Me: Wow, I haven't updated in forever! I'm sorry, everyone!

L: She says she had writer's block, the little liar. She's been scribbling page after page of her Battle Royale adaptation.

Me: THAT'S A DIFFERENT PLOT L! Some things are easier to write than others you know!

L: It's all the same. Words.

Me: No it's different! I would be writing more often if my imagination hadn't shriveled up and died long ago…

L: Excuses, excuses. Anyway, I'll say the disclaimer. Saga doesn't own Death Note. She only owns Lillith, which isn't much of an accomplishment.

Me: Don't be mean! Anyway, hope you enjoy everyone. ^.^

Chapter 6

November-7 months to go

Ever since Lillith had moved in, things had been pretty normal. She spent most of her time at school or a part time job. However, when Lillith did occasionally take some time off, she would grab her Color Guard equipment and walk to a nearby park. Near would usually tag along out of boredom and curiosity. Whenever they would arrive, Lillith would find an open and grassy area and begin spinning, while Near sat on a nearby park bench, playing with one of his robot toys and watching her.

One day Lillith was trying to accomplish what she called a "Double toss turnaround". This toss was a rifle toss where Lillith would throw a five, and turn twice underneath while it was in the air before catching it. Apparently, she was only able to turn once and successfully catch her rifle. Her irritation must have been steadily mounting with each attempt, because when the rifle hit the ground for the umpteenth time, Lillith screamed in annoyance. She stomped to the bench and slammed herself down beside Near. "I can't get it right! The rifle always comes down before I can do my second turn!" She ranted at him.

Without looking up, Near tugged on a lock of his hair before calmly stating, "Maybe a five just isn't enough for a double toss turnaround. Try doing it with a six."

Lillith let out a deep sigh, pulled off her sweat-drenched fingerless gloves and wiggled her fingers. "I'm so out of shape. I used to have such strong arm muscles and now they're noodles, just like my first year."

Near glanced briefly at the rifle lying in the sun. "Well, it's better than most people could probably do. You have pretty good hand-eye coordination."

Lillith shrugged and wiped her forehead. "I wasn't born with it. As far as Color Guard goes, I earned every single ability I have. I bet you could do it if you practiced enough."

Near stared at her emotionlessly. "You could be right about that. Could you teach me how?"

Lillith, although stunned at him for asking, nodded. "Sure! I must say I'm surprised, though. You never struck me as the athletic type, Near-kun."

"I'm typically not, but I want to see how good I would be at this kind of thing." Near responded as he put both feet on the ground and rose into a standing position. Lillith slipped on her gloves and tossed him her newer, lighter rifle, which she had given the western name Simon. Lillith had told Near she had an American mother, so she was full of western customs.

After Lillith handed him the rifle, she grabbed her own and faced him. Placing her right hand underneath the gun in the skinny part and the other on top where the barrel would be, she instructed, "Hold it in the neck and the tip."

Near tried to copy her hand positions and Lillith shook her head. "End of the tip." She said as she slid his hand over so it was at the very tip of the gun.

"Now push down as hard as you can on the tip, let go with the other hand, and let the weight of the gun carry it over. It's just a turn of the wrist, really."

Near pulled up on the tip and was about to let it go when Lillith stopped him. "Don't pull it up and then push down. Just push." She instructed.

Near honestly hadn't expected it to be this difficult. Lillith made it seem so easy, like the gun was simply sliding out of her hands. She did it almost instinctively, like she couldn't resist holding a rifle without spinning it. She could also do it with not only her right hand, but her left. He also noticed that she was rather patient with teaching him, but on the contrary, she got easily frustrated with herself.

"C'mon Near-kun, you can do it! Try to keep your hand in this position, like you're holding …a taco. You're American, you should know what a taco is." Lillith held her hand out in a cupped position, just like if you were holding a taco. Then she proceeded to throw her own rifle (Was it a quad?) and catch it underneath her leg. "If I can do that, then you can do a tiny little drop spin."

After about an hour or so, Near could do about three drop spins on right hand, and one on left. As the sun was setting, he and Lillith proceeded to gather up their stuff and leave the park.

"You did a pretty good job for a newbie. I'm impressed." Lillith commented, brushing a strand of her black hair away from her face.

"Thanks." Near said emotionlessly.

"I love Color Guard, I really do. I might actually consider moving to America and help out at a school as a secondary kind of thing, if it weren't for…" Lillith's eyes clouded over and she didn't finish her sentence.

They walked quietly for a little while when Near looked over and noticed Lillith tearing up a little.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Lillith nodded and wiped her eyes. "I'm fine, I'm fine."

"You were crying." Near pointed out bluntly.

"I said I'm fine." Lillith insisted.

"If you say so…"

Near didn't believe her, but said nothing as they continued to the apartment in the steadily dropping temperature, a sure sign that winter wasn't too far off.

END CHAPTER 6

Me: I noticed I'm inconsistent at my FIN message. I need to fix that. Writers have to do check and remember so much! –bangs head in frustration- I actually need to stop doing these beginning and ending commentaries…this will be my last one, I promise! I'll have a bunch of blabbing only at the end, and only when necessary, aka when I have something important to actually say! So anyway, read and review everyone!