Super happy thanks to all who reviewed! My self-confidence has improved by roughly 43% and so you all deserve prizes! *gives reviewers cupcakes and L-plushies*
Now... on to chapter 4!
Over the next few weeks, Z and Near grew considerably closer. For the first time in her life, Z had made a real friend other than her brother.
One day, the two were making a dice tower when two boys walked up. One was dressed in black leather, with shoulder-length blond hair and a chocolate bar in one hand. The other was about a year younger, dressed in a striped shirt and a vest and goggles that hid his eyes. His hair was red, and his attention was on a DS in his hands.
"Hey, Near, who's your friend?" the blond asked.
Near sighed. "This is Z. Z, the blond with the chocolate addiction is Mello, and the red-head is Matt."
"Hello," Z said, barely glancing at them.
"I've noticed you hang around Near a lot," Mello said. "Why?"
Z looked at him. "He's my friend. Why shouldn't I play with him?"
"Because he never makes friends. He always shuts himself in his room with a puzzle or a toy, and only comes out for classes or meals," Mello said, as if it was obvious. "Even if it seems like he's your friend, it's not real."
Z rolled her eyes and turned to Near. "Are you my friend, Near?" she asked.
"Yes, Z! What Mello said is usually true, but I really do care about you!"
He suddenly blushed, realizing that hadn't come out the way he wanted it to, but Z had already turned around.
"That settles that. I actually trust Near more than you, Mello," she said, turning back to the dice tower.
"Why, you-!" Mello started. Z had just proved him wrong... and he hated being wrong.
"Just drop it, Mello," Matt said, speaking for the first time. "I have a feeling you won't be able to outsmart this one. Something tells me this chic is smarter than she looks."
Z grinned slyly, as if she knew something they didn't.
"I oughta put you in your place..." Mello muttered.
"Relax, Mello," Z said, sighing. "I'm just messing with you. No need to overreact."
Mello relaxed a bit and stared at her. Finally he grinned.
"You're all right. I like a kid who doesn't cringe every time a fist is raised."
And he and Matt left the room. Z smiled.
L
L watched as Matsuda left the room. He turned back to the computer, thinking. Something about the Kira case confused him, but he couldn't figure out what.
He sighed. A few years ago, it took a lot to get him confused. Now, he was to distracted. It had been three years since Z had died, but he still expected his sister to come through the door and ask for a cupcake. He sighed again. He never realized it, but his sister was the main reason he'd liked solving cases. Each time he caught a criminal, he'd felt the world was one bad guy safer.
He still solved cases, because it was fun... and by doing it, he felt he kept his sister's memory alive.
He smiled. He hoped his sister was proud of him.
Watari walked in the room then, and saw L smiling... the smile he got when he thought about Z. Watari wished he could tell him what Roger had told him, but he knew that Z wouldn't appreciate that. He just knew that in a few days, she would be coming.
He really couldn't wait to see L's face when he realized his beloved little sister was alive. The thought that the pride and joy of his orphanage would be happy again filled the old man with joy. And he couldn't wait for Z's arrival.
Z
A few days later, Z and Near were playing with some toy robots in the rec room when Roger came in.
"Z," he said, "I need to talk to you."
She followed him outside the room and asked.
"What is it?"
"I called Watari and told him. Don't worry, he promised not to tell L. But anyway, he told me where they are. You can go there tonight or tomorrow, if you want... do you?"
Z was silent for a bit, thinking. Finally, she smiled nervously.
"I think... I'll go tomorrow," she said quietly. I have to say goodbye first."
That night, Z knocked on Near's bedroom door. When he opened it, he was surprised to find Z waiting there.
"Z?" he said, confused. "What is it?"
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"S-sure..." Near said, opening the door wider.
Z stepped in and sat on the bed, pulling her knees up to her chin like she always did.
"I've found him, Near," she said, a grin spreading across her face. "I've finally found him."
"Who?" Near asked, confused.
"My brother! I've found him! I finally found L!"
Near's breath caught in his throat. L? As in the detective they were being raised as successors for?
"L... is... your... brother...?" he whispered.
She frowned, suddenly realizing she hadn't told him yet.
"Yeah... Shit! I forgot to tell you! I'm sorry, Near!"
He was startled. She really had meant to tell him.
"It's okay!" he said. "It was just surprising, is all. It's not every day you find out your best friend is the sister of the world's greatest detective." He smiled.
She smiled back. "Guess not... but, the reason I came is to tell you that... I'm leaving tomorrow. This is my last night here."
Near felt his heart stop. This was her last night... he might never see her again. He was happy and upset at the same time. Happy she had found her brother, upset she was leaving.
But he still didn't understand why. He'd never cared about a girl before now, not one. Why was this one so different? He thought about it, and could only come up with one explanation.
He loved her.
He'd been trying to deny what he knew was true the entire time. But as he came to this conclusion, he realized it was true.
The next morning, all of Wammy House's kids came to say goodbye. Near was at the front watching her leave. He didn't want her to go. He loved her, he wanted her to stay. But he couldn't stop her, he knew that. Suddenly he decided to do what he later thought of as the stupidest, but smartest thing he'd ever done in his life.
"Z!" he cried.
Z turned, and suddenly found Near's lips on hers.
As Near pulled back he blushed.
What the hell did I just do?
He stared at Z, suddenly afraid.
All of Wammy's was silent. They'd never, ever, in all their life, expected Near to actually kiss a girl. They couldn't believe their eyes. Z stared at Near, completely surprised.
And then she smiled.
"Near..." she said.
"U-umm..." he said, for the first time lost for words.
Z kissed him right back.
"Bye, Near. I promise I'll come back."
He grinned. "Bye. You better come back."
And as Z got into the car, she decided that not every part of being away from her brother was terrible.
That's it for chapter 4! I hope you liked it... I sorta wrote this as I went along, right off the top of my head. It was pretty good if you take that into mind, if I do say so myself.
If you liked it, then please review!