A/N: Another chapter. This one turned out to be one of our longest ones yet: 12 pages! It's a bit of a filler chapter, but it does have quite a few important things happening in it. Fluff, suspicion and the probability of a spy. All the good stuff. :)

Disclaimer: WE ONLY OWN THE OC'S.

Chapter Eight -- Things Yet To Come

Matt woke up first the next day. The first thing he saw was Mello's blonde hair, and it reminded him of a sunrise. Shit, how stupid was that, eh? Admittedly, Matt was a little surprised to see that Mello was still in bed with him. He really did like to cuddle, huh? He'd have to keep that in mind for later use.

Matt carefully pushed Mello's arm off his chest and scooted out of bed. He made his way to the bathroom. Everything that Mello had played with last night was sore... 'Note to self' he thought to himself, 'buy lube.'

Mello rolled over, giving a slightly disgruntled whine when he realized he was suddenly alone in the bed. The blonde blinked for a moment, confused. "Matt?" he called.

"In here!" the other called from amidst the fall of water against skin and the shower wall.

Mello hauled himself out of bed and glanced at the clock as he made his way to the bathroom. Good, it was only 9am. They hadn't wasted too much time sleeping, then.

"We need to get online soon," Mello said, sitting himself down on the counter top, still naked, and leaning against the foggy mirror. "The others should be calling for further instruction soon."

"Yeah, I know," Matt said. The noise of the water ceased as Matt shook droplets from his eyes and groped around for his towel. They would really have to get down to work now that they had the right information to work with. He wrapped the towel around his waist and stepped out of the shower.

"Awful quick shower. You usually take forever," Mello said lightly, teasing. He figured he might as well take advantage of the sleepy, casual situation before the work began and stress set in.

"Hey, it takes time to look this good." He struck a pose, the towel sliding down his hips, something that did not go unnoticed by Mello. "Besides I wanted to get an early start. I wanted to make sure that this stuff we got from Kira's computer is legit." He went back over to his stuff and started to grab some clothes out of his bag.

Mello too began to dress in his usual getup; black pants and something tight up top.

"You know," Matt started as he pulled on his boxers and pants, "I'm kinda surprised that the kids haven't called already."

"Yeah me too..." Mello said. He brought his hand to his lips and chewed on a finger nail. It seemed he had developed a new habit. "I'll go call them." In truth, he was now starting to get worried.

"Hope they're alright..." Matt pulled his striped shirt over his head and followed after Mello. He wanted to hear the call too.

Mello first dialed a connection to Pip and Mika from his computer.

"Hello?" It was Mika who picked up.

"It's Mello. Are you guys alright over there?"

"Yeah, we're fine boss. We just woke up. How are you guys doing? Did anything happen on your end"

Mello smirked at that. "We're fine. We, uh, made progress last night." Of course, the progress had nothing to do with the case itself and more to do with "frustration," if you get my drift...

Matt started to snicker. "Where's Pip?" he said loudly enough for the microphone to pick up his voice.

"I'm here," a sleepy Pip entered the conversation.

Matt smiled. "Morning. You guys ready to come on back?"

"It's safe then?" Pip asked, sounding eager to return to the base.

"Yeah, it should be. Just keep an eye out for cars in your rear view mirror," Mello said.

"Don't worry boss," Mika said, "we'll be careful."

"Good. Call Iggy too and let him know what's up." Mello unwrapped his first chocolate bar of the day and dug in.

"Alright we will. Hey, have you talked with JJ or the others yet?"

"I got an email from Icarus saying that their flight is coming in today. They'll be here soon."

"Good," Mika said, relieved. "It'll be nice to have the whole team back together."

"I know what you mean. Hurry up and get back here, guys." Mello cut the call.

Matt started to make some coffee. "Well this'll be fun, don't you think?"

"Che," Mello scoffed. "Fun? It won't be fun until I get to put a bullet between Kira's fucking eyes."

