Near woke up in the morning to nothing but darkness. It really wasn't relevant but something just didn't feel normal. He didn't know why until he looked to the floor, covered with toys, and noticed the one he had always by his side, was on the floor. He picked it up and wondered how much he was moving to actually make it fall. That not only was but the dream he had was nothing but his definition of normal. As he thought of the dream he felt a bit weird of why he had dreamed it.

Near was a river which he thought was strange that he knew what it would feel like to be a river and also due to the fact that his last name was River. But something caught his eye on the left bank. Anya was standing looking out to the right back which now had L and Light sitting on opposite sides of a couch.

They smiled at Anya and waved her over and motioning her to sit in the space in-between them. Near turned his attention back to Anya and her wings were now sprouting feathers and she flew across the river with such grace she barely remembered that she hadn't been able to walk.

She landed in between the two rivals and said, "L, Light, how are you two?"

They smiled at her but they didn't answer. More like they couldn't answer. There were people running towards the river, though there were some bone winged people in the group. When the people reached the edge they boned winged people began to gain feathers on their wings. They flew over to the right back and when they landed they burst into feathers. Anya was smiling when she saw this and held no expression when the normal people started falling into the river.

Near was horrified when he saw the drowning people and noticed that all of them had a K and L on their foreheads. Near realized that he wasn't any river; he was the river of death in this scenario. The left bank was life and the right was a peaceful after life, which only a few of the people who had happened to die were able to swim across to.

And that was when Near woke up and appeared in this certain predicament. He got up and dressed into a new pair of clothes which looked like his average wear but this one was clean. He then walked out and noticed everyone was gone from the apartment/office. He walked to the phone and called up a car. Not that he couldn't drive, but to help keep his identity a secret he didn't try to own a car or have a little traceable information on himself.

Near looked for cards to continue onto his card city which took about 10 minutes; though he never got to use them because the car had apparently arrived and was waiting out front for him. Near let out a sigh and headed downstairs via elevator. When he walked out front and got in the car he thought about how long he would be there today. If he guessed correctly it would be over three hours; time flew by when you couldn't tell what time it was.

Speaking of time, Near didn't realize he was at the building until he felt it stop and the driver called from in front, "Sir your stop is here."

Near nodded, gave him his pay for the ride, in cash, and exited the car. He walked up the steps and to the receptionist who was the same from yesterday. She smiled at him and said, "Do you remember where you have to go today?"

Near nodded and said, "I can remember the route."

The receptionist called Dr. Smith and said, "Dr. Smith? Yes, N is here." She hung up the phone, nodded to Near and said, "He's says you can go right on up."

Near nodded and when he headed to the door the doctor was already standing in front of the door, smiling, "Oh hello! Welcome back. Anya was excited to see you again since last night. We hardly were able to get her to sleep if it wasn't for Ryuk."

Near nodded and felt a little happy over being happily expected. Though he hid it because he didn't know if he should be feeling this about anyone or even about a girl he just met.

They went down the halls and into the room where the winged people were but as soon as he came in Ryuk came out holding an exhausted, happy Anya. Near shook his head and actually smiled that the young girl really had wanted to see him. Though he could see why; the only normal people in this building weren't the doctors, but the winged people. He guessed she wanted to see a normal person without wings; though really who was to call him normal.

Near walked over to the girl who smiled, "Near how are you?"

Near looked at her with the only emotion was happiness in his eyes, "I'm okay by my standards, and you? How are you?"

Anya smiled but it was a sad smile, "I didn't have a good dream last night, but it was just a dream right?" she then looked at Ryuk and stated, "Did you ever find what I asked you for?"

Ryuk laughed and said, "They're in your room on your nightstand, but I guess you didn't bother to look." He laughed again.

Near was confused and asked, "What?"

Ryuk laughed and stated, "Follow me." Apparently Anya had fallen asleep now that she knew Near was there. Ryuk then said, "While she's asleep I'm going to tell you how I had come about becoming this girl's guardian."

