A/N: Sorry guys, had to work all day so I could only get one chapter done for one story. Will try again tomorrow, I promise!

As always, thank you all for sticking around, reviews are much welcomed, and I hope you all enjoy the story!

(Mello P.O.V)

Five years ago

I sat in the garden… alone… yet again. Funny enough, my mother used to want to be with me in the garden all the time before… him.

The trial was long over now and I'd had to endure countless upon countless questions regarding my assailant. Including – in full detail I might add – what he'd done to me. It was a nightmare having to relive through that experience. Having to tell an entire courtroom where he touched me, what he did to me, all the things he'd said to me. I could see the look in my mother's eyes… pure fear. I didn't know if it was because of my trauma… or because of me.

In truth… I knew it was because of me.

Mihael Keehl. Son of the illustrious Elliot Keehl, and his wife Amelia. Both were looked highly upon, and my brother Emmett was just another figurehead. All the girls dropped to his feat begging for his hand, but he always declined. Even if we were nobility, and had to marry other nobles as a status quo, Emmett was very picky. I guess I was just as picky… but not in the same way he was. The worst part was, my parents knew nothing about me playing for the other team. So, telling them to quit trying to find me a suitor was a chore. Especially when they asked why.

But I'm off topic.

My parents hadn't spoken all that much to me since the trial. Not even Emmett wanted to be near me. That's when I knew how vile I was. How utterly disgusting I was in their eyes. Deflowered and tossed aside like a used rag. All this… because of him.

I remembered meeting him for the first time and being utterly afraid of him. Ambrose Hartwig, Philanthropist and entrepreneur, took to me almost instantly. He never made it secret either, but he was good at hiding away his true intentions. When my father wasn't looking, he'd play with my hair or caress my cheek. I didn't know what to do about it, so I locked myself in my room whenever he was over. Sadly, this did not go over well with him.

On the night before my birthday he actually hired some men to capture me and take me away to his private estate in Scotland. There I was locked away for two whole months. Two months of torturous beatings, sexual activities, and downright disgusting acts. There were many times I tried to commit suicide while I was there. But after my first attempt he decided to keep me chained to his bed twenty-four seven. The only time he let me up was so I could use the bathroom. Even then, he made sure to watch me every second.

Those memories were still fresh in my mind. It didn't help that the most utterly embarrassing memory was the police walking in on him… well… taking me. They didn't pause though. They took action and got Hartwig off of me. I think I cried after that, from both the pain and the happiness that I'd be freed.

My mother was crying when I'd gotten home. I don't really know why, but I assumed it had to do with having me back home. But, when I went to hug her…

She didn't return it.

This scared me at first, but I thought she was just overcome with happiness. However, after weeks and weeks passed on end… she still didn't acknowledge me. It was like she didn't see me as her son anymore. Like I was a stain on this earth… unclean… imperfect…

I was no longer Mihael Keehl.

I was a used sex toy to a demon of a man. And that's all she could see in me.

My father and brother were no different. They ignored me too. There was one time my father smiled at me, and I cherished that smile as much as I could…

But, he never smiled again afterwards…

…

Not to me anyway.

I continued to stare at the small flower in my hand. Still sitting silently in the garden. I had lived a very sheltered life here. I didn't know what the outside world was like beyond the gates to my home. I had servants, yes. A maid, a butler, and some friends in the noble world…

But… I wanted more.

While I had been locked to a bed for two months, I would watch outside the window. And the outside world, despite this small hiccup, was actually quite beautiful. And I longed to be part of it.

But my family would never have allowed it.

I was only seven years old, close to eight… but I knew I was smarter than anyone in my family. They knew it too. I was intellectual, mentally an adult. But no one took me seriously due to my age and height. But I knew… I just knew…

I knew something… but what was it?

I stood from my spot in the garden and ran to the gate. More specifically the broken bars of the gate that made a big enough hole for me to get through. My way out of here. I'd planned this for a whole month now. I was just waiting for the trial to be over. And now that it was… it was time to see the real world.

I squeezed my way through the opening and took one last look at my, now former, home.

I growled a bit. "There's something better for me out there than here. I just know it."

