Disclaimer: I do not own D. Gray-Man, but I claim rights to my own character.

A Smell So Sweet

Chapter Three

The scent of roses was so strong in the courtyard. The aroma from the revived flowers was dizzying to my enhanced senses; I had to breathe through my mouth to avoid getting lightheaded. Looking to Kanda again, I still couldn't believe my eyes. He actually looked very handsome, despite the scowl that adorned his lips.

"The Innocence must be here. " He said.

I gave him a look,

"You think?" I replied sarcastically and rolled my eyes.

He just scowled further at me,

"Just start looking for it." He commanded.

If I hadn't agreed, I'd have argued over the fact that he was commanding me to do anything. Instead I rolled my eyes again and turned from him to go look for the Innocence fragment causing the bizarre happenings, but before I could take a step an arm wrapped around my waist. My eyes widen in surprise and I was about to knock whoever it was senseless when I was turned around and came face to face with Kanda?

"What do you think you're doing?" I snapped.

He released me and bowed handing me a beautiful red rose and without thinking I took it from him and put my hand on his bicep, pinning the rose between my hand and his body. His hand returned to my hip and he grabbed my other hand with his and held it out, he then pulled me closer to him. I could feel his well muscled torso and the heat his body radiated through the fabric of his tux. A blush dusted my cheeks as he put his cheek to mine and spoke, his breath brushing my neck and ear,

"I don't know what the hell I'm doing. I can't control it." He spat out in something close to a panic.

He then began to lead me around the courtyard in a Waltz. I realized I couldn't do much about it either, the Innocence was controlling our movements and apparently our desires as the longer we danced the more relaxed I was and the more I enjoyed the closeness to Robert. Wait. I mean Kanda. Who the hell was Robert?

"Kanda." I whispered.

"What?" He responded as the music came to an end and we stopped near a lattice overhang covered in roses, he didn't release me though and kept me firmly pressed against his warm body.

I didn't have the chance to tell him what I was going to as the ground began to quake. It threw us off balance and we were pulled apart by the shaking and we both instinctively reached out for the other but I was thrown back and away from Kanda's reaching hand. The crowd began to run for cover out of the courtyard as a large crack formed in the middle of the dance floor between the two of us. The part the Kanda stood on was suddenly thrown up about two feet and threw Kanda of his feet. I watched as he lay dazed for several seconds under the overhang and was relieved to see him start to rise. Just as I let out that sigh, the overhang collapsed on top of him and a broken piece stabbed him through the stomach. The lanterns that had beautifully decorated the yard fell and lit fire to whatever they fell on, the oil within them becoming perfect accelerants. A lantern fell upon the broken lattice and instantly began consuming it.

Kanda struggled to get away, but the wound in his stomach prevented him from moving quickly enough and the fire began licking at the cuff of his pants. Without being able to move away or put it out efficiently the fire quickly caught his pants and began burning. Kanda started to scream as the fire ate its way up the rest of his body.

I watched terrified and in shock. He was dying and I couldn't do anything about it, but watch as the love of my life was burned alive. Love of my life? When had Kanda gone from the person I couldn't stand to love of my life? What possessed the Innocence and me to think in such a way? Whatever caused it; I still couldn't stand his screaming and covered my ears to his agony. I could feel the anguish and grief bubbling up until it exploded,

"Robert!" I screamed. "No. No. No. No. No." I repeated it over and over, still covering my ears.

From under the ground, water exploded upwards from the fault. I covered my face and head from the downpour until it finally stopped. I put my arms down and immediately looked for Kanda's dead, burnt body in the destruction, but found the courtyard to be exactly how it had been when we first arrived, dull and dead.

Adrenaline coursed through my body and my breath came quickly. I looked down at myself to find I was back in my Exorcist coat. The fountain was dry again and the roses withered. The split in the ground was gone and the lattice no longer there. Kanda however still lay where the lattice had fallen, unmoving.

I rushed to his side and checked for a pulse. Still there. I thought with relief.

"Kanda. Kanda, wake up!" I shook his form roughly and he shot up, eyes wide, gasping for air.

I fell back from surprise and stared at him,

"Are you ok?" I ventured.

He turned to me, eyes livid,

"Do I look OK?" He snapped.

"It was just a question. Last time I'll be concerned for your safety." I rolled my eyes and mumbled the last part.

"Let's just go." Kanda got up and dusted off his jacket and excited the courtyard.

I rose to my feet as well and looked around. What a weird fucking experience. Not a single thing gave away to what had just happened. In fact I would have thought it was a crazy dream, if not for the beautiful red rose lying in the center of the dead court. I walked over and picked it up, bring it to my nose. It smelled divine. I exited the courtyard, rose in hand and caught up with Kanda.

