Seventeenth Case

[charmcuffs.livejournal.com]

[ it's a beautiful day! The sun is shining, the monkeys are screeching, there's free cake at the inn and a giant banner that says (more or less) HAPPY BELATED ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY TEAR AND HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY KAITO. Because with Kaito's luck with birthdays, Kazuha isn't taking any chances this time. ]

Okay, so that's two cakes and presents, and the food's done, so that should take care of everything! I'm definitely gonna make sure nothing goes wrong this time! No crazy events, no... love nesting, and no fish in sight! This'll be the best birthday ever!!

... Wait, if we're celebrating Kaito-kun's again, then-- I skipped mine, didn't I?

((Yeah, Tear's anniversary present sucked, and Kaito has the worst luck with birthdays, so Kazuha's combining things. Go ahead and threadhop whoever you so wish. Or just show up to snag some cake.))

Comments

[nothingupmy.livejournal.com]

But what if you really did find a way off the island? Then the last time we talked would have been-- well.

1/3

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

... I won't lie. I thought about that. In fact, that's probably what I thought about most if I was in those ruins, if I really did stumble across whatever "Van" supposedly did and was whisked away home. I think that's what worried me the most. I would have defeated the purpose of ever saying anything in the first place.

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

But... I wanted to keep good on my word to you, not because I doubted the lead, but because it was something I told you I'd do, regardless of circumstance. Just because ... I had learned things about how I felt, I could never withhold information from you about getting out of here. If I really cared about you, how could I do that to you?

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

... [ shakes her head ] I'm going off on a tangent.

The fact is, it was a fake lead all along.

[nothingupmy.livejournal.com]

You sure do over-think things, don't you? I'm still sorry anyway. It was a pretty jerk move for me to disappear on you right after you confessed. Especially after I told you that nothing was going to change between us.

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

... I do. I suppose the fact that I over-thought the trick in the first place is proof.

And I don't blame you, Kaito. I sprung something on you out of nowhere that I knew could change so many things. I did miss you, but I understood, so don't apologize.

[nothingupmy.livejournal.com]

Ugh, no, you see-- This situation reminds me way too much of Kazuha and Crow.

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

Explain.

[nothingupmy.livejournal.com]

... [ er this is harder to explain than he thought ]

I've been trying to think about it through her perspective. Kazuha's, I mean. And I think I've just been running in circles thinking it that way, I won't get into it. I think I'll shut up now.

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

... Of course you shouldn't think of it from her perspective. You're not her, and I'm not Crow. I can see where you'd draw some similarities, but we have huge differences that makes that line of thinking... well, go in circles.

[ glancing out the inn window, kind of wants to move this conversation outside... ]

If I were to explain how I... came to my conclusion, would it help any?

[nothingupmy.livejournal.com]

Sure.

... But let's do this in private. As much as I enjoy Crow and Kazuha making out--

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

[ a-already walking outside and to the beach ] I understand.

[nothingupmy.livejournal.com]

[ this seems far away enough ]

Well?

1/??

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

Alright. [ deep breath ]

... To be honest, whether she intended to or not, it really was Kazuha who helped me make the decision of telling you, though it was one thing in particular she said. That I either say nothing, or I go on thinking 'what if'.

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

I don't know about you, but I'm the kind of person who could build a thousand lives out of what ifs. What if Van never had a revenge complex for what happened to Hod? What if Hod was never destroyed in the first place? What if I had never overheard Van discussing his plans that day? The thing is, though, I've only got one life, and I've only got what's been given to me, no matter how bad or flat out strange it is. Destiny, fate, all of that, you know, is important to me because I grew up on Yulia's teachings, on the Score. I was very certain I was never supposed to meet you, that our worlds were never meant to be made known to one another's, and much less, I was never meant to spend this much time with you, or even know who you are.

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

But I did. In a life where everything I've lived has been predicted wholly, I experienced this impossibility. The thing is, Kaito, I never had time for what ifs back home, and frankly, I'm not sure what convinced me here that I suddenly did. There is no 'what if Auldrant falls to Van's schemes?'-- There is no leg room for me to ponder that. There is only action. If anything, saying nothing would only serve to harm me more when I go home, because 'what ifs' about you would be all I would think about.

So when I put that mindset together, I realized there was only action or regret. I'll go back to Auldrant someday, but I'll live there when I'm there, and I will devote everything to saving it. While I'm held here, I'll live my life here.

I suppose to summarize, it's unhealthy to dwell on my past, and I should remember the future I want to achieve. But if I ignore the present and how I am during it, no matter how ridiculous, how transient I'm told it is, it'll hurt me the most. More than if I pretend it never happened in the future.

done!

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

... I don't know, your situation and mine are very different as well. I'm not sure if anything I just said will be of any help to you, but... if even a little bit was, then I'll be glad.

And that's all.

1/2

[nothingupmy.livejournal.com]

[ grabbing her shoulders, pulling her close and-- ]

[ kissing her on the top of her head before letting go ]

Re: done!

[nothingupmy.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Tear.

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

... [ well here's a face you haven't seen in a while ]

Y- you're... you're welcome.

[nothingupmy.livejournal.com]

[ oh how I've missed that face ]

I've been thinking about the consequences back home too much for this. You're right, what happens there happens there, and what happens here is... [ he doesn't actually sound too sure about that, but grins ]

So thank you.

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

[ well she has missed him smiling so it's all good ]

I'm... glad, then, if I could ease things up a bit. I spent a long time thinking about it. About everything.

[nothingupmy.livejournal.com]

So! Would you like to be my girlfriend? Even if it's just for the present?

1/??

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

[ SO BLUNT ]

[mystearious.livejournal.com]

[ ... or so bold, really ]