It was safe to say that Ayu wasn't in her best state of mind lately... Even her body was starting to play tricks on her. Since she got back home from the mountains, her energy was fluctuating without rhyme or reason, making it difficult to control. Her garden again looked like it was left alone for weeks. The leaking Ki was absorbed by the plants nearby, causing them to grow without any hesitation or common sense. Because why would the trees bend in all the unnatural angles? Clearly, to play tricks on her, that's why. Nosebleeds were appearing on regular basis now, and Ayu didn't know what to do with herself. She was growing weaker while growing stronger if that even was making any sense... She told herself over and over again, that training meditation was the way to go, but it didn't work. To be honest, it was only making it worse, showing her how much she was lacking in the area of controlling her energy. Perhaps she was a hopeless case? Her Ki was still expanding, growing stubbornly, but her body wasn't able to keep up with what was happening inside. Ayu feared that at one point she will exert herself too much and drop unconscious. It was making things so hard to control that at the faintest slip of her emotions the nearest trees were growing and flipping over tiles of the garden patio like they were fallen leaves. How is she going to submit her papers to East City University at this rate?

Ayu was tired. The stress on her body was now only matched by the mental distress she felt... Her grandfather was missing. Cress and her brother died, Athren was gone, there was an attack on Orange City which caused great troubles to Quash and Jorey a-and... And the list wasn't even finishing here. She clearly remembered what Mr. Popo said, and hoped that wherever Liari was, she was safe - but it soon turned out that she was in for a grieve surprise.

During the fateful day of the attack at the West City, Ayu was alone at home. She was trying to sleep off the exhaustion and neverending torments that were appearing one after another... And just like that, the cruel world laughed at her hopes, shoving one more heartbreaking revelation right in her face. That her cute, joyful Bluebell was taking lives without hesitation... There was no sleep for her that night. Ayu barely remembered what she felt back there, everything was scattered and her emotions weren't helping. It sure didn't give her any comfort that the rose bush overgrew and broke the toolshed in her garden, turning it into a pile of boards and dust... The whole area around her house was a green mess.

In West City, there was rage. Suffering. Maybe even satisfaction from the deed done..? What Ayu felt was a mosaic of emotions mixed with pain, so intense she had difficulties breathing. Perhaps it was for the best that no one saw her in this state, because she wasn't able to hold back her tears again. Her knees gave in and she sat on the floor, weeping silently, too scared to move, too overwhelmed by the horror and fear and, and-

Once again someone Ayu knew did something... So absurdly appalling, that she lacked words to describe how she felt. There was no one to turn to and ask why things developed in this way. She remembered other signatures, there was a fight that she sensed with her fists curled and her heart beating faster than the wings of a terrified bird... And Callion's energy disappeared. He died, but in a way that was difficult for her to comprehend. His presence was swallowed by Liari's signature and fused with her Ki - it almost felt like the ground under Ayu's feet turned into nothingness. How, why, what exactly has happened? They were supposed to train together, weren't they..? She was looking forward to meeting the Saiyan again and now he was gone. Like Cress and her brother. Like all the people that suffered from the attacks at Orange and West City...

Ayu wasn't sure what she was able to feel anymore.

She spent the whole night in a sleepless state, turning and sitting up to only lay down again. Of course, Ayu felt Liari approaching her house. The young woman was laying on the couch, curled into a ball in her clothes in the nest of two pillows and the biggest blanket in the house. Wide awake after the living nightmares of the last day - how could she not sense the tremendous, fickle energy flying in her direction? It would be hard not to, even if she tried. The familiar and dearly loved energy was now dyed by two different signatures that were melting into one being. Eaten, absorbed, fused, no explanation could justify this scary sensation... Yet, Ayu could only close her tired eyes. She wasn't fearing for her life here, but rather it just made her uneasy. Worried. Scared too, but not about herself. Was she becoming another target here or... No. Liari's energy didn't feel hostile at all. It only rose more questions, because Ayu have just found herself in a situation where one thing was clear. That she didn't know what was going on. She could have guessed from bits and pieces, creating a vague picture of the incidents happening on Earth, but the truth was, she was only one helpless girl.

She couldn't even keep her little sister from getting into trouble and causing harm to others... What kind of sibling was she? It took all that she had to finally stand up from the couch and quietly walk to the door. Ayu reached toward the handle and her hand stopped. Her fingers were trembling too... She heard Liari mumbling to herself from outside of her house, the only thing that was keeping them apart was a handful of bricks and a wooden board. Funny how her energy, so raw and feral not so long ago, despite the massive pressure it exerted, was now twitching in worry. The child she met was still inside her, was it not..? The one that was craving affection so dearly, so joyful and energetic... But at the same time, her Bluebell's hands were dyed with blood now.

