Birth Anniversaries [Lanza]

[Kouichi Osaka]

Kouichi sighed softly to himself as he looked at his watch for the twentieth time since he'd arrived not ten minutes before. He'd been early of course, but he was already so nervous that he was nearly chewing on his nails. What would Lanza even think? It wasn't like he'd told her anything when he'd asked her to meet him here the night before. He had not told her that this day, April the first, was Yuuki's birthday. He hadn't told her that the address he'd invited her to was a graveyard, either. Once again looking at his watch, he growled softly, his other hand tightening slightly around a small bouquet of flowers. Still half an hour before the ginger-haired woman was due to arrive, of course. Yuuki's father would have already been through to tend to the grave, but he'd skipped that, wanting privacy as he introduced Lanza to Yuuki.

[Lanza Riva]

Moments later, the copper-haired young woman made her way toward Kouichi's location, carefully following the directions she was given, only to stop dead in her tracks for a moment when she realized that her destination was actually a graveyard. Immediately, it hit her. He wanted to introduce her to his previous fighter for some reason. She felt moved by this, but she resumed walking, eventually spotting the sacrifice, who seemed to have had arrived rather early.

"Hello, Kouichi-san. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," she greeted politely as she stopped in front of the red-eyed man and glanced down at his flowers. "I thought as much when I saw that I'd arrived at a graveyard, but, are those for Yuuki-san? We're going to see him?" she asked, silently wishing she had known they were coming to pay a visit to Yuuki's grave in advance. Had she known, she would've brought something, herself. Sure she might not have known him in life, but she knew someone who did and it was still polite to do so. Maybe she was going to have to visit another time and make up for it. Yes, that sounded much better.

[Kouichi Osaka]

"No, I... I just got here, it's fine," Kouichi uttered, obviously lying, and not meeting Lanza's eyes as he looked into the cemetery. "...sorry for springing this on you like this. I just... couldn't bring myself to say what we were doing over the phone..." he trailed off, still not looking at her. After a moment, he rubbed the back of his head in a nervous gesture, then motioned for her to follow as he started walking, leading her through rows and rows of gravestones. "It's his birthday today, so I figured it was as good a day as any for this..." he started as he walked, his hand once again tightening around the flowers. It wasn't long before he stopped, turning toward a recently tended to grave. There was incense still burning, an offering still resting there, not taken by the cemetery cats yet, though Kouichi knew the felines would be around soon.

"...this is it," he stated, though that was obvious. He paused, taking a deep, steadying breath before he knelt close to the stone, gently placing his flowers in the holder meant for them. "Happy birthday, Yuu. How've you been?" he asked, then waited a moment before forcing a pained smile. "...there's... someone I'd like you to meet... This is my new fighter, Lanza Riva-san," he murmured quietly, almost whispering it as he placed a hand on the stone that housed the man's ashes. With his eyes closed, it almost looked like he was asking Yuuki's blessing with his actions. When he opened his eyes, he slowly stood, looking to Lanza. "Lanza-san, this is Tsuchihara Yuuki, my former partner," he said softly, voice surprisingly level for how watery his eyes looked at that moment.

[Lanza Riva]

Lanza watched the sacrifice carefully, her experience in the mafia telling her full well that he was lying, but she decided to let him have his little fib. It wasn't as if this particular lie was harmful, even though she now wished she had left even a little bit earlier. Even so, she was still a bit early. Regardless, there was something bigger going on, and she could almost smell it. He called her suddenly and told her to come meet him and now he was acting all strange in front of a graveyard, and clearly uncomfortable and nervous.

"...sorry for springing this on you like this. I just... couldn't bring myself to say what we were doing over the phone..."

"No, it's all right. I wasn't too busy," she said almost dismissively as she followed her sacrifice, falling into step just a pace behind him as he lead the way through the rows of grave stones.

"It's his birthday today, so I figured it was as good a day as any for this..."

