My Own Way

The car door opened and several men piled out. Behind them, a second car emptied in the same way. Mello was in the third and he strode straight through the nightclub doorway and down the stairs to the Capo's office. He marched into the midst of the waiting mobsters with a triumphant smirk. "Successful, just as I planned it."

"Well done, Mello." Rio nodded approvingly, standing to meet the blond on the other side of his desk. "Nice little earner for our Christmas bonuses." He received the briefcase and opened it on the desk. Hard cash lined it to the brim. He extracted a few bundles and handed them back to Mello. "Something to take home to your... do you have a wife?"

Mello snorted. "Let's talk about Kira."

Around the room, men exchanged humoured glances. A couple of ten pound notes passed hands. "Mello, your advice has proved to be invaluable, here and abroad, but it's still too early to move against Kira. As I've said before, you know what happened in America. We need to consolidate our bases against it happening here too. No-one is moving against Kira at the moment."

The blond slammed his fist down on the desktop. The briefcase slid half a foot and the money inside jolted. "Then maybe they should be. Our American friends were not so frightened as our European friends appear to be. Would you let another family let you run scared? Hell no, but Kira looks in your direction and you shit your pants like a child under the playground bully."

The sound of gun triggers cocked and switchblades opening surrounded him. Rio stood to his full height and glared down at the teenager. For a moment, ice crackled in the deadly atmosphere, then the Capo laughed. "Mello, you amuse me. Keep putting that brain of yours to work and we'll consider it. Now go home to your comare and have a lovely Christmas."

Mello's eyes narrowed, flashing dangerously, but the Consigliere rushed over. "Mello, come on, let's talk outside." He allowed himself to be ushered into the corridor, the pounding beat of music working through the ceiling tiles overhead. "He hasn't said no. That's a good sign with Rio. Let's get Christmas over with, then see where we are in the New Year. Ok?" Mello was walking and, despite the man's diminuative stature, the Consigliere was jogging to keep up. "How would you like a Honda CBR 1000?"

The blond continued marching on, but paused several feet away. He turned and faced his sometime counterpart. "Yes, I'd like the Honda."

The Consigliere smiled. He was good at his job. "This way then. It's in the yard." He pushed open a door and revealed the black motorcycle there. "Bring your own bike in here and we'll swop it for this one. Merry Christmas, Mello." Keys were produced from his pocket and dangled enticingly in front of the blond. "Call it an appreciation of your operations. And don't become disheartened. I meant what I just said out there. Rio hasn't said no."

Mello nodded and advanced across the concrete to the Honda. "Is it hot?"

"No, clean as they get. Brand new. There's even a full tank of petrol."

With a knowledgable gaze, Mello crouched to inspect the engine and the framework. Fingers poked into the usual places for hidden explosives and then into the less overt. It all appeared to be in good working order. He pulled his keychain out and removed one of the keys from it, throwing it towards the Consigliere. It was caught. "My bike's in Stanton Street. I'll take this." He smiled and re-entered the building to collect his helmet and biking leathers. The man was still waiting when he returned and Mello glanced at him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You leaving now?"

"I haven't been home for a week and yes." Mello shrugged and fitted his helmet over his head, before straddling the Honda. The engine purred into life beneath him. He pushed up his visor. "Call me if there's any word on the Derby situation. I'll be back on the 28th to discuss how we're taking down Kira." There was a smirk as the visor came down again and the Consigliere raised a hand in farewell.

"Merry Christmas." He called out, as Mello roared out of the yard and onto the street.

Half a world away, Bubbles and Silver sat in their respective homes staring in bewilderment at their computer screens. Everyone else in the EHC forum had gone quiet, logging off or simply not speaking, so the onus had fallen on these two to make sense of what they were reading.

