I was afraid. Beyond that, really. I was terrified. Why? For several reasons, actually. One: I was going to be alone with Mello all today. Two, I planned on interogating him during that time. Three, I would have to deal with his reation to said interrogation until I was fully healed.

I ate my oatmeal nerviously, my hand trembling slightly as I brought the spoon to my mouth. The cerial nearly ended up splattered across my face when I jumped uppon hearing rapping on my door.

I exhaled sharply, setting my breakfast aside. "Yes?" I called, and I was tremendously glad that my voice wasn't shaky. "Who is it?" As if I didn't know.

"It's Mello. I'm coming in, okay?" His tone wasn't really asking, and he let himself in without waiting for an answer.

His arms were full of textbooks - math, science, liturature, ect. - that piled up to his nose and half-obscured his face from me. He immidiatly moved to set the pile on my desk, avoiding my eyes the etire time. This was fine. I didn't know how I'd manage to keep my confedence if he looked at me now. I'd surely loose the nerve to ask him today.

"I hate science, so let's get it done first, 'kay?" Again, it wasn't really a question; he was already pulling the science textbooks out of the pile.

"That's good," I gave my acent anyway.

He turned towards me now, kneeling by my bed with his book balnced in one hand, and gave me mine, helping my one weak arm to prop it on a pillow so I could read it.

"Page 134," He told me, already focused on teaching. "Read it, then ask me if you have any questions."

I felt the nerviousness I'd been feeling before begin to fade a bit. For some reason, it annoyed me that he was being so buisness-like. His constant switching between protecting me, liking me, being kind to me, to hating, looking down on, and dismissing me was begining to drive me up the wall. I narrowed my eyes, which were focused on the page, and I felt something snap in me. Enough was enough.

"I have a question." I said before I could stop myself. "Why were you in my room a few nights ago, way past curfew?"

My sane mind returned to me just in time for me to think "Oh shit".

My eyes, now wide with disbeleif and teror, snapped up to Mello's face, which was quite similar to mine; his mouth was agape, his eyes were wide, his cheeks were a turning shade of red.

After a second, though, he snapped his mouth shut and regained his nonchalant expression, and managed a snide laugh.

"When was this, Near?" He asked, his tone was probably supposed to sound like he was humoring me, but the look in his eyes told me he was buying time.

"About five to six days ago, I beleive. The night before I was hit by Watari's car." I answered, carefully scanning his face as I spoke.

'That-that was- why would I be in your room?"

I didn't answer, as I saw the indistict pink on his cheeks deepen a little bit. I wondered at it, and the detective part of my brain began to take over. What did this evedence tell me? Clearly, that he didn't want mt to know that he'd been in my room. Now, why wouldn't he want me to know that? Clearly not because he'd stolen anything, or had done something wrong, and was fearing punishment. He'd done nothing but speak to me in a gentle voice and stroke my face and hair. He didn't want me to know that he'd done that... because he didn't want me to see him weak? Possible. Very possible. But maybe, because he didn't want me to make the assumption that...

This possibility seemed much more likely, and given his actions, both at the scene of the car acedent, and at the hospital, made much more sense. I gazed into his eyes, which were still laughing at me and moved my head a bit closer, testing.

Mello leaned back a tiny bit in response, his eyes turning uncertian. "Near?" He asked.

Again, I didn't respond. I stared right into his eyes, willing the truth to force itself out. I'd forgotten how eerie my eyes can be; all gray and luminous as they are; having them examin him so closely through Mello off. He put a hand on my chest and shoved me back roughly as he could without hurting me, pushing me back onto the pillow.

"Alright!" He snarled. "I was in your room. What of it?"

I nodded, feeling a bit smug over the small victory. "I'm a detective. I'd like to know the reason." I explained, wondering myself if that was really true. Was it just because I couldn't find the answer? Life was filled with unanswered questions. What's one more? But this one had to do with Mello...

I glanced up at him and was surprised to see that he was grinning now, and not just a normal grin, but one filled with myscheif and something I couldn't identify. He suddenly moved closer, standing up so that he towered over me, then leaning down so that he could smirk at me in close proximity.

"Really? You can't figure it out on your own? Not you, the number one sucessor to L, the world's greastest detective?" He chuckled, fixng his saphire eyes on mine. I was too inticed by them to respond, so he continued. "Shall I give you a little hint, Near?"

"H-" I started to ask, then broke off as Mello suddenly pressed his lips to mine. My eyes widened further than they ever had before, and I felt my face heat up as I blushed. There wasn't too much force behind Mello's kiss, but the very touch of his lips on mine sent a wave of electricty rocking through my entire body, making my limbs turn to jelly and my heart axcelerate. I started to tremble slightly, and I kno Mello could feel this, as he'd brought his hands up; one was tangled in my white locks, the other was holding my cheek softly, gently.

Just like that night, I thought dizzily. I was ready to fade into the kiss, into the intimicy, but Mello unexpectedly pulled back, a truhimphant look on his face. It made me unusually depressed that the kiss was broken; I felt cold all of a sudden, alone. Mello reclaimed my attention by grabing my chin and turning my head toward his, to meet his blue-hot eyes. He laughed uppon seeing my expression, then asked with a grin on his face,

"Understand yet, Near?"