New Chapter! A big thank you to DarkAngelJudas for the wonderful idea that let me continue this fanfic. Super great idea from them.
There's a new character in this story so I should fill you in about this guy.
Name: Fisher Markus Age: 13 Appearance: Medium length black hair. 5'6". Thin/muscular build. Glasses. Wears a black collared shirt, dark gray pants, and a long red coat. side note: Fisher is third in rank, Matt is fourth. They are continually switching places in rank
Near: she no own death note *disclaimer* !
"H-hey Mello, can we go this way?" Near stopped suddenly on the sidewalk.
"Huh? Why? The store's right there. Why would we go around?" Mello asked.
"Just cause... never mind," Near looked down at his feet and continued walking. Mello followed and kept up with him.
"Did you see the guys from yesterday?" Mello asked. Near gulped.
"Something like that," he mumbled.
"You know they ain't gonna mess with us after that scare L gave them," Mello snorted and picked up the pace. Near was careful to stay at Mello's side the entire time.
When they made it to the corner store Near seemed to relax a little. While Mello went to find chocolate, Near busied himself with a riddle book.
The bell rang as the front door opened and another boy around their age walked in. Near looked over and pushed himself deeper into the aisle, as if to hide. Mello smiled and greeted the boy.
"Hey Fisher," Mello said.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Fisher asked him. Mello laughed.
"Getting chocolate. I can never have enough of that stuff, you know?"
Fisher smirked. "So who did you come here with?" Mello asked.
"I came alone," Fisher said, picking up a bag of sunflower seeds and slipping them into the large pocket of his long, red coat. Mello didn't think much of it. He'd seen Fisher steal a million times before. It was sort of his thing.
"Roger doesn't let anybody out without a partner now," Mello informed, crossing his arms.
"Yea, well what Roger doesn't know won't hurt him," Fisher said, looking for something else to steal. Mello was slightly impressed that he'd been able to sneak out. And also slightly jealous that he hadn't thought of it first. "Who'd you come with?" Fisher asked.
Mello guestured to the ailse where Near was. Near was far away enough so that he couldn't hear the boys talking.
"You brought that loser?" Fisher chuckled. "He's such a freak."
"Yea, no kidding," Mello laughed. Suddenly he saw Near walking over to them.
"Mello, I thought you might like this," Near said, holding out an opened riddle book. "It was hard for me to solve, but I think you'll get it right away. Give you a laugh," Near looked up and saw Fisher and stopped talking. He stared wide eyed at the older boy.
"Hey Near," Fisher smirked slightly. He ruffled the boy's white hair, and Near winced as if it hurt him. Fisher laughed. "Heard you got beat up yesterday?"
Near shrugged.
"Haha, you make me laugh kid. Can I see that riddle?" Fisher held out a hand for the book. Near looked down at it, then up at Fisher. Without hesitation he threw the book across the store. It crashed into a shelf a few ailes away and knocked some cans off.
"Hey!" The person behind the counter looked up suddenly. Mello raised his eyebrows, surprised by Nears actions. Fisher looked angry.
"Come on, Mello, let's go," Near said quietly, but angrily. He stayed directly by Mello's side while he checked out and until they were out the door.
"What was that?" Mello asked when they were outside.
"Nothing," Near glared hard at the ground. "Let's just get back, I don't want to be late to dinner." Near picked up the pace.
"Do you have a problem with Fisher or something?" Mello asked when he caught up with Near again.
Near glanced up at the blonde. His eyes drifted back down to the sidewalk. "No."
Near refused to talk the rest of the time.
!
Through out dinner Near still refused to talk. He'd carefully positioned himself between L and Mello. Fisher sat directly across from him, as a fault in planning, and Near didn't look up from his dinner plate the whole time.
Mello thought it was strange that although Near had been in a rush to get back for dinner, he barely touched it. Mello didn't buy what Near had said earlier. He knew that something had caused Near's change in behavior, and he had an idea that it might have to do with Fisher.
As soon as they were dismissed from the dinner table Near ran up to his room. Matt came up a few minutes later.
"Roger says you need to clean up the blocks downstairs," Matt said as he walked in.
