Old Friends

Lavi looked up from his book (History of Persian Herbs) and watched as the trio walked in, shoulders almost brushing together. He smiled. Though he had wanted to be part of their gang, his Bookman tendencies (and the fact that he had been locked up in a Noah's 'basement' for half of the war) meant that there was a tangible distance between them. He was their friend, yes, but he would never be as close to them as they were to each other. It was a sad smile but he brightened up when they headed over to his table.

"Persian Herbs? Any good?" Allen asked through bites of sandwich. Kanda and Lenalee snapped,

"Finish chewing first" and Allen looked sheepish and swallowed his mouthful before re-asking the question. Kanda and Lenalee, on the other hand, had to hold in their snorts. The pair had become like true siblings by the end of the war and this meant that some traits had been shared between the two. Like table manners.

Lavi grinned at the two before answering Allen's question.

"It's alright. It's botany - which isn't the most interesting of subjects - but I like learning and it's something new" he shrugged. Allen seemed to accept his answer and began plowing through his pile of sandwiches. Said pile was considerably smaller now that he didn't have to feed his Innocence, but the boy still liked his food. And the others were glad of the familiarity.

"Kanda!" Timothy ran into the cafeteria looking for the samurai, who turned and stared. Entering behind the teen was someone that he had known so well. Someone that he had been forced to kill twice in his lifetime. Maybe it would be different now that the war was over. Oh how he hoped it was different.

"Komui said that the Innocence had granted a wish and brought back an old friend. But he never said who" Timothy explained with a grin, but his voice went unheard as Kanda strode towards the newcomer and pulled him into his arms. Alma tried to hold in his tears but he had always been a crybaby and he let them fall. He wasn't the only one crying. Kanda's eyes were watering and Allen watched the scene, openly weeping.

"Hwaa" Alma cried openly and Kanda let his own sobs echo around the hall. He pulled back from the embrace and they both laughed slightly at the sight of their tear stained faces.

"I thought you were gone for good" Kanda admitted.

Alma smiled,

"So did I. But then there was a voice telling me that somebody had wished me back to life and asked if I wanted to return. I said 'of course' and the next thing I knew I was sat next to Fou by the Asian entrance." he explained.

Kanda looked perplexed. Kanda hadn't wished for anything except peace. So who -

He looked back at Allen who smiled and blushed at the knowing look. Alma watched confused as his old friend turned and, in two long strides, had pulled Allen into an even fiercer hug before he understood and cried again, rushing forwards to turn the duo hug into a trio.

Lavi and Lenalee looked at each other and, with a nod, exited the hall, leaving the boys to their reunion.

"You could have wished for so many things. Why me?" Alma asked after they had calmed down and sat on the floor of the cafeteria. Allen smiled and looked past the boy at Kanda,

"Because, I guess, I felt like you both deserved it. You had both suffered the most for the Innocence, the least it could do was give you your lives back." he explained.

Kanda closed his eyes and let a small smile settle on his face.

"Idiot bean" he mumbled.

"What?" Allen asked, leaning forwards to hear.

Kanda shook his head,

"Thank you Allen" he looked over and the pair smiled at each other. The trio sat like that for a long time but eventually reality began to set in.

"I can't feel my legs" Alma whined and Allen hid a laugh and they both jumped up and gave him a hand each to grab.

"Let's show you around your new home" Allen announced and Kanda nodded, smiling. Alma smiled back and took the offered hands, grabbing both arms and snuggling in between the two men as they walked out of the hall. Kanda smiled as they turned down the corridor towards the science department. He had wished for peace. And maybe, this is how the Innocence had translated his wish. And as he watched Allen introduce the boy to people in the science department, his heart swelled with the emotion that he may have been missing since his rebirth. Was this Peace? If it was, he would be content with what the future held.