Sorry, guys, the last chapters kinda sucked. I've been writing this through an insane writer's block, and I hate it. Hiatus always makes me feel sad, so here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it. And I hope my brain gets uncramped soon.

Warning: language. I disclaim all characters.

Chapter thirty-seven- To play: part one.

The four had been inseparable- going any and everywhere with each other. If it was to the kitchen, Misa's ducklings followed behind closely. Matt even gave her an apple for her troubles.

If it was to the bathroom, they waited outside patiently like the good little boys they had been taught to be.

And when she'd asked them to accompany her to the park, they'd immediately said yes. And that's where they stood now.

Misa glanced over to where her lovable entourage hunched over uncomfortably in the basking sun. It almost looked to her like they'd never known the world from a child's perspective, only of that of a private detective, albeit two fourteen year olds and a very eager twenty-four year old.

They needed the fun. And Misa would give it to them.

"Brighten up, would you," she scolded her followers. "You're children, we're at a park; add it together."

The three Misa-lovers only raised baffled eyebrows. There had been no math in that statement...

She groaned and explained, "Play! You're suppose to play."

Slow, intense realization dawned on each of their faces. "Um, Misa," Mello tried to be gentle, "we're private detectives in training; we don't play."

"Oh, don't give me that, mister!" She cried motherly. "If you don't play games, why does Matt have a Gameboy?"

Mello looked the boy in question up and down. The game console was visibly poking out of his pocket. "Okay, everybody else but Matt doesn't play," he answered gradually.

L broke in kindly before mass murder ensued. "No, Mello, Matt's developing keen hand-eye coordination, which, in itself, isn't a bad thing. I've tested him several times to see the result of his time spent in the virtual world. I've noticed a few symptoms that aren't bad.

"The video games he plays make him more decisive than some of you that aren't. Matt's a lucid dreamer, due to playing in a simulated reality. He's also got very active reflexes and sudden desires to play real-life sports instead of their virtual counterparts."

A grin fought its way to Misa's face as the brunette flushed over the praise. "Wow, Matt, that's amazing!" She crowed, patting him on the shoulder. "You really are something, aren't you!"

Mello wasn't as impressed. "He's also a major dork," he pointed out shamelessly. "Who else knows that Paralarry gets picked as Mario's fifth companion in Paper Mario."

Matt sighed his exasperation. "Parakarry. And he's Mario's fourth companion."

The former rolled his eyes. "Ah yes, how dare I mix my facts up. Facts I'll never need!"

Matt simply sighed again. "Well, don't say something if you don't have the proper guess. You end up embarrassing yourself like that, Mello. And retaining information is part of our training. It's not my fault I've got each and every villain and ally memorized in their proper order."

From the corner of his mouth, Mello grumbled, "Dork."

It finally sank in with Misa what had happened. "Quit changing the subject!" She cried aloud. "I want you guys to go run and play and be normal for once."

"Misa, I've already-"

"Play!"

"We don't know how to, okay?!" Matt broke in hurriedly.

There was something vaguely disturbing about his words. He continued, "We've see mutilated corpses, violent crime scenes, mass rapes and their aftermath, and we've learned to accept it. We've learned adulthood is the best way to take it, so no: we don't play."

Misa wanted nothing more than to pull them close and tell them that it'd be okay. But she got the feeling her encouragement would fall hundreds of feet short than what they'd seen.

"I'm sorry," she breathed out sadly. "But you're wrong. Being a kid isn't weak, or stupid. It's trying to skip your childhood, when you only get one, that's foolish. Nobody should tell you you need to grow up. You're fourteen, Matt. And Mello's almost fifteen. Yes, you're growing up, but you've still got your life ahead of you to be serious, so don't waste your time now."

L had visibly perked up during the duration of her speech. From the way they act, he often forgot they were children still. Misa's speech had awoken him. "Mello, Matt, go play," he spoke softly.

He looked up in time to see Misa's smile before it faded away. She straightened up and outstretched both hands towards them. "Come on, boys. I'll teach you."

Yay, family fluff! The next parts to come soon. My hiatus seems cured.