Chapter 8
She turned to face him, raindrops trembling delicately on her lashes, and he waited breathlessly. Her voice came soft through the mist, and she said, "This lake–I wanted to show you it, sometime. It's been my solace ever since we came out here."
Zoite smiled then and took her hand in his. It was cold, and she was wet and shivering, despite her steady words. He leaned down to kiss her gently on the mouth, and when he drew away, he replied, "Let's go in before you catch cold."
"Wait, Zoite. Are you sure–about this? It won't be easy, and you're so–you're so good, and pure, and you deserve someone better than me."
He looked down at her, green eyes alight, and she felt the urge to lean against his strength. Still, she waited for his reply. "I have never been so sure of anything in my life, Ami." With that, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly.
Laughing breathlessly, she slipped out of his hold with a lively sparkle in her brightly-shining eyes. "I'll race you in, then."
He laughed, too, but replied, "Ladies first."
"Are you implying something?"
"Of course not. I just meant that because it's obvious that I'll be the victor, you may as well have a head start."
She ended up chasing him to the door, and he skidded to a halt and held open the door for her. "After you."
Ami wrinkled her nose at him, then met Rei's menacing glare full-force.
"Where have you been?! Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?! And I thought you were the only ones that had some sense in this house!"
"No sense, just stubbornness," Zoite replied good-naturedly. "If we could get out of the rain before we pardon ourselves, Miss Rei?"
She stood aside, and as they entered the main hall, dripping, they met the raised eyebrows of Lita, Mina, Kunshan, Janus, and Nestor. Although he still looked a little pale, Nestor leaned against the hallway comfortably. "You know, Zoite, shortly after you left, the horse returned of her own accord," Kunshan remarked.
Her light blue eyes twinkling wickedly, Minalia added wickedly, "What took you two so long to come back?"
Litalia remained silent, although she also had a huge grin on her face. She was quick to take in the happy, glowing look that had not been seen on her sister's face for ages.
"Uh...we were taking care of some unfinished business."
"I wasn't aware that you had any," Nestor commented.
"There was a lot. Too much to explain," Ami replied, smiling secretively to herself.
Despite her annoyance, Rei was also beginning to smile, as widely as everyone else in the crowded hall was smiling.
Sighing, Zoite looked around and shook his head. "The short version is..." He dipped Ami backwards dramatically and kissed her in front of them all, and needless to say, after the initial shock, the first thing that was heard was Janus's impudent wolf-whistle. Smiling angelically, despite Amiliana's dark blush, he continued, "As you can see, it took a lot of wheedling on my part. My occupation doesn't usually bring my into business such as this."
Kunshan shook his head. "If you're done being intentionally obscure, allow me to be the first to offer my congratulations, children."
The blond-haired girl next to him nudged him playfully. "Kunshan. You don't need to act ancient and decrepit all the time. Let them have their fun! This is Zoite, who never unwinds. And this is Ami, who has never been so relaxed and happy since forever."
Lita exchanged a half-startled, half-amused glance with Nestor at the exchange between Minalia and Kunshan before she remembered that she was supposed to be angry at him. A flush rose in her cheeks, and she looked away while he smiled triumphantly to himself.
After more talk and congratulations, Reiliana, who had smiled benignly but looked worried, slipped away to the kitchen. She spent a few minutes gazing through the windows, barely noticing that the rain had stopped and that the sun showed its shining face again. Light footsteps alerted her of another presence, and she turned to meet azure blue eyes. "Janus."
"Rei." He nodded cordially and leaned against the wall, watching her perceptively.
Sighing, she let herself make believe that they were in the kitchen back in the old home, back east, where he had once told her he'd loved her. Before that, though, they had told each other everything–almost everything. He had been her support, and he had stopped her from doing brash things that she would otherwise have regretted. Of course, given his personality, Janus had also been the devil's incarnate.
To him, Rei had been sharp-tongued and full of common sense, and she had balanced his occasional impetuousness. She had been a source of fun, because when he could coax her into letting down her long, dark hair and joining in his wildest adventures, their best times had been etched into memory. She was also his motivation to do better: she was expected nothing but the most of both herself and everyone else around, and her passionate nature would never let her do what she intended to do half-way. She had to go the extra mile. Many people had found Rei hard to get along with, because they had never been able to see past the defensive, brisk testiness. He had always been able to see her more clearly than any other person.
