Yay! Chapter three is here! and longer than ever before! xD

lets see how i did this time, cuz i kinda rushed. hopefully it came out well and it makes sense to the rest of the story ^^'

Disclaimer: I dont not own DN D:

Just to clear something up before u read, everything up until where L comes is a flashback of the very far past. the rest is the recent past. the next chap will finally be the present!

well, anyways, enjoy and comment/review/ whatever!


Chapter 3

Mello's POV:

"Hey Mello! Come play with us!"

"Mello, I'm having trouble with math, can you help me? Then maybe later we could hang?"

"Mello, come sit with us!"

I smiled at everyone. "Guys, guys! I appreciate the offers but I gotta run!"

"Aw come on!" They'd say. "Maybe later." I said as I dashed towards Matt's room.

I swung open the doors to my best friend's room.

"You're late." He said, not looking up from his Zelda game on his GameCube.

"Couldn't help it. Everyone wanted me to be with them." I still couldn't stop smiling. It felt great to be first and on top the world. Everyone recognized you and wanted to be your friend. They respected you and admired you. It was the best feeling, but I wasn't doing it for them. No. I cared about L. I wanted him to recognize me. I wanted to be his successor.

"Heh."

"What?" I asked.

"You're so full of yourself." Matt looked up and smiled at me. I snickered and took the second remote.

It was always like this, like a pattern; I would study for my classes and work hard, get the best grades, be admired from everyone, and spend time with Matt every afternoon. Life was perfect.

Then one day, that all changed.


"I'd like you all to welcome Nate Rivers, or as we shall call him, Near."

The small boy wouldn't look at any of us. He just stood there looking at the ground, twirling his snow-colored hair.

"Mathew, I'd like you to take Near to his new room please." Roger instructed.

"Yes sir."

He walked over and grabbed the small suit case next to Near and showed the way.

"The rest of you are dismissed."

With that, I went to my room not really bothering with the new kid right now.

I would watch as the kids tried talking to the new boy, but he didn't respond much. He was too absorbed in his blank puzzles.

During classes I would watch as he sat by the windows, not seeming to pay attention.

Boy, this kid isn't gonna make it here if he doesn't start listening.

So I was surprised when we got our tests back that week as the teacher handed him an A+.

When my quiz was handed back I looked at the grade, disappointed. An A? That's all? How did that kid, Near, get a better grade than me? I thought he wasn't listening?

I shrugged it off thinking it was only this once that he would do better than me, but slowly Near took over all the classes and passed me.

I would crumple up my tests in frustration when I was only one point away from Near's grades. And one day when Roger walked past Near and told him in a cheerful mood he was doing great and could be L's successor, I lost it.

I payed him a visit. It was the first time I talked to Near. Well…. more like yelled at him. He didn't say much which pissed me off, but when he gave me the chocolate I cooled down a bit. I smirked at him and said I was looking forward to competition. I was trying to be positive. I was sure he would slip up eventually and I would be on top again. But for two years I tried as hard as I could and he would always be better; in math, English, art, music, you name it!

The only thing I could probably beat him at was being social. That's all. So I became more bitter towards him. As if he cared. And if he did, he didn't show it. He never showed his emotions. He was a soulless being! I resented him so much. And after some time I found he was almost always on my mind. Either I was thinking about how much I hated him or how much I should study to surpass him.

I felt horrible. If I couldn't even pass Near, how was I supposed to pass L?


"Matt, what should I do? L is supposed to be visiting Wammy's this weekend and I want to prove to him that I should be his successor!"

Matt was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, a lollypop in his mouth. He mused about it until he finally spoke, taking the candy out of his mouth.

"First things first; make sure your not making a fuss. You don't want him to think you're hot-headed."

"I'm not hot-headed!" I yelled angrily.

He looked at me raising an eyebrow.

I realized I shouted and hung my head down, ashamed. "Ok, maybe a little."

"A little?" I gave him a look.

"Kidding! But really. You just gotta calm down." He was right; first impressions were important. I mean I've met him before. Everyone at Wammy's (except Near) has. But we haven't exactly had enough time to spend with him because he had to run off. He was always busy. So now that he was coming, I wanted him to acknowledge me.

"But I can't! He's gonna see that Near's doing a better job than me, as much as I hate to admit it. He won't even notice me with him around!"

"Hmmm… present him with something then. How about sweets? L loves sweets."

"No… that would be like sucking up to him. I need to do something Near wouldn't be able to do…."

We sat there in silence for a while ruminating.

"I got it!" I said with triumph. It had to work!

"What is it?" Matt asked curiously.

"I need you to gather up the most talented musicians we have here, except near of course. I'm gonna be in my room composing a song!"

Matt looked taken aback. I couldn't blame him; it was something I'd probably never do, but for once, since Near arrived, I thought I had a chance again to be L's successor.

I would compose a song especially for L, get the kids to learn it, and show L how great I work with them. Show him my leadership skills. The thing Near can't seem to do- talk with people and be social.


"It's great to see you again L!" Roger said while shaking his hand.

