"I am going back," Near said, firmly.

"I think you should think about this," Zero pressed.

"I did not ask Zero for his opinion," Near informed.

"Near, can you get back on your own?" Mail asked.

"I don't know how to get back," Near informed, frowning. "Or even how I got here... I wish to see Nate."

"I don't know where he is, either," Zero informed. "They tried for years to get you back but eventually Mello gave up and left... then Matt did and finally Nate took off as well."

"Well, since you don't know either way," Mail told Near, "You'd better damn well consider that before you think about ignoring me anymore."

Near slowly frowned. "Mail... doesn't need to know."

"I think he's seen too much already," Zero informed, gently. "You shouldn't have brought him here, Near... did you even think about the consequences?"

"I... didn't," Near admitted, his shoulders going tense.

"...Well, I'm here now." Mail said firmly. "So there's no going back on that and I'm in it till the end."

He lifted up the cellphone.

"I'd like to make this work, I think it'll help." Mail reasoned.

"Why do you think it will help?" Zero asked, taking the cell and peering at it in confusion, before he looked up at Mail. "We don't need any more outside people coming here..."

"No, but... if Nate still remembers things from when he came here," Trick cut in, sitting on the edge of his brother's bed. "Then wont he remember what date it was and come back here to find Near?"

"...Wouldn't it be trippy if Nate tries to call us from whenever he's at and it picks it up?" Mail laughed. "Twilight Zone shit."

"I'll get Ender to fix this," Zero informed. "Hang on... you two stay in here. This is the one room that Roger will avoid like the plague." He grinned a little at the twins. "Thanks to my boys."

Trick beamed at him.

"I'll get Far to watch the door," Zero informed. "Be right back."

"Ender is still here?" Near inquired, but Zero was already on his way out.

Zero closed the door and immediately turned around to see the inquiring eyes beneath platinum-blonde bangs.

"...Well?" Far asked.

"I need to take this to Ender," Zero informed, holding up Nate's cell. "Trick thinks Nate will get in touch... I think so, too. Can you watch the door?"

"I already was." Far shrugged. "Was I seeing things or was it them?"

"It's them," Zero said, smiling a little. "Go in and see for yourself."

"I'd rather not." Far replied with a bit of a nervous smile. "Might be...too much of a shock."

"I understand," The taller man told him, before he leaned in and kissed Far's cheek. "I will return in just a bit."

With that said he slipped down the hall as quick and quietly as he could.

--

"Well, you must not be trying the right number." Lawliet reasoned.

"He's got one number and it's the same one I've been using this whole time!" Mihael snapped as he tried dialing Nate's cell again. "It's just not getting through."