Ah, so that was it. It was his birthday, so those who remembered him would have likely visited his grave and paid their respects to him, and she was being invited to go along with Kouichi. That was thoughtful of him, she thought to herself, almost smiling a little. He was trying to include her in things other than revenge, and that was nice. Perhaps she should do the same if she found the opportunity. Then they stopped at a recently tended grave and Lanza watched with an almost solemn silence as Kouichi placed the flowers in their holder and greeted his former fighter and lover, Yuuki.

"...there's... someone I'd like you to meet... This is my new fighter, Lanza Riva-san" he said, kneeling close to the stone, his voice so quiet, she could almost barely hear him. Watching him closely, he almost looked like he was praying, and she was almost willing to bet money he was, though for what she could not actually say. Soon, he had risen to his feet and turned back to her, immediately causing her ears to perk up attentively as she focused her attention on him. "Lanza-san, this is Tsuchihara Yuuki, my former partner."

Taking that as her cue, she stepped closer to the stone and knelt down in front of it, like she had seen Kouichi do and closed her eyes. "Hello Yuuki-san. I'm sorry that I don't have anything to leave as an offering, but I'm glad that I got the opportunity to come here and meet you. I heard about you from Kouichi-san and I want you to know that you have my highest respect," she said, deciding to be honest. Honestly, someone willing to use themselves as a shield to protect their lover from a deadly fire? That took some serious guts and she didn't even know people like that in the mafia. Most people were cowards and would do anything to save their own skin. It sounded like Yuuki was different. "I know I can't, and I won't expect to replace you, but I will promise you that I'll look after Kouichi-san for you. You have my word, so rest easy." She then opened her eyes and got to her feet and turned to Kouichi, looking at him curiously. "...How was that? Do you think he liked that?" she asked, almost as if uncertain.

[Kouichi Osaka]

Kouichi quietly stepped back, allowing Lanza closer to his former partner's resting place. Listening to her words, he couldn't help the tiny smile that turned to corners of his lips up, those his eyes still shone with unshed tears. By the time she was finished, the tears had escaped, slowly rolling down his cheeks, and he offered her the tiny, watery smile at her question. "Ah... Truthfully, I think he would have liked you a lot, Lanza-san..." he whispered, turning slightly to wipe at his eyes. "Sorry... it's... been a while since I cried when coming here... dunno why I'm doing this now..." he muttered, sounding kind of choked up as he continued rubbing almost uselessly at his eyes. It was a little frustrating that he couldn't stop himself from crying, but he quickly gave up, sitting on the ground in front of Yuuki's grave and hugging his knees.

[Lanza Riva]

Ah, there it was. The tears that had been threatening to fall, escaped, sliding sliding down his cheeks. Lanza didn't know who this Yuuki person was, or what he was like, but he probably didn't want to see Kouichi cry, especially not on his birthday, but it looked like he couldn't stop; a dam that had been holding the tears back had been broken.

"Ah... Truthfully, I think he would have liked you a lot, Lanza-san...

"Really? Is that so? I really hope so," she said softly, pulling a cloth handkerchief from her pocket as she stepped closer to her weeping sacrifice, knelt down, and dabbed gently at his cheeks with the white cloth before she held it for him to take. It looked like he would need it. "Don't apologize to me about the crying, Kouichi-san. I understand. I... might not have not have lost anyone important in the way you have, but I understand sort of what it's like to be left behind. For years after I was abandoned, I was afraid... and lonely. To be quite honest, I'm lucky Papa was there for me the entire time or it might have consumed me. So I understand. Besides, if there is any place for tears shed in memory, isn't this the one?"

[Kouichi Osaka]

At the feel of the soft cloth against his cheeks, Kouichi slowly looked up, weakly offering Lanza a minuscule watery smile as she handed him the handkerchief. "...thanks," he uttered, taking it carefully as he listened to her speak. By the time she was done, the tears had mostly stopped, though his eyes were still rather watery. "I suppose you are right about that... I just haven't cried coming here in so long... it's weird to be doing so now, I guess..." He sighed, looking over at the grave, his single working eye focusing on the stone that was just behind him. "I swear I felt like he was there for a moment," he then murmured quietly, frowning. It had been brief, though. He sighed, shaking it off as he stood. It had probably just been his imagination playing tricks on him. He didn't believe in things like ghosts after all.

