AN: I just really wanted to write this one. I had like three chapters of fluffiness, and now I'm just glad that the ball is finally rolling, athough I always like fluff. Anyway, things in this chapter might make more sense after reading the author's note at the end. Enjoy anyway!

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note or the amazing Billy Joel's "Only the Good Die Young" (If you do not like either of these things, I now ask you to imagine me glaring at you and telling you none too politely to GET OUT!)

Warnings: Yaoi (but no lemons, I wouldn't be able to write that), swearing, and Mello (although he's Christian in this story)

KINDLY review!

Brand New Soul

Mello POV

Did you know I've never had a best friend before?

People just can't seem to stand me. There was once a little girl at one orphanage, a sweet blonde who always wore a smile. She seemed to like me, but was adopted before we could get close.

So I've taken care of myself for most of my life. My parents were brutally murdered in front of me, I lived in empty house for a year before someone finally noticed. I was passed from orphanage to orphanage, foster home to foster home, nothing quite working out.

I'm not sure why I accepted Matt's proposal (AN: end the sentence there) of friendship so easily, but I think it's because I was secretly lonely, and the sincerity in his deep green eyes that I could see ever so slightly through his goggle spoke volumes to me, and I felt like, maybe, I could trust him, trust someone, to take care of me.

I've never had a best friend before. That's why I was so excited to wake up next to my new found (AN: Butt) buddy after an epic gaming battle lasting late into the night. I felt genuinely… happy to have done something so simple and yet so much fun with someone I could be pals with.

Said "pal" was currently sleeping on the carpet next to me, his goggles discarded on the ground beneath his butt, his entire expressive face exposed. He almost looked like a puppy when slee-

"OH SHIT!" aforementioned puppy yelled as he sprang awake, checking his watch and then frantically looking for his goggles, which were still underneath him. "We missed breakfast, and if we don't haul ass we'll be late for class!" With that, I too sprang out of bed (read: off the floor), and started quickly brushing my hair, searching for clothes, and trying to pack my bag at the same time. Between the two off us we took about four minutes to get ready, me wishing I could spend just a little more time on my hair (SHUT UP), and we hurried out the door to begin the long walk between the dorms and the class rooms.

"So… what's up with that pasty kid who's always stroking the floor?" I asked.

"Oh… That's Near," Matt paused to take a breath, as we were running. "He's second in the running to succeed L. Don't… talk to him."

"L?"

"They'll explain it to you if you qualify to be in the running. "

"Oh. I have English first."

"Me too. I'll show you where it is, c'mon."

Matt POV

Waking up next Mello was something I have wanted to do since I met the guy. I did that this morning. Ok, it wasn't in the way I had hoped, but it was enough. Before I started screaming about being late, I caught a glimpse of him smiling, and honestly, the guy has a smile warm enough to melt an iceburg and save the titanic.

The school day breezed by even faster with him there, although I have a ton of homework to do. At dinner Near slithered over to our (yes, OUR, as in just him and me) table today to welcome Mello to Wammy's, and Mello declared right then and there that he was going to hate the "creepy, floor-sexual albino." It made my day.

After we finished our homework we played miscellaneous video games again, but we slept in beds this time.

This was our routine for about a month, when something changed.

Mello POV (a month later)

"Congratulations, Mello," Roger began as I entered his office after being called there. "Please, take a seat."

"What's this about?" I asked as I sat. "Mello, you have been chosen to be in the running to succeed L. I'm sure you've heard, at least by now, that L is the world's greatest detective, who was raised here after being orphaned. Thusly, his successor is to come from this school. You are currently in third place in the running, right behind Near."

"Weird-ass little bastard. Who's in first?"

"That would be your roommate, Matt."

"Hmmmwhatthefuckhmmmm? " I said, cocking my head to the side. I could not believe MATT, gay, make-up wearing, best friend none-the-less Matt was in first place, making him the smartest guy here. This was too much. "Excuse me, I'll be leaving now," I mumble, dashing out of the room.

Matt POV

"I WILL CRUSH YOU!" roared Mello, bursting through the door (AN: THIS IS SPARTA!). "Mels, no games now, I still have shit to do."

"NO, I MEAN IN THE RUNNING. I AM IN THIRD PLACE NOW, BUT I WILL WIN! I FINALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO AIM FOR, A GOAL, AND BEST FRIEND OR NOT *cough* Near *cough* I WILL ACHIEVE MY DREAM as of now!"

"O…kay… Wait, best friend?" I've never been called THAT before.

"Yeah, but that's not the point of that rant! Did you even listen?"

"I hear ya buddy. This is gonna be one hell of a competition. Better bring it, beotch!"

"Hey!"

"Sorry, sorry." I could call him whatever I wanted anyway, because I knew what I had to do.

And then I did something I probably shouldn't have done. I got up off my bed, and I made my way told him, silently. "Matt?" He asked, confused. I looked in his eyes for a second, and I kissed him.

He did not hit me.

He did nothing at all, but turn and run.

AN: Sooo… yup. Long-er chapter. I made Matt really smart in this, because personally I like it that way. Yes, it's not canon, but that will be fixed, just wait. This chapter is dedicated to SecretYaoiLoverInc for making my day with her comment that picked up on some of my personally favorite jokes in the story (not to be vain, but just things that I also thought were surprising funny, because typically I don't think of myself as particularly funny). Thank you, and everyone else who feeds my soul with your love.

Love you like you're Elixir, 5 Gum,

BeautifulLie1313