"Milady, your father is leaving now"

"Oh, really already?"

"Yes milady"

"Can you tell him to wait for me, I want to say goodbye"

"Of course milady"

"You coming L"

"Where?"

"To Higurashi shrine, don't you want to see me off?"

"See you off"

"Come on"

I ran over and grabbed L's arm then dragged him to the cars waiting downstairs. There were two of them, one was a flash black car with heavy tinted windows and no doubt Sesshomaru's whereas the other was just a plain everyday car where dad was waiting. I pushed L in then jumped in after him; dad looked surprised but didn't say anything.

Once we reached the shrine I ran up the stairs as fast as my body was able -it was nice not having to hide- to greet Makoto. She had barely opened the door when I jumped at her making us both fall to the ground.

"Kimi what's the rush?"

"Makoto I need you to do something for me"

"Do something... for you?"

"I need you to watch out for L as best you can"

"Watch out for him?"

"Don't let anyone stand in your way, Shippo will help to... where is Shippo anyway? Oh no he doesn't know so he won't be here! Tell Shippo I love him ok"

"Kimi you're not making any sense"

I pulled myself away from Makoto and help her up.

"I'm leaving" I said more calm

"Leaving?... Oh you mean down the well?"

"Yeah, I won't be back for 15 years"

"15 years... I'll be an old lady by the time you come back"

"your only 20" I laughed "come on I only have a few seconds to pack... actually I don't think I have any clothes left for back then no after that baby dragon demon nearly burnt the house down"

"I told you not to keep him in your closet"

"I know" I sighed hanging my head "but he was so cute"

Makoto rolled her eyes then walked off, I followed after her. We went up the stairs and into her room where she pulled out a box from under her bed.

"Here you can wear this but only if you promise to bring it back in one piece ok"

She opened the lid and there laid a white and black kimono. She pulled it out and showed me, the kimono was simple enough and it looked easy to move around in to, it was plain white with a black vine pattern on it and a black sash, it was plain and simple and I loved it.

"Where did you get this?"

"It belonged to my mum"

"Your mum? I can't take it"

"It's ok, like I said it just means that you have to come back now"

"I promise I'll come back"

She placed the kimono on the bed and we hugged with both of us crying. After a while I pulled away forcing a laugh and wiping our eyes.

"Look at us, it's not like we will never see each other again"

"I know but I'm going to miss you"

"I'll miss you to"

We hugged again before she left the room for me to get changed. Once I was changed I headed towards the well where everyone was waiting.

"Kimiko... what are you wearing?" dad asked

"I'm coming with you, if I let you go alone your just going to get yourself killed" I teased

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, besides how could I pass up a chance to annoy sesshy in the past and of course there is Jaken and his children... wait would they be born yet?"

"Maybe this wasn't a good idea"

"Ay you're the one that said I should go so deal with it" I said to Sesshomaru poking out my tongue

"When you get there find me and tell me everything, I recall knowing some people that could help you"

"Thankyou uncle Sesshomaru" I smiled hugging him

"Well we should get going"

"Right, goodbye Makoto, goodbye L"

"Bye Kimi" Makoto smiled

"Wait"

"What is it?"

"Take this with you"

L handed me a necklace with the letter L on it, I pulled it over my head and smiled at him. I knew he didn't like people touching him, or at least he wasn't used to it but I didn't care. I hugged him and whispered 'I love you' in his ear. "I'll be waiting for you" he whispered back. I took hold of dads hand and we jumped down the well together.

Now this might all seem like a happy ending, and sure it felt like it was to, during those 15 years I became stronger and I got a new sword, I learnt how to use both my demon and priestess powers at the same time without passing out and how to use either one or the other... without passing out. I was stronger now and even though training was hard I pushed through thinking of L. I was so happy when the day come to return home, I put on Makoto's mothers kimono and headed out, dad came with me to the well but he decided to stay behind which I did understand.

So there I was about ready to jump into the well expecting L to be on the other side waiting for me, but he wasn't, no one was. I know I probably should have reported to Sesshomaru but I decided that could wait, after all as long as Makoto had the same job she should be returning home soon. I hadn't long gotten out of the shower and changed clothes when I heard Makoto returning, I rushed down stairs to greet her, at first she looked happy but there was something else, a hint of sadness, or maybe pity.

"What's wrong Makoto?"

"Nothing, I'm just tired"

"You can't lie to me, I can sense it now"

"I'm just annoyed that I couldn't be home to greet you, I tried to get the day off but no one could cover for me"

"That's ok... hey you don't happen to know where L is do you? I don't remember his number but he wasn't here like I thought he might be, is he on a mission?"

