A/N: Chapter two, my dear readers!

I hope you all enjoy~

Warning: M for LA~TOR~

Disclaimer: Heads!

~Hey! Watch where your throw- A KNIFE?!~

Hehe… sorry ^^"

Another Random Comment: Have you guys have seen the only difference in Matt's clothes in the image of a teen and an adult?

AN AMUSING THREAT?

~x~

The light sound of constant beeping snapped Near out of his daze. The clock read Friday and it actually made him look forward to this night where he could rest longer.

He couldn't sleep for the rest of the night. The accident didn't shake him mentally but physically because it took a while to regain his composure. After that, his body didn't seem to want to move once he slid under the covers. It was annoying.

Not being in control.

He could care less about being helpless. They were different. When he was defeated, Near knew it.

But that never meant he gave up.

Those eyes from the dream were at his head. He pushed it back along with the blue one's that seemed to block out the devious eyes. The rest of the dream was foggy but the near death experience hit him like a ton of bricks.

Nothing Near can't block out, however.

He got up from his futile position and headed to the bathroom where he inspected the strangling marks on his neck. They were pink but visible enough on his insipid skin. He'd think about it later.

He freshened up, redressed his clearing wounds, and covered it all. He buttoned his shirt up all the way. The mark was covered up pretty well. With that he headed to breakfast.

There was a lot of commotion today which is another reason why Near took a muffin and milk to the common room. That was until he heard something that perked his ears.

"Is he here?!"

"Who?"

"The new guy! I heard he was cute!"

"Ew… boys have cooties!"

The gossipers laughed. "You have a lot of growing to do, Nana."

The girl let out an 'humph' and waited like the other eager orphans. As Near silently made his way through the bustling crowd he found himself inches from his sanctuary until he hit something.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

He landed with a soft thud and looked up. "Uh… sorry…" He faced a brunette who obviously hasn't been in the orphanage before. He paused his game on his game boy but didn't offer to lift Near up but looked down at him. He wore a red and black striped long-sleeved top, and blue jeans. His hands are covered with black gloves that reach just below the elbow and he wore black boots. Near could have swore he saw blue but then all of a sudden Near realized his eyes were hidden behind white goggles with orange lens. "Are you alright, Near?" Near sighed as he saw the pastry roll off.

At this moment Near really wished the milk had spilled so he had something to waste this morning with.

"I'm fine Roger." Near got up and dusted dirt he may have collected from the ground. "I was heading to the common room."

"Ah, yes, well Matt here is a new student. Matt this is Near our star pupil. I hope you two will make acquaintances in your time here." Near nodded and Matt continued to gaze at Near for a second, obviously noticing the mark. Near fixed his collar and Matt went back to his game on his PSP. Near picked up the muffin and headed back to the lunchroom.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Roger began to usher Matt to the lunchroom when a mob of students came by. Everything was quiet as they made way for someone. Near easily maneuvered through the group.

A familiar, high in the sky, voice echoed an insult. Matt retorted with a sly voice. The sounds from the boy's game boy never stopped and then Mello laughed harshly before claiming:

"I think I've made a new friend. You're a go. The name's Mello."

"Matt…" Everyone sighed in frustration. And whispers like, "How come Mello get's to pick him!" went all around. Others exchanged short greetings with Matt before Mello took the gamer for himself.

Near threw his items out.

He lost his appetite.

Like every other kid in the world, Wammy students went to school.

In Wammy's.

The kids were recorded too, of course. School started 8 then ended 3. Sometimes they would increase or decrease school days to give assessments after, testing the over average students.

Right now Near was in third period: Calculus. There was a small range of students who were in high school or college level classes and to prove that here sat only 5 students in the college level Calculus class of Wammy's.

Class was nearly over and every sleep intoxicating word the teacher said was written and absorbed. Not even the spit balls or taunts thrown at Near annoyed him. Mello's underestimated lackey's practically made sure to break Near's concentration so Mello could somehow pick something he couldn't.

But it never worked. And Mello never gave up.

Unlike other kids, once Near had his mind set on something or if he chose to reject something for a moment of time, his mind worked to adjust to that until he went back to other thought. For example, right now the teacher wasn't being paid attention to; the work being taught was the focal point.

The bell rung.

He sighed as he was handed the home work, teacher gasping at his appearance, and immediately went to his room to change out of his spit covered shirt.

Utterly disgusting.

It went down the laundry chute as Near put down his homework and headed to his 'specials' class.

Computers.

There was a bit more kids in this class. As the light soon dimmed and the computers were turned on. One thing that caught Nears eyes was the new boy.

Matt.

