A/N Hi! Sorry about that! Hopefully this is better... I don't know what happened to the other one...

Part One: The Kids From Yesterday

Chapter Three: Fight

Some way, somehow we've fallen out

Caught in between my enemies

No way, not now, I won't back down

I draw the line at you and me

Over the next few years I fell into a steady pattern. Breakfast, classes, lunch, more classes, mixed martial arts, more classes, dinner, studying with Near, a puzzle or the occasional game of chess with Near, then bed.

Near and I… I wouldn't say we were friends. I'm still not sure what we were back then, other than lonely. We were two people who didn't have anybody but each other. We were alone, but we were alone together. I did, however enjoy the time I spent with him. He would always slaughter me in chess, but I could kick his butt in memory games, which was our little secret.

Matt wouldn't acknowledge me. Mello was an asshole. That much hadn't changed. I never quite understood why they were so popular at the time, but now that I'm older I can see it's because they had a certain dynamic that people envied. They were two completely different extremes, polar opposites.

Mello, with his white hot temper and infamous right hook, had quick wit that would cut you like a razorblade and made you wish he'd just punched you instead. He was arrogant and bigheaded, one side of the spectrum.

Matt was his other half, the other side of the spectrum. He was cool, level headed, but cold and blunt. It didn't matter who he was talking to or what he was saying. If he wanted to say something, he would say it directly to your face, emotionless, never sugar coated. Sometimes, it was nice. Other times, it would hurt.

"That's the thing about truth, Abby." He told me on several occasions when we were older. "It's a bitch, but it's what you need to hear."

Matt and Mello, Mello and Matt. Always together, rarely apart. You either wanted to be them or hated their guts. Most hated Mello, but because he was number one (even if only by a pinch) they put up with him.

I held my rank at number four. Matt was number three, Near was two, Mello was one. That's how it was for three years. Then, after the next yearly placement test, everything just… changed.

I remember I'd woken up late on a Saturday morning, and the only reason why I'd woken up is because the gum I was constantly chewing was gradually making it's way to the back of my throat, and if I didn't do something soon, I'd choke.

I was a hyperactive student, and tended to tap my feet or drum my fingers while studying. Even Near lost his patience with me once or twice. Eventually, he gave me a pack of bubblegum stating that it helped stimulate brain activity. From then on, I went through a pack of gum daily.

I carefully sat up, tilting my head forward to keep the pink wad from sliding down my throat, then spit it into a napkin and tossed it. I then got up, got dressed, brushed my teeth and hair, and went downstairs, shoving a block of bubblegum in my mouth as I went.

The breakfast room was eerily quiet. It was always empty on the days placement results were posted, but I felt uneasy for some reason. Skipping breakfast, I moved to the common room, where results were posted.

As usual, it was packed, but the air was tense, and instead of the gathering around the results, the kids were circling something else. Shoving my way to the front, I was met with the sight of Mello's face, blazing with a fury I'd never seen before, his fist clenched and drawn back momentarily before it snapped forward and hit something with a sickening smack.

I stood motionless, thinking it was someone who had simply offended him again, until it struck me how odd it was that the other person wasn't fighting back. I took my eyes off of Mello and lowered my gaze slightly, only register something that caused my jaw to drop.

It was Near who was stumbling backwards with every blow Mello delivered. It was Near with blood from his nose and mouth dribbling down his chin and dripping onto his clothes. It was Near, emotionless, robot-like Near, who had a look of terror in his eyes, one blackened, and for once looked like a nine year old boy.

Upon registering this, something inside me snapped, and I rushed in just as Mello drew his fist back again. I almost didn't make it, but I managed to push Near out of the way just as Mello's arm snapped forward.

Mello's punch hit me directly on my shoulder, and I was able to grab his wrist, turn so my back was against his body, then lurched down and forward with all my weight, flipping his body over me and onto the ground with a dull thud.

"What the hell?" He spat, scrambling to his feet. He glared at me before continuing. "You're gonna regret that."

"Bet I won't." I said in reply.

"I don't care if you're a girl." He said. "If you get in my way, I'll kick your ass."

"Do it then."

We glared at each other and then not a second later we were rolling around on the floor, kicking, biting, punching, pulling, scratching any part of the other we could find. I won't lie to you, it hurt. Mello, who's main targets seemed to be my ribs and stomach, was obviously winning. I managed to get some good hits in there, but his anger was just unparalleled. I was wondering how much longer I could last when finally someone stepped in.

"Hey! HEY! Break it up!"

Mello and I were suddenly yanked away from each other, courtesy of Matt and a boy named Junior, who was in my martial arts classes. Mello was dragged off by Matt, pitching a fit as he went, and Junior held me down by the shoulders until they were out of sight.

"Look, Another," He said with a sigh. "I know he's tough to deal with sometimes, but that doesn't mean that you-"

"I believe this conversation should be saved for someone else." Near spoke up calmly. He'd gotten the blood off his face, but the purple shadow beneath his eye remained. "If you ask anyone in this room, the answer will be the same. Another was merely fighting in my defense."

Junior looked taken aback. "Oh… Well… In that case, I'll go have a talk with Mello then. Still, just try and steer clear from him, alright?"

I nodded, not looking at him, or Near, or anyone in general.

"Are you alright?" Near asked, trying to capture my gaze.

I refused to look at him as I wiped my bloody nose on the back of my hand.

"I'll be fine. I just… I just need some space." I mumbled.

"You should really-"

"I'm fine, okay? Just leave me alone!"

I knew I was being unreasonable, but I shook Junior's hands off me and ran off.

By the time I found a suitable place away from everyone else, the adrenaline had worn off. I was now beginning to feel the pain that Mello had inflicted. My stomach ached, my cheek throbbed, and my ribs burned with every breath I took. Mello had probably broken one or two. I'd thankfully gotten the blood to stop dripping from my nose, but my clothes were ruined, the red leaving stains on the white fabric.

"You okay?" Someone asked. "Junior and Near- well, Junior's going nuts trying to find you. Near said he'd give you space and see you tomorrow or something."

I looked up to see Matt standing above me, nose in his Gameboy.

"I- I'm fine." I replied. "I was just… I just didn't… y'know…"

"You didn't like all the people staring at you?" He asked and I nodded.

He put away his Gameboy with a sigh, then assessed me. "You look like hell."

I shot him a look. "Thanks."

"Mello looks about as bad as you do right now, y'know… You did quite a number on him."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it was kinda impressive. Nobody's ever done something like that."

I looked up at Matt in surprise. After three years of wondering what it is I'd done, all I had to do was prove myself to him? That was it? That's all it took?

Hey, Matt. Wherever you are, be it heaven, hell, or whatever you believed in, you're an asshole, okay? Like, a major asshole.

"Really?" I asked. "He probably hates me now, doesn't he?"

"Yeah, just a little… D'you want me to take you back to Junior and Near?"

"Not really."

"Well, c'mon then. They're bound to find us out here." Matt held out his hand to me, and I took it, allowing my brother to pull me up and hold it as he not only led me where he wanted to take me, but also began to recognize me as his sister, and as his equal.