"It's great to be back, Roger." L replied happily.

"Are you getting enough sleep, boy? You're getting dark circles under eyes…. So dark it looks like eyeliner…. You're not-?"

L erupted in laughter. "It's not eyeliner." In a more serious tone he continued. "I haven't had much sleep because of the BB case, but I'll be able to sleep better now that it's all over."

You could tell how grueling L looked, but even with all that has happened he was glad to visit Wammy's house again.

"So I presume you want to visit the children?"

"Yes."

"Alright. They're all waiting for you in the main hall. And keep in mind to look for promising students to be your successor!"

"Let me have some fun Roger!" L smiled and left.

"It's L!" Linda cried.

Everyone gathered around L giving him hugs and what not.

"How have you all been?"

"Great! We've missed you!"

"Aw." L truly looked blissful and maybe even younger now that he was back, even if for a little while.

I walked up to him, smiling. "We have a surprise for you."

"Oh really?"

"Come on guys! L's theme!"

I got in front of the band, my sheets in front of me, ready to compose.

It took me only one night to compose, and I thought it fit L very well in a way. That's why I called it L's theme. The song would make me feel like he was thinking of a plan to stop evil, and once the music speeds up, as if he were confronting evil and serving justice!

As we finished up, I noticed near in the corner watching me with blank eyes. It was a little creepy, but he seemed a bit lonely over there. I turned away not wanting to look at the poor kid. Pshh! What did I care? I have to concentrate on the song. Though it was already over.

"Did you compose this yourself Mello?" L asked smiling.

"Yes I did, I made it in a way that could relate to you."

"How's that?"

I explained how I thought he was serving justice and stopping evil in the rhythm of the music.

"That's what I call music. Great job Mello. To all of you. Thanks." He came over and ruffled my hair before some kids dragged him towards them so they could ask him questions. Several kids congratulated us while going over to sit by L.

I felt so proud, nothing could bring me down!

The Near walked by.

"That was really good, I liked it." He said without emotion.

"Thanks." I replied just as bluntly. Humph. So I even got you to notice. I smiled even brighter.


That night as I was headed towards my room, I overheard some voices in roger's office. It sounded like L, Roger, and Watari.

"So did you enjoy today?"

"More than ever."

"And have you found someone to be your successor?"

I froze.

"Well, Roger has shown me various promising students' files. Out of everyone there has been three that caught my eyes; Matt, Mello, and Near."

I felt my heart skip a beat. L thought I could be one out of three of us to be his successor! I mean obviously I had to be since I'm second best (how I still hated to admit it) but hearing it from L himself seemed to confirm it. Wait till Matt heard he was mentioned too!

"Ok, that's good. But which will it be?"

I froze again, listening very carefully.

"It's tricky. Matt is very smart, but I've noticed he's very into his games so maybe he's not as interested in being my successor. Which leaves it between Near and Mello."

"Both very smart indeed."

"And talented." Roger said.

"Yes. I saw how Mello composed his song, quite brilliant."

"I enjoyed it very much." L said in a tone that said he was smiling again.

"Mello really works well with the rest of the kids, and he proved well in being a leader in just that song. Near on other hand, though, is just as brilliant, and according to his grades, he seems to be first in every class. I noticed though that he was alone in a corner playing a difficult puzzle that maybe not even I could solve in such a short amount of time. He's extremely smart but seems to lack being social. Does he not have friends?"

"He doesn't talk much to anyone."

"Hmm... no I dint see that. But I did see him say something to Mello. Perhaps he…?"

"You see, there seems to be a problem with that. I've noticed that Mello resents Near for being first at everything. Mello really admires you and hopes to be your successor. And though Near doesn't show it, he told me he too wants to succeed you."

"I see…. And have you ever thought that maybe they could both be my successors?"

What was L thinking? I can't work with Near! How could I ever if he doesn't talk or express himself!

There was a silence. L spoke up again. "I'll keep those two in mind, in the mean time I'd like you to try and get those two to work together."

"Alright L, as you wish."

"Good. I'll hopefully be seeing you all very soon. Watari and I have to catch our plane in a few hours. We'll be saying bye to the kids now."

"Take care you two."

I quickly hid in a corner but it seemed L was heading in my direction and I had nowhere else to go.

"Oh, Mello. You were listening in, weren't you?" L said. I blushed in frustration.

"Of course not!"

"Then why are you hiding?"

"I'm not- I'm playing hide and seek!"

L gave me a wry smile. "Please try and talk to Near. He's lonely." With those last words he gave me a hug goodbye and left. I stood there in that corner for what seemed like hours just thinking about everything I overheard, everything L had said.

It was then that I tried to talk to him. Maybe try to be nicer. It wasn't easy. And I felt that the more I tried the more of a soft-spot I had for him. I blame L for the whole mess I was about to get myself into.


Go listen to L's theme RIGHT NOW! xD

lol u kno u wanna!

the very last part where it says he tried to talk to him and be nicer and everything, i'm refering to the first chap (please tell me it all fits! i rushed and idk if it all matches together.)