CELESTIAL FLOWERS ( s. gojo )

arc iii ━ chapter i. futility

a r c iii.
❝ and when the heavens cried in anguish,
all the burdens come tumbling down. ❞
━━ chapter i. futility

ERISU ATTACKS. The blow of her spear is relentless, strikes intended to destroy her opponent.

"Too slow." Erisu's opponent disarms her, her spear burrowing itself on the ground while she lands back first on the soil. Maruyama Marika points the edge of her katana in Erisu's chin, dribbles of blood flowing from the shallow scratches. Her breathing is haggard, heart beating so fast you'd think it would lurch out of her chest at any second. She doesn't know if it's because of lethargy or just the sheer force of Marika's aura. "Your movements are too slow and predictable."

"I would say the same to you," Erisu replies and a plethora of cursed energy rises from the ground below Marika and sends her toppling into one of the bamboo trees.

"I'm not limited to a single weapon, Mari," Erisu says and dislodges her naginata from the ground, preparing to use it against her opponent. She turns toward Marika's direction when she meets the edge of the other girl's blade.

"As I said," Marika says, her voice low and ominous as she inches closer to Erisu, the blade hovering over the aforementioned's throat. "Slow and predictable."

"I surrender," Erisu says, sighing in relief once Marika retracts the katana. "I still have a lot to learn from you."

Marika smirks. "Damn right you do." She's easily beautiful with her short brown hair and chestnut eyes. It's not the kind of beauty like Erisu possesses, the delicateness of a flower unfurling its lovely petals. Marika's beauty is in the sharpness of her high cheekbones and the severity of her gaze, the curve of lips which betray nothing and the perfectly styled bangs that dangle over her forehead.

"I'm still going to bitch at you over your choice of weapon when you know damn well that I'm more familiar with swords not a damn naginata," Marika tells her. Her words are sharp, but they've always been that way since they were children so Erisu lets it roll over her skin. It's Azu who never lets it pass, trading barbs for barbs and glares with equally icy looks. Azu and Mari were good friends, had trust in each other's abilities, but they bantered endlessly. "You should have chosen a sword instead, but you're so thickheaded that you won't change your mind."

Azu. She clenches her fists, erases the thoughts of her dearest friend from her mind. Thinking of Azu makes her think of what the girl has suffered and how it's her fault, her sins. I'm so sorry sorrry sorry. She looks up at Marika. The girl is only older by a year, but she has a couple inches over Erisu. "It has a greater reach that's why I chose it. I don't like it when enemies get closer. And... it's father's choice of weapon. I wanted to honor him."

Marika sighs and hands her the naginata that fell to the ground earlier when Marika surprised her. "There's a stark difference in teacher, princess."

"I understand," Erisu says, her grip on the weapon tightening. "But it is the reason why you are here, is it not? Because you accepted the offer, because you are able, to teach me, to help me learn what it is I have to learn. So that I can protect myself and the people dear to me."

Erisu feels so many things. A result of her kind heart and her desire to please the people around her. Always wanting them to feel warm and satisfied, always wishing for their health and happiness. She's seen by many as that person, that selfless entity who blessed the earth with her kindness. Erisu thought of herself as that too. Not as great as they painted her out to be, but as someone kind. And yet...

The events of a month before proved otherwise. That Erisu wasn't as selfless as she thought she was. That at the end of the day, despite her claims to stay by her bestfriend's side, to prevent Azu from risking her life for her, Erisu had turned her back and ran.