More Complications
In Transit, February 23, 2005
"We have a problem." A calm masculine voice answers the phone.
Seiko frowned, "Hello to you too, Kei..what is it?"
"Takeorei-kohai came here last week looking for you."
"Why didn't you send him to Portsmouth?"
*silence*
"Kei?"
"You need to talk to him yourself. He went underground, but I found him. He's staying at a hotel south of St. Louis..."
She hastily grabbed a pen and scribbled the information down in a tiny notebook. "When did he come by?"
"Last Monday."
Valentine's Day? It was a holiday she herself only recently decided she wanted to celebrate.
"Alright..I'll visit Takeorei-kun on my way home. Everything else alright?"
"Yes. Just..be patient with 'Rei, alright?"
She frowned in growing unease. "Sure. Ja mata ne."
"Ja."
--------------------------
Seiko knocks on the hotel door. When the door is opened, Rei is in sweats, a robe and is several days unshaven. There are large bags under his eyes and his hair is unkempt.
Seiko is dressed in jeans, a grey sweater, with a black leather jacket over it all. She studies him, frowning, "Are you alright?"
This is not right.
"Sure... yeah... I guess." The room is dark except for a TV showing infomercials and the shades are drawn
"May I come in?"
"Sure." He moves out of the way and goes to sweep some empty food boxes out of a chair.
Seiko comes into the room, hands in pockets. She watches Rei. "What's happened?"
"Huh? What? Oh nothing." As usual his features are impassive.
Her eyes narrow and she goes to the lamp nearby and switches it on. She proceeds to turn every light in the room on and observes the mess.
This...doesn't look like 'nothing' to me.
He hides his eyes from all the light he watches her bleary-eyed, "Is there something I can help you with Yamagami-sama?"
She looks at him a moment then goes to the phone and calls the concierge. She asks for a few large trash bags to be delivered. Only then does she turn to look at him, "Yes. Tell me what's going on here."
"I am doing the job you asked me to do."
She studies him and frowns. She turns her attention to the empty food containers and begins to stack them carefully. She speaks softly, "I suppose you are.. but I don't understand why you're not taking better care of yourself."
"The blood keeps me healthy, what more is needed?" This said with a slight tinge of something close to anger, but he does not look at her when he speaks.
What on earth?
She stops and moves to stand before Rei, "Why won't tell me what's really going on? I'm really worried about you and Kei is as well."
"What? I was sent away, and I am doing the work asked of me... is that changed?"
She studies him. "How is your work going?"
"He is safe and informs me before he leaves town or has any meetings, I either go with him or send someone to watch if it is local... his home is being watched even now"
She nods and sits down on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry..it's just, I don't remember ever seeing you so.. untidy. It's... unsettling."
"I have come to some realizations lately, and this is the new me." He stands and opens his arms wide and turns in a circle.
Her expression turns calm, "The new you? And what sort of you is this?"
"The sort that has come to realize that sometimes life and the by-products of it, aren't always what they are cracked up to be."
No. Please, not this. Surely he doesn't want me to kill him. I've sworn that I would never..not after..
"Do you not.." she hesitates, "Do you..I don't understand."
"I would not expect someone who has not been alive for so long to understand," as this is said he turns and looks at her with tears in his eyes.
Her calm fades and obvious concern replaces it, "Takeorei..please..sit with me and help me understand. Please?"
Please...don't let this be madness..don't make me regret this too. Akimichi Chouji, why are yours the ones I fail again and again?
"What is there to understand? I have no desire to be human anymore, I have no reason to want to feel pain. Humanity holds nothing for me anymore."
She frowns and then speaks softly, "You want.." to die "..to be embraced?"
"Yes... no... I don't know anymore..." He paces, working him up into a frenzy, "Whatever will take the pain of loosing you away," he screams.
Silence.
What?
Seiko just looks stunned and then shakes her head, "What are you talking about? You haven't lost me, I'm right here."
"For now... but when you leave, whose arms will you be in at night?"
We are not possibly having this conversation. I must be misunderstanding this.
She frowns, "I'm on my way back to Atlanta...'Rei..do you want to come back to Atlanta?"
He lowers his eyes and sighs heavily.
She stands up and goes to him. She gently lays a hand on his arm, "What can I do for you?"
