Weakness of Yesterday (Kashima Pt.1)

There she was, standing in their dorm room by herself. It was an eerie feeling, but ever since the day she woke up there had always been something of an eerie feeling haunting her. It felt as if an invisible wall had separated her from the one she cared about the most. A coldness in a way that made her shiver, as if she felt like she had done something wrong. Silently she looked ahead, recalling the words her lover had spoken. She was simply returning to Kashima to train, something that didn't need her presence. In the end, surely she would only be a distracting for the iron-blooded lass, a burden. What could she possibly do or say? What was the nature of this unpleasant coldness which had spread between the two of them? A soft ringtone pulled her thoughts back to reality, a hand reaching for her phone as she picked it up, it was a voice she was quite familiar with: Tamiko Nakamura, Tetsuko's grandmother and a close friend of the Eisenberg household.

"I know... she... she told me that it was a training trip." the burgundy-haired lass muttered softly, feeling that familiar feeling of sorrow rising within her chest. Tetsuko didn't need her help, did she even want it? It was something Elise feared finding the answer to, but it was at that time Tamiko stated something which made Elise pause for a moment. "What I should do..." What was it that she should do? Every time she tried to fight for something she cared for, she ended up losing it because she was a coward who didn't follow through. Back when she walked away from Rin, back when she wasn't able to kill Thunder Shock and now... Now Tetsuko was about to walk away. "I don't want her to leave... Not by herself, not without me by her side." She whispered those words feebly as she heard Tetsuko's grandmother state something which made Elise turn silent: Tetsuko needed her, now more than ever. "I understand, I'll catch up to her Tamiko-san!" Elise exclaimed as she closed the phone and started to quickly gather her bag, although curiously enough it seemed much lighter than normal, its contents yet to be revealed.

As fast as she could she ran toward the train station, confusion and sorrow plaguing her mind as she tried to dash toward her destination. Why had Tetsuko decided to go by herself? What was this unpleasant coldness she subtly felt? Hurried footsteps led her down the streets of Musutafu as she tried to think. She had made an oath: to never let go. No matter what would happen, she didn't want to let go of Tetsuko. And yet, the doubts of the girl's feelings plagued her. Tetsuko had been the one to offer them to start dating, and yet after all those months Elise felt they advanced so little. It was almost as if guilt and insecurities made Tetsuko incapable of reaching the answer she sought, the thing she truly wanted. But what was it that Tetsuko Shindou wanted, and was it something Elise could provide? Could Elise muster the determination to continue chasing someone who seemingly didn't know if she 'loved' her? Certainly, Tetsuko cared about her, cared immensely but was that affection she didn't understand, the answer Elise sought to have Tetsuko acknowledge? Did Tetsuko Shindou love her, and if not how would she ever become capable of enduring that fact? It made her body shiver as she finally reached the train station, and after inhaling deeply she took a few steps forwards, getting in line for a ticket at the counter.

It was rather fortunate there weren't that many people around currently, and as a result Elise was able to make her way toward the boarding platforms on time, panting as she arrived at the right platform and stepped toward the familiar figure who was standing nearby. "G-Got a train to catch?" Elise asked with soft pants, the sweat that dripped down from her making it clear she had literally ran all the way up to the train station. She wasn't sure what Tetsuko was thinking, what Tetsuko wanted so for the time being she simply stated. "Guess we both got one to catch, I'm can't let you go by yourself... so would you please allow me to accompany you on this training trip?"

She raised a ticket lightly in her hand, as if to wordlessly tell Tetsuko that even if she rejected the idea, she still would be going to Kashima. Hoisting her backpack over her shoulder Elise sighed gently as she continued. "Umm..." She paused, suddenly finding the words she sough to be quite difficult to gather, and so instead muttered weakly. "W-Want to talk?" She asked, an awkward question as she lightly scratched her cheek. "I... I promise I won't distract you from your training, or become a burden. I'll... I'll be training really hard also!" Elise exclaimed, her statement made clear and earning some bewildered looks from nearby passengers.

