A/N: Wow. I'm so surprised that I've updated so quickly on this story. I guess that's because it's the weekend, but still. x]

I hope to be able to get Chapter Four up soon, but I'll have to see because of school.

Hopefully I can get it up by Wednesday. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Death Note Characters. However, this story is mine.

A brown leaf flung itself against one of the bus windows. Near stared as the edges of the brown leaf flickered in the rushing wind as the vehicle moved. It was a Sunday. The orphans of Wammy's House had known this to be a privileged Sunday. Roger had gathered a group of students to take them to a certain store so each student could get something small. The top ten people were always able to go every other Sunday when Roger took them. The only reason they wouldn't be able to go was if they were being punished. The other ten students who were able to go were hand chosen by Roger based on good behavior and other factors.

Near usually didn't buy anything nor hang out with anyone on these privileged trips. However, when Near did get something, he'd usually choose to get a blueberry soda, since blue raspberry drinks were usually sour, and Near didn't usually care for those. If he didn't get a blueberry soda, then Near would get a pink lemonade. Today, Near was planning on getting a blueberry soda.

The albino boy sat at the front of the noisy bus. As usual, Near was sitting alone. He usually avoided sitting in the back because Mello and Matt always sat back there. They ran off anyone who tried to take their spots. Near had learned this the hard way, years ago. Near also didn't sit in the middle of the bus because the other children were rather rowdy as well.

"H-Hello, Near."

Near looked over to see Linda standing in the isle, gripping the seats so she wouldn't fall over in case the bus hit a bump. Her light brown hair was up in one, side ponytail. Her green eyes kept glancing up, hoping Roger wouldn't see she had gotten up from her seat and had moved through the bus.

Near gave a short nod of acknowledgment. Linda gave a shy, embarrassed smile before quietly asking, "Can I sit here?"

When Linda was chosen to go on the special, Sunday trips—which were usually to a small, convenience store—she would usually ask to sit beside him. Besides her, however, Near usually sat by himself.

"Yes," Near answered in an indifferent tone.

Again, Linda never bothered him. She was always considerate towards him, therefore Near didn't feel the need to reject her presence.

She became a bit red in the face before sitting next to him. Near could hear Linda's friends giggling and chattering a few rows back. Near drown out the noise as he lost himself in thought. He watched as buildings past by as Linda began to talk rather scatteredly.

Near faintly listened to the girl. She seemed to be complimenting him on his latest test scores. Once Mello's name was mentioned, Near listened more closely but continued to stare out the window.

"Congratulations on beating Mello again," Linda complimented with contempt for Mello. "I knew you'd still have the top grades."

Near felt his mind almost instantly disagree with Linda. Yes, Near had the top grades, but the term 'beating' wasn't the right observation. It had never been a competition between them—at least, not in Near's eyes. Near never wanted to be in a competition with the other children of Wammy's Orphanage, especially with not Mello. Yet, to much of Near's disliking, the hatred that Mello had for Near just couldn't seem to be avoidable.

Near wished the blond teen wouldn't hate him and that the perceived competition could stop. As much as Near would like this, at the same time, Near wasn't sure of himself. If this became true, the one-sided fights and cursing would stop—which pretty much summed up all contact he received from Mello. In theory, this seemed like something to be happy about, but Near couldn't help but think that 'happy' wasn't the correct word. Words like 'relieved', 'satisfied', and 'rejoice' didn't fit either. Near knew this was masochistic thinking, but he didn't know how to turn these thoughts neutral.

After realizing that he had lost himself in thought again, Near began to faintly listen to Linda once more. It sounded like she was rambling about her artwork and comparing it to her rival's, Sydney's, artwork.

"Sydney's said she was like going to get a perfect score on her sculpture project. I told her to stop being so s-stuck up! Okay, well...I-I wanted to, but...." Linda explained.

It usually went like this when Linda came on the trips. Linda would chatter away while Near stared out the window. Occasionally, Linda would ask for Near's opinion on something. As short as Near's responses came, Linda was just glad that Near was still listening.

Near stared up at the overcast, gray sky. Today seemed drearier than others. It was probably going to rain soon. Near wondered if Mello was going to be in a worse mood because of it. Near knew Mello hated rain because it kept him indoors, but since they were on a trip, Near wondered what the blond's attitude would be like.

Mello.... Near began in thought. What could have been bothering him yesterday? He didn't seem like himself.

Since Near usually was the thing that bothered Mello, Near was unsure what it could have been. Guilt? Near doubted it. If guilt hadn't hit Mello years ago, it wouldn't suddenly hit him now. Yet, what else would have stopped the blond? What was distorting and trying to mask his hatred?

"All right, everyone," Roger's voice was sent throughout the bus. "Everyone can get one thing and only one thing."

Near awoke out of thought. He hadn't noticed that the bus had stopped. Roger went quickly over the rules as he usually did before everyone shuffled off the bus. Near followed more slowly.

