Wow… this may be the first serious, non-parody FanFic I've written in ages. Not sure what to tell you, if it sucks… I'm sorry. I've been real used to funny stuff so… Who knows how this will go. R&R. ;D Ugh… this is a long one. I had to pretty much write out the entire 61st chapter in order to prologue this right.

Mello POV

Prologue: Leaving Out Today

Matt and I were in the common room, I was snapping off a piece of Hershey's Chocolate as the redhead sat diligently fighting onward, through the last level of Super Mario. I envy his skills; I never made it past Level 10… I stared over his shoulder in a half-hearted attempt to pay attention as he pwned Bowser.

"Mello!" Linda, a short brunette who held the 4th ranking right under Matt, called out, skipping over to us. She had a sneer-ish gleam in her eye. Oh great…

"What do you want, Linda?" I asked giving her a look of annoyance and complete discontent with the fact I was talking to her. She was soooo annoying, her and her little squad of brats who did her bidding always had some sort of fucking shit to bother you about. Matt's battle with Bowser raged on in the background.

"Roger wants you; he called Near in as well." She continued. "What'd you do this time?" She accused. What was strange is I hadn't. Matt and I had been remotely inactive lately, normally we'd be enduring long never ending lectures from Roger on how we should behave and blahdy, blah, blah…

Matt paused his game and answered for me pushing his goggles up on his head. "What for?" He asked tilting his head slightly. I looked to Linda apathetically. "Well?"

"I dunno. He was looking for you that's all." She said before prancing off, her cronies following like little puppy dogs behind her, leaving us blinking at her. That was random. What did he need me for? It's not like I'd done anything, and it'd make more sense if he'd summoned Matt as well. I never flew solo when it came to our destructive hobbies. They were much more fun to do together. The likeliness that it was one of the normal things I was wanted for was unlikely.

Matt and I looked at each other in utter confusion. Obviously he was as confused as I was about this. Weird…

"I'll be right back then…" I said standing up, taking the last bite of my chocolate bar before discarding the wrapper to a random space on the carpet. He watched it hit the floor then un-paused his game.

"Good luck, Mells." He said returning his attention to the pixilated screen.

I left the common room and took the corridor to Roger's Office. I knew the short cut, I learned it after many a trek there for blowing shit up, setting things on fire, assaulting people… the works. I stopped in front of the big oak wood door. With no hesitation I cracked it open just barely and peaked in contemplatively.

"Come in, Mello." Roger ordered solemnly looking down, with an expression I could only describe as remorse. What happened? I blinked twice then threw the door open and walked in, the door swung shut and clicked ensuring that no one could over hear what was going on.

I surveyed the room for any sign as to why I was here, was L going to pick his successor? L was no where to be found, the possibility was yet another unlikely one, but I still glanced disgustedly at the sheepish albino, Near, who sat on the floor curling his hair as he solved yet another completely blank puzzle.

What was the point in his blank puzzle any way? It's pointless, mainly because every piece was the same size and shape, there was no way you couldn't finish it. It defied all logic and made me once again ponder, how is Near first in line to succeed L?

This was a common thing that made me wonder. I could not understand that little freak. Nothing Near ever did made any sense. Or perhaps he is so advanced I could not comprehend it… I thought. I frowned; I was going to pound the shit out of him for making me think that way…

I left my thoughts realizing I'd nearly forgot why I was here, as I also noticed Roger looked even more upset, he blinked sad, sleepy eyes at Near and I. "What is it Roger?" I asked curiously nearing his desk.

He closed his eyes and leaned his chin harder on his hands that could barely prop it up by how disappointed he was to say it. "L is dead."

My eyes widened as I was taken aback, I jolted backwards in shock. Near looked up at Roger with the utmost difficulty of concealing his shock as well; a first for the emotionless sheep kid. I shook almost violently; it took a lot of strength not to lose my bearings. The room was dead silent.

"DEAD!? Bu-but how???" I slammed my fists on his desk wide eyed breaking the silence. Had I heard correctly? Was L really dead? There's no way. I received no answer, Roger sat in silence and the only noise to follow was Near's putting the final piece down on his puzzle. "Do you mean he was killed by Kira, is that it???" I demanded. Finally he answered one of my questions.

"Most likely, yes."He replied not changing position or expression, not giving any more details. It was infuriating, I acted on impulse, still trying to finalize this as a fact I grabbed him by the shirt pulling him closer and demanding once more. "He was going to give Kira the death penalty and now… HE'S DEAD?? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL ME?!?!?"

