[color=pink][i]I’m an idiot.[/i][/color]

Her footsteps continued at a quick pace, her frustration leading the way. Where was she even trying to go? Mentally, she wanted to go as far away as possible, and had half a mind to head straight to the old bar and lock herself in a room. She didn’t want to talk to anyone, she didn’t want to see anyone, she wanted to punch something, she wanted to cry, she wanted to do a lot of things. Unfortunately for the nearby wall, one of those things were executed as she came to a stop,  unleashing a powerful punch to the wall and forming a messy hole. 

Emiri’s hand hurt, though it certainly alleviated some of her pent up emotion. As she looked at her hand, she heard a familiar voice shouting Aloa’s name. Lorenzo still hadn’t caught on? She almost felt bad, though she then realized that the damage to the wall would certainly get pinned on her. Crap, what was she thinking?! As if Cassandra didn’t have enough of a reason to hate her! Slightly panicking, Emiri backed away, looking for an escape. A nearby door, heavier than the others, caught her attention--it would most likely lead outside. She could hear Lorenzo’s shouting getting louder, she quickly went through.

As she closed the door behind her, the night air bit at her skin, sending a shiver up her spine. It looked like she could either take a path that lead...somewhere, or another path that led...elsewhere. She hadn’t the slightest idea where to go, though a few lights in the distance caught her eye. She chose the left path and began to walk, letting her curiosity get the better of her. The path ended rather shortly, though she was astonished at the [url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/c2/4d/3a/c24d3a72edd06616d87e5ed206ab2a51.jpg]sight[/url] laid out before her.

In the distance was a stone gazebo surrounding a statue of someone. A grand pond stood before it, the water's surface covered in sleeping water lilies and other plant life. Speaking of plantlife, the willow trees hung all around her, several lights weaved between the branches and hanging down, illuminating the place nicely. She would follow the stone path, examining the many flowers and rocks set down. Whoever designed this place did so beautifully.

She knelt down, examining the water. Something rippled through it, though she wasn’t sure what it was that she was looking for.

“[color=ed1c24]Finally, I found you.”[/color] Jaakuna panted heavily, stopping just a few paces away from Emiri. He saw she was gazing into the water. He didn’t know what she was looking at, but he was too busy trying to catch his breath. “[color=ed1c24]Do you know how hard it is to find you while avoiding Lorenzo’s dumb ass?[/color]” Jaakuna asked rhetorically, still panting, though not as much. The few moments he took to stop helped his breathing.

She didn’t respond right away, though she would reach out and grab something. Standing up, she would walk over to Jaakuna, opening her hand to reveal a firefly. It crawled onto her finger for a moment, though it would glow and flutter away. Watching it leave, Emiri looked back at the pond, sitting down. “[color=pink]I’m sorry for the inconvenience,[/color]” She muttered.

Jaakuna let out a long sigh. He knew he had to approach this a different way. Obviously, she was feeling some type of way, so perhaps instead of acting like Jaakuna, Jackson should take a stab at it. “[color=ed1c24]Maybe I can try this a different way.[/color]” Jackson took a seat next to Emiri as he looked at the pond. “[color=ed1c24]You’re mad, aren’t you?[/color]”

Ah, hit the nail on the head. She hugged her knees, watching the fireflies over the water.  [color=gray][i]Be honest. Remember?[/i][/color] She could hear Keiran prod at her from a distance. He was right. She promised. “[color=pink]Back at the castle...you brought up how much things have changed,[/color]” Emiri started slowly. “[color=pink]A lot has happened between the first time we met and now. I haven’t been myself in some time...even now, I feel like I’m not all here. Not yet. I don’t know why--maybe Wesley had a point in that whole thing with the Word.[/color]” She paused, resting her hands on her feet for a moment, trying to properly collect her thoughts.

