Many years later...

L's Pov

It was no good.

There was no way I could get to (Y/N).

I tried to escape the orphanage when I was young to try and find her.
I remember it vividly...

But once I got out, I had no idea where I was supposed to go from there. (Y/N) and her parents didn't leave a trace so it was difficult trying to find them. And being very young and emotional didn't help either.

And once I left, I realised how bad my decision was. I really didn't think it through well enough. The kids at Wammy's really rely on me and I just left them without even telling them where I was going.

All this piled up became a huge weight on my shoulders and it became difficult to carry.

I then accepted the fact that I wasn't able to see (Y/N) anymore and I returned to Wammy's House 2 days after I made an escape. I didn't want to let the other kids down.

It hurt. It really did hurt, but I had to except it.

I lived with this pain until I reached the age where I could leave the orphanage if I wanted to. That really started my work as a detective. Once I left Wammy's House, I tackled all these cases that took my interest and made my way to the top. To protect the world.

I was so caught up with all the work, I hardly had time to sit and think about (Y/N). What she was doing, how she was feeling...She almost disappeared from my mind a few times, but I made sure I never forgot her name or face. I always carried around a photo of her and I when we were kids, so I really won't forget her.

I just hope she hasn't forgotten me...

"Ugh! He's slacking off again!"

"He's been doing that a lot lately..."

"Hey Ryuzaki! Snap out of it!"

I was taken back into reality by the feeling of a book smacking against my head.

"Ouch...!"

I rub my head and turn around to see Light and Misa.

I frown.

These two were...well...How do I put it? They were suspects in a case I was working on. I've been working on this case for some time now but I haven't gotten very far.

"This is the third time you've slacked off today. What's wrong with you?" Light asked, folding his arms.

"It's nothing serious. You don't need to be worrying or interfering with any of my troubles" I say, biting my thumbnail.

The two gave me a confused look.

"We know something is bothering you, Ryuzaki. You can't fool us" Misa stated.

I let out a sigh and sank deeper in my seat.

"It's just personal issues interfering with the work in front of me. I'm finding it difficult to focus right now" I whisper quietly, giving them a frustrated look.

Both the suspects looked over at each other then back at me.

"Hey L? I think you need to go clear your head" Light said.

"Huh?"

"Yeah, taking a walk to get rid of all the stress would really help you focus  more" Misa added.

"I can't do that" I state. "I refuse to go out in public. And I can't because of who I am."

"Dude, it's not like anyone's gonna know who you are. And you've barely rested at all these days" Light said. "It would really do you good to take a break from what you're doing."

"I...can't."

Misa spun my chair around so I was facing her and she gave me a sort of scary look.

"You're gonna end up hurting yourself if you don't stop working. You're already getting stressed from what Light and I have just seen. A few minutes walk won't hurt you!" She said.

I sigh. They're so annoying sometimes.

"Since when do you two care so much? Fine. I'll take a walk, but just for 5 minutes then I'm coming straight back and going back to work. Understood?"

I stood up and I had to put on the shoes I dreaded wearing. I slipped them on and stuck my hands in my pockets.

"Should I get the car for you Ryuzaki?" Watari asked.

"No. That'll draw unnecessary attention. I'll go alone."

And with that said, I left the taskforce.

I walked for a bit, just letting my thoughts swarm around inside my head.

'Why did (Y/N)'s parents decide to come for her when she already grew up in Wammy's? It doesn't make sense why they would come for her when she was only 10. I don't understand.
And why didn't she come to say goodbye to anyone? It's not right..."

I never realised how long I'd been working until I looked up at the sky above me. I could see the night sky slowly making it's way there. The sun was setting and it made some parts of the sky go orange and pink.

I took a moment to appreciate that...

I walked some more until I spotted what seemed to be a coffee shop in the corner of the streets.

'Maybe I should go in and try some. It would be good to taste different flavours of coffee that Watari hasn't made me before.'

I head for the coffee shop but I was soon stopped by someone bumping into me from a side ally, causing the two of us to fall to the ground.

"I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention!"

"Well, next time you should..." I sigh, sitting up and rubbing the back of my head.

I look up and see a girl. She looked around my age. She appeared to be carrying groceries and they were all on the ground now.

"I guess I should help you pick them up..." I say, helping the girl.

"Thank you!" She said, smiling at me.

"Gah! Honestly (F/N)! You gotta stop rushing off ahead! Someone could get hurt!"

I heard another girl's voice. A familiar  voice...

I look up to see another girl, around the same age as me as well.

One that...I recognised!

(H/C), (H/L) hair, (S/C) skin...

"(Y/N)...?" I whisper, though she didn't hear me.

"Thanks for the help!" The other girl said and took the bags. "Come on (Y/N)! Let's hurry home! It's late!"

It is (Y/N)!

I was gobsmacked! I never thought I'd run into her like this! What do I do?!

"Okay! I'm coming! One second!" She shouts then turns to me.

"Sorry for the intrusion. I hope we didn't bother you too much" she bows to me.

She still has that kind heart inside of her.

"Have a good night!" She waves and goes to leave.

I can't let her go! Not again! I won't let her slip away!

"Wait!" I reach out and grab her wrist.

She turned her head back and looked at me with a confused but worried expression.

"I'm not going to let you leave me alone again! It's been too long!"

I heard a gasp escape from her lips and she turned around, making me let go of her arm.

"L...?" She asked, with wide eyes.

