Sol Invictus
Chapter One :: Two :: Three :: Four :: Five :: Six :: Seven :: Epilogue
"Your secretary said you were out here."
Nikado opened his eyes as something cold was pressed against his forehead. "Ooo, coffee in a can. You do know me well, Jun~"
The model chuckled, taking a seat on the grass next to the reclining historian. "Slacking off from work again? She'll kill you sooner or later."
"Danger is the spice of life," Nikado quipped, opening the can. "Also, coffee."
Jun laughed at that. "So, how has your new charge been?" he asked, mind drifting to Titania. Saying she wasn't happy with her new role as a powerless god was an understatement, to say the least.
"Misbehaving. I'm about ready to tan her hide," Nikado ranted. "Thank heavens Chiron was never this bad."
"Aye, Chiron's just an innocent little angel," Jun agreed. "So innocent, she didn't have to hide at my house after what she did yesterday."
Nikado put a hand to his face. "No wonder Domani was so mad yesterday....I dare not ask what happened."
"Let's just say he's going to be a redhead for a while. To be precise, dusky rose," Jun stated, holding up a finger.
Nikado choked on the coffee. "Oh god, whose idea was that? She won't be able to go home for a month."
"Don't tell Domani, but it might have sort of been mine." Nikado choked again. "So, had a busy day today?"
"Not so much. I'm due over for a guest lecture at Toudai in a while, thought I'd clear my mind." Nikado laid back again, looking up at the clouds. "Say, Jun. Do you recall when you asked me why I chose to be reincarnated over and over?"
Jun laid back as well. "You said it was the way you chose to live."
"There's two types of events that happen to people," Nikado mused slowly. "One kind enriches people's lives, teaches them, and those should be treasured. The other kind holds you back, and need to be put aside no matter how hard it is."
Jun closed his eyes thoughtfully. "Are you referring to my decision to stop being Chiron?"
"Hmm...Do you still regret it?"
The model opened his mouth to say that he hadn't ever regretted it, then stopped. "I suppose I did regret it, once. I guess it's a little easier to accept who I am now without basing my own worth on being a god. It's not something I consider anymore. Should I?" he asked, looking over to Nikado.
"Well, that's something you have to answer for yourself," the historian replied.
"Isn't it always?"
The older man chuckled. "Being told a lesson is not the same as learning it. And knowing the difference between what should be discarded and what should be kept is a hard one." He closed his eyes. "It's one of the reasons I chose to be reincarnated. I don't recover my memories right away, you know. Not knowing what came before, it makes it clearer what is and isn't important when I do remember."
Jun nodded thoughtfully. "Have you left the Battle of the North Tojo Plain behind yet?"
Nikado grinned sheepishly. "Well, I'm not perfect. But it's getting easier. I mean, I'll never be able to forget it, but eventually, I'll be able to completely put it aside. There's still time."
"There's always time for you," Jun pointed out. "You're immortal."
"All souls are immortal, Jun," the historian replied with his eyes closed. "Most just don't realize it."
The model gazed up at the clouds for a moment. "So when I die and am reborn...will I be able to find Domani again? Will I still remember him?"
"That's entirely up to you," Nikado commented quietly. "It seems to me that you don't forget things easily, however."
Jun grinned, then sat up. "Well, back to work for me. If I have to stay late, Domani will start crying on me or something. You know, there may always be time," he commented lightly, "but you shouldn't sit around wasting it. Well, I'll see you later!"
Nikado sat up as Jun walked away, idly passing the canned coffee between his hands. "That little punk," he chuckled to himself in amazement, shaking his head. "Damn, but I hate it when people that aren't me are right."
Finishing off the can, he tossed it in the trash before dusting himself off. Ameko was, as usual, seated at her desk at the front door, reading a book. "Ameko," he addressed her, walking over to her desk.
She barely glanced up. "Yes, Thomas-san?"
He ignored the habitual taunt, leaning on her desk and looking at her. The secretary met his gaze evenly. "Is there something you wanted?"
He took a breath. He'd said the words before, but it had been quite a while, so he hoped he hadn't gotten rusty.
"Ameko, wanna go on a date sometime?"