~*~

It was about noon when the whole of the team was finally conjugated once again.

JJ came bursting through the door demanding to know EXACTLY what she had missed while they had been in England. It took Kai, Icarus and Matt to pry her off of Mello.

They set about explaining the infiltration of Kira's home and how they had managed to hack into the computers.

"You see," Mello said, brushing off the invisible dust that JJ's glomp had left behind, "we managed to secure a connection to the main security cameras, but there are missing pieces. We don't know what's in these two rooms on the fourth floor, or what's in the basement." The blonde pointed to the doorways of each room as he spoke.

"What if they're in the basement?" Kai said quietly. "After all, we already said that Kira had to be keeping them close."

"It's a possibility," Mello said, a finger to his lips. "But I know for a fact that Kira's sleeping quarters are here--" he pointed to the room at the end of the hallway on the fourth floor. "And the other unidentified room is one that he visits...often."

Kai shook his head. "You can't be so sure about that Mello. What if you're wrong?"

Mello gave Kai a hard look; he didn't like being questioned. "Well, keeping his prisoners in the basement would inconvenient. His Highness would have to walk almost a mile every time he wanted to pay a visit."

"A MILE?!" JJ exclaimed loudly. "THAT'S CRAZY!"

Mello winced at the girl's voice. He felt a migraine coming on already...

"Whydoeshehavesuchabighouse?"

"Because he's a rich bastard, that's why, JJ," Matt answered.

"Amen to that," Pip said softly.

Mika smiled down at JJ and ruffled her hair. He then turned to Mello with a serious expression. "So, what's next, boss?"

Mello was leaning against the wall beside the half a dozen TV screens they had hooked up to monitor Kira's every move. He bowed his head, looking down at his shoes as he bit into his chocolate.

"I want a team stationed out front of the Kira's Kingdom station and Kira's mansion at all times," the blonde said to the floor.

"Observation?" Mika guessed.

Matt nodded his head. They needed to keep a close eye on ALL of Kira's movements both inside and outside of his home.

"So, now the question beckons; who'll take first shift?" Mello asked, looking around at all of them.

"I'll go," Kai said, raising a hand.

Mika looked over at him and raised his hand as well. "I'll go too."

JJ looked up at the taller boy and pouted. She grabbed onto his arm and clung to him, worry in her big pretty eyes.

He smiled at the girl. "Don't you worry, I'll be fine."

"Alright," Mello said. "You two will head for the mansion. Who wants the TV station?"

Matt looked over at Mello, then at the kids. "I'll go with one of them."

Pip shrugged. "I'll go too. I'd hate to split up the twins again," she chuckled.

Matt smiled at the girl and nodded. "Seems like you and the twins get the fun job of staying here and observing us, huh Mel?" he said.

Mello chuckled dryly. "The perks of playing L, I suppose." He stuffed the last bit of chocolate in his mouth and pitched the wrapper over his shoulder. "Get some sleep if you need it. We start work in two hours." The blonde retreated into he and Matt's bedroom.

Matt was about to follow after the blonde when he felt a tug on his arm. It was JJ.

"What am I gonna do?" the girl asked quietly. She hadn't been this quiet since Rester was killed.

Matt tried to smile, "You'll probably stay here too. To help Mello."

The girl nodded and went to join Mika.

Matt sighed and went after Mello. "You alright Mel?" he said, leaning against the door frame.

Mello looked at Matt over his shoulder. He was bent over his personal computer. "Yeah, why?"

Matt shrugged. "Just asking. I'm kinda worried about JJ."

Mello scoffed. "Why?"

Matt cocked an eyebrow at the blonde. "Come one now, you're smarter then that. She's freaking out. She doesn't know what to do with herself. Everyone is about to move into the path of the bullet, if you know what I mean, and she's scared."

Mello sighed and turned to look at Matt. "Yeah, well that's her problem. She knew what this case would be like when she came into it."