[Lanza Riva]

Kouichi took her handkerchief gratefully and listened to her speak, seemingly calming down with her words. That was good. That was what she hoped for. She wasn't good with people, and was a very frank girl, but he seemed to understand her intent and had calmed down as he listened, which was a relief. It proved she wasn't a complete rhino in social situations. "You're welcome, Kouichi-san. You looked like you needed it more than me," she said gently, deciding to have at least a little delicacy leave off the word "again" there. It's not like he was really conscious of the fact he dirtied her handkerchief before, and she had cleaned him up of her own will anyway.

"I suppose you are right about that... I just haven't cried coming here in so long... it's weird to be doing so now, I guess..."

She thought about it, and supposed that it made sense. She couldn't remember the last time she cried, to be honest, and imagined that, whenever the next time came, if there was ever a next time, it would likely feel just as strange. "I guess that, after so long, and bottling it all up, it's all finally coming out. After all, it might be because you're relieved. You're not alone anymore, and you've got someone helping you look for Yuuki-san's killer. You can probably feel the end of your torment approaching and it's a relief. I'm no expert, but that is my guess," she suggested, watching him as he glanced over at the grave stone before she, too, looked over.

"I swear I felt like he was there for a moment."

Was there really a presence by the stone? She honestly felt... something, but she wasn't sure what it was. Seeing Kouichi shake it off and get to his feet, she followed, eyeing the stone curiously. She wasn't terribly religious, or anything, but most of the other Italians in her family's mafia were Catholic Christian, and actually believed in another world after death, so she supposed that things like spirits could be possible, though she wasn't terribly deep-rooted in the belief, herself. "...Did it? I thought I felt something for a second myself, but it could be possible, I guess. My little brother, Sheeka, says that his mother and brother are looking down on him from Heaven, so maybe you felt Yuuki-san doing the same? she offered with a shrug. She almost felt bad, being so faithless in religion and everything, but she didn't want to believe that an "all loving God" did things like what happened to her and Sheeka. There was just no way someone so "all loving" did that to someone who didn't deserve it.

[Kouichi Osaka]

Tears prompted by... relief? That was a possibility. He had been relaxing a lot more since meeting Lanza, and that realization alone was enough to startle him a little, but he shook it off, staring contemplatively at the grave as Lanza spoke again, this time in response to his quiet murmuring of having thought he felt Yuuki there. Heaven, huh? He snorted softly.  

"There's no such thing," he commented blandly. "Gods don't exist, and if they did, they certainly wouldn't be the benevolent things religion makes them out to be. This world is far too cruel for that to be true," he added, tone deadpan. If not for the slight waver to his voice from having been crying, his words would have sounded utterly devoid of emotion. He sighed through his nose before turning to focus his gaze on Lanza. "Don't get me wrong, I don't care if you are religious. That's your choice, and I won't argue the existence of god or spirits or whatever, nor would I try to convince you to my way of thinking." He paused there, a weak, shaking laugh escaping him. "I was raised Buddhist and I go through the motions, but I'm an atheist in truth. I suppose it's just... comforting to continue doing things my mother taught me," he revealed in a soft, quiet tone. It was almost embarrassing, admitting that, but at the same time, it was nice to be able to tell things like that to someone else. There was no one else in the living world except Lanza that he could be open with now. He hadn't even ever been entirely honest with Tsuchihara, either.

