A Place I've Never Known [Day 9, LA, Moriko's]

[Boogiepop]

Bayushi Seki

"Are you asking how this can be fixed when you're obviously the cause?" She glared at her at first before letting out a scoff in disbelief as she took a sip from her tea once more. The audacity was so unbelievable! "She's so lucky I haven't filed for separation yet, I don't need the headache on top of all my daily headaches. I hope you didn't bring your friends here to convince me, just because you can try to convince me doesn't mean you can get her back in here. She's in desperate need of help or being locked up. I'm surprised she hasn't tried to kill you yet with how she talks about you. Talks to herself, rather."

[Kuni Koyuki]

There was only so much she could stand.

Stepping forward spurred on with the fire resting in her belly. Hand coming down hard on a nearby surface that was vacant of the memento that was maybe once there, or perhaps never was, steadying herself against it. Words coming out with that steel edge bared and angry yet in control, "I came to this world with the hope that I would kill her or die. There is no one I hate more. But I can't. How can you look at her and not see how broken she is, the pain she carries? How can you just give up on her like that? Do you have no idea what she's been through, what we've been through?"

Despite the rage there wasn't the suggestion of threat in her movement or actions, they were cold and calculated like a woman who was in control. Violence would have to be intentional, and they both knew how stupid such a thing would be. Risk was minimal.

[Boogiepop]

Bayushi Seki

Okay. She was sort of expecting this but it perhaps rattled her enough that she reconsidered holding a hot cup of tea while having this kitchen counter discussion. Seki put her cup aside and crossed her arms. "...Look, I had an idea but clearly she didn't want to open up to me and keep those skeletons in her no matter how much of a hand I extended to her in the past. I suppose we are still married and we should work something out if given the opportunity. You don't even know if this is what she wanted. She left without a fuss and has shown no interest in getting back together."

What wasn't said was that she found herself greatly regretting this marital arrangement. So Crab. Such damaged goods.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Fuck

"Fuck."

Koyuki looks away, just over her shoulder at the room around her. Spending that time to catch her breath she just reads what the room looks like and has those little imaginings of what it was like to live here. Helped her get into other peoples heads sometimes, and that meant getting out of her own.

Turning back, "I'm gonna finish it. However I can. I just needed to know that if this was what she wanted when it's all over, if I'm even around to suggest it, that she has this- if she wants. Can't send someone to a closed door," she sighs, letting it take her chest with the breath. Heavy rise and falls. "She left me for dead once. I just can't bring myself to do it to her. One way or the other. If she comes back, just be here," she says, weary and turns away back toward the door. Taking that moment to compose herself before leaving, and while unintentional offering Seki to say whatever her last piece might be.

[Boogiepop]

Bayushi Seki

"I'll be here, Kuni-san..." Seki doesn't have any further words for Koyuki afterwards, especially when it seemed this felt far more important to her than anyone else in the room. She wasn't sure if she was doing this for Moriko or herself. Most certainly not for her, that's for sure. Slowly picking up her mug once more, she watched Koyuki leave and shot a glance to each of her companions, expecting them to do the same if they weren't immediately following in her example.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Koyuki wouldn't stop until she'd found her way outside.

[Hato]

There were no words that Hato could offer. Nothing to mend a Scorpion's wounded heart, nor a Kuni's shattered self worth. Instead, she offered a deeply apologetic bow to the Scorpion, as if to apologize to the Scorpion for the intrusion into her most personal business, followed by walking after the Kuni to make sure she didn't do anything dumb(er).

[Yūrei]

Yūrei mouths an apologies and backs out quickly

[Kuni Koyuki]

With her business done in this building for good, Koyuki would continue until she was a couple blocks away. Expecting, perhaps, at least one of the two women she'd brought into this little mess to be sticking around for answers. It was a nicer side of the district, to be sure, and so there was even a small park nearby that was serviceable for a place to stop and chat. A couple benches, a little faux green worked in for just a nice place for the nearby residents to stop and enjoy the weather if it was good enough to be enjoyed.

It wasn't, today, at least. While she waits for everyone to settle around she finds herself a bench and pulls out her inhalator for some much needed relaxing of her nerves.

[Hato]

With her business done in this building for good, Koyuki would continue until she was a couple blocks away. Expecting, perhaps, at least one of the two women she'd brought into this little mess to be sticking around for answers. It was a nicer side of the district, to be sure, and so there was even a small park nearby that was serviceable for a place to stop and chat. A couple benches, a little faux green worked in for just a nice place for the nearby residents to stop and enjoy the weather if it was good enough to be enjoyed.

