Untitled
Title: Untitled
Author: Araya
Theme: "It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend." -- William Blake
Genre: Drama
Version: (Anime, Manga, PGSM) - Manga
Rating: (G - NC-17) - G
"It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend." -- William Blake
She does not know why she came, much less why she was still there. The invitation arrived in her mailbox a few weeks back and she knew she should have tore it up when she saw his precise, loopy handwriting.
But she didn’t and for the life of her, she can’t fathom why.
She likes to think that maybe they have some unfinished business, but no. It ended with an argument and a kiss.
Her very first kiss.
A kiss that fueled her belief that all men were the same and that she, Hino Rei, didn’t need any of them.
And yet, here she was, dressed as some wealthy diplomats’ arm candy. The dress was beautiful, not even she could deny that, and no doubt the reflection of her fathers’ newest secretaries taste. He had continued Kaidou’s choice in presents of Casablanca lilies and white dresses even though neither held any beauty for her anymore. They long since reminded her of what she lost and a world she would never desire to be a part of.
Rei applauded with the rest of the guests as the new governor and his wife entered the room arm in arm. Kaidou was much older now but somehow exactly as she remembered. He still wore his hair, which was much thinner now, parted on the side and she would be able to pick out those glasses trimmed in gold anywhere.
She watches as Kaidou takes a glass of Champaign and thanks his whole committee and his voters. It is short, he has never been a man of many words, and Rei raises her own flute in cheers.
It is then that he catches her eye.
Kaidou leans over and whispers in his wife’s ear before planting a chaste kiss on her cheek and making his way over to her. He is stopped multiple times to talk and be congratulated but Rei is patient. This has been a long time in the making.
Ten years in fact.
“Rei-chan, you came.” There is such warmth in his voice and it angers her. She is overcome with the desire to stomp away in the other direction and never look back but she is not a child any more. Instead, she smiles a diplomatic smile and pretends as if they had never stopped being friends.
As if she had never loved him.
“Of course,” Rei replies extending her hand and brushing each of his rough cheeks with her lips. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Congratulations.”
Kaidou chuckles and she can almost see the youth in him once again. Back before he was a power hungry politician and just some ambitious kid fresh out of college whose heart was set on changing the world. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
She wishes she can say the same.
There is an awkward moment where Kaidou cleans his horn-rimmed glasses and Rei just looks around only for her eyes to fall on an elderly man in a wheelchair being pushed around by a bosom blonde.
She gives a harsh laugh. “He is the one who hasn’t changed a bit.”
Kaidou eyes her with a pleading look, one she has seen a thousand times over. There is great sadness in his voice when he says, “He is dying Rei.”
There is a moment when Rei is completely taken aback but it quickly passes. There is no reason why she should care. She opens her mouth and closes it again but she is not quite sure what to say.
Kaidou answers her unspoken question. “Cancer.”
Rei nods, takes a swig of her champagne, and clears her throat. “So he’ll get the best doctors available and be up and around in no time.”
“There is no cure for cancer, Rei-chan.”
“No,” she replies. “But there are ways to stop it from spreading.”
Kaidou lowers his head as if in shame. “I have tried everything in my power to help him. I have called in doctors from across the country. He won’t accept any treatment.” He looks at her but this time Rei is ready for the desperation she sees in his eyes. “He says he wants to die. He says he wants to be with your mother again.”
Rei gasps and takes a step back. It is all very clear why she was invited here this night and before Kaidou can react, she is angry. “Is this the reason you invited me here,” she accuses. “You want me to forgive him?” A harsh laugh escapes her lipstick lined lips. She leans closer to him so that they are face to face she looks deep into his green eyes and whispers, “Never.”
She is walking away before Kaidou realizes but he chases after her anyways. “Rei-chan, please!” He catches her just outside the ballroom doors and grasps her by the arm. “It is all he wants now. At least, see him. He is your father!”
There is a great rumbling of a motor and Rei has to yell over it. “He has been more of a father to you than I, Kaidou.”
The grip on her arm tightens and there are tears in his eyes. “For me than Rei, please.”
There is a loud, screeching noise as a bright red motorcycle pulls up to the curb. The driver takes off his helmet and shakes out his unruly blonde hair, yet, never taking his eyes off her.
“You have never been anything to me but my father’s servant,” she spits. “Your friendship was never anything but a game. I owe you nothing.”
His grip goes slack in shock and she tears her arm from his gasp. The man on the motorcycle smiles at her and she cannot help but smile back as she hops on behind him, tucking her dress securely beneath her.
“Get everything straightened out Firefly,” he asks as he hands her the helmet and she places it over it long black tresses.
“Let’s just get out of her Jade. I want to go home.”
“All right.” He revs the engine but doesn’t lose the opportunity to flip Kaidou the bird before he pulls away from the curb.
As they are speeding down the highway, Jadeite asks, “What did you ever see in that guy anyway?”
- Rough Draft. Maybe I'll fix it.
