Keeping Her Waiting
Another day alone in Nemesis. Well, she couldn't say that; the occasional servant was out and about, though they still regarded Usagi wearily. She supposed that wouldn't change, as she was an outsider who first found her way here by sheer accident. Her shoe-clad feet made eerily hollow noises in the empty hallway as she made her way to the throne room, and then to the balcony, looking over the flowers. Their hard work.
Usagi found herself smiling; they were so nice, a bright piece of light in the dark, so to speak. She had been caring for them since Demand left, mostly to distract her mind so she didn't worry. He'll return safely. The words repeated in her head like a mantra, though even then, she often found herself pacing back and forth in front of the empty throne. She never sat in it, though. It wasn't hers to sit in.
Just as she was considering going down to take a closer look at the flowers, pain exploded from Usagi's chest, blossoming from her heart and hitting her from head to toe. Then the coughing began, the girl coughing so hard her ribs hurt. Nails clawed at the balcony railing as she fell to her knees, the cough getting worse, the pain escalating. One hand went to clutch at her chest as the other gripped the many columns that held up the railing, so hard her knuckles went white. A brief break in the coughs allowed Usagi to murmur the only thing that sprang to mind.
"Demand... san..."
And then the coughing began anew, the harsh movements wracking through her body. A coppery taste hit her lips, and Usagi's eyes went wide for a moment before closing again to ride through the coughing, push past the pain. Yet she could still feel the blood slowly trickle down from one of the corners of her mouth.
Usagi found herself smiling; they were so nice, a bright piece of light in the dark, so to speak. She had been caring for them since Demand left, mostly to distract her mind so she didn't worry. He'll return safely. The words repeated in her head like a mantra, though even then, she often found herself pacing back and forth in front of the empty throne. She never sat in it, though. It wasn't hers to sit in.
Just as she was considering going down to take a closer look at the flowers, pain exploded from Usagi's chest, blossoming from her heart and hitting her from head to toe. Then the coughing began, the girl coughing so hard her ribs hurt. Nails clawed at the balcony railing as she fell to her knees, the cough getting worse, the pain escalating. One hand went to clutch at her chest as the other gripped the many columns that held up the railing, so hard her knuckles went white. A brief break in the coughs allowed Usagi to murmur the only thing that sprang to mind.
"Demand... san..."
And then the coughing began anew, the harsh movements wracking through her body. A coppery taste hit her lips, and Usagi's eyes went wide for a moment before closing again to ride through the coughing, push past the pain. Yet she could still feel the blood slowly trickle down from one of the corners of her mouth.