Authors note: Oh look...it's the latest chapter. It may seem like things have just ended...but that's not the case. There's still more to come. So, read, review and enjoy!

Left alone

Mello stumbled colliding with Near who didn't stand too far away. The two went down heavily with grunting and curses. Near backed away slightly wide eyed and Mello didn't blame him. What were the actual chances that M knew they were coming? His mind seemed to answer his question on its own. 100%. This was the last plausible place that they could go for answers that wasn't M himself. All he had to do was lay and wait for them to show up. Dammit. What good was Near if he didn't look this far in the future?

"Why won't you just let it die?" M waved his arms in frustration. It was weird looking at Matt like that. Somewhere deep inside this irritated man Matt was sleeping. He was completely unaware of the events that had already unfolded in his life. Mello wasn't sure if he should be happy about that or rip his hair out. "I told you to leave it alone. First, he had to come here when I told him not to. I hate it when he doesn't listen to me. I hate it." He turned away from the two running his fingers through his hair. He glanced back to make sure they weren't moving yet. "He came here and remembered. He remembered everything that I fought so hard, so long to protect him from."

Near didn't move but he spoke, "You didn't protect him from anything M." His voice sounded rough like maybe Mello had bruised something on their way to the worn wooden floor. "What did you protect him from? You murdered his parents."

M paused staring off for a few second. He looked so unlike Matt at this moment. He looked so unlike M at this moment. It was as if he were warping into a completely different person. M was normally put together, smooth and easy going. At least it had seemed that way. This man standing before the two of them looked frantic, erratic and pained. His familiar green eyes narrowed at the white haired boy. His mouth moved for several seconds before words actually came out of it.

"What do you know?" He hissed pointing at the white haired boy. "Everything little thing I do, I do it for Mail. Everything. His parents had to go! They had to! It wasn't a lie that his father beat his mother. They had their good qualities and good days but it always collapsed into a screaming match, punching, kicking! Do you know what that was doing to him?" His voice was heavy, dark almost. "His father never abused Matt directly but Matt watched when he would throw his mother into the dinner table and then proceed to beat her with anything within reaching distance. Sometimes, he would have Mail join in to keep her "in place." He shook his head looking as if he were watching it all over right then. "They were hurting him. All I did was stop the hurt."

Mello shifted to his knees. "That wasn't your call to make. Matt may not have had the best…"

"Shut the fuck up Mello." He began to pace watching the two. "That day I told him over and over again that this was a bad idea. None of this would have happened if he would have just accepted that they were dead but no. No, he had to know what the fuck happened to them. Why they had to go." He chuckled to himself. "He went to Roger and that dumb asshole gave him the information. He should have known what was going to come of this but he did it anyway." He braced himself on the door close to hysterics. "So he came here and he triggered it. He triggered the memories that I had done damn well at hiding from him. He saw his mother and I knew what was to come. He witnessed his mother's death at his own hands...my hands but he didn't know that."

Near watched as the smile turned more serpent like but took the time to move closer to Mello who was shaking lightly. "You had a choice to let Matt keep his family."

M waved off the words, "But I didn't. You should thank me Mello if it wasn't for me you wouldn't have a lover. That fucked up attitude of yours would have left you friendless and without a fuck buddy. Lucky for you I took care of that and I allowed you to play with his feelings."

Mello looked indignant, "I didn't play with his feelings." He mumbled as Near glanced back and forth between the two.

Green eyes glittered in the setting sun. "You're right. You're just too much of a dipstick to figure out that you love him. I got it. Then when the idea occurred to you that maybe Near wanted him you lost your shit. Scared that Matt would be fucking your arch nemesis?" He sniggered bending down to the others level. "Seeing as Near wants to be on your side so bad you want the truth about what happened Mello?"

"M." Near voice almost sounded like it cracked.

"I brought comfort to Matt by fucking Near." He winked as the look of realization crossed his face. "Matt couldn't tell you because he doesn't know for sure what happened those nights. When you black out as much as he does it's not a wonder to think you may have done something a bit…fun."

Near backtracked. He began moving towards the end of the hallway to get away from Mello. He knew exactly what was coming and he wanted to get out of here and find a ride back to his safe place as quickly as he could. The pangs of betrayal rang through his chest but he couldn't focus on it now because when Mello snapped he didn't need to be here. Mello was closer than anything to snapping.

Mello swallowed pulling himself off the floor. His gloved hands twitched with the need to hit something, no someone. He wanted to punch M in his giddy looking face. Instead he took a deep, harsh breath and spoke. "Matt, I know you're in there." He wasn't sure he could get through but he could try. "Stop being weak and letting him control you. Matt, I know I haven't been a very good boyfriend but give me another chance and I'll make it better. I let myself hide behind God instead of seeing what I really wanted but we can't be together if you let him control you. If you don't come Matt…then I'll walk out that door and never come back."

M snorted, "You think it's that simple? Call him and he'll come?" He taunted but his lacking smile was more telling than anything he could have said.

"Mail fucking Jeevas I'll never forgive you if you ruin this for us. I know you need help and I haven't been there in the past to give it to you but I'm here now. I'm trying to understand you Mail. Let me."

M made no more sounds and taunting phrases towards Mello. Somewhere deep there was a struggle happening. Mello couldn't see it but he knew it was there. Matt had hurt him and like M had told him, Mello's relationship with Matt was what was most important to Matt. The eyes softened after several minutes of silence before a lone tear rolled down his cheek. "Mello, I should be in prison."

The blond shrugged, "So should I. If I can keep moving with my eternal soul burning then you can move on from this Matt. You don't even believe in God." His voice sounded tired but warm. "Near to keep me from murdering you right now I suggest you go call a car." He reached for the red head but the man flinched away. "We're going to Wammy house," he managed before the red head dropped to his knees clutching his head as if in pain. Whatever the man was feeling it wasn't physical, not anymore. "This isn't over."