And here's the fluff you've all been waiting for...so without rambling Saya will let you get to it.

why must Saya repeat that she doesn't own DGM? Che...rub it in why don't cha?

Now rated M on occasion because Kanda's horneh... this is a cuteness chappie of fluff and luuuuv.

10. Memories

I moved over the bed to sit behind Allen, he was sitting at the edge with a resigned look. It's almost annoying how he doesn't like accepting gifts from people. Oh well, even when he's annoying he's mine. Putting the minuscule silver ring into it's clasp, I secured the necklace around his neck.

"You can open your eyes now, and for Kami's sake, stop making a face like I'm burning you." I said, huffing. He opened his eyes and looked down at the trinket he could feel pressing cooly against his skin. I allowed myself a small smile; He might not have realized it, but I could tell that despite all his refusals to get presents, he was hiding a childish excitement over receiving them.

"A necklace, and a ring...?" He asked to no one, inspecting the ring with a poorly-hidden interest. "Aishiteru... what does that mean?" He asked, reading the inscription on the inside of the ring. I sat behind him and pulled him into my lap, whispering the word into his ear.

"What do you think it means?" I asked; He blushed, I think he caught the meaning. Leaning back into my embrace, he felt something press into his upper back, and turned around, moving his legs to either side of me. He followed the thin chain down my neck to the point where a ring, identical t the one I gave him, hung.

"These were a set... does that mean they were...my God you got me an engagement ring."

"It doesn't have to be one if you don't want it to be."

"No it's not that-"

"And if you do want it to be one, then I will kneel at your feet now and propose."

"You...propose...to...me...?" He looked very shocked, though I don't see why... and then he fainted. He fainted! I caught him before he could fall off the side of the bed; I'm wasn't really sure how to take his reaction, was that a good thing or a bad thing?

There was a knock on the door, and when I didn't bother answering, Lavi and Lenalee just burst in.

"WAKE UP YOU TOO I WANNA SEE ALLEN'S REACT...ion... damn you're already awake!" Lavi yelled; annoying me first thing in the morning...Che...

"Yes, I'm awake."

"But Allen isn't so you didn't give it to him yet, right?!" Lavi asked, very excited, how can he be so damned hyper in the morning?

"No...I did."

"Then why is he asleep...?"

"He fainted." A silly grin came to Lavi's face, and Lenalee squealed.

"My gosh Kanda what did you get him?! He must've loved it!" Lenalee said; I could tell she was going fan-girl on the inside.

"So...it's a good thing that he lost consciousness?" Somehow that didn't make much sense to me... but Lenalee was nodding excitedly, and I suppose in this case, she'd know better than I would...

"Yes it's a good thing now tell me what the heck you bought him!" Lenalee reaaaally wanted to know, I guess Lavi didn't fill her in.

"A ring."

"Oh my gosh you proposed!? eek! So when do we have to ship you back to Mass?!" I sighed, Lenalee may be the one fan-girl I can stand, but I have a limit ya know.

"I did not... I just said I would if he wanted me to."

Lenalee looked like she was about to let out a horribly loud squeal, but then Allen started to stir, snuggling closer to me as he pried his eyes open.

"Yuu...are the fan girls after us again...?" He asked; damn he's so cute when he wakes up. Lenalee left the room for a moment, but the door wasn't enough to completely block out her squeal of doom. She could shatter glass with the sheer volume of her voice...

Allen, his face being in the crook of my neck, could probably see the chain that hung around me; I could feel his face heating up as he remember why he passed out. Then he sat up straight, and I could see clearly the blush that stained his face.

"Lavi...could you maybe leave? I wanna hog Kanda for today." He said, and I got the feeling it was my turn to blush, am I like a stuffed animal or something? How do you hog a person?

I suppose I'll be finding that out soon enough...

000

Lavi left the room as Allen had asked; Lenalee was leaning on the wall outside the door, as though she had been expecting this all.

"Kanda's really something, all but proposing to Allen."

"Yeah...Yuu's got guts, but I guess he's just alive with the glory of love or somethin'."

