Saya was off like a shot, leaping into his arms, "Hey there Saya," he laughed' "I'm guessing you're happy to see me, or am I missing something?."
"Oh Ragna, I'm just soooooo happy!" Saya was nearly tearing up, and truth be told so was Ragna. Joy. Relief. Fulfillment. Love. For a second, everything was right in their little world. Both laughed more than either could remember."You're so big, brother. What happened?"
"A very long story. I'll tell you in the morning, okay?"
"Geez, what's with all the noise? I'm trying to sleep in here." Makoto moaned.
"Oops, sorry." Ragna retorted with about as much integrity as Hazama could manage, "I was saying hello to someone kinda important to me that I've spent the last ten years trying to save. Forgive me if we're a bit loud."
"Sheesh. I just asked what all the noise was about. No need to shout. Just...try and keep it down, wouldya?" She turned and closed the door.
Ragna sighed. Deep down, he really didn't like having all this company here. He knew Litchi was due here soon to give Saya a check up. Once that was out of the way, he planned to get the hell out of dodge. He still didn't trust Jin, or for that matter Tsubaki, not to try something. His musing was interrupted by the smell of roses, and the appearance of the ever familiar black portal.
"Oh good, cometh the hour, cometh the nightwrecker..."
"I beg your pardon!" Rachel did her best to look indignant, "All I do is appear in front of you, in a perfectly civil manner, and I am immediately subject to unnecessary verbal discrimination." She sniffed and dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, "You've really hurt my feelings you know, Ragna."
"Wow, stop the press everyone, this is newsworthy! And just when did you begin to develop these things you refer to as feelings? Coz I sure as hell never noticed till now."
"Stop the press everyone; Ragna has finally noticed something. I wonder if this warrants a buffet? Or maybe the declaration of a public holiday?"
"Yeah, I think I'll call 'Rachel fucks off for the' day."
"Ragna. Children. Language." She put her finger to her lips, as if to say 'shush'.
"Noel, could you do me a favour and take Saya elsewhere please? I don't really want her having to listen to...'it' over there." He pointed at Rachel.
Rachel dabbed her eye with a handkerchief, "It's quite alright, I know when my presence is unappreciated." Another portal, and she was gone, much to a seething Ragna's relief.
BGM: Highlander (A/N: Not 'The Highlander'; different piece)
"Err, Hello? Did nobody hear the 'keep it down' request? Or are you just completely deaf?"
"Oh whoops! Sorry again! Did I distrurb your winter hibernation or something!?"
Makoto gritted her teeth, "I'm going to try and pretend I didn't hear that this time, but say anything like that to me again, and I swear I will rip your fucking head off. Got it?" She turned, slammed the dfoor and went back to bed.
"Ragna, you utter idiot." Noel followed Makoto into the bedroom.
"That wasn't very nice you know, big brother." Saya scolded. Tsubaki looked just about ready to kill him.
"I'll say. You really do have a talent for sticking your foot in your mouth Ragna." Jin was leaning against the door frame. "Apologise to her, now!"
Ragna stroked his chin, "How about you and I make a deal, Jin? I'll apologise to Stripper Squirrel after you apologise to Noel and Saya for treating them like less than shit all your goddam life." Ragna beamed.
He sighed, "...fine." In truth, Jin had been doing some thinking, and had come to admit to himself that he had been a complete bastard to her. He forced himself upright, walked to Saya, and knealt down, "Sister, I know I've not been the best brother you could have hoped for, and I've said and done many nasty things to you...I'm sorry." Saya pouted at him for a moment, before breaking out into giggles and leaping to give him a big hug.
"Well, now that's sorted..." Ragna turned, and found Tsubaki still glaring at him.
"You don't even realise why those words hurt her so much, do you?"
He didn't kjnow Makoto that welk, but he had a reasonably good idea why, but he there was no way he was going to let Tsubaki have the last word, "Pardon me Chewbaki, but I'm not exactly a telepath, so go ahead. Enlighten me."
"Do you have any idea what Makoto has had to tolerate? She's had to put up with slurs about what she is her whole life. Can you imagine what it's like that people, through absolutely no fault of your own, want to kill you just because you're a beastkin who just walked within 15 feet of them. This should have been cause for a celebration, and you ruin it for her just because you can't watch your damn mouth!"
"Guess what Tsu, so did I. How would you feel if THE ENTIRE FUCKING UNIVERSE wanted to kick you in the spleen just for existing. And don't say "you brought it on yourself" coz shit happened long before then. Cause and effect, jah? If she didn't like it, why doesn't she just smack 'em to hell. You know as well as I do that she's strong enough to do it."
