Your Pov

I stopped running as I needed to catch my breath and let Ryuzaki catch up with me.

"Don't run off like that, (Y/N)!" He said to me after he caught up and caught his breath.

"Hehe sorry" I laugh.

We then heard a familiar growl nearby, making me smile.

"Oh, I wonder who that could be" I said sarcastically as I spot a familiar face peering throw the trees.

"Hey Sammy!" I ran over to Samuel and stroked his mane.

"Here, I got your food" I reached into my backpack and pulled out some steak for him. He ate it as I continued to stroke him.

Ryuzaki came over to join us.

"Oh, I have an idea" I state. "Your legs must hurt from all that walking we've been doing so far."

"A little..." Ryuzaki replied.

"How about we get Sammy here to give us a lift? It'll get us further to the village faster too."

"That's a good idea" Ryuzaki stated.

"Cool!" The two of us jumped up on Samuel's back and after he finished his food, he took off down the path we were heading.

"It's so warm..." I said.

L's Pov

I was a little confused. Yes, it was warm, but I didn't feel too infected by the heat.
Meanwhile, (Y/N) was wearing a big hat and explorers coat. She had multiple layers on but wasn't doing anything to make the heat more bearable for herself.

"Why don't you try taking off your jacket and hat?" I suggest.

"Oh no, that'd be too much trouble" (Y/N) replied to me.

"How come? You'd just be taking off a few layers..."

"I like these clothes..." (Y/N) said.

"...That reminds me. Please excuse me for saying this, but don't you have any other clothes? I noticed you slept with those same clothes on last night. You took off your hat and coat though" I say, quite confused by this girl's behaviour.

"I'm afraid I don't have any other clothes besides my explorer's outfit" (Y/N) said. "That's fine though. These clothes are designed to be perfect for outdoor adventures! And since I'm an explorer, I'm always exploring different areas of this forest and going out and about. So I've never needed to bother about other clothes."

"That's-"

"I do have pyjamas though! I just didn't change into them last night because you were there!"

"You should've said. I would've given you privacy" I state.

"That would've been too much trouble" (Y/N) replied.

"(Y/N), it's not very hygienic to wear the same clothes every day."

"I wash my clothes! Don't get me wrong! I wash them every 2 days at the waterfall. So you shouldn't worry!"

"Don't you ever get tired of wearing so many layers?" I ask her.

"Well..."

I smile at her.

"I'll tell you what? I'm sure there's a shop that sells clothes in the village. Once we get there, I'm sure I can make arrangements to get you new clothes."

(Y/N) froze for a second.

"Oh no! That wouldn't be necessary!" She laughed. "You have people to look for. You shouldn't be thinking about things like that."

"..."

"Besides. Even if I got new clothes, I wouldn't wear them a lot as I'm always out and about. They'd get dirty or ripped."

"That's fair enough..." I state. "I don't really have any money here anyways, as this is a different world, so I'm not quite sure how I'd do that."

"That's okay" (Y/N) said. "Why are we continuing to talk about this?! Shouldn't we be focusing on getting to where we need to go? Let's keep going Samuel!"

(Y/N) stroked the lion as it continued to walk.

She's trying to change the subject. It's obvious she's trying to avoid me mentioning something. I'm not quite sure what just yet, but I decided I'd drop this subject before things get a little awkward.

"Can you at least tell me what you know about the village outside of here?" I ask.

(Y/N) slowly turned to look at me.

"Why do you wanna know about the village?"

"Well, if that's where we're heading, I'd at least like to know a bit about it" I said to her.
"For example, how big is it? Is it a crowded place? I have a few questions on my mind."

(Y/N) turned back around to look in front of her.

"I'm afraid my answer to those questions won't be of much use" she said.
"I only really see the village well, when I'm sitting on a tree up high. What I do know is that it's a pretty small village so I don't think it'll be that crowded."

"I understand" I reply.

"That's all I can say to answer your questions..."

(Y/N) was certainly getting quite serious about this. Something must not be right.

But before I could say anything else, Samuel stopped walking and I noticed a long muddy pit in front of us.

(Y/N) and I jumped off Samuel and I inspected the pit.

"Watch out!" (Y/N) said as I got closer to it.

"This pit may just look like one big muddy puddle, but it's really deep! If you get stuck in it, there's no coming out..."

"What?!"

"The forest lost a few animals to this pit. They all drowned. So be careful."

"Well then..."

"That's why Sammy won't go through it. He'll get stuck."

"I see..."

"Thanks Sammy!" (Y/N) stroked the lion again. "You've taken us far enough."

Samuel took a few steps back.

"Hey Ryuzaki! Watch this!"

