Okay, so... This is really random, but it was an idea I had a while back and I decided to make something of it. I know it's AU, but, bear with me, because you know putting Mello and B in the same room would be quite interesting, to say the least.

To fans of my other fictions- Yes, I know I'm a terrible person, and I apologize. I have writer's block and school stress. (The summer's another story.) Anyway, I hope to update everything soon.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

As far as most who claim to know him can remember, Beyond Birthday was always... Well... Eccentric. Perhaps it was genetic... Or, perhaps the more likely reason, was a traumatic experience that occurred when he was a child. Speaking of which, let's focus on that for a while. Forget about everything you know about the murder cases, whatever name you wish to refer to them as, and instead, picture a young boy- around the age of four- who looked painfully out-of-place. He was living in Japan, in an orphanage, but really, he was nothing like the other children. Nobody really expected him to be adopted in this lifetime. His skin was sickly pale, making his deep chocolate eyes stand out... But, an even more shocking feature was his jet-black hair, which caused him to look even more pale. Naturally, this, along with his peculiar name, Beyond Birthday, just begged for children to tease him. This is where the story begins.

"Hey, Birthday," One of the older boys, commonly known as Akio jeered, "Better go inside, or you'll get a sunburn!"

"Aww, lay off him, Akio," Another older boy, named Reiji scolded, though Beyond already knew that this wouldn't relieve him of Akio's bullying. "Just because he looks like a mini-me of Michael Jackson is no reason to pick on him!" Both boys burst into laughter, clutching their stomachs. Beyond Birthday was used to this. He was picked on alot for his skin tone, to the point where he really didn't care anymore. Because of this, he didn't say anything, which seemed to annoy the older boys. "What's the matter, Birthday? You gonna cry?" Akio teased. When he still received no response, he kicked him in the stomach, simultaneously punching him in the jaw. Shockingly crimson blood trickled down from B's nose, though he still said nothing, and still shed no tears. He simply sat there, showing no emotions, as the older child continued to beat him. After several minutes of this, a female care-taker came bustling out of the building.

"Akio! Reiji! Leave Birthday alone!" She scolded, causing them to let B fall to the ground so they could run away. The woman gently pulled B back up on his feet, "Birthday, are you alright?" She asked softly.

"I'm fine, Numata-san..." B murmured, wiping the blood that wasn't already staining his shirt off of his face.

"Birthday..." Numata said gently, kneeling down to his height and resting her hands lightly on his shoulders, "Why do you let them hurt you? I know you're easily able to out-smart them and get away. Or even just avoid them all together. Birthday, you don't even try to fight back!"

B stared at the grass, watching an ant attempt to make it's way over a particularly long blade. "Please don't worry about me, Numata-san. I'm not worth it."

Naturally, hearing a boy of his age say something like that was absolutely heart-breaking. "Beyond! Don't say things like that!" A devastated Numata said, "What makes you think that?"

"...Nothing." B mumbled, stepping back to be free from her grasp, "Those boys don't bother me, so please don't worry." With this, he walked away, leaving Numata alone, looking rather depressed, still kneeling in the grass. B went directly to the bathroom to wash his face, but was distracted. He stared at the mirror, watching streams of blood make their way down the paths paved with dried blood. It was fascinating to him, really, how beautiful it looked. Unlike water, blood almost always seemed to know where it was going. he licked a little bit of the metallic-tasting liquid away from his lips and splashed his face with water, scrubbing with his fingers until it was clean again, then trudged off to his room.

He wasn't depressed, really... he was just... Lonely. He was pretty much certain that his chances of being adopted were painfully low. He really didn't have any friends, and Numata was the only person in the entire orphanage who was ever niceto him. B had overheard her telling the headmaster of her worries for him, but he, unlike her, was not afraid. In spite of what all of the children liked to say, he knew he was smart. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why he was lonely: lack of intelligent conversation.

There was a soft knock on the door, and B knew, without even hearing the voice that followed, who it was. "Birthday...? May I come in...?"

"The door's open, Numata-san." He replied quietly. The woman invited herself inside and sat down on the bed beside the boy. She did this often, as if she somehow thought that it might be of some comfort to him. It didn't help, really, but B didn't mind her company.

"Birthday," She murmured, "I spoke with the headmaster."

Already bored with the conversation, B asked lazily, "What did he say?"

"He said that there was a new orphanage opening up in England-"

B cut her off, "You think I'll be able to make friends in England? Look, Numata-san, no matter where you decide to stick me, I'm not going to be adopted, and I'm not going to make any friends! I'm not-"

"Birthday," Numata said smoothly, maintaining her calm attitude despite his rudeness, "It is an orphanage for gifted children. They cater to the needs of-"

"Gifted? Give me a break! Just because I'm surrounded by imbeciles doesn't mean I'm a genius!" B argued.

"No, you are, Birthday. You are far superior to your peers... I've seen it. This is a great opportunity for you. You can get away with the bullies here and have people to talk to who are on your level. The headmaster has already contacted them. They said that they will send a representitive from the orphanage to speak with you. I'm not saying you have to go... It's ultimately your decision... But at least speak with the man, alright?"

Beyond Birthday looked away, as if considering his options... But he'd already decided. If Numata didn't want him around anymore, he would leave. He would go to this orphanage and make her proud.