The two looked down; they were so happy for their friends, but at the same time, Kanda and Allen's blinding love made their situations seem even darker. Though at the same time, it showed that there was still hope in the world for them; if they worked hard enough, maybe they could be with their Noahs once again.

Both still remembered the Christmas vacation everything started, two years ago. It seemed so long ago, and everything had happened so quickly afterwards, it wasn't fair! Hadn't Lenalee been promised a shield from death? Hadn't Lavi been promised everything Tyki had to offer? It had all been so beautifully perfect, but for only a short while. Everything had fallen apart so silently though, that neither of them had noticed until it was completely gone.

Lenalee twisted the bracelet around her wrist, remembering what she had felt when hit was given to her.

"This bracelet will mean the world to me.."

Lavi blushed as he remembered the words that had been whispered into his ear when he asked what his present was, and how warm the words had made him feel.

"My love, in any and every form you want it."

If Tyki's words had been true, why was he not here? If Lenalee's gift had meant so much to Rhode, then why had she not been wearing it when they had last met? Lenalee still wore hers, had she cared more than Rhode had? Had Tyki not meant what he said?

But still, as much as they would love to revisit that small window of time where things were perfect, they knew they had to look forward if they wanted to find a lasting perfection.

000

Allen and I had moved back, to lean on the head board of his bed. We didn't need to talk, just being together was enough. Though as peaceful as things were, I could tell that sadness tainted his mood.

"What's wrong Allen?"

"It's...nothing..."

"Then why do you seem upset? Did I... do something wrong?"

He rushed to assure me that I hadn't done a thing wrong.

"No! you could never it's just..."

"Speak words Moyashi." He chuckled at the use fo his old nickname, but his good humour came to a quick end.

"This day, my legal birthday, was given to me by Mana. Even though he was my foster father, I loved him like he was my real father. I had never known my real parents so it wasn't hard for me to think of him like that, it wasn't like he was replacing anyone in my memory. And I was pretty young when he found me, around 4 or 5 I'd think...

"They say that a child's world his home, and their parents are like gods. Well, we didn't have a permanent home, but Mana was definitely my everything. So...when this day comes along, the day he made mine, I can't help but remember him. I usually spend the day in mourning..."

I quickly understood why he seemed depressed; this day held one of the happiest memories of his life, but the person who made it so was no longer around.

Allen got up and went over to his suitcase. I watched curiously as he rummaged through it and pulled out an old photo, quickly clambering back over the bed and into my lap.

"This is him. We were poor, and travelled around a lot as part of a theatre troupe. Don't laugh." He added quickly, giving me a look like he half-expected me to burst out in laughter.

"Che, like I laugh..."

"So anyways, we were doing thing show at a festival, which is when we had this picture taken. It's the only one I have of him, it's pretty much all I have left from those days.

the man in the photograph had dark brown hair, with small amounts of silvery gray in it. He looked like he was a tall person, though a little round in the middle, like many middle-aged men. You could tell that he had probably been rather dapper in his younger years though. On his lap sat a small Moyashi; he looked about eight at the time, but seeing how Allen seems to take extra time to grow, I'd guess he was about ten. Allen beamed towards the camera adorably, and thr man behind him sat with a warm smile, one obviously more for Allen than for the camera.

"I bowed my head to the picture as though praying to it.

"Mana walker, please allow me to take care of your son." I said, Allen gave me a questioning and flustered look.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting your father's blessing, of course."

The look on his face was priceless.

"W-what? What am I? Some girl that's getting married off?"

"One day that ring on your neck will be on your finger, and you will be living with me in that small apartment. So yes, in essence, that's what you are. I just want ot be sure I have your father's blessings before any of that happens."

He blushed, looking down to hide his heated face.

"Well, I'm sure he has..."

"Good, I like this Christmas, I got to meet your family."

"...I really am like a girl who's getting married..."

"Though I think I can attest to the fact that you're not a girl."

"YUUUU! Don't say things like that!!"

Wonderful fun...ah, Saya loves these guys... Kanda's such a perv! But such a sweetie too...luffles...wow, over 100 reviews already, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! Saya is unworthy of your support, but she hopes you will continue with her story regardless. -bows-