A/N: Officially the longest chapter of the story, but hey. Nothin' I can do about it now. :)

But with this chapter comes an end to our story. I really hope you've all enjoyed the ride. Had some laughs, cried some tears, made you want to kill me...

...

At any rate, thank you to all who have been reviewed, followed, or favourite. It means so much to me that so many like my story, and I only wish I could have done it a bit better in some parts to truly make it as awesome as I'd first hoped it would be.

If you would like me to write more, I'd be happy to do so. I love to write and draw, so suggestions are welcome!

And with that, I say adieu, my fellow readers. It's been a blast to write this. :)

Epilogue

(Mello P.O.V)

It's an odd feeling to be dead. It's like being alive… but colder.

I no longer have the feelings of hunger, or exhaustion. I no longer crave chocolate for more than the taste alone. Everything that was human to me… is gone.

Even more, I was alone. For a very long time… I was alone.

No, not a long time. But it felt like it.

When I first entered the world as a spirit, I was afraid. Afraid, because no one could see me. It was as if I were still alive, but completely invisible. People would walk right through me, and I'd almost cry every time at the emptiness they left with me. The only beings who did see me were animals and small children.

The animals would look at me, and some would just stare. Dogs would bark at me more times than not, but cats were just cats. The small children, I discovered, could see me. Some even tried to speak with me.

It took me a while, but I figured that children under five or six years of age were considered truly innocent, and were able to see people that adults couldn't. It was a stretch, but it's all I have.

My first week of being a spirit was a lonely one… to say the least.

I hadn't found Matt yet, which made me sad beyond belief. I figured he'd gone to his personal heaven… but some fragment of my soul believed that I would have been part of his heaven.

But that doesn't mean that I hadn't seen other spirits.

I saw Rod Ross again, but he took one look at me and backed away. It was the only thing to make me happy at the time.

My father was there too. But I never actually spoke to him. I wouldn't have been able to anyway. He was still in Germany, watching over my mother.

I saw spirits all over the world through rifts in the other side. I can't explain them, other than that they were portals to other places of the world you once belonged to. I myself belonged to Los Angeles, England, Japan, and Germany. Thus I could see everyone in this world who I'd helped or harmed.

My family in Germany. The other kids at the Wammy house. The waitress in Los Angeles. And the people involved with the Kira case in Japan. All of them… them and the other spirits I'd come to know. I could see them and learn from what I'd done.

The only people I didn't see, were L, Watari, and Matt. And I think that hurt the most.

I think the only good thing about my spirit is that I no longer have my scar from the explosion. A cruel justice, if ever there was one. I looked handsome yet again, but no one I loved to enjoy it with. No Matt, or L. Just me…

Me,

Myself,

And I.

Cruelty at it's finest.

Finally, after a week of sulking and getting used to the feelings of the afterlife, I began to wander. In this venture, I found my place.

I stayed in Japan to find Matt, but I knew it would have been hopeless. I had wandered for hours straight before stopping at an abandoned warehouse. It had been raining that day, but the rain had no effect on me. It was just another thing from the side of the living that I could never enjoy again.

When I'd stopped, I'd heard a voice.

A familiar voice.

Near's voice.

From then on, my fate was sealed.

I'd promised L to look after the albino after all, so I did just that.

When I saw Yagami reach for his watch, for a chance to kill Near, I took action. Matsuda, I believe his name was, couldn't really hear me, but I knew I would be able to get through to him. I urged him to shoot at Yagami, and when he had I made sure Near wouldn't be able to see the bloodshed. I don't know if I succeeded in covering his eyes, but I had to try. He shouldn't have to see something like that.

When Yagami died, I saw something that the living hadn't. A bright light, almost liquid-like, had enveloped him. And with that, his spirit was released.

It wasn't until another month passed by before I would see that bastard again.

Near threw a service for me and Matt. A celebration of life, I suppose. And the entire time, I stayed by his side. Keeping Near company throughout the entire service.

When Matt was buried in the ground, my rosary next to him in a separate casket, my world changed for the better.

I had been standing on a hill, not too far from Near, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was strange to feel someone touch me again, but I knew exactly who it was. No question about it.

"Your scar is gone."

I turned to him. "Matt!"

He hugged me close then, that familiar smile on his face. I could tell he'd missed me as well.

