2B looked around the camp for yet another time of many she honestly lost count of in the past few days, her blue eyes scanning the area for her older twin, she could spot 9S beside her doing the exact same.
As far as they knew, A2 hadn't left this place at all for at least the past week, if she did then no one saw her, yet there were no signs of her anywhere. The other resident androids also mentioned about Anemone being rather absent most of the time as well, staying cooped up in her room way more than usual.
Perhaps they were busy together? However, what reason could there be to hide away so long?
Maybe they thought people would be displeased if they saw them together? Doubtful, both the YoRHa couple and the Resistance knew Anemone and A2 knew each other well, it wouldn't surprise anyone if they ever became something more than just that.
Regardless there still weren't any signs of the white haired android yet again, 2B meant to have her tag along in hers and 9S' activities, such as exploring something or just relaxing and fishing, just to not make her feel too alone, sometimes she'd accept, but before vanishing in thin air she started declining every single time.
2B doubted it was 9S' presence, it had been long since that incident, and their revival, the duo has worked out most of the problems, sometimes 9S would even seek out A2 for some knowledge she would have over 2B, since during her time as fugitive she had seen many more places than them.
Maybe they did something to upset her? A2 had always been rather skittish and tended to keep to herself, maybe they pushed some wrong button and she was mad at them so she left? No, if she was mad she'd just glare at them or yell, or both at the same time.
Whatever it was it was clear there was a problem, and the YoRHa duo wanted to know why, they swore to not let her be the lonely android she'd been forced to be, if she needed help they would aid her, whatever the problem was.
"She's not here again..." 9S sighed at her side. "Why did she leave without saying anything?"
"Who knows? You'd think that at least I should know her well enough." 2B answered, and it was true, after spending time in her head she should know a thing or two about the woman, she usually did, but this time she was as clueless as ever.
A2 still held many mysteries tight in her hands.
"The Resistance says Anemone is acting strange too, maybe something's up with them both? Let's just think about what could be associated with them." 9S mused.
"Not much besides the fact they are friends, and if they suddenly became a couple I see no reason to keep it hidden, everyone knows they're close."
9S nodded. "Right, if nothing it would make us happy about it. So then maybe it's something not so happy?"
"A2 never said much about how they met, and what occurred in the past, I never asked her, didn't want to push." 2B admitted. "Most I know is that they met during A2's first mission..."
Suddenly a realization dawned upon her, of course that would be something that would involve them both hard enough to hide themselves away for days...
"What day is today?" she asked to whoever felt like answering.
"December 8 11945." her Pod didn't leave any question hanging.
"Do we have anything in our records about what happened today about four years ago?"
"The date requested from Unit 2B matches the one of the beginning of what Commander White referred to as the Pearl Harbor Descent mission, the very first one Unit A2 had been deployed to. This Pod's data indicates that no YoRHa units survived the mission besides Unit A2 herself." so the days did indeed match as she thought.
"I did know her friends were gone, I know she used to think and dream about them all the time..." 2B sighed. So that was the problem, now she could see why A2 didn't seek out them but Anemone instead.
She needed the comfort of the only person that was present and knew exactly how to help her, and she supposed it went the other way around too.
"I wonder if there's anything we can do to help, when you were gone I missed you more than anything and anyone, our other friends as well... but I have you back now..." he took her hand.
"But A2 and Anemone will never have who has been taken from them back again..."
For them there were no Pods that could rebuild them, they doubted there was even any data left of the older units, even the YoRHa ones, it probably all went to hell when the Bunker blew up.
She gently squeezed 9S' hand. "There has to be something we can do to help them, to at least try and make them feel better."
2B could see him frown in concentration, going through his data trying to come up with something, he always knew more than her.
"Proposal: Unit 9S and Unit 2B should host a memorial for Unit A2 and Unit Anemone's fallen comrades. Data indicates that humans used to build these places called cemeteries to bury their deceased loved ones to have somewhere to mourn their passing." Pod 153 suggested.
"That's right, a man of the Resistance had me do something similar for his dead friends, he had me gather his friends' belongings too, but I doubt we have anything of sorts in this specific case." he'd rather avoid talking about how he also did a similar thing for her, though she was entirely aware, he had to confess eventually.