It wasn't, today, at least. While she waits for everyone to settle around she finds herself a bench and pulls out her inhalator for some much needed relaxing of her nerves.

Hato did follow, of course, and sat down on the bench beside the Crab. She did not demand answers from the Crab, at least not right away. She looked about at the quiet surroundings. She looked towards the sky, and quietly offered a song to the stars:

I wonder how many things I can do within the limited time1
My feelings are so strong that I can't put them into words
I wonder how much I can tell you

You erased the pain in my heart that I always locked inside
And now I can smile because you cried with me

Because I'm not alone
because you're protecting me
I can become strong, I'm not afraid of anything anymore...
Time soothes, it flows with the pain
The light of the day gently shines on me

The words that explain, You don't have to force yourself to smile
(No,you don't have to worry)
If there is anything you need, I want you to call on me any time
When you're tired, I'll lend you my shoulder

No matter how. strong you are, there are times that you will sigh
When the loneliness and the heavy door rise together,
you can begin to move again

Because you're not alone
because I'm protecting you
I thought that I'd like to see your smiling face
Time soothes, it flows with the pain
The light of the day gently shines on you

Sometimes, people hurt others while getting hurt
Each of the dyed color are different, but I will go on living
While I create my own story
So never, ever give up!

Because you're not alone
because I'm protecting you
I thought that I'd like to see your smiling face
Time soothes, it flows with the pain
The light of the day gently shines on us"

[Kuni Koyuki]

Letting the harmony of Hato's voice overtake the moment. Koyuki slows in her movements, rather than agitated and hasty they find a more gentle calm. Still reaching for her inhalator she makes sure the thing has plenty of juice. Inhaling deep, exhaling slow, she lets the cool moisture ridden air fill her lungs first. That calming chill. Taking a puff from the device she holds that in deep next, letting the smoke fill her lungs. Letting it out in a steady stream of pepperminty flavor to the scent.

In the wake of the song, Koyuki just sits and relaxes. Not aiming to be the first to speak or perhaps speak at all as she lets this moment of time take her.

[Hato]

Letting the harmony of Hato's voice overtake the moment. Koyuki slows in her movements, rather than agitated and hasty they find a more gentle calm. Still reaching for her inhalator she makes sure the thing has plenty of juice. Inhaling deep, exhaling slow, she lets the cool moisture ridden air fill her lungs first. That calming chill. Taking a puff from the device she holds that in deep next, letting the smoke fill her lungs. Letting it out in a steady stream of pepperminty flavor to the scent.

In the wake of the song, Koyuki just sits and relaxes. Not aiming to be the first to speak or perhaps speak at all as she lets this moment of time take her.

Hato looked over at the Kuni, giving her time to smoke, and to calm down.

"This one hopes that they were able to help Lady Crab, at least a little bit. If there is more that this one can do, even if it's just to listen to the rest of Lady Crab's story, this one would be happy to do so." she offered.

[Kuni Koyuki]

"You are kind, Hato-san," she says, letting that scent take her just as much as the flavor does. Closing her eyes for the moment to just relax here. Chances were Moriko wouldn't strike her down out of the blue like this, and even if she did? Maybe that'd be for the best. No, no that's a stupid idea. There wasn't any giving up and dying anymore, she didn't want to.

Exhaling slow, "I would if I knew what to ask for, but I do not think there will be. Not anything that would not put your life at needless risk and," she opens her eyes, looking to Hato. "You do not seem a fighter, Hato-san. Maybe you must fight at times to survive, but- I doubt it is your strength?"

[Hato]

"You are kind, Hato-san," she says, letting that scent take her just as much as the flavor does. Closing her eyes for the moment to just relax here. Chances were Moriko wouldn't strike her down out of the blue like this, and even if she did? Maybe that'd be for the best. No, no that's a stupid idea. There wasn't any giving up and dying anymore, she didn't want to.

Exhaling slow, "I would if I knew what to ask for, but I do not think there will be. Not anything that would not put your life at needless risk and," she opens her eyes, looking to Hato. "You do not seem a fighter, Hato-san. Maybe you must fight at times to survive, but- I doubt it is your strength?"

Hato nods.

"A fair assumption, Lady Crab. This one has been putting more time in training with her firearm, but that is meant as a precaution for trouble that may be coming. This one hopes it is needless preparation, but this one is concerned that trouble may be indeed coming. But this one would advice not looking for it." she admitted.

