Chapter 2: Inferior

Julia watched Mello for a moment as he worked diligently on his laptop. She really had nothing to do at the moment and as she looked down at her dirty clothes, she realized she needed to do something about it.

"Hey Mello," Julia started. She must have looked pathetic wearing the same clothes for the past few days, not to mention she felt dirty. "Don't you think I should get new clothes? I mean, I've been like this for about three days."

"Yeah, you are starting to smell," Mello added, not even looking at her.

Julia just stared at him, not sure if he was trying to be mean or if he was just joking her but she ignored it. "So, new clothes? Yes, no, maybe so?"

Mello finally glanced at her and nodded. "Yeah, we can go in a few minutes and get you something new to wear. Would that make you happy?"

Julia blinked. "Yes, actually. Thank you."

The blonde shrugged. "Don't get all sappy on me. I just don't want you stinking up the place. I live here too you know."

Julia rolled her eyes at him. "Wow, for a moment there, I thought you were actually being nice."

Julia wasn't exactly sure where he got the money for them to buy her clothes but she didn't ask. It wasn't like she really wanted to know anyway, though she couldn't complain about him buying her things either.

They rode to a nearby shopping center on Mello's motorcycle, which Julia was actually excited to ride. She never would have ridden on a motorcycle because the idea always frightened her, but with Mello driving it, she somehow felt safe. She sat behind him and held onto him tightly around his waist.

When they made it to a small boutique, the first words out of Mello's mouth were, "Get practical clothes." Julia eyed him for a moment and Mello sighed. "You girls always insist on buying frilly and unnecessary things. Just buy practical clothes. That's all you need."

"Not even just one cute thing?" Julia asked. She gave him a puppy dog look and even he was surprised when he gave in.

"Fine, but just one thing."

Julia nodded and proceeded in searching around the store for something she would wear. She would ask for Mello's opinion here and there but he really wasn't much help. He insisted on being impartial on her particles of clothing, which didn't satisfy her. She wanted some sort of response from him. Of course, that might have been asking too much.

After an hour of shopping and listening to Mello grumble about how she was taking too long, they finally left the stores and went to a nearby candy store, since the aggressive blonde was craving chocolate at the moment. Julia had changed into one of her outfits before leaving and was content that Mello was eyeing her up and down.

"You like?" Julia asked, jokingly twirling for him to see her entire outfit. She was wearing a dark blue, short-sleeved shirt and a pink mini skirt. A pink, blue, and white plaid vest rested over her shirt and a pair of pink flats graced her feet.

Mello grunted. "It looks good. Too bad it's not practical. I can't wait to see you riding my bike in that."

Julia paused. She mentally cursed herself for forgetting that detail but decided to play it off. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever." She would manage just to spite him.

They made it into a colorful candy store and Julia smiled. "You know, my parents and I used to come here all the time when I was younger," she reminisced. "We always got this huge selection of jelly beans and a bunch of the sour candies and mix them all together."

Mello gave her a look. "Hey, I don't have parents either but you don't see me complaining about it."

Julia's small smile fell. "You don't have to be so insensitive about everything."

Mello ignored her and walked straight into the section with all the chocolates. Julia caught up with him and watched as he grabbed a plastic bag and began placing many chunks of chocolate in it.

"So, when did you lose your parents?"

Mello shrugged casually. "I can't even remember. I've lived in an orphanage practically my whole life."

Julia nodded. "Where are you from? I can tell you have a bit of an accent."

"England," he replied curtly. "Do you want any of these chocolates?"

Julia shook her head. "I don't like chocolate. I prefer fruit flavored candies. So if you're from England, then what are you doing all the way in Los Angeles?"

"I've got something I have to do."

Julia smirked. "You like to be vague about things, don't you?" She then wandered over to the jelly beans that she had grown to love over the years and began placing them in her own bag.

"Well, have you been here your whole life?" Mello asked casually. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned his back against the wall beside Julia. She watched him curiously, not quite believing the fact that he had actually asked her something about her life. He wasn't looking at her though, but she answered anyway.

"Yeah, pretty much. Nothing exciting about that, unfortunately."

"You got a boyfriend?" Mello asked.

Julia's eyes widened and she could feel her cheeks burning. "What?"

"It's just a question."

The brunette looked down at her shoes before shaking her head. "No, I don't have a boyfriend. At this point, I don't even have friends. Just you."

Mello scoffed. "C'mon let's go. I'm starving."

Julia half smiled at him as they made their way to a nearby restaurant, sitting outside to enjoy the nice weather as they ate. Julia had on sunglasses and a white hat to hide her features from the passersby, and she just felt at ease for once. With no one recognizing her, she would be able to live her own life without the hassle of people reminding her about her misfortune. She could start over.

"So, you used to live in England in an orphanage," Julia started. "And you just randomly decided to capture Kira on your own?" At Mello's confused expression, Julia told him, "I remember you saying how that was your first priority when we first met."

"Have you ever heard of L, the detective?"

Julia nodded. "He's the guy trying to catch Kira, right? Yeah, I've heard of him. He must be pretty smart or something."

"Well, in the event that anything happens to him, he has a line of successors to take over for him. Wammy's house isn't an ordinary orphanage. They groom us to be L's successors."

