Chapter 1

News

"Roger, are you serious? L's coming tomorrow?"

The elderly man turned and chuckled softly. "Yes, Mello, L is coming tomorrow and bringing a friend of his from Japan, as well."

Mello jumped in excitement. "Cool! Is he working on the Kira case with him? What's his name?"

"Yes, and his name is Light Yagami... Quite the interesting name, don't you agree?"

"Yeah, I guess..." the young, blond boy flicked a stray hair away from his face and sprinted towards the nearest flight of stairs.

"Where are you going, Mello?" Roger called.

The boy continued up the stairs without slowing. "To tell Matt! He'll be excited to hear this!"

"Make sure and tell Near too!" the man shouted back. "He would want to know!"

Mello reached the top of the stairs, turned right, and bolted for the room he shared with Matt.

That little sheep thinks he's so smart, he can figure it out on his own... I'm not saying a thing! Mello thought bitterly. He absolutely hated Near for always being so perfect and being one step ahead of him on everything. It was always so irritating!

He saw the door and, when he reached it, thrust it open with the force of a herd of elephants. Matt gasped in shock and fell from his position on his bed to the hard, wooden floor. The Nintendo DS, he was playing, slipped from his hand in the process.

"Dude, not cool!" he shouted from the floor. "I was finally about to catch the legendary Pokemon Mew and because of you it got away! Why, Mels, why?"

Mello rolled his eyes. "Ah, stop being such a drama queen; you've already done that ten times!"

Matt seized his beloved DS and sprang up from the floor. "I know, but it's just so satisfying to win!"

"I'm sure it is, but I've got some great news straight from Roger!"

"Are we finally getting the bathroom redone because, truth be told, I am so sick of that awful shade of green they call a color, and don't get me started on those God-awful curtains."

Mello frowned and slowly shook his head. "Are you serious, Matt? Geez..." he shook his head even harder, "No, not that!"

The boy lifted his goggles to the top of his head and thought more deeply. "Okay... Oh, my new game came in the mail, didn't it?" His cerulean eyes glimmered with hope.

"No," Mello sighed, "think harder! Think better!"

Matt widened his eyes. "... Better than my game? Hmm... I'm drawing a blank."

The blond slapped his own forehead. Matt was third place in the entire Wammy house and he couldn't come up with anything?

"Matt, L's coming tomorrow!"

The dark, brown haired teen's mouth dropped open. "R-Really?"

Mello nodded. "Yeah, and he's bringing a friend from Japan who's working on the Kira case with him! Roger said his name is Light Yagami."

"This... is awesome!" Matt yelled excitedly, pumping a fist through the air. "I can't believe it!"

"Can't believe what?" a familiar, monotone voice asked from behind.

Mello cringed. It was him... Near.

"Why do you care?" Mello snapped, sharply turning around to face the younger, white haired boy. "It's of no importance."

Matt gaped at his friend. "What do you mean it's of no importance? L is coming!"

Mello glared daggers at Matt. Geez, Matt, what is wrong with you today?

Near's vacant, dark eyes suddenly seemed to brighten at the news. "Are you positive of this?"

The smile on Matt's face grew wider. "Yeah, Roger told Mello, then he told me, and now I'm telling you! Isn't this great? He's even bringing a friend who's working on the Kira case with him."

Near flashed a rare, almost unnoticeable smile, and he reached up one hand to twirl a pure, white lock of his hair. "This is good news... Thank you, Matt."

Matt gave him a thumb's up. "Sure thing, Near!"

The albino boy nodded politely and shuffled away from the room. As soon as he was out of sight, Mello roughly slapped the back of Matt's head.

"Ow!"

"You weren't supposed to tell him!"

Matt ruffled his hair back in place. "Now, how was I supposed to know that? And why not? He should know too."

Mello crossed his arms over his chest and let out a deep sigh. "Because... It's Near!"

The striped clad other shook his head. "Take some advice from me Mels, there's no reason at all to hate Near. Sure he's quiet and different, but he's not a bad guy." He sat back down on his bed, turned on his DS and started his quest for the rare Pokemon again. "Maybe, if you just got to know him-"

"No way!" Mello interrupted. "I am not communicating with... that!"

Matt sighed in disapproval. Mello had always been his best friend, and like a brother for years, but he felt that he shouldn't hate Near. Matt knew the source of Mello's hatred came from the fact that Near was the number one student at the Wammy Orphanage, while Mello was in second place.

Near had never done anything to harm him emotionally or physically... unlike Mello. He verbally abused Near on a daily basis, and beat him around occasionally, but Matt had never once heard Near complain. In fact, Near always seemed content with the fact that someone was even acknowledging his existence. Near was always alone, and the only company he ever had was a small toy or puzzle… No one understood him.

Matt always made sure that he said a friendly 'hello' to the boy whenever he got the chance, but he knew there was a greater good he could accomplish.

If only I could get Mello to understand...