Hopefully they wouldn't need to wait too long for the train, if she was being honest this atmosphere felt so different, almost unpleasant even. It almost felt as if she couldn't even reach Tetsuko if she tried. It reminded her of that time at the military demonstration camp, that coldness Rin expressed back then. However, this time she couldn't turn back, she couldn't run away. She would continue to reach out to Tetsuko all the way till she found that warmth again and the two of them could resume their search for the answer Tetsuko's heart wanted to discover. "Did you hear anything about how things been going in Kashima?" the burgundy-haired lass inquired, clearly a bit curious to find out if Tetsuko had been in contact with anyone from there. Most likely her grandfather, the thoughts about the things she heard about the man being more than enough to send a little shiver across her spine. This was truly going to become one hell of a trip, wouldn't it?

To be honest, even now Elise felt hopelessly lost, unsure of what to do for her sworn knight. There was none of the usual cheery teasing or pleasantly smooth comments made by the burgundy-haired lass who struggled to deal with the awkwardness. However, there was one thing Elise von Eisenberg was confident in, an answer she knew quite well: Her place was at Tetsuko's side. It was true, they sometimes could have moments of strife of differences but Elise felt that those paled in comparison to the affection they felt to each other. Then why, why was Tetsuko so ready to move away from her? It was a question which plagued her, as she reached Tetsuko's side and the girl asked in a surprised inquiry about why she was there, the burgundy-haired lass shook her head lightly. "You should know the answer to that question already Tetsu, why am I here?" Of course it was cause she cared so much about that stubborn knight of hers! In the end, what knight would stray from her princess' side? They were so deeply interwoven together in a way that made it quite difficult to grasp just how strong their relationship was, not just because of how complex it was but also how intense.

"I know it's not a vacation! Besides, we made a promise didn't we?" the girl inquired, yet the pout and conflicted tone of her lover stung lightly, an unpleasant sensation she tried to brush off as she just felt glad that she was able to catch up with Tetsuko in time.

"Then I'll train by myself if none of the masters want to teach me." Elise answered resolute, the two of them standing side by side as they continued to wait for the train to arrive. Why was it feeling so familiar? That coldness, each time she tried to reach the coldness made her back away, the feeling a pressure that terrified her. What did Tetsuko Shindou fight for? Why was she suffering like this? Elise knew what she was fighting for, she was fighting for the sake of her loved one, And yet, she felt powerless at her lover's suffering. Did she even have the right to call Tetsuko that? Did Tetsuko even consider her that? Fear and doubt lingered deep within despite the gentle yet exhausted expression on the girl's face.

Nodding her head gently as Tetsuko told her she would tell her more on the train Elise followed in her footsteps, taking a seat beside her childhood friend. Like usually she found her hand instinctively raised, a habit as she attempted to gently place her hand upon Tetsuko's own, but the same coldness from before made her shrink back in defeat, gently placing her hand on her lap as she looked briefly at the iron-blooded knight before turning her gaze away from her, the light backpack resting in front of her on the opposite side's seat.

"Of course... With your grandfather there I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to do anything toward the school, although what do you think Tetsu... how is your progress going?" She paused for a bit, nodding her head in affirmation that there might had been another reason her lover's hometown was troubled by something. "I know~ People often say that the Shindou and the students of the school are like Kashima's Shinsengumi, it's like a famous part of the town to the point even I heard about it~" Elise exclaimed with a brief smile, feeling slightly relieved Tetsuko could at least still muster a glimpse of that smile she adored so much.

Of course, hearing Tetsuko's troubled feelings on the matter Elise couldn't help but feel a bit worried, leaning back in her seat as she looked across to the seat holding her bag. Would she be a burden on this trip? Was that why Tetsuko pushed her away? The soft pants had fortunately ceased, but her exhaustion from running all the way to the train station did takes it toll upon her, finding her head starting to gently bob. She was trying her utmost to listen, to show she was paying attention to Tetsuko, but she was so tired, both emotionally and physically and considering she had only recently made her recovery to the point she was discharged from the hospital, the burgundy-haired lass found herself dozing off slowly but surely till her soft breathing and closed eyes were a telltale of the fact she had fallen asleep.

