The gentle ray of an ephemeral sun (Mae)

"There's no need to be sorry, Charles. I understand why you didn't want me to know." Mae whispered back. She had a sneaking suspicion about this very thing since last time they met. "Don't say that... Oh, Charles... We're friends. I know deep inside that you aren't a murderer... Whatever happened wasn't your fault. I just... have a feeling... It's a bit difficult to explain.". The two sat there in complete silence for what seemed like hours. For not being human... Charles sure seemed very human in this very moment. The guilt, the sorrow, the pain... all feelings which only a human could express, not to mention understand.


Qilin asked in a worried tone as well. // I don't know... but whatever it is, it's causing him alot of pain... // Mae was just glad to be there for him. To be his pillar, helping him carry this guilt...

"Oh, Charles... Why would I hate you...? You're my friend... One that's very dear to me..." She pulled him closer again, embracing him tightly. "And d-don't you ever f-forget it *Sniffle*". Tears had started rolling down her cheeks, but Mae did not care. "or I-I'll never forgive you *Sniffle*"

"But still, you said you wouldn't want me to lie-" Charles felt Mae's hands gripping him even tighter and her body trembling a little. "...!" Was she crying? Why was she crying? She should be angry at him or leave him after having heard all of this... She said she was his friend, huh? Like Jack also forgave him... Was he just going to mope around forever because of this? There have been moments he felt as if he could end up like that, but now, now he felt as if he should move on. If not for himself than for Mae. To stop her from crying.

But... not yet. He wanted to stay like this just for a little longer...

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"Thank you." Charles eventually let go of Mae. As he straightened his back, he felt the city noises they had been cutting themselves off from coming back all at once and filling the air around them. He remained seated on the bench, but backed away from Mae. However, he truly felt grateful to the girl. Their meeting really helped ease his mind.

Charles smiled...

"About something so trivial... I can forgive you for." Mae whispered into Charles ear, her voice trembling slightly. "Remember that I will always be here for you, okay?" The two remained in silence for the next couple of minutes.


Mae smiled at her friend, wiping the last remaining tears off from her cheeks with her sleeve. "You feel better now...?" She asked quietly. Hopefully Charles felt better after this. It most certainly looked like it. "I-I don't give out hugs randomly, you know!" She gave Charles a light push, smiling mischeviously.

"Huh?" He glanced confusedly as she pushed him, but smiled notheless. "Of course." He got up and fixed the tugs on his jacket, dusting it off with his hands. He still had his doubts, but he felt it was all going to be better from now on. He turned to Mae. "I'll tell you everything some other time. This has been more than enough for now... But... will you be all right if you go with me now?" Charles didn't have a watch on himself, but he assumed it was quite late and Mae had school tomorrow. Besides, he already too enough of her time.

"I'll be alright. Don't worry. I just wanna make sure you get home safely. Besides, I could use the company." Mae smiled back at him. "Alright, Charles. As I said earlier, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." The girl chuckled. At least Charles was back on his feet. "I'm glad I could help out. Listen, if anything at all is bothering you, come talk to me about it, okay? I'm more than willing to help." Her friendly smile reflected what she had just said perfectly.

To be honest, Charles was actually glad Mae was going to come with him, even if they ended up not saying a single word to one another the whole way to his apartment building. Her presence alone was solaceing to him.

"Yes. And thanks again." He didn't offer her his hand despite getting an urge to do so at that moment, so he just turned and guided the way.

Passing through the lively city, he found out it was already past 9 pm now, yet didn't feel even remotely that late thanks to countless rows of lights all around them. It didn't take them long to reach Charles' building and soon he found himself in an position to say goodbye to Mae for the night. "Here we are." He looked up at the tall, old building. It seemed to tower as high as the sky when he watched it from below like that. The lights on the other sides of windows were turned on, except for a few apartments, including Charles' in the middle of the 3rd floor. He turned back to Mae and chuckled serenely. Her hair has always been pink, but the lights shining from behind her back and from the streets made the shadows dance across it in many interesting manners, creating various illusions and illuminating/exaggerating her pinkness. He settled quickly, though. He realized he wasn't in an position to smile at her right now and he wouldn't be until he tells her everything.

"Ah, don't mention it." Mae waved Charles comment away with her hand. "I just wanted to make sure that you got home safely. After all, I need to make sure you don't lose yourself on your way home. Just because you seem happier, doesn't necessarily mean all your problems are gone..."

"Yeah, this is it... I think I'll be okay on my way home. You'll be fine on your own, right?" Mae looked at her friend. She was still slightly worried about him. "Is there anything else you want before I go?"

"I should be." Charles curiously raised his eyebrow at Mae's question, but glanced away. She was still trying to help, huh? He didn't mind, though. For some reason, he enjoyed spending time with the girl. Her cheerful and helpful nature always seemed to come through and affect even him.

In any case, it was time to go. After saing goodybe to Mae, Charles remained standing by the entrance to the building and waving at her as she walked away and eventually disappeared in the busy streets.

That night, he picked Gao back and carried her to his apartment, much to the joy of both the demanding soon-to-be-mother-possum and the building manager... She seemed to have given the old man some real trouble, heh, but that wasn't the only reason behind his grin (like Charles assumed) as he watched Charles walk up the stairs with the grey furball in his embrace...

Charles has left the scene... ~

After Mae had said goodbye to Charles, she started walking back to the dorms. She felt good about herself. Being there for a friend in need was really satsifying. Making a positive impact on someone else's life like that wasn't something you did everyday after all...

~Exit

The Gentle Ray of an Ephemeral Sun ~ END

The following stat increases by 4:

Mae:

Charles: