The Last Time

Ikigai continued playing, pouring all of the rampant emotions into both the music and her singing. She was singing and playing for Kotori, for her mother, for the family that she would leave behind, her home and the uncertainties that lay before her. In time her song came to its natural end. The fae hadn't realized that her eyes had drifted closed, but when she opened them again, Kotori was sitting directly beside her.

The man complimented her music and Ikigai nodded, dark ears pulling back as she did so. He also mentioned that it sounded sad and she gave a soft, sad laugh. "It was very sad," she agreed with him. He wished that he'd heard her sing before, but what difference would that have made? It wouldn't have changed what was happening now. It wouldn't have changed anything. He hadn't told her of his wishes for the future and now there was no chance for that. She would be married and it wouldn't be to Kotori.

As sad as they both were, Kotori seemed to have accepted that they would never be. He asked if she might teach his children music someday and Ikigai inwardly winced, but nodded in agreement. "I would be happy to do that for you, Kotori," she agreed, but her voice was soft and sad. They had to let each other go even though they never had one another to begin with. He tried to joke to lighten the mood, but there wasn't much that could lighten the heaviness resting between them.

"I expect this is the last time we'll see each other for a long time," the pallid fae spoke softly. Against her better judgement, the woman reached out with her dainty, dexterous digits and took Kotori's much larger paw in her own. "I'm sorry that things weren't different, Kotori." Then she closed the distance between them, leaning her shoulder against his own before reaching up and placing a gentle kiss upon the side of his muzzle.

"Ikigai"