Vanessa sat quietly beside her telephone, eyes seemingly glued to the book she was holding. She seemed at peace and relaxed, but she was anything but. Her eyes never moved along the pages, staring blankly. They would dart up to the clock only a few feet away every few seconds, practically counting down the minutes and seconds as they passed. As the clock began striking ten o’clock, her whole body tensed and her eyes averted to the phone on her right.

Dong. Ten seconds. Dong. Nine seconds. Dong. Eight. Dong. Seven. Dong. Six. Dong. Just five more seconds! Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong.

Riiiii-iiiing! Vanessa dropped her book immediately and scrambled to grab the phone before it rang again. She didn’t have to look at the caller I.D. to know who it was.

“Hello?”

“Vanessa? It’s Ryuzaki. As dutiful in answering my calls as ever I see.” Vanessa rolled her eyes.

“Nice to hear from you too,” she said, sarcasm dripping from her voice, “But do I have to call you… Ryuzaki? It’s not your real name and I hate using fake names!!” She pouted to herself, hearing him chuckle on the other end.

“It’s for your safety and my own,” he said as he always did, “My business will never change and I can’t have you endangering yourself because of me.” Vanessa sighed. He was as much of a stickler to his own rules as ever.

“All right,” she said, sounding a little downcast, “But only because you’re working on a case right now! As soon as this case is over, I’m calling you by your real name and you can’t stop me.” She heard him laugh again and she smiled. Even though it had only been a day since they last talked, she missed him. Phone calls didn’t keep the sorrow of missing him away. There was silence for a moment before Vanessa spoke up again.

“I miss you a lot… Ryuzaki,” she said softly, “It’s not the same around here without you making me laugh with your peculiarities. Though, I still think your hair is cute.” She giggled a little, knowing he was blushing. He always blushed when she reminded him of the first compliment she had given him when he was ten. Neither had forgotten their first real compliments.

“And your eyes are still as pretty as they ever were,” he replied, making her blush a bright red, “I think we’re even now, wouldn’t you say?” Vanessa made a murmur of approval, and he continued, “How long has it been since we saw each other face to face?” Vanessa replied automatically, having counted every day apart from her best friend.

“A year, thirty-two weeks and six days,” she spouted, clamping a hand over her mouth only a moment later. She hated seeming reliant on him, but she couldn’t help it. He laughed.

“Been paying attention have we?” he asked lightly. Vanessa groaned.

“Um, maybe?” she said, trying to cover slip, “Anyway, how’s the case going?” She was a master at changing the subject obviously. Always getting straight to the point.

“Not so great,” he sighed, letting her win this one, “I want to clear Light’s name, but the evidence is telling me not to.” Vanessa flinched at the name Light. The suspect whom L had grown somewhat attached to.

“We had him in confinement for fifty days,” he continued, not knowing Vanessa’s slight distress on her end, “The killings stopped, pointing at him to be Kira, but they started up again, clearing his name at least somewhat. Still, the evidence doesn’t put him in the white. He’s still stuck in the grey right now.” Vanessa sighed. She knew all about this Light person. He was apparently the only one who could keep up with L intellectually. It made her feel a little inadequate that she couldn’t fulfill L’s mental needs to the fullest.

“I’m sure you’ll be able to clear him soon,” she assured him, “After he’s cleared, we’ll all meet up and have a little get together, hm? That way, we can both add a new friend to our list!” She secretly hoped he was never cleared, but she wouldn’t dare to tell that to L. He would be upset and disappointed with her and she didn’t want that. She didn’t want that at all.

“Yeah, that sounds good.” Vanessa frowned a little. He sounded tired and weary. The L she knew and loved didn’t act or sound like that.

“What’s wrong, uh, Ryuzaki?” she asked, having to stop herself from saying his real name.

“I won’t be able to call you for a long time Vanessa,” he said, sounding extremely sad and upset. At least, for L he sounded sad, “I’m going to chain myself to Light until I can clear his name completely and I don’t want him knowing about you until there is no possible chance that he is Kira. I can’t call you until he’s cleared.” Vanessa nearly dropped the phone. She wouldn’t be able to talk to her best friend in the entire world until Yagami Light was cleared?!