Kanda didn't say a word the entire walk to the inn. I didn't really expect him to be Mr. Talkative, but I expected him to say something. Something about the phenomenon we had just experienced with the Innocence, or maybe about the fact that he had just "died", but he didn't make a sound. I was actually starting to worry about the mental state of the dumbass.

We entered the inn close to midnight and approached the desk. There was a woman standing behind it that smiled warmly at us as we neared her.

"Can I help you?" She asked politely.

"Che. Just give us two rooms." Kanda snapped.

Her smile faltered and I would have told him to stop being such an ass, if we hadn't just had the night we did. I was really not in the mood to be polite at that given moment, I just wanted to curl up and sleep it off.

"Um, I'm sorry sir, but we only have a single room available. The Festival of Roses is going on for the rest of the week and we are quite busy." She said, though her face held a bit of regret. I didn't blame her, Kanda was a bastard.

His brow twitched,

"We'll just go to another inn." He turned to exit.

"I'm afraid you won't find any rooms. The festival is very popular, the other inns are full." She informed him and he paused and let out a growl.

"We'll take the room." I said impassively and she just smiled and handed me the key.

I walked up the stairs, Kanda following me. I found the room and walked in. A scowl formed on my face to match the one worn by Kanda. There was only one bed; however there was one very uncomfortable looking couch. I let out a sigh and walked over to it and sat down to take off my boots.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm not going to fight you over the damn bed. It'll be easier for me to fit on the couch. So have the bed and quit bitching." I said not bothering to look at him as I pulled off my shoes and curled up on the pathetic excuse for a couch.

"I wasn't bitching." He said and approached the bed.

I heard him sit down and remove his boots and his coat and then he put out the light and climbed under the covers. I tossed and turned, the springs in the coach digging no matter how I laid.

"Would you quit making so much noise, you're making it hard to sleep." Kanda snapped through the darkness.

I glared, though he couldn't see it and settled down facing the ceiling. The night's events were swimming through my head, another reason for my tossing and turning. I've never experienced something like that before. It was like I wasn't myself while we danced. And I referred to him as Robert, who the hell was Robert? I turned my head to look at the bed; did Kanda do the same thing? I just sighed, if he did, he probably wouldn't tell me. God he's such an ass and arrogant, egotistical, and selfish. He just gets under my skin.

I growled softly and reached into the breast pocket of my coat. I stared at the rose in the moonlight that filtered in through the window. It was so beautiful and smelled amazing. The image of Kanda bowing and offering it to me flashed through my head and I found myself smiling. Of course the minute I realized what my traitorous lips were doing I shook my head and scowled. Stupid Kanda. I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep, I imagined the next day was going to be a long one.

~x~x~x~

He could hear her struggling to get comfortable on that small coach and it was irritating him to no end. If she was going to make so much noise, she should have just taken the damn bed.

"Would you quit making so much noise, you're making it hard to sleep." He snapped and her tossing ceased.

Finally, he thought, stupid mutt. However, the lack of her disturbance didn't allow him to sleep. His mind reeled with restless thoughts about earlier that night. That Innocence is strange. It completely took old of my body and thoughts. Who was Sarah? She's definitely not that mutt over there. His scowl deepened as he remembered their dancing. I've never held another that intimately. I could feel the heat radiating from her form and it gave me shivers. What an annoying feeling. Kanda would never admit to enjoying that feeling, but he knew that to some extent he ached to feel it again, but that was not something he had time for. Her hands were surprisingly soft; I expected them to be a little coarser considering the day to day fighting she endured. He shut his eyes tightly trying to rid his mind of those thoughts. The last thing he was going to do was think of that mutt.

A small moan broke him loose though and he sat up, taking hold of Mugen out of habit. He looked around the room and only saw the pup lying on the coach, sound asleep. He was about to lay back down when she gave out another small sound of distress.

He huffed and let go of his Innocence and swung his legs off the bed. He walked over the couch and stood over her, studying her face has it grimaced in what was sure to be a bad dream. His eyes wandered to her hand where he saw a rose grasped within her lithe fingers. He crouched down to examine it in the light. It was quite beautiful, he would admit, but he wondered where she'd gotten it from and why she was holding it in her sleep.

His memories gave him the answer. This was the rose he'd given her when his controlled self asked for a dance. But why would the dumb pup keep it? He just scowled that the small flower and then at her. She still seemed to be having that unwelcome dream. He stood again and walked to the foot of the bed and grabbed his coat and then returned to the couch. He gently draped her small body with the coat, careful not to wake her up, if she woke up he be forced to explain his actions and he really didn't feel like it (not that he could explain them to even himself), and surprisingly her face visibly calmed. Kanda just stared at the sleeping form, Stupid mutt.