Ayu pressed the handle, but she barely gathered the strength for more than one step. She was standing in the doorway, raising her head to look at Liari. There was nothing to say about expecting to see a different form - because that was obvious. Ayu thought she is going to meet the one person she remembered... But instead of a little blue-skinned girl, towering over her was a hulking frame of an azure giantess. The sharp features of her face and body were intimidating, and her menacing aura was exerting invisible tension on every living being in a radius too big to even describe. Liari was now a mature woman, a fierce amazon. That presence was threatening to say the least, but seeing her now, Ayu understood better what took place in the West City. But, despite all...

The young woman didn't waver or turned her gaze away while looking straight into those blood-colored eyes.

"... Liari..?" she asked calmly. Ayu might have not presented herself in the best way possible this morning. Bit disheveled hair, dark circles under her puffy eyes - they should have run out of tears days ago, but they still kept overflowing. Her cheeks were pale, energy anxious and for a moment too long she was gazing at Liari with an unreadable face. A worried heartbeat could be heard in that silence... Then it all suddenly melted into a sense of relief mixed with concern and anxiety, and her vision was blurred once more. There was no more strength left in her body to move, so she kept standing in this one spot, her head as heavy as her heart. Ayu raised her hands, trying to wipe out tears as big as raindrops that were running down her cheeks and dripping on the ground. "I w-was s-scared..." she tried to say something, but her voice cracked helplessly so much it was hard to speak. "I w-was so scared I'm going t-to lose you too..." Ayu cried, her shoulders trembling frantically as she sobbed and hid her face in her hands.

She didn't have only death on her mind. It wasn't about picking a side. It was about her having enough of people dying, disappearing without a trace, or being outside of her reach.

---

Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 82,814
PL with SWC - 20,703
Word Count - 1,436

Not so long ago Liari was small enough to make herself comfortable on Ayu's lap, nuzzling her cheek against her face while demanding hugs and affection... Not much time has passed from that day, but simultaneously it felt like ages ago. Since that one important moment took place, life was rushing at both of them with uncontrollable speed. What did Ayu miss, why did she let this happen... Why was she never strong enough to do what mattered the most? There were things she wanted to understand and hear answers to the many heartaches that she felt because of her lack of knowledge. Yet no question was answered, only more mysteries were peeking at her maliciously from the horizon. What did her little sister have to get through when she wasn't able to be there by her side? There was guilt, eating away at Ayu's conscience. Maybe if she was there, she could have done something. Help. Soothe the conflict. Maybe there would be even the slightest difference in the outcome. Maybe... But what if not? Ayu couldn't even help herself, what was making her think that she could aid others like that during the crisis? And West City... What happened there in the first place..?

Ayu didn't oppose when she was pulled closer into a warm embrace. Liari's vast energy felt now full of worry mixed with grief, with a sense of concern and even confusion deep down. Her wide arms closed around Ayu, holding her tight like she was going to break into million pieces if she would ever let go of her... She was crying too. Even while kneeling Liari was taller than Ayu, and she could only lay her head against her chest, trying to control her shaky breathing and tears. Yet... It still was there. The crystal clear sensation of warmth, the affection underlying Liari's feelings was still there, shining through the fierce power that she was soaked with now. The relief grew stronger because Ayu could sense that the love was still there - a quiet, determined piece standing firm while everything else was jittering in chaos. It's not like all her worries and questions have melted away, nothing was solved by this... But it made her heart lighter to know that despite everything - Liari was still Liari. There was comfort in knowing that this invariably existed in her presence. Even if her form and the hue of her energy will change, this one thing about her little sister was still there... She was the same one that was messily eating strawberry tarts to make Ayu wipe her mouth with paper tissues.

"Bluebell," she whispered with a weak voice. Ayu had to stand on the tip of her toes to embrace back the blue woman and before she knew it, the soft grip of her hands turned into her trembling fingers hopelessly holding onto the fabric of the coat. She only trembled as she wept... Maybe it was better to cry it all out. She could never quite stop her tears from overflowing... But perhaps this confusion and sadness were taking over. Ayu didn't know how long it took before her breathing started to calm down and her chest was rising and falling evenly. She took half a step back to glance at the towering figure, only to be met with another apology and their foreheads touching. Even if the rubbery shin on her azure skin was cold, she was warm like a li- not so little furnace. Ayu took Liari's face in her hands softly... Huh, it wasn't that easy anymore. Before she could effortlessly cradle that squishy little face in her hands, and now..? It looked like two pale leaves got stuck to her blue cheeks. When did she grow so much...

Calmly, Ayu pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and started gently wiping Liari's face. A small, soft but sad smile bloomed on her face, and her wet eyes were looking at Liari apologetically.

"I'm sorry... I didn't w-want to make you cry," she stroked her rubbery cheek and still felt another tear rolling down her own face. "I'm so glad you're okay..." Ayu's expression grew cloudy with guilt and sadness and she felt smaller than usual - and Liari's size had nothing to do with that. She took a slow breath. "I know I a-am too soft and weak, I get so easily worried about others..." Ayu lowered her gaze diffidently. "But so many people are gone now. Even the ones I never met, and it..." Ayu's hand dropped but the trembling fist curled around the wet handkerchief. Was it stupid or not, she couldn't change the way she felt. "I-It still hurts," she admitted with a cracking voice. Maybe it really would be easier to not care, to worry only about the handful of individuals that she would keep close to her heart, but it wasn't easy. Each time something like this was happening, Ayu found herself instinctively worried about others, feeling for them and understanding their pain a bit too well. Praying for everyone to get along was a vain hope, but could they at least stop hurting each other..?

