Watari sighed as he stepped out of the car, he regretted his decision.
"Come on out Love." He said opening the car door, The small child peeked out curiously.
"Watery...Cynthia?" He asked softly. The old man shook his head,
"I'm sorry Love, you can call her later, right now I need to check in with someone, I really need you to stay with me and listen to what I say little one. I don't want to see you get hurt or lost. Will you please do that for me?"He slowly held out his hand to the boy.
"Watery." Love repeated taking hold of the man's finger, allowing him to help him out of the car. Once outside, Love turned to his panda who was still on seat.
"Cynthia would be better off in the car this time Love, do you think the two of us can handle this?" Love seemed to think it over before waving to the panda and beginning to walk with Watari, still holding onto the man.
"Such a brave boy, come on now."Watari said gently. They walked through the gate to find themselves surrounded by children running in the seemingly endless yard. Love moved closer to his guardian.
"Watery!" He cried as a tall blonde boy rushed past them.
"It's alright Love, they won't hurt you, I won't let them, I promise." Watari gave Love's hand a comforting squeeze. The old man led the boy inside and much to Love's dismay, into a crowded hall. Upon seeing the older children running through the building, Love released Watari's hand and turned back.
"Cynthia." He said heading for the door, only to be caught by the old man and lifted into his arms. Love drew his knees up to his chest as he had when his beloved Cynthia had carried him.
"Come now Love, it's not as bad as it seems." Watari soothed, holding the boy close. After a few minutes, Love quietly rested his head on Watari's chest, remaining still in his arms. The man smiled, he loved the boy as his own and it filled his heart with joy when Love showed interest in bonding or showing affection in his own way.
Watari found his way to a wooden door with the name Roger Ruvie.
"Alright Love, we won't be long, I just need to get a few papers from him and then we have one other stop to make, we can go home after that."
"Home...Watery?" Watari grinned.
"That's right Love, home to call Cynthia. Maybe you can see her this weekend, would you like that?"
"Yes, Home...Cynthia." The child replied, he began to gently pat the man's shoulder.
"You're welcome little one. I'm so proud of the progress you're making. You're very precious to me Love." He said placing his hand on the doorknob. Love raised his head to look in Watari's eyes, taking hold of the man's shirt.
"Love...Watery. " he said. "Love Watery...Cynthia." He laid his head back down and became still once again.
"Yes, Love, Cynthia and I call you love."
"N-No, love Watery...love Cynthia." Love placed his hand over the old man's heart. Watari felt it melt instantly.
"Are you telling me that you love Cynthia and myself?"he asked in awe. Love nodded. Watari hugged the boy carefully, trying not to startle him.
"I love you too little one, very much. You make me so proud." Love smiled as the door opened. Watari was surprised to find A inside talking to Roger already.
"Watari my friend, come and sit, I'll be able to get your papers shortly, is this the child you spoke of on the phone?" Roger gestured to Love.
"Yeah, that's the little monkey, he likes to mess with people...little monster." A grumbled.
"That's enough, he's practically your brother, I raised you as a son and I'll do the same with him." A narrowed his eyes.
"That monkey is definitely not my brother, you might have raised me, but there's no way in hell-"
"That's enough." Watari demanded. Roger sighed, it was just one more thing to add to the list of reasons he wasn't thrilled to work with children, this time coming from an adult.
"What's the child's name old friend?" Watari thought for a moment, Calling the boy Love all his life would eventually result in teasing and Watari would do his best to prevent as much of it as he could.
"You can call him...L." A scoffed, earning a sharp glare from the older man.
"You're acting like a spoiled child. How many times do we need to go over this?"
"Watery?"
"What is it L?"
"Love...home?"He asked softly resting his head on the man's shoulder.
"Yes, we can go soon." He patted the boy's back soothingly and chuckled as Love mimicked him.
"I did manage to get the papers you asked for, they are all right here." Roger pushed a manila envelope toward Watari.
"Thank you, I also have the solution you were searching for. L found it for you." Watari said."I trust you kept a copy of the documents and pictures you sent me?"
"Naturally, this is the way we run things after all. Copies of evidence must be made when possible and the originals turned over to proper authorities and copies destroyed when it becomes necessary, " Watari lowered Love to his feet
"L, I want you to stand right here while I help Roger. A, leave L alone he's having a difficult day."
"nothing new Watari, that little monkey of yours always has some kind of-"
"Cynthia?"Love asked sadly, Watari sighed.
"Alright, I'll take you to my office and you can use the phone, it's just across the hall." Watari took L's hand and led him from the room and across the hall. Love waited quietly as Watari unlocked the door and pushed it open.