[Lanza Riva]

Kouichi snorted, causing Lanza to stare at him curiously. Was something she said strange? It was then that he began to speak, his voice bland, saying that there were no such things as gods or spirits and if there were, they wouldn't be the benevolent beings that everyone that ever preached a religion would have you believe. That's right, he understood the truth of the world, too. He was the same. They didn't share a name at first, but they really seemed to be cut from the same type of cloth. But, really, it was the misfortune that made them similar, wasn't it? It killed the parts of them that would've made them different from each other, but they both suffered similarly, and wound up turning into what they've become now: co-conspirators for the revenge of Yuuki's murder.

She watched as he sighed and turned to face her again. What was that? Religious? Did she really sound like she was religious? She couldn't help but let out a snort of her own at that and then chuckled quietly, unable to help herself when he pointed out that he was an atheist. "...You know, it's almost funny. Just when I think we can't be any more alike, somehow, you prove me wrong," she said with a bit of a small smile before she chuckled again. "But I think you misunderstood something. I'm not the religious one. I said Sheeka says his mother watches him, right? He's the one who still acts like he believes, not me. I know that there's no such thing as a benevolent god." Her smile then turned into something bitter as she rubbed at her arm gently, feeling the prosthetics through the fabric. "If there was one, they wouldn't hurt people who don't deserve it, especially young children. Ah, but if you going through your motions is comforting, by all means, continue. It doesn't mean you have to believe. I understand, so you don't have to worry."

[Kouichi Osaka]

"...You know, it's almost funny. Just when I think we can't be any more alike, somehow, you prove me wrong."

Those words startled a short laugh from the white-haired man, though he quickly reigned himself in as Lanza continued speaking, canting his head to the side. They really were so much alike it was a little scary, to be honest. But then, that was what made him feel he could be open and honest with her, so he couldn't complain. It was nice, but he felt bad for her. As she rubbed her arm, his eyes flicked to it, locking briefly on the motion before returning to her face. That was right. Her lower arm and hand was a prosthetic. It wasn't like he'd forgotten, what with her baring scars like him, but he'd put it out of his mind. It didn't change his opinion of her, and it wasn't even noticeable unless she was actively pointing it out. And then there was the fact that such a horrible thing had happened to a child. He didn't like to think about it. He felt bad for her. At least his childhood had been happy and untainted, his misfortune only occurring after he'd become an adult. 

Still, something had irreversibly broken inside of them. She'd just had longer to patch the damage as best as possible... or rather, had longer to have the care of family patch the damage. He didn't have family anymore though, and he probably never would again. 

Silence filled the air for a moment after Lanza stopped speaking, Kouichi turning his head to look once more at the grave before he spoke. "It's almost scary, how alike we are. It's like we're cut of the same cloth..." He trailed off a moment, shaking his head before looking back at Lanza. "...just dyed a slightly different colour," he finished. The same pure white cloth, tainted by different misfortune. Certainly, the loss she'd suffered was different from his own, but it was still a loss. The loss of family and irreversible damage to the body, mind, and heart all at once.

[Lanza Riva]

Kouichi laughed a little at her words before he reigned himself in and tilting his head to the side, almost thoughtfully as she continued to speak. It was just so... easy to open up and be honest with him. Maybe it was their similarities? She didn't know. But what she did know was that she didn't feel like she had to keep her thoughts to herself around him. It was obvious that he didn't care what she thought a lot of the time, and that in itself made things easier. She watched as he flicked his attention to her arm when she rubbed at it, a glimmer of recollection showing in his eyes. He obviously remembered a little about what she told him just before tattooing her, but she could see a glimmer of something else there for all of a moment. Almost like he pitied her. She normally disliked the look of pity, but she couldn't hold it against him. He may have felt bad for her, but she was just as guilty, herself.

After she had finished talking, she watched Kouichi turn his head and look at the grave once more. Just what was he thinking, she wondered, but she remained silent, watching him carefully. "It's almost scary, how alike we are. It's like we're cut of the same cloth..." He shook his head and looked back at her. Yet again, they were thinking the same thing, which only proved what he was saying. "...just dyed a slightly different colour."

