Author's Warning: Break out your tissues.

"Your vitals are looking good, today. This is real improvement, Mr. Kanda," Kajal said with a smile on her face as she wrote down the last of Kanda's daily measurements. As usual, Kanda knew that this was largely perfunctory; his vitals had been in steady decline, but there were good days, and there were bad days. Kajal's warm demeanor helped cushion that blow, especially as she sought to find ways to help him without sacrificing his pride. Eve had been... a far less gentle, though efficient and able, doctor. Thinking of the odd woman with her clone in the depths of a Himalayan mountain gave him a sort of pity.

Even more so when he thought of the girl locked in the same house with her, squirreled away from the outside world in a bid to maintain Eve's existence. Eve had seemed kind to her, and perhaps even proud, as a mother would be of her child, but... Kanda shook the thought from his head.

"Does that mean I can leave?" Kanda asked sardonically.

"Ah, ah, I'm not done yet with you," Kajal chided. "We have one more test. Reflex."

Kanda groaned. He hated the reflex test, if only because it showed just how limited his mobility truly was. It used to be, they couldn't do a reflex test because he risked breaking some important piece of equipment - or in the case of an idiot doctor, a shin bone. Now, his reflexes were below average, if they were even there. Kajal took out the small hammer and knelt beside him, before striking his leg below the knee with a tap. His leg gently sprang up a bit, though somewhat late and not nearly as high as it had just a few weeks before.

"Now am I done?" Kanda asked painstakingly, and Kajal brushed off her white uniform.

"Yes, yes, you are finished. You are being quite hasty. Do you have someone you wish to meet?" Kajal asked as she put her equipment back into its black doctor's bag.

The young man stood up and surveyed the room he'd been cooped in for the past few days. It was the standard suite for the travelling Exorcist, complete with a single bed, a single desk, a bathroom, a wardrobe, and two chairs. While it was good for someone who was constantly on the move, it was less amenable to one who spent most of his time indoors as an invalid.

"No. I've been stuck in this room for three days. I need out," Kanda muttered as he gathered his things. Much to his displeasure, he now wore glasses on a chain around his neck, and he had to also make sue of a cane, though Mugen's sheath sometimes did the trick when he had to stand up after sitting for long periods of time. His back creaked in several places as he stood, and he winced at the popping noises that always ensued after he spent time sitting.

Kajal stood at the door with her bag in hand, a small smile on her face, before she asked, "I see. But have you taken your medication?"

"Yes, you hen. Get out of the way, you're blocking the door."

She allowed him to bluster past her, wobbling a bit on the cane, but still able to walk for the most part. The leg that had had to be reattached gave him trouble sometimes, especially after a hard rain. Today, the weather was threatening a storm, but it had yet to break. Kajal sped up to keep up with Kanda's breakneck pace, amused that she had to trot to close the gap between herself and a patient. Normally, she would have told him to slow down, but his vitals truly had been stronger today than they had in recent days. His heart wasn't going to give out on his way to the small park outside.

Kanda looked over his shoulder at the nurse who trailed behind, wondering how they'd managed to get here yet again. Nevertheless, he had to admit that this was an improvement from his prior situation.

"Have you talked with Missus Lenalee, yet?" Kajal asked as she followed along, and Kanda grimaced. Perhaps he'd thought too soon. Where Eve was dismissive, Kajal was nosy. The woman had to be in his business constantly. She was the one who'd put together all the little gatherings of people who wanted to give well wishes and talk about feelings. For some reason, she thought it would somehow help his health.

Her only saving grace was that she made decent finger sandwiches, and Kanda could put up with people as long as a plate of them were offered in recompense.

"No."

"You should talk to her. She needs closure, Mr. Kanda."

"If she wants to talk, she'll come talk."

"Mr. Kanda, I doubt this very much. She will not talk for your sake. She considers this your time to grieve, and she wishes not to interrupt," Kajal said.

The mood turned dark as Kanda considered her words. It was true. He knew he was headed towards the end of his life, and sometimes he caught himself thinking back with regret at the things he had or had not done. The void still yawned, and each day brought him closer to it, but the image of Alma in that bright, white limbo kept him from shrinking back and clawing his way in the opposite direction. Kajal, for all her mothering, was correct. This was also a time for them to grieve as well.

