[D11MA] Keeping Promises (expecting)

[Usagi Rei]

Rei didn't have the pull to secure a private section of the beach. But he'd been around long enough to know where some of the less inhabited sections of the beach were, off-limits to heimin or samurai of lesser status, lowering but not eliminating foot traffic. He'd promised Reki some nice relaxation, and he meant to keep that promise.

There was one promise he wasn't keeping. The beach clothes he wore didn't actually feature bunnies. On the other hand, the bag he carried slung over his shoulder was styled with them.

Idly, he checked his communicator as he waited. He was early, as usual. But this was a Lion he was dealing with, and the directions were clear: follow the path past the Seido Dunes beach entrance to the copse of palm trees. Rei relaxed. She'd be here soon, no doubt.

[Akodo Reki]

Punctuality was indeed a trait of the Lion. And the Hare's foresight was good. Merely on time would have seen him arrive after her.

The Lioness wore a sporty two piece yellow swimsuit and a field cap to shield her eyes from the sun. A bag was hanging over her shoulder, little lions roamed it green expanse.

Reki smiled warmly to the Hare, "Usagi-san. Or... perhaps we we are familiar enough to be Rei-san and Reki-san." She gave him a proper bow...then extended her hand in a gesture familiar to anyone who had met a Unicorn.

[Usagi Rei]

For his part, Rei was wearing sunglasses. He tilted them down, flashing his pale brown eyes at Reki, grinning. Sporty as the two-piece was, it still showed more skin than he expected from the attractive Lion.

"Akodo-sama..." Rei's attempted return bow was interrupted by the extended hand. He blinked, then smiled, recognizing the gesture. His hand was pleasantly warm as he took hers, shaking it. "Rei-san and Reki-san. I think we are. And I'd like that."

He turned towards the ocean, wordless invitation to walk side by side. They were still a bit aways from the water, with the path running down to it and then alongside, dotted by trees. Even as he turned, Rei gave Reki a sidelong glance and a smile, noticeably playful. "You look really great in that suit, Reki-san. It wasn't what I expected, but I'm pleasantly surprised."

[Akodo Reki]

Reki's grip was firm and her hands calloused as expected of a warrior. She released his hand and looked out to the water. A small blush did briefly appear at his comment. And a hand came up to cover the light bruises and burns from the hard hit she took last night. She chided herself for the gesture...Akodo Reki was a proud warrior for whom scars were a badge of honor, not some wilting Crane who hand bruised herself from preening too much.

"I thought about a one piece but...well this is still tame compared to what I saw walking here!"

She stepped up beside him. "This has been a profoundly weird vacation. I expected the... Scorpion's unique approach to parties but not to have a gunfight."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei's keen eyes spotted the blush, of course, the corners of his lips curling up just a little into a smile. "Yes, certainly. And you should wear whatever you feel comfortable with." He looked at her a little more directly, the smile growing. "But still, you do look nice..."

As Reki stepped up to his side, Rei set the pace forward leisurely; this was for peaceful relaxation, after all. The path was packed sand lined with rocks. The sun was hot, but the breeze coming off the ocean made it more tolerable.

Rei chuckled. "Right? Welcome to World of Darkness, bring your inhalator and your sidearm." He shook his head. "It's been a profoundly strange couple of weeks for me as well, actually, so it's not just you."

He gave her a smile. "How's the wounds? Mine seem to be healing pretty well." Rei pulled his beach top a little more open, revealing a competent bandage on his ribs... as well as his toned physique, of course.

[Akodo Reki]

"I guess that is how the Scorpion like to keep their world, awkward and exciting." Reki smirked and then pulled her hand away from her side, she frowned again feeling self conscious. "The Kuni did good work and rest largely finished up the rest. It still stings but another night's rest and I will be fine I think."

Her eyes went out to the ocean again as they walked. "I'm glad you are ok Rei-san. Sorry for worrying you last night, just bad luck on my part...or good luck on his."

[Usagi Rei]

"Good." Rei said, smiling at her. "Just a little more time, eh?"

He took a breath, inhaling the ocean air. "I'll admit, I was worried. That vehicle gun was no joke." He gave her a smile. "I had every confidence in Kuni-san's abilities, but it's hard seeing someone you care about hurt like that." His pale eyes lingered on her, some of that concern showing. Something they both knew all too well.

The path turned, curving down towards the water. Rei looked back at her again. "I hope I didn't worry you, too. Although I appreciated your concern almost as much as I appreciated your aim." His teeth flashed in a grin.

[Akodo Reki]

"It didn't feel good...I thought for a moment that I was going to see Naomi sooner rather then later," Reki's smiled turned melancholy. "...I...greatly appreciated you being there. Even if the worse had happened, having someone you care about there was comforting." She left the rest unsaid...Naomi had died away from Reki...one of her lingering regrets.

"That was a decent hit you took but you appear made of sterner stuff. Still not letting some asshole ronin shoot a friend of mine and just walk away." Reki paused and blinked, "...well I guess he did walk away in the end, the coward." She resumed walking.

She smirked and stood a little straighter as they walked, "You should be thinking the genius of Akodo's teachings, there is a reason our marksman are feared."

[Usagi Rei]

Reki didn't need to say it. Once again, the look in Rei's eyes showed he understood.

The path turned by the water, moving right alongside it; the careful weather control kept it from washing away. The sound of the surf was stronger here. "I've been hit before." Rei shrugged, shoulders rising and falling. He grinned. "Still, having a Lionness defend me like that was something else."

A chuckle, and he looked at her. "I do plan to put in some more time on the range, actually. How much longer are you here? Maybe you'll have the chance to win a few more free drinks off of me."

