The boy blinked at him in surprise. "...I'm not old enough to drive, Mello. I walked, of course..."

"Damn it Next!" Mello snapped- taking the boy's hand and starting to lead him off. "You're going to freeze to death out here!"

He started to trudge towards the gates of the cemetery grounds with the boy in tow behind him.

"I have a coat on!" Next protested with a deep frown. "And I'm not even cold! I don't see what the big deal is... you're wearing less then me!"

"Cold doesn't bother me." Mello sighed. "You'll never survive out in this weather Next."

Mello walked over to his motorcycle and swung one leg over it.

With a huff(lepuff), Next climbed on behind him and put on the offered helmet, before wrapping his arms around Mello's waist.

"Cold doesn't bother me either," The blonde thought he heard the boy mumble.

Not so surprising when considering that Next was always so unusually warm, he supposed- even when they were little kids, Mello had noticed. He brought the engine roaring to life and peeled out towards the hospital- leaving the cemetery and Naveen behind.

...But could he really do that? Could he really just move on like that?

Especially with Naveen's heart beating in Near's chest, now... would it always weigh on Near that he had been his brothers before his own? Would it tear the loving memory that Near had of his twin away from him...?

That was the last thing that Mello had wanted... It was still the last thing he wanted...

He remembered honey eyes looking up at him behind thick lashes... a secret smile... curled dark hair and soft skin before he'd had it lightened... Remembered the way Naveen always smelled like Honey and the way he'd cover his mouth when he laughed...

Those times were so distant now in even the short span of time between. Times that were so magical and warm that it was like being in a dream. It was a dream...one that he hadn't wanted to wake from. But the grim reality of it all had sobered him- brought him back into terrible consciousness. And his only comfort had been the one person he'd never wanted to lie to, keep from or hurt...now look at where it had gotten him.

Next was silent as they pulled up to the hospital. He slipped up to Nancy and Roger in the main lobby, where the two of them were getting cups of coffee.

"Any word?" He asked, though who he was asking about was vague.

Nancy gave him a grim look, before looking at Roger. "It appears Zero damaged his vocal cords when he started to scream..."

"How badly?" Mello asked as he was walking by.

"...Badly," She whispered, lowering her eyes.

Next let out a sigh. "And Beyond...?"

"Can we do anything to help him?" Mello asked. "There must be something!"

Jumping, Next turned to look at Mello in confusion. "Help... Beyond?"

"Zero," Nancy corrected. "And there's nothing that can be done, Mello. K has tried everything... and don't go storming off, saying that she doesn't know what she's doing, because you know that isn't true. She's the reason Near is still alive... she is an amazing doctor. But she can't cure everything!"

Mello narrowed his eyes and stomped off all the same- though he said nothing at all as he went- making a B-line for Near's room. When he came in, he stopped dead. Near was curled up on the bed again, the two twins sleeping at the foot of it like loyal watchdogs and Linda was seated in a chair beside the bed.

"...I was wondering when you'd come," She sighed - her voice surprisingly calm, though he suspected it had to do with the fact that Near and the twins were all asleep.

"Right after I got my senses back." Mello replied. "How long has be been out and when did they get here?"