(closed) close your tired eyes, relax and then

[sasaeru]

WHO: Gran and Ulvida
WHERE: De Chima government houses, in front of #2
WHEN: October 1, evening.
WHAT: Ulvida has just arrived and isn't sure where to begin. Gran comes across her on the way back from school.
WARNINGS: Spoilers for season 2 of Inazuma Eleven, mainly!

[It's still early in the evening, but apparently the sun goes down earlier at this time of year in this world, too. The sky is already dark and the entire street is flooded in color-draining orange light. In that light her hair is gray; her skin, clothes, and the envelope of papers in her hands are all the same, dull color that remind her of the darkness of Aliea's base. It's cold, too; it's not just evening, but it's almost winter in this world while she's dressed for the warm spring weather back in Japan. Her thin cardigan does nothing to keep her warm and she shivers as a chilly breeze picks up, making goosebumps rise up on her skin. Still, she doesn't make any move to step inside the house behind her.

De Chima, number two. They said it was hers; she can only think that they're wrong. This isn't her house, let alone her home. She could see signs of other people living in it already and that makes her want to go inside the building even less. These weren't her people.

Her people weren't there. Although, with what she was told about the war they expected her to fight, she's not sure if she would want them here either. They'd already been through enough at Kira's hands. They'd already been put through enough at the whim of adults. If the alternative was for somebody else to be here... she shivers again, but it's not just from the cold. The thought of Keeve, Wheeze, or Nero or Quill being here alone sends a strong chill down her back. No, it's best that it's nobody else is here. She could handle this. It isn't right to wish for someone else to be stuck here with her.

For a moment, just a brief moment, she thinks of the brilliant flash of red that was always there in the corner of her eye. And she has to close her eyes then to ignore how difficult it is, in that moment, to bear with the realization that the world around her is still colorless, still drowned out by the orange light, and she's alone. Drawing her legs up to her chest, she leans forward and drops her head on her knees. She'll have to go inside eventually before she freezes up, but what she would really like now would be for this all to be some terrible dream.]

Comments

[starlinings]

[He seems to melt into her arms the more she says that name. The one he always kept hidden in this world. Hiroto was his true self, he'd never deny that. But in a world that seemed to put everyone in a vulnerable state from the start, he had to keep one thing safe. One thing guarded from this world so that nothing could touch it. That name meant so much to him....Gran would be the armor for it. Gran would protect Hiroto.

But here, she says it, calling it out of hiding and he accepts it with no hesitation. Lips press into her shoulder, a smile forming there as he soaks in all the attention he can get from her. Letting it sink in that this might be real. And if it wasn't...he could just pretend for a few moments longer.]

It's okay, Reina. I'm here. I've been here.

...

When did you get here...?

[It's all he can think about. How long had she been out on this doorstep? Or even in this world? He hated to think for a moment that she'd been on her own for anything longer than a day and that he'd somehow missed her.]

[sasaeru]

[He's been here, he says. But for how long? She had understood from her strange guided tour earlier that this war wasn't just a recent one. It had been going on for a long time, and it was nowhere near close to ending. The government of this country called in people to help fight the war. People like her.

They wanted her to be a part of it -- if Hiroto is here, then he must be a part of it, too.

Her arms tighten around him, remembering the cold, dark years of being on Aliea where they were soldiers and nobody smiled, and presses her lips together tightly. He'd been here, without her. Without anybody. But she's here now, and she can be with him now.]

Today, [she answers simply. It had been morning, she thinks, but she was still a little disoriented at the time and she can't remember the details. She drops her forehead to his shoulder and closes her eyes to focus on how warm he is. It's comfortable, and comforting, to feel warm again.] I got dropped off here.

[starlinings]

Thank goodness.

[The thought of her being alone for any longer than that sent awful thoughts into his mind. He remembers how alone and out of sorts he felt here on his first day, quickly donning the mask that was Gran and protecting himself.

He feels her tighten her grip around him, and in turn, he provides her the pillar to keep herself on her metaphorical feet. He won't mention what currently had gone on--it'd worry her too much. But he can tell just from the grip she had on him that she'd already started to.]

My house is a few down the road from here.


Reina, please come with me, if only for tonight.

[sasaeru]

Mm.

[So that's why he was here. That's an explanation to a question she hasn't even asked, yet. She nods in response to his request; she couldn't imagine not going with him now that they've found each other. She knows that this house is where she's expected to stay, but she doesn't want to. Not tonight, not yet.

She finally pulls back, but only enough so she can see his face.]