[Kuni Koyuki]

"I cannot run away from this one. It is the one I have been running toward for five years and-" she sighs, taking that pause. Another inhale of her pepperminty smoke she lets it settle in her lungs and tickle her with the warmth. "And the goal has changed. The woman I loved left me to die, and neither of us have been the same since. Someone has to put an end to all this misery."

"I'm the only one left to do it."

[Hato]

"I cannot run away from this one. It is the one I have been running toward for five years and-" she sighs, taking that pause. Another inhale of her pepperminty smoke she lets it settle in her lungs and tickle her with the warmth. "And the goal has changed. The woman I loved left me to die, and neither of us have been the same since. Someone has to put an end to all this misery."

"I'm the only one left to do it."

Hato stared up at the sky for awhile, the finality of the Kuni's words ringing in the air. It would be so easy to let her follow this path of destruction. It was foolish to think she could avert this disaster.

And yet....

"Misery is a boulder, Lady Crab, you cannot end it. You can hurl it at others, you can share it with others, you can even crush a person to death with the weight of it...but you cannot end it."

She looked over at the Crab.

"If you die, the misery does not end. The weight is simply transferred to those who care for you: this one, Yurei-san, Lord Crab, and many others. If she dies, the weight is passed on to her wife and those who care for her. Even the death of both solves nothing, the boulders remain."

She inched closer to the Kuni.

"It is a heavy weight indeed, five years lady Crab has pitted her strength against this boulder. For three of those years, there was no one to share the weight with her. Her fury gave her strength, and she continued to bear the weight. But now the fury is spent, and the boulder remains."

She got as close as she dared to.

"Do not give up, Lady Crab. Depend on the strength of others when your own falters. With enough to shoulder the weight, it become trivial. The boulder remains, but it can become forgettable with enough hands."

It was Hato's best push against the Crab's fatalism. Had she studied with the Kuni, she would have known of the trap with no end. Still, she did not wish for Koiyuki to die, and so she had to try to turn her from her path.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Seeing her come closer, it meant something. Not that she knew so directly what it was that troubled Hato, but she could read a person well in the way they acted when she was sober enough to. There was enough to Hato that she'd known at least how hard it was for Hato, and has tried her best after to correct.

So this? This meant something.

Yet, much as it might warm her heart, she wouldn't manage to let that show so openly, "I am not giving up. Not anymore, but someone needs to pull the woman I once loved out of her delusion and save her. I may be the only person who can, and so when she comes I will be ready for her. She may try to kill me, and I will shoulder it- and survive as best I can. I cannot run away, I am not-" she hesitates, and for the first time in a while struggles with saying something she knows to be true. She wasn't a coward like Moriko, right? Were either of them better than the other? This was no answer she would have anytime soon.

[Hato]

Seeing her come closer, it meant something. Not that she knew so directly what it was that troubled Hato, but she could read a person well in the way they acted when she was sober enough to. There was enough to Hato that she'd known at least how hard it was for Hato, and has tried her best after to correct.

So this? This meant something.

Yet, much as it might warm her heart, she wouldn't manage to let that show so openly, "I am not giving up. Not anymore, but someone needs to pull the woman I once loved out of her delusion and save her. I may be the only person who can, and so when she comes I will be ready for her. She may try to kill me, and I will shoulder it- and survive as best I can. I cannot run away, I am not-" she hesitates, and for the first time in a while struggles with saying something she knows to be true. She wasn't a coward like Moriko, right? Were either of them better than the other? This was no answer she would have anytime soon.

Despite the abrupt end, Hato seemed visibly relieved by the Kuni's answer.

"This one understands, Lady Crab. This one believes in your strength, and will add this one's to yours whenever you need call upon it." she offered.

[Kuni Koyuki]

"Thank you, Hato-san. I think I will take my leave," she says, glancing around for Yurei but allowing herself that moment a breath. Standing she turns to Hato, and offers her a bow with respect for all she's done for her.

"I have a lot to think on," she adds, offering more than perhaps she normally did for her plans.

[Hato]

"Thank you, Hato-san. I think I will take my leave," she says, glancing around for Yurei but allowing herself that moment a breath. Standing she turns to Hato, and offers her a bow with respect for all she's done for her.

"I have a lot to think on," she adds, offering more than perhaps she normally did for her plans.

Hato rose and bowed deeply to Crab.

"Of course, Lady Crab. May Fukurokujin smile upon your endeavors." she offered, truly wishing the best for her.