Dec 26, 2023 20:33:27 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Dec 26, 2023 20:33:27 GMT -5
It was outstanding that in the face of approaching doom, life on Earth continued as normal. Mostly. People were divided between those panicking and those continuing their daily lives, yet nature seemed to... Keep on living. The sensation of a held breath and soundless anticipation was still there, yet, there was also acceptance. No grief, no barging, just taking things as they were. Planets were alive after all, and a part of a cycle as old as time. Whatever would come to pass, the wildlife will thrive nonetheless.
That thought brought her some comfort.
The last visitors left Ayu with many questions and even more mixed feelings. She tried her best not to show anything in her demeanor, though she could feel herself getting tired the longer this act was going on. And why it even was like this... Everything was alright. People were away, training, focusing on what they needed to do, staying far from her. With the pressure of an incoming threat, there was nothing she was expecting from anyone. Especially not to waste their time here, in the Lookout, casually drinking tea, no, she wouldn't dare... Day by day, she was killing a little of this loneliness inside her. Every evening she prayed to get through the night. Every morning she loathed that she was still waking up with a shy hope of seeing a familiar face... Only to scold herself relentlessly later. That's how it was supposed to be, for their sake, Ayu wanted to stay away. Her care, her love, it was just a burden holding them down, making them hesitant before the fight - because what if they get hurt? What if they would die? Would they leave someone with a broken heart... She shouldn't matter that much to anyone to risk weakening their resolve.
Though that feeling was heavy, cold, and murky, thick like tar that was filling her throat - she was slowly getting used to it. Ayu started to genuinely despise this pair of melancholic eyes looking at her from the mirror. Eyes that often couldn't do anything more than shed tears when things were dire, eyes that just... Couldn't stop themselves from showing what she felt when they shouldn't.
Training continued every waking moment Ayu had time for it. Her face, usually as honest as an open book, was now paler than usual. Calm, slightly weary features, with a gentle smile delicately curling the corners of her lips. Her smile wasn't as bright as usual, though she would always beam at the kids running towards her - even if she was barely able to stand. The method of training in the Pendulum Room was brutal. Ayu has seen it all. It was the night when she lost control for the first time or South City all over again... Faces she knew trying to hurt her, voices she deep down yearned to hear, berating her. She didn't dare ask anyone to train her so it was up to her to figure out how to fight. How to use the instinct she didn't have to make it out alive when things were dire... This continued for, she couldn't exactly say how long. Ayu might have lost a bit of weight and a faint dark color was painted under her eyes - though it wasn't so bad. No, no, she glanced over to the world once and twice to see how others were doing, training without a break and doubt. Compared to them, what she was doing wasn't even a warm-up.
Though sometimes the injuries she got weren't healing as fast as the scratches and she couldn't bother Dende each time she finished training... Besides, Ayu had Namekian blood. Her body was going to heal on its own faster and better than other races... So why disturb Earth's Guardian for something pointless like this?
After wrapping her shoulder with a bandage and dressing with herbal ointment, Ayu put back her white shirt. Fixing her braid carefully, she left her chamber, walking towards the highest level of the Lookout. It was about time to check the area and try to sense how far - or how close - Arctic was... Though she didn't expect to be followed by two shadows, trying to be sneaky when they tailed her to above. Ayu walked softly on the tilted floor and they tracked her with more energetic, hastened footsteps, albeit without saying a word.
She could almost hear the siblings pushing each other with elbows and shooting glances at each other before one of them finally spoke.
"Ayu! When we get the dessert?" Celric bounced towards her, putting both hands behind his head.
"Didn't we have dessert an hour ago?" Ayu tilted her head and smiled despite all the weariness. She could tell already what it was about but played along as they walked toward the edge of the Lookout.
"Really? I don't we ha-" The boy didn't have a chance to finish because Cress's elbow hit him right into the left lung. The air escaped his mouth with a high-pitched whiz.
"Shh! You can't lie, remember?" His younger sister scolded him and Ayu couldn't help but chuckle a little. They remembered the first time she realized she could sense dishonesty. And they both were in the middle of the cake heist back then... Cress grabbed her hand. "We wanted to ask if we can get more cookies!"
They were little Saiyans, they had great metabolisms. It took Ayu a while to figure out how much they could eat and she planned their meals accordingly - alongside all the treats and desserts. They ate their share for today, but... She wouldn't want one of her regrets to be denying kids their snacks when the world was going to meet its doom soon. Though both of them seemed to be convinced that Earth's warriors were going to deal with the new enemy, Ayu didn't have the heart to explain how unnerved everyone was.
"Just today," she smiled and her expression softened with affection when she saw Celric and Cress giving each other high-fives. "In return, I'm going to check if you cleaned your room later today. Go ask Mr. Popo for cookies, tell him I gave permission."
With giggles, they rushed towards the staircase. Ayu turned her head towards the siblings, watching how they raced to check who would find Mr. Popo first, laughing as they ran. So carefree, so... Innocent. So full of hope and faith in adults who weren't sure they were going to make it out alive from the approaching battle.
It cracked her heart all over again to think that she was going to disappoint even them.
Power Level - 319,722 | 10 (Seal technique)
Word Count - 1,106