Kanda was aware his time was measured in weeks, if not days. Today just happened to be a good day.

They reached the side door that led to the grounds outside, and Kanda fumbled it open. He looked at Kajal, who stood at his side patiently, and he snorted.

"She should interrupt if she's got something to say, then," Kanda stated, pushing his way through the door and onto the lawn. The clouds overhead were thick, but it had yet to rain. Kanda took a breath of the outside air, glad that he didn't have to see those same four walls. It would be nice to take a taxi out of here and go see the city for a while. Kanda had never been much of a city person, but the hustle and bustle reminded him that life went on elsewhere. He began to walk towards the drive that opened into the rest of the city, and Kajal followed along, his ever-present shadow.

"Why do you think I should talk to her?" Kanda asked.

"I think there are things she has not heard from you, yet," Kajal stated simply. "It would be good for both of you."

"Yeah, but what is there to say?" Kanda asked as he walked out the gate, looking left and right to avoid the traffic. Kajal helped him down from the curb, and they walked across together. The streets were emptier at this time of day, as it was still largely early in the morning. The shops were just opening, and they could smell morning coffee brewing, the bakeries just putting out their fresh baked loaves. The world seemed at its calmest, and the two walked in silence as Kajal chewed over the question she'd been posed.

"That she will not be alone when you are gone," Kajal sighed.

"That's a lie."

"It is not! She has Mr. Walker, Mr. Crowley -"

"You don't understand. She and I..."

Kanda fought for words to express the odd kinship the two felt towards each other. They were... children of the Order, raised within the confines of the Vatican's spiked walls. Their childhoods had been filled with misery and hurt, all for the sake of God and Man. They both harbored a hatred for the organization, while still nurturing love for its workers. No one quite understood the agony that had plagued them in their formative years, and when Kanda died...

"We suffered similarly. When I'm gone, she won't have anyone who'll know what that's like," Kanda explained as well as he could.

The world around them began to open up as clothing shops opened along the avenue. Their walk had slowed to a leisurely stroll, with Kajal on his left and him nearest the street. A melancholy had fallen over him as he realized that Lenalee would truly struggle after he was gone. He had never thought to make preparations for her after his death, always considering her stronger than he gave her credit for. Yet, this was something he had intimate knowledge of, and he knew that if she had died, he would be devastated - and, more importantly, alone.

"I hate when you're right," Kanda growled at her as he saw the small smile crossing Kajal's face.

"I try to give my patients more than medication in bottles," Kajal admitted. "Pastry?"

She pointed to a nearby bakery, and Kanda was about to refuse. An idea struck him, and he said, "Sure."

They walked in, ordered a few things for breakfast, and promptly walked back out.

"And Allen? And the others?"

Kanda thought back as he took a tentative bite out of an almond bear claw drizzled with crystallized honey. He chewed both over. He'd talked at length with Tiedoll. There was not much more he had to say to the man, as Froi already knew most of what Kanda had to tell him. The two had grown closer over the course of these last few months, and Kanda was pleasantly surprised to find he and Froi had more in common than he'd thought. To know that Froi was proud of him had strangely left him feeling lighter. Marie and Kanda had always been good friends and didn't have much to tell each other. Allen - well, he told him he didn't hate him. Was that not enough? His debt with the man was paid off, and there wasn't much else to say. Lenalee was one of the few that he hadn't spoken to at length about how he felt.

And one other person. He looked at Kajal.

"I've said what I wanted. They already know."

They were making their way back to the Order's headquarters now, and Kanda thought about what he was going to say next. He ran his tongue over his teeth in contemplation, as well as to get the bits of pastry stuck in between.

"Hey. You're not going to leave, right?" Kanda asked Kajal.

The nurse seemed taken aback.

"Of course not. Why?"

"Because if you do leave, I'll skin you," Kanda threatened with a slight smirk.

Kajal rolled her eyes.

"No, Mr. Kanda. I will not leave you. Not unless you wish for me to."

"I don't. You've been the most help out of anybody since this has happened. And you don't have any skin in this game," Kanda said.

Kajal looked away to hide her pleased expression.

