Hi, non-existent readers. Heh, heh...that's okay. I'll keep on posting *makes determined face*. My friends read my story and think that Near has too much emotion, being the character that he is. I say that it seems that way for two reasons:

1. When the story is told from Near's point of view, he is simply thinking what I believe must be in his head the whole time. However, Near doesn't show his feelings to the rest of the world.

2. Kanako knows Near better than anyone else. She also notices things about people that others don't notice. So she sees Near's emotions, and can sense them. Near isn't afraid to be himself around her.

With that in mind, please enjoy the second chapter.

Chapter 2: Mello's First Love

[Near's .]

I was worried about Kana. She seemed jumpy, and nervous, lately. Of course, it's possible that I was imagining things, but I think not.

For instance, the hug she gave me. Kana's always veeeeery careful when I fall asleep because I do it so rarely. She'll tiptoe around me, or go into her own room. But, last night, she hugged me while I was asleep. When she realized that I was awake, she jumped about ten feet into the air.

But it's not just that. I've caught her staring at me, worridly, like there's something she wants to tell me. But she always tells me everything; if she wanted to tell me something now, she could. Unfortunatley, if it's some sort of secret, it might be a bit harder. Because we still have our...guests.

Why Winter and Mello think it's okay to prance into police headquarters as if it were a pizza parlor, I don't know. However, they are our guests, and I have to be polite. Even if they aren't. Winter isn't that big of a deal, she's just loud. But Mello is and entirely different story.

Mello has hated me with a passion since we were children. I'm not entirely sure why, but my best guess is that it's because I am L's successor, and he is not. He could have been my partner, but no. So, really, I don't think he has any right to complain. But he does and he will because he is Mello.

At this moment, I am doing research on the computer and Mello's eyes are burning holes into the back of my head. It makes me slightly nervous. However, I remained calm, and simply turned to him

"Mello," I asked, pleasantly, "Is there something that you would like to say to me?"

I expected him to yell, or to deny it. What I did not expect was for him to stare determindly at his shiny leather boots and ask,

"Are you...do you...like Kanako?"

I stared at him, befuddled.

"Of course," I said, surprised. "She's my best friend."

"Oh, come on," Mello said, rolling his eyes. "We all know that she was like your little sister. But do you like like her?"

"I assume that you're asking if I look at her in a romantic way," I said, matter-of-factly.

"OF COURSE I DO! WHAT ELSE WOULD I MEAN?!"

"Well, I'm sure I don't know. People tend to not mean what they say, these days," I said, calmly. "As for your question, the answer is no. I have never thought of Kanan in that way."

"Oh."

"Just out of curiosity, why do you ask?"

"Do I have to have a reason?"

"No."

"Well, then, I don't."

And that was the end of the conversation between Mello and me.

[Mello's P.O.V.]

I don't really know why I hang around Winter. She's so bossy. She was my reaccuring nightmare; always showing up when I thought that I had left my past behind.

Like this whole idea she had about visiting Near and Kanako. In what alternate reality would I ever want to visit a place where he was???? But Winter had declared it, so I had to do it.

I detested it here. The happy little non-couple, in their high-tech research headquarters. And not only was there Near there - who seemed oblivious to all that he had - but there was her. Kanako Koshiba. My first crush.

I was a little shocked when I saw her. Not because she was with Near, no, she had always clung to him like he was some sort of god. No, I was surprised by her face.

She had always been an adorable kid. People used to stop and stare at her and immediatley proceed to start talking like babies. She would always be very polite and charming. But I heard her talking to Near, once.

"They talk to me like I'm a baby!" she had complained. "I'm already four years old!"

She had been reading War and Peace, at the time.

So, yes, I still expected her to be cute. What I din't expect was for her to pretty. And not normal pretty, either. She was "let's hang you on the top of our Christmas tree and form a cult around you" pretty.

Because of that, I had been thrown completly of guard and into and unnecessary flashback.

*begin flashback*

"Mello?"

Kanako entered the room. She was eight years old. Her hair was still a reddish-brown color. I was typing up my paper for tommorows class.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" I asked her. "It's really late; Roger won't be happy with you."

She smiled.

"You should be asleep, too, Mello," she paused in thought. "Well, I suppose Near isn't asleep, either."

Great. Of course Near's cheerleader was going to compare me to him. She surprised me by hesitantly touching my arm.

"Did I hurt your feelings?" she asked. There was so much worry in her voice. As if she had commited the greatest sin of all.

"Nah," I replied, nonchalantly.

She suddenly snatched the paper from my desk.

"Hey!" I protested.

"I want to read it," she explained.

She sat on the floor, and began to read, intently. I felt surprisingly nervous. Maybe because she was on Team Near and would probably compare me to him. And, of course, he would win.

Finally, she finished reading it. To my astonishment, she was wearing a huge smile.

"Mello," she said, awed, "This is amazing!"

"H-huh?" I asked, stunned.

"This is amazing, Mello! You're so talented!"

I stared at her earnest expression.

"You're...serious?" I asked.

She nodded

This wasn't adding up. I mean...she was a Near fan. And...I-I...I'm Mello! And people don't like me because I'm Mello!!!

But...she seemed honest. And...was it possible that she wasn't on anyone's side? For some odd reason, I felt my heart beating faster than normal. She yawned and stretched.

"Go back to bed, kid," I said.

"I'm not tired," she protested, leaning against a pile of books that was bigger than her.

"Suit yourself," I replied, turning back to the computer.

Five minutes later, she was fast asleep, and I was faced with a dilemma. Because I had just developed my first crush on a girl who was probably the most important person in the world to my rival.

"Oh. There she is."

I looked up to see Near standing in the doorway.

"Why are you here?" I snarled.

"I finished reading my book and I thought Kana might like it, so I came to give it to her," Near explained. "But she wasn't in her room. So I went to find her."

He walked over and picked her up. It was a good thing that she was small, because - believe it or not - playing with your puzzles all day doesn't make you that strong.

It crossed my mind then. Near was a bit of a freak. I wondered if he had ever had a friend before this little kid came along. I doubted it. I watched, jealously, as Near walked away with the one thing I reeeeeaaaallllly wanted.

I hate flashbacks