Softly, she asked, "Will everything really be all right for them? She's so young, and he leads such a dangerous life."
"I think," Janus said slowly, after a moment's thought, "that if Ami asked it of him, Zoite would seriously consider resigning. But...you never know."
It didn't occur to her to ask just then if he might think about it if someone had asked him to. "And he'll be good for her?"
He smiled then, and she felt her heart skip a beat. "Of that I'm certain. Don't worry about Ami anymore, Rei. She's in good hands. You have to let her grow up sometime, and she's a young woman now. You make your own decisions–let her make hers. Zoite won't hurt her, and he'll help her get over whatever's happened."
"You know?" she asked in surprise.
He shook his head. "No. But she seems different, a little sadder."
"She's happy today. She's more alive and more spirited."
"I can see that."
Rei sighed again and turned to gaze out into the distance once more. "I feel old and worried and deserted. You've always been able to read people well–especially me. Have I changed so much?"
The blond-haired man straightened slightly. He had been able to sense the difference in her words that day. There was no hostility, and she was reaching out for him as she had done before in times of need. Except they had been alone and parted from each other for several years. "Well, you look pretty much the same." In his head, he corrected, ‘Actually, you're more beautiful than ever. But if I said it, that would ruin everything.' "You do seem tired, though. But I'm sure it's only temporary. You need someone to share your troubles and problems with, someone outside of your family. Ami's been too troubled herself, and Lita as well. And Mina, well...Mina. We don't do her enough credit. You worry too much, Rei. Your eyes are older, and you're too stressed. But you'll never have to worry about being deserted."
She turned again, and the imploring sadness in her eyes reached out to him. "Don't I? I feel more alone now than I ever have. Ami's leaving me, and pretty soon Lita will. And don't tell you don't see something going on between Mina and Kunshan. And I'm alone."
Janus resisted the urge to pull her into his arms and comfort her. "Rei. I said your eyes look older. When I left you, we were still barely grown up. I remember your wild, heedless temper. You were always considerate, in your own way, but you've become more compassionate now. What you've had to deal with, keeping everything together, has added that finishing element. You should be proud of yourself–you're independent, and–"
"Are you proud of me?" she interrupted.
"Yes. I've never been more in love with you." He cursed when he realized that last part slipped out of his mouth.
Rei whirled around, eyes flashing. "Why do you always have to bring it back to that, Janus? Don't you understand that I don't need anything like that now? All I need is a friend. The friend you were before. I don't want to hear that you love me! I can't deal with it!"
"Why not, Rei?! You aren't being fair to me. If you gave me a reason for why you can't love me back, I'd understand. I've waited for you for such a long time, and I never lost hope."
"Well, you should," she whispered, tears stinging at her eyes.
A quiet knock at the door caught their attention, and Rei brushed away a stray tear quickly. "Janus. Kunshan's waiting for you right now. You were planning to go?"
"Yes," he said abruptly. Softening his tone, he said, "I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to tell you before, Ami. And I'm sorry that I can't stay. But maybe I'll see you around town." Striding towards the door, he paused and looked back at Rei, who was frozen in place. "Good bye, Rei."
When Janus and Kunshan rode away, with their belongings, Janus did not look back. Kunshan did, and he waved to the five gathered on the steps–but especially to Mina, who looked slightly forlorn. Rei had begun crying silently the moment the door had closed behind him.
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After a quiet dinner, Nestor was sitting on the front steps, thinking to himself. He had seen Zoite and Ami disappear, after dinner, to stroll along the farther side of the lake. He envied but could not begrudge them their happiness as they walked hand in hand, sometimes talking, sometimes not. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Lita seated herself beside him. Although she said nothing, he could feel her nervous glance. "It's a nice evening," he remarked.
"Yes," she agreed quietly.
"I've decided I'd rather stay."
"What?" she asked, rather startled.
Nestor turned to face her, his eyes twinkling. "Don't you remember? You said you wouldn't care if I left or not. I just thought I'd inform you of my plans to remain. I hope it won't inconvenience you too much."
She smiled faintly. Her eyes, too, caught the distant figures of Ami and Zoite. "I'm sorry, Nestor. Things have been rough recently."
"You're forgiven–if I'm forgiven." He offered his hand–and his heart–in this brief words.
Lita considered it for a moment, weighing the positives and negatives of the situation carefully. At last, she placed her hand in his.
