Belated birthday present

[loaghaire]

OOC: Forwarded to the end of this week, but since we're both busy and I'll be in London, I write it right now. First response Rei only, but if you want to join and gawk at how bitchy Rei is... feel free to do so.It had been two weeks since the incident and that she had lashed out at Rei. Laurian couldn't even begin to describe how guilty she felt;

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[stcatsfiresoul]

"What."

The wind whipped up, and long midnight locks up danced in the breeze. Hino Rei cut her eyes over her shoulder at Laurian, her back still turned. She was somewhat surprised to see her on her feet so soon, even if she braced herself by leaning her weight on a tree, but on second thought it had been two entire weeks since last they spoke. Good for her was the miko's only response, silent though it may be.

When next she spoke, it was not in regards to Laurian's quick healing. "You wanted me to stay away. I did so." Her words were curt and to the point, cutting to the quick. "I left and I didn't come back, just as you said. What else do you want from me..."

[loaghaire]

The words hurt, but Laurian gladly accepted them. She knew she deserved this after all she had done. And despite all of that, what she really wanted was Rei forgiveness, even though she doubted she would get it.

"I..." I'm so sorry, Rei, please forgive me. I never meant to say all those words, I know it's not your fault, it never was your fault, and I am grateful you came to rescue me. I'm really, really sorry. I love you, Rei, I really do. I know I don't deserve you, you've always been so good to me, and I'm so, so, so sorry I hurt you.

But the words never came out. Laurian tightened her grip around the small present, but even then no word of apology could come out.

"I know it's a little late, but..." She lowered her gaze to her own hand. "I still got you something for your birthday. If... if you still want it."

[stcatsfiresoul]

"It's not my birthday," Rei snapped back, averting those violet pools and the harsh stare that accompanied them as she turned her back on the girl. "You missed it by more than a week. And don't give me the excuse that your arm's hurt. If you can walk halfway across the campus or felt good enough to go shopping of all things, you could have at least picked up a cell phone should it really of been important to you." She crossed her arms across her chest, a sure sign that she was annoyed and wanted nothing to do with the girl who had so wronged her.

"Hmph," she then scoffed, talking at Laurian rather than to her. "Like some small trinket would even make up for how awful you've been to me all this time, anyway..."

[loaghaire]

Laurian had never felt so helpless before. But her stubborn mind and pride refused to walk away with her tail between her legs. She slowly distanced herself from the tree and the moved with that painfully slow, shuffling gait to Rei until she stood behind her. And wrapped her arm around the girl, almost as strong and tight as it used to be.

"I know I am late," she said in a soft voice, "and I know I've been horrible to you. But I really wanted to give you this in person, and if you never want to see me again, that's okay. I won't come looking for you anymore and I will wait until you feel ready again to see me. I know there is nothing in the world I can do to make it all better and I don't expect you to forgive me or like me or that you want to see me... I just... I really wanted to give you this." Laurian opened her hand to show the gift to Rei. And no matter what would happen, she was determined not to let go of Rei until she had accepted the gift.

[stcatsfiresoul]

"Get off me, you helpless cripple!"

With a turn she shoved Laurian hard in the chest, pushing her unwelcome advances away. Normally Rei would not be able to overpower a Slayer, but Laurian could barely stand as it was and likely needed Rei for support even more than she wanted to give her some stupid little show of affection. "Good," she said, the words all but spat at the Slayer. "Don't come looking for me again. I don't want to see you." At least there was something they both could agree on.

"I start to fall for you, you push me away. We start to go out, you push me away. I try to be by your side and you push me away. I try to be there for you when you need me most...you push me away." Those deep purple eyes now bore their full weight, staring through flesh and bone directly into Laurian's soul. "Is that a pretty accurate description of our relationship?" Her expression twisted into an angry scowl. "Not to mention the time a demon drags me to Hell because of you, because he's trying to get to you. Not to mention me risking my

[loaghaire]

That was exactly why I didn't want you to get close to me in the first place...

Laurian gazed down at the package in her hand, unable to look up. She knew Rei was right. And this was exactly what she'd been afraid of when Rei made her first advances about a year ago. Laurian knew she was a bad lover, even though she had the best intentions and always did her best to do things right. And she knew when she did accept Rei's advances that it would end up like this.

When she looked up again, there were no tears in her eyes, nothing. Just resignation and acceptance, perhaps tinged with a bit of sadness.

'But after all these years, I thought we'd still hold on
But when I reach for you and search your eyes, I see you're already gone'

Almost unwillingly, the song came to her. It seemed... fitting. And it made her realize, truly realize, that it was over. Laurian's hand clenched tightly around her gift again, but more to hold on to that last memory of good times she had.

'That's okay, I'll be fine