The Haunted (backdated to just after the 2nd Division party)

[sakimori]

(Open to everyone but Hibiki)

[After the explanations are done, those who manage to find Tsubasa will discover that she is...not in the best shape...

While she's normally calm, if cold and dismissive, she's now covering her face with her hand and looking like she's about to break down. The deal with Gungnir obviously has her very troubled.]

"...That gear belongs to Kanade. Even if the pieces were there, it shouldn't have activated by simply humming a tune...!"

[She slams her fist against the nearby wall as memories of her former partner begin to surface. Memories...that aren't doing her any good at all.]



"Why...?"

Comments

[tiger_ken]

[Ken pauses again, trying to find his words. The wound here is clearly deep, so appealing to rationality may not be the best approach...]

She's a fan, y'know.

[sakimori]

It makes no difference!

Kanade was everything to me...and now, she...!

[She doesn't finish, because another fist is sent at that wall.]

[tiger_ken]

She might be more considerate towards the girl who had no choice about receiving these powers. Especially if that girl bore her no ill will...

Are you afraid that everybody is just going to forget about Kanade, or something?

[sakimori]

I see now.

...You're doing this for that girl, and only for her.

[She straightens herself, or tries, looking kind of creepy in the process. Good thing her back is facing Ken.]

You understand nothing...

Leave.

[tiger_ken]

That's not what I-

[He hesitates, before sighing.]

I... should have let you finish speaking, so I do understand. As you say, Kanade was everything to you...

[sakimori]

Do you...?

Kanade was with the Unity Group for months...

But, before that...long before that...she and I were already training together...fighting together...

[Tsubasa isn't moving from where she is, but her hands are clenched into fists again.]

I've already said it: I won't accept this. So, if you're only here to make me think otherwise; leave.

[tiger_ken]

I had meant that so you could help me understand, not that I already did...

But this does make sense of it a bit more. I guess you two were together in everything; fighting, singing...

[He doesn't address the last part of what Tsubasa had said, knowing it'd cut the conversation short. Last thing he wanted.]

[sakimori]

...It was that way since the beginning. Before even Zwei Wing.

I admired her, depended on her. Even now, I'm nowhere near the person she was...

[A very reluctant explanation, and she shakes her head.]

Because of that, seeing that Relic with that girl...is unbearable.

[tiger_ken]

...Because it brings that all back. She was as much - no, more - your idol as she was anyone else's...

[The past, always a painful thing.]

Have you talked to anyone else about all this? The Commander maybe?

[sakimori]

No one else needs to be concerned. Losing one Symphogear user was enough...

[And since you're not leaving, Ken, she tries to walk away instead. One of her hands covers her face again.]

I'll continue as I have all this time...alone.

[tiger_ken]

You don't... have to, you know?

[Ken calls after Tsubasa, but decides not to follow. At this point, he might just make it worse.]

...Is that really what Kanade would want?

[sakimori]

[A pause in her step.]

...Kanade wanted to protect those who couldn't do so themselves. She did everything in her power to ensure that.

I'm doing the same...without depending on anyone else.

[And she heads off.]