I watched as (Y/N) jumped up and grabbed onto the vines that were above this pit and swung from each of them like a monkey. Finally, she finished with a front flip, landing on her two feet, like an acrobat, at the other end of the pit.

She turned to face me with a huge smile on her face and called out:

"YOUR TURN RYUZAKI!!"

"Uhhh..."

I stood there like a statue with my eyes wide. She expected me to do that?! No way! I couldn't do that!

"Uhhh...Isn't there another way I can get across?!"

"Afraid not" (Y/N) called. "Come on Ryuzaki! It's fun!"

"Your idea of fun is a lot different from mine!"

"Look, all you gotta do is jump and grab onto the vines! Then swing from them until you get to the end, then let go!"

"Easier said than done! You're used to this!" I call to her.

Samuel then nudged me to do it.

"It's the only way you're gonna get across!!" (Y/N) said.

Guess I had no choice.

I looked up to see the vines. I took a deep breath and jumped as high as I could, reaching for the vines.

To my surprise, I managed to catch onto one of them.

"That's it Ryuzaki!! Keep going!"

I smiled out of relief. Now all I had to do was get to the other side.

There was no way I could grab the next vine if I just remained like this. I swung back like I was an acrobat on a horizontal bar. I swung back and forth until I had enough power to jump and let go of the vine and grab onto another one.

(Y/N) watched in amazement.

"Wow! You're doing great Ryuzaki!!"

I continued to swing through the vines until I reached the end where the pathway was.
I swung off in attempt to land on my feet.

I landed on my stomach...

"Oh! Are you okay?!" (Y/N) rushes to me and helped me up onto my feet.

"That was not good for my back..." I said.

"That was amazing! You were like Tarzan flying through those vines like nothing could stop you!" (Y/N) was obviously very excited.

I smile but couldn't hold in my laughter. I began to laugh, making (Y/N) laugh along with me.

"Hahaha Tarzan?"

"It was the first thing I could think of! Hahaha!"

This was...a sweet moment. It had been a while since I was able to laugh so much like this.

"Well...all jokes aside, that was very impressive for your first attempt" (Y/N) said, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Thank you" I say. "That was actually really fun. I've never done anything like that before."

"I do that at least once a day or two" (Y/N) giggled then turned to Samuel.

"Thanks for your help Sammy! We'll managed from here!" She waved to the lion at the other side. He roared a happy roar in return and headed back the way we came.

"Shall we go?" (Y/N) asked, heading forward. I followed.

"That's one thing to tick off my bucket list" I say as I walk with her.

"Bucket list?" (Y/N) looked at me, confused.

"You don't know what a bucket list is?" I asked her, to which she shook her head.

"It's a list you make of all the things you wanna do before you...y'know..."

"Oh really? That sounds rather interesting! We don't have things like that in this world" (Y/N) replied.

"Well, why don't you start making one now?" I suggest.

"That sounds great!" She smiled.

"Well, what are all the things you really want to do?"

(Y/N) thought for a moment.

"There's so many" she said.

"Well, that's a good thing."

"I wanna go to a town!"

"A town?"

"Yeah!" (Y/N) said excitedly. "There are towns in this world, but they are always so far away from the forest. And I can't really leave the forest anyways. I'm not very accepted by society."

"You're like me then."

"Huh?"

"I have some pretty strange habits that many people don't really appreciate so I get what it's like to not be accepted."

"Yeah...? I'm sorry."

"That's okay, you get used to it. I also wanna go out more to beautiful places. I'm just unable to..."

"Why's that?" (Y/N) asked me.

"It's because of my work..." I state. "I have a very important job that doesn't really allow me to befriend other people. I don't have any friends. That and my job makes it difficult to go out and have free time. But I don't hate it. I do what I need to do."

(Y/N) gave me a sad look.

"That's really sad. Myself being the only human in this forest, you do get quite lonely, not being able to talk to anyone properly. I understand what it's like to feel alone. I don't have any friends either if you don't count the animals with me in the forest."

She turned to me.

"I'm glad we can understand each other!"

There was a sad, awkward silence as we walked a few more steps before stopping.

"...Can I be your friend...?"

(Y/N)'s Pov

We both froze and turned to face each other after we said that phrase in unison.

I could feel my cheeks heat up out of embarrassment at saying something so weird!

But I noticed Ryuzaki's cheeks were also a little red. He must be thinking the same thing!

Oh God! That was so embarrassing!!

Neither of us said anything for a few seconds.

I turn my head away from him.

"Um...Sorry, was that awkward?" I eventually spoke up to try and make the situation less awkward.

"I was thinking the same thing..." Ryuzaki replied.

