No, I am not dead! I know, surprising, isn't it? I think an explanation is in order... If you don't care, just skip the next paragraph...

I have been in a very bad place lately, and it doesn't seem like I am going to be out of it anytime soon. I have tried, very hard, to get this done for you lovely people, but it wasn't easy. I'm sorry if this chapter did not live up to your expectations, but it is the best I can give you. This doesn't mean I am going to give up on this story, but it does mean that updates will take a very long time. I hope that they won't take as long as this one has, however... I also feel I must add that my internet has failed on me, and so it is very rare that I can get on this site, even if I wanted to do so. Now then, I apologise, and I will continue to try for you all.

I'd like to thank elohagu and Ravensbleeding for keeping me going, even when I wanted to just give up completely. Even if tyhey didn't know that they were doing it, they were ^^ Now, read on!

A little noise of surprise slipped from behind Mail's closed lips. I could imagine the scene I had provoked from the eyes of an observer. Mail's body spun towards mine, hands jittering in uncertainty of what he should do with them; wrap them around my neck or use them to push me away- his eyes opened wide and red tinting across his face. Cute. I, on the other hand- with my head leaning over his, my hands gripped firmly to the sheets below them, and my body in a crouch towards the red-head- was a lot less cute. But that was good. I liked it that way. Finally, he responded, after what seemed like hours of deciding. I felt his body shift closer to me and his mouth moved against mine. The feeling jolted my body with adrenalin, and I had to restrain myself from getting rougher. I knew that gentleness was the key to keeping him from pulling away, as I did not want to start another episode of his panic attack.
He broke away after a few more seconds and I saw that my prediction was right; his face was hued with a light pink. I smiled at him and his lips tilted up a little in correspondence. For a while, we just sat there, staring into each other's eyes.
"Mihael... Uh... That shouldn't have happened," he finally said, breaking our silence. I raised an eyebrow.
"Why not? Does that mean that you don't wish to be with me?"
"Well, yes. But at the same time, no. And you're a king! That's like, worse than just noble! And just- GAH!" Mail stood, throwing his hands in the air with annoyance at the same time. I blinked a few times before jolting off the bed myself, my eyes flashing with annoyance.
"Mail! How could you be so ridiculous as to believe that rank is important? Is that why you don't want to be with me?"
"No, Mihael. The fact is, I jus' don't want a relationship now." My jaw dropped as he said the last sentence.
"You what?"
"Mihael, you know wha' I said. If you don't remember, before now the only touch I've had is by someone that jus' wants to watch me hurt! I don't want to be with you while I still remember it, when every time you touch me I want to run away and hide!" Mail was almost yelling by now, his eyes flashing warnings, silently warning me that I had irritated him. A lot. Something that almost could be labelled as guilt flashed through me.
"Mail, I guess I forgot... But you should learn to get over it," I replied, though there was no returning malice in my tone. He seemed to realise that this would be the closest he could get to an apology, as his eyes softened and he sighed, sitting back down on the bed. I joined him and neither of us spoke for a while, silence stretching out awkwardly before us. Finally it was broken by my door opening and Near strolling in.
"Oh good, you are awake. Happy birthday Mello," he said simply, placing a small package beside me. I smiled slightly at him, as my birthday was one of the few days he was actually nice to me. I don't think I was nice to him on any day... Picking up the package, I studied it like a young kid, trying to guess what was inside it. Eventually I gave up and unwrapped the... Whatever it was. I pulled out a necklace from the packet. It was a chrome colour and linked very tightly. Throughout the tight-linked chains small rubies shimmered. I clipped it over my neck and the cold metal touched my skin as nicely as the necklace glinted. I turned to Near with awe.
"It's lovely," I said simply, holding the chain as I said so. Near nodded in satisfaction with his gift and exited the room.

At about midday there was a feast held in my honour. I looked around in satisfaction at all my subjects crowded around for the event. Ever since Mail had come to help me with my work in regards to the city, people had begun to accept me. It seemed that what the red-head had told me that one time in the city was correct. People didn't care about what I wore; they merely believed that I would be an incompetent king. As I was lost in my happy thoughts, however, something caught my attention from the corner of my eye and I spun to see a young man, perfectly groomed, staring at me, refusing to join in the festivities. I excused myself from the table and went over to him.
"So... Why aren't you joining in with the others?" I asked, always preferring to get straight to the point. He stared at me a while before replying.
"I did not know I had to. I don't see then point in celebrating for someone I do not know, even if he is the king." I raised my eyebrows at his comment. The sarcasm and annoyance in his tone made me annoyed. Did he not believe that my reigning was just?
"Is there an issue with the way I am ruling? Please, do tell me?" I tried to keep my voice level, but anger pulsed behind my polite words.
"Not really. It's the system I have a problem with. I read that there is a land far from here where the citizens choose who is to rule them, the leaders are not simply born into it," he explained. This just got me riled up further. He dared to question my authority?
"Well, too bad for you. Here I am. Here to stay." I was quite content to leave after voicing that childish but satisfying comment, though Mr. Perfect had more to say.
"It isn't just! I thought that was what you kings were meant to be dealing in! Justice!" This time, his anger showed through his words too.
"You'd better shut your mouth before I make sure that it is shut for you. Forever," I snarled, finally deciding to pull out my trump cared. A girl that was standing at a slight distance from us hurried over at this point, grabbing the man's arm and attempting to pull him away.
"Come on, Light, darling. There are some delicious pastries over here that you must try," she urged. The man, Light, gave me one final glare before stalking away.

"What was tha' about?" Mail asked me as I took my seat.
"Oh, just some idiot trying to say I don't make a good king or some shit," I replied, grabbing myself a drumstick and savouring its rich flavour. Mail glanced up at Light, now sitting next to the woman that had possibly saved his life, who was now clinging to him like a leach.
"You ought to watch out for him. Light's a pretty important person in th' lower city. You wouldn't think he'd go as far as to kill you, but he could deal a few blows to your status if he really wished to."
"Thanks, Mail, but I think I can look after myself." My reply was a bit harsh, but I was still fuming from my encounter with Light. Eventually, though, I cooled down enough to enjoy the rest of the night, my birthday, in a relatively calm mood.

Now, let's all hope that the next one will rear it's head sooner rather than later, shall we?