"Mello's the one who destroyed the city," Near sighed, staring up at the blank white ceiling.
"I'm just giving you the message," Matt said. Near sighed.
"Who's all downstairs?" Near asked.
"Mello, Roger, Fisher, Linda..." Matt said.
"Roger's down there?" Near asked.
"Yes,"
"Okay then," Near got up and walked downstairs. He put away all the blocks and quickly went back upstairs.
!
The next morning Near woke up later than usual. He didn't want to be the first to breakfast. That meant he'd be basically alone at the table with plenty of empty spaces around him. Anyone would be able to sit next to him. He didn't want that, so he decided to sleep in and wait for Matt and Mello to go down.
They always woke up considerably later than Near and were suprised to see him still in bed.
"You okay, Near?" Matt asked. "You sick?"
"No, why would you think I was?" Near asked.
Matt laughed. "Haha, nevermind."
As the boys were getting changed from their sleep clothes Mello couldn't help but peek up at Near. He'd heard rumors that the boy's skin was see through. He wanted to confirm what he'd heard.
He was shocked to see large bruised up and down Near's arms. They stood out brightly against the boy's light skin. Some were red and purple while others were yellow.
Near looked up and saw Mello staring at him. He quickly turned away and pulled his shirt on quickly, but not before Mello could see something else not quite right about the boy's arms.
"Jesus, Mello. Pick someone else to fantasize about," Near snapped. Mello's mouth dropped.
"What!" Mello demanded.
"Well if you keep staring at me, what am I supposed to think?" Near said.
"What's wrong with your arms?" Mello asked.
"Huh? Oh, they just got a bit beat up before when- well you know. It's nothing," Near hurried up out of the room and down stairs.
Mello was smart enough to know he hadn't gotten all of those bruises in the ally. Some of those were old, atleast three-four days old. Some of them were new, like he'd just gotten them yesterday. And what he thought he saw on the boy's wrists, well let's just say that those weren't bruises.
"Come on, Matt," Mello said, zipping up his shirt and heading down after Near.
"There's something going on with Near," Mello said. "Something's not right about him."
"Why do you care, Mello? You don't like Near," Matt said.
"Err, well I- I don't know," Mello said.
"Both of you are acting strange. You're worried about Near- when does that ever happen? But he is acting weird. Something's going on," Matt started playing his gameboy while he talked.
"We need to figure out what it is," Mello said.
"Yea," Matt and Mello ran down stairs to breakfast.
!
Near wasn't at breakfast.
"I guess he decided to skip..." Matt sighed.
"The nerd's probably in the classroom already," Mello snickered. Matt raised an eyebrow at his blonde friend, wondering who's side exactly he was on.
"Let's go check," Mello decided, standing up.
"Wait! I'm not done with my pancakes yet!" Matt complained.
"Hurry up!" Mello said. Matt shoved a whole blueberry pancake in his mouth and hurried after Mello.
"Near? Near?" Matt called as they walked around the part of the house that had the two classrooms. Near wasn't in either of them. Mello checked several supply closets, figuring that's where he'd hide if he was a Near.
"Where the hell is he!" Mello shouted, punching a wall. Matt motioned suddenly for Mello to be quiet and looked down the hall. He heard something around the corner. He quickly and quietly hurried down. Peaking around the corner, he saw Near, sniffling slightly and leaning against the wall.
"Near!" he exclaimed, jumping out from behind the corner. Near yelped and threw his hands up, then lowered them carefully seeing it was only his roommates- Matt and Mello.
"Near, we have to talk," Mello said, grabbing Near's wrist.
"About what?" Near hissed, sniffling once more and composing himself.
"Something's wrong with you," Mello said.
Near sighed, "If you came here to make fun of me, then-"
"That's not what I meant. Something's bothering you," Mello said.
"What would make you think that?" Near asked. His voice was monotone, like it almost always was. Near was good at controlling his emotions. Mello wasn't.
"I'm trying to help you dammnit!" Mello shouted, shaking Near by the shoulders.
"I-I don't need help," Near said, his voice breaking momentarily.
"You can tell me what's wrong," Mello's voice became soft again as he heard Near's voice crack.
