And Here We Are Again [Closed/Sekai]

How many hours had passed since she'd found herself here?

The ruins of the mistress' house, the once cheerful home with its pale yellow walls and warm pine floorboards, with their broken, twisted picture frames and fragments of glass juxtaposed against a background of crumbled plaster, dry wall, and wooden beams with half rotted furniture yet to be cleared up. She'd waded through the mess, picked through or seamlessly moved through it like it was nothing more than water to find herself a tucked in little alcove of half-collapsed wall to hide herself under for the last two evenings.

Not here.

She hadn't found her in three whole days and she was starting to worry that one of those awful people had found her.

Her head rested against a mildew smelling piece of dry wall. Exhausted, the fever was finally starting to break after being high enough she'd hallucinated her wife leading her through one of the parks, through out the rubble and ruins of the restricted access zone, and outside of it until they'd reached this residential area.

And nothing after that.

She would know, she waited for her again. And again. And again. Every morning and night fall.

Sakuya never came back for her.

Her wounds made her cringe, muscles stiff and aching from the hunched over huddle she'd been in from the night previous. Needed to get out of the ruins and go look around again to make sure she wasn't lurking somewhere, watching, and waiting to pounce some unsuspecting individu--

Pressure flared, brushed against the edges of her own in warm welcome and friendly intent. Familiar, it hadn't been so long ago that the three of them had had none but one another and the thousands of Hollow that roamed that land of eternal night. His in particular she'd felt right as Ama- Severance had thrown him through a portal with a spiteful vengeance that had surprised her to be rid of him.

Swallowing hard, she swayed indecisively. Should she let him know, risk it being a trap? Should she just disappear and go away again, hoping he wouldn't think to follow or look for her further? Trembling, the desperation in her stretched out and let the smallest wisp of her own pressure, tightly, too tightly restrained, reach out in response and let him know she'd felt him-- and what direction she was in.

Maybe... maybe for just a few minutes, she could talk with someone who knew, who could kind of understand why everything wasn't okay anymore and why it just... that living normally didn't seem to work.

She crept from the rubble of her hiding spot, bloodshot brown eyes darted to each side in near paranoia to ensure the coast was clear, tried to move slow and deliberately to make sure she didn't disturb anything, or anyone, who might be nearby.

If she didn't make a sound, she wouldn't get caught, and if she didn't get caught, they couldn't hurt her anymore.

She hid behind the remnants of someone's storage shed, changed into the last set of clean clothing she had in her bag with shaking hands and a whimper as the wound on her shoulder reopened, oozed blood through the reddish-brown scabs that cracked. She couldn't afford to heal it, not when there were so many spiritually powerful people around. Not when she was being hunted by Shinigami and those others alike.

She couldn't risk it.

Couldn't risk anyone coming to find her and having to fight for her life again. Stupid jerk and his weird chainsaw lightsaber thing, she should have walloped him harder than she had.

Long charcoal colored skirt, long sleeved black turtleneck and the remnants of a pale blue scarf wrapped around her neck, she almost looked presentable and like everything was normal save for the dirt across her cheek, and the wild mess that was the long, wavy white hair she was trying to finger comb, having forgotten which pocket she'd stuffed her brush into.

She gave up and turned the tangled nest of fluffy hair into something resembling a somewhat intentionally messy braid while she waited.

He wouldn't do anything bad to her, right?

...should she make sure Asgard was ready to defend her?

--

WC: 707
GP: 14

He felt incredibly giddy as the presence made a bit more of itself known. Now he was certain, he’d been fairly sure the first time but now he was certain and he made his way towards her with a degree of happiness that he could only liken to elation. He’d only ever been as equally happy to see Miss Kohaku, and wondered why in the world he was feeling this same happiness. But he decided it didn’t matter and moved towards Miss Fujimara.

It was difficult moving through the wreckage and remnants of old buildings and, more often than he’d wished, passed through some areas that elicited ghosts of memories to surface. Not to say that there weren’t already ghosts in most of these areas that he passed through. They were still stuck in probably half these places and made great fodder for hollows, though many of them had begun passing on, either due to Shinigami interference or hollow interference. He was hoping that it was the Shinigami, in this case; as much as he didn’t like or trust them, he felt that going to where the Shinigami went was better than being a mindless monster. He was getting closer…he could feel it.

The moment he turned a corner he saw her. She looked good, save for a small smudge on her cheek, and looked like she hadn’t slept in a while. He approached at a rather casual pace, not too fast, not too slow, and held his hands off to the side as though to embrace her in a hug, though he didn’t coming to a stop about two feet away from her and bowed.

