"You look tired", Lulu noticed, "You don't have much time left, do you?" Saya's answer was no more than a hesitant nod.
"Are you expecting someone else?" Lulu followed Saya's gaze out of the window.
"The twins. I wanted to see all of you again before my next slumber." Her heart ached from the half- lie but she was not ready to be honest – not yet.
A polished personal vehicle stopped in front of the building. Nowadays having one's own means of transportation was rare, as the autonomous public transports where reliable and affordable. The door opened and a man in a ruby suit dismounted, offering a hand to the girl in flamboyant summer dress. The man took half a dozen bags from the trunk and shouldered them with one arm, while he used the other to hold the door for his companion.
"And there she is, going overboard again", Lulu rolled her eyes.
A few seconds later Hibiki and her Chevalier appeared in the door followed by excited greetings and an episode of small talk until they finally settled down on the bed and the armchairs Saya had borrowed from a neighbour (her room was not suitable for receiving guests). - Leon, Hibiki's Chevalier was standing at the wall behind his queen.
"Don't you want to take a seat?" Saya asked. He declined. "My legs will not tire, so there is no need."
Saya felt a little uncomfortable with someone standing in the room, but she did not want to start an argument. She had only met her nieces Chevalier a couple of times and hardly ever spoken to him.
"As suspected, my sister is late again", Hibiki said. Saya was not sure whether she could recognize spite or honest disappointment in her voice.
Haji placed a tray with tea on the table, greeted Hibiki with a bow and took a seat next to Saya.
Hibiki wiped some sweat from her forehead. "This summer is so hot. How do you even survive with that scarf?" As if by silent command Leon stepped forward and fanned her with a lace fan.
Saya overheard the question and instead raised an eyebrow at the chevalier.
"I assume you are paid a generous compensation?"
"Knowing that my queen is pleased is more than enough."
"And don't forget your holiday entitlement. From what I now your boss tends to confuse days and appointments."
Lulu giggled. Hibiki however seemed not amused but there was no time for discussion as the doorbell rang.
Kanade came by herself, a heavy backpack and her shoulder, the hands in the pockets of her shorts. Spotting the unused tea cups she said: "you didn't let the tea get cold because of me, did you?"
"Don't you worry, this weather is not made for hot tea anyway", Hibiki replied mockingly.
Despite of their different personalities the sisters greeted each other warmly. Kanade leaned in to greet her aunt with a warm hug. Saya returned it only with the right arm, as the disease was slowly taking over the left one, hoping that her niece hadn't noticed the stiffness in her shoulder. For an instance she thaught, that Kanade's movements froze, but the girl did not comment on it. Instead she found her place in the free armchair and without hesitation she asked: "So what's up? I assume you have a reason to gather us here?"
Suddenly Saya's throat felt dry. She did not want to have this conversation. She feared the pity, the sadness, the farewell. But she had to do it. She did not want to leave this world without saying goodbye. They deserved to know that they