Julia's eyes widened slightly. "You…? You're supposed to be L's successor? Wait, did something happen to him? I thought he was still trying to stop Kira."

Mello shook his head. "Kira killed him."

Julia placed a hand over her mouth in shock. "He's dead? That's awful…"

The waiter came at that moment and took their order. They paused in the middle of their conversation, since it wasn't exactly something that should be overheard. As soon as he left, Mello began talking again.

"Since L was unable to choose who would succeed him before he died, it was between myself and another person at the orphanage named Near." Mello clenched his fist in annoyance before continuing. "That damn Near! I've never been able to beat him at anything! I need to catch Kira so I can finally prove that I'm better than him, once and for all!"

Julia was stunned by his determination. It appeared he had a bit of an inferiority complex driving him towards his goal. It explained why he seemed to have a one-track mind.

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked curiously. Not that she minded, but this really was a first. Having Mello speak openly about something like this when he had been so secretive before.

"Well, since you'll be helping me, I figure you should have the whole back story."

Julia nodded. "I see. Don't worry Mello. I'll help you beat Near. It's the least I can do since you saved my life. I'll help you no matter what."

Mello and Julia lived in that old warehouse for about a few months before Mello turned eighteen. He and Julia managed to come up with some money and bought a place for themselves where they managed to find information on Kira and actually start becoming friends, surprisingly. Julia found it hard at first, not being able to live the life that she was used to, but she was adjusting to her new one.

They stayed in the small apartment they had rented for a year; Mello turned nineteen while Julia turned seventeen, and in that time, Mello managed to find out about the Death Note and had realized he wanted to get his hands on it. He also learned of Near's involvement in the case and how he had organized the SPK to find a way to defeat Kira. Mello knew that if he didn't find an organization to help him, he would never find a way to outwit Near.

Mello sat at the small dining table as he watched Julia cook the both of them dinner. He found that he quite enjoyed it when she cooked for them, not that he'd ever tell her that. Although he had been opposed to it at first, he was really glad to have her around. Once she got over the initial shock of losing her parents, she had gotten back to her usual self, which Mello learned was a bubbly personality. She was a good listener and always had good ideas; not like any of the stupid girls at Wammy's.

"Jules," Mello said to her. That was his nickname for her and Julia had grown to love it. She turned around to look at him curiously.

"Hmm?"

"I came up with a plan for us to get the notebook."

"And that would be?" Julia asked, turning back to the food.

Mello bit off a chunk of the chocolate he was eating before dinner before responding.

"I'm going to join a huge organization to give me the power and resources to obtain it. I was thinking the Mafia."

Julia paused. She turned to look at him slowly and raised an eyebrow at him. "What? Are you crazy? They eat people like us for breakfast and you want to be involved with them? And what am I going to do? We've come this far together and now you're gonna abandon me?"

"You'd be coming with me, Jules," he replied easily.

Julia scoffed. "If you think for one second I'm going to be joining the Mafia with you, you must be crazy. I've seen those movies; I don't want a chopped up piece of horse in my bed." She walked over to the cabinet to grab their plates and when she turned back around, Mello was right there in her face. Julia jumped at their proximity and backed up, her back hitting against the counter so she couldn't move anymore. Mello had a mischievous smirk on his lips and Julia couldn't help but blush. They'd been together for more than two years, so it only made sense that Julia would start developing feelings for him, not that she would ever tell him that. She was mentally cursing her feelings however, as he was probably aware of how she felt for him and was using it against her. She wouldn't put it past him.

"You don't want to come with me?" Mello asked.

Julia took a deep breath before pushing him away from her, increasing the space in between them. "Well, you're the one who wants to prove himself. I'm not gonna risk my life for your selfish needs."

Mello's face fell. "Are you serious?"

Julia hesitated, making eye contact with Mello. They stared at each other for a few moments before Julia groaned. "Just let me think about this, okay?" She then proceeded in rolling her eyes. "Geez, you're like one of those people that once they think of something, they won't even bother thinking up a backup plan. What if this Mafia thing doesn't work out? What are you gonna do then?"

Mello shrugged. "I usually make things up as I go. I'll figure something out."

Julia chuckled. "You always do, don't you?"

Julia served their dinners with a smile before sitting down across from him. He dug into the food with gusto and Julia watched him for a second. He had told her before about Near, and how he always came second best to him because he thought with his heart too much. He always let his emotions get in the way. Because of this, he really didn't make a good detective, despite his brains and cleverness. Julia found, however, that it was what she loved most about him. He wasn't distant or cold like she was sure Near probably was.

"What is it?" Mello asked, looking at Julia. He had noticed her staring at him and gave her a confused look.

Julia shook her head. "Nothing. Just thinking."

"Well, don't stare at me like that. It creeps me out."

Julia didn't say anything as she continued to eat. As much as the thought of working with the Mafia worried her, she wanted to follow Mello wherever he went. Ever since he saved her from that killer two years ago, she had been completely devoted to him; at first because he was the only person around, and now because she cared about him. And so, even though she wanted nothing to do with the Mafia, she reluctantly agreed to go with him.