Near
"Hn… I may need to have a second opinion on this..." A young man, the age of 21 twirled one strand of his snowy white hair while overlooking a couple of documents he had collected on a specific unsolved case. With a click of a button, he contacted one of his trusted subordinates.
"Commander Rester, I may need your assistance into finding a certain someone for me. This may very well benefit this case." Near says with a small grin.
Seven years has passed since the young lady left that orphanage. Seven years had passed since she has seen him. Danielle Stream headed home after her part-time job at that nearby coffee shop. She mainly gets her money by selling portraits with her best friend.
Danielle lived a steady life. She fulfilled her dream of becoming a well known artist. You would guess she was happy. Though something felt off, missing actually, about the existence she held. The miss independent huffed at a strand of her bangs that protruded her eye.
She didn't need her previous "nickname" anymore. It wasn't like she had anything to hide. But part of her missed such petty things.
Arriving at her cozy apartment, she brought out her sketchpad and tossed her shoulder bag on the table. Settling herself on the couch, she drew.
She started with the eyes, than the face. This person wasn't particularly hard to draw. In fact, she drew him all the time. "I wonder how he's doing?" Danielle held a soft smile, this is foolish. After all this time…and still?
"Beep beep." And a screen of Near's subordinate showed on his computer monitor. "Yes? Have you found her yet?" He asked while stacking another card on his tower.
"Well…From what you've told me, there hasn't been much of a trace from her from that orphanage you mentioned. But, I did find someone who matches the description you gave me."
A picture popped up onto the monitor, showing a young woman with curly black hair and bangs with sky-blue eyes.
"This is Danielle Stream. She's a pretty well-known artist in her area and this is a picture from her homepage. Is this the woman you are looking for?"
A pause, "Danielle Stream, huh? So you no longer go by that "nickname."
"Yes, she is the one. Thank you for going through the trouble of finding her. Now if you can just…"
Sighing Danielle plopped herself on her bed. "Gah! I get to live my life drawing, a thing I've always dreamed of! Why aren't I happy!" Her voice was muffled by her pillow, as she was face down. She looked up and stared at the teddy bear she had been keeping from long ago.
"Ring ring." The young woman got over her ranting and brought out her cellphone. "An unknown number? I guess it's another person who wants me to sell them a portrait." She assumed. "Hello?"
"You are Danielle Stream I presume?" An electronically altered voice, should she hang up? Yet this strange feeling, what is it?
"Yes. And who is this speaking?"
"Seven years ago you were a resident of Wammy's house and had used to go by the alias "Distance", right?"
"W-what? Who is this?" How did this person know of her past? She was sure that nobody she's kept in contact with knows of it, besides Linda, of course.
"This is L."
"L? But L is…could it be?"
"Near…?"
"…I am in need of assistance of a certain case I am currently working on and I thought you'd be of great help. If I could get your approval and your word that you will never reveal my identity or location to anyone I'll give you the directions to where one of my subordinates will pick you up tomorrow."
Danielle's heart skipped a beat, "Yes…I'd like to participate in this case."
"Alright…Now here's where you'll be picked up…"
In front of a nearby telephone booth, the artist checked her watch, 8:00am.
She looked up to see a black limousine (with tinted windows) stop right in front of her. The front window rolled down showing a man with black hair, "Danielle Stream?"
"Yes." She replied while entering the car.
Thirty minutes passed in silence as Danielle waited patiently, looking out the window.
"Normally, if we were to bring someone over to headquarters, we'd have to give them blindfolds so they wouldn't know of our location. But L specifically asked us not to do the same to you. He must trust you very much. My name is Gevanni by the way."
"I see…" She had no doubt. It really is him, isn't it? Danielle brought her fingers to her chest and smiled.
"She should be arriving anytime soon."
"Near. This is her, right?" Glancing back, Near's eyes set on the young woman displayed on the monitors behind him.
"Yes, please let her in."
Within moments, the pair found themselves captivated by each other's eyes.
"Danielle, welcome."
From that moment, if not seconds, the prodigy caught the brief "twinkle" in those sky blue eyes he found himself attached to.
Twirling another strand of his now stringy hair, he glanced the other way. What was this, shyness?
A sincere smile became of Danielle's lips. "Near, it's been a long time hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has. I apologize for not contacting you after all this time. I had my hands full with the Kira case back then, and… Well, I'm sure you understand." Near responded.
"Oh, it's alright. I'm just glad that you even bothered to talk to me again." The hint of bitterness at her last sentence was made so only the detective would notice.
"Why of course. After all, you were the only one I was considerably close to during my time at Wammy's house."
Danielle turned away after that statement. Embarrassment perhaps? He caught the tint of pink on her cheeks.
"I-I see. Well, what was it that you needed help on?" She asked while reluctantly getting closer to the prodigy.
"Straight to the point, I see."
He handed her a few documents from the current case. "A small organization of an unknown name has been trading illegal goods all around the state for the past few years. Authorities could not find any trace of solid evidence that will reveal who any of the members are and/or where their next trade will take place. The documents you are holding now are where the previous trades took place. I've also included pictures of each area."
"I see, so you want me to help you determine where their next trade will be, correct?" Danielle said while skimming through the documents. She spent more time staring at the pictures.
The young detective nodded. "We've already concluded that the next trade will occur two days from now and have assumed that one of these five places will be the destination of the trade." Near said, handing the pictures over to the young artist.
