The last day of Fall quarter came, and the grades were posted up. Near came out of his room only to be bumped into the door and have a lot of kids talking to him at once, all of them in English. He blinked, confused, and then registered his mind to understand English before he caught "You're better than B!" before he was tugged along and led to a billboard that he'd passed a few times and never cared about.

When he got there, he saw B and Matt looking at it, Matt with shock and awe in his eyes and B with a mixture of admiration, shock, and anger. He had always been number one, and now Near was? It was…unthinkable! And yet, he couldn't help but smile at Near's confused expression as he was brought over. "Near, come look at this."

"O-Okay." He pulled away from another kid that was rapidly shaking his hand and ran over to stand between Matt and B. "What is this?"

"A scoreboard of L's successor's. You and B are pretty damn close, Near, and it looks like you're on top for this season!" Matt said, grinning. "See? Your name, right up there." He pointed to where it said "Near".

Near felt dizzy, seeing his name on the top of something again. And it wasn't a good feeling, either. It was the kind of feeling you got when you were dreading something bad to happen, and he was used to being hit for scoring best. But, these people…why were they congratulating him? He'd beaten them, but they didn't care? Even B was smiling, even though he used to be the one on top.

'Why? Don't you hate me for beating you?' He thought, looking at them all with confusion in his gaze. "I-I don't understand…"

"What's not to understand?" B lifted him up from the ground. "You did really well, and it's just your first year!"

"B, you're not angry?" A came over and smiled. "Pretty good, Near! You almost beat me!" He held out a hand, which Near took, and shook it. "Two points under me, that's pretty awesome!"

"U-Uhm…y-you're not angry at all? No one's upset?" He asked softly.

"Of course not!" Matt laughed. "We're all geniuses here, so there's no 'damn you, genius-boy' taunts here!" He grinned. "In fact, we all love the competition. I just never thought you'd surpass me, Near! I'm shocked! Awed! Speechless!"

"Alright, alright. I think you're all scaring him." B said, holding Near close and away from everyone reaching for him. "You guys go play, you dorks."

They all laughed and then scattered; Linda, A, B, Matt, and Near were the only ones left. B slowly put Near down and then frowned as Linda ran over and hugged Near tightly. "Congratulations, Near!" She said, and then kissed his cheek. "I have to go to Art class, but I'll see you later!" She waved happily and retreated down the hall.

"Stay off of him." B mumbled, pulling Near back into his arms. "C'mon, let's go to get you some breakfast, you slept through it." He smiled and gently kissed him, smirking at Matt's furious expression when he slowly broke the kiss.

Near sighed and nuzzled him. "B, stop instigating. Hey, A, why don't we go up to our special place?" He looked at him, happy to have someone else to talk to.

A nodded. "Yeah, I think this is a great time for that." He turned and led the way, the other two following eagerly.

As they sat up on the roof together, Near resting his head on B's chest, he closed his eyes and started to remember back in Thailand, when he'd finally given up on faking his grade…

"Nate Rivers! A genius AND a freak! Just what we need for a punching bag!" Mokkhavesa laughed and slammed Nate into the wall, laughing at the smaller boy's cry of pain. "You think you're better than us, don't you? Admit it, Nate!"

"N-No, I don't! Pease, let me go!" He cried, pushing him off of the wall and taking to a run. He was easily over-powered, though, and slammed into the ground, where the other kids started to beat him again and again until strong hands and a firm voice stopped them and he was lifted into the arms of his Homeroom teacher. "Please…"

"It's alright, Nate." He smiled. "You're safe, now."

"Near, are you asleep?"

Nate smiled and relaxed in his teacher's arms, grateful for the rescue. He was carried to the teacher's car and then put in the back seat so he could rest while he was driven home.

"Near, wake up! You're falling!"

"H-Huh?!" Near's eyes fluttered open and then he yelped as he started to slide down the tiles. He saw B's eyes widen and then he had a determined look as he reached out and caught his flailing hand. "B!" He smiled shakily and climbed up with B's help, until he was in his lover's arms again. "Oh, B!" He cried, clinging to him tightly. "I was so scared!"

