The Guiding Flame

"I have too much to do to be sitting down."

While obviously Kirio's own force of will was not anywhere near the same degree as Ulv's, in this particular moment, at least, it was clear that she felt so strongly as to move mountains. She would not sit, not unless quite literally forced. Her eyes trailed from the redhead to...her sister. Someone she had been quite ready to never again see in her life.

"I'd expected it to be far longer. Last I saw you, I thought you were going to the grave. Come to make amends?"

Though there was an obvious barb in that last question, it also wasn't so hostile as to imply she simply would not listen. Kirio was more than simply irritated, given the circumstances, but...she was also just tired. And holding onto grudges became exhausting after a while.

As expected, upon recognizing who she was, Kirio's bubbly demeanor settled into a more agitated expression that internally wounded the graceful shinigami as she kept her head down. Comparing the moods of everyone else who seemed to be bright-eyed and enjoying their meals with boundless mirth, Hime felt as she was an outsider in the very shop their mother had built.

Countless days were spent here as two sisters had cooked meals, welcomed customers, and threw playful jabs at the other to see who had had the most customers.

Countless memories raced towards the center of her mind as she rose up, facing Kirio's gaze with little more than a pair of amber eyes filled with tears.

How... how could she even be here? She didn't belong here. She should be dead now. Executed like the monster she was. Why did Ulv bring her here? Wherein lied the weapon meant to cut the root at its so-called origin?


Still, she persisted on. Somewhere deep in her mind, a voice called out to her to strive forward. That, to cower in fear and run away now would go against all that she had worked so hard to achieve. The path of redemption was at her feet - only if she would take the step towards it.


"I have come to do more than make amends, Kirio... I want to ask for your forgiveness. It is true that I should have died the day you struck me, and I thought I did as well... but death has alluded me for so long, no matter how I've tried to place myself towards it. I... know I have no place to tell you to sit but I promise I will pay for everyone's meals if we can... have a moment. Please."

Only time would tell if this path would end in momentous success or utter failure.