Serena for some reason was trying to look like she expected this. She wanted to look like she was cool and capable. At this revelation though, internally she was very freaked out. She had been in 7 different worlds thus far? What happened to the person that was supposed to be in the the other 7? Was she technically dead? Her eyes darted around a bit as she tried to make this out. Then she just smiled and laughed. “Oh..so magic! Cool! That makes complete sense!”
One would think since she was technically a pagan, this wouldn’t surprise her or upset her in anyway. Yet now that it was happening to her, and without her knowledge? She felt a bit off put by this entire thing. Still though, her interest in floated around as well.
“What even happened? How did you get that power?…Did you try and perform a spell on yourself?” Serena looked up grinning a bit. “…Was one of mine able to do this!?” She kind of hoped that on some level.
Ukyo blinked a few times at the other, slack-jawed, uncertain if the shock is from being believed, or the drastic misunderstanding taking place in front of his eyes. “U-Um--! It’s not...” he makes a muffled (almost to the point of being internal) frustrated noise and closes his eyes - thinking even harder on how he can explain anything.
“It’s not magic.” he finally says, “not the magic you’re thinking of, anyways. Nobody cast a spell and I don’t have a special power.” If he did, he wouldn’t be taking this long route to obtain what he wanted. If he had magic, he doesn’t think he’d be dying so much. “Neil... um... he’s kind of like a... deity? He’s the one who does it.” Which is why he cannot fathom why Serena has ended up in this mess - Ukyo’s wish had nothing to do with her. “I guess it’s kind of magical on his part... maybe.” Did Neil consider his power a sort of magic? He never really asked - or thought to, for that matter.
In any case, he waves his hands in front of him a little. “But I mean, how did you end up in all this? It was only recently, too...” Recent, in comparison to the time he’s spent this way already.
Serena tilted her head. she looked a bit puzzled, maybe even a bit suspicious. She stared at the other for a bit,awkward silence in between them for a bit. Eventually she broke it and sighed. “Yeah. Sure,OK.” She straightened out. “Coming right up, master.” she said cheerfully. Though even she couldn’t hide her mild frustration.
After serving him she continued the shift. She would stare off into space on occasion like she was deep in thought. She honestly hoped she could predict what he would say. She was confused and didn’t like being made a sitting duck. Still she wouldn’t get mad at him in public, or really get that angry in general. Just mildly peeved. When her shift finally ended after an eternity, she leaved faster than anyone had ever seen her move.
She faced him taking a deep breath and crossed her arms over her chest, cocking her head to the side at the other.
“So time travel or what?” She didn’t screw around it seemed.
Ukyo might have almost broken under the pressure of silence, he really wasn’t good with awkward situations without getting incredibly flustered. But, this was a serious matter - apparently for the both of them. And it would be in her best interest too, to wait. So... he holds his ground through it, fiddling with his coat with the hands resting in his lap. She agrees, and the relief is clear as day in his expression.
It was a little awkward now though, to have to sit and wait. However as usual his photography interest seemed to pique Waka’s fascination, and conversation could be made. Towards closing time, he takes his leave - but he knows better than to actually go anywhere. He’s used to standing around (albeit looking suspicious), and generally being outdoors.
She popped the question the instant she had him deadlocked in her view. Well, whatever apprehension he’d managed to dissipate was back full force.
“Um, it’s not really...” Perhaps he ought to have put thought into how to explain it - it’s not like it’s come up before now, though. “It’s not exactly time travel... more like...” he uses his hands in gesture, holding them out in front of him, palms facing each other. “Like, parallel universes.” He doesn’t really want to go into details on his circumstance in particular, though. “I made a wish, and now I end up jumping between them. And it always starts at August 1st.” So maybe time travel is kind of part of it, but that’s not... He doesn’t know how to explain it any better.
Serena smirked and toyed with her hair at the reaction she got. It served to her as the confirmation she was looking for. “I loose track these days a lot to. What would you like to order?” She smirked a bit giving him a knowing smile. “You’ll take this like you normally do when you come in here, right?” She whispered that part, couldn’t have the others look at her like she was nuts. In this timeline this was kind of the first time.