“Fujimara-san!” he said with excitement in his voice. “It is wonderful to see you again! It’s been…what four? Five months?” He chuckled and said, “Not since whatever Amaya had become shoved me out of Las Noches, am I right? How have you been? You look pretty good. Doesn’t look like you’ve been sleeping much, though.” He felt as if he could detect…tension, from her. She was bothered by something, or maybe he was just reading too much into things. He was constantly doing that, unfortunately, though it was something that he was trying to stop. After all he had no definitive proof that something was wrong, just a feeling and his feelings didn’t have a history of helping him out much. His heart was beating fast, hoping that he hadn’t angered, or worse, scared her. He wanted to talk to someone that understood again.

Words: 401
GP: 8
Total: 25

Had it truly been four or five months since they'd returned?

The differences in their ability to adapt since their respective returns to human society as a whole seemed glaringly obvious in the eyes of the white haired woman at a loss for words. Dressed in dark slacks, a white dress shirt, a tie, and with a blazer slung over one shoulder as if he'd just gotten off of work, the tall American looked as if the time in Las Noches hadn't had any kind of adverse effect on him in the slightest. Relaxed, easygoing stride, and his arms came up as if she were a long time friend seen for the first time in so long-- and then switched to a proper bow instead.

He was thriving, she was, well, not.

She envied him, and wondered, not for the first time, if her inability to readjust meant that there was something genuinely wrong with her, and not other people.

Her hands came forward, fingers and palms pressed together at her thighs as she bowed deeply, the messy braid dangling nearly to the ground over her shoulder, in return. "I-it has been quite some time since our last meeting, yes, Laurent-san."

Aya... the last time she'd seen the woman was after that mysterious power surge and alteration to everything that the feisty woman, and her identical looking, more melancholy counterpart, had once been was during the invasion and rescue attempt by the group of humans. That black number was still etched into her back; a painful reminder of someone she'd yet to hear from since their last chaotic encounter.

A pained half-smile came in response. "I, um, apologize for not being able to stop her in that regard. I'm certain she was just... a little stressed out because of the circumstances. Aya-sama is truly a kind person once you get to know her a little." A little heavy handed on the tsun-tsun side of the personality spectrum, but given the Arrancar's position and what she suspected was a very sad and lonely life over all, Sekai found her company to be enjoyable and had privately wished that she could have spent a little more time in her company.

And it wasn't just because she'd been the only other female Arrancar she'd seen who'd been friendly, other than the child-like Xiaobei who wasn't quite an Arrancar at that point in time.

Brown eyes flicked off somewhere to the right as she straightened, hands still clasped together at her front. Her thumb traced small, nervous circles around the plain band around her left ring finger, took comfort in the way the warm metal slid against her skin.

Hesitated, should she admit to it, or should she try to play it off as if things were okay so that he wouldn't worry too much?

"It... has just been a trying last three or so weeks," She tried for a smile that wasn't as fake as the sort of sheepish tone she spoke with. "sleep simply has not come easily, though I am certain matters will change in time."

Or at all, when it came to being hunted by the liars who were supposed to protect humanity from the shadows.

A shake of her head, a better attempt at a more genuine smile. "How have you been since our last encounter, Laurent-san? You look as if you are doing well since your return."

--

WC: 570
GP: 11

There was a lot that was worrying him about her right now: what was she doing here? Why wasn’t she sleeping? What had happened to her? With an almost awkward feel to the situation, she returned his greeting, just before apologizing for being unable to stop the arrancar turned…something from pushing him back into the world. But when Sekai said Amaya was a kind person… Well Raph ignored that completely. She’d been the one that kidnapped him while she and that weird kid had duked it out in the almost completely destroyed city threatening MORE innocent lives. That whole situation made him sick, now that he could think about it with the benefit of hindsight. She moved on to sleep not readily coming and tried to sound optimistic about things getting better, but there was something in her tone that Raph just…couldn’t shake. It was an uneasy feeling.

Then came the difficult one, the question on how HE’D been doing. Outwards appearances would suggest rather well. He had two steady jobs of fair pay, a place to call his own and more than enough to keep him busy. Beneath this, however, was a different story. He was always afraid… But he couldn’t let her see that. He looked good, so he had to act good. Everything had to be perfect.

“Yeah! I’ve been doing pretty darn well. Adimus created the organization Vigilance. Internationally funded but coming under continuous scrutiny for so far failing to be able to stop a lot of recent catastrophes. We’re doing our best but we’re just getting stretched really thin. Without Adimus, Kohaku-san or Weylin around I’ve really had to pick up the slack! Then there’s the Kosa estate with Mr. Munashii and I just find myself running back and forth between both whenever I have the time for the other!” He sighed, wiped his brow and added, “Most of the time I don’t really get anything other than cursory chores done for either.” He had to get her away from here, at least for a little bit. It was a very dreary place with little in the way of homely accommodations.

