Wow, so it's been longer than forever since I've last updated and I'm so sorry for that, there's seriously no excuse since I've been on holiday for quite awhile now. Anyways, I got a job as an online writer so that sort of kicked start my engines again and yeah, I'm feeling pretty good for this story, I can already picture it in my head, so look forward to more updates.

~L~L~

That day

He shook under the sheets, cuddling himself tightly, every part of him shivering so badly it was starting to cramp. Tears began to streak down his pale cheeks as the bombarding sounds went off in every corner, oh how he wished he was deaf at that moment. He tried to call out to his mother but she wasn't there, he tried for his sister then, but still no one came to his room, lastly, perhaps his father would come sooth him but alas his wish was not fulfilled. Suddenly the eerie sounds of silence became clear, cautiously, he came out from underneath the sheets. He hadn't even noticed it was pitched dark in the room while he neatly tucked himself under his blanket that never fails to provide cover and protection. But now he was in the dark, he was alone and he was only five, so he began to whimper, sob and wailed helplessly to the chilly nothingness, hoping his family would hear him, if they were still alive that is.

Then light came down from above as the cellar door was opened, and the sound of heavy boots thudded down. Relieve and joy flooded him. "Father!" he cried out, running towards the stairs, eyes shining happily. A man came down the stairs, his hair a radiant gold, but a shadow cascaded down his face and body so he looked very much like a phantom, the young boy backed away slowly, a wrong move now could be costly, heck, any move now would be costly. His cheeks now dampened again, his breath coming out short and hitched, awaiting his hell.

Tiny socked feet shuffled until he was backed up against a wall, and with a burst of adrenaline, he rushed forward, towards the light and a hope of rescue, and shouted with all his might "Help!" An iron grip caught him and all his hopes were relinquished, but being five, he cried and threw a fit, trying to escape by all means. However, all proved to be in vain when he was carried down into the darkness again, in the arms of death and evil. So he cried some more as his white shirt was pulled over his head, tousling his curls, he can already feel the pain that anticipates him, it's like déjà vu somehow, a long forgotten nightmare that had came back to haunt him once more. He didn't want to relive it, he didn't want to remember but again it was forced upon him. He dared himself to peak an eye, so fear-stricken that all he did was be still and quiet, this was what he had done, and what's done cannot be undone, the past cannot be rewritten, and this will be the same nightmare every night, where he did nothing to save himself. Suddenly the man lift his face up, and for the first time he saw the man who had trespass him in countless ways, and he shrieked in realization.

"MELLO NO!"

A painful fist met with his cheek, he winced and fell to his knees, yelling as the sting slowly set in. Vision now blurred from the punch and tears, he held his cheek and look up with his good eye at the accused. Blue eyes were still angry and glaring daggers at him.

"Why did you take this?" a dangly chain of beads whipped into sight. The younger boy was confused, his dark orbs observed the necklace that he has never set eyes on before this. "Why did you take it? I found it in your room, so don't try to deny it," the blonde indicted.

"Mello," the smaller boy started softly, his voice somehow more lethargic and weaker than usual, "I'm sorry, I didn't…" and he stopped himself halfway, not sure if anything he said could convince the older boy of his verdict otherwise. But those blue eyes became gentle, remorse and guilt hitting him in pangs as he sees what he should've seen before.

It was a prank.

Someone must've thought it'd be funny to steal his rosary and put it in Near's room, and he fell right for it. Heck, he didn't even suspect it when Lee suggested to search in the albino's room. Why would emotionless and detached Near even do such a thing? A trap, and he fell for it, now he's a naked fool in centre stage and the people have every right to laugh, taunt and throw rotten fruits at him. And what is a fool to do when he is made known to be a fool? So he ran.

That day, the gentle-natured Mello turned into a delinquent, he had cause a great ruckus in the orphanage, he lost all control over himself and used violence against others. That day, Mello decided that being made a fool was the one thing he hated most in the world and he wouldn't tolerate it no matter what.

But Near sat where he fell, a bluish mark beginning to flourished on his cheek, all that happened to Mello that day unbeknown to him. Night came together with an exhausted and hurt-looking blonde, he was shaking, from anger, anxiety and other mixed up emotions. Black orbs were downcast and they stared at the same spot on the ground, it made the blonde gulp, for a moment there, the boy in front of him looked like a corpse.

"He-Here." The blue-eyed child stammered, in his grip dangled his precious rosary, his grandma's inheritance. Blankly, those dark eyes finally shifted, meeting those glimmering azure eyes, and to the charm in his hand. Near looked back at the blonde, his smile now touched his sapphire orbs.

"Take it," the blonde smiled, "This is my promise that I won't ever hurt you again."

The smaller boy fixed his gaze upon the chain, and how it swing idly to and fro. To and fro, to and fro, to and fro…

"Near," suddenly it was now a pocket watch in front of him, swinging. "Are you still here?" His focus was gone and those blue eyes he knew so well were behind a pair of specs.

~L~L~

Ok, I'm seriously excited over this story, I like how I had written it before, and the link and detachment in the plot, I hope it goes as I plan and give you guys a good surprise at the end. Expect the unexpected :) Anyways, REVIEW! I need them!