"This Pod believes that Unit 2B and Unit 9S should build a small symbolic place for Unit A2 and Unit Anemone so they may also have a place for mourning their loved ones." Pod 042 offered.
"That is not a bad idea." 2B said. "We could also use a place for ourselves too, who knows we might need it, for 6O, 21O and the others..."
"Yeah..." he sighed, gathering his composure back a moment later. "I shall make research on the topic better."
"I will look for a secluded place large enough." 2B stated.
"Won't Emil's cave do? No one else knows about it but us, and well, Emil is... we will make something for him too."
"Agreed." she nodded. "I'm sure he would be okay with it. Well then I may try to find where A2 got to, even though I have an idea now."
"Probably with Anemone, and most likely cooped up in her room." 9S replied.
"I'll try to reach out to Anemone first, I doubt A2 will want to see anyone else right now, if she hasn't left in so long."
Fortunately it seemed that Anemone at least was willing to take visits, or at least to show that she was still giving signs of life, because she didn't refuse to open the door of her room when 2B knocked at it.
However it didn't look like the woman was too happy herself, who would anyways? It was their dead friends they were talking about here, 2B's own eyes stung each time she talked about 6O too.
"2B, what can I do for you?"
"I was just here to see if A2 is okay, that is all. 9S and I figured out why she disappeared, so we figured she'd be here." 2B explained. "And before you say anything there's no need to do so, we know it's hard on both of you."
Anemone stepped out of the room outside with 2B, closing the door slowly as if trying to not make noise, maybe A2 was resting?
"She's been here the entire time, she won't move from my bed, she just lies there facing the wall entirely under the covers, she won't rest, she won't even cry..." Anemone whispered.
"This being hard on her is an understatement, sometimes I think we're the same, because we had a similar experience, but then I realize we're nothing alike. At least I had the Resistance, and it's what keeps me going even now too, gives me something else to think about."
"But she had no one, and worse, she was getting hunted like the most precious kind of prey... and when it wasn't that she was looking for machines to kill, but now she doesn't even have those to unleash her emotions on." although 2B doubted it would be the same after having gotten close to Pascal and his village, she saw how A2 changed after, how killing machines almost became... painful.
"I believe I'm the only person she tolerates enough to get close to her right now, she barely talks to me though she doesn't refuse physical contact, I suppose it is something."
"Look, 9S and I have something in mind, and we may require your help in getting her to leave your room when it'll be done, it's a surprise for the both of you." 2B states, she can see a hint of interest in Anemone's sad green eyes.
"I can try, but I can't make any promises."
"Thank you Anemone."
Once 2B left, Anemone returned to her room, setting her sight on that bundle of covers lying curled up on her bed, streaks of white hair appeared from under it, but that was about all anyone could see of A2 at the moment, and for the past few days.
The woman sighed as she once again made her way to the bed for who knew how many times it had been, as the usual, A2 didn't even move when she sat next to her, Anemone draped an extra blanket over herself and laid down wrapping her arms around the other woman.
A2 again didn't make a sound, usually she would protest at such a thing, but this was no usual occurrence. It made Anemone wonder if she ever even managed to come to terms and mourn her friends properly.
Given all the machines she killed and all the androids that had been sent after her, she doubted her friend had any time to even comprehend what had happened to its full extent.
She had lived a life clouded from hate to stop and think, but now that it was all over everything came back full force, and she doubted she had any idea on how to deal with such pain, but Anemone wasn't going to ever blame her for this, and try all she might, she will do her best to soothe her, to be her light in the dark.
However the state of her friend worried her too, she was sad as well, but like she told 2B, having a purpose helped take her mind off the bad memories, and in a way, for how weird it sounded, trying to take care of A2 gave her someone to think about that had been part of the same group, but that was right there with her, that she understood and that right now, needed her.
Carefully, to not startle the other android, she slid off the blanket covering A2's face, so she could leave a gentle caress to her cheek, and stroke her hair. A2 didn't make a sound, but she could feel her lean into the touch.
That was a good signal, meant A2 wasn't in one of her moods where she was too far gone in her memories to even feel that Anemone was there, if she was then she wouldn't have reacted, but Anemone knew just how much touch starved A2 was, and how unconsciously she would seek that kind of contact out when she felt that she needed it.
