When catching up leads to an argument. When an argument leads to the revealing of truth, what will Seras do when she is confronted for her decisions on staying with the Cullens? Another crack. Another mask will fall.


Ascension

Chapter 29

Into the Conversation: The Worse Day Ever, Part Ten


Seras slammed the door rattling simultaneously the threshold, floorboards and windows. If they were building blocks, they would have teetered. If they were Lego's, they wouldn't have moved.

Why?

Because Lego's are indestructible. Everyone knows that.

The house, however, wasn't made of building blocks or Lego's. It wasn't indestructible either. But it was close and this everyone knew. All of them - Edward, Jasper, Rosalie, Esme, Emmett, Bella, Alice, Carlisle and Seras, especially Seras. The house? It was made of something else, something that Seras couldn't touch, couldn't help but bask in, speculate, enjoy from the outside in. Somewhere, she felt bad for disrespecting it.

Later, she would feel bad, but at the time, the majority of her just didn't care. She was mad plain and simple.

Seras crossed into the kitchen and automatically zeroed in on the pot. It rested enticingly on the stove. Tentatively, she lifted the blue steel lid and eyed the contents inside. Venison stir-fry. Excellent. She sniffed it and relaxed. The change was instant. Well... almost, not entirely.

After a moment, she replaced the lid then reached for the cabinet on her right. She snapped it open and retrieved a bowl as well as a fork from a nearby drawer. She secretly thanked God (not for the first time) for vampires who could cook. The irony hadn't escaped her and so she was ever so grateful, in spite her eating habits. She sighed and licked her lips.

Putting the fork down, she grabbed a spatula and began tossing the mixture into the bowl. Her ears perked. Her aura searched. Two people were in the house, Esme and Rosalie. Both were in the office talking softly. She couldn't hear them, not when the front door opened then slammed shut.

Putting down the pot, she placing the spatula onto the counter then eyed the intruder behind her. Instantly, she stalked to the refrigerator. She needed a drink. She wished they had wine.

Takashi walked into the house careful of his shoes. In silence, he padded to the counter and leaned back against it. He'd watched her walk away as he sniffed her dinner. He crossed his arms, then waited for her to speak, his friend, his coworker, his former boss – he tilted his head – his charge, his pack mate, his? His eyebrows furrowed. His?

The silence dragged on and he broke it, feeling it begin to close in on him. It stifled his breathing. "Seras—"

"I know what you are gonna say, and I don't want to hear it."

Her tone was defensive. His eyebrows popped then sank. He eyed her meal and licked his lips. "What do you think I'm gonna say?"

Seras squinted into the ice box seeing everything and nothing. She flailed a hand waving it vaguely in the air. "You know. Why are you here? Where is your seal? Why don't you go…" She trailed off lowering her head, knowing the argument even as it began, knowing where it ended every time.

Takashi sighed, "My stance hasn't changed, and we've been having this conversation for years, Seras. There is no use going through it again."

Seras snorted and closed the refrigerator. "Even after I fired you, you're still acting the role of guard and advisor. You can stop it now, you know? You're dismissed." Her smile was soft. "Released… free to love and be loved and make plenty little wolvie babies."

His smile was even softer. "We are having another, by the way, but that's neither here or there."

Before she could even comment, he frowned and continued, "Anyway, you know what they say about old habits." He walked to her bowl and fingered the fork's subtle curves. They reminded him of others he'd caressed. He eyed her carefully. "And I'm preaching to the choir here, Seras. Your habits are ingrained deeper than shittiest pit in hell."

Again, Seras snorted. It was bitter and dark. "Hell," she muttered. Hell,she wanted to eat, but with where she knew the conversation was headed, she hesitated. She didn't want to see the disappointment in her friend's eyes.

Takashi put the fork down letting it clang softly. His humor fell with it. He rested his hands on the counter and dropped his head. "Seras, why does that boy have your seal and where are your swords?"

Somewhere in that split second his voice grew harder, his tone deeper. She swallowed and played with her sleeves. She hated when he got like this, like she didn't know what she was doing. "He found it when it fell off. I've been waiting for him to return it."

Takashi looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "Waiting?" he growled.

Seras' jaw tightened. She crossed her arms, "He-he took it. He's a jerk and is holding it for ransom and I'll be damned before I give in. He can apologize first."

"Apologize! Seras, do you hear how you sound? How long has he been holding it? Where are your weapons?"

Seras turned, "Chill, Takashi. They're upstairs in a safe."

"A safe… Seras, you of all people should know that sword cannot be out in the open nor removed from your side. What if someone got a hold of it?"

"I know that, and they didn't." Much.

Takashi put his hands on his hips. His eyes bored into hers. "How long?" he asked pointing at the house.

"They've been in storage for about three days," she answered tentatively.

Yet, Takashi shook his head. "No, how long have you been here?"

She licked her lips and played with her hair. Her spikes were black not blonde. Guilty eyes lowered golden not blue, no longer red. "Two weeks bordering—"

"Two!"

"Well… more like one and a half, but Takashi don't worry!" Seras looked up at him pleadingly. "I saw one of them hurt and lost in the woods and I helped and tripped and my fire went out."

"In human form."

"No—um dragon," Seras closed her eyes. This was going to be bad. "During the blizzard, I fell into the river."

When his face folded in concern and anger, Seras continued on faster, her words colliding together in her haste. "But it's okay. I've been — I haven't been completely unproductive. I've been studying them. They will be the subject of my next book. The vampires? They're completely different from the others. They are nice and friendly and one of them can read minds and see into the future and I can feel it. I'm getting closer. I have this theory..."

Suddenly, she stopped. She'd seen the pity crinkle her friend's eyes: her ex-guard, her ex-advisor, her ex—

"Seras," Takashi whispered shaking his head. He whined. The high pitched sound silenced the voices chattering above them. "No, you aren't closer. These beings, they are just that, different creatures. They're—they aren't your kin. They aren't even like HE was. Sooner or later—" He tried to wrap his hands around her shoulders, but Seras growled and turned away stalking into the living room.

"Why don't you believe me? The Kami said—"

"The Kami are fools."

"You weren't there," she yelled back. She turned around. "You didn't see the cand—"

"You are the last, Seras! When will you ever just accept that? You and your brother, that's it! And that's even if he's still alive. There aren't any more black dragons and—"

"Takashi—"

"And if you really want to see kin, more of your kind? Then, go home! Settle down. Find some youkai to marry and have—"

Seras just looked at him. Her eyes filled with pain, "You said, we weren't supposed to have this conversation today."

Takashi snorted, "That was before you started muttering nonsense. After all these years, after everything that has happened since this foolish quest began, you should know—"

He stopped seeing her begin to shut down. He changed the topic suddenly. "Listen, Sesshomaru called…"

Immediately, Seras turned away, her arms wrapping around her. She closed her eyes.

"He's waiting in England. The prince is..."

Her arms tightened, Of all the places.

A car door slammed shut halting the conversation. The two stilled surprised. They were so engrossed that they hadn't heard it pull up into the driveway.

Takashi sighed turning back to his friend and ally. She hadn't moved. She stood huddled, crumpled almost. Her head was down, her shoulders hunched." I don't have a home any longer, Takashi. I can't go back after what I did, even if he has forgiven me." Her hand rubbed the scarred skin of her heart. "And even if he did, I still have reason to stay away."

In seconds, the front door would open. In seconds, the monotony of the world would revolve. Time would start, but in that moment, the earth stilled and the seconds halted. It was just her and him alone lost in a world that only they knew. He swallowed as his heart sank.

"I don't have much time."

"I know, imp," he whined. "I know."