"I mean...I've never had a friend before. I'd be so so happy if you could be my first friend" I whisper, looking up at him with a small smile and red cheeks.

Ryuzaki's cheeks went a darker red.

"I'd...also be very happy if you became my first friend. Would you like to be my first friend?"

"I'd be more than happy to!" My smile grew wider.

"I'm glad. You're the first friend that I've ever had now."

"I...I can tick that off my bucket list now!" I say.

"Me...me too..." He smiled.

This was so sweet. I'm so happy I was able to meet Ryuzaki.

We continued to walk down further, feeling a lot more happier than we had seen each other before.

I wanted to know more about Ryuzaki. I'm certain he wanted to know more about me too.

As we walked, I noticed Ryuzaki's hands weren't in his pockets as I normally see them when we walk.

I hesitated, but I reached to hold his hand.

Just as my fingers almost touched his hand, Ryuzaki spoke up.

"Oh, it's getting dark now."

I almost leaped out of my skin!

"Oh yeah! You're right! We should find somewhere to camp for the night and head out first thing tomorrow morning."

'That was close!'

"Good idea" Ryuzaki nodded.

"I know a small place around here" I say. "Follow me!"

I lead Ryuzaki down a small hill until we spot a mini den made out of sticks and twigs that I made ages ago to camp out in.

"I know it's not much, but it'll just be for the night. I did mention that it'll take a few days to get out of here."

"That's alright. It looks secure enough."

I led Ryuzaki into the den. It was quite a small, tight space as I usually stay in these places myself, but this time I've got company.

I took off my hat and coat and try to get comfortable on the grass ground.

"So, you take off your jacket and hat only when sleeping?" Ryuzaki asked me.

"Yeah, it's easier to sleep with them off" I say back.

"You're a strange girl" he laughed, making me laugh too.

"And you're a funny guy, Ryuzaki" I say to him. "Now that we're friends, I wanna know more about you Ryuzaki. What's this job of yours that's so very important?"

"Well..." Ryuzaki started. "I'm a detective."

"WHA!! NO WAY!!"

"It's true. I solve crimes. That's why I have to find Light and Misa as soon as possible."

"That makes sense" I smile. "I bet it's tough though. Must be a lot of pressure."

"Yeah, it can be" he replied. "Sometimes I'm tackling 2 or 3 cases a day."

"Oh my god. That's a lot of weight on your shoulders!"

"That's correct. And that's why I can't go out a lot. That caused me to not go well with society."

"I understand that. My brain would be fried!" I shout.

"Yeah, I put my life at risk solving many different crimes. You see, lots of people want me dead so they can steal my identity and pretend to be me..."

"What?! No way! How could they?!"

A spark then went off inside my head.

"So you didn't tell me you're real name?"

"You're quick to catch on. I like that" Ryuzaki smiled.

"Why didn't you tell me your real name?! You're in a different world you know?! No one knows you! Not very friend like of you."

"I was still being cautious" he said. "You could've had connections to Light and Misa. That's why I gave you a fake name. I'll tell you my real name once our friendship grows a little more."

"Oh, I see" I smile.

"What about you?" Ryuzaki asked me. "What made you want to become an explorer? Do you have any interests?"

"Well, I became an explorer because I was so fascinated by the world outdoors and I wanted to explore it. I love everything about the outdoors. But then I realised that it's better to just stay in this forest so that the animals can be saved from everyone. But I love this forest. It's so big that I still explore new parts of it almost every week!"

"That's nice to hear, but surely you have a family outside this forest. Don't you want to go out and see them? They must be worried about you living out here on your own. I know I would be" Ryuzaki pointed out, making me freeze a little.

"My family...aren't around in my life anymore..."

Ryuzaki's eyes widened.

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

"That's okay! Let's not talk about such a sensitive topic right now. That's for another time!"

"Of course" he nodded.

I looked out and saw the sky filled with stars.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" I said.

"Indeed..." Ryuzaki smiled.

"Oh! A shooting star!" I point as one goes past.

The two of us closed our eyes and made a wish.

"What did you wish for?" Ryuzaki asked me.

"That's a secret" I say, putting a finger to my lips. "If I tell you, it won't come true."

The two of us laughed.

"We should rest now" I say, lying down. "You should too, Ryuzaki."

"Alright..."

I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.

I wished for our friendship to last, Ryuzaki.

L's Pov

I wished for our friendship to grow, (Y/N).

(A/N): This short story won't have long to go now. Maybe one more part or two at the most. I hope you're all enjoying it! I like making this story. Of course, parts are shortened for the sake of making them into Oneshots but ya lol. See you in the next part ^^