Colonello was dead.

Although it's been ever a month now, it still didn't make Lal's life any easier

As she stepped into his room, everything was the way he had left it before he went

There was a thin layer of dust. Nobody has come in here before she did

The sight of his room, the sheer memory of him nearly sent her into tears, and she wasn't one who cried easily. Closing the door behind her, she sat on the bed and felt it sag under her weight. She would spend the night here.

She wished he was still alive. She also wished that she was braver. Brave enough to go meet his death with him. Brave enough to convince Reborn to send someone else. Brave enough to say to him the things that she always wanted to say.

Too late now

Fingers stroking the smooth linen sheets, she looked around the room. His extra rifle was leaning against the shabby desk in the corner, polished by his careful hands. Lal shook her head. He always kept his guns in mint condition. Looking up, she felt a pang when she saw that picture of them years before, still in COMSUBIN. How long was that ago? Centuries? Millenniums? The arcobaleno don't really bother to keep time. She really should get to sleep. It's the best place to get away to.

Smoothing out the bed sheets, her hand felt the rough texture of paper under the pillow. Grasping it, she pulled it out and, to her joy and horror, in Colonello's childish scrawl printed the words: To Lal Mirch

I knew you'd be the first one to find this letter, kora. That's why I left this to you.

Do you still remember the first time we've met, kora? I asked if you were really capable of teaching a squad of men twice your size, and you had me pinned to the ground in five seconds flat.

Do you remember when you let me drag you to that cliff, to stare at the stars? Do you remember that kiss? I'll tell you a secret. You were the first and last girl that I have ever kissed, or ever will kiss, kora.

Do you remember that day, at the place of bleak rocks and blue skies? The curse? Of course you do. You can never forget things like that, kora.

After I write this, I'll be going on the mission with Mammon. I'm not stupid, Lal. I know that I will die. That's why I'm leaving all the unsaid things in this letter, things I could never have told you without you giving me a good beating.

You wouldn't know, but from the first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew, that I loved you. I specifically went out of my way to tease you, to try to be around you. Did you know I wasn't originally supposed to be assigned to you? I managed to convince a friend to switch with me.

I couldn't let you bear the curse alone, no matter what you say or do. You'd probably hit me for saying this, but I probably know you better than yourself, kora. I knew, I had to do it. But during the time where we went separate ways, I was really lonely, kora. Years of spending time by myself on Mafia Land gave me a lot of time to dream, to wonder. What if we got married? Reborn would be the best man. What if we had a child? I'd name her Clove.

You're crying now. Don't cry, Lal. I can't bear to see you cry, kora.

I love you. I love you more than anything, and I miss those days where we went to the meadow. I missed the days where you were still my ruthless instructor.

I miss you. I miss your rare smiles, I miss your hard blows, I miss you.

I always will.

Colonello

Colonello knew her too well. She started crying at the third paragraph.

Although it's been ever a month now, it still didn't make Lal's life any easier