“[color=pink]The only thing that’s made me feel whole is you. I don’t know if I’ve just become some love sick girl or if I’m just going crazy. We’re past the point where we’ve said we love each other, but it’s more than just words. There’s a part of me that understands what you did. Really. I still hate it, but I understood. And then, I thought…’Maybe he changed his mind about us. Maybe I went past the point of no return.’ I don’t think it was intentional, but...right now is basically the only time we’ve had to ourselves.[/color]”

“[color=ed1c24]What are you trying to say, Emiri?[/color]” Jackson asked, looking towards her.

She finally brought herself to look back at him. “[color=pink]Honestly...you did the right thing. But I don’t like this person you’ve become,[/color]” She stated, concerned. “[color=pink]You had your reasons--fine. And then next time, what will happen? Or after that? I know you haven’t admitted it, but I know you want to return Archadia to rule as Jackson Darcone--[/color]”

“[color=ed1c24]And again, you only have half of the story. I don’t [i]want[/i] to, Emiri; I [i]have[/i] to.[/color]” Jaakuna informed her, gripping his pant leg and gritting his teeth slightly.

Emiri shook her head. “[color=pink]That isn’t half the story! It’s the whole thing![/color]” She couldn’t help but respond in kind. “[color=pink]You won’t admit it, but there’s a part of you that wants to. And that part of you…[/color]” She struggled to find the words to properly explain herself. “[color=pink]That’s...that’s not you. You basically put our relationship on the line. I don’t like what you did! Most people would consider that cheating! The Jaakuna I know wouldn’t resort to doing something like that no matter what![/color]”

“[color=ed1c24]It’s true that kissing another woman isn’t something I would do, I’ll give you that. However,[/color]” Jaakuna turned his head to face Emiri, “[color=ed1c24]Letting Zodiark influence you so easily isn’t something Emiri would do.[/color]”

Emiri stared at him for what seemed to be a long time. “[color=pink]So you went there, huh…[/color]” She said quietly, returning her gaze towards the pond as she stretched her legs out in front of her. [i][color=gray]Out with it. Come on.[/color][/i] “[color=pink]I can’t believe it...[/color]” She was incredulous, shaking her head. “[color=pink]I don’t want this! I don’t want this person next to me! I want the real Jaakuna![/color]” She shouted, her hands on her head, though she immediately looked back at him. “[color=pink]Why?! Why is it that it has to be this way?! I don’t...I can’t take this!![/color]” She said, pushing herself off the ground as she stood. Why couldn’t she just be outright? No, she needed to recollect her thoughts. She looked towards the gazebo, and started walking towards it.

“[color=ed1c24]That’s right, just walk away,[/color]” Jaakuna said, not even looking at her. “[color=ed1c24]That’s all you ever do. Whenever a situation gets even moderately tough for you to handle, you run away. You did it when Reia thought you were the key to her power. You did it in Bhjuerba and you’re doing it now.[/color]” Jaakuna sharply snapped, his voice colder than Savayna’s Blizzaja. 

[i][color=gray]Don’t take that from him. Come on![/color][/i] Keiran kept mentally urging her. Emiri inhaled, and then exhaled. No, he was right. He was turning this around on her, and the conversation was not going where it needed to. She had to take charge again--or at the very least, try to get her point across.. “[color=pink]I wanted to collect my thoughts. But honestly, you’re right--and I’m letting you have it, so you better prepare yourself,[/color]” She stated boldly, turning around and glaring at him. “[color=pink]I’m not running away this time.[/color]”

[i][color=pink]Here goes nothing.[/color][/i] She tried to mentally prepare herself, but she was pretty sure it was all going to spill out. “[color=pink]You hurt me, Jaakuna. I don’t like what you’re becoming. Would you gladly toss me aside if it convinces you? If it was something you ‘had to do’? You manipulated Reia into helping you, seduced Wesley’s sister so she would be under your thumb, and now you’re throwing my past failures into my face--you want to know who did things like that?! Vincent did![/color]”

[color=crimson][i]I understand your rage, Jaakuna, but think carefully. This is not being diplomatic; this is your soulmate. Act out in anger and you might end up regretting it.[/i][/color]