Before startled Roger could answer Near abruptly stood up and emptied his entire puzzle on the floor holding it high above his head closing his eyes as he said calmly. "If we don't win the game; if we don't solve the puzzle. We are nothing more than failures." I slowly let go of my hold on Roger's collar to turn and look at Near. I could still not believe what was going on… Holy shit…

I had no idea how to reply. I just stood wide eyed, mouth agape staring at Near out of the corner of my eye. I shifted my gaze quickly back to Roger still in disbelief of what was happening, but then a stray thought returned to me… Who had won? Who was to succeed L? I had to know. I had to know, now.

I leaned on Roger's desk again and said with difficulty. "So, L, between Near and me, who did he…?" I couldn't finish. I was still caught up in processing what was going on.

"I'm afraid he hasn't chosen yet, Mello…" Roger answered sadly. "And now he's dead you see…" Roger paused for a moment. "Mello, Near… How about you two work together?"

I froze, was he seriously suggesting I work with my rival? It barely computed with my already freaked out mind setting… No fucking way in hell would I ever, ever under any circumstances work with that damn sheep. No way. No fucking way.

"Yes, agreed." Replied Near, casually as he restarted his blank puzzle once more.

…

"Impossible, Roger!" I replied narrowing my eyes. "You know Near and I don't get along. We've always been rivals."

There was a short silence. It seemed Near had almost completely departed from the conversation becoming, yet again, very involved in his blank puzzle.

"Listen, Roger… Near will be the one to succeed L…" I finally said, I was completely serious. "Unlike me, he'll do the job calmly as though he were solving a puzzle." I always came in second place to him. It was an undeniable truth. I had lost this time, but I would be the one to catch Kira… I knew it.

I clenched my fists angrily, I needed to break something, blow shit up… No, that wouldn't work now; I couldn't stay here any longer. I couldn't deal with this juvenile shit any fucking longer. I turned on my heel and stormed angrily to the door.

"Mello!" Roger called out.

I stopped. "Roger… Do whatever you want; I'll be 15 in no time after all…" It was a fact; in only a year and a half I would legally be able to leave Whammy's and pursue my own life. I would miss this place but I had to find my own way, and the time was now.

"I'm leaving from this institute, too!" I announced as I left slamming the door behind me. "I'll live my own way…" I murmured angrily before making the trek to Matt and I's room. Or rather, Matt's Room as it seemed it would be now.

------

I pulled on my jacket and chucked all of my crap into a messenger bag realizing, I was leaving something behind… I couldn't tell Matt I was leaving; he would try to stop me. We would meet up again one day, I just knew it. It was still hard to let him go. I ripped a piece of paper from a stray notebook and jotted down a quick note to him.

Hopefully this would be enough… It took a lot not to cry at this moment. I shifted my thoughts back to my angry rampage and shoved those behind, for a later time. Dropping my keys on the bed by the note, I left the room and locked the door.

I leaned against the door, still summing up exactly what I was doing. Did I really want to do this? I shook the question from my head. I couldn't have second thoughts. This was what I was going to do, and damn right I was going to do it. I began walked down the corridor to the main room when he stopped me.

"Mells!" Matt ran up with his Game Boy. "I beat Bowser!" He exclaimed happily. Ugh… how could I do this? I would miss him so much… I looked down. God damn it… how do I break this to him??? "Eh?" He tilted his head as he stopped in front of me. "What's with the stuff, Mells?"

"I'm leaving, Matt." I didn't look at him when I answered; it was hard enough as it is. I hated myself for how I said it. So cold and unfeeling, I've never spoke to him so harshly. No even when I was pissed… He was my best friend and I loved him. I really did. But I had to go.

He starred at me shocked, as though it hadn't computed. He pulled his goggles up onto the top of his head. "What…?"

"I'm leaving." I repeated.

"Wha…? Mells, why…" He seemed at loss for words. I walked past him getting closer to the door but he grabbed my by the arm. "Mells!" He yelled shakily, he looked so distressed, so heart broken. I couldn't even face him now. I pulled away. "I'm sorry…" I murmured. "Goodbye, Matt." I rushed out the door in a sprint.

He ran out after me. "MELLS!" He couldn't keep up and stopped as I ran out the big gates and shut them behind me. I didn't look back. I didn't want my last memories of Matt to be that of him falling apart. I couldn't bear it, but it was too late to turn back now. I was past the point of now return. No backward glances, I headed out into the fresh winter breeze wishing there was rain to masquerade my tears.

Yay! So we understand where we are starting from! That was the main point in this Prologue. Chapter 1 is where the good stuff starts happening. This is just our starting point. The story becomes much more interesting.

-Scar