8:43 p.m.

The whole room filled with smoke as Matt sat staring at the many screens he had feed into the living room. Wires and sparks flew from various places and fizzled out of existence. Heat seemed to kill the air. Not that this stopped Matt and as he turned from his D.S. to the score of numbers and symbols that flew around the different sized monitors.

People shuffled in and surrounded the concentrating gamer. “Mello wants to know if you’ve got anything to report.” A tall sandy haired men asked turning Matt’s swivel chair to face them.

Matt didn’t even look up. “Jacks. You tell blondie that he doesn’t have to be formal with me. And if he wants to know what his hell is like he can come and see me himself.”

Jacks took a step back. “You sure are gutsy with the boss.” He finished with a nervous laugh. “Are you sure you want me to tell him that?”

“Be my guest.” Matt mumbled taking along drag and blowing it in the guy’s direction.

Jacks took the hint and went down the stairs. “Is he crazy!?” one the other men said. “Mello is gonna be so mad when Matt challenges him. That freak better pray for his life.”

“Matt’s got nothin’ to worry too much about. It’s his ability to be so close and open with Mello that keeps him alive actually.” Jacks said opening and climbing threw the small door that lead to the hiding place of the crazy blond.

“What did Matt say?” Mello was dressed in his all black and silver leather suit. He was bent over a large map he had stolen of L’s building. When they staid quiet just a second too long he got up, the tight leather creaking with every move he made. “WELL!?” He shouted moving around the table and stopping in front of his band of goons.

“He- He said that if you want any info. to come see him yourself.” Jacks said controlling himself to not back away from the enraged blond. They knew that the small height of their leader was nothing in comparison with his sudden movements and attacks.

Mello’s face turned to pure disgust and he snickered to himself. “That so?” He muttered and turned to Jacks. “The next time I send you for information I expect you to come back with it.” He said evilly and punched the man’s face. “Get up top and find out what the cops are doing about Kira.”

They all turned and walked back out, leaving the enraged flaxen haired man to himself. But, soon he too left the basement to find his suddenly rebellious red head pup.

“Here he comes.” Matt muttered around his cigarette. He faced Mello as the blond came in and stormed over beside him taking in the various codes.

“Why did you reject Jacks with my orders? No matter who asks you it comes from me.”

“Mels.” Matt sighed putting out what was left of his cigarette. “I don’t care who brings it, if you want it get it yourself. You aren’t an invalid, you can walk from there”, he pointed to the stairs, “to here anytime.”

Mello snickered and pulled up another chair. “Have there be any changes in the activity?” He asked squinting to try to understand what was happening on the screens. He wouldn’t admit it but he didn’t have a clue what Matt could see.

“No.” Matt replied by turning off his game. “What have you found?”

“That if this Kira ever get our picture or names, we’re dead. It seams that from what L got so far. There are two or three Kiras. Two have either passed on their power or they‘ve simply made themselves look innocent for the time being.”

“Why are we dead just by our pictures and names?” Matt secured his goggles in front of his eyes. “That doesn’t make sense at all, Mel.”

“I know. But, it’s all they need to kill you.”

“How?” Mello could tell Matt was hooked now by the way he didn’t play his games while he talked.

“Kira can kill you by either giving you a heart attack or any other means he can think of. He’s gotten pretty creative too. He’s killed someone with a bus jacking, and he’s caused the death of twelve F.B.I. agents sent to Japan on L’s request for the investigation. And now he has killed L himself.”

“How can you force a heart attack?” Matt said. “No one, unless you’ve got some kind of condition, can be told ‘You will die of a heart attack’ and do it.”

“He doesn’t need to say anything it seems or else they would have caught him by now.”

“Then how is he doing it?”

“That is what we need to find out.” Mello said biting a chocolate bar in half “We need to send some guys over there to spy for us. Then we’ll move in ourselves. Get me Aiber and Wedy to look into it. Their there anyway. They were working with L at his request.”

“Now you’re talkin’!” Matt chanted pulling out his phone and connecting it to his computer. “One thief and con artist team comin’ up!”

