The days after Sanae captures and brings in Sachiko are not days of rest or resolution. Instead they are filled with trepidation and self blame: the former for how she must soon find Lu Meng when he returns, how he might react, and how she may comfort him, and the latter for how she has failed him. Perhaps she will continue to fail him, if she cannot figure out how to help him. Truly, this case serves no unaccounted for sense of anxiety and pain.
Every day she's reminded of him, of how she last saw him alone and completely broken within that cabin. Every day she's reminded of how she's failed him as both a friend and a priestess. Oh, she's been trying to fight the negativity of her emotions with more distractions, with keeping herself busy and helping others in the meantime-- as well as dealing with all the case work and interviews for the upcoming trial-- but it doesn't help as much as it should. Towards the night, her mind always comes back to those same thoughts. The bleak emotions that accompany them are pins and needles all over her body, and the only respite from that pain comes in soaking in hot water. Of course she tries to fight through her despair. To some degree, she's learned how to deal with it since Peromei, but eedless to say, it remains difficult to do so for this situation. After all, it is her duty to exterminate youkai and protect humans.
And the fact of the matter is that she failed. She failed him.
She hasn't spoken with any of her friends to help her through this yet. She's simply been too stressed about this entire ordeal, simply waiting for him to return alive. It's that promise that he will which makes her cope better. Not all hope is lost. She'll see him again-- she'll get to apologize. She'll do her damnedest to ensure that Ayumi does not harm anyone again, and that Lu Meng gets the help he needs.
In preparation for his return, she has started working on a home-made care kit, comprised of a simple quilt, some of her jellyfish candy, and canned tarts. There is also a hand-knitted scarf-- not the best looking thing-- but it's one she's hastily made herself. Taking a pen to paper, she also wrote him a letter, detailing just how she's sorry for failing him, how he's such a strong, wise person, how she looks up to him, how she knows that what he may have to endure with the trial may not be the best, yet how she only wishes the best for him, and how she cares him dearly. There is no criticism as to why he decided to not contact her or other Enforcers for help, and no blame for him not using a holy arrow she gave him. There are only words of comfort and acceptance, with the promise that she will always be there for him in the future. She promises to not fail him again.
Every day she sends a ping out to the amulet network, calling his name quietly. This day is no different. "Lu Meng...? This is Sanae. If you are there, please respond..."
backdated to the 4th
Every day she's reminded of him, of how she last saw him alone and completely broken within that cabin. Every day she's reminded of how she's failed him as both a friend and a priestess. Oh, she's been trying to fight the negativity of her emotions with more distractions, with keeping herself busy and helping others in the meantime-- as well as dealing with all the case work and interviews for the upcoming trial-- but it doesn't help as much as it should. Towards the night, her mind always comes back to those same thoughts. The bleak emotions that accompany them are pins and needles all over her body, and the only respite from that pain comes in soaking in hot water. Of course she tries to fight through her despair. To some degree, she's learned how to deal with it since Peromei, but eedless to say, it remains difficult to do so for this situation. After all, it is her duty to exterminate youkai and protect humans.
And the fact of the matter is that she failed. She failed him.
She hasn't spoken with any of her friends to help her through this yet. She's simply been too stressed about this entire ordeal, simply waiting for him to return alive. It's that promise that he will which makes her cope better. Not all hope is lost. She'll see him again-- she'll get to apologize. She'll do her damnedest to ensure that Ayumi does not harm anyone again, and that Lu Meng gets the help he needs.
In preparation for his return, she has started working on a home-made care kit, comprised of a simple quilt, some of her jellyfish candy, and canned tarts. There is also a hand-knitted scarf-- not the best looking thing-- but it's one she's hastily made herself. Taking a pen to paper, she also wrote him a letter, detailing just how she's sorry for failing him, how he's such a strong, wise person, how she looks up to him, how she knows that what he may have to endure with the trial may not be the best, yet how she only wishes the best for him, and how she cares him dearly. There is no criticism as to why he decided to not contact her or other Enforcers for help, and no blame for him not using a holy arrow she gave him. There are only words of comfort and acceptance, with the promise that she will always be there for him in the future. She promises to not fail him again.
Every day she sends a ping out to the amulet network, calling his name quietly. This day is no different. "Lu Meng...? This is Sanae. If you are there, please respond..."