(Mello P.O.V)

I had been studying for what seemed like the entire day. A huge exam would be coming up soon and I was determined to get a higher mark than Near. I had to remember everything if I wanted the extra credit marks that he usually got. But there was one thing that was keeping me from focusing on my work.

Matt.

Not that his company wasn't appreciated, in fact he usually studied with me whenever I started to study. But today was not a good day for him to be distracting me.

Along with his usual – and terrible – jokes, he had begun asking stupid questions with no real answers, had been popping his gum, playing his games with the volume up too high, and – the most annoying of all – kicking my table with just enough force for me to feel the little thumps as I wrote. Honestly, this was a new height of annoying for him, because I was usually fine with dealing all of this. It just wasn't my day.

"Hey Mels?"

I swear I had begun to feel my eye twitch. "What?" I asked in annoyance.

He didn't seem to catch it. "Who do you think was the first guy to clap?"

I looked up from my textbook. "What? Why are you asking that?"

"Well, think about it. Did someone just start hitting their hands together and think, 'Wow, this is really encouraging! I'm gonna tell all my friends about this!'? Or was it by accident? Or maybe cavemen…"

"Matt, I don't care. Please, just let me study."

He let out a groan. "You're always studying, Mel. Why can't you take a break?"

"I took a break two hours ago."

"That wasn't a break, you had to use the bathroom. And you had been holding it in for like an hour beforehand. Come on, let's go outside or something!"

I grabbed my textbook and stood up. We were currently in the library, but even that didn't stop the red-head from being annoyingly loud. "Like I told you before, I have an exam coming up. I can't waste my time right now."

"Oh come off it! 'All work and no play', ever heard of the saying?"

I rolled my eyes and began to leave. But of course, Matt followed.

"Mel, you're like the smartest kid at Wammy's. So why do you always have to study?"

I spun around and glared at him. "Because I'm not the smartest kid at Wammy's, and I want more than anything to pass Near and become L's successor! Why can't you understand that?!"

"I understand that, but every time you have a test or exam come up you completely lose it! It's like you won't be happy until you're first!"

We had begun attracting attention at this point, but I didn't really care. If anybody wanted to look, let 'em.

"I won't be happy until then, Matt! Near's ahead of me and I can't take being second to that freak!"

"Earth to Mello! I'm third in line here, and you don't see me complaining!"

"That was your own choice! Besides, you wouldn't be chosen to be L's successor."

Matt scoffed. "Excuse me?!"

I guess I went a little too far with that one… but my anger wouldn't let it stop there.

"You aren't like L. Not in a long shot. Every time you'd get a case, you'd put it off until either your game was finished, or until you felt like it. You're nothing more than lazy, and it was sheer luck that got you to be third in the first place!"

At this point Matt grabbed my textbook and held it away. It was the first time he had shown any anger towards me.

"Take a good look at yourself, Mello! You're not exactly L material yourself! The only reason L took any interest in you is because you answered one of his stupid questions! Face it! You're second to Near! He'll always be smarter than you!"

I clenched my teeth. "Take that back."

"Why? What'cha gonna do? Beat me up? That seems to be a favourite tactic of yours. Very 'L-like' if you ask me."

I made a grab for my textbook, but he pulled away. "I'm serious, Matt!"

"Really? I thought your name was Mello?"

I couldn't take it anymore. I pushed Matt with all my might, but I hadn't realized how much force I put into it.

He fell back into one of the book shelves and it came crashing down onto the next shelf, then the next shelf… then the next. It was like a domino effect what had happened, and almost every book was scattered on the floor. The only one to get hurt by what I had done… was Matt. And that's what made me snap out of my anger driven state.

He hadn't been hurt badly… but he was hurt. A few teachers had to help him to his feet, but once he caught sight of me, he froze. The look on his face was the same one my brother had given me when I had beaten him up before running away.

And it made me instantly hate myself.

I bolted for the door and ran as fast as I could toward the foyer of the Wammy house. I had to dodge a few people as I ran, but I made it without much trouble. From there, I ran out the front doors and out the gates. I ran and ran until I couldn't feel my legs anymore. My eyes were watering with tears at the realization at what I had done. And the memory of what L had said to me.

'And what if you hurt Matt?'

My tears kept flooding my vision. He knew it would happen… but still…

'Never! I would never hurt him! He's my best friend!'

That conversation happened so long ago. But it was all true. My anger had gotten him hurt. I had hurt my best friend.

I had ran all the way to London, which meant I had been running for close to half an hour, and was now hiding in an ally-way, crying at what I had done. I knew for a fact that Matt wouldn't want to be my friend after this, but the thought hurt me more than anything else. Especially when I'd seen his face. Hurt, betrayed, scared. All of this… it just didn't fit him. Matt shouldn't have been hurt.

It was night now, and the darkness scared me a little. I was happy to have my jacket with me since it was cold out. But more than anything, I wanted Matt with me. I wanted to rewind time and make it so I never hurt him. I wanted to hug him and tell him I was sorry for everything I said. But I wouldn't get that chance. Not at the moment. At that moment… I had to live with the thought that my best friend may not ever want to see me again.

Strangely enough… that thought almost came true.

I was beginning to debate on going home or running farther away, when a few strange men had stepped around the corner. They were raggedy looking, and obviously drunk. They looked more than five times my age, but that may have been due to the alcohol. It was now that I should've run from them.

