A/N: Yay! I managed two chapters today! Maybe there will be more... I'm kinda in the mood to write!
As always, enjoy!
(Near P.O.V)
Poor Mello. The torture he was willing to go through to prove himself to L. Of course, the detective never said anything at first about having to dress as a teenaged girl, but instead just asked the blonde if he wanted to help him on an undercover mission. And, of course, he agreed almost immediately. When he found out he'd be playing the role of a female, he instantly lost it. However, L was able to convince him that he was perfect for the job and would reward the blonde with whatever he liked. It would cost an arm and a leg – almost literally – but the offer helped Mello to agree.
We got on a plane a few days later and now we were in L.A. Living in a beachside house near a high school for the next week or so.
Matt and I were excited to be helping – Matt with wardrobe and keeping Mello from killing anyone, and me helping Light with surveillance – but it didn't help us that we'd have to be seeing Mello dressed as a girl for almost twenty-four seven. Matt had laughed so hard when he'd found out Mello was going to be a girl for this mission that he almost choked. I was quite humoured with the thought myself, but decided not to say anything. I don't know that any of us were willing to dress up as females for a mission, and I almost respect Mello for staying on the case even if he knew this fact. It took real guts for someone like him to become something he wasn't.
As Light set up the equipment with L, Matt and I tried to comfort Mello.
"Come on, Mels." Matt tried. "It'll be fine. And if anyone tries to grope you, you can kick their ass!"
Mello didn't even have the heart to punch him. He just sat there, head on his knees and arms flopped to the side. The poor guy was depressed, angry, sad, and vengeful all at once. All because L had tricked him into helping him by becoming a female.
I put a hand on his back. "You'll do great, Mello. I have faith in you. Plus, Matt's not totally wrong about you being able to knock them down a few pegs. You have a pretty good right hook if someone gets out of line, or you need to escape."
The blonde sighed. "Could one of you get me some chocolate? I'm feeling really depressed right now."
"Shouldn't you watch your waistline?" Matt joked. "Most girls want a nice figure when they're your age."
Still the blonde sulked. "Please, Near?"
I grinned a bit. "Sure."
I got up from my seat and ran to his bag, which was left by the stairs, and grabbed a chocolate bar from his side pouch. I then ran back to his side and handed it to him.
"Thank you." He mumbled sadly, slowly unwrapping it and taking a bite.
I then sighed. I knew full well that Mello didn't want to do this simply for the fact that he would be a girl most of the time. Ever since he was young people would mistake him for a girl because of his rather feminine form and long blonde locks. If it wasn't for the deep voice, the baggy clothes, and the anger issues, I could see him getting more than a few looks his way. All in all he wasn't a bad looking guy, or girl if you mistook him for one, but he lacked the confidence that showed how good-looking he could truly be. If he stopped looking at the ground, straightened his spine a bit, and strut instead of shuffle, he could be the most beautiful man – err… boy… girl… whatever – to be seen. However, with the past he's had, there wasn't much confidence left in him.
Mello sighed, lifting his head a bit. "So, when do I begin my transformation, L?"
"When an old friend of mine gets here." Light answered for him. "Her and some other friends are gonna help you out a bit."
L nodded. "In fact, one of them helped Light and I get together as a couple. Of course I offered to pay them handsomely for helping us out again. They're more than delighted to help."
The blonde groaned, lowering his head again. "Why does god hate me?"
I lay my head on his shoulder. "I wish I could answer that, Mello."
Just as Matt put his arm around Mello to comfort him, there came a knock at the door. Light moved to open it, but L intercepted. "You've done enough for today, Light. I want you to rest for a while now. I don't like the thought of you overdoing it so soon after your surgery."
"My surgery was last month, Ryuzaki. I'm fine, and I can handle myself."
L still wouldn't allow it and answered the door instead of Light. Not a second passed by before we heard squealing and L getting jumped on by a young looking blonde, dressed in lacy gothic clothing.
"RYUZAKI!" She squealed hugging his neck tightly. "Or should I call you L?!" She asked non-formally. "Honestly, how could you keep that secret from us for so long!?"
