Disclaimer: I do not Own Death Note. I do own Mana and any other Oc's that care to pop up. Do not steal Mana!
P.S. No Flamers.
The Missing Piece
"Near why don't you go outside for once."
green cat like eyes gleamed in the windows afternoon glow. Soft brown locks flowing like a heavy curtain down the front of her shoulders. She held her right thumb between her lips, sucking ever so slowly every now and then, While her left index finger pointed towards the front door. A group of kids running through it to get outside and into the playground. The little girls eyes smiled as the thought of playing on the swings or maybe even the marry-go-round came into her mind. Her eyes shifted back towards the person she had been addressing.
He sat there, his curly snow-white hair contrasting off his pale skin. His small form, at the time, was clothed in a pair of snow white dress pants. With a long sleeved buttoned shirt that was just as white as his hair and pants.
His sitting position was something Mana always took time to notice, it was so peculiar. His left arm rested on his left leg, his right leg was raised up to his chin, which is were his left hand rested. It was held right next to his cheek, almost touching it. His right hand zoomed over puzzle pieces , every now picking one up to examine it.
"No thank you."
The little girls green eyes dimmed from their hope. That marry-go-round seemed so distant now. She mentally sighed, a part of her acting childishly and having tantrums, while the other half held up. Her eyes watched the boy in curiosity now. He always wanted to be by himself, why would he want that? She always found herself wondering this, yet she never received an answer. Although it frustrated her, she always found the will to sit with him, and stay in the dark of his decisions. She enjoyed his company, although it was quiet and unspoken she found peace in watching him play with his puzzles, his airplane toys, she especially liked it when he created things out of paper. To her, Near seemed to innocent to be left alone.
"Okay."
She let her small hand, the one that had been pointing towards the door, to her side. Looking out the window, she decided that her spot beside the wide opened old thing, watching the many children running and smiling, was lousy. In a swift motion , she took her usual place beside the snow haired boy. They remained in silence, the only sound being the clicking of the puzzle. All this time in silence was allowing Mana to calculate a few things. She was four and Near was about a year or so older than her.
Clack.
Her eyes wondered towards the half started puzzle. He always went through puzzles so fast. She never understood his hobby or how he could stand to do the same puzzle over and over again. To her, puzzles alone were frustrating, she had no patience for them, although she could put them together rather quickly, but still puzzles aggravated her so much, she quickly remembered that she wasn't Near.
There was a slight pause in the sound of clicking puzzles.
"You should go play Mana-Chan."
The memory of how he had replied to a similar question earlier came into mind.
"No thank you. I'd rather stay inside with Near-san."
Her smile reappeared , as her hands clapped together. Instantly her right thumb went back between her lips.
He hadn't replied back, his eyes remained on the puzzle.
Clack
Clack
She soon grew tired of the constant clicking of puzzle pieces, her boredom hadn't helped much. Her mind came to the conclusion that she wanted to join in completing the puzzle with Near. Quickly her hand grabbed for a stray piece , holding it up to her eyes , she examined the ridges.
Clack
It went into place with the corresponding piece. Onyx eyes examined her, as this little four year-old girl put together the puzzle. Mana continued sowing the pieces of the puzzle together, as if there was nothing to it. Find the piece with the same edge and put it together. There was a small silence between the two, except for the random clicking of pieces, as usual.
"Does Mana-Chan like puzzles?"
No, Mana just wanted to keep Near company, besides Mana was bored."
His finger was intertwined with in his hair, twirling a single curl. Mana's hands went back to work.
15 Minutes went by and the puzzle was complete, well, as complete as it could possibly be. There was a blank spot in the lower left corner. The small girl stopped as she stared at the corner, her eyes dimly lit, the missing puzzle piece had struck a horrible chord. With out realizing her own harsh breathing, the little girl slammed her fists into the ground.
"No, bad puzzle!"
She looked up at Near, her pupils dilated, and the rims brimming with tears.
"The puzzle is incomplete, there's a missing piece!"
He nodded, patting the little girls back. She continued to sob quietly, her small hands rubbing furiously at her puffing red eyes. About fifteen seconds went by before she hiccupped some inaudible words. Near leaned in a little, trying to catch on.
