Disclaimers: All characters belong to rightful owners.
Story concieved by Lee.


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"Yes... hopefully..." Sasurai felt the pessimist inside of her yell at her for having such hope. Of course the New Year couldn't change anything... she wwould be the same failure of a girl she had always been and more than likely this precious moment and this meeting with a new friend would be shortlived and her life would go into its circle of obligation...

She should stop thinking like that, this was the holidays! This had been the best afternoon in her life, and the pessimist had to go and bring her down again. Well, not for now. Things would change. "I hope things change for you with the New Year as well. Things usually change for the better." She should have bitten her tongue for that... things DIDN'T usually change for the better... but hey, this was the optimist talking now.

And usually the optimist was silent.

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It took Wolfgang several miniutes to get through the ever growing crowd. when they finaly reached the puppet stage, there was already a massive group of people... mainly children... gathered around the large puppet stage.

"Wait right here, let me see if I can pull some strings and get us a better seat." Wolfgang worked his way through the crowd and behind the stage. The stage was quite large, almost half the size of a stage at a performing theater. Finding Roscoe in this mess would be somewhat of a challange, more so than he thought. The show had not started just yet, but there was still a great amount of activity going on back stage.

"Wolfgang?" a voice said from behind, "'bout time you got here." Roscoe gave him a hug and a light kiss on the cheek, "Are you here to help?"

He shook he head no, "Actually, I was hopping to bring some of my friends I meet on the way here to watch the show? There's a pretty large bunch of kids out there already. One of them has her little brother with her and we really want some good seats."

Roscoe, after a second of thought and running to ask someone else who Wolfgang did not know, agreed to escort them to a spot backstage where they would be out of the way. "He also said that you guys can sit on the top of the stage with the performers and watch the tree lighting as well."

With such great news, Wolfgang and Roscoe went back and told Para and Dar the good news. Wolfgang introduced Roscoe to the group and went backstage. "I don't see my mom anywhere, I hope that they are alright..." Wolfgang was continuing to scan the crowd for any sign for his family only to find there was none.

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"It's really easy to believe that on a day like this, isn't it?" Lem commented quietly as his eyes skimmed the softly glowing lights scattered in the trees, the deep reds, jolly greens, regal golds seemingly everywhere, the smiling, content faces of the random people in the crowd. It was alright. It was really... alright. For now, it was okay that he was away from Master Barano. For now, it was okay that he was with a girl he hardly knew--a stranger, but only just. Tomorrow, he'd probably feel differently, but, for today, it was okay.

"Still, I'm not sure that there's much I'd change..." He murmured pensively as he rolled his eyes skyward."I... I'm really content with the way things are..."

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"Oh, that's great!" Para squealed in delight as the two relayed the good news and, beaming at them, she quickly offered both men a tight, grateful hug. "Thank you so much! I really appreciate this!"

"Did you hear that, Cordy?" She asked softly as she took one of her brother's hands. Cordy, obviously rather happy with his new perch, offered another happy giggle as he, too, turned a wide smile to Wolfgang and his friend. Still, at the mention of Wolfgang not spotting his family in the crowd, Para tilted her head on side. "Huh. Do you think we should go look for them?"

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Sasurai smiled softly looking around at the decorations, the snow littered trees, the happy children with their parents. It was odd that she didn't feel envy. Oh yes, she wished she was in their shoes... but she wasn't... jealous, since she wasn't alone. "Then you must have a good life. I-I have a lot of things that I would change..." she heard a soft squeak of disapproval, "Except for you Mousy, I hope you never change."

She gazed over to the other, smiling, "If only I could be as content as you, that would be a gift, but for now," She looked down at Mousy, "For today, I am satisfied..." she looked up growing crowds of people towards a stage, "Look we're close."

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"Y-yea. I... I do have a good life." Lem agreed readily and, really, he believed it to be true. Sure, he occasionally had to do things which were less than pleasant, but much the same could be said for anyone. Beyond that, as long as he had Master Barano in his life, then everything was fine. "I've been blessed really. I only wish the same could be said for you."

"Oh, we are..." Uncurling himself from his usual hunching, he easily peered over the heads of the crowd and, quite easily, he could see the stage in the near distance. Still, of course, he felt a shapr pang of anxiety as they wandered back toward the more populated area, but he was dead set on seeing the play, regardless of how crowded the area might be.

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"Yes...if only the same could be true for me..." Sasurai looked over at Lemy, only to see him at his real height. She should've known from his hunch that he was taller than he appeared, but it was still surprising to know he was _that_ tall. She stood on her tip toes to try and look over the crowd, yet her trembling began seeing how populated the area was.

Gently, she squeezed Lemy's hand, as if to tell him that she was with him to help his anxiety, or that she too was feeling the same. She fidgeted slightly as she strained herself higher to look, and despite the crowd, she was too curious to see the puppet show to try and hide now.

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"It's so crowded..." Lem murmured as he gently returned the hand squeeze. Of course, at the edge of the crowd, even with his height, he couldn't see much and he only assumed that Sasurai was in even worse a position than he. So, there was only one thing to be done for it. "Do...do you want to... to see if we can get any closer?"

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"You know Lukes... he'd be cruel and demanding of little girl!" Kisoku glanced at Sophia before reconsidering this statement. "...or some such other innocent thing! So obviously nothing would stop him from being a meanie to a poor soul like you, Sam."

"I wonder if they have any of those zeppoles..." He got up from his seat. "I might as well just go order with you. You're gonna need an extra set of hands, anyway... and it gives us some real quality time, Lukas darling!"

