"Where's Mello?"

For a while now Near had been walking around looking for his 'shadow,' as some called it. The person he'd always beaten, who hated and loathed him, but who had always been there, it seemed. "Linda? Have you seen him?"

"Why do you want to know so badly?" The girl opposite him asked. "I haven't seen him all day. I don't think anyone else has, either."

"I know, I asked around quite a bit…" Near admitted. "You're right though, nobody's seen him, not even Matt."

"That's odd, aren't they always playing around together?" She asked.

"Yes, that's why I found it strange too. I guess I'll go look for him again…"

"Good Luck!" Linda said as she watched the white-haired boy leave. I thought they hated each other, she thought. Maybe I was wrong. Never know…

Near wandered through the hallways of Wammy's House, alone and full of thought. What could have happened? Did he go out somewhere? Why won't anyone tell me? Why didn't Mello tell me?

"Maybe I'll go play by myself for a little while…" He muttered. "Since Mello isn't around." He came to his room after a few minutes, and smiled weakly at the many different toys scattered about the floor. He sat down on the floor and picked up one of the puzzles he had finished. He turned to board it was on upside down and all the pieces fell to the floor, all the colourful pieces that alone made nothing, but together they made something beautiful, but you had to strive to get the whole picture. Sometimes it would take days on end, sometimes a matter of minutes…

Fitting the first two pieces together.

Piecing those with other ones.

Connecting them all.

Pretty soon the puzzle was finished. Near smiled as he looked down at it, and he moved his hands over the rigid surface. Satisfied, he pushed that puzzle aside and proceeded to play with a few of his other toys, making some robots fly through the air or cars speed away from buildings made of Lego…

------

Pretty soon Near found himself talking to Linda while finishing another one of his puzzles. "Hello, Linda," He greeted, hearing her footsteps on the other side of the doorway.

"First Mello disappears, and now you?" She asked. "You two planning something?"

"No, I've been looking around for Mello all day, remember?" Near replied absent-mindedly as he pieced together two more puzzle pieces. "I even asked you where he was."

"Right… so you came in here by yourself to play without telling anyone?"

"Yes…"

"We all thought you'd gone missing too, Near," she snapped.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to worry anyone."

Linda laughed. "Can't say the same for Mello though, 'cause knowing him, it was probably on purpose." Near shrugged, mind ablaze with questions.

"It's almost tea, I'll call you when its done, okay?" Linda said.

"Okay."

"See you." With that, she left the doorway so Near could be alone with his puzzle and his thoughts.

Maybe he did leave on purpose. Will he come back? Did he do this so I'd get upset? Maybe he wanted me to feel bad, and that's why he left…

Near frowned. His puzzle was finished, but the big picture was still unclear. Where was Mello, and what was he doing? Why was he doing it?

"I'm getting too serious about this," Near muttered to himself. "Does it really matter so much?"

He would have liked to tell himself 'No, it doesn't,' but to him it really did. He had grown attached to Mello, following him around almost like a puppy would its master, and he enjoyed pestering Mello to play with him and his toys. On the rare occasion Mello would give in, Near let him be in charge, choosing what game they'd play and how they'd play it, just so Mello wouldn't get fed up and leave in the middle of the game. He wasn't sure if Mello enjoyed it or not, but he must have considering he did say yes and play sometimes. Thus letting Near have his way. If he enjoyed it, then how come he suddenly ran off? Maybe he didn't like it, and just played to humour Near, but no, if he didn't enjoy it, he wouldn't say yes at all… Then, perhaps, he did like it and just said no to tease Near and make him feel bad. It was Mello, after all…

"Near," Linda called, stepping into the room. "It's tea time!"

"Coming," Near replied, nodding. He got up and followed her to get his meal. Just as he turned a corner, his eyes widened in shock. "Mello?" He gasped. "Is that you?"

"Near?" The blonde boy asked. "Of course it's me. Where have you been?!"

"In my room. Where have you been?"

"Out in town. I got back a few minutes ago. I've been looking for you."

"Why?"

"I… uh, I brought you an ice cream. I knew you like it, so…"

"Did you bring me this because you felt bad about leaving me here?"

"No way!" Mello snapped. "It's melting, so take it!" He held out his hand, and in it was a cone topped with light, soft vanilla ice cream. Near just blinked, staring at it, then look up to stare at the one holding the cold treat.

"Don't you want it?" Mello taunted. "If you don't take it, I'll eat it myself." Near still didn't say anything, but watched helplessly as Mello took a lick of the frozen cloud in his hands. As he brought his tongue in, Near noted that he had some ice cream on his lips.

"See?" Mello taunted. "I warned you." Near grinned.

"What are you staring at?!" Mello snapped. Near shrugged and took a step closer to Mello, who blinked. What is this kid doing?! He wondered. Near laughed and took Mello in his arms quickly, tightly embracing him in a friendly hug. He then touched his lips to Mello's playfully, and the two boys closed their eyes in bliss.

When Near broke off, he too now had traces of ice cream on his lips. He licked it off, smirking. Mello's eyes grew wide as he took a few steps back, leaving Near alone once again.

"Found him," Near whispered, kneeling down to where the ice cream cone had fallen. "I found him."