Yes, I finally updated "Near". Stop begging for more and read it, and I hope you enjoy Near's thoughts on Mello! XD

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A few months passed, in which Near grew more anti-social with B's "dumping him", and Matt had tried to be with him whenever he could. To help Near's broken heart, B's and Near's rooms were made separate, and B was moved a floor above, where he'd have to go down the stairs to hurt Near, as he'd taken to bullying him. One day, though, Near finally snapped, told everyone to leave him alone and used the voodoo dolls he'd made to force them back. No real damage was done, but people got the picture. After that, people stopped trying to drag him into the in-crowd again, hissing insults behind B's back.

Near sighed as he heard some of these insults. Really, B, was it worth it? He sighed and leaned against the tree that Matt had carried him out to. Carried, because Near had refused to go outside. To go outside with anyone but B…

He didn't want to.

As for sports, he wasn't interested in them. He focused solely on his puzzles, anticipating the late hours of the night, when B would slip into his bedroom window and put aside the game for the few hours they would be together.

"Hey, look." Matt's voice broke Near out a particularly nice memory of the night before, where Near had gone into his room after B splashed him with a bucket of water to find B sitting on his bed and smiling at him, waiting for Near to close and lock the bedroom door to speak…

"What?" Near glanced up and then his eyebrow quirked as he saw a new child with black, leather clothing and shoulder-length, blonde hair. The stranger's eyes were blue and their peachy-skinned hand was running through his hair and they looked like one of those blonde bimbos that B had told him about. The kid couldn't be more than two years older than Near, and it was wearing LEATHER? Where did that kid come from? Los Vegas?

Upon seeing the stronger shift in just the right way, getting past his girlish looks and "fine ass", as some of the other boys called it, Near could see that the stranger, who was now fingering a Catholic rosary with one hand, was a boy.

This concluded, he glanced at Matt, who had nearly dropped his Gameboy when he saw the blonde beauty, and scoffed. "Oh, please." He looked at the blonde. "Matt, you can't possibly be interested in him?"

"I am." Matt said dreamily, his game forgotten as he stared at the leather-clad vision of loveliness.

'Great. The bimbo wannabe got Link killed.' Near rolled his eyes, and then they widened slightly. Was that guy coming over HERE?! His expression went neutral again and he boredly twirled a lock of hair in his hand.

"Hey! I saw you guys looking my way, so I figure you wanna talk. What're your names?" The blonde model-wannabe spoke to them, a cheerful smile on his face.

Oh, hell…

Forget just being a model. This guy looks like he climbed out of a Barbie box! Stop smiling, please! Near said nothing and then looked at Matt when he awkwardly stuttered and squeaked out his name.

"I-I'm Matt!"

'Oh, geez. Stop being so stupid, Matt.' He looked at nothing in particluar when he spoke to the blonde. "Near. And you?" He continued twirling his hair.

"I'm…" The smile faltered and the glonde boy looked confused and lost, one hand fingering that rosary as he seemed to be lost in thought as he looked towards the car. "I…"

"Mello." Watari walked over. "His name is Mello, and he'll he living here with us from now on." He smiled and placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Matt, he's your new roommate."

Matt looked like he'd just been told that Christmas had come early and he'd gotten everything on his list. "Seriously?!" He turned off the Gameboy, saving Link from dying yet again, and shot his hand out to shake the stranger's—Mello's—hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mello!"

Mello took his hand and looked a bit bothered, shifting slightly. "It's good to meet you too, Matt." He smiled and then pocketed his hands. "Uhm…Watari? Where's my chocolate?"

'"Where's my chocolate"? How spoiled is he?' Near thought, frowning. It was annoying enough that this stranger had caught Matt's attention and made him go ga-ga, although it would be good to have the gamer not hitting on him anymore, but now he was expecting chocolate?

"It's been taken to your room. Matt, will you show Mello around, please?" Watari asked, and then turned and went inside. Near shrugged and followed them in, twirling a lock of hair with his hand. He saw B motion to him and quickly seperated from the group, going to where his raven-haired lover was waiting.

