[057] After the storm

[buntails]

[This is Usagi, arms wrapped tightly around herself, unusually subdued and serious. She's seen the town in flames, her friends dead, her friends kill, and- she doesn't know how to look at anyone or what to think. She'd tried to heal Yuma, and it had made things worse (even if easier for the others to finish the battle) and her powers... her

Comments

[Voice]

[moralitycat]

[Yuma keeps the video off to hide her expression. If anyone saw it, they could tell she'd been crying since the moment she revived. Her voice still has some raspy quality too it that would give her away to those closely listening.]

...It's not Usagi-oneechan's fault.

[Voice]

[buntails]

[Usagi, the crybaby, hears it right away. Yuma...]

Are...

[What should she even say? What can make it better when nothing can?]

Are you .. alright?

[Voice]

[moralitycat]

Yuma... will be okay.

[She isn't okay. Not right now, not really. She isn't going to lie about that. But Yuma is a very, very tough person underneath all of her clinginess and cutesy way of speaking. She will be, eventually.]

It was going to happen someday, Usagi-oneechan. You shouldn't be so sad.

At least this time, we came back. We're very lucky.

[Voice]

[buntails]

[But that means that other times...]

Um. If you don't want to, I understand, but... I want to see you. [Or more like, wanting to make sure things are ok with Yuma is overriding her urge to stay away from everyone.]

[Voice]

[moralitycat]

...Mm, it's fine.

[Well, Yuma's great big sense of self-loathing makes her wonder why Usagi would want to, after seeing what she became, but she can't really say no.

After all, she to see someone, too.]

Yuma is at [x;y]. It's a playground.

[Voice to Offline]

[buntails]

[There isn't much more to say other than a quick goodbye. Usagi takes her time heading to the playground. Is this right, to go see Yuma? Is she pushing in where she shouldn't? But... It's her fault and she wants to see if Yuma will really be ok.

By the time she arrives, she's looking uncharacteristically serious still. She was cut and burned and beaten in the battle, but that doesn't seem to show now.]

Yuma-chan...?

[She speaks softly to get Yuma's attention first.]

[Offline]

[moralitycat]

[Yuma sits on the top of a rusting jungle gym because swings are too cliche, legs pulled up to her chest in a fetal position. She's hiding her face in her knees.

When Usagi calls to her, she looks up, face red and eyes bloodshot. She's been crying, but her face is dry for the moment.]

Usagi-

[She suddenly rethinks what's she's saying s she speaks. Nobody would want to be her sister after that; better not to be rejected outright.]

-san.

[Offline]

[buntails]

[Usagi can't quite bring herself to believe Yuma would really not want to call her sister anymore, though... she can't say she doesn't deserve it. She hadn't been able to save Yuma, and so that had happened.

She reacts with slightly forced, or at least determined, optimism though the offer beneath it is entirely sincere. She only hopes Yuma will accept it.]

Hey, didn't we decide on calling each other differently than that?

[Offline]

[moralitycat]

But--.

[Yuma bites her lip, looking unsure.]

It's Yuma's fault that Usagi-san saw that. It's Yuma's fault you're sad. She should have told you so you wouldn't come after her if that happened.

[Offline]

[buntails]

That's not it!

Yuma, I'm sorry I couldn't turn you back to normal! That's what... that's what my power is supposed to be able to do, it's what it's for, so people don't have to suffer like you suffered, when it's not their fault at all!

I'm sorry.

[Offline]

[moralitycat]

[Yuma finally smiles, though it's small and somber. Nothing like her usual grins, but it's a start. She shakes her head and pulls out from her fetal position fully.]

Mm-mm, it's not your fault, Usagi-oneechan. Yuma and Kyoko and Mami-oneechan all knew we'd be like that someday, or die first. Nobody has ever been able to fix it or change it.

[Offline]

[buntails]

[That's what makes it so hard: She's been here before, and every time, she's been able to turn that tide. Until now. If she were from their world after all, she'd be the one to make that breaking wish, but there's no chance even of that, here.]

Even if you say that... I wish I could have done more.

Are you alright? Since you came back, are you still hurt? [Will it happen again?]

[Offline]

[moralitycat]

Yeah, Yuma is okay. See?

[She lifts her arms, and pushes off the jungle gym. She climbs down towards the older girl, hiding her face by facing away from her while moving.]

...Hey, can you tell Yuma something? People lose something when they die here, right? There's a price to come back, isn't there, Usagi-oneechan?

[Offline]

[buntails]

[Oh. That. Usagi winces while Yuma can't see it; this is never an easy subject.]

It's true what you've been told. [She's been having to second-guess herself about colors ever since she finally remembered Mamoru again.]

Do... Do you know if that happened to you?

[Offline]

[moralitycat]

Yuma hasn't been able to read anything since she woke up.

[And she'd tried. There had been enough text messages flying over the network when she went over it all, and fully realized what had happened. Those letters had looked as alien to her as the runes in witch barriers did.

Yuma digs into her pocket, and pulls out a piece of paper.]

Can you tell me what this says?

[Offline]

[buntails]

[This is all her fault. Because of her failure, the others had had to go that far, and now Yuma is hurt and suffering.]

I'll read it for you. [She holds out a hand for the paper, though it's hard to meet Yuma's eyes.]

And... every time you have anything to read, or any of the people who use text on the communicator, I'll read it for you! I'll read it for you right away!