Serena leaned forward again. “When we’re alone you gotta tell me how you keep reversing time.” From his perspective that’s what he seemed to be doing. She didn’t understand it all yet. She just knew he was like her. That was enough. “I’ve seen it happen like 7 times now. It just suddenly comes back to where it was with changes.”
She had to take orders, but first she had to let him know about that. “How are you doing it?? Why?” She raised an eyebrow and looked him up and down.
Ukyo gets his breath caught in his throat, having clearly fallen easily for whatever ploy it was she had. It’s best not to panic, though. He doesn’t think he’s in danger - after all, she is someone he knows, and she hasn’t been an obstacle before. She doesn’t know anything. But there is something obscenely wrong with this situation; why, seven times now, has she been accompanying him on this... journey? Why is she not affected by the world’s rejection of foreign entities that don’t belong to the timelines?
“I... Can’t explain that.” he says, calming his nerves and concerns as best he can. “Not here, at least.” The tale is far too long, gruesome, saddening - he doesn’t want to think or talk about it here, lest he potentially cry in public. But if what she is saying is true, then she may truly need to know... how much he can offer without putting her in danger is another matter, however. “Can we talk after you’re done with work?” he asks, “for now, like you say, I’ll take the usual.” He feels it perhaps cruel, to brush her questions away and leave her in confusion - but if she has been following him and remembers him, she should know he isn’t lying - and won’t run.
Serena looked around at the customers. She clicked her tongue after awhile. Again it was August 1st. This time she knew that for sure. She wondered if she was just making a mistake. She wondered if it was deja vu but now she knew for sure. She had checked very thoroughly this time. It was August 1st. For the 3rd time thus far.
One would think being that she was a witch that liked all the supernatural aspects this world had to offer. She remained stone faced and apathetic looking on the outside, but on the inside she was freaking out. The mental equivalent of running around in circles while on fire.
Still she walked in a wooden fashion as she served the customers that had come today. Why was this happening!? Was she doing something wrong, was the universe giving her chances to screw around and try something different? Her thought process was interrupted by him coming into the cafe.
She felt relief flood her when she saw him. Her expression became calmer. She walked over to the other and bowed to him. “Welcome back, Master.” It had been awhile since Ukyo had come back, but he stood out in this loop. He seemed like he was…slightly different each loop she could remember.
She stood up straight again holding the tray to her chest and smiling at the other.
A thought occurred to her as she did this. What if he was the cause? What if he knew? As she lead him to a table, still being professional for the moment, she knew what she could do. She had a fail safe way to test her theory! Or at least…as fail safe as a very quick plan could be. It was honestly either hit or miss when it came to her making plans that didn’t involve some battle strategy.
“It’s been awhile Ukyo, what’s up?” She asked cheerfully. “I think Waka missed you more then anyone, though!”
Ukyo still became flustered by those words. Welcome back, Master. They were hardly words he deserved, though it was merely a casual greeting for a place like this. He smiles, rubs the back of his head. “Thanks, haha.” It’s kind of weird, sometimes, knowing he’s in a completely different world but people treat him no differently to normal. He’s the only weird one. The only odd one out. The piece that doesn’t fit. But this time, it’s a little different. This world he knows. He knows it well.
The familiar face that was the one to greet him was a little bit of a relief. But he had to remind himself that it was still August 1st. People who he knew, he doesn’t know. Not anymore.
So, when ‘it’s been a while’ is the next comment out of her mouth, he’s dumbfounded into silence. Staring wide-eyed at her, blinking occasionally as he tries to discern what is going on. Part of him wants to ask Neil, but he’s not in a kind of position where he can ask. Plus, Neil’s presence is so weak that it would be a risk to have him try to make his presence profound enough to ask.
Maybe people simply have retained memory of him from before. Maybe he’s overthinking it. It’s never happened before, but...
“Th-That so?” he asks with a nervous laugh. “I lose track of time these days.”
Kent really believes that heis putting forth his absolute great effort into assisting the one that hadasked him for tutoring. He hadn’t been sure as to his motivations behindaccepting, when it likely would have been more efficient to reject him, buthere they are. There had to be work around both of their work schedules, and atleast this private tutoring sessionwould help him get better at communicating things for the larger population. He does trulywish to help, but it’s actually more difficult for himself to understand if he tries to “simplify” it more – but isthat what’s necessary?
