Thank you for the kind and supporting reviews and comments everyone! I really appreciate them! I'll continue to write to the best of my ability.

I should have said this before, but I obviously do not own "Death Note" or any of its characters.

Chapter 4

Back to Basics

Mello was not about to let Light off the hook that easily. He almost got away with making another joke about Light's name, but, apparently, the man was serious when he said he would stuff Mello in the trunk. He stopped the car again and actually tried to pry the blond out of his seat!

L tried his best to hold Light back, while Matt and Near attempted to keep Mello in his seat. Mello wasn't happy that Near was even touching him, and that created a whole new set of arguments. Not to mention, a brief fist fight was started between Light and Mello... in the car. Not outside, in the vehicle. This action caused a few people to drive by slowly and watch for a few moments while the two went at it. Thankfully no one was hurt, but the remainder of the trip was a total wreck on Light's nerves.

"Okay, Light, turn right here," L instructed.

"All right."

They were now off the main road and the area they were now driving through was nothing, but a wooded area with a simple, dirt road. Mello squinted out of the window, looking through the thick trees for any sign of civilization... Unless this is a... Oh, no.

"A camping trip, L?"

The dark haired man nodded. "Why, yes, it is, Mello."

Mello blankly stared out into the forest. "Why?"

"Because," L began, "we will be going back to basics. In other words, we will all need to depend on each other in order to survive." He turned his head to look at Mello in the eye. "I want you and Near to learn to trust each other."

Near said nothing and gave no indication as to what he thought.

Matt nodded in approval of L's goal. "Good idea, L!"

"Thank you, Matt."

"So, let me get this straight, L," Mello acted as if he was going to have a seizure, "No... chocolate?"

"Correct. I will not have any sweets," the great detective cringed slightly, "nor will there be video games or toys... That isn't a problem is it, boys?"

"Nah, its fine I suppose," Matt twiddled his thumbs around. Stay strong Matt... It'll be okay. Sorry Pikachu... Many apologies, Princess Peach.

L's eyes then cut to Mello and Near. "How about the two of you? Is this acceptable?"

"No," Mello bluntly stated, "but if that's what you wanna do... then so be it." God, this is so wrong!

"Agreed," said Near, who was still leaning against the car's window, "Who knows, this could be interesting."

L nodded, clearly satisfied, and crouched in his seat frontward again.

A sudden thought clicked into Mello's mind. "Whoa, whoa, wait a minute, L... Does this also include smores?"

"Yes, that also includes those," he pointed to the right, showing Light which way he was supposed to turn. "It wouldn't be fair if you and I got to have something that we enjoy, while Near and Matt would not."

The blond teen blinked. "L, that's ridiculous. Everyone loves smores on a camping trip!"

"No," the wise detective said again, "we will not have them. I didn't even bring any sweet foods along, on this trip."

"Yeah, but... ah, whatever." Mello leaned back into his seat in defeat. Wow, this is lame. How can you not have smores on a camping trip?

"So, where do you want me to park this thing, Ryuzaki?" Light asked, as he viewed the surrounding area.

L pointed forward. "There is a small clearing up ahead. It would be best if we parked there."

Near was suddenly curious about something. "How do you know about this place, L?"

"Watari took me up here when I was about your age," the man smiled, "He has been my greatest father figure, since I never really knewmine."

"... I see," Near responded. "How... nice it must have been."

L ran his hand through his messy, black hair. "It really was... Oh, Light, here it is!"

Light parked the vehicle in a grassy area, shaded by a magnificent oak tree.

"Wow," Matt gazed up the impressively massive tree. "I know we've studied about plant life, at Wammy's, but... seeing this kind of thing, up close, is totally different!"

"Yes," L said, as he was sliding out of the passenger's seat. "It reminds me of how small we really are."

Mello quickly got out of the car and stood behind his friend. "I... guess so."

Light got out of the driver's seat to stretch, when he noticed that Near hadn't moved from his position in the car just yet. He opened the back passenger seat, revealing the quiet, twelve-year-old boy. He stole a brief glimpse of Light's face before looking back down at his lap again.