Some said that dreams were a way to escape the hardships of reality, but sometimes they served as a cruel reminder of the past, of mistakes that were made. How many mistakes had she made? It was a question that followed her into her dreams, replaying her memories like some sort of movie, yet there was one thing she would never consider a mistake, something she would protest and deny no matter what people would tell her: Her love for Tetsuko was not a mistake, it was not a lie nor was it an impulsive thing. Perhaps it was for that reason the burgundy-haired lass couldn't let go: Because despite all their differences, despite the fact Tetsuko Shindou couldn't find the answer of what her heart truly needed, Elise von Eisenberg loved her immensely, far more than anyone else in this world.

Then why... why did that coldness scare her so much? Even if it felt less strong than before, it reminded her of something unpleasant, to the point that when they nearly arrived at their destination Elise's body would jolt awake, a hand shakily reaching for her chest, in particular the area her damaged core was at. It burned lightly, similar to a second heart beating erratically in response to her feelings. To Tetsuko it might had looked like she woke up from a nightmare, but rather than seeking comfort or telling her Elise's expression just turned into a brief glimpse of sorrow as she lowered her hand to her side, resting it beside Tetsuko's on the railing of their chairs.

What could she do to banish this coldness?

A promise was sacred, especially toward Tetsuko, Elise was someone who nearly always tried to keep her promises, even if she was clumsy or foolish at times, she genuinely meant well for others, and no promise was as precious as the ones she made with Tetsuko. Amidst the coldness Elise felt, unpleasant but tried her best to surpress it. It was infuriating, to feel this coldness yet being unable to banish it, incapable of figuring out what it was that she needed to do. Tetsuko's grandmother told her that Tetsuko needed Elise by her side, that she was unsure of what it was what it was that Tetsuko's heart desired. Even now after all those months of searching together, it started to take its toll. The wait for those words, that affirmation that Tetsuko also loved her. Perhaps both were unreasonable in their actions, and yet Elise would rather be unreasonable than to have Tetsuko leave her side. And yet, she couldn't help but shake off this unpleasantness. This feeling something was wrong, that something was missing: something the two of them truly needed if they wanted to advance onwards.

Even then Tetsuko's princess found herself trapped, trapped within an imaginary castle of sorts, the castle being the immense feelings she held for the iron-blooded girl at her side. Just as much as her feelings for Tetsuko were a driving force, they also were shackles, shackles which bound her to the girl, shackles simply because Tetsuko didn't know for sure what she felt. Elise was selfish, selfish for burdening her lover with such a difficult quest like discovering the nature of her feelings. But perhaps it was because of the time it took to find them that Elise started to become unsure, like a princess locked in her tower, looking outside the window into the distance waiting for her knight to return, a knight who might never return from that quest.

And despite that pain, she foolishly struggled onwards, determined to help Tetsuko find the answer. If she was entirely honest, it might had been better if Tetsuko found her answer, even if it was one she didn't want to hear, if anything it would hopefully free Tetsuko from this burden, this burden her princess inflicted upon her. Despite the fact she had only just woken up the thoughts returned to plague her: How in the world would she survive without Tetsuko's love? Could she even... had she ever even held it? Now more than ever she longed for some affirmation, some sign that told her that Tetsuko did love her, and yet she knew it would be beyond foolish to hope for that, it would be cruel to ask such a thing of Tetsuko.

Now she thought back about the hospital visit, she recalled the words that were spoken and felt a heavier weight crush her emotionally: Tetsuko wanted her to stop relying on her. It were words Elise had interpreted as a sign that she was a burden, even if she didn't voice it: the awareness her actions were troubling her knight was enouh to fill Elise with a familiar guilt. Tetsuko had commented earlier that she wanted to fix the lack of progress in her training, yet Elise found herself more hesitant: Could she really stop relying on Tetsuko? Closing her eyes for a moment Elise tried her utmost to surpress the moistness in her eyes, to ignore the light throbbing in her chest as her core beat unpleasantly next to her heart. "I'm fine..." Elise muttered weakly, not wanting to worry the girl, not wanting to rely on her... not wanting to be the burden she had perceived herself to be.