An hour later.

Matt's phone was still conected and beeping in the same repetitive way it did when a line was dead or busy. He frowned and reaching over shook Mello's shoulder to wake him from his doze.

"Wha?" Mello asked rubbing his lidded eyes and stretching like a cat in his chair. He leaned toward the phone Matt held out to him. He quirked when the line clicked and died. A simple message started it was Aiber's voice. The conman was saying things in a code. Mello started to write the information down and handed it to Matt while he tried Wedy's number. It was the same thing.

Matt tapped on Mello's unscared shoulder and held up the paper. Mello dropped Matt's phone to the table top at the now de-coded message.

*When this code is found. I've either quit my bussiness or died. You pick.*

"Sorry, Mel's" Matt said, he followed the blond to the kitchen area. "Aiber didn't quit, thats for sure. He must have died." Some how it sounded so bad to act so nonchalot about the professional's passing. But, it was obvious something they needed to face with a strait face to hold it together.

Mello just nodded and poured himself a strong drink. He only benged when something struck home with him. And boy had it ever. Kira comes and startes his killings. L takes up the case. L lets people see him for the first time and then dies! Now Aiber and Wedy!? What will happen next? Who will stop reporting? What if it's himself? Or Matt? And if Near ever dies they probably wouldn't find out till it was to late to do anything about it.

The kitchen was quiet as both men sat at the table and shared these similar thoughts.

2:30 p.m.

Near sat after Matt had talked with Rodger, wondering if this was real? Had both Mello and Matt just thrown away there easy chance at all the things they had ever dreamed of?

He stood up and felt as though he had some kind of power in his limbs. ‘So this is why Mello turned it down.’ He wondered ‘If we had worked together I would have been just as passive as L feared!’ He put his fisted hands over his wide eyes. ‘He knew this and gave Mello a challenge! Even in death L knew how to handle his successors.’ He turned to the stairs and walked up them. ‘With out the help of all the people I’ve depended on so closely…..Even Matt saw it sooner than I did.’ He smirked ‘I would have been a burden to them and any people who are involved in this case.’

He stopped at the familiar sound of chocolate being snapped. He looked up to see Mello standing at the top watching him with eyes of ice. “So are you going or not!?” He said in a tone that would kill. “As my rival, I can’t let you stay here and play around.” He walked toward Near his face filling with anger at every step. But, Near didn't move an inch. “Don’t just stand there, idiot! Get the hell out of my damn house!!”

Near felt Mello’s fist slam into his left cheek. Sending him flying into the wall. He got up and charged Mello his arms hanging at his sides. Mello didn’t have time as Near’s socked foot crashed his side. Near fought with his legs as much as possible. He had learned this from L when he was very small. His hands weren’t meant for combat but hidden beneath those baggy pants were the sturdiest pair of legs in the whole orphanage.

Mello was on his feet again and he immediately reached for his gun. He pulled it out to find that Near had one pointed at him as well. They stood waiting for each other to move. Mello felt the pain and the feeling of betrayal reflect from Near’s black pools. They both lowered their weapons and Mello just had time to mutter “Get out.” before he vanished into one of the many hidden places through out the house.

Matt had watch it all and had been waiting for one of the two to come find him. As he now bandaged Mello’s side he felt it o.k. to talk to the unruly blond. “You were pretty harsh with him.” He muttered around a cigarette.

“I had to.” Mello said looking down at the gamer. “It was the best way I could think of to get him moving. He can’t stay here if he wants to be L. Justice doesn’t blend with the Underline. They are two separate worlds.”

Near, who had been standing with his own recovery, clutched his chest as he listened to this. He knew that as long as he lived he would never forget those words. They meant too much to him. He foght the deep sad inside himself and wished them a silent farewell before he left to gather his things.

He meet Outa at the top. “I’ve a request for you.”

“Sure! What do you need?” Outa picked up one of the many boxes labeled ‘toys’ and began moving it down. He stopped and turned blinking at the white boy. “What?”

