I won't describe this chapter too much.

I'll just leave it to your imagination. ;)

Chapter III

Black and White Together

"No toys, Near?" Mello sneered.

"Why, no, Mello. None, but one. My very greatest accomplishment." Near said quietly. He then pulled back the massive white curtain to reveal The Creation of Adam; the very same puzzle that had been "completed" nearly a decade ago. Mello drew in a deep breath. The magnificence of Michelangelo's majestic painting in the Sistine Chapel had not lost and ounce of beauty in this jigsaw puzzle. Every detail, every strict line of facial contour was just as it was in that holy church. It appeared to Mello that he had come to appreciate the sheer beauty of the art, rather then just awe at the accomplishment of such a large puzzle. He felt a pang in his heart. The very idea of him snatching the last piece made him feel wretched inside.

If it was one thing Mello knew, it was that he had no regrets, but now, he was beginning to doubt himself altogether.

"Do you remember this puzzle?" Near asked as he tied the white curtain back with a silver cord.

"Yes." Mello replied, his mind elsewhere.

"This is the very same one that you had wrecked when we were children. Petty careless children fighting over petty careless things." Near's eyes weighed heavily on Mello.

Mello regarded the younger boy's comment with silence.

"What is it Mello? No stinging remark? No vulgar insult?" Near asked while twiddling a lock of hair.

Mello threw his eyes to the ground, the hand in his pocket clutching the puzzle piece. He drew it out slowly, his fist closing so tightly around it, he could feel the piece leaving indentations in his skin. His bangs covered his eyes and to Mello, it felt like he was on trial. He was standing over the Abyss, he was walking on shards of glass, but he deserved it.

"What is it Mello?" The white haired boy asked again, his fingers still spiraling around his bangs. "Why do you stand there so...silently?"

Mello eyes were switched constantly between the puzzle piece in his hand to Near. He took a step forward, and Near took a step back and leaned against the wall. The pale white haired boy fumbled for a small switch blade in his back pocket. He clenched it tightly, hoping to God that he wouldn't have to use it. Mello once more took another step forward, they were but a foot apart from each other now.

The blond studied the white haired boy, gazing down at him.

"This is most irregular, Mello." Near finally said, his eyes focusing on Mello's fist. "What have you got there?"

Mello's eyes met Near's for a split second before they turned away. His heart felt shaken. His mind a blur.

A small smile crossed Near's face, "Have you nothing terrible to say to my face? None of your vile comments? Or will you not----"

Near felt a hand close over his mouth before it was replaced by a passionate, hungry kiss.

Near drew the dagger, but Mello caught his wrist as he forced the younger boy against the wall.

"This is for you..." Mello whispered between kisses.

He locked his other hand with Near's, the puzzle piece between them.

The knife dropped from Near's hand and fell to the floor softly. He wrapped his arms around Mello's neck, the puzzle piece in his hand now.

Mello kissed Near desperately, his hands tangling endlessly in the head of fine, soft, snow white hair.

"I am so sorry for all I've ever done to you..." Mello sighed.

Near felt a salty tear in his kiss.

"There is nothing to apologize for." The younger boy smiled. He wiped away his rival's tear with his thumb.

Mello took Near's face in his hands and kissed him aggressively. The younger boy moaned into his mouth, his hands slowly unzipping Mello's leather jacket. After being so gentle, Mello forced his tongue into Near's mouth, "You taste like candy..." He remarked.

"And you taste like..." The white haired boy gave it some thought. "Chocolate."

Mello smiled a small smile. He then forced his thigh between Near's leg and began rubbing gently as he tore into the boy's lips. He ravaged them mercilessly like an animal would its prey. He yanked on Near's hair, causing a stifled cry of pain to erupt from his throat. Mello studied his face, his eyes lost in ecstasy, tears running down pale, flawless cheeks, lips stained red with blood. He gave another tug and Near yelped.

"Do you have to be so rough?" The younger boy asked.

"Yes..." Mello jerked his rival's head sideways and sank his teeth gently into his Neck.

He planted a trail of fiery kisses along Near's jugular and worked his way up to his tender, thin jaw line. He licked slowly and seductively downward until he came to the collar of Near's spotless white shirt.

"Well, that's a nuisance..." He muttered. Within moments, both their shirts lay in a shredded heap on the floor. Near's legs were wrapped around Mello's waist while his hands tangled in that beautiful blond hair. Mello drove Near up against the wall and felt him hard against his thigh. This drove Mello wild as his nails dug into the top of Near's shoulders, allowing the younger boy to withold a cry of pain. Mello smiled sadistically, as he ran his hand down Near's smooth, flawless back and when he reached his ass gave it a slap. His hand strayed in the area a little longer before carrying Near over to the bed where he lay on top of him.

"Somehow, I always knew you were a seme." Near smiled nervously.

"Don't worry, it won't hurt...a lot." Mello replied as he began to unbuckle his leather pants.

Near admitted to himself that he was extremely terrified of new experiences, especially one such as this. In fact, he was absolutely horrified at the idea of someone else seeing him naked.

"Mello...can we...do it under the covers?" Near asked hesitantly.

He merely laughed and made the younger boy's cheeks flush. "Alright."

After removing his boxers, Mello slipped under the satin comforter and waited for Near to do the same. Unfortunately for Mello, Near had to take an exceptionally long time to remove his baggy white pants. Thankfully enough, Mello's impatience got the best of him and ripped the thing right off in one fell swoop.

He lay on top of Near now, gazing into his eyes lovingly. He looked over his perfect, pale, fragile little body and then at himself, a lean, well built machine. "We are opposites." Mello breathed, "But now I feel, that we aren't so different."

Near's eyebrows furrowed, "What do you mean, Mello?"

"Nothing." Mello kissed his rival, the tips of his bangs tickling Near's nose.

He had never realized before in his life, that his greatest enemy, the being he hated the most, would be so wonderful...so close...and so Near to him.

"You are Near." He smiled.

"I am Near." The white haired boy replied.

He was taking it slow with Near; Mello was dreadfully afraid that if he made one false move, this entire delicate relationship would be destroyed forever. He wanted to enjoy this, he wanted Near to enjoy this also.

Slowly, Mello eased himself in, a pang of sadness slashed his heart when he saw Near wince in pain. He felt his small fingers dig into his back and a haggard indrawn breath erupt from Near's throat. He hated to cause him pain, but he continued to reassure him that it would end soon. "Just relax..." He said.

"Are you ready?" Mello asked. He wasn't sure how long he'd be able to last. The excitement was building up much too quickly.

"Yes..." Near replied slowly.

And now, watcher, we will leave them. The conclusion to our observation is terribly obvious. You see, I fail to describe this portion of the story due to the fact that Shinigami aren't interested in "all that." Despite Mello's hard heartedness, a quality I found so endearing, it was difficult to believe that he would succumb to a feeling such as love. Could it have been that Near was harboring the same feelings as well? And so it seems. Mello, clearly a name worthy to note. In fact, he is not quite "mellow" at all. Temperamental, rash, obnoxious, not quite mellow in the least. He thus found himself wandering aimlessly. Without L to drive him, without Kira to give him reason to continue, he found himself in a very lonely position.

Near on the other hand, was a more interesting character. As you can gather, Near is not "near" at all. Quite the opposite actually. He obviously distances himself from every form of life and is easily sunburned. This trait I find most amusing.

You, watcher, now know what becomes of our two mortals. But what of the puzzle piece? Let us come back later tonight.

What'd you think? :3

I wanted to keep it soft, well, so I did. Lol.

Anyhow, questions, comments, reviews?