Chapter One- Rain

Matt dug his hands deeper into his pockets, trying to ignore the stares of passers by and feeling rain run down his face. Blood dripped down from his forehead and he slipped into the shadows by the shops to get away from people staring at him. How had he got blood on his head?

-Flashback-

Matt was stood outside his house, ringing the bell, waiting for someone to answer. When the door was finally yanked open he was thrown backwards by a punch in his stomach. "Get out!" His father yelled, kicking him down the steps, "I don't want you in my house, think you can just waste your life and my money on games and smoking!?" People looked out their windows curiously as the front door slammed shut and Matt pulled himself up. He could feel blood dripping down his head and turned away from the house. Muttering a curse under his breath, Matt left his home and headed towards the city, hoping to get a room for the night.

-End Flashback-

He hadn't managed to get a room and was now wandering round the city, hoping to find somewhere, anywhere to stay for the night so he wouldn't catch frost bite from the cold. As he glanced across the room he saw a sign in a hotel window. Vacancy.

Smiling slightly, Matt ran across the road, not bothering to check for traffic. There was the sound of a car horn then of screeching tyres, he turned and gasped in shock as he saw a van hurtling towards him, his legs wouldn't move and nothing was reacting. The car braked but was going to fast to stop...someone screamed and Matt collapsed, blood trickling down his face, arms, legs, stomach...and he knew no more.

When he finally felt life come back into his body the first thing he felt was pain in his head. Groaning, Matt forced his eyes open, then shut them sharply as he saw a blindingly bright light shine at him. He heard someone mumble "Turn it off" and he tried opening his eyes again, when he let his gaze drift across the white ceiling, then to the hospital equipment to either side of him, finally his eyes fell on the person sat by his bed.

Their blond hair was combed neatly down on either side and there was something very feminine about him. The teenager bit off a piece of chocolate then looked across at him. "You're awake." He observed.

Wanting to get a better look at the room Matt tried to push himself up but the blond forced him back into the pillows. Staring at the boy, Matt was sure he hadn't seen him before. "Who are you?" He asked when he was certain he didn't knwo the guy.

Swallowing a piece of chocolate he replied, "Mello. You?"

"Matt." Something was puzzling him. "If you don't know me then why are you here?"

"I was meant to be visiting my friends dad but I got bored so went walkabouts round the ward and saw you didn't have any visitors and you looked more fun than they did so, I came in here. Plus some guy was following me and asking if I was lost..." Mello trailed off, taking another bite of chocolate. Matt stared at him, not knowing what to say. Thankfully, someone came into the room and he didn't have to say anything. The newcomer had messy black hair and was in a white long sleeve t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

"Mello, we're going, Watari says to go say goodbye to Soichiro before you leave." The person left once Mello had nodded.

"Er, how did you actually end up in hospital?" Mello asked once the door had closed.

"Um...well, my dad punched me then kicked me down the steps and about an hour later I got hit by a van."

"Why did your dad hit you?"

"Because I spent all my money on games." Matt said, and for smoking he added in his head.

"Just for that? Wow, he sounds mean..." There was a few moments silence. "Where you gonna go?" Matt tried to shrug and failed miserably.

"Not sure."

"You could stay with me!" Mello shouted suddenly. Matt turned to look at him.

"Huh?"

"It gets boring when it's just me, Near and L, they both talk about complicated stuff and tell me off for eating too much chocolate but L can't talk because he eats sweets all day!" Mello explained.

"Huh?" Did this guy just sy I could stay with him?

"Come on, it'd be fun!"

"Er,"

"You don't have anywhere else to go."

"Ehh..That's true, I suppose."

"Pretty please?" Mello asked.

"Okay then..."

"Yay!" Mello said, eating some more chocolate then giving some to Matt.

A nurse came in a few minutes later and said that Matt could go but to take it easy for a week or two.

Mello called a taxi and soon they were both riding along towards wherever Mello lived. When the taxi stopped outside a huge Victorian Mansion Matt thought there was some mistake, dressed mostly in leather, Mello was not the person you expected to live in a place like this. "I called Watari and told him that you were living here so the room next door to mine should be ready." Mello said as they got out the taxi and the driver drove off.

"Don't we need to pay him?"

"Hm, maybe he forgot." Mello shrugged, leading Matt up to the front door, it was pulled open by the black haired boy from before.

"You must be Matt," He said, "My name is L." They shook hands and Mello pulled him through into the hallway. A boy who was probably about 14 but looked about 7 was sat in the main living room on the carpet playing with robots, he was in silvery pajamas and was twirling a piece of his paper white hair around his fingers.

"That's Near." He whispered to Matt as they walked up the stairs towards the bedrooms.