Blood streamed down his face.

He couldn't see. He could barely even breathe.

Mello tried to twitch his fingers. Nothing.

Was this it?

Was this how it ended?

Buried under rubble, his dead, momentary companions surrounding him.

Defeated.

This couldn't be it.

He couldn't let it end like this. Losing wasn't an option.

He couldn't let Near win.

Near was the enemy, not Kira. Kira killed L, Kira was evil – there was no denying that.

But Near was the enemy.

No matter what, he couldn't lose now.

He would be number one.

He would win…