Mana walked through the dark streets illuminated only by orange street lamps. Her eyes were dark with gloom and a deprivation of sleep. She was five years old, her hair was tangled and unorderly, and her mud-stained clothes are half-wet from the rain that fell some hours ago. She walks on and on. (Luckily there are not a lot of cars at this hour.)
A dark boy follows her: Kaname. His wings have long folded back into his shoulder blades, and he is keeping a watchful eye on her moves. He had watched her cry when the erasers invaded their picnic on the beach. That time, he protected her and told her not to cry.
"Mommy… Daddy… " Mana wails with a dying spirit. Her eyes are searching the dark street. A woman with her infant walks by, trying to get home. Mana has been repeating those words.
"Where are you? Why aren't you coming to find me??" She says.
Kaname makes no sound.. He doesn't know what to say. Mana suddenly trips on the sidewalk and Kaname, with razor-speed, reappears next to her to catch her.
"Ka-kaname?" Mana says. "T-thank--" she starts.
But this time, as Mana has realized Kaname was present, he gently moved his hand to her mouth, and said, "Mana, I'll always be by your side… so don't be sad." His hand presses her smaller hand. Mana's eyes widen slightly. "Oh…"
Mana tries to let her sorrow go, and to accept Kaname's kindness, but she cannot.
She chokes, " I wish I could f-find them--T-they have to be somewhere!!" She tries to stand up again, but with a surge of exhaustion she collaspes into Kaname's arms. She can barely keep her eyes open. She can barely speak, but whispers, "K-kaname…. …."
Inhale.
Exhale.
"Will you.. Find… Mommy?"
Kaname touches her face, he breathes, "Yes. Don't worry. I will." He hugs her close, and puts her limp arms around his neck.
His wings majestically strike out, and he spreads them wide. He jumps up, and flies to his little house which is deserted.
He climbs into his bedroom window, now with Mana on his back. He lays her on his bed, and he lies on the floor. He is still a little horrified at the scene with the erasers and the murders, but at least he has Mana, his precious friend, safe. This gives him a little warmth.
"Mana.." he says aloud. "Don't cry anymore. I'll dry your tears for you." Mana's light breathing hulls him to sleep.