Hell and Healing

SPOILERS: All manga, all anime, L's true name, Another Note, Law and Right, Truth and Justice, Motive and Mayhem.

Kimono: A traditional style of Japanese dress, normally reserved for formal occasions in modern times.

Obi: The sash on a kimono -- it holds the fabric closed to keep the wearer both modest and warm.

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Hell and Healing

Chapter 11: Forgiven

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There were always strings, when you worked with one of the lettered children, and Near was no exception to that rule. In the week or so before New Years rolled around, Matt had quite a bit to do if he wanted Mello to stay in the headquarters. They were quite distasteful strings, but just two days before New Years, Matt had completed arranging for the requirements, and waited impatiently for Near to arrive. He was leaving Matt with L and Light to arrive the following day.

Near stepped into the room, and felt a smirk rise on his lips at what he saw. "So you were serious. I thought you might attempt to kill me," he said easily, stepping into the room and sliding the door closed behind him. He nodded to the camera and the light went from green to red.

They were alone, then, and the fear was plain on Matt's face. Near took a step forward and delighted in the shiver that ran up Matt's spine.

The following day, Mello arrived at the headquarters with L and Light, all smiles as he passed through security and walked off towards the room Near had said they'd be staying in. He pushed open the door slowly and raised an eyebrow, standing silently in the doorway and just staring.

"I take it this was not what you expected my conditions to be," Near announced softly. "Please come in and unpack your things. We will be here for a few months if things go well," Near announced softly without looking away from his monitor.

Matt was kneeling at Near's feet, draped over Near's leg and napping as Mello often used to do.

There was more than a little jealousy flaring up in Mello, but he closed his eyes, took a deep breath and obeyed his orders.

The silence in the room was tense, but if Near noticed, he didn't show it. He simply continued his work, absently threading his hand through Matt's hair occasionally.

Mello took his place at the console next to Near's, sighing quietly. "I'm jealous," he admitted softly.

"I know," Near smiled faintly. "But understand, this is training for him, just as it was for you in the past. He is under very strict rules because he wishes to be near you. I have no issues letting him be near you, but I wish to control the situation and thereby minimize any damage he might do to you through thoughtless or intentionally cruel actions."

"Do you intend to keep him?" Mello asked softly as he keyed in his password.

"If he is sufficiently obedient, yes," Near agreed quietly. "He deserves the same happiness and peace that you've found beneath my collar."

Mello blew out an explosive sigh. "You'll forgive me for disagreeing, master," he replied quietly. "He completely destroyed me."

"You're quite capable of destruction yourself," Near pointed out with a little smirk. "The two of you are equal, in terms of authority. He is still in training, so of course he is lower ranked in terms of what he may and may not do, but you have no authority over him."

"I wouldn't use it if I did," Mello grumbled.

Near sighed softly. "You recall the punishment for lying, don't you?"

"I wasn't--" Mello snarled to stop himself from finishing that reply, and gave a soft huff. "I remember."

"Go get it," Near ordered simply.

With a heavy sigh, Mello got up and went into the bedroom.

Matt woke slowly, from the scent of coffee and... chocolate. A very specific brand of chocolate, and a sad smile rose on his lips as he rubbed at his eyes and let out a soft groan, stretching slowly.

"You're disturbing me," Near muttered quietly.

A few blinks, and Matt shifted away from Near's chair to continue with his stretching -- until his eyes caught a rather unfamiliar sight. "Mello?" he asked softly.

Mello glanced over in reply, though it was more of an annoyed glare.

"He is being punished," Near announced. "Don't expect him to reply verbally to any questions you may have for him. You may speak with him as much as you like, but do not touch him."

"Yes, master," Matt answered absently, and gave Mello a grin as he returned to his place, draped over Near's leg. "Is that thing your punishment?"

Mello nodded in reply. The 'thing' was a fairly simple mask, modified from an industrial air filtration mask used by cleanup crews dealing with dangerous molds. The sole purpose of the mask was to prevent him from speaking and whenever he lied, he was subject to wearing it for a full twenty-four hours.

