Part XII

Bonds

I returned to Wammy's House at about seven that night. After taking a hot bath and shaving my legs, I entered the room I shared with Ryuzaki. I was wearing my favorite pajamas-black fuzzy pants with a short, red, spaghetti strapped tank- and when I entered the room I noticed a red tinge on the detective's cheeks.

L sat at the computer, but closed what he was doing and shut it down when I entered. "Where have you been?" His tone was angry and demanding. He turned around on the chair to look at me darkly.

"I was on a date," I replied as I pulled my wet black hair into a ponytail.

"With who?" Ryuzaki stuffed a sugar cube into his mouth and sucked on it loudly.

I sat on my futon. "An old friend from school. He transferred here as a foreign exchange student. His name is Brandon Sakir, and he's my boyfriend now." For some reason, I tasted something foul in my mouth.

There was a long pause. "I see," the detective replied. I raised an eyebrow at him. "What? Do you want me to congratulate you or something?"

I ignored his comment. "Did you straighten everything out with whoever was threatening you?"

"Yes I did, actually. It is impossible for the individual to hack into any of the computers here, but I must ask you not to use mine again," he replied quickly.

I shrugged, and wondered what he could be hiding. "Of course. Look… I'm sorry about what I did. I was hoping I could get some info out whoever it was, buy all I found out was their intentions."

L gestured for me to stop speaking. "I understand, Kita," he replied, "but next time you go out on a limb, don't climb out so far that it could break." The detective left the room, allowing my thoughts to wander.

(Time Skip)

About two weeks later, I had been to Brandon's home more than five times. L asked me several questions about our relationship; did we date before? How long had we known each other? Those sorts of questions.

"Have you found out who was threatening you yet? Just wondered," I asked him that same day.

"No, I haven't," he told me calmly. Both of us sat on the bed, Ryuzaki on the pillows against the headboard and I at the footboard. "The messages have stopped, so apparently he or she has given up."

"What a relief," I breathed with a smile. "I was afraid I screwed up bad."

"We all make mistakes," Ryuzaki told me. "Everything is fine." The detective had been somewhat kinder to me since I helped him when he was sick, and even more so when I started dating Brandon.

"That's good to hear."

(Time Skip)

The next day, L had to leave on a case. Matt, Mello, Near, Roger, the other children and I saw him and Mr. Watari off. I gave each of them a hug and wished them good luck.

(Time Skip)

After that day, I didn't see L for six or seven months. The detective continued to travel on cases, Brandon and I continued to get closer, and Mello and Near continued to fight.

I finished school two months early, since Wammy's House was always ahead of the regular system.

For Christmas, there was a play put on by some of the children in the House. Those who watched enjoyed it, especially at the end when Santa Claus (aka Roger) came to hand out presents. Mine was a silver heart-shaped locket from L that had 'Goodbye is not forever' carved on the inside.

When Brandon noticed the locket I told him about Ryuzaki, but not as L… merely a classmate I was good friends with. I described to my lover some of the comical fights we had had, and his never-explained dislike for me when we first met. Brandon's only response was nodding and smiling.

After I finished, he said, "Kita, I've been meaning to ask you something." Brandon stood up. "Now I know we haven' t been dating long, but…" he got down on one knee. "Kita Matsuyama, will you marry me?"

I stood up as well, tears pooling in the corners of my eyes. "Yes, Brandon," I kissed him passionately on the lips, as we parted ways for the night. I smiled as I walked back toward the orphanage, a shiny white diamond glistening on my left ring finger.

(Time Skip)

I entered what was now, temporarily, my room in a state of bliss…to find Ryuzaki sitting on the queen sized bed reading a book. His expression was unreadable as he closed the book and looked up at me. "Now where have you been? I finally come back to visit and you disappear on me, Kita." His tone was the friendliest I had ever heard it as he stood and shuffled over to hug me.

"I was drinking coffee" I replied as I hugged him back. We parted our embrace. "I got your present," I continued happily as I showed Ryuzaki the locket. He smiled. "What does it mean?"

"You'll understand in time," he replied emotionlessly. "So, how are things with Brandon?" There was a touch of venom in his voice.

"We're… engaged now," I choked out silently. Why is that so hard to tell him…to admit it to myself?

"I see," the detective replied. At the time, I saw all of the life drain from his ebony eyes; the dark, abysmal pits that they became, but I didn't say anything. "Congratulations. Now what if I told you that he knows who was threatening me?"

Anger boiled in my blood instantly. "What the hell are you saying? That's ridiculous!"

Ryuzaki smiled. "Kita, you know I didn't mean that," he said laughingly, though his eyes were still empty. "I just wanted to see your reaction."

I reached out to punch him in the chest, but he jumped to the side easily. Ryuzaki grabbed my shoulders. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you, Kita," he said pleadingly.

I shrugged him off, but not angrily. "It's fine," I replied. "Look, Ryuzaki… I'll still come to visit, I promise, but I think it's best if I don't live here any longer," I told him gently.

"I understand… you have a fiancé now," Ryuzaki replied in a whisper. "Please… take care of yourself, for me, okay?" His ebony eyes deadened once more.

"Remember, Ryuzaki," I whispered back as I held up the locket he had given me, "Goodbye is not forever." With that said, I picked up my duffel bag and left the room, saying goodbye to each of the children, Watari, and Roger before I exited the building. I couldn't get Ryuzaki's pleading face out of my mind as I drove toward Brandon's house, unstoppable tears flowing down my cheeks.

End Part XII