“I need an assistant for my work in the Kira case.” Near said sheepishly, twirling his hair.

Outa raised an eyebrow. “And I guess that you want me to get you one?”

“No.” Near replied “I want you to be my assistant. I need someone who knows what there doing in the underground and in the court rooms. You being a lawyer and a killer of sorts.” He finished and picked up another box moving down with Outa.

“Are you sure you would want me? Living a double life is dangerous enough without getting in the whole L thing.” Outa was thinking very hard about all this. “What about Mikami, anyway?”

“Mikami has gone ahead to join Kira.” Near sated with the utmost disgust. “He seems to think that killing criminals and being a murderer is only way to exist.”

Outa snickered at the ironic statement. “It’s funny to hear that from you of all people.”

“I am justice now. I can not afford to think of the past any. People need me I can not be selfish. As the L before me I must be able to give up things that I love very much before I engage in battle. That means my past lives and everyone in them.”

“How did you know that Mikami left? He didn’t even tell me except by cutting all our connections. It’s sad really….” They had reached the car by now and he leaned on the back while he asked Near about the topic.

“Sad as it is.” Near said “I don’t think Mikami felt the need to put any faith in L. Especially after they talked at the hospital. I could tell from then on that they wanted nothing more than to be away and opposite each other.”

There was a small silence that was followed by a heavy sigh. “How could L have died? He always took the utmost caution. I even heard that he built his own building to work inside of so he wouldn’t have to into hiding.” The older man sat hard on the ground. He rested his head in his head and made circular motions with his fingers over his temples.

“True. But, Kira was and still is some were in the small group of people that he let see his face.” Near sat next to Outa. “I’ve read everything that L chronicled about this case. And it seemed that of everyone he suspected a man named Light most.” Nears face sat frozen with his mask, but the rage burned his gut. For it was Light that had contacted Outa in the first place! That fool. He would pay for playing with them this way.

“Well…” Outa moved and stood a few steps from the undersized teen. “Were are we off to, N?” He said

“Our journey starts in Japan and goes were ever the case does.” He smiled at the sudden change in the man’s mind. Maybe this could become something interesting after all.

12:55 p.m.

All three of L’s top successors sat in the darkened basement. Each had their own reasons for being there. Matt: to decline any L offers that came to him. Mello: to see if he would be alone after this fateful meeting. Near: To see who would succeed their mentor.

The door opened and in walked the familiar figure of Rodger. The man who took charge of these matters since Watari had also died in the ‘Kira’ case investigation.

“You boys know the L routine am I correct?” Rodger stated sitting in the front of the long table. “The previous L left us with a little surprise as to the key of who will succeed him.”

Matt snickered behind his cigarette and turned away. His fingers blazing over some controllers buttons.

The old man glared at the upstart before turning back and looking at Near and Mello. “There is the rule that only one may go on to be L.” He gazed over some papers he held. “He never picked one of you.”

“What?” Mello said leaning forward. All those years of work he had put into showing them his worth and now none of them would be L?

“Let us hear Rodger out, Mello.” Near said. “Please continue. If he didn’t pick either of us who held his eye?”

Matt spun back around, “No way your making me do anything L’ish. I’m not up for it. I’m a passive type of guy mostly. Ummm……” He snapped his fingers “A follower not a leader. That’s what I mean!”

“L knew your intentions Matt never fear.” Rodger calmly told the boy. “L had other intentions for you.” He slid Matt some section of paper and again turned to the other two. “L said that Matt would act in the place of Watari.”

“Awwwwww.” Matt said “Ain’t he sweet!”

“Shut up, Matt!” Mello barked sitting down. “Now Rodger. Tell us who L picked.”

“L wished for you two to collaborate. He stated that one could benefit from the other. As Mello needs someone to act as the passive L and Near would require someone to do all the active work.”

The silence that followed made the air itself feel stifling. Both boys seemed to star off at nothing in particular.

Mello spoke first. “There can’t be two L’s at one time. It’s impossible. Near and I would only wined up fighting over the position.”

