A/N: Wow… you guys are awesome! I wondered if anyone would recognize this as the sequel and, sure enough, you did! Great job! Also… this is my one hundredth fic posted and I just wanted to give thanks to everyone who's reviewed over the years. -cries-

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Azure Paler than the Sky.

two.

On the second of September, classes began. The weather wasn't quite as humid and everyone could walk outside without fear of their new clothes sticking to them or sweating so hard and producing sweat stains. Most of everyone had come back from vacation and visiting families and were ready to see their teachers and friends again. And the sculpture students were especially surprised when they saw Professor Yagami mulling about campus not in his usual brown suit and red tie getup but in jeans and a hoodie.

"Yo, Yagami!" a female student called, waving at him as he passed through the courtyard. He looked over at her and she smiled, cupping her hands around her mouth and continuing, "You're looking pretty hot this year!"

Raito sighed, aggravated, and turned away, continuing to walk down the path. By his side was Matsuda, who had gotten up especially early to greet Raito at his dorm and wake him up for classes. Coincidently, the first class of the day was one they shared and as Raito thought the Gods must really hate him, he shuffled around his apartment as Matsuda made himself comfortable on the couch and babbled on about what a great sculptor Raito was. As the two of them made their way through the crowd and over to the sculpture building, Raito kept getting compliments on his casual attire from both students and staff alike.

Matsuda giggled. "You're so popular, Yag - Raito."

"It's not me, it's these clothes. Did everyone really hate my formal attire so much that they cheer me on when I wear something different?" he asked dourly.

Matsuda made a sympathetic noise as they rounded a corner. Suddenly Matsuda felt something collide with his head and he was soon on the floor, disoriented and alarmed. He looked up and found that he had bumped straight into someone else and scattered their books and papers all over the ground.

"Oh God! I'm so sorry! Here, let me help you," Matsuda cried and crawled over to help pick up the mess.

"It's okay," the other man mumbled, his long black hair falling over his face.

Raito rolled his eyes at his former student's clumsiness and bent down to help the two of them. As he stretched his arm over Matsuda, the other man looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of Raito's face under his amber bangs.

He stared and Raito could feel someone's eyes on him so he looked up and their eyes locked for a second. Raito squinted. "Yes?"

"… Oh, pardon me," the young man said, standing up with his papers and the ones Matsuda handed to him. He looked at both Raito and Matsuda for a second before returning his gaze to Raito and finally asking, "Aren't you the old sculpture professor, Raito Yagami?"

Raito blinked. "Well… yes…"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I really admire your work, I've followed it for quite some time now."

At hearing this, Raito perked up immensely and when the young man attempted to shake hands, Raito grabbed his hand warmly and smiled at him. Matsuda watched this little exchange with a slightly confused smile. When Raito was done shaking hands with the mystery man, Matsuda's smile came back full force and he stuck his hand out at the man, shouting enthusiastically, "I'm Matsuda!"

"…" The man turned back to Raito. "Would you mind showing me to classroom 146? I seem to have gotten lost."

"Oh, of course. I'm heading there as well."

"Great."

Matsuda blinked widely as the two of them walked down the hallway and he followed, of course, because hewas heading there too. He followed behind the two and listened as Raito was complimented on his work to the point of a metaphoric blowjob. The hallways quieted down as classes were already starting and doors to classrooms were shutting. As they ascended a staircase and went down the hall, they approached their destination.

Raito opened the door and they all walked in to a class of budding sculptors, all chit-chatting and lounging around the classroom like there wasn't anything to be done.

Raito frowned. "What's wrong with them? Where's the new professor?"

Matsuda shrugged.

The man who they had escorted to the room went to the desk and set down his papers. He addressed the students, "Good morning, everyone. My name is Teru Mikami and I'll be taking over for Professor Yagami this year. Please take your seats."

Raito's eyes rounded. "You're the new teacher?"

"Yes, I am… but, if I may ask, why are you still at Irai, Yagami?" Mikami asked while writing something on the board. "I was under the impression you had left."

"I… I'm a student here…" he said and coughed.

Mikami turned and looked at him again. "Really?" he asked quietly. Then, "That's fantastic news. I look forward to spending time with such a professional."

"… Oh," Raito hummed, his ego obviously stroked.

Matsuda found this all to be very strange and was about to pull Raito into a seat where they could be side-by-side until there was a shout from a random student in the crowd.

"Hey, Yagami! Lookin' hot!"

Raito groaned.

-

Mello grumbled in his sleep and silently fought against the covers as, in his dream, he was participating in a world tournament boxing match and taking on quite a few adversaries. But, in the fifth round, he was dealt a strong blow to the head and sent reeling backwards, knocked right out of his dream and into the conscious world. He sprung up in bed, a few beads of sweat going down the sides of his face as he looked around. Coming into view was Matt sitting on the couch and scarfing down a large chunk of the birthday cake left over from Near's party.

