mikangirl | [Written]

[Written]

[The advent of spring is beautiful in a mikan orchard. Small white blossoms are everywhere between the leaves, and while there's little to no fruit on offer, it's more than enough of a sight for a mother and daughter to make the trip up here; ostensibly to survey the grove for any damage done in the last of winter, but it's just an excuse.

It's the first time Nami gets to share this sight with Bellemere in nearly twelve years.

Maybe she can be thankful that you stayed long enough for this, mama.

She doesn't come home that day. It's only towards afternoon that she reaches for her journal, writing in impersonal black strokes. It's okay. It's really okay. It's really...

This is Luceti. It was never going to last.]

Bellemere's gone.

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[Despite his legitimate reasons for being there, Sanji still steels himself before he dares knock, and poke his head through the cottage door. He felt confident sending Vivi to check in on her, but it's a different story in regards to himself. It's not that he's short-changing himself or their friendship either - Sanji just isn't quite sure what to say in this situation, when she's so obviously hurting.

Not that this stops him from greeting her with a smile, mind, even if it is blatantly concerned.] Hey, Nami-san. [He goes ahead and lets himself in, closing the door behind him. Very nearly the question "Are you alright?" escapes, but he suppresses it, just waiting for her to talk first.]

[There's a wan smile as he comes in, though Nami only glances at Sanji for a moment before she returns her attention to the cup. She's tempted to offer reassurance to that unspoken question, but she won't lie and say that she's fine.

She has misinterpreted why he's here, though.]

Hey. I was going to go home in a bit.

[A nod. Sanji doesn't pursue that statement, but does step in closer until he's hovering a few feet away from where she's sitting. There's a pause in his demeanor before he speaks again.]

Actually, I'm here on delivery.

[Nami glances back at him, startled. It's not hard to realise what he means, and hope vies for dread in her expression as she pushes her mug away.]

...what is it?

[Rather than answer the question proper, Sanji steps again until he's right beside the table, and then carefully pulls out the hidden note from inside his pocket.]

I found it in her room. [He briefly wonders if that warrants an apology - even if it's not really Bellemere's room anymore - before deciding even if it does, the circumstances outweigh the crime. He hands it over]

[The idea of Sanji needing to apologise never crosses her mind. Rather, there's a ghost of gratitude in her smile as she takes the letter. He went into her room. She doesn't have to.

...she should have known Bellemere would have left a letter. She stares down at it for a long while, before she unfolds it with careful fingernails and reads.]

[--I'll catch you, don't doubt me.

Heh.]

[...]

[Please promise me one thing--]

[Live for you, and for me, my precious daughter. I love you, whether it's here or there--]

[--always.]

[... Oh Nami.

Out of respect, Sanji keeps his silence while she reads, glance cast discreetly to the side - but when he hears her start to crumble, then fall, and finally hit rock bottom... At first he stares dumbly, as if her tears are the final admission of truth he'd been waiting for - her mother is dead. Again.

And then he closes the last of the distance and pulls her into a hug, half-awkward though it is with her still sitting down. Whatever it is she read, he hopes it brings her comfort.

Once it stops hurting so much.]

... I'm glad I got the chance to meet her.

[Nami folds into Sanji's arms with all the resistance of a ragdoll, still cradling the precious letter, and her first attempts to try and answer him is lost in a flurry of tears and half-formed words. She gives up. She can't-- it's not fair. It's not.

But Bellemere was here. Just for a few short months, a time she can cherish and hold onto, and is it worse or better that when she goes home, she'll forget she ever had this chance?

Here or there--]

I'm okay! [It's laughable how not okay she is; Nami's laugh comes out as a hiccup, and she fists her free fingers into Sanji's shirt. Not what she meant.] I'll be okay! I will! Just--

[Just not today.]

... I know.

[He just holds her as she cries, staring down at the crown of orange hair.] Everyone knows you’ll be okay. [He smoothes down some of the curls] Nami-san’s one of the strongest among us. [A small smile] Perhaps the strongest. [Living through your mother’s passing a second time is not something everyone could handle – but it won’t hold her back]

Everyone knows. That’s why… [He pauses a moment, before lowering his forehead against the top of her head, and breathes deeply until he’s certain his voice won’t start to waver]

It's okay to mourn her again.

[It's okay.

Nami surrenders the last shreds of her pride and buries her face in Sanji's shirt, muffled sobs rapidly unstringing what's left of any restraint she had.

She'll thank him tomorrow. And maybe apologise for ruining his clothes, but she already knows he'll forgive her.

It's okay.

To just fall apart, just for today.]

Edited 2012-03-30 06:59 (UTC)

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[Written]

[action] No you're fine!

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[action] 1/?

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[action] ... Whelp it's not like I needed my heart anyway...

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