"Forced silence?" Matt asked, looking up at Near, who nodded in reply.

"He lied to me," Near said softly. "It was a minor lie, so the punishment is also minor."

Mello sighed quietly, returning his gaze to his work. His first time seeing Matt face to face in years and he wasn't even able to speak to Matt directly. He felt pretty damn stupid for his mistake.

"I guess you really do things a lot different from how I normally do," he admitted softly, giving a weak smile as he relaxed in his place, occasionally rubbing his eyes and stretching a bit. A while later he asked to go to the bathroom, and immediately returned to Near's side, just as Mello had done during his own training.

Over the next few hours, Mello slowly relaxed as he saw the consistency with which Matt was being treated. It put his mind -- and his jealousy -- at ease.

Until it came time for bed. Mello hung back, waiting to see how it would be handled, a little tense, a little nervous. He was intensely relieved when Matt was ordered to sleep in a different room, and he was once again allowed to sleep in Near's arms.

The rest of the twenty-four hours of the punishment were over quickly, and the next evening, his punishment ended when Near removed the mask. He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I apologize, master. My emotions got away with me and I didn't take care with my words."

"You are forgiven," Near replied softly. "You may return to work and converse with Matt as you please. Later tonight we will go to a shrine together to usher in the new year."

Mello gave a nod of agreement and returned to his work without another word. He didn't speak much as things were, anyway.

The conversation with Matt was short at best -- Mello was still unsure about how to react to him, how much to tell him, trust him, connect to him. For now, Mello was keeping his distance.

It was late in the evening when Near rose from his work station, heading into his room and fetching a pair of simple white boxes. He handed one to Mello and one to Matt. "Please get dressed together. You will need each other's help, and I am certain I've given you each the correct boxes.

"Yes, master," they chorused, taking their boxes to the bedroom Matt slept in and opening them there. It was... a little startling for Mello, to see what was within them. for them both, Near had purchased a formal winter kimono, clearly quite expensive. They were measured perfectly, but the colors seemed to be... reversed.

Mello's kimono was a deep, almost blackish blue, with white snow embroidered down the body and a sash that was a very pale blue, where Matt's was a deep chocolate brown, flecked with creme colored branches, with a few winter flowers blooming.

The smile it brought to Mello's lips was one that Matt had never seen before, and he let out a soft smile. "I still love you," Matt whispered, beginning to undress and changing into the kimono.

Mello changed as well, giving a fairly weak smile in reply. "I still love you, too, but I'm not willing to risk myself just yet," he replied quietly. "For the time being, you're nothing more than my master's other pet," he explained quietly as he slid his own kimono on. "Here, let me tie the obi for you."

"Thanks," Matt replied, holding his arms up so Mello could get the knot just right. When his own was tied, Matt returned the favor and they returned to the main room to find Near already dressed and conversing with L and Light.

Light looked over at them and offered a warm smile, motioning them over. "Those kimono suit you," he said warmly.

"Master has good taste," Mello replied with a soft smile, going to Near's side.

Near smiled softly. "Thank you," he said softly. "Shall we go to the shrine?"

"Yes, it would be best to arrive before midnight, I believe," L replied with a smile, leading the way to the garage.

They followed him down, filing into the limo and taking the ride to the small shrine that L was patron of, and had a private ceremony to welcome in the new year with the traditional foods, the ringing of the bells, and the yearly music contest that aired on national television. It was a lovely evening all in all.

As the new year began, Mello leaned over to kiss Matt's cheek and whisper in his ear. "I forgive you."

Near only smiled when he saw the tears rising in Matt's eyes.

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A/N: And that's the end of this one. =3 Expect a bonus chapter soon!

Kaze: I'm glad you enjoy it. =D And don't worry! This is not the end. X3 I plan to make another after this~ so keep an eye out! It just... might not come out until after finals are over. That'll be in about a month.

Coby: Haha! Well, I'm glad you really enjoyed this. =3 This is the last chapter, but it shall continue! It just might take a while for me to get the next story out. x.x;