As they took their transfer onto the Kashima line the burgundy-haired lass remained silent on the rest of their trip, her eyes closed as she tried to clear her mind. It didn't work, not in the slightest. The trip was fortunately much shorter, allowing the two of them to finally reach their destination, the fresh scent of the sea drifting through the air.

Elise paused for a moment as she gazed around the area they had arrived at. Kashima was always a place she enjoyed visiting as a child, the place was so different from Tokyo and Musutafu, reminding her more of the rural side of Germany where she spend the first few years of her life at. Back when everything seemed so much simpler, so easier to be honest with each other. The burgundy-haired lass her attention was quickly drawn by Tetsuko's voice, a gentle nod being given in affirmation. It had been since the memorial service of her father since she been to Kashima, and back then it was only on the outskirts. However, seeing the Shindou girl look around and realize thaf nobody was around to pick them up the Eisenberg inquired softly.

"Did your grandfather tell you when they would send someone over?" Elise's tone was soft but lacked its usual cheer, and soon approached the direction of the town, gesturing with a hand toward the nearby entrance into the town. "Maybe we can look around a bit? Surely getting to walk around town might give us a better impression of what might be troubling the people, and we might stumble onto that person your grandfather send for us."

It was an idea, perhaps better than waiting here in the unpleasant silence, but a part of her just wanted to stay at Tetsuko's side, to return to that warmth she had once taken for granted, which seemed almost lost entirely... because the princess had burdened her knight too much... "Of course, if you prefer to wait for them to arrive, we can do that also." The burgundy-haired lass added quickly, as if to explain she was fine with whatever choice Tetsuko might make. In the end she was just a tagalong on this journey, and did promise that she wouldn't get in Tetsuko's way, that she wouldn't distract her from the true purpose of this trip...

Elise always had an incredible difficulty lying to Tetsuko, to the point it was borderline impossible for her to do so. In the end, how could she possibly be fine when the hint of tears were gathering in her eyes and she was bitting her lip lightly as if to surpress the pain. But she had no choice, Tetsuko told her to stop relying on her, to stop being a burden and the Germanic lass hoped that if she no longer was a burden, that Tetsuko might feel better once more, that the warmth she adored and longer for would return at last. However, similar to the coldness of winter, the warmth she sought was eerily absent, and as such she was forced to endure, endure all by herself even if her beloved knight was at her side. The words spoken by Tetsuko's grandmother continued to plague her: What was it that Tetsuko needed? Was her presence truly enough to help her beloved childhood friend? Was it enough to make that warmth return? A part of her was doubting it, and it made it all the more terrifying to deal with.

Silence continued to linger as they disembarked the train, a part of her secretly longed for Tetsuko to call out to her, to notice her suffering and start comforting her, but it was not meant to be. She was truly told to stop relying on her, and for once Elise von Eisenberg felt alone, isolated and empty despite the fact the one she longed for was right at her side. It reminded her of that image of a castle, she was a princess within a castle, trapped within its highest tower. In the past she had a knight, a lovely knight who used to take her out into the world, a world she had grown to love because she explored it alongside her, but now? Her knight seemed to be avoiding her, refusing to enter the castle, to brave its trials to reach her once more. She shook her head lightly, as if to vanquish the tears and pain that burdened her, both body and heart as she braved onwards. Elise was nothing if not stubborn, and she would continue to endure if it would get her a chance to find that warmth once more.

Kashima was a small city, but it had a charm that the larger settlements lacked. It was a place weathered by time and tradition, and the burgundy-haired lass found Kashima to have its own charm, a rather unique beauty which couldn't be found elsewere. It was a place of hard work, unity and dilligence, in a way some said it was the town where the last of the samurai spirit of yore dwelled, and as she briefly glanced sideways to Tetsuko she could see why she was so fond of this town: This town reminded her immensely of her childhood friend. A hardworking and earnest girl, whose loyalty and honor were unmatched by anyone she had met in her entire life. Even at Yuuei, a school for heroes she felt that Tetsuko embodied the virtues of true heroism much stronger than anyone else. Noticing Tetsuko's sigh she raised her gaze up at the girl, seemingly a bit curious about what might had happened to the person meant to escort them.

