This is a sad two-shot of L and someone, who captured his heart, yet he had to leave.

A story of a friendship developing into love, an unfullfilled feeling, a broken promise and sorrow. The only warning I can give to you is this story is not as happy as my first on-going story, 'Struggle'.

The title means, 'promise' in Japanese.

L is 11 years old here. The girl is 10.

xXx

Yakusoku

It was a sunny day in England. The children were outside the old orphanage, playing and enjoying the warm weather despite the fact that it was already October and England is always cold, especially this time around in the year. Well, for the children, it was a lucky day they could go outside and play. However, among the cheerful faces, there was one which had a blank expression on his face.

He had short spiky jetblack hair, cold, emotionless grey eyes wrapped up in circles. His lean body was against the building's wall, his eyes watching the skies lazily. He wore a pair of black jeans and white shirt, which made him look extremely slim, as both of the clothes he wore were bigger than him. His hands were hidden from anyone in his pockets.

He didn't care about the children, or any of the games they played. He just wanted to get back into the building, back to Watari's office and stay with him, however, the old man knew the boy would sneak back to the building, so he locked the boy out and put one of the maids to the door, if a child wanted to get in or if there was an emergency.

But no matter what Watari did, the boy kept himself shut out from the others, closing his mind and heart from anyone who wanted to get to know him.

Why did people got manipulated so easily by each other? He examined the kids from afar- he knew who betrayed the other, and who lied to who, and who was a true friend- no one. Why would he want to befriend someone? They would lie, no matter for how long he had known them.

The raven-haired youth bowed his head, locks of black hair falling before his eyes.

He liked to be alone, though. Watari did not count, he was his 'grandpa', his caretaker, his parent, his stone to lean on when there was no one to be with him. He was enough. He even understood why he had locked him out of the orphanage. He didn't blame him, he wasn't angry. In fact, he liked to be outside, but he enjoyed the Sun's gentle rays and the wind's soothing touch when there was no one to see him. He hated to be seen. He wanted to be invisible, move away from the people, hide and watch them afar- like he did now. But this wasn't enough.

Soon, his small ears picked up a familiar sound – the key turning in the lock, unlocking it. He perked his head up to see, why is the door opened.

There were people infront of the main entrance: a man and a woman in black, between them... a small little brown-haired girl, her small green eyes in tears, clutching a small, yellow bunny. She wore a lightbrown long skirt, and a matching, blue shirt.

The black-haired boy's eyes narrowed, as he watched them go inside. As quickly as a hungry fox could be, he slipped in, without making any noise. But...

"L. You are still unable to communicate to the other oprhans?" a familiar voice asked,in a rather teasing-scolding tone.

"I am able."replied L sharply "I just do not feel like I need to."

They were all standing at the door, the two black-suited people blinked at the small L, while the little girl híd behind the woman, only the bunny's ears were visible. Watari stood behind the three people, smiling down at L.

"Is she another orphan?" asked L, putting his index finger to his lower lip, glancing at the woman's knee as he knew the girl's head was somewhere there.

"Indeed, she is. Her parents died. The neighbour contacted us, as they saw the girl linger on the corridors of the flat." the man in black said and slowly he reached for the doorknob. His partner, the woman nodded and patted the little girl's head. The two got out of the orphanage, leaving the girl , Watari and L alone. The girl híd behind Watari now.

"I'm sorry for your parents." said L in a blank tone, and he meant it. He just forgot to put some emotion in the tone he used. The girl replied as coldly, as the boy started the communication.

"I don't like you." was all she said. Watari let out a sigh.

"Please, you have been here for only a few minutes, don't be so offensive towards the others, young lady..."

"He doesn't like me either." she continued from Watari's knees. "Why would I like him, if he doesn't like me in return?" L blinked owlishly, now thumb in mouth.

"She's smart, Watari."

"L!" Watari said, in a warning tone and turned to the little girl."I'm sorry, little one. What was your name again...?"

The girl shifted behind Watari. "I do not wish to tell anyone..." she said, in a low whisper. The old man let out a tired sigh.

"Fine then, I understand. What do you wish to be called then?" there was a moment of silence.