“Look here, you!” Rodger shouted standing up and going to stand beside Mello. “He watched you all the years he could! And even after he called when possible to check on the progress! You are not going to sit there and tell me that the consideration of a man who is now dead! Is going to be thrown away by the least likely of all of them! Why if it were up to me I’d have never even given you a thought!”

Mello stood up so quickly the man didn’t even see the movement. He had been sitting in the dark but was now in the full light in front of the man. His scar fully exposed and seemed to pulsate with his rage. “And if it had been ME! I would not have put an abusive old freak like you in charge of 78 children!!! For the man who was the world’s three top detectives, L sure didn’t pay to close attention to the underlying problems of his own institute. ‘The man who sees the world, doesn’t see his own home!’”

Rodger backed away from the mad look in the boy’s fiery eyes. “I only did what was in interest.” He stated pointing a shaking finger at him. “Discipline is the key to success! No matter what the cost!”

“ALL WE EVER WANTED WAS LOVE!!!! REAL LOVE AND APRESCIATION!!!” He stood panting for a moment, Near watching this quazi-drama unfold. His eyes wide with surprise. When Mello had collected himself he said in a whisper. “It’s all any of us wanted…. I want the position of L passed on to Near and Matt. I will catch this ‘Kira’ my own way. I’m grown and don’t need a parents hand to hold me down. Besides Near will be able to solve this keeping his cool. Something I can’t do.”

“Fine.” Rodger sighed “Near and Matt will go on. While Mello…” He glanced in the blond’s direction “will have all his records at Whammy’s erased. For his cowardice at not standing for justice.”

“As you see fit!” Mello spat walking up the stairs.

Matt stood at some point during the whole scenario “Ummmmmm…..Rodger?” Matt piped up. He walked and placed the papers back in the folder. He put out his cigarette on the bottom of his boot. “I’ve got something to say about the matter of being L’s assistant.” He ran a hand threw his mop of hair causing the mess to stick up on the top.

‘What a sight.’ Near snickered to himself.

“Yes, Mail?” Rodger said looking warmly at the red head.

“Not sure how else to put it…. But, I don’t want to be the Watari figure.”

“What!?” The man looked like he had just been torn in two. “Why!?” That smug Mello would get a good laugh at him if he had heard that.

Matt simply smiled. “Isn’t it obvious?”

11:19 a.m.

Sitting at the front of the long table Mello waited for Near to bring his what made his mouth water. A huge slice of double chocolate cake!

He wiggled with excitement when Near placed a giant hot slice of euphoria in front of him. He picked up the silver fork and stuffed a three inch mouthful in his face.

“You are such a child.” Near teased biting his banana and giving Mel an innocent look.

“Shuh up, Mear!” Mello said around the cake giving Near a light punch on his shoulder. He swallowed the huge mouthful. “You’re no better with your stupid banana as your breakfast.”

“It’s healthier than cake every single morning.” Near stated moving out of the way of Mello’s flying fist “Missed again.” He said moving a little ways away down the bench.

“Humph.” Mello said taking another womping bite. “Now. What’s it you want to talk about?”

“Oh…” Near threw his peal in the bin. “I’ve been thinking and have decided to look into L’s latest case. Matt is hacking his files for me as we speak.”

“Why? Does this mean you want to leave? I knew you idolized the insomniac but I never thought you would actually follow the creep.” Mello sat ridged examining the determined face before him.

“I said I’m just looking at the Kira case not leaving and following L.” Near was on the defensive as Mello and he’s gaze hardened at each other. They had a reputation for competing to be the next L. But it had died down since they had left Whammy’s. They both knew though that if it ever happened again. It would be the day they would have to be separated. One could not be with the other when both temperaments had been reached.

Near sighed and broke the staring contest. “Let’s stop this.” He got up and looked out the large windows. The sun was well up over the house casting strange shadows all over the vast property. “You know.” He said turning back to Mello “If I ever did leave. I’d get a place that was everything like this one.”