"I know, Near. I know." He held him close, and then kissed him gently, deepening it when Near's arms went around his neck tightly.

"Well…uhm." A stood up. "Let's all get off the roof, shall we?" He suggested, smiling as he led the way off.

B was looking in deep thought about something. "Near, promise me you won't ever do that again." He said firmly, looking at him. He kept his eyes on his face and not above his forehead, Near noticed, but said nothing about it.

Near nodded. "I promise." He frowned a bit. "You seem upset…"

"B's always upset, Near. Don't take it personal." Matt smirked as he took Near's other hand. "Wanna play with me, today? B looks a bit distracted."

"The numbers were going down quicker…so close to…too early." B muttered, shaking his head. "Steady pace now…that's good." He reached up and patted Near's head, nodding. "Don't get faster again…don't risk yourself…"

"Huh?" Near was seriously confused by his muttering, and then he blinked when B's hand left his head. "B?"

"Too close…too close…" He walked on. "If that happened again…can't be affected…" He walked off, turning the corner to leave them alone. "Need to distance myself…too close…too close…"

"Oooookaaaaay, then. B's being weirder than usual." Matt frowned. "'Numbers', he said…he's always talking about numbers when he's alone, saying they're all around him and stuff. I once asked him, and he said I had them, too. 'Numbers of life'."

"That's strange." Near nodded. "He's never talked to me about these numbers…"

"B is a weird one." A nodded. "Let's go play video games!"

"Okay!" Both his companions said happily, rushing off to the living room.

Near looked over his shoulder and saw B watching him. '"Numbers"…' He thought, frowning. '"Numbers of life"…what did he mean? What's going on, B?' He looked forward again, sighing. 'Will you ever tell me?'

"He's not dying. I'd know if he was."

Near frowned, remembering what B had said a long time ago, after Matt had attacked him when he came to visit him and see if the gamer was alright. 'Is that what he meant?' Near thought, glancing at Matt. 'He could see Matt's "life numbers", so he knew he wasn't dying? Why can't I see these numbers, B? What's going on?'

Later on that night, Near came into his room to find B looking at his voodoo dolls. "Ah…" He walked over and sat next to him. "Like I said, they're just in case."

"Make one of me." B pulled out a strand of his hair and handed it to him. "Maybe you can stop me from doing things I'll regret." He looked at him and then bit his lip, blood slipping down his chin, as he looked above Near's head. "…So much time left…" He looked down. "A has less, but you are younger…"

"B…what are you talking about?" Near asked softly.

"…Sorry." He stood up. "…Can we…act out something?" He turned to him. "I don't want to get close to anyone, so I don't want people to get close to me." He took his hand. "As long as we're dating, people talk to me all the time, getting close. It's…it's a lot of numbers…" He looked down. "…Can we act out that we broke up?"

Near blinked and frowned. "…But, not for real, right?"

"Oh, hell, no." B pulled him close. "I still love you, but everyone thinks that because I'm close to you, they can be close to me."

"…I can act, then." Near nodded. "If it's not for real." He laced his fingers with his. "No one will ever know the truth. Not even Matt." He kissed him gently, and B deepened it as they lay together, lying in each other's embrace.

"Then, we should start soon." He let him go and got up to go lock the door. "Let's get everyone to hate me." He pulled off his shirt and walked over to pin Near down, kissing his lips and then moving lower as he fumbled with his shirt-buttons. "I know that you can control your exterior emotions like a switch being turned on and off. I need you to have deep sorrow and pain shown to the others."

Near nodded and reached up to stroke his cheek. "I'll try not to disappoint you." He whispered, and then their lips met in a passionate kiss, B slowly removing both their clothing.

"Let's lie to everyone." B whispered. "Make them think that it's over between us. They can make up their theories, they won't ever know the truth." He smiled and kissed his neck. "They won't ever know."

"No. They don't need to ever know." Near said softly, and then their blanket was pulled over them as the last of their clothing was removed and tossed off the bed. "Ah…B…" He breathed, smiling. "I love you..."

B smiled. "I love you, too." He nuzzled him. "My precious, little Cottonball."