He returned to the bed and closed his eyes. Within minutes he had fallen into the hands of sleep, but his own dreams were terrorized by roses and flames.

~x~x~x~

I woke to an intoxicating smell. In my sleepiness I tried to guess what it was. It wasn't the smell of food, of that I was sure. Could it be the rose? No, that wasn't it. I realized I wasn't familiar with this smell, at least I didn't think I was. I finally opened my eyes to solve the mystery. I was snuggled into the collar of a coat. My brow creases in confusion and I sat up. Looking down at the garment recognition hit me, but why was I burying my face in Kanda's coat and how had I gotten it.

My eyes swept the room for the other exorcist, but he was nowhere to be found. The bed was made and tidy and I glanced at the small clock on the side desk and it read nine o'clock. I rose from the couch and stretched, my back cracking in multiple places, and yawned. I pulled my boots on and folded the coat neatly and exited the room.

I walked down the stairs and into the small dining room where breakfast was being served to the other guests. I found Kanda sitting alone at a small table eating. I scowled and approached the table.

"Why didn't you wake me up?"I demanded, standing in front of him on the other side of the table.

Without as much as a glance in my direction he replied,

"It was peaceful without hearing your voice."

I glared,

"Whatever. Here." I reached out the hand that held his coat.

He then glanced up to look at the coat. He stood from the chair and took it from me roughly and proceeded to put it on and sit back down. I took the seat across from him and the waitress came to the table and took my order. I stared at him as he finished eating and set down his utensil. He must have felt my staring as he looked up at me with a glare,

"What?" He snapped.

I blinked and took a sip of my water,

"Did you have any odd thoughts last night?" I bluntly questioned and he gave me a strange look.

"The entire night was odd." He replied, agile avoiding my actual question.

"I know that. I mean," I paused and was strangely hesitant, "I meant while we were dancing. Did you think anything out of the ordinary?"

He narrowed his eyes,

"Why?"

I sighed in frustration,

"Would you just answer the damn question?"I snapped.

He sat back in the chair and crossed his arms,

"I called you Sarah. " He admitted crossly.

That's what I thought; he had called me something different. I pondered this for a second without speaking. He seemed to get more and more agitated though.

"Why, mutt?" He bit out.

"I thought of you as Robert. I just wanted to know if you had done the same thing. I think they might have something to do with what happened. I mean if any of my other thoughts or feelings has anything to do with it, these two, Sarah and Robert, were very much in love and if that tragedy actually occurred the Innocence in that area could have reacted to it, setting it on repeat, maybe trying to change the outcome somehow." I explained my thoughts and waited for his reaction.

"Then we'll find the Innocence and stop it. I don't exactly want to do that again." He said standing and walking out.

"Wait. I haven't eaten yet."I called out as my plate was set in front of me.

"Che. You should have gotten up earlier, mutt." He said and continued walking.

I looked back and forth between my meal and the exit and growled. That bastard, I thought and got up, grabbing a piece of bacon and exited the dining room.

I caught up to him outside and we "decided", more like he demanded, to split up and question the people in the town separately about the courtyard. If I'd actually cared, I'd be offended that he wanted to go alone, but I didn't so I was fine with the "decision".

I walked along the old streets taking in the sights. Italy was very beautiful and though I knew I should be talking to anyone that looked like they might know anything about this Sarah and Robert, I was distracted by the sights. I tore my gaze from my surroundings and focused on finding older residents of the city. I assumed that if the event that Kanda and I had experienced did actually happen, it must have happened many years ago. I found an old woman selling roses from a basket and approached her,

"Hello Ma'am. Do you mind if I ask you a couple questions?" I asked politely.

She smiled kindly,

"I don't mind at all dear. But would you like to buy a rose?"

I smiled and pulled the rose out of the breast pocket of my coat,

"I already have one, but they are beautiful."

She nodded and smiled again, but then she frowned as she looked at the red rose,

"Where did you get that dear?" She questioned.

My face faltered and I was taken a bit aback,

"A—"I paused, "friend gave it to me." I replied, using that term loosely.

"Where did this "friend" get it from?" She questioned further and I was beginning to think she had a motive other than just friendly competition.

My brow furrowed,

"I don't know where he got it. Do you know anything about the courtyard down that way?" I pointed to the east, "In the abandoned part of the city?" I asked her and studied her expression closely. I had this feeling she knew something about it, otherwise why would she be so curious about the rose?

Her eyes widened slightly and she visibly paled,

"Why would you want to know about that? It's an awful history, dear, nothing that should be remembered." She said after schooling her features.