"Unfortunately, one of their members is exceptionally intelligent and we cannot look over more than one of these areas without getting noticed. That's why I felt the need of listening to your opinion."
"Hn…" Was the young woman's only reply.
"It's strange. This organization didn't leave any physical evidence in any of these areas, but. The area itself…there seems to be a pattern, if not a very small one that no one would notice but a person who has artistic experience and/or has a high intelligence. If my assumption is correct, then…"
Danielle noticed that Near had been observing her the whole time. His grey eyes quickly shifted to his right, almost as if… No, it was just her imagination.
With a twirl of his hair, "So…what do you think? Have you come up with anything?"
"Yes. I believe that this is where their next trade will take place." She said while handing the second picture to the other.
The young detective didn't even give the paper a second glance, "I see. I will ask Commander Rester and the others to pay close attention to this area for the next couple days."
"R-right after I give you my answer you already decide to take action?" Danielle asked, dumbstruck.
"…Yes, I trust your decision completely." His was voice just above a mumble. "You may go now. Thank you for your participation."
"What? That's it?"
"Please don't worry. I'll contact you after a couple days to notify whether or not you're assumption was correct. I don't want you getting into any unnecessary trouble. Gevanni will escort you back to your current residence."
And with that, Gevanni was already holding the door open for her.
"Oh, I see. Goodbye then…Near." She sighed and shoved her hands in her pockets while heading out the detective's headquarters.
"Farewell, Distance."
Within those two days, everything carried out as it has been. It was almost if the meeting with Near never happened at all. Danielle often found herself dwelling in thought, wondering if the case was a success or not.
At times she would even bring guilt upon herself, thinking twice about her decision that day. She shook her head. No, she just had to wait for now. "He should be calling me any time now, if memory serves, right?"
"Ring ring." Her phone sang, as if it read her thoughts. An unknown number, it must be him.
"Yes? Danielle Stream speaking."
"This is Near. You're decision was correct, we have successfully brought justice to those involved in the case."
"R-really! That's great!" The young woman squealed like an excited school girl. "Ahem, I mean, that's wonderful."
"Hehe. Yes, it is. Would you like to celebrate with us, for solving the case?"
"Whoa, did Near just…laugh?" It was more of a chuckle really. "S-sure, that'd be cool."
"Great. This is where it will take place…"
Standing right in front of the hotel room Near had specified, Danielle pondered whether or not she should knock on the door at all. He told her she didn't have to wear anything sophisticated but she wanted to look nice. She settled on a cute skirt (wearing tights underneath, haha) and a plain long-sleeve.
Well…it's different from what she usually wears.
"The door is unlocked." Was the reply she got after knocking.
It was Near's voice for sure, she assumed one of his subordinates would open the door for her but…oh well.
Danielle was shocked when she entered the room. It wasn't because of the interior (although it is nice) but because Near was the only one in sight.
The prodigy was currently stacking a tarot card tower on the floor.
"I thought you said the others were going to be here too?"
"Yes. I lied. I'm sorry to say but you are the only one I invited. You look nice by the way." Near replied, glancing back for a moment before reverting his attention back to the tower.
"You could've just told me in the first place."
"You're right. It was rather foolish of me to lie to you." He looked like he mentally slapped himself on the face. "Would you mind helping me with this?"
"O-of course." Danielle said, settling herself beside Near.
They worked on the tower for a couple minutes. The feeling was nostalgic. It reminded them both on the time they worked on that domino project back at the orphanage.
"Do you still have it?" Near asked, breaking the silence.
It took a couple seconds for the artist's mind to process that he was referring to the stuffed bear. "Oh! Yes I do. I never had the chance to thank you for it. It's wonderful."
"I see. So you still have it…" He said, as if talking to himself. "I'm glad you like it. I felt like I owed you, for being my partner that time."
"Erm... I know it was a long time ago, but did you look through my sketchbook the day I lost it?" She just had to know.
"…To tell you the truth, I did. I'm sorry for prying." The genius twirled yet another strand of hair. "By the way, thank you for leaving this sketch behind before leaving two days ago. You had it in your pocket, right?"
Grinning, he held a picture of the pair when they were younger working on the very project they had seven years ago.
The artist of the portrait found herself smiling as well. "Yep. I drew it right before our short reunion."
"I guess I owe you for this as well as helping me with the case. Don't hesitate to let me know if you want or need anything." He said while stacking another pair of cards.
"Actually, there is something that I'd like."
"Is that so? What is it?" Near asked.
Danielle held out the last pair of the tarot cards and completed the tower. A tint of light pink flushed her face once again.
"Kiss me."
Epilogue: As of now, Near and Danielle would both take on the name of L. Of course, Danielle takes up the alias, "Distance", again. She would still publish artwork under her real name but mostly stays by Near's side, giving him company. They had their own happy ever after.
A/N: Woot! Finished! :)
It's a bit shorter than the last chapter/story.
I feel accomplished for once, haha. I hope you enjoyed this two-shot.
I hope Near still stayed in character to the end.
By the way, Distance's real name:
Her last name, Stream, comes from her quiet and shy personality. It also corresponds with Near's real last name, River. I chose Danielle for her first name because I felt like it "fit" and it has the same first letter as her alias. Danielle Stream.
Reviews are appreciated but not required, lol.