Hayate - Camp Ground

[hayate_grr]

Hayate absently walked along the bank of a sparkling clear river, kicking a stone into the water before pushing his hands deeper into the pockets of his blue jeans. Leafunia surrounded him on every side and eased his mood out of the dark brooding state he'd been in since the previous night. Rolling up the long sleeves of his soft grey shirt, he

Comments

[cavaliershining]

[OOC: Sorry, just had to comment on the 'nice long wall'. :P Had to reread that a couple times

[hayate_grr]

(ooc: HEY everyone needs to go on long walls. It clears the head. ;p)

"It looks like I neglected to tell you today how much I hate it when you're right," Hayate mused aloud. He met those bright eyes and flinched at the series of quesions Kei put to him in his typical manner. Leave it to the Knight of Light to cut through the darkness of his own thoughts. His expression turned troubled and shadowed for a moment as he considered Kei's questions before giving any answer. In truth, Hayate didn't want to respond.

Clearing his throat, Hayate replied carefully, "My first answer is yes but I know I wouldn't. I've fought beside him too long to hesitate when it comes to a life and death situation. Even if my own heart and mind are in turmoil, I fight with everything I have."

Picking at a blade of grass, he absently plucked it up and ran it along his knee. He sighed deeply and added quietly. "I don't trust him or her. I don't know that I ever will as much as I once did. I'd like to but I don't know how."

[cavaliershining]

Kei merely laughed, softly, at Hayate's remark. It was one he had heard many times, albeit phrased differently at each repetition. However, in the ensuing silence he could see that some part of his words had gotten through to the Leafe Knight of Wind. In truth, Hayate wasn't as bull-headed as his manner made him out to be, not when it came to important matters. It was one of the reasons Kei got along with the other Knight despite the fact that they seemed exact opposites in every respect

[hayate_grr]

Hayate continued playing with the blade of grass before lifting it and letting it slowly drift away from him on the light breeze. Watching sunlight trickling through the leaves playing along his skin, he nodded his head in agreement at the general mistrust they all felt towards Sasame and Takako. Idly, he wondered if Kei had forgiven them both or was simply following the most logical course of action. Sometimes, the man's logic could be a hard, cold thing to deal with for anyone.

"I don't resent them, Kei. I can't help how I feeling how I do. None of this has been easy on any of the Knights or Sasame and Takako. I'll give them a chance but I can't promise it'll be easy or even today," he admitted slowly, "Have you forgiven them or are you simply doing what logic dictates is best for all?"

[cavaliershining]

The play of sunlight and green-tinged shadows, the warmth of the breeze and the distant susurrus of the river between its banks were lulling Kei into a kind of half-doze. He had woken up very early that morning to make sure his packing was complete, as well as everyone else's; it was just his way. Now, however, he was feeling the effects, and he had to shake himself a little to follow the flow of the conversation

[hayate_grr]

"For now," Hayate supplied. He had a suspicion Kei would continue to prod, poke, and nudge him on the twin subjects of Sasame and Takako. The other Knight could be just as stubborn when he was following the course logic dictated was correct. For all his cold aloofness, Hayate knew Kei cared about the other Knights as well as both the present and past Pretears. If he didn't care, he wouldn't be trying to patch things up in his own unique way.

"Your logic is going to get you in trouble one day," Hayate pointed out quietly. Frowning, he stretched out in the grass and used his arms for support. The filtered warmth of the sunshine relaxed him and his mood took a turn for the lighter side yet again. It wouldn't last but he would enjoy it while it did. "How are they?"

[cavaliershining]

Kei laughed. "For now." He was no idealist, to believe that things could go back to to the way they were fifteen yearas ago. Nevertheless, it was a start, and he allowed himself to feel a little satisfaction that they had come thus far.

"Perhaps," he mused in response to the subsequent quasi-warning. "But it has not truly led me wrong yet." He felt more than heard the rustle of Hayate lying down; the other Knight was getting comfortable, which meant the worst was over, so to speak. "I have not seen Takako... But Sasame seems well enough, physically speaking." He drew his knees up to his chest with one arm, propping his chin against the soft, thin material of his sleeve. "I have no doubt, though, that the both of them are in considerable turmoil at our sudden arrival. If we have not spoken of or to them for so long... How have they dealt with the events of that day, I wonder?" Softer, almost to himself. He knew he didn't need to clarify.

[hayate_grr]

"Yet," Hayate said with a lighter tone to his voice, "The day is still young. You have plenty of time left for your logic to backfire."

Hayate looked up at Kei as the other Knight appeared to relax. Squinting up, he turned his attention back to the distant blue patches he could see between the thick canopy above them. The thought of Sasame and Takako twisted him up inside but he was certain he could handle the situation thanks to Kei's warning. Considering the softer question, Hayate doubted Kei wanted an answer from him but he offered one anyway.

"Probably alone with small moments of facing it together. A lot of brooding and guilt with a dash of regret thrown in for spice," Hayate guessed, "I doubt they've dealt with it all. As you already pointed out, running isn't an answer. In our own ways, we've all been running from facing what happened."

[cavaliershining]

A small chuckle at that, and Kei turned his head towards Hayate so his cheek rested on his arm, golden eyes laughing. "True, that. Ever the optimist, aren't we, Hayate?"

In the quiet of the aftermath of their discussion, a lesser reenactment of his confrontation with Sasame but no less draining, Kei shut his eyes and allowed himself to drift, just a little. The sunlight was warm and glowed against his closed lids.

"Hm." His lashes flickered in tacit agreement. "Sasame never was one to share his burdens, though, was he? Fool of a Knight." A barely audible sigh, but Kei spoke in a languid voice, not picking and choosing his words as much as he normally would. "Then, this is a start, is it not?" A trace of a smile as he voiced his thoughts from earlier.

[hayate_grr]

"Of course, someone has to be," Hayate remarked dryly and added, "Don't forget that I have no sense of humor."

Continuing to watch the play of light and shadows above him, Hayate looked over at Kei with mild surprise. His expression returned to normal and he lowered his head back onto his arms. Grass idly tickled his nose and he shifted away from the lightly moving greenery.

"Sasame is complicated," Hayate tried, surprised he felt defensive of the other Knight after everything that had happened, "But you're right. He's never liked sharing his burdens. Neither have you, Kei."

Pausing, he had to agree about this being a start. Hayate didn't know what good would come of it but he would do his best to give Sasame and Takako a chance. He hoped they would do the same for him. "Yes, it's a start."