Matt looked at Mello interestedly. "Wet dream?" he asked.

"… No. I was boxing."

"Call it what you want… you know, I've been thinking…" He took another bite.

Mello rolled his eyes and scooted out of the bed, his bare legs hanging over the side. He scratched his stomach and yawned widely as he walked past the couch and into the kitchenette.

Matt laughed, "Can smell your breath from over here, Mel."

"Shut the fuck up."

"So, anyway, what I was saying about my thinking…" Matt resumed. "It's about Near being seventeen and all. You know that's a man's sexual peek, right?"

Rummaging in the fridge was heard. "Good Lord…" Mello came out of the kitchen with a paper plate with some cake on it as well and glared a little when he realized that Matt's slice was bigger than his. He said, "You don't know if that's true or not, it's an old wife's tale. There's nothing different about Near since his birthday."

"Dude, you know it's real. Remember when we were seventeen? I couldn't drag you out of the bathroom and I would carry little packets of hand lotion in my pockets."

Mello blushed angrily. "I had diarrhea!"

"All year?"

"… Well, whatever. I don't think Near's like that."

"You never know. He's all tiny and fluffy now but he's a man and soon he'll go crazy with desire and his hormones will whirl like a tempest sea!" Matt raised his hands to the ceiling.

"…" Mello narrowed his eyes. "What the-"

Just then there was a soft knock on the door and Matt called instinctively, "S'open, Near."

The door opened and a pale face peeked in, then coming in through the door fully. He had donned a pair of light blue jeans that were purchased by Matt in Okinawa and also in a baggy tan shirt with an angry penguin on the front.

"Good morning," he said, regarding the two of them calmly. He blinked at Mello. "Mello, aren't you dressed yet? We have to go now, L's class is starting in about ten minutes."

"… Class? Shit! Matt, you asshole, you didn't tell me," Mello howled, dropping his plate of half-eaten cake to the floor and running back to the closet while throwing his pajamas wildly to the floor.

Matt sat and ate slowly. "Thought you knew, Mel."

Near watched as Mello hopped around the room with one leg in his leather pants. Matt snorted laughter and just as Near got the idea to call and tell Mello to be careful, the blond tipped over and his left foot went ripping through the crotch of his pants and stomped straight through to the ground. Mello gasped soundlessly and looked up with wide eyes and hair standing on end at both Matt and Near who thought best to keep silent.

"GODDAMMIT!" he raged, shaking the pants off and throwing them into the corner.

"N-Now, Mello, don't get upset…"

"Those cost three hundred dollars," he cried.

Matt's jaw dropped. "And you scold me for dipping into our scholarship fund!"

"I was tired of wearing polyester!"

Before Matt could jeer at the already on-edge teen, Near shuffled over and grabbed a hold of Mello's wrist. "You could wear a pair of Matt's jeans… or mine, if you like, Mello."

"Everybodywears jeans," Mello moaned, rolling his eyes. "I'll look like a fucking commoner."

"But - commoner?" Near asked, looking down at his jeans.

Matt was already up from the couch and over at the closet, digging around inside. He came out with a pair of ratty jeans with holes on the knees and chucked them at Mello. He said, "You've worn my jeans before, what's the big deal now?"

"I'm an upperclassmen now," he said, sneering at the pants.

"Ah, you're a yuppie now?"

"No-"

Near, not at all happy with being called a commoner, said in a teddy-bear voice that was almost stern, "Mello, we're late now, please dress yourself or I will take you with me as you are."

Mello gaped.

Matt nodded sagely. "That's right, Mel, listen to your hubby."

"Matt!"

"Let's go," Near huffed and turned on his heel, scuffling other to the door with Mello in tow. He hurriedly pulled up the jeans and left them unzipped at his waist, slightly drooping there and just as the door was shutting, Near called back lightly, "Goodbye, Matt."

Matt waved at the closed door.

-

Things in the painter's building were going along as per usual. The nature of the average skilled painter was much more rebellious than an average carefree photographer or the sturdy sculptor. They would go off on tangents when something wouldn't go their way due to their massive ego and, as it turned out, on the first day of classes, one of L's male students had just been dumped by his girlfriend. In a frenzy of rage, he went out and set a trashcan in the hallway bathroom on fire.

L had been walking by the restroom just as the boy went streaking out and a load of smoke followed him. L sighed heavily and casually tugged on the fire alarm, sending the building into a frenzy. When the fire engine arrived and the men came into the building ready to fight a deadly fire, they were surprised when L had dumped a bucket of water on the small fire in the garbage and put it out. When asked who committed this heinous crime, L refused to answer, saying that it was against teacher-student confidence.