He sat in the middle with a bunch of other kids around him. The back was the most vacant spot so Near took seating there and class began.

"How's everyone today?" There were some 'ehs' and 'arights.' The teacher took this as satisfactory and started. She explained that today would be a continuation of last class.

The previous class they were being tested on the parts of a computer and how to arrange them to make a new item. Today they would be taking apart their computers. Everyone seemed kind of excited at this point.

"But!" Everyone looked at her. "Before we start… I would like a demonstration from our new peer, Matt." He looked up and a blue hue from all the devises lite his goggles and face. "I was told you have an advanced understanding of technology. Will you do the honors?" Everybody looked at him as he walked up the teachers' desk and look down at the computer in front of him. He handed the teacher his game boy and twisted the computer around for everyone to see as he took out every cable. The large projector above shut off and the teacher turned the lights on. He reached for the tackle box and took out different sized screws and unscrewed the bolts behind. He took the left side panel off. Everyone looked with concentration because obviously Matt wasn't going to talk.

Next the right side panel came off. After that the outer shell was taken off and the inner tabs were pushed out. From there it looked like Matt was in his own world. He took more screws out with ease, unplugged systems like they were fragile glass, observed the power supply like they were new to him. He was done in record time and organized everything in the end.

Everyone clapped. "Wow, Matt. That was wonder-"

"Hold on for a sec." He began to take apart his PSP. He observed the items and reassembling them with the computer. When he was done he tested out his new invention. The projector glowed and then a title scene for God of War: Ascension came up. Everyone gasped as Matt played it for a moment then shut everything down. He dissembled the computer with his game boy parts and remade the PSP and the computer. He sat down when he was done. He played on his game boy with the same bored expression as the teacher put the light off and went back to her personally remade computer.

"That was exceptional work Matt but refrain from finishing off levels of your games during class- especially on demonstrations." She snatched his game boy and he watched as his device was taken away with a pouty face. Everyone laughed. They immediatly began taking apart their own; some having difficulties and some getting help from Matt.

Class was soon over after and Near was first to leave.

Matt sure was a special student and that's what urged Near more to ignore him.

Lunch was as excepted as can be. Near sat alone as usual and finished eating before anyone else. As he headed to the exit he was tripped.

"A little light on your feet Near?" Mello snickered and went off with Matt silently trailing besides him. Near almost scowled as Matt briefly gazed down at him. The laughing in the lunch room had ceased by the time Near had left it.

Cards rolled onto the carpet as Near began to make his card towers in that little corner at the windows which he practically tagged as his.

That was fast.

Near thought's focused on. Usually when Mello took a liking into someone he'd sent them onto some type of trial ultimately humiliating themselves.

But he and Matt clicked almost instantly.

Maybe Matt's new job is to beat on Near, now isn't it? That's another existence non to many to ignore so it wouldn't be a problem. Plus Matt had talent, he'd make it to three in no time but he seemed like he didn't care where he was. There was actually something Near felt when he thought about 'Matt.' It was as if he knows the boy already. And what made it worse was that Matt was the only one who seemed to be capable of beckoning a reaction from Near.

Not even Bobby the dirtiest boy in Wammy's could damage Near.

Near's train of thought on Matt and making the card towers lead him through lunch. He got up with the bell and left to P.E.

Of course, that was hell for him too. Matt was there with him, but again: he didn't care.

Near may have been short and unfit but he could excel when needed. He was a proficient runner, good at long jumps, had good reflexes when dodging the balls that were meant to purposely hit him. He might have been the best athlete in the world- if he had put an effort into caring about that profession.

But that's what made him number one, obviously.

Today was dodge ball. This is going to be great. Was upper body strength mentioned? Then there's a reason for that.

It was no suprise when Near was picked last and everyone had their eyes- balls- aimed at him.

He sighed. As soon as the first ball hit him, he'd run to the benches.

The whistle sounded and everyone got into their 'aim for Near' stances.

"Aim!" The other team yelled. Near waited for the first ball to hit him, but it didn't. Instead, he was met with a body facing the back of him and red rubber balls that flew past it.

What the-

"You should really move. That's the point of aerobic sport, right?" Near looked up at Matt and nodded. What? Is he supposed to thank Matt now for saving him the time of healing new wounds?

No one asked him to defend Near.

Everyone seemed to be staring at Matt. With awe, praise, anger. You know, "why the hell are you blocking my bait so epically," reactions.

He had caught or deflected every ball that came to hit him- Near, actually. It wasn't like they were expecting that. Matt seemed like the unbuilt guy that hated going out and just sat around playing games, but he was fairly fit- probably just born with that gift.

