Chapter 31

Mello leaned against the motor cycle parked outside of Whammy's gates and opened another chocolate bar. More than two years had passed since he had walked out of those gates himself, and now he had pretty much achieved what he had set out to do.

It hadn't taken him long to get involved with the kind of people he needed to once he arrived in London. He started out doing little things to get attention, planning the perfect little robberies. At first, mostly to keep himself alive and in chocolate, and then the jobs began to get bigger and the right people began to notice. It didn't happen without incidents, some people felt he was trying to usurp power and jobs that belonged to others and looking at his slight build and almost too pretty face, they figured he was an easy target. They figured wrong. He may not have always won the battle, but he always left his mark.

It didn't take too long before he found himself planning major heists for major bosses, his name being bandied in the seedier parts of the city as a brilliant strategist who never got caught. Ofcourse he never got caught, he'd studied these things all his life, albeit from the other side. He knew exactly what not to do as well as what to do. He had all the money and power he could want, and he was protected by the fact that no one knew his real name, so Kira couldn't touch him, unlike the others.

Then an offer came that he hadn't expected, and at first wasn't sure he could do. Plan a hit, plan the death of a rival boss. Could he plan someone's death and help them go through with it? It didn't take him long to realize that he could, that he had to, and he did. That little job earned him his new pride and joy, his gun. Just thinking about it made him want to touch it, so he reached behind him and pulled it out of where he had it tucked in his pants and brought it around so he could look at it. He couldn't remember when he'd owned anything that felt so right to him like this gun. So much power within the palm of his hand. He knew he had changed over the past two years in many ways, and he was happy with the changes. Even so there was a gnawing inside of him that he tried to keep at bay, but every now and then it would come up and demand attention.

That gnawing was L, and knowing that L would not be particularly happy with the way he had decided to pursue Kira. Although he knew for a fact that L did things that were questionable in the pursuit of finishing cases, the end always justified the means, and he felt the same way. He would do anything he had to do to get to Kira and have his head, and have it before Near could even get close. Thanks to Matt he knew everything Near knew and was working on his own plan. And yet he couldn't still the anger that also accompanied his thoughts of L, the anger that fueled his resolve. He swallowed them back down again and put the gun back as he saw Matt walking towards the gate. He knew Matt wouldn't appreciate the gun.

The one thing in his life that brought him unbridled happiness was Matt, and he knew he was about to give Matt information that would probably upset him, but it couldn't be helped. They had both looked forward to the meetings they had been having over the past year. Mello had decided it was ok as his plans had begun to work, to get back with Matt and strengthen their relationship. Although he wouldn't allow Matt to come with him, at least they could see each other. Now he hoped he would understand and forgive him yet again, he was sure he would. Matt smiled happily as he came thru the gates and walked to Mello.

"This is a new look isn't it?" he asked eyeing the skin tight black leather as Mello reached out and pulled Matt against him.

"You know you love it." He said leaning forward to kiss Matt, not allowing him to think before he pushed his tongue into the red head's mouth, finding his tongue and taking total control over it. Matt moaned into the kiss, realizing again just how much he loved this blonde madman.

"To what do I owe this meeting? Dr. Thompson told me you wanted me to meet you out here instead of our usual meeting place." Mello sighed and ran a gloved finger down Matt's jawline.

"Getting right to the point I see, no nonsense Matty."

"It's not that, I'm really glad to see you, you know that. But I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. " Mello straightened up, moving Matt away from him.

"Nothing is wrong, but phase two of my plans is coming into play." Matt reached into his back pocket and pulled out his video game. This time he leaned against the motorcycle and turned on the game.

"Okay, speak." He said not looking at Mello, who tried not to get aggravated being upstaged by the game, but also knew that was Matt's coping mechanism.

"You know the whole reason for what I'm doing is to get to Kira. I've managed to worm my way into a gang, and got some power in it, you know all this. I've made arrangements to move into a gang in LA that also has Japanese connections. I'm getting closer to that bastard who took L from us, Matt."

Matt's head had snapped up when he heard LA. He lowered the game and stared at Mello.

"You're going to LA? Not without me, you're not going that far without me!" Mello shook his head.

"Not yet, Matt I can't. It would be dangerous if you came with me right now. Especially for the reason that I'm able to do this. I have a special job I have to do, and I can't do it and worry about you at the same time." Matt searched Mello's face and then looked away.

"What kind of job is that dangerous?" Matt asked, his eyes narrowing behind the goggles.

"I can't tell you." He answered, looking away from Matt.

"Why not, Mello? How bad is this one?"

"Just don't bug me about it, okay? I can't tell you it could get you into trouble and you wouldn't appreciate it anyway. It's sufficient for you to know that it's a difficult job, and I can't have you with me until it's over."

"So you're telling me you're leaving me behind again and this time you're leaving the country. It's been over two years since you walked out on me the first time…"

"Matt I didn't walk out on you!! I was a stupid, fucked up kid and I didn't know how to handle what had happened. I had to get away from everything and everyone. I love you Matt, you know that! But I have to follow this through just as much as you and Near are working all kinds of hours to follow it through your way. I want you with me, I will bring you to the states when everything is in motion not only because I want you there, but I'll need your help. You're the only person I can trust and when things get down and dirty I'm gonna need you to have my back. Please don't be angry with me, Matt you have to understand." Matt's blue eyes lit up with anger and he jumped up shouting into Mello's face.

"Do you know how many times I've heard that from you? "Matt you have to understand?" I'm so tired of hearing that and I'm so tired of rolling over and letting you just do whatever you want while I sit around waiting for you to throw me a bone." He turned away from Mello and went to the gate to go back to Whammy's. Mello turned and ran after him, grabbing his arm and turning him around to face him.

"I'm sorry Matt that this is so hard for you, it's hard for me too. I miss you Matt, I've missed not being with you constantly but I have to do this. I can't rest until it's done and done my way and…"

"And before Near. Yes, I know. You really need to get over that." Now it was Mello's turn to bristle. He dropped Matt's arm and stared into his lover's eyes.

"You know why I have to beat Near. You know why.."

"It doesn't mean I agree with it. Near only cares about the same thing you do, finding Kira, and he doesn't have any other agenda except that. He misses you too, the way we used to be." Mello snorted.

"Well that will never happen. Too many things have changed." Matt nodded.

"I know." He sighed and looked away. "Alright Mello. I'll trust your judgement this last time. But you have to promise me that you will let me know when I can join you." Mello smiled and nodded.

"Just as soon as it's safe and everything is under control. I promise, Matt." He leaned forward and kissed Matt again, a long lingering one in which he tried to show him just how much he did care, and how much he would miss him.

"I'll call when I get there, okay?" Matt smiled at him and nodded.

"Okay. Be careful. Don't get pregnant." Mello stared at him and Matt burst out laughing, the infectiousness of it making him join in. He ruffled the bright red hair and walked towards his motorcycle.

"Don't forget to call when you get there." Matt called as he covered his blonde head with a helmet. He straddled the bike, kicked up the kickstands and gunned the motor.

"I won't." he yelled over the motor. He turned the bike around and started down the driveway. "I love you, Matt!" he yelled back and sped down the road. Matt burst out laughing and shook his head as he walked back to the building.

"And for some stupid reason I love you too." He said and laughed again.