"I see..." The girl muttered softly as Tetsuko grumbled at the fact that whoever had gone here to pick up Tetsuko was evidently running late or gotten distracted, she had to admit it was curious to imagine a practitioner or master of a place like Kashima to simply get 'distracted', it felt odd to her but she didn't voice it. Of course, her suggestion had been made, pondering about what Tetsuko might think about it when the iron-blooded lass acknowledged the usefulness of her suggestion. "Mhmm, it's always a good idea to gather as much information as possible." Elise commented, yet as Tetsuko sighed and walked ahead of her Elise felt that unpleasant coldness once more, a hand raised lightly, as if attempting to reach for Tetsuko's arm but after a moment hesitatingly lowered it.

No, she had to stop doing that, it was because of her that Tetsuko had been burdened. She didn't have the right to cling to her, and so she simply shifted her hand into the pocket of her jacket and walked slightly faster to catch up with the Shindou so that she was walking in her footsteps. "I guess he might know something considering how many people visit him." She didn't like this... this coldness, it made her feel so lonely, so afraid... so scared. Even if she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud.

With Tetsuko walking off into the city Elise was quick to chase after her, swiftly trying her utmost to keep up with the girl's stride which fortunately wasn't too hard after the moments of rest she had been able to enjoy during the train ride, oblivious to the streak of black fur which trailed them...

Approaching the edge of town the city's origins clearly shown themselves, in the end the roots of Kashima were found in the existence of several smaller villages which had served as the foundation of Kashima, even if it was a city in name, the architecture was quite different from what you might find in a city like Musutafu. The place was silent, quiet even as most of the denizen of this residential area were no doubt at work within the steel mills within Kashima's industrial zone, yet the building up ahead, the blacksmith brought back some sweet memories of childhood trips within the girl's mind.

"..." She smiled sorrowfully at Tetsuko's words, as if her comment had made Elise wonder whether the comment about things changing was a reference to their relationship. She truly had been selfish, burdering Tetsuko with such a quest, making her search something, experience something which she was unfamiliar with and no doubt perhaps even scared to discover and experience.

The deep gravelly voice reminded her of a man, a man she was somewhat familiar with: As a town of swordsmen every warrior needed a blade, and a blade needed proper maintenance, and nobody was as good at it in Kashima as a certain man was... That man's name was Tsuchikawa, the blacksmith of Kashima. She paused for a moment as the smith smiled at them, his greeting as friendly and energetic as always, leading Elise to make a slight bow of her upper-body, as if to try to mimic the proper eastern greeting that she had seen so many people do before during her trips here as a child, but afterwards adding her own bit of flair by rising upwards and making a playful wave of her hand. "It's good to see you again Tsuchikawa-san." the girl said politely, trying her best to smile even if a shadow lingered behind her gaze, the usual spark of cheery liveliness absent.

When he frowned and explained the problems plaguing Kashima the burgundy-haired lass inquired with a hint of curiosity. "The Koyanagi clan?" She inquired in confusion, not recalling their name. "How come they have been harrassing you? I thought with Tetsu's family overseeing Kashima's wellbeing nobody would be foolish enough to threaten this place." Yeah, if Tetsuko's grandfather went out there she expected their entire clan would piss their pants!

Winter had its own beauty, at least to Elise the winter season was one she was quite fond of, at least once upon a time. To the burgundy-haired lass the fact she had enjoyed winter so much was primarily because she was able to endure the cold so easily thanks to the presence of a certain iron-blooded girl. Winter was a perfect excuse for her to snuggle up to Tetsuko, but the way things were right now? Elise obviously couldn't allow herself to bask in that radiating warmth, as was clear when all she saw was Tetsuko closing her hand, the same hand she would usually had offered the girl so eagerly. It felt so cold, numbing even to walk like this.

It was odd, she had truly never envisioned to feel like this, the way she couldn't reach Tetsuko even with the girl so close by her side. In a way it almost made Elise feel hopeless, despair infecting her heart. Was it because she tried to protect Rin from that vile monster known as Nick Cross? Was this coldness that separated her from Tetsuko her own doing? Was this coldness truly her own fault? Because she constantly relied on Tetsuko... Constantly burdened her with a weight too immense for her to bear. For a moment Elise couldn't help but think one of the darkest thoughts she had ever experienced: Maybe... Maybe it had been better if she had never woken up, so that she could at least have basked in that warmth she adored so much till her final breath.

