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Put it together himself, now the picture connects
Never askin for someone's help, to get some respect

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"How the hell will I manage to hide this..." he mumbled to himself, pulling locks of blond hair down into the side of his face. His layered hair, even if it was ever so slightly longer in comparison to Matt or even L's, still didn't hide the long laseration that sliced down the bridge of his nose and to the edge of his lips. The wound was clearly insignifigant and completely painless, but even the smallest scratch on his body left Roger with a million questions he would eventually force down the young boy's throat.

A girl apeared in the doorway behind Mello, her smoky blue eyes dancing with amusement, "Need some cover-up, Mello? I bet Parker has some," He scowled as he heard Matt snicker back in the bedroom, though it was cut off abrubtly with a loud crash. Who shoved him this time, Mello didn't know. Honestly, he didn't care.

"No," he growled, brushing past Anna and heading back into the bedroom, the room he now shared with Matt, who was splayed out on the floor on his back, his fingers nimbly crossing across his hand-held videogame. Mello felt a bit annoyed at Matt's condition. He'd wake up in the morning with a few bruises here and there, while Mello would be stuck with a cut across his face for about a week, and then he'd have to explain his little fight to Roger. Parker, clearly annoyed, leaned casually against the doorframe, her hazel gaze narrowed.

"You're worse than a chick," she greeted him irritably when he stepped out of the bathroom, "Even I don't spend that much time in the bathroom. Fixing your make-up? Oh my! Do you wear eyeliner?!" She leaned in suddenly, peering intently at his eyes.

He quickly shied away, "No. I'm not a queer, you know," Walking over to Matt, he threw an arm around his shoulders casually, "But we all know who really is one here," he said gently, patting the redhead on the shoulder.

Matt tried to pull away from the other teen's slender but suprisingly strong arm, before finally just ducking under it and standing up, letting his videogame system slide off his lap and to the floor, "I'm straight," he snapped shortly.

"Yeah, yeah, I know relax." Mello sighed, before turning to Anna and Parker. Anna had gone over to Parker now, looking as if she was ready to leave the room anytime now. So Mello 'dismissed' her.

"You can go if you want," he muttered, turning back towards the bathroom where the mirror was, his blue eyes slowly leaking annoyance at the cut on his face.

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Grimy writing was everywhere around the park area, ink from sad love notes and random scribbles bleeding down the slides and the bars. Teenage girls all tangled up in their hopeless heartache; wimpy, cowardly teenage boys who spend most of their time skipping class because they think their life is too much to handle and they think they might as well go ahead and kill themselves, and they write out everything they feel to the public without anyone realizing it was them, only for it to get washed away the next time the rain pours down from the sky.

Pathetic, was what most would say, while others were so used to it they didn't even acknowledge it anymore. Splayed out on the bars of the worn down jungle gym, which was technically only for the smaller children, but was used by the teens when school wasn't in session or they had breaks, was Mello, chocolate bar in hand and all, his eyes narrowed as he peered through several blossomed trees and at the school building. He and Matt only had about 5 minutes until is was 5th period, which was when Gym was.

The flame-haired boy was leaning against a pole used to support the equipment, locks of hair hiding his gaze, which was now partially visible. He had finally taken off his goggles, which now hung casually around his neck. His pale emerald gaze was now exposed, flickering towards the yellow spark of the lit cigarette he held between his lips. It wasn't that Mello had never met a person his age who smoked, or anything, but not only considering the fact that Matt was almost two years younger than him, he didn't seem like the type to whip out a pack of cancer-sticks.

The silent tension that passed between them was nearly unbearable, and finally Mello just turned away and looked in the other direction, away from the building and the property, and out towards the main town area of Winchester.

It had been awhile since he had left Whammys; the last time it was because he had gone to the investigation unit on the other side of town. This building was a massive, incredibly high skyscraper that had so many stories it was nearly impossible to count. Many were offices, spare bedrooms, and even indoor training facilities. It was all run by a world famous detective known simply as Spade Razuri, along with his more elusive assistant Clayton Thomas.

Spade Razuri, whose real name is unknown, also came from Whammy's house and had been raised there ever since he was very young. His parents were abusive, and he had been taken away and put into the gifted orpahange before anyone was even aware of his gift of intelligence. When they did, however, realize how keen and clever he was, they began to test his skills. He soon became intrested in law and crime, and when he was old enough to leave the orphanage, he started his own career, partnering up with the police and FBI to crack some of the worlds most difficult cases. He's been partnered with Whammy's recently of course as well, and is looking for around two or three gifted children to not only help him at the institution, but to eventually succeed him.

Clayton Thomas attended the orphanage for only a year when he was an older teenager, but was quite similliar to his new friend Spade and agreed to help him with his work. However, he also does espionage work, and works with the FBI regularily.

Mello had been chosen to become one of the children to become trained for this specific type of job and to eventually be able to work with Spade and the others at the taskforce, and perhaps even succeed Spade himself.

