Soji stared out into the lights of the London night. They scintillated beautifully in the dark night, and a slow rain now fell to the earth. Soji had refused a cab, and Rebecca had already left. Even in the night Soji wanted to get to Ryuza as soon as possible, but it was night, and she needed to sleep. The airport offered her accommodations, and she gratefully accepted.
[Elsewhere in London]
Ryuza passed back and forth nervously on the second story of the London town house he had received from the queen. The helicopter pilot should have called to tell that they were fine and safe. The fact that he didn’t worried Ryuza beyond all. He had dealt with Near by simply refusing to talk to him about it. Now it was night, and there was little to do but wait.
A silver old-fashioned phone rang loudly in the room, and Ryuza nearly jumped when he heard it. It must be Soji! Ryuza thought and quickly picked up the phone. Expecting Soji’s voice, Ryuza waited in quiet anticipation. The words that came from the phone shattered him.
“You will pay for killing Master Xero,” the voice said coldly.
“Who are you?” Ryuza asked angrily, but at the same time, fear exploded within him. Could Soji be there? Could she be hurt? What has happened? How did they get my number? I thought all the members of Xero’s gang were taken into custody.
“Hahahahahahahahahah you’re girl-friend has already paid the ultimate price, and soon it will be your turn Ryuza. For betraying and killing Master Xero, you will pay,” the voice laughed manically.
“Who are you?” Ryuza asked terror in his voice now, but the phone was dead. Ryuza stared out into the rain terrified of what had happened. He could not stop shaking. Xero, Ryuza thought, this should have ended long ago.
Time made a lurch backwards to the Wammy Hose. It was before Soji had come, but Near and Mello were already going at who would succeed L. It was Ryuza’s first day at the new school, but he was ten. Everyone there was thought to be highly intelligent, and Ryuza had felt honored to be accepted, but something about the House frightened him.
“Hey, you’re the new kid right?” a voice asked. Ryuza would later learn this to be Mello’s. He turned and faced the blond-haired boy. He had a chocolate bar in one hand and a book in the other. He took a bite of the chocolate and began talking again, “you’re the one that everyone is talking about. Ryuza right? I’m Mello. If you mess with me, I’ll beat you up. I don’t care if you are one year younger than me.”
“I don’t fear you,” Ryuza retorted, “you are too girly looking.”
Mello nearly choked out his chocolate.
“What did you just say?” Mello asked getting ready to lift Ryuza straight off the ground.
“Quit it!” an angry voice ordered.
“Xyler,” Mello said looking over at the boy. He had silver hair and blue eyes and looked to be much older than either of them. He wore a white shirt that buttoned at the collar, but the sleeves were cut right before they went half way down his arm making a short sleeved shirt.
The boy named Xyler grabbed Mello by the rosary beads around his neck and pulled him away. Mello swore but walked away cursing Xyler and who knows what else.
“Thanks,” Ryuza managed to get out, “I’m Ryuza. Mello said your name is Xyler right?”
“Ya I’m Xyler or Xero whichever. I’m one of the older students here. You can’t let Mello bully you like that. He is the terror of the House if you ask me. I’m going to be graduating from the House in three semesters, so in that time, you need to get stronger, Ryuza,” Xyler answered.
“Xero doesn’t sound like a real name, I’ll go with Xyler.”
“Suit yourself.”
“Are you working to succeed L?” Ryuza asked as they walked down the hall of the House.
“Naw. I think Near will do that. You’ll learn about him later. I’m just here to get an education and move on. I want to go into law,” Xyler answered.
“So where were you from?” Ryuza asked.
“Nowhere and everywhere,” Xyler answered, “I had no real home until I came here. My parents were killed before I can remember and I was raised by pastors, go figure.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Ryuza couldn’t find the words that he wanted to say to this Xyler.
“It’s no problem,” Xyler smiled, “What about you?”
“I took this test, and they asked me to come here,” Ryuza replied, “my mother back home is ill though, and my father is dead. My mom wanted me to come here. We’re poor.”
“Well there is safety here and food. Do you miss your mom?”
“A lot.”
“Don’t worry. Just study for her, so when you graduate, you can be the best of the best for her. Well here we are your room. You replaced a guy that graduated at the lowest of his class. Try to not walk in his shoes ok? Tomorrow, classes start, but keep in touch ok?” Xyler laughed.
Xyler closed the door and Ryuza was left to himself. He liked this Xyler. He liked this Xyler a lot.
In later time, Xyler would begin to show a big brother relationship to Ryuza. He would help with homework teach him games. He became the older brother that Ryuza never had. They shared secrets and things. Soon Xyler kicked his roommate out and invited Ryuza. The roommate didn’t care. He was graduating that year.
At the beginning of Christmas, test scores for the final semester were posted. Near had the highest in the school. Next came Mello and a boy named Matt.
“All Near ever does is study. I head he has no social life what so ever. He even looks down on Mello
