The red Honda pulled into the driveway of the country mansion. The two figures who hopped out wearily trudged into the house, not bothering to lock the heavy oak door.
“Well, that was a bust.” Matt whined throwing himself on the sofa. “The kids gotten smart, Mel. He really buried that stuff deep." he stopped to think a minute "Not that he wasn’t smart when he was here.” He added as an after thought shrugging.
“I don’t need the things that belong to him. Things that put him a step before me. I’m going to get things rolling my way. He may be smart, but how smart?” Mello sat on the opposite side of the plush cushions, removed a silver wrapped bar and tore it with his teeth. He spit out the foil and let the candy slide into his mouth. He viciously sucked on it while thinking of what they had done to rouse Near. The boy acted as though he didn't know who they were. Was he fibbing? Or did he really forget Matt's methods already? Both options were just as likely to be true as they were not. But, that really didn't matter. For now he needed to move. This place was a hot zone and if they tried to catch Kira here it could be a disaster.
“Matt.” He said turning to the gamer. “How do you feel about going to America?”
Matt sat looking at Mello like his brain had fried. “Why would we go to America?”
“The land of the free, right?” Mello snapped another piece off causing Matt to wince as particles flew around. “We go there and we can find some of the worst criminals in the world. If we get in good with them, we can use them to find Kira before Near does.”
“How do we know that it will work in our favor? How do you know if when we get to this magic country Kira just doesn’t kill us there, huh?” Matt’s displeasure shone on his face. “And if we join another group, you’ll have to work as an underdog again. What do we do about the guy’s we have here? I’m not going to kill them for a long shot, Mel.”
“I said nothing about killing them, Mattie.” Mello waved a gloved finger “In fact if things go well. I’ll be sending for those guys not long after. I’ll give them code 145Q. When it activates, they will go back to their lives till I call. And you know I never forget my friends.” The hand came to rest on Matt’s shaggy head, softly stroking it.
Matt felt himself getting drowsy under that hands gentle pressure massaging his acing skull. Then he pulled away suddenly and pulled out his Game Boy instead, he maybe lazy but sleep was not wanted right now. Mello’s hand held for a moment before dropping back on the couch. They sat in perfect silence. Matt played and Mello thought.
‘I guess it’s not such a bad idea.’ Matt thought ‘It will be very new. But, if Mello thinks it will help then...I guess it’s worth a chance? I’ve erased all of his and mines files from Whammy’s, and the banks and just about every other place you can think of that has our names and faces.’ He stole a glance at the scarred man. It seemed that Mello was already forming plans in his head by the look on his face. ‘I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to go.’
“Umm.” Matt said nudging Mello with the toe of his boot. “Mel?”
“Yes?” Mello looked at the gamer and saw an almost uncertain look behind his goggles. “Have you been thinking over my plan?” Mello sounded more eager than he meant too.
“Well.” Matt mumbled wondering why he was going to agree with this. “I don’t see the harm in giving it a chance.” Matt pulled off his eye shields and frowned at his boss. “But, if one thing goes wrong we quit and come back, right? I’m not going to die for nothing, Mello, not at all. If we get there and we find it’s not going according to your plan. We kill the guy’s we can and get the hell out of there. We come back and live out our lives the way we had planned too.”
“Right. Right.” Mello waved his hand with an air of not caring. “If it gets sticky we’ll pack up.” He settled back on his bottom and began humming a tune that Matt hadn't heard before.
“What that?” He asked still watching Mello’s content face. “I haven’t heard you hum or sing since before the accident.”
Mello opened his eyes and gave a weak smile. “Oh. Well.” He fumbled with his chocolate, and took in a breath. “It’s too stupid to talk about. Really, Matt.”
Matt watched him carefully from the corner of his eye. “I’m not gonna laugh, Mel’s. I’m glad to see you look so happy for a change.” He tried to stop the chuckle that started to form in the back of his throat. It escaped into the air, causing Mello to glance his way.
“Well.” Mello started a light pink again rising in his cheek. “Don’t say I didn’t tell you to not make fun of me.” He put the chocolate down in his lap and stared at the wall. It was like he was somewhere else. “That song....is the only memory of home I have.”
“Home?” Matt asked in turn. “You mean Germany? I’ve never heard much about that place either.” He folded his long legs under himself and waited for the story to unfold.
“Germany!?” Mello turned and raised an eyebrow at the red head, who in turn looked taken back. “I’ve no memories of my home ‘Country’. The home I’m talking about is Whammy’s. I actually learned that song from Watari. He was taking me to the orphanage, and I got tried out really fast. I was so weak.” Mello broke off and started thinking. “Anyway. I started to get sleepy and I was leaning on L. Who was getting sick and couldn’t sing at the time, so Watari started to hum then sing that song. When I had rested, I asked him about it.” Mello bit his bar and slowly chewed. “He started to sing it and I followed along. After the second time of it, I had learned the whole thing.” He shifted around. “A few weeks past and L got sick. Poor guy was in bed for a week. So, I sat on the edge of his bed and sang that song for him. He smiled and told me it was the sweetest tune he had ever heard. Of course he was exaggerating but, it was nice.” He shook his head his blond locks brushing his shoulders to and fro. “It’s the best and only sentimental thing I let stay in my mind." The poor guy looked like a emotional mess "I really miss them, Matt.” He finished facing his friend.
Matt smiled and placed a hand on Mello’s thin shoulder. “I bet he wasn’t exaggerating. You know he never lied when we were kids. He said it made a person unable to hold their head up high. He loved us like we were his brothers. The faster we catch Kira, the sooner we honor L.”
"Of course." Mello sighed slumping about the arm of the couch.
"Mells? What's the song called?" Matt asked suddenly. He still hadn't turned on the game console again. And when Mello looked up he had his laptop open and set up.
"Gute Nacht" He said moving to look over Matt's shoulder. The brouzer window opened showing a list of German lullabies.