"I wouldn't say I have no skin - as you say - in this game."

Kanda cast a sidelong, inquisitive glance at the Indian woman, who still wore a cheerful look. She suddenly pointed towards the Order's doors, and she said, "I believe that is Ms. Lee."

Kajal gave a small wave to the young woman standing next to Allen, who also happened to be at the doors. Kanda picked up his pace suddenly, handing Kajal his half-eaten bearclaw while still holding a paper bag containing a few longjohns and maple twists.

"Hold this," Kanda said. "I'll be back later."

Slightly perplexed, Kajal watched as Kanda made a beeline for them, noddng perfunctorily toward Allen before saying something to Lenalee. The Chinese woman nodded, and the two walked towards the grounds to their typical spot, a bench near the small pond. Kajal watched everything with a wide smile, clutching Kanda's pastry and her doctor's bag, as she headed to the doors of the Order, where Allen stood with a puzzled look.

"What was that?" Allen asked slowly, pointing off in the distance as Kajal walked into the building.

"Something long overdue," Kajal answered as she disappeared inside.

It had been a few weeks since Kanda's talk with Lenalee, and it seemed that today was going to be one of his bad days. He could barely sit up in bed, and he huffed as he fought to scooch himself into a sitting position. Kajal was off today - a well-need respite, on her part, as she'd been living next door and helping him at all hours. He'd run her off the day before after she nearly tripped and cut her fool head off with Mugen. It was oddly quiet without her muffled movements and constant tidying up, or her insistent chatter and assurances. No, instead there was just a pervasive silence. He grabbed a book off the end table nearby and tried to read it, but his mind kept drifting away, forcing him to reread whole passages.

At last, when he realized he wasn't even able to remember the name of the protagonist of this particular novel, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and huffed. With the help of his cane - and, unfortunately, another, newer cane in conjunction - he was able to stand up and get moving. After struggling to get dressed, he walked towards the door, and he suddenly wondered what use there was to leaving his room. He wasn't hungry - hadn't been for quite a while now. He had nowhere to be, not with Allen and his kid on vacation with Lenalee to the seaside. He didn't want to bother Marie and Miranda, who were still trying to get some sleep with their crybaby of a child. He could go to his garden, but with his body the way it was, he wouldn't get much done.

Perhaps he just needed a walk.

The former warrior finally opened the door and hobbled his way to one of the lounges to sit and have a moment. He felt heat rise to his face as Finders quickly turned their heads to avoid looking at him. Everyone knew by now, and the shame still stung, but Kanda braved through it. He wouldn't be pitied by the likes of these flies. They didn't understand the kind of sacrifices he'd made, even for their sake.

Somehow, he found himself walking once more out to the park bench where he typically sat with Lenalee to watch the ducks swim across the pond. Standing there in the sun, he was more acutely aware than ever that this could not last much longer.

God, he was going to miss this.

He sat himself on the park bench with some difficulty, and there, he closed his eyes to meditate. It seemed the only thing he was capable of now, and it took his mind off the pain in his deteriorating joints and aching muscles. There was a rustle beside him, and he looked up. At the least, his senses had yet to desert him.

"I-I..." said the newcomer, and Kanda lowered his eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Sit."

A young woman by the name of Ellie took the remaining seat, and the silence stretched.

"You're dying."

"Thanks for noticing."

"S-sorry. I didn't mean..."

"Everyone does it. I'm just doing it faster."

Ellie stared across to the pond beyond, which rippled as the wind raced across its surface. She swallowed, and Kanda waited her response, too tired to make a quip. It drained him to even sit here, but he guessed it was just luck that they'd met. After all, it would have been far more awkward if she'd come to his room and he hadn't been dressed...

"I don't... want to... want to live," Ellie suddenly blurted. "I-I-I don't really know what to do, I just exist. I. I. I am. That's all. I just am."

Kanda sat back, arms folded across his chest as he digested her words.

"Why are you here?"

"I ran away, and I thought... thought maybe you could tell me what to do," she said, suddenly sniffling. It was uncanny to see Eve's likeness show any kind of weakness, but here she was, as young as spring and sobbing. "Please. Tell me what to do."