"She's a member of your team Mel, makes her your problem too."

Mello crossed his arms. "I can't waste energy trying to play counselor. If you want to cheer her up, do it yourself."

Matt opened his mouth to say something, but shut it, thinking better of it. "Let's not fight about this, not when we're about to start something really important like this."

"Good idea. Toss me that chocolate bar on the dresser would'ya?"

Matt picked up the chocolate bar and threw it to Mello.

Mello tore into the bar as he sat down on the edge of his bed. "Make sure you and Pip keep your eyes peeled tonight. Getting yourselves kidnapped would be the worst thing that could happen to us right now," he said quietly.

"Don't worry, I know how to handle myself and so does Pip. We'll be fine. Besides, I wouldn't let some goonie take me hostage and keep me from the pleasure of your company." He teasingly ruffled Mello's hair.

Mello brushed him off with a wave of his hand, eyes focused on the computer screen.

Matt sat down next to the blonde and huffed. "Come on, you need to relax some. We have two hours..." A grin started to grow on his face as he fished out a smoke. They could do a lot to each other in two hours.

Mello looked over at him from the corner of his eye. "Wipe that smirk off your face, Jeevas," he said, but not in total seriousness.

"Why don't you do that for me?" Matt moved closer to the blonde.

Mello chuckled under his breath. "If you're trying for seduction, you'll have to do better than that."

Matt clapped his hands together and batted his eyelashes-which didn't quiet work as well as he'd thought since he was wearing goggles-"Oh take me now you gorgeous blonde minx!"

Matt held the pose for a moment, but was forced to stick out his tongue, trying to keep from laughing. "How was that?"

Mello bit his lip as he sniggered. "Too fucking cute. C'mere..." Long pale fingers gently lifted Matt's orange-tinted goggles from his green eyes. Their lips met in the lightest of kisses, sending shoots of lust through both boys' bodies. For a moment, Mello wondered if this was how it was going to be from then on. Now that he and Matt had slept together, did that mean they had free reign over each others bodies? He had to admit, it sounded nice. To be able to take out his frustrations in bed would be more effective and far healthier than eating chocolate, at least.

'No, shut up and stop acting like a girl,' Mello mentally told himself. He returned his attention to Matt and his inviting mouth…

Matt was grinning and about to go in for another kiss when he saw something -- someone -- standing in the doorway.

Mello followed Matt's gaze to the slender young woman now watching them. He sighed softly but did not pull away. "Yes, Pip? What is it?"

The girl blinked several times. Had she really just seen that...? "I-I, uh... I was..." she stuttered, taking small steps backward toward the hallway. "I was just going to see if Matt wanted to, uh, get the equipment set up for tonight... But I can see you're busy... e-excuse me..." She hastened out of the room.

"Damnit..." Matt rubbed at his temples as he watched the poor girl hurry away.

Mello sighed and leaned back against the headboard of the bed. "Better go after her, lover boy. Don't want her getting the wrong idea." As if nothing had happened, the blonde was once again engrossed in his work. He was internally cursing Matt as a chicken shit.

Matt glared at Mello, but got up anyway. If he was going to have to spend hours alone with the girl he'd rather not spend it in awkward silence.

"Pip," he called, walking into the living room, "come here, please?"

Pip looked up from the papers she had hurriedly buried herself in. Without a word or a glance at the other members of the team, she went over to the waiting redhead. "Yes?"

"Umm...listen, uh...what you just saw back there-" He scratched at the back of his head nervously; how was he gonna go about this?

Pip held up her hands. "Please," she said softly, "spare me the kiss-and-tell."

Matt grumbled and stuck his cigarette in his mouth, but stopped after he realized he'd left his lighter in the other room. Fuck.

"You mad or something?" he asked.

Pip shook her head, offering a soft smile. "No, why would I be? I had a, uh, pretty good idea of what was going on with you and Mello already. You guys are kinda obvious," she teased.

