AN: This story is my first Death Note AU! Hooray for trying new things! I've got an idea of what's going to happen and if it works out it might end up being one of my longer series.

In any case, here's the deal. Raito and several other Death Note characters you'll recognise attend the same high school. These people feel inexplicably drawn to one another and share certain 'memories'. Gradually they begin to realise their relationships are more than just chance - they are fate. Wow, I'm loving this idea...anyway, enjoy! :)

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The black-haired man stared without expression at the youth standing defiantly before him. “I wondered from the moment I met you; why did you declare yourself to be my rival?”

“Call it an…ambition of mine,” the younger man laughed, his face twisted into an odd smile. “Few are able to say that they were allowed the honour of even competing with the incomparable L.”

“Your ambition…” he was silent for a few moments, lowering his gaze slightly as if contemplating something. Suddenly his eyes returned to his opponent’s face. “…was your downfall.” He spoke softly, though without emotion.

“Ah?” the brunette’s confidence faltered for a second at his words, but soon he regained his cocky, challenging demeanour and replied. “One cannot fall from nothing.” His attitude far from matched his words.

“You are right,” the other man agreed, his voice even quieter. Somehow this intimidated him. “As usual.”

Though inwardly growing increasingly anxious, the youth’s smile widened. “Just tell me now, Ryuzaki. What have you called me here for?”

The man in question stared at him again from beneath his messy hair, his intelligent eyes partially hidden by stray strands falling into his face. “My suspicions have been confirmed. You are indeed Ki-”

His words were stopped by the unfamiliar feel of his companion’s lips against his. The youth, growing in fear and anger as he spoke, had stepped forward and pulled him into a rough embrace.

And there, he was released as quickly as he had been held. The detective was momentarily surprised to see genuine grief in his eyes before he pulled away entirely, leaving the room, where he was headed not immediately clear.

-

Raito stirred and woke from his sleep to the sound of a familiar voice calling his name. His eyes opened slowly and he didn’t even start at the realization that his friend’s face was mere inches away from his own. “Go away, Mello,” he grumbled and turned away, lifting one hand half-heartedly to swat him away.

He stopped when his arm was grabbed lightly before it could make contact. Raito turned questioningly to see his friend’s face wearing an unusually concerned expression. “Raito…” Mello spoke softly, reaching one hand out gently to touch his cheek. “You had the dream again.”

Surprised, he lifted his fingers to touch the corner of his eye and frowned when they came away wet. He had woken up in that curious way again, confused and crying, feeing a deep pain in his heart for a man he did not know and another man who had hurt him.

“It’s…nothing,” Raito said feebly, wiping at his eyes hurriedly as he made to get to his feet.

Mello allowed him to stand and then whacked him across the back of his head. “Don’t be an idiot!” he told him loudly. “How can it be nothing?”

“Ow…” Raito rubbed his head and smiled gratefully at his worried friend. “Thankyou, Mello. Truthfully, I prefer this kind of medicine.”

The blonde appeared surprised by this, but soon he closed his eyes, an annoyed expression on his face. “You…” he muttered dangerously, before launching himself at his laughing friend. “Stop being such an idiot!!”

“Oh my, the kitten’s got claws!” Raito chuckled, lifting his arms to defend himself from his punches.

“Shut the hell up!” Mello yelled, but behind his quick attacks the corners of his mouth were turned upward slightly in an affectionate smile.

They tussled for a few minutes, before the younger boy pulled away, wiping away a smudge of dirt from his face with the back of his hand. “Come on, that’s enough,” he told him in a no-nonsense voice. Putting his palms gently on Raito’s back, he pushed him toward the door roughly. “You need to get to class already, moron!”

“Oh, so that’s what you’re up here for…” Raito mused. The rooftop was his place of choice to sleep during classes, being open, comfortable and as of yet unfound by the faculty constantly riding him about attendance. Out of curiosity, he and Mello had kicked down the door once in their freshman year, and it had been their refuge ever since.

“Whatever. Just go, already!” Mello gestured for him to hurry, scowling at him all the while.

Raito took a few steps toward the door before stopping and looking back at his friend with an exaggerated expression of consideration. “Hmm…what class?”

“History! What does it matter, anyway?” Mello said with exasperation.

“Hmm…” the other youth sighed. “I don’t…like History…” he drew out his words deliberately, and grinned when he saw Mello’s scowl deepen.

“JUST GO!” the blonde shouted at him. “You don’t like anything, so what are you being all picky for, dammit!”

“But Mello-honey, I just want to spend all my time with youuuu!” Raito joked as he was pushed without resisting through the door by his friend, who was getting seriously annoyed.

Once he had been squeezed through, the younger boy slammed the door shut emphatically. “Aww, don’t be like that, baby!” Raito called teasingly. He chuckled at the sounds of muffled swearing and a foot connecting with the door.

In a good enough mood now, he turned to make his way down the stairs. Halfway down, however, he realized that his satchel had been left on the rooftop. Raito turned and knocked jokingly on the door that he knew was still unlocked. When Mello did not respond he moved until he was standing tip-toe and peered through the neglected window at the top of the door.

Raito started slightly when he saw that his friend was not alone. An oddly familiar boy had stepped out from behind the small brick wall that lined one side of the rooftop area. “Spying on him again, huh?” Raito jumped at the barely audible sound of Mello’s voice. He pressed his ear closer to the glass, trying to catch the conversation.

The mysterious boy had nodded. He seemed timid, and played with his hair endlessly, twirling the strange silver strands unconsciously around his fingers. His head was slightly bowed, his eyes staring out from under his pale fringe. Raito was suddenly struck by the resemblance of mannerisms he held to the man of his dreams, and his chest ached painfully.

“Tell me, Near. Why do you do it?” When the boy didn’t respond, Mello stepped toward him, his demeanour suddenly threatening. “Speak!” he commanded.

“He is…quite fascinating.” Near spoke finally. Raito had guessed that he was younger than Mello and himself, but he realized his mistake when he heard his voice for the first time. It was full of intelligence and maturity. The boy had to be around his own age, seventeen – maybe younger, but not by much.

He watched as Mello’s hands clenched into fists. As his back was turned to the window Raito could not see his friend’s face, but he could hear the scowl in what he said next. “Fascinating…”

Without warning Mello stepped forward quickly until he was no more than a foot away from the boy. He lifted one of his hands and touched Near’s cheek gently, a strange kind of caress. The boy did not flinch. Had this happened before?

“Oh, my dear Near,” Mello spoke in an intimate tone that Raito had never heard before. “I really should be enough for you.”

And with that he closed the space between them and kissed him possessively.

Raito’s heart stopped in his chest.

What?!

--

AN: 'Where is L???' I hear you ask. Very sorry, but he does not appear until the next chapter, which is set to be published in a matter of days. I wanted him to be in this one too, but I had to indulge the NearxMello pairing. Gomen. :)

So you know, the characters are all basically around the same age. Mello and Raito are seventeen, Near is sixteen (in the year below them) and so on, but there are some exceptions. I'll explain all these little details in future ANs, if all goes well.