Riddles

Watari glanced back down at the young boy squatted on the floor in front of him. He was playing with his lip out of habit; something he feared would stay with him his whole life. The boy thought deeply at Watari's question, smirked, and said, "A wall, the answer is a wall, or a house."
Watari chuckled and nodded, "Very good L, I'm starting to think nothing can stump you."
"Does that mean I can have that cake now?" Watari promised if he couldn't think of something L couldn't solve, he would be able to get cake before dinner. Watari scratched his brow, digging his head for more riddles. "I'll think of something," he said softly, "you have to eat dinner first."
"I doubt it Watari, I always win." The young boy played with his long sleeves, waiting for a new problem."
Watari pounded his foot to the floor in delight, "I got it, I got you now boy!" L looked up startled, but amused at the old man's feeble attempt at victory, "Go ahead."
"I am your shadow, I am your shoulder,I am your candle, I carry you forward,
Through up and down, twists and turns never will I leave you burned.
What am I?"

L thought, long and hard. "How many guesses do I get Watari?"

"As many as you want."

"A car?" Watari shook his head no.

"Reason?" Still no.

"It's not a fire…your mind maybe?" Still no. L was starting to become upset, he really wanted that cake.

"Good and evil? A struggle for something, like a goal?" Still no. L chuckled, "Is there even an answer Watari, or are you just trying to keep me from my cake?" Watari chuckled, "There is an answer L, do you give up?"

"Will I get cake latter," He asked softly. Watari nodded. "Then I suppose I don't have any idea." Watari moved slowly from his recliner to the floor next to L, smiling.

"It's a friend, L, a good friend. Friends follow you, let you lean on them, help you through dark times and never hurt you." L looked at Watari with a puzzled look in his eye and thought about the answer. Minutes of silence past as the young and old man sat together. L looked toward Watari with a smile, "Would you have accepted your name, Watari?"

Watari smiled back and ruffled L's hair gently. "Yes, I would have accepted my name," he whispered, drawing L closer to him for a hug, "But flattery won't get you that cake anytime soon young man." L laughed along with him. Watari stood, pulling up L with him, "C'mon, dinner's not going to eat itself."