"let's go in and call Cynthia." The old man said softly ushering the boy into the small room. Love found his way to the desk chair and climbed on, spinning himself slowly at first before gaining speed.
"Careful Love, don't spin too fast, you'll make yourself ill." Watari warned.
"Yes, Watery." The boy replied slowing down. The old man chuckled softly. When the phone began to ring, Love stopped, waiting hopefully to hear his beloved Cynthia.
"Hello?" The voice answered softly.
"Lucy, it's Watari, how are you?"
"Watari, Cynthia was just asking about Love, We're fine and how are the two of you?"Her cheerful tone seemed to make Love happy.
"Watery...Love...happy." Lucy gasped.
"Was that little Love?"
"It certainly was, he's come a long way with his vocabulary I'd say. I'm quite proud of him."
"I can see why, he's a brilliant little boy. Hello Love, it's good to hear from you again." Love smiled, causing Watari to chuckle softly.
"She can't see you little one, but she can hear you, do you want to say hello?"
"Happy Love." He said again.
"He's so precious. I assume that he'd like to talk to Cynthia?" Lucy asked.
"Yes..Cynthia." Love replied.
"Of course, I'll get her for you sweetie." L waited patiently, staring at the phone.
"Hello Love!" The young girl said happily.
"Cynthia...Love." Cynthia chuckled warmly.
"That's right. I'm so proud of you. Are you being a good boy for Mr. Watari?"Love turned to his guardian who gave a nod.
"Yes." He said softly.
"You're saying more words, good job, Love!" She praised. Watari placed a gentle hand on the boy's head.
"I need to go back across the hall, but I'll let you stay in here and talk. Stay right here until I come back for you. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Watery."
"Alright then, I'll see you soon." He said leaving the boy in the office and closing the door behind him.
When he finally made his way back, he found Roger standing by the desk, holding a case file.
"You seem to love that little boy very much old friend." He said handing him the file.
"I don't know what that has to do with anything, but yes, he's my boy after all."Watari said beginning to feel defensive.
"I'm just concerned that- we have these rules to-"
"It won't happen again."Watari said, his heart breaking .
"Of course not. I just don't want to see you get hurt that badly again. I feared you would-"
"It's over now. I wish you wouldn't bring that up. He'd want to be remembered in good thoughts, I won't let that be taken from him,"
"Of course. It's just that a man in your situation...sometimes he loves too much. It's always the ones who love the most that have the most pain. Just be careful Watari, for your own sake, don't put yourself through it a second time."
"What are you two talking about?" A asked curiously.
"It's nothing to concern yourself with, let's just get to work on this. L's going to want lunch soon."
"I'm sure he can wait a while, this is an important-"
"L needs to stay on his routine as much as possible, structure is good for a young child."
"Yes, of course. But you do realize that L won't be able to replace-"
"On second thought, I'll take the file with me and contact you with my findings." Watari said taking the folder and exiting the room without another word.
He made his way back across the hall, Love seemed to sense the change in the old man immediately.
"Watery?" he asked turning from the phone.
"Love, we need to go home now, we can talk to miss Cynthia when we get there." With a promise to call back, Watari ended the communication.
"Come along, Love." He said holding out a hand to the child. Love rested his head on the old man's arm, in his own version o a hug.
"Thank you, that means a lot to me."Watari patted Love's head softly. The boy raised his arms to his guardian.
Love placed a small hand over his heart.
"Watery," He said gently, before reaching out to him and doing the same.
"Love...Watery...happy, watery." The man pulled him close.
"My precious boy, I love you too. Let's go home and have something to eat now." He offered.
"Yes, Watery...home." The boy confirmed, now resting his head on Watari's shoulder, allowing himself to be carried to the care. Once at the car, Watari opened the door, helping Love inside.
"Watery?" Love called just before the man could close the door.
"Yes Love, what is it?" The boy took hold of his bear, stroking its head softly. Watari watched curiously.
"Watery, Cynthia." Love held the toy out to the man.
"Yes, nice, bear." He replied as he usually did. Love shook his head.
"Watery...Cynthia." Love repeated, this time, pressing the toy to watari's chest.
"Oh, Love, Cynthia's your bear, but thank you." He said touched by the gesture.
"Happy...watery, Cynthia."
"You dear, sweet child, "Watari said, feeling the tears forming in his eyes. "Thank you." Love patted his arm gently, looking into his eyes.
He closed the door, taking the bear with him into the front seat, making a mental note to place the cherished object back with its owner when he laid down to sleep for the night.