|
|
Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Apr 14, 2024 3:19:01 GMT -6
Juushiro halted as she fell down, shutting his eyes against the bitter knot in his throat, and then knelt down. He hesitated and then touched her shoulder. He could no longer run from the hurt from his next words. If he was going to expose the greater truth to bring others to their feet, he would have to face the ugly fact he had long started to understand.
“I know he did.”
He could grieve for the truth later.
“I’m sorry, Yumiko, for failing you. For never getting you out.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Apr 14, 2024 5:10:00 GMT -6
Yumiko whirled around and threw herself into his arms, something she hadn’t done for so, so long. The long, terrible memories of that time in the dark room swept through her, as one long, horrible, agonizing flashback. She had forgotten so much of that room, and yet, enough pain lingered on to haunt each step out in the light. Because she hadn’t escaped through their strength. When she’d found her will to live again in the shadow of their greatest enemy.
“Why?” she sobbed. “You replaced the family that abandoned me. You and Kyoraku. Without you two, I never would have made it through the worst of my confinement. When I was going to be swallowed up, you reminded me about faith and bravery. When I gave up, you were there to help me up. But - but- Why?”
She ducked her head lower, trying to escape the pain, forcing herself to face it head on. “I love him. Sousuke has breathed life into me when everything was broken time and time again. He’s always been there. Ever since he took me out of that room. I wanted to stay at his side. I wanted to understand him. But I can’t do it. He’s death to everyone else I care about and I’ve always known it. Ever since he broke the dream."
|
|
|
|
Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Apr 14, 2024 5:29:19 GMT -6
Juushiro stroked her hair, a deep frown on his features, as he listened to Yumiko bare her soul. He couldn’t hate Sousuke at that moment. He couldn’t blame Vale for leaving her broken multiple times. He could only look to his own failings. Where once again, he could do nothing when it had mattered most to him.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he repeated. “I wish I had an answer that would free you from this torment. We should have got you out. From that room of binding. From Las Noches. I should have fought more to get him away from you when you were left behind in the first war, and I should have risked my life to get him away from you when he touched you again in the Takeover. No matter the cost. You should have been my first priority.”
He fell silent, eyes shutting once more. “You were not.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Apr 14, 2024 19:02:41 GMT -6
Yumiko let his words wash over her, not pulling away, not telling him to stop. Did she want an apology? For the long confinement? For their part in falling for their enemy? She honestly didn’t know. Too much had happened for her to erase it all, and she’d already tried and failed to do that. Many times. She could no longer run from these terrible truths.
“I’ve tried to fear him but I cannot. I even know and have felt his hands changing me, but… it’s still not enough. If Kita - if Vale had never whispered in both dreams, I don’t know what I would have done for him or if I would have regretted it. I’m sorry, Ukitake.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Apr 14, 2024 19:13:14 GMT -6
“There is nothing to forgive,” Juushiro murmured, keeping his arms around her. “We abandoned you, and you had to find a way to survive. No, it was your right to find happiness, joy in living and accept yourself and your past. That you found it in his arms is not a fault of yours, sweetheart. It’ ours. For leaving you. That is a mistake we can never erase.”
“It hurts so much each time when I finally escape. Because I know that I don’t belong there but there is the closest I’ve ever felt to home.”
Juushiro’s arms tightened around his broken daughter, silent.
|
|
|
|
Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Apr 14, 2024 21:09:54 GMT -6
“He couldn’t change you at your core,” another grim voice stated. Shunsui Kyoraku dressed only in a black stealth uniform set his hand on top of Yumiko’s hair, right next to his friend’s. “That’s why you left. No matter what feelings you developed, whether or not he reciprocated them, or who interfered, you could not embrace the darkness of Las Noches or Sousuke Aizen, not in their entirety. You could not run away, but you could not take the final step away. You always sought the light, not the illusion cast from the moon.” He removed his hand and stepped back. “You can’t save him, Yumiko. Not when he doesn’t even want to be. You can only save yourself.” He let out a deep sigh, his voice roughening. “Accept the burden of loving an evil man because he saved you when no one else would. But admit that it is a doomed relationship, one even darker than the room where you were cast away.” “But Vale…” Shunsui set his hand on her head again, this time spelling her to sleep. Juushiro looked to his friend as Yumiko went limp in his arms. “Was that necessary, Shunsui?” His friend set a hand against his forehead, covering the scar about his good eye. “You wouldn’t ask me if you saw how pale you were, Juu-chan. Let it be. This was hard enough on both of you.” Juushiro lowered his head, wiping tears from her face, unable to refute any of the statement. “I’ll take her back to her room.” Juushiro nodded and crossed Yumiko arms over her chest when situated in his friend’s ams. “Thank you, Shunsui.” His old friend only turned around to start on his way. “No, this is as much my burden as yours. It all is.” He wasn’t just speaking of Yumiko now. His oldest friend understood that. “What were you doing out here at this hour?” Shunsui looked upwards to the sky and the sliver of the moon. “Searching for the stars for us.” - END RP - "Seeking Comfort" |
|
