A/N: The eighth chapter is finally up. Umm... not much to say, just read. I also have other characters coming and I will post up stories of them too, so read if you want.

Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note or its characters, Jasmine is mine though. L thinks otherwise.

Near and L's Gift

"Now, why did your father call you that?" L asked. This little comment made him uneasy.

"He said that was what I am. That I was born that way," Jasmine replied. She had such an innocent look on her face that L had to wonder.

"Do you miss your father?" L asked quietly. He wasn't really surprised when she quickly replied no.

L suddenly remembered her talking in her sleep last night, so he wondered if it would make her uneasy to talk about what she dreamt.

"Jasmine, do you remember what you were dreaming about last night?" L called. Jasmine looked at him for a second, then looked away.

"I would really not want to talk about it." She said.

"I understand."

L could suddenly hear Jasmine's stomach growling. She looked alarmed for a second, then she looked to the ground blushing.

"Would you like to go get breakfast?" L asked, laughing. Jasmine looked at him then nodded her head.

Jasmine jumped off her bed and followed L down to the cafeteria. There were only a few other kids in there, one Jasmine noticed right away. It was B. Today he was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt.

He was just sitting down, picking at his food, until he noticed her walk through the door. He looked up and smiled at her, but it was not the same smile as yesterday. Now it was more of a shy smile, as he walked up to her.

She instantly shied away as he came closer, but he stopped when he saw what she did. He smile went away as he looked down. That almost made him look sad and hurt.

"I'm sorry for scaring you yesterday. I hope I can make it up to you," he said as he smiled weakly at her. "I saved you a spot next to me, but if you don't want to sit there that's okay, too."

Jasmine looked at L, then she looked at B, then back at L.

"Can I?" she asked him. L didn't look too happy at first, then he replied, "if you really want to." Jasmine walked to the spot where B pointed to, and sat down. "I heard that you really like strawberries, so I got you a big bowl of them." B said with a grin.

"Thank you, B" Jasmine said. B suddenly wrapped her in a big hug as he said excitedly, "Yay, you are finally talking. And to me, too." L glared at B. B just stuck his tongue out at him.

When B finally released Jasmine, she started to eat the strawberries in silence. "B, can I speak to you privately?" L asked angrily. Jasmine stared at him for the anger tone in his voice, but he wasn't looking at her. He kept on glaring at B.

"L, you know it's improper to leave a young lady to eat alone, but if you insist." B said, as though he were a young gentleman. L grabbed the sleeve of B's shirt, and pulled him out the door. Jasmine watched them for a few minutes, then she started eating again.

She looked up and noticed that there was a small, white haired boy with a tray of food, standing alone. He was probably four or five years old. He looked lost and scared. Jasmine got up and walked to him.

"Hey, you can come sit with me if you want to," she told him. He looked at her, studying her face. He started to look more relaxed as he said, "okay." He quietly followed her to her spot and sat down.

She looked for his name and saw that it said Nate River. "What's your name?" she asked. She wanted to know if the one she saw was right.

"My name's Nate River, but they said I should call myself Near." He answered, still staring at her. "What's your name?"

"Jasmine Ceracuz." Jasmine said. She remembered what her mom called her. "But you can call me Koneko-chan."

Jasmine heard a loud clatter outside the door where L and B had exited. She got up to see what the matter was and Near instantly got up and followed her.

When she opened the door it opened a little bit then something big slammed against it, shutting it on her hand. Jasmine let out a shriek of pain. Near jumped back at the loud sound she made. Jasmine looked down at her hand and noticed there was a deep cut and it was starting to bleed. A lot.

The door opened again and she noticed that B was sitting on the ground and L was standing over him. B had a bruise on his face and L had a black eye. They both looked at the cut on her hand and at the same time said, "I'll take you to the infirmary."

They both glared at each other. Jasmine was surprised at all the hate that she saw those two give each other. B not so much as L. It was almost the same amount of hate her father had given her when her mother died.

"It's alright, I'll go by myself," Jasmine said.

"Can I come with you, Koneko-chan?" Near asked quietly. Jasmine looked at him and said, "Okay, you can come too." She and Near quietly walked down the hall.

*

"So, can you tell me what happened?" Watari asked. He was the one who saw Jasmine almost pass out from the blood loss on her way to the infirmary.

"L and B were fighting, and I wanted to see what was going on, so I went to go find out. When I opened the door, B, I think, was slammed against it and it shut on my hand." Jasmine told him. The cut wasn't deep enough for stitches, but it would take awhile to heal.

Watari nodded. He felt ashamed that L would even be in a fight, especially with B.

"Do you know why they were fighting?"

"No." At least she was telling the truth.

There was a knock on the door, and L walked in. He was holding something in a bag. He looked at Jasmine and said, "I am really sorry what happened to you. I hope this will make up for it."

He pulled the bag open and brought out a small black stuffed cat. Jasmine smiled at the generous gift, and gratefully took it.

"Thanks, L. I love it." She smiled as she held the animal close.

So please review. Sorry for the sucky chapter ending. Gomen. :3