Chapter 23

A/N: You would have had this sooner had you guys actually reviewed. Ah well. -pouts-

Since stepping off the train, my main priority had been to return to my mother by any means necessary. However, my potential Savior refused to let me out of his sight for even the slightest fraction of a second. Claiming that I was too fragile for my own good and needed to stay indoors and away from any other living person. I say living of course, because Mello was not human.

At first glance it was obvious to me that he was anything but human, of course, but it was still difficult to get use to. He didn't tell me exactly what he was. No, that was something that I figured out for myself. After piecing together what I had read in old horror stories, and the likes, It didn't take long to figure out his true identity.

His movements were far too graceful. His walk was fierce with an intensity that just drew your eyes to him; made you stop what you were doing to watch him. The sound of his voice as alluring as I imagine fine wine is to high society people. As I grew older, taller, he never so much as grew an inch; grew ill, nothing. He simply remained as if time had skipped over him.

There was all this...and the fact that I had caught him having a midnight snack in his room.

I was about thirteen when this happened. He and I too had grown close in our time spent together. Closer than he has gotten with you to be honest. Though he never took any blood from me. Obviously because he was trying to keep himself a secret from me. Anyway, being the curious teenager that I was, I had snuck out of my room at the sound of his "Bed" squeaking its protests in the late hours of the night.

I peeked inside, and saw something that really had no effect on me at all. There was no surprise. I had put two and two together to form an illogically ridiculous theory, but seeing Mello with his mouth latched onto the side of a young woman's throat had me convinced that I had pretty much hit the nail on the head. He was indeed a vampire. And it didn't bother me in the least.

Being a clumsy human, he noticed my presence, met my eyes and simply smirked. He was still feeding, mind you, but he managed a smirk either way. Feeling guilty for having my hand caught in Mello's cookie jar, I scampered off to my room and remained there for the remainder of the night until he came and got me. He explained everything, and I listened with genuine interest. My mother was tossed into a drawer in the back of my mind, to lay undisturbed for a long while.

- - - - - -

Years passed and still he remained the same while I was forced to abide to his rules and grow older. It bothered me to be honest. Growing older while Mello remained the same. I knew that at one point or another I would become too old for him. I couldn't have that. Wouldn't have that. I chose the perfect time, and acted.

Mello was sitting still as a statue in the living room. His dark eyes unblinking and unseeing. He was always this way when he was deep in his own thoughts. His own world. I stood in the doorway that lead to the small grassy backyard, for a few seconds, waiting to see if he noticed me. When he didn't, I took a calming breath and crossed the room. Carefully, I sat myself in his lap while finally, he looked at me with curious eyes.

"I've come to make an offer." I said, voice low but calm. Reaching into the breast pocket of my shirt, I pulled a simple chocolate bar from within and held it out to him.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his pale lips as he took the chocolate from me. I had learned how fond he was for their sweet taste over the years. "Oh? And what could that be?" He caressed the side of my face with his leather clad hand - coming from him, that meant 'Thank you' - before tearing through the chocolates foil wrapper.

I watched as his lips molded around one of the chocolate bars corners. His eyes were still on me though. "Your offer?"

My throat suddenly felt dry. Even though I had never really told him that his life style was something I would like, he still made it very clear that he was against taken anyones life away from them without good reason. I only hoped my reason was good enough to back it up. "I want to be a vampire." To my surprise, my voice didn't so much as falter. Neither did my calm look as Mello's eyes, suddenly so much darker, narrowed into slits. The chocolate bar was halfway across the room now.

"No," It was only one word. But it was said with such intense anger and finality that it sent waves of fear down my spine. I was not going to give up so easily though. Mello needed to understand that I was not going to be around forever.

"I'm going to die sooner or later. Don't you want me around?...You said, you loved me." It was a low blow. But something had to give. I wanted to be immortal. I wanted immortality to be by Mello's side for ever. "Or was all of that just words to you?"

His expression was heart wrenching. I knew that whether or not he turned me into a vampire wasn't a measure of his love. But it looked like this just might be the thing that won him over. Excitement of the possible victory bubbled up inside me, but it didn't show on my face for fear of irking the blond.

The chocolate bar was put aside. "You know I care for you, Nate. I'm not having this discussion with you." The same tone of finality rung in my ears, making me shrink back a little.