"There were people killed in Orange City. And Cress..." Right, talked about this little headstrong Saiyaness with Liari before. Ayu wanted the two of them to meet, so there be one more sister-like figure in their lives, and judging how both of them were so curious and energetic, they surely would get along. Back then it was a happy, warm thought. Now, there were no chances for that happening... "I mentioned her before, right..? You would have made great friends. She-" her voice hesitated and got quieter, "She was killed. Her brother too." She said it. Her eyes started to tear up again but she tried to keep smiling even if it was a tiny and painful smile. Ayu never told anyone what was sitting in her chest, wrapping her heart in a heavy lead. She couldn't bother others with her thoughts and inability to keep her feelings at bay. Even if some people she met were kind and supportive, it was wrong to burden them with her emotions... But it felt right now like the heavy weight on her chest was cracking and everything was about to pour out of her heart without control.

Her arms started shaking. Grass around them started to grow, and their blades turned shiny and vividly green, raising above their ankles. Some trees above them started to rustle, branches creaking and swaying in the still air. If it keeps up...

"Someone I thought I could call a friend left this planet," after a pause Ayu started to talk again, her voice was less shaking and stuttering, but the tone seeping from it... Sounded broken with sadness and hurt. "Someone else asked me for help when I can't do much..." Why those people were still in her head? Because her nature didn't even make her think of neglecting them. Ayu closed her eyes. "My grandfather is missing, I can't find him anywhere, I'm s-scared he might have died..." she tried to wipe her face. "People were killed," Ayu cried soundlessly. Her voice was lowered almost to a whisper. "Callion is gone too," her eyelids parted to show her nostalgic, full of tears gaze. From what she knew already, she could have put all the blame on Liari for that... She sensed it, she saw it too now. But there was nothing in her voice that would even hint at her having any grudge. She still was going to miss this peculiar Saiyan... "Back then I felt you fighting and I was terrified you all were going to die there..."

Ayu curled her hands into fists so strongly, that her knuckles turned white. She lowered her head, shaking like a leaf.

"I d-don't know what happened in the West City, but I w-was scared I won't see you anymore." Anxiety waved over her again while her thoughts focused on what took place back then. Ayu put her arms around her, slouching and hiding her face like she wanted to turn into a ball and disappear. "People are leaving, disappearing, dying... What if you would too?" Ayu sniffled, slowly freezing in place when the one, final thought emerged from all that inner distress as she whispered, "What if I wouldn't be able to help you too..?"

---

Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 82,814
PL with SWC - 20,703
Word Count - 1,399
Total Word Count - 2,835

Maybe it was the truth that Ayu was saying sorry too often. It was a habit from her childhood she couldn't quite shake off. Her first reaction was always to look for the fault of the issue in herself before she would try to find negativity in others... Well, more often than it should it stayed at her being in the wrong. But the low, hoarse from the tears voice was apologizing, blaming herself like it was that simple, begging Ayu not to say another word about her own faults... It was awaking a different kind of dour thoughts. Liari moved away averting her gaze, keeping distance, unaware that it felt like another stab wound for Ayu. She wasn't going to blame her. She didn't exactly know much about what has occurred last night. Everything that happened so far to her started accumulating, pouring dread and tears into Ayu's heart until with the last dismay it was reaching the edge... Zhang's disappearance, Cress's demise, Athen's departure, Mr. Popo's request, Jorey's and Quash's worries, and Callion's death too. And seeing Liari safe and sound, the relief added its mass to her heart and overfilled it with emotions, making her break down in tears.

But it was too much for both of them... The regret intertwined with relief making it difficult to say anything else. Was it weird that this thought now appeared in her head? That she was the older sibling here. Ayu had this unspoken responsibility to make things right. The sound of Liari's voice cracking, breaking, and muttering an apology over and over again was enough to break more than one heart. She couldn't have that, could she? It felt like after hearing another sob she would really break into a hundred pieces... With her growing perseverance, Ayu took a step forward, pulling Liari's head into her embrace, and placing her forehead on her shoulder. The giant woman on her knees, still dominating with her overwhelming presence, was now softly held by Ayu. She wasn't going to let her sneak away from her warm grip again, she wanted Liari to feel that it was still alright... The young woman wasn't worried about her out of spite, her tears weren't for show, and her care wasn't fake. She felt for her and she loved her - Ayu detested conflict and caused pain to others with every fiber of her being, so being aware that Liari was the one behind the attack at West City was enough to bring her to tears. But she didn't hate her. She couldn't. Her grip around Liari grew stronger when Ayu started trembling. Like nothing ever changed between them, she rocked them both gently in a warm, genuine hug. Her feelings were honest, and so were her actions. Ayu's arms wrapped around the blue head softly, her slightly shaking fingers stroking the tentacle hair and the shoulder. One, two, three more tears run away from her eyes, but she paid them no mind.