I didn't think I would see you here.

[starlinings]

[It's hard to keep tears back this whole time, batting them furiously to keep them at bay only for them to pool around the edges of his eyelids anyway. He's just...so happy to see her. So happy to see anyone from Ohisama-en...

He wouldn't wish this on anyone, but it filled a lonely part of his heart.

Using the bottom part of his palm, he wipes away one of his eyes, catching his breath and regaining his composure.]

I didn't think I'd see you, either.


It feels so long already since I last saw you.

[sasaeru]

[Hiroto wipes away one of his eyes. Reina is reaching up to wipe the tears of his other. She's not crying yet, but her eyes aren't dry either; in the dim glow of the streetlight above them, he'll able to see how her eyes shine. She hadn't been away from him as long as he has been from everybody, but even those few hours had reminded of how terrible loneliness was.

This is okay, she tells herself. They've been through terrible things. Neither of them wanted to go through more terrible things, but at least they're together. Her hand lingers by his face before her palm presses against his cheek, cool to the touch but warm and gentle at the same time.]

I guess we can't get rid of each other.

[As she says so, there's a small, nearly undetectable curl to her lips. It's only for him to see.]

[starlinings]

[The gentle touch was almost too much to take. It'd seemed like forever since he'd felt a gesture like that, eyes widening as he feels those tears brushed by soft fingers. He hadn't realized just how much he missed everyone until that point. There'd be nights when he'd come home to a quiet house, feeling the sinking hole of loneliness open up in his heart a little more.

Were it not for Kidou...he might've collapsed in on himself.

But now he feels like he can stand again, a piece of his heart returned to him.

And when she says that...well, it's rather fitting, isn't it?]

I suppose not.

It's a good thing I don't want to.

[It's soft, but that cheek leans into her touch, just for a moment to soak in that feeling. Even if this was a dream, he'd cherish it.]

[sasaeru]

[She's sure she isn't dreaming. She would hate if she were. But the feel of Hiroto's cheek against her hand and the tickle of his hair falling over her skin, the sound of hire breath and the crinkle of his eyes when he smiles -- they're so clear to her, she's sure they must be real. She'll believe it is until she's proven wrong.]

We've got something in common, then. I'm here, now.

... Let's go inside. I've been out here long enough.

[starlinings]

[That confirmation is enough to light his face up like the sun, lighting up the area more than that streetlamp ever could. A soft laugh escapes, soaking in those words as he takes her arms, moving to pull her into a standing position.]

It's just this way.

Not too far down from where you are.

[sasaeru]

[She follows easily; the smallest tugs and the gentlest nudges from him will be enough to tell her which way to go, and she's soon standing beside him, albeit a lot closer than they had gotten used to in the past few years.]

Is that where they put you?

[starlinings]

[It's like a familiar glove, walking alongside her as they head down the sidewalk. Thankfully, De Chima 007 was on the same side of the street as hers. They didn't even have to cross the street to get to each other.]

Mm.

It almost feels like fate, you being so close.

[sasaeru]

[She keeps close to them as they walk. He's not the sort of person to radiate body heat, but it blocked the wind from one side. It's only a short walk, so she doesn't say anything about it and focuses instead on his words.]

...

[She doesn't know how to respond sincerely without revealing too much, so she sighs, then shakes her head instead.]

If you've been lazy taking care of yourself, you won't get away with it now.

[starlinings]

[Her own get a soft little chuckle out of him, one he only used when in the vicinity of his closest friends and family. One that could be likened to Gran a little bit--the more confident, positive parts of his personality.]

I've been doing my best.

[Although, given his roommates, that's not exactly a vote of confidence. Good thing Reina won't find out about that just yet.]

[sasaeru]

[His best. A sidelong glance may give away the fact that she's trying to gauge exactly what his "best" entails, but deciding that she will find out inevitably sooner or later, she simply nods and walks along besides him, opting instead to call his name one more time.]

Hiroto.

[starlinings]

Hmm?

[It's soft, but curious enough.]


Reina?

[sasaeru]

[A shoulder bumps gently into his.]

Thank you for finding me.

[starlinings]

[Her words reach his heart, green eyes trailing down to where their shoulders touch.

It's then that it hits him.


That all of this is real. And he answers in the only way he knows how to. By giving what he believes is rightful credit.]


You found me.

[sasaeru]

[His reply prompts a smile. A faint one, nearly hidden in the dimness around them.]

I'll always find you, wherever you go. I'm always looking to you. [He'd always been her Northern Star, after all.]