The next morning I woke up to light pouring in from my window. I didn't close my curtains last night. After I left Near in the kitchen I came back here and stood looking out at the sleeping city with the window open to cool my burning skin. I couldn't really believe I had kissed Near, it was only on the cheek but I still couldn't believe I had done it. It was so frustrating that I couldn't tell him that I loved him. It was the best opportunity, I had to confess at some point right? I couldn't live like this. I needed to know how he felt about me. It was very likely that he would turn me down but still, it was something I needed to do for my heart to start moving on. Maybe it still wouldn't move on but at least I would know where I stood and exactly the kind of relationship Near and I shared. Then there was my horrid nightmare last night. It was so horrid that I woke up crying and my throat was dry as a desert. I stood in front of the mirror brushing my hair gently. I remembered my Mama telling me to brush my hair three times a day to keep it nice and untangled. I made sure to do this everyday without fail, though over the years it had taken my longer to do it since as my hair kept getting longer and longer. I would never cut it though, I liked my hair long like this. It was very quiet in the SPK building. Anthony had left and gone to Japan to find a lead a few days ago and Stephan went with him. Halle was still here but she too was leaving in a few hours too. There was a new spooks person that was chosen. Her name was Kiyomi Takada and Halle was going to be one of the four women chosen to stay close and protect her. We know she has a strong connection with Kira and Halle was going to see if she could find out any information about her. After she leaves it will just be Near and I, alone in this building. Why did that make me both excited and nervous? I sighed and after getting dressed I walked put of the room. On the way I saw Halle and I saw she had a phone in her hand. She stopped me from walking by her.

"What is it, Halle?" I asked her. She passed me the phone.

"It's Mello, he wants to speak to you." She gave me a little smiled then turned and left...

"Hello?" I said speaking into the phone.

"Hope, how are you?" Said Mello on the other end of the line.

"I'm fine thank you. Mello, where are you?"

"I'm not going to tell you that Hope. Not while you have chosen to work with Near."

"I told you that that is not what happened. Where is Matt? What have you been doing?"

"Wow, you have a lot of questions and none I can answer."

"Mello, if you aren't going to tell me anything then why have Halle put me on?"

"I wanted to hear your voice. Is that a crime now?"

"No, but now you have heard it are you going to leave and not talk to me again for another couple of months?"

"You're angry?"

"Of course I'm angry. I don't hear from you in months and then out of the blue you want to talk to me?" I heard Mello sigh.

"Alright truth is, that Misa girl you thought was the second Kira, Matt and I  set up a tap wire in her house."

"So your in Japan?"

"Yes, Hope we are. Anyway she seemed to have another member of the task force with her. I don't know his name however I did hear her say that she hasn't spoken to Light in 2 days."

"Really? That's interesting. Well, then it is clear that Misa is no longer use to Kira. There is nothing more she can do anyway and if there is a member of the task force with her that means that the task force believe that she and Kira are co-operating. Whatever connection they had seems to be cut off in one way or another now though. Near has mentioned the fact that there may be a third Kira. We don't know who he is yet but he is clearly responsible for the deaths of Demegawa and the others. He most likely has the Shinigami eyes."

"You are quiet the detective aren't you?"

"Thanks but you don't need to patronise me. There isn't much else I can tell you apart from that. Everything else I assume you already know."

"Okay Hope, thank you for your help."

"And thank you for yours. Goodbye Mello." I said and then I hung up.

I went into the main room after handing back Halle's phone. She was in her room packing so I left her to it and went to the main room where Near was. I felt nervous because of what happened last night but when I got there, he seemed perfectly fine. He was building a tower out of card and I saw that Anthony was on the screen behind him. Near didn't seem to see me come in and looked deep in thought. 

"Commander Rester?" He said suddenly

"Yes." Anthony replied.
"I'm afraid I need you to return to New york immediately."

"Right now?"

"Yes, I'm intending to go to Japan."

"Alright, so you would like me to stay in New York while you are gone?"

"Not at all."

"Then whats the point of me coming back there?"

"Truth is I have never made travel arrangements or boarded a flight on my own before. That's why I need you to come back so you can escort me."

"Understood." And then Anthony hung up. I walked over until I was stood in front of Near.

"Good morning Hope." He said looking up at me.

"Your going to Japan. Isn't that a little dangerous?"

"Ot might be but I think it is the best way to lire Kira out of hiding. I have already made arrangement to where we will be staying."

"We?"

"Are you not coming? I am not overly fond of the idea of leaving you here all by yourself and I told you last night that you can stay by my side."

"W...well, thank you. I will go and pack now." I said before walking out of the room.

Anthony made it back to New York in record time and helped us board the flight.

"Hello Anthony." I said when I saw him.

"Hope, I see your wearing your usually outdoor clothes." He said looking down at my long coat, hat and shades.

"You know I don't have a choice." He laughed a little and then we went to sit down on the plane. Near insisted that I sat next to him so I was sat in between Near and Anthony. I was getting really hot because of my trench coat. Most of the plane journey was done in silence. Near played with his toy robots most of the way and kept passing me ones to play with too. Eventually we landed in Japan and when we got out I saw a black car waiting for us.

"I got this car to take us to the base I set up for us." Said Anthony as we walked towards it.

"Will we get to see Stephan and Halle?" I asked knowing that Halle should have left and be on a plane here by now.

"Not as often as you might like Hope because they are working."

"I understand." I told him as I got into the car.