[It's been a long time since Belle felt this frightened for Harumasa's health. She's always worried about him, to some degree, because she's been helping him for years, but now it's a spike through her heart—that she might lose him. That her best friend might fade away in front of her and she won't be able to see him again. She doesn't know how many more disappearances she can take, how many more deaths.
His voice is steady. It's always steady. Belle passes over the sudoku book, absently going for the intermediate level, before she scoots up close to him and just...puts her hand over his. Warm. Solid. Alive.
Her shoulders slump.]
You're still here.
[And then she bends forward and lets out a slow, tired breath. For a moment, just a moment—she recalls Vivian in her arms, crystals growing on the girl's skin. Crystals that vanished when Belle hugged her tight and cried out her defiance of fate: you can't take her, she's my friend. For a moment she thinks that once more, hard as she can. You can't take him. I won't let you. He's my friend.
But it doesn't work that way. Never did. She breathes in, then out.]
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His voice is steady. It's always steady. Belle passes over the sudoku book, absently going for the intermediate level, before she scoots up close to him and just...puts her hand over his. Warm. Solid. Alive.
Her shoulders slump.]
You're still here.
[And then she bends forward and lets out a slow, tired breath. For a moment, just a moment—she recalls Vivian in her arms, crystals growing on the girl's skin. Crystals that vanished when Belle hugged her tight and cried out her defiance of fate: you can't take her, she's my friend. For a moment she thinks that once more, hard as she can. You can't take him. I won't let you. He's my friend.
But it doesn't work that way. Never did. She breathes in, then out.]
How did this happen...?