He’s trying, positively so,but his expectations are rested on someone getting it without much struggle. Sometimesan expert in one field simply can’tteach everyone, despite the idea of taking up tutoring being just that. Giving up would be embarrassing, perhaps but the reputation end wasn’t it. He justdidn’t want to leave a promise so carelessly unresolved.
Where is the balance in thisequation? It should be Tutor plus Student equals Improvement, but is thatreally what’s happening? In all accounts, it should have been just that, butthat’s not the case, still. Is it his own incompetence, Kent asks himself, orthe lack of correlation that skills relay on that Ukyou might just have.
“I am notinclined to quit unless you request that of me. Addition allows numbers tobecome larger by allowing the combination of the two. Instead of having two fives you would have one ten.”Kent states, choosing to leave the numbers much smaller this time, in thebelief that perhaps words would add to sense. Should he use a method that herecalls of teachers from primary schooling? But no, that would only assist forsingle digits, really…
If calling it a “column thing”helped Ukyou, then so be it. “Correct.Simply combine the two numbers intoone. Subtraction is the opposite of addition take away a smaller number from a larger number to get the remainder.”
Next on the list was… multiplication. He sighs, but this isfar from over.
How can he explain thiscorrectly? Using addition could be abasis, but he’s have to presume that Ukyou’s handle on the subject issufficient enough now. “Multiplication is similar to addition.The second number in the problem is how many times you add the first number to itself. If you have five times five the solution is to take five and perform addition of itself fivetimes, leaving you with twenty-five.”It was a longer explanation, but one that shouldmake sense.
Ukyo is thankful that Kent, despite his exasperation with Ukyo’s (even more so apparent after coming this far) inability, isn’t going to simply quit. He expected as much, of course - he doesn’t see Kent as a man to take the things he has truly committed too so lightly, but Ukyo knows how intolerable someone who is useless can be. Since that is, by all means, him at almost anything except photography. Unless it was him - then the photography was bad but his cleaning skills were supreme.
Well, he can’t be an all-rounder, but at least he’s not left with nothing when he has no proper math knowledge. Though that’s currently being combated - Ukyo is learning. He does (mostly) get addition, even if he’s not that quick at it in those double digits. But he did already have the basics down with small, small numbers - so that was a plus in his mind. Or, well, it was supposed to have made Kent’s job a little easier. But that’s questionable.
Regardless, he pays close attention to what Kent says - even if his expression easily gives signs when something is getting out of his depth, he does his best to wrap his head around his tutor’s words. Intently focused on the explanation for multiplication, there’s understanding thanks to the lessons having taken place thus far. Now that Kent has stopped talking, he nods - making notes as he repeats what was told to him in drips and drabs, processing his understanding.
“Adding the number to itself as many times as necessary...” That makes sense, the concept is at least understandable and it makes him feel confident enough to smile as he looks at the basic problems Kent has provided him with on his beginners worksheet. But, as usual it’s when he reaches those dastardly doubt digits he’s definitely stuck again. He still gets the concept, but there’s only so many times he can remember how many times he’s counted to add the same number to itself over and over - especially in his head. So he doesn’t even try, and looks to Kent for further explanation.
If the man regularly did longer and more complex equations, there must be a faster way to do this.
It’s just after noon when her shift ends and she steps outside of Meido no Hitsuji into the autumn sunlight. The breeze rushes by – tousling her hair and caressing her upturned face. The forecast that morning threatened the possibility of chillier weather later in the evening, but her warm cardigan and thick leggings are enough to keep her comfortable for the time-being. And if it’s up to her, she’ll already be safely tucked inside in the arms of the man she loves after sunset when the temperature is expected to drop.
For a week day, she finds it surprisingly busy as, more than once, she has to navigate around people standing in the middle of the walkway or avoid running into strangers who aren’t quite watching where they are going. One unfortunate collision could be disastrous for the bentou she has clutched in her hands; most of the food would be fine, but Waka gave her a container of freshly-made custard pudding just in case the man who is waiting for her at the park is the rougher side of her boyfriend. She smiles thinking about him – how someone so terse can easily be appeased with sweets.