Looking up into her eyes, he lowers himself to one knee and grabs her hand, "Be mine... Forever."
She watches him at first with confusion and then with dawning realisation.
Oh no..
Her hand tightens on his and she lowers herself down so she can look him in the eyes, "Rei do you.." love me? She rephrases, "Rei..we already have a bond that's going to last. And it's special and I honestly treasure that. I will always be here for you when you need me." So please..don't do this to me.
He watches her intently. "I want to know if there can be more?"
"What exactly do you mean by more?"
"I mean.... would you consider being my wife?"
Wife? So many emotions stir at that word but the most welcomed is anger.
She blinks at that once and then again. "What, why?"
"I can not stand to know that you are in the arms of another man... I understand your... predeliction for women as well and I have no problem with that... but I want to be the man in your life."
How dare he?!? A simmering rage wars with reason, calculation. He's just confused. Don't anger him, he's dangerous. Talk him through it. Help him. Be patient. This man built your house. He knows every way in and out. Do not allow his mind to stay so confused. We can be angry later, mend fences now.
She studies him, "I do love you, 'Rei. A great deal and I would do nearly anything for you, but what you've just proposed..I cannot do. You know I am in love with another and it would not be fair to you to pretend otherwise."
"Then I feel we must sever this relationship, for I can not bear to know that you are with another" He says standing and moving over to take a drink from a mostly empty bottle of sake.
She watches him, "You're serious?"
"Yes."
This is insane.
"You would honestly leave if I did not give into this?"
"Know that I would do nothing to betray any confidence you have put in me, but I feel that I can't remain a friend and not be more. Please know this is not an ultimatum, but a confession."
She looks down for a long moment and then stands up. She speaks softly, "I'm so sorry you feel that way. You have been one of my closest friends for a long time. I respect your decision but I'm not happy with it." Do not let him slip away."And another thing, I don't know why you think that me or any other kindred is incapable of feeling pain.. if anything, we feel it more than humanly possible. And what you've said..hurts."
She heads for the door.
"Seiko...please do not leave."
She stops walking and whispers, "What?"
He moves behind her, and touches her shoulders, "I want to be your friend, I want to be with you... I am just hurt and confused right now."
She takes an unneeded breath in and out. She speaks softly, "I know. I'm sorry."
I am so sorry for you.
"The more I am away from you, the more I can't stand being away"
"I thought you would like..a change of pace. I didn't want you to feel shackled with me. And I honestly thought you could help him more than I. You don't have to stay in St. Louis if you don't want to Rei."
"I want to figure out what my place is... but I don't want to lose you."
She turns to look at him, her expression sad. She gives him a ghost of a smile, "Rei, you can take whatever time you need. You can always find me and you will always be welcome."
Take your time. And you better choose wisely.
He studies her, "Seiko, do not be mad.... I do not want to cause you pain, but I have never been and I now know it to not be as it seemed, exiled from you. I love you and will always love you."
Brow furrowed, she smiles a little and touches his cheek with her fingertips, "I truly appreciate your feelings and I am sorry that I cannot return them. And I'm alright. I will be alright." She smiles.
"Will you stay the day here with me? I could use the company of a friend."
"On one condition."
"Anything," he smiles.
"Well..two. Number one, could you go take a shower and shave? I think it may help you feel better."
"Yes, but first, here, go and meet me in the safe room I am renting in the bastment... no windows there, and I will shower, shave and meet you there. What is the other request?"
She hugs him. "Promise me that you won't do anything drastic.. like getting embraced without talking with me first, alright?"
Because I will kill you.
"If I have a choice in the matter, I will speak to you first" He smiles then winks, "Of course you could join me in the shower?"
She laughs, "I'm afraid not, but thank you for the invitation. I will go and meet you downstairs."
Make sure that the room isn't a trap of some sort. It's devastating to not be able to trust your best friend and most trusted servant.
"Well I tried."
She chuckles and heads for the door.
He takes off the robe top and walking into the bathroom, the light and shadows moving over the yakuza tattoos.
She watches him and slips out and heads to the basement.
I need to calm down. 'Rei is not a threat. He can be trusted. He's just experiencing the power of the blood.
For the first time in sixty-years? No. He's dangerous. He cannot be trusted.