Safe to say that when L arrived to class, he was a bit late and stillwas able to eat a few lollipops and fiddle with his toes before Near and Mello came waltzing in, hand in hand.

L looked over his shoulder with a stick of pocky hanging from between his lips. "Ah, late as expected. How are you both?"

"I'm all right, L," Near said, coming over. He motioned towards Mello and said quite seriously, "I apologize for being late but Mello had a wardrobe malfunction…"

Mello frowned. "Don't say that!"

L shook his head. "Now, Mello, you don't have to get all dressed up just to see me."

Mello stomped over to L's stool with narrowed eyes and stood directly in front of him. There was a moment of complete silence in which Near wondered if Mello had finally had enough of L's subtle comments and would try to deck him. But just as Near thought it would be best to intervene, Mello's scowl broke out into a toothy grin. He said smoothly, "You're in love with me."

L smirked. "I know you think so, Mello."

"Whatever," he yawned and turned around, sashaying over to the easels to find a seat.

Near blinked and then smiled, deciding just then to forgive Mello for inadvertently calling him a commoner. As Near was heading over to the seats as well, a student out of the row raised his hand and L called on him.

"Uh… sir, the class has come to a consensus that you're favoring Mello and Near and that the rest of us don't really mean shit to you..."

Everyone nodded.

L blinked at him and then at the rest of the students. Mello was grinning to himself and examining his fingernails and Near sighed at all of the attention. Finally, after eating the last of the candy stick, L replied, "So?"

Everyone dipped their heads below the easels.

"Now, I would like to formally welcome all of you back for another year. The class has become smaller, and a congratulations to those of you who did not fail last term. We'll be busier this time around so it's best we get started today. I'm highly disappointed in the small turnout for last year's fundraiser. I really expected more courage out of the lot of you," he said and popped a mini Reese's into his mouth. "Courage is not a good thing for an aspiring artist to lack. Today, we will be building your bravery when it comes to art. I will require each and every one of you to strip naked."

"Hey!"

"What?"

"I can't!"

"No wa-"

"I kid," L insisted before a riot broke out. Everyone seemed to have their feathers ruffled and Mello's laughter at their gullibility was not helping. L noticed this. "Mello, if you are so brave, perhaps you would model for the class?"

Mello looked up. "Heh?"

Near looked at the blond and then at L. "Naked?"

"Is this a problem?" L asked. "We're all artists here."

Mello directed a smug look at L and languorously got up from his stool, walking to the center of the classroom. He looked over his shoulder and grinned widely. "I'll do it if you want me to."

"By all means."

There was a waver in Mello's confidence but he then just turned back to the class, who were all eyes, and began to unbutton his leather vest. He let it slide down his arms and fall to the floor to pool behind him. He reached for his zipper and looked at Near, who was blushing furiously and turned away, and then looked back at L, who watched with expectation.

"… I'll really do it," Mello threatened, unzipping his fly and placing his hands on the waistband of the jeans.

"I'm waiting," said L.

Mello frowned indignantly. "Don't think I won't! I'll traumatize them all!"

"They've seen most of your body in Near's painting. They look at themselves naked in the morning, as well, and are not unfamiliar with your-"

"Don't saythat! What's the matter with you anyway?" Mello shouted, angered, and zipped his pants up. He picked up his vest hastily as if the floor was an insult to his clothing and stomped back to his seat.

Near looked at Mello pitifully. "Do you have to make such a fuss?"

"He insulted my honor!"

"How?"

"Now that Mello's had his dramatic outburst for this class period, we can get some work done," L said and ignored Mello's curses. "Though I teased you all earlier, it is very important for an artist to take pride in their art and not be shy. I want you to be able to put your souls on canvas for the world to see. You do agree than a stranger's soul is the most gorgeous, underappreciated thing there is, don't you?"

Everyone nodded accordingly.

"Good. So, take the charcoal and draw for us your most dear secret. Then we will all take turns showing them off to the class, yes?"

The students gasped.

"L," said the boy who had earlier raised his hand, "isn't that a bit drastic? These aren't just strangers that we pass on the street, we see these people daily…"

"Do it or you won't pass."

"…"

L looked up at the clock. "You all have an hour until show-and-tell. Let's get to it, shall we?"

The students, wanting to pass L's class desperately, all swallowed their pride and began to ponder on their biggest secret. The majority already knew what it was and shuddered as they tried to illustrate it. There were assorted groans from the students as their charcoal moved around on the paper in front of them. However, as Mello sat at his easel, with his utensil in hand, he stared blankly off into space.

What secret could there be that Matt had not already told half the student body or they had not heard from Mello's own mouth? It was quite the word around school that whoever was heard spouting rumors about Mello, the blond would soon catch up to them and beat the shit out of whoever took part in the gossip. And for that reason, there were no mysteries that he could clear up about himself. A secret, a secret.

