here's the next chap...
Near was feeling worried. His school had just ended and L wasn't at the school gates to pick him up. It wasn't like L to be late. Granted, it was only ten minutes since school ended but to Near that was like an hour.
Even though Near was fifteen, he was very attached to his older brothers, especially L. he knew it was unusual for boys his age to be very close to their siblings but Near wasn't like other boys.
While he had his own group of friends, he wasn't very close to them and they showed no sign of wanting to get closer to him. It was probably due to his eccentricity that caused that. He was always holding on to his teddy bear no matter where he went. On his first day of school, his teacher had tried to take his teddy bear away, stating it was not right for boys his age to be carrying such things around.
Near had screamed, cried and turned the whole class upside down. That resulted in him going to see the school psychiatrist and his parents being called. Unfortunately, his parents couldn't be contacted, resulting in L having to go see his teachers. L had explained Near's emotional attachment to the bear to his teachers and they ceased bothering him about it.
However, some of the crueller students and teachers didn't. Some of the students made fun of him and some tried to bully him by taking his bear away. After Mello had interfered, they all ceased to do so but still threw cruel remarks his way. As for the teachers, the only one who was a real bother was the gym teacher. The muscle-bound moron wouldn't stop picking on him.
Near couldn't very well explain the reason he was so attached to the bear. It was a worn out thing, its brown colour faded and its marble eyes slightly cracked. But it was special to him, because L had given it to him.
It was the first birthday present he ever got, and it solidified his relationship with L as his brother. True, he loved Mello just as much, but he wasn't as attached. Mello came into his life after L did, and that was all the difference Near needed. The teddy bear was the first gift he ever got in his life, given to him by his first brother. It was a sign that L cared for Near, and he felt that if he lost it, L would cease to care for him. Near knew he couldn't live with that.
Clutching his bear tighter, he looked around for his raven-haired brother at the gates. Still no sign of him.
"Near-kun?" a voice behind him said.
Near turned to see Sayu Yagami, one of his classmates.
"Good afternoon, Yagami-san," he greeted softly.
The girl frowned at him, brushing aside a few stray strands of her black hair.
"How many times have I told you to call me Sayu-chan?" she asked.
Near looked down.
"I'm sorry, Ya…I mean, Sayu…Sayu-chan," he said shyly.
Sayu smiled. She found her white-haired classmate to be very polite, shy and rather cute.
"Why aren't you going home yet?" she asked.
"I'm waiting for my brother," answered Near.
"Oh, you have a brother?" said Sayu, looking interested. "What's his name? Does he have white hair like you?"
Near regarded the girl before him.
Sayu was one of the few people who were genuinely nice to him. He found her cheery behaviour endearing and it made him feel less worried and more at ease. He also enjoyed her companionship. For these reasons, he decided he should at least answer her questions.
"His name is L," he said. "His hair is black like yours, it's very nice."
Sayu grinned. "You think my hair is nice?"
Near blushed.
"I mean L's hair…not that your hair isn't nice…I was just referring to L's…your hair is nice, but…"
Sayu laughed, a pleasant sound to Near's ears.
"You're funny when you stutter," she said, smiling at him.
Near blushed harder and he looked away to hide it.
"Why do you go back with your brother? Do you live far away?" she asked.
Near shook his head.
"I live nearby, but…" he blushed again, embarrassed. "I like to walk back with him."
Sayu looked at Near thoughtfully.
"He must mean a lot to you then," she said, still smiling. "The two of you must be really close."
Near gave her a rare smile.
"Near?" a familiar voice said.
Near turned and saw L.
"Oni-chan!" he cried, running forward to hug his brother, not caring about what other people thought about it.
L hugged him back before saying: "Sorry I was late; I was held up a bit."
Near nodded his head and stepped back to regard the other boy beside L.
He was taller than L; he had brown hair and brown eyes that twinkled. He was smiling broadly at Near.
"Hey there, you must be Near," he said in a pleasant voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry," said L. "Near, this is Light Yagami, my classmate."
Light frowned slightly when L used the term 'classmate' instead of 'friend'. True, he wasn't that close to L, but he felt somewhat hurt that L didn't seem to regard him as a friend.
Maybe I'm thinking too much.
Near meanwhile, turned to look at Sayu.
"Yaga-I mean, Sayu-chan, is he your brother?" he asked.
Sayu nodded, smiling.
L however, was surprised. He was surprised to hear Near call someone –chan. Was it possible that Near had a friend in the young girl standing before him?
"Ah, Yagami-san has never told me that he has a sister," he said pleasantly to the girl.
"I'm not surprised," said the younger girl brightly. "Oni-chan doesn't like to talk much about his family."
