“…Orry. But he has a legal guardian, sir.”
Near turned his head over. His vision bleary from sleep. 'This early?' He thought as he turned his attention to the sourse of the noise.
Figures moved in front of his door. “No. That’s not possible.” One voice said just hearable over a mumble. "This child is an orphan under my care. He ran away. And I've finally found him. I'm taking him home."
“Let’s see…” he didn’t move but attempted to figure out who the people were. “The nurse… Some guy in glasses… An elderly man…” His eyes shot open with surprise. “L!?” He said louder than he intended.
The talking abruptly was brought to an end. A cream white hand silently pushed the door open. The figure of a much stooped man shuffled in. He had matted shaggy, raven black hair that was clumsily pushed mostly to the left side of his head. His eyes resembled Nears: large, beetle black, void of all emotion, under those pools of knowledge were dark shadows, proving he didn’t sleep at night. His lankly figure was clad in a simple, white, long sleeve t-shirt. Blue jean pants were held onto his slim hips by a worn black belt. From head to toe his appearance screamed of an insomniac who has never went outside a day in his life.
“Near.” He said in his monotone drawl, “I’ve come to take you home.”
Near thought for a moment before answering. “How did you find me, L?”
L seemed taken back by the request. “I have my ways, Near.” He said “Your not hard to track down you know?” He smirked, a lot like how Near did. “My accomplice has been keeping tabs on you for me.”
“Accom-!?” If Near’s face could get any paler he would be a ghost. Why? Oh, why? Had he not thought sooner. “Mikami? Does Mikami work for you?”
“Very good, my successor.” L shook his head approvingly. This was why he had picked the small boy to follow him.
“I wonder if this is betrayal or some twisted loyalty.” Near sunk into his bed.
“Loyalty by far.” The insomniac sat on the edge of the bed. His wide orbs fixed on the tiny genius. “When I became involved in this latest case, it was for your own protection that I went without warning. Mikami watched you for me.”
“And Mello and Matt?” Near played with his hair, “What of them? Their on the list of future ‘L’s too. Did you feel any of our loss?”
“A valid question indeed.” The raven didn’t seem moved, “Tell me, Near.” Here he paused for a moment. “Near. Please look at me when I’m talking to you.”
Near’s hand fell and he looked his mentor full in the face.
“It is important that you be able to let even things you love very much go before you engage in battle.” He spoke as if he were directing his son. “I missed all the children at Whammy’s very much. I may seem heartless but I feel deep for you three especially. You are not given the choices most children have from the start of life. None of you have families to confide in.”
“O.K.”, Near whispered when L halted again. “But, we left too have our own family. We’ve become our own people through our actions. You weren’t there for Mello when he broke down and ran away.”
“Why do you think Mello ‘broke down’ and left?” L interrupted.
“Because Rodger never liked him. He tormented Mello with his weaknesses. Telling him he would never amount to mere dirt. Mello is emotional to the point of fault. When no one would help. He left.”
L nodded. Its true that the two hated each other. But he didn’t realize just how much. “And Matt?” He closed his eyes.
“He worried about Mello till he finally followed him out.”
“And yourself?” L again opened his eyes concentrating on absorbing every word.
Near smirked twirling his hair again. “I wanted to be as free as they were I saw them the TV.” His voice raised a little as he continued. “They were escaping a burning building. I thought: ‘Look at them laughing at themselves. I want to laugh like that. I want a taste of life’s sweetness too.”
By the way L’s eyes had gone hard, Near knew he had the mans attention fully. His smirk widened into a full smile. He knew this was killing the detective to hear that his own successor wanted to be a criminal.
“Near can be cruel.” The man said.
“I know.” Near replied with smug satisfaction.
