Eleven Years Later...
A boy sat in the backseat of a dark car, staring dully out of the darkened windows.
"What's wrong? Didn't you miss it here?" A man's voice came from the driver's seat and the boy turned black eyes to the driver.
"What's the point of that?" The man smiled.
"You grew up here, yes?" The boy shrugged lightly.
"You promised not to mention that, Watari." The man, now known as Watari, smiled.
"Of course not." He noticed, however, the boy's arms tightening over a stuffed doll when they pulled up the the white house. Watari smiled, opening the door to get out. "We're here."
"Look, nii-san, look!" Amber eyes followed a girl with black hair to his window. She had been sitting his room, unusual even for her, talking to him about something. It had been interrupted, however, by the sudden sighting of a car. "Look, someone's moving in next door."
"So?" He joined his sister over by the window as an old man got out of the car. The door opened and a teenager also got out of the car. He was holding something, but from the angle they were at, they couldn't see what it was. Suddenly, he hit the girl on the head. "Sayu, it's rude to spy. We can meet them later, ok?" Sayu rubbed her head and glared at her brother.
"Oh, fine." She stuck her tongue out at her older brother as she left. "Meanie." He grinned at his sister.
"I haven't been here in years, so why now, Watari?" The teenage boy asked, sitting in his chair with his legs drawn up. His usual way of sitting.
"Because it was time to come here, L. That's why." L rolled his eyes and continued to eat. "By the way, I have enrolled you in school, L." He shrugged, continued eating. Watari smiled. "You start tomorrow.
Monday
"Class, we have a new student." The class quiet down to face foward. A boy stood in front of the class, in the school uniform. He stared at them with black eyes from underneath a mop of unruly black hair. "His name is ---."
"I would like to be called L, if you don't mind." He said quietly. The teacher looked at him, then around the class room.
"All right." He looked around. "Oh, over there. You can sit there for now, all right?" L followed in the direction he was pointed in. He approached the back of the class room, and instantly there were four pairs of eyes on him.
"I sit back here." L said quietly. "My name is L."
"L?" A girl said, looking up from her paper and frowning.
"It's all cool. I'm Matt." L stared at the red-headed gamer. 'He still has those goggles.' Sure enough, the goggles were ontop of Matt's head. Matt looked up from his videogame long enough to look at L. He paused when he saw him, though, staring into L's eyes. "That girl over there, her name's Takada."
"I'm Mello."
"Mihael." Takada corrected. The blonde glared at her.
"Mello."
"Mihael, you are anything but mellow. And your name is Mihael."
"Color me yellow, call me Mello." Mello called out, lazily tipping his chair back and shoving a piece of chocolate in his mouth. L watched in fascination.
"Misa-Misa." The blonde girl caught L's attention and he almost laughed when he noticed her, still writing her paper. She still wore her hair in pigtails, and her clothes were, if possible, darker. He remembered that she, in kindergarden, wore Goth Lolita clothes. She still did, evidentally. Mello rolled his eyes.
"You correct me when I say my name is Mello, but you don't correct Misa when she calls herself 'Misa-Misa'."
"Her name is Misa, and it's impossible to get the upper hand with that girl." Takada replied, returning her attention to her paper. L raised an eyebrow and took a seat next to Misa. Misa looked up and saw L. He was unprepared for Misa to suddenly launch herself at him, which resulted in the both of them on the floor in a heap. The loud noise caught everyone's attention.
"RYUZAKI!!!!" Misa screamed happily in Ryuzaki's ear. Ryuzaki sighed, an amused expression on his face as he sat up, Misa still on him.
"Hello, Misa-Misa." He stated calmly. Matt grinned from above him.
"I thought it was you. Welcome back, Ryuzaki." Ryuzaki smiled slightly at Matt.
"Thanks."
"Are you guys finished back there?" The teacher called out, irritated.
"Yes, sir!" They called back.
"Misa-Misa and Matt will show you around, Ryuzaki!" Misa called out. Takada rolled her eyes.
"I'll see you guys later." She said, excusing herself politely and walking away. "Nice meeting you, Ryuzaki. See you tomorrow, Misa, Mail, Mihael." Mello watched her walk away and sighed.
"Dude, call me Mello. Please. You call Matt by his nickname." Ryuzaki tilted his head to the side.
"Matt has a nickname, Mello?" Mello turned to him, disbelieving, until he caught the look in Ryuzaki's eye. He grinned.
"Whatever, man. Oh, are we gonna meet up with the dynamic duo again?" Mello asked, making a face. Matt shrugged.
"Maybe, if we can get out of showing Ryuzaki around."
"I'll help you, Misa." Mello called out, running after the blonde girl and Ryuzaki. Matt, sighing, followed.
"Where are they at?" A boy stood by the cafeteria, glancing repeatedly at his watch. Another boy stood by the doors, waiting.
"They'll be here soon. Don't worry."
"I'm not worried! They're usually here by now, though, and I'd like to eat!" The boy by the door sighed.
