23- Goodbye

[heal_theworld]

[Martel was wandering down to Yuan's room that afternoon, since she hadn't actually heard from him in a few days. He had a tendency to fall off the map, and then she would drag him out of his room. Maybe she could take him to that cafe in the city that she always seemed to frequent with people. First Zack and now Reborn. May as well take Yuan there, too.

Until she arrived at his door and saw the empty nameplate. For a moment she couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that she had come to the right room. But she walked up and down the hall, and always came back to that room with the empty nameplate.

She bit her lip, and could feel tears welling up in her eyes. This could not be happening, they were going to get married, she had bought them new engagement rings for Christmas... She and Ino had gone out and picked out the most beautiful wedding dress, and it was sitting in her closet right now. She would probably never wear it.

There would be no more teasing him, no more gentle kisses, no more hearing his voice or even seeing him. She was dead in Aselia. If he never came back, if she went home.... She would never see him again. Martel knew that their time was uncertain, even Yuan knew, but he had been here for so long... She had almost believed they could make it work. She had almost believed that they could get married and be happy.

She wiped at the tears that were on her cheeks, the ones that she hadn't wanted to fall, but they were anyway. She couldn't stay here and stare at that empty nameplate. She had to go somewhere, anywhere else. Somewhere where she could cry in peace, and that definitely wasn't the castle.

So she turned and ran back towards the stairs, only thinking of getting out of the castle and away.]


[She ended up at that self same cafe, having calmed down a fair bit on the way here and as she walked through the city. Nobody really knew to find her here, and that was good enough for her while she tried to pull herself back together. She got a small cup of calming herbal tea, sipping at it while she steadied her voice and opened her journal to make the announcement.]

I'm sorry to say, but... Yuan Ka-Fai has gone home.

[And there's that. She closes her journal and sniffs, wiping at her eyes, and sipping at her tea. She'll check it later, when she doesn't feel like she was going to burst into tears again at any time.]

Comments

Martel

[whichwayyoulean]

[...Oh no. This place never astounds him, how cruel it can be. How it can rip people's loved ones away without any chance of even a goodbye. It wasn't fair. At all.

Even if he wasn't on his loss, his comment would be the same. She means the world to him, and nothing, not even the magic of the castle can change that]

Where are you?

Once-Ler

[heal_theworld]

[She eventually checks, and gives a small smile at that.]

I'm in the city. Don't worry, you don't have to come down if you don't want to. [She wasn't sure if he was still on his loss, or back to being his hermit self.]

Martel

[whichwayyoulean]

I want to. [He needs to. He needs to make sure she's...well, not okay but coping? He;s worried about her]

Where in the city?

Ms. Yggdrasill

[theabjectauthor]

[he knows that tone, even if he doesn't know the name.]

Oh, no.

Lemony

[heal_theworld]

...It was... He has things, waiting for him. I'm sure of it. [He has a future waiting for him, even if it is without her.]

Martel

[whistles_the_blues]

I'm sorry.

Blues

[heal_theworld]

It's all right. He... He'll be safer there. [Maybe. She's not sure.]

Martel

[inafadingcrown]

[Oh, no. Galadriel knew well enough that all of their time here was uncertain, but she had hoped- how cruel to give them this chance and then rip it away.]

I will be here when you have need of me. [And that's it. She won't push; she knows she would wish some time to herself, were their positions reversed.]

Galadriel

[heal_theworld]

...thank you, Galadriel. [She's smiling, just a bit.]

action 'cause Reborn's a rebel

[greatesthitman]

[He had actually come to the cafe for an espresso and to relax and think about Tsuna, and was really just looking to stay out of the way of everyone when he saw Martel (she's obvious really) without someone. It takes him a few moments to flip through the journal to find out why she may be there, and it's that bit of news that makes Reborn think before slipping off to get in line and get a dessert for her and another cup of espresso before coming over to her table and putting it in front of her, sitting down, and adjusting his fedora slightly while Leon stares at her.]

