((Author's Notes)) Nothing much to say here except Enjoy.

Edit: slight grammatical edits and addition to narration and dialogue.

Chapter 9

I was currently filling Near and Mello in with what's going on. Aparrently, however, he got attatched to my laptop, so I had to get a new one. So a note to all you fangirls out there, if you want to keep your electronic devices, keep them away from L...I was lucky enough to be able to move all my stuff to the new computer, before he completely cleaned it out.

"So yesterday, he confirmed to the police that Kira is indeed a student. There has also been suspicion of a leak of information, so L is having Watari bring in a group of FBI agents to tail the NPA. He is very certain Kira is apart of one of their families," I reported.

"That makes perfect sence, considering the fact that police information is easily accesible given the correct circumstances," Near said critically.

I looked at Mello through the computer screen. He was unnatually quiet throughout most of the conversation. "What do you think, Mell?"

"Stop calling me that," he replied grouchily. He was, of course, chowing down on a chocolate bar. "And to answer your question, I think Kira would most likely be apart of one of the higher ups. Like the Director, or Chief of Police...someone with the easiest access to the files."

"At least we have something to narrow down on," I thought out loud. There was a rapid knock on the door and the boys turned around before Matt burst into the room.

"Guys, you won't believe it," he said excitedly. "I think I may have found a source for Yugi's research."

My ears perked up excitedly. "You did?"

He looked at the screen and nodded, pulling up his goggles. "Yeah. It turns out Akiteru had a wife and son that live in Iran."

"Are you serious?!" I exclaimed excitedly. Matt nodded again.

"There wasn't much, but I at least got a name."

"Well, what is it?"

"Ezther Darvich."

I laughed with excitement. "Oh my God, thank you! If I were still there I'd give all of you a hug!"

"Um, Yugi," Mello said.

"Now I have a new lead," I continued, ignoring the boys.

"Yugi," Near tried getting my attention.

"I won't be circling old information anymore."

"Hey, Yugi," Matt prompted.

"I gotta start research right away while the name's fresh in my mind. I need all the info I can get on her as well as-"

"YUGI!" all three boys shouted.

"What?" I asked.

"You need to calm down," Matt told me.

"Why?" I questioned.

"Because you're 'wolfing out' again," Mello said, putting air quotes on the words wolfing out.

"Huh?" I looked at my arms to see dark teal hair growing at a fast rate. "Damn it," I muttered, my ears flattening against my head.

L then chose to walk in the room. "Yugi, I need you to get some more food from the bakery...we're out of cupcakes," He told me, holding the empty box that was full not even an hour ago.

I sighed. "As much as I love nearly vomiting from the smell of chocolate, no offense, Mello," I glanced at the computer screen where the three boys were still shown, staring blankly at their own monitor screen, "I'm kind of in the middle of a crisis at the moment, as you can see, Ryuzaki, so it might be a while before I can go."

L seemed to ignore me as he turned to leave. "The money is on the counter...I expect it to be gone by the end of the day." I sighed once more before saluting.

"Yes, oh Great Insomniatic Detective of Doom," I spoke with a hint of sarcasm. He didn't say anything as he closed the door behind him. I turned back to the computer. "Honestly, he eats more sweets that Mell does chocolate," I muttered. "No wonder he doesn't sleep."

"Stop calling me that!" Mello shouted.

"Why? You let Matt call you that," I stated, "is it reserved only for him? Or does it make you blush whenever I do?" I gave him a wolf-ish smirk (get it? lol).

Mello didn't answer and I did barely see an extremely faint dust of light pink cross his nose.

"Look, I have to go," I said after a moment of silence. "Not only do I have research to catch up on, but if I don't get them sweets, L might get pissed...and as much as I enjoy dancing on it, I don't want to cross that line." I then signed off from them and began my research first to calm down before I went out in public. Subconciously I gripped the cross on the collar that Mello gave me, the sign of our truce...and possible friendship.

Esther Darvich is the wife of famous genetic scientist Ukyo Akiteru and the co-founder of Akiteru labs...

Mello's Pov (3rd person)

When Yugi signed off, Mello was the first to leave. The way he did so, people would assume he was angry and would avoid him, lest feel his wrath.

However, it wasn't anger that drove him out into the courtyard that surrounded Wammy house. In fact, he wasn't mad at all.

To speak the truth, the young boy of thirteen didn't know how he felt; there was boredom, due to the fact Yugi wasn't there to bother him on a regular basis, and when she contacted him and Near for updates he would feel an excitement for being able to at least help in the investigation, but then feel frustrated when Near got to tell her first, and today it bugged him to no end when Yugi continued to call him that stupid nickname.

Mell, that name made him feel more ridiculus than he already did. How the fuck is she able to get under my skin? Mello wondered. He was use to Near doing this all the time...but Yugi managed to dig even deeper.

What bothered him the most, was that he didn't know what he felt when it came to the teal-haired wolf-girl. At first it was absolute hate when they first met. She was the most different...more so than Near, as far as Mello was concerned, and she didn't belong.

Over the course of two years, however, their relationship moved from sworn enemies, to extreme rivalry, to somewhat of a frenimies type relationship. Mello pulled his rosary out from under his shirt and looked at the silver cross.

It belonged to his mother before she died of cancer. She was catholic, much to his so-called father's dislike. The bastard left before Mello was even born.

Mello held the cross tight in his fist as he remembered the collar he gave Yugi before she left. He didn't know what drove him to offer the truce, let alone why he hoped it wasn't temporary.

The best way he could describe how he felt was like this: Yugi was like a drug he hated, but couldn't get enough of; and during the events of this case, he felt a form of withdrawl. Like shock therapy to his guts, tearing him apart. Little did he know...

He was falling in love.

((Author's Note)) Ooo, cat's out of the bag! Who knew that long distance would cause this?

Honestly, only one thing comes to mind when I wrote that last part:

AWWW SO KAWAII!

I decided to write Mello's Pov to show how he was dealing with the Kira case, as well as getting to know what was going on in that little blonde head of his.

Apologies if he seems out of character, but I think this was a good touch.

I have no more to say, now except to enjoy your week.

Until next time...

-Garden