“You hungry? Cuz I am starving! Whaddya say we go get some food? Get away from here for the time being? We could head to a restaurant and grab some breakfast or, if you’re not feeling the restaurant scene, we could swing by my place and I could make us some omelets! We need to do some catching up and there’s nothing like catching up over a meal!” He stopped for a minute, trying to sift through the many feelings in his head. “Well? Whaddya say? Wanna get some breakfast with me?” Maybe, if he could get her away from here, then things would seem less tense…maybe her mood would lighten. “I’ll take you on a tour of the Vigilance building too, if you’d like! You can see what boring stuff I get to do every day! Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like it isn’t important, but it is SO very tedious!” He held out his hand, his heartbeat had quickened and he hoped that she would join him, no matter how fast his heart was going now. She was another person, and she was worth it. Something told him she was, and he would listen to that something.

Words: 556
GP: 11
Total: 37

Hesitation was a costly thing.

In manner, in word, look, and feel and so much more in the other man's very being. To say the wrong thing, to make the wrong move would undo something tentative forming, shatter something so much more delicate and fragile than the single strand of a spider's web against a careless human hand gleaming in the cheerful sunlight somewhere off to their left. But there were things even he, who proceeded to list what was going so very well in his life, tried to conceal from her too watchful and weary gaze in his hesitation.

Tried, and failed.

She was not the one who would destroy the fabrication of a life going back to a normal kind of chaos. Allowing someone else to have that which she couldn't manage to grasp with her own two hands was the very least she could do. There was another out there whose hopes and precious illusions she had shattered with careless words and haste driven actions. She had broken him, and continued to reap the consequences that she had sowed.

There was no better repentance for what she had done than that of her own continued suffering and denial of that which she yearned for time and time over again.

"Vigilance?" Interest from a soft voice, the first stirring of something other than the polite formality in which she spoke and the weary mask of pleasant neutrality that the white haired woman struggled to maintain as she had been taught through the years of her childhood. So, the man who had retrieved her with Kohaku-san was from an organization full of people like themselves.

A wrench of the heart, pang of envy sweeping through her with troubling intensity and squeezed until her breath robbed itself from her lungs.

He was necessary, needed by those around him, even if it were something like menial labor or something along the lines of basic chores done.

What was that like-- to be a necessary part of another's world, to know that your disappearance, your absence would be noted by those around you, and that you could not be 'just another' body within a faceless crowd of people who would never matter?

What was it like to be someone whose existence was needed?

Decisions thrust into her hands, an over-eager offer that sent the many repercussions racing through her head. Outcomes upon outcomes poured in-- if it were the two of them, should something go wrong, it wouldn't cause a huge scene, she could eliminate him or another problem within a span of a few moments if she had to and make an even quicker getaway if his housing wasn't too modernized. But in public, there wouldn't be an opportunity for him to seize, a trap wouldn't be that easily set unless he already had contacts, people in place and would be just waiting for her to lower her guard down enough to launch some sort of attack.

If she went with his more personalized offer, it would leave her vulnerable and on edge.

If she went with the more common offer, it would leave them both out in the open for attack-- or would be a trap that would pit her desire not to hurt anyone-- any more people-- and would mean she would be an easy target.

Or, or; they would find her with him and attack him first, thinking him a threat in the same vein she happened to be.

What was she supposed to do...?

His hand outstretched toward her and she looked at it as if she'd never seen another hand in her life. Worse than that was the flash across her face of such yearning and the immediate wave of self-loathing and denial that slammed itself more brutally than any blade or fist could have into the depths of her soul. A man dying of thirst in the desert denying himself the one thing that could save his life could not have hurt more to see than the way she denied herself even the most basic of comforts in that moment.

Choose.

"S-something light would be preferable, if you do not mind being seen with me for a short time." Keep it together, indulge him long enough that he would leave satisfied and wouldn't spare another thought toward her in the hectic trials and triumphs of his life.

Not that food would last long in the chaotic pit that had become her stomach, turbulent and coiling and uncoiling in a knots that would leave her weeping in the dead of night when the pain grew too much to bear.

She didn't take his hand, holding both of hers up as if to prove a point with an all too genuinely embarrassed smile that still managed to look forced. "I, um, would prefer to find a place to wash my hands, if that is not too much to ask. I'm afraid that I am not... quite suitable for a handshake or much of anything else as of this moment, I'm sorry to say."