"I can't tell you what to do. Your life is your own," Kanda said, his eyes closed and his mouth turned into a frown.

"Mr. Kanda -"

"Look, you aren't my responsibility. You have to make your own path in this life. If I tell you what to do, I'd be just as bad as Eve," Kanda retorted with clipped words. "None of us come into this world knowing what we're made to do. I was, and it's not turning out to be daisies and rainbows."

He held up a hand, showcasing the three fingernails that had fallen out. He'd lost several molars as well, so he was relegated to soup most days. Knowing he couldn't eat soba nearly sent him into a flying rage. He crossed his arms again, and he sat in sullen silence.

"What is it that you want?" Kanda finally asked.

"I just want... want to belong somewhere. I want a home," Ellie finally spat out. "It wasn't... it wasn't home where I was, I was just living. I learned, and Eve talked, but I just was missing something. I saw how you were with your friends, with those two men with the red and white hair..."

She looked at Kanda, and her mouth gaped open as she tried for words, not able to find any.

"I want that. Whatever it was you had, I want it."

Kanda stared at her, unable to untangle the emotions within. He sighed slowly through his nose.

"Help me up," he ordered, struggling to stand with both canes. Ellie quickly grabbed him by the elbow and supported him. Kanda gestured towards the building, and they began the walk back.

"Wh-why are we going in there?"

"I'm going to tell Reever and Lily you're here. He's acting Order Head right now until they find someone else. Doubt they will. He's the only one qualified," Kanda stated.

"Wait, you're... you're going to make them give me a room?"

"Just until you figure out what you're going to do. You'll just be back anyways to annoy me until you get what you want," Kanda said, looking at her from the corner of his eye.

Ellie's face lit up.

"Really?"

"I can't give you purpose, but I can try to give you what they gave me."

"What about this?"

"Will it to Marie. He'll know what to do with it," Kanda sighed, waving at Kajal.

The nurse marked the book with a yellow drop of paint on the inside cover. Stacks of things sat around them as they went through Kanda's belongings. He was surprised just how much stuff he had. He'd always considered himself a sparing man, but as they had gone through his things to determine what would go to who when the inevitable came, he'd suddenly discovered boxes and boxes of things. There were tons of paintings and drawings Froi had given to him (most of which were going to Marie, the only other person who'd truly appreciate the weight of such gifts), as well as little knick knacks he'd forgotten he'd picked up from different places. A lot of his clothes were going to Allen, ironically, as the two were of comparable size now. He would have gifted quite a few of his scarves to Lavi had he been there, and he'd sat with one the redhead had bought him from Christmas for longer than he should have before deciding to give it to Miranda.

"And this?" Kajal asked, holding up a broken fishing pole.

"Huh. Forgot about that," Kanda said, grunting as he leaned forward off his bed to get a hold of it. He held it in his hands, feeling the worn bamboo. His first real toy - until he'd snapped it in half.

"Hand me that tape."

Kajal quickly tossed over some adhesive, and Kanda wrapped the broken ends. He cast it out to test it, and sure enough, it held. He actually smiled, recalling the days when he used to throw the lures into the birthing pools and pretend he was a fisherman.

"We'll hand this over to Allen's kid Evan. You could even give it to him now," Kanda muttered, reeling in the lure.

"And what about your funds? You have quite the nest egg," Kajal sighed, knowing it had to be said.

"All of that will go to Ellie. She's gonna need it more than the others, if she's going to get a fresh start," Kanda said slowly. Ellie had made headway, and introducing her to the Science Department's class of eggheads had done wonders for her. She'd found her niche designing prostheses, and while she made quite a bit, he knew eventually she'd have to take that show on the road when the Order dissolved.

Which wouldn't be in too much longer, if the sudden dissolution of pensions was any indication.

Suddenly, there was the pitter-patter of bare feet on the floor, and Kanda looked up as someone banged on the door. Kajal looked at Kanda inquisitively, and he gestured for her to open the door. Kanda slowly got up, creaking as he did so. His knees shook slightly as he took a moment to get his breath back, and he slowly made his way over.

"Is Mr. Kanda here? There's someone here to see him!" a familiar, young voice said, and Kanda yelled, "Ellie, spit it out, I'm not about to break my neck getting to you to find out it was the mailman."