"Well, THAT'S nice to know..." he muttered. He gave the girl a shaky smile before asking, "We still cool then?"

"Of course." He smile widened. "Now, why don't you go get your lighter -- it appears you've misplaced it -- and we can get to work?"

Matt was already gone; heaven forbid the guy go a few minutes without smoking.

Mello was still going at it on his laptop in between snaps of chocolate. He spared a glance at Matt as he entered. "Well?"

"She says everything's cool with her," he said as he began searching through his belongings, trying to locate his AWOL lighter. "Apparently, we're very obvious."

Mello gave Matt his full attention at that. "Obvious?! What the hell? Yesterday was the first time we hooked up! …Well shit."

"Yeah, I know right?" Matt rolled his eyes and threw his boots across the room. Where the hell was his lighter hiding?!

Mello began to chuckle. "Looking for this?" Held delicately between two fingers was Matt's precious silver lighter.

Matt stopped to gaze longingly at the lighter. "Where did you find that?"

"Nicked it out of your pocket," Mello replied, twirling it between his fingers.

"Very clever," Matt said with a roll of his eyes. He went over to Mello and made a grab for the prize.

Mello jerked his hand away. "Not so fast."

"Oh, COME ON!" He glared down at the blonde, about to go mad. "What do you want?"

Mello smirked. "You'll find out later. But you have to promise that you'll do whatever I ask."

Matt frowned at the request. Doing whatever Mello wanted could lead to a wide variety of things. "Like what exactly?" he asked, his eyes still locked on his silver lighter.

"Doesn't matter. You either promise, or you don't. But if you're too much of a coward..." Mello made to put the lighter in the inside pocket of his vest.

"I'm not a coward, I just now how twisted your mind can be." He was so close to just ripping off Mello's vest pocket and taking the lighter back by force. But Mello could and would kick his ass six ways from next Sunday if he did that, so....

"Damnit, fine! I promise. Just give me my fucking lighter."

Mello smirked. "Good boy, Inu-chan. Now run along and play with your little girlfriend," he said with some bitterness. Mello tossed the lighter to the redhead and returned to his work.

"Whatever, Mel." he said, taking the lighter back and walking out of the room. 'Inu-chan..' he thought peevishly. It seemed that he would always be branded as the love-sick little puppy.

The cigarette was lit and a deep drag was inhaled. Ah, sweet relief. He couldn't help but wonder though, as he walked over to Pip, what Mello had in store for him later. It would either be really good, or really, really humiliating. Matt wouldn't be surprised if Mello turned out to be an S&M freak…

~*~

Light Yagami was best known for his secrecy. He only shared information if it would turn out to be beneficial to him at some point. He was therefore an expert in manipulation, as had been demonstrated countless times in the past and present.

After instructing both of his wives and his lover not to bother him, Light locked his bedroom door and pulled out his cell phone. It was time for a status report from the god's latest and most devoted puppet.

"You've been a very bad boy, Levins, helping your friends break in to my guard room like that," Raito purred. "But I must admit, you are playing your part well; keeping to the shadows the way you are."

"Thank you my lord. Are you happy with the progress that's been made?"

Light was quiet for a moment. "Happy? Not exactly, no. You have yet to get me Mello's name. You've been working for him for almost a year -- how is it you do not know it?"

"I-I'm sorry my lord, he refuses to tell anyone his real name. The only one who knows it is Matt and I doubt I'd be able to get it out of him."

Light frowned. He had only ever heard of this Matt guy through his spy, but already the god didn't like him. "And I don't suppose you know Matt's real name?"

If Light could get his hands on Matt's name, he could control him and make him send Mello's name to the mansion. Oh how he wished. But nothing was ever that simple when it came to the damn Wammy kids…

"I-I'm afraid not. Like I-I've said before my lord, Mello refuses to let anyone tell anybody their real name. He's especially protective of Matt..." A sigh was heard on the other end of the line. "I'm sorry my lord. I'm a failure."

