It's Kind of short, but I wrote it at one, so... Happy New Year! Oh I forgot I DO NOT own Death Note or any of the chracters associated with it :D

Near instantly dropped the strand of hair letting it fall neatly to my side. I glared up at Mello coldly. "Really, what?"

"Really you're keeping this relationship behind our backs?" Mello raised his eyebrows, adding effect to what he was sure was his rightness.

I rolled my eyes. "There is no relationship, just best friends sitting on a chair." Near nodded silently beside me. But not before Matt could chime in.

"And calling each other adorable, and playing with each other's hair."

I opened my mouth, preparing for a snipe reply, but to my great relief Ralin cleared his throat reminding us we weren't alone in this conversation. L, who had been sitting in the corner as a silent observer, sipped hot chocolate before answering him.

"Ralin," he smiled slightly. "I' sure Anastasia wouldn't mind accompanying you to your dorm."

I sighed quietly before standing. To Mello and Matts great amusement Near stood at the same timing, trailing me as I crossed the room to the shaggy haired boy in the corner.

We made our journey inside and upstairs with no conversation, save for the constant messages sent through eye contact between Near and I. We slipped into our dorms in silence, a parting look leaving Near sure that he (and Matt and Mello, who share his room when they actually choose to stay in the house) would get a visit from me as soon as Rodger had done the night rounds.

Ralin crossed the room moving instantly to the large bed, obviously his. I skipped over to the large beam in the corner. Pressing to handstand as a mount, then turning to face him.

"You're awfully quite," I said weakly.

"You would be too."

I nodded silently, jumping off the beam and landing lightly on my toes before crossing to the bed and sitting beside Ralin.

"Was it bad?" I asked quietly hoping not to intrude.

"Like you wouldn't believe" he let his green eyes sweep over mine. I felt all his pain in that glance.

"Really?"

"Really. I never knew my father, that was never a problem for me though, my mother was my life and all the support I needed. I didn't have many friends either, but I preferred to gotten in the way, anyway. I loved school, with a passion, but it was expensive and I dropped out three years ago, about a year after my mom was let go from her jobs, both of them. I missed it but, it didn't slow me down, I spent hours a day in the library and when I wasn't there I was waiting for her to return. With money issues she had to do things we both regret, a lot of begging and when times got tough even stealing money and food, just to survive. We lived that way, and got along just barely. That was until last night, when out of nowhere she fell to her knees gasping for breath, a heart attack. And I know who did it. Kira. Perhaps through his eyes he was just but he destroyed the last of what I lived for. I swear one day I will fight him down, I will kill him." Tears brimmed over his eyes as they grew puffy and red.

"I'm sorry, and don't worry, Kira will be stopped."

"That's not enough," he bellowed "I don't just want him dead. I want to be the one who kills him. I need to see the light fade from his eyes, just as he made me watch my mothers."

He shook as he sobbed, toying with the music box in his hands as he cried.