“W-what?” she stuttered, barely holding the phone to her ear, “Why? Chain him to Mr. Wa—I mean Watari while you call me. Can’t you do that?” She heard a sigh on the other end and she knew instantly he was disappointed. She knew how important his cases were to him and she didn’t want to make him sad.

“Van, you know I—“

“Never mind!” she said quickly, cutting him off, “Pretend I never said it, okay? Solving the Kira case comes first no matter what. I can wait until Light is cleared to talk to you.” She tried her best to make her voice convincing and apparently it worked. L didn’t touch the subject any longer and continued telling her about his worries and theories. She sat through them silently, adding in her ‘hmm’s and wordless approvals as he spoke. She knew she wouldn’t be able to use to her voice without it cracking. To her dismay, it was only a few minutes before L had to go.

“Do you promise you’ll call the instant Light’s name is cleared?” Vanessa asked, trying to control her voice as best she could.

“Of course I will,” he assured her, laughing at her anxiousness, “Don’t forget, you can always talk to Watari if you need to. Bye Vanessa, I love you and don’t forget that.” Vanessa sighed. So she hadn’t been convincing. L had figured out that she was hurt about it and he was trying to make it up. She smiled. At least he was trying.

“Yeah, I’ll do that,” she said quietly, “Bye. I love you too… L.” With that, she hung up, a small, sad smile on her face. The book she had thrown aside was forgotten as she stood up, tears filling her eyes. She walked to her bedroom, grief weighing down her steps as she went. It was only a matter of moments after she hit the bed that she broke down sobbing.

oOo

On the other end of the phone line, all the way in Japan, L frowned as he heard the dial tone start up. He could tell Vanessa was upset about his decision but he had to do it. His fingers were itching to press the redial button and promise to call her every night, but he couldn’t do that. He would clear Light’s name before he talked to Vanessa again.

Sighing, he put away his cell phone and returned to looking at the computer screens. Vanessa had always told him that he would go blind one day from staring at the screens for too long, but he never listened. Computers were a valuable resource and he wouldn’t abandon them, even if she was just looking out for his best interests.

His research was still leading him in circles and he was beginning to get frustrated. He knew he had a listener in Vanessa and it would be difficult for him to give up someone to bounce his theories off of. Still, he needed to prove that Light was innocent. His wanted the second person he considered a friend to be innocent. Light couldn’t be Kira. Kira was a murderer and Light… Light was someone L could really relate to. Not that he couldn’t relate to Vanessa but… Light was special.

He immediately shook his head, ridding himself of those thoughts. He couldn’t pick Light over Vanessa. Vanessa had been with him through almost everything and had always been there with a bright smile on her face. Light was simply a challenge and friend rolled into one. Vanessa was his safety net. He knew he could always fall back on her. Besides, they had promised to be best friends forever.

Sighing tiredly, L returned to clicking away on his computer. He had a long night of research ahead of him, just like every other day.

oOo

Vanessa awoke the next morning with a pounding headache. Her sinuses were clogged, her eyes felt itchy and she wanted nothing more than to shut her eyes and never have to open them again. She sat up blearily and yawned, glancing at her alarm clock. Ten thirty-one. She overslept. She shrugged. It wasn’t important. She didn’t have a job. L paid for everything she had. He was keeping her off the streets.

Vanessa’s breath hitched when she suddenly remembered the phone call from the night before. It hit her with startling clarity that she had no idea how long she wouldn’t be able to speak with L. It stung her that he wouldn’t call her, but she knew it was all for his case. She had promised not to get in the way of any of his cases and she wasn’t about to break that promise.

Getting reluctantly out of bed, Vanessa padded into the kitchen. She wouldn’t be depressed about this. She would just do her normal routine and try not to think about it as much as possible. She hummed to herself as she skittered around the kitchen, making her breakfast. It was only after she finished making it that she realized what she had made. She had made blueberry pancakes; L’s favorite breakfast. Her face paled and she suddenly lost her appetite. She threw out the fresh batch of pancakes and just made herself a bowl of cereal. Her day was already off to a bad start.

As she slowly washed her meager dishes, she tried to keep her mind from wandering towards L. She knew it would only make her depressed, but she couldn’t help it. So, to get her mind off of missing her best friend, Vanessa decided to journey outside her apartment and go to the bookseller’s.

