Johnny eyed Near for a moment before looking away. rummaging though his backpack.

"Rekab, there's somehing about that kid... I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of

him..."

Rekab looked uneasily at Nate River. This human had a strange feel to him. Sort of

like...he was waiting for something. And he kept staring at Johnny like he was trying

to peer into him rather than at him. He kinda reminded him of someone...

000000ooooo000000

"Okay, Nate," the teacher said, "take a seat anywhere you want."

"Thank You," he said shortly, walking over to the seat next to Johnny, pulling his legs

up to his chest, sitting in a crouching position. Many of the other student whispered

amoungst themselves.

Johnny said nothing, he merely sat, waiting for the teacher to begin his lesson.


Scout walked into her fathers room. He lay on the bed, sleeping. Scout moved to his side,

sitting in the small, uncomfortable chair.

Scout reached out and took his hand. James's eyelids flickered and opened. He smiled upon

seeing his daughter.

"Hey there, Muffin head..."

"Hi, Dad," Scout said, trying to keep up a brave face. Ryuk had hinted, since he couldn't

directly tell her, or so he claimed, when his time of death was, that it would be soon. Very

soon.

"How're you doing?"

"I'm fine...You?"

"I feel great. Two hundred Loonys."

Scout gave a small smile, frowning inwardly in thought. He looked so healthy...How could

he be about to die? What could kill him when he was doing so well?

"So, does the hospital food still suck?"

"Yup. On the plus side, my white cell count is up to nearly 48 percent. That's almost half."

Scout squeezed his hand, "That's great...that's so great..." she said smiling, tears leaking

down her face without her notice.

"Aw, don't cry. I'm doing great. And if I can overcome AID's, just think of what it'll mean for

the medical world of science. Heck, you're old man might be something other than a dentist...

He'll be a dentist who overcame AID's. That would make your mom nuts, wouldn't it?"

Scout smiled to herself, "Yeah, it would. All those reporters would drive her insane. She'd be

like: 'Ahh I'm on TV! Scout, hurry, pass out out business cards, their teeth are horrible!' "

Both Scout and James laughed at this.

000000ooooo000000

Ryuk watched them frm the doorway, giving Scout some private time with her father in his

last moments. He didn't understand it anymore than Scout. He didn't look like he was about

to die...

A nurse walked in carrying a soringe needle

"James, it's time for your medicine..." she said, smiling.

Ryuk glanced at James. His life span was almost up. Just two minutes left.

He glanced at the nurse. well, if he was gonna witness Scout's spirit get crushed, he might

as well have some fun.

He extended his fhand and flicked the soringe from her hand softly, making it look lik she'd

droped it. It shattered on the floor.

"Oh, Damn," the nurse swore,cleaning up the mess, "I'm such a clutz, I'll be right back with

a new shot."

she scurried from the room, Ryuk chuckled.

"That was funny..." he muttered, turning towards Scout and her father, "Now for the water-

WHAT THE HELL?!"

James lifespan was rapidly increasing, years upon years were added, finally comming to a

stop. But how was that possible?! What had changed?

Scout, hearing her Shinigami exclaiming loudly, turned.

"SCOUT! Bathroom now!" the shinigami said, phasing through the door quickly.

"Dad I'll be right back, I have to pee," Scout said hurrying towards the room, shutting the

door behind her.

"Ryuk what's-"

"You're father life span increased!"

"What?!" Scout shrieked, thankful for the sound proof walls.

"I don't know what happened, one minute he had..well...one minute, and then his lifespan

increased by 50 years!"

"Wh- but--I mean--HOW?! Did you do something?"

"I don't know, I can;t thnk of anything. The only thing I did was knock the soringe out of

the nurses hand for laughs..."

Scout and Ryuks eyes widened at once.

The soringe...

"Ryuk...maybe...maybe that shot was what was going to kill him!" maybe there was

something wrong with the medicine, or maybe air was trapped inside."

"I don't know..." Ryuk said, pacng back and forth, looking a bit scared, "I increased a

humans life span! That's a level 1 punishment! Oh, shit, I'm gonna die...! I'm gonna die!"

Scout reached up and shook Ryuk to calm him

"Ryuk! calm down! Nothings happened yet. Maybe since it was an accident, it doesn't

count against you."

Ryuk looked around fearfully, expecting to turn to Shinigami sand in seconds. However

nothing happened as the seconds ticked by. Then a minute. Then two minutes.

Nothing was happening.

Ryuk straitened a little, "Nothing happened..."

Scout flushed the toilet for appearances and opened the door her dad was still sitting

up, haaving turned on the TV to watch some Hockey.

"Yeah, smash him up good! hit that puck in his teeth so me and my wife can charge

him for dentures!"

Scout and Ryuk exchanged looks.

"Ryuk, for once in my life, I'm glad you're such an annoying asshole..." she said, barely

audible.

Ryuk laughed nervously, still half expecting punishment to fall upon him.

"Yeah...me too...."