That was true, and as much as it was relieving to hear they were so alike, something bothered her about it. Maybe she was overthinking things again, but she couldn't help but wonder if it was just the "dying" process that made them look like they were cut from the same cloth. Had their misfortunes not occurred, they might have been entirely different, for all they knew. "It seems that way, definitely, but I have to wonder how much of this is our innate natures being similar, or if it was the misfortunes which 'dyed' us that made us so similar," she admitted quietly, looking away for a moment. "Though, at the same time, it actually could be our innate natures being similar and I'm just overthinking things." She sighed softly. That was possible. But, if it was their natures, then why was she a Blank and not the one to bear his true name? Had she been the one, Kouichi wouldn't have had to suffer like this.

Turning her attention back to the sacrifice, she locked eyes with him. She didn't want to rush him, but being in this place probably wasn't helping him. "Well, we paid our respects to Yuuki-san. Shall we be off, or do you want to stay here a little longer?" she asked gently, canting her head to the side a bit as she looked at him. "It's okay if you wish to stay a bit longer, or we could go... Find something to do. Or head back entirely. It's up to you."

[Kouichi Osaka]

"I don't think we would have been so different, even if our misfortunes had not occurred. Granted, we may not have even met, had that been the case. You likely would still be in Italy with your birth family, correct? And I would have remained with Yuuki. The truth of the matter is, I don't really think I'm so much different from how I was before. I've always been solitary in nature. Yuuki was the only one outside of my mother to get close to me." That said, Kouichi turned away again, looking at the grave.

"Well, we paid our respects to Yuuki-san. Shall we be off, or do you want to stay here a little longer? It's okay if you wish to stay a bit longer, or we could go... Find something to do. Or head back entirely. It's up to you."

For a moment, he remained silent, considering. Then he nodded slightly before kneeling down next to the grave once again, placing his hand on the stone. "I'll be back to visit again soon, Yuu. See you later," he whispered, then stood, looking at Lanza once again. "Would you like to go get something to eat with me, maybe?" he asked. The truth of the matter was, he was starving now that this visit was over with. He'd been so nervous about bringing Lanza to see Yuuki that he hadn't been able to stomach even the thought of eating that morning. Without waiting for a reply, he started walking through the lines of gravestones, pace slow so that he wouldn't actually be leaving Lanza behind.

[Lanza Riva]

"I don't think we would have been so different, even if our misfortunes had not occurred. Granted, we may not have even met, had that been the case. You likely would still be in Italy with your birth family, correct? And I would have remained with Yuuki. The truth of the matter is, I don't really think I'm so much different from how I was before. I've always been solitary in nature. Yuuki was the only one outside of my mother to get close to me."

"I... see," Lanza replied quietly, glancing away again as Kouichi turned to look at the grave. It was almost a relief to know that his life-altering misfortune hadn't changed him too much, and that he was the same person he's always been... just stained with the bitterness of misfortune. That was good. She was glad to hear it. But, could the same be said for her? There was no way to tell. "I'm... not sure the same can be said of me, though. I was really young when it happened, so I don't have many memories of my birth family. I don't even remember how I was before it. I've always been this way with the Rivas, so it's possible, but that was after I had my world fall apart on me." She gripped at her arm through her sleeve tightly as she stared down at the ground, remembering all the pain she felt when she was a small child, physical and otherwise.

She snapped her attention up as she noticed Kou move and kneel back down to the gravestone, placing his hand on the stone as he had before. "I'll be back to visit again soon, Yuu. See you later," he whispered to the stone before standing and turning back to her, instantly getting her full attention. "Would you like to go get something to eat with me, maybe?" he asked, causing her to gawk at him for a moment, watching him start to head away from the grave. She blinked, almost as if stunned, and after shaking her head a little, she began to follow him.

"All right, I could go for some lunch, I suppose," she mused, moving to match pace with her sacrifice as they headed out. Lunch would be a good distraction from the emotions that had bubbled up from where she had locked them away, anyway. "Is there anything in particular that you want to eat?"