"I love you too, Bluebell," Ayu said sweetly, hiding her face in the side of Liari's head. "I love you," she repeated in a softer tone, trying to soothe the fluctuating pain in both of them. It wasn't easy, tears weren't stopping, but at least she was able to hold her tiny sister in her arms again. It didn't matter that she was twice as tall as her, she was still a child to her despite all the maturity and bloodcurdling energy. Ayu chuckled affectionately through tears, authentic comfort shining through her shaking voice. "You might h-have grown up, but you're still m-my little Bluebell..." When the first fright of their meeting faded away, Ayu could feel her heartbeat growing steadier. At first, she wasn't sure what to expect... Would Liari still think of her as her sister? Won't she ignore her concerns? What if she won't hesitate to take away her life too..? She couldn't sense hostility, yet she wasn't convinced how things would unravel. But seeing her, feeling her, Ayu was now assured that this being was still a child that need to be loved and held dearly. "... Nothing will change that."

This embrace was warm and Ayu didn't want to let go - but for now, there was something else that wasn't going to let her forget about the older sibling's duties. Moving a little to the side, she stroked Liari's head to make the woman look at her - or at least turn her head in her direction. The lively, silver eyes were replaced by ruddy, sharp irises. She wasn't going to pressure her to look anyway... Ayu placed her hand on Liari's cheeks and closed her eyes too.

She was too weak. She was too soft. At any moment now Ayu could have brake again in tears, overwhelmed by the swirling emotions and pressure she felt... But it wasn't about her. She never had a chance to help anyone, because she was so lacking in both spirit and power. There were no chances more that she was going to let it happen again. Ayu's eyes, despite the tears and sadness in them, calmed down now. No emotion vanished or was cast aside, it was Ayu who grew more serene. There was a quiet, poised resolve rooting itself in her heart. To be better. Maybe it was foolish or abstract to say that she was going to look after this menacing figure, who could have overpowered her at any second now... But she was determined to do so anyway.

Liari was the only close person she had.

"Liari, I want to know what happened..." Ayu started speaking calmly. Her thumb stroked her blue cheek, gazing at the woman with fondness and worry. There was something she was afraid of, deep down buried in her soul was hidden a thought - that it all happened because of a certain reason. And she was going to address that issues, she wanted to teach Liari to be careful with others so no one could have taken advantage of her innocent, inexperienced self. And now? The idea that she was too late was breaking Ayu's heart and smoldering the pieces to dust with guilt. But if it wasn't that? If it was her clear intention to kill all those people... If that was something that sprouted in her resolve on its own, what else could be done? Ayu was feeling the remaining strength in her body faltering at that thought already. "I d-don't like to only have the bits of what I felt and I don't w-want to hear gossip from others... I want to listen to you, first." She admitted lowering her voice to a gentle whisper. After all, what mattered the most right now was her safety, and there were troubling things about the latest occurrence, on the west side of the world. This unpleasant energy, Liari's reasoning... And she won't know what to look out for without hearing her concerns.

"Please, tell me everything." Her eyes grew more melancholic and her expression was clouded with concern. "Not only what took place in West City, but what you couldn't say before. What y-you did when you were away, who you meet, who you fought with..." In a wave of affection, Ayu rose on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips against Liari's forehead. "I want to understand you better, Bluebell... B-But you don't have to say anything right now," Well, she still was her bashful self... Ayu raised her hand and took a small breath, tilting her head to look at Liari with a gaze a little brighter than before. She caressed her cheek, slowly pulling her hand away to join her hands together. "Though please, keep that in mind. Because I know that there is always more than one side to a story," she lowered her gaze pensively, pondering about what just fate put in store for her "And without yours, I won't know what to think of it at all."

---

Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 82,814
PL with SWC - 20,703
Word Count - 1,330
Total Word Count - 4,165

Liari's head rested heavily on her shoulder, burdened by all of her thoughts and tears. Sometimes there were moments when Ayu didn't know what to say... And seeing how the blue towering figure was afraid of her reaction, was in a way a heartbreaking sensation. Was she suspecting that Ayu would hate her so badly... That she would reject her without thinking, too scared, too threatened by her new form and might? She sighed, hiding her face in the side of the blue head. She was a force to be reckoned with, that was undeniable. The raw, untamed power that Liari now possessed was easily giving her goosebumps. But Ayu was a little wary of that strength, not of the person in front of her. Anyone could see with as much as a glance, that these two wouldn't be able to even bear the thought of causing the other one any pain.