She wonders what kind of greeting will be waiting for her when she finally reaches the park where they agreed to meet for their date. Will he rush up to her with loving words spilling out of his mouth faster than he can actually speak, or will he cast a sulky glare in her direction with halfhearted complaints about how she is late? Both scenarios appeal to her, and her excitement at seeing which side of Ukyo is waiting for her only urges her feet to move faster.
When she reaches the edge of the park, the sound of laughing children meet her ears; naturally, parents with little ones not yet in school would want to take advantage of the nice weather while they can. She finds the noise pleasant and absently begins smiling to herself as her mind momentarily wanders ahead to thoughts of the future. Will they one day be able to count themselves among the parents who visit this very park with their own children? As warm as the idea makes her heart feel, she lightly scolds herself. She’s still in university and she and Ukyo don’t even live together yet; they have a long way to go before their life is blessed with the pitter-patter of baby feet.
Right now, she has a lunch date to keep with her boyfriend, so she slows her pace and glances around to see if she can spot him in the immediate area. In the distance, she thinks she catches a glimpse of striking green hair and she hurries toward it. What happens next is so humiliating, so mortifying, so…unfortunate.
She doesn’t see the toy in her path until it’s too late and she is airborne for several seconds before landing face-first in a soft patch of grass about a meter away. Frantically, she reaches behind her to adjust her skirt for modesty’s sake even though she’s perfectly clothed thanks to the leggings beneath it.
And then it dawns on her. Her hands are empty.
Her hands are empty!
The lunch she had lovingly made and protected had flown out of her hands when she tripped and was probably who-knows-where by now. If ever the earth felt so inclined to open up and swallow someone, now would have been a pretty good time.
There’s a gentle sigh that mixes in with the wind, terse and impatient, he had insisted that he should greet her--but the more he waits around the more he thinks it wasn’t such a good idea to even bother agreeing. Not that he doesn’t want to see her, but... he groans with mild frustration as another small voice calls out to him. A young boy that wants to play with him--not the first one since he came here, either. Apparently he often played with small children while he was here (though actually it’s more like he’s picked on by them), but somehow despite his reluctance he cant quite bring himself to be harsh to a child.
It’s a little bit frustrating.
And yet the child doesn’t seem bothered by his (half-hearted) disinterest. For a time, he’s encouraged to chase the child. Very briefly, he carried him on his shoulders. That was until he felt like complaining the child was too heavy and that he should ‘be a big boy’ and walk himself. At least it ended with the child getting down safely, unlike the collapsing of him losing his balance all the damn time (though he was aware enough to ensure that the child landed atop him, rather than risk any harm). Ukyo sighs, relieved, when the child has to leave with his mother.
The boy waves, but he doesn’t wave back.
He clicks his tongue, somehow more bitter for the fact his bitterness hadn’t dissuaded a child. Half of them tended to cry in his presence. Innocence. Ignorance. A dangerous combination of both somehow had his guard down for at least thirty minutes. Nobody was going to find out. It passed the time at least, as he was waiting for her to finish work. He’d already been in town, and didn’t see a point in returning home just to simply come to meet her--which is why he ended up here somewhat early. A lot actually. Like, a solid hour.
Ukyo is looking toward the sky on the horizon, when the event transpires behind him. He’s wondering why he can somehow take better photographs than he does, when they’re the same. It’s not like he doesn’t appreciate the same views... but, well, there’s distinct differences. Maybe photography just requires that pure view he doesn’t have. At least unlike someone he can actually do laundry and clean properly. Still, the moment he hears a thud, he’s spinning on his heels. Surprised that his first thought had been the safety of a child. But when he sees the form on the ground he almost laughs instead.
The box she had been carrying had ended up a good few feet in front of her, and he makes his way over with only a mild concern in his step. He picks it up on his way--while she gets herself off the floor--and is already quite aware of what was meant to be in it. Though frankly even if it might have been tossed around a little, it wasn’t as though the contents had spilled anywhere. He thrusts the bento back into her hands, reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handkerchief. Without a word he settles a hand atop her head while the other wipes the dirt off of her skin. “Idiot.” he mutters. “Even a child could manage a fall more graceful than that.”
