Author's Note: Hi, it's me again. Here's your update! :) Soon I'm going to be quite busy, so I'm trying to give myself a head start by writing as much as humanly possible. I'm already laying out the structure for the end of the story. Thanks so much to those people who added me to their story alert out of the blue! I'm so happy. Anyway, back to angsty Mello, quiet Near and gaming addict Matt - and of course the mysterious Miss S... Enjoy! By the way, I don't own Death Note OR its characters (no matter how much I desperately want to)! My own characters belong to me though :) More coarse language in this one, but not too much. S gets quite agitated...
CHAPTER FOUR: SHUT ME UP
MELLO'S POV
It was one of the most awkward moments of Mello's entire life. The four of them walked side by side throughout the corridors, Matt still in shock, and Near (goddamm silent Near) with his face expressionless. It was obviously up to Mello to make converstaion...
"Where did you get the red dye, S?" he asked, trying to keep the anger out of his voice (she had caused him enough inconvenience today, and to be honest, she made him really, really uneasy). S gave him an infuriating, exaggerated wink before turning away from him, swishing her light blonde hair in the process. Out of the corner of Mello's eye, Matt started laughing, his hand covering his mouth. He could have fooled other people that he wasn't but Mello knew the red-head far too well.
S sniffed the air in apparent curiosity. "I. Smell. FOOD." she hissed. Suddenly, she darted ahead of the others, running to the end of the corridor where the dining hall was without her chaperones to accompany her.
"BAHAHAHA!"
Mello turned around. Matt was laughing breathlessly, one hand pointed at the direction S had dissapeared in, the other pointing at his best friend. "What's so funny?" Mello growled defensively.
Matt finally seemed to pull himself together, lifting up his goggles (which were always in need of some techincal improvement by the practical but relucant genius) to wipe away the tears of mirth. "It's written in the stars, Mel," he sniggered. "You were either seperated at birth or you're soulmates! She's crazy, she's impulsive and she flicks her blonde hair just like you do!" Matt did his own girlified impression of how Mello (and perhaps S) tossed their heads in indignation. "Honestly, dude, marry the girl!"
"MATT!" Mello yelled, cracking his knuckles. "IF YOU DON'T STOP WITH THE ROMANTIC CRAP THEN I SWEAR I'LL -"
"HURRY UP, YOU GUYS!" S called out from the other end of the corridor, easily drowning out Mello. "THEY'RE SERVING IT!"
There was quite a stir caused by S entering the room - she was still covered in the mysterious red dye. Most people simply stared, others whispered, some people even started calling out to her, asking what she was doing there or who exactly she was. A few of the younger Wammy's residents began to cry.
Despite himself, Mello felt a sudden twinge of sympathy for the new girl. Mello often came into that particular hall sporting injuries from his various adventures, or even with a stern Roger accompanying him (for he was often in trouble). They all usually stared and pointed... maybe that was why Mello got such a buzz from it. For once, everyone paid attention to him. But S, well... for the first time since meeting her, Mello thought that S looked uncomfortable. He could almost predict the thoughts going through her head as her facial expressions changed from shocked and defensive to stoic.
The tension was tangible in the air as they sat down on a long, narrow bench to eat their meal. People were craning to get a look at the new arrival in their ranks - but an angry glare from an unusually-protective Mello satisified their interests. After a short while, the normal chatter that usually took place in the dining hall steadily built up again and S was being ignored - for now. Surprisingly, S didn't reach for anything, despite her previous eagerness to hurry everyone into the dining hall so they could all eat. Her eyes - her strange, indechiperable eyes - suddenly dulled dramatically. Her head drooped, narrowly missing the enormous plate of mashed potato and landing in her hands. Her breathing slowed.
Matt chuckled. "She's asleep," he acknowledged in a half-whisper. "I mean, she seemed a little weird when I saw her for the very first time - but who am I to judge? And she looks so cute when she's sleeping!" Mello rolled his eyes, but he could kind of see what Matt had meant. She looked surprisingly like a little girl instead of a... well, something that wasn't a little girl. Whenever she was awake, she looked like a hollow shell, her eyes dull and dead no matter how lively her actions appeared to be. It was evident that dreaming restored her, preserved her, kept her safe. Mello dug his elbow into Matt's ribs, indicating that they should leave her alone. Surprisingly, Near shuffled over to sit by Mello - Mello, of all people. Mello's eyes widened.
