[D11LA] Old Times

[Usagi Rei]

Standing before the door, Rei took a deep breath. He'd worn one of his old Hare uniforms, the sort he'd worn when he first got here, more crisply military than what he typically wore now. He made sure to apply a touch of cologne; he'd heard scent had an effect on memory. And, although he wasn't sure it would help, he brought Airi, in the little carrying case they'd bought for her.

Rei's hand came up, but he hesitated. It had been hard seeing her, for any number of reasons. He remembered talking about the Hare Drop Troops, that had done an orbital drop, and shattered their legs upon landing. How much courage had it taken them to jump again? How much more courage would it take if you knew that shattering your legs wasn't just a possibility, but a near certainty?

Closing his eyes, Rei took one more deep breath. His hand pressed the control for the door chime, setting it to ring inside the small embassy guest room. And, if invited, he would fix a smile on his face before stepping inside...

[Boogiepop]

"Yes? Come on." Yuria would call out in response to her door being rung, which was enough of command to have the door slide open for Rei to enter.


Usagi Yuria

It had been some time since Rei had found Yuria and thanks to the help he had been able to find on short notice, she had managed to heal from her injuries. However, she hadn't really taken to leaving the embassy or even doing much to risk reopening those wounds again. She didn't have much on her that night but the embassy thankfully had some spare clothes for her in the form of an athletic tracksuit. It wasn't exactly fashionable and when asked about her things, she would fail to give any answers. Perhaps she was afraid of the shadow creature reappearing or she legitimately forgot. It seemed she would have to start on a clean slate there too.

She had been fiddling with the informator channels, which seemed to have its share of issues throughout the day.

"Oh, Rei!" Her eyes would light up and she would make her way over to hug him.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei set down the little bag with Airi in it, meeting his wife with a smile that he only somewhat felt. So familiar and unfamiliar at the same time; she used to greet him upon his return much like that. But not for almost two years. Even his own memory of it had begun to fade.

"Airi..." He greeted her. Rei would spread his arms, accepting the hug somewhat awkwardly, arms encircling her for just a few moments. "How are you feeling? Is your wound okay? Do you need anything?" He cast his gaze over her, concerned. Confused. It was still so strange to be seeing her, made even stranger by her condition.

[Boogiepop]

Usagi Yuria

Yuria happily hugged Rei when allowed. It was admittedly a brief one and she released him easily enough as he began to ask about herself. Her gaze was trained on him, there was either hesitation or delay before she could answer him. Perhaps, she was trying to get a read on him and how he was regarding her. However, there were bits and parts of Rei's nuances she couldn't quite decipher with certainty. The old Yuria might have been able to see the smaller things.

"I'm feeling fine, thank you," she said with a mustered smile. "I've been healing fine but they've been telling me I shouldn't exert myself for the next few days...so I should just take it easy and get my strength back."

She looked down at her current outfit and shrugged. "I could use new clothes...but these are fine. They're comfortable. Comfortable is good for now."

[Usagi Rei]

"Good, good..." Rei said, nodding, still smiling. Perhaps it was for the best that she couldn't pick up on all his nuances.

He nodded. "Of course. I think I have some of your things in a box. I can bring them by... or have them brought by." He chewed his lip for a moment. "... for now?" Rei asked invitingly. He'd come here for a number of reasons, and to get a sense of what she wanted for the future was certainly one of them.

In her carrier, Airi stirred a little. Rei glanced down, but it didn't seem like the time yet.

[Boogiepop]

Usagi Yuria

"Oh, that would be good," Yuria nodded soundly with a small smile as she brushed some hair behind her ear. Then gestured for him to come in and have a seat. The room she was given wasn't exactly large by any means, perhaps smaller than the ones they usually give to those staffed here. She wasn't exactly on duty and her record with the Hare Clan was only a name without anything else to claim. Perhaps she was merely roomed here due to Rei's word. "...I don't know where else I can do not, really. I just remember running and..."

She blinked and gave a glance at the carrier as it interrupted her. "Oh, what's that...a cat?"

[Usagi Rei]

Picking Airi's case up again, Rei stepped into the room coming to sit, perched on the end of the bed. "Okay." Rei said, nodding. "I'll see that it's done. I do want you to be comfortable..." He looked at her, smiling, until he had to look away.

He looked back at her, smiling again, as she looked at the case. "This is Airi. The spine drake we had together. Here..." Kneeling down on the floor, Rei slowly unzipped the front of the case, letting the screen fall open. A moment passed, and a little dragony snout stuck out, sniffing curiously. A moment later, and Airi emerged with a curious little hop, her nose still twitching. She looked around, giving a little hiss.

