~Reflecting~
Not so superior now, huh?
"What?" Ren questions, mind coming back to the here and now.
They're sitting together on the pouch, the ever present sun making them both squint slightly.
Ai is off investigating a client, seeming more interested or rather more concerned than usual.
Neither of them questions it; knowing her, there was most likely a reason for her curiously.
There always was.
So they had ended up back in the eternal land; Hone having no reason to stay in the mortal world and Ren, well because he could tell that Ai was bothered by the case, and rather than wanting company or comfort, she seemed to favor solitude at the moment, to confront whatever was upsetting her.
Ren understands that, so instead of pushing, he gives her space, letting her be.
Anna looks exasperated as she crosses one leg over the other, leaning against the porch beam.
"I said, not so superior now, are you?"
He looks confused
"About what exactly?" Ren questions
Sighing she says
"We know, ya know?"
He seemed to pause for a moment, and then glancing away he mutters.
"About what?"
"Oh come on!" Anna complained
"Do I really have to spell it out for you? We all know, have known for a while now."
Ren looks ready to deny it, but after a moment of her wise gaze piercing him, he finally laments.
"And...?" He says, voice cool, though inside he feels anything but.
"And I think it's hilarious."
Ren can't speak, out of all the word choices, hilarious wouldn't be the one that would ever occur to him.
"I'm sure I'm going to regret asking this, but why?"
"Because…" she laughs lightly
"Out of all the people in the world for you to fall in love with; you choose the one that is the most untamable, the most unlikely and the one who is, no offense to the Miss, but the worst decision possible."
He looks dumb founded for a moment, but manages to put his expression back together quickly.
"I mean I wouldn't call it a "choice" it wasn't, that's not how it works."
Hone rolls her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. I know." She mutters
"So..." He questions once more.
"Why bring this up now?"
She shrugs
"I guess I just wanted to let you know that we're all in on your little "secret." And that your both are being idiotic, to say the least. And that you better not hurt her or do something stupid or I will personally strangle you with my bare hands, and well that...
She pauses for a moment.
"That I'm happy for you, for you both."
For once he can't think of anything sly to say back.
Instead opting for sincerity, he replies.
"Thanks, I guess."
Smirking slightly, Anna leans her head against the beam, eyes fluttering closed as she replies smoothly.
"No problem."
A moment of comfortable silence passes between them before Ren pipes up again.
"Wait, so why am I not so superior again? Explain please. Cause, I don't really see how." He retorts
"Cause, you just seem to... Care more, about stuff, about people, these days."
"I don't..." He begins to reply, but her voice interrupts him.
"Wait, let me finish!" She barks
"It's not just the Miss, though obviously, she seems to be the biggest direct recipient and influence for your change."
"No…" she shakes her head
"Haven't you noticed?"
"You just seen to... Care so much more, about everything." Her face puckered, in deep thought.
"You don't try to hide that you care, and that you care deeply."
"You may not see it, but it's there. You watch clients differently now, you seem to take their hardships much more seriously, much more personally, then ever before."
Is it..." She questioned, not really at him, more as if she was asking a soulless object, something that wouldn't reply or give an opinion.
"That you have more of those Human feelings and desires now? Something that you never really had until becoming involved with the Miss, that is."
"Or is it that you finally found what you were searching for? That is in the Miss."
Ren is completely speechless
He hadn't even considered that he had changed in any way. But now that he thought about it, he had to consider that it was possibly true.
He does feel different.
Less removed less cold.
Ai… Ren questions what have you done to me?
"Yeah." He replies, voice uncharacteristically soft, "I suppose your right."
A broad smile spreads across Anna's face.
"I'm glad."
"Me too." Ren replies, his own smile spreading wide on his lips.
He doesn't try to hide it.
AN: So a little break from all the intense stuff that's going on.
Let me know what you think! Reviews and feedback make me happy. (:
Takes place any time after the last chapter.
Music: Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori OST - Kanashii Hanashi
Mia ^~^