[Uke]

"They wont stay," Nate hummed. "At least you guys know Near still wants you."

[Mint]

"They're not going anywhere." Matt sighed. "I'll bet Mail's out in the car and Mihael's probably just...somewhere out back."

"I'll be willing to bet money that they're crying." Mello put in.

[Uke]

"They're not yet," Nate whispered. "But I'm not the same kid I was back then."

[Mint]

"Believe me, you being the older guy wasn't what hurt our relationship at all." Matt assured.

"Why don't you check for yourself." Mello offered. "C'mon, I thought you stopped running away a long time ago."

[Uke]

"No, the fact that all three of us are in love with other people did," Nate snorted. "And its not about the age, its the fact that we've lived eight years that they don't know about. Its like seeing a friend again after a long time and trying to catch up, but not really able to experience it."

He turned to look at Mello.

"Near hates himself for not being there when you got that scar," He informed. "I could see it in his eyes. He wanted to be able to comfort you in his own way about it, but he couldn't, and he blames himself."

[Mint]

"He has nothing..." Mello sighed and looked aside. "I wouldn't have wanted him to see...I wish he didn't have to now...I must look so different...scary..."

[Uke]

"You should really be telling him that," Nate informed, before he frowned. "Just like I should be telling Mihael and Mail how I feel..."

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Being the only guy around here with common sense really blows, sometimes," He mumbled, before climbing off the bed. "I don't really want to doom either of them to a relationship when I'm going to die, but it's their choice to make, not mine."

[Mint]

"Maybe because we're all still young fools." Matt smiled. "We still hold out hope...like idiots."

Mello sat up next.

"Yeah, I'm being dumb too...denial, I guess." Mello admitted.

[Uke]

"I wish things weren't complicated with the Kira case and everything," Nate sighed. "Then we'd have time to focus on this... I really should have factored Mihael and Mail into this..."

He smiled a little.

"'Factored in'... y'all are rubbin' off on me."

[Mint]

"Actually, you won't let us do that anymore." Matt hummed.

[Uke]

"Oh you pervert!" Nate laughed, before he sighed and leaned in, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "We've faced four different Kiras, boys," He began. "Had our names read by Shinigami eyes... had bombs explode all around us... but are you two ready to face the hardest thing you've ever done in your life?"

[Mint]

Both of them stared back and nodded- their faces set.

[Uke]

"Then let's go," Nate replied, his face just as blank.

--Scene Change--

"You just need to give him some time," Missy told her brother, rubbing his shoulders gently. "Its just as much of a shock for him to see you as it is for you to see him."

[Mint]

"That's not my problem." Mihael said miserably. "He's...he says he's not going to be around...he says he's..."

Mihael hugged around himself a little more.

[Uke]

"But that's not something you have the power to change," She reminded, petting his straight hair with a frown. "You need to talk to him and explain that you want to spend the time he has left with him."

[Mint]

"He acted like I should just forget him...like we all need to just move on." Mihael muttered. "Maybe he's had eight years to get over us, but he just left yesterday."