"I figured if I just stayed close to my body, Near would eventually take me here. I thought you'd do the same."

"I hadn't thought of that. I didn't want to see my grave or body, so I went looking for you instead. But by the time I'd found the place they'd shot you…"

He placed a hand on my head then and began to brush through my hair with his fingers. "Stop. Let's not talk about such things. We're here, and we're together. That's all that matters."

I nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry." I then remembered what I'd told him that day and punched his arm as hard as I could. I doubt he felt anything though. "Why didn't you listen to me!? You were supposed to live!"

He laughed. "Nothin' you can do about it now." He hugged me once again, holding me as close to him as possible. "I'm by your side for all of eternity, and I plan to make every moment a living nightmare for you."

I punched him again, but chuckled. "I love you, Matt. You know that, right?"

"And I you, Mello."

It was a peaceful moment until another, very familiar voice cut through the silence. "My, what a cute couple you two make."

I backed away from Matt and flipped my head toward the voice. To L's voice.

I couldn't help the elation I felt at seeing him once again and I ran to hug him as tightly as I could. He hugged me back just as tightly, and I was thankful that breathing was no longer a requirement in this form.

My happiness was short lived, however.

I finally noticed something off with L, and took note of the handcuff on his wrist. Following the chain to it, I found a young man on the other end.

Light Yagami.

I didn't question why at first. I only felt a seething anger overpower me and I promptly punched the bastard in the face. He went down instantly, but got back up and went to attack me. Had L not pulled the chain to stop him, he might have landed a good hit.

"You little freak!" He yelled. "What was that for!?"

"Gee, I wonder what?" I said through clenched teeth, sarcasm dripping off every word. "It couldn't have anything to do with you killing my mentor, L!"

"Believe me, it wasn't easy."

At the moment he said that I stepped forward to attack, but Matt had stopped me.

"Chill, Mello. Let L explain."

"Thank you, Matt." L said calmly, pulling Yagami's chain hard enough to have him fall backwards. "You see Mello, at the time of Light Yagami's death, he had been chained to me at the time…"

"What? No he wasn't, you died long before he did!"

L seemed… saddened by what I'd said. It was a rare occurrence to see him with emotion. "Mello, do you remember when you had the death note? Do you remember how much you were changed by it?"

I nodded. "Yeah. But, what does…?"

"You were lucky to only be exposed to it for a very short time. Light, however, was not so lucky."

At the mention of his name, the man spoke. "The death note gave me the power of a shinigami… but I had to basically sell my soul and spirit to keep it. The day I got the notebook back from one of the Shinigami's, Rem, my soul had died and Kira was left in its place."

L spoke again. "In other words, Mello. The very first victim of the death note, was Light Yagami himself."

"You are… correct, L. As always." The young man said quietly. "In the months I had it prior to, my spirit had been dying along with my victims. I haven't really thought about it that way, but I guess it's true. It makes more sense than anything else." He lifted his cuff. "There has to be an explanation for these, anyway."

L looked at his cuff. "Perhaps we'll never know for sure, Light. But, I can think of worse ways to be spending my eternity."

I shook my head at them. "Spending your eternity next to the man that killed you? You find this better than other choices?"

L gave me one of his rare smiles. "I've missed you, Mello. You and your temper. It's much too quiet in this realm without you."

"I still can't believe that he was one of your successors." Yagami stated.

I scoffed. "If you've forgotten, it was me who found you out before Near. Of course I'm one of his successors… even if I wasn't chosen directly."

Yagami perked up at this. "Speaking of which, how exactly were you able to find out that I was Kira?"

"You left more evidence than you think. Although, I really have to give my thanks to your sister."

"Sayu? How did she…?"

"You should have killed her when you had the chance. Had you done so, you would have won. And I would have died a lot sooner." I looked away from him then to check up on Near. The kid was hanging on throughout the service. "But I suppose a part of you couldn't do it. She's your family. And, however dead your spirit or soul may have been… killing her was not an option."

Yagami was silenced then. I suppose I'd hit the hammer on the mark. But I guess bringing up his family was unnecessary.

However…

"Your father," I spoke up, looking back at him. "Have you seen him?"

Yagami nodded. "Yes. Why do you care?"