In a way the scenery of Kashima was akin to a mirror which encapsulated the journey that had brought them here, the things that let them reach up to this point and that which might still save them. It was a beautiful yet tragic comparison, and perhaps part of what made Kashima be such an interesting location for this story to unfold, a story which would hopefully forge into a new future for the two girls. Although right now it was difficult to grasp the nature of that future, both being plagued by their past, and burdened by the things they carried within them.

Even as their footsteps echoed across quiet streets, the streets of a city which symbolized unity, the two girls who could at one point be considered the closest of friends, were now unable to step closer to each other. Both were plagued by their own insecurities, and to Elise it felt like the longer they walked, the further Tetsuko seemed to drift away from her. She wanted to call out to her, reach out to her but what in the world could she possibly say that might resolve things? The things which might finally make things right again...

A soft sigh escaped her lips, barely audible as the weight, this burden, the coldness that separated them weighted down upon them, following them through their trip across the city. It was exhausting, and yet something kept her from turning away, from making the same mistake she did toward Rin Kurama that day. Elise von Eisenberg wouldn't run away from this, and yet at the same time she was powerless, incapable of simply forcing her way through the cold storm that followed them. However, it seemed that coldness wasn't the only thing pursuing the two girls!


Back in the blacksmith, the coldness was still as intense as before, but fortunately... or perhaps, unfortunately, the blacksmith knew that it was not his task to pry into the affairs of those who came to him for his work, and when the man started his explanation the burgundy-haired lass nodded her head attentively as the blacksmith started explaining. It seemed that the clan causing troubles were far more foolish than your typical crew of hoodlums and criminals. A small-time gang who felt overconfident cause of a few deals with the triads, and as a result believed that by strongarming their way into Kashima. It seemed like typical villanious business, yet it made sense in a bitter way: trying to bribe people, inflicting damage so that the people of Kashima would realize that paying them would likely be less expensive than dealing with the damage might be.

When Tetsuko spoke explained that the person they were waiting for was likely helping protect the steel mills, that he likely had been there to deal with the clan which had been more aggressive than usually, her initial suggestion would had been to visit the steel mills, to see if they could help Gai, but instead Elise felt herself unsure of that idea. After all, getting herself recklessly involved into things was part of the things which had burdened Tetsuko so immensely, so she simply remained quiet as Tsuchikawa bid them farewell and returned to his store, making her follow Tetsuko back outside as an awkward silence lingered in the air.

When asked about where she wanted to go next, about what she wanted to do to kill time till Gai-san caught up with them Elise felt a tiny ember amidst the cold, barely noticeable but still there. "..." She remained quiet for a moment, averting her gaze from Tetsuko as she bit her lip, trying to think of what to say when finally she began. "I..." She paused, recalling a certain vivid memory from their childhood. There used to be a very large tree nearby, a tree they used to play at a lot when the two of them were at Kashima. "D-Do you remember that large tree near here? The one we used to climb all the time when we were little?" She could only hope Tetsuko would remember it, one of her sweetest memories involved a promise, a promise as they both had placed paper tags involving their promise inside a small parting of the tree, seemingly having been a former nest of an animal. However, if Tetsuko decided to take her there like usual, it would seem luck was unkind to them today, for the spot the tree had stood at had been oddly empty, the tree cut down, uprooted and replaced by a storehouse...

The Koyanagi clan was a name that Elise obviously wasn't all too familiar with. Certainly, she had heard the name in passing, but it was far from the type of knowledge that Tetsuko had about them. After all she was not a local here, in fact, she was not even Japanese despite having lived within Tokyo for ten years. No, Elise von Eisenberg was easily described as a foreigner, and it was how she felt right now: alone all by herself, even if she had Tetsuko by her side. She had remained quiet for a while, trying her utmost to conceal the grief that was building up within her, unaware of just how tragic luck would be upon the pair. A momentary silence passed as she wondered if Tetsuko's grandmother had not made a mistake: Was she truly the one Tetsuko needed? Was she the one who could help the iron-blooded knight find the answers her heart sought? Then why... Why in the world did she feel so powerless right now?

