(no subject)
Can't these two ever be short-winded? And I have now finished the story.. and Chieko gives us a small glimpse of her past. ^-^
Title: Acceptance - Fated meeting part 7
Author: Ree
Theme: Post-series (George Bernard Shaw quote)
Genre: General
Version: Manga/Anime Crystal Tokyo
Rating: G
Takeuchi Naoko had the wonderful imagination to create these gentlemen and their companions. I've just decided to borrow their look alike doubles and give them scripts.
Acceptance - Fated meeting part 7
Here are the prequels.. they might just help you know who everyone is ^-^
A Vacation -Fated meeting part 1
Meditating and answers - Fated meeting part 2
Tied by Fate - Fated meeting part 3
Finally found - Fated meeting part 4
Follow - Fated meeting part 5
Fates promise - Fated meeting part 6
Chieko settled onto the seat that Kunzite offered her. As she accepted her tea, she could tell that he was looking for a way to send her home.
"I... I" Kunzite took a sip of his tea. "I'm not the person that you probably think I am."
Chieko examined him over her tea cup briefly before answering. "I think you are Kunzite. You are the man that fate has tied me too, but more importantly, you are the one I have chosen to follow."
Kunzite snorted. "I am Kunzite, that is true. But I'm not the perfect person that everyone portrays me as." In an sad, reflective voice he continued. "I have made many mistakes."
Chieko studied him for a moment. That last sentence and the tone were hiding a tale, and it sounded like one that he wasn't proud of. "Mistakes are part of life. If you didn't make them then you weren't living, you were just watching as life went by. Some mistakes can even be honourable."
The memory of Beryl and all the destruction he caused at her command flitted through his mind. "Not all are honourable."
Setting her tea cup down, Chieko started slowly pacing around the room. "No one is perfect. Everybody has made mistakes sometime." Looking back at him, she flashed a derogatory smile. "Especially myself." Kunzite started to frown. "I'm not trying to belittle the mistakes you made, nor am I trying to say mine are worse. I just..." Her voice trailed off as she walked up to him. Placing a hand on his arm, she continued. "I just want you to understand that the past is past. Especially if the mistakes happened before the Time of Destruction and Great Sleep. "
A look of surprise flitted across his face. "Do you know what I'm talking about?" Fear sank into his belly. If she knew, he was sure she would really leave.
Looking down into his eyes, Chieko saw his fear. It made her feel not so afraid herself. "I know we are more alike than you know. We have both betrayed family and friends. We have hurt the ones we care about the most. You, at least, have been able to restore that bond."
Removing her fingers from his arm, she walked over to the window and gazed out it. She didn't see the courtyard with all the bustling people. Instead she saw her parent's face as she defied them, as they practically disowned her. They did everything but actually say the words. All because she wanted to become a priestess instead of being a shrine maiden.
Kunzite watched as her shoulders stiffened. 'She's right. I have been able to restore that bond, and no one really knows what happened so long ago. I wonder how she knows. I wonder what happened to her.' He followed her across the room and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Maybe you can heal your bond, too." Chieko mutely shook her head no. "You never know unless you try."
Closing her eyes, she let the warmth of his hands eat the tension out of her shoulders. She fought to keep the bitterness out of her voice, but failed. "They said I couldn't come back unless I gave up being a priestess. It was okay for me to be a shrine maiden, but not any higher. No matter what I felt, or how much I was called."
Kunzite was surprised at that type of thinking in this day and age. Neo-Queen Serenity and the senshi were all obviously women of power. Why would someone try and prevent their daughter from becoming what she was called to be? "Then they are the ones that made the mistake, not you. You answered the call that was pulling you. And if you must call that a mistake, then it is definitely an honourable one."
Turning around, she looked up into the silver-gray eyes that looked so concerned. "Then, if my mistakes are honourable and yours are the memory of long dead people, with a few notable exceptions, can we let them loose their power over us? Can we accept each other and ourselves as we stand here, right now?"