And yet... Ayu could only take a step closer to put her hand on Liari's cheeks, as she turned away from her gaze again. She could sense the shame and the regret fuming inside her like a coiling smoke... So much that the only thing Bluebell could do was avert her eyes. Could she not stand to look at her anymore, or was the regret preventing her from thinking she deserves this affection? Ayu caressed her cheek softly, feeling how she was trembling in pain and fear. It would be easy to blame her for everything. She could ask why Liari had to put her hand to the attack on the West City... And why only now was she feeling regret when she was in front of her older sister, realizing the consequences of her actions... But it wasn't only about this. Ayu could never bring herself to be so restricted in her thoughts when the heart of another person was at stake. And the visions Liari was talking about before, yes... She might have caught a glimpse of that before. When the two of them first met, there was something that resembled a fit of pain and confusion raging in Liari's head. She had to hold her in her arms to make it stop, it was extremely painful and exhausting to her... She couldn't blame her litter sister for wanting them to stop. But it was the truth that it was the perfect excuse to use to exploit an innocent kid with evergrowing power to use as they pleased... And someone did that without having a second thought. Ayu slowly clenched her fists and opened her palms again, to stroke Liari's head. If her heart was already cracked, now it felt like it was going to split open any moment now.

"It must have been so hard for you... I'm sorry I wasn't there, Bluebell," she lowered her tone softly, her voice weak from tears. Maybe Ayu wasn't strong enough to take any action, but if there was a possibility that her presence would bring the blue woman some sort of comfort and stability... She won't be able to forgive herself. The longer she was listening to the Liari's tale, the more her expression was growing cloudier and another layer of leaden was added to her heart. She didn't know what to do either... For now. Because she was going to find a way. "Liari, do you remember what I told y-you before about fighting and hurting people..?" Ayu put both of her hands on her chest and took a slow, deep breath, looking back into those silver eyes burning with tenderness and pain. "I love you," she repeated, looking at her with crystal clear, genuine emotions. Two tears dripped to the ground. "And I feel, no, I already know that it doesn't matter what you will do in the future, I will always love you... E-Even if your actions will sadden me," she tried to give her a reassuring smile, but her lips trembled. That thought was so heavy that Ayu lowered her gaze, looking at her fidgeting hands. She joined them together and looked back at Liari. "But I don't want you to believe that it's okay to hurt people because of that... Those people had their close ones too. They feel now the same pain we would have felt if the other one was gone." If Bluebell would be gone too, Ayu wasn't sure she'd be able to get up from that couch she spend the sleepless night on. She stroked her cheek with her thumb. "Yet, I know, I d-don't have the right to stop you from choosing your path," her voice cracked. "I j-just wish it be the one with both of us happy there..."

Was that selfish? Her thoughts were now orbiting around their last meeting, judging how much have changed, pouring the sense of failure into Ayu's soul. She was supposed to make her feel safer, to teach her, she promised herself that she would look after this dangerously innocent child... And look what has happened. Maybe she doesn't have the right to even talk about sharing her future with Liari anymore. The things that kept happening to the young woman were no justification... Huh, she remembered something now. This little one said back then, that she was going to make her proud. Now... That felt so bittersweet.

"Do you remember?" Ayu asked again and raised her hand to wipe the tears, glimmering in those silver eyes like stars in the night sky. "You're a cute, affectionate person Liari. I'm sure others would love to get to know you better too. To talk, spar, and play with you," she smiled fondly, but sadness was still present in the back of her eyes, unable to be wiped away by any other emotions. "But if you keep scaring and pushing them away, they won't ever know what kind of person you are... They will judge you by what they saw happening in the West City, and you don't deserve that." She didn't want that... But the damage was done. The City was bombed, and many lives were taken away, including Callion for better judgment. Yet, it wasn't all orchestrated by Liari, was it? Just like Quash and Jorey, she fell into a scheme of another person, who simply speaking, blackmailed her to do that. That seemed to be how things unraveled back then. "I'm..." Ayu abruptly stopped, when the heaviest doubt crept slowly into her mind, making her shoulders tremble. She put her arms around her, rubbing them as if the chill she felt was going to freeze her to the bone. "I know you like to fight and there's nothing bad in that... But I'm a little... Scared to think that you enjoyed that." Her voice lowered to be barely a whisper when she said that and her heart for a second stopped beating, terrified by that thought.

What could Ayu do if Liari enjoyed hurting people? She didn't want to believe it, but the chaotic Ki she felt back there wasn't giving her many answers. She sensed Bluebell's confusion, anger, and growing fear, and it all intertwined spiraling out of control. If she killed them because a part of her wanted and desired to do so... Was there anything she could do in this situation? People were all different and it could be easily justified by nature... But it wasn't a justification strong enough for taking someone's life. It would be an obvious and thoughtless lie to say that everything was alright. It wasn't. But first Ayu needed to focus on the fact that the whole event was triggered by someone else, and Liari was as much of a victim as she was a culprit here.