"Whatever."
"And that's the upper campus, and the cafeteria's over---OH NO!!!!!!" Misa practically screamed in Ryuzaki's ear. Ryuzaki winced.
"What?"
"We've gotta get to the cafeteria. Let's go!" She started running, full-speed, towards the cafeteria, pulling Ryuzaki with her. Behind them, Matt and Mello followed slowly, Mello chomping away on chocolate and Matt playing his videogame.
"What's---oh, there they are!" Misa pulled to a stop, still holding Ryuzaki's hand, gasping for breath.
"Misa-Misa's...very sorry..." She panted. "Ryuzaki's back...Misa-Misa was showing him around." Ryuzaki leaned out from behind Misa and waved slightly.
"Hello." He stated. Black eyes met with amber.
"Ryuzaki?" The amber eyed boy moved forward.
"Is it that hard to recognize me? I'm sure I was the only one in your kindergarden class to look the way I do, Raito-kun. Or is it Kira-kun?"
"It's Raito." Raito said shortly, annoyed with Ryuzaki already. Ryuzaki grinned.
"I'm---"
"Damn it, Near!" Came an angered voice. "You beat me on the fucking test last class again!" Mello raced past Ryuzaki and pinned the white-haired boy to the wall. Ryuzaki raised an eyebrow. Raito sighed. Misa frowned. Matt ignored them all, playing his videogame.
"It's not my fault." Near stated calmly. "You spent most of your time messing with Matt and eating chocolate."
"That's not true!" Mello hissed. "I studied---harder than you did, I bet! And you still beat me!"
"Obviously you didn't study hard enough." Near stated simply. Ryuzaki applauded the other boy's ability to stay calm despite the fact that he was going to be pummeled. Mello, in response, drew his hand back and---
"Mihael Keehl, you throw that punch and you will have detention for a week." Mello's arm dropped and he glared at the older man walking down the hall. Ryuzaki recognized him instantly.
"Roger." Roger, in turn, looked at him.
"Ah, Ryuzaki. Watari told me you would be coming today."
"Yes. It's a nice facility." Ryuzaki stated simply. Roger smiled.
"Thank you, Ryuzaki. Mihael, release Nate." Glaring at the white-haired boy, Mello released him as he was told. Roger walked away.
"As I was saying." Nate finished. "It's good to see you, Ryuzaki. They call me Near, though." He said, pointing in the general direction of his group of friends and Mello.
"Can we go eat now?" Raito asked. "It's lunch time and I'm hungry." Misa grinned.
"Food, here we come!" She called happily.
Ryuzaki sat in the dark car again, waiting as Watari spoke to Roger. He waved as Misa walked by and looked away when he saw Mello advancing on Near.
"Mihael!" Mello froze, then glared at Near and walked away. Near shook himself and walked over to the car, tapping on the window.
"Nate." Ryuzaki opened the door and allowed the boy in.
"It's Near now, Ryuzaki." Near corrected.
"All right, Near." Ryuzaki shrugged. "Why does Mello hate you like that?" Near shrugged.
"He doesn't like the fact that I beat him in the tests. That's all." Near stated simply. It was silent for a few seconds, then... "It really is good to see you again, Ryuzaki."
"You too, Near." Ryuzaki tilted his head in Near's direction. "About Mello..."
"I love him." Near said instantly. "I've loved him for a while, but he's hated me just as long." Ryuzaki was silent then.
"I saw red thread." Ryuzaki said casually. "I see it all the time."
"Red thread?" Near asked, interested.
"Mm-hm." Ryuzaki said. "There's one tied to me and Raito-kun."
"Then why do you keep calling him Kira?" Near asked.
"It was fun to tease him then." Ryuzaki stated. "It's fun to tease him now."
"Ah." Said Near. "Where else is there red thread?"
"Takada and another boy, one with black hair and glasses."
"Mikami?" Near frowned. "Never expected that." Ryuzaki shrugged.
"Misa-Misa and Kira-kun." Ryuzaki shrugged again. "Matt has it around his finger, but it seems he hasn't met her. Or him, however way he goes."
"Matt doesn't have someone?" Near seemed shocked.
"Yes, that's right."
"But Mello---"
"---is connected to you." Near paused.
"Me?" Ryuzaki nodded. Near frowned. "Well, that's unexpected." Ryuzaki smiled.
"Things always seem unexpected, Near." Ryuzaki said, smiling at the younger boy. Near smiled softly. "It seems as if Watari is coming back, Near, and I'm sure your---"
"Why is Watari with you?" Near asked. "When I met you, you were with your parents."
"They died in a crash." Ryuzaki said softly, smiling sadly. Near blinked. He made an 'O' with his mouth and hugged the insomniac akwardly.
"I'm sorry, Ryuzaki." He said simply. Then he opened the door and got out of the car. He bowed to Watari. "Hello, Watari. It's nice to see you again."
"It's nice to see you, too, Nate."
"Near." Watari smiled.
"Near, then."