Every day, Near found himself letting Mile into his life more and more. She inched her way in, and he didn't try to stop it. Several times he thought it was going to go wrong and something would happen and he would slip up and start getting distracted by her, but he didn't. And even if he did, at this point, he didn't care.

So instead, he pulled her closer. He asked her questions, trying to define her inner character in his mind, so he would know her better then any other person. He started with simple questions like her favorite color and her favorite books, and then worked his way up to more personal questions about her past. In turn, she asked him questions, and for the first time, he allowed someone to know a little bit about himself, and answered them all with honesty.

After all this, however, he still felt as if something was missing. He knew they both knew they were more than friends...that they loved each other. This was a big thing to Near, since he couldn't remember loving anyone very well, having he came to the orphanage at a young age. He wasn't quite sure how to express it, so he decided to look it up.

He sat in a corner of the library with an encyclopedia, and looked up "love." It felt almost foreboding to be looking at it, but he read on, glancing in several directions to make sure no one would see him.

Geez, all I need is for Mello to come in and see this...

He read the entire article quicky, jumping when people walked in. But he soaked up the new information like a sponge anyway. Then he began to formulate a plan.

It wasn't until a week later that Near actually put the plan into action. He and Mile were sitting in the room in which they had their first afternoon together. It was sunny out, so all the kids were outside. Near shut the windows, muffling the sounds of the kids outside before sitting on the floor to wait for Mile.

"Hey, Near!" she greeted cheerily when she came in. "What are you working on?"

"A Lego tower" he answered steadily, then came over and began pointing out the pattern he was making, showing her which blocks were to go where. She nodded, memorizing it, and they both set to work.

Every time Near added a block to the tower, he also hid a green square behind it. There was another one tucked away into his pyjama top pocket, waiting. Eventually Mile stared humming, probably without noticing. It made him feel calmer and relaxed, pushing back some of the nervousness that had built ever since she came into the room.

"Near" she said suddenly, breaking off her humming "I need a green square block here"

The plan was on now. He snuck the block from the pocket into his hand as he shrugged.

"Near" she repeated, suspicion filling her voice.

"What?" he asked, putting as much innocence into his voice as possible. He knew she knew him too well to be fooled by it.

"I bet you've got that block in your hand or something" she insisted. Near allowed himself to smile a little at how well he had predicted her thoughts.

"Come and see" he said, his heart skipping a beat at the boldness and slight suggestiveness of his own words. Nonetheless however, there was a slight shuffling noise as she moved around the blocks towards him. He let his left hand rest in an obvious place as she looked over his shoulder.

"I see it, Near" she said upon seeing his fist, reaching out towards it.

"No you don't" he countered. She paused in her movement, probably realizing he was right, then started again.

"Show me your...fist" she said, stretching close to him.

"Hey!" she said, sounding annoyed when he pulled his fist away. She jumped in front of him, showing her smiling face, betraying the false annoyance in her voice. She reached for the block again, and Near moved backwards, lifting the block over his head. Mile followed it with her eyes like a cat, and without even thinking, moved forward to try to get it. Near moved away, moving back slowly until he was lying on the ground. Mile lid over him, still looking at the block. He felt his cheeks begin to burn and his heart start to hammer.

Oh wow...she's pretty. He thought dazedly And very, very close.

Mile didn't realize what she was doing until a second later, then she froze, her cheeks blazing red.

"Oh...um..." she stammered, moving slightly to get up. By this time, Near's mind was gone from being so close to Mile this way. It was a nice feeling. There were no calculations in his mind for once, just...Mile. He reached up before she could move any further and kissed her softly on the lips. She froze for the second time in surprise.

The moment their lips met and Mile's fingers started stroking his cheek, he forgot everything he read in the encyclopedia, and threw his arms around her neck. She smiled into the kiss, but didn't stop until a moment later.

They looked into each other's eyes, each reflecting the other's surprise.

Mile sat up slowly. Near didn't let his arms slip away from her neck as she did. When she was sitting upright, she pulled him into her lap and he rested her head on her shoulder. She immediately started stroking his hair.

She does that every time she gets a chance. Near thought in amusement, but quickly sobered.

"Sorry about that" he said in embarrassment. But Mile just laughed.

"That was the dumbest thing you ever said" she joked. He smiled up at her, glad he hadn't messed things up "I bet you planned it though"

Of course I did. How else would I have managed to do that?

Near shrugged and smiled slightly to himself.

Mile rested her head on his, cuddling into him and propping her back up against the blocks behind them. His brain relaxed like it had earlier, thinking only "Mile" without any calculations. A peace settled over both of them, and Near found himself wishing he could stay there in her arms forever.

Forever was cut awfully short, however, when the door burst open, causing Mile - who was a very jumpy person even without the current circumstances - to jump so violently he almost flew out of her arms. He used the motion to propel himself forward and quickly sat elsewhere, his cheeks flaring up once again. He sighed slightly in relief, though, when he saw it was only Mid. He could've sworn he saw her wink at Mile...

"Really sorry" she said. "Mello left his DS game in here, and Matt wants it...and you know how Matt is with games"

Neither of them replied, but she went on about what she was doing, smiling to herself as she grabbed the game and left again, shutting the door behind her.

"Way to interrupt" Mile said irritably under her breath as she stood up.

"It's fine" Near said, looking down to hide his burning cheeks "There's always tomorrow's free time." Mile laughed, and then grew silent for a moment before breaking the silence once again.

"Cheater" she said with laughter in her voice.

Whatever works. Near thought, but he didn't say it.

She bent down to sit with him again.

And everything was okay.