Unable to really see through the dark, Next moved closer, calling out his love's name as he wrapped his coat around himself. "Matt?"

The shadow turned and looked at him.

"Hmm?" He asked.

Moving closer, Next let out a frustrated sigh. It wasn't Matt!

"Sorry..." He whispered. "Have you seen a redhead boy around here?"

"No, but I've seen a cute albino." The guy replied.

The white-haired boy frowned. Near had come down here... when? "What?"

The guys snorted.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"...Me?" Next wondered, obviously confused. "Why do you want to know my name?"

"Wow, okay." The guy laughed. "What're you doing you here hun? You know it's freezing."

"I'm looking for someone," Next reminded. "A redhead boy... but if you haven't seen him, I'm going to head back."

He turned to leave.

"Hey, hold it." The guy reached out and took Next's slender arm. "Maybe I can help."

Turning, Next looked at the guy in surprise. "Help...? How?"

"We could look together...you said he had red hair, right?" The guy looked towards a sub-parking lot. "I think I saw some redhead over there."

"Oh... really?" Next wondered, looking and thinking to himself that maybe Matt went to his car to get his DS or something. "Okay, sure."

"C'mon." The guy pulled Next along- taking the boy into the darkness of the sub-parking garage- where most of the lights were blown out.

He could hardly see as he was drug in- the guy leading him holding his wrist tightly.

"Matt?" He called out, looking all over for any sign of his love or the redhead's car.

"Over here." The guy said- pulling Next roughly to the side where they came up to a full-sized van- parked beside the wall.

"What?" Next asked with a deep frown. "This isn't his car-"

The guy pulled open the back doors of the van and climbed in- pulling Next along. In the back there was a mat with a blanket and a pole- which the man promptly and not very gently handcuffed Next to.

Alarm rose in Next's mind instantly and he gasped, before letting out a loud scream and trying to kick the guy off of him.

The guy took the back of Next's head and slammed him into the pole to quiet him- leaving him to crumble, dazed on the floor of the van. He closed up the back of the van and moved over to the driver's seat.

The world spun in and out of focus and Next was only vaguely aware of the van groaning to life. He couldn't help but quietly pray to whatever got existed that he would get out of this.

The guy began to pull the van out and turn towards the exit before he heard a motorcycle roar to life and the headlight fill up his windshield.

"What the FUCK is that!?" The guy exclaimed before the bike's front tire smashed through the front window and almost took the guys head off.

Screaming out in surprise, Next turned his face away from the flying glass, throwing his free arm over his eyes to protect them.

The bike engine died and the guy was pinned beneath the dash with the front tire of the motorcycle right over him. Next heard someone slip off the bike and limp over to the back of the van before the doors were pulled open and a blonde boy that he'd recognize anywhere stepped in.

His eyes cloudy, Next stared at Mello's form in complete shock.

He was hazy... like Next was looking at him through fog. There were lights spilling out from behind him, giving him a silhouetted look, like some sort of hero from a story... and for some reason, Next felt a part of himself tug toward his best friend...

Mello had just saved his life...

Mello wiped the blood from his forehead and walked over- breathing heard and his left leg dragging a bit as he dropped beside Next and grabbed the handcuffs.

"M... Mell... Mello..." Next whispered, reaching with a free hand up to touch the blonde's face. "You... you're... h-hurt..."

"Are you hurt?" Mello asked Next as he stood up and braced himself against the wall before kicking the pole Next was cuffed to. The first kick was really powerful and almost knocked the bar out of place.

Wincing, Next sat up and moved slightly so Mello could gave more room. "Mello, its okay- call someone... your leg, you-"

Mello kicked out again and completely knocked the pole loose- allowing Next to free himself.

With a frown, Next freed the cuff and got up, moving to wrap one of Mello's arms around his shoulders. "Mello... y-you saved my life..."

"I saw him...carry you off." Mello spit a line of blood out- along with one of his back molars. "Naveen...I wasn't going to let him take off with you."

Next's heart broke as he looked up at his best friend - obviously in pain.

"Naveen... Naveen is dead, Mello..." He whispered, softly.

"Huh?" Mello blinked and held his head. "He dead? Naveen...right...what the fuck."

He shook his head and groaned.

"It's all...fucked up." Mello whimpered- holding his head.

Next's mind blurred and for a moment he couldn't focus on anything... all he could hear was a voice in his head repeating the same thing over and over...

I want him back, I want him back...

A sharp pain suddenly shot down his spine and he cried out, stumbling away from Mello. It began to burn and he was just barely aware of a bright light shining on him.

I want him back...

Mello dropped to the floor of the van- holding his head still- the world spinning around him.

Next cried out and his back arched... pain tore through him once more and Mello could have sworn he saw something bright white shoot out from behind the boy before he was blinded.

Mello covered his face and turned away with an alarmed cry.

The light died down and Next dropped to the ground in front of Mello... and on top of another person.

Mello's head swam another moment before he slipped into unconsciousness. It had to be unconsciousness anyway, because the person beneath Next was the spitting image of his first and very much dead lover.