HI All,

Sorry for the LONG hiatus. I got stuck. Really really really stuck. Drafts 1-4 can attest to how awfully I got stuck. This is version 5, and it's headed (i think, i hope, oh dear heavens i sincerely hope) in the right direction.

-Stormy

They walked in a silence that was welcome to Sona and familiar to Yasuo. The early evening air was punctuated with the chirps of birds and the sun filtered lazily low on the horizon, the dying bits of light pushing through the branches of trees.

Sona selected a path that traced them to the central square of the Institute, a park-like area that joined the disparate buildings and structures of the Institute together. Yasuo trailed beside her, alternatively studying his surroundings and watching the blue-haired woman.

"Thank you for meeting with me," he said softly after the silence had grown unbearable for him, "I see that your friend is concerned for you, and I regret to cause discord." A wry tone to his words as he thought of the icy stabs in his stomach from earlier, when he first saw Lee Sin and Sona together. He suspected why but stilled his tongue for fear of jeopardizing the delicate balance between them.

Why did you seek me out? Sona asked, her curiosity somehow transmitted through the strumming of her strings. You wished to be left alone from people and prying questions.

Yasuo's face heated in embarrassment as she turned his words on him. "I want to apologize to you for that." He said after an uncomfortable pause where he vividly remembered his words and actions. "I.. I said a lot of things I regret. I ask your forgiveness."

You are known as 'the unforgiven', Sona noted almost absently. She stepped off the stone path and made her way to the fountain in the middle of the square, the water bubbling and splashing merrily in contrast to her withdrawn and cool demeanor. Why?

Yasuo felt his breath leave him as her notes sounded cold and pristine, seemingly formal and impersonal. His mind raced to interpret her question - why he was unforgiven or why he asked for her forgiveness? Deciding on the latter, he circled the fountain so he too could study the forms the water made before disappearing and melting back to land in the pool. "I don't want things to be acrimonious between us," Yasuo spoke finally, his voice hushed and low to match the mood.

Why does that matter?

"It matters greatly to me that for you and I, at least, there is no conflict."

Sona turned from the bubbling water and looked at him curiously. She wore her hair loose, falling in a river of blue to curl around her elbows and waist. With her hair down and a comfortable dress that left her arms bare, she seemed softer and more vulnerable. A look belied by her direct questions and absent smile. Why do you care?

He swallowed the lump in his throat and cleared his throat. "Because I would not like for us... I …." Yasuo's mouth went dry as his mind spun through all he wanted to say but couldn't find the words for. "Because your opinion matters to me." Yasuo settled nervously.

My opinion isn't really my own, Sona commented, trailing her fingers through the water to ripple in her wake. I'm told stores of you and tales of why I should stay away. An amused smile lighted her features and she shook the water from her fingers. On that note, this is for you. She handed him a packet of papers. The red ribbon that held the notes together appeared almost black in the dim light and Yasuo felt a shiver crawl up his spine as he looked at the familiar characters. He knew the hand that wrote his name.

Taking them from her, he tore the ribbon aside and opened a note to scan the contents briefly. The second and third all stated the same. Yasuo narrowed his focus on Sona. "How did you come about these?" His voice was urgent and his former nervousness forgotten.

It was handed to me when I was meeting some people, Sona conveyed with simple strums of her instrument.

Yasuo dashed swiftly to her side, his first time using his abilities in as close to a social setting as he would ever be, eyes darting around to observe their surroundings to detect any unwarranted foes. His hands found rest on her shoulders, leaning in to look into her earnestly. "And the person who handed it to you - who was it? Did you recognize them?"

I… I don't really remember. She confessed, startled at his speed and intensity. I wasn't paying attention, really, and I thought it was for me at first. It wasn't until later that I realized it was addressed to you.

"Did they say anything?" Yasuo asked gravely, ignoring her shock at his close proximity. Her sweet fragrance tantalized his senses and her skin felt smooth and soft under his hands.

No.. Nothing… She turned away from him and looked at the flickering lamps that suddenly sprung to life, bathing them in a faint yellow glow. Just handed me a letter, each time, and … She shrugged. The image of a form blending in with the other bodies and disappearing from awareness came to Yasuo's mind.

Yasuo exhaled a breath he wasn't aware of holding and nodded. "Thank you," he said softly, looking down at the letters. "I… " He swallowed and rubbed a hand over his face. "I'm sorry if I startled you. I don't want danger to find you because of me." He offered her a half smile, the best he could manage to banish the worry from his face.

"Are you being hassled, Sona?" A voice inquired from behind Sona and Yasuo. Master Yi was standing on the path leading to the fountain, frowning as he looked on the pair. A tense hand was on his blade as he prepared himself.

Yasuo reluctantly dropped his remaining hand from Sona's shoulder so that he could reach for his sword if challenged and forced. The Ionian musician looked towards Yi and shook her head, her hands finding rest on her instrument. No, thank you Yi.