Author: Araya
Theme: "It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend." -- William Blake
Genre: Drama
Version: (Anime, Manga, PGSM) - Manga
Rating: (G - NC-17) - G
"It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend." -- William Blake
She does not know why she came, much less why she was still there. The invitation arrived in her mailbox a few weeks back and she knew she should have tore it up when she saw his precise, loopy handwriting.
But she didn’t and for the life of her, she can’t fathom why.
She likes to think that maybe they have some unfinished business, but no. It ended with an argument and a kiss.
Her very first kiss.
A kiss that fueled her belief that all men were the same and that she, Hino Rei, didn’t need any of them.
And yet, here she was, dressed as some wealthy diplomats’ arm candy. The dress was beautiful, not even she could deny that, and no doubt the reflection of her fathers’ newest secretaries taste. He had continued Kaidou’s choice in presents of Casablanca lilies and white dresses even though neither held any beauty for her anymore. They long since reminded her of what she lost and a world she would never desire to be a part of.
Rei applauded with the rest of the guests as the new governor and his wife entered the room arm in arm. Kaidou was much older now but somehow exactly as she remembered. He still wore his hair, which was much thinner now, parted on the side and she would be able to pick out those glasses trimmed in gold anywhere.
She watches as Kaidou takes a glass of Champaign and thanks his whole committee and his voters. It is short, he has never been a man of many words, and Rei raises her own flute in cheers.
It is then that he catches her eye.
Kaidou leans over and whispers in his wife’s ear before planting a chaste kiss on her cheek and making his way over to her. He is stopped multiple times to talk and be congratulated but Rei is patient. This has been a long time in the making.
Ten years in fact.
“Rei-chan, you came.” There is such warmth in his voice and it angers her. She is overcome with the desire to stomp away in the other direction and never look back but she is not a child any more. Instead, she smiles a diplomatic smile and pretends as if they had never stopped being friends.
As if she had never loved him.
“Of course,” Rei replies extending her hand and brushing each of his rough cheeks with her lips. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Congratulations.”
Kaidou chuckles and she can almost see the youth in him once again. Back before he was a power hungry politician and just some ambitious kid fresh out of college whose heart was set on changing the world. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
She wishes she can say the same.
There is an awkward moment where Kaidou cleans his horn-rimmed glasses and Rei just looks around only for her eyes to fall on an elderly man in a wheelchair being pushed around by a bosom blonde.
She gives a harsh laugh. “He is the one who hasn’t changed a bit.”
Kaidou eyes her with a pleading look, one she has seen a thousand times over. There is great sadness in his voice when he says, “He is dying Rei.”
There is a moment when Rei is completely taken aback but it quickly passes. There is no reason why she should care. She opens her mouth and closes it again but she is not quite sure what to say.
Kaidou answers her unspoken question. “Cancer.”
Rei nods, takes a swig of her champagne, and clears her throat. “So he’ll get the best doctors available and be up and around in no time.”
“There is no cure for cancer, Rei-chan.”
“No,” she replies. “But there are ways to stop it from spreading.”
Kaidou lowers his head as if in shame. “I have tried everything in my power to help him. I have called in doctors from across the country. He won’t accept any treatment.” He looks at her but this time Rei is ready for the desperation she sees in his eyes. “He says he wants to die. He says he wants to be with your mother again.”
Rei gasps and takes a step back. It is all very clear why she was invited here this night and before Kaidou can react, she is angry. “Is this the reason you invited me here,” she accuses. “You want me to forgive him?” A harsh laugh escapes her lipstick lined lips. She leans closer to him so that they are face to face she looks deep into his green eyes and whispers, “Never.”
She is walking away before Kaidou realizes but he chases after her anyways. “Rei-chan, please!” He catches her just outside the ballroom doors and grasps her by the arm. “It is all he wants now. At least, see him. He is your father!”
There is a great rumbling of a motor and Rei has to yell over it. “He has been more of a father to you than I, Kaidou.”
The grip on her arm tightens and there are tears in his eyes. “For me than Rei, please.”
There is a loud, screeching noise as a bright red motorcycle pulls up to the curb. The driver takes off his helmet and shakes out his unruly blonde hair, yet, never taking his eyes off her.
“You have never been anything to me but my father’s servant,” she spits. “Your friendship was never anything but a game. I owe you nothing.”
His grip goes slack in shock and she tears her arm from his gasp. The man on the motorcycle smiles at her and she cannot help but smile back as she hops on behind him, tucking her dress securely beneath her.
“Get everything straightened out Firefly,” he asks as he hands her the helmet and she places it over it long black tresses.
“Let’s just get out of her Jade. I want to go home.”
“All right.” He revs the engine but doesn’t lose the opportunity to flip Kaidou the bird before he pulls away from the curb.
As they are speeding down the highway, Jadeite asks, “What did you ever see in that guy anyway?”
- Rough Draft. Maybe I'll fix it.