"No company, right?" "Right, I'll be fine on my own." "Be careful though. It's dark already and the psychos love to hang out over here."
Cross drove Allen through a light flurry of snow. They were headed to the cemetery. Honestly Allen wanted to visit her parents, at least once. Not the best way to spend Christmas admittedly, but it was how she wanted to spend her birthday. Talking to her mother and father.
"I'll be back in an hour." Cross said as she stepped out of his car. She had a long navy blue sweater, gloves and white jeans. Black tall boots, and winter coat, with a checkerboard infinity scarf. She didn't say anything but Cross knew that she heard him.
Allen walked as quietly as she could towards the back area of the cemetery. The dead leaves and grass crunched beneath her feet. Her breath came out as white puffs of air and the snow continued to fall calmly.
She reached her destination in under three minutes and stared down. The names of two people were covered in snow on matching gravestones. Each were black and made of granite, decorated with engraved roses and vines.
"Hey, it's been a while since I last visited. Sorry about that, Cross and I were busy traveling the last few years. I saw a lot of places cause of him and I kind of made a friend." She almost smiled. "I'm going to the Black Order for school now, taking junior level classes. I have, what people would consider, friends. Lavi and I guess Kanda. But I'm not sure I'm ready to call them my friends."
"I'm gonna start singing again. Aren't you proud of me? I called Tara about a month ago, and I get to host my first concert during the summer. I'm a little nervous actually. I'm worried that people won't like my music. But maybe you could send me a sign if I sing for you again."
So the little infant fell into another deep sleep
With dark gray clouds and ashes falling all around
Finding one then finding two
Are the number of scars on your face where they are found
A life so frail that it cannot survive on its own
Crying, still crying
Silver eyes hold the tale of thousand dreams and nightmares
One night when they tremble with a fear not seen in years
In the millennia our prayers aren't met
Please return, give back to us
Something that was forever lost
Please continue with these hopeful prayers of yours
Bestow this child with all of your love
Take the infant and give a gentle kiss
And the little infant continues to sleep deeply
With dark gray clouds and ashes falling all around
Finding one then finding two
Are the number of scars on your face where they are found
A life so frail that it cannot survive on its own
Crying, still crying
Silver eyes hold the tale of thousand dreams and nightmares
One night when they tremble with a fear not seen in years
In the millennia our prayers aren't met
Please return, give back to us
Something that was forever lost
Please continue with these hopeful prayers of yours
Bestow this child with all of your love
Take the infant and give a gentle kiss
Please continue with these hopeful prayers of yours
Bestow this child with all of your love
Take the infant and give a gentle kiss
The wind picked up some then calmed down just as quickly. "I'm guessing that you liked it." She smiled, a true smile she hadn't shown in years. "What a sad song." Allen turned around to see Kanda with lilies and a long black trench coat.
"What are you doing here?" She asked in surprise. She realized what a stupid question it was a few seconds too late. "I'm visiting someone." He answered simply.
Kanda walked past her to a grave two rows further back. Allen could just barely make out the letters 'A' and 'K' on the grave. Kanda laid the flowers over the grave and clasped his hands together in what appeared to be a silent prayer.
Allen silently waited for the irritable man to finish and when he did she finally asked. "Were they a friend or a family member?" "None of your business Moyashi." It didn't have the usual anger. Instead Kanda just sounded tired. "I'm gonna guess friend. Am I right?"
The way Kanda sighed gave her the answer she sought. "I don't know how long ago you lost them but talking to them helps. Doing things you think they'd be proud of or would do themselves keeps their memory alive." She squat down and touched the grave stones, wiping the snow off of both.
She started tracing the designs and singing softly to herself. "Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me." Kanda looked at her like she was crazy for a moment before walking towards her to see what she was doing. "I'm visiting too. Except it's for family."
Kanda saw the names of the graves that read "In loving memory of Mana/Rosalynne Walker." Underneath Mana's name was a quote. "No matter what happens, no matter what, never stop, always keep walking." Under Rosalynne's said "Our injuries will heal as long as we're alive. But the scars will remain."
In a way it seemed as if those words went hand in hand together. Then Kanda realized something about the names. "Are those your-" "Parents? Yeah." She stood up and started walking away from the site, Kanda followed closely behind.
They walked out of the cemetery and down about three blocks to find a small shopping center. There were vendors selling warm treats and small gifts. A small café came up and Allen pulled Kanda inside. It was decorated on the inside with medium sized snowflakes and a tree in the corner of the room. All the workers had on Santa hats. All together it was a welcoming atmosphere.