Yi looked between Sona and Yasuo, the former flustered and the latter an interesting mix of irritated, wary, and concerned. "I see" he said, his lenses focusing on the notes in Yasuo's hands. Yi snapped his attention to Yasuo, his stance becoming more aggressive. "And what is your business with the Black Hand?" Yi asked with unveiled hostility.

"The thing with my business," Yasuo drawled sarcastically, "is that it's mine."

Yi scowled at him. "I'm warning you, whatever Sona may see in you will not be tolerated or accepted with the rest of us. Especially if you're affiliated with that group."

"Like I'm tolerated or accepted as it is now." Yasuo replied mockingly. "And I was so hoping we'd go steady."

Yi balled his fist in anger and took a step towards the fallen Ionian swordsman before Sona cut in with a series of notes indicating her displeasure.

Stop that, both of you. She played with a frown. I'm not sure why you can't be polite since we are all Ionians here. But at least be civil.

"My apologies Sona," Yi nodded to her, abashed to have been scolded in public. "Some of us are gathering at the Ionian bar in the city later if you care to join us." Yi said neutrally, flexing his hand to release his fist.

Perhaps I'll see you there, Sona replied noncommittally.

Yi nodded and exchanged another glare at Yasuo before striding off.

"I beg your forgiveness." Yasuo said softly, dropping the sarcasm he used as a defensive shield. "Both for now and the other day." He smiled wryly. "I could bow to you, if you'd like, to demonstrate my seriousness." His heart surged and raced with satisfaction as he finally drew a smile from her.

Please don't embarrass yourself more, Sona teased, smiling with amusement. I accept your apologies, but I am curious why there's so much hostility between you and the other Ionian champions.

Yasuo took a seat at a bench facing the fountain, resting his chin over his folded hands as Sona settled beside him. The blade cut both ways and he couldn't ask for her trust and forgiveness without trusting her. He felt a pit in his stomach as he resolved in telling her the truth he couldn't before. Even if it cost him what remaining shred of their understanding.

"The hostility is because I made a mistake which led to a larger catastrophe. And now I'm … I'm having a hard time owning up to the former while proving I didn't commit the latter."

That's, Sona hesitated, pulling her instrument onto her lap. That's confusing.

Yasuo chuckled mirthlessly. "During the war, I was charged with guarding an Elder. A high honor, but I wanted to fight. So I hid the Elder somewhere I thought safe and left to fight and help more. I had mastered the wind technique, you see, and I thought I could make more impact on the front lines.

"When I came back, from the battle, I turned myself in. I was ready to pay with my life for leaving my post. They arrested me readily enough, but instead of desertion, I was accused of murdering the Elder - the Elder had died of a wind technique. And I was the obvious suspect.

"There's a perverse sort of logic to it too. Even if I didn't physically kill the Elder, my leaving guard certainly contributed to the untimely death. So I can't even say that my hands are clean and I'm completely innocent.

"These friends of yours, these stalwart Ionian champions do not forgive or distinguish between desertion and outright murder."

Yasuo lapsed into silence, sitting back instead of voicing the last sentiment: I hope you do.

This is what you didn't want to tell me the other day?

"Yes," He hesitated before he started talking again, his voice hoarse. He was unused to talking so much and in an open manner. "After I was arrested and accused of murder, I had to fight for my freedom. I was branded a traitor and hunted. I haven't had anyone to talk to, not for a long while. I've grown used to being alone and it's hard for me sometimes to… to … I don't know." He rubbed a hand over his face and sighed. "The thing with being alone is after awhile, you start to believe it too. And you're the only one who … I didn't want you to think of me differently."

A foreign expression flashed over Sona's features as he spoke and Yasuo thought he detected recognition before she smoothed it like a mask. He focused on the fountain, still merrily spaying water, but now lit so the water glowed. He could just see her out of the edge of his vision. He didn't want to see her condemnation and disgust, or worse, pity.

So let me get this straight, Sona conveyed with a puzzled frown. The hostility between you and Yi, Lee Sin, and the other Ionians comes down to simple misunderstanding?

Yasuo nearly choked on her summarization. "My brother did always say that pride would be my downfall." He replied glibly to cover himself. "And maybe now would be a good time to tell you I have a target on my head."

So simple misunderstanding and pride or trophy?

Yasuo shrugged. "Feuds have been started for far less."

Sona brushed her hair from her eyes and frowned. This is easily remedied. Come, it's late and you look tired. Go rest. Tomorrow morning, you will join us in practice. She smiled optimistically. And by noon, we can settle this behind us.

Hi All,

What do you think?

I have an idea of where I want to go, say in the form of "I think it'd be rad to be there. I'm going to go there." and the details of actually making it work are hazy in some areas and pretty defined in others.

Please let me know what you think.

Until next time,

-Stormy