You Can (Not) Forget

The Self

Kyoko sighed, gazing at the sleeping form of her now angelic daughter through the window of a quarantined observation room. They were in no danger of contamination around her, no. It was nothing like that.

"How is she?" Mari asked. The other pilots were behind her. They all looked worried; even Rei. Kyoko was relieved about that. This at least showed Rei didn't hate Asuka. All being well, there would still be some hope for their relationship.

"She's in perfect health. Better than, actually," Kyoko replied, her eyes never leaving her daughter. "She's just exhausted."

"Can we see her?" Mari asked, stepping closer to her aunt. Kyoko shook her head.

"No. She's in quarantine. After she fainted, Asuka became searing to the touch," Kyoko responded, pulling her right hand from her pocket and showing it to Mari. It was wrapped and Kyoko could hardly move a finger. Not that she wanted to. That was too painful. Thankfully, the pain killer's she'd taken have already kicked in. Not that they were overly helpful. "I assume that while she's asleep she can't control her heat output. Everything in that room with her has high heat resistance, but the heat of the room itself could sizzle skin."

"Oh..." that was all Mari could really say. Even though she wanted nothing more than to tend to Asuka herself, there was nothing she could do in a situation like this.

"So what happens now?" Kensuke wondered.

"We determine how much of her power she can control and plan from there," Leliel responded. Kensuke jumped in fright as she floated up from the floor right between him and Toji.

"I hate how you just do that!" Toji grouched. Leliel merely smirked his way, finding his reactions amusing.

"So yee have informed me. I shall attempt to refrain from such scares in the future," Leliel responded as she glided over to the observation window.

"You said the same thing the last three times!" Toji barked back. Leliel glanced back at him briefly, a thin brow raised in question.

"Truly? It must have slipped mine mind." She watched his face purple in indignant rage and giggled to herself in her mind, passing through the observation window a moment later like a ghost. The heat engulfed her. It was suffocating really. Or, it would be had Leliel required oxygen to live. She was sure this kind of heat would burn her very lungs.

It was good then, that she needn't be tangible to speak with her new sister. She gazed upon Asuka's sleeping form. The girl hardly looked any different from when she had last seen her just earlier this morning and yet Leliel could feel how significantly she had changed. It was truly a blessing that power such as Nuriel's had not been lost to them.

Leliel's lips dipped into a frown. She lost a sister this day. Though she knew Nuriel's will would likely live on in Asuka, she could not help but mourn her loss. Fair thee well mine sister, may yee rest in peace.

"Asuka," Leliel spoke. The red head's eyes opened almost instantly. She took in a deep breath and sat up. Her bleary eyes quickly met Leliel's as they slowly came into focus. Asuka opened her mouth, then closed it. Leliel said nothing. She would allow her time to collect her thoughts.

It was minutes later when Asuka finally seemed to gather herself, though Leliel noted she didn't sound like it. "She gave me all of her memories..." Asuka said. Leliel easily understood why she seemed so unlike herself now.

"Yee understand everything now then," Leliel responded. Asuka gave a shallow nod, her head downturned. A moment later, Leliel heard her chuckle.

"She would have killed him too. They were so toxic... and in the end they really were like porcupines. They were only ever able to hurt each other... even though they tried so hard to save one another," Asuka breathed. Leliel saw a tear drop from her eye and evaporate mid fall.