Her mind made up, Vanessa hurried through the rest of her normal routine, trying desperately to think of anything or anyone other than L. It was only a matter of minutes before she found herself in her small car, starting up the engine and putting her foot on the gas. She drove quickly through the crowded Winchester streets, arriving at the small, out of the way booksellers in record time. She locked her car absently as she entered the musty smelling building.

“Ah, Miss Ververs! It’s good to see you back again,” Vanessa smiled at the elderly Mr. Williams.

“It’s good to be back Mr. Williams,” she replied cheerfully, “Is the Mrs. Williams here today?” He smiled and shuffled away through the bookcases, calling for his wife. Vanessa waited with a content smile on her face for the elderly couple. A small, wrinkled old woman came bustling out from between the shelves a few minutes later and a smile lit up her wizened, old face.

“Vanessa! How good it is to see you again dear!” she said, pulling the young woman into a hug that Vanessa returned gently. Almost all thoughts of L fled from her mind as the three settled down for a nice cup of Earl Grey. They all chatted amiably for hours, Mr. Williams entertaining them with stories of his boyhood and Mrs. Williams adding her own input now and then. It was relaxing and homey for Vanessa; just what she needed to get her mind off of L.

“So, Miss Ververs,” Mr. Williams said, a sly tone in his voice, “Where is our Mr. Lawliet today? You usually don’t come here without him.” Vanessa’s smile dropped from her face like deadweight and Mrs. Williams sent her husband a look. However, Vanessa tried valiantly to return the smile to her face and reply.

“He’s currently away on business,” she said, “I don’t know when he’ll be back, but I don’t believe it’s anytime soon. It’s a very important trial.” Vanessa and L had convinced the Williams that L was a lawyer who was frequently away on business.

“He should come home quickly, that boy,” Mr. Williams said heartily with a slight frown on his face, “I sometimes worry about you when he’s not around. When are you two going to admit you like each other and get married?” Vanessa flushed a brilliant red and Mr. and Mrs. Williams chuckled. Vanessa opened her mouth to protest, but Mrs. Williams cut her off gently.

“Come now Vanessa,” she said with a soft smile, “I’ve seen enough young love in my lifetime to know you two adore each other. Besides, you’ve known each other since you were nine I believe.”

“I was seven,” Vanessa corrected softly, “L was ten. We were both orphans. And we’re nothing more than friends.” Mrs. Williams sighed softly at the reminder. She had come to think of Vanessa as her own daughter.

“You’re more than just friends deary,” she said, trying to cheer Vanessa up, “Now you seem sad. Tell us what’s wrong.” Vanessa was silent for a moment, contemplating on what to do. She promised L that she wouldn’t tell anyone of his cases, but Mr. and Mrs. Williams were trustworthy.

“L is investigating a murder case,” she began softly, “And he’s become… attached to the main suspect. He wants Light cleared of any charges, so he’s handcuffing himself to Light.” Mr. Williams snorted.

“Light is a boy, right?” he asked, a slightly frumpy look on his face. Vanessa nodded. He smiled, “Good. We wouldn’t want another woman stealing him away from you.” Vanessa flushed again, but continued.

“He used to call me every night at ten o’clock sharp and I would always be waiting for his phone calls. Then, last night, he said he wouldn’t be able to call me while he was handcuffed to Light. He doesn’t know how long it will be or anything. He just says I can’t call him and he can’t call me and that it’s for my own safety.” Mrs. Williams patted Vanessa softly on the knee when small sniffles were heard.

“It’s all right deary,” she soothed, looking worriedly at Vanessa, “If you like, you can stay with us until our dear Mr. Lawliet returns. How does that sound, hmm?” Vanessa’s eyes widened at the offer.

“Oh, but I couldn’t!” she said, waving her hands frantically, “I would be burdening you and I would hate to do that.” Mrs. Williams smiled and shook her head.

“It’s no trouble,” she said warmly, “And if it makes you feel any better, you can help us with running the store on the busy days, all right? You won’t be burdening us at all.” Vanessa was tempted to refuse, but she could see a slightly pleading look in the elderly couple’s eyes and she just couldn’t say no to them.

