THREAD ; atonement

[sheifa]

Characters: Sheifa & Kane.
When: After this event, and just after Sheifa sends Albel (and Maria) off.
Where: Econtra, just by the second Consulo.
Summary: Sheifa prepares to return to her world. Kane comes to do so as well.
Warnings: Doing this here since the Econtra comms will soon be closed. Nothing to warn about, methinks... except excessively

Comments

[puritanjustice]

Footsteps from leather boots thudded from behind Sheifa. They halted beside the young girl, their owner silent at witnessing such sorrow on what should have been a time of rejoicing. Then a figure in black knelt by her and placed gentle gloved hands on her shoulders. Should Sheifa choose to look up, she would find stormy blue eyes on a stern weathered face gazing upon her from beneath a thatch of graying black hair.

"Sheifa? What ails ye, lass? And... where is Albel?"

Convinced that his daughter and son-in-law would be fine without him bidding them farewell, Kane had set off for the new Consulo alone. A quick and quiet exit without fuss or fanfare was what he'd been looking forward to. But seeing Sheifa this way turned his heart over on itself; he could't leave this way. Not when she was in pain and simply needed someone.

[sheifa]

Sheifa did look up, and she didn't bother to hide the tears that were falling from her eyes. "Dad," she whimpered, before seemingly losing whatever strength she had left and collapsing, although remaining conscious, against her foster father. Her body started to shake again as she now felt the impact of their decision - no, her decision - and no matter how she tried to drown out the voice, it continued to taunt her. He's gone. Gone. Gone gone gone GONE-

"He... went back." But then she shook her head. "N-No. I sent him back."

[puritanjustice]

Holding her shaking frame in a paternal embrace, he let the grieving girl have her tears. Let her weep for as long as she wished; all tears dried with time, after all. Some of the other Drafted passed them by, sparing them the curious look or two. But Kane ignored them all... and used his mere presence to assure Sheifa that he was here for her.

His fingers wiped at a stray tear on her pretty visage. He was clearly surprised. She had sent him back? "Why? I had thought ye would return to his world together."

[sheifa]

"I wanted to," Sheifa answered after a while, voice very soft. The sobbing died down considerably, but tears still continued to stain her face; after all, she had just lost someone very dear to her, despite his promise to find her and return to her someday, and her very own promise to wait and remain true to him no matter how long it took. She found comfort in her father's embrace, however, and didn't pull away, needing the all the strength he had to offer.

"But I couldn't. I... I'm not ready. Not while I remain bound to my past. Not when she continues to torment me."

[puritanjustice]

Brynhildr. Kane understood. Those eyes narrowed to icy blue slits, though his hands in hers stayed gentle. One of them rose to the side of her face and loosened a lock of damp red hair. "Then ye did the right thing." he said firmly, while staying mindful of his daughter's pain. "Best ye weather the hurt of parting from him now, willingly... than risk losing him forever."

[sheifa]

"I just... don't know if I'll ever see him again. He promised, but-" Sheifa caught herself before her doubts further depressed her, shaking her head and trying to calm herself down. "A week. He gave me a week to get everything done. Then he'll come for me, he said."

She laughed humorlessly. "A week to take the clan apart, and the monster that I was along with it. Should be easy, huh?"

[puritanjustice]

That aged wolfish countenance shone with hope and promise, as Kane gave his daughter a smile that could empower a god. "Ye will see him again. Never doubt that. Though, dearest Sheifa... methinks ye have too little faith, both in thyself and Providence."

His eyes moved to the naked trees beyond the former Obex. "I have seen kingdoms fall within hours of their seige. And thyself witnessed the Entropi's defeat only yesterday. Thy inner demon...thy mother... these are naught but flecks of dust in the face of what we've survived."

He squeezed her fingers gently. "Think ye to make this journey alone?"

[sheifa]

Sheifa looked away at Kane's words. "I've stopped believe in God - in any god - a long time ago, dad." She closed her eyes, stopping the rest of her tears from falling. She was through crying; she was only wasting precious time. "I mean, why should I bother? I'm a sinner, a monster. I was already damned the day I was born."

She sighed, standing. She didn't, however, let go of his hand. "It's something I must do myself," she said distantly, her gaze following his own. "He... wanted to come with me, dad. To my world. But I couldn't take him, just as I couldn't follow him to his. This battle is mine to fight, alone."

[puritanjustice]

The ex-buccaneer looked at her sharply. He could've said something about no one being born damned, an idea that was the opposite of the Puritan faith he'd been raised in. But Sheifa lifted herself to her feet with her hand still in his. The Englishman stayed kneeling moments after that. Weighing the decision in her words, and the impact of what he was going to tell her next.

Lord grant me strength for this one last time. For this one last journey so far from home. For the sake of the gift ye granted this undeserving life.

"True of the battle. But what of the war?" he finally said as he too rose, towering like a grim guardian over the girl by the light of the moon. "I promised ye long ago Sheifa; I would see ye triumph over all that still holdeth sway over thy soul. And if the steel of my blade or my faith in Him could lighten thy burden... then I would follow ye through Hades just to make it so."

His hands rested on her shoulders. "And now it doth seem... t'is time for me for me fulfill that promise."

[sheifa]

Gray eyes widened in surprise. "You're... coming with me, you mean?" She then shook her head. "Dad, no. You've come this far. The war's over, we've won it. You can now go back to your world. You've been gone far too long, and those you've left behind..." She fell silent, not really knowing how to continue. And then she just sighed, slumping her shoulders as if in defeat. She knew him, and how stubborn he could be when he wanted. That was one thing they had in common, although they weren't related at all by blood.

"Dad... I would be honored to have you fight by my side. But you don't have to do this. I know, you promised, but... I'm not holding it against you. You've already done so much for me. I can't ask for anything more. Please reconsider."

[puritanjustice]

A smile. But behind it were those eyes that shone with a will that could not be barred so easily. And riding that burning power was a paternal affection for the young lady. He'd said he'd follow her to Hell; that one simple look was all the assurance she'd ever need of that.

"I have. I simply came to the realization that a father's work is never done."

He left it at that, but between the lines of those simple words was that he had found family, a purpose for being, with Sheifa. And like any true warrior of a father who had a warrior for a daughter, he would not let her go into battle without the extra hand.

[sheifa]

Sheifa just stood there, staring at Kane as if he'd lost his mind. Then, her hardened look seemed to falter, and in no time the tears returned. Those weren't the tears of her pain, however; this time, they were tears of a newfound happiness amidst all the many difficulties in her life.

She wasn't alone, and she never will be again.

She flung her arms around her father suddenly - yet perhaps not so surprisingly. "Thank you," she murmured, sobbing. "Thank you, dad."