"Oh, I'm the mailman now, am I?"

Kanda's eyes widened as a red shock of hair peeked around the door, complete with a grin.

"What are you doing here?" Kanda asked in disbelief, as Lavi bounded towards him, engulfing him in a massive hug. Kanda leaned back and away but did not resist as Lavi lifted him off the floor.

"Oh, boo, don't be that way," Lavi said, making a kissy face, and Kanda pushed the other man's face away with a single hand as the latter laughed.

"Same old, same old... the cane is new, though," Lavi joked, gesturing to the cane. Kanda looked over Lavi's shoulder, and he gestured for Kajal and Ellie to leave. The young girl bit her lip as she gave a finger wave, and Kajal ushered her out. Just before the door closed, Kajal stuck her head in and gave him the 'ok' signal with a questioning glance, and he gave her an 'ok' back wearily.

"Sit," Kanda commanded, gesturing to any available spot. Lavi cleared off a chair, moving a stack of books and other baubles.

"Moving?"

"Tch."

Kanda leaned against the wall, too proud to ask for help sitting down. Lavi clasped his hands together in front of him, and he shrugged his shoulders.

"It's... yeah, it's a shock. Uh... Well, to make a long story short, Bookman died."

The redhead wiped his nose, a sheepish smile on his face as he tried his best to keep his composure. Kanda remained stoic, though his mouth pressed ever so slightly together as Lavi bowed his head to hide the sudden onrush of emotion. Book an had been the closest to a father Lavi had had, the only person who'd shared the burden of the world's secrets. It felt odd to Kanda to know the old man was gone, as if someone had wiped the Eiffel Tower off of Paris' map, or the Thames suddenly going dry.

"Before he died, he, ah... he said it was my choice. Whether to remain a Bookman, lead the clan, or... or to hand it off."

"You gave up what you spent your whole life working towards to come back here?"

"Wrong. I gave up what I spent my whole life working toward to stay here. I'm not leaving again. I'm going to stick it out. I also see that you neglected to tell me you're dying still," Lavi said, quickly changing the subject and motioning to Kanda's form.

Kanda snorted.

"Wouldn't have made much of a difference."

"Hey, I would've cut to the chase and put my foot down if I'd known."

They paused, reflecting on the lost time that spanned behind them, time that could've been spent in conversation. Well, there was no time like the present. After all, that was all they had, wasn't it?

"You seen Allen and Lena yet?" Kanda asked.

"No, I wanted to make sure I caught you first, seeing as I thought you might fall dead at any minute," Lavi said as a smile crossed his face. "How's, ah..."

"Been better," Kanda answered.

"I figured," Lavi chuckled nervously, rubbing his hands together and looking at the worldly belongings strewn before his feet. He licked his lips as he thought of what he wanted to say.

"I know I never really... got to tell you, and I figure now is better than later... but do you know you're really the first person who got me to feel? You were. Don't give me that look, it was important to me! You told me to stop with the phony act, that you couldn't stand the way I looked at you. You tried to cut me in half just to see if I could feel fear," Lavi laughed. "And you know what, you were right. I could feel fear. And then, you pushed me to annoy you, and you were... genuine towards me. I couldn't pull the wool over your eyes."

Kanda thought back, and he slowly allowed himself to sink down into a sitting position, the canes laying down next to him.

"You were probably the first person who ever tried to get under my skin. Congratulations," Kanda said as he leaned his head back, squinting his eyes shut as the pain in his back spiked. "I'm not sure why you decided to. You were the only one who wasn't afraid. Or if you were, you enjoyed the thrill of almost getting your hair whacked off."

"It was the challenge that excited me," Lavi admitted with a rakish smile.

"Tch. No wonder you were so bothersome back then," Kanda muttered.

Lavi picked up a coin off the table, and he flipped it between his fingers.

"You remember this?"

"Why would I?"

"Yuu, that stings. It was from our third trip together."

"I will throw this lamp at you if you say my first name again."

"Okay, okay! God, I remember this one like it was yesterday. All your clothes were dumped over a water wheel, and we had to hike down to fish them out of the river..."

