Zircon cinnamon and creamy coffee,
ruby, citrine and golden leaves,
fairy children on topaz pumpkins,
fiery forest paths in blaze...
"Monsieur Kazama, ne pas simplement aimer ce beauté ville?" My hands clasped together before my chest at the sight of my first home. It has been years since I last seen Paris; so beautiful. So beautiful in the fall especially. Our train was guiding us through the heart of the city and from our seat, I spotted the Eiffel Tower off in the distance – beyond the buildings and tree tops – tall and proud, looking over my gorgeous home. My heart was racing, but it wasn't the fear of seeing my mu-ma for the first time in years or the speed of our train winding around trees, but for the love I felt being excited in this journey I stumbled upon accidentally in Neo Domino City. Being here with Kazama, my guardian angel, meant everything to me... I just wish he didn't bring his English to French translator book.
"I wish I knew what you just said," he admitted with a tired and agitated sigh, flipping through several pages in his guide before tossing me an innocent smile, "translation, Colette?"
I used my hand to cover a devious smile, "I demandé 'don't you just love the beautiful city?'" I couldn't help but follow with a soft chime of laughter.
"Oh," he blinked, "I recognized some of the words of course!" Kaz said, reassuringly with that confident smile of his painting across the canvas of his lips.
"Que vous avez fait." I teased, sticking my tongue out at him.
"And what does that mean?" He asked, flipping through his book once again. The train roared to a stop, letting off our company before allowing new companions on to join us. We were only several stops away before we would reach our destination by the river. "You're being unfair to me," Kaz whined, flashing me a smile before it slowly faded away into a heavy frown. "You think your parents will like me? I can't even speak French, let alone understand it"
I softened my eyes, placing my knitted-gloved hand over top of his bare palm, "I promise they will, Kaz. I will teach you, remember?" I gave him a smile, but he returned a lighter frown.
"Alright," he exhaled, intertwining his fingers with mine in a gentle embrace. "Are you warm enough?" Now it was Kazama's turn to tease me...
I couldn't help but blush from embarrassment. I was bundled up in a deep gray – slightly off the shoulder – sweater, with a white tank top underneath it, multi-coloured knitted scarf and mittens, dark blue jeans and gray knitted boots that came to just under my knees. I brought my yellow satchel bag, with things of aid, just in case something should happen to us before we got to my parent's home beside the river. Kazama on the other hand wasn't as bundled as I was. He wore a faded black leather jacket, a gray sweater underneath it, dark blue jeans and black fabricated shoes. We wore dark clothes, and people took notice; but after what we have endured through the year, we haven't had a good enough reason to be bright and sunny like the colourful leaves falling around our train cart.
"If I do get cold, I have you to warm moi-même up." I said softly, resting my head against his shoulder while my fingers tighten their own embrace around his hand in return. He promised me he would never let anyone or anything tear us apart again and it was a promise I refuse to let be broken. Even if my parents don't approve of him, I did and always will; and that's all that matters to me in the city of love.