𝓑𝓮𝓪𝓾𝓽𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓽| 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉ℯ𝓇 26

Rue had regrets. In fact, she had too many to count.

Last night might have been one.

The light of the skies gleamed through the small window of the ship. Rue shadowed her eyes, preventing their rays from stinging them. Her other hand tangled in her curls as she sighed deeply, turning to her side with a deep frown. Her mind replayed yesterday's events.

Especially her moment with Ace.

She showed a moment of weakness when she shouldn't have.

Rue reached for a pillow at her side, embracing it tightly as if wanting comfort from it. Though worry overcame her like a storm, his words rang like bells under the gleam of the sun.

I'm not them, I will never be them.

Somehow, those words lightened her load.

Rue rose from her matted sheets, her eyes lingered on it for a moment as if searching for a missing piece of a puzzle. She stared, and a small afterimage of her child sleeping at her side appeared. It was a punch to the gut at the thought of her child, her baby girl.

As she rose, she lifted her small nightgown just to reach above her waist. The mirror reflected the tattoo, three cerulean wings brushed at the side near her belly button. Her fingers traced the scar below her abdomen—slowly, delicately as if she were handling the most precious gem in the world. Her eyes never left it, her shame clung to her—a silent, deep-rooted wound, a failure of a woman.

A shame of a mother, a mark that would forever remain.

This only fuelled her resolve to find her precious gem, to find her missing daughter.

Her mind wandered so far, she didn't notice Hanabi had entered the cabin and called out for her. She snapped out of her trance as Hanabi gripped her shoulder to catch her attention.

"Breakfast is ready." Hanabi said, she glanced momentarily to Rue's hand on her stomach. Her eyes softened, straightening herself. "We'll get her back."

Rue dropped her hand at her side, her nightgown slipping from her fingertips. She nodded at her friend's words, a little assured.

Yet, Hanabi's eyes didn't miss the tattoo.

From out of her back pocket, Hanabi pulled out an object, extending it towards her. "Here, Ryuji told me to give this to you."

Rue gazed down at the object, her eyes widened, a small tinge of anger—it was The Winged Demon mask.

That idiot.

Without much as another word, Hanabi's hand jerked to the side from the swift snatch of the mask out of her hands. The room stilled in silence.

Rue blinked, realizing what she had done. Her features apologetic at her actions, "I'm sor—"

"It's fine." Again, Rue blinked.

Another silence followed, heavier than the first. The cabin creaked from the force of the small waves, as if another storm had shattered the skies.

Hanabi's voice—her tone—almost sounded...annoyed. She has heard it with other people, how she sucked her teeth, how her brows would furrow with a slightly intensity in her gaze.

But never directed at her.

Before she could utter another word, Hanabi stomped up the stairs and shut the cabin door, leaving Rue stunned with the heavy silence.