Kunzite felt as if her words were tearing at him. They were trying to rip away a part of himself that he hid away and only brought out when he need to be reminded that he had a dark side. Growling, he flung himself away from her. Standing with his back towards her, he clenched his hands into the back of a chair.
Chieko watched him go. She knew that her words had touched a sore spot, one she was sure needed to be healed, one she wasn't sure could be healed.
'She doesn't know. How could she? She wasn't even around then. She has no idea what she would be accepting, unless I tell her.' Between clenched teeth, Kunzite grated out his tale. He blackened his name, tarnished his image. He told her all the hated things, and the names he called himself in the dark when no one else was there. It poured out of him like a water from behind a broken dam.
Chieko stood still as the tale of betrayal and loss flowed about her. It buffeted her, parts of it repulsed her, but she refused to let it wash her away. She thought to go to him, but something told her to stand still.
As the last of the tale flowed out of him, Kunzite felt himself shaking. Turning slightly, leaving one hand on the chair for support, he looked to where Chieko had stood, fully expecting her to have fled. When he saw her, he had the impression of a rock battered by a storm, but unmoved. He watched her, waiting.
Chieko caught the vulnerable expression that was quickly hidden. Responding to an inner prompting, she walked to him and placed her hand on his. Looking him straight in the eyes, she decided to brave his wrath. "It's over. That is all in the past. You have been forgiven by everyone else. You need to forgive yourself." His face tightened in denial. "And even if you don't, I accept you as you are." Standing on her tip toes, she kissed him lightly.
When the kiss ended, Kunzite looked down into her accepting eyes. She knew everything, all the things that he had done that no one else knew. And she wasn't repulsed, she wasn't running. 'Far from running, she kissed me.' He felt as if her kiss, her acceptance, was healing the old, festering wound. 'But what if she changes her mind? What if tomorrow she decides it is too much? That she can't look at me?' The thought hurt more than he expected. 'But I wouldn't blame her. Sometimes, I can't face myself in the mirror.'
Chieko watched the play of emotions that ran across his face. Each one telling the tale of his thought. She wanted to interrupt, but she wasn't sure what she would say.
Finally, he spoke. "Right now you can accept me." She nodded her head yes, but he continued before she could speak. "But tomorrow that might change." The denial in her eyes buoyed up his soul. He was actually able to smile tenderly. "You won't know until tomorrow. So, meet me tomorrow at the Hikawa shrine and let me know if you can still accept me."
Chieko understood what he meant. She even could explain his reasoning, but she knew that a day wouldn't change how she felt. 'But I'll honour his request.' She returned his tender smile. "I'll meet you there right before lunch time, okay?"
He nodded his agreeance.
*****
Kunzite bounced between dread and happiness as he walked up the steps to the shrine. Half the time he thought she wouldn't even meet him, the other half the time he was sure that she would accept him. As he came to the top of the stairs, his heart plummeted. She was not in the courtyard. Pulling himself together, he went to look for her.
Chieko felt him the moment he arrived. She bowed and left the temple area in search of him.
Kunzite was walking up the steps to the temple proper when he saw her coming out. His heart bounced back to its normal spot. Then she smiled at him and he knew what her answer would be.
"Chieko."
"Kunzite" She could quite bring herself to call him Lord Kunzite.
Kunzite raised an eyebrow at the missing title, but let it pass. He gestured for her to join him. They strolled the paths of the temple's garden until they reached a private spot. Turning to face her, he awaited his answer.
Chieko looked up at him. She would be lying if she tried to tell him that some of what he had said didn't bother her. Parts of it gave her nightmares last night. But as she looked into that stern, gentle face, she knew that it was the past. Catching his eyes, she gave her answer to his unspoken question in a soft, clear voice. "I still accept you. And I don't think it will change." She felt as if the red-string of fate was tightening around them, tying them together even closer than before.
Kunzite looked down into her soft, knowing but accepting, brown eyes. 'According to Okuninushi we have missed each other for many lifetimes. This time we will be together.' With a smile that came from his heart, he kissed her.
