In Between [Suzuya Juuzou fanfiction]

Zoo

The first thing that caught Amaya's eyes, when she arrived at the zoo was a bunch of kindergarten kids in the entrance. The teacher led them in a row, to go in to the zoo. Their faces were bright with excitement, like this was something they were waiting for.

Amaya wondered if she had felt something like that before. There was one time, when she and her parent went to the zoo. It was when she was around 6 years old.

She remembered the sun were very hot and the zoo was crowded with people. So Amaya hold her parent hands tightly, her dad on right, and mom on left. They were having fun. Little Amaya laughed excitedly while pointing at the animals.

But it was so long time ago, it almost felt surreal. She walked to the entrance,pay for the ticket and went in.

There were not much people now. Maybe because today wasn't weekend. Amaya walked past some animal. Lion, elephant, deer. She didn't have much interest in them, but walking here made her feel peace. The feeling she used to have very, very long time ago.

When she walked along, someone bumped her.It was a little boy, around 5 years old. Amaya almost stumbled, but still hold on to the boy. She squatted, so her eyes were in the same level as his. She smiled.

"Where's your mommy?" She asked softly. Her hand hold the boy's hand.

"I-I dont know..." he muttered. His eyes were looking right and left. Looking for his mom. It was very clear that he tried not to cry.

"Takumii!!" A young lady appeared, running to them. Her face looked relieved when she saw her son was okay. The boy run to his mom, and hug her. His mom hug him more tight. She looked up and smiled to Amaya. "Thank you"

Amaya shot a smile back at her, and gestured no problem then kept walking. She knew she should be watching the animals,but her mind kept remembering something. Something she buried in the deep of her mind. But seeing that boy with his mom, made the wall cracked a bit.

She stopped when she saw a giraffe, very tall with its neck. Her hand hold the guardrail. She looked around and her gaze caught a little girl. Her very cute pigtail shaking while she jumped with her hands hold her father's.

Amaya looked up at the sky overhead, then bam! The wall she had build since that accident, destroyed. All the memories about her parent, her family rushed in. Her breath gasped.

She remembered her parent bought her a very big teddy bear at her 7th birthday. She remembered her mom taught her how to bake a cake.
She remembered her family throw a big party when her father got a new promotion.
She remembered both her parent looked uninterested when she showed them the trophy she won.
She remembered her father mad at her because he said she played too much at the outside, even it was the only time she played outside that month.

And the most vivid memories of all was when she just stared blankly at her parent dead body after the ghoul attacked them. She didn't do anything nor feel anything. Neither sad nor happy. Amaya just stayed still until the CCG took her.

And for the first time, Amaya actually realized that she missed her parent. A lot. She could't hate them, whatever they did. Maybe she loved them, maybe.

She snapped back at reality when she felt a gentle hand, caressed her cheek. Her cheeks wet with tears, but she didn't even remember crying. Her gaze glanced sideways, and seeing a certain white haired boy,with a puzzled look in his face.

_____-_____
Rei was sitting at the grass in front of the giraffe cage, drawing the animal at his sketch book.

Uh it needs more red, he tought. And he put more red at the drawing. Rei was there since morning, he didn't go to the HQ because well, he wanted to see the giraffe.

When he finished, he hold his sketchbook in front of his face to see his drawing . He smiled, full with satisfication. Rei stretched his stiff arm and leg, after sat around 1 hour full. His eyes lifted to see the giraffe for one more time before going home, but caught at a black haired girl.

A devilish smile crept over his face. Lets surprise her. He stood up, and stepped slowly toward Amaya.

But when he saw her face, he stopped. All the idea of surprising her vanished, replaced by confusion. Why is she crying? He continued to walked toward Amaya. When he stood beside her, she still looked up with tears streaming down her face. She cried without any sound at all, but it just looked more painful.

His right hand cupped her cheeks and his thumb wiped the tears slowly. It was the first time Rei touched a girl, he didn't know how much power he should put in. He tried as gentle as he could.

Amaya turned around and looked surprised to see Rei.But it gone as fast as it showed up. His eyes must told her all he felt, because Amaya just shooked her head and smiled a little. But the tears didn't stop or even slow down, and her smile became not so convincing.

Amaya mumbled very soft, Rei almost didn't hear her.

"Can I hug you?"

Rei opened his arm questioningly, but Amaya immediately hug him. Her hand hold the back of her jacket tightly. She buried her face in his chest. Rei awkwardly put one of his hand at her back, and another at the top of her head. He stroked her hair, again and again until he felt Amaya's body relaxed and her crying slow down.

Amaya listened to Rei's fast heart beat. The constant beat succesfully calmed her. His warmth spread through her body. In his arm, she felt safe. Her crying finally stopped and she took a deep breath. She pulled out from the hug and wiped her own tears. Rei still stared at her, but didn't say anything. This is what she loved about Rei, he didn't ask too much and let her do what she want.

"Sorry to make your shirt wet, Rei-chan. I..just missed my family.." Amaya smiled at him. He patted her head, his face softened.

"It's okay Amaya-chan" he shot a grin back. "Nee, do you want some ice cream?"

Amaya grinned too and nodded eagerly. See? This is another thing she loved from Rei. And they walked to the ice cream stall together.

[A/N] Whoa a long one! Thankyou for reading guyss. Thanks too for everyone who have helped me out and supported me. :) Vomment please

By the way, Happy Eid Mubarak for those celebrating!