Chapter 2 - Wammy's House

Mello’s past had been pretty dramatic. His mother died when he was a child, leaving him to an orphanage in Hesse, Germany. He'd been carted everywhere since, had visited each continent at least once, chucked around from pillar to post like an unwanted toy is thrown around by a child. But for that last three years, his life had quietened down a lot.1

When he was ten, a man called Roger Wammy had whisked him away from his current foster family in England and into a new country entirely. He'd placed Mello on a plane to Japan, and only explained who he was and where he was taking him to when they got to another orphanage. Whammy’s House.2

The kids at Whammy’s house were definitely different. They seemed old for their years, the youngest speaking almost as well as the adults. They read better than them too. A small number seemed as clever as a child their age should be, but they used their minds. These were the children that won at Cluedo and other pointless detective games.3

Mello felt horribly out of place for a year or so, being the only child to not know a word of Japanese. Wammy taught him the basic structure of sentences and Mello picked up on it quickly. He showed him how to work his mind like the children at the orphanage and to use his excellent brain to his advantage. 'After all, the need for it could come at any time.' Wammy had said as Mello worked over endless maths problems and imaginary mystery cases. Wammy was never harsh with any of the children; he rarely told them off and almost never hit them. Only the older ones got a swift slap on the back of their leg if they dared to get into a fight, but that rarely happened either. None of the kids were pressured into getting top marks. They either pressured themselves or were naturally clever. There were two boys who did just that.4

Mello was one of them. He pushed himself to his absolute limit, shutting himself away from the other children and studying in his room. He wouldn't have tried so hard if it wasn't for one other child.5

This child was known as Near. Only Wammy knew his realy name, and wouldn't tell any other children it. Near came top effortlessly, passing each test with flying colours and was hardly ever smug about it. His mind was like no other; he was as smart as the wisest sensei in the top colleges, rarely needing to study or shut himself away to concentrate on a particular case. He didn't give up his social time simply because it wouldn't make any difference if he did. Near played with his toys in his own company, and had no desire to change.6

Mello despised Near with a passion, simply because of his intelligence and how easy everything seemed to be to him. Mello studied as hard as he possibly could and still came second. Most people would be pleased with that, but Mello shrugged off the congratulations of the others and holed himself up again to seeth with envy, anger and despair. Then he would start studying again.7

Of course, Near knew that Mello didn't like him. He wasn't affected by it; he had better things to do than worry about it. Near also new that Mello sometimes stole his beloved toys and broke them, which bothered him more than anything else. It wasn't Nears fault that he was clever; he never studied. The answers to the problems just CAME to him, the clues in Wammy's mystery puzzles knitting together quickly. Mello shouldn't take it to heart so much.8

Everyone liked Mello. He was funny in a sick sort of way, could be nice if he wanted to, was good looking, all the characteristics a popular, friendly person should have. Too bad Mello didn't need friends to be happy.