"My mommy always used to say, 'Life is like a jig saw puzzle, There's always missing pieces in your life."
He gave a nod, showing the little girl he understood her paused words.
Near looked towards the puzzle, and noticed it was the same one he always misplaced. Maybe now would be a good time to teach Mana a Moral lesson. His eyes searched the carpeted floor for the puzzle, while doing so his mind wondered to why Mana had reacted so dramatically.
His eyes landed on the piece, hidden right beneath the small toy that had been seated next to him. His pale hand , the one that was free of curling his hair, grabbed for it.
When he picked it up, his other hand, the one that had been busy curling his hair, swooped down to the little girls hand. He grabbed them and pulled them up, examining them, and slowly forcing them to open.
When they were indeed forced open, Near placed the puzzle piece with in the small girls soft hands. He then closed them, leaving his hand on hers while he spoke.
" There might be missing Pieces, but if you take the time to search for them, you'll eventually find them."
He removed the hand and let the girl see for herself. She opened her hand and found the specific missing piece. Her once dull eyes, which were still moist, brightened to a lively green. She wiped her nose, with her free hand then her eyes, wiping all the moisture on her shirt. The small sobs quickly seized.
She took the puzzle piece and placed it in its rightful place. The small cardboard piece, giving a thankful clack. Her hand moved back to stare at her work, she was happy now that the puzzle was complete. She clapped her hands, showing her Compassion.
"It's complete! "
She exclaimed, but then turned questionably towards the boy.
"Did Mana helped Near complete the puzzle?"
He gave a nod, and slowly grabbed the board the puzzle had been settled on. He tipped it over, the many pieces of the finished puzzle to fall apart and onto the ground. The green eyed girl stared at him in wonder, his fingers started to curl his white locks again. Everything began again, as if both were stuck with in a cycle.
Clack
He began to put the puzzle together again.
Mana scooted towards the boy, her eyes wide.
"Why did Near do that?"
Onyx eyes turned towards confused emerald ones.
"Why wouldn't I? we completed the puzzle."
Her thumb came to her chin. A questionable gleam in her eyes.
" Mana thought , she just thought that Near would want to keep the puzzle whole. Maybe he would even want to glue it together and hand it on the wall to show everyone."
She brought her finger back to her lips and tipped her head to the side. She looked like a lost child, how had she gotten into the Wammy house anyways?
"What's the point in doing that?"
"Near would be able to look at the puzzle and feel proud. So would others."
Again, he found himself watching her. Just now he had taken into account of what she had been wearing. She wore a simple knee length spaghetti strapped white dress, that squared off at the chest. On her feet she wore light green socks.
Her answer to his previous question had been answered with such a typical little girl answer. Near never really understood how she was out into the Wammy Orphanage. Sometimes he even wondered where she stored the little intelligence she had.
Her thumb came back into her lips. Her tilted head came back to the center.
"Does Near want to race and see who can put puzzle together faster?"
"It sounds pointless, meaning it is pointless."
"Why?"
"You wouldn't be able to observe what you were doing."
His fingers danced along the scattered puzzle piece. Again the little girls, one bright eyes, turned dim. Near was being negative again.
"Then, can Mana do a reading for Near?"
She looked hopeful for a minute, fortune telling was something she enjoyed doing. Doing readings for the children in the Orphanage toned her skills.
" Go to the music room Mana-Chan."
She gave a solemn nod, Near hadn't even looked up to acknowledge her suggestions. Mana knew that when Near told her to leave, it meant she had done something to annoy him and it also meant leave now! Near was an intelligent person, she was to some extent intelligent. Music was her intelligence , an anything else in the arts. Puzzles and Mysteries were Nears intelligence.
She gave a mournful stare to the innocent color of the boys hair, it was the same thing, the same cycle, Near always wanted to be alone, she never wanted to leave him alone She pushed herself off the floor and with her head held low, she walked towards the halls entrance.
"Mana will Leave Near-san alone."
The little girl walked slowly out of the room and into the hallway.
The white haired boys hand stopped in mid action, hovering over the board, listening to the small shuffling of her feet. When they died away to nothing he placed the puzzle piece in its place with a low Clack.
Neh, This is a rewritten version of The Missing Piece, Ch.1, it's longer and has more details.