Near lay, as usual, in his large pool of toys. A video game was conveniently placed beside him, set on "pause".
He smoothly reached over to grab it, while humming an old tune from a music box. Although it rather slowed his thinking process, he simply wouldn't do without it.
Matt would have played that game, were he alive. Mello would be watching, and Near would be sitting with that ragged old puzzle.
Mello would probably be eating chocolate too. Near picked up a half-melted chocolate bar from the ground. He started devouring it, slowly, in the same fashion Mello used whenever he was calm.
Sometimes, Mello would, ever so rarely, speak to Near as if he was an equal and not a menace.
It was a rare occasion. But it happened. Mostly during holidays, when there was no tests and the other children had gone away for the holidays.
Matt would smile and show Near how to play his video games. Mello would have a go at solving the blank puzzle. Near would get to taste Mellos chocklate, and discuss whatever L would be doing next. They'd sooner or later find that Near's puzzle was impossible, Matt's games too hard, and Mello's chocolate tasting awful. And then they'd all laugh and agree that Matt was the gamer, Mello who ate chocolate, and Near the solver.
At those times, Near was truly happy. It was as if life held true meaning, and nothing was worth more then making those times last.
But Mello and Matt are gone now, he reminded himself as he took another bite of the chocklate.
Mello left Wammys shortly after L died. Matt had followed close behind, searching.
In a way, Near understood him. Though it was still an illogical thing to do. But it made Matt happy.
Near had never understood the meaning of the word "happy". A simple emotion, usable as a drug. Made you chase after things you didn't need. Gave you a fake illusion that the world had meaning.
Near had never thought much of the world having some sort of meaning. He'd live, solve cases, die, and that would be that. He preferred not to spend time with other children, as they seemed quite stupid in his eyes. They'd run forth and congratulate him on tests, though they could do just as well, had they only studied enough.
Sometimes, just sometimes, Near would wish for the living room at Wammys, empty of everybody, save Mello and Matt.
Near slowly took another peice of chocklate. It wasn't the same. It just wasn't the same. And for some reason, that troubled him.
Mello and Matt where gone. They couldn't solve the puzzle. Losers, both of them. Still, they had been very happy losers.
There were times when Near would do absolutely anything to have followed Mello and Matt away from Wammys.
No, it wasn't logic. It wasn't the right thing. Near would most likely have died with them. But Near wouldn't mind.
He just wouldn't be alone anymore.
Near sighed as he un-paused the video game.
Matt couldn't play anymore games.
Another peice of chocolate disseapaered into Near's mouth.
Mello had no more chocolate.
For some odd reason, Near could no longer solve the white puzzle.