hi Mello! all...cheerfully. I just have that memory stuck in my head...I...I don't want to talk about him." the former mafia member turned his scarred face away from me and brushed a lock of smooth golden hair behind his ear.

"I'm sorry." I murmured, twirling a piece of my own hair. I meant it.

"N-Near I'm tired...I'm going to bed..."

He turned and fled the room, but gave one confused glance over his shoulder at me.

An hour or so later I was exiting the research room when I heard screaming. It was definitely Mello.

I ran into his room, the door wasn't locked. The blonde was thrashing about in his bed and yelling like he was being chased by a pack of rabid wolves.

"Mello! Mello please wake up! I shook him, he was obviously having some terrible nightmare.

"GAH!" The black clad one shot up in his bed. He wiped sweat off his forehead. Mello was visibly shaking.

"Y-You were screaming." I stuttered.

"I...was..." he trailed off. But then growled "Get out!" GET OUT IT'S LIKE THREE IN THE FUCKING MORNING!"

"I'm sorry..."

He grabbed the lamp on the side table, then threw it at me. I ducked and ran out the door. I figured the dream had been about Matt.

As I padded down the hall to my own room I felt something odd. It felt as though something hibernating inside of me had woken up. Seeing Mello so angry and upset had aroused something that made my heart pound. It wasn't like we had ever been friends, far from it. But when he was so distraught over Matt made me realize that he wasn't as angry and full of hatred as most would think. I thought that I might actually care for him, I mean I certainly didn't hate Mello. I quickly brushed that notion aside, realizing it was most probably lack of sleep making my mind behave this way.

The following morning, Mello was quiet, emotionlessly sipping coffee and biting his favorite entree: chocolate.

The day passed like normal, deducing clues about Kira, while thick layer of awkward tension hung in the air. Around the same time of night we were alone. I decided to repeat what I had done before, even though I knew I shouldn't temp my hidden emotions I failed at supressing.

"Mello?"

"Yes?"

"What is another thing you liked about Matt?"

"Why...why do you want to know?"

"I'm just trying to understand you, that's all."

"Well...Matt..." he winced at his own saying of Mail Jeevas's alias. "Always wore his goggles...no matter what. Even when people at whammy's house teased him...And then I ran away for several years...and when I came back he still had them.

I made no reply. For the next few nights after that, he gave me reasons why he liked Matt so much. Here they are.

1. He would always say hello in the same cheerful way to Mello.

2. He always wore goggles, no matter what.

3. He would always go along with any of Mello's idea's "because I'm your friend."

4. He was just talented with computers and a huge help with research

5. He didn't care that Mello yelled at him to go get chocolate, he did it anyways.

On the sixth night I asked Mello the same question

"Whats something that you liked about Matt?"

This time Mello paused for a while before answering.

"Matt...he always forgave me." Mello's eyes were full of sadness "When I ran away for years...I came back as he didn't say "What the heck go away." or anything like that. He forgave me for leaving him. And kept forgiving me when I yelled and hit him..." Mello's voice caught. His eyes filled with tears. The former mafia boss fought to hold onto his fragil composure.

"I'm forgiving you too you know."

Biting his lip, Mello stared at me.

"Yeah..." He nodded slowly and then got up.

I had the urge to questionMello further, but he started down the hall walking, but then I heard a sob and he ran faster, away from me.

Later as I walked past his room I heard crying/shirking. I opened the door and saw Mello attacking something. That somthing just so happened to be...the wall.

"Mello!" I exclaimed.

"Get out!" he screamed.

I figured Mello was sleep walking. Or sleep attacking. Or somthing of the like because his eyes were closed and he stumbled around cumbersomly.

Walked over next to him and put a hand on his arm. It was immediately slapped away.

"Mello...".

"GET OUT!" The half asleep blonde thrashed and kicked at me, but fell over.

"Stop!"

"I'M SORRY!" he shouted

"IT's NOT MY FAULT...Well it is but...I'M SORRY." I could tell the emotional boy was talking to sombody in a dream, not me.

"Please...wake up!" I begged and shook him.

"GO AWAY!" he was speaking to me again "LEAVE US ALONE!"

"WAKE UP MELLO!" I shook him again and this time his eyes flew open.

"Ahh...Mail..." he muttered. Then Mello realized it was me and said "Wha- GET OUT!"

"You were screaming again."

"Sorry...". His head bowed. I could tell he was aware of the intensity of his emotions, but he was ashamed of them. He climbed into his bed whiteout annother word and I exited the room.