"That's a good hiss." Rei explained quickly, then frowned; Yuria should know Airi's mannerisms. But he bet she'd forgotten. He looked at his wife wistfully. "Do you remember her at all...?" The little drake seemed to be remembering Yuria somewhat, giving another curious hop towards her, still sniffing curiously.

[Boogiepop]

Usagi Yuria

"Oh, Airi," She smiled faintly at the mention of the name. "I do remember, yes."

It was perhaps more that she remembered the mention of Airi when they have first reunited again, rather than knowing Airi from their past together. What she suffered from what's short-term memory loss, at least. She curiously watched the carrier as it was opened and Airi was let out. There was a moment where Yuria seemed to almost flinch away at first when she heard the hiss.

"...That's good..." She said as she tried to muster a smile, convincing herself that Airi wouldn't attack her. At the very least, she knew that Rei wasn't going to purposely bring an animal that would harm her intentionally. This was supposed to be the spine drake they shared, right? She would offer Airi a hand to sniff, as one would do a cat. There was a small smile on her lips as she seemed to grow a little comfortable with the drake, especially now knowing Airi wasn't going to bite her.

At the question, she looked at Rei with a sad look in her eyes, perhaps not wanting to admit what was pretty obvious by now.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei smiled at first, but it faded as he came to recognize just how little his wife remembered.

Airi gave another little hop forward, rear legs flexing, wings flapping to assist her. The little serpent-like neck craned, bending around, nose twitching as she smelled Airi's hand. The twitching went on for a surprisingly long time before she gave another hiss, this one almost gurgling. Rei smiled.

"I think she remembers you." He said, even as Airi bumped her head against Yuria's hand.

They exchanged a look, Rei and Yuria, two pairs of eyes reflecting sad realities at each other. "Yuria..." Rei began, taking a breath. "Do you know why you can't remember things? Was it something that was done?" His hands clenched. "Can anything be done to fix it?" That was the real question, there.

[Boogiepop]

Usagi Yuria

Yuria was a bit unsure of how to read Airi exactly and she looked a bit nervous considering this was the first time she had been this close to a spine drake. At least, according to a memory that was filled with blanks. Nothing in some places. She bit her lower lip and encouraged herself to not flinch away, especially when the hiss is heard.

"Aw, that's good..." she smiled sheepishly, perhaps more telling herself that than the acknowledgement that she was reunited with Airi. Her fingers would carefully brush over the drakes's head, wanting to be gentle with her touch.

However, that bit of optimism and the heartwarming moment seemed to dissipate when Rei brought up the concerning questions. She pulled back her hand and place it on her lap after she reclaimed her sitting spot on her bed. There was an uncertain look about her. It might have been that she didn't have the answers or didn't want to give them.

"I...I don't want to talk about it." She quickly stammered out as she found it hard to look at him directly all of a sudden.

[Usagi Rei]

Airi followed the familiar person, thought lost, going to sit on her haunches before her and hiss pleasantly (sort of) as Yuria sat on the bed. Rei sighed, lips in a half-smile. If only it were so easy for him.

Watching her, Rei saw the moment that she looked away, his own face falling in response. "Okay." He said quietly. It didn't seem like she had the answers he needed. Maybe no one did.

It was more than a few moments before Rei said anything, his expression grim. Then, managing a smile again, he reached into his jacket. "I did actually bring you something." He pulled out a data disk. "It's some of your music. I thought it might..." help you remember, "-be nice to listen to." He offered it to her, holding it in both hands.

[Boogiepop]

Usagi Yuria

Unfortunately for Airi, she seemed to have been disregarded as Yuria slouched in her seat. She grew chilly all of a sudden and this was evident when she started to hug herself to prevent a tremble from surfacing. Her mind went distant for a moment, perhaps returning to some unpleasant and murky part of her ever-growing spotty past...

"...What?" She would say once she gave two blinks and saw the data disk presented to her. Perhaps, out of natural instinct, she reached over to accept it in both her hands. "Oh, thank you, Rei. It would help very much actually, thank you..."

She would finally look up at him, there was a bit of uneasy hopefulness in her eyes. "I hope to sing again someday. I'm sorry I wasn't as good as I was before. It's just been so long, that's all. Maybe I just need practice."

[Usagi Rei]

Ignored, Airi gave a little hiss, and began to wander the room, investigating the corners first, her little nose twitching.

Rei's hand lifted, hesitated, and then gently rested on Yuria's shoulder, just for a few moments, as she seemed about to shiver. It still felt strange, but perhaps she might take some comfort from it. "You're very welcome." He said, smiling gently. "And I hope you sing again someday, too. Maybe you do just need practice."

