Disclaimer: I do not own or make money from the anime/manga Death Note.

Suggested listening: Black Black Heart by David Usher

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Part 16

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As Mello stepped off the lift, he was more than tempted to fall to the ground and kiss it, screaming 'LAND!' However, the fact that other people were present prevented the action. He was not looking forward to the flight home.

Matt was mostly 'happy' as Mello wheeled him into the building just so they could meet Roger over by baggage claim. Matt had slept most of the flight, the lucky bastard that he was, and was more or less awake and as cheerful as he got. Mello hadn't been as lucky. He had watched two trilogies and had about an hour's worth of sleep. He was not happy.

"Cheer up, Mello. We are heading home!" Matt leaned back to look at him, voice full of sarcasm.

"I'll cheer up if we find their mutilated bodies strewn about the place when we get there."

Matt laughed and shook his head but didn't deny it would be a nice, if not gruesome sight. There might have been some fond memories there, but it had nothing to do with whom they were going there to see.

They had just reached the inside of the building and were rounding a corner when a thought stopped Mello short, causing Matt to look at him. If the former top ten were going to be there, that meant Near would be as well. Why in God's name hadn't he thought of it before! Mello felt his lips curl into a sneer before he could stop himself.

"Finally noted that little bit of information did you?" Matt asked calmly, as though he had known this would happen. Settling his features into something far less grotesque, Mello pushed the wheelchair roughly; his fingers were wrapped tight around the handles.

"Whoa! Don't take it out on me," Matt grumbled and held onto the carry-on bags in his lap more securely. If Matt heard the whispered apology, he didn't make mention of it.

Near.

That one word in his vocabulary had forever been ruined by that alias. Near. It was the epitome of hate and desire. Desire for what Mello had never really had a chance to obtain, for had always been just out of his reach. A few points here, several there, and a calmness and detachment he didn't posses. Mello didn't want to be L anymore, but damned if he didn't still hate the entirety of Wammy's for fucking him over. L, wherever he was, could rot in Hell.

Mello vaguely heard Matt mention that the visit was going to be less pleasant with him in a foul mood; he chose to ignore him. He silently seethed, and when he took sight of the much older caretaker of Wammy's, he narrowed his eyes. That bastard had purposely not mentioned Near, knowing Mello would sooner murder him himself than visit a place with him in it willingly. Although Mello wasn't really there willingly.

"Mello, Matt, it is nice to see the both of you alive and well," Roger greeted them.

Matt snorted, and Mello shook his head. Oh yes, alive and well. Except for the scars and wheelchair.

"Your baggage has been placed here. Please collect it, so that we can leave." Roger motioned to the carousel to the left of them. Matt made to wheel along with him, but Mello shook his head. He already had two bags on his lap and could hardly fit more.

Thankfully, he and Matt had had the foresight to put color tags on the handles so it would be easier to spot their bags. One had a yellow tag and three had red. It wasn't hard to get why Matt had more stuff to bring along, seeing as they had left from his apartment, where he'd had access to all of his things.

Seeing his bag, Mello snatched it and placed it beside him. Softly cursing the people around him, Mello wedged his way between those idly standing by the baggage claim to grab a red tagged one. He repeated the process twice more with only a small misunderstanding when a woman tried to grab his bag, claiming it was hers. The woman was lucky Mello hadn't hit her with said bag.

Roger had wisely grabbed one of the bags, Mello was conveniently left to retrieve the others. Matt was luckily able to move his arms around the carry on bags in his lap to wheel himself the rest of the way outside, leaving Mello easily rolling the suitcases behind.

They walked to where the car was waiting parked with its blinker flashing at the side of the road. The car was already unlocked with a driver inside, from what Mello could see. He was a little relieved that Roger wasn't going to be driving; he had been old when they had lived at Wammy's all those years ago and was older still now. Mello wouldn't put it past him to get them in a crash.

Mello tossed the two carry-ons into the backseat where he and Matt would be sitting and turned to see Roger advancing on Matt, presumably to help him get in the car. Mello suspected that if Matt had a weapon on him, he would have used it. Matt didn't like getting help from him, never mind Roger.

"Roger, why don't you get the bags into the trunk. It looks like a tight fit, and I'm too tired and irritated to deal with it," Mello snapped as though the annoyance was real. Roger gave Matt an odd look before he turned away and did as asked.

Mello let Matt get himself into the car, and while Matt was settling himself, Mello unloaded the things off the wheelchair and folded it up to hopefully store in the trunk.

"Matt's normal wheelchair is being delivered separately and should be there no more than two hours after we arrive." Roger stated as he walked back around the side of the car.

Mello nodded and let Roger do as he pleased with the folded wheelchair before settling himself beside Matt in the car.

"Here we go," Matt muttered, and when Mello looked over, Matt had a game out and was mashing buttons furiously on the poor handheld. Mello had not even realized he had taken chocolate out until the rich taste hit his tongue.

Wonderful. They weren't even there yet, and Wammy's was already messing with their heads. It was a wonder half of them weren't in an asylum or Psychopaths yet. Then again, Mello wouldn't put it past the powers that be to pull any of the top ten out of jail or otherwise for the 'gathering'.

Crossing his arms, Mello stared out the window and let the scenery move across his vision in a wash of color that blurred together. He closed his eyes at the onset of a headache and, what seemed like seconds later, his thigh was being tapped. Peering through slitted eyes, he noted Matt motioning for him to look out the window. He must have fallen asleep.

"Great. We're back," Mello murmured as the car slowed to a crawl inside the security of the wrought iron gates.

"Yeah, like a cockroach, this place never seems to leave our lives for one reason or another."

Mello smiled sleepily at Matt, and with a shake of his head, he stepped from the car. It was time to face the past.

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-End Part 16-

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AN: …...yeah. I'm not even going to make an excuse XD. Hopefully next part will be out soon.

Special thanks to readers: Pheonix Autumn, LouiseLawliet, TheShadows2523, RavenNightray99, Mimsty, spontaneous-rainbow, Emlin13, LeatherxStripes, Keono, issagokurosaki, Envyyyy, xxbeyondxbirthdayxx, Deadly Nightshade1395, Nazlyn101

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