He was satisfied at the thought of being the successor of Razuri, eventually gaining the spot as number one and being able to hold his title as the greatest detective of the world. Matt had heard of the detective also, but he didn't apear to be all too intrested in the opportunity. He had admitted he was a bit more intrigued by Clayton's work, but still didn't feel like he wanted to work with them.

His thoughts were interrupted as a young, thin girl skipped out from behind the side of the building, trotting towards them with bright eyes and a massive grin. Her brown hair was tied up in a girly, high ponytail, and her pale skin was now flushed at the cheeks. Mello recognized Linda, the shy, bubbly girl who was extremely artistic and loved to draw. Not to mention, one of the people who was most likely to annoy the hell out of Mello.

She slowed down as she came closer to them, Matt quickly leaning down and pushing his cigarette into the damp sand, sending a brief cloud of smoke swirling into the air. Linda was in front of him by the time he stood back up, and he backed up in suprise.

"Hi Matt," she greeted him shyly, her hands behind her back. The redhead blinked slightly, casting a glance at Mello before looking back at the brunette girl, "Hey Linda," he muttered, sounding as if he wasn't even intrested. She flashed him a quick smile, before turning to Mello.

Fixing her with narrowed cold blue eyes, he crossed his arms at her, though his hostile apearance didn't seem to phase her at all, for her cheeky grin merely widened at him, "Roger sent me out to find you. He wants to speak with you in his office."

For god sakes, Mello sighed and sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the jungle gym stairs and jumping onto the ground. Wordlessly, he passed Matt and Linda, the bell ringing for classes to begin by the time he was halfway to the door. Matt quickly slipped past Linda and jogged towards the front doors of the school, catching up to his blond-haired companion.

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They said from the moment Mello began his classes and they saw his extraordinary talents, he was a prodigy.

They said from the moment L even stepped foot into the private orphanage from where he came from, he was a prodigy.

How offending.

So it was no suprise that he was called into Roger's office, which now had L standing patiently at the right hand side of his desk, and he recieved a rather casual announcement that L could potentially succeed Spade, therefore causing Mello more competition.

The annoyance Mello felt was instant. That spot was reserved for him and him alone, to be specially mentored and given guidance by the mysterious, yet world-known detective. He had been at this orphanage for exactly four years of his life, two of them he had devoted to showing everyone he deserved to be number one. L had been at this place for what, two months? And had already recieved recognition for his skills.

That was enough to piss him off, and to say in a way most would say was rather childish, to him it was unfair.

"I've been devoting myself to this for forever, and you know it," he tried to argue, his narrowed eyes meeting the pale ashy color of Roger's irises angrily, "Why should-"

The older man interrupted him sharply, raising a hand to silence him, "L has demonstrated various traits that shows he's able to handle the responsiblities of succeeding someone with a job so important. It doesn't matter how long he's been here, Mello."

Roger glanced over at L a few brief times encouragingly, his dull eyes lit up with forced enthusiasm. The dark-haired boy wouldn't meet his gaze, however, staring down at the carpet intently by his feet as if it were speaking to him.

"And I haven't?" he turned his gaze away from L and back to Roger furiously, "I am responsible, and I'm extremely dedicated to my schoolwork and what I've been asked to prepare for, which is meeting with Spade!"

L's black eyes finally glanced up, just as Roger spoke, "Don't get me wrong, Mello, I'm not choosing out of you two. You'll both recieve guidance and potential to join their taskforce. It's just-"

It was Mello's turn to interrupt him, "This is just like a game, isn't it?" he asked dryly, referring to the time Matt had explained to him what he thought of how this place worked, "The more points you get, the higher level you get- translation, the more intelligent you are, the higher the chance of getting the head-spot of the taskforce training."

L gave the slightest, smallest smirk, turning and glancing curiously at Roger, who had suddenly become at a lost for words. Finally, the old man shook his head, adjusting his glasses and waving his hand at the two young teens.

"We'll get into details about this later, I'm not in the mood for a thorough discussion. You two may leave."

L turned towards the door, slipping past Mello and narrowly avoiding getting hit in the shoulder from the annoyed blond. Just as Mello was about to follow after him, Roger stopped him.

"Mello, please hold on."

Once more stifling a growl of annoyance, he whipped around to face him, folding his arms across his chest. Roger didn't seem to be looking him directly in the eye, more or less at the side of his face. It was only then he remembered.

"Whats that cut on your face from, Mello?" He asked in a displeased tone, his eyebrows raised knowingly. Immediately, his hand went up to his face, hiding the mark.

He cleared his throat, slowly backing up towards the door, "What cut, Roger? I don't even know what you're- oh wait look at the time, If I don't hurry I'll be late for my next class."

And he quickly slipped out of the office, slamming the door behind him, leaving Roger to shake his head and sigh after him.

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Lyrics above from Fort Minor's 'Remember the Name'.

(A/N: Yay, another chapter. Review please XD)

- b l u e y