Yeah, yeah, Jaakuna knew that, but did she really have to pull the Vincent card? That’s what really got to him. He could ignore the Reia and Cassandra comment. She still didn’t know the whole story there, but about Vincent..she knew how much Jaakuna despised Vincent--well, used to, at least. Still, that didn’t stop her from using that card against him. It was difficult for him not to respond in anger, but Jaakuna had to really think. Not only that, but Emiri wasn’t some uptight princess that needed to be handled with care--she was the love of his life. When all else seemed hopeless, she gave him a little of it. If the entire world ended and everyone sent to the Gods but she wasn’t and he somehow survived, he would be happy to spend the remaining days of their lives together with her.

Finally, after what seemed like minutes, Jaakuna found his center. He found a calming sanctuary in her violet eyes. No matter how livid she seemed to be with him, her eyes were still violet, which meant that no interference from Keiran nor anyone hostile was contributing. This, in itself, would give Jaakuna clarity. 

“[color=ed1c24]And again, you don’t have the full story.[/color]” Jaakuna sighed, “[color=ed1c24]but allow me to tell you exactly how we arrived here. Unless, of course, you want to throw more baseless facts at me.[/color]” Jaakuna would gesture to Emiri, letting her have the floor. If she wished, she could insult him more. Or she could actually listen to him for once.

Baseless? Why? Why wasn’t he understanding? [i][color=gray]Because you suck at explaining yourself. Come on, one more time, use your words,[/color][/i] Keiran told her. Emiri looked down at the ground. “[color=pink]It’s not baseless...you kissed her,[/color]” She told him, trying her best to convey her feelings. “[color=pink]Even if you had every reason in the world...you still did it. Do you even realize that after getting back....[i]we/[/i] haven’t even kissed...we’ve been so distant with one another. Is that what the future holds? Am I just going to get sidelined as I watch Jackson rule Archadia? Don’t you see why I’m so scared? Why I want the real you back?[/color]” She said, her eyes wide, though she couldn’t bring herself to look at him yet. “[color=pink]I want to believe in you, but not like this. Not like this, Jaakuna. Look at us, even now. Our only moment together, alone...and all we’ve done is fight.[/color]”

Jaakuna was silent throughout all of that. He felt it was best that he let her get it all out. Though, there were a few times where he wanted to correct her on exactly how wrong she was, he didn’t because he knew her--the real her. He knew that she wouldn’t forgive him if he didn’t let her finish. That’s how he knew all of what she claimed was just what she observed and assumed from what she [i]saw[/i], where in reality, she barely knew half of what the real story was. But, fear not! Jaakuna was about to set the record straight. He just hoped that she would let him tell it without twisting every word he spoke.

“[color=ed1c24]I’m not going to make excuses for the kiss. I know there’s none in existence that would clear me of that wrong, but at least let me tell you how wrong you are about the other bits.[/color]” Jaakuna took in a breath, channeling Jackson’s calmness. “[color=ed1c24]From back when I originally proposed the treaty, I didn’t know what I was doing. When we got to Archadia and everything that happened then, I didn’t know what I was doing. After I freed you from Keiran’s hold, I still didn’t know what I was doing.[/color]” He kept his eye son Emiri, making sure she saw he wasn’t joking. “[color=ed1c24]Everything that happened from then until we got here, I had no freaking clue about anything. Even after the treaty negotiations started, I was as clueless as a dire wolf babe in the wilderness. I’m not the diplomatic type. I’m no good with sitting in a room while some old maester expresses his opinions about something that’s trivial at best. So, what do you think I did when this maester suggested that the terms of the treaty--the terms I told you about when we were waiting for everyone to reach the gates of Dalmasca? I’m asking you, Emiri. What do you think [b]Jaakuna Hinoko[/b] did?[/color]”

“[color=pink]You probably hit him,[/color]” She stated very seriously. 

“[color=ed1c24]Not probably--I [i]did[/i] hit him.[/color]”

She bit her lip, trying to contain herself, but a few giggles came out anyway. “[color=pink]I wonder what the poor man said to anger you,[/color]” She said, finally looking up at him.