Some time later, he asked, "What are you thinking about?" She eyed him questioningly, and he continued, "I can hear the wheels turning in your head. What's gotten you so worked up?"
"Well...Rei, for one thing. She's letting Mina watch Xander for the evening, and he told her that ‘Mommy was sad.' I can't help her there, though. She refuses to talk about Janus."
"I feel bad for him."
"I do, too. But I also feel badly for the way I acted."
Nestor mock-glared at her. "Didn't we already settle all the apologies?"
"No–yes. But..." She wanted to tell him about the will before he found out and hated her. But she couldn't bring herself to.
"But?"
"Nothing." Tentatively, she leaned her head on his shoulder, and he put his arm around her as they watched the sunset. They were on better terms, but he knew there was something she was trying to tell him but couldn't. Nevertheless, Nestor shrugged it off and told himself that when she was ready, she would tell him. For now, he wanted to regain some of their own happiness that had been taken away by uncontrollable events.
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A few days later, Kunshan strolled along in the bright sunlight. Things were getting tense. Zoite wasn't often in the quarters they shared, above the office, and Janus was being unbearably gloomy, which was extremely unusual. He was left to his own devices, and he was beginning to think it was time to go home. And yet...something was lingering in his mind, keeping him there. Or rather, someone–Minalia Bliss.
He couldn't figure out exactly what it was about her that captivated him so. It could be her perpetual joie de vivre, her cheerful nature, and her sympathetic listening. Or it could be the fact that she knew what it was like to suffer hardships–but she still went through the time with a smile on her face. He had told her he was bored with the business world and all the schemes, lies, and facades that were all part of his profession. To his surprise, Mina had understood. His family wanted him to return home. She wanted him to do whatever would make him happy. But she was so young...and at the same time, she was knowledgeable about the world and the dark things that went on.
All of a sudden, her sweet, soprano voice broke into his thoughts. "Kunshan!"
He turned, half-thinking that it was a figment of his imagination–but it wasn't. "Good morning, Mina."
"Morning!" she sang out cheerily. Falling into step with him, she asked, "What have you been doing recently? I–we've been wondering why none of you have dropped by lately."
He smiled, and he was surprised at how natural it felt to be opening up to her. Usually, his smiles–and words–were few and far between. "We didn't want to impose. And you didn't hear it from me, but Janus has been in a foul mood as of late."
Mina frowned. "So has Rei. They really do have communication problems."
"I'll say. Are they always that vociferous in their disagreements?"
Primly, she replied, "Rei has never been afraid to voice her opinion." Her eyes sparkled with mirth, and she seemed to be touched by sunlight.
"Well, how's Nestor?" he inquired.
"Much better. It's probably because Lita's decided to stop keeping him in suspense. They've stopped fighting over whatever they were fighting about."
"Don't you know?"
"Of course I do. But I shouldn't be repeating everything I overhear. Actually, I didn't come here on an errand, exactly. Or maybe you could call it one. I'm supposed to ‘extend the invitation' to you and Janus. Our friends–Setsuna, Michiru, Haruka, and Hotaru–are moving out of town. Close to us. They're having a house-raising party at the end of the week, and they need all the men they can get for brute strength. And of course, we ladies are supposed to feed you after all your hard work."
He laughed and said, "I'll try to be there. Thank you for inviting me."
"It was no problem," Mina replied. "And Janus? Is he going?"
Kunshan looked at her suspiciously. "Are you trying to match-make him with your sister?"
"I wouldn't dream of it."
"Uh huh. Why do I not believe you?"
"You should."
He shrugged and gave up. "All right. I won't be able to stay too late, though. I'll probably be leaving Saturday morning."
Minalia's cornflower blue eyes opened wide. "Are you leaving already?"
He felt something twist inside him but quickly repressed whatever emotion it was. "Yes. It's time, I guess, that I should go back to where I belong."
"But you hate it," she said bluntly.
"Well, we can't always do what we want to."
"You could stay, if you wanted," Mina said softly.
He dugs his hands into his pockets and shook his head. "I don't have a legitimate reason."
Her face fell, but a second later, she was smiling again. However, the smile looked fixed and determinedly bright. "Well, I guess you're right. But we will be seeing you Friday night, won't we?"
"You can count on it." As Kunshan watched her leave, after a drifting farewell, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Life was too confusing.
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