Chap 29

As they walked slowly down the now deserted halls, Kota went over numerous scenarios if the nurses should ask what happened to them (which they more than likely would). Matt said they hadn't asked Mello anything, probably to worried with fixing him up. He said the blond boy looked like hell. She'd already guessed that much, from the way Travis was beating him. "Damn… this really kills," she mumbled, wincing at the sudden ache she got from her ribs.

"What?"

Kota stopped. "When I knocked Travis off Mello, he elbowed me really hard. It hurts like a bitch."

"Is that why you were on the ground?"

"Yeah."

Matt thought for a moment. "Lemme see."

"What?! No!"

"Why not? It's just your ribs. I wanna see how bad it is."

"Nuh uh!"

He gave her a stubborn look, then thought of something to counter with. "I bet you'd let Mello see."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Oh, you know exactly what it means."

"Don't make me have to kick your ass with a broken rib gamefreak."

"Psh. Like you could."

She almost growled at him.

"C'mon. Just let me see."

"Why?"

"I already told you. I wanna see how bad it is. If it's not that serious, then maybe you don't have to go to the infirmary, and then the nurses won't ask you anything. Since you just got out of detention and are technically skipping right now, it wouldn't go over too well if L heard about this, would it?"

Damn. That actually makes sense. Plus he said that shit about Mello. Kota frowned. He's got me. She sighed, and lifted up her shirt just above the place she'd been hit, which was about the second rib up. The spot was darkening already, about two inches in width, maybe half that in height. It was reddish in the middle where the skin had been scraped. Sure did look painful.

Matt squinted. "I dunno, man. Does it still hurt?"

"Of course! Not as bad as it did, but still."

"Hmm… Would you let me do something?"

She narrowed her eyes. "What?"

"Let me see if it's broken or not."

"Ha! What the hell do you know about medical crap?!"

He looked surprised. "Well, I can tell if it's broken or not! It's not that hard."

"Bull."

"Just let me try then."

Eh. Why not. I can always 'accidentally' kick him in the nuts if I suspect foul play. "Fine. Go for it."

Matt took a few steps towards her and placed his hand on the side of her ribcage. Kota flinched slightly. His hand was cold. He ran his fingertips slowly over the bruising area.

"Ow! Son of a bitch! The fuck you do that for?! You know it hurts!" she shouted, backing away.

"Well duh! But it's the only way I can tell! Quit being a baby!"

"Tch." She stood still again. He replaced his hand and did the procedure over. Kota winced once more and gritted her teeth, but didn't pull away. Matt increased the pressure. The spot seemed to scream at her, "Kick him in the nuts! Do it now!" It was near impossible to restrain herself from at least backing up again. Suddenly, the pressure stopped, and Matt took his hand away.

"I'm pretty sure it's not broken. Don't really think you need to go to the nurses. I mean, when I saw you were still on the ground, I thought you were seriously hurt, but I guess it was just Ivy being Ivy. Weird." He smiled a little.

"Why are you still calling me that?"

"Huh?"

Oh right. I didn't tell him yet. "Don't call me Ivy anymore. My name's Kota from now on."

"What? That makes no sense! You can't just change your name to whatever you want."

"Well, I'm sure Mello isn't your lil' buddies real name. And Near either, for that matter. Besides, Kota is a part of my real name. Ivy is a fake."

"Fake?"

"Yeah."

"Why'd you give us a fake name?"

She didn't answer.

Matt raised an eyebrow. "Are you a runaway or something?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Because I wanted to you stupid hoe. Now stop asking me questions."

"Don't call me a hoe!"

"Too late for that. Already did." Kota felt a grin start to spread.

"Hmph. Whatever. You'd better go back to your room and be quiet until the last class ends. Then go see Mello, okay?"

"Are you telling me what to do?"

"I'm suggesting the smartest thing."

She rolled her eyes as he began to walk away. "Hey… wait a minute! Who said I even wanted to see Mello?!" the girl called after Matt.

"Oh please. Don't even fake like that," he said back, rounding a corner.

Eh. I guess he's got me there. She shrugged to herself and stuffed her hands into the hoodies pockets as she walked towards the girls rooms. When Kota found hers, she instantly plopped down on the bed. "God. I had no idea how tired I am." She closed her eyes, and soon fell asleep.

-------------------

When she opened her eyes again, they met the coal black one's of Near. He was standing over her, beside the bed. Someone had shaken her awake. Must've been him. Rolling over, Kota shooed the boy away. "Five more minutes damnit…"

Near persisted. "Kota, Matt's looking for you. And it's almost time for dinner anyways."

"Matt?" then, everything rushed back to her. She tried to get up quickly, stumbling over her own feet and falling instead. "Ow mutherfucker!" she cursed, the bruise once again causing her pain.

The white haired boy gave her a confused look. "What's wrong with you? It was just a fall."

"Gah! Nevermind!" She scrambled to stand, and promptly took off for the door, Near starting to trail behind.

