Vol 01 Ch20: Alicia And Alma's Past

                                    

                                          
Chapter 20A: Alicia and Alma's Past - Confrontation
A few days have passed since the battle with that masked man. My wounds for the most part are fully healed. There was something I wanted to hear from my fiancé, so I asked if I could come see her. She agreed without any problem, but she did seem somewhat depressed over the phone.
"So what is it that you wanted to talk about so badly?" She asks as I sit myself on her sofa and take the tea she offers me.
"That girl who has Gungnir-Mjölnir, you know her don't you, Alicia?" I cut straight to the point. "And not just her, that Reaper who was with that masked bastard."
"So it's about that? I figured as much." Alicia says with a sullen sigh. "All right Yuichi, I don't feel like talking for too long today, so which one do you want to hear about more? Alma or Carrisa?"
So she's only willing to tell me about one of them, I guess it's less about not wanting to talk, than it is being too painful for her to talk.
"Then tell me about Alma, the Reaper isn't the immediate threat right now. Plus, that Alma girl sent me this letter of challenge." I answer, the time stated is tonight, so I have very little time.
"You got one as well then?" Alicia responds. As well'? Meaning Alicia also got one. Does Alma plan on taking both of us on at once?
"Carrisa only fought against us because it turned out that way, but Alma bears a deep grudge." I supplement.
"Yeah, you're right. Alma hates Anomalies and Reapers with a passion." Alicia answers with a sad smile, I can tell this isn't going to be a pleasant story.
After a few moments of silence Alicia places her tea down onto the table, like she has made up her mind.
"Alma is a girl of Spanish descent, but I met her in Rome eight years ago. That day, I had an argument with my dad about something trivial. But I ran away from home in tears, and I found myself lost in the human world."
Chapter 20B: Alicia and Alma's Past – Flashback (Perspective: Alicia) (Eight Years Ago)
"Where am I?" I ask, but no one answers. Everyone just keeps moving, like I'm invisible.
My body's shaking, but I won't cry. I'm a big girl now, I won't cry.
"Mum, Dad, Lilicia." I walk aimlessly, as water drops from my eyes.
"Are you crying?" A girl's voice asks. I turn to look at her, she's about the same age as me and is wearing a mischievous smile.
"I'm not crying!" I shout back "I'm an adult, adults don't cry!"
"You so are!"
"Am NOT!" The water gathering in my eyes flows out even more as I scream at the girl.
The girl walks up to me and grabs my hand, "Lets go play." She says with an innocent smile.
"Huh?" Before I can say no, she leads and drags me off down the streets and to a park.
She forces me onto one side of a sea-saw and takes the other end herself. As I go up and down, the water in my eyes slowly starts to clear, and is replaced with a smile.
We continue to play together in the park until the sun goes down.
"Ah, it's getting dark." She says in a disappointed voice as she stares up into the night sky.
"Alma~~!" A voice calls. We both look on, running up to Alma is a girl about sixteen years old with tanned skin just like Alma's and long, tied back, dark hair.