Fresh Scars, New Blood [Asuka, Lerna]

It had taken several days of work.
In the heat of the moment, she had been able to keep it together. She had kept herself in line, and even though those slow creeping tendrils of urge had bubbled up, her dedication kept her in line. But that was not acceptable. She wouldn't endanger someone with 'well enough'. She would not abide the notion that she would endanger people. It was why she had isolated herself in the first place.

And so, it was only after all of that effort, all of that wrestling with her urges, with her zanpaku'to, that she was standing here. It wasn't perfect. But it was enough for now.

Making her way into that familiar section of the estate, paused as she was let into the area where Asuka was, and for just a moment she paused at the threshold to regard the woman herself.

She could see the resemblance. It certainly wasn't so incredible that she'd mistake them. No.... Asami's scent was pretty different, but she still knew, instinctively, who she was standing before. "You called for me?" she asked with the slightest of sheepish smiles.

Lerna was quiet for a few long seconds as she followed the woman. She turned her attention to their surroundings, to the room that she was being led to, before ultimately she looked back to Asuka. "I heard... about what happened. she noted softly. And for the life of her, she didn't remember what she was supposed to be in this moment. She was, after all distracted. By this weak little thing infront of her. The urge never passed even the notion of fufillment. But still, in the very edge of her thoughts. She thought how easy they'd be to chew.

It made her sick. But none of that showed on her face as she gave a gentle nod. "Lerna. Just... Lerna. It's a pleasure to meet ya Asuka. I.... well. I knew your sister. She was my instructor for a bit. And we became close friends after I graduated," She however, imagined that her own .... confessions had pushed them apart. How ... long had it been? Since she last saw Asami?

What even had been the last thing she said to her?

But that thought snared in her mind. Actually, that did beg the question, why was she here? But she was patient. The woman would probably get around to that.

Lerna paused for a moment and was quiet as Asuka asked such a thing. "I'm sorry, but I can't say... that it would put her at ease. Not yet. I'm still suffering some ...effects from the attack. But I'm working past them." She rolled her shoulder a bit, as if to give the impression that it was purely physical. Last thing she needed was this girl worrying. t
hey had enough on their plate.

At the mention of Asami's friendliness she actually raised her brows. She had always been so friendly as a teacher, it was odd to think she didnt have friends. Though the offer of a drink pulled her from her stupor. "I'd love some."

Lerna blinked owlishly at the mention, she wasn't really the kinda gal who remembered all the kinds of tea. It was all just leaf water to her. But she wasn't going to say that, some of it did taste pretty interesting. "Kuchika works for me." She noted with a gentle nod of her head, though she was.... perplexed when Asuka further explained the situation. She'd ... sent away all the help? Why? She pondered the reasoning for that, did she want to be alone with her?

"That's fine. take your time. I'll make myself comfortable till you get back." She assured the woman, waiting until they departed before she turned her attention to the garden that Asuka had pointed out. For just a second, she stared at it, and she took a moment to remember the last time Asami had spoken to her about it.

Quietly, she made her way to the edge of the garden itself, and knelt down to stare over the frail little leaves and petals that it consisted of. Now and then she had even witnessed Asami caring for these little plants. She had never really understood it. The care placed in such a thing, but thinking about it now. She felt ... something. Perhaps it wasn't understanding. But these plants, as frail and as feeble as they were. Things that with just a flick of her wrist, she could destroy without a trace.

Unlike the counltess people she'd had to restrain herself around. As weak as they were, they didn't incite that same sensation inside of her. No matter how helpless these plants were, she had no urge to destroy them.

Reaching out, she gently ran her fingers along the leaves of a small shrub. she had no idea what it actually was, for all she knew it was poisonous. But still, she handled it carefully, inspecting it's leaves. It was still quite safe and intact.

It probably had nothing to do with how Asami had felt about them.
But it was ... something.

She stood back up and closed her eyes, a slow and steady sigh as she .... took it all in. And she wondered what it was that had brought her here. What DID Asuka want? She turned and looked over the rest of the garden, where the girl had left her. She wondered what intent was there. To leave a snake in the garden like this.

Did she knew?

No... probably not. In all honesty, even Asami had never ... really seemed to accept that from her. And she did wonder, how she would have reacted if she ever had. Would Asami approve? Knowing the kind of monster she was? That she be near her sister? Well, there wasn't a lot of point thinking about that. She walked down the line of the garden and looked over what was planted there. Looking for ... something.

But there weren't really any answers among the bulbs.

So she kept walking.
And waiting.