Ch.1

Doll closed his eyes, leaning back against the wall. "So.. it seems you were right," he whispered to noone in general. "The last two came out exactly as planned."

Ryuk snorted and laughed, "You know, you really shouldn't talk aloud to me.. people might think you're crazy." He looked around the campus. "Bu then again, what do I know?"

Doll chuckled to himself, responding softly, "Perhaps you're right, Ryuk, but noone is around at the moment, so I can't get caught unless I start speaking."

"I see what you mean," Ryuk said as he looked around once more. "But it seems that won't be for long.."

Doll opened his eyes. "What do you mea-. Oh! Nene.. you're here today." He cut his sentence halfway through, eyeing the girl cautiously, looking for some sort of disturbed response.

Nene waved, her green eyes closed as she smiled. "Sorry I'm late Doll! Nene got caught up in traffic!"

Ryuk looked around confused, "Who's Nene? Clearly not this girl... but it says... ugh... she's going to give me a migrane."

The girl looked at Doll, her freckles shocking on her mostly pale face, beneath messy red hair. "We should hurry or we're gonna be late again!" She locked her elbow with his, beginning to drag him away. "Today Nene will take notes!"

Doll chuckled softly, "For the first time ever."

Nene laughed nervously, "Nene got scolded for not paying attention last night.."

Doll chuckled again, "That's no surprise, after all your mother IS the professor."

Nene pouted, crossing her arms ruefully, "Unfortunately, that's for sure."

"Well it's good that she scolds you, it means she cares about your well being and wants you to do good in school." He ran a hand over his scar and through his dark black hair. "I think your mom is nice."

Nene stuck out her tongue. "Nyeh, you are a weirdo, Doll! Who likes school? I for one says Nene is not!"

"Nene, you are a work of art, for sure." Doll laughed, following her, their elbows still interlocked.

They reached the school and took their seats. Doll sat near the back and began zoning as the teacher began lecturing. He tapped his pen on the notebook before him, "It was simply genius of me to place pages in the center of this notebook." He laughed silently, causing Nene to look over. He shook his head, mouthing 'nothing'. He glanced at the clock on the wall as he scribbled down another couple names.

As the hour passed slowly, Doll glanced at the wall. "Come on.. ring already.." His eyes wandered to Nene who had fallen asleep; drooling on her notes. He sighed and flipped to a different page.

"I guess I have to take notes for her now.. should have known.. after all a whole hour... she's lucky she lasted the first ten minutes."

Finally the bell rang and Doll jumped from his seat, ecstatic. Nene fell from her seat, looking around panicked, then blushing as she wiped the drool from the side of her lips. Doll laughed helping her up. She smiled sheepishly, pulling herself up with his hands.

"Nene fell asleep, didn't she?"

Doll laughed and nodded. "About eleven minutes into the lecture."

Nene blushed again, "Drat.." She rubbed the back of her head, "Well... at least it was longer than usually."

"Have you tried going to sleep earlier?" Doll scratched his chin thoughtfully.

Nene's face turned angry, "Nene sleeps enough! She even tried going to bed extra early! It's just every time she tries to learn, she falls asleep!"

Doll nearly forgot why Nene has so few friends, but it reoccured to him spontaneously. Nene's refferal to herself in the third and second person tended to disturb and bother people. She was a great girl, otherwise, her grades were average, but her looks were adorable. Doll in fact considered dating her once, but that would seem weird, since she had grown on him as more of a little sister. She looked much younger than she was.

Doll chewed on his lip thoughtfully, "Nene I got to get home.. I've got to make dinner tonight."

Nene stopped in front of Doll. "No fair! Doll never has time for Nene anymore!"

Doll sighed, "Nene you KNOW my mother is in the hospital. Father can't cook and well.." He chuckled, "I would like to see him eat."

Nene frowned, "It's still unfair, you only hang out with me on campus anymore.." She crossed her arms. "You should make more Nene time."

Doll frowned back at her, crossing his arms as he spoke. "Nene.. no means no. I just don't have the time anymore.."

Nene glared and turned around. "FINE! Then Nene will make less Doll time!"

Doll sighed. "If I had the time I would spend some with you, Nene.. I just don't, so deal!"

Ryuk chuckled, "Liar."

Nene sighed, crestfallen, "Fine, fine. See you later Doll." She stormed off.

"Fiery, that one." Ryuk chuckled.

Doll nodded, "Yeah she may seem mad.. but she'll be over it in two minutes."

Ryuk cackled, "I think I like her."

Doll nodded, "She's entertaing, that's for sure." He turned and started walking home. "Ryuk... Noone's following me is there?"

Ryuk blinked, "Huh, no. Why?"

Doll closed his eyes, still walking. "No reason other than curiosity."

Ryuk nodded, flying close behind him. "So, what's your plans for tonight?"

Doll chewed on his lip. "Oh, the usual.. the police don't suspect anything so far, so as far as I'm concerned, I'm safe."

Ryuk nodded, "I see... Shouldn't you be more careful though.. they should be investigating things soon."

Doll scoffed and snickered, "I'm not afraid of the police, Ryuk. As long as I use the Death Note, I'm safe."

"I wasn't talking about the police."

Doll eyed him through the corners. "Then who DID you mean, Ryuk."

"The SPK."

Doll paused a second then began laughing hysterically, "Let them try. I researched and the Kira information has been long burned since the death of Kira, himself."

Ryuk stared, "I'm not on your side, Doll, but I would advise not bursting into laughter like that. People will begin to suspect that you need to go to the hospital."

Doll nodded and stopped laughing so hard. "I know Ryuk, but that organiztion split up ten years ago, after Light Yagami's death." He rubbed the back of his head. "L is long dead, thanks to the previous Kira, so I have nothing to worry about."

"Near." Ryuk said bluntly.

"Near what?" Doll looked seriously and confused.

"Near, L's successor and the bringer of Kira's death." Ryuk responded slowly.

Doll rose an eyebrow, "Near retired a while ago, Ryuk. I know you guys don't get human news, but the fact is, Near announced that he is no longer willing to be a detective."

Ryuk laughed, "Fine, whatever, that's the last words of wisdom you get from me."

Doll nodded, "Thanks for the reminder, but I assure you that I have nothing to be worried about with Near."

Ryuk shrugged, "Heh, whatever."

The rest of the walk was silent as he returned home. "Dad, I'm home, how's mom?"

The older looking man nodded, "Fine I suppose.. she's able to eat again.. even if it is mush."

"That's great.. however you should get some sleep, you're so pale."

The man grunted, scratching his balding head, "I feel over fourty.."

Doll nodded, "Well that's what stress'll do to you." He started up the stairs, "I'm going to go do my homework, be back down in a couple hours to make supper."

The older man waved his hand, dissmissively as he said nothing.

Doll entered his room, locking the door behind him and sitting at his desk and opening a drawer pulling out a black notebook, "This is why I'm glad to be a single child." He laughed, tossing Ryuk an apple and turning on his T.V.