Even as Tetsuko trudged onwards through that snow, the smaller girl who chased her footsteps had it much less easy to catch up to her. Tetsuko was a warrior, and Elise was a spoiled princess who had only known warmth the last ten years thanks to Tetsuko, so where Tetsuko forced her way deeper into the storm, Elise continued to stumble and collapse, the only reason for her to get up each and every time she fell being the girl who walked up ahead. She was stubborn, she was childish and clingy, but she was also madly in love with the girl before her, and that was as much a curse as it was a blessing. A light nudge of her head was made as Tetsuko commented that she remembered it, the promises they had made back then underneath that tree. For Elise the request to visit that place had a purpose, a meaning so intense that words could barely begin to describe it. She had wanted to visit the tree, a memory of their shared past and retrieve the paper tags, hoping she could banish the coldness by reminding Tetsuko of their promises. Tetsuko was loyal and honorable above all, and a sworn promise to her would surely not be broken, not even this coldness could do that. She just needed... needed to give Tetsuko a reminder.

She nodded her head lightly in agreement as Tetsuko accepted her idea, and as the two of them started to walk Elise started to think already about what to say, about what to do. Surely she could find the answer there, the one thing she needed to reach Tetsuko, that promise they had shared. The memory still lingered vividly in her mind, of two girls trying their best to write their promise on the paper tags in their cleanest handwriting. Elise's mother had praised the girls for their handwriting, especially Elise had practiced hard because of her fondness of writing letters for Tetsuko, letters she obviously had tried to write in Japanese. That memory of how they worked together to place the tags inside the tree and declared their promise to each other. Tetsuko would always protect her, and she would never leave Tetsuko's side. In a way it was a promise that was entirely the opposite of the current situation: She had always relied on Tetsuko, and now... She shook her head attempting to banish the thoughts from her mind as she chased Tetsuko's footsteps.

However, it was at that moment, the moment they approached the area that she started to notice something felt off. The trees that filled this particular area of her memories were nowhere to be seen, their little spot where they often played at seemed 'different', and just like Tetsuko, the burgundy-haired lass her pace grew faster, footsteps hurriedly clashing onto the road as they finally reached the point where the large tree had been. For a moment she could have sworn the tree was there, but like a mirage it faded away, showing just a large gloomy storehouse in its place.

Why... Why did the things dear to her have to be taken away?

The burgundy-haired lass had been containing her pain, her sorrow till now, but it seemed this was the point she shattered. The eyes that had initially started to widen in disbelief soon softened as moistness started to gather in her eyes. "W-Why..." Elise began among soft sobs as the tears she had suppressed started to roll down her cheeks, her hands shakily reaching for her face, attempting to wipe away the tears, but it seemed to do little to hold the tide of tears that flowed.

If Tetsuko didn't shed a tear, then Elise clearly was shedding them for both of them as she cried softly. "Why is everything I treasure slowly disappearing?" The girl reached with a hand for the storehouse, as if she tried to reach for the tree that was long gone, but instead her hand merely grasped for the air before her. "Do... Do you remember?" The girl asked with a shaking voice as she looked with her tearful gaze at Tetsuko, hesitatingly she took a step forwards toward Tetsuko, a hand shakingly reaching halfway between her. "That promise?" She asked as she felt her hand tremble lightly, insecurity and sorrow overwhelming her. The one she needed right now, stood right in front of her. So close and yet out of reach.

"T-Tetsu..."

She whispered pleadingly, she wanted to tell her, beg her to reach back, to turn back to her side, yet as much as she wanted to scream the words, all that merely escaped her lips was a soft whisper, barely audible over her sobs. "Please come back..."

Yet even amidst the coldness, the storm which threatened to separate them it seemed there was a raging fire approaching, a presence which no doubt would be a significant force in changing this tragic situation the two girls found themselves trapped in.