A small gesture and her hands dropped back to her sides. "Please, lead the way-- and allow me to treat, since I was most discourteous and forced you to come looking for me." It was a small thing she could do for him, endangering him as she was by simply agreeing to show up in public where they could be targeted.

The best thing she could do would be to disappear the moment they parted and never show herself before him again.

--

WC: 928
GP: 18

The time that it took for her answer was probably the most excruciating part of this entire exchange. The way that she stood, slightly concerned, slightly on edge…what had happened to her that had changed her this much? What could’ve occurred in the time that he was gone that could’ve changed the Sekai he remembered seeing, the dutiful yet polite, girl into such a paranoid one? Regardless it had to stop and he would do it.

She wanted a place to wash her hands? Hell, that could easily be arranged. There were a good few restaurants within walking distance that they could have their breakfast at, more where they would let her wash up a little bit too. It was good seeing her again, it really was and yet he couldn’t get over the fact that it had been nearly five months! That was insane! Time passed so quickly following life and death situations didn’t it?

“Forced you?” Raph asked a bit bewildered. He chuckled and then allowed the laugh to escape him. “You didn’t force me to do anything! I was heading into work early, sensed your presence and thought I’d come visit you. After all, it had been awhile since we spoke…or saw each other, for that matter!” His smile dropped just a little bit. “To be honest, I’m a little glad for the company. It’s been quite a while since I talked to anyone other than someone from Vigilance or Kosa. I was supposed to be at a meeting and am happy to miss it.”

Regardless off they went, without an additional argument or protestation from Raph or Kireon. He did truly feel an actual sense of elation at the thought of some kind of normalcy coming back into his life for a few minutes. After all the fighting, the death, the destruction… Well suffice to say that Raph was pretty happy for this time. He was happy that he could have this time with an old friend, someone that he could say he knew at least fairly well.

But what do you truly know about her? The idea was quick to fade from his mind. He might not’ve known a lot about her personal life, but he knew that she was a person and that, with everything that had happened and everything that would probably happen in the future, just a time like this, to sit down and eat would be invaluable to just about anyone.

Ten minutes away was a nice little restaurant that the two of them could sit down at, and as they approached it, Raph opened the door. “After you,” he said with a broad grin. “If you’re treating then holding the door is the least I can do, wouldn’t you say?”

Words: 462
GP: 8

A chuckle followed by a full on laugh-- amusement, and not in the cruel, or mocking, manner either-- startled her. Wide brown eyes stared up disbelieving at the blond haired human and the ease in which he seemed to carry himself around her. Anxiously studied his face, his reiatsu, anything that would allow her to find even the slightest bit of deception or ulterior motive behind the invitation.

No guilty conscience. No grim determination to end something that never should have begun, no twisted promises left unfulfilled or open to interpretation.

For better or worse; he was genuinely happy to see and meet with her again.

Something inside her shifted with a jagged edge that cut deeper than she would admit.

Vigilance... hadn't that been the name that Adimus-san had dropped at one point upon his arrival to save those who had been locked away in Las Noches? She thought Kosa was vaguely familiar as well, but couldn't quite place where she might have heard the name. If Vigilance was where Adimus-san, and Kohaku-san as well, were located... perhaps... perhaps that was why Raphael seemed so at ease and well adjusted.

"You... they will not be terribly angry or upset with your absence for this meeting?" A touch of consternation in her tone; the Japanese work ethic was world renown for their incredibly long work weeks and their dedication to making sure their company was successful on every level.

Perhaps Americans worked a bit differently there in Vigilance? Adimus-san was rumored to be from overseas...

She wondered what was it like to have that sense of safety and security-- of normality-- again. A burning ache in the pit of her stomach at the question that longed to escape. Envy, she recognized that bitter feeling with horror.

What an awful person she was, being jealous over something that someone had clearly worked so hard to get-- and deserved after everything he had been put through and survived those six months in another world entirely.

Self-loathing chewed at her, berated her with harsh words and more about how terrible she was for daring to resent anyone for their successes with the sins she had on her own two hands. Kept her quiet on the walk to the restaurant properly.

The grin on his face and the way he held the door open for her gave her reason to pause, blinking stupidly at him in confusion as his arm propped the door open and cheerful words penetrated the blackened haze over her thoughts.

Holding the door op-- oh.

Her face flushed pink, color rising high in her cheeks as she ducked her head in silent gratitude and hurried through the door with a mumbled "thank you" in gratitude. Glanced to the hostess, who took one look at Raphael and smiled, and felt the smile turn a little less when her gaze fell upon the grubby woman beside him.