"Number 2… I know you're sad but you can't just rot in here." she tried to approach her with the softest tone as possible, knowing that the last thing A2 needed was to be scolded like a child.
She got nothing more than a small grunt.
"They are worried, you know?" she didn't need to specify who they were, A2 knew it better than her.
"2B said they thought you left them, they know why you're hiding here." she kept stroking the long mane of white hair, almost playing with it now.
"She said that there's something they are doing for you, they hope you will let them show you when it will be ready."
She didn't get much of a response out of it, and Anemone worried that telling A2 about 2B and 9S' idea would have angered her, which wouldn't help the situation, because when A2 was mad she tended to close herself even further.
However, she barely caught a glimpse of it, and if her hand wasn't close to A2's face she would have missed it, it was small, shy, but it was a nod.
And that was all it was needed.
It took a few days of back and forth to gather the things and materials needed, and to set everything how they had seen in old pictures from the YoRHa archive, but it was done and it looked better than they thought it would become, given the limited knowledge on the topic.
During the previous days, Anemone told her that she managed to make A2 agree to let them show what they had in mind, but told them to keep quiet to her about everything else and not pressure her, if she wanted to talk she would do so.
Just like the previous time it was 2B who went to knock at Anemone's door, the Resistance leader acknowledged her with a nod, already guessing that it was time to drag A2 out of her room.
Anemone wouldn't say it out loud, but she was glad that for the first time in days she could finally watch A2 do something other than lay around like an ornament, and actually start to care enough about the world around her again to allow the other two YoRHa to see her again.
They watched as A2 stretched her long and stiff legs, they must have hurt from not moving them so long, but if they did she made no comment on it, besides they all knew that A2 was absolutely not a stranger to pain, even self inflicted.
2B approached her, with a soft smile and an outstretched hand, A2 timidly took it, 2B gave her a gentle and reassuring squeeze. "Come, 9S is waiting outside."
She then addressed Anemone too. "We would love it if you could join us too."
"Me?"
2B nodded. "Yes, this thing we did was actually for the both of you, besides, A2 feels safer with you."
All Anemone did was to spare a glance at A2's eyes when they met hers, there was an unspoken plea in them. "All right, lead the way then."
2B led them both outside, not once letting go of A2's hand, where, like she said, 9S was waiting, only now noting that 2B had left her Pod outside the room too, probably for the best.
9S waved at them, and wasted no time to move at A2's other side, Anemone watched as for a moment he fidgeted with his hands, conflicted whether or not to take A2's other hand, but much to her surprise it was her that reached out to him.
She took note of 9S' happy grin and of 2B's smile that a smile of her own formed on her face too. She reached out to A2 and put a hopefully comforting hand on her shoulder. The three of them wanted to tell her through gestures that no matter what happened they were there for her.
It seemed that the message got through, as with a determined nod and a broken voice A2 said "I'm ready."
If the other androids took notice of A2's light tremble that ran through her they didn't comment, they didn't say anything, they didn't ask why she was gone, why she didn't reach out to them, why she just cut them off.
They were just too nice to her.
The quartet walked pretty much in silence, save for the noise of their steps on the grass and the soft whirring of the two Pods floating over their heads. The group took its time to reach their destination, wanting A2 to be comfortable and able to back out anytime if she wanted to.
She didn't.
2B and 9S didn't let go of her for a second, 2B was still holding her hand like before, while 9S decided to take her whole arm in a sort of hug.
It surprised Anemone on how much affection was able to give to someone that he hated and resented for months, and she was even more surprised to see someone as guarded as A2 to accept it that easily and in such a vulnerable moment. She expected that A2 would show weakness to 2B the most, but perhaps she'd been wrong, it seemed that the affection came from all three parts equally instead, each in their own way.
Not that she saw it as a bad thing, it was pretty damn good if she had to admit.
The group crossed the bridge that separated the city from the forest, and further until they arrived at an elevator that was close to the commercial facility. 2B went to call it and 9S followed her, while A2 briefly exchanged glances with Anemone, both just as confused as the other.
Neither of them questioned the other duo as they were led inside and then down, one thing for certain was that neither of the two knew what was down there.
And for sure it was not what they ever expected.