Elise was not naive to think that the world they lived was one from a fairy-tale. She had experienced too much suffering, endured too many hardships in order for her to be able to enjoy such an innocent view. No, she knew all too well that the world they lived in was cruel and unfair. And yet what was it that made this world, despite all the pain she had experienced worth living in? The answer had always been within her heart: The reason she found this world worth living in was because of the warmth that could be found there, and the warmest place was the sunshine her knight represented. Perhaps it was for that reason that she clung to her so strongly, and always continued to found herself seeking out Tetsuko's comfort. It was within her iron-blooded knight her arms that Elise felt the most comfortable, the warmest and most secure, even if she had endured so much already.

Perhaps it was for that reason that she cared so much, that she longed to show Tetsuko the answer in the form a physical memory of their past, the past the two of them treasured so immensely, hoping it would provide them strength they needed to forge a future. Yet what future was there to be found, when the princess found her knight turning her blade against her? Cutting down the past, slicing through the memories and promises they made. It was too much for Elise to bear.

She had expected that her words would reach Tetsuko, that she would be able to reach through the cold storm that haunted the two of them, but nothing had prepared her for the things that were waiting to happen. Even if her body had mostly healed from the injuries she had endured, safe for a single one upon her chest from the aftermath of Thunder Shock's attempt to murder Tetsuko, the scars inflicted upon her heart were unhealed, a damaged heart that was only kept from shattering by a sliver of hope, a hope that she could make things right, that she could and would restore things the way they were.

When Tetsuko commented that their promise was broken Elise shook her head violently, another shaking step made toward her knight. "No- I-I" she wanted to say more, her hands attempting to reach for Tetsuko's face, as if she tried to hold the girl's cheeks and tell her everything would be fine as long as she returned, as long as they had each other, When those words, so frigid in the air left Tetsuko's lips Elise staggered backwards, the tears which had slightly been flowing down along her cheeks subdued, instead a look which seemed to be just as much sorrow as terror appearing in her eyes.

That look upon Elise's face was quite familiar, one she had shown only once at the dorms of Yuuei when she received that horrible news, yet this time there wasn't a way for her mind to cope with it, for her heart to trick itself into a state of denial. Instead the girl's hands lowered to her side and she stepped away, a few steps but it was clear that something had changed. The attempt to brave the storm, to rekindle the warmth she had sought. In her mind Elise felt that her knight had done the unthinkable, if she had turned her blade upon her she could have at least tried to pacify her, to calm her anger and embrace her, to let her know that it wasn't Tetsuko's fault.


But this? This silence was akin to watching her knight walk away, stepping away without looking back. If there was one thing, one sliver of hope that Elise von Eisenberg always clung onto, then it was the thought that she would never be alone, that Tetsuko would always be there for her. But that hope was shattered, that trust betrayed, a promise broken and... She was abandoned. The terror slowly numbed away from her expression as she instead stared blankly at Tetsuko, there was no more embers of hope, nothing... in a way it was as if Tetsuko's words had been a blade which severed straight through her heart.

A singing voice resounded out of nowhere, but it felt so distant, in a way it almost felt like it didn't matter, but when the foreigner's arrival came he certainly would be in for quite a tragic sight. As he made his rather grand entree and Tetsuko glared at the man, Elise could only turn her gaze at his general direction, unfocused but the tears in her eyes clearly suggested what had happened. "..."

She didn't run this time, but neither did she reply, frozen in place, just like her heart currently was, a shattered and broken relic of the past. "..." The burgundy-haired lass averted her gaze, a hand shakingly reaching for her side as she attempted to control her body, to keep it from shaking. Even as he said he was late and offered them ice-cream, something which would usually lift the girl's spirits up immensely, what she had endured just now when made it so that when he looked at both girls the only thing Elise answered with was a feeble nod of her head to show it was indeed a bad time.

She couldn't do it, right now even just looking toward Tetsuko was enough to make the tears resurface, the words fresh upon her mind so instead she meekly lowered her head, her gaze at her feet, quite reminiscent of when she had first been in Japan, back when she had been enduring the bullying and tried to not show her suffering. Back then she had felt quite similar. Alone, hopeless and vulnerable and those words were a perfect example to describe how she was feeling currently. Despair would not even begin to justify calling it. Then again, she could only hope that Tetsuko would at least take charge of the conversation, or the foreigner himself would piece things together.