"Alyssa."

"Alright." Watari said and was about to do something when L interrupted.

"I will call you A, from now on. Is it fine with you, Alyssa?" the boy asked.

"No." she said, and for the first time, she leaned out from Watari's knees and eyed the boy.

A pair of emotionless grey eyes met with a pair of green, and furious, sorrowful one.

"It doesn't matter. You'll be A for me, from now on." their gaze never leaving the other's.

"Whatever." she said. Before this could have continued, Watari, with a fatherly-scolding glare to L, led out Alyssa from the room, leaving L alone. The boy was lost in his train of thoughts, wondering what to do.

"Seems like, this is going to be my first case, ne?" he said to himself, and turned around. "I must stop talking to myself. I feel like I'm a scyzophrene. Hmm... where's the cake, Watari was hiding...?" with that, he walked in the direction towards the kitchen.

xXx

Night has come.

L and Alyssa hadn't met after their stormy conversation. However, this fact changed when night had fallen onto the Wammy's house.

As mentioned, L liked to be outside, when no one resided there- so he went out only at night, to gaze around and enjoy the weather. This night was no exception.

As he headed towards his favourite spot (Some rocks leaning on each other, behind the Orphanage's building), he noticed, someone is already sitting there, gazing at the sky. With a sigh, he marched towards the person, invading his personal place, the rocks.

"Excuse me." he began, as he reached closer to the person and was sure he could be heard."May I sit here?"

The person turned her head towards him- Alyssa was sitting on HIS rocks!

As always, she gave him her cold look.

"Yeah." was all she said.

Shrugging mentally, he sat down next to her, legs up against his knees, closing his eyes.

Silence settled between them. The girl kept on staring at the sky, while L was sitting next to her, eyes closed. As they sat, L soon heard a small song being hummed.

The tune was sad, yet beautiful, the one who hummed it must be full of sorrow...

"Are you humming?" he asked, without opening his eyes.

"Yes. Does it bother you?"

"No, in fact, it is a really nice song. What is this? A lullaby?"

"Sort of."

"What's the name of it?"

"I do not wish to tell you."

L opened his eyes now, and set them on her.

"Why are you so offensive towards me?"

"Why should I trust anyone?" she said and looked at him, her eyes now reflecting sorrow.

L blinked a little. He felt like he had been watching himself, only in girl form. He had been asking this question himself. Now that someone else had asked, he could come up with an answer.

"Because you hate to be alone, you're just too proud to admit it."

"But if I do manage to get a friend, it will backstab me, later in my life."

"Only, if you let yourself to be backstabbed."

"Why are you talking to me anyway?" she asked, curiosity in her eyes.

"Because you are sitting on my rocks."

"These are not your rocks, L. These are the orphie's."

"Wow, you remembered my name..."

"I know that you are L, the smartest kid around. And the wierdest."

"Good." he said and looked at the sky. "I wish to ask you a question."

"Go ahead."

"Why are you sitting here, staring at the sky, A?"

"Because I hate to be inside somewhere. I've been sleeping outdoors since I was five."

L side-glanced at the girl. "Oh? Your parents let you sleep in the garden then?"

He saw the girl had tensed. "Kind of..."

L stared at the sky again, and put his index-finger to his lips. "A, you're a bad liar."

The girl's eyes widened and looked at L. "How dare you-"

"A, I know you are lying. You've been on the streets for five years. But you got caught yesterday, right?" The girl closed her mouth, and stared down at the ground. L turned to look at her.

"The guy who brought you here said that you were caught in a corridor, the residents had called them, to take you here. Since you are cleverer than the averege ten year old girls, you knew you had to say that your parents are dead, and you managed to get to a normal orphanage. Right?" L still did not receive an answer, which frustrated him, but he didn't show it.

"Till yesterday, you've been lingering on the streets, and you got used to the open air. Are you planning to escape?"

"No..." she hissed and threw her arms around her knees, pulling them up, curling into a ball. She was shutting L out of her personal bubble. But L ignored her attempting moves.

"You've been strange, A. Ever since you came, I feel some kind of mystery around you." he said and leaned closer, in attempt to look at her more, but he felt a hand pushing him away.

