(Mello P.O.V)

I had begun to worry now at this point. L had been gone for six months, the longest he had ever been away. We'd gotten phone calls from him as well as emails explaining the situation around Kira. But other than that, there was nothing. I was beginning to believe there was more to this case than he let on.

He had informed me himself that this case was tougher than he believed beforehand, and that it may take a while more for him to come to a conclusion. Until then, he told me not to worry.

But I did worry.

L had never taken this long on a case before. He'd never been gone for so long at a time. Even more, he wasn't giving me any details about what was happening. This wasn't like him at all.

The next phone call I got from him was three months later. I had been in class working on a project with Matt when Roger had come by and asked me to step out of the room. Everyone thought I was in trouble again, but the look on Rogers face said differently.

When I'd stepped out of the room, he began speaking. "Mello, L will be performing a Q 'n A this afternoon with some of our younger students. You remember them, don't you?"

"Wait, he's back!?" I asked excitedly.

"No, he isn't. He'll be doing so through a computer screen to compensate."

I mentally sunk at that. I missed L being around. It wasn't even worry anymore… just sadness.

Roger sighed a bit. "At any rate, after he's addressed the children, he would like to speak with you privately."

"Me? Why me?"

"He says it's important. Now please come along. You will be excused from your classes today because of this."

I nodded once. "Just let me get my stuff."

I jogged back into the room towards my table where Matt was sitting. When he asked me why I was packing my stuff, I informed him about L wanting to speak with me.

"What do you think's up? Sounds important."

"Knowing L, it must be." I mumbled out. "I'll tell you about it later."

I left the class with a curious Matt behind. He hadn't worried too much about L's absence until it became ridiculous. Near hadn't seemed worried one bit, but then again… I hadn't paid much attention to him.

Speaking of the little egg-head.

Since he didn't have classes at that point, he'd shown up for L's talk with the younger kids, along with a few Rubik's cubes. He and some of the older kids who didn't have classes must have heard L was speaking today and gathered around to see him. Even if it was a computer screen… it was good to know he was alive.

When the laptop was all ready to go, and the grey 'L' was on the screen, the questions started flying. I was munching on a chocolate bar as he answered them all. He even managed to make us laugh at some points. It was good to hear he was doing well. I had hoped he'd seen me in the background of the crowd, but at the same time I didn't want him to. I didn't want him to know I'd been worried for him.

Everything was going well. Then… something changed.

A young girl, I forget her name, she asked L if he was afraid of anything. He replied with 'monsters' which made some kids chuckle. But he didn't laugh. That's when things became… odd.

I remember what he said. He'd said something like, 'There are many types of monsters that scare me: Monsters who cause trouble without showing themselves, monsters who abduct children, monsters who devour dreams, monsters who suck blood... and then, monsters who tell nothing but lies. Lying monsters are a real nuisance: They are much more cunning than others. They pose as humans even though they have no understanding of the human heart; they eat even though they've never experienced hunger; they study even though they have no interest in academics; they seek friendship even though they do not know how to love. If I were to encounter such monsters, I would likely be eaten by them... because in truth, I am that monster.'

It scared me when he'd said this. It was so dark for him. Darker than usual. And why would he label himself as something as disgusting as a monster. He wasn't a monster, not to me or Matt, or anyone. We all loved him.

Roger stopped the Q 'n A at this point. I guess he saw that L wasn't in the mood to answer any more questions.

Most of the kids groaned, but Near and I didn't. Near, because he was Near, and me because I'd have my own time to speak with him. I suppose Near caught on to this since he looked at me quizzically when I wouldn't leave the room with the others.

When Roger cleared the room of everyone but him and myself, he took his leave and soon it was just me and the Laptop. I'd like to say I was speaking to L, but I wasn't. I was only talking to a screen with his famous letter on it. At that point, I wanted to speak with the real L. However, circumstances being what they were, I had to deal with it.

I sat in front of the laptop, making sure I wasn't too close, before speaking. "You know you're not a monster, right? That word doesn't fit you."

I heard a huff of a chuckle. A rarity from L. "Then you truly don't know me then."

"Or we think alike. Either way, I doubt that's what you want to talk about right now."

There were a few seconds of silence before I heard keys clicking and the letter L on the screen changed to a webcam that showed L himself sitting in his usual position.

He sighed. "Mello, this may be hard for you to hear. But I doubt I'll be making it back to the Wammy house."

His words crushed me.

"What do you mean? You're not coming back?"

"No, I'm not. I think this will be my last case, Mello. And I contacted you because I have an important assignment for you."

"No! I won't… I-I can't! Why aren't you coming back!? What's happening!? You haven't called in months, and now that you have you drop a bomb like this!? What's going on!?" I had slammed my fists on the table with the laptop sitting on it in anger. How could he do this to us? How could he do this to me!? I felt betrayed right now. Like what he'd said was a stab in the back.

He remained calm though. "Mello, this case… it's not something I'll be able to handle. Kira has… he's…" he fumbled for a bit. "He's just too smart for me. And I know… I just know… my time is almost up."

"No, it isn't!" I exclaimed, tears falling. "Don't say that!"

"Mello, promise me…"

"No, you promise me something! Promise me you'll catch Kira! You'll catch him and execute him! Quit with this giving up, and promise me you'll catch him!"

He sighed. "Mello…"

"PROMISE ME!"

I think I even made myself jump at how loud I screamed. But what could I help? L had been there for me since I was five. He took me in, gave me a home, and loved me like a younger brother. How could he give up? How could he forget all that?

I felt more tears run down my face so I lowered my head to hide them. I didn't want him to see me cry. I couldn't allow him to see me be so weak.

"I promise."

I looked up. "What?"

L was nodding. "I promise you I'll catch Kira and execute him. You have my word. But you have to promise me a few things in return."

I nodded hastily. "Anything."

He grinned a tiny bit. "First, and foremost, I would like you to get back into writing. Particularly about who L really was."

I looked at him with question. "You mean, you want me to write about your past?"

"I can give you some details of my own, but yes. I want you to write about all I've told you."

"But why ask me?"

"You're the only one I trust to not fabricate everything to unreasonable standards."

I smiled at this. "Okay. I'll do my best."

L nodded. "Second, I'd like you to promise me you will always, always, look after Matt and Near. I know you don't get along with Near as much as Matt, but he will need you. More than he'd ever like to admit. And I know you can be a good older brother to the two."

Though I hated to do it, I nodded. "I'll try. Though I'm not sure how good of a brother I can be to them."

"I'm sure you'll do fine."

I sighed. "Anything else?"

L nodded once again. "But this is more crucial than you might think. And I need you to do this more than anything else I've asked of you."

I took a deep breath, then let it go. When I looked at him once more, he continued.

"I need you to always stay the way you are. To stay as Mello, and to never become anything more or less. Please, if anything, do this for me."

I forced a grin onto my face, and I nodded. The tears ran down my cheeks as I recalled that I couldn't even hug him at this point. I had to suffer with the thought that he was millions of miles away from me. And somehow, him feeling he might not make it back, just made it all the more worse.

L looked away from the screen at that point. "Goodbye, Mello. I'm sorry to have to leave you like this. Tell Matt and Near…"

"You can tell 'em yourself. I know you'll be back."

Nothing more was said. L merely shut off the computer, and all that was left was me.

I remember breaking down at that point and crying. I didn't want to believe for a moment L wasn't coming back. I didn't want to think he had just left us alone in the world. So I forced myself to believe. Believe that he'd keep his promise. That Kira would be stopped, that he'd come back, and we could all go back to normal.

Why had I been so stupid?