"I don't know the person who promised to help you. I wish I could know what he told you exactly..." her hand trembled when she stroked Bluebell's head, smoothing slightly disheveled tentacles in place in a fond gesture. "But you know... I keep thinking." She gave Liair a melancholic smile. "If our places were switched and if I was the one hurting... And you would have the power to fix me, would you force me to do the things I did not want to as a payment?" She leaned closer, pressing softly her forehead against Liari's again. Ayu slowly closed her eyes and let another tear slip away from under her eyelid. Thinking about it hurt her heart way more than she would be ever able to admit to anyone. "Would you let me... Be scared and h-hurting?" she asked softly, aware of the answer already. "I would take your pain away in a heartbeat if I only could... Bluebell, I don't think that person, Zero, treats you right." Here something happened to Ayu's voice. The shift was very gentle, almost unnoticeable. Until this point, her gentle and soft from sadness tone, hurting at the thought of her little sister being in pain like that... It became clearer. A calm resolve emerged because Ayu was upset now - yet the only thing she could think about now was how to stop Liari's suffering and the person standing behind the scene from pulling the strings. "You're so strong Bluebell. If he understands that you will do whatever he wants you to do... He might never let you g-go." Ayu trembled and she embraced Liari, her hands trembling as they gripped the fabric of the shirt she wore. "If he w-would help you, then there be nothing he could do t-to make you do his bidding anymore..." She sniffled, her body shaking as the tears started to fill her eyes again, the sole thought was ripping her heart into shreds.

All because of the pain in Liari's head. All because she didn't make sure she would be able to stay away from manipulative people. All because she knew too little, she could do too little.

"I'm so sorry, I don't know how to help y-you..." Ayu cried, wiping her face. She took a step back to look at Liari with clear, albeit tearful eyes. With her arms stretched, she cradled her face in her hands. The look on her face was determined as it was loving. "But I'm going to find the way, so no one will be able to threaten you like that ever again."

They both didn't know what to do... But perhaps they could tackle their problems one step at a time.

Ayu turned her head away to glance at her house. The small building was enough for two people, and with Zhang's gone, with some more adjustment and making use of her powers, they could make it a cozy place, even for an amazon. Ayu sighed, fondly smiling through her tears, and looked back at Liari. It will be difficult, but they can make it happen. If she'd only want to, that is...

"... I don't know if you'd like to live in this tiny place, I c-can't do much for you right now," she admitted shyly, wiping her cheek. Ayu gazed serenely at Liari. She already made up her mind about many, many things... Somehow, despite aching in her core, that made her calmer. "I am going to look for a way to help you... And I-I don't want you to leave and go to someone who only thinks of e-exploiting you." Ayu took Liari's hands in hers and held them dearly. She smiled, a little bashfully, a little worryingly, a whole lot honestly. "Would you like to stay here with me, Bluebell..?"

---

Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 82,814
PL with SWC - 20,703
Word Count - 1,920
Total Word Count - 6,085

Ayu loved the world and life - but she couldn't say she loved the way they were making her feel. Nothing was ever easy, nothing was ever simple... Maybe that was the epitome of living? Struggling with obstacles and mistakes, improving oneself to be something greater, better, to live up to the goal set ahead - yet it wasn't always like that. It wasn't that easy. The situation at hand was as troubling as it was complicated and Ayu couldn't find any solution... Because there was none. Maybe for now at least, but what her little sister did was something that wouldn't be easy to fix, even if they would try to lessen the damage in any way possible. The results of Liari's actions were now crushing them both with their weight. She couldn't stand to see this wistful look - Bluebell knew that things would never be the same. Her silver eyes lost the gleam and the sparks that Ayu always saw there, the look of hopelessness chased them away. With barely a glance, she could fathom what just went through Liari's head, and she felt her heart gripped heavily as if an armored fist had sunk into her chest. The dread and realization of the consequences finally settled into Liari's mind, solidifying, leaving little to the imagination - and showing her the vastness of her actions that have brought West City to the ground. It hurt her to see the anguish in that gaze... What could Ayu do now? Only open her arms and embrace her, trying to give Liari as much understanding and comfort as she could pour out of her soul into hers.

Maybe that look in her eyes was the most terrifying thing that Ayu has witnessed today.

"No, you're not," she whispered back. She rested her head against Bluebell's shoulder and closed her eyes, eyelids heavy from tears. "You're n-not. Please, don't call yourself that..." Ayu stroked her back, sensing the mess of overwhelming emotions in her energy. There were so many feelings tangled and bundled up, fragile, easy to break with one careless word or gesture. It might have been so abstract, so incomprehensible to sense that in a being with this level of power - but it undeniably was there. Ayu could feel very faint relief, but it was drowning in the doubt and fear, in this crushing guilt that was devouring her sister alive. How painful must it be..? It hurt to think about it... "You're not a monster Liari, you're a person. You're my little sister..." Ayu pressed her forehead against hers. "Look at me. Because your power is greater than anyone else, your actions also have a bigger impact on everyone around you. Be it a mistake, something good or bad..." The young woman placed her hand on her cheek, so Liari wouldn't try to avert her gaze. Maybe her words felt a little friable right now, but it didn't change the fact that Ayu believed in her sister's tears. She came to her with a heavy heart for a reason... She needed her to hear what she was about to say. "Even if you can't rewrite the past, and undo what happened, you can still do your best to improve the present. So the next day will be brighter," she gave her a small, melancholic smile before placing an open hand above her heart, to honestly declare. "It might n-not be much, but I will do my best to help you with that."

