Yuu never knew forgiveness could feel this good.
It was more that pleasure, it was more than joy. Forgiveness was a light heart, forgiveness was broken chains.
In his hospital bed, Yuu couldn't decide if he could finally sleep soundly or if he'd never sleep again.
Mika was there. Mika was alive.
Mika was a vampire. Who cares if he was a vampire? Who cares if he was an oompaloompa? Who cares if he turned into a freaking dog?!
Mika, his brother, his beloved family was alive and that was all that mattered.
Every day he was tormented. Every night he was so troubled.
Yet now, at this moment, all that trouble and all that torment was gone. No longer would he cry. No longer would he get so depressed he could hardly get himself out of bed. No longer would the memories of Mika cause him so much pain. No longer would he have to feel guilty, because Mika was alright.
Right now, he felt as though everything inside him was alright or could be one day.
It was strange. There was a war around him and he couldn't stop smiling.
This feeling, this beautiful feeling was hope.
"Y-Yuu-kun?!".
Yoichi stood in the door way, a tray of what Yuu assumed to be gross food in hand and a little shocked.
Yuu knew why. After all, tears were streaming down his face. Quickly, he wiped them away.
"Are you okay, Yuu-kun?!" Yoichi cried as he ran into the room "Are you in pain?!".
"I'm fine, don't worry".
"Ah! I'm sorry! " Yoichi said.
"What's the food for?" Yuu asked, trying to change the subject.
"Oh, hehehe." Yoichi chuckled childishly "Its for you!".
He handed the Silver tray to Yuu gently and he took it and placed it on his lap. But, to his surprise, it wasn't gross food at all. In fact, there we're two brownies with colorful sprinkles next to a decorated gingerbread man. There was what Yuu recognized to be turkey next to a few Christmas shaped marshmallows of various colors. Then, in the middle of it all was a small bowl of chicken soup.
Yuu just stared at this mysterious food, expecting it to be some sort of hallucination.
"Uuuummm..." He finally spoke up "What's-?".
"Oh?" Yoichi sat down on the seat by Yuu's bed "Didn't you know?".
"Know what?" You asked, taking a bite of the brownie.
"Today is December 25th." Said Yoichi "If there wasn't a war, this would be Christmas."
At that, Yuu got so shocked that he almost choked to death. Yoichi, unsure of what to do, began slapping Yuu on the back hard. But to his surprise, Yuu just started laughing.
What irony. It just had to be Christmas day, didn't it.
Eight years ago, on this day, he met Mika and the rest of his family for the first time. At the Hyakyuya orphanage, the caretaker introduced him to the rest of the children. He was so angry at the time. He got in a fight with Mika for no apparent reason. But, after getting beaten up, Mika became his closest friend by giving him one of the best Christmas presents he could. Hope.
Yuu knew things would be alright again, someday.