"I can't let you disappear again like you did back at the orphanage! I can't let you escape without you saying goodbye to me...!"

I could see tears in (Y/N)'s eyes.

She took a few steps back to take everything in, but soon she smiled at me.

"It's...It's really you...!"

Before I could say anything else, (Y/N) tackled me with a hug and sobbed into my shirt.

"It's been so long! I never wanted to leave you like that! I wanted to say goodbye first! I'm so sorry for leaving you alone!!" She cried.

I hugged her tightly, not ever wanting to let her go again.

She wouldn't stop crying. She really felt bad.

"It's okay. It's not your fault" I say to her.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you again!" She cried.

We sat in each other's arms for what felt like eternity before I finally let her go.

"There were so many things I wanted to talk about when we were kids...I never got the chance to though..." I say to her, with a smile.

"You can tell me everything now!" She said, her voice full of excitement.

"(Y/N)! Come on!!"

"Maybe another time..." I say. "You should get back to your friend."

(Y/N) gave me a sad look.

"Sorry about her..."

"I'm glad to see you've made new friends. You're opening up a new chapter in your life (Y/N). I'm so happy to see that..."

The words made tears come to my eyes. (Y/N) must've forgotten me all those years before today.

(Y/N) noticed me upset and instantly hugged me again.

"You forgot about me...didn't you?" I asked her.

"Are you crazy?! Of course not! Every day, all I thought about was you! I kept seeing your kid face every time I closed my eyes! I missed you so much!" She cried.

"I'm so happy to hear that..." I grip onto her, tightly. "I'm also happy to see you doing the things you've always wanted to do...You always had such big dreams when you were young."

"You too!" (Y/N) cried. "I hear about L all over the news. It just hurt because I never knew where to find you! I really wanted to see you again! I'm so overwhelmed with joy by how much you're helping other people! You're so smart! I mean, I knew that already! But you tackle some cases so quickly it feels inpossible!" She said, excitedly.

So she really didn't forget me. That made me really happy.

"(Y/N)! I need help with these bags! Could you hurry up please!" The girl called back.

"I'm sorry. I have to go now..." (Y/N) says, looking at me sadly.

"I understand. You should go..."

"Hey! I know what we could do!" (Y/N) fumbles in her bag and pulls out a small notebook and a pencil. She writes down her number and tears the page out, handing it to me.

"It's my phone number. That way, whenever you think of me or get lonely, you could give me a call! I may not be there in person all the time, but at least you would be able to hear my voice! And we can text too!"

I take the piece of paper and look up at (Y/N), before writing down my own number and giving it to her.

"You should go now" I say, sadly. I didn't want her to go though.

"Yeah..." (Y/N) turned away and walked a few steps but stopped.

"Is there something wrong, (Y/N)?" I ask her.

(Y/N) turned back around and came back to me.

"I've wanted to do this for so long..."

She turned back around and jumped at me, wrapping her arms around me.

Her lips locked with mine...

I suddenly got this feeling. This warm feeling where the whole world around me just stood still. The only movement was between me and (Y/N), but it was slow. Like slow motion. It's hard to describe. But I liked this feeling. It made my heart beat faster.

However, it was just a feeling. We weren't moving in slow motion. I soon realised that when I fell on my back onto the ground with (Y/N) in my arms.

She laughed. Much like she did all those years ago. It's been a while since I saw her laugh. It made me laugh too.

"I hope we never separate like we did when we were kids" (Y/N) says, gripping me tightly, like it was her last day alive.

"Yes, I hope not too" I reply, hugging her back, before we stood back up.

"Let's meet up again soon L" she said before waving goodbye to me and rushing off to find her friend.

I watched her leave. My heart was still beating rapidly. It was something I had never felt before. And I only felt it when (Y/N) was around.

I was so happy to see her again. Watari was right after all. I did reunite with (Y/N)...

I smile to myself, then realise that I had been outside longer than I had intended to and made my way back to headquarters.

"I thought you said you'd only be 5 minutes?" Light said as I walk in, surprised to see me return later.

"Yeah, where were you?" Misa asked.

"None of your business" I reply and sat back down in front of my computer.

"But I think I want to go outside more..." I smile to myself.

"WHAT?!" Misa and Light were very surprised but I didn't acknowledge them.

(Y/N)'s changed a lot. She's so much older now. She's a mature young woman and has friends of her own now. Although, she still has the same adorable laugh, and the same kindness I know too well. It was a shame we couldn't see each other growing up. But at least I got to see her again. I missed her so much.

If there is a God in this world, I hope he never separates us again, (Y/N).

Let's stay by each other's side, forever.

(A/N): Yo, my fellow weebs. So I have some news. Since I started a new year in college, the work is getting harder and I'm having more work to do. Last night, I didn't go to sleep till 1:30 in the morning because I was finishing off work. And that night I had to wake up early as well. So I hardly got any sleep. I'm putting a lot of dedication into my college course. I don't want to fail (I probably will tho lol). But I am getting a lot of work and I haven't been able to balance my schedule yet so I'm sorta losing precious sleep and I haven't been able to do things that I want to do like watch anime, or draw, or write fanfics. I sincerely apologise if stories don't get out and things start to change a little. It's just that this year is gonna be more challenging and stressful in college so I gotta be way more focused. Once I do finish all my work, I will get back to writing more and living my regular life. But college is my main priority right now so I'm most likely gonna disappear for a bit because of all that. I hope you all understand. Don't worry, I'll come back with more ideas! Hahaha

~Cringey ♡