Chapter one
Near had just finished solving another case as the new L, the rest of the team were celebrating a job well done while he sat stacking dominos. He seemed to be doing OK as L and had solved some significant cases but he felt that there was something missing. The other members and Roger were beginning to notice things too.
"Well we're off now" said Rester later that night "will you be alright by yourself?" "Yes thank you" Near replied without looking up. "Well ok" the he replied leaving the room, Roger had already gone to bed so Near left to himself. Outside Gevanni, Rester and Lidner were talking "does he seem alright to you?" Lidner asked "he'll be fine" said Gevanni "Roger stays with him." "No I mean like emotionally if that makes sense?" she said. The others stared so she elaborated "He's not the most animated person in the world, but lately he seems more listless than usual." "Now you mention it yes he does" said Rester "he used to smile a little before, albeit creepily, but not anymore". "Perhaps he's just tired" said Gevanni "I was a hard case after all." "Yes maybe" the others agree as they parted ways.
Back at the headquarters Near was by himself thinking. "Is this really all I'll do with my life? Stop one criminal only to have another turn up? Where does it all end? What's the point?" He thought to himself while stacking the dominos. "I'm alone all the time, I can't do anything for myself and Roger just finds me creepy." He dropped a domino and let his tower fall over "I was only just able to solve the last few cases" he thought "I seem to be missing something.." He got up in search of some other toys. He opened an old box and found some familiar finger puppets inside. One for Kira, L, Misa, himself and Mello, he studied this one particularly.