Fresh Scars, New Blood [Asuka, Lerna]

The Furukawa Estate was usually a quiet place, as befitting that of a library, but today it felt truly empty. She'd sent the servants home to spend time with their families, or just time away from the house if they had no desire to make such a journey, and her mother was away doing what she could to aid with rebuilding another part of the Koizumi Domain. It mattered little that they were gone, in truth, for Asuka doubted she would have heard them anyway, but the solitude brought her a strange feeling of security.

There was a chill in the air, the kind that ran right through her to her bones, which tried to steer her inside but Asuka would meet her guest at the gate. It would be unbecoming of a host to leave the door open and expect them to come in, so she waited patiently for their arrival. Perhaps it would be strange for that guest, to see her dead friend's shadow, but this was about doing right by Asami. Her sister had cared for this person enough that Asuka knew who she was, after all, and that was evidence enough of her import.

It would be a trying day. But that was par for the course now.

There were similarities between Asuka and his sister, certainly, though it would be inaccurate to call them identical. The familial resemblance remained—the same hair, the same eyes—but a different woman. It was in her scent, as Lerna quickly deduced, but there were far more differences than that. She had always felt like the chalk to her sister's cheese, not that it mattered much anymore. No one would be at risk of confusing them again.

"I did. I wondered if you had heard the news, I suppose there is no longer a Gotei to distribute it so I do not think she would blame you for looking after yourself."

Asuka's voice was soft, each word spoke like it might have been a snowflake falling upon untrodden ground. Her hair fluttered wildly in the wind as she turned, leading the way further inside this portion of the estate towards a waiting room of sorts. Much like the rest of their home, it was quite a plain and practical room rather than showing off anything fancy. With a wave of the hand, she offered for Lerna to sit if she wished. It might be better if she was sat, it would suit her better anyway.

"I am Furukawa Asuka, you may address me as Asuka if you wish."

Asuka could tell that it was probably a sore subject, that or there was something else eating at her that was much less of her business. There was certainly a look in her eye sometimes when Lerna glanced at her, but she could not place it much beyond being unsettled. Grief was a complex thing, perhaps this was that.

"I think my sister always knew that you meant well, Lerna. I suppose that is why I invited you to visit. I wanted to see how you were doing because it might make her rest just a little easier."

Her true goals were not quite so selfless, but it would have been far more awkward to voice them. They were all handling this in their own way if they were handling it at all.

"Sis wasn't exactly the type to make friends easily, but I imagine you knew that too." Was this really what she wanted to hear? "Sorry, I did not exactly plan a script for this. Would you care for some tea, or biscuits?"