Title: Acceptance - Fated meeting part 7
Author: Ree
Theme: Post-series (George Bernard Shaw quote)
Genre: General
Version: Manga/Anime Crystal Tokyo
Rating: G
Takeuchi Naoko had the wonderful imagination to create these gentlemen and their companions. I've just decided to borrow their look alike doubles and give them scripts.
Acceptance - Fated meeting part 7
Here are the prequels.. they might just help you know who everyone is ^-^
A Vacation -Fated meeting part 1
Meditating and answers - Fated meeting part 2
Tied by Fate - Fated meeting part 3
Finally found - Fated meeting part 4
Follow - Fated meeting part 5
Fates promise - Fated meeting part 6
Chieko settled onto the seat that Kunzite offered her. As she accepted her tea, she could tell that he was looking for a way to send her home.
"I... I" Kunzite took a sip of his tea. "I'm not the person that you probably think I am."
Chieko examined him over her tea cup briefly before answering. "I think you are Kunzite. You are the man that fate has tied me too, but more importantly, you are the one I have chosen to follow."
Kunzite snorted. "I am Kunzite, that is true. But I'm not the perfect person that everyone portrays me as." In an sad, reflective voice he continued. "I have made many mistakes."
Chieko studied him for a moment. That last sentence and the tone were hiding a tale, and it sounded like one that he wasn't proud of. "Mistakes are part of life. If you didn't make them then you weren't living, you were just watching as life went by. Some mistakes can even be honourable."
The memory of Beryl and all the destruction he caused at her command flitted through his mind. "Not all are honourable."
Setting her tea cup down, Chieko started slowly pacing around the room. "No one is perfect. Everybody has made mistakes sometime." Looking back at him, she flashed a derogatory smile. "Especially myself." Kunzite started to frown. "I'm not trying to belittle the mistakes you made, nor am I trying to say mine are worse. I just..." Her voice trailed off as she walked up to him. Placing a hand on his arm, she continued. "I just want you to understand that the past is past. Especially if the mistakes happened before the Time of Destruction and Great Sleep. "
A look of surprise flitted across his face. "Do you know what I'm talking about?" Fear sank into his belly. If she knew, he was sure she would really leave.
Looking down into his eyes, Chieko saw his fear. It made her feel not so afraid herself. "I know we are more alike than you know. We have both betrayed family and friends. We have hurt the ones we care about the most. You, at least, have been able to restore that bond."
Removing her fingers from his arm, she walked over to the window and gazed out it. She didn't see the courtyard with all the bustling people. Instead she saw her parent's face as she defied them, as they practically disowned her. They did everything but actually say the words. All because she wanted to become a priestess instead of being a shrine maiden.
Kunzite watched as her shoulders stiffened. 'She's right. I have been able to restore that bond, and no one really knows what happened so long ago. I wonder how she knows. I wonder what happened to her.' He followed her across the room and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Maybe you can heal your bond, too." Chieko mutely shook her head no. "You never know unless you try."
Closing her eyes, she let the warmth of his hands eat the tension out of her shoulders. She fought to keep the bitterness out of her voice, but failed. "They said I couldn't come back unless I gave up being a priestess. It was okay for me to be a shrine maiden, but not any higher. No matter what I felt, or how much I was called."
Kunzite was surprised at that type of thinking in this day and age. Neo-Queen Serenity and the senshi were all obviously women of power. Why would someone try and prevent their daughter from becoming what she was called to be? "Then they are the ones that made the mistake, not you. You answered the call that was pulling you. And if you must call that a mistake, then it is definitely an honourable one."
Turning around, she looked up into the silver-gray eyes that looked so concerned. "Then, if my mistakes are honourable and yours are the memory of long dead people, with a few notable exceptions, can we let them loose their power over us? Can we accept each other and ourselves as we stand here, right now?"