"I want this, Mello!" I hadn't realized I had shouted until the look of Mello's face registered in my mind. My bottom lip quivered at his look. His eyes were narrowed into dangerous slits. Surely if he wanted to he would slap some sense into me, but he was far too in control of himself. Or so he made it seem.

In a movement too fast for my human eyes to see coming, he had a handful of my hair in one hand, forcing my head back, his lips inches from my throat. Panic began to rise in me and I struggled but it only made him force my head back farther making me cry out in pain. My neck would surely snap in half if he kept this up, so I stopped my struggling and tried to control my breathing.

"This is what you want?! You want me to kill you?!" He shouted. His face was only inches from mine now; fangs bared and glistening with saliva. When he didn't get an answer from me, he shouts once more. "Do you?!"

I cry out in fear, his cold breath is too close to my throat. No, I don't want this, not this way. I try with little success to shake my head. "No!..."

"Are you sure? Because if you're so eager to become my next meal, Nate, then I won't keep turning down your offer!"

Tears were sliding down my face, my heart was pounding wildly against my chest. The tears seemed to soften Mello back up, because he released his hold on my hair, and carefully pulled me close against his chest. "I'm sorry, Nate. I will not have this conversation with you again. Understood?"

No. He had to listen to me. He just had to. I wasn't going to stay young forever. Eventually I would die, maybe even before I reached old age. Hell, for all we knew I could be six feet under by the end of the week the way the world was going about today.

Stubbornly, I shook my head. I felt Mello's chest rumble as a growl worked its way past his lips. "Nate." he warned.

"I'm going to die, Mello. Will you love me even when I'm dead?"

He was silent for a few short beats. The only sounds in the room were my quiet breaths, and his jaw clenching and un-clenching. I sat there, ready to bolt if he decided that he'd had enough of my crap and wanted to just end my life there, so that I would have nothing more to complain about. Still he said nothing. It wasn't until I looked up at him...into his deep blue eyes, that he spoke.

"I will love you as long as your heart keeps beating." His voice was soft, calm, loving. This was rare for him. Very rare.

His answer was not really what I was looking for. There was no comfort in it. But looking into his eyes...I couldn't argue. Just like that, the fight was won. But not by me.

Time went by, and I grew older still. The mention of my desire for immortality forgotten and forgiven. I didnt bring it up again. Nor did I bring up wanting to see my mother again. He was still very much opposed to that. Why though, he had yet to tell me.

"Nate!" Mello called from outside my bedroom door. There was a smile in his tone that perked me up despite my nasty cough and sore throat. From the sound of things he was in the kitchen. His footsteps were slow and deliberate, as if he was making me wait for some kind of surprise.

A weak cough later, and Mello pushed the door open, parading a small white cake into the room, 'Happy Birthday' filling the room in the form of his sweet deep voice.

To be honest, I had completely forgotten it was my birthday. What with living with someone that didn't really celebrate a birthday...and he had never done this for me before. It was strange really...Maybe he knew something I didn't?

"Happy birthday, to yoooooou." He ended on a high note, making us both laugh. "Happy birthday, Nate." He kissed the top of my head and set the cake on top of my blanket covered knees. There were seventeen candles on top. Mello produced a small box of matches from his back pocket and lit them quickly before tossing the box aside on the small bedside table.

"Now," He sat down carefully, trying not move the bed too much. "Make a wish."

So I did. Mello probably already knew what I wanted most of all, but he kept a smile on his face and even managed to laugh when I muttered a hoarse; "I wish I was over this cough already..." and blew out my candles.

I tried to laugh with him, but it only sent me into a coughing fit.

Mello's cool hands rushed to my face at once. One was pressed lightly to my forehead, the other against one of my cheeks. He did this every so often to check my temperature. "Christ..." I managed to hear him gasp over my loud coughs.

The slight pressure on my knees disappeared as the cake was lifted up and placed on the bedside table. "Shh. You're okay, Nate." His tone was grim, empty, meaning that I most likely was not going to be okay. So this was why he had sprung for a birthday celebration. He had known that my weak body wasn't going to be able to keep fighting.

My lungs burned. I couldn't stop coughing long enough to breathe properly. When I finally did though, I was left panting and gasping for breath, and all Mello could do was brush my hair back from my face, trying his best to soothe me. So this was it then. I was dying.

"Your temperature is over a hundred." He whispers. I only nod. The wild panting keeps me from speaking. I can't believe that this stupid little cough is the thing that will end me. I just cant...But there's nothing that can be done.

Well...there is one thing.