L groaned. "Misa, I ask that you continue to call me Ryuzaki for my own sake. The world can't know who L really is."
Light started chuckling as he sat on the couch. "Shouldn't have told her, you know."
L pried the girl who he'd called Misa off of him. "Like anyone would believe her anyways."
"He's right," came another female voice from the doorway. This one had darker, shorter hair than Misa. "She may be trustworthy, but even if she wasn't who would believe a bubbly, air-head, model?"
"Watch it, Takeda!" The bubbly blonde warned. "Kitty can scratch here too."
The two women entered the house fully, leaving one more at the door for L.
This one was cool and calm, wearing a beanie with her long brown hair flowing out the sides, a red tank-top, capris, and male-like shoes. She looked like a dancer from those commercials you found on television on how to train your body. She stood tall and confident, and her sly yet smug smile gave one the impression that she could hold her own.
She chuckled. "You see what I had to deal with on the plane-ride here?"
L chuckled back, closing the door. "I apologize for having tortured you so."
She waved him off. "No worries. Anything for an old friend or two."
I looked over to Light again and saw him receiving hugs from the two other females. I suppose they really were all friends.
L then introduced us to them.
"M' ladies, these three boys are Near, Matt, and Mello."
Matt and I both said hello, but Mello only raised his head to look at them.
The blonde girl in front of us squealed a bit. "Light! They are so adorable! I can't believe you have such cute babies!"
Mello growled, but Matt spoke before him. "Babies? Madam, we are teenaged boys. And we…"
As if on cue Mello just had to sneeze a few times. It was probably due to Misa's perfume that we instantly whiffed at the moment she entered the room.
The blonde gushed. "What an adorable sneeze! You sound like a kitten!"
Mello flopped onto his back then. "I give up."
L smiled at the blonde boy. "My poor Mello. I promise this will all be over soon."
"Lying prick." The blonde beside me snarled.
"Mello!" Light warned, causing him to flinch.
L then continued. "Boys, these three are Misa Amane, Kiyomi Takada, and Light's childhood friend Teri Manu."
"Just 'Teri' is fine." The beanie woman said, turning to L. "You know how much I hate my last name."
"Too bad, it's out there." L grinned out shuffling his way to Light's side.
Light only smiled as he accepted L to lay on his lap.
"I'm happy to see you're all doing well. It's been a while since I've seen all of you."
Teri walked up to Light. "Oh yeah, thanks for calling us too. Nice to know you've been thinking about us." She said almost half sarcastically.
Light shrugged. "Sorry, I have a family to take care of, and I don't go online much."
Teri smiled back. "Well, we're happy to see you and L make it so far into your relationship."
"But now that we're here," Takada reminded them, "shouldn't we get to work? I believe you asked us to transform someone into a proper lady. So where is she?"
Light looked over to Mello. "If you would kindly stand up, son."
Mello groaned unhappily and stood up to face his maker.
Misa took a breath. "We're transforming you!? Oh my god, this is perfect!"
Mello cocked an eyebrow. "Care to explain why?"
She quickly skipped her way to his side and assessed his face. "Well, we can transform a girl into a lady without issue. But if we're making a young man like you into a girl, then we have our work cut out for us. Of course, I'll be doing hair, makeup, and wardrobe. Takada will help you with mannerisms and such, and Teri will help you with anything we miss."
Mello grumbled. "Oh joy." He said sarcastically. "Being poked and prodded by females is one of my life's dreams."
Light chuckled. "Mello, try to be nice. They're good friends of ours and they can help you."
Teri chuckled as well. "I believe I'll be more help here than I thought. Just like when I helped you two get together."
"Once again," L said politely, "thank you for helping Light realize he needed me so."
Light only rolled his eyes, then looked at the women. "Do you think you can help with Mello?"
Misa giggled happily. "Of course! It's early yet, so could we start right away?!"
"The sooner the better." L approved.
I looked towards Mello then, who was sulking.
The blonde mumbled a bit before replying with, "Alright, let's get this over with."
"Good man… erm… woman!" Matt hurrahed, causing Mello to glare at him.
I grinned as the women led him away into another room with their bags of supplies. When he came out, I doubt any of us would recognize him.