((fic))
Written for pridenorshame. Warnings for horrible ability to write Trinity Blood and abuse of vague canon.
The last thing Caterina had expected when she ordered Tres to return home, was to find him in box in pieces. After giving him a cursory look over, she had him sent to Father Wordsworth. The professor had, of course, been more than happy to take on the task of putting the poor robot back together. It had been quite a feat even just figuring out where all the pieces had gone. He didn't know what Father Tres had gone up against, but it must have been horrid. After a few days of sorting, he had come across a small, wrapped package. Opening it, he found a . . . cassette tape, he had believed that was what they were called, inside. It was something he had only seen in pictures. A few hours of banging and loud noises later, he had managed to rig some contraption that would be able to play it. He popped in the tape and listened. The sound of a young girl's voice came in through the speakers, speaking in a language he didn't recognize although he had managed to catch Father Tres' name once or twice. After a few moments, the sound of a piano replaced her. Once the tape finished, he rewound it and brought it to Caterina. Sister Kate was also with her as well as Father Hugue. He explained how he had come across it and played the tape for them. Neither Caterina or Sister Kate had known what the language was.
"It's Japanese," said a quiet voice.
Everyone turned to stare at Hugue. He just shrugged. "It's in the east. I've been through there a few times."
"Well, do you know what she's saying?" Wordsworth asked.
"Play it again."
After several more times he had it all transcribed.
I didn't know what to get you and I knew if I had asked, you would have said 'nothing,' so I decided to make this tape. I don't know if you'll be able to play it back home, but if it makes it through the journey, maybe you'll be able to find something. Anyway, I just wanted to say 'thank you' for everything you've done for me even if it was unintentional. You're a wonderful friend and I'm so glad I was able to meet you. So. Merry Christmas, Father Tres.
A small smile played on Caterina's lips. "A wonderful friend, hm? Father Wordsworth, see how fast you can get Father Tres fixed. I want to see this 'friend' of his."
Wordsworth just bowed and exited the room.
+++++
It took a couple months. After reporting to Caterina once he was complete, Tres was given new orders. As he turned to depart, there was a click and a soft voice started speaking. Tres stopped and turned to stare at the sound with as much bewilderment as only a robot could muster.
". . . Lady Himawari."
After the tape finished, Caterina stopped it and held it out to him.
"Is that her name?"
"Positive."
"Who is she?"
"Lady Kunogi Himawari, from Tokyo, Japan. She was one of the campers under my care."
"She called you a friend," Caterina said, handing him the message.
He read through it once, then folded it up and put it in his pocket along with the tape.
"She often said that."
"And what do you think about that?"
There was no answer.
"Do you have pictures?"
"Positive. I have several songs, pictures and video footage recorded within my data banks."
"Show me."
Tres nodded and pulled the cable from his neck, plugging it into the computer in her room. After scrolling through several files, he stopped and selected a folder. One that seemed just a bit larger than the rest of the ones he had from camp. He opened it and several images flashed by on the screen of a pretty, young girl with curly black hair and the saddest smile Caterina had ever seen.
"You said there was music?"
Tres pulled up another folder that contained quite a number of songs.
"She liked to play the piano for me."
"Download it. I want to listen to it later."
Tres did so without a word.
"Was there anything else my lady wanted?"
Caterina looked down at her desk and shuffled through a rather large stack of paperwork.
"No, you're dismissed."
The sound of the door opening and closing was her only answer. Sister Kate appeared moments later.
"What do you think?" she asked.
Caterina steepled her hands and contemplated the door Tres had just walked out of for a very long moment. ". . . I think he misses her."
"Is that even possible?"
"It's not."
Sister Kate just gave her a quizzical look and disappeared.
The last thing Caterina had expected when she ordered Tres to return home, was to find him in box in pieces. After giving him a cursory look over, she had him sent to Father Wordsworth. The professor had, of course, been more than happy to take on the task of putting the poor robot back together. It had been quite a feat even just figuring out where all the pieces had gone. He didn't know what Father Tres had gone up against, but it must have been horrid. After a few days of sorting, he had come across a small, wrapped package. Opening it, he found a . . . cassette tape, he had believed that was what they were called, inside. It was something he had only seen in pictures. A few hours of banging and loud noises later, he had managed to rig some contraption that would be able to play it. He popped in the tape and listened. The sound of a young girl's voice came in through the speakers, speaking in a language he didn't recognize although he had managed to catch Father Tres' name once or twice. After a few moments, the sound of a piano replaced her. Once the tape finished, he rewound it and brought it to Caterina. Sister Kate was also with her as well as Father Hugue. He explained how he had come across it and played the tape for them. Neither Caterina or Sister Kate had known what the language was.
"It's Japanese," said a quiet voice.
Everyone turned to stare at Hugue. He just shrugged. "It's in the east. I've been through there a few times."
"Well, do you know what she's saying?" Wordsworth asked.
"Play it again."
After several more times he had it all transcribed.
I didn't know what to get you and I knew if I had asked, you would have said 'nothing,' so I decided to make this tape. I don't know if you'll be able to play it back home, but if it makes it through the journey, maybe you'll be able to find something. Anyway, I just wanted to say 'thank you' for everything you've done for me even if it was unintentional. You're a wonderful friend and I'm so glad I was able to meet you. So. Merry Christmas, Father Tres.
A small smile played on Caterina's lips. "A wonderful friend, hm? Father Wordsworth, see how fast you can get Father Tres fixed. I want to see this 'friend' of his."
Wordsworth just bowed and exited the room.
+++++
It took a couple months. After reporting to Caterina once he was complete, Tres was given new orders. As he turned to depart, there was a click and a soft voice started speaking. Tres stopped and turned to stare at the sound with as much bewilderment as only a robot could muster.
". . . Lady Himawari."
After the tape finished, Caterina stopped it and held it out to him.
"Is that her name?"
"Positive."
"Who is she?"
"Lady Kunogi Himawari, from Tokyo, Japan. She was one of the campers under my care."
"She called you a friend," Caterina said, handing him the message.
He read through it once, then folded it up and put it in his pocket along with the tape.
"She often said that."
"And what do you think about that?"
There was no answer.
"Do you have pictures?"
"Positive. I have several songs, pictures and video footage recorded within my data banks."
"Show me."
Tres nodded and pulled the cable from his neck, plugging it into the computer in her room. After scrolling through several files, he stopped and selected a folder. One that seemed just a bit larger than the rest of the ones he had from camp. He opened it and several images flashed by on the screen of a pretty, young girl with curly black hair and the saddest smile Caterina had ever seen.
"You said there was music?"
Tres pulled up another folder that contained quite a number of songs.
"She liked to play the piano for me."
"Download it. I want to listen to it later."
Tres did so without a word.
"Was there anything else my lady wanted?"
Caterina looked down at her desk and shuffled through a rather large stack of paperwork.
"No, you're dismissed."
The sound of the door opening and closing was her only answer. Sister Kate appeared moments later.
"What do you think?" she asked.
Caterina steepled her hands and contemplated the door Tres had just walked out of for a very long moment. ". . . I think he misses her."
"Is that even possible?"
"It's not."
Sister Kate just gave her a quizzical look and disappeared.