Mello's body was shaking as he held me to him. My face was pressed against his chest, his face buried in my pale blond hair. "I don't have to die." To my surprise, my voice is smooth and calm. I know Mello's answer will still be no. But I can't help but try once more because to be honest, death scared me. No one knew what was in store for them on the other side. If there even was another side.

Heaven? Hell? What if there was neither and I was just left standing in an empty field with no sound, no color, nothing but emptiness solitude. That frightened me.
I didn't want to die. I was only seventeen.

He didnt say anything. Not that I expected him to. If he had a problem with making me immortal then it probably was for a good reason. I coughed again, it was a weak, pathetic sound.

After what seemed like an eternity, Mello shook his head. Still he said nothing. I figured this meant that the answer was still no. He wouldn't turn me. So I nodded and held him. I didn't want to waste any time. Having him near me, holding me, feeling his cool breath against my cheek, it just kept me calm. And if I could feel this way until the time came when I finally did pass on, then I guessed it wouldn't be so bad.

Once more, Mello shook his head. This time though, it felt as if he was arguing with himself. And losing.

"There will be pain." Were his only words, before he had me flat on my back, his fangs bared. He did nothing else, except look into my eyes. So, getting the message, I nodded, and then his fangs were breaking through the surface of my skin.

My lips parted in surprise. He had said there would be pain..but I didn't feel anything. To be perfectly honest, it felt amazing. I found myself holding him to myself, not wanting him to stop. I couldn't believe Mello was actually going to turn me. Surely, this meant he loved me then. He didnt want to lose me, and wanted to be with me forever and eternity.

My heart was pounding in my ears, slowing, until it was just a weak little thump. I felt Mello's fangs ease out, making me shiver. My throat felt dry. I was so thirsty. Looking up, I watched as Mello cut a deep line into his wrist with his own thumb nail.

The scent of his blood hit me hard. I reached out with one hand, wanting to take his wrist and sink my teeth into his flesh. I wanted to taste his blood. Anything...I was just so thirsty, My teeth snapped together, over and over, just wanting to hit flesh and tear into it. When Mello finally lowered his bleeding wrist to my lips, I didn't hesitate. I lapped at the blood, taking it into my mouth greedily.

Already I could feel myself becoming stronger. My heart beat was accelerating. That was odd. Shouldn't it had stopped?

"That's enough. Just relax now, Nate." Mello's voice was lifeless. He sounded like he had just committed a murder. He probably thought he had considering my heart would soon stop beating and I would then be caught in the world between the living and the dead. Just like him.

I sighed quietly. "Me-" My little reassurance speech was caught short as a blinding pain struck my chest, like a blade running me through. "AAGH!" The scream that tore from my throat startled Mello. His hands were on me, trying to soothe me, his lips moved quickly in frantic little prayers, I guessed, from what I could hear over my screams and cries of pain.

With every beat of my heart, there came a fresh wave of pain. I was gripping the cotton material of my white button up shirt in both hands, desperate for something to hold onto. Mello hadn't been lying when he had said there would be pain. I tried to control my screams, for I could see that with every convulsion of my body; every scream of pain, Mello retreated inside himself, surely wishing he could just die instead of suffer through watching me do just that.

"Your body is dying..." Mello whispered to me. "You're okay."

In that instant, I was reminded of my mother. In that same instant, my heart stopped.

My eyes had been shut tight in an effort to calm myself, now, I opened them slowly, almost afraid of what I might see. Everything looked the same, just brighter, sharper. I placed a hand over my heart. There was nothing there. My heart was no longer beating.

There was no longer that annoying tingling feeling in my throat that meant I'd be coughing soon. Nothing. No pain. I couldn't hold back the smile.

My eyes then fell on Mello's still form. His eyes were wide with what to me looked like shock and...Awe. This only served to make my smiler grow into a full grin. The change was over. Now I would be able to stay with him forever without worrying about death or aging.

I was no longer human and the very thought made me euphoric.

A/N: Darn, I wasn't able to finish typing up this chapter. It was too long, so I divided it into two. Sorry -sigh- So yes, the next chapter should be the last of Near's story. Honestly, I only got like three reviews. No motivation, people. Thanks to those who did though, it means a lot.

REVIEW! Or you will feel the wrath of vampire-Light. And that is not good. -evil smirk- no review. No update. Yes, its a threat. Haha aww, but really, come on, it won't kill you to drop off a little review.

Love you all.

Matt.