[Akodo Reki]

"A few more days at least...I need to make arrangements to visit Naomi's family." Reki's smile turned weary again, "I pray they will understand my delay in seeking them out...it was just too painful." At a whisper just loud enough for Rei, "...and I hope it doesn't tear open the wound when I see them." She placed a hand over her heart.

The brightness in her smile slowly returned, "Regardless I have a few days to whip you into shape." Her eyes shifted to look him over and she smirked, "Well...whip you into a better shot at any rate. You aren't going to have a Lioness watching your back every time."

[Usagi Rei]

"They will." Rei's modulated voice was quiet, but confident. He stopped for a moment, turning to face her. "And it may." He paused for a moment, his eyes on hers. "But maybe that's okay. Maybe it's less like reopening a wound, and more like resetting a broken bone. Painful, but then the real healing can begin."

The next comment made him smile. "Why Reki-san..." He flashed her a quick grin. "You intrigue me. How much shape can you whip me into in a few days? I almost want to find out..." His trademark smirk appeared, and he started to walk on...

But then Rei paused, turning to look out at the ocean instead. "I do like it here. It's peaceful. Calming..." His expression turned pensive as he looked out over the water. His lips briefly parted, but then he hesitated, frowning.

[Akodo Reki]

"...I like your way of looking at it." Reki replied her voice soft, comforting.

She chuckled at his response, "History is filled with dead fools who underestimated the Akodo. And I'd wager more then you think..."

Her smirk faded at his hesitation. Reki's hand trembled a little and then she committed to it...a hand on his shoulder. As soft and gentle a touch a the calloused hands of a warrior could make. "...What's wrong Usagi-san?"

[Usagi Rei]

Rei blinked in surprise as he felt the touch on his shoulder, the muscle briefly tensing under Reki's hand. But only for a moment. Then he took a deep breath, relaxing, his hand briefly coming up to touch hers as it rested on him.

"I found her. My wife." The clarification was probably unnecessary. "Something was after her. And something's wrong with her. She's lost most of her memories..."

He turned to face Reki. "I never imagined finding her again would be like this. It's..." Rei's lips worked for a moment. "I don't resent her anymore. But it's hard. Very hard."

[Akodo Reki]

Reki blinked, "...what do you mean?" She tensed a little herself, "Is that something....dead." Her features hardened and her voice grew cold, "Or does it need to be dead?" There was an unspoken offer in that voice, one to do violence on her friends behalf.

Her expression softened and she looked him in the eyes, "I...wish I had some advice. Just the thought of it...have you taken her to see someone? Surely there are experts on this sort of mental affliction."

She worked her jaw a moment, "...I don't know what I can do to help but..."

[Usagi Rei]

Grimacing, Rei brushed a hand through his hair. "It wasn't human, whatever it was. Or not entirely. But I wouldn't know where to begin to look for it."

His eyes closed for a moment, before opening to meet her gaze again. "It's complicated." Rei said, smiling wryly, black humor. "Very very complicated. But I'm going to get her what help I can. I just don't know what that is."

Rei's gaze dropped a moment, then he looked back up, smiling ever so gently. "There's not a lot of people I could talk to about this. You're one of the few, Reki-san. That's enough."

[Akodo Reki]

Reki smiles sadly, "...I...am sorry Rei-san, I'm not much use outside of war." She squeezes his shoulder.

"...perhaps I could speak to my superiors. Maybe the Kitsu could help?" Her eyes meet his, she was at a loss for words. Or rather she had several she wanted to say but couldn't. "You helped me more then you know Ussagi-san, anything I can do to return the kindness."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei smiled at the squeeze on his shoulder. "I might dispute that." He murmured softly.

The suggestion made Rei frown thoughtfully, briefly breaking their linked gaze. "The Kitsu... perhaps. It may be worth trying. There's just so little I know right now."

As she went on, his eyes went back to hers. They were surprisingly close in color, actually, her copper-brown matching his amber-brown. Rei smiled, his gaze briefly flickering to her lips, then back to her eyes. "You're helping me now." He said, smiling, his voice soft. "And I'm glad I could help you. I can tell, you know. When I look at you..." His hand briefly moved towards her, then stopped, falling back to his side.

[Akodo Reki]

Reki looked to the side, "I...well..." She smiled, "You have become a very important person to me. The first to have made me feel...alive...better...since Naomi died." Her eyes teared up a little and she wiped them.

"It really is a shame I hadn't met you when Naomi was alive..." She takes a slow breath, "...or after my heart had healed. Then..."

The Lioness shook her head, "We should get to the beach...it's very warm all of a sudden."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei looked at her, his smile gentle, his eyes a little wide. "Reki...-san. You're important to me, too." He said. He sighed. "In truth, I am not fully at liberty myself. I have an understanding with someone." His smile grew, just a little. "If I didn't..."

His hand came up then, his thumb gently brushing away one of her tears. Equally gently, he let his fingers brush over her cheek, a tender touch. "Another time, another place. I'd have liked that very much." He let his touch linger a moment longer...

Then, reclaiming his hand, he grinned. "Yeah. Let's hit the water. Charge the ocean like you're charging the enemy! That's the way to do it!" He jogged backwards towards the ocean a moment, smiling at her, before turning and running, his feet beginning to splash in the shallows.

[Akodo Reki]

A sharp pain pierced her, pushing through the full ache that had been there since Naomi died. Reki closed her eyes...

You called me strong...yet here I am too weak to even recognize my own feelings until too late.

She breathed out a long sigh and smiled. Reki didn't have to fake joy, a dear friend had found happiness... found someone. When she opened her eyes the sadness was also there. Running down her cheeks.

"Yeah... that sounds great, Rei-san." Her lips trembled a little and she laughed. "Or... Rei-Rei-Daddy."