"And what would that solve, exactly? All it would do is prove those who are afraid of her right and make things worse. She nearly did just that during our academy days, and it would've ended horribly. For her and her family. You may not care about what others think of you, but she does."
"Look, this world is a festering pile of shit; the no-win you just raised proves it. There's no room to pussyfoot around, or it'll eat you up and spit you out, and 'Might makes Right' is the lesser of two evils. Where's your precious justice that you and Sir Scrapheap spouted so much shit about, eh?"
Tsubaki shrugged, "You got your sister back. I'd say that counts. And need I remind you that if it weren't for Sir Hakumen's sacrifice, we never would've have prevailed. Please try a little grattitude. I would also appreciate it if you could mind your language around children. I was quite prepared to kill you before for what you've put Jin and particularly Noel through. The others convinced me to spare you, saying you're better than the stories give you credit for. You're not exactly convincing me I wasn't wrong.
Ragna burst out laughing, a mocking one. "Even now, you're still so blind you cannot bring yourself to admit that Jin brought this all on himself coz he's a basket case..." Jin reached for Yukianesa, "...Noel, I'll sort of concede a little. And need I remind you that you were quite prepared to kill Noel coz of your obsession with Jin. Hell, what am I saying? You two are made for each other. I always thought you were a pyscho bitch, and to quote someone standing not a million miles away from me now, you're not exactly convincing me I wasn't wrong. Honestly, you're worse than Nu, At least she admitted it."
"HOW DARE YOU!"
"Yeah, I dare. Noel, Jin and Makoto may not call you out on all your shit. I will. Prove to me that you're not, and I'll take it back."
"You're enjoying this aren't you? Does it make you feel good to act like you're so much better than everyone else? Or is it that your pride is dented ans you're making up for Rachel's shenanigans?"
Ragna growled, "Look, I can see this is going nowhere, so let's just call this public speaking debate a draw and do something more productive with our time. Unless you really wanna take this outside and you can go join your beloved Hakumen, coz you've been nothing but a complete spoilt bitch to me, so give me an an excuse and I'll kill you. I was planning on talking to someone before I was so rudely interrupted. So do excuse me." He proceeded towards the bedroom, making sure to barge into Tsubaki as he went..
"Hmmph. The nerve of some people." She regarded Says with suspicious eyes
All this for the sake of one little girl. Was it worth it? Tsubaki didn't think so.
Ragna paused, "Does any girl talking to ickle Jinny-winny bring this out in you? Seriously Chewie, go see a therapist. You have issues."
BGM: Hollow
"It's okay, Makoto. I'm sure he didn't mean anything..."
Makoto stopped simpering for a moment, "Why was I born a beastkin? Why couldn't I be normal? It'd make thing so much easier...so much less painful." Noel stayed silent; while she had known Makoto rail at people and get cataclysmically angry, she had rarely seen her so despondant. So depressed...so despairing. "I know you and Ragna are buddies now, so you probably don't wanna think badly of him, but.."
Noel brought a finger to Makoto's lips, "It's okay Makoto. I understand..."
"Do you? Why does everyone say that when they don't understand anything. What do you know, really know, about.."
"STOP!" Noel was suddenly right in Makoto's face, "Don't even think of finishing that sentence, when I know, in your heart, you don't mean it. And do I need to reminded you that I'm not human either? That I've had people treat me as just...property."
Makoto seethed in silence for a few moments before she finally calmed down. "Sorry Noellers. Kinda let rip at you there" she felt ashamed that she'd acted like that to her best friend, who had just tried to make her feel better. She embraced her.
A knock at the door, "It's me." Ragna's voice.
Makoto regained her composure, "Clearly."
Ragna walked in, "Look Makoto, I'm sorry alright?"
"Please just...just go away. I don't want to deal with you right now."
Ragna cocked an eyebrow. "Hit me."
"Say what?"
"You heard me." He spread his arms. "Gimme your best shot."
Makoto stormed up to him and gave him a right cross. Ragna staggered into the bookcase, having to hang onto it to keep himself upright. He could see several Makoto, though whether that was his own double vision or that decoy trick of Makoto's he wasn't certain. "Better?"
"Not by a long way...but it'll have to do." Makoto turned away, "Now get out before I change my mind."
Ragna staggered out of the room, and stood swaying in front of Jin and Tsubaki. Litchi had arrived in the interim and was giving Saya a quick examination with Celica's help. Tsubaki gave him a look as if to say Well? I'd love to know how you talked your way out of that one.