Near smiled and then he let out a sharp gasp and clung to him as B lubed up his fingers and brought them to Near's entrance, pushing one in. "Ah—B, whe-when did you get ahold of THAT?" He gasped out, making sure to keep his voice quiet.

"I bought it when I went out to town to get your birthday present." He smiled when he pushed it in deeper, joining it with the other one. "No, this is not your present, but I guess it can be an early one."

"This game?" Near smirked. "I wonder what you actually got me—ahh!" He let out a moan as B's finger brushed against something that felt so very wonderful. "Ohhh…"

B smiled and kissed him deeply. "Ready?"

Near nodded, clinging to him. "Ngh…B…"

"Beyond…Birthday." B breathed, nuzzling him. "Since I know your name, it's only right that you get to know mine." He shifted and then pushed into him, smiling at the moan of pleasure and pain he got from the smaller boy. "Mmm…" He smiled and stroked his cheek lovingly. "I love you…Nate." He purred.

"I love you…Beyond." Near smiled and clung to him, moaning and gasping in pleasure as he felt himself nearing his release.

B was breathless now, and he closed his eyes tightly as he got faster and rougher, listening to the sound of Near's breathing with a loving smile on his face. Near clung to him, his head arched back, and then B and Near both reached their limits and released, moaning with pleasure as they whispered their real names to each other.

They lay there together for a bit, and then B pulled out and stroked his cheek. "Game on, Near."

Near smiled. "Who's the competition?"

"Let's see if Matt and A really know us as well as they claim to." He reached for his clothing and then dressed. "Want the warning?" He looked over at him.

"Sure." Near smiled.

"This game is rated R, for abuse, rape, and other such terrible, horrible themes." He chuckled and leaned over to kiss him.

"Ahh." Near nodded, and then he pulled the blanket over himself, curling up with his head bowed. "I see. I know what I must do, then."

"This will go on for until someone catches on." B sat next to him and stroked his back. "Are you sure you can handle it?"

Near looked up at him and smiled. "I can handle it. As you said, Beyond, Game On." He shoved him away, his smile fading into a hurt expression. "Why did you do that to me?! Why?!"

B got up and glared at him. "Well, it's your own fault! You never told me you were actually that smart! I thought it was strange how you learn English so fast, but this just proves it! You've been LYING to me!" He motioned to the voodoo dolls. "And what about those, huh? When was MY doll gonna show up?"

"In a matter of hours!" Near cried, clutching the strand of hair B had given him tightly. "You said you would never hurt me, but…but…"

"Hey, what's going on in here?" Matt's voice spoke outside the door.

B smirked and walked over, unlocking and opening the door. "Well, I'm surprised I held back for so long! But, if you're going to lie to me and stop our relationship from moving on, then we're through!" He yelled as he walked out of the room.

Matt's eyes widened and then he looked in to see Near curled up, naked on the bed, silently sobbing. "You bastard!" He swung a fist at B, but B caught it easily and threw him to the floor. "Augh!"

B smirked and then walked off, sticking his hands in his pockets. "See ya!" He said as his walk turned into a dash.

Matt stood up and looked over at Near. "…Near, what did he do to you?" He walked over and wrapped his arms around him, wincing at the kiss-marks and signs of rough handling. And his quivering body… He didn't need Near to tell him, and knew that people that had been raped were never able to say that was what had happened to them. "Oh, Near!" He held him close, feeling pain as he heard Near burst into louder sobs as he clung to his shirt.

'Sorry, Matt…' Near thought, keeping up the fake and believable sobs. 'I promise, I'll tell you about the game once you and A figure it out. It's just a game…'

Although, this had to be the meanest game that B had ever proposed.

-*N-*A-*T-*E-*N-*E-*A-*R-

Yeah, Near's feeling a bit of guilt. Just a bit. Doesn't B come up with the craziest games? And Near is so cute and follows along, little imp.

Okay guys…don't…scream my head off…

But…

…

MELLO'S IN THE NEXT CHAPTER! WHOOOOOOO! *dances and claps hands* The new rivalry's gonna begin!

Review, please! Or, you'll never see Mello! HAH! I'll just keep him in this little box until you guys give me some reviews!