A/N: XD Ah, so am I seeing people taking sides on the Matsuda/Mikami subject? Good, good. It's no fun if there aren't teams!

-

Azure Paler than the Sky.

five.

"You're an ass."

"Aw, not you too."

"Not because of that…"

Matt turned over in the bed, the covers rolling with him. He looked at Mello's pouting face as the blond looked up into the ceiling and Matt cracked a smile. It was around midnight and they had only just gotten to bed after Near left, the smaller teen huffing silently at Matt. Near was mostly known as one not to pout about menial things like the nature of his friends' relationships but he seemed to be especially upset about this even after Matt hugged him, which usually cheered Near up.

Mello, however, didn't seem to have too much of a problem with it until they were alone and Matt had quite a good idea of what he was upset about. His smile broke out into a full-on grin and he pinched Mello's charred cheek lightly. "Aw, you big softie," he snickered, "you wanted to be the first to know, didn't you?"

"Get off me!" Mello whined, fighting the offending hand away. He turned over in a big grumpy pile and refused to face Matt. "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't."

"Mel, I didn't tell Matsuda, Raito did."

"He sure is talkative."

Matt laughed, "Well, Matsuda is his BFF now."

"For Christ's sake…" Mello rolled back over and returned to look at the ceiling. "Just who was that Mikami person Matsuda was talking about anyway?"

"Oh, you weren't around when they were talking about him. He's the new sculpture teacher."

"What's his problem?"

"Matsuda thinks he's after Raito, I guess."

Mello snorted. "The teachers here are all really perverted."

"What about L?" Matt asked, grinning.

"He's no exception!"

"But you still wanna work with him."

"Damn straight." Mello sighed and ignored the laughter coming from his bedmate and thought for a minute before saying carefully, "You know… what this means, right?"

"What?"

"Matsuda's gonna try and be Raito's boyfriend," he said, cackling. "Shit, that'll be funny!"

Matt nodded.

Mello looked at him and smirked. "Is someone jealous?"

"No, it's just I'm happy… for Matsuda, you know. If someone was going to be with Raito, I'd want it to be him. Even though I don't know much about Matsuda, I trust him a lot."

"Oh, I get it! Fucker, you don't trust me!"

Matt laughed boisterously and hugged on Mello. "I do, Mel! Just not with my ex's. I don't even trust you with Near!"

Mello rolled his eyes.

-

The next morning, Raito was able to slip out of his apartment without Matsuda wanting to walk to class together. Truthfully it was only about ten minutes without the younger male but it was something. He walked into class just as the other students were filing in and Mikami was turned at the board, unaware of his entry. When the last of the students entered and just about all of them were seated, Raito looked up and still did not see Matsuda.

Could he have waited by my door? Raito wondered dimly and suddenly felt a little bit bad about ditching him. When Mikami finally turned around, the first one he laid eyes on was Raito and smiled just as the door burst open and Matsuda, panting and out of breath.

"I-I'm not late," he cried and staggered into the room.

Raito blinked. "Matsuda, what's the matter with - oh, Jesus, you smell like sweat…" The brunet pursed his lips in disgust and scooted his chair away a little as Matsuda sat down beside him.

"Yeah… um, I ran down to the corner store before class…" Matsuda smiled and held out an apple to Raito, setting it down in front of him.

Raito blinked at it.

When he said nothing, Matsuda explained quickly, "Because I know you like to eat healthy so I thought…"

"Oh… well, thank you, Mat-"

"Ahem," Mikami interrupted, coming over to their desk. He looked at the apple and then at Matsuda sternly. "I'm sorry, Matsuda, but there's no eating allowed in the classroom."

"B-But-"

"I'll have to confiscate this," he said airily and kidnapped the apple. "Now," he said, turning around, "if everyone will open up their workbooks to last night's homework…"

Raito took out his workbook along with the rest of the class.

Matsuda stared, mouth agape. HEY! I ran all the way down the street and almost got hit by cars for that! Why you… you…!

"Matsuda."

He looked up, startled. "Oh? Yes?"

"Where's your workbook?"

Matsuda blinked and looked around his workspace. Nothing there. "Um… wow, guess I forgot it…"

Mikami groaned. "Where are any of your materials?"

"I left them all at my room, I guess. I got up super early to get that apple, you know, so I left my stuff at home, thinking I'd be back in enough time to get it. But there was a lot of sidewalk traffic, people riding their bikes and runners, too! And they run all over the place and don't pay attention to walkers at all, so I started running and then-"

"All right, all right. Just… sit there and be silent."

