Chapter nine: The beast inside. No one's P.O.V.
"You have no idea!" Mello hisses as he continues to slowly advance towards Matt while the other is backing away. "YOU HAVE NO IDEA!" He hisses louder.
"You're right Mello." Matt says hoping to reason with his friend. "I don't know what it has been like for you since you were taken and forced to be a cat." He says. "But what I do know is that the Mello I know and care for would never side with evil." He continues to back away from the advancing threatening male. "He would fight and stand strong above the rest. Please Mello. You are better than this."
Mello's cat ears flatten against his head in anger. "The old Mello was weak." He hisses raising his hand getting ready to strike. "Master made me stronger and you signed your death scroll when you started caring for that white rat!" He hisses and leaps forward to attack. "Anyone who dares to betray me like that leaving me hurt without doing anything isn't my friend!" He hisses in a hurt voice.
Matt jumps to the side to avoid being hit and continues to dodge as Mello continues to try to slash him. He really doesn't want to pull his gun on his best friend. "Please Mello. Stop this. We're friends and that will never change. We are best friends. Remember all the happy times together?"
Mello hisses and gets a scratch on Matt's shoulder.
"Ah!" Matt gasps in pain putting a hand on his bleeding shoulder.
Mello smirks. "This is the end of the line for a backstabber like you." He is about to attack again when there is a click of a cage lock being unlocked then he is attacked by something.
L in the meantime has noticed the man approaching him with a needle ready to inject into him and he can only guess that the substance inside is what turns people into the hybrids. He tries to knock the fox away not wanting to hurt an innocent and once he pushes the fox away he turns only to lower his body to send a hard to kick to the man's jaw.
The man is sent flying back with the needle flying out of his hand landing by the fox while the man slams against some empty cages.
Watari throws the panther into a cage then quickly closes the door trapping the panther there. He turns and sees the brown fox turning human grabbing the needle only to run towards L. He rushes to try to stop the fox and raises his gun ready to shoot the fox if needed.
L sees the fox coming and dodges the fox's attempt on getting the substance into his body. He continues to dodge the fox until another hybrid joins in causing L to have to fight a gorilla hybrid along with the fox hybrid.
Watari takes on the gorilla hybrid but he was too late.
"Ah!" L gasps as the needle is put into his arm with the fox injecting the substance.
The fox pulls out the needle then jumps away smashing the needle on the ground as L collapses.
L pants as he feels the transformation taking place. He clenches his teeth and gives a glance to the fox who is watching seeming to start to snap back to reality. He tries slightly reaching towards the fox only to seem to go limp as he gains red panda ears and tail.
The fox seems to snap back to reality and he stares wide eyed at L. He cautiously moves forward as he quickly figures out what he had done.
Watari notices this as he knocks out the gorilla only to turn to L and the fox. He realizes the man must have some sort of hypnotized effect on the ones loyal to him.
The fox looks to Watari as if pleading for help.
Watari moves closer and checks L who is feeling the pain of the first transformation into the animal he is now mixed with. He crouches by L while the fox looks guilty.
L goes through the first highly painful transformation and Watari gently picks up the red panda when it is done.
The fox turns to his animal state and he slinks closer to Watari laying his head on Watari's lap as if in apology.
Matt however is watching with wide eyes as Near is fighting Mello.
Near seems to have given into the beast within as the two fight. He clamps his teeth onto the back of Mello's neck causing the cat hybrid to yowl in pain then try to fight some more.
Mello knocks the rabbit hybrid away giving Near a good slash on the shoulder. "I've always wanted to destroy you since I found you at Whammy's." He hisses and charges at Near.
Near rolls out of the way then springs onto Mello using his rabbit side to his advantage.
They are a mess of limps and snapping teeth as they fight.
Matt can only watch in horror as the two he cares for most battle each other as he falls his butt tripping over the corner of a cage tipped over.
Near clamps down onto Mello's throat.
Mello screeches and tries to claw at Near to try to get the other off struggling until his body goes limp as his life leaves it.
Matt can only watch in horror as this goes on and he can feel tears come to his eyes as he sees his best friend die. "Mello... I am so... so sorry." He whimpers. "I wish you had just snapped back.
Near lets go of Mello's body then turns to Matt obviously still trapped as the beast inside. He starts going towards Matt blood and ready for another kill.
Matt stands and brings out his gun only to drop it to try to show Near he means no harm.
Near is not snapping back to normal.
"Near." Matt says then has a better idea. "Nate." He tries. "You need to remember who you are and you can't let that sick man control you!" He doesn't back away from Near. "Near…. Nate… I… I love you." He reaches a hand towards Near. "Please come back to me."
Near moves closer but doesn't bite at Matts hand and his face has the look like he is contemplating something.
Matt moves slowly closer until his hand is a few centimeters from touching Near. He keeps his eyes on Near's face as he waits for Near to move to show Matt what he has decided.
Near just seems to analyze Matt some more like he has a feeling he knows Matt but can't remember.
Matt glances to Mello to see if the other is truly dead then jumps slightly when something comes into contact with his hand.
AN:
Edited version of this chapter. Maybe I should have added this in the first place but usually the stories just write themselves for me so I let things happen as they go along.
Mello.