Authors note: Annnnnnnnnddddd I'm back...or something. Expect a few more updates today...if you message me quickly I'll start on a chapter of another one of my stories. I'm in a writing mood so you should totally act fast. Don't freak, I'm a nice person. I won't bite your head off or anything and you'll get an update! What more could you ask for?! Anyho, here's the newest chapter. For those that want to know it's about to head back towards the Kira case and...maybe an even mysteriouser (lol wut) Matty. So, read, review and enjoy.

Looking Glass

Near refused to leave his room. Days passed as he wondered, idly if Matt was going to be okay. He didn't dare check on the other with the blond lurking around every corner. It was none of Mello's business what transpired while he was away from Matt but there was no doubt in Near's mind that Mello took it personally. It must have looked that way. Even Near could see how someone that didn't understand would believe that he took advantage of Matt in his state without Mello and only Mello would think that it was because Mello cared for Matt.

He sighed lightly loosely holding the newest figure he made. M, who had so easily disappeared a week ago and hadn't shown himself since then. The figure itself didn't have a face and looked more anonymous than anything else. He couldn't make the figure look like Matt because M wasn't Matt but a part of him. He couldn't give the figure a face because there was no way in telling how M actually looked or how he believed he would look if he wasn't in Matt's body. So after high consideration Near left it blank with a peg mouth and little dotted eyes. That way only he could know who the figure represented.

"Locking yourself in a room without actually locking the door? I don't know Near maybe in your distress you've actually lost a few brain cells." The familiar voice said coolly. "I must say after my last act I'm assuming that I'm the last person that you would want to be talking to." Near didn't have to look over his shoulder to know it was the red head standing there with a smirk unlike Matt's. M wasn't so far gone after all.

Near glanced down at the figure before tightening his grip on it. "Actually, the first person would be Mello but you currently come at a very close second." He felt the smile appear on the others lips even without looking at him. "What game are you going to play now? Pretend you're Matt? Run away from all of this, what?"

He shrugged lightly, "You know I was thinking about that. It would certainly be easy to run away from this place but even if I ran Matt would return." He folded his arms gently, "Besides I have a special thing for Mello's aggressiveness and I can't lie when I say it turns me on. Why in the hell would I leave such an opportunity? If I play my cards right I can get into the perfect situation to fuck Mello." He sighed as if dreaming. "But that's not what I'm here for."

"Then what do you want?" Near's patience was growing thin. He knew Roger was watching them on the monitors. They were installed to alert everyone in case Mello came looking for him but now they were being put to use in a different way. "If you want to be with Mello so bad he's right down the hallway." His normally deadpan voice turned bitter before he turned back around in his chair. Only then did he allow the figure to fall from his hand. It landed with a soft clatter on the hard wood floor.

Minutes passed as Near wanted to believe that the other had left. Unfortunately he hadn't heard the door open to signal his departure but on the other hand he never heard the red head come in.

The voice was timid, "I wanted to check on you." He said gently. "I know I've done a lot of hurting and I apologize for that. It was only…"

"In Matt's best interest, right?" Near finished for him. "Kill his parents, estranging him from his best friend and possible lover, attempting to rule his life is for Matt's best interest."

M frowned at the others voice. "Yes, his parents were weak. Mello does not understand Matt in a way that he should and therefore he is expendable. I don't rule Matt's life, I help it along to where it should be."

Near's fist tightened, "You play with people's emotions. That's what you do. You play with people that are close to Matt because you know them well enough to do so. You play with Mello, me, and anyone else that you can get your fingers into. Matt should be allowed to live his own life. He shouldn't have to suffer for something that you did. He shouldn't have to even think about something that you did but he has to because you're a part of Matt. You're a piece of him that he can't force away no matter how much it hurts his life. You've managed to almost take everything away from him."

He shrugged, "You have to take to give." His voice was straight but his eyes looked dark. "It's a life philosophy."

Near was about to respond when there was an impatient knock on the door behind M. The red head paused but his gaze flicked sideways as the door opened anyway without anyone telling Mello he could enter. The blond stood at the door in a pair of sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt that had to belong to Matt, frowning.

"I thought that maybe you were down here with this rat." His eyes narrowed on Near who seemed to be trying to figure out if he could fit through the space beside Mello and run to Roger if need be. "Don't worry Near, I didn't come here to fuck with you. At least, not right now." He folded his arms over his chest. "So you're back again?"

M sighed, "Mello, just because you can yell Matt out doesn't mean that I'll disappear. I've been around longer than you have and I'll be around once you're gone."

Mello hesitated. Did the other just threaten to kill him? It wouldn't be weird seeing as he killed Matt's own parents. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Of course not." He gave the other a sultry smile. "Why, oh, why would I want you to go anywhere, Mello?" The blond didn't reply. "You've already fucked Matt enough anyway."

Blue eyes narrowed, "I didn't fuck anything up."

M strolled towards the door and paused beside the blond, "If Matt's need to get away from his parents abuse and bickering created me then what do you think you leaving him all those years created?" His voice was light, almost playful. "What if I told you there are more of us but I'm the only one keeping them from taking over. Matt couldn't stop them, he couldn't when you left and he won't be able to now. I would suggest you be a bit kinder to me, Mello. Remember, I'm on your side….for the most part." He pat the blond on the chest and pushed past him out the door.