"Okay…"

Mikami turned back around to the board and began to talk about the aforementioned assignment. Matsuda sat in his seat and sulked quietly, occasionally listening to Mikami and the answers that the students called out and mostly stole looks at Raito.

Raito looked back at him casually and sent a half-smile. That gave Matsuda an idea and so he took one of Raito's notebooks from his pile and ripped out a sheet of paper from it.

"What are you-"

Matsuda began writing before Raito could say anything. When he was done scribbling something down on the sheet, he slid it across the table to Raito and smiled at him. Raito rolled his eyes and read it, 'Hey Raito, this way we can talk and I won't get in trouble! Cool, huh?'

Raito frowned to himself. What're we, in grade school?

Nevertheless, he wrote back and slid it over to Matsuda.

'This is ridiculous, I feel like a ten-year-old.'

'Aw, it's okay! Don't you feel rebellious?'

'Hardly.'

'Well, anyhoo. You know, I was thinking that maybe we could hang out tonight after classes…'

'We always do, Matsuda.'

'I know, but I meant, just you and me. Um, and also… could you please call me Matsu?'

'Excuse me?'

'Matsu. It's what all my friends call me.'

'I've never heard anyone call you that.'

'I don't have a lot of friends.'

That was about the point when Mikami snatched the paper away from Matsuda's grasp and looked at it disdainfully. He looked back down at the student and said, "Really, Matsuda, note passing? What is this, grade school?"

Raito nodded his approval.

Mikami stuffed the note in his back pocket. "Matsuda, if you continue to disturb Raito, I will have to punish you."

"Punish?" he whined.

Mikami walked away once again and, with great effort, Matsuda was silent for the rest of the period. He did see Mikami reading the note when he thought no one was looking and that made Matsuda all the more upset. Not only was it embarrassing but Mikami was getting inside information on his plan to hang out with Raito that night. Surely-

"Class dismissed," Mikami announced distractedly. As all of the students gathered their belongings and shuffled out of the classroom. Matsuda was extremely happy to have use of his mouth again and stood up smiling next to Raito.

"So what do you think?" he asked eagerly.

"Think about what?"

"Going ou - I mean, hanging out with me tonight?"

Before Raito could answer, Mikami was standing next to the two of them.

"Oh, hello, professor," Raito said, brightening.

"Please, don't be so formal, Raito. Teru will be just fine," he said with a leer that Matsuda didn't like at all.

Raito smiled a little. "Okay, Teru."

"Listen," Mikami seemed to almost whisper as he put his arm around Raito's shoulders and led him away from Matsuda. "Are you seeing anyone right now?"

Matsuda gasped.

"Oh… no, I'm not. I just had a breakup, really."

"Really? That's terrible…" Mikami smirked a little and then looked over at Matsuda disinterestedly. "Oh, are you still here, Matsuda?"

"Yes," he squealed, red in the face.

"You may leave now. Here," he said as he dropped a sheet of crumbled paper into Matsuda's hand. Mikami led Raito out of the door and Matsuda was left standing there, with that sheet of paper in his hand. He looked down eventually and saw that it was his and Raito's note from class. Only…

All Raito's parts are cut out? What the…?

-

I've broken my own rule, Near thought as he lay naked in his bed with Mello almost surely asleep next to him. It was around two o' clock and lately, between classes or just whenever, Near had found that he would get restless… and with restlessness came a strong urge to lightly tease Mello into jumping him.

Of course, Mello would never need that much teasing and seemed quite happy at Near's newfound sexual appetite. However, Near was confused by the feelings coursing through him. Not that he had never wanted to be intimate before but now it was just as if he couldn't get enough of it. During class that day, he had been quite uncomfortable and had to cross his legs during the entire session instead of sitting his normal way.

This was not good.

But, he thought, turning over to snuggled up to Mello's side, I suppose it could be worse… If I didn't have Mello around or if he wasn't as… eager as he is… then I would have to deal with this problem all by myself. And the very thought was just sickening to the poor boy. Embarrassing, too, and he blushed unknowingly as he sighed into Mello's soft skin.