"If you don't mind we'd like to get back to the game, Matt." The couch announced. Some teacher...

He nodded and walked to the center, made sure everyone on their side had a ball, and told them to aim.

Matt made no misses -giving no mercy- and some of the other teammates helped.

For the first time the 'loser team' won.

Near headed back to the locker rooms, first this time, and changed out of the uniform (much too revealing for him) and headed to his last class that had both Mello and Matt.

The back it was.

Oh how he missed the front. Some teachers didn't even have the nerve to speak loud enough for occupants in the back. But he had gotten used to it; nothing new for our number one.

The class was Criminal Justice, the perfect line of work for detectives, death indicators, investigative minds and much more. Some kids –mostly females- looked forward to the class because Mr. Mikami –one of the top hottest and single teachers in the Wammy's- taught it. It was strange because Mr. Mikami, man bursting with the fulfillment of justice, never missed a class.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Mikami has suffered an injury of some sort. It seems he doesn't want any students to gaze on it." The sub mumbled the last part. "You all can make him a get better card but I assure you he'll be back Monday." The sub announced.

"Monday?!"

"That long!?"

"It's only the weekend, ladies. You live here!"

"But Mr. Mikami doesn't!" Another admirer yelled. All of Mr. Mikami's fans began drooling over how he was probably lonely and needed a 'wife's' assistance and how they would make a better wife. Then it jumped to their sizes and who would satisfy.

The guys happily helped them on that topic.

The sub sighed, took in a breath, and quieted them to teach the lesson.

Near rolled his head around so his cheek lay on his raised knee and gazed outside where he sat next to the window in the back. Class didn't even seem interesting anymore but he still had to listen. The birds gnawing on the worm in the garden was a much better view.

"You sleeping, Near? I guess you are human, or just lazy." Mello's taunts made laughter throughout the whole class.

Why him…

Class ended without any notes but a brain full of them. Near slowly trudged past the students who were heading outside or hanging down stairs before going to the dorms for the night.

His door closed and muffled the sounds of those who were passing by. He headed to his mirror and dropped his shirt in the laundry basket. His wounds were healed, with some marks that he could make disappear, but healed well enough and so was the strangle mark. He showered, dressed and finished his homework. As soon as he organized the work and put it away a knock came to his door.

He buttoned up the one loose button on his shirt, making no one see the newly healing strangle mark, and slowly opened the door. He's actually never felt so mixed up to see someone before.

"Hey… I wanted to give you something. You know, sorry for knocking you down. Couldn't even solve it so I guess you could." Matt shrugged as he handed Near a green wrapped cube. Near simply nodded in thanks and Matt gamed down the hall and disappeared up the stairs.

Near locked the door and sat in his flexible position at the foot of his bed. He examined the paper and went to look for a pocket knife. He cut along the edges of the tape and took it off in one clean lift of the paper. Both items placed were they belonged- paper in the trash and knife in his kit. His eyes glared at the object.

A Rubik's Cube.

An unusual one at that. It was black and there was bizarre writing on it that glowed dark blue. A light blue color outlined the text, as if it were gone the dark blue content would melt into the black of the Rubik's Cube.

Nears' finger grazed the writing. It wasn't embedded into the material of the Cube but more like… floating on it. His finger didn't even disrupt the characters so it wasn't a hologram.

Strange…

It wasn't any language he's learned or any language he may as well learn (which at this point is zero).

It didn't exist- probably now.

It was most likely ancient.

As in ancient. Not 200 years ago but much further down.

And it was on a Rubik's Cube.

Another puzzle Near longed to figure out and understand inside out. With things like these Near immediately got sucked in and finished them within a matter of a day or much less.

But this was different, he realized as he put it away.

He actually had something to look forward to.

~x~

A/N: And I'm looking forward to what's going to happen. I hope you all enjoyed this! I upload every: YOU'LL NEED TO FIND OUT!

Right, who can guess my uploading pattern for this story? Not like I'll give a reward this time. *snicker*

Alex: Cruel…

Reikan: I know *grin*

Any who: Review, look for updates, polls, alert and follow. I'd like to thank all who have followed, reviewed, or favorite this story so far:

Follows: MoonLawliet, Sabertoothtigress, Shinju Angel, BaNieLo

Favorites: Shinju Angel, BaNieLo

Reviews: Sadly none

Thank You! *smile*

Btw: I've been re-reading my fanfics and find the most idiotic grammar mistakes or just, blunders dumber than dumb, so I'll be getting to those.

Reikan Out.

"I like cheese!"

-Cheese, Foster Home of Imaginary Friends.

Gosh, the memories.