Alright guys - sorry this one took so long. Mello just didn't want me to write him. Haha. That and I've been really busy being sick and being... busy in general. In any case, here it is, chapter 3! I bet you guys'll like this one, actually.

And, as usual, reviews and constructive critisism are always appreciated. :)

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Mello was half dragged to a room on the fourth floor of the hotel by his mentor who was impatient for that chocolate craving to be satisfied and was bolting as fast as Mello could keep up with. The door to the room seemed almost like a form of portal to the small thirteen-year-old boy to some unknown universe, though he only had half a second to marvel before it was nearly burst from its hinges as Ryuzaki marched into the room, finally letting go of Mello's wrist when they crossed the threshold. Mello treaded into the room lightly, closing the door behind him before endeavoring to venture further into the room. Instead of rushing to the older man's side when the door was shut, he stayed put watching Ryuzaki from a distance. Watching him perch in his chair, watching him stuff sweet chocolates in his mouth, watching as the man slowly, slowly devoured the unsuspecting sweets in a methodical play of almost boyish-like play.

Mello's watching turned into a stare, a long and all consumed, wide-eyed stare, learning his mentor's oddities.

It took a moment of Ryuzaki's momentary blind eye for Mello to feel slightly awkward just standing and staring at his idol. Whether it was the relief of Ryuzaki's chocolate craving or the sound of the small fidgeting behind him, the raven spun his chair around to look at the small blond. "No need to be formal, Mello. Come and have a cake!"

It was at this point that Mello noticed the large tray next to L. It was composed of three layers, each being filled to the brim with various sweets, mostly sweeter fruit items, but some cakes and... chocolate? The allure of the bittersweet treat was too much for the young boy and he caved, walking over to the tray and picking up a dark coloured, obviously chocolate item. The smell of it was just enough to drive Mello crazy and the sweet, smooth taste melted his anxiety away, causing him to sink into a nearby chair, his head falling back into his seat's head, his eyes closed.

"You must be tired," Ryuzaki began stacking sugar cubes on the desk in front of him. "I'm afraid I detest traveling myself. But it is a necessity." Two cubes, three cubes, four cubes.

Mello cracked an eye to look at L once again and smiled lightly. "Yes, I guess so."

Five cubes, and then the sugar cube tower collapsed, consequently earning their drowning into a pool of tea, as well as five to ten other cubes that shared the same fate. L picked up the cup with his thumb and index, as if it were covered in something unpleasant, and sipped, letting out a sigh of contentment when the liquid began its slide down the man's skinny esophagus. "Well, then, I suppose you should be getting some sleep before we begin," Ryuzaki commented, though his tone was firm. This was not a request. It was not a suggestion. Mello understood that it was an order and was partial to obey. He did want to stay up with L for a bit longer. After all, this was the man he'd been working for ten years to meet, to succeed. However, as L had pointed out, Mello was exhausted and was not in any condition to take in any information at the time and so when L had summoned Watari, the grandfatherly figure escorted Mello to one of the rooms that the hotel suite was equipped with.

"This will be your room while we are at this hotel," he explained to the blond, who had already crawled onto the twin-sized bed. "If you need anything at all, there's a button on the table next to the bed, which will make my cell phone ring."

"Where are my bags?" Mello asked with a large yawn following it.

"Everything is being brought up to the room, but we'll sort it out tomorrow. For the time being, I've placed some pajamas in the washroom for you." Mello nodded, rolling onto his side. The bed was soft enough, but occupying the boy's thoughts was L and Watari could see it in the blond boy's face. "Has he quelled your apprehension, Mello?"

Mello did not respond right away, but instead stared at the door to his bedroom for a moment. "Yes," he eventually replied.

Watari smiled at the boy and then turned to leave the room. "When you wake up tomorrow, feel free to press the button. I'll bring your breakfast in here if you wish."

Mello nodded, and Watari left the boy alone, closing the door behind him. The blond boy sat up on his bed, let out a big yawn and scrambled into the washroom where he showered shortly, brushed his teeth, and changed into those pajamas that had been left for him. As he climbed into bed, he began to wonder how the next few days would proceed? What was L really like? Mello could tell that the man was odd by anyone's standards, but Mello could still see that there was brilliance in him, even with a meeting as short as theirs had been. Sheer brilliance defined as L, and Mello was privileged to work under him, with him, and, eventually, as him. A huge task to anyone, but Mello no longer felt nervous about it. Luckily for him, else he would not have been able to sleep that night.

But he did fall asleep without any major trouble and his mind and body slept soundly, as they had not for years.

Mello's first day was like something out of a horror movie for the young successor, though just a normal day for the predecessor. The reason? Though Mello had been training to think and reason like a detective for most of his life, very seldom had he thought to prepare himself for photos.

L hadn't intended to start Mello on a case for two days yet; the original plan was to get the poor boy used to L and his new schedule and then give him a case to work on under L's supervision. During the two days Mello was to adjust, Ryuzaki had planned to finish off a different case so that he could have more room in his brain to learn about Mello's needs and quirks. Good plan, surely.