"Oh no you don't," he hissed. "Just because I've hung around with you today, doesn't mean I'll hang around with you any other time. Today was different from the others, that's all there is to it. Now will you just leave me alone?" He prodded Near's bare foot with his own heavy, boot-clad one. Near simply looked at him with an unreadable expression.
"I'm here to care for S, since you certainly won't do it," Near stated calmly.
"I will take care of her, Near," Mello bit back, spitting out Near's name like a bullet. "Who the hell said I wouldn't, 'cause I certainly didn't say that. Roger asked me to do it first. I've been running around after her all day, couldn't you see that -"
"SHHH!" Matt interjected. "I think S is talking in her sleep."
"I DON'T CARE, WHAT I DO CARE ABOUT IS PUTTING LITTLE TOE-RAGS LIKE HIM BACK IN THEIR PLACE -"
"Shut up, Mel," Matt told his best friend as S grunted while she slumbered. "At least let S sleep for a little while." the red-head's eyes softened. "She looks like she hasn't slept for days. And I thought I had jet-lag."
Mello felt a twinge of guilt as he noted the bags under her eyes for the second time that day, and sighed in exasperation. Why did Matt always have to bring out the best - no, the worst - in him? He looked over at Near, who was sipping tomato soup in a very non-threatening manner. I guess... I guess having him around us for a couple more hours couldn't hurt, thought Mello. He could help us deal with S, anyway.
Mello was beginning to identify with S more and more. She still seemed to be a little crazy, but maybe she would calm down after she'd got some rest. Matt had been right all along - S did talk in her sleep. She muttered something, a droplet of drool hanging from her mouth. She said it again, louder but still indecipherable to Mello.
Finally she said it again, louder still. "Beyond Birthday," she murmured.
All three boys jumped back in shock and surprise - even Near ever-so-slightly flinched. Mello felt an icy sensation deep in the pit of his stomach - Beyond Birthday...
...It - it doesn't mean anything, Mello thought hurriedly, trying to calm himself down. She spent time with L, he says she's pretty smart, she probably asked him about it or saw the case files...
But the most truly disturbing thought was that S was actually dreaming about an embodiment of insanity, murder and destruction. Why wasn't she scared? Why wasn't she phased by it even just a little? Mello shook his head at the unanswerable questions his mind had presented him, reluctantly turning back to his cooling stew when suddenly -
"L!"
Mello, Matt and Near turned to S. Her green eyes were wide open, and her breathing was fast and sharp. "S, are you okay?" Matt asked. Near just stared. Without thinking, Mello put a hand on her shoulder, before feeling another stab of sympathy. She was trembling. Mlik-white and obviously scared out of her mind, S closed her eyes and pulled her arms around herself.
She seemed to get herself into a more stable position - before jumping up from her place on the bench and hitting Mello on the back of the head.
"OW!" he yelped in protest, clutching his head. "What was that for?"
"WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP, BLONDIE?" S bellowed. "Honestly, don't you idiots get it? I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO SLEEP!"
"I just -" Mello began, but S stopped him mid-flow.
"NO! SHUT UP! SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!" S yelled, looking rather hysterical, her hands clenched into threatening fists, her face still as pale as death. "NO, WAIT," she continued. "SHUT ME UP! SHUT ME UP!"
And with that, S fled the room in full view of everyone.
Mello sighed, before jumping up and running after her, Matt and Near at his heels. What had she meant by shutting herself up? Mello had never felt so confused... And just when I thought she was getting normal...
Author's Note: Sorry that the update's a little shorter than the others this time. I hope I did this quick enough, I didn't want to rush it but I wanted to leave you all on a cliff-hanger for next time... Hopefully I did that well! :) Please review on how it went. I rather think there will be a S's Point Of View next time. I can't wait, my fingers are itching to type it, though I've still got to sort out a few plotholes before beginning the next update. See you then! Review!