Kanda sat and listened as Lavi regaled him of their undeniably horrendous trip through Cambodia, and he let the man ramble, his fingers curled around Mugen's hilt, for once allowing Lavi ten minutes of nothing but his undivided attention.

Kanda wiped the sweat off his face as he sat back against a tree, the heat of the sun still formidable despite the fact it was October. He huffed as he looked down at the flower bed he'd just put down, satisfied with his progress. Despite his infirmity, he'd managed to make a real and growing hobby of gardening, bringing to life a whole greenhouse of orchids (which had been sorely neglected), as well as finding a small plot on the grounds near his favorite park bench. He needed a lot of help getting up nowadays - nothing Mugen wasn't good for - but he was at least able to dig, to plant, to water, and to watch.

It was a quiet pursuit, giving him the space he desperately needed as his friends continued to attend his every need. Sometimes, he wanted to do things for himself.

He surveyed his surroundings with an odd sense of contentment. He'd managed to put down quite a lot of different flowers, from day lilies to roses to run-of-the-mill mums. He had to admit that the begonias would look good when they bloomed - though he sobered as he realized they wouldn't blossom until April or May. This little area had been a real gem of a find, seeing as it was shaded and cut off from most of the grounds, a realm unto its own. It gave him time to sit and think, and here he spent the majority of his hours, sometimes talking to Allen and his brat, or letting Lenalee take flowers home with her. He grew more than flowers, of course - a whole wall was devoted to all kinds of vines and creepers, and he had ground-covering plants in between patches of flowers. Lavi had helped put up the vines, seeing as Kanda was too weak now to hammer together the trellises where they grew.

He'd had to practically beat people away from the garden lately, as everyone wanted to walk through and get a glimpse at this secret, green world. Ellie was especially annoying, always asking if she could help. She was here almost more than he was, sitting on the park bench overlooking the pond. He hadn't told her yet about the sum of cash he'd saved away for her, and he thought perhaps it was best that remained his secret. Under Kajal's tutelage, the girl had really grown into her own. She'd do fine.

As he leaned against the tree, taking things in, he almost smiled to himself. Today was one of his better days. He 'd had breakfast with Lenalee, and he was supposed to have dinner with Kajal tonight. He'd been able to get out of bed for the first time in a long while, finally able to move on his own. This was probably the first time he'd been left unattended on the grounds for what seemed like weeks. His appetite had slowed down significantly, though, and he slept more. He was more withdrawn, perhaps because of the pain. Yet, oddly, these things didn't bother him anymore.

Things had honestly not turned out so bad. The garden he'd built up was lush with life. Some of the things here wouldn't bloom yet, of course - in fact, he probably wouldn't see the majority of it in its full glory. He found that he was okay with that. Something about knowing a bit of himself would stay here, buried with the bulbs of tulips and lilies and irises and Virginia creeper seemed to still the quiet, unhappy voice deep within that wondered 'why him?'. He'd done good work, and he could enjoy that others would eventually come along and see what he'd left behind.

After all, that's what he'd wanted. Just a little bit of recognition for what he'd done for the world. Countless had been saved by his hand, and he hadn't gotten so much as a thank you. Here, though... here, something could grow and be nurtured, brought up by a hand that had only ever known how to destroy. He lay Mugen across his lap as he took a look at all he'd accomplished with a sense of satisfaction. Was this the kind of feeling that Komui had felt, watching Lenalee grow up, seeing the Order succeed? Was this the feeling Allen felt as he raised Evan into a bouncing boy with starlight in his eyes? Was this the kind of drive that pushed Ellie to help those Finders that had lost limbs and livelihood? Kanda almost felt regret that he hadn't realized this sensation sooner, that perhaps, if circumstances had been just a bit different, he could have done something with his life. Yet, he was fortunate to have found it when he had, even so late. After all, it was a nice day, and he'd done what he'd set out to do. Some people lived their whole lives never knowing that contentment.

Feeling sleepy in the heat of the day, Kanda began to shut his eyes. He could stand to take a quick nap, couldn't he?

And in that moment as his eyes shut, he could see through half-parted eyelids a woman and child standing side by side at the end of the garden, and he smiled, a certain sadness falling over him. Yet, there was relief as well as the realization dawned on him.