I didn't say why. But I replied with, "You had an amazing father, Light Yagami. A better man than mine ever was. Believe me when I say that I had no intention of killing him, or your sister for that matter. And, were I given the chance to repeat the incident, I would have happily taken the bullets for him." I looked down then. "You didn't deserve to lose him."

It was silent for a few minutes before Yagami sighed. "He made the eye deal with the Shinigami. That's how he knew your name. However, the eye deal cuts a person's lifespan in half. Since my father died almost a day or so after the explosion, it was only a matter of time before he…"

I nodded. "I understand. If you ever see him again, though, tell him I'm sorry. For everything. And that no harm came to Sayu while she was in my custody."

He nodded. "I'll do that."

"You've grown into a fine young man, Mello." L commented. "I'm sure Watari is proud of you as well."

"Speaking of which," I looked at the detective. "Where is the old man, anyway?"

L stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Well, I have deduced this much. When we die, our souls go to where we believe we shall go. Unless one were to use the death note, like Mr. Yagami right here…"

"Don't make me punch you again."

L only gave him an incredulous look. "Light, not only will it not hurt me in this realm, but I could end you in a single kick, just like last time."

"Don't start with me, you deserved that last punch…"

As they continued to bicker, I heard Matt snicker behind me. "They're adorable, aren't they? Like an old married couple."

Yagami caught that comment. "We are NOT a couple!"

"Yes we are." L stated.

All three of us looked at him, but only Matt and I were laughing at the remark.

"L! What the hell do you mean we're a couple?!"

"We're a couple of guys."

Matt bust a gut laughing. In between his giggles he said, "I've so missed you, L!"

I held my laughter as best as I could, but I couldn't help the small chuckles. L was not that dense, not by a long shot. He was just getting on Yagami's nerves, like he'd done back at Wammy's to the kids who continuously tested him on certain days.

"Get used to that." I remarked to the young man. "That right there is your eternal hell."

"You don't say." Yagami mumbled.

L only smiled at the man. "Now, where was I? Oh yes, on the topic of our eternal resting places. Well, considering I'm not a strong believer in heaven or hell, I am to walk the earth as a spirit. Watari did believe in heaven, however, so I believe he must be there, if anything. As for you and Light, you both share the same fate since you both used the death note. Neither of you will enter heaven or hell for all eternity."

"Well, I guess that sounds right." I said, then turned to Matt. "But what about you, Matt? You said you believed in a personal heaven. So, why aren't you there?"

The red-head was quiet then. He simply shifted his feet, trying to come up with an answer.

It was then that L answered for him. "If he believes in a personal heaven, Mello, and he is here with you…"

Had I a real, beating, human heart, it would have stopped completely. "Matt? What is your personal heaven?"

He bit his lip before answering. "You'll laugh at me."

I really couldn't help my smile. "You want to be by my side? For eternity?"

He nodded slowly, hiding his face by looking at the ground.

The man was adorable when it came to his feelings. He never knew how to express love aside from simple gestures. I remember many times when we were alive when he tried to tell me he loved me. It always came out a stuttering mess though. Even before he announced his feelings for me, I had the slightest inkling that he loved me more than he let on.

I hugged him as tightly as I could and buried my face in his chest. "I swear by all that resides in this world that you have to be the sweetest man to have ever lived."

Matt only hugged me back and said. "Of course you're my personal heaven, Mels. You always have been."

"I'll say." L commented once more. At Yagami's curious look, he explained. "Mello and Matt have been friends since they were children. Matt was always beside Mello, and Mello beside Matt. I could only hope that the two would find love with each other at some point in time. I wish I'd been alive to see it thrive, though."

"So I was fighting all three of them, then." The young man stated. "Near only mentioned Mello, though. Smart kid for not getting one of them involved. One more to fight in case the two of them died."

"Indeed. But I hadn't expected Mello to die. I'm surprised my plan hadn't worked."

I looked up at L then. "Plan? What plan?"

L scratched the back of his head. "Well, Mello. Had you worked with Near in the very beginning, you would have caught Kira earlier, and lived to tell the tale. Aside from that, I suppose it's time I tell the truth.

"You see, on the day I died, I made a decision as to who my successor would be."

Both Matt and I went wide-eyed. He'd made a decision? Why not tell us? Why have Roger lie to us about it?