However, after he'd finished with that specific case, he'd left the file on the table where Watari picked them up and would file them away. Before that could happen, Mello happened to pass by and, curious as to the kind of work his idol worked on on a regular basis, he picked it up and took a look through it.

Too bad the file's contents were so graphic that it sent Mello running to the washroom to puke.

During which, L scurried over to the door to await the boy's exit. When he did, the boy was obviously embarrassed and kept his eyes on the floor. Ryuzaki, one thumb on his lips, used his free hand to pat the boys head. "Perhaps we can come up with a grading system so you know which files would not incur another incident such as this."

He began moving back to his computer when he felt a small tug on the back of his shirt, causing him to look at the boy once again. The blond was obviously regretting his action and his eyes stayed firmly on the floor. "I'm sorry for peeking at the file," he said.

The older man smiled slightly. "Why should you be?" he questioned, earning Mello's gaze upwards. "After all, no one told you not to look at the file and when you came here, you were granted access to all that is here. And besides," at this point L ruffled Mello's hair a bit. "Curiosity and a will to learn are some of the reasons you are here. Now, let's find you some ginger ale."

And with this, the two walked to the kitchen area, where they found Watari cutting up various snacks. The oldest man took one look at Mello, and then a slightly suspicious look at Ryuzaki, and then went to the fridge to pour the young boy a glass of fizzy stomach meds in a cup.

"Perhaps you should sit down," Watari advised as he handed the glass to the now calm and slightly green Mello who moved trotted off to the main room, out of the kitchen, in obedience. As soon as he was gone, Watari sighed and continued cutting up various vegetables and fruits. "What did you let him see, Ryuzaki?"

"I merely left a file that I'd finished with on the table for you," L responded dryly. "I did not tell him to look at it."

"You knew he'd look at it," Watari said, not in rebuke, but very close to it.

Ryuzaki did not answer directly, but instead watched Watari cutting celery sticks. "I wanted to see how he'd react."

"Which file was it?"

"The Inside-Out murders file."

At this Watari stopped chopping at stared at Ryuzaki. "That is the most graphic case you've handled in years. Why that file?"

L shrugged. "Why not that file?" he replied and walked out the door, almost walking into an eavesdropping Mello. Instead of getting offended, L walked right by him, a small smile on his face. Mello, who was less that jubilant about being a test subject, walked into the kitchen and sat on a chair by the counter.

"One thing you might have to get used to," Watari began to explain, resuming his food preparations, "Is that Ryuzaki's methods of gathering information are not always orthodox." Watari glanced at Mello who was sipping at the ginger ale, his brow furrowed in thought. "You might have to expect a few more 'tests.'"

Mello shivered. "Why doesn't he just ask me instead of using me like a guinea pig?"

Watari smiled. "People have a tendency to lie, Mello. Aside from that, would you have been able to answer if he asked you 'How would you react to highly graphic images?'"

Mello chewed on the edge of his glass, processing the statement. "No, I guess not."

In the next room, L sat in front of his computer stacking marshmallows. Thoughts raced through his mind at an alarmingly slow pace. Most of the cases he was working on had been completed in time for Mello's arrival and now he just had a few to work on, though none of them were in the forefront of his mind. Instead his thoughts wandered to the would-be successor that failed.

With Mello's arrival, L had been constantly reminded of his failed attempt, Backup. Backup had been another child that L had considered for succession but had turned renegade. He'd attempted to surpass L by creating an unsolvable case but had underestimated the matter and had been apprehended on the verge of success.

Backup now resided in a prison in Los Angeles and would reside there for the rest of his life for the murder of three innocents: Believe Bridesmaid, Quarter Queen, and Backyard Bottomslash. Every so often, Ryuzaki would hack into the prison's surveillance systems and check on Backup, otherwise known as B from Wammy's House.

L sighed to himself and began the process. It had been a while since he'd checked in on the now young-adult, and the detective figured that he was slightly overdue. The hacking didn't take long and he was looking at B shortly.

He was a sad figure, leaning against a wall, drawing with a finger in midair. L could hear mumbling coming from the boy in the prison. Often he'd hear "L" or "out" or "up" but couldn't make out what it was the B was working out.

Looking closer at the boy, L could see that he'd paled considerably, his skin nearly white from lack of sun. Not that B had ever really been an athletic boy. L remembered reports of B from Wammy's days of how he'd spend hours in the library learning and relearning information on biology, criminology, psychology, along with many other subjects. Top in most of his classes, the boy was brilliant. He possessed an extreme drive that any real candidate of L must possess, along with that little piece of je-ne-sais-quoi that was also necessary. B was just special.

But now he was just a criminal, to be locked up for the rest of his life.

L sighed and shut off the monitor, convinced that Backup, B, Beyond Birthday was all right.

However, what L didn't know was that Beyond Birthday was birthing a plan that was a year and a half in the making. Ever since his arrival at the prison, he'd been mapping everything. Drain pipes, air vents, windows, electrical systems, anything and everything was mapped out in that brain of his.

His escape plan was almost complete.

He knew exactly how to get out of the facility, but now he needed to plan how to get away from the prison and where he needed to go to ensure that he would not be caught. Or at least, not right away.

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dun dun duuuuh.

Please do review. :)