Maybe it would be best if he tried to calm himself down a bit. After all, he had the apprenticeship with L to consider and already showing laziness in himself was not a good thing. Naturally, this wasn't the sort of thing he liked, being pitted against Mello - and he had an idea it was simply for L's amusement - but then again, Mello seemed to be a good sport about it, so why should he mind? It was healthy competition, after all, he told himself. If he was going to be a professional, he'd have to compete even with people close to him.

He raised his eyes slightly to Mello's face, twitching lightly in his sleep. His blond bangs were falling across his forehead, sticking there just a little by means of perspiration. Near had found that sometimes in Mello's sleep, his eyelids fluttered and you could see his blue eyes just underneath and just as it seemed he was about to wake up, he would close them altogether and be sleeping soundly again. Mello hardly ever moved in his sleep unless he was having a very violent dream in which case, Near got out of bed before being kicked out of it. And all of this he had learned just in a few months. He envied Matt a little but he hoped that soon, he would know just as much as Matt did.

So… I'll do my best, he determined, lowering his eyes again.

Just as Near decidedly closed his eyes, Mello's breathing hitched and his blue eyes opened like butterflies, squinting in the light from the open window. He looked down and let out a slow breath, noticing that Near had abandoned his normal fetal position in favor of cuddling up to him. That was the thing about Near, he guessed. It seemed like afterwards, he always curled up to himself and fell asleep that way, with his back to Mello. But whenever Mello woke up, there he was, treating Mello like his teddy bear.

Of course, this was absolute heaven. Mello should never have doubted Matt on this subject and for someone who had slept with very few people, Matt sure did know a lot. Naturally, sometimes, Mello felt a bit jealous. After all, Matt was a single-minded, gaming addict who chain-smoked on the tail of defeating a boss. He spent the majority of his time with some electrical device or another in front of his face and didn't much speak to anyone outside of their own group.

How had he gotten more ass than Mello?

Still, that wasn't the issue at hand. The issue at hand could be most readily be described as becoming L's apprentice. It was just indescribable how much Mello wanted it. A "great opportunity" as he had described it to Near just didn't sum it up at all. Everything that he wanted to be as an artist was all wrapped up neatly in who L was. Mello wanted the fame, he wanted the recognition from L that he could - and would, goddamn it - become just as great as him if only given the chance.

He wanted to learn from L and help him out. If, for no other reason, in some vain hope that some of his talent would rub off on him, like osmosis. He had to admit, L was a bit of a bastard. His teaching methods were completely unorthodox and Mello was positive that he took sadistic pleasure in torturing his students. But underneath his weirdness and love of eating chocolates in front of Mello, there was…

Something.

So Mello wanted this more than anything. More than he wanted chocolate. More than he wanted Matt to shut his fat mouth about the "cute" noises he and Near made across the hall. More than he wanted Matsuda to stop hugging him all the fucking time.

Which was one hell of a lot.

So, he thought, looking down at Near, I'll do my best.

Just then, Mello blinked as Near began to stir on his chest and ball his fists tightly. He yawned a little and then flipped on his belly, burying his face into his pillow.

Mello grinned and looked at him. "Restless again?"

Near frowned into the pillow. "Mello…"

"Yeah?"

"We should probably get up now…" he sighed and flopped over again.

"Why's that?" Mello reached over and pulled on Near until he rolled fully on top of him and they were staring at each other. "L's class isn't for another… uh," he groaned and looked over at the digital clock on the nightstand, "hour or so…"

"It'll probably take me that long to get out of bed," Near answered, rubbing at his eye.

Mello laughed and pushed Near up on his stomach until their lips met. Near struggled a bit, murmuring something about not getting started again. But Mello ignored his little objections - he could tell he was winning the battle anyway - and just when he rolled over, placing Near to the mattress, and slid his hand down under the covers-

Ring ring ring.

"Fucking hell," Mello cried, easing off of Near. He glared over at the telephone as it continued to ring and finally, got out of bed, walking over to the other table by the kitchenette.

Near blushed and watched him walk over, listening in to half of the conversation.

"What the fuck is it? … You? … Hey! You jerk, I- … oh, shit, really? … Okay, okay. Well sorry, fuck! I'm kinda busy! … shut the fuck up."

Mello hung up the phone.

"Um… who was it?"

"L wants us to come down to his apartment right now," he groaned, bending down to pick up his pants and shirt. "That bastard, I should go down there naked… show him what for…"

"L?" Near sat up, the covers pooling around his waist. "How did he know we were both here?"