"Who was that?" B said, looking at Mello being led away as he held Near in a warm embrace. "New kid?"

"'Mello', he says." Near said, sighing into his arms. "How much time until your next class?"

"Only a few minutes." He kissed him gently. "Sorry, I wish I had more time, but Matt took you outside and…well…"

"Yeah." Near nodded. "Was this game really a good idea?"

"Yeah." B smiled. "It got them to leave me alone, didn't it?"

"Yeah." Near nodded, and then he looked at B's watch, which was beeping. "You better go. I'll be in my room when you get out."

B winked and dashed off to his class. Near went to his room and sat down among the towers he'd built over time. He then went over and knelt by the dominoes he'd been setting up, pulling the box close so he could add more to the arrangement.

"Ah, that's—" Matt's voice spoke as the door opened and Near glanced over to see Mello looking in curiously.

"Did you want something?" Near said emotionlessly, watching Mello explore his room with his eyes. Who the hell was this guy, and what was he thinking,. Coming in and prying where he wasn't wanted…

Mello's wandering eyes finally stopped on Near and then froze as Near looked at him fully, blue meeting gray. He looked a bit nervous but said nothing, his eyes only widening slightly when Near spoke again.

"Mello?"

"No…No, nothing. I'm just looking around." Mello said, looking away from him. He seemed a bit upset by something, but didn't everyone, lately? His calm, emotionless demeanor had scared a lot of people, and even A had grown angry with B for making Near into this…

Emotionless…person.

Just looking around? Near was annoyed, now. You don't just walk into people's rooms, pry around their things, and then tell them that you're "just looking around"! Near looked back at his dominoes and started to set them up again. "Well, can you shut the door?"

Mello nodded and moved back as he shut the door, and Near heard him say, "SO, uhm…chocolate?" before he and Matt moved on. Near sighed and worked on the dominoes more, and then hit the final one, sending the dominoes going and creating an Old English "B".

"Very nice." B said, coming onto the windowsill and closing the window behind him. "I like it."

Near blushed a bit and stood up. "I couldn't help it, I was thinking of you." He walked over and pulled the curtain shut, and then ran over to lock the bedroom door, making sure no one knew of this meeting. "I missed you." He nuzzled him.

"It's only been an hour, love." He whispered. "But, I missed you, too." He smiled. "So, any suggestions for pranks?"

Near stuck his tongue out playfully and was about to speak, but B surprised him by sucking on his tongue. "Nnn!!"

B laughed and let go of his tongue. "Sorry, I couldn't resist." He grinned and stroked his cheek. "Why is it that you seem cuter each time I see you?"

"Maybe your anticipation does it." Near giggled a bit and nuzzled him. "Or, maybe it's just that I'm really happy to see you." He nuzzled him happily, and then glanced at the door.

"Near, come outside and play with us!" Linda said from the other side.

Near sighed and shook his head. "No, Linda. I'm fine in here."

"Alright…but if you change your mind, we'll be waiting." She said, and then she ran off to go outside with the other kids.

"Yeah, right." B stuck his tongue out at the door. "Like he'll take you guys over me? Dream on, Lind-y." He lifted Near up, making him let out a soft yelp, and then lay him down on the bed, laying on top of him. "They can't have you." He grinned.

"B…" He smiled lovingly and happily kissed him, his arms going around his neck. "We have to be quiet, or you'll get in trouble for being in my room again." He whispered softly.

"I don't care." He smiled and stroked his body lovingly. "Although, personally, I'd like to keep your little moans all to myself."

Near giggled and arched into his touch. "Hey, I have a question…"

"Hm?" B was now undoing Near's shirt and vaguely paying attention.

"What do you think of this new 'Mello' guy?" Near blushed as he felt B's fingers on his bare skin.

"Mello?" B thought a bit. "Hm…I dunno." He shrugged and kissed Near. "Can we forget about him and focus on us, please?"

"Alright." Near nodded and wrapped his arms around neck, kissing him deeply. "I love you, B." He whispered. "Even if you are rather cruel with your games."

