melodiesoflife | Event || The Festival Of Light

[On the night before the first day of the festival, Selphie would have found a rectangular wrapped box on her bed. Upon opening it, she would find a white yukata with a chrysanthemum pattern embroidered into it in red and pink thread, accented with touches of leaf green. Where had it come from? Probably the smirking shinigami standing in the hallway with her arms folded, sporting her own orange yukata with a similar pattern, bearing white and yellow flowers. Now they both have something nice to wear to the festival in the morning.]

[Though they occasionally split up to do their own thing, Rukia dedicated the majority of the day to spending time with her housemate so they could get to know one another better. She explained her role as a shinigami, and how she and Ichigo had become such close friends. Rukia also related the tale of how she'd met Yuri and Raven, when the former posted an ad offering the services of the latter, and Rukia had mistaken 'old man' to mean 'elderly enslaved man.']

[The sky inches slowly from blue to black, and the first stars begin to appear. A blanket is spread out on the grass in the park, where Rukia sits reclined on her hip and leaning back on one hand, the other holding a half-eaten wedge of watermelon. Her head is tipped back expectantly toward the sky as she waits for the first rocket to ascend.]

Did you enjoy yourself?

[When Selphie discovered the box on her bed, she wasn't sure how to react. The first thought that ran through her mind was how to put it on. The second thought was the yukata she held up in her hands was one of the prettiest articles of clothing she'd even seen in her life. When the girl had discovered that her housemate had been behind the yukata and was smirking at her surprised face, Selphie immediately squealed in delight.

When the two were together, Selphie would tell Rukia a bit about her world and her friends after she learned about Ichigo and how they'd all met each other. Selphie couldn't help but laugh at some of the anecdotes and returned with equally amusing moments of her school life. The girl couldn't help but smile from ear to ear at the notion of that first day of the festival being anything other than amazing.

As the sky slowly faded to black, Selphie was munching on a popsicle in a paper cup so she didn't ruin the clothes she'd been lent for that day.]

This is the most fun I've had in a while. And uh... thank you for not making me wear those shoes... geta?

They do take some getting used to.

[Rukia turns her head to smile at Selphie.]

And not exactly suitable for spending multiple days running about the city to enjoy all of the exhibits.

[Rukia faces forward again, her foot absently rocking from side to side. She still wore the tobi socks and sandals, but she was in agreement with Selphie about the geta. They could do without those, especially as it wasn't traditional for anyone else in this world unless they'd been pulled here from Japan. Even then, she was certain that sneakers were more popular as the footwear of choice.]

Are you planning on watching the fireworks tomorrow night with that young man from your world?

[Smiiiiiiiile.]

[Selphie nodded in agreement about the geta as she'd opted for a pair of nice sandals to go with the yukata.

In fact, the perky brunette had been about to say something when she did a double take at Rukia. Just what was she getting at?]

Wha...?

[Selphie Tilmitt is speechless.]

[Rukia is eating watermelon innocently. What? It's a normal question, isn't it?]

You're friends, aren't you? I had thought you might wish to spend some time together, especially as opportunities for festivities have always been somewhat limited in this place.

[She takes another bite.]

[Selphie has turned a bright shade of pink from chin to the tops of her ears as she stares at Rukia.]

We are friends but not those kinds of friends. We grew up together and...

[Selphie turns away from her friend and stares up at the darkening sky.]

Besides, he has a girlfriend if that's what you're getting at.

[Rukia's listening. And still enjoying her watermelon. She gets what Selphie's saying, but she's also paying attention to what she isn't saying. And while she certainly wouldn't advise infidelity, she isn't missing that blush.]

You haven't mentioned your own feelings.

[They're friends, yes, but she hasn't said that she isn't interested.]

[ Selphie was thinking about her own feelings. There's only one person that her heart is set on and it's not Squall by a long shot. Squall is more like a brother to Selphie than lover material. The one who has her heart isn't in Aqures Ixen.]

Squall to me is like a brother. We'd give each other the shirt off our back if it helped the other person out. There's someone else that my heart is set on and he's not here.

[Selphie wasn't sure how she'd feel about Irvine showing up quite yet but she knew that he had her heart. And it had her blushing even brighter than before.]

And it's not Yuri before you ask!

[It's a good thing that Selphie clarified, because that is exactly what Rukia was about to ask. She's humbled, and regrets bringing it up, for she had no intention of making her young friend feel lonely or homesick.]

I see.

...Forgive me. I hadn't meant to bring up something that would have upset you.

[She IS curious, and wants to ask about this person she likes so much, but she's worried about trespassing into personal matters where she wasn't invited.]

[At least she can offer Selphie a wedge of watermelon.]

