Disclaimer: check chap 1
"You two met a talent agent from Takada Kiyomi's agency?" Rester raised an eyebrow from his seat in front of a monitor.
Matt repeated the news that they just heard, "And he want to recruit Near's female appearance to be an idol?"
All eyes were on Near on the floor playing with several size of different Ultramans. He wore his official uniform a.k.a white pyjama. "Yes," Near admitted without looking at the others. "He want me to be an idol like Misa Amane."
"Wow," Matt couldn't hide his surprise, "Then, what did you say?"
"I didn't say anything because Mello accepted it," Near elaborated.
Matt and Rester snapped their head toward Mello. Matt blinked, "You what?"
"I want to canvass Takada's agency. There must be some information there," Mello reasoned. "I will use Near to go there as "Natsumi's" boyfriend while he will be train as new idol."
Rester rose to his feet, "Objection!"
Mello scowled, "Overruled."
"It won't be unnecessary," Rester explained, "We have Lidner to do that since she took the job to be Takada's body guard."
Mello raised an eyebrow, "It's not 'we'. Matt and I are not SPK members. That's Near strategy as your leader. And this is my strategy. My investigation. Near used me to get his information of second L. Now, it's just my payback."
Near did not object, but Rester clearly disagree, "But we have all the data about Takada and her movement."
"Not all data served the right information. You are an FBI agent, you knew some things aren't recorded in data. Some things which maybe sound insignificant but had value. Mouth-to-mouth information. That's why you send Lidner there," Mello explained, "But, she stayed 24/7 around Takada. It will be hard for her to ask anyone around the agency. I doubt she has the time."
It made sense. Rester thought about it and silenced. Matt let out his two cents, "Near will be recorded in CCTV, if Kira see it, he could be in danger. One look and he will know Near's real name. Not to mention, the Task Force knew your real name."
"We will choose a time where they were busy. Like, near the end time of work at the evening," Mello explained, "Besides, you will erase all the footage about me and Near in Takada's agent after we finished later."
"You want me to hack them?" Matt asked. Mello glanced at his friend, "Is that a problem?"
Matt smirked, "Nope."
Near turned his head to Mello, "Mello might forget this fact. I can't sing."
Mello snorted, "Bullshit! You have pitch perfect. Your voice could fool anyone to think you are a fallen angel when you start singing."
Matt snickered as Near blinked several times, "Fallen angel?" Mello scowled at his best friend. He was a bit embarrassed but determined to not show it. It just slipped before he could stop it. Damn. He was a bit annoyed Near didn't take that as conpliment. Instead, he said, "I repharase. I don't want to sing."
"No, you don't have to. You just need to give me time so I can talk to the people in the agency. You can ask typical question for newbie idol like how should you do or what expectation they want from you. Just talking to him. Avoid singing if you want. As long as you give me time."
Near considered it for a long seconds before he agreed, "Alright."
Rester frowned and head toward Near, "It's too risky. Both of you could be dead if you move too close to Kira."
Near replied calmly, "Kira or not, death is inevitable for humans. I'm not keen to suicide but if one move can change a future to be slightly better like capturing Kira, I'm willing to take the risk. Mello's method and mine may be different but we have one goal to catch Kira. All of us here risk our life to do it. I owe this to Mello, Commander."
"Near," The commander glanced at Mello then back at Near before he sighed. "I'll inform Givanni and Lidner." He was back to his computer and contact his comrades.
Mello looked at Near's back with a thoughtful gaze. Naturally, he was happy if anyone complied with him. Especially, if that person was Near. Mello has the intention to make Near do it with or without his consent. That was the only thing he knew in the real world. Everyone have their own agendas and used other to gain it. Even Near did not denied that he used Mello for information. There was a silent understanding between them that put Mello at ease. It always happened with Near. As if they talked in the same language. They understand each other.
His gaze moved to Rester as the commander ask about when will be the day they go to the agency. Mello told him as he walked to Rester's position. He bend to lower his body and whispered to Rester, "Next time, don't make him too pretty like today!"
–000–
The next day, both of Mello and Near did the same make over like yesterday since that they will go to the Desunoto agency. After it was done, Mello with the same wig and outfit, only different color, he used red jacket now. His eyebrow twitched as he looked at 'Natsumi'. Near wore a white sweater dan light blue skirt above his knee. White boots on his feet and navy handbag on his shoulder. Somehow, his looked more beautiful than yesterday.
Mello cornered Rester as Near's make up artist, he hissed, "I told you to not make him too pretty!"
"I didn't put much make up on him," Rester defended quickly. "It's barely there. I just put lip gloss and mascara. I didn't even do his eyebrow not even eyeliner. It's just his bare face with a bit mascara and lip gloss. That's it."
Mello narrowed his eyes at Rester before he turned around and gaze at Near. The boy let Matt put the glasses on. If Mello thought about it, indeed, Near didn't wore full make up like yesterday. He just felt something different and he thought it was better today. He felt restless to think he will let his 'girlfriend' around that pervert from yesterday.
"Ready?" Mello head to the other fellows. Matt nodded and so did Near. They checked their equipment one last time. Near had his phone ready. Inside the bag, there was a small camera attached to the bag so it will record everything connected to a computer here. Should anything happen, Rester and Matt will know immediately.
"Yes," Near replied. They rode Mello's bike to the Desunoto building. It was evening. Around the time for people to leave work. Mello parked then they entered the building. Mello turned to Near, "If that old man lay his hand on you, call me. Matt put my number on your speed dial. Press 1. I will take you back to SPK. Got it?"
