Thank you
Title: Thank you
Pairing: Kurogane/Fay, Yuuko (Characters by CLAMP)
Warnings: Some sadness.
Notes: A sequel of sorts to 'Loved Lost'.
He had a presence that caused even her to turn around. It was different from the first time he’d stood before her. Then, his aura had been pulled tight against him, barely reaching further than his clothes. Now, she felt him the instant he’d turned his attention away from the children and to this room.
Yuuko turned and looked at him, looked into one golden eye. He smiled slightly. “You know why I’m here, don’t you?”
“Yes. And you know he wouldn’t want you to do it.”
Fay’s smile stayed, but it changed into one not meant for her. “He would never say it, and he wouldn’t want me to say it either, I know. But I always end up doing things he hates.”
“I don’t particularly want you to say it, either. You know I had to choose.”
“I know. And why you chose him isn’t important. What is important is that you chose Kuro-rin. And for that, I have to say it.” He held her gaze with his one eye, and once again the smile was for her. The fact that it was genuine hurt her more than anything. “Thank you.”
“Fay…”
He shook his head. “This may seem like one of those times where I’m not putting enough value on my own life, but it’s just the opposite. You saved him, and he saved me. I don’t think anything you did could have matched what he’s done for me. When you chose him, you chose both of us.”
Yuuko looked at him steadily. “Will you return to Nihon?”
“Of course.”
“They will miss you.”
Fay’s smile disappeared. “I will miss them dearly. But Nihon is where I belong. I could never leave Kuro-tan there alone.”
“I understand.”
Fay turned to leave, paused at the door. He was silent for a moment, then laughed softly. “Maybe I lied. Maybe this was a case of his life over mine. I almost forgot to thank you for granting the children’s wish.”
“They paid the price. You thanked them. That’s enough.” She studied his back for a moment, then quietly added: “They love you. It was all they could do. Do you feel guilty?”
“No. If he could have been saved, I would have gladly paid the price. But he was gone, and he taught me to let the dead go.” A pale hand reached out, rested on the doorframe. “And so I did. And…” he slid the door open, “their wish would have made him happy.” He left the room, closing the door behind him.
Yuuko fell back onto her couch. She looked at the figure to the left of the door. He stood against the wall, arms crossed.
“It’s all done? Their wish was carried out?”
“Yes. And since they granted your dying wish, your payment is to go, and rest easily until you see them again.”
“Tch. I was going to do that anyway.”
“I know. Now that you have no more worries. He’ll live.”
His smile was the first she’d ever seen from him, and it caused her eyes to sting. “I’m not going to thank you.”
She laughed. “I’d be terribly disappointed if you did.” She stood as he faded from sight. When he was gone, she went to the door and slid it open. “Good-bye.” Then, in a whisper, “I’m sorry.” The door slid shut behind her.
Pairing: Kurogane/Fay, Yuuko (Characters by CLAMP)
Warnings: Some sadness.
Notes: A sequel of sorts to 'Loved Lost'.
He had a presence that caused even her to turn around. It was different from the first time he’d stood before her. Then, his aura had been pulled tight against him, barely reaching further than his clothes. Now, she felt him the instant he’d turned his attention away from the children and to this room.
Yuuko turned and looked at him, looked into one golden eye. He smiled slightly. “You know why I’m here, don’t you?”
“Yes. And you know he wouldn’t want you to do it.”
Fay’s smile stayed, but it changed into one not meant for her. “He would never say it, and he wouldn’t want me to say it either, I know. But I always end up doing things he hates.”
“I don’t particularly want you to say it, either. You know I had to choose.”
“I know. And why you chose him isn’t important. What is important is that you chose Kuro-rin. And for that, I have to say it.” He held her gaze with his one eye, and once again the smile was for her. The fact that it was genuine hurt her more than anything. “Thank you.”
“Fay…”
He shook his head. “This may seem like one of those times where I’m not putting enough value on my own life, but it’s just the opposite. You saved him, and he saved me. I don’t think anything you did could have matched what he’s done for me. When you chose him, you chose both of us.”
Yuuko looked at him steadily. “Will you return to Nihon?”
“Of course.”
“They will miss you.”
Fay’s smile disappeared. “I will miss them dearly. But Nihon is where I belong. I could never leave Kuro-tan there alone.”
“I understand.”
Fay turned to leave, paused at the door. He was silent for a moment, then laughed softly. “Maybe I lied. Maybe this was a case of his life over mine. I almost forgot to thank you for granting the children’s wish.”
“They paid the price. You thanked them. That’s enough.” She studied his back for a moment, then quietly added: “They love you. It was all they could do. Do you feel guilty?”
“No. If he could have been saved, I would have gladly paid the price. But he was gone, and he taught me to let the dead go.” A pale hand reached out, rested on the doorframe. “And so I did. And…” he slid the door open, “their wish would have made him happy.” He left the room, closing the door behind him.
Yuuko fell back onto her couch. She looked at the figure to the left of the door. He stood against the wall, arms crossed.
“It’s all done? Their wish was carried out?”
“Yes. And since they granted your dying wish, your payment is to go, and rest easily until you see them again.”
“Tch. I was going to do that anyway.”
“I know. Now that you have no more worries. He’ll live.”
His smile was the first she’d ever seen from him, and it caused her eyes to sting. “I’m not going to thank you.”
She laughed. “I’d be terribly disappointed if you did.” She stood as he faded from sight. When he was gone, she went to the door and slid it open. “Good-bye.” Then, in a whisper, “I’m sorry.” The door slid shut behind her.