Near shook his head, and a tear rolled down his cheek. He cursed it silently. He cursed himself for being so weak.
"Near, just talk to us," Matt said softly.
"I-I can't. Nothing's wrong," Near demanded.
Mello finally just spilled. "Who's bullying you Near?" he asked. Near looked genuinely shocked.
"Leave me alone!" Near shouted, backing up from Mello. "Nothing's going on. It's none of your business! J-just leave me alone!" Near burst into tears.
"Fine! If you don't want help, then just fine!" Mello shouted. He was angry again. A few more tears rolled down Near's face and he just shook his head and turned away. He took off down the hall running.
"You idiot!" Mello yelled after him, then turned and punched the wall again. He turned to Matt. "Why won't he let us help him?"
Matt shrugged. "He probably wants to try to handle it by himself."
The bell rung. "Let's go," Mello sighed angrily and the two boys walked back to the classroom.
!
Mello approached L before class started. He was suprised to see L in the classroom in the first place, but decided it would be the best time to tell him.
"Someone's bullying Near," Mello burst out. L looked up at him suprised.
"You think so?" L asked.
"Yes. I asked him about it before, and he ran off screaming at me and crying..." Mello explained. "Matt was there too."
"I'll talk to him," L said, standing. L wasn't forced to stay in the classroom or participate in normal school lessons, so he stood up and walked downt the hall.
Mello sat back down at his desk and tried to focus on his lessons. The bright thought came into his head that maybe he'd be able to get ahead with Near missing a day. Mello smirked slightly. Then Fisher came and sat next to him.
"Where's the little genius?" Fisher asked. Mello glanced at him. He felt less friendly around Fisher now, thinking that he might have something to do with Near's weird behavior. But he tried to act normal, as to not raise suspiscions.
"Probably up in our room," Mello said, not looking up from his test. "He's not feeling well," Mello said, not completely a lie...
"Is that so? Well, that's a shame," Fisher said. Mello raised an eyebrow, wondering what was meant by that comment.
L walked back into the classroom then, and Mello got up and walked over to him.
"What did Near say?" Mello asked. Matt appeared behind Mello.
"He says that nobody's bothering him, but it's all crap. He won't tell me who it is or what exactly is going on. But from the reaction he gave you, there's a 89% chance that he's being bullied. And I'm guessing it's somebody at Wammys," L said.
"At Wammy's? Why would somebody here do it?" Matt exclaimed.
"That's what I'm not sure about. Just keep a close eye on Near, okay?" the boys nodded and the raven haired detective walked back out the classroom, muttering about cake.
!
At lunch Roger posted up the class ratings for the week.
1. Near 2. Mello 3. Fisher 4. Matt ect...
Near finally came to class after lunch. He didn't sit by anybody or say a word though. He just sat at a table by himself and finished the work packet long before anyone else. He then opened up a big book and seemed to hide behind it.
Mello wanted to walk up and confront him, but Matt suggested they give him some space. When Mello went to use the bathroom, Matt turned on his gameboy, and nobody was paying him any attention- Fisher walked over and sat beside Near.
"Hey Neary, feeling better?" Fisher sneered. Near shuddered having the boy so close and shyed away slightly.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking," Near didn't look up from his book.
"I'll see you in the courtyard after class, okay Neary?" Fisher said, smiling evilly.
"Whatever," Near said. Fisher grabbed his wrist suddenly, and Near held in a gasp. His wrist hurt, bad. He regretted ever doing what he'd done.
"I know your secret Neary," Fisher whispered in his ear. "If you're a no show after class, then I'll tell everyone. I have ways of destroying you. Understand me?"
Near gulped and nodded.
"Be there after class and come alone. Or you'll be sorry," Fisher ruffled Near's hair as he stood and walked back to his desk. Nobody could hear what was said, so anyone watching would think it was a friendly conversation.
After class Mello and Matt decided to stalk Near. They'd asked where he was going, and he'd said he was going to his room. They asked if they could hang with him and he replied simply that he had homework to do and that he'd like to be alone. They agreed, but followed him. He went as if to go to their room, but then changed his route and made his way to the courtyard. Mello and Matt followed from a distance.