Hm?

[Selphie's head tilts to the right as she regards Rukia curiously. Okay, so maybe Selphie did feel a bit lonely talking about her other friends but it doesn't mean that she doesn't care about the new ones that she's made.]

O-oh, no harm, no foul.

[Selphie pauses to think about what Rukia is implicating.]

Wait... you thought I had a crush on Yuri?

[Selphie is definitely accepting that wedge of watermelon that she's conveniently turning the same colour of. At least it's something to hide behind.]

Oh boy... don't give him any ideas!

That's my failing, not yours. I'm not as practiced as most others when it comes to matters of romance and intimate relationships.

[It's a wonder she's in a relationship at all, actually, but things just worked out that way. But she smiles kindly at Selphie's embarrassment.]

Don't worry. Yuri's sharp, but he seems blind to those matters as well. Perhaps he's simply had much larger worries to occupy him. I don't think he would notice anything even if you did care for him.

Well, I'm only eighteen years old so I don't know a lot about this stuff either.

[Selphie's never really mentioned her birthday to her housemates for some strange reason. Then again, no one really ever asked her either so it was just a little tidbit of info that fell to the side.]

I think a lot of guys aren't really perceptive to that kinda stuff. I betcha anything Yuri would make the first move anyway.

[Selphie takes a bite of watermelon and squeals a little at the sweetness after that comment.]

Or someone sets him up on a date first.

He did go on one, shortly after I arrived. We had a date auction, and a girl named Yuffie bought his date. But I don't think anything came of it.

[Yuffie seemed to regard him more as a brother type, and the sibling-esque relationship seemed mutual. If either of them was attracted to the other, it was news to Rukia.]

The way things are, it seems there's little time for romance. Part of me still feels guilty for indulging like this. But...there is something to be said about remembering the people that we're fighting for.

[She smiles at Selphie.]

I am glad we had the opportunity to become friends.

Did they? I wish I'd been around to witness that.

[Selphie thinks of Yuri -- and Flynn in retrospect -- as big brothers as well and given how similar in personality she was to Yuffie, Selphie wasn't surprised by this revelation.]

Yeah, now definitely isn't the time to be worrying about that kinda stuff but taking a breather to remind ourselves that there's still good in the world is just as important!

[Selphie regards Rukia curiously after that statement.]

You mean, we weren't before this?

Apparently she made him brush her hair. For someone so stubborn, he can be a ridiculous pushover sometimes.

[She sighs, pushing her fingers through her hair. But as soon as the next firework blossoms in the sky, she's relaxed and smiling again. Selphie's question earns a quirk of an eyebrow before Rukia grins.]

I wasn't referring to this particular moment. Just in general.

[Rukia leans back on her hands.]

This world has been good for me.

[Selphie couldn't hold back the laughter that came burbling out of her at the image of Yuri brushing someone else's hair. It was a silly image but it put the swordsmen in a different light. Her eyes lingered on the firework bloom.]

Being here really makes you realize how small your world can be. I'm glad I was brought here. I wouldn't have met all of your if I hadn't.

[She smiles wistfully.]

Hopefully, we can all keep in contact! Somehow...

I hope so.

[Setting the rind of her watermelon aside, Rukia reclines on one hand, the other resting on her lap as she leans on one hip.]

This world has found a way to connect all of ours. To remain connected would be wonderful indeed.

[But she's also aware that it may not end this way. Once their worlds are saved, they may never be able to return to Crystallis, or see the faces of the friends they made here.]

Whether this happens or not, however, it's important to cherish the connections we have now for what they are.

[Selphie finishes her watermelon as this same realization is beginning to dawn on her. It's sad, almost too sad to bear and makes her question why she bothers to make friends if she's never going to see them again? She knows that she'll never forget her friends but it leaves her chewing thoughtfully to the rind of her piece.]

Yeah and it's not like we're gonna forget about each other anyway.

[Selphie looks at Rukia and smiles past her troubled feelings.]

Friends forever!

Agreed.

[It may not register so obviously on Rukia's face, as she's seldom the sort of person to wear her heart on her sleeve. But there's a definite softness in her smile that reveals just how touched she is to have made such a solid friendship.]

Perhaps someday you can visit the Soul Society. The living aren't usually welcomed there, but given the circumstances of our worlds, I'm certain we could grant you a visitor's pass.

[Selphie can kind of tell after living with Rukia these past few months now that she's touched. The smile on her friends' face seems happier, more at ease and that's enough for Selphie.]

That sounds like fun! I bet you'd have a blast at Garden too.

Event || The Festival Of Light

Fireworks

Fireworks

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Well that escalated quickly.

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