Well… Mello looked over his shoulder as he felt he was being watched. A young blond girl was looking over her easel at Mello and, when he noticed her, she disappeared again behind her easel. Mello rolled his eyes. It was no secret to him or anyone else that he was a school wide heartthrob for many a young girl (and closet-residing young men) but Mello didn't get why they paid him so much attention when all he did was growl and scowl at them. A lot of people probably thought he would take them into his room and screw them mercilessly because of the way he looked. He just seemed that way. What they didn't know was that…

Mello smiled and got to work on his drawing.

Meanwhile, Near was having just as hard of a time thinking of something for his assignment. He wasn't an especially well-known person, other than Kid with the Bunny or Kid that Hangs Around Mello and Matt, or the ever-popular Toddler. Though he didn't have any secrets known, he didn't have many secrets to tell. What to choose that the general public didn't know? That he didn't like asparagus? That eating fast food made him feel awful for hours afterward?

But L did say their deepest secret… Near looked up in thought. Everyone already knew he slept with stuffed animals, or at least, had a large quantity around him. Maybe he should draw the time he got curious and stuck a crayon up his nostril. But, no, most people did that sometime in their lifetime.

Though, perhaps, not at age fifteen.

Maybe, he thought as he snuck a glance at Mello involved in his work, I should tell Mello a secret… I'm sure he thinks he's my first kiss. Though, would it be disheartening to hear? Surely, he won't mind… oh…

Near sighed and picked up his charcoal.

The hour passed by quickly and no one but L seemed happy about it. He seemed to take great pleasure in their pained expressions and began calling them up in alphabetical order. The secrets were pretty predictable, things like people being bi-curious or having more than a couple of sexually transmitted diseases. One young woman was apparently guilty of drunkenly mooning Mr. Wammy and almost being suspended for it. The rest were friend-betrays and the like and when L called Mello up, the blond sighed and picked up his canvas, taking it up to the center of the room. He held it up and showed it to everyone, including L. It was a simple yet very in-depth sketch of Near.

Mello cleared his throat and Near could see a faint blush on his cheeks. He said, "I lost my virginity at eighteen."

The room was silent and owl-eyed. They all turned as one to Near and the young boy turned cherry-red, his heart like a hummingbird's.

Mello coughed and went to sit down, replacing his canvas. L gave some claps. "Good work, Mello."

Mello brightened at the praise of his work.

L continued, "It's a good thing to keep one's chastity for as long as possible."

"L, you ass-"

"Near, please stand."

The younger teen blinked at his name being called and took down his canvas rather quickly. He kept his head down as he walked to the middle of the class, aware of everyone's eyes on him. When he turned the canvas around, it was a sketch of a rabbit that looked very familiar to everyone in the room.

"I…" Near's voice cracked and he started again, "My first kiss was with my stuffed rabbit at age twelve."

A cricket chirped.

Mello stomped on it.

"What?" he shouted.

Near frowned sympathetically. "It didn't mean much, Mello…"

"Like hell it didn't…"

There was some uncomfortable silence then and a student who sat beside Mello raised his hand to Near. Near looked at him and he said loudly, "When did you get that rabbit?"

Near blinked. "I've had it since birth."

"Why'd you wait twelve years to kiss it?"

"I believe in moving slow."

"… Ah." He lowered his hand.

L smirked. "Class dismissed."

-

A little while later, both Near and Mello went straight from class to Near's dorm room. By that time, it was eleven o' clock and everyone was transitioning to find something to eat. Besides that, Mello was in quite a huff and there was very little Near could do to calm him down besides tell him that it was just a rabbit and Mello had nothing to be jealous of.

"Really, Mello, that's a childhood toy," Near said as he opened the door. Mello went inside, shaking his head.

"I thought I was your first kiss though."

"… You're jealous of a rabbit."

Mello turned on his heel as he found Near shutting the door with a small smile. A redness covered Mello's cheeks and he insisted with fury, "I am not! I don't keep things from you, you know."

"It wasn't a secret-"

"The assignment was to tell a secret," Mello huffed.

Near sighed and walked past the blond to sit on the bed where all of his animals, the rabbit included, resided. Mello frowned deeply and walked away, having the strangest idea that Near might try to kiss his rabbit again just to tease him. He went for the door to maybe go across the hall and rant at Matt for a little bit but as he opened the door, he realized that Matt was at class then.

"Mello, close the door."

"Why, you scared of a draft?" he asked, half unaware of how ridiculous he sounded.

"Mello."

Mello whirled around. "Wha - oh."

Near was sitting there but his shirt had somehow ended up on the carpet and his zipper was halfway down. He was looking quite friendly. "Close the door," he said again.

Mello did as he was told. Maybe Matt is right.

-

to be continued.

-

A/N: XD Don't expect an update everyday... I was just energetic... So, anyone want to tell me anything?