Chapter four:

There is something going on in the hall that catches Mello's attention.

"You really should come with us." A voice Mello doesn't recognizes says.

Mello turns to the open door wondering what's going on.

"Don't you know that you can't just run?" Another voice Mello doesn't recognizes speaks.

"It is in your best interest to come with us. There is no more running." The first voice says.

"Just come with us. We don't want to have to do anything we don't want to." The second voice adds.

"No." Near's voice is added then there is soft slightly fast footsteps approaching.

"Where are you going to run? You have no place left to hide." The first voice calls probably after Near.

Near turns into his room and glances back just as Mello glances down to the object so Near accidently runs into Mello making the object drop to the object.

The two stabilize themselves then turn to each other.

Near's eyes flicker to the object that feel to the ground.

Mello goes over to the object and picks it up only to place it on Near's head.

Seeing it this way it suddenly hits Mello.

"You're the prince that vanished." He says in a slight gasp.

Near moves and closes the door not looking at Mello as the crown rests upon his head. "There seems to be no need to hide it from you now." He sighs and slightly turns to slightly look to Mello. "Yes. I am the prince."

"What happened?" Mello questions.

Near turns to face Mello. "You want to know what happened?" He then stops and looks away. "I really don't want to talk about it."

"But why hide anything. I know that you are the prince." Mello says.

Near walks past Mello and takes off the crown only to look at it as he slows to a stop. "Please don't get into it Mello." He says and tosses his prince crown to the bed.

"What really happened?" Mello keeps demanding.

"Drop it Mello!" Near says in a stern tone Mello has never heard him speak with before like that.

It was almost as if for a moment Near actually took charge like Mello was someone looking for orders.

"Prince or not. I deserve the truth now!" Mello retaliates.

"Mello. Leave." Near says. "Leave and forget that you know the truth." He lowers his head.

Mello blinks as he is once again seeing a Near very similar to the one that got him worried for the other. He wonders what dark secrets Near could possibly be hiding about his past. "Near….."

"Please Mello." Near says as if he has started to give up something. "Just leave it alone."

Mello moves over to Near and puts a hand on his shoulder. "So this is what has been up with you recently. All of this is tied with you being the prince that vanished." He says.

Near nods now just going silent.

Mello's mind gears turn on overdrive as his mind works to try to piece together an idea of what might really have happened.

Did Near escape his kidnappers and went here in fear that they will go after him or his family if he is known where he is?

Was he even kidnapped?

What really happened all that time ago?

Suddenly Mello pulls Near into a hug as if he isn't really thinking about his actions.

Near blinks surprised then glances up to Mello who seems to have his lost in thought bubble popped by Near's gaze.

Mello looks down to Near. "You really can't continue like this."

Near sighs glancing away. "I'm just not sure what else to do exactly. It's complicated."

Mello raises a hand gently petting Near's hair. "But it's something you can solve right?"

Near doesn't look so sure about that.

There are a few moments of silence.

"You should probably get going. I don't want to be the reason for you getting in trouble." Near says looking back to Mello.

Mello opens his mouth to protest but Near seems to know he was going to do that.

"Please give me a little bit to think. Don't get in trouble just because of me." Near says. "Don't worry."

Mello feels so… indescribably different under Near's slightly pleading eyes staring into his own. He reluctantly lets go of Near. He doesn't know what it is Nears words or the look but something has him settled on letting Near be for a little bit.

"Then at least come find me when you think it over a little?" Mello says to make sure refusing to leave without the answer.

Near nods. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." He agrees.

Mello leaves obviously hesitant as if waiting for Near to call him back.

He doesn't.

Mello leaves hoping everything is ok.

…. But is it really?

Mello goes into his room closing his door behind himself. "What the hell is going on?" He wonders to himself. He spends the rest of the time just asking himself questions as he tries to figure out whats going on until it's time for bed. He crawls into bed and closes his eyes letting his worries follow him into dreamland….. Until….. He is awoken by someone settling on the bed. He turns and finds Near sitting on the edge. "Near?" He sits up.

It's quite dark outside but it's a full moon allowing a good amount of light in just enough to be able to tell it's Near.

"I'm sorry Mello." Near begins. "I don't want to talk about it right now but….." He pauses for a moment then speaks a little quieter. "But I just don't want to be alone right now."

Mello can't help but smile softly then he leans over wrapping his arms around Near's body pulling him more onto the bed to be leaning against him. "You don't have to be alone." He says in assurance.

Near pauses for a moment then relaxes into Mello's hold with his head resting on Mello's chest. "Thank you Mello."

Mello feels special in a way. He knows that not only is Near actually being more open with him than anyone but he knows that he dislikes being touched so him allowing Mello to hold him is definitely special.

The silence lingers between the two and eventually Mello raises a hand to stroke Near's hair.

After a bit longer Mello blinks as he realizes something.

At some point after Mello started stroking his very soft hair Near had fallen asleep.

Mello blinks as he notices by the moonlight hitting Near's face just right that Near must not have been sleeping well lately maybe since that day that made Mello worried. He carefully moves to shift Near to lay him down against one side of the pillow. He then gets the blanket out from under Near only to cover him with it. He watches Near sleep for a few moments then he settles into bed next to Near.

The warmth of another human being next to him makes Mello start to think that sleeping alone is a little cold.

He closes his eyes to try to get some sleep himself.

…

Rodger can't help but smile softly as the words echo in his head then he turns away walking off. "Changes are to come around here." He says to himself. "More than I thought." He heads to his own room to get some sleep.