"Maybe you should go to Sesshomaru..."

"Of course, he will know how to contact L, great idea. I'll be home later then we will go out or something ok"

I dashed off towards Sesshomaru's house, I was so used to the past that I will admit that I forgot I was meant to not jump around the streets in plain sight but I was too excited to worry about that. Everything looked the same there but everyone I came across had that same pity look, I was starting to get worried.

"Is sesshy in?"

"He is waiting for you out in the back garden"

"The garden? We have never met there before..."

Now I was really worried, something must have happened and I couldn't help but feel it was about L.
I found Sesshomaru in the back and walked up to him, he wasn't facing me but I knew he would have heard me coming.

"Kimiko welcome back"

"Thanks... So do you want to tell me what's going on? Everyone seems to know but me"

"It's about L..."

"I know that much... I mean it wasn't too hard to figure out"

I guess I knew the second I didn't see him waiting for me but just didn't believe it because even though I was asking Sesshomaru what was going on my heart and head told me to run. I didn't, I stood my ground, I know if I ran now it would be even harder.

"Around 10 years ago he died"

"What?"

"He was working on a case and unfortunate events occurred and L lost his life"

"No"

I refused to believe it even though I knew it was true, he died 5 years after I left, for 10 years I've been living a lie believing everything was fine and waiting to see him while he has been dead. At that moment I hated myself from leaving, and I hated Sesshomaru for making me go even though I knew it wasn't his fault.

"YOU WERE MEANT TO PROTECT HIM!" I shouted

"It was out of my control"

"It's all your fault, I HATE YOU!" I screamed running away

I wanted to return back to the past, back to where none of this was true. I ran all the way back to the shrine and jumped down the well but nothing happened, I was too late and the well was closed.

"Sesshomaru called and said you might be here" Makoto said softly walking towards the well

"He's dead because of me" I cried

"I have something to give you"

I let her pull me towards the house and sit me down in front of the couch, I just sat there feeling completely numb, I went away to get stronger so I could protect him but instead I let him die.

"He left you some things" she explained pulling out a box "I'm going to go out to get some things... just promise you will watch this through to the end ok"

She put a DVD on and turned the TV on then gave me the small box before leaving. The DVD played and L appeared on the screen.

"Kimiko, I know you are probably blaming yourself for this but it isn't your fault and I want you to remember that. With you is a box of my things, there are cases that i didn't have time to solve and wish for you to finish for me and the details of my last case, if you wish to know what happened. There is also a key, that key is to my place that I leave to you lastly is a name and a photo, I want you to look after this person, watch them from a distance and only engage if it is absolutely necessary.

"This child is going to become the next L and I need you to help him achieve that, when the time is right you will meet him and show him the world that you showed me. Once more thing, I'm sorry I could wait for you but I will always be around"

I took out the photo of a boy, he reminded me of L in a way, another L. he was right, L would always be with me and I was left with the job of protecting this new L.

"Near... I promise ill protect you and one day I will show you a world you will never forget then you can truly become the next L"

18 years have passed and I still haven't forgotten L, in fact I still have the necklace he gave me, I often think about what would have happened if I was here to protect him, even after reading his case file I believe I could have saved him but I guess that's just my hearts wish. I used to think of it as my mistake, leaving was my mistake, one I wouldn't forget but as I watched Near grown and learn I started to see that this is how it was meant to be, it wasn't a mistake but an opportunity to teach the next generation about the smartest detective to this day, about who he really was not what other people saw him as, a task that L gave me and one that I will complete without fail.

"We have you surrounded so put your hands up and drop the weapon"

"This thing is harmless" I smiled running the dull blade along my fingers

"I said put the weapon down"

"Fine, no need to yell" I huffed dropping the sword

"By order of Near you are under arrest"

"For what?"

"You're the main suspect"

"So it's true what they say, you really do have ears on your head" Near said walking into view

"Near, we have detained her"

"Good work"

"Ears? You mean these things? Great costume aren't they, now if you want to let me go that would be great" I laughed

"Let you go? Why would I let go of the person who has been murdering innocent people" he questioned

"That wasn't me! It was the demon! And besides those people were hardly innocent, this last guy that was here was cheating on his wife with an underage girl!" I shouted out

"Take her away"

"... Any chance you could forget everything I said and we can start over?" I asked as I got pulled away

"And confiscate that weapon"

"Awww come on I just got it sharpened!" I called out behind me

As I got pushed into a car I couldn't help but smile, this was the start of a beautiful partnership, even if he didn't know it yet.

The end

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