He shifted on the futon, turning to face her. "Yuria... you don't need to apologize to me. Not for anything that's happened." Rei took a deep, then looked at her, smiling again. "I forgive you." Maybe he really did. She'd hurt him terribly, but all the anger he'd felt seemed to have vanished, like pus draining from a wound after it's been lanced.

[Boogiepop]

Usagi Yuria

"Yes..." She said with a soft breath into her words and mustering a small smile, perhaps trying to convince herself that was the only issue here. "I just need some practice, that's all. I'm sure I can sing very well again. At least, as well as you."

As much as it could have sounded like a jab at Rei's shaky performance the other night, there was a real sense of envy. It seemed he had those memories more clearly than she did. As much as she tried to think back, it felt like a blank in her mind. It wasn't like she forgot them but they never existed in the first place. There might have been little difference between the two but it was enough to unnerve at least slightly.

Yuria gave a few sound nods as she accepted the apology. For a moment, she seemed to be at a loss of what else to say or do but she wordlessly reached out with her hand in hopes that Rei would reciprocate. It was perhaps both a literal and figurative gesture.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei hesitated for a moment, a strange look on his face. For any number of reasons, it didn't feel right. Even if he could remember, so much had changed that his wife felt almost like a stranger now.

But then his lips smiled, and Rei reached out, gently taking her hand. "It's going to be okay." He said, his voice soothing. Kindness cost him little, and he wanted to do the right thing for her, whatever that was. And... well, feelings were complicated, to say the least.

[Boogiepop]

Usagi Yuria

Yuria smiled faintly when Rei took her hand and her touch was soft. She was happy to feel his touch and her fingers brushed against his palm. However, soon there was a concerning look on her face and she began to grasp his hand, wanting to hold on to him in case he thought about letting go.

"...Do you still love me?" She asked with an unsure look but an intent stare.

[Usagi Rei]

"Yuria..." Rei's smile faded. His eyes traced the lines of her face, beautiful, familiar... unfamiliar. He'd seen her smile, laugh, cry, and so much more. He'd loved her once. And looking into her eyes, he could the embers of that.

But a fire left untended would eventually burn out.

He took a deep breath. "When we married, it was the happiest day of my life. When you left..." he paused, swallowing, "-I think it broke me, for a while. It's been almost two years, and I've healed, but..." He shook his head. Part of healing had been recognizing that she had left him. "So much has changed since then. For both of us." There was a brief pause.

"I'm sorry." Rei said softly. He still held her hand. Comfort, he hoped. But he rather suspected cold comfort, in the face of the question she'd asked him.

[Boogiepop]

Usagi Yuria

Yuria found herself smiling at first, perhaps even as Rei had stopped smiling. Her eyes followed him with every word, being led on bit by bit. Despite being lost in the present and having much of her past taken away from her, she had perhaps held that there was something optimistic waiting for her on the other side with Rei. It was true that she had abandoned him so long ago but she had run away for so long she might have forgotten the time in between. She knew a Rei who would wait for her...but not a Rei who had moved on.

"...What?" She said incredulously at first as her hand released his, although would still be held by him if he wanted to. Her eye blinked and tears began to roll down her cheeks perhaps even unexpected for her as the shock was too great for her to take in. "...You don't love me anymore?"

[Usagi Rei]

Rei didn't let go. Seeing her tears was like a blow to him. As much as his feeling had changed, faded, been lost to time, some of it still did remain. And that part couldn't bear to see her cry. Have spoken the very words that caused it.

"Yuria..." He said, his voice rough. Closing his eyes, he squeezed her hand, briefly pressing it to his forehead. "Part of me will always love you. The same part that hoped to see you again more than was hurt that you left. The part that still thinks about you, and our time together..."

Slowly, he lowered her hand, opening his eyes, wet now as well; his grip slackened, releasing her hand if she pulled away, loosely holding it if not. "But everything's so different now. We're different people." His eyes closed again. "And I spend almost two years thinking you didn't love me. That changed things, too."

[Boogiepop]

Usagi Yuria

While she didn't pull her hand away exactly, her own hand dropped easily as she didn't much effort in keeping her own grip on him. Her tear-soaked eyes would look at him with a shaky stare, look bewildered at first but the weight of depression had perhaps found her first before she could even consider outrage at the situation. She found herself looking down at her lap. Before she didn't have the courage to look at him directly and now she didn't want him to see her like this. She put a hand over her mouth as she took a moment to allow herself a sob.

"But...I'm the same person you knew before." She said with a tremble. While she was sure of it, she had to convince herself of that fact too. Was it something else too? "Is it because I can't remember?! Is this why you don't love me anymore? I-I-I still remember us! Why can't we have that again now that I'm here?!"