Near double checked around before walking into the courtyard. He walked the path quickly, carefully, until he found a corner and stopped.
"What is he doing?" Matt whispered. Mello shrugged. They were hiding up in a tree watching Near.
From the shadows came Fisher. He studied Near carefully and started talking. Mello and Matt could not make out what was being said. "What the hell?" Mello whispered.
Suddenly, out of no where, Fisher punched Near in the stomach. Near doubled over, holding his stomach. Fisher pulled him back up and punched him again. Near let out a small cry of pain.
"Go get Roger," Mello whispered. "Go!"
Mello and Matt slid carefully down from the tree. From where Fisher and Near were, they couldn't see them. Matt ran back to the house while Mello snuck over to the two boys.
"You little punk! You think you're better than me? You're not! You're just a stupid, worthless, goody two shoes, mutant with a genetic defect and a head full of hot air!" Mello heard Fisher shout. He heard Near cry out. "Get up you pathetic-"
"Hey!" Mello jumped into view and Fisher looked completely off guard.
"Hey Mello, just in time. I was just teaching this kid a lesson-" Mello punched Fisher straight across the face. Fisher looked down at the blonde boy shocked.
"Leave Near alone," Mello hissed.
"Mello, what the hell-" Fisher was interrupted again when Mello pushed him as hard as he could. He stumbled backwards and fell on his butt.
"It's not nice to bully people, Fisher. All Near ever did was be smarter than you. He doesn't deserve the way you treat him," Mello hissed. Fisher looked up at him, still shocked.
"It's not fair," Fisher screamed. "He deserves to be beat up! He deserves to be killed! It's not fair! It's not fair! It's not fair!"
Mello carefully stood in front of Near as Fisher jumped to his feet. He swung a fist at Mello, who caught his whole arm and pushed it back down.
"It's not fair! I work my ass of for third and you two get the top spots without even trying!" Fisher screamed. "I hate you!" He lunged forward and grabbed Mello by the front of his shirt. He lifted him up and slammed him against a wall. Mello would have fought back, except someone interrupted him before he had the chance.
"Fisher Markus!" a voice bellowed as an angry Roger and frightened Matt hurried across the court yard. "Release him this once!"
Fisher dropped Mello- who landed in an awkward crouch and hurried back over by Near. Mello then saw Watari hurry out as well.
"Watari?" Mello exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"I came back a bit early," Watari answered Mello, then turned to everyone else. "What is going on here?"
"Fisher was beating up Near! He's the one who's been bullying him!" Matt exclaimed. Fisher growled at him.
"Fisher, is this true?" Roger asked.
"NO!" Fisher yelled.
"Near?" Roger asked the other boy. Near's bottom lip quivered and he stared at his feet. Near nodded slowly. Roger grabbed Fisher tightly by his upper arm as he tried to lunge at Near.
"Near, show him your arms!" Matt exclaimed.
"Yea, come on Near, that's solid evidence!" Mello said. Near shook his head no, so Mello grabbed his arm and pulled up his sleave. He'd meant to show the bruises on the boy's upper arm, but instead revealed three scabbed gashes across the boy's wrist. Everyone stared at him for a second, shocked.
"Near... did you do that to yourself?" Watari asked. A tear traveled down Near's cheek and he looked up, scared. He'd never wanted anyone to see that. He was so weak. Nobody was ever supposed to know about that. It's the reason he came to meet Fisher. He didn't want everyone to know he'd cut himself.
It was only once, and he didn't plan on doing it again, but either way it was nobody's business. It had been an accident when Fisher found out, and a total slip up on his part when Mello almost saw. Now Mello had just shown Roger, Watari, and Matt.
"Near, I-" Mello started but Near shook his head violently.
He ran across the courtyard and into the house, slamming the door behind him. Taking a second glance at the dumb founded adults, Mello ran after Near.
He found the boy in their room, angrily throwing darts at a dart board.
"Go away," Near said as Mello walked in.
"Near, I didn't mean to..."