Ukyo takes a step back as he’s pressed, mostly out of sheer curiosity. He’s amused she still has the ability to stand, let alone retain the will to take some charge--perhaps she is too used to these things already, but it’s no less interesting. In fact, he wants to know what crafty scheme she has in mind. Admittedly, the guide towards the bed is something of a relief--as much as he would drive her into the wall, the bed is far more comfortable and they have plenty of time. Nobody said that they couldn’t go more than one round. At the very least, a shower would again be necessary after. He accepts her desires--she is the only person this side of him would ever consider succumbing to; because he is as much hers as she is his--and he seats himself on the edge of the bed as encouraged.
It’s not difficult, of course, for him to see where this is going. It wouldn’t be the first time, but he wonders if it’s something he can truly get used to--his body always reacts involuntarily, and it’s because of her. Nobody else could break him down so easily, though he refuses to acknowledge that fact aloud regardless--but she probably knows. She would know. She does know, and that’s why she persists. But this might just be more entertaining now that there’s a mutual effort being made between three of them, and not just two. His arrogant mindset doesn’t last long, when she engulfs him in her mouth--the warm and wet heat a sensation that sends an immediate shiver down his spine.
His tolerance of pain turns actions that others might seem as suffering into pleasure--nails, dragged along his length, that would cause any other to recoil or hiss in pain, forces him to jolt and let loose the ragged breath he’d been holding back. Gentle movements soon turn merciless, and he can do little but subject himself to the pleasing torture, but his plan is already in motion--their plan, is already in motion. For all he is coming undone, there’s no audible signs--that’s just how he is; sighing, controlling what he can of himself, and balancing himself upright with hands splayed on the sheets.
And yet within an instant, there’s an audible moan; calmness turned to desperation as sheets are pulled into clenching fists and his hips rock with each movement. “Ah, w-wait--!!” his voice, reverted to that gentle self, is higher, fretful, the actions having reached a point far further than he can usually handle and he’s overwhelmed in an instant. He hunches over, trembles and shakes, as one of his hands grasp for her head--she won’t stop, and he won’t push, but he won’t pull her away either. He tenses up, and comes in her mouth with a cry of her name as she continues until there’s nothing left. But even then, he twitches in aftershocks, breath heavy and panting. “A-Are you okay?” he asks, looking down at her with a gentle and wry smile. “I--um--I wasn’t expecting that... much...” he admits shyly, the end of his sentence an embarrassed murmur, and his hand not upon her head moves to rub at the back of his own.
But that’s the not the biggest issue, and he knows it. He uses both his hands to take her own, and pulls her up from the floor, towards him. He admittedly feels incredibly spent, but he encourages her to sit upon his lap nonetheless, and runs his fingers through her hair with a smile before he leans in to kiss her gently. He doesn’t stop at one though, as he soon places many light butterfly kisses over her face; his hands trail over her body delicately, treasuring the soft touch of her pliant and pale skin beneath them. “I love you,” he whispers, leaning in to nip softly at her neck and shoulder. “You’re beautiful, precious, wonderful--not even my photographs of you can compare.” And that’s the truth, though it doesn’t stop him persistently snapping them even when she doesn’t want him to. But he simply wants to treasure what he can of her, keep what he can of her.
His hands slide up her thighs, and even he has to chuckle when she shivers; he loves to spend his time cherishing and worshiping her, but he knows making her wait is a tease--and unlike his other self he doesn’t like to test her boundaries so much.
One hand securely placed at her back to keep her from the risk of falling, he leans down to trail kisses to her chest; the hand left on her thigh resumes movement, slipping between her legs with practiced ease. There’s no denying he’s still shy, still cautious of every action he takes, but he’s learned not to fear hurting her--after all if she can tame that wild side of him, if she can take what he dishes out, there’s nothing he needs to worry about. But still, he wants to take his time to savor and respect her; without her he’d have no life worth living, and that is something he’s certain of--no matter how dramatic it may sound to some. And she knows it, too. Ukyo didn’t go through what he did on a whim; didn’t lose his life or watch her lose hers countless times--with memories of every single death still etched into every fiber of his being--for someone he’d consider anything less than the meaning to his life. She’s the embodiment of perfection, of what he’s gained, lost, loved, and chosen to live for. Heart, and soul, and she is finally, finally, his.
