It was dark in the other parts of the city, but not frighteningly so. Even if it was Raine wouldn't be afraid. Her healing arts were beyond compare by now. Nothing could hurt her. Nothing.
She walked and thought, thought about theorems and texts and... and him. She thought about him. Kratos. She thought about the way he'd held his hand towards hers, and the way he smiled when he knew he should. His smiles were normally false, just something to show the world. She had seen him smile for real once, and the image stood out in her mind vividly. Yes, she liked to think of him. She liked to be with him and talk to him and dream of him. She liked him. A lot.
She got to a very quiet part of the city, a garden. It smelled beautiful there, and a light fog that had just started made it appear mystical. Raine was entertaining the thought of herself as a princess in an enchanted garden. She smiled and began walking from flower to flower, gently carressing the petals, sniffing their sweet smells.
"Raine." The voice was loud, compared to the nothingness that preceded it, and its tone gave one the impression that this was meant to be the start of a sentence and not just a single utterance.
Raine would have jumped but in a way she was expecting it. Aren't all princesses supposed to expect to be rescued by a valiant knight?
She turned and looked Kratos head on. He was still wearing his dress suit, only it wasn't all put together. His tie was untied and his top button unbuttoned, and he was sweating...
She herself was a sight in a pretty white dress with soft blue designs. It wasn't her normal fare but it fit her, and most would say she was ravishing in it.
In the middle of the foggy moonlit garden the two stared on in silence, each searching for the words to say to make this go as they wanted.
"Raine," Kratos began again. "I wanted to see you."
Raine's heart jumped and she could hardly contain a smile.
"Oh? What for, Kratos?" She was flirting! She could hear it, blatantly, in her tone. It embarassed her, but she was too focused on the handsome man in front of her to worry about it.
"I..." This was harder than he'd thought it would be. "I've already told the others..."
Raine's smile fell. This wasn't going to be what she wanted.
"I'm leaving," he said, getting it out quickly. "In the morning."
Her face fell. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen! It was over, the travels and fights and wars and anger, it was all over! They were free now, she was free now, and she could be happy! She should be happy! Why was this happening? Why? Why?
"Why?" Her voice cracked slightly. "Why, Kratos... why are you leaving in the morning?"
Their eyes met again. Kratos was almost at a loss for words. He'd made this choice only within the last day. He knew what he had to do. He'd live 1000 years with a single purpose and a million distractions. He'd seen it all, lived it all and he was done with it, tired of it. He didn't want it anymore. But, when he looked into those beautiful, heartbroken eyes...
"Raine, I... I'm going to Derris-Kharlan. I deserve to be there. I'm going to leave with it..." He could see the ubsurdity of his own words just by watching her face. She couldn't comprehend it. In many ways, he couldn't comprehend it. But he'd chosen it. And he would see it through.
"Oh, I... I see. I suppose... if that's where you think you belong..." She looked down. Her rational side started taking over.
'No, Raine! Tell me not to go! Tell me I need to stay! Give me your calm, rational, logical reasons and I'll do it! Please, Raine, give me a reason to be here...'
"I... If that's your choice, then good luck. I hope it's what you've wanted." Raine forced a smile. It was killing her not to cry in front of him, but she had to stay strong. She had to stay her.
Kratos was almost shocked by her resolute tone. He took a second to collect himself and then, with a quick nod, turned to go.
Raine watched him walk out of the moonlit garden. She waited until his footsteps were gone. Then she left. She almost allowed herself to fall into a pile on the ground, crying and begging for him not to go. But no, she wouldn't do that. She was Raine. She was strong. And so she went back to her room at the inn.