“Don’t be sappy with me.” Mello spat coldly getting up and joining him at the window. “Fine. Look at the damn files. I don’t care what you do.” He turned away and sauntered down the hall slamming his door when he had stomped into it.

“Wow.” Matt whispered coming in through the back door of the room. “I haven’t seen Mels so mad since we lived at the big house.”

Near didn’t at first answer as he continued to look out the window. “I don’t know what you mean.” He said taking the files from Matt and going to the first basement. He was too frustrated to want to be around to hear any of Matt's smart ass remarks. He just wanted to be alone with his thought as he contemplated his ways of appologizing to the blond. Which wasn't easy.

Mello pounded things in his room his knuckles bruising with the force of his mindless blows. ‘How can that little brat be so stupid?’ He thought ‘All of the cases that moron is involved in right now could get his stupid self killed.’ He threw himself into his chair. “Damn that orphanage, damn the whole stupid world!” He clenched his leather gloves in his hands, the material creaking. “JUST….. DAMN EVERYTHING!!!!!!!” He shouted throwing his fist through the wall over his desk.

The door flew open and in walked Outa a stern frown across his usually friendly face. “What do you think your doing?”

Mello looked at the crumbling whole his fist was still trapped in. Slowly he pulled it out and sat back down. “What the hell does it matter to you!?” He said between clenched teeth. He felt minor embarrassment for being caught in the throws of a tantrum.

“O.K, kid.” Outa said moving closer to him sitting on the edge of the black colored bed. “What’s got you so down?” He pulled Mello around to face him, the boy looking to meet his eyes.

“It’s nothing alright?” He said holding a steady gaze for a moment before dropping it to the floor. “Shit. Would you leave me alone?” The embarassment was building in his chest. He knew the man had all his fatherly wisdom from his own family. Why did the man waste it on him? The very mention made Mello's blood run. He had had a family. He had lost them. And he had killed all attempts for others to try to adopt him. He didn't want them.

“Not a chance.” He heard. A frown contorted Mello's face and he shot up looking out full front. The man didn’t flinch at the hard look on the contourted face.

‘Such a waste of a brilliant mind.’ Outa thought ‘All the effort L put into the boy only to have it become too corrupt for justice. The kid’s looks like he’s going to crack.’ He continued waiting for Mello to calm down. ‘What is he going to do when things fall apart? Will he move or stay?’ The boy started to back down moving a little ways ‘I don’t think I want to be around this business anymore. If he cracks he could kill us all.’

Both cell phones went of at the same time. Mello’s playing a song about a fallen king. Outa’s played a simple symphony. How typical.

Mello growled and ripped his cell off his desk. “What!?” Mello snapped into the line. He heard Outa calmly say ‘hello’ into his.

“Is this Mello?” A voice said on the other line. 'Who is this?' Mello thought as he waited a moment. The voice was synthasized, as was his off course. So it was hard to hear who was talking and who was not with the extra static.

“YES. I’m Mello! What do you want!?” He could take his anger out on this unknown moron right? He thought so.

“My name is L. Yagami. I had the pleasure of working with L till resently.”

“Worked with!? Resently!? What about him?” Mello felt some kind of worry in his chest. He almost didn't want to hear what came next.

“He’s dead.” That’s all Mello heard the rest fell on dead ears. He numbly sat there letting the cell slip from his hands not giving Yagami another chance. Had his worst dreams come to haunt him? This didn't just happen. But, it had.

9:04 a.m.

These words had just left Matt’s mouth when Mello came through the doors.

“Morning.” He said, groggy from the pain medication he had to take to sleep at night. His blood shot eyes flit about the room. “I’m going back to bed.” He stated bluntly stumbling back down the hall.

At hearing the door close, Matt broke into fits of laughter. Near looked at him with numb interest before chuckling himself.

Matt fell off the couch shaking with the force of his mirth. “POOR MEL!” He gasped. “H-he never was good with drugs! All he ever does is sleep!” With this he clutched his sides and submitted to the moment.

