Hi all my wonderful reviewers! I must admit each and every one of you gave me the "warm fuzzies" when you reviewed. All of them good! I was actually surprised by how many people enjoyed the first chapter, and no one's complained yet. I could go on, but I almost think you guys will lynch me if I continue on.

I do want to point out one thing before continuing, though, that is to say, just because Harry has his medical problem, does NOT mean he'll be a "damsel-in-distress" type person. I'm saying this in case people are worried that Harry will become OOC or some sort of "Gary-Stu". I refuse to write a Gary-Stu Harry, he has faults, and is not perfect. I hope that puts some people at ease, those who might have been put off by his medical problem. Keep in mind, that's just what his friends nicknamed it. So…on with the story! *Points finger dramatically*

Disclaimer: Do not own, sadly enough. :{

The Meeting

L did something he rarely, if ever, did. He slowly extended his hand for a handshake, murmuring casually, "I'm Ryuzaki."

~~~~~~Now~~~~~~

Harry stared at the hand blankly before shifting his bags around, trying to free a hand. Only managing to free a few fingers, Harry gave an apologetic smile before stating slowly,

"I'm Haruhi."

L noted the unease in which Haruhi replied; it was obvious to anyone that this Haruhi was just learning the language. Taking pity on the boy, L replied in the boy's native language.

"You are from England?"

It's obvious his a foreigner what with his pale skin and green eyes, L thought to himself. He was pulled out of his thoughts just in time to see the obvious relief on Haruhi's face.

"You speak English?!" He blurted out, before covering his mouth in horror, unable to stop himself from blurting out again. "I-I'm so sorr-," the apology Harry spluttered out was stopped by a pale finger delicately placed on his lips.

"There is no need to apologize, Haruhi. Any person would find relief at being able to communicate with someone in a foreign country." Leaning in slightly, L chuckled at the expression on the boy's face.

L watched as his acquaintance's face flushed a slight red, curiously, before realizing where his finger was. Almost reluctantly, he removed his finger from those soft lips before scratching the back of his neck with his other hand. "Ah, now I apologize for that," he stated casually, in an attempt to reduce a possible awkward moment.

Harry's face was still red as he responded, "I-It's alright." Clearing his throat slightly, he continued, "If anything, I owe you for making that other guy leave."

Turning back in the direction of his bakery and home, Harry continued walking and allowed his new acquaintance to fall into step beside him. Some of the students who still lingered on the campus watched as the odd duo crossed the campus, some more jealous than others.

However the two ignored the students as they continued on, each silent as they were lost in their thoughts. Finally, after what seemed like a few hours, Harry tilted his head and watched L from the corner of his eye. "How did you know I was from England, anyways?"

"How did I? Your coloring, and the fact that you were uncomfortable with speaking in Japanese, proved that you are foreign to this country. As to specifically where you were from, I took a 95 percent estimate that, given your accent, you were either born in England, or you lived there until very recently." L smiled as congenially as possible as he shifted to look curiously at his companion, "In other words, as I have stayed in England numerous times before…I recognized your accent."

Harry's lips formed into a silent "Oh" before he bit his lip as he searched himself for the keys so he could unlock his bakery, having arrived just as L finished his explanation. L generously took the heavy bags from the struggling boy and stood aside as Harry opened the door.

Stepping inside the building, the only sign of L's surprise at seeing the cake shop was the slight widening of his eyes, and even that was unnoticeable except to those who knew him well.

'Oh my…I didn't know he was the owner of the new…perhaps Watari…' L's cake-filled thoughts ended abruptly at the sound of Haruhi's voice. "Excuse me?" L asked as he turned to look at the shop owner once more.

Harry just smiled before stating his request once more.

"Could you set the bags on the counter? I'll be back one moment." L shuffled deeper into the shop as if what he was doing caused great difficulty, he then slowly placed the bags where asked. His eyes took to gazing at the sample cakes exhibited behind the glass.

"Take a look through and find the one you want. I shall have it done tomorrow, and send it to you." Harry returned with a heavy looking book, which he handed carefully to L.

"Excuse me?" L looked up, wide-eyed.

"It's the best way I thought I could repay you especially since I open the day after tomorrow. It would be nice to have someone to test a cake first." Harry shrugged. His statement was a lie, Harry knew that his cakes were delicious; all of his old friends had said so. But Ryuzaki did not know this, and if stating that he needed someone to taste a cake first before opening would get Ryuzaki to accept this payment, then….

Harry idly watched as Ryuzaki carefully flipped through the pages, looking through the variety of cakes. He stopped at a picture of a strawberry-chocolate ganache cake; L peered up at him, before asking if he was sure.

Seeing Haruhi nod in response, L slowly turned the book towards Harry and pointed to the strawberry-chocolate ganache cake. Peering at the recipe, Harry identified it as one of his favorite cakes.

"Are you sure, Ryuzaki?" Seeing a resolute expression on his face, Harry chuckled before marking the page number down on a piece of paper. "I suppose you are."

Placing the piece of paper on the counter, Harry swallowed before slowly speaking up, hesitantly, almost as if he was afraid Ryuzaki would hate him.

"Ryuzaki?" L looked up curiously from the cell phone he had 'borrowed,' blinking questioningly as he watched Harry take a deep breath before continuing. "Y-You're the first person I made an acquaintance with so far. I don't usually like going to nightclubs or anything like that, like any other guy would, so I'm usually not very forward but…friends?"

Having placed the phone down as Harry was speaking, he slowly smiled, pleased that he wouldn't have to resort to stalking the boy in order to get close to him.

"Hai…Haruhi-kun. I would like that very much." Seeing Haruhi give him a wide smile created a pleasant feeling within himself.

'It might not be the exact relationship I want with you…Haruhi-kun…but it's a start. And I swear to myself that I will not let Kira, or Light-kun, take you from me.'