(Mello P.O.V)

I sat there in the hallway. Sulking. Mentally trying to suffocate the red-head. God how I hated this.

Though I'm sure most of you out there know I keep myself as kept together as possible, when I was ten years old the very idea of 'clean' and 'well groomed' made me ill. I realized that if my hair remained untidy and mussed up, my femininity dropped by twenty percent. I looked more like a rugged boy than a cute little girl. If my clothes were wrinkled, and my hair mussed up, I was a boy.

That all died when Near and Matt tied me to that damnable chair.

The comb hurt like crazy trying to get all the knots out, not to mention the burning hot washcloth that smelled like lavender when it hit my face. Seriously, I never understood why women and girls like to smell like a flower. If I met a female that smelled like pizza I'd be okay with that. But no, they all have to smell like a god damn flower. Even more, their men had to smell like flowers. It was disgusting, utterly humiliating.

Still… if it meant the truth.

Matt had been peaking around the corner to wait for Stephanie and Linda to enter the play room with Near, who had invited them to play. When they had finally shown, he grabbed my arm and picked me up from the floor. Seriously, how was he stronger than me?!

"Showtime!" He said excitedly.

I glared. "I hate you."

"Don't worry, Near and I will be right beside you the entire time. Just pull out that old 'Mello charm'."

I continued to glare. "I hate you."

Matt huffed. "No you don't. Now come on!"

He dragged me into the play room, me continuing to try and mentally strangle him.

It didn't take long for Stephanie to notice us, and when she did I was instantly bombarded by the girl with hugs and kisses. She got dangerously close to my lips, and when I tried to push her away, she just tried harder to kiss me.

This girl was seven, by the way. Seven, and already wanted me to kiss her.

There are no words for my annoyance to this.

I groaned when she wouldn't let me go, but Matt instantly cleared his throat to get me to focus.

I mentally sighed. "Hey Steph, how are you?"

She squealed happily, causing me to go partially deaf. "Mello! I've missed you so much! How do you think I am!? Being here with my future husband."

Yes… that's exactly what she said.

I had to focus on keeping the vomit from rising. I was ten, male, and not very interested in girls at this point. Hell, I hadn't even had a first crush yet! How could she already know who she wanted to marry? God knows she was crazy.

Okay, maybe this was all my fault.

You see, when Stephanie first arrived at the orphanage, her story was that her parents had died in a plane crash and she had no family to go to. She ended up at the Wammy house, but didn't stop crying for days. She locked herself in her room that she shared with Linda and just didn't care anymore. Linda had convinced her to leave to room and go play with her, but she ended up just sitting in the rec-room, sniffling.

I found her sitting there, me being eight years old at the time and her being five, and I offered her some of my chocolate. I told her it would help with the pain, and it did… for the most part. I told her that Wammy's was a great place for kids like us and to just give it time, and if any kid picked on her that she should talk to me. Like I've said before… I really dislike bullies.

I guess she took it the wrong way though, because she instantly took a shine to me and… well… the rest is history.

I sighed, putting a hand on Stephanie's back. "Good to hear you're doing alright."

She nuzzled into my chest, sniffing. "Did you wash up? For me!?" She squealed again. "You smell like lavender! I love Lavender!"

'Of course you do.' I thought bitterly.

I looked at the two cheeky bastards smiling at me. Near looked as if he'd seen his wildest dream come true, and Matt… well he was just an ass. I'd have to find some way to get back at them for this.

She finally let go of my waist and grabbed my hand. "Come on! Near invited us to play dominoes! You should join!"

Time to turn on said charm Matt was talking about.

"Actually," I said as I pulled her closer to me, changing my voice to be more inviting. "I was wondering if you'd wanna spend some quality time with me. You know… alone."

The look on her face was golden. It was as if she'd had her dream come true. "Really?"

I gave her my most inviting grins. I didn't have to say anything. She merely grabbed my arm slowly, resting her head alongside. "Okay."

'Wow, this was pathetically easy.' I had thought as I lead her away toward the door to the school grounds. I did look back to make sure that Matt and Near would do as planned.

They both gave a thumbs up as I walked out the door, a delighted seven year old girl right beside me. Again, I'd have to find a way to get back at the two for this one.