Before them stood a field of lunar tears, their light bathing the entire cave of a soft white light, but what else was noticeable was a number of stakes that seemed to have been planted here recently, the stakes looked like they were divided in three different groups, two small one and a bigger one. Most of them were colored in black, but some others weren't, there was a white one and even a couple of red ones.
"What does this mean?" Anemone asked, this was some sort of grave, she gathered that far, but why?
However A2 seemed to have understood the gesture, her blue eyes fixed to one particular grave, she slowly walked towards it, almost incredulous. Anemone watched her kneel in front of it, this particular one had only two other graves next to it, and when she saw her friend gently brush her hand against the wooden thing she noticed that they had names, or rather, numbers…
4.
16.
21.
She knew those three numbers far too well.
Her attention was also taken from another grave, this one had the name of Rose, and the ones next to it all had names of her own fallen comrades. Each grave had a flower of its own at the base that matched the names, Rose loved to call people with flower names…
"How…?" she only managed to whisper.
"I did a bit of scavenging, I found some files of yours… I'm sorry…" 9S scratched the back of his head in shame, he had to research for a good cause, but he really hoped neither Anemone nor A2 were mad at him. That diary was most likely not designated to him.
Anemone didn't reply right away, which only added further to 9S' worries, was she mad? Maybe a little, but in the end she couldn't help but appreciate the gesture.
"It's all right." she simply said, not feeling like adding anything further.
She watched him join 2B in paying respects to their own friends, the labels read 6O and 21O, the first one had a desert rose at the base, while the other had a tattered black veil tied to it. Close by she noted the red graves belonging none other to the red haired twins, both with a flower of those they had in their hair and a couple of broken Type 3 swords, which probably were their own.
"Hearing that A2 struggled so much with coming to terms with her loved ones' death, we thought to make her, you, and subsequently ourselves a place we can always return to mourn their passing." 2B explained. "We just hope it helps."
Their reply was not something they expected to hear, it was small, but it was definitely a choked sob, and it came from none other than A2, who still was sitting by Number 4's grave.
The trio immediately went at her side, as they did, A2 covered her eyes away from them in shame, but they could see faint streaks of tears on her cheeks.
"Sorry… I…" she apologized for the moment of weakness, but the others were having none of it.
"No Number 2, it's okay." she felt Anemone's hand on her shoulder. "How long have you kept this inside you? How long couldn't you come to terms with their deaths because you were too busy killing and surviving? It's over now."
2B took A2's hands away from her eyes, taking them in her own. "You taught me that it's fine to show emotions, to not hold them back, stand by your own words now."
"No one will judge you, ever." 9S shook his head.
More tears fell from A2's as she looked from one of them to the other, each time she was met with kind and understanding eyes. She couldn't hold back another sob that wracked her entire being, and then another, and others more.
Immediately 2B's arms were around her, and then 9S' and Anemone's too, they held her tight as she trembled and cried. Her own hands held tight their arms around her, if she focused hard enough she could make it look like it was her friend's arms, and how much she would have wanted to feel them around her during all these years.
She wondered if Number 21 would be looking at her with her serious yet soft eyes.
If Number 16 would have scowled at her for being such a baby.
And if Number 4 would be smiling at her with one of her reassuring and bright smiles of hers.
How ironic that the people she lost and that she remembered the most were three, just like the ones she found. Fate had an odd way to shape things…
The group stayed like that for as long as A2 needed it, and she needed a lot of comfort, which they were all more than willing to provide. It had been a bit embarrassing how A2 in exchange couldn't muster the strength to say more than a few muffled "thank you", not that they needed any words, her reaction had been enough.
It made 2B and 9S proud to have done something good.
According to human records they used to visit the graves of their loved ones during sunday mornings, and the group made that knowledge a habit, each sunday morning was spent in the cave revering and mourning.
Whenever possible they would bring fresh flowers to change too, always the same matching ones 9S had researched and asked 2B to look for, it was convenient that the locations were stored in Pod 042's memory too, for easy finding.
Now they understood why humans built graves, even without bodies they would have some sort of thing to help them remember their loved ones, and keep them in their memories.
But most importantly, A2 had something she could do to make herself feel better other than mindlessly killing machines like she did before, or hiding away for days in someone else's room acting like a mute ornament.
And also that it was okay to cry in front of others.