"I'll talk to you later, Near," Linda told him before skipping over to her group of friends.

Near watched as everyone crossed the street and headed into one of the convenience stores of the old, gray town. The albino chose to sit on one of the benches at the bus stop. This was usual for Near to wait till almost everyone was done before heading in. Near was slightly claustrophobic and didn't want to be crammed in a small shop just so he could get a drink.

The temperature was warm, but the air had a chill to it. If it wasn't for the sun's ray poking out of the clouds then it would have been a lot cooler. Autumn was only a few days aways and soon it would become colder. Looking up at the sky, Near couldn't help but think that the dark clouds looked like they were gobbling up the sunlight.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, Near glanced over. There wasn't any pedestrians crossing the intersection nor cars passing by. The small town was barren like it usually was.

Near turned his head around to see a man walking down the cracked sidewalk. The man's long, black coat hung loosely around his knees. He was wearing black slacks, which didn't match his mud caked, tennis shoes that were ruggedly worn down. His coat was open, relieving a faded red shirt. The man wore a black hat that had a black-and-red stripped belt around it. Even with the hat on, the man's greasy, black hair stuck out in many directions. Shielding his eyes were darkly tinted sunglasses that were faintly, dark purple.

The man clacked when he walked, not from his shoes but it sounded like metal clinking together. Near couldn't see if he was wearing anything on his hands or wrists since his hands were shoved into his coat pockets. The only other accessory he was wearing was a dull golden, pocket watch that hung around his neck.

The man stopped at the intersection, just a few feet away from Near. He leaned up against the stop sign and stared out at the empty road. Well, Near guessed this, since he was unsure of what the man was looking at due to his shades.

Although the man appeared to be a civilized, ordinary man, he held a dark eeriness to him. Curiosity filled Near but the albino remained quiet and directed his attention elsewhere.

"You're on of those orphans, are you not?"

Near gazed over at the man again. Obviously the man was addressing Near. Near took note of the man's voice at this point. His voice was hoarse and scratchy, not from sickness, but it seemed that it had a natural ruggedness. Yet, at the same time, there was power in his voice. His vocals drew Near's attention in. The meaning of his words told Near that he man was observant.

"Yes," Near replied offhandedly as Near's gray eyes wearily watched the stranger.

The man gave a sincere smile that looked a bit strange for some reason. "Don't get defensive now. I was just asking."

The man pulled out one of his hands from his coat pocket and shook his arm, the sleeve of his coat pulling back. Near now realized what the clanking noise was. On the man's wrist and arm were several watches. Some were golden in color, some silver, and some black. The man looked at one of the watches and then down the street. Near guessed he was waiting for the bus.

"I only thought it odd since all of the other orphans are in that store over there." The man continued to stare at his watches before looking over at Near. "Because if it were me, I'd be in there with them."

Near's eyes trailed over to the convenience store. None of the orphans or Roger had come out yet. It was only Near outside...and this man. Near's silence was the only response he gave to the man.

"You don't talk much do you, Cottonball?" The man paused to see if Near would reject the given nickname. When Near didn't say anything, the man sighed before continuing, "Look there's no roundabout way of saying this, so I might just go ahead and tell you."

Near raised an eyebrow for a moment and listened. What was this guy going to say? Why was he going to say it? What were his motives? Near was probably thinking too much about it, but Near was too use to thinking in a logical way to change his thinking patterns so suddenly.

"I should know...most about it since...I was once like you," the man seemed to be troubled by something. "I was quiet...observing...different."

Near wasn't sure why, but the word 'different' stuck out unusually. It made Near feel uneasy. What is this about?

The man was quiet for a moment. He dipped his head and became lost in thought. He gave an uneasy chuckle. "Different...Yeah...I'm still different...." He lost his composure for a moment before saying, "After all these years, I've come to realize that things don't ever change. I've come to realize," the man paused before finishing eerily,

"It is the different ones that always get shoved over the edge."

The aura around them harshly dropped. The atmosphere seemed colder now. The clouds had faintly gobbled the last of the sunlight, leaving the earth darker even though it was only around four o' clock. A feeling of misfortune filled Near's insides. What is this? Near wondered. Why do I feel this way?

Feelings were always foreign to Near. He usually didn't have many emotions, but when he did, they usually weren't very extreme. Why was he feeling distressed by the man's words? Why did his voice sound so powerful yet eerie?

"It looks like the bus is coming. See you around, Cottonball...hopefully."

Near watched as the rickety bus rolled to the bus stop. The man didn't glance at him or give a nod for farewell before he loaded onto the bus.

Watching as the bus shook as it drove down the road, Near couldn't help but feel uneasy. The strong feeling of distress disappeared, but an unsettled feeling was still slinking through his insides. Near kept wondering what that was about, but more so than that, those words wouldn't stop echoing in his head.

'It is the different ones that always get shoved over the edge'.


Tehehe.

Masochistic Near.

C:

You gotta love it. Lol.

Please review! :3