He linked arms with the Cajun and nuzzled the younger male's shoulder. A risky move on his part after his earlier comment, but then again, Kisoku Capulet was a daredevil! He laughed in the face of emminent danger!

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Sasurai gulped, the popsoiting making her twitch more than she was. But really, what other choice was there? Nodding slowly, she gulped. Even with company, she was too nervous, "H-h- hai... let's... try to-to-to get closer..." She felt comforted by the squeeze of his ahnd, at least knowing that as long as they had contact, they wouldn't get lost easily. With a fidget of the corner of her lips, she step forward into, what seemed like a less dense area, of the crowd.

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Lem nodded to this and, holding his friend's hand tightly, he started to work forward, through the crowd. Of course, he'd once again hunched himself so as to make chance of contact with any given stranger far less, but he was still quite careful as he made his way through so as to not step on, jostle, or otherwise bother any of the other playgoers. After a time, he paused a fair distance from the stage and, straigtening a bit, he peered curiously at their surroundings.

"D... do you think this'd work?" He asked Sasurai rather quietly as his free hand endlessly twirled a curl of his hair. "We... we could try to get closer, if you want..."

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Darran greeted Roscoe with a nod, then listened to his idea happily. "Hey, that'd be great, thanks!" He paused, though, as he was reminded that they should've been meeting Wolfgang's family here, and made a quick decision. "Well, if Para'll take Cordero back for a little, I could go back out and look for them... they can't be too hard to find." He grinned, remembering how rambunctious Wolfgang's two younger brothers had been. And though the puppet show would've been cute to watch, it _was_ the tree lighting he'd come out for in the first place-- and that wouldn't be till later. "Besides, with my hair, they just might find me first anyway."

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"Maybe..." Lukas snorted in response to Kisoku's remark, "I'd have to come across an 'innocent thing' 'fore I know for sure, eh?" Pausing a moment, he tilted his head to one side thoughtfully, "Well... there be Sophia, 'course... but I got the feelin' she be able to slap all our ears back if we get far 'nough outta line."

Although he was a bit surprised when Kisoku linked arms with him - not to mention when the blonde nuzzled him, Lukas made no comment. No doubt Kiso was just trying to get a rise out of him, therefore, the best way to turn the tables would be to simply do nothing. So he simply nodded agreeably to the other's offer to provide an extra set of hands and moved off toward the counter.

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Sasurai nodded, able to clearly see the stage by straightening herself out as well, "I-iie... no, this-this is g-g-good enough." Her fidgety nature continued to show as her eyes darted to and fro next to her and her stuttering, which had been so mild earlier, now was apparent. Though there were mostly children in front of them, they only served to increase her nervous tension. After all, her last experience with a child had ended in disaster.

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Sophia hesitated as Lukas insisted on paying, then nodded and returned her wallet to her bag. "Alright; thank you very much."

She still wasn't sure what she thought of Lukas' companions; Sam seemed airheaded, and Kisoku rather sneaky-- was it just her, or was his teasing towards Lukas somewhat barbed? But then, she had barely met the man, so perhaps this was how he acted all the time... perhaps Lukas gave back as good as he got. Some friendships were built that way.

She gave a little shrug and returned her attention to Sam. "For what you said before-- thank you. It's true, I don't act my age."

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"They all look so happy..." Lem murmured almost absently as his eyes roamed over the gathered children. Really, all of the children looked so happy, so full of anticipation as they waited for the show to start and their parents, nearby, seemed to only share this joy, this anticipation. It was lovely to see. "I only hope that the show is interesting."

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Sasurai flinched voluntarily watching the children with their parents. There it was again, envy. A strong sense of envy. They were all so happy, waiting for the show to begin so that same happiness and joy could grow. The sense of nostalgia and depression began to sink into her mind, and she tightly shut her eyes to try and stop those thoughts, those memories. The optimist in her began to rework it's power and she opened her eyes slightly to catch a glance at Lemy. He seemed to share the same happiness and joy of the families and children around them, the contentment in his eyes. With a soft sigh, she smiled softly, another boundary conquered, "Maybe it is if so many are here to see. I'm quite curious about the story."

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"Alas! They've abandonned me!" Sam sighed gravely as he collapsed across the table. Of course, he soon found himself rather revived by both the remains of the pizza close at hand as well as well as the fact that he'd put his hand into his glass of soda. Giggling quietly, he sucked his fingers clean before taking up the poor, pitiful lone slice. "Alack! No one loves me! I'll just bury my woe in a tide of grease and cheese!"

"Still, yea." Shrugging all this aside, he again turned his attention toward the girl. "You really don't act like any kid I've ever met, but I guess that's good, in a way. Still, it really seems odd to talk with a kid who doesn't laugh... or... or... anything like that, yanno?"

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"I heard that it's really great!" Lem nodded with all his childish enthusiasm as he turned his attention back to the girl. The story, as he detailed it, was of traditional Christmas fare, bound to delight the children and make the adults feel warm and fuzzy. Still, Lem couldn't keep the joy, the anticipation he felt for even a oft- repeated story from his voice, his eyes. Like any child, he was all but bouncing in an anxiety that had nothing to do with the crowd, for once.

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His childishness surprised her... again. That bouncing energy that seemed to emit with his actions and voice reminded Sasurai of his innocence and enthuaism. He was truly a child inside. Maybe it was the holidays but the childishness was there.

"Heh, well if you heard it that it was great, I believe you." And it's true, she did. The negative feelings were gone and she herself couldn't help but grin with anticipitation.

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