THREAD ; atonement

[sheifa]

Characters: Sheifa & Kane.
When: After this event, and just after Sheifa sends Albel (and Maria) off.
Where: Econtra, just by the second Consulo.
Summary: Sheifa prepares to return to her world. Kane comes to do so as well.
Warnings: Doing this here since the Econtra comms will soon be closed. Nothing to warn about, methinks... except excessively

Comments

[puritanjustice]

Footsteps from leather boots thudded from behind Sheifa. They halted beside the young girl, their owner silent at witnessing such sorrow on what should have been a time of rejoicing. Then a figure in black knelt by her and placed gentle gloved hands on her shoulders. Should Sheifa choose to look up, she would find stormy blue eyes on a stern weathered face gazing upon her from beneath a thatch of graying black hair.

"Sheifa? What ails ye, lass? And... where is Albel?"

Convinced that his daughter and son-in-law would be fine without him bidding them farewell, Kane had set off for the new Consulo alone. A quick and quiet exit without fuss or fanfare was what he'd been looking forward to. But seeing Sheifa this way turned his heart over on itself; he could't leave this way. Not when she was in pain and simply needed someone.

[sheifa]

Sheifa did look up, and she didn't bother to hide the tears that were falling from her eyes. "Dad," she whimpered, before seemingly losing whatever strength she had left and collapsing, although remaining conscious, against her foster father. Her body started to shake again as she now felt the impact of their decision - no, her decision - and no matter how she tried to drown out the voice, it continued to taunt her. He's gone. Gone. Gone gone gone GONE-

"He... went back." But then she shook her head. "N-No. I sent him back."

[puritanjustice]

Holding her shaking frame in a paternal embrace, he let the grieving girl have her tears. Let her weep for as long as she wished; all tears dried with time, after all. Some of the other Drafted passed them by, sparing them the curious look or two. But Kane ignored them all... and used his mere presence to assure Sheifa that he was here for her.

His fingers wiped at a stray tear on her pretty visage. He was clearly surprised. She had sent him back? "Why? I had thought ye would return to his world together."

[sheifa]

"I wanted to," Sheifa answered after a while, voice very soft. The sobbing died down considerably, but tears still continued to stain her face; after all, she had just lost someone very dear to her, despite his promise to find her and return to her someday, and her very own promise to wait and remain true to him no matter how long it took. She found comfort in her father's embrace, however, and didn't pull away, needing the all the strength he had to offer.

"But I couldn't. I... I'm not ready. Not while I remain bound to my past. Not when she continues to torment me."