I guess it's time to go home, isn't it? Pity. It's such a beautiful day today. Tch. Lenalee's going to... cry...

The gathering consisted of roughly twenty or thirty people. Kanda hadn't known too many people well.

Lavi looked over their heads as he stood beside the spot demarcated as the 'podium' of sorts. The afternoon was quiet, with it being just a bit overcast, shafts of sunlight managing to pierce through the veil of clouds now and again to shine on their faces. He swallowed as he waited for everyone to take their seats, a sprawl of white chairs spread across the lawn. It felt oddly festive, given the rather matrimonial feel of the whole set up, with lots of white and plenty of flowers. If it wasn't for the many people wearing black, they wouldn't have looked out of place in a wedding party. Lavi himself had left his flamboyant sense of style at home, wearing his most somber uniform.

Allen suddenly came and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Nervous?"

"Incredibly."

"Don't worry. You'll do fine. You're the best speaker out of all of us," Allen assured.

"Haha - no. I'm just the one who talks the most."

"Practice makes perfect," Allen sighed, looking over Lavi's shoulder at the garden surrounding them. "I'd say that Kanda would be rolling in his grave that we're ruining the grass, but obviously we're not experiencing earthquakes."

Lavi gave a small, pained chuckle, rubbing his mouth and trying his best to choke down the ball of nails in his throat. He surveyed the crowd once more. Lenalee sat with Miranda and Marie, the two women holding hands as Lenalee wiped her face with a kerchief. Marie was doing his best to remain composed as well, having better luck than his wife. Reever and Lily sat with Evan nearer to the back, with Kajal and Ellie sitting at their sides. A few other acquaintances and family members of those seated were also present, and the pressure mounted on Lavi's shoulders.

Allen went to sit down beside Lily and Reever, and Lavi was left alone with his note cards, standing in front of a headstone beneath a tree.

"Today, we are here..." he began as the silence dragged, but he found he couldn't say the canned words he'd practiced.

"Today... we are... here," he started again, but he realized those phrases felt too stiff.

The redhead stuffed the cards in his pocket. He wasn't going to need them.

"We all know why we're here. And you all know why I'm here, talking to you. And let me tell you - I think he'd be angry. Because for one, Lily over there is sitting on a patch of his flowers, and for two, we're all sitting here crying," Lavi said candidly, and the crowd gave a low, almost gentle chuckle. A smile spread on a face or two, and Lavi pushed on, encouraged by their kind response.

"I don't want to talk about what he was. I want to talk about what he is. He's the person who smacked us around and sometimes insulted us, but most of all, he pushed us to consider ourselves and what we stand for. He made us think about our decisions and why we did them, and he is the reason why a lot of us are even still sitting here, because his bravery allows us to be here. That fact doesn't change just because he is no longer with us," Lavi said, suddenly finding the words pouring out. "He is and will be the reason we continue forward. I'd rather remember him as someone who continues with me, than as someone I've left behind."

Lavi paused as he tried to think of his closing remarks.

"He is still with us. I mean, look at this garden. Every flower, all the vines, each tree - that's something he put his blood, sweat, and tears into, sometimes literally," Lavi said, laughing as he recalled how the Japanese man had cursed himself blue in the face after accidentally nailing himself in the thumb with a hammer, trying to build a trellis. "People don't ever really leave. They just... transform."

At the back, he could see a woman sit down, adjusting her hat to cover her face. Yet, there was no hiding the distinct bob-cut or those piercing eyes. Lavi took his eyes off the newcomer, and he turned back to his audience.

"We each carry a piece of something he left us. And it's in us to make it grow," Lavi finished, bowing his head. "Thank you."

With that he sat down, the people around him clapping as he took his seat. The priest came forward, and the rest of the ceremony continued. Mugen, the demon sword that had saved so many lives, was displayed on a rack above the headstone to rest with its master and owner, and a twenty-one gun salute was fired. Not long after, a reception was held nearby, and Lavi milled about, talking with others and sharing stories. He smiled as the people around him actually laughed and almost caroused, though their faces shining with shed tears, either from laughing or crying or both.