"Oh but, my dear little Nate, it's a great hobby of mine to make people frustrated with me!" He grinned and then pulled the blanket over them as he kissed down his chest. "It might get cold, so let's cover up."

"I'm never cold when you're with me, Beyond." Near whispered huskily. Hearing his voice take that husky tone always turned B on, and he knew this fact well.

"Naaaaate, you're making me so haaaard!" He moaned, kissing Near deeply as he stroked his body. "I love the way you do this to me." He stroked down Near's body and then undid his pants, tugging them down. "You're so delicious…"

"Don't eat me!" Near cried cutely, smiling shyly.

"Rawr, I'm gonna eat you!" He kissed him and then started to kiss lower and lower, enjoying the taste of him. "Nate…" He purred, massaging his sides. "You're so beautiful, and adorable."

Near giggled and tugged at B's shirt. "You need to get rid of this."

"Naaah, why should I?" He smirked. "Can't I just examine my trophy?"

"Beyoooond!" Near whined, tugging at it again. B laughed and pulled away to remove it, and then Near pulled him close again. "Don't leave me alone; it's cold when you do." He smiled lovingly.

B grinned and then stroked his body lovingly. "I love you so much, Nate Rivers." He nuzzled him happily, and then reached lower to stroke his hardened erection.

"Ahh…" Near let out a soft moan, which B muffled with a kiss. "Beyond…nn…Beyond…"

"I love you, Nate." B whispered, and then he kissed him as he started to do what they had done so often now, and the others were none the wiser.

That night, Near came out of his bedroom to go to dinner. B had left his room a few hours ago, and Near had cleaned up so that he didn't appear to look like he had been having sex at all. B spotted him in the hall and smirked, about to pull some prank…

And then Matt came up. "Hey, Near!"

Near looked over. "Matt? Where's your new mouse-chaser?"

Matt grinned. "I dunno, but is it bad for me to go and find my best friend?" He wrapped his arms around him playfully. "C'mon, let's go to dinner together!"

Near looked over his shoulder and saw B snap his fingers in disappointment before slipping past them to go the cafeteria. Matt held Near protectively and glared at B, and then Near smiled. "Let's go, Matt."

"Alright. Hey, you know something interesting about Mello?" He said as they opened the doors.

"What is it, Matt?" Near rolled his eyes. Matt was as bad as the girls with his gossiping, really.

"He has chocolate breath!" He breathed in Near's face.

Near smiled a bit, and shook his head. "You have loser-breath."

"Aww, that's—hey, it's Mello!" He ran off to go join him.

Near watched him go. 'Hey, what happened to "my best friend", you jerk!' He said nothing, though, and went over to the table that he and the others had designated as his – ever since B "dumped" him, at least. It was part of his "don't talk to me, I'm still upset" image, and the others had no problem with respecting his wishes.

Would Mello, though? He shot Mello a cold look on the way to his table and then sat down sighing. 'He's going to mess up everything, no doubt…'

B glanced over at Near from his loner-table. Ever since the "rape" incident, the others had been steering clear of B, and they hardly talked to him at all. Near knew that this was what he wanted – this was why he started the stupid game in the first place, after all. He missed being able to sit with Matt and B, though, and now that Mello was here, it looked like B was completely distracted.

"How can they NOT like you?" Matt was saying, and Near glanced over at Matt and Mello to hear Mello replying to him with "Well, I get the feeling Near doesn't." and he narrowed his eyes before looking away.

'Who is he to judge me?' Near thought, nibbling on his carrot-stick. 'He has no clue what I've been through, lie and otherwise! He can't think I don't like him just because I'm anti-social!' He glanced back at B and hid a smile behind his large sleeve as he watched B balance a strawberry on his nose before he ate it. 'Stilll such a clown.' He giggled inwardly, but his gaze was neutral and void of emotion.

After a little bit, he saw Matt get up and say something before Mello got up and followed him out of the cafeteria. 'Looks like he'll be busy for a while.' He looked back at his food and then sighed, pushing back his tray. 'I don't like this. I don't likelosing my best friend to some newcomer pretty-boy, even if that said best friend IS a pervert and a pest!' He stood up and carried his tray to the garbage bin and then put the empty tray with the others as he left the cafeteria.

