Sybil sat alone in the Rose Coffeehouse with her cap covering her eyes and a steaming cup of tea in front of her.

She took a a sip of the tan liquid, sighing as she did so.

"To think. I've grown up to be as pathetic as this. Seems like fifteen years is finally catching up with me." She took another sip of the tea, trying to re familiarize her taste buds to the flavor.

The first time that she had drank it in six years. The last time involved her visiting her mother's grave on the anniversary of her death.

Seventeen year old Sybil held a thermos of tea in her left hand as she walked down the dirt path leading to her mother's grave site, careful as to not trip over her untied shoelaces.

It was seven thirty in the morning and she was alone. The young woman had decided to leave her home while her brothers were still asleep.

Her cap's brim was on the back of her head and her red hair hung in neat curls to just above her waist. She had been growing it for the last nine years since her mother's death.

Sybil stopped walking to stand in front of the granite tombstone. Her shoelaces were sprawled out around her feet.

The teenage girl twisted the lid off of her thermos and lifted it to her lips to take a sip. However, she stopped herself and then poured the steaming liquid out on top of the grave.

"I never did like the taste of this stuff. I only drink it because you used to drink it. Unfortunately, I'm not you. I'm Sybil Corvax. From now on, I'll just be my own person. I promise." The girl gave a small smile, exactly the same as the one she had given nine years earlier on that precise day.

Her long red bangs covered her eyes and she gave a small laugh.

"But, that doesn't mean that I'll be your Sybi anymore. Sybi is no more."

A tear fell from Sybil's chin and dripped into her cup of tea, which she placed back onto the table.

"Sybi is no more." The twenty three year old woman pushed up her cap to reveal her eyes, just as a familiar person sat down in front of her.

He pulled his knees up to his chest and locked his black eyes with hers.

"Sybil."

"Ryuuzaki." Her voice was sad, L caught this.

"Your cheek is swollen." He pointed out, using his usual soft monotone.

Sybil raised her right hand to caress her cheek, wincing as she did so.

"It seems that your brother hit you hard."

"Yeah. But I did deserve it. I haven't really been myself lately. I guess I just nicked their final nerve." There was a few minutes of silence before she finally spoke up again.

"I don't like tea. I never liked it. I don't like the way it tastes and I don't like the way it makes me feel." He continued to stare at her, rather confused, but not showing that in his expression.

Why was she telling him this?

The female detective suddenly gave a small smile before she began to laugh quietly under her breath.

This only further confused the male detective.

"I fail to see what amuses you."

"You came to talk to me. That's what amuses me. You dropped the case as soon as you saw me leave my apartment. You like me." L continued to stare at her.

He mulled over her words for a few minutes, before coming to the conclusion that she was completely right.

He had grown to be quite accustomed to seeing the usually smiling young woman. If anything, he enjoyed her upbeat personality. It was different. It made him feel better about the current situation with Kira.

Yet, when he saw Sybil like this, L had to also admit that she was clearly becoming a different person. Or, was the real person behind the mask of alleged happiness?

"I know what you're thinking. Where have I gone? I'm naturally someone who looks only to the future. That's the truth. But, lately, I've been finding myself looking into the past." He refocused onto her smiling face.

L studied it, trying to ignore her swollen cheek.

The smile wasn't fake.

"I fail to see why you're smiling."

"As I said. I'm naturally someone who looks only to the future. I foresee happiness in my life soon. All I have to do is occupy myself. However, you're doing a good job of that now. I'm occupied with talking to you. I like you too." Her cap fell back into her eyes.

Sybil went to push it up, but L removed it from her head instead.

"Good. Then, I can gladly say that you are my very first friend." He told her, still keeping his calm demeanor.

L glanced down towards the cap, flipping it over. He stared at it, soon catching sight of a folded piece of paper in its brim.

"Hmm. So this is the reason behind Matsuda's actions this morning." The dark haired detective carefully plucked the piece of paper from the cap, holding it in front of his face with just his index and his thumb.

Sybil stared at him, still rather shocked. However, she soon gave another smile before reaching out and snatching the paper from his hand.

"Nice try, but you know exactly why I can't let you see this."

"Of course."

"Thank you for understanding." There was more silence between the two.

At least, until Sybil stood up.

"I feel better now. So much better. And it's all thanks to you."

"I did nothing."

"You took my mind off of my issues and my stinging cheek. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Unless you happen to find yourself too depressed to come." L told her.

Sybil grabbed her hat and tucked the piece of paper back inside its brim before placing it back on her head. Then, she grinned, while keeping her cap out of her eyes with her thumb.

"Don't count on it. I'm going to be as happy as pie tomorrow morning. That's a promise." L couldn't help, but feel, once again, uplifted by her high spirits.

"I'm glad to hear it."

***

Sybil stepped inside her home, her black leather cap covering her eyes, hiding her emotion.

Taylor and Troy sat up in their seats, worried expressions becoming immediately relieved.

"Sybil! Thank God you're okay!" Troy exclaimed.

Taylor was silent.

The guilt of striking his younger sister still evident in his light blue eyes. Especially when he saw her swollen cheek.

"I- I'm so sorry, Sybil. I-" She raised her cap, showing her grinning expression.

"Ah, don't worry about it. I completely understand. Listen, though. The main reason behind me acting so strangely is because I've been focusing so much on the past." At this, both brothers' faces became upset.
Sybil blinked in confusion.

"What? I know that it's not a great subject, but-"

"Trisha called again to tell me something, Syb." Immediately, Sybil knew what Troy was talking about.

"He got out, didn't he?"

"Yeah." Taylor voiced quietly.

Sybil soon regained her happy composure.

"Don't focus on it. It'll only make you guys as depressed as I was. We don't want that, do we? Especially not when we're all about to gain someone new in our lives. So, are you and Trisha going to find out its gender before or after its born?" Troy smiled goofily.

"Before, definitely! In fact, once I get back home, we'll both go and check it out!"

"So, you agree with my choice, then?" She asked.

"Yeah. I hate to admit it, but I do see your point. I'll send you copies of the ultrasound through email!" Upon saying this, Troy soon found a plane ticket in his face.

Sybil held it there until he gently plucked it from her hand.

"Thanks. You really do think of everything."

"I wish that was true. I do think ahead, but I can't possibly think of everything. For, if I did, that would make me God. I don't believe in God, therefore, I wouldn't believe in myself. Hence why I can't possibly think of everything." Taylor smiled weakly.

"Your explanations are as lengthly as ever. You have to be back to normal." Once again, the young woman grinned.

"Normality is only a fantasy. I thought you'd know that by now."