"That was beautiful, what you said. I hope half as much could be said about me," a low voice said to his left, and he turned to look at the latecomer who'd sat at the back. Eve sipped on a glass of wine, her eyes red-rimmed.

"I'm surprised you came," Lavi said, searching out for Ellie. Surely, Eve wasn't here to-

"I come to every patient's funeral or wake. It's the least I can do," Eve stated quietly, taking another sip. "Did he... die softly?"

"As soft as one can. He was asleep. Otherwise, there would've been a fight," the redhead chuckled. He paused for a moment, before adding, "It took us all by surprise. None of us expected it. But, I guess that's what everyone says. You're never really prepared for it."

Eve's shoulders fell and she sniffled, shaking her head.

"The idiot. Should've guessed it, that he went the easy way. I've still a few years ahead of me," Eve said, her voice thick.

"That was all you'd come for?" Lavi asked, keeping an eye out for his friends.

"Yes. I just wished to pay my respects. For all his pigheadedness and callous behavior, he grew into a man worthy of respect."

Eve dabbed at her nose, and she nodded her head, as if agreeing to something unheard.

"I... I wished to apologize, as stupid as that sounds. I recognize that what I had suggested he do was more in my own self-interest than his. I hadn't come to know this until my... protege very suddenly disappeared, though I see she has taken up residence among good company," Eve said with an almost sour bite of self-denigration. For a moment, she took on her more typical expression, something sour and piercing, but her features softened as she glanced at Ellie, who was having a conversation with Marie, laughing at something he'd said with tears in her eyes.

Lavi looked over his shoulder at the plot, and he said, "I don't know if he'd forgive you, but I'm sure he'd think the gesture was futile."

She looked up and took a large breath, a slight smile on her face as she considered the sorts of words she would have received.

"I leave you to your soiree, Mr. Lavi," Eve stated, straightening up. "I hope we meet under better circumstances."

With that, she began the long walk back towards the lawn where automobiles had parked, and Lavi stared at her retreating back as she went, the wind picking up. Lavi put his hands in his pockets and walked away from the group of mourners to the newly tilled grave, and he knelt before it. Several had already put grave tokens on the headstone - paper cranes made of sheet music, and candles, and even, hilariously, a clipboard. Lavi dug around in his pocket and pulled out a scrap of cloth - a piece of the bandanna he'd so prized.

"To keep you warm down there," Lavi joked as he placed it on the headstone.

As he stood, he realized that most of the acquaintances had left by now. Slowly, those who were closest came to join him as he stood there before the headstone. Soon there was a whole group before the grave, and Lavi smiled at the friends that had gathered around. He put his arm around Lenalee to his left, who leaned into his shoulder.

They stood in silence, with their heads bowed, before Marie finally said, "I believe it's time we went home."

With that, each person took their leave. Lenalee and Lavi lingered, with Allen only a few steps ahead, both brushed by the wind. Suddenly, Lavi was nailed in his good eye by something picked up by the gust, and he scrunched his face as he pulled it off.

In his hand was a single peony blossom.

"The heck...?"

"You too?" Lenalee asked.

"Make that three," Allen said farther ahead.

Lavi looked on in amazement as she also revealed in her hand a blossom that had randomly smacked into her head and stuck to her hair, as well as Allen, whose flower had stuck to his lapel. The flowers had long fallen into slumber, the fall rolling in at full speed, so from what tree had these fallen from? The two smiled at each other as they looked back towards the garden, both wondering.

"Come on. We'd better catch up. The others are waiting."

A/N: This is... surreal. I have never finished anything I've written before, so writing this chapter was kind of a heart-puncher for me in many ways. This is one of the first stories I started out with on Fanfiction, as a lowly freshman in high school, and now I'm a senior in college. I'm not sure what to say.

I will say this, though: thank you all, so much. I know some of you have been following the story since it's inception in 2009, which is a really really long time. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the support you've given me. I'm really stoked that so many people were in love the story enough to favorite, or subscribe, or leave me a review. It's so crazy.

So I'd like to thank everyone who made this story what it is. You guys really did shape the story, by telling me what you did and didn't like, what you enjoyed, by giving me the support to continue. I can't tell you enough how much that means to me. I love all you guys.

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