A waiter led them to a two seated table by the window have them menus and then left to seat another couple.
"Moyashi, why did you bring me here?" "It's Allen and you looked like you could use something warm." She replied her eyes never leaving the menu, Kanda rolled his eyes and looked at his menu as well. Another waiter came, note pad in hand. "What can I get you two?" He said. The name tag read Hunter.
"I'd like a hot chocolate and some sticky buns." Hunter nodded and waited for Kanda "Got any tea?" "All of our teas have holiday themes so we have: peppermint green tea, hot spice and cinnamon tea." Kanda grimaced but answered anyway. "Peppermint green tea." Hunter wrote down their orders and left to take care of them.
"Any particular reason you decided to drag me to this sweets café? And don't say because I looked like I needed something warm." Allen sighed "Honestly it looked like you needed to talk to someone. That's all." She pulled out her phone "Could you take me home when we're done?" Kanda grunted and she took that as a sign of approval. Quickly texting her uncle she placed her phone on the table.
"Alright talk." Kanda stared at her in slight confusion. "Just like when you first stayed over, you tell me something and I tell you something." Kanda glared. "Why should I tell you anything Moyashi?"
Allen sighed. "My father died because a house fire. My mother was shot in the neck after saving me. The fire left me with this scar and burned my arm so badly that the skin will never heal." She removed part of her glove to show the red scab that was her hand before pulling it back.
"Your turn." Kanda growled. "Well this story isn't nearly as bad as yours. I had a childhood friend named Alma Karma, he was a real good guy but he was much too trusting. He got involved with some bad people and ended up getting shot over something stupid."
Allen nodded "I'm sorry to hear that. By the way you speak about him, he sounds like someone precious to you." Kanda shrugged "I guess so."
Not long after their drinks were placed on the table along with an order of sticky buns. "Please enjoy yourselves."
Allen blew on her hot chocolate before taking a cautious sip. She moaned in delight as the drink warmed her from the inside. Kanda stared at his tea before drinking it as well. He could smell the peppermint but it didn't overpower the tea itself, something was grateful for.
All cut the sticky picked up a sticky bun with a fork and held it out. "What are you doing?" "Eat it, I wasn't joking when I said you needed something warm. Either eat it this way or I shove it down our throat." Her tone left no room for arguments but Kanda glared at her nonetheless. "It's the only one, I promise."
Finally resigning to his fate, he opened his mouth for the sticky bun. Although he wasn't overly fond of sweet things, he had to admit that they were pretty good. Satisfied with him eating, Allen began to eat some as well.
Another, surprisingly, comfort silence passed between them. Another ten minutes and Allen was on the last sticky bun. As she raised it Kanda grabbed her wrist and brought it to his mouth and ate it.
Allen have an indignant shout "Why did you eat my last sticky bun!" The other customers could hear but she wasn't being overly disruptive. Shrugging Kanda ate the last bit before smirking. "I didn't think it would be such a big deal Moyashi. After all you did give me one earlier for the sake of keeping me warm. I assumed that you wouldn't mind since I was cold again."
Allen's face was flushed in partial anger but she decided she wouldn't let him beat her. Luckily the café went back to minding their own business when she grabbed his shirt and pulled him forward and licked some stray icing from the side of his mouth. Kanda was stunned to say the least. Allen pulled back with a satisfied grin as Hunter came back with their bill.
"Consider that a warning. Don't ever cross me." Allen said as she pulled out a twenty dollar bill and gave it to Hunter "Keep the change." She stood and began walking out but paused at the door. "Bakanda you coming?" she called to the stunned samurai, who slowly joined her in leaving.
"What kind of a warning was that Moyashi?" Kanda growled at her. "The kind that says 'I'll do whatever I need in order to embarrass you.' Did you not appreciate the almost?" Allen smirked as Kanda made a choking sound. "Don't tell me you wished that I had actually kissed you?" Allen had a smug smile on her face.
Kanda smirked "Yeah don't think that you'd get that lucky moyashi. I doubt you have the guts to even do that to anyone, let alone me." "Is that a challenge I hear? You think I'm not bold, Ba-Kan-Da?" She said emphasizing each syllable in the name. "I'm not saying that you're not bold, you've proven that by your bravery in the form by standing up to me. I'm simply pointing out the fact that there's no way you'd ever do anything like that." There was a long pause before Allen smirked.
"You know you are right. After all a girl has to have standards." Allen retorted. A vein popped on Kanda's forehead and he began chasing her down the sidewalk. This was the most fun she'd ever had on her birthday. 'Can you see me? Does it look like I'm changing mom? Dad?'