He's a man, after all.
"We have a problem." A calm masculine voice answers the phone.
Seiko frowned, "Hello to you too, Kei..what is it?"
"Takeorei-kohai came here last week looking for you."
"Why didn't you send him to Portsmouth?"
*silence*
"Kei?"
"You need to talk to him yourself. He went underground, but I found him. He's staying at a hotel south of St. Louis..."
She hastily grabbed a pen and scribbled the information down in a tiny notebook. "When did he come by?"
"Last Monday."
Valentine's Day? It was a holiday she herself only recently decided she wanted to celebrate.
"Alright..I'll visit Takeorei-kun on my way home. Everything else alright?"
"Yes. Just..be patient with 'Rei, alright?"
She frowned in growing unease. "Sure. Ja mata ne."
"Ja."
--------------------------
Seiko knocks on the hotel door. When the door is opened, Rei is in sweats, a robe and is several days unshaven. There are large bags under his eyes and his hair is unkempt.
Seiko is dressed in jeans, a grey sweater, with a black leather jacket over it all. She studies him, frowning, "Are you alright?"
This is not right.
"Sure... yeah... I guess." The room is dark except for a TV showing infomercials and the shades are drawn
"May I come in?"
"Sure." He moves out of the way and goes to sweep some empty food boxes out of a chair.
Seiko comes into the room, hands in pockets. She watches Rei. "What's happened?"
"Huh? What? Oh nothing." As usual his features are impassive.
Her eyes narrow and she goes to the lamp nearby and switches it on. She proceeds to turn every light in the room on and observes the mess.
This...doesn't look like 'nothing' to me.
He hides his eyes from all the light he watches her bleary-eyed, "Is there something I can help you with Yamagami-sama?"
She looks at him a moment then goes to the phone and calls the concierge. She asks for a few large trash bags to be delivered. Only then does she turn to look at him, "Yes. Tell me what's going on here."
"I am doing the job you asked me to do."
She studies him and frowns. She turns her attention to the empty food containers and begins to stack them carefully. She speaks softly, "I suppose you are.. but I don't understand why you're not taking better care of yourself."
"The blood keeps me healthy, what more is needed?" This said with a slight tinge of something close to anger, but he does not look at her when he speaks.
What on earth?
She stops and moves to stand before Rei, "Why won't tell me what's really going on? I'm really worried about you and Kei is as well."
"What? I was sent away, and I am doing the work asked of me... is that changed?"
She studies him. "How is your work going?"
"He is safe and informs me before he leaves town or has any meetings, I either go with him or send someone to watch if it is local... his home is being watched even now"
She nods and sits down on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry..it's just, I don't remember ever seeing you so.. untidy. It's... unsettling."
"I have come to some realizations lately, and this is the new me." He stands and opens his arms wide and turns in a circle.
Her expression turns calm, "The new you? And what sort of you is this?"
"The sort that has come to realize that sometimes life and the by-products of it, aren't always what they are cracked up to be."
No. Please, not this. Surely he doesn't want me to kill him. I've sworn that I would never..not after..
"Do you not.." she hesitates, "Do you..I don't understand."
"I would not expect someone who has not been alive for so long to understand," as this is said he turns and looks at her with tears in his eyes.
Her calm fades and obvious concern replaces it, "Takeorei..please..sit with me and help me understand. Please?"
Please...don't let this be madness..don't make me regret this too. Akimichi Chouji, why are yours the ones I fail again and again?
"What is there to understand? I have no desire to be human anymore, I have no reason to want to feel pain. Humanity holds nothing for me anymore."
She frowns and then speaks softly, "You want.." to die "..to be embraced?"
"Yes... no... I don't know anymore..." He paces, working him up into a frenzy, "Whatever will take the pain of loosing you away," he screams.
Silence.
What?
Seiko just looks stunned and then shakes her head, "What are you talking about? You haven't lost me, I'm right here."
"For now... but when you leave, whose arms will you be in at night?"
We are not possibly having this conversation. I must be misunderstanding this.
She frowns, "I'm on my way back to Atlanta...'Rei..do you want to come back to Atlanta?"
He lowers his eyes and sighs heavily.
She stands up and goes to him. She gently lays a hand on his arm, "What can I do for you?"
