Mello

Mello is Near's rival and they both split ways after L Lawliet's death due to his problems with being second to Near. Mello decides to find Kira his own way by joining the Mafia (assumed to be located in Los Angeles, California) and using less conventional methods, including the kidnapping the Director of the Japanese Police, to find Kira before Near.

Mello also relies on information leaked from an informant (Ill Ratt) in the SPK. Mello likes chocolate bars, and usually can be seen eating one. The scar on the left side of his face was caused by the explosion he triggered when cornered by the Investigation Team, which Light ordered to attack Mello's gang. His real name is Mihael Keehl. After Mello escapes from the attack led by Light Yagami, he meets Near and gives him information on the rules of the Death Note in exchange for his only photograph left in the world, which, before the exchange, is in Near's hands. Mello tricks Kanzo Mogi into meeting Near in New York, so in thanks, Near found a round-about way of letting Mello know what Shuichi Aizawa told Near (though this sequence was cut from the anime adaptation). With the same information, Mello also comes to the conclusion that Light is Kira.

Later in the story, Mello spies on Misa Amane while she is in the United States while Matt spies on the Japanese Police team (this plot point was mostly excised from the anime). During chapter 98, he kidnaps Kiyomi Takada (whom Halle Lidner instructs to get on Mello's bike), rides off and handcuffs her to himself. In the next chapter, he dies when Takada writes his name on a piece of the Death Note, as per Light's instructions.

Mello's birthday is December 13, 1989 and he dies on January 26, 2010. He is 171 centimeters tall (5' 7), weighs 52 kilograms (115 pounds) and his blood type is A. Mello usually wears a rosary, the crucifix of which was altered to a red stick-shaped charm for the anime adaptation (where his eyes were also changed from black to blue).

[[Category:L]]