I lead her out of the school and into the courtyard where a garden grew. I knew she loved this garden, so what better place to get her to speak her mind. Of course, it was only a theory that it was her that planned the kidnapping, but she was the closest lead we had. Besides, she may know more than we first thought.

She dragged me to the garden swing where she forced me to sit down so she could cuddle me. I had to play along and 'like' it too, or else this would all be for nothing. Well, there was a fifty/fifty chance it was already for nothing. But I remained optimistic.

She sighed. "Mello, you have no idea how much I've wanted this. To spend time with you."

I rolled my eyes absently. "Have you now?" I tried to sound interested.

"Mmhm! I've admired you ever since we met! That's why I tried to catch up to you, to pass Matt. I guess he was smarter though. But that didn't matter! I still came in fourth! Not bad, all things considered. But I guess you like your girls just a bit smarter. I mean, I'm pretty, and cute, but what's that without brains…"

I shrugged and nodded absently. At this point, I had just started ignoring her. I swear, she never stopped talking, and in that shrill, girly voice! God, it was the most annoying sound I'd ever heard. Like nails on a chalkboard for me. But I had to endure.

What she said next though, made me only confirm her insanity.

"… and of course, trying to get rid of Near was a bust. Stupid Ross!"

I froze. What the hell…?

"Get rid of Near? What do you mean?"

She looked up at me, a smile playing at her lips. "Keep it a secret?"

I crossed my fingers out of her sights. "Of course."

She sat up. "I told some tall looking guy I met in London named Ross to kidnap Near, so you can become top student here at Wammy's. I told him about where he slept and played, and even why he should kidnap him. I told him L wanted him as his heir and that he was worth a lot of money."

"And… he believed you?"

"Yup! I even showed him where to find Near! He told me he would have some men take him away for ransom. I said I'd tell L about his disappearance, and he'd have his money before the end of the week."

I paused. "But, you wouldn't tell L about it. Would you?"

She shook her head. "Nope. Near would be gone, you would be top of the class, and I'd be your favourite girl in the school for getting rid of your competition! Although, looks like I didn't need to do all that now. You seem to like me just fine!" Her smile suddenly vanished. "Mello? Are you okay? You look pale."

I backed away from her, shocked and dismayed. Had she honestly…? No. Her!?

"I think we've heard enough."

I turned toward the voice and instantly thanked all the gods in the world that it was L. Behind him was Watari, Roger, Matt, and Near. Matt and Near were as astonished as Roger and Watari. This little cupcake, as Matt had called her, had tried to kill Near! By Mafia?!

L walked up to me. "When Matt and Near came to me with the idea it was Stephanie who had leaked information, I almost dismissed them. I'm glad to have made the better decision in this case."

"L," Stephanie stumbled from the swing. "I can explain…"

"You tried to have me killed!" Near exclaimed. Honestly, I think that's the first time his voice ever reached into loud factors. "What's there to explain?!"

"You don't deserve it! Mello works way harder than you! All you do is sit around and play with your toys! Mello works! And now that he knows where my loyalties stand, he'll love me more for them. Right, Mello!"

I backed away from her. "You're on your own, freak!"

She looked at me, hurt in her eyes. "What? But I thought you hated him. I thought…"

"I can hate someone all I want. Killing them, is another story."

L took hold of her arm. "Let's go, Stephanie. I don't think you should be around the Wammy house anymore." He led her to Watari. "Please take her to your office. Assign her to a new school. As far from Mello as possible."

Watari nodded, then led her away. I'd like to say this was a victory for me… but in all honesty, I almost felt bad for her. Poor thing was only trying to prove her love to me. Albeit, in a… unconventional way. But, I guess I couldn't hate her. I could fear her… but not hate her.

Matt and Near suddenly strode up to me. Looking back at the girl in shock and awe.

"So," Matt spoke, "we weren't supposed to be kidnapped."

"Looks like it." I shrugged. I looked down at the frightened Near then pulled him into a sort of side-hug. "Let me be clear, Near. I will defend you from bullies and idiots. But chicks like that… Well, you're on your own."

He leaned in a bit. "You were right though. A cupcake full of crazy."

A/N: I honestly loved writing this chapter. Stephanie was really just based off a friend of mine... Granted she's cuckoo for a lot of Death Note characters (*Cough* Light Yagami *Cough*) But Mello works just as well.

Reviews are welcomed! :)