Based off the various Death Note Characters that I do not own.

Near pulled his shirt down over his head, forcing his arms through the sleeves. He didn't bother unbuttoning it because it was plenty big enough to just pull on. The undershirt was the only irritating part of the whole dressing problem; its stretchy fabric felt strange as it clung to his chest.

He looked down at his tiny feet. The water from the shower he'd just taken had finally dried and now they felt horribly cold. He grabbed a brand new pair of socks from his top drawer and sat down the bed to put them on.

After a moment Near glanced up, catching the sight of himself in the mirror across the room. He was covered from head to toe in pure whiteness. He stood and walked up to his reflection, appraising himself for a moment. Everything had to be perfect. He had to be white. Nothing but white. Clean. Pure.

"Admiring yourself?" Matt said. He'd been walking past Near's room at just that moment and had apparently decided to invite himself in. "How come all you ever where is white?"

"I like white."

"Yeah, I figured."

Matt smiled. It was then that Near noticed something.

"Where are your games?"

The older boy sighed, adjusting the goggles on the top of his head, "Mello hid them. I can't find them anywhere. Wanna help?"

Near nodded quietly, "Let me get some toys."

As he waited, Matt fiddled around with a toy car, spinning circles around a duckie, "Where do we look first?"

"I'm sure you've check your room and probably the playroom as well, right?" After he received a nod he continued on, "Did you try the kitchen?"

Matt scrunched up his face, "Why would they be there?"

"Because Mello knows you well enough to know that you wouldn't think to look in such a strange place. I doubt that he's taken into account the possibility of me helping you. Technically I should be in class right now."

"Why aren't you?" Matt asked. He didn't picture Near as someone who'd play hooky.

Near shrugged casually, "I needed a cleaner shirt."

They traveled through the hall and down the stairs, turning into the kitchen. The room was empty at this time of day. The breakfast dishes had long since been cleaned up and it was still too early on for lunch to be prepared. This was the perfect time to snoop around without getting into trouble.

Matt walked into the room and pulled himself up to sit on the counter, "Do you really think that he would hide them in here? People come in and out of here all day."

But Near was already across the room. He'd gotten there surprisingly quickly and was now moving one game system after another from the open cabinet. He pulled each from the depths of a cereal box, careful not to get the few bits of chocolate puffs on the floor.

"Oh, wow!" Matt shouted as he jumped down and raced across the room to grab his handheld. He hugged it close to his face like a teddy bear, "How'd you know where they were?"

"These are his favorites," Near informed the boy, "I figured they'd be the last place anyone would look. No one would dare to touch his chocolate."

"And yet you're doing it anyways, you ass!"

Matt froze mid snuggle and his eyes traveled over to his roommate, who'd chosen this exact moment to appear, "Hey Mello."

"Hi," Mello snarled. His attention turned back to Near, "Why can't you mind your own damn business?!"

Near stood slowly, his hand reaching calmly to twirl his hair, "Matt asked me for help."

Mello turned his angry eyes on Matt, "Traitor."

"You weren't going to tell me and I had to find them somehow!" Matt pouted slightly, "I was on level thirty-six for crying out loud! Do you expect me to stay in the Forbidden Castle forever?"

"It really wasn't fair of you to hide them in the first place, Mello," Near stated, "You know how much dependence he has on those systems. If you were really a friend you wouldn't treat him so roughly."

Matt froze again. He'd been about to flip on the system, but he wondered if it was such a good idea right now. He might need to keep his eyes up, if only to avoid any sudden strikes.

"Out," Mello commanded. His eyes were trained on the boy in white, but his stern words were obviously meant for the other, "Now."

"Don't hurt him," Matt said as he gathered up all of his things into his arms. He had to make his escape now, "You know what Roger will do if you do."