One of them noticed me. "Hey, look boys. Little girl's lost herself 'ere in London. Maybe we should help her out." He nudged the one next to him.

Being ten at the time I had had no idea what he was talking about. I only thought that he was drunk and stupid.

Two of the men blocked off my exit to the main street on my right, while the one that had first spoke got on my left. When I began to realize the danger I was in, I tried to make a run for it but one of the men had caught me and slammed me against the wall. It hurt my head like crazy, but I was more worried about the hand around my throat than the throbbing in my brain.

"Let me go, you dirty fucks!"

"Oi, I think it's a bloke!" Said one of the men on my right.

The other one laughed. "Pretty little boy this one is."

I kicked one of them in the face, and the first one laughed at him. "Feisty too!"

"Fuck off!" I yelled, but the hand tightened around my throat.

"Look kid, we don't care where it comes from. Just that we get what we want."

All I could think of was what he was talking about. It wasn't anything I had heard from anyone before. Had I known then what I know now, I would've struggled, kicked and screamed until I was dead from exhaustion. Even then, I still struggled with all my might.

"Hold him down. Something tells me this won't be as easy as first planned."

"Let's just go, Ronald. He's just a kid."

"Fuck that!" Said the man holding my throat. "Like I said, I don't care where it's from or who it's with! Now shut up, and hold him down!"

The two other men looked at each other before forcefully holding my arms to the wall as the third let go of my throat. At this point, my heart had dropped to my stomach. I wished now more than ever that I was dreaming and that I would wake up soon. Preferably beside Matt. My anchor. The one that made all the nightmares go away.

Only… I wasn't going to wake up. This nightmare was all too real.

(Matt P.O.V)

My heart was beating rapidly at this point. Mello had been missing for over three hours now. I had tried to chase after him but he was too quick and I lost sight of him. It was all my fault.

I pushed him and pushed him, and now he was gone. I didn't even blame him for knocking me into the shelves. I mean, it took me by surprise, yes. But I knew Mello didn't mean it. It's why he ran away. Any other kid would have been pulverized by now, but I knew he would never intentionally hurt me.

I sat in Roger's office as he called the police. Though the man was not a kid person, he obviously cared for our well-being.

I had just recounted everything to him for a fourth time, but it still held no clue as to where Mello was. At first he had called for the blonde over the intercom, but with no response. We looked around the orphanage, but no luck. No one had seen him. There was one lead that said he'd ran outside, and that helped us to further find out where he was.

Roger hung up the phone. "They're patrolling the city to find him, so we have hope. I've already contacted L and he'll be here soon. Thankfully he returned to England just this afternoon."

As if on cue, the detective himself along with Watari burst through the door. Before any questions were asked, I ran to hug him for comfort. Out of everyone, I was the most worried for him.

L kept me in the hug. "What's going on? Watari told me Mello was…"

"Missing. Yes, well… an accident ensued within the library, of Mello's own work, and he ran off. He's been missing for over three hours. There's been no sign of him whatsoever."

"It's all my fault." I sobbed into L's shirt.

L looked at me. "What do you mean?"

"I caused Mello to get angry… he's gone because of me."

"What did you do to cause him to get angry?" He asked calmly.

I sniffed a bit. "I said he was nothing more than second to Near. He got angry and pushed me into the shelves. It's my fault."

L hugged me a bit tighter. "No, it isn't Matt. Mello ran off because he didn't want to hurt you further. If anything, this was all his decision. You won't be held responsible."

I shook my head. "You're wrong. It is my fault. If anything happens to him…"

The phone suddenly rang and was quickly answered by Roger. After a few words, the man looked at us. "They've found him!"

A held breath rang out through the room. But right when we thought this was all over…

"What's that? He's… …what? ... … Mello's been… …And he told you this? … … Evidence then? … … But how is he? … …"

"L? What's going on?" I asked him quietly. "What are they talking about?"

No answer. L looked just as puzzled as I was.

"Alright then… I'll tell them." He hung up the phone.

When Roger looked at the three of us, there was a look in his eyes I had never seen. It was like shock mixed with sadness.

"Roger?" L persisted. "What is it?"

He looked at me. "This isn't something that should be said in front of Matt. He's too young for this."

L suddenly looked at me and calmly asked me to wait outside. After fighting him for a bit, I finally agreed and left the room. I think I waited for a good twenty minutes outside the door before L stepped out with Watari. L looked as if he'd seen a ghost or something. He was much paler than before and he looked as if he were on the brink of tears. Watari was no different.

When I jumped from my seat to ask questions, L stopped me. He merely put a hand on my shoulder and said, "We're going to pick up Mello right now. I need you to come with us."

"Why do you need me to go?"

L pulled me into a side-hug. "Believe me when I say this. Mello needs his friend now more than ever."

Those words scared me. There was something behind them I didn't like.

I pulled away. "What happened to him?"

A/N: I promise that this will be the last thing to ever REALLY happen to Mello. But honestly, from what I've seen in both the Manga and Anime, this guy has a chip on his shoulder larger than his ego. But I promise that Mello will get his revenge... for everything. (Like I wouldn't give him that option)

Also, I'm wondering if I should stop this story after Roger gives the news about L when they're older and begin a new one when they start targeting Kira. Sort of like a two part story. Opinions on this would be great. :)