"Disaster...averted." He slumped into the couch, nursing his cheek.
"So, what lesson have we learned from this?" Tsu again.
"Stay away from Rachel coz it just results in trouble for me?"
"True enough, but try again."
"Makoto punches like a supertanker?"
Tsubaki facepalmed, "Obviously. Now stop being difficult for once in your life, you stupid fool."
Ragna sighed, "Geez Tsubaki, gimme a minute. That I really need to be more considerate in what I say and to who."
"Thank you. And that sometimes humility and admitting when you're wrong can go a long way." Tsu bowed her head, "And with that in mind, I'm sorry for what I said. You were right, I am obsessed." Ragna said nothing, but nodded. "But tell me Ragna, why is it that you must respond to everything with flippancy?"
Ragna sighed, "It's a defense mechanism, alright?" He flinched as Litchi examined his cheek.
Tsubaki seated herself across from him, cupping her chin in her palms, "Just what is it that you're so afraid of? Human intimacy, hmmm? Afraid of letting people see the real you?"
Ragna grunted, "Pretty much."
"Why?"
"Look, I've lost my family once already. That's once too many. People have been trying to kill me for so long...I guess I just prefer it if...if people just leave me alone. And why are you asking this? I thought you'd already made your mind up about me."
Tsubaki sighed, "Ragna, I admit I can be judgemental, but if I were that unwilling to change my opinions of people, I never would have made friends with Makoto. She was no different from you when myself and Noel first met her."
"So what changed?"
"Well, I don't mean to sound arrogant here, but me and Noel happened. We gave her companionship when no one else would, and we got see the real Makoto. You have people here willing to give you that same chance. Just let them in and the rest will take care of itself."
This was really making Ragna uncomfortable, "Look Tsubaki, I appreciate it and all, but this is going to take time." Tsubaki nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer.
"Well, now I've managed to get a word in edgeways, I really must ask why it would seem you're such a glutton for punishment." Litchi chipped in, "Seriously Ragna, what in the world made you think letting Makoto punch you was a good idea?"
"It...it was the best idea I could come up with."
Litchi stood, her hands on her hips, her voice curt, "Well sorry, but I've been told what happened, and that just isn't going to cut it." She sighed, "It's fortunate that deep down, I think Makoto really wants to forgive you. She normally wouldn't give anyone such leeway as she just gave you."
"...yeah"
On cue, the bedroom door opened, and out stepped Makoto, still looking bone tired, Noel behind her. Ragna motioned to Litchi that he wanted to get up. He stood in front of the squirrel girl head bowed, "Makoto, I flipped out at you for stupid reason and...well, I'm sorry."
"Makoto tilted her head, " That it? You think a couple of words and that'll make everything right?" At least she didn't look ready to punch him at the moment.
"No...no I don't. But it's all I can do right now." She just shook her head, walked past him and plopped down next to Tsubaki, snuggling up to her friend.
Ragna shook his head and skulked away to a secluded corner of the house. Right now he just wanted to be alone; he'd done enough damage. Predictably, fate had different ideas. A familiar noise and smell of roses heralded Rachel's return, "Ragna."
"Look, if you're just here to insult me, just piss off and leave me alone." Ragna sighed, "I'm really not in the mood for your shit anymore. It's caused me more trouble than it's worth."
Rachel steeled herself, "Ragna, I'm sorry."
"Sheesh, first time for everything."
"Don't push your luck." she harrumphed
Ragna shrugged, "Part of me wants to give you a lecture in your whole damn attitude, but like I said I'm not in the mood anymore, and it's not like you ever actually listen to me anyway. So what happens now?"
"Long term? I honestly don't know. However, I believe this might be of slight interest you. We're holding a small ceremony for the fallen members of the Six Heroes...you're more than welcome to attend."
Ragna wasn't really sure, but it would be the right thing to do. He nodded, "I'll be there."
"Capital. It will be at my homestead. Myself or Valkenhayn will be in touch another day with the time."
"Gotcha."
Rachel smiled, until she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned, "Yes?"
SMACK! Makoto's fist found her face, flooring her, "You deserve that." She dusted her hànds as she returned to her seat.
Indeed I do. She got up and dusted herself off. Hmmm, nothing damaged. Good. "Well then, farewell for now, Ragna." And like that, she was gone.
Do us all a favour: don't come back anytime soon
Now Ragna wanted to sort something out, something that had been niggling with him since he arrived here, "Noel can I have a quick word in private?"