Hope For A Happy Ending

[iceclouded]

Even in wintry Hokkaido, it's hot today. But it's a pleasant heat, a warmth that people can relax in with a cold drink, after a long day's work. The new Hokkaido palace, home to the youngest shitennou Jadeite, seems to almost glow in the last few sleepy rays of sun. The whole Earth, which was only recently covered in a sickly darkness, is renewed

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[waterfell]

Lady Mercury is a guest no householder would be foolish enough to turn away. The sight of her planetary sigil is enough to mark who she is, and open the doors to her.

At first, despite her incredible good fortune in arriving at Jadeite's home, she tells herself she won't hurry. But before she's halfway through the halls, her steps are coming quicker. A little further, and they become more rapid still. By the time she's almost to him, she's at the quickest pace that can still be called dignified.

This effect of dignity is rather spoiled as she reaches for Jadeite the second she's close enough and calls out his name even as she tries to enfold him in a fierce, impulsive hug.

[iceclouded]

It's probably a good thing he didn't have anything in hand, or it would have been knocked away. Jadeite barely has time to look up at hearing his name, and finds someone hugging him. He blinks for a moment, then returns the hug a little awkwardly, but sincerely.

"Ami...?"

[waterfell]

It has to go somewhere. All the flow of those dammed-up emotions has to find a new channel or it'll simply burst. Ami, Mercury's, new channel is the few people she can truly call friends, the ones she's suffered with and fought with and triumphed with.

She nods, but instead of explaining her presence (Jadeite's smart; he'll figure it out), she earnestly speaks her mind. "Are you coming back now?"

[iceclouded]

There's a another moment of silence, and Jadeite stares at the girl. He smiles then, and shakes his head. "Soon," he promises her. "There's just a little more I want to do."

[waterfell]

Ami, Mercury, realizes suddenly how childish she sounds; no, how pathetic. How like the girl who simply sat around and waited. She hates anytime she feels like that, and switches to a more direct way.

"I'll take you there if it's not soon enough," she tells Jadeite with a slight smirk.

[iceclouded]

Jadeite chuckles despite himself. "I'll hurry," he promises her. "I want to come back, too."

[waterfell]

"I don't understand why you had to come here," Ami admits in one of her rare attempts to put her feelings into words. "But if you'll come back soon, it's alright."

She'll try to believe it's alright, at least. She'll try once more to believe someone will be there and want to be with her. Whatever Jadeite is doing here, it seems important to him, and isn't she being selfish by wanting him not to do it? So she should stop being selfish.

[iceclouded]

Jadeite smiles a little at that. "Thank you," he tells her.

"It's something I had to do for myself. I want to forgive myself as much as everyone has been kind to me." It's hard for him to admit, and it shows in his expression, but he manages another small smile.

[waterfell]

Can't he even tell how much she's becoming happier just by him being here finally? The others are probably the same, even if they're more restrained about it. They need Jadeite to be complete, not just as the shitennou but as themselves. As a whole. No one blames him for what happened.

This might be unduly optimistic on Ami's part. But she doesn't blame Jadeite herself.

"But how do you decide when you'll forgive yourself?" she asks him seriously.