Chapter eight:

"Is it alright if we talk?" Mello requests and Ra-Ra hesitates a moment before turning away with a slight sniffle. He approaches her putting an arm around her shoulders surprising her. He lets her lean against him for comfort. "Look. I may be more of an outsider to all of this. However you didn't cause this. There is no way you could have even known that coming here would cause such a thing. You don't even know if they have eyes on you or what. So I can confidently say that this instance is not your fault. You weren't the one to help spread it in any way." His words do seem to help Ra-Ra a little. "I am aware it will likely take a bit for Near to fully trust you. I just think that we really need to try to find a cure before anything really bad happens. We'll put our heads together and maybe we'll figure something out."

Ra-Ra sniffles before she responds to him. "Do you think that Near will want to work with me? I really didn't mean to bring the trouble here. I am so sorry."

"You leave talking to him to me. I will convince him." Mello promises as he is very determined to be able to at least get them to work together. "I can't promise that he will forgive you. However I am very certain that I can get him to agree to at least work together to try to find a cure. I will come to find you once I have finished getting him to let you help us."

Ra-Ra slightly buries herself further into Mello's chest almost fully covering her whole face. "Before you go do so could you at least hug me for a bit longer." She lets out a relieved sigh as Mello puts both arms around her.

"Sure." Mello isn't sure why however he just saw Ra-Ra almost like she was a little sister. He silently tells himself that he is being stupid because he doesn't know her that much.

The two stay there for a bit then pull away once Ra-Ra is feeling better.

"Thank you Mello. You're a good guy." Ra-Ra smiles to him.

"Yeah yeah." Mello turns away to turn to the door. "Just don't go around talking about it. I got a bit of a reputation to keep up." He glances over his shoulder as Ra-Ra chuckles warmly.

"I'll keep it a secret." Ra-Ra promises even crossing her heart to show she means it.

Mello smiles to this and turns away leaving making sure that he is not seen doing so.

Just a little later…

Mello arrives to where Near agreed to have them meet.

"So? What did you find?" Near asks looking confident about what must have been found.

"Actually. I found out that she had nothing to do with this." Mello tells Near who starts to twirl a strand of hair seeming frustrated about this. "I even listened in when she didn't know I was there. She had no clue why this was happening. Thought it might be her fault that she brought them here." He meets Near's eyes even though a moment later the other glances away. "Look. I think we should team up with her." He doesn't get any noticeable response from the other even if the form of a physically one so he continues. "I want to make it very clear that I am not telling you to forgive her or become friends again. What I am saying is that she has had the most research out of any of us in trying to find a cure. We need that knowledge if we are going to make this cure faster. After its all done then you two can go back to just doing your own things." He really hopes that Near will accept this. He offers a hand for the other to shake. "What do you say?"

Near is silent for a few moments causing Mello's hope to die down a little in worry that Near is trying to figure out the best way to tell him no. "Alright." He says after a moment making Mello almost shocked that he managed to do it. "Like you said I don't have to forgive her. But she does have more information on the possible way to cure want is going on. In times like this we will need to set aside our differences for the sake of those that need our help. Even if it won't be easy to jump back into working with her after everything." He removes his finger from his hair. He reaches out shaking Mello's hand.

"You'll get time to process things and heal." Mello tells Near and is tugged closer. His eyes widen when Near places a small kiss on his cheek. He swears that it is like a small peck almost like a light tap of a kittens nose.

"That's just a way to promise." Near tells Mello after pulling away and letting go of Mello's hand. "From where I was born it was a way to tell someone that you won't go back on your word. So I am telling you that I won't go back on my word of setting aside the differences to work with her to find this cure. If I do go back on this promise then you get to decide what I have to do to make amends to you. As well as that I will be punished in the afterlife for each time I break a promise made. That's how it works."

Mello smiles even though he has a slight blush. "All good. Maybe I will get to learn even more about things your village used to do." He gets a look from Near who looks so grateful and so beautiful as well. He clears his throat trying to appear normal. "I will go talk to her. See if she feels the same way." He doesn't want to tell Near that she already agreed. He doesn't want to risk Near getting upset about this having been planned out in a way in order to get them both to work together for the cure. He truly doesn't expect them to make amends, as long as they can help the people who need it before it may become too late. So he isn't lying there at least.

"I will meet you guys in the library." Near nods his head. "And I will stop to ask Matt to gather as much medical data that he can get that might be useful. You focus on getting her to agree to help us."

Mello nods his head and the two separate for now. He goes looking for Ra-Ra soon finding her in the common room glancing at any books some kids have in case they might be helpful. He catches her eyes and nods that they need to talk away from others.

The two move away heading just outside going to the side of the building.

"You will work with Near and help us find a cure. Won't you?" Mello wants to make sure that if Near is listening that he thinks that he is doing as asked.

"No need to say more. I will help." Ra-Ra nods her head in assurance to this. "And before you ask I won't try to make amends through this. This team work is to focus on finding the cure to help those that are infected."

Mello leans his head a bit forward. "Promise?" He sees her move closer after understanding crosses her eyes. He at least knows what is coming this time.

Ra-Ra does it exactly on the same side and same spot as Near's.

Mello leans his head back when that promise is done. "Good. Now you both have promised me."

"Near teach you that?" Ra-Ra chuckles warmly after getting a nod from the blonde orphan. "Well it is a good way to make sure someone keeps their promise. We even used to get stories of horrible things that have happened to spirits who in life broke even just one of these promises." She turns her body away though her head is still able to look at Mello as he is now standing beside her. "Come on. I am guessing that you have a place to meet up with Near."

"Indeed I do." Mello leads the way and they quickly manage to find Near.

Near and Ra-Ra stand for a few moments staring at each other in silence.

Mello wonders if the promise will be broken despite the attempt to make sure it won't be.

"Let's make a cure." Near finally speaks and Ra-Ra smiles wide then offers her notebook for Near to look over.

Mello is glad that they can begin the attempt to help cure the infected before things get out of hand. He just hopes that they can find a way to help cure them.