She will. With whatever she got. What kind of person, sister, would she be if she wouldn't been there for Liari? Huh, that felt a little ironic... It might have been a little stretched to call it that, but their relationship wasn't forged with blood but with a choice. It wasn't a choice that she was going to regret even for a second... Maybe the only thing Ayu could lament was the time that they have spent away from each other. The guilt glued to the back of her mind, that if she would have been there for the little, blue girl, things might have looked different now. She wouldn't have been hurt, others might have been alive... But even she knew that dwelling on it won't change a thing here. All she could do was look at the future - but still, Ayu was worried that Liari wasn't fully mindful of the weight of the threat she suffered... That she couldn't comprehend the full degree of the damage that was done to her heart by someone toying with her weakness. Even if she wasn't aware of how badly was she hurt, it wasn't a justification to keep abusing her like that. It never happened before to her, but Ayu could already tell without meeting Zero that she wasn't fond of him... Yet the way that Liari pulled her into an embrace, closing her arms around her protectively, told her enough. They had the same resolution.

... And yet, Liari was still doubting... No, it wasn't a doubt, she was utterly bewildered by the stubbornness of Ayu's affection. The young woman was standing her ground - she couldn't let Bluebell believe, she couldn't let her even think that she wasn't undeserving of care for even a second. If she would, she was afraid that this loving, shaking menace will fall apart into dozens of pieces... It's not like Ayu couldn't understand where this thought of being unworthy came from, but it only made her determination stronger. Liari's sad stare was piercing through her as a pair of sharp daggers - but Ayu looked back at Bluebell without faltering. Her face softened, her eyes still puffy and reddened from tears looked now at the towering woman with fondness.

"Because you're sorry," Ayu looked at Liari with warm, reassuring confidence in her eyes. "My little sister can be many, many things, but she's not a liar," she announced her belief softly, with a trusting gaze, certain of her statement. Ayu was calm. "There are people in this world that won't think anything of using or hurting another. I'm a-aware." The young woman knew that she was clueless and for most people, she appeared naive and too innocent to see how the cruel world works... But she wasn't ignorant. She gently stroked away the tentacle from Liari's face to see her better, lowering her voice. "They won't ever apologize or consider it a bad deed, having only their goals in mind... They might say so under pressure. Admitting that they are sorry, not because they had a change of heart, but only to avoid consequences of not apologizing at all." Did she know it from experience? Perhaps... "Liari, some people say that they are sorry. Some people are sorry. There's a difference." If her gaze was soft before it melted sweetly now, but the underlying worry and pain from the evergrowing concern made it bittersweet. "And I know that from the bottom of your heart you're honest Bluebell and your apologies and tears are sincere," she wiped them gently from her silver eyes using the handkerchief. "Sometimes admitting that you did something wrong takes a lot of courage. I'm glad you told me that..." she patted her head softly, the same manner she did when Liari was still shorter than her. "I don't need a reason to love you, I'm just going to do so even if that won't make any sense," she couldn't help but smile.

Because what else were feelings but absurd, unlogical emotions, that more often than anything made no sense? Who knew... Maybe from that point of view, Liari's reaction was unreasonable, but Ayu couldn't blame her. She expected to be scolded, resented, and perhaps open arms were so unexpected it raised more doubts than gave comfort. She was going to confirm that she's certain, that she wants Bluebell to live with her... Instead, she was still asked why she isn't hated. That... Hurt. More than Ayu would ever suspect it would. Her eyes widened, dazed by those words that sounded almost like accusations to her ears. She lowered her gaze, but a small, pained smile appeared on her lips. Should she hate Liari? Her hands fidgeted so she joined them, but it still didn't hide how much they were trembling.

"... Do you want me to hate you..?" when Ayu finally asked, she did so very quietly and strangely meek. Her voice told that this thought was ready to break her heart once again. Hate. Hate, hate, hate. That word could cut like a blade. It sounded so easy, because it was too easy to hate someone, yet Ayu couldn't muster the reason to loathe someone so much. Even if they have murdered civilians, eaten others, and threatened the balance of the world - was it very mature of her, or gullible to a fault? "Because I don't want that. I don't want to hate you." She shook her head and gazed at Liari with tearful eyes. "I don't think I-I can..." she tried to wipe drops running down her cheeks, but they kept coming anyway. "You might have hurt me, but you have fallen victim to someone else's ploy. You were hurt too..." her voice cracked. "I felt that back then. Even if you're not completely innocent, that doesn't mean hating you is justified."

Even if someone will say that not loathing Liari was a mistake on her part, Ayu was going to accept all the blame without hesitation.

"People hurt each other. Intentionally or not, they still do, and more often than they want to admit. That's how it is..." Ayu closed her eyes, thinking about every person she have met so far. Some of them knew each other, causing trouble or harm on purpose, others did so without awareness that they did something wrong - two were even tricked into causing mayhem. Relationships were complicated. "That's why I'm glad you're honest with me... Because as long as we're sincere and are trying to make it better, that makes it worth it, don't you think..?" Ayu smiled gently through tears.

