"Rem is helping us locate the other owners of Light's notebooks," Nate informed. "That is how Mello got those marks."

"What?" Mihael blinked. "What...happened? ...You're following people without lifespans."

"No, Rem is finding them and giving us hints," Nate snorted. "She is helping, Mihael. How many times do I have to say that?"

"And then she kills you." Mihael replied flatly.

"Oh, so you were paying attention?" Nate huffed in annoyance.

"Maybe your life doesn't mean anything to you, but it does to a few of us!" Mihael replied sharply.

"Well it's already done, so I can't exactly take it back now!" Nate snapped back.

"Then I have to put my head together with Mail and Near and figure out how to reverse the whole damn thing!" Mihael replied. "Someone has to save you!"

"I don't need saving!" Nate cried, his voice raising. "I've lived a damn good life and its time for it to end!"

Mihael blinked- looking taken aback.

"...Nate?" He frowned.

Nate let out a slow breath, before he took a seat and dropped his head into his hands.

--

After Nate had taken off after Mihael, Missy dragged Lawliet, Mail, and Light to 'explore', leaving Near with Mello.

Mello had taken a seat on the couch. He was so much different from when he was a boy. his hoody was baggy and black, as was to be expected, but his pants were black, skin-tight leather that laced up and he wore a large belt buckle. All of this had been at Nate's prompting, but Mello had come to appreciate the look- despite criticism for resembling a 'male prostitute'. Then there was the burn scar- it looked horrible, even if it overall made him look cool with his longer, messier bangs, that scar could only be attributed to a horrifyingly bad burn and it even seemed to run down his neck and shoulder a little.

Near took a seat in the recliner across from the blonde, pulling one leg up against his chest - something that Mello knew he only did when he was upset or conflicted over something. To add insult to injury, he began to curl a lock of his hair... which he only did when he was attempting to avoid thinking about something.

"...I forgot how quiet you were." Mello smirked- crossing his arms over his chest. "And how far away you liked to keep from me...out of arms' reach."

"Not always," Near replied, lifting his eyes to meet Mello's in a cold battle of wits. "At times I liked it when Mello held me close."

"You didn't at first, but when I was away you started to notice...you kinda liked it." Mello replied.