I was mad at my parents now. Mad, because when I needed love most, to help with my nightmares and calm them to peaceful dreams, they weren't there. Not even my brother would help me. So, if I couldn't be loved here, I'd find somewhere else where I would be accepted. Somewhere where I could be myself and not have to worry about judgement. A place where no one knew my past… where no one knew I was unclean.

A home.

So I set off on my own, not knowing where I was headed, but knowing it was better than where I was now. I believed it so heavily that it must have been true.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't find my salvation for another few days…

And I had no pack with me to help me on my journey.

Long story short, I was on the streets for about a week before I found a convenience store and helped myself to a chocolate bar… or three.

Chocolate was a treat in my household, and rarely did I get more than one every few months. However, out here on the streets, I was free to do as I please and eat whatever pleases me. But, there was always a catch.

Like the police.

Two officers that were in the same store I was caught me stealing and they soon chased me from the store all over London. I didn't know how I managed to keep out of their grasp for over two hours, but I was mighty proud of myself.

Of course, all good things must come to an end.

They'd caught sight of me in an alleyway and I made a break for it, but bumped into someone during my escape. At the moment I looked up I saw an odd young man looking down at me in a rather puzzled expression.

I was about to say something before the cops caught up to me so I ran to hide behind the man before me. He didn't seem too troubled with this. Even hiding me further when the cops tried to cuff me.

"Officers," he spoke, his voice monotonous and cold. "Might I ask what you want with this young man?"

"He stole a whole jacket full of chocolate from a store and resisted arrest." One of the men explained.

I heard the man chuckle. "Were you really going to arrest a child? You can't be serious."

The men all paled a bit. Admittedly, it was a rather unjust reason to arrest me. A few chocolate bars? Really?

That's when the young man took out his wallet and slipped the officers a few hundred dollars. "Take the required amount to the store owners and keep the rest for yourselves. I have no use for it."

The officers all paled a bit more now. All of them seemed quite happy with the gift.

After a few more words exchanged between the men, the officers left me alone. It was just me… and the odd looking man before me.

When I say odd… I mean ODD!

This guy had dark circles under his eyes, wrinkled clothes, dark messy hair, and slouched almost painfully. However, something about him intrigued me. He was… different from the nobles. And in my opinion, different was a whole lot better in this situation.

He turned to me. "So, who are you exactly?"

I almost answered that, but decided not at the last second. If he knew my name, he'd take me back to my parents. And lord knew I was done with them now. So, what did I tell him?

I sighed. "I'm… no one. Just a dumb kid."

"Hmm… is that so…" was his response. "Tell me, how long were you running from those men?"

I shrugged. "A few hours, maybe."

He grinned a bit at me. "Well now, if you were a dumb kid don't you think you would've already been caught?"

"I… suppose so." I answered, suddenly feeling quite proud of myself.

His grin did not fall. "And you managed to steal an entire coat of chocolate bars?"

I smiled and opened my coat for him to see the bars overflowing my pockets. "And I kind've stole the coat too."

He chuckled. "My dear boy, if you managed to do this much at such a young age I highly doubt you're just 'some dumb kid'. In fact, I find your skills quite useful."

"Really?" I asked, feeling a bit excited now.

He nodded, then his grin fell. "But, if you were to join me at the Wammy house… you'd have to speak with you parents…"

"I have no parents." I lied, dying to work beside this man. Yes, I knew about stranger danger, and there was a chance this would end in disaster…

But, after everything I've been through, I'd take my chances.

The man before me nodded once more and held out his hand. "Then follow me. For the moment, you may call me Ryuzaki. What is your name?"

I took the hand and smiled warmly. "My name? Err…"

Ryuzaki started walking and chuckled warmly. "If you do not want to tell me your name, then think of something I may be able to call you. I cannot go on working with you if I continue to just call you 'kid' or 'blondie'."

I giggled at that, then thought of a name to call myself. It was short, but carried on, and I felt it suit me alright.

"Mello." I said happily, spelling it out for the man. I knew there was a 'W' at the end of the actual word. But my way of spelling made it look better. Lazy… but better.

Ryuzaki chuckled again. "Mello it is then."

Little did I know that this would be my start to a life of study, hard work, and years of detective research. It wasn't until after I met Wammy, or Watari as he was also known, did I realize that the man I bumped into… was actually L.