Echoes of the Past

[laraine]

Echo could feel his gaze on her, It was as if he wanted to look through her own eyes into her soul. She tried to avert them from his intense gaze. But as he spoke she felt her attention shift to him. Blue eyes staring deep into his. The last two words seemed to rattle something within her. She clutched the blanket tighter around her, wondering if she should speak her mind. It was true that things were bothering her. But to make him worry further about her was something she didn't want.

If he knew...everything...would he worry more? I know he's only protecting me because of what Loki might do to me. If I become too weak before him...he might..

She shook her head, trying to push away that train of thought. She looked back up at him. He was waiting patiently for a answer, and she didn't know what to give him.

She opened her mouth, letting her heart decide for her.

"I'm just in pain." She smiled sadly. "The pain of killing." She touched her chest with her hand gently, closing her eyes. "Before, I was only killing bandits for my need of revenge. The senseless need to fill this emptiness inside me. But, at that town....I killed innocents as well as bandits. " fresh tears formed in her eyes. "What have I done? I can never make this right..." She looked up into his eyes again, tears falling.

[JxSlaughter]

When Echo started crying his heart broke. It wasn't entirely Echo's fault.

In fact, Zhijiru chose the route that they took with the intention of destroying the town as soon as he witnessed Echo's power. It was Zhijiru's fault, not hers.

He knew this.

Though he had told her before, she didn't comprehend the extent of his desire to destroy the town.

He called them both laughing about it.

He didn't truly think of harming the people themselves, but he knew that he was merely blocking out the idea of the individuals. Truly, there was some intentional purpose of doing so...

It only took an instant for him to recall when he chased Echo on her horse, when she neared the destroyed village and passed out.

He felt guilty leaving her, not because she might not be able to take care of herself, but because she had a power he could use.

But the whole thing was so complicated. The idea of destroying Sen Sei was a very casual one, though it did gnaw at him. But he never really thought it through.

Everything just unraveled.

Just as his feelings for Echo unraveled.

He had no intentions of just dropping her like a tool, but he also didn't think he would gain any emotional attachment over her. A stranger. A child.

But in reality, she wasn't a stranger. Nor a child.

Jiru held Echo in a tight hug, and got off the bed. He stood away, facing the darkness in the room. His hand, shaking.

"The destruction of that city was not your fault Echo." He said, hoping that she would recall what they laughed about a day earlier.

The stern and serious voice continued.

"I assure you that."

[laraine]

Echo was surprised at the hug, then looked at him as he walked to the side of the room; his back to her. She smiled slightly as he spoke. She got off the bed and walked over to him. She hugged him this time from behind.

"Jiru, thank you for being here for me and listening to my selfish complaints."

Even if Jiru told her that it wasn't her fault. She knew she was the one who still let loose the elements in that city, at the moment not caring who lived and who died. She didn't want to see Jiru get so upset over what she said. "I'm sorry if whatever I said upset you." She finished and went to pull away from him.

"I'll be okay now Jiru." She smiled, no longer crying.

[JxSlaughter]

Zhijiru felt that they were both at a gridlock. Both were to be blamed somehow or someway. However, both seemed to understand accept it. At least, for this moment. Zhijiru looked down at the floor while she hugged him. He didn't deserve a hug, thinking of back on his intentions for the city's destruction. But he accepted it anyways. It was Echo giving the hug, after all.

He took a short moment to himself, with his eyes closed as Echo walked away. After that moment he turned to her. Looking at Echo made him feel more at ease.

He replied to her statement, "Are you really?" He asked with his eye beckoning her with a pleading look not to lie to him.