Passing the dining hall, which already had some children gathering outside of it, Kota spotted Shana and her usual group hanging around the double doors, ready to snatch their table like always. The brunette girl also caught sight of her, and shot a glare. Kota returned the favor as she walked, Near now beside her.

"Where have you been?! Are you that hell bent on defying everything anyone tells you?!" a voice directed at her called from somewhere in the mass. Matt made his way through the crowd with a pissed off look on his normally cute features. He stopped in front of Kota and Near. "Well? What do you have to say?!"

"Uh… I fell asleep?" she smiled sheepishly.

"Fell asleep? That's your excuse?! You were supposed to go see Mello after the last class today ended, Ivy!"

"It's Kota!"

"Whatever! C'mon!" he said, taking her by the wrist and pulling her after him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shana make one of the most Kodak faces she'd ever seen. Gah, I wish I got that on camera.

When they got to the infirmary, Mello's bed was empty. "Now where the fuck did he go?!" Matt exclaimed, letting go of Kota and looking around.

"What's going on? Why was Mello in here in the first place?" Near spoke up, tired of trailing in confusion.

Matt turned back to them. "He got in a fight and got messed up pretty bad. I left him here a couple hours ago. He's gone now!"

Near rolled his eyes. "As expected."

"Maybe he went back to his room?" Kota suggested, seeing the even angrier look the gamer had suddenly gained. "Matt, it's not really a big deal, okay? I mean, he should be okay if he left on his own."

The boy looked at her. She was actually worried at his mood. He sighed. "Alright, let's go see."

Kota and Near followed after him as the left the deserted infirmary.

Suddenly, the bells began to chime for dinner. The three were soon swallowed by the mass of kids pouring from various rooms to rush to the dining hall. They decided to go too. Skipping the best meal of the day definitely wasn't in their minds, even if Mello was technically missing at the moment.

After they had finished eating, Matt had once again set out for his and Mello's room, with Kota and Near trailing behind. When they finally made it to the door, it was open, as Matt had left it, but Mello wasn't inside.

The maroon haired boy was baffled. "Where the hell is he?"

The few hours left until bedtime were spent looking for the blond, scurrying all over the orphanage, checking all the possible places he could be.

"Don't tell me he's picked up on your habit of running away?" Matt said to Kota as they searched the library.

She faked a laugh and continued to look.

The next chimes of the bells caught them off guard.

"Looks like we're forced to end the 'search'. Damn. He's actually making me think he did run away now." Matt looked downcast he left for his room, hand going through his hair.

Near simply 'hmped' and left, saying goodbye to Kota of course before doing so.

She went on her way as well. Stopping abruptly at her door, she saw it was open. Just a crack, but still. "No way, there's no way he could be…" but the feeling was creeping over her like spiders. Slowly, she opened the door.

Mello was sitting on her bed, flipping through an old sketch book. He looked up.

Kota grimaced. He did look like hell. But his face wasn't completely drained of it's original attractiveness she'd seen her first day at Wammy's House. Wait…did he go through my stuff?! What the fuck?! She was dumbfounded as she closed the door. "Uh…Mello?... What'cha doin' in my room?" Kota took a couple steps closer to the blond boy. "And, why are you going through my things?"

He shut the book and layed aside. "Why were you outside with that guy?"

Kota suddenly lost all interest. "Get out. Now."

"No."

She was now only maybe a yard away, staring at him with anger rising in her eyes.

Mello didn't move.

"I said get out!"

"I said no."

"Why does it even matter? Goddamn! We were just skipping!"

Mello blinked and looked down. He almost seemed sad.

Kota bit her lip. She didn't know what to do. Cautiously, she sat down beside him. "You know, you shouldn't even care. I thought you were 'done with me'."

"I am. I don't even know why I'm here."

"Psh. Whatever." Kota looked over at him. "Why were you going through my stuff?"

"I was bored, waiting for you to get here."

"So you rifle through my shit?"

"Yeah. Basically."

"Wonderful."

Silence set in. Kota fidgeted.

"Well, if that's all you're here to ask, then leave. I wanna go to sleep, damnit."

Mello didn't get up.

The girl made an annoyed face. She decided to try a different technique. "You got yer ass kicked pretty good there buddy."

He nodded solemnly.

That really freaked her out. Mello? Admitting defeat?! No way! She pushed him. "Alright, stop it. You're not acting like you."

"Why should you care? If you know I'm finished with you."

"Because I never said I was finished with you."

Mello blinked and gazed at her. "You make no sense."

"No shit."

He kind of laughed. "I guess it doesn't matter how much I ignore you, does it? If you still insist on being my 'friend'."

"Nope."

"Then I might as well give in now."

"Huh? You mean, yer not gonna be a total ass to me now?!"

"Don't push it."

"Yay!" Kota almost jumped at him with a hug.

He made a sick face, but it soon faded when he realized she wasn't going to let go anytime soon.