::Oh, thanks to everyone who reviewed. Here's an update.

::I don't own DeathNote, or any of the videogames/consoles Matt is playing.

".Level 4: Separation Anxiety."

It's been four years since the day my parents died. I can't believe I actually lived through four years here at Whammy's. Those first few weeks were like the first day of school… awkward, lonely and extremely boring.

The place was really like boarding school. In a sense… it was. We had classes, and everything. I found a few friends, some of the first human ones I've made. It's nice to have something solid and not made of pixels to talk to once in a while.

After a few months I did understand why everyone looked up to L, heck, they loved him, they wanted to be him. He was like the big brother I never had. He was so cool sometimes, but other times he was a total goof. But he's rarely around anymore. There was this big case in Japan and it was all over the news. This 'Kira' is killing off criminals everywhere. What kind of codename is 'Kira' anyways? It's the first time L hasn't been here that long. I'd bet this was L's biggest case, ever. It'd be his personal boss monster.

I continued pressing the buttons on my newest portable game console, good thing I listened to our Japanese classes… all the best games come from there. It's cool when you get to play the latest games before the rest of the world. L sent us all some cool stuff from Japan when he couldn't come home for Christmas. I got a new gadget, Mello got a big box of assorted chocolates, Near got a new robot… everyone got something.

I learned that if I wanted something, I had to work hard for it. Whenever this new game came out, I would take a test seriously, and get something in return for topping. I learned not to try topping all of them, because Mello would beat the shit out of me if I became number one… I didn't want to be number one. It's too much attention. I liked my work to be recognized, but not me, myself. That's why I like codenames. It's me… but I'm the only one that knows that…

My roommate is probably the closest thing to a best friend I'll ever have. He's got creepy blue eyes and a weird girly haircut… I don't even bother asking him why he keeps it that way, the bruises wouldn't be worth it. Anyways, he's in Mr. Roger's office right now with Near. I think it's something really important because Mr. Roger had a hesitant, serious look on his face when he called Mello from our room. I didn't bother to go follow him and eavesdrop. I'm sure he'd go brag about it all afterwards… that, and this game has been screaming at me to get beaten.

Minutes later, Mello returned. I didn't look up from my game when I asked him "What happened?" I actually expected a long, drawn out boastful explanation on whatever it was Mr. Roger talked to him about. Instead, I got a long, exasperated sigh. I chuckled when I jokingly said "Near got the top spot and you got eliminated again?" He doesn't reply, and I finally had to pause the game and look at him to get an answer.

The look on his face was unreadable. Usually it was as clear as day to see what Mello felt like, but at the moment, he looked… sad? Confused? I just didn't know.

Wait… is he-?

I couldn't believe my eyes, so I took off my yellow-tinted goggles that Mr. Wammy gave me for my eyesight. He said I'd go blind or something because of all the videogames. Oh, and I flat-out refused to wear glasses. They make me look weird, and was too much of a nerd already, I didn't need to look like one too.

Holy -! He was ALMOST crying! His eyes were all watery. But I think he was more angry than anything else.

"Woah, Mel. Don't go all emotional on me. So what if Near beat you this time… there's always a next time…" I said, even if I wasn't that hopeful.

"Shut the fuck up man!" he said angrily. "It's not about that!"

"Then tell me already!" I said, I hated it when Mello shouts at me. So annoying, and it reminded me of my dad when he got angry, even if that wasn't often.

"…L… he's, he's-" he said, clenching his fists.

"…he's finally realized he's going to get diabetes from all that sugar he has in his system?" I completed jokingly, come on! Say it already.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "He's dead."

I couldn't believe my ears. Has all the videogame beeping finally addled my brain? "What?! Say that again with a straight face."

"That asshole that calls himself Kira killed L!" he said, the anger in his voice was unmistakable.

"L… died?" I said. It sounded more real when you hear it from your own mouth. "That Kira guy… killed… L?"

"Fuck, how many times do I have to repeat myself?"

"Sorry… it's just… unbelievable." I said, the truth slowly and sickeningly sinking in, giving me a weird feeling in my stomach, and in my chest. I haven't felt this in four years. When the ground seemed to crack under my feet and the safety I've enjoyed fleets away. It was just like when mom and dad died. I promised them I wouldn't cry anymore, so I didn't. But it didn't really make much of a difference. I felt like I was lost.

L always seemed invincible. I never once thought he'd die, not like that anyway. He was too smart to get killed by one of the criminals he was tracking down. Kira must've cheated, or got lucky… something. I refuse to believe that he was smarter than L. No-one is smarter than L, and it will always be that way in my memories. I always thought he'd always come home… but now it's not gonna happen. Life has a weird way of making you feel secure, then it suddenly swallows you up and throws you back out again.

"I'm leaving Matt." Mello said, under his breath. "Near's replacing L. I'm leaving Whammy's and I'm gonna catch Kira myself."

"Shit, man. You've gotta be kidding me." I said skeptically. I look at his face and kidding was probably the last thing on his mind. "Come on Mel, you're fifteen! No-one in the real world is gonna take you seriously!"

"I'm gonna join the mafia." He declared. Somehow, I kinda thought he'd always wanted to.

I scoffed. "And then what? Use your underground connections to go catch Kira?"

"Exactly! He's a criminal anyway, and he won't expect the mafia to be investigating him!" he said. "He'll never see it coming!"

"Why don't you just try and work with Near to catch Kira?" I asked, even if I knew the chances of him agreeing was next to nothing.

"You know better than anybody that I can't work with Near." He said.

"But joining the mafia? That's even more ridiculous." I said warningly. "They'd kill you before they'll even let you join!"

"What do you know?!" he said. "You're basing all that shit on your videogames."

"Oh, and you know everything." I said sarcastically. "Listen, Mel. Being in the mafia isn't like the movies. Hell, I don't even think the games print a gruesome enough picture. I may not know much, but I am damn sure you're gonna have to kill or get killed. Are you really willing to go that far? You're gonna be a criminal!" I look him seriously in the eye.

"I'd do anything." He said unmoved. "Anything to beat Near and catch Kira."

"Whatever, man." I returned to my game. It's no use talking to Mello if he's already made up his mind.

Some of the kids ask me why I follow Mello around. Well, I don't. It's not like I'm his pet or anything. I'm not his servant. He can go join the fucking Mafia and get killed for all I care… at least, that's what I told myself. I'm not going to be a part of it.

Mello was gone after they held L's funeral.

Well… I got our room all to myself now.

::I hope I got them in character!

::Thanks for reading! Please review!