It was as if he were reading my thoughts. "Mello, I couldn't risk having only one of you work on the Kira investigation. It was too dangerous and I risked having Kira kill you in the process. Granted, the only reason you did die was because you offered your own life. But it never would have come to that had you listened to Roger and worked together."

"Give me a break! You died, and I snapped! I started working with Near in the end, so that should count for something!"

"Indeed. I never put your emotions into the equation, but I thought you'd be strong enough to handle my death. Especially since I'd warned you from the beginning that I was going to die."

"But like a child, I ignored you and believed that you'd live." I finished. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"Nothing to worry about." He interrupted. "But now I must ask, do you want to know who I chose? You know it was either you or Near. Matt was not a choice."

I felt nervous then. The option to know who he'd chosen was something that was desperately tempting. And for years I wanted to know who he'd chosen had he been given the chance. But now, however, it was just racking at my nerves.

Matt held my hand then. "Mel, you've wanted the truth for a long time now. And, no matter what he says right now, Near is still the new L by default. You even handed that title to him yourself."

"But it's a choice as to whether or not I'll spend the rest of my eternity thinking I wasn't good enough, or that I would have been the best…"

Just then, I felt two hands hold my face in place.

"Mello," L said sternly. "No matter who I chose as my successor, you were, and always will be, good enough to be L. You are smart, determined, hard-headed, and above all strong. If my choice was Near, it was only because of different reasons. But it never had anything to do with you being better or worse than him. And believe me when I say this, but finding you on that street all those years ago, was one of the best moments of my life. Finding you, and having you as a brother, made my life more than it ever could have been. You, Near, and Matt were all special to me in your own ways. Never forget that."

Where my heart should have been, a dull pain was brewing. One I hadn't felt in the time L had been gone. I don't know whether or not it was happiness or sadness, but I was glad that there was a small part of me that was still human.

I hugged him again and of course he hugged me back. I'd missed his hugs. I'd missed his presence, and his voice. Hell, I'd even missed his lectures. But more than anything, I missed his hugs. They were warm, comforting, and only a very select few got them. I was happy to be one of those few.

When our hug ended, he asked once more, hands resting on my shoulders. "Do you want to know who I chose as my successor, Mello?"

I hesitated for the longest time. And when I couldn't find my voice, I nodded.

L smiled at me once more. "The consensus among the teachers and other adults was unanimous. The test scores were flawless, and he more than proved to be a worthy enough L." He sighed. "They chose Near as my successor."

And with that, I tried my hardest to hold back the tears. I knew… I just knew. But I went ahead and asked anyway.

I felt a hand on my back, and I more than wanted to run into Matt's arms and cry. I wasn't sure I could cry, since I wasn't exactly human anymore. But dammit did I want to try. But, I stayed standing. I wasn't going to allow any tears. The choice was made, and I had to deal with it. Besides, Near was already L anyway. What did it matter to me anymore?

A pat on my arms brought me back to attention. L was still looking at me.

He grinned at me again. "The adults wanted Near…

"But I chose you."

"WHAT!" Yagami exclaimed. "Him?! L, you're joking! This guy is nothing like you! Near was almost an exact replica…!"

"Exactly, Light." He proclaimed, taking his hands off my arms.

I was too stunned to speak. Even Matt was quiet. It was like the greatest dream I'd ever had, and it was now coming to life.

L had chosen me.

The detective chuckled a bit at Yagami's expression. "Don't forget, Light, that Mello was the one to find you out first. Not only that, he took into account that you had more than just Misa at your disposal. Takeda being the bigger threat, he went after her. And not only was he able to eliminate her, but was able to get Teru Mikami to make a mistake. Face it, Light. My choice was perfect from the very beginning."

"But… how did you know…?"

"Light, even you know this much. If you keep doing the same thing, over, and over, and over again, expecting different results… then you'll wind up losing your mind. I died, because I made the mistake to trust you. If Near took my place completely, being an exact replica, he would have done the same. And with that, his fate would have been sealed.

"Mello, on the other hand, took matters in a different approach. He never trusted anyone other than those that were closest to him. Matt and Near were his greatest allies, and he used that to his advantage. Near made more than a few mistakes because he trusted you not to take too much action. Mello survived on his wits and technique, whereas Near survived with intellect and skill. Only after Mello's death did Near realize how much he had to change in order to stop Kira. He had to confront Kira, and end this war."

