"Sayonara.."

[Pipkin]

The sun sank down into the shimmering water of Silver Lake, casting an orange glow upon it's face, and the trees that hugged the shore. A woman who showed little true emotion to even her closest friends gazed upon the water; In her solitude, the mask of anger or indifference had melted away. Her face held little more than a troubled, tired look.

The rock she sat upon offered little comfort to her small, wiry body..for it was cold with the chill of a coming night. Elil leaned forward, arms encircling her knees, and her thin fingers curling into the silk of her breeches.

The hollow feeling that settled within her chest was unlike anything she had ever felt before. How does one cope with loss, when one has never truly had anything to lose? Nothing comes about without reason. If one could truly avoid an unpleasant situation..they would. If they failed, then they deal with what comes afterwards.

It was an easy philosophy to follow. One does not cry when they are injured in battle. If one did not want to get injured, they did not go into battle, did they?

But here she sat..her troubled mind attempting to rationalize the ache that swelled from the pit of her stomach.

Normal, human feelings; Regret, Loss, Sadness..

Over what? Something she had complete control over. But would she ever know these feelings, if she avoided the situation completely?

The answer was simple: No.

Chin raised..her features catching the evening sun which highlighted the scars that criss-cross her face. Trickles of salty tears fell first from one almond-shaped eye..and then, the other..rolling down her cheeks until they dropped to the stone below her.

Never one to be sentimental. Never one to truly feel upset when left alone..the asian one still said her good byes.