Kunzite felt as if her words were tearing at him. They were trying to rip away a part of himself that he hid away and only brought out when he need to be reminded that he had a dark side. Growling, he flung himself away from her. Standing with his back towards her, he clenched his hands into the back of a chair.
Chieko watched him go. She knew that her words had touched a sore spot, one she was sure needed to be healed, one she wasn't sure could be healed.
'She doesn't know. How could she? She wasn't even around then. She has no idea what she would be accepting, unless I tell her.' Between clenched teeth, Kunzite grated out his tale. He blackened his name, tarnished his image. He told her all the hated things, and the names he called himself in the dark when no one else was there. It poured out of him like a water from behind a broken dam.
Chieko stood still as the tale of betrayal and loss flowed about her. It buffeted her, parts of it repulsed her, but she refused to let it wash her away. She thought to go to him, but something told her to stand still.
As the last of the tale flowed out of him, Kunzite felt himself shaking. Turning slightly, leaving one hand on the chair for support, he looked to where Chieko had stood, fully expecting her to have fled. When he saw her, he had the impression of a rock battered by a storm, but unmoved. He watched her, waiting.
Chieko caught the vulnerable expression that was quickly hidden. Responding to an inner prompting, she walked to him and placed her hand on his. Looking him straight in the eyes, she decided to brave his wrath. "It's over. That is all in the past. You have been forgiven by everyone else. You need to forgive yourself." His face tightened in denial. "And even if you don't, I accept you as you are." Standing on her tip toes, she kissed him lightly.
When the kiss ended, Kunzite looked down into her accepting eyes. She knew everything, all the things that he had done that no one else knew. And she wasn't repulsed, she wasn't running. 'Far from running, she kissed me.' He felt as if her kiss, her acceptance, was healing the old, festering wound. 'But what if she changes her mind? What if tomorrow she decides it is too much? That she can't look at me?' The thought hurt more than he expected. 'But I wouldn't blame her. Sometimes, I can't face myself in the mirror.'
Chieko watched the play of emotions that ran across his face. Each one telling the tale of his thought. She wanted to interrupt, but she wasn't sure what she would say.
Finally, he spoke. "Right now you can accept me." She nodded her head yes, but he continued before she could speak. "But tomorrow that might change." The denial in her eyes buoyed up his soul. He was actually able to smile tenderly. "You won't know until tomorrow. So, meet me tomorrow at the Hikawa shrine and let me know if you can still accept me."
Chieko understood what he meant. She even could explain his reasoning, but she knew that a day wouldn't change how she felt. 'But I'll honour his request.' She returned his tender smile. "I'll meet you there right before lunch time, okay?"
He nodded his agreeance.
*****
Kunzite bounced between dread and happiness as he walked up the steps to the shrine. Half the time he thought she wouldn't even meet him, the other half the time he was sure that she would accept him. As he came to the top of the stairs, his heart plummeted. She was not in the courtyard. Pulling himself together, he went to look for her.
Chieko felt him the moment he arrived. She bowed and left the temple area in search of him.
Kunzite was walking up the steps to the temple proper when he saw her coming out. His heart bounced back to its normal spot. Then she smiled at him and he knew what her answer would be.
"Chieko."
"Kunzite" She could quite bring herself to call him Lord Kunzite.
Kunzite raised an eyebrow at the missing title, but let it pass. He gestured for her to join him. They strolled the paths of the temple's garden until they reached a private spot. Turning to face her, he awaited his answer.
Chieko looked up at him. She would be lying if she tried to tell him that some of what he had said didn't bother her. Parts of it gave her nightmares last night. But as she looked into that stern, gentle face, she knew that it was the past. Catching his eyes, she gave her answer to his unspoken question in a soft, clear voice. "I still accept you. And I don't think it will change." She felt as if the red-string of fate was tightening around them, tying them together even closer than before.
Kunzite looked down into her soft, knowing but accepting, brown eyes. 'According to Okuninushi we have missed each other for many lifetimes. This time we will be together.' With a smile that came from his heart, he kissed her.