A/N: So this is a new story from a roleplay that I did with my Mello, Almighty Sponge. In this, Near is about 4 years old and Mello is about 6. Because of this, a lot of the words that they say are written wrong –but that's purposeful because… well… they're just little kids! Anyway, it's a simple idea, but was very fun to do! So… without much else to say let's get on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note or any of the characters that are used in this story.

Chapter 1

It was late at night and all of the children of Wammy's house were asleep in their beds. Each one was tuckered out from the events of the day. Two kids in particular were especially tired, and wanted nothing more than to sleep.

Near and Mello (along with several other children from the orphanage) had taken a trip down into the nearby town with Roger earlier that day and were tired from all the activities that had gone on there. After all, traveling from one store to another and walking around for hours would tire any kid out.

In his room, Near rolled around on his bed under the white sheets he had over him and continuously found ways to get trapped in the confines of said blankets. Every few moments small whimpers escaped from him until finally his wide eyes opened and he looked around his dark room in desperation.

"Bunny?" He asked to the empty room.

The chamber was practically empty despite the furniture and toys he had neatly placed around in their selected spots. However, now that it was night time, everything was shadowed in darkness, and these everyday articles, seen through the eyes of a child, were warped into frightful shapes that loomed before him.

For instance, the toys, which Near had neatly placed to the side of his room, had become an octopus-like monster with ragged, metal arms that reached out from the corner it was sitting at. And the dresser was a giant, with four massive, angular mouths, each dotted with two black eyes that ceaselessly watched the shivering albino from where he sat, on the wall opposite the bed.

Near fought back the strong urge he had to hide under his blankets.

Instead, he took the pillow he'd previously been sleeping on and held it close to him, hoping to create a barrier with it between himself and the monsters. His eyes darted off the sides of the bed. "Bunny?" His voice grew more frantic now.

There wasn't much time, he had to find his stuffed white bunny before the monsters decided to attack him. He needed that bunny to feel safe, but it seemed to be nowhere to be found now.

'I-I migh not have 'nough time…' Near thought to himself, fearing the monsters would take advantage of the fact that he didn't have his protection with him, and would eat him up in his precious bunny's absence. So, to prevent such a thing from happening, Near scampered off of his bed, feeling the way his heart raced in his chest as he exited from his room and went out into the hall.

He hurried down the dark corridor until he reached the door to Mello's bedroom. He and Mello were acquaintances, Near supposed. He knew that normally he wouldn't have gone there, especially not in the middle of the night. But he also knew that Mello was brave and strong, and could protect him from the monsters… or so he hoped.

In the very least, he hoped maybe Mello could help him figure out where his bunny went to, since they had spent quite a bit of time together during the day before, when he must've lost it.

Near rushed into the room, his heart racing in his chest and eyes brimming with unshed tears of fright.

Near crossed the room over to Mello's bed, where the said blonde was tucked under his dark sheets. Near didn't hesitate to begin shaking at his shoulder lightly. "Mero?" He asked shakily. "Mero."

The slumbering blonde mumbled something inaudible in his sleep, and finally his blue eyes opened. He blinked a few times before he sat up, smacking his lips and then looked down to the floor, to where Near stood, staring up at him with eyes wide with fear.

"Nia?" He spoke softly, wondering if he was dreaming or not. "What are you doing here?" He questioned.

Near looked down a bit and fumbled nervously with the ends of the white shirt that hung loosely on his small frame. "Dere're monsers in my room… Mero know where my bunny is?" He asked.

Mello frowned, "You lost your bunny?"

Near nodded weakly, his eyes flicking between Mello and where his hands were on the end of his shirt.

"Hm…" Mello slipped from under his covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He stood there for a minute in his dark pajamas, trying to think of a solution to this problem. "So you can't go find your bunny 'cuz there's monsters?" He asked.

"I don know where my bunny is… I can't find it." Near said; his tone instantly falling to show his sadness at the situation. His dark grey eyes met Mello's blue ones, "My bunny protets me from monsers…"

"Yeah." Mello simply replied as he began to think. 'Obviously Nia's gonna need his toy to get to sleep… and I can't just dump him off or he'll cry… I'm gonna have to help him find it or I'm never gonna get to sleep either…'

"Well when did you play with you bunny last?" Mello then asked, coming back out of his thoughts.

Near thought over Mello's question, his eyes falling to his feet as he pondered. When had he played with it last? "Dis morning? No… Dis afternoon!" He finally concluded.

Mello cocked his head to the side. "This afternoon? When we were downtown?" He frowned. "Did you have it on the ride back?"

Near simply shrugged, "I didn' have my bunny dis evening."

The blonde sighed, "You don't remember if you left it in town or not?"

"I tink I might…" Near trailed off.

"Hmph." Mello sat back down on the edge of his bed. "Well it's kinda 'portant to know. If you left your bunny in town then there's no point lookin' for it." He stated.

Near continued to fumble with the end of his shirt. He knew if he had his bunny with him, he would probably be messing with the large floppy white ears that it had… but his shirt would have to be the substitute for it for the moment.

"Well… I 'member bringin it with us…" Near began to reflect back on the day's events.

Mello watched Near, beginning to piece together his own theory about what had happened to the unfortunate rabbit toy.

"But you don't remember havin' it on the ride home?"

Near simply shook his head in reply.

Mello frowned at the younger boy, "Well then you left it in town! Your fault for bringin' it. It's gone now." He told him honestly.

Near's face fell and his wide, dark eyes planted themselves on the blonde boy in a silent plea. "But… but… I need it… Mero, I need my bunny." He sniffled softly and let a few tears fall from his rounded eyes. "Can we get it?"

Mello shuddered a little when Near started crying. He hated it when little kids put up a fuss. Not only was it sickeningly cute, but annoying because of that and it always melted his heart at the same time; especially when Near did it.

"Wh-what am I 'sposed ta do? Get Roger to take you into town to look for it?" He instantly responded as he tried to avoid Near's teary eyes.

Near shook his head, "You go with me?" He asked, pleadingly as he stared at Mello and waited for his response.

Mello sighed, 'What choice do I got?'

"Fine."

A/N: So that's the end of the first chapter! I think the beginning of this is so cute. But, it gets cuter as the story progresses! So, stick around and see what happens! Will Near find his bunny again? What's going to happen in the end? Who knows…

Please review!
-Forbiddensoul562