"I said go away!" Near shouted. Mello paused for a moment, thinking he might just leave. He had no problem arguing but he didn't know how to deal with a hurt person. Near still had tears running down his face. Near wasn't supposed to show his emotions. That's why Mello felt so scared. But still, Mello was incredibly stubborn. So he stayed.
"I'm sorry," Mello finally said. Near glanced at him from the corner of his eye. Mello never apologized. Roger or Watari could spank the boy to tears and never hear an apology. Mello was selfish and stubborn. So why was he acting so differently now?
"I didn't mean to show them that... I didn't know. It was an accident..." Mello continued.
"I know," Near said quietly.
"Then why'd you run off like that?" Mello demanded, back to his old self.
"Nobody was supposed to see..." Near said, throwing another dart. "It was stupid. I didn't want anybody to know..."
"Why did you do it?" Mello asked, walking over and sitting on his bed. Near had yet to look at him while talking.
"I can't help being smart. This school is supposed to help us be the best... but everyone hated me for it. Fisher was constantly torturing me, and I- I just couldn't take it..." Near said.
"So you did that? It doesn't make any sense..."
"I know that, okay!" Near shouted, looking up at Mello. "I know it was stupid! I don't know why I did it! I just did... That's why I didn't want anybody to know. Because I don't have a good excuse." Near tried hard to control the tears whelling in his eyes. He sat there, staring at the darts in his hands. Mello stood there staring at him.
What's he staring at? Near thought. Why doesn't he just leave?
"Why didn't you tell me about Fisher earlier? When I asked who was bullying you?" Mello asked.
"He's your friend. I figured you'd just laugh at me..." Near said. "Besides... you hate me too, so-"
Mello gave Near the second biggest shock of his life when he sat down next to Near and wrapped his arms around him.
"What are you-"
"I'm sorry," Mello said quietly. "I hate you. As long as you're beating me I'm going to hate you. But that doesn't mean I don't care about you too."
Near didn't say anything, but he did lean into Mello's embrace.
"Watari and Roger are going to want to talk about it..." Mello said a moment later.
"Yea, thanks a lot," Near grumbled.
"Hey. What are friends for?" Mello laughed. He stood up and walked out into the hallway.
"Friends, huh?" Near turned the word over in his mouth. He liked it. He jumped to his feet and ran into the hallway after Mello. He found him and wrapped his arms around Mello's waiste in a hug.
"Uhhh- Near?" Mello said. His face turned a bright red. Several people were looking at them.
"Aaw cute!" Linda called. "I didn't know you had a soft side, Mello!"
Mello growled and tried to peel Near off of him. "Near! Let go!"
Near laughed and held on tighter. Friends played games, right? Mello kept struggling to get Near off of him and Near kept holding on tighter and not letting go. L walked up to them and seperated them using something only he knew about Near.
He lightly tickled the boy under his arms. Near let go instantly, holding in a squeal of laughter.
"You owe me a catch up," L stated. "Now that the secret's out tell me everything. Although I think I have it figured out." L walked back into the boy's room where they found Matt. (When did he sneak in there?)
Near filled L in on everything. Eventually all of them started talking and they ended up reminiscing on things.
"Hey L," Matt said. "Remember when we were little and you used to read us stories?"
"Yes, I remember," L said.
"Could you read us a story now?" Matt asked.
"Aren't you a bit old to be read to?" L asked, but he was smiling.
"No!" Matt demanded. Mello gave a look that said I am totally too old to be read to. But in the end, the three boys gathered around L who read them a story written by Edgar Allen Poe (bedtime stories from their childhood... O.o). When Watari came up later, he smiled at the scene in front of him and decided to come back later. Watari had known all of those kids since they were very young, and seeing that nearly broke his old heart.
!
Another big thanks to DarkAngelJudas for the idea. Couldn't have done it without you!
So, you guys like? I don't know where the ending came from... but I just thought that would be really cute. So yeah... Fisher is being dealt with accordingly. Watari still has to deal with Near's dirty little secret, but has decided that will have to wait. If anyone wishes to continue this story, please contact me first, but I really wouldn't mind. I think that'd be awesome. But this is where I end.
Say goodnight Matt.
Matt: goodnight :)