"Two, please." She requested politely, startled the woman before her with the overly formal manner of speech and bowed briefly in response to the woman's own. Glanced over to the American and offered a wane smile.

"I will be but a moment, please do not hesitate to order while I am otherwise occupied." And slipped off into the women's restroom to do a little neatening up.

Attacked the unruly cloud of wavy white hair that spilled from the braid she'd woven the thick length into with brush and comb alike first and foremost. Winced at the snarls and knots she had to pry free with fingers and tool alike. Even wetting the brush, a trick she'd learned long ago, didn't even seem to help much in the way of taming it. Sekai privately vowed to find a way to make the damn thing cooperate even if it meant abusing her spiritual powers in order to accomplish the monumental task.

If she could tame the earth and forces of nature around her and utilize them, she could sure as hell find a way to control her own damn hair.

Face, hands, and other necessary places scrubbed pink with cold water, she shivered and leaned against the bathroom counter and stared at her own haunted reflection in the mirror. She looked more presentable now, sort of. Still nowhere near what she believed herself to need to look like, but a good deal improved compared to before.

"Don't ruin him too," she told her reflection, glared at the pale faced stranger in the mirror with her dark circles heavily shadowed beneath her eyes. "don't you dare bring him down to your level when he's finally found stability and a place where he belongs."

He hadn't done anything wrong; he was a victim, just like those in Karakura Town had been. Someone in the wrong place at the wrong time, that was all.

Satisfied that she had given herself a clear enough directive as to what not to do, she slipped away from the bathroom counter and headed for the table she could feel him sitting at. Corner booth, relatively private, but with a perfect view of the restaurant's going ons.

A wonderfully strategic seating location-- if they needed to jump into action in the case of an unexpected Hollow or Shinigami attack.

She wondered if he'd chosen it with that exact thought in mind.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting so long, Laurent-san," she bowed in quick apology and slid into her seat as quietly as possible. Still trying not to be seen, heard, or even noticed by those around her. "have you placed your order?"

She hoped he hadn't waited too long and had gone ahead as she had urged him to rather than waiting for her to finish up her business.

A clatter from the kitchen made her flinch.

She had forgotten just how loud the city and its high population could truly be on a busy morning. Forced the thought away with a slight smile.

Focus.

"How have you been faring in your time here? Has the Vigilance treated you kindly?" She inquired politely. Please, her eyes seemed to say, please give me something in the way of good news. Just one piece of light in the world that continued growing darker and darker as time stretched on.

Please, just one little piece of hope to hold on to.

–
WC: 1054
GP: 21

Raph explained that the meeting wasn’t terribly important and that the notes were typically emailed to him regardless as the two of them walked towards the café. Sekai, meanwhile, wasn’t as happy or, at least, didn’t seem to be happy; as if something bad had happened to her. But Raph wasn’t about to pry. He’d had friends with issues before and bringing them up was never a good thing. When they arrived at a good place to eat he held the door open for her, and was only slightly confused when she stopped for a second or two and simply stared at him. She smiled and walked through.

Once they were in she said that she was going to go and clean herself up a bit. It was something that he didn’t understand all that much, when people focused on their outward appearances, but who was he to judge. She also told him not to wait on her to order more than likely because she didn’t want to appear rude. When the hostess arrived, Raph pointed to a table in a nearby corner. Perfect place for keeping an eye on the restaurant and the outside goings on. He flipped through the menu a few times before finally deciding that he simply wanted a bowl of steamed rice and Miso soup with water to drink.

He was a few minutes waiting before she reappeared, having cleaned herself up a bit. He smiled at her return, happy that there was a bit of normalcy for the girl. Eating with old friends was practically always sure to be a good time.

Yet her question made him smile a bit. “Yeah! Vigilance has been pretty darn great, actually! I mean, the hours suck sometimes cuz I have to stay there for hours on end writing up the training regimen for the next day, or assigning tasks for certain recruits… But hey, training the next generation of “anti-terrorism agents” is a fulfilling and rewarding task. Not fun all the time, but ya know what they say if it was fun they’d call it play and not work!” He laughed a little bit before the waitress returned with a cup of water and a bowl of Miso soup telling him that the rice would be out momentarily before turning to Sekai and asking her what she wanted.

“Choose whatever you want!” Raph said. “Consider this my treat for agreeing to come get some breakfast.” It was good to be eating with old friends. Even when times changed, even when people changed some things didn’t; some things at least, one could hold onto and they’d stay the same. There was little in the world that didn’t change or become altered by time, but at least some friends mighty stay the same.

Words: 464
GP: 9
Total: 17