Near asked, "Aren't you her father?"

Ryuk laughed and said, "No but one of my close friends tried to save the woman he had impregnated when she almost had a miscarriage once. She was meant to die then but since he saved he died instead." Ryuk and Near had reached the bedroom. Ryuk opened the door, for Anya and Near's convenience, and placed Anya onto the bed and tucking her in.

Near asked, "So how did you come to know this child existed?"

Ryuk stated, "Before he saved the woman he told me to take care of his child if his wife died in child birth. I said I would and when Anya was born her mother only lived long enough to name her."

Near looked at the young girl and felt empathy for her because he knew what it was like to not have one's real parents, but he also knew that substitute parents worked just as well. Near turned back to Ryuk and said, "And let me guess. You've grown attached to the girl." Ryuk nodded and Near continued to say, "Well apparently you're doing a good job."

Ryuk nodded and before he said anything else Anya came around and looked back and forth at the two males before smiling and saying, "I'm ready now."

Near raised an eyebrow and asked, "Ready for what exactly?"

Anya looked like a devil child in his instant and stated, "I'm going to do some things to your hair."

Near still was puzzled but Anaya crawled over behind Near and Ryuk gave Anya a pack of pony tails. But they weren't any ordinary ponytails, oh no, these were the ones that had the two balls on each one. Anya laughed and sad, "just stay still and it will b less trouble for you and me."

Near let out a sigh and said, "I think this is the first time in my life I have willingly given up without a fight."

Anya laughed and said, "Well that's good for me." Ryuk laughed and Anya asked, "Which color do you want?"

Near thought and asked, "Do you have any that are white?"

Anaya was quiet but then said, "The closest thing I have to white is clear."

"That's fine then," Near stared blankly ahead.

Anya giggled and said, "Alright!" She felt her fingers run through his hair and she picked out a bunch of hair and started to tie that into a tail. With another giggle she said, "I wonder what you'll look like after this."

"Your guess is as good as mine Anya. I've never had my hair tied up before." Near was smiling.

Anya giggled and she moved onto the next bunch of hair tying that into a tail, "Well this is a day for firsts isn't it."

Near smiled, "I guess it is."

Ryuk laughed and said, "I'm going to go get Anya's medicine now. I'll be back."

He disappeared into a wall and Anya didn't seem to care. Anya just kept smiling away and that caused Near to smile.

When she was done she announced it and said as Near stood up so she could see her work before he went to check it out for himself and all she did was laugh and said, "Yep definitely a day for firsts."

Near walked over to the desk, picked up a mirror, and laughed for the first time in a long while. He looked hilarious with pig tails. He then sat next to Anya who had decided she put him through enough and she started to remove the hair bands.

One thought ran through his head and it was this, "I think I made a new friend today."

Ryuk came back just as Anya removed the second one and mocked hurt; "Oh I'm not worthy to see the mighty Near in pigtails?" he laughed and then said to Anya, "Which arm?"

Near was amazed when he saw a mixture of needles, liquids and pills on a medical tray. Anya didn't seem to be bothered by it though because she just pulled up her right sleeve and Ryuk stuck the three needles in. Anaya didn't seem fazed at all and Near could see why. Her arms were covered with needle scars, but she kept smiling away.

Then her six things of liquid cups were drained down and followed by nine pills that were not small but not large either. When that was done she chugged down a whole cup of water and said, "That always is such a pain to have to do every day Near. Do you have to take any?" Near shook his head and Anya smiled, "Lucky!"

Ryuk then moved and took Anya into his arms and said, "If you don't care for check-ups you can come with us to get her daily one done."

Near said, "If she wants me there I'll go with you."

Before he even finished his sentence Anaya said, "Come on then Near!"

And that was settled and they headed to get her checked up.

A/N: Well hope you liked this chapter, and no, this isn't a romance between Anya and Near. Think of it as a brother getting to know sister relationship. Please review and thanks for reading. Also sorry this took so long!