t r i b u t a r y

December: Shortly after getting Mello out of a trial, he declares that the two of them are moving to New York-- partially for Mello’s safety, and partially to ease his own personal baggage. Ever since the end of the Mellodrama, the Anansi case, and right through Naomi’s death, he’s felt dissatisfied with his life in the Taskforce. As an ex-successor still working with L, he felt tied down, unhappy, and insecure. He wanted nothing more than to flee Japan, move to New York, and start a life as a freelance detective, completely free from the SPK, the Taskforce, and everything L and Kira related. His life was supposed to be perfect, with Mello, but it didn’t quite work out like that. They came to visit for Christmas, and Mello stayed in Japan. Near returned to New York with just Rester, and didn’t look back. 

January: After a month or so of distance, Near and Mello agreed to cut ties and end everything. Near was determined to distance himself from that part of his life and put it behind him. He became aloof and distant once again, never once contacting the people in his life that he cared about. Only Rester remained, as a father and assistant-- the only person Near would let close to him. He took on no cases, just bought a fifth avenue penthouse and locked himself away to continue writing his book in solitude.

February: Although Near didn’t keep in touch with anyone from the Taskforce after cutting all ties, he did keep an eye on L professionally. When Teru Mikami was apprehended and the Kira case seemed to be over, he came out of hiding a bit. Unafraid and reckless, he stopped going by Near and instead took on a name that he and L had often discussed in conjunction with a concept for the show “Tributary”. With Near in the past, Detective River was born.

March-July: Near made quite a name for himself in New York City. Despite no longer being linked to L professionally in any way, he became something like the L of the tri-state area. He quickly put many American detectives out of business, because of his rapid and careful work ethic, he was able to take on any and all cases brought to him, from small ones he could solve in an hour, to large-scale murder cases. And though he took them all on with equal diligence, he got no joy from it-- only the obsolete satisfaction of having another win to his name. His name, after all, was only what he made for himself. He wasn’t L and never would be, but he was determined to prove that he could make it on his own just as well. The book containing records of cases and classified information stayed unedited, but not forgotten about. Life continued, and Near could’ve almost called himself happy. Almost.

August: Summer was always hard for Near. It was the season his parents died, when he lost his memories. It was the season he first met Mello, and the season he found him again. In that same summer, many things happened. He left Wammy’s, and met L. He fell in love. He turned 18. He watched a family grow and come together from all corners of the world. That was what he had left behind when he moved to NYC. And it didn’t bother him, until a few weeks before his nineteenth birthday...

“I think I’m going to go to Japan,” Near announced to Rester one afternoon in the early hot days of August. He had been quiet all day, barely speaking, but sitting in quiet contemplation.

“Oh?” the agent asked, curiously. “Have you got a lead on the Simone case, then?” 

“The what? Oh, no no,” Near replied, brushing away the question carelessly as if it were a pesky insect. “I want to check in on the Taskforce.”

Rester almost dropped his coffee, and indeed he did grip the edge of the desk a bit tighter, turning around slowly in his chair to face the detective sitting on the floor. “Are you serious?”

“Rester, have you ever known me not to be?” Near’s voice was calm and unfazed, a comical contrast to the other’s shocked expression.

“A-at times, yes, actually.” Rester couldn’t help but smile fondly at Near. So much had changed, but some things always stayed the same. “Do you miss them?” he asked, voice softening a bit.

There was a pause, and then: “No.” Another pause. “I’m just curious to see if they’re doing alright. Without me, you know?” He looked up at Rester, and the agent really couldn’t tell if he was serious or not. He decided he was.

“Do you ever look at anyone’s databases? Hack their systems to look at casefiles? Text your family?” Rester’s voice grew more agitated, although he knew the answers before even asking the questions, and he shouldn’t have expected anything else.

“Of course not,” Near said plainly. “I said I was putting all that behind me, and I am. Like I said, I’m curious. That’s all.”

“And you’re going to make a special trip all the way to Japan just to do something you could do... by doing a day’s worth of research... or calling...”

“Yes, why shouldn’t I?” Near squirmed a bit. There were times he regretted allowing Rester to know him so well. It was frustrating when he needed to lie to him. Like now.”

Rester sighed and stood up. “Near, you know I love you, I really do--”

“Rester, do n--”

“--but I can see right through your bullshit and you know it.”

Damn. 

“Well, did you get new glasses? Maybe they’re enhanced. You should get that looked at.” Rester sighed. He knew that when Near whipped out the awful sarcasm, there was no hope. 

“Okay, I’ll do that,” was all he said, and the matter dropped.

They truly didn’t speak about it again for a few weeks. In the meantime, though, Near continued to mope about, definitely not missing everyone from the Taskforce. Rester was more productive, actually digging into some records. He didn’t tell Near about what he found, but figured there were things he should know. Just in case. Then, on August 22nd, two days before Near’s birthday:

“Rester?”

“Yes, Near?”

“It’s almost my birthday.”

“I know.” A pause. “Is there something special you’d like to do? Take a walk in central park? Go see a show? Take the fe--”

“I’d like to go to Japan to see my family.”

I knew it.

“Are you sure?” Rester asked, carefully. 

“Of course I am,” Near said, puzzled. “It’s my birthday, I’d like to visit my family and friends on my birthday.”

“Are you going to tell them first?”

“Of course, who do you think I am?”

I think you’re the kind of person who would abandon his entire family, not speak to them for eight months, then show up without a word for a chat.

“Right, okay. I’ll... go book plane tickets for us. Are there any clients you want me to contact, to tell them that you’ll be absent?” Rester sighed and turned to leave the room.

“Ah... yes. Email the Ashers, and call the people about that case in Jersey and tell them I don’t have time right now. Or, probably, ever. I’m not interested in helping one more teenage girl try to prove that Alexander Hamilton’s bullet hit a tree branch.” Near actually got to his feet and stretched, pulling out his phone and scrolling through his contacts.

“Will do.” Rester smiles a bit. “You have to pack your own bags, though.” 

“Of course,” Near repeated. “Seriously, who do you think I am?”