He pulls away and blinks, caught in shock as he feels the wet warmth descending his cheek. “Haha...” he smiles, despite the tears that roll down his cheeks, “I really do love you.” And he has a job to finish; he buries his face in the crook of her neck and pushes a slender, curved, finger inside of her. He chides himself a little for always being such a crybaby, but the thoughts of ever losing her are soon replaced by the gentle and beautiful sounds she always makes, and what is more important than that? He’d kiss her, but that would quiet her--muffle her--and he doesn’t want that. It can wait. It’ll have to wait. But now he feels a sense of urgency to finish her, and moments later a second finger joins the first.
Just listening to her is always enough; he thinks the same in any regular conversation, but this too is blissful joy--the way she says his name, the way she holds him, unlike normal these are sights and sounds solely for him. Though he supposes that works the other way around, too. He finds himself chuckling softly, and plants more gentle kisses at the nape of her neck and across her shoulder.
This is enough, he thinks.
Kisses turn to bites, and the arm at her back holds her more possessively. There’s no mistaking the presence. Fingers push deeper, move faster, curl harshly, and as his lips graze her ear he growls lowly “come for me.”
I’ve been rereading through threads I’ve done with @distortedjoker, and Ukyo “(still twinkling in red, green and blue)” will never not be funny to me. Just the image of Ukyo tangled up in Christmas lights because he got distracted dancing to Christmas music and fell down brings a smile to my face. His absentmindedness is so endearing…and worrisome.
There is no denying the latent capabilities of the rather strange but present Ukyou, the oddity being solely in the behavior of the man, he seems quite intriguing otherwise, at the very least. Any person who could pick up on a multitude of languages with ease displays intelligence, but will and reliability, responsibility, motivation play factors of undeniable proportions.
When it comes to Kent’s subject of specialty - mathematics - Ukyou, unfortunately, lacks. It’s really almost as it Ukyou has no hope, absolutely none. Kent preserves through this challenge, though. If he doesn’t, then what would have been the point in using up his previous hours of time? Let them go to waste? Never.
Kent takes breath, deep and certainly elongated on the exhale. “Ukyou, must I explain this again? Were my words lacking clarity? Honestly, the phrasing could not have been simpler.” Well, it could have, but Kent feels as though he’s eased it up quite a bit. There is a pause, short but absent of anything sweet in the assurance and respiration of a ‘break.’ “Again, what is it you’re not understanding?”
When had Kent decided that this was going to add up to be a good idea? For this headache? Beneficial? In practice, perhaps, but… He supposes that as an occasional lecturer, he must prepare for the need to meet the average level of clarification. Now’s as good of a– no, actually, it is more of one of the few times ‘private tutoring’ has really been taken up by Kent, as far as recent ‘adventures’ went.
Ukyo really wanted to get better when it came to math. Though not entirely his fault that he lacks the skill and methods to handle calculations once they reach those dreaded double digits, he has come to terms with the fact that he’s the one who’s got to do something about it. Going back to school at the age of twenty-four... that didn’t quite seem appealing--besides, he had a job.
But! He has been rather lucky; getting to know the people around her, personally and not based from previous experiences, he was able to request Kent aid him. Granted, even with their... (he does wonder if it’s okay to call it a ‘friendship’ at this point) closer terms, he had on some level expected Kent to reject. After all, there’s little he gains from doing this--and it’s not as though Ukyo is unaware of how busy the man is on a regular basis.
Still, it’s happening: Though as Ukyo tries to intently listen to explanations that feel far too long-winded to be simple mathematics, he’s only growing more confused. And maybe it’s him who for a second has to wonder if Kent was the right person to ask. No, this man was an expert. And learning from experts was always the most efficient... most of the time.
Kent’s explanations do grow shorter--but it doesn’t feel like they’ve gotten any less complex. Ukyo has to remind himself that this is, for all intense purposes, supposed to be teaching him something easy. Something that kids know.
Is he really this clueless and dumb? Or are Kent’s explanations somehow the reason it doesn’t make sense?
Maybe it’s a bit of both. There’s no denying he sucks at this, but Kent certainly isn’t making it as easy as his exasperation seems to think. “Just one more time! I’ll get it eventually, so please explain just once more...”
“I mean, I think I get the adding part now... mostly. You just have to use this column thing, right? But...” Multiplication? He doesn’t even know where to begin.
