A/N: Alright, next chapter up and ready. I'm going to be focusing on this timeline for a while since I don't really want to end the story so quickly. Also, I'll do my best to update when I can but school comes first so... bear with me.

Reviews are very much welcome, Enjoy! :)

(Mello P.O.V)

Weeks turned to months and I was top of the class. Not even A was looking to pass me now, though I'm sure he tried. I was around eight at this time and Matt was seven. I never let him know when my birthday was, but he made the effort to try and find out. Thankfully, it took him years to discover when it was.

Matt and I hung out almost every day at this point. Even more, the quiet kid that I had defended for most of his first year, had become the class clown. There wasn't really a dull moment once Matt stepped into the room. I can remember when we had a substitute so boring that Matt just couldn't take anymore. So he jumped on his desk, screamed, "My people need me!" then ran out the door in a flash. We all busted a gut laughing from this, and when he got in trouble for ditching class he had gotten away with it since Watari had found it humorous himself.

Another time, we had had separate classes at the one point, and to make me laugh Matt had ran into my classroom screaming, "Troll! In the dungeons!" Stopped… then proceeded with, "Thought you ought to know." Then collapsed to the floor. The teacher then proceeded to drag him and myself out of the classroom, since I was laughing too hard to control myself and Matt was still pretending to have fainted. We both got detention afterwards for disruptions… well worth it I think.

Matt had become somewhat popular for a bit, but only really hung around me for the duration of our time in the Wammy house. However, there was a kid there named Torrik – or T as we called him – who was constantly trying to get Matt to hang around him and his buds, openly ignoring me, but Matt stuck around like the loyal friend he was. When T couldn't get him to be his friend, the bullying commenced towards young Matt. He didn't seem too fazed by it, but I still defended him. I always thought that if I didn't defend him, I'd lose his friendship. It took a long time for me to figure out it wasn't the case, but when you're top of the class – and hated by more people than ought to be – a good friend is much appreciated… and you'd do anything to make sure it stays the way it is.

But I digress.

At this point, I can remember me and Matt hanging out in L's room while he worked on a case. L hadn't mind that we paid him a visit, and he wasn't too into the case he was working on anyway so we were really a relief for him. Matt was on his Gameboy, as per usual, and I was studying for an exam coming up shortly. I had always devoted my time to making sure I stayed on top and in the lead. Surprisingly, Matt managed to keep second to me, which meant we were both ahead of A and B. L himself seemed rather proud of this feat, which I guess only swelled my pride further.

It wasn't long before Watari came in to announce a new arrival.

L seemed chiefly interested in this new kid and so got up from his – rather abnormal – sitting position to follow the old men. I followed L, of course, with Matt by my side, but we didn't go to the usual sitting room where most kids first stayed. We headed toward the playroom, and that's where I first saw… him.

Although what was to come is quite evident by now, at first glance I couldn't really have an opinion on him. He was small, with white hair and clothing, and pale. Yet, with all that, his eyes were dark. My first glimpse at this little egg-head, and all I could think of was how odd he looked.

He was playing with some of the toys, not exactly uncommon for someone his age, but there was a certain… how should I put it? Aura? There was a certain aura to him that just didn't make him look like a regular five-year-old. He seemed deep into thought… concentrating on something. I had even asked Matt was his reading on him was, considering he was better at this than I myself. Not even he had a clue on this kid.

Finally, L kneeled down to get a better look at him. The kid did not pay any attention to him, but continued to play with his toys. It almost angered me to see such disrespect… but, maybe that's because my mother always taught me never to ignore someone because it was rude. I always took her lessons to heart.

At last, he looked at L but seemed rather afraid of him. It didn't look like he had been around very many people beforehand. It didn't take him very long until he noticed me and Matt, though he seemed more focused on me. His blank eyes gave me shivers when he looked at me. They were too calculating, too focused… too much like L.

L spoke. "Can you tell me your name?"

Silence. The kid just kept staring at me. It was verging on the edge of creepy now, and I just wanted him to stop.

I think maybe my anger started to show signs of surfacing because Watari put a hand on my shoulder as he spoke. "Maybe you should wait outside…"

"No," came the soft voice of the kid. His eyes still focused on me, "it's alright. He can stay, same with him." He nodded to Matt. "I don't mind…"

My anger at being 'allowed' to carry on by this brat finally got to me. "Well I do. C'mon Matt, we gotta go. Our class starts soon."

"Aww, C'mon Mel let me just finish this one level."

I grabbed his arm and led him out forcefully since I knew there was no way talking to him would change anything. Matt was stubborn when it came to his games and it was better that I was his seeing-eye-person than his life coach. I never changed him, and he never changed me. That's the way we worked.

I took one last glimpse of the kid who had just made my worst enemy list. I managed to hear L repeat his question, only to hear the kid reply with, "Near. My name is Near."