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Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 82,814
PL with SWC - 20,703
Word Count - 1,677
Total Word Count - 7,762

The burden inside Liari was a pain of its own. Hate was like poison, but it hurt more the one who carried this type of loathing rather than the object of contempt. Ayu could sense it too. Not as much as Bluebell, yet the conflicted feelings danced and merged, love spiraled with hate. The blue face was full of tears, irises snapping between blood and silver, and painful confusion twisted her lips into a sad grimace. Was the person Liari hated the most at the moment herself, Zero, or maybe her? Maybe... For Ayu did not let her destructive feelings have refuge in the thought that she hated her too. How could she ever think of that... But maybe part of Liari wanted to be hated, so all that pain swelling inside would be justified. Just - for what? What could need an explanation that strong and disheartening to use a severed sibling's bond as a backbone? She had her suspicions. Without her older sister, worrying about her, loving her, what would Bluebell become? Ayu was aware that people who have lost everything we're able to endanger themselves and consider very little important - but what about the person who wouldn't have anything since the beginning? No borders, nothing to gain, nothing to get back to... If she hadn't met Liari back when she did - oh, no, no, no, she couldn't even bear to think about it.

Even if she was the smaller one here, it was Liari who sunk heavily into her embrace, treating Ayu like an anchor that would ground her in this world - while every other emotion was pulling her away. She held to the Bluebell... Part of her soul tormenting her still, telling Ayu that she wasn't without blame in this situation. Her hand stroked Liari's back gently, listening with an aching heart to her mumbles and pained whispers. All she ever wanted was to bring some comfort to her mind, but it seemed that even that caused an opposite reaction. Were her feelings and eagerness to forgive so unreasonable they were hurting her little sister..? Ayu sighed, hiding her face in the blue shoulder. She would never go back on her words, so why does it feel so bad to see Liari so confused and agitated? Did she do something wrong again..? The young woman could feel how she was clenching her lips in a thin line to not betray her worry with any sound. Because, even if Bluebell wished for it, she simply wasn't able to hate her. Because, in this frightening presence and tremendous power, all Ayu saw was a little, lost blue-skinned girl. A child that was granted ungodly strength and whose innocence was toughened by others' abuse.

How could she hate her? Oh, Liari... How could she convince her that despite her stubbornness in undermining her resolve, Ayu was as persistent in staying her ground? Maybe it was a thing of showing, not telling. Maybe everything Ayu wanted to convey, to explain, to try making Liari see things from her perspective... Maybe it was too much. They both were shaken in completely different ways. She already told her everything she could, pouring her heart out with all the affection and tears she had... But Ayu's words like a stream were running out now, there was nothing more to say, nothing to whisper. Nothing was coming to her mind that could give even the tiniest bit more comfort to the woman, to the so-called hazard, trembling in her arms.

She had enough of their tears. Ayu sighed, tenderly brushing away leftover drops from the blue face. Standing on her tiptoes, she raised her head to press her lips against Liari's forehead, resting her cheek against the top of her head, while her arms pulled her closer.

"You're worth it," Ayu smiled warmly.

Maybe that was all they needed. With a sense of relief, Ayu sensed that Liari was calming down, her energy getting more stable, more clear... At their first meeting, it gave her the impression of a blue, wide sky. Now it was a firmament full of clouds, sometimes gloom, sometimes stormy - and yet again it started to clear up... Aside from some clouds of foreign Ki in her presence, it was Liari. That was all she needed to know. Bluebell finally smiled, the curve of her lips fragile, but still present. Ayu tilted her head, gazing at her fondly. It was hard to say if she was scared of Liari or not - she didn't fear her, only the power standing behind her. But that was something they could tackle together. She lovingly squeezed her hands.

"Let's live together then," she raised her head to look at Liari brightly, wiping the rest of her tears from her careworn face. Oh, they both were quite a mess now... But it was okay, perhaps it was for the best to pour out of their souls all they bottled up so far. Ayu joined her hands together in a soft clap and glanced back, at her open doors and the small living room that was seen from outside. The cat was quick to steal her spot on the couch, but it didn't matter. She chuckled gently and looked back at Bluebell, her expression softening. "N-Now, we can go inside," she smiled with a known to Liari, genuine warmth. "I didn't know when you'll drop by, so I put all the tarts I made into the freezer. I should get them into an oven and pick some fresh strawberries in the garden..." Ayu rubbed her chin, suddenly focusing on the matter of her snack cupboard and if it was full enough for Liari's visit. Surely she could grow more fruits in the garden as an alternative. And there should be a cookie tin too, filled with biscuits and muffins.

But even if it wasn't, she was going to make more. And more. It was about all the little things and what they are going to do with them - the same way life worked.



Thread Finished

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Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 82,814
PL with SWC - 20,703
Word Count - 1,006
Total Word Count - 8,768