Looking up into her eyes, he lowers himself to one knee and grabs her hand, "Be mine... Forever."
She watches him at first with confusion and then with dawning realisation.
Oh no..
Her hand tightens on his and she lowers herself down so she can look him in the eyes, "Rei do you.." love me? She rephrases, "Rei..we already have a bond that's going to last. And it's special and I honestly treasure that. I will always be here for you when you need me." So please..don't do this to me.
He watches her intently. "I want to know if there can be more?"
"What exactly do you mean by more?"
"I mean.... would you consider being my wife?"
Wife? So many emotions stir at that word but the most welcomed is anger.
She blinks at that once and then again. "What, why?"
"I can not stand to know that you are in the arms of another man... I understand your... predeliction for women as well and I have no problem with that... but I want to be the man in your life."
How dare he?!? A simmering rage wars with reason, calculation. He's just confused. Don't anger him, he's dangerous. Talk him through it. Help him. Be patient. This man built your house. He knows every way in and out. Do not allow his mind to stay so confused. We can be angry later, mend fences now.
She studies him, "I do love you, 'Rei. A great deal and I would do nearly anything for you, but what you've just proposed..I cannot do. You know I am in love with another and it would not be fair to you to pretend otherwise."
"Then I feel we must sever this relationship, for I can not bear to know that you are with another" He says standing and moving over to take a drink from a mostly empty bottle of sake.
She watches him, "You're serious?"
"Yes."
This is insane.
"You would honestly leave if I did not give into this?"
"Know that I would do nothing to betray any confidence you have put in me, but I feel that I can't remain a friend and not be more. Please know this is not an ultimatum, but a confession."
She looks down for a long moment and then stands up. She speaks softly, "I'm so sorry you feel that way. You have been one of my closest friends for a long time. I respect your decision but I'm not happy with it." Do not let him slip away."And another thing, I don't know why you think that me or any other kindred is incapable of feeling pain.. if anything, we feel it more than humanly possible. And what you've said..hurts."
She heads for the door.
"Seiko...please do not leave."
She stops walking and whispers, "What?"
He moves behind her, and touches her shoulders, "I want to be your friend, I want to be with you... I am just hurt and confused right now."
She takes an unneeded breath in and out. She speaks softly, "I know. I'm sorry."
I am so sorry for you.
"The more I am away from you, the more I can't stand being away"
"I thought you would like..a change of pace. I didn't want you to feel shackled with me. And I honestly thought you could help him more than I. You don't have to stay in St. Louis if you don't want to Rei."
"I want to figure out what my place is... but I don't want to lose you."
She turns to look at him, her expression sad. She gives him a ghost of a smile, "Rei, you can take whatever time you need. You can always find me and you will always be welcome."
Take your time. And you better choose wisely.
He studies her, "Seiko, do not be mad.... I do not want to cause you pain, but I have never been and I now know it to not be as it seemed, exiled from you. I love you and will always love you."
Brow furrowed, she smiles a little and touches his cheek with her fingertips, "I truly appreciate your feelings and I am sorry that I cannot return them. And I'm alright. I will be alright." She smiles.
"Will you stay the day here with me? I could use the company of a friend."
"On one condition."
"Anything," he smiles.
"Well..two. Number one, could you go take a shower and shave? I think it may help you feel better."
"Yes, but first, here, go and meet me in the safe room I am renting in the bastment... no windows there, and I will shower, shave and meet you there. What is the other request?"
She hugs him. "Promise me that you won't do anything drastic.. like getting embraced without talking with me first, alright?"
Because I will kill you.
"If I have a choice in the matter, I will speak to you first" He smiles then winks, "Of course you could join me in the shower?"
She laughs, "I'm afraid not, but thank you for the invitation. I will go and meet you downstairs."
Make sure that the room isn't a trap of some sort. It's devastating to not be able to trust your best friend and most trusted servant.
"Well I tried."
She chuckles and heads for the door.
He takes off the robe top and walking into the bathroom, the light and shadows moving over the yakuza tattoos.
She watches him and slips out and heads to the basement.
I need to calm down. 'Rei is not a threat. He can be trusted. He's just experiencing the power of the blood.
For the first time in sixty-years? No. He's dangerous. He cannot be trusted.
He's a man, after all.