Near held the picture of Mello in her hand. The only copy of a piece of evidence. Evidence of Mello's existence. Apart from the trail of explosions and carcasses, of course.
Some time after the hot-hearted one had left Wammy's, Near had suffered from occasional confusion. She began to contemplate Mello's existence to lengths that dizzied her. She'd nod over, forced to catch herself from falling into, knocking over the towers built from items of things that interested her, stacked around her.
When the picture was not wrapped up inside her undershirt she-
"Near!", Gevanni's sudden fuss broke the short girl from the trance of creating new feathers for her darts. "The entrance camera", Rester advised, "Look."
Mello wore a large, roughed up coat, biker gloves and a stomach-short, leather top, showing off the piercing adorning her navel. With the shiny rosary and buccaneer-looking boots, Near thought, Mello looked a little like a pirate. She stopped herself from wondering if there had to be a tongue piercing to compliment the one in her stomach to take her place, release Halle Lidner from the cold entry hall and colder muzzle of a gun, and give order.
"Let her in."
When the steps grew louder, Rester and Gevanni drew their guns. Near smiled. It was more use of protection to themselves than her.
"How's it going, Near? Every little puzzle piece seems to be sinking into place for you."
The miniature train rattled along the tracks in front of Near. Mello sounded bitter.
"Easy, tall, lethal and handsome. I take it you've already heard all about the second L from Lidner? Indeed, I must thank you, love. After all, it's thanks to you that I have a pretty good idea about who exactly Kira really is now."
The gun at Mello's side yanked into place, aimed at Near this time.
"Shut your mouth!", the dense voice barked, "Don't you treat me like a piece in some game! Stalking me like you have nothing better to do... You're very lucky to be able to gather anything from me doing my part, you know! I, in contrary to you, don't need you, Near!"
The trigger clicked dreadfully.
"Stop! Mello, if you shoot Near", Lidner retorted, "we'll have no choice but to shoot you, too. What will it solve? Something like that would only make Kira happy."
The mafia leader tsk'ed audibly, annoyed. It awkwardly echoed through the silence of the vast office space, as if the comment had ruined some kind of profound set-up. The gun was lowered again.
"What I actually came for is something else. I'm sure you know."
"Very well.." A poker card shot up over Near's shoulder. "I shall return to you your face and name-", two fingers swiftly flipped the ace of spades on its back, "It's only fun to play an equal game." The forearm holding the card disappeared frontward. In the fraction of a second Mello held the small photograph between her fingers. Had her head not moved in reflex, hands would not have sufficed in catching the catapulting photograph-turned-blade.
Near's voice remained aloof and factual.
"No copies were made and everyone who knew of its existence has been dealt with by me. Is that all you intend for with this endeavor?"
A quiet moment fizzed like lemon water. A dark sort of comfort seeped through Near's chest. Things unspoken wafted, and finally.
"As I said, I have no intention of working with you."
So beautifully stubborn.
"But I can't just take this as a favor and leave, so I'll settle my debt."
Near turned. A silver sparkle caught her eye as Mello spoke. Perfect complimentary to its lower accomplice.
"The murder notebook belongs to a shinigami. Whoever touches it will be able to see it."
'Crazy!', 'Unbelievable!' the men accused, but Near interrupted.
"I believe her. There is no point in telling such an outrageous lie."
"The notebook I obtained before also belonged to a shinigami", Mello added, "Perhaps even Kira themselves. And another thing: Some of the rules written in it can be fake."
As quick as her entrance had been, she turned on her heels to leave.
"That should make up for returning my picture without a struggle, no?"
Step after step the ritual revered. Like the time Mello had stormed past her in the headmaster's office. Like she had done when barely ranking below her on one of Wammy's House's few formal tests.
"Mello."
For the first time the steps halted.
"Near."
She could hear the bells in the distance. They rang through the silence like they would for a wedding ceremony. Like they would for a funeral. As Mello would walk through that door, she'd be her shield once more.
L didn't send investigators into battle as stand-ins because she didn't value them. Near came to realize that it was quite the opposite. She felt the toll quake her bones and weaken her spirit. Weighing on her shoulders until she hunched in shame.
"Since we are both heading for the same destination, make sure to meet me there."
"Naturally. I'm curious which of us will reach it first."
Near twirled a pearl white lock around her finger.
"Sure."