Here and Now by blackdragonflower

Chapter Seven: Imperfection

Characters belong to Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata

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It was like a nightmare when she received the words.

"Is this Yagami Sayu?"

"Yes..."

"This is the tennotsukai hospital. We're calling on behalf of Yagami Michael."

"What happened to him?!" Sayu instantly recognized her lover despite the name, which was obviously not his.

"He's been in a motorcycle accident. He would appreciate it very much if you came."

"Thank you..." Sayu muttered before she hung up tears welling in her chocolate brown eyes. She didn't realize a few escaped until her mother's gentle finger wiped them off her cheeks.

"Do you need a ride?" A sniffle, then a nod.

"I'll give you a ride..." Soichiro muttered. "Go get in the car."

'I was worried when he hadn't come back, but an accident? Oh god...' Soichiro was kind enough to drop his daughter off at the front door as he went to park.

"She really loves him doesn't she?" Sayu's father questioned his grip on the steering wheel tight. Sachiko gently placed her hand on Soichiro's knee.

"She's not a little girl anymore... Sayu loves him... there's nothing we can do about it dear."

"..."

Sayu rushed up to the receptionist desk clearly out of breath. "Hello how can I help you?"

"I received a call that Yagami Michael was brought in today and was in a motorcycle accident..."

"Let me see..." The receptionist looked through some cards then found what she was looking for. "Aha... here we are. He's only seeing visitors for another fifteen minutes. He's on floor two room eight. If you need any help just ask someone."

Sayu bowed hastily. "Thank you." She ran off her heart pounding in her throat. Usually she was an optimist, but as of now she was assuming the worst. She quickly found the room with a little help and bit her lip seeing him in the bed. His eye -that she could see- was closed. Quietly she walked to his side. The bandages that had once adorned the side of his face were removed to let the skin air for awhile. Sayu gasped her hands covering her mouth. Tears leaked over her cheeks. She took his hand and squeezed in an attempt to wake him up. The blonde groggily opened his eyes his expression a little dazed.

"Huh? Sayu-chan... why are you crying?" He reached up a little weakly and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "You shouldn't cry... It's not... good for a strong... girl like you."

Sayu gently reached over and touched the burned skin. Mello winced and she instantly drew the touch away. "Your face is so scarred up... What happened?"

"It's not that bad is it?" Mello frowned.

"Mello did they show you what it looks like?"

"No... Um Sayu..."

"Yes."

Mello gave a slight twitch of his index finger in a 'come here' motion. Sayu leaned close and he whispered, "Sayu... my name... my real first name... is Mihael..."

Sayu's eyes widened. She knew why he couldn't give her his real name. In the race to succeed L, if Mello had told her his real name it could put him in danger in the future. He trusted her not to spill his name but, it was better to be safe then sorry. She'd understood this, but here he was now, giving part of his real name. It was information she would treasure and hold close. "Mihael..." She whispered back, "It fits you... so well."

Mello smiled faintly, his hand against her cheek. "Don't tell anyone... It's classified information." He winked slyly with a light chuckle before he coughed lightly. Sayu frowned and held his hand close.

"I promise not to tell."

"Do they have a mirror around here somewhere? I want to see what shape that damn accident left me in."

Sayu looked around but came up with no such thing. "The only mirror is in the bathroom... Can you get out of bed."

"Yeah..." Mello's pride kicked in though as he muttered so nobody could hear, "but I'll need help."

The brunette helped him sit up then sat beside him. Mello wrapped his arm around her shoulder and carefully they stood. The blonde chocolate lover tried his best not to lean too heavily on his girlfriend. They made it to the bathroom with no incidents, thankfully, and Mello was able to take his first glimpse at what had happened. His mouth dropped and he lifted a hand so it hovered right above the burnt flesh. "ACK! What the hell!? Who would ever love a face like this? Mail's gonna give me hell when I get back!!"

The blonde skin crawled with the unpleasantness he was feeling. He wanted to hit something terribly bad. He was surprised when Sayu feather-lightly kissed him on the lips. "I could love a face like that." And with that kiss Mello knew it would all be okay. That still didn't mean he couldn't be depressed over his looks going down the drain. By the time they got him settled back into the bed, much to his disdain, Sachiko and Soichiro had made their way into the room. Mello groaned.

"What the hell happened to you?" Soichiro questioned, eyebrow raised as he examined Mello's new scar.

"I almost got hit by a speeding vehicle that was being chased by the police, I swerved to avoid said car, bike tumbled so did I. Bike exploded hence facial scar and burnt flesh." Mello replied in the most monotone voice he could muster. In fact, if he did it any better it could be an imitation of Near. Soichiro's tightly clenched together lips actually turned into that of a small grin.

"The police eh? Heh, you did good boy."

Mello blinked eyebrows scrunched together. Did Soichiro just praise him? Sayu was equally shocked. Sachiko smiled and held onto her husband's arm lightly. "I'm glad to see that you are okay Mello-kun."

"Um... thanks." Sayu squealed and hugged her lover. Mello fidgeted.

"Sayu... ow."

The girl instantly leapt a careful distance away. "Sorry!"

"Don't worry about it... So it's really not that bad?"

"No... In fact..." Sayu leaned in close and rubbed her nose to his, Mello's face turning pink since her parents were in the room watching. "I think I could come to love you more."

There were no words to explain how happy those words made Mihael Keehl and there will never be the right words to describe it.

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Yay! So, here it was! :-evil giggle-: Yes, Soichiro did totally praise Mello if anyone caught that. I think the old man's actually starting to warm up to Mello-kun huh? ;p

Wasn't Sayu so cute and huggable in this chapter? Teehee. But Mello takes the cake for most adorable (as always). Imagining his expression as he witnesses his new "accessory" is just too much fun. But I feel terrible afterwards because I remember that it hurts.

Skipping the review, comment, fav speall just to say I look forward to seeing you all next chapter!

Love, blackdragonflower

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