Chapter eight:
"It's been too long hasn't it little brother?" The man mentions getting some surprise tears from the orphan.
Near can't hold back anymore and leaps into the others arms. "Light!" He happily calls out as the other hugs him back with some happy sobs over seeing him again.
The other orphans are left in pure shock at what they are seeing as the two siblings hug each other clearly showing that they haven't seen each other in a long time.
Watari places a hand on L's shoulder knowing that even he is getting a little emotional at seeing the two being finally reunited.
L takes a silent breath then approaches the two. "Come." He tells them as the two of them look at him without letting go. "Let us talk a bit in private." He leads the way to get to Rogers office which Watari goes on ahead to make sure that it is all clear for them.
Light carries Near in a hugging like way which Near doesn't seem to mind as he goes to follow L.
After they are gone whispers of curiosity and shock wash over the orphans.
Mello clenches his teeth watching the two head away then he heads away as well. He needs to see if he is able to listen in to whatever conversation is going to happen. He quietly hisses to himself spotting that Roger and Watari are standing in the way of the only way to get to the office meaning that they won't be letting him through. He storms off deciding to head to Matt's room to get some of this off of his chest to the one person who will listen without judgement. "And I was working on a case for L to show up Near." He mutters to himself as he keeps going. "Now is it all going to go to waste?!"
In Rogers office…
L is sitting in Roger's chair with Light and Near sitting in a chair each next to each other. "I am sure that there is many questions especially for you Near." He mentions and Light glances to the other at hearing this name. "Ah yes. Sorry Light I should have told you. The orphans are each given an alias to hide their true names. Since Watari founded this orphanage and I interact with them time to time, they knew who I was when I walked in, so it is for their best interest to get used to using alias names. Not to mention that one of them could end up being possibly picked as my successor it really is for the best." He sees Light nod his understanding to this. He turns his gaze to Near who looks a lot happier than he has in a long while. "I can explain a bit for you." He tells the other who nods his head to this. "So you see I met Light while on a case where I came in person pretending to be someone else. I found out about his story after I caught him about to try to use a master computer for that countries police to try to find information about you." He smiles softly even as Light rubs the back of his head slightly embarrassed about that. "I decided to help him and we found out more and more. Stuff that the only other person helping Light in his search wouldn't be allowed access to. Until I indeed realized that it was you. So I brought Light with me to allow you two to reunite."
"I really appreciate that." Near slightly dips his head to show his thanks then he looks to Light who looks to him. He smiles at the other. "I'm so glad you were able to find me. I wanted to go and find you but it was hard not even knowing where you could be."
"Yeah it was hard." Light puts an arm around his little brother's shoulders. "Don't worry about it. What matters is that we found each other. I found you. Just like I promised I would." He gets a smile at saying this. He knows that the both of them are well aware that they have a lot to tell each other for the time that they were apart. "If it is alright with you we want to take you with us. I want you to meet some people specifically." He continues after Near tilts his head curiously. "They are the family that adopted me. Not only that but they did whatever they could to help me to try to find you. Never giving up along with me even as the years passed. I know that they're going to love you. I also think that you will really like them too."
Near nods softly. "Yeah. I'd like that." He agrees and Light is so happy that he did so.
"We will stay here tonight and tomorrow we can head out." L suggests bringing attention back to him. "I am aware that the two of you have a lot to catch up on after all this time apart. It'll be good for you two to be able to have tonight. If you're not comfortable doing so here we have a hotel room that we can stay the night at instead. Just let me know."
Light looks to Near at this. "It is up to you. Where would you rather be?"
Near slightly glances down in thought for a moment before coming to a decision. "The hotel would better. The others would be nosy and try to hear everything as well as probably not give us any peace." He sees Light and L nod their understanding. "However." He continues and knows that they are listening. "Before we leave there is one thing I want to do. Someone I just need to at least briefly talk to before heading out."
"Of course." Light agrees to this. "You take all the time that you need. We won't rush out of here."
Near nods and though he is hesitant to leave he does so and heads out. He can haer Light and L start to talk a little after he leaves. He heads to the rooms with Watari letting him go past. He manages to get around without being noticed by the others so they don't swarm him. He is about to head to one room only to pause when he hears the voice of who he is looking for coming from another room. He heads towards that room a little curiously.
"Ugh! This isn't making any sense!" Mello groans out only for Matt to hum his response.
"Well I don't think anyone saw this coming. Not even me. I looked into everyones files and on his it never mentioned anything about this. I didn't think he had any living family."
"Is there more?!" Mello questions clearly trying to wrap his around all of this.
Near gently knocks causing the two to jump then he heads inside. "It is just Light I can assure you." He tells them with their eyes staring at him.
"Why are you here?" Mello questions narrowing his eyes at Near.
"I wanted to talk to you Mello before I left." Near admits only for Mello to look away with a growl at hearing this. He slightly looks down at this response causing Matt to slightly glance to the blonde.
"Get it over with." Mello grumbles clearly curious as to what Near has to say.
"I wanted to tell you that I secretly admired you." Near's words do surprise Mello. "You work so hard and I didn't have any doubts that one day you would surpass me. You are very capable after all. I however worried that I would lose your attention if you did beat me. So I did work a bit to try to prevent it. Even then you'd be half a point off from even tying with me. It truly is amazing."
Mello slightly looks to Near at this though Near doesn't raise his head. "Why do you not want my attention on you anymore?" He questions and Near lets out a breath before Matt speaks up with sparkling eyes.
"Ooh! He likes you Mello!" Matt almost leaps to his feet from where he is sitting on the floor only for the blonde who is standing right by him to hit him over the head. He lowers his head staying where he is instead.
Mello turns to fully focus on Near after this. "Well? What is your answer?"
"Matt summed it up really well. I never knew feelings like this before. It is just that something about you really brings them out of me. I just didn't feel like I could let anyone know and I thought you hated me so there was no point in admitting it."
Mello looks away at this with his eyes flickering back and forth in thought. He is quiet for a few moments before his thoughts come to a conclusion about what to say to this. He also feels Matt give him an encouraging nudge. "I don't really have an answer to that. I never actually fully hated you. You did intrigue me. I just cannot answer what exactly my feelings about all of this is."
"I understand. I can give you time. We can stay in contact if you want."
"I can set it up." Matt offers then ducks his head to be quiet when he gets a look from Mello.
"Yeah whatever. Why are you leaving with that man?"
"He is my older brother. We were forced apart but promised to reunite. He wants me to come with him and even meet the family that had adopted him." Near explains to Mello. "He is the real family that I have known for a lot of my life. I missed him and always wondered if it really was possible for us to ever see each other again. It is why I stared out the window so much. I also didn't really trust those here, except I found trust in you just didn't really show it, so I kept myself hidden and secretive."
"I see. Well you do whatever." Mello shrugs and fully turns away to show that he is done with this conversation.
"Thank you for letting me speak my mind to you Mello." Near mentions and is about to leave though Matt gets up and makes sure that they can stay contact.
Mello really isn't sure what he feels towards Near. He especially finds it confusing after the other had suddenly just opened up to him. He clenches his one arm as it is frustrating that he doesn't know his own feelings right now.