"Fuck if I know." Mello picked up Near's shirt and tossed it to him. Near neglected to catch it and it fell on his head, making him look like a ghost. Mello couldn't help but laugh.

The two of them got dressed quickly, Near pouting and worrying about not taking a shower first before leaving.

"Aw, will you relax?" Mello asked, shutting the door behind them. "Who even notices that smell anyway?"

"Matt."

"… It's Matt."

"True," Near sighed. "But still… What do you think L wants?"

"He's probably going to tell us which one he's picked," Mello said thoughtfully as they rounded the corner. His eyes rolled upward in thought. "It's kind of weird though, how could he have chosen so suddenly?"

Near frowned. "Maybe he already knew beforehand."

"Yeah… I wouldn't put it passed the bastard," Mello sneered.

"… Mm. Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Well…" Near lowered his eyes. "You want to be L's assistant just like me… but you call him names and seem to generally dislike him…"

Mello blinked. "Okay… what's the question?"

A sigh. "Just, what do you really think of him?"

"… He's a twisted bastard! But, you know, I like him."

"… What?"

"And someday," Mello continued, ignoring Near's confusion, "I'm going to have a gallery with him. I'll show him I can be just as good as him!"

Near watched Mello's excitement with puzzlement and a bit of awe. Mello went on and on about his dreams of being one of Japan's - no, the world's most famous artists and how he would thank L at every speech he gave, even though he wasn't sure if artists were supposed to give speeches.

Perhaps it's a love-hate relationship, depending on Mello's mood swings… he thought but it didn't seem like L had any hate for Mello at all.

They went into the teacher's dorms and climbed the stairs up to the third floor. As they walked down the hallway, they passed by Raito's dorm room. Even though he wasn't a teacher any longer, he wasn't required to move into student dorms and kept his same apartment. Mello was still on his rant about being famous but Near, looking to the side, noticed someone with long black hair and shining glasses standing in the shadows.

He blinked and tugged on Mello's sleeve, interrupting the blond.

"-will be amazing - What, Near?"

"Look over there…" Near nodded his head so as not to be conspicuous. Mello looked over his head and noticed the man as well, dismissing it.

"Think that's Mikami."

"Mikami?"

"The dude who's cruisin' for Raito."

"…" Near looked again as they were walking away. "Isn't he a teacher…?"

"So? Didn't stop Raito."

"I see," Near looked back at the ground worriedly.

Finally, they arrived at L's dorm. Mello knocked forcefully and was told by a voice inside that the door was open so he huffed and turned the knob. Upon entering, the two students were greeted with the sight of L's apartment, all neat and orderly. L himself was sitting in his familiar manner on the couch furthest from the door with a cupcake half-eaten in his hand.

"Hello," he greeted.

"Hello," Near returned the greeting and stepped in lightly, the opposite of Mello who slammed the door shut and came over to sit on the smaller couch next to L.

"You sure have great timing," he said, rolling his eyes. "What's this all about anyway?"

"Please, sit," he said to Near who had still been standing. Near nodded and took his seat beside Mello. They both looked at him expectantly. "Well," L continued, "as you know, I've been thinking on which of you to take for my assistant. So…"

"Yeah?" they echoed, nervous.

"But first, something more important."

"More important?" Mello wailed.

L reached beside him and took two sheets of paper. He flipped them over and two very different patterns were on each. He held them up by the corners in front of the boys and peeked his head over the top.

"What do you think?" he asked darkly, eyes scanning their expressions.

Mello swallowed heavily. C-Could this be a way for him to test us? I wouldn't put it past someone like L… still…

Near was thinking about the same thing and looked at each carefully.

"Well?" L insisted. "Which is better?"

"The plaid," said Mello.

"The plaid," said Near.

They regarded each other.

L groaned and set them down. "Disappointing. I haven't been able to reach a decision all day and I really need new drapes…"

"… WHAT?" Mello roared.

Near gasped, "Mello, please, calm down-"

"DRAPES!" he wailed, fuming. "I can't believe I even look up to you!"

L smiled. "Ah, so you finally admit it."

"Wha… I don't… FUCK YOU!"

Mello sat down with a huff and Near patted him consolingly on the shoulder.

L shook his head. "Really, don't be that way. Here, to cheer you up, I'll tell you who I've chosen just to be nice. Congratulations…

-

to be continued.

-

A/N: Thanks for reading! Any thoughts?