“I wonder…” she musesin a hushed voice, threading her fingers with his as they lay in bed together.Their hands rest, intertwined, between their bodies atop the blankets tuckedsnugly around them. It’s still the early hours of the morning, and dreamingpeacefully on each of their chests are the twins – finally released from thehospital after three long days of waiting to welcome them home.
For a moment, she slips away from her train of thought as thefingers of her free hand deftly smooth out a wrinkle in her son’s mint colored swaddling.“Mmm, as I was saying though…” shecontinues as if she had never paused. Her voice is thick with the threat ofsleep, but she’s too stubborn to give in just yet – wanting to share with Ukyoa thought that strikes her as being so profoundly eye-opening in her state ofexhaustion. “When we first met that Marchbefore I started university, I was certain beyond any doubt I loved you, andwhen we were forced to part without being able to exchange contact information,my heart broke. Every day I thought about you; I always looked at the picturesof you on my cell phone; I’d say your name just because I loved the feel of iton my tongue and the sound of it to my ears. Each night before I went to sleep,I’d gaze out my window and send out a silent prayer to anyone who was listeningto bring you back to me. Then July came, and with it, you walked back into mylife, and for the first time, I believed stars really could grant wishes.”
She knows now that stars don’t grant wishes, but she can’tsuppress the fond smile that upturns the corners of her mouth. Softly, she givesUkyo’s hand a squeeze; there’s not much else either one of them can do in theircurrent position. “Of course, we knowbetter now, and I was just wondering, do you think a spirit heard my—no, our—wishand brought us back together?” She doesn’t give him time to answer thoughas she’s already moved on to what could be a realization she’s ashamed to admitshe hadn’t considered until that quiet morning surrounded by their perfectlittle family. “What about Neil? What ifNeil was the one who brought us together again? And what if that’s why Neilcame…to…you…when…” Her words end there as sleep finally claims her, but itshould be enough for Ukyo to understand her meaning.
Ukyo still sometimes finds himself caught up in a disbelief, a disbelief that this reality of his is real. But it is, and the hell they have both been through to get here only confirms it. Truly, even in his final moments of his last chance--he’d come to accept that they would never be together; he’d accepted those few years ago that it would be enough to just have her live on, smile, and find a new happiness for herself. But now, as he casts his eyes to the children, his children, sleeping soundly atop the both of them--he knows he’d never truly wanted it to end that way. There’s not a thing in this world he’d trade for the life he had, or has. Even now, his skin will crawl over the memories; over the dark past, and the gruesome things that happened within it. But even those are important--that entire journey was important, and he’ll never forget it.
But, he has other things to focus on now; his wife, his children, his work, that side of himself that seems to enjoy redoing all the housework even when it’s already been done--a terrible perfectionist, he really was. Still, even that made him laugh at times. Because, in a sense, it always meant he was never alone. There’s trouble sometimes, perhaps, when he gets a little mad but even with her at his side the two sides of him still find themselves exchanging useful notes. Sometimes even discussing the best gift to get for her next birthday--because they have very differing ideas... and, well, she usually ended up with two from him because of it.
His eyes are closed when she begins talking--he’s not even sure when he’d closed them, but her words pulled him away from the throes of sleep and he listened quietly. His thumb gently caressed her hand where they were held so tightly together between them, as he lay in silence hanging on every word as she spoke of the past. A past that felt even further away to him, than it might have to her--but that didn’t mean he couldn’t recollect it any less vividly. He smiles as the memories flash through his mind--each photograph he’d taken that day is still kept with him. Her startled expressions when his camera would flash out of nowhere, or the smiles she offered when she knew just what was coming--toward the end of the day, the smile never seemed to even leave her face at all.
Perhaps it was then, too, for him?
When they reunited... he was elated. He’d told himself somewhere along the way, that if it was something meant to be then they would meet again. And they did. Her diligent wishing made him feel almost feeble--he wasn’t quite so profuse with his desires, but every time he caught a glimpse of her photograph, or even if he just thought about her, he’d think how nice it would be to see her again--to speak with her again, and hope that one day it could happen. Was hope and faith the same as wishing? Perhaps not, but he supposed that not giving up on the idea was similar to the feelings he had every time he failed. Every time she eluded his grasp he prayed, wished, hoped and refused to give up. He’s about to respond, now that his thoughts are in order--but the silence is broken just as quickly as it fell as she speaks as though she’s realised something.