“If it really is no trouble,” she sighed, “Then I’ll stay and help. But please, I want to pay for my share of the bills until L comes back. It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t.” Both the elders nodded with smiles on their faces. Vanessa couldn’t help but smile back. They were like family to her just as much as L was.

“Well,” said the elderly Mr. Williams heartily, hauling himself to his feet, “It would be rude of me not to accompany you to your home to gather your belongings. I may be old, but I’ve got the back of an ox and the will of a veteran.” Vanessa giggled at him, standing as well. Mrs. Williams sighed at her husband’s babble, but smiled. Vanessa gave Mrs. Williams a kiss on the cheek and a thank you before heading out with Mr. Williams to get her things.

Yes, this was almost all Vanessa needed. The only thing that would make it better is having her best friend right there with her.

oOo

L sighed. It was only his first day with Light and he was already exasperated. True, this was a good, if unorthodox, way to clear Light’s name, but he was tiring of it already. While Light was a great researcher for the case, L couldn’t shake the suspicion he was Kira. It both frustrated and fascinated him that someone like Light could hold even the slightest possibility to lead such a double life.

When nine o’clock rolled around, L sent the task force home. He wanted sometime to watch Light by himself. After all, his analysis of Light’s behavior when alone with him could change when the task force was gone for the night.

Habitually, fifteen minutes later, L dug into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, dialing the number for the apartment he shared with Vanessa when he was in England. He stopped, however, before he reached the last number. He said he wouldn’t call her while he was chained to Light.

He sent a glance at the seventeen year old. Light was watching him out of the corner of his eye. L carefully shut his phone and slipped it in his pocket once more, returning to his research. There was a heavy silence and L could tell Light wanted to ask what that was about. L, however, would never reveal information that could put his best friend, who had been there for him since he was ten, in any type of danger.

“Ryuzaki, what was that about?” There it was. L had guessed right. He sighed heavily and turned to Light in his chair. He scanned him mercilessly with his eyes before opening his mouth to reply.

“It is none of your business, Light-kun,” he replied bluntly, swiveling to the computer screen once more, “I merely remembered something.” Light looked slightly shocked that L would speak so rudely to him, but L had spoken more harshly with him than that before. The clock began striking ten.

L really wanted to call Vanessa.

oOo

It had been a month since L last called. Vanessa seemed as cheerful as she usually was, but no one could miss the lack of life in her eyes as she went through her day. It was like it was all mechanical for her. Everything was clockwork and she didn’t want to break that temporary schedule. She did everything she could to avoid being near a phone at ten o’clock.

Today, however, her phone began vibrating as she was chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Williams over lunch. She excused herself from the table and into the hall, flipping open the phone to read the text message she had gotten. Her eyes ran over it and she nearly dropped the phone. She read the message over and over, her body beginning to tremble.

L is dead.

Vanessa, suddenly repulsed by her phone, threw it violently to the floor with a scream. She felt tears well up in her eyes and her limbs ache to destroy something. There was only one other person who had gotten the message. Mr. Roger at Wammy’s House.

“Vanessa? Dear, are you all right?” Mrs. And Mr. Williams appeared from the dining room and Vanessa fell to her knees, sobs wracking her body. She suddenly felt like she was seven years old again, her body dangerously skinny, her hair ratted and dingy, and her dress tattered and torn. She suddenly felt vulnerable to the whole world.

L, her L, had been invincible. He had never left a case he liked unsolved. He had always been so careful with his identity, taking precautions for himself, Mr. Wammy and her. She knew he would have proceeded with nothing less than the utmost caution. Now, her only true friend in the world was gone. He was gone for good and she would never get him back.

He wouldn’t fly home on a plane with Mr. Wammy close behind, both with smiles on their faces when they saw her. He would never comfort her when she had a nightmare. He would never sit in that way of his that only he could do. And he would never give her a smile and hug on days when she was down. She was on her own now. She was really, truly alone.

“Kira,” she wailed between her sobs, “You killed him! You killed L!!”

oOo

In Japan, Light was curious. He had snuck Ryuzaki’s phone out of his pocket before he was taken away and now he was looking at the contact list. There were only three other phone numbers in there. Watari, Home, and… Vanessa.