[week one - saturday]

[ceded]

[ This is the only person Xion specifically seeks out.

Most everyone else has found her. And Xion has spoken to them, and often found comfort in their words.

But Seizaburo ... she has to see him. Holding his hand during the trial, standing by his side, having one bright moment of happiness in each other's friendship only to lose it all as the truth came out and they could only look on in horror...

She feels ... like she needs to be near Seizaburo's side, more than anyone else.

So she actually goes looking, hoping she can catch her friend in the hotel before everyone turns in for the night. ]

Seizaburo?

Comments

[feminitis]

[Sei had told herself, over and over, that she would not cry. That she would be strong, because she wasn't even the person who had been closest to Tiara, and rather than stewing in her own misery she needed to be there for the people who were more devastated than she was.

Old habits die hard, though, and she finds that she's not quite ready to retire to her room yet. Instead, she finds a quiet, secluded corner in the library, draws her knees up to her chest, and sobs.

Xion's voice snaps her out of it. She only speaks one word - her name - but it's enough to snap her into action, and she looks up quicky, wiping furiously at her eyes and trying to still her trembling shoulders.]

Miss Xion... H-hold on, just a moment!

[She straightens up and gets to her feet, taking a breath to steady herself, and then looks Xion over.

...how much she's hurting is obvious. Inwardly, Sei curses herself - Xion is one of the people she needs to be strong for, and she's just caught her crying.]

I'm terribly sorry-

[ceded]

[ Xion stares at her friend for a long moment with a soft look on her face, somewhat uncertain, her eyes searching Seizaburo's expression.

Then she crosses the room and takes one of Seizaburo's hands, holding it tightly in both her own and bowing her head. ]

It's okay, [ she whispers. Not that everything is okay -- what she means is, it's okay to cry. ]

Do you want ... to stay here for a while?

[feminitis]

[She looks down at their joined hands, startled, tears still at the corners of her eyes.

Sei has tried so hard to be strong. It would almost be easier if Xion wasn't being kind, because that just makes her want to cry more. If she had to force herself to stop, then maybe she could stop the tears -

(It's not a healthy way of doing things at all, and on some level she knows that.)]

...yes, please.

[ceded]

[ Xion nods, gentle.

Glancing over her shoulder, she tugs Seizaburo towards a different seat - one big enough to accommodate them both. Once there, she'll settle down so she and Seizaburo are curled up side-by-side, their shoulders touching. She's very careful to only hold and touch the hand she knows is unhurt. This hand she grips in her own, threading their fingers together while she shuts her eyes.

She wants to cry, and yet, feels too tired to do so.

After a breath, she'll open her eyes again and hum, a low, soft sound. ]

I'll miss her, too.

[ If her voice cracks halfway through that statement, well, maybe she can be forgiven. ]