A/N: This got to #310 in fanfiction! Thank you! (currently it's #666, it went back up XD but I'm really happy with that number, I also took a screenshot of it.) 

Sorry for not updating yesterday, I wish I could give you a decent excuse... I can't. I was playing Sims 3 all day :L I couldn't leave it. 

Bleh, I've cut two of my fingers on doors :/ damn sharp metal. One is fine now (got it a few days ago), and one I got today - this one is deep and refuses to scab over as whenever I move my finger it just reopens :/ 

This chapter has taken me almost 5 hours to write. I have writer's block :L 

Chapter Twenty-Five

I drag my feet on the floor as we walk through the airport. My small suitcase being tugged behind me as I keep a death grip on the handle. There's no way I'm losing more clothes.

The six hour flight was not fun at all, and now we're heading to a place for something (Mello won't reveal any more information) and then we'll be heading to the SPK headquarters. I'd much rather go home first and have a shower, maybe sleep but Mello wants to see someone and Near as soon as he can.

"Walk properly," Mello scolds me as another high pitched screech of my shoes scuffing the floor hits his ears. I frown and begin to walk properly, only to start dragging them along again.

"I'll stop if you let me go back to my apartment. I probably have food I need to throw out – you're repaying me for that, you know." I mutter in reply. My wrist is grabbed and Mello picks up his pace, dragging me behind him. "Hey! Wait a sec!"

"Tch, stupid woman."

***

"Why are we here?" I ask as I stare up at the tall building. I turn to look at Mello, the wind throwing my hair into my face. I brush it away stubbornly so I can look at him. His burn is looking so much better now. Oddly enough, he looks better. It's probably his hair. It's messier.

"Don't worry. I'll be going inside, you can wait out here if you want." He says, dismissing my question. He walks inside the building, leaving my behind before I can answer.

"Mello!" I call out to him but it's too late, the door is slammed shut and I'm left alone. I let out a sigh and walk to the wall and lean against it. I could easily run home. I want to run home. He'll only get mad, find me and drag my ass to Near. Or worse, he'll put a bullet in my brain. I may be L's sister, but I don't think he'll hesitate to kill me if I piss him off.

I lean my head against the brick.

I could easily run back to Japan. I have enough money to just ditch LA. I'll go back to my old apartments. I won't have my computers but I have so much money that I received from L, I'll be fine. Near pays us all too, that's how we afford our apartments and living.

I can't just ditch the Kira case. I can't leave until he's caught and put behind bars.

After what seemed like forever, Mello finally leaves the massive building. However, this time he's joined by a familiar blonde. Halle Lidner. My eyes widen in shock. Why does he have her?

"Come on, Benihime." He orders and I stupidly follow him.

***

A gun is pointed at my head as I'm forced to walk in front of Mello and Lidner. This doesn't look too good on the screens Near is probably watching. Mello is currently pinning Lidner's arm behind her back.

I go through the corridors, until I reach the room Near stays in. My heart is racing, something about having a gun pointed at my head is just terrifying. A part of me believes he won't shoot if I mess up, but then a part of me remembers what he's like. If it meant getting back at Near, he'd happily send a bullet into my skull.

The door opens, and I walk into the room, Mello stands beside me. .

The room appears as normal, nothing is out of place. Even my computers are where I left them. Thankfully, my seat is vacant. I had worried that Near may have replaced me.

"Welcome, Mello." Near greets, not turning around in his seat. I haven't missed him at all, as weird as that sounds.

Guns are immediately pointed at us – technically Mello, since he's pointing a gun at my head that could easily turn and shoot Lidner instead.

"Drop your gun!" The men bark at Mello. Near continues to play with his toys on the desk and I fight the urge to roll my eyes. I still can't believe he's three years younger than me.

"That goes for everybody." Near states. "It's meaningless for lives to be lost and blood to be shed here."

"But Mello killed the other SPK members, he kidnapped Miss Kimura and the Japanese police director – who he also killed." Gevanni

"We have no proof that Mello killed the SPK members and the Japanese police director. We do have proof he took Miss Kimura, but we haven't investigated what actually happened." Near explains, twirling a strand of his hair around his finger. "Don't make me say it again. Our goal is to capture Kira. We don't gain anything from killing Mello now. He got the notebook once, and was able to get closer to Kira than any of us."

Oh wow. I can practically hear Mello smirking right now at Near's words. Great job, Near, you just boosted his ego.

"That's something we should respect, and pointing a gun at him is plain rude." Near continues, adding more fuel to the fire that is Mello's ego.

"Very well," Rester says and puts down his gun, Gevanni copies. I can't help but relax a little.

"Well said, Near." Mello replies, a sneer in his voice as he addresses the white haired teen. "So everything has gone how you imagined?"

"Yes," Near says simply. "Though I didn't expect you to come all the way here, and thanks to you, Mello, I have been able to greatly narrow down my suspects for Kira."

"Near." Mello snaps bitterly. I turn to look at Mello to see his gun is pointed directly at Near. I let out a gasp of fright. He wouldn't shoot him, would he? Does he realise that he'll only get himself killed as he's not the only person with a gun in this room? He shoots Near then Gevanni and Rester won't hesitate to kill him in retaliation. Then Kira might as well say he's won, all because of a stupid rivalry.

"Mello, don't-" I begin but the look he shoots me silences me.

"I'm not a tool for you to use to solve the Kira case!" Mello shouts at him. Gevanni and Rester point their guns at Mello once again.

"Rester, Gevanni. Don't make me repeat myself. Lower your guns, please." Near orders briskly. "Mello, shoot me if you want."

Mello's finger presses down on the trigger slightly and I flinch, waiting for the bullet to fire and embed itself in Near, possibly ending his life.

Suddenly, Lidner turns in Mello's grasp and sharply moves the gun away from Near. "Mello, if you kill Near right now then if you do succeed in capturing Kira, it will be meaningless. If you shoot Near, we'll be left with no choice but to shoot you too. What good would there be in both of you dying? That will only make Kira happy." Mello's eyes grow wide at her words and his puts his gun away. I let out a breath of relief.

"She's right. Near, I just came to collect the photo you have of me and to return Benihime. I have no use for her." Mello admits. Lidner steps to the side and I step away slightly.

Near holds up a single picture he obtained from one of the drawers at his desk. "Yes, this is the only photo left, and there are no copies. Also, the cameras in here only monitor and they don't record." Mello takes the photo and holds it in his hand, staring at it. He turns the photo around and stays silent, probably too busy being consumed by his thoughts.

"Near, I have no intention of joining your group." Mello says when he's finished staring at his photo.

"I know," is Near's simple reply.

"However, it would upset me to not give you anything in return for this picture. The murder notebook. It belongs to a Shinigami. People who touch it can see it."

Gevanni and Rester mumble about how it's impossible. I open my mouth up to add in my opinion but Near beats me to it.

"I believe him. What advantage would there be for him to lie to me about Shinigami. If he is lying, he'd tell me something more believable. Therefore, Shinigami exist." Near concludes quickly.

"One last thing," Mello begins as he turns to leave. "There is a fake rule written in the notebook. That's all the information I can give you. Near."

"Mello."

"Which one of us will catch Kira first?"

"The race is on."

With that, Mello leaves without another word.

A/N: The last few lines I stole from volume 9. They were too good to leave XD I also used this volume for reference as I can't exactly remember what happens when Mello meets Near. 

Vote and comment! 

I was going to return to Sims after I wrote this but this chapter has taken me too long to write :/ it's almost 10pm XD 

~ Alice