"Leave me alone, L! I'm a human, every human has secrets! I hate you for handling me like if I was a case!" she gritted her teeth and curled up more, hoping L will leave.

This outburst made L think a little. Well, truthfully, he really was handling her like a case. But not as a tool... He just wanted to figure her out.

"What if I just want to befriend you?" he let this escape his lips. Was he lying when he said that, or he really was seeking for a friend?

The girl's eyes widened. She perked her head up, eyes set on the boy.

"I think you are lying."

"I certainly am sure that I'm not." L said, his eyelids half close. "Accept the fact that someone wishes to be with you."

Alyssa said nothing, just stared at her feet. When she looked up again, she saw L's extended hand towards her.

"Usually, I don't like to be with other kids, but... the way you talk and think... I see myself in you. Friends?"

Alyssa just watched the hand outstrechted to her.

Slightly trembling, she raised her own hand, and placed it in his. He gripped it gently, looking down at their now interwined hands.

She bit her bottom lip, as their hands still stayed together.

"I'm going to sleep now. Good night, L." She said and got up quickly, making L blink and confused.

The warmness in his hand faded, and that instant, he felt something like... missing that warmth...?

He turned to look at the leaving girl. She saw her lightblue skirt swam behind her as she walked away. As she did so, L could swear he heard her hum the following sentence.

… O castitas Lilium...

The night wind swept into the young genious' hair, as he stared at the spot, where the girl had disappeared with her mysterious song...

xXx

The next day was a bit chilly- reflecting the mood of Alyssa, who was staring out of the large window of her bedroom, watching the leaves falling by, as the wind knocked them off from the branches.

She was still in her in her nightgown, away from the other children. It was ten o'clock in the morning and she did not feel up to do anything at all.. The sorrow still engulfed her and she didn't even mention it to anyone. Her cold gaze now turned to sadness.

That was the moment, when L chose to come pay a visit.

"... What are you staring at so much, A?" asked L, as he entered her room, making Alyssa gasp. A small smile played at L's lips.

"L! Ever heard of knocking?" Alyssa hissed, glaring at L.

"What's the matter, A? Don't bite my head off! I wanted to ask you a few things..."

"Like an interrogation?" She asked, sitting down on the side of the bed.

"We're friends, aren't we? We can ask question from each other, can we?"

"Yes, we can." she replied and watched L , as he sat beside him.

"What was the song's name you sung yesterday? I herd the line, 'O castitas lilium' or something..."

"..." Alyssa just stared out of the window, as she sat next to her friend. "Fine, if you wish to know so much, it's a song called 'Lilium'. I think my mother used to hum it for me, when I was smaller. I do not remember her, but the lyrics and the tune stayed in my heart."

L blinked as the girl continued. "I can only remember my mother. She had died five years ago, in an unknown disease. I had no other relatives, and I didn't want to be in an orphanage..." her eyes narrowed, and voice softened. "So I had escaped. As you concluded, I was living on the streets for five long years, and I just got caught. Happy now?" she said bitterly. She felt a tear escaping from her eye. As soon as she realized it, she was nervous, what will her friend's reaction be. She expected to laugh at her, or even to try to comfort her...

"A, you're crying." stated L.

Alyssa said nothing. She then felt a warm finger sweep away gently the tear, that threatend to fall. She felt quite nervous but when he pulled away, she sub-consciously wished, he'd comfort her more.

"And humming the song makes you feel better?"L tried to change the subject, the girl gadly obeyed.

"Yes. It does." she sniffed.

"Why don't you sing the song then?" Alyssa looked at him in disbelief.

"Infront of you?"

"Who else?" he smiled. "I'm your friend, I will not laugh at you."

She opened her mouth to start the song, but in front of her eyes, flashbacks appeared, the time when her mother lived and hummed the song for her. In that instant, she broke down, not caring that L will see her cry or not.