There was a moment of silence, then Jaakuna scratched the side of his face, avoiding her gaze for another moment. “[color=ed1c24]He said the wrong thing and paid the piper.[/color]” Jaakuna stated as matter of factly.

Yup, that sounded about right. She snickered, though a full laugh escaped her as she tried to control herself. “[color=pink]I’ll be hearing about that one…[/color]” She sighed, shaking her head, though her smile faded as she closed her eyes. “[color=pink]...I know that wasn’t a good thing. But I don’t want to completely lose you, either,[/color]” She said quietly.

“[color=ed1c24]And you won’t,[/color]” Jaakuna reminded her, taking her hand. “[color=ed1c24]But this man, much like many in Dalmasca, couldn’t enter a ceasefire with Rozarria and Archaida when knowing full-well that the murderer of their fallen king was free. None of them know that Wesley pardoned him. Hell, maybe they do and they don’t accept it. I honestly don’t know, but that’s not what I’m trying to say.[/color]” Jaakuna truly didn’t have a talent for getting to the point. “[color=ed1c24]After I acted out in anger, Reia--not I, but Reia--brought up the point that Jaakuna needed to take a backseat to Jackson Darcone. And, while I hate it, she was right. If not to make sure the maester didn’t press formal charges against me, then for the sake of the treaty. And so that’s what I did. I made sure to handle things with care. This involved brokering a deal with Cassandra.[/color]” Jaakuna let out a sigh, though he kept his eyes Emiri. “[color=ed1c24]I offered her Isaiah as a token of good faith, but [i]she[/i] wanted my hand in marriage. So, don’t you see, Emiri. She didn’t give me any choice in the matter. She threatened war if I didn’t comply. It was only after I promised her another that she would back off.[/color]” 

Emiri nodded in understanding, though she pouted. “[color=pink]I don’t like her,[/color]” She couldn’t help but whine, looking at Jaakuna with watery eyes. “[color=pink]I’m sorry. I mean it.[/color]”

“[color=ed1c24]I’m going to let you in on a little secret,[/color]” Jaakuna got closer to Emiri, “[color=ed1c24]I don’t like her either.[/color]” 

She tried to hide her delight, but she couldn’t hide the smile on her face. “[color=pink]I’m still a little mad,[/color]” She admitted sheepishly, hanging her head. “[color=pink]It’s not fair...why did she have to be all over you like that?[/color]”

“[color=ed1c24]Honestly? I think it’s because she hasn’t gotten laid yet.[/color]” Jaakuna shrugged lazily.

“[color=pink]If you fulfill that need of hers, I’m leaving you,[/color]” She told him bluntly.

“[color=ed1c24]Oh but it is not I who will do that. A Darcone, sure, but not this one.[/color]” Jaakuna smirked mischievously, then snickered.

“[color=pink]As long as it’s not you, I don’t care. I want you to be all mine,[/color]” She huffed, crossing her arms.

“[color=ed1c24]Oh trust me, I have no intention on getting involved on that crazy wench.[/color]” Jaakuna shuttered and hugged Emiri, as if to make sure she knew that he was never going near Cassandra ever again. “[color=ed1c24]I’m going to let her be Roman’s problem.[/color]” 

That was a bit on the meaner side--Roman was so kind, sending Cassandra after him was uncalled for. But if that was how it would be, then that was that. All those thoughts melted away as she felt his arms around her. Oh well, a problem for tomorrow. She hugged him back tightly, just enjoying the moment. This is what she wanted. As she lay her head against his chest, she could swear someone was calling her again. Maybe now that she knew what it was, she too would hear the Word.

And while Jaakuna found comfort in her arms and Emiri had finally gave into the moment, off in the distance, Jaakuna heard Lorenzo still calling for Aloa. 

[color=crimson][i]That  father of Ultima’s Chosen One truly is an idiot.[/i] [/color]