The Sky Arcobaleno's smile brings great joy to those that see it, because we know their lives are short. I imagine it's much the same for you. [It's his small way of saying he likes her smile and he's worried about her except not in those words.]

[heal_theworld]

[She startles when he sets down the dessert,as she wasn't truly paying attention to her surroundings, and looks up at him. Her eyes are red-rimmed, and she quickly wipes at them because she has company now. She does smile, a gentle smile that hides her sadness.]

Reborn. And Leon, of course. [Yes, she says hello to Leon too.] I'm all right, just... [She sips her tea.] What brings you here tonight?

[She is quite obviously not all right, but you probably already knew that.]

Action

[not_mafia]

[Tsuna's on his way home from the castle, arms folded casually behind his head. As usual, he's dressed in his winter clothes.]

Maaa, I really hope Spring comes soon, I'm tired of this cold... huh?

[He notices a familiar figure sitting at a cafe and smiles.]

Hey, Mar...

[And then he trails off, because there's something distinctly wrong. He hears the sniff, sees her wipe her eyes, and his stomach drops.

For something to upset her so greatly... he feels like he already knows what's happened. He closes the distance between them.]

Martel?

Action

[heal_theworld]

[She looks up at her name being called, and sees Tsuna. She wipes her eyes again and gives him a smile. It's a sad smile, but it's still a smile.]

Hello, Tsuna. Going home?

Martel

[ruin_mania]

[Raine hesitates a long while before responding. It's true that she had been avoiding Yuan ever since her return, and mostly because of the awkwardness around Martel, and of course she was fully aware that people could leave at any time, but even so.

Even so, he had been here even before she had, and was one of the very few from those early days who had still been around. Would it be the same without him? She didn't think so.

And yet, Martel wouldn't be mistaken about something like this.]

I'm so sorry. If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask.

Professor Sage

[heal_theworld]

...Thank you, Professor. [She wasn't expecting that, but there it was.]

Martel

[lord_wizard]

[And there went another one. More, one he probably trusted a lot more that he trusted most people here. It's a heavy kind of feeling, but he can't seem to feel more than numb about it at the moment. His fiancee, on the other hand, probably doesn't have the luxury of that distance. But he barely knows her, and in the end there isn't much he can say that will make a difference]

I am sorry to hear that.

Felix

[heal_theworld]

Well... I have no doubt that he has things waiting for him at home. [Not her, of course, but still.]

Martel

[rose_of_battle]

[Another person who lost someone? Sheena's really beginning to hate this place right now.]

Martel? Are you okay?

Sheena

[heal_theworld]

I'm not right now, but... I will be. Don't worry over me, Sheena.

[heliotroping]

...Ah... I'm sorry to... I'm sorry to hear...

[heal_theworld]

It's all right. Did you know him?

Martel

[selfless]

Yuan...

[what? The idea hits Colette like a bag of bricks. It's true, when she had first arrived in Paradisa, Colette barely knew Yuan as a person beyond his actions to save the world. But in these four years... he was a constant. The one person from Aselia who was always there, something like a quiet and protective Uncle figure]

Martel, I'm so sorry.

Colette

[heal_theworld]

...It will be all right. He has things to go back to, at least. [Right?]

Martel;

[gentleidealist]

What?

[No, really. What? He doesn't-- that can't-- it can't be true. Yuan's been here forever. Quiet, but snarky, and meddling-- and now he's just gone.

He sucks in a sharp breath. He feels a little foolish getting all worked up over it, but in the absence of either father, Lloyd always felt Yuan knew him best.]

Damn it. Damn it.

I'm-- I'm sorry.

Lloyd;

[heal_theworld]

[A small, sad smile, though he can't see it.] It's...it's all right, Lloyd. It will be all right. He has things waiting for him. I'm sure.

[She wouldn't know, but she would hope. She's trying to look on the bright side, or whatever bright side this may have, and not focusing on the fact that she may never see him again.]