A and B exchanged confused looks at Near's discarding of the brocolli, which he loved, and then they both got up and went out to go see what was wrong, B walking behind A at a slower pace because, no, he wasn't interested in Near's well-being, uh-uh.

Near sat on his bed and let out a sigh, his hand reaching up to twirl a lock of his hair. "Matt's a bastard." He muttered.

"Aww, why do you say that?" A walked over and sat next to him. "Come on, Near. Tell me what's wrong."

B closed the door and leaned against it. "Yeah. How is Matt more of a bastard than I am?"

"He ditched me, even though we were going to eat dinner together." He let out a huff. "And for that pretty-boy Mello, no less."

B blinked and then he moved closer to the bed, but stopped at a certain distance. After all, there had been rules set by the others, and he knew that A would enforce them.

Rule 1: He can look, but he can't touch. That meant that he could talk to Near and stand near him, but he could not ever hug him, because the others feared how Near would react – especially after the whole voodoo fiasco.

Rule 2: He has to be at least 5 feet away from Near at all times. This was because Near wanted his personal space and didn't like to be touched by anyone – trauma from the rape, they all figured. Everyone else, save for those he allowed to be closer, had to be at least 1 foot away from him, which is why A was sitting next to him, but not close enough to hug.

Because of these two rules, which A was sure to enforce, B could move no closer to Near than he currently was. "Maybe I should check out this 'Mello'." B grinned and then he stuck his hands in his pockets, his body slouched over to imitate L's style of standing.

"If you 'check him out' like you checked me out, I'll shoot you." Near said coldly. "No one else should have to endure what you put me through, B."

"Nah. He's pretty, but he's not my type." B smirked and then he walked over to the door. "Be careful in the halls, by the way. I've got a few surprises for you." He opened the door and walked out, closing it behind him.

"As if I'm not cautious anyway?" Near mumbled. "I think I'm going to lie down, B. Can you let me be alone, please?"

A nodded and stood up, walking over to the door and opening it. "He'll come around, Near. You know that Matt can't stay away from you for too long."

"Yeah, I know." Near nodded and then he crawled over to curl up under the blanket.

A smiled and left, closing the door. Near closed his eyes and then he looked at the window as he heard something land outside it once A's footsteps had left the doorway. "You're going to kill yourself with your gymnastics one of these days."

"Me? Naaaah." B said as he climbed in. Then he dashed over and locked the door, leaning against it to listen for anyone that was coming. Then he grinned and went over to Near. "I think we're alone now. There doesn't seem to be anyone around." He sang, stroking Near's cheek.

Near blushed. "You're so silly, B." He then pulled him close and kissed him gently.

"Near?" Roger's voice was outside the room, and both boys froze as they heard the door opening. B nodded and kissed him quickly before dashing and jumping out Near's window, escaping the room. A few moments after B escaped, Roger opened the door and came in. "How are you doing, Near? Any nightmares?"

Near bit his lip and shook his head, and then he stood up and went over to the window, looking out it. "…Can I have my necklace back, please?" He asked softly.

"I will ask L about this." Roger said, smiling. "But, why are you suddenly asking?"

"The day my parents died is coming up." Near said softly. "I always sing for them on that day, and I need my necklace."

"Sing?" Roger blinked.

He nodded. "For Khaos to take care of their souls." He smiled slightly.

Roger smiled uneasily. He knew that L didn't like Near being from a cult, but he had freedom of religion here and they couldn't stop him. Voodoo, luckily, was the only black magic that Near had learned from the cult – any more than that could be disaterous in the hands of a child that was so…emotional.

Even if his emotions had dumbed down ever since B had so suddenly assaulted him as he did. Roger sighed and nodded before he turned and walked off, going to get the necklace for Near.

Near smiled and then he walked over to the door and looked out, frowning as he heard Mello and Matt laughing and talking in Matt's room. 'Matt…' He frowned and clutched at his shirt slightly before he turned and went back to his bed, closing the door.