Near watch the rolling boy in front of him. ‘Hmmm.’ Near thought to himself. The more Matt moved the more his shirt lifted. Near continued to watch as Matt’s toned back was exposed. He was fairly tan, not as much as Mello, but enough to get himself a girl. His stripped shirt completely exaggerated his with, his chest was wide and full of swimmers muscles. But the scars that riddled his slightly muscular sides were the most interesting things for Near. They were small and white from the passing of time but still distinct. Some were long and thin others were like small bumps and holes. The bumps could be bullets but the long ones? Were they from a whip? A board? Whatever made them must have been painful for a boy of five. Matt may have been very small then but now his body match his heart.

Big, full of fun and warmth. Someone you wanted to be with. Someone you knew would be your shield even if that meant literally placing his body between you and the enemy.

Somehow Near had the feeling that would be the way Matt would go. The boy was laid back enough to enjoy life, yet smart enough to surive it all.

“Hey, Near?” Matt called sitting back on his hands letting his shirt stay up for a while. He knew what the boy wanted to see and he never minded his friends seeing what he thought was his ugly body. As long as they didn't say anything about it that is.

“Yes?” He replied. Smirking as Matt fixed his shirt.

“Where’s Mikami and Outa?” Matt said stuffing the long shirt back in his jeans. Then clicked a small chain onto his belt loop and wallet.

'Gosh.' Near thought He's built everywhere! He should stop wearing those stupid stripes.' The boy suddenly started to feel very weak. Why couldn't he be like the other boys? He wished he could be normal.

“I confess to not knowing their whereabouts.” Near twirled his hair. “I said I would say if your story proved satisfactory.” He said placing a wiry gaze at Matt.

Matt sat back down next to Near. “O.K.”

“I’ve been thinking about it. And I believe I will look at L’s most recent case.” Near’s finger was working his hair so hard he was pulling the soft strands out.

Matt grabbed the small hand. “Don’t do that.” He said firmly. “Why do you want to look at L’s case? Did he want you to?”

“No. I’ve just decided too.” The pale face wrinkled at the contact between his and Matt’s hands. He still didn’t like to be touch unless necessarily.

“O.K. As long as what your doing is through your little head and only your little head.” Matt chuckled letting go of the little fingers.

Near retreated to the back side of the sofa and hopped off. “Very well then.” He said his smirk twitching the sides of the lips. “Get me L’s files by tomorrow please.”

“Awwwwwww.” Matt said “So polite! I’ll get the file for you if you get our fearless leader out of his room and feed.” With that Matt walked out toward the second basement to do his hacking. No matter what L did his files were always copied and re-copied for the use of his three successors. "Oh! Near!" He called suddenly "Is this a no tell Mello thing? Cause your secrets safe with me, Buddy."

"That would be very appreciated, Matt." Near said giving the surprised gamer a small bow. The small albino then shuffled down the hall into Mello’s room. There lay the blond. Sprawled all over his stripped mattress, the sheets lay in various places around the sleeping figure and on the floor. The eye patch he didn’t use had been tossed under the bed. And the remains of the glass lamp riddled in front of the broken mirror.

“Great.” Near mumbled to himself, “another tantrum because of your silly looks.”

“Shut up.” Came from beneath the covered face. A hand pulled the black satin cloth off to reveal very tired eyes. The normal one opened fully, the glazed one stayed mostly covered by the veined lid. “I was not throwing a tantrum at all.” He said “I was discussing our move with myself.”

“Quite a conversation, I’d say.” Near smirked helping Mello untangle from his home made entrapment.

“Oh. Shut up…” Mello retorted pulling himself up onto his elbows. His bare chest heaved from the efforts. He looked at Near and gave a wide smirk. “Now I’m hungry and want to be eat.”

“As you eat, I need to talk to you about what’s going to happen.” Near grunted helping Mel up. “And it’s not about the move.”

Mello gave Near a look of confusion before following him out of the room. Near had that look that he would want to be anywhere but there right now. And it was that which made Mello wonder what the boy had concocted. He descided to wait and simply let the tiny body help his own.