Yagami fell silent once more. But now it was Matt's turn to speak.

"So, had Mello worked with Near, they both would have survived because of their combined skills and Kira would have been executed within the first year of your death?"

"That was my plan." L said proudly. "But, things don't always go exactly as you first plan them. However, had Mello and you lived, Roger would have informed you of my decision, and Mello would have been given my position."

I was still silent at that moment. I had been chosen. L chose me! Me! I was his true heir!

Finally, I found my voice. "L… I- - I don't know what to say. Thank you."

He pulled me into another hug. "Near will do a good job as L. But I know you would have been a great L. Better than me, maybe."

I hugged him back. "No way. You'll always be the best. You always were, and you always will be. Anyone else is just a wannabe." I chuckled at the thought then. "Even me."

Another pair of arms wrapped around us, and Matt hugged us both as tightly as he could. "I'm gonna miss this."

A sudden church bell rang out and we looked to see the service for the funeral was ending. Near was still in sight, but it looked as though he would be leaving soon.

"So, what will you do now, Mello?" L asked, genuinely curious.

I kept looking towards Near when I answered. "I kept two of my promises to you, L. I kept writing and I tried my hardest not to change who I was. As for looking out for Near and Matt…" I sighed, the unneeded air drifting through my nose. "Well, I suppose I need to make it up to them."

"I'd like to remind you, that I chose to die." Matt piped up, landing him an elbow to the ribs.

"So, you'll be sticking around with Near, then?"

I shrugged. "For a time, I suppose. I'll leave when I find something better to do."

Rarely did those times come, however.

We parted ways that day, and I never saw L again. I didn't mind that, however. He had someone to keep him company.

Poor bastard.

Matt stayed with me. Right by my side. Like always. And I'm always happy to know that I was his personal heaven. However cheesy it may sound, I was happy.

As for Near… he never changed.

He knew about us, too. He'd speak to us, even though we couldn't answer back. It was kind of sweet. My baby brother missed me.

The years rolled by and a new L came to be. A little bugger named Ink took over the L name, and more than once I scared him into submission as a child. Some flickering lights and falling books made one hell of a show. Matt felt more than sorry for him, too.

Still, when he finally grew up, Ink became a great L in his own respect. I dare say he's better than Near. Little bastard flipped me off though when I knocked over some of his books to try and scare him again. Took a lot of strength to throw that book at him, but it was worth it.

Near knew nothing about me harassing him, either. I doubt Ink told anyone else about Matt and me, but it was nice to know that a few people knew I was there.

When Near was getting older, and couldn't speak to us as much as before, Ink would take his place.

But when the time came for Near to go, having Ink around certainly helped.

I remember him looking right at me when he'd said it.

Near was in his late eighties now, and his health was depleting. Both Matt and I hated the sight of him suffering, but knew it was best that we were there when he passed.

That's when Ink spoke.

"I know you're there, Mello. I know you've been watching over him. I know you're still watching over him. Please, end this. He deserves to have a peaceful death. I know you two never saw eye to eye before, but… could you please…?" He began crying before he could finish.

Enough was enough.

When you are a spirit, you can gain energy from the things around you.

Including human life.

So, we did what we had to.

That light I'd seen around Yagami. The light of a spirit being released. It now enveloped Near, and the old man took his final breath.

The light rose and reformed on the floor in front of us, Ink being completely unaware of any of this. It had reformed into a young man, age ranging from sixteen to seventeen, with hair as white as snow, and clothed in his pj's.

When he opened his eyes, he looked right at us and gasped.

He stood then, a smile appearing on his face. It was then that Matt pulled him into a hug, and our trio was back together again.

Ink cried when he saw Near's lifeless body. So I tried to give him comfort by flickering the lights a bit. Just to let him know that he made it.

The tears hadn't stopped, but Ink smiled. "Thank you. Please take care of him."

As I stand here on this grassy hill where we've stopped for a short time, feeling the wind through my hair, and looking down at the world around me, Matt and Near sitting close to me while watching all the people walking down the street in front of us, I remember answering the kid with two simple words. The same words I'd said to the original L so many years ago.

"I promise."