(Mello P.O.V)

Thinking about what I had done to Matt now, I feel like scum. However, back when I had the notebook, I felt writing down his name would have set me free. When he held me down though, and I heard him say my real name, I felt something in my heart break just a tiny bit. When he walked away… it tore me apart.

That's when I got angry.

When I'd entered the headquarters Ross had tried to speak with me, only to be punched in the stomach. The other men stayed clear, except for the few that weren't fast enough and ended up being kicked. When I'd gotten to my spot on the couch I devoured half a bar of chocolate. It was the only thing to stop me from crying in front of the others. I decided to remain angry, if anything to hide my real emotions.

When Ross tried to speak with me again, I threw the notebook at his face.

"Shut up! Make yourself useful and leave me alone!"

Ross threw the notebook to the floor. "You listen here, Brat! I run this Mafia, not you!"

"Fuck off, and leave me alone!" I exclaimed, biting into my bar again. "Someone bring me the surveillance feed!"

One of the men hurriedly brought me the laptop containing the video feed around our building. Thankfully, the rain had now slowed and was quickly dissipating to nothing. If anything, this feed would provide me with some distraction before I could do any real damage.

Ross wouldn't have it though.

He grabbed my arm, lifting me off my seat. "I've let you take a free ride around here long enough. You are second in command here, but I have final say! So now…!"

Before he could speak, I locked my hand on his throat. The choking sounds that squealed through his mouth made me tighten my grip.

"Let's get this straight, Ross." I began, my eyes stabbing through to his very soul. "I run this organization, I am the leader here, and I will NOT be second to ANYBODY! Including scum like you." I tightened my grip once more. "Got it!"

He nodded fearfully and I let him go, sitting back in my seat. I tried to breathe through my anger but I couldn't help it. I was at a point where no one would be able to help me. Not even Matt.

"Mello!" One of the men called as he ran into the room. "Eddie's dead!"

"What?! How could he be…?"

Before I could finish, screams of men dying started wailing throughout the building. Some were even right in front of me to. Ross was one of them.

I kept as cool as I could right then. How was it that this was happening?

Unless…

"Kira."

"He found us?!" The only man to live within the current room declared.

I didn't answer. I don't know if I could at the time. That's when I heard the building emit the sound of falling metal hitting the ground. We were surrounded.

I doubted for the life of me that Near was behind this. Even more, why would he sell me out? I would think he had more honour than me. So it only left me with two options; The NPA, or Kira.

'Or both.' I thought as I bit into my bar yet again, hearing more of my building crumble. 'Looks like Kira is behind this. My plan was supposed to be perfect.' I looked to my right to the surveillance footage. Sidoh was supposed to be keeping watch, scaring away trespassers, but he was just sitting there like an idiot. 'Dammit Sidoh! What the hell are you doing!?"

The sounds got louder now. I had to get out, to get away from them before they found me. If Kira was with them… no. Kira was with them. I needed to remember that. No matter what, Kira was right behind them the entire time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

I jumped from my seat and began running to the surveillance room where I'd be safer. Along with that, if they found me, I had a good escape plan at my ready. A little show stopper that not even Ross knew about.

As I ran I saw the notebook still lying on the floor. I couldn't let him get it.

"Roy, Skyer, the notebook is under Rod's body! Bring it to the Surveillance room upstairs!"

I don't know if they actually did as told. All I knew was that at the very moment I'd entered the surveillance room, everything went quiet. No sound was made from anywhere.

I found Jose in the room as well, playing dead so no one would shoot him… coward. But I told him to keep still until I gave the word. I would take these intruders down or die trying.

I held the trigger in my hand, and waited.

In the silence of the building, I could feel my heart beating. It was the worst and longest wait of my life. I almost hit the button just to make some sort of noise, but I contained my impatience. I needed to be calm. I needed to keep my cool. So, in the dark, I continued to wait. As patiently as I could.

I had begun to think that they all left. That they had taken the notebook and ran. Until someone slowly walked into the room, head to toe in armour, and began pointing their gun around the room. Looking for someone… looking for me.

I pushed the trigger.

Two very loud explosions echoed through the building. We were sealed in now, save for the side exit in the very room I was in.

The man in front of me startled a bit, taking aim at nothing in particular.

"Don't move." I demanded. "I've already blown up the two entrances to this place. This will be your only warning. The next explosion will take out this entire building, as well as all your men inside, so you'd better do as I say."

The man looked towards my voice now. As requested, he didn't move. He even lay down his weapon, and took his helmet off.

I turned on the monitors, now nothing but static, and saw my current enemy in front of me. Well, current and former; Soichiro Yagami.

I chuckled at this. "Yagami again, huh?" I asked, feeling cocky. I then noticed the determined look in his eye, making my mood shift. "Maybe I should've killed you when I had the chance. History repeats itself, or so they say. But I never dreamed in a million years that I'd be bargaining for the notebook with you again."

He didn't move. He didn't speak. He just looked at me. Like he were trying to mentally strangle me. I wasn't worried though. I kept up my smirk and continued to stare him down. I was too confident that I'd get what I wanted.

Then again… things can change just at the drop of a coin.

"Your real name… is Mihael Keehl."

My heart stopped. 'What the hell!'

I froze in place as he continued. "It's over Mello. It's time to turn yourself in. If you give up, I won't kill you. You have my word on that. You know how this works. I write your name down and you will die. Let go of that trigger and put your hands in the air."

How… how did he know my name? How did he…?

But… he knew it. Why not write my name right now? Why not kill me for capturing his daughter? Why not make me suffer? Why was he allowing me to give up? All I could think of was 'why'.

Something inside of me suddenly arose. Something I hadn't felt in the longest time. I can't tell you exactly what it was. But I can only describe it as just a hint… a small hint… of humanity.

I lowered the trigger. "Yagami…"

"Don't move! I've written your first name down, and it'll only take me a second to write down your surname."

I remained calm. "I'm truly sorry. For what it's worth, you have my word that I never wanted to kill you."

As soon as it was there though… it was gone. And suddenly, that notebook meant everything to me again.

"But tell me, Yagami. You've never killed before, have you?"

The last thing I saw in that man's eyes was pure terror before being shot repeatedly by Jose. He didn't exactly follow my signal, but this worked just as well.

Yagami fell to the floor and I barked at Jose to retrieve the notebook. It was futile though as Yagami held it as tight as he could, even when close to death. With this, I instantly donned a gasmask for what was to come.

Jose had been about to shoot him before Yagami's men disrupted him. Now, I was on my own.

But I could still win this thing. If I was going down…

It would be on my own terms.

"It's all over, Mello!" One of the men barked. "Put your hands up and surrender!"

Looking at them through my mask, I could only feel pain and anger boil inside of me. Looking at Yagami, I only felt grief and regret. Yagami gave me the choice to surrender and live… and I chose to die like a dog.

I lifted the trigger, looking at the men behind me…

'I'm sorry, L.'

And pushed the button.

At the very moment I'd pressed it, the building rumbled with explosions and distracted the men long enough for me to make my escape through the surveillance room door. However, I wasn't fast enough to escape the explosion itself.

The last thing I remember from that night was feeling everything on my left side burn in an unimaginable pain. I thought for sure this place would be my grave.

I thought so for sure.