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Items had been carefully packed away into cardboard boxes - the small apartment looking more like a cardboard labyrinth than living quarters. The furniture had been covered - forlorn ghosts waiting sentry over the parceled up space. This was no longer home.

Downstairs, the bar had been shuttered up; a "For Rent" sign hanging in the front window; complete with notice to invite interested parties to inquire with some agency or another. It was all rather somber for a day that was all blue skies and riotous Summer color. Durem had always been at it's best this time of year.

The white-haired woman had left instructions with certain parties, and most of her farewells had already been made. Arreat had been bequeathed a small endowment, as had the other arrancar that had slipped through the cracks into this world so long ago. She hadn't seen most of them in years save Cousin; but she knew they'd all settled into mortal lives. Mentally, she wished them all well.

She sat comfortably in the back of the black cab, her feline-like companions draped in the seat with her, grumbling their disappointment as the vehicle made a final stop in front of a pink-hued storefront.

"Gettin' a cut before ya head out, eh?" The cabdriver, a jovial older gentleman chuckled.

"Something like that, darling. I won't be but a minute." Klimma responded mildly, and slid out from the car. She took a deep breath, and opened the salon door. It was quiet; most Duremites were a later sort of crowd afterall, but the proprietress hadn't seen her yet.

"Take a seat I'll be with you in a...." Nevermind. The words died in the hairdresser's throat, and she regarded Klimma with an icy stare. "moment."

"Vanessa. I'm not going to waste you time. I simply wanted to say one thing." The white-haired woman stated neutrally, hands up in a disarming sort of gesture. She'd spent so much time hating this woman, not wanting her angry now...

"So say it." Still cold. The feeling had been long mutual.

"He's yours." A pause. "He isn't worth the pain. If there is love in this world...I want it to be from one that loves me enough to make me a part of his life. Not apart from it."

Vanessa began laughing suddenly, the tension melting from the woman's face. "Oh honey...oh honey..." She turned, and crossed the floor to look at the white-haired woman closely. "I don't want the b*****d either. I wanna hate you. Wanted to for a long time, but we get stupid when we think we love someone. And you got it right. Life's too damn short to wait for someone like him. I heard what D' did.... and.... what happened. If he ever comes back..."

Klimma shook her head slightly, eyes betraying an otherwise impassive face. "You heard, then...Well, then you know why I'm leaving. I wish you the best, Vanessa."

"Yeah. You too, K'. I'm sorry things didn't turn out different for you."

A pause.

"...I'm not." She smiled finally, and turned for the door. "It's just another chapter. Tell Edmund I send him my best. And that I am sorry about the whole 'terrorist' thing, hmm?"