Light ran a hand through his hair. "You can redeem yourself if you tell me what Mello is planning to do next."

"They're planning a stake out, my lord. Mello is sending one team of two to watch over the Kira's Kingdom studio and another to watch over your home. The first shifts start tonight. I will be on the team that monitors your home."

Light Yagami grit his teeth at that, but not out of anger. Mello was making it so damn easy for him... "Perfect. Carry about your duties, and make sure to draw no attention to yourself, as you have been doing. Call me if anything new arises."

"Don't worry my lord, I will. I must go now, one of my teammates is coming."

The line was already dead.

~*~

Matt and Pip were making plans and getting equipment together when Mika came into the room. He looked curious about something.

"What is it, Mika?" Matt asked, seeing the look on Mika's face. The young man had a reputation for being lighthearted and easy-going, so it was odd to see him so concerned-looking.

The tall blonde looked at Matt as if he hadn't realized at first that someone else was in the room. "It's Kai," he said shortly.

Pip looked up as well, eyebrow raised. "What about Kai? Have you caught him stealing kisses with Iggy again?" She offered a light giggle.

Mika gave Pip a soft glare for acting silly. He stepped closer to the two of them and lowered his voice. "I heard him talking to someone in the bedroom. He was on the phone for a while and when I walked in he had hung up. He looked intense."

"What was he saying?" Pip asked, growing serious now.

"I'm not sure. He was just finishing the call when I walked in."

Pip blinked at him for a moment. "So I don't understand. Why are you acting so weird? Maybe Mello had him call someone?"

Matt shook his head. "Mel hasn't talked to Kai since that briefing earlier."

"Oh, I see... Well Kai knows we're not allowed to make calls..." Pip frowned and leaned back in her chair.

Mika nodded and leaned forward to whisper to the two of them, "It's pretty suspicious if you ask me, I mean-"

Mika went quiet as he heard someone else enter the room. It was Kai.

Kai looked over at Mika and narrowed his eyes a little. This made Matt curious; he didn't really think that Kai could be up to something, but then what was that exchange that just happened between the two teens? If someone on the team was sneaking around, that could only make trouble. But since Matt hadn't actually seen Kai making the call, he didn't want to jump to conclusions and cry witch right then and there.

It was then that Mello entered the room. "Oi, you guys have had more than your two hours of rest. Are you ready to leave or what?" The blonde sounded irritated; just as he had known at the beginning of the day, the happy moments could only last for so long. Stress was here to stay.

Matt nodded, as did the others. He carefully gathered up the equipment he would need and turned to Pip. "You ready to go?"

Pip nodded and slung her backpack over her shoulder. "Yep."

The familiar snap of chocolate was heard as Mello leaned against the wall. "You guys are taking the Eclipse." He tossed the keys to Matt. An obvious favoritism. Either that, or Mello didn't want to give Matt and Pip access to a full back seat…

Matt grinned, 'Well, at least the ride over there should be fun' he thought as he and Pip exited the room. A fast car and lots of gadgets were all he needed to make his night enjoyable.

Pip chuckled softly as she looked over at her companion. "What're you grinning about?"

Matt shrugged, "Nothing really. I just think that this whole mission thing might be interesting is all."

"Why? We're just going to sit there watching a building..."

"Hey, you never know. Something might actually happen." He thought about that for a second. "That may or may not be a good thing though… At least the company will be good." He gave the girl a small smile and pulled out another cigarette.

Pip gave him a soft smile. " At least there's that. I just hope we find some sort of lead..."

Matt nodded, his face serious once more. Hoping was all they really could do at the moment. Sure, they had gotten into Kira's home, but that hadn't given them anything solid to work with. Yet. They still had no idea where the SPK could be. All they could do was guess and hope that they found them before something horrible happened.