*Silver* M15?
*Bubbles* Sweetie, I do believe you, but you must have hacked some really big shit to have M15 on your back.
*Mariomatt* Can you help me?!!
*Bubbles* Of course I can. I'm your Auntie Bubbles and I have your back. You've covered mine enough times.
*Silver* I'm not doubting you either
*Mariomatt* They could be monitoring here!!!! FFS!
*Bubbles* Mario, you really think even M15 could have got through our firewalls and not one of us know about it?
*Mariomatt* Neenjahs
*Silver* <.<
*Bubbles* Mario, sweetheart, I'm going to ask you one thing b4 we go any further
*Bubbles* Are you on drugs?
*Mariomatt* Noooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
*Mariomatt* FFS
*Bubbles* KK
*Bubbles* So M15 are really tapping into your servers and watching your house.
*Bubbles* And we know this because there's been a Peuguot parked outside for three days with no-one in it.
*Bubbles* And a strange banging sound in your bathroom
*Bubbles* But no evidence that your firewalls have been tampered with in any way.
*Bubbles* ....
*Bubbles* Did I get that all correct?
*Mariomatt* :o Ur on their side!!!!!11!
*Silver* Hes off his f4ce
*Bubbles* Mario, honey, sweetie pie, listen to Auntie Bubbles, have you had much sleep recently?
-Mariomatt is off-line-
*Silver* Tripping his bollox off??
*Force10* LOL!
*Bubbles* Ty for all helping me there. >:(
*Firebomb* Yw
*Bubbles* Silver, you are now top of my list for assistance. Show me that worm you asked for help with.
*Bubbles* Rest of you :p
*Firebomb* Awww -.-
-Mariomatt is on-line-
*Mariomatt* 1890839c84jsO
*Bubbles* Stop!!
*Bubbles* PM pl0x Mario.
*Mariomatt* No time!!! They're coming!!
*Bubbles* Mariomatt! PM pl0x!
-Mariomatt is off-line-
*Force10* Please tell me that was the password to his server.
*Firebomb* I wrote it down! LOL
*Silver* Rly?!! Mario's server!
*Bubbles* Touch his server and answer to me. Does any1 have a fone no 4 him? I'm getting tired of this.
*Force10* Its not his server. Access denied.
*Bubbles* >:(
*Force10* Hands On Imperative 8D
*Bubbles* >:(
*Force10* ;-;
*Silver* Does he do this often? :D
*Bubbles*No, never.
-Mariomatt is on-line-
*Bubbles* Mario do not log off again!
*Bubbles* Who's coming?
*Mariomatt* Ninjas
*Force10*> LMFAO!!
*Bubbles* You never probably explained the ninjas, Mario
*Mariomatt* I'm third in line to be L. It's a code not a person and I'm third in line
*Mariomatt* Kira's going to kill me
*Mariomatt* He's doing it with worms
*Bubbles* Of course u r, sweetie
*Bubbles* Kira only goes after criminals
*Mariomatt* I cut them out
*Bubbles* There's a worm in your hard-drive?? Kira is a haxxor?
*Mariomatt* Tell Mello
*Bubbles* We looked for Mello and couldn't find him, remember, sweetheart?
*Bubbles* Then you told us to stop looking
*Bubbles* Did you find him?
*Firebomb* Give me Mello's number and I'll give him a call
*Mariomatt* 2 late
*Bubbles* yes! wots Mello's no?
*Bubbles* Could Mello get to you IRL?
*Mariomatt* Not past teh neenjahs
*Force10* He's taking teh piss
-CrashnBurn is on-line-
*Mariomatt* Crash!!!! M15 know!!!!!
*CrashnBurn* Sup
*Mariomatt* Coming to kill me!!!
*CrashnBurn* ...
*Force10* You never said what they know
*Mariomatt* Mail
*Force10* Mail?
*Mariomatt* Wot?
*Force10* LOL
*CrashnBurn* Kk Bubbles got me UTD
*CrashnBurn* Mario, you drunk?
*Mariomatt* Tell Mello to check Mail
*Firebomb* We need Mello's no, remember???!
*Mariomatt* G2G
*Bubbles* Mario!!!
*Bubbles* Do not log off!

Mello inserted his key into their front door and walked into the hallway. He dropped his helmet onto his bed and raked through his blond hair with his fingers before walking down the passageway into the front room. The first shock was the cleaniness. Every surface had been scrubbed and polished. There wasn't a game out of place. The second shock was the laptop open on the kitchen table displaying his name in a forum. Mello frowned and read it.

*Bubbles* Mariomatt, are you still there?
*Bubbles* Ur scaring us now
*Bubbles* Give us Mellos no and well tell him to check his mail

Mello's eyes widened and he glanced back into the front room. "Matty?" There was the sound of water gushing in the bathroom. Mello looked down, as his consciousness struggled to take in what his eyes had glimpsed from the periphery of his vision. There was blood on the chair and floor. Spots and smears. "Matt!" He ran to hammer on the bathroom door. "Open up now!"

"It's too late." Matt moaned from within.

"No it's not." Mello replied automatically. "What's too late?" He banged on the door again. "Unlock this or I'll knock it off its fucking hinges."

There was a shifting inside and the bolt was slid back. Matt slunk back to the closed toilet seat and sat back on its lid. Blood dripped from his sleeves to the carpet. The denim on his knees was heavily stained with it, as was the Gameboy in his hands. He was deathly pale, but not crying. Resignation lined his features. "There are ninjas outside."

Mello frowned and looked behind him. He could see into Matt's bedroom and that too was immaculate. His mouth formed the word 'what?', but it didn't escape his lips before he had crossed the bathroom in two strides and started pulling at the high gloves. "Let me see."

"Mello, I gave up smoking."

Mello's head shot up. "Well done." He succeeded in pulling down the glove enough to reveal sleeves saturated with blood. "Matt, I need you to tell me what..."

"But M15 are onto us. They know that the second and third are here and Kira's got to them, so they're killing me with worms. I got most of them out."

"Please tell me you're high." His hand rose to knock the goggles onto Matt's forehead. The green eyes that dipped under his gaze were confused, but no chemicals were in evidence. "So you just quit smoking, just like that? From chain-smoking to cold turkey in a week?"

"Three days."