"What kind of history? What happened there?" I pushed.

She seemed to get flustered and I was getting annoyed. I had played the polite young lady role and now she was being difficult.

"Look old lady. I need to know about what happened there."

"I'm afraid I can't help you. I have other customers to attend to. Have a nice day and enjoy the Festival." She said hurriedly and scurried off.

I stood a little baffled. I shook it off blaming her old age and proceeded to find another person to question. However everyone that I spoke to basically told me the same thing, in the same fashion, "It was not a past worth remembering and I should leave well enough alone". What were these people hiding? I was starting to get frustrated, no one would tell me anything.

The sun was starting to set, painting the sky shades of pink and orange, and I still wasn't any closer to an answer about the courtyard. I walked down the darkening street feeling worn out. I'd much rather fight Akuma all day than play detective.

My stomach grumbled and I put a hand to my empty stomach. Man, I haven't eaten all day and its Kanda's fault. I let out a sigh,

"I'm so hungry." I whined as I stopped walking. I closed my eyes and hung my head, but an inquiring voice snapped me out of my pitiful posture.

"Are you hungry, Miss Exorcist?"

I looked around and spotted an old woman standing outside a small house. She was dressed in an old style dress, in simple black, with a nice white shawl. She wore small half moon spectacles and a kind smile. Her gray hair was done up in a perfect bun.

"You know what I am?" I asked, and though her scent was human, I still grew weary when anyone not a part of the Order knew about Exorcists.

"Yes. You aren't the first to come here. Long ago I met a young man that wore the same emblem. Are you hungry or not dear?" She said and invited me into the dimly lit home. My stomach gave a rumble and I relented and followed her into the house.

She motioned to a small dining table and I sat down. She walked stiffly to the stove and filled a bowl with the stew from a large pot. She sat the bowl down in front of me along with a spoon and I thanked her.

"No need dear. I saw you running around town talking to my neighbors and the other city folk. I knew you must be famished." She said as she took the seat across from me.

I took a few spoonfuls before speaking to her,

"Then can I ask you a few questions?" I ventured.

"About that curious courtyard, correct?" The old woman smiled knowingly.

"Uh, yeah." I replied.

She nodded,

"The folks here don't like to talk about it. It really was such a tragedy." She looked away for a moment, probably recalling the events.

"What happened there? The other Exorcist I'm here with, we experienced something rather odd in that courtyard, something to do with Sarah and Robert."

Her eyes shown with recognition at the names and her face took on a sad quality,

"The city of Palermo gives birth to beautiful roses once a year for only a week. During this week we hold the Festival of Roses, a weeklong celebration of the beauty of our city. Up until fifty years ago, almost to the day, that celebration was held in the portion of Palermo now abandoned. At the last festival held there, Sarah and Robert were in attendance. Those two were precious, I remember their courting and the lingering side glances. They were very much in love." She spoke with an adoring tone and a small smile, "I believe he intended to ask for her hand that night, but never got the chance."

I watched and listened with rapt attention as her smile turned to a frown and her tone darkened.

"The last night of the festival as they danced, the water main to the fountain in the courtyard broke. The water caused the Earth to shake and the ground to break. They were pushed apart and Robert trapped beneath the very flowers they were there to celebrate. The lanterns fell and viciously burned everything they touched, including Robert. Sarah was devastated, for weeks the girl never left her home or her room. The poor thing died of a broken heart,

The city officials deemed the area too dangerous and prohibited anyone from entering. But I remembered Sarah and Robert fondly and returned to that place. When I was there I found an unusual object lying in the courtyard, by the fountain. I picked it up and decided to bury it with the two lovers that never got to be. Since that night though, when I return during the festival, Sarah and Robert dance all night and disappear just before midnight." Her smile had returned as she spoke of the last events.

"Where are they buried?" I asked urgently. If the object she found and buried with them is what I think it is, the Innocence is there, with them.

She frowned,

"Why?"

"That object is very important and in much danger. I need to know where it is, so I can protect it." I tried to explain as I stood, my food long forgotten.

She seemed to struggle with herself a moment,

"They are buried in the cemetery up north a bit, under the large Oak tree in the center." She said, but looked sad. "After you "protect" it, Sarah and Robert will not dance again, will they?" She asked as I made my way to the door.

I stopped,

"No, they won't. And it's for the best. Sarah and Robert don't just dance, they relive that night, over and over, night after night. If what I felt was what she feels every time she watches him die, it's best they be laid to rest for good." I said. "Thank you. You have helped me greatly." I smiled at her and turned to leave again.

As I opened the door a purple light shot past my head, just missing me, and the house exploded behind me.