"Isn't that will jeopardize Mello's mission to get information from the workers here?" Near found it contradict Mello's aim. He was aware that his personality was different than Mello. The blond man was hot headed compared to him. His bold action was the summary of Mello's personality. Near agreed to do this because Mello want to gain information in his way as a detective. He understood that action. Usually, Near knew Mello's action as he familiar with Mello's way of thinking as detective. However, he was confused why Mello had intention to abandon that objective should Near molested by the talent agent? It was not a detective supposed to do. Why?
"That's my bussiness," Mello said coldly.
Near was not able to get Mello's meaning behind his words. They locked their gaze and Mello knew Near didn't understand what Mello's been doing because the albino said, "I know how to defense myself. We have karate lesson at Wammy's House back then."
Mellon scowl. Near frowned. The younger man thought he was being underestimated for his defense ability while Mello was offended because he remembered Near indeed was good at their karate lesson. His movement was effective and Mello had difficult time to break Near's defence at that lesson. Mello should feel relieved and yet he was annoyed because Near didn't get it.
He said shortly, "Good," then they head to the receptionist to make themselves known. The receptionist girl admitted that 'Natsumi' was expected so she gave 'her' direction to the intended room. Mello saw Near get inside the lift before he scanned around. Another lift after Near's get up, was open and a bunch of women chattering as they went up.
Mello walked to their direction and greeted them.
–000–
"And delete," Matt said as he press the mouse. He had been hacked Desunoto's computer system for the last three days and deleted all the picture of 'Natsumi' and 'Mori' from all the security camera in that building. It has been three days since Mello started canvassing and no result.
Mello scowled as he bite the chocolate bar and started at Matt's laptop. He had try to gain information from women who worked at Desunoto Production House. Yet, nothing was important enough. Only trivias. Mello had hear Near's conversation with Second L about Takada Kiyomi. If Near put Lidner near her as her bodyguard and Second L admitted that he approached Takada as well, then he or anyone from the Task Force must be around Takada Kiyomi. But, who?
He knew all the members of Task Force and their family from his time with the mafia (and he didn't share this information with Near). That was why he knew about Yagami Sayu. The daughter of NPA's chief. Kidnapped her and get Death Note. But, none of them or their relatives were work in the Desunoto Production House. Then, how Second L approached Takada Kiyomi if no one from Task Force near her?
Other than Lidner and several special bodyguards, no one new was around Takada Kiyomi. Her private assistants, driver, and manager were all working for her even before she was chosen as Kira's spokeswoman. Mello checked all their background and had no connection at all with Task Force. Then, how Second L did his investigation on Takada? Hacking? No, Second L quite bragging to Near which implied that he had Takada Kiyomi under his fingers.
Mello did not expect to get result within days but he get frustrated that his investigation getting nowhere. He will not ask Near what he had besides since Matt came, he was able to hacked Near's headquarters so he knew what Near had. Yet, there was information before Matt helped him that Mello didn't know about Near's founding.
Despite that, Mello was kept thinking how the Second L approached Takada Kiyomi? Mello narrowed his eyes. He missed something. Then, he remembered Lidner told Near that she and other guardian would escorted Takada Kiyomi at night to different hotels a few time a week. Takada never told them who she was meeting but judging from how she would carefully retouch her make up and hair and dress with a bit intimate touch, Lidner guess she met her boyfriend.
Boyfriend.
Mello widened his eyes. Did Second L meet Takada in person?
—000—
"Call me–"
Near sighed, "Yes, I will call if I'm being molested. This is the fourth day, why Mello keep telling me this everytime?" He muttered with confusion laced in his voice as he head to the receptionist again. "I can defense myself."
Mello heard that but only frowned as he saw 'Natsumi' went inside the lift. Mello whispered to himself, "Coz you don't understand Near."
His thought was taken when a group of women came inside while talking. One woman said, "My friend saw Takada-san and Misa-misa were fighting a few days ago at NHN."
Misa-misa? That's Amane Misa!
Mello followed the group discreetly and listened closely.
"Takada-san? Fighting? Unbelievable," one woman surprised. "She always so calm."
"Well, she didn't act much but it seemed Misa-san was furious over something," the previous woman explained. "She is so childish." The other women agreed.
"Is it about a man or popularity?" Another being curious. It was no secret that both of them have their own fans. One was an idol and another was reporter, Kira's new spokesperson. They were popular but in different segment. "Or both?"
"Speaking of it, is it true Takada-san has new boyfriend?"
"Oh, you hear about it too? She went disappeared few times after work, right? But, I saw how she changed her outfit after she finished with work. She looks so pretty but she has no schedule anymore. It must be it. Her boyfriend. She meets him after work."
The rest nodded in agreement. One said, "Whoever is he, the guy must be top notch."
"Why do you say that?"
"I went to the same high school with her, she never date someone... You know. Low or middle class."
"Oh, I heard her last boyfriend was a criminal prosecutor. Must be rich."
"She never change, then. At that time, she date no.1 of wanted list in our school. The smartest, the most handsome, and rich. She dated the son of NPA's chief, Light Yagami-kun."
Mello's eyes widened.
Thank you guys for still reading this! Sorry, I did not update regularly coz my life was hectic. My family was sick, I was sick as well at the same time so quite busy to get healthy again.
Hopefully all of us stay healthy!
Eira Baker: Thank you for your comment! Yes, they will have twins. I just haven't write the moment when they know that LOL hopefully, they will get married and nothing bad happens. So happy to know that you love this story! I want them to be happy too! Be patient and keep read this story!