Light was confused. This boy seemed... sad, maybe? "Aren't you coming, Near?"

The white haired boy didn't move or acknowledge what Light had asked. His face was completely downcast.

Light was not used to younger kids at all, aside from his little sister... and secretly being Kira was difficult with L and three, genius kids around... but there was something about this kid that actually made him want to get to know him. He couldn't explain it himself, but in the short time Light had known Near, he had already grown fond of him. It was very unlike him to feel like this, since he was out to eventually kill them all anyway.

Thankfully, Ryuk isn't here; he would definitely tease me about this. He mentally rolled his eyes, thinking back before he had left Japan. He had given his Death Note to Misa, to hold onto, and told Ryuk to stay with her and Rem. At least he won't be bugging me for apples.

He held out a hand, face up, directly towards the young boy. "Come on, Near. I trust Ryuzaki, and I believe his plan will work out. Just give it some time."

Near looked up from his lap and stared at Light's hand. He hesitated for a moment, feeling a cool breeze of wind blowing from outside. He still wasn't completely trusting of Light, but took the young man's hand regardless and stepped out onto the soft, green grass.

L had a map of where Watari had taken him so many years in the past, and led them to a place that seemed to not even exist.

The five would be camping on a hill, next to a crystal, clear lake, that sparkled like a hoard of sapphires, and was surrounded by a lush, full forest. In the very middle of the lake was a small island with a gorgeous Weeping Willow tree, rooted upon it, that seemed to dance in the wind. In the distance they could see a glorious, mountain range reaching for the skies.

"Whoa," Light said, "I can honestly say, I've never been anywhere like this before."

Matt shook his head, taking in all of scenery. "Me either."

L looked out at the shimmering water and smiled thoughtfully. Things were always so much simpler as a child. He loved what he did in life, as in bringing justice to wherever it was needed, but sometimes he wished he could just be that little boy again. No worries, fear, or dealing with the mass murder known as 'Kira'... which he still suspected Light of being said criminal, but still trusted him enough to take him out there with the boys. Why? Even he didn't know.

"Hey, L!"

L snapped back into reality. "Hm? Oh, yes, Mello?"

"Where should we set up the tents?"

"Right here will be just fine," L bent down, reached into the bag he was carrying, and pulled out some clothes. "Also, we will need to change into more suitable clothing. I think you'll all be more comfortable in these."

"Will we change in the tents?" Near asked.

Mello laughed in short, small breaths. "Are you afraid to change in front of a couple of other guys or something? It's not anything we haven't seen... is it?"

Near showed no expression, but the light blush appearing on his cheeks indicated his minor embarrassment. "I'm just-"

"Small?" Mello interrupted, smirking widely.

The younger boy paused for a moment. "What does that mean?"

Mello choked back an outburst of laughter. "'What does that mean?' Are you serious?"

Near said nothing, but cast his gaze downwards, and began to twirl a strand of his hair. The pinkness in his cheeks mildly started to darken a shade.

"He's just modest, Mello," Matt quickly defended the white haired boy. He could see that Near was uncomfortable, and wanted to stop Mello from saying anything else about it. "That's not a bad trait to have."

Mello rolled his eyes. "Sure, take the squirt's side."

"Mels, I'm not picking sides, I'm just-"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Mello cut him off, "Let's just set up these tents."

Light narrowed his eyes, watching the boys set up the tents. Why was Mello so hateful towards Near? He had, obviously, seen behavior like that at school before, but it just never made any sense. People like that were just as terrible and annoying as criminals, in Light's book... literally.

After setting up tents, and changing clothes, the five headed towards the shining waters of the lake to catch fish. Mello and Light would man the fishing rods, while Matt and Near would use nets. L would view everything from a large rock resting a few, short feet away, and he prayed that things would go more smoothly this time.

It was just fishing, after all. How bad could it be?

I suppose L forgot that he had allowed Mello to have a fishing rod... Things could get very bad.

Thank you, for reading.