L smiled slightly and looked at Near meaningfully.
His younger brother understood and quickly said: "Sayu-chan, this is my brother, L. This is Sayu, my class…my friend."
L's face broke out into a true smile upon hearing the last word. It brightened up his dark features and made him look lovely.
Light noticed it.
"I'm so glad to hear that, Sayu-san," L was saying. "I was worried that no one would be able to see past my baby brother's attachment to that bear."
"Hey!" cried Near indignantly.
Sayu and L laughed.
Light stared.
L was laughing! It made him look more attractive and pleasant. It was as though he could see the real L instead of a mask.
Wait a minute; did I just think that L is attractive?
Light shook his head, maybe he was thinking too much.
"Yagami-san, let's go," L said to him.
Light frowned; he disliked the way L kept referring to him with his last name but said nothing.
He followed them, Sayu and Near chatting with each other.
Light kept watching L. The raven-head was smiling as he watched his brother talk to Sayu.
It's amazing, thought Light. It's amazing how a simple smile can change how he looks entirely.
After walking awhile, they reached a junction.
"Well, my home is that way," said Sayu, pointing in one direction.
"Mine's the other way," answered Near, looking slightly disappointed. He had really enjoyed talking to Sayu.
"Well, I'd better go or my mom will start to worry," said Sayu, looking slightly disappointed herself. "You're not coming home yet, oni-chan?"
Light shook his head.
"I have to do a project with L at his place," he said.
Sayu nodded.
"Well, I guess I'd better go now," she said. "Goodbye L, it was nice meeting you."
"Likewise," answered L, smiling.
As they turned to leave, Sayu said softly. "Near?"
The white-haired boy turned to Sayu.
"You have a nice smile," she said. "You should smile more often."
With that she left.
Near was blushing.
L teased Near mercilessly all the way back about it.
Light noticed how differently L behaved with his younger brother. His emotions bubbled forth, he smiled constantly and he spoke so cheerfully.
After awhile, they came to a plain looking home.
L turned to face Light.
Light immediately noticed that L had reverted back to his emotionless and formal way when addressing him.
"This is my home, Yagami-san."
Light decided that he didn't like it at all.
He was about to say so, but L and Near had already walked up to the door.
Light sighed and followed.
LLLLLLLLL
Light couldn't believe the mess in the house. Chocolate wrappers were strewn all over the floor and there were piles of unwashed dishes in the kitchen sink.
L looked around casually, not bothered at all.
"Mello must be home," he said to himself.
Turning to Light, he said. "Do excuse the mess, Yagami-san. It's not normally like this, but when Mello is around, he tends to mess up the place a bit."
"A bit?" echoed Light incredulously.
L shrugged and turned to Near.
"You have any homework?" he asked.
Near nodded.
"Then get to it," said L, smiling and ruffled his younger brother's white hair.
Near nodded again and shuffled off to his room.
L turned to Light again.
"I guess we'll do our work in my room, Yagami-san," he said. "Follow me."
L led Light past a room where music was blaring loudly through the door and up a set of stairs. There was only one room up there: L's room.
It was completely neat.
A futon was rolled neatly in corner nearby, a desk with books arranged neatly on it sat in another corner and a shelf with books stood in another. The most curious thing in the room however, was a little miniature fridge that was beside the desk.
Putting his bag down, L walked over to the fridge and opened it. He pulled out two slices of strawberry cake and offered Light one.
Light took it with a small 'thank you'.
They both sat there for awhile, devouring the cake.
After they were done, L took the plates and placed it back in the fridge.
"I'll wash them later," he said. "Shall we start then, Yagami-san?"
Light let out a frustrated growl.
L looked at him in surprise.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"Yes!" snapped Light. "Why do you keep calling me Yagami-san? Why do you keep talking to me so formally? Why do you treat me so coldly?"
L stared at him before looking away.
"I'm sorry if I've made you angry," he said. "I thought it was only proper if I refer to you formally as I do not know you well."
"You just met Sayu today and yet you were more open with her," retorted Light coldly.
"That's different!" cried out L. "Sayu is Near's friend. I was just happy that Near has a friend. You should know that I was worried for him as he did not mix around much in school and to see that he has a friend…"
"You're no different."
L blinked. "I beg your pardon?"
"You're no different," said Light again. "You're also pretty antisocial, you don't mix around at all and you don't seem to want to. You push other people away all the time."
L opened his mouth but shut it again.
He looked away and started to bite his thumb.
Light sighed.
"Whatever," he said. "Let's just get this over with, okay?"
L nodded slowly.
"What do you want to know…Light-san?"
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finally...L decides to move on to a first name basis with Light...what will happen next??
find out in the next chapter...
next chapter coming soon...