Mello nodded. He grabbed the Gameboy and threw it out into the hallway, then yanked the rest of the glove off. There were deep gashes along the inner side of Matt's wrist and forearms. They were deep, but none were arterial slashes. "Fucking arsehole." Mello sighed. "Ok. Stay there." He ran out into the kitchen and ransacked the First Aid box. His own injuries had used up dressings at an alarming rate, but there were enough bandages to cover the lacerations. He raced back into the bathroom. "Tell me this wasn't a serious attempt at suicide."

"You don't understand!"

"Yes, I do!" Mello growled, pulling off Matt's second glove. The exposed arm was in a similar state. "For fuck's sake, Matt!"

The redhead pushed him away, standing and trying to get by, "M15 are...!"

"Mail Jeevas." Mello rose and caught his shoulder. "Mail, sit down, please."

Matt froze and turned a frightened, emerald stare onto the blond. "Help me?"

"I'm trying to." Mello smiled, reassuringly. "Let me deal with your arms, then I'll deal with the ninjas and M15. I'm here now and you know I'll take them out." He patted the shoulder, his expression remaining calmly neutral. "Come on, Mail, sit down for me." Matt sat on the edge of the bath and submitted to having his wounds tended. "So you gave up smoking, just like that, three days ago?" Above him, Matt nodded. "And when did the ninjas turn up?"

"Today, but that's just when I noticed them. They've been around for a while."

"Right." Mello smiled, nodding. "I know precisely how to make them go away. Why did you give up smoking?"

"You said I stink of cigarettes."

Mello's eyes flashed up to look at him. "Right. That's all?" He caught the redhead's nod. "So this isn't for you wanting to save your lungs?" Matt shook his head. "Right. I didn't add that I quite like the smell of cigarettes. Have you got any in this very, very tidy flat?" Matt nodded slowly. "Where?"

"In the cutlery drawer."

"Ok, wait here." Mello ran into the kitchen and opened the drawer. A note lying above the tray read, 'Only complete losers would get this far and go in the back of this drawer. Remember why you're doing it. Do not start smoking again.' The blond snatched it up and angrily crushed it into a ball, before casting it aside. Rooting in the back, underneath a startling array of unused cooking implements and knives with black scorch marks on them, he found the packet of cigarettes. He lit one, grimacing against the acrid chemical taste that the first inhalation left in his mouth. He spluttered against the worktop, then coughed fully, his lungs rejecting the invasive smoke. There was a fleeting memory of the exploded hide-out in LA, but Mello pushed it from his mind. He ran back into the bathroom. "Smoke."

A junkie's hunger flooded Matt's eyes, but he didn't reach for it. Mello leaned down and kissed him, pushing his lips apart with his tongue. Engulfing the redhead in a fierce hug, before removing his mouth and inserting the cigarette in one swift movement. Matt inhaled deeply, his eyes fluttering shut. He barely exhaled before taking it in again. His legs buckled from under him, but Mello still had him in his grasp and eased him to the floor. The cigarette was smoked in seven or eight long drags, the ash dangling in the shape it had been, unflicked and not falling. Mello nodded and lit another, exchanging it for the butt. Ash fell onto his leather trousers, but he brushed it away. The tension dropped from Matt's shoulders; peace smoothing out the lines of distress from his face. Mello reached out to stroke his cheek and, when the green eyes opened, there was intelligence in them. "Mello..."

"Ssh." Mello smiled. "I think that some people are just meant to smoke."

"I..."

"Tell me about M15 and the ninjas."

Matt bowed his head, his hand rising to cover his face. "I can't tell you where I've been."

"I saw." Mello kissed the hand. "So they were just hallucinations?" There was a nod beneath the mass of red hair. "I've seen some cold turkey freak outs in my time, but that was quite spectacular. You feeling better now?"

"I feel fucking stupid." Came the muffled response.

"Which is probably the last thing anyone could accuse you of, but there we go." Mello stood in with a creak of leather. "I'm going down to the shop to get you a multi-pack and you can spend the rest of the night smoking yourself to death. Never do something like this in my name again. You want to give up, yes, I'll support you all the way, but don't do it because you think I want you to. You do whatever the fuck you like, I'm in no position to judge."

"You think I'm a fucking junkie!" Matt moaned.

"Well, so am I!" Mello pulled out a chocolate bar and unwrapped it viciously. He held it under the bowed head, tapping against the hand until it moved from Matt's vision. "You want to take this off me?"

"No."

"Well then." Mello lifted it away and bit into a corner. "I keep my chocolate, you keep your cigarettes. We both die slowly and horribly, but it's better than quickly and tragically. I need you too much for you to go losing to the inner ninjas. I'm going to the shop."

*Mariomatt* Ohai all. I'm sorry about that.
*Bubbles* Mario!! Where u go?!
*Mariomatt* Mello's here. It's all ok now.
*Force10* Bad trip?
*Mariomatt* Something like that.
*Mariomatt* Sorry
*Mariomatt* Cya
-Mariomatt has logged off-
*Bubbles* Cya honey
*Force10* BB
*Firebomb* He's gone.
*Force10* Best laugh I've had in years!!
*Firebomb* LOL