Whenever I sing this song... I start to cry. I see my mother holding me lovingly in her arms, smiling down at me, full of energy and telling me she loves me. I see the times when we were together, going out to have some fun, she always did anything for me... and then, I see her in bed, dead pale, unable to move, only smiling at me, with that reassuring smile- like if she is saying: 'everything will be alright. Don't be sad...' . And then... She fades away, dies smile on her face. Why was she so happy? Why-

Her sad train of thoughts crashed, when she felt warmness around her. Blinking, she looked around, only to see a white shirt's back, and the back of a black, messy haired head.

Her friend hugged her, to comfort her. With shaking hands, she embraced her waist tightly, closing her eyes, whichwere like two small waterfalls of tears.

Taking some small gulps, she started to sing quietly, as she remembered the tune.

Os iusti meditabitur sapientiam,

Et lingua eius loquetur indicium.

Beatus vir qui suffert tentationem,

Quoniqm cum probates fuerit accipient coronam vitae.

Kyrie, ignis divine, eleison

O quam sancta, quam serena,

quam benigma, quam amoena

O castitas lilium

When she ended the song, she closed her eyes and waited.

"Even though you are still small... you sing latin well."

And for the first time since her stay, she laughed by the heart, making L's spirits lift up.

"Hey, L." said Alyssa, smiling. "Please, from now on, call me Alyssa, instead of A..."

L smiled, and hugged her closer. " As you wish, Alyssa..."

From that day and moment, they stayed close friends.

xxxxXX Fourteen years later Xxxxxx

L and Alyssa were very close friends, from that day- they both opened themselves up a little towards the other orphans aswell. However... L had become the greatest detective on Earth, and he had matters to attend to. And this one was a very special one...

"... So your duties call you to Japan?" Alyssa said sadly. They were standing in the kitchen so no one could hear them. Actually, it was once again nighttime everybody was asleep.

"Yes. It is about a serial killer, called 'Kira'." L replied, looking at his bare feet in his nervousness. He so didn't want to leave her and the orphanage...

"Well..." she started sadly. "It seems like, it is going to be like always when you travel away, yes? We'll wait for you till your return."

"I guess so." he said, smiling. "It is good to know, there is someone special to me who is waiting for my return.

Special...? "You are beginning to be good in flattery." she said, giggling. "However..." her expression changed to sorrow. "I have a really bad feeling about this, L..."

"Yes..." he whispered. "I feel it too... But I cannot turn back, Alyssa. My sense of justice urges me to go..."

"Listen to your instincts..." she whispered sadly. L's heartbeat speed had grown dramatically. "I know you will not let me go with you... All I can do is wait..."

For the second time in her life, the girl received a strong hug, which had the message of 'I do not want to leave you'.

"I'm going to be as fast as I can with the case... I do not want to be stay away from... from you."

The girl smiled into his chest, and returned his embrace.

"I do not like it when you are so far away and for so long... promise.. promise me that you will come back a soon as you can...!"

L slightly opened his eyes. Somehow, he felt like he do not want to give his word. He was afraid, he will never return.

Or if he does, she will not be here to greet him. To hug him.

"I am giving you my word, only if you promise me to wait for me..."

She looked up at him, as he looked down at her.

"I promise to wait for your return!"

A sad smile played on his lips, and let their forehead touch. He wanted to kiss her so much, but oh, how he had no the courage to do it. If I come back and she's here... I'll greet her with a kiss, I promise to myself... he thought, as he let her go and held her hand in his. She hooked her arms around his right.

"When are you leaving...?"

"Tomorrow morning at seven o'clock... will you... accompany me?"

A bright smile was her answer. "I will. And I will be there at the airport when you come back."

The rest of the evening had spent in silence, the tension was so thick, if wanted to, it could be cut in. The next day, Alyssa had accompanied L and Watari to the airport. L once again, was unable to kiss her, even though he really wanted to, but still, he was scared of rejection. Rejection, that she might look up at him only as a brother, or just as a friend.

They said good bye to each other with a hug, and she watched them board the plane.

As soon as the plane took off, she was crying again, humming Lilium to herself.

All she had to do now is wait. Wait for the promise to be fulfilled.

Song: Lilium

From: Elfen Lied

It is 2 AM now... Yes, I am this crazy. I do not know when will I post the other chapter up though. Depends on the reviews! xP I do not own Death Note or Elfen Lied. I just love both of them.