Neil... He had done so much, to the point of using up almost every last bit of his power to see this wish through. A selfish wish born from desperation and an intense love--one that never changed or wavered--and yet Neil had been so dedicated. They would never know the answer; he doubted Neil would tell them, he was more likely to play it off than speak of meddling, but Ukyo thought the idea wasn’t perhaps all that strange. Ukyo didn’t really have a reason to come here after all; if one compared this place to the sights of Paris’ Eiffel Tower, or London’s Big Ben, or even to the skyscrapers of Tokyo, this city didn’t have much to offer beyond it’s simpler beauty in the sunset.
But he’d still come here, when he could have traveled anywhere else in the world as he usually did. If that wasn’t the hand of the powers that be at play, be fate, destiny, or even Neil--then he didn’t know what it was. But... he turns his head to look at her, now that she’s dozed off. He can’t move to kiss her with the child laying upon his chest, but he still finds himself chuckling gently and smiling brightly. All that matters is that they’ve both here now, and that he was, is, and forever will be, head over heels for this woman. No matter what brought them together, no matter what will come between them in the future, he will always give her everything he is.
“I love you.” he whispers, “more than anything in the world,” he adds, pauses, looking to his chest and reaching with his free hand to stroke his daughter’s cheek lightly, “I love all of you more than anything or anyone.”
I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity, and her flaming self-respect. And it’s these things I’d believe in, even if the whole world indulged in wild suspicions that she wasn’t all she should be. I love her and that’s the beginning and end of everything.
F. Scott Fitzgerald, ”Letter to Isabelle Amorous”, Feb 1920
(via thelovejournals)
When I say, I love you, it’s not because I want you or because I can’t have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I’ve seen your kindness and your strength. I’ve seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are.
That feeling when Amnesia (main, supporting and minor) characters get so much heat for their actions even though an anomaly has entered their respective worlds and caused an imbalance that influences their negative feelings in a way they have no control over. That feeling when they also have doubt and suspicion cast on them despite a person completing all the routes and knowing that in certain worlds they hold no ill-will toward the heroine and genuinely treasure and value her as someone precious. And further more, that feeling when people ignore details that explain why certain things happen just so they can have a reason to trash the characters they hate despite the fact other people have taken the time to elaborate on these very aspects in a thorough manner so the misunderstandings and confusion can be cleared up.
Bravo let out an exasperated sigh and looked away. “Alright alright jeez…” She sighed heavily wanting to say alot more. Something like “Screw the other Ukyo! You don’t have to worry about him! Heck if I had my powers, I’d be able to kick his butt!” or “You should take me more seriously!” She decided not to, to avoid argument though.
“Well I’m glad nothing bad will happen at least.” She sighed. “When she has to go though…I wouldn’t mind keeping you company.” Maybe if Ukyo didn’t feel as lonely or sad, it would give him some reassurance and make him feel better about the situation. “I could tell you about my world some more, if you want!”
Bravo could understand his dislike towards the idea. She wished he understood it better. “Um..” She looks up and tries to look where he’s looking. There wasn’t anything wrong there. “Ah..Nemu is a cute name.” She smiled. “Don’t worry, we’ll save her.”
Ukyo sighed a little, in relief this time, that at least his words were listened to. He didn’t know anything about the girl--maybe it was unfair to assume things, but he knew how dangerous he was. How relentless he was at those times; and it’s those what could happen at those times he doesn’t want to think about: The best way to do that? Make sure the scenario was avoided entirely. It had worked so far when he’d kept his distance, so for now that’s how he wants to deal with it.
He smiles at her offer, he’s not sure how much better it makes him feel when his life is just as much at risk of accidents (he really doesn’t want to drag someone into a nasty death of his own) but he nods. Because maybe it’s okay, just for a while, to be a little bit selfish. He is undeniably lonely, and at times just that can be enough to consume him. “I wouldn’t mind that, if you’re offering. It’d be nice to hear a new story.”
“Thank you,” he says, turning his focus back to the other. “I... definitely won’t give up hope.”