Matt had always been there to listen to him sing and pray for his parents, but it seemed as if he'd only have B and himself this year. After all, Matt was busy with Mello, and would be too busy to spend his parent's death-day with him.

His parents…

It hadn't occurred to Near until now, but he realized that he actually hadn't thought about his parents in a long time. He'd been so busy here that he'd even forgotten to sing to Khaos at midnight the past few weeks.

Ohhh, bad boy, bad boy. The priest would scold him for that and make him pray for five hours straight in the chapel while he was read lines of scripture from The Book of Khaos.

"Sorry." He whispered, and then he walked over and sat on the bed. 'I'll be sure to pray once I have my necklace back.' He silently promised.

Roger came back and opened the door, holding out the necklace. "Here. And…if you'd like, if I'm not too busy, I'll stay and listen to you sing." He smiled.

Near took the necklace and nodded. "Thank you."

"Linda found a kitten outside, do you want to come see it with the others? She brought it into the common room." He stood in the doorway, waiting.

"…Sure." Near placed the necklace around his neck and tucked it under his shirts before he followed Roger out. He remembered that Mello had a Catholic rosary, and he wasn't too keen on the blonde asking him about his, so he hid it.

"Isn't she pretty?" Linda said, holding up a white-ish colored kitten that had little spots on it's head. "The spots will fade as she grows older, and she'll be beautiful!" She looked at Near. "Do you want to hold her?"

Near's eyes widened slightly and he shook his head. "No, thank you." He said softly, stepping away from the group, sitting down at a distance away from them.

The kitten let out a mew and Linda set her down. Then she scampered over and climbed up onto Near's leg, purring. Near looked at it quietly with wide eyes and and then looked away. "Linda…I'm not fond of cats." He said calmly. "Please remove it from my leg."

"Oh, sorry!" Linda ran over and picked it up. "Well, I'm going to take her to my room now, so I'll see you tomorrow?"

He nodded and stood up, going back to his room. He blinked as he saw Matt in front of his room. "And here I thought you'd forgotten about me." He said calmly as he opened the door. "Where's Mello?"

"Asleep." Matt walked in and closed the door behind him.

"Turn around, I need to change." Near said calmly. "Linda brought in a dirty-pawed kitten, and now my pants are dirty."

"Right." Matt turned around. "You don't like cats, right?"

Near nodded as he picked out another oufit. "They make me uncomfortable, and my heart-rate quickens at an alarming pace."

"Maybe you're scared?" Matt smiled a bit. "Tell me when it's safe."

Near finished changing and then put the dirty clothes in a white basket. "You may turn around, now. And…yes. I'm scared of cats." He walked over and sat on the bed. "So, what is Mello like?"

"Like a dream come true." Matt smiled, and then he walked over and wrapped his arms around Near, kissing his cheek. "You're still cute, though!"

Near sighed. "Personal space, please."

"Oh, right." Matt pulled away. "Okay. So, he likes leather, chocolate, and when he's bored he hums to himself or imagines he's on a mission as some secret agent." He grinned. "He's pretty social, and can kick my ass pretty good in both video games and real fights."

"You challenged him?" Near smiled a bit. "Maybe I'll do that."

"Near, you'll get your ass kicked." Matt smirked.

"No, not that…" He stood up. "He was brought here because he's a genius, right?" He looked at Matt. "Is he good enough to be the next L?"

Matt's eyes widened. "Near…are you seriously gonna do this?"

"Will you attend this year?" Near asked, changing the subject as he pulled out his necklace. "To my parent's death-day service, I mean…"

"Are A and B attending?" Matt smiled and walked over to hug him. "Of course I'm coming, Near!" He nuzzled him.

Near smiled and closed his eyes. "That's good."

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Uh oh. Watch out, Mello! Near's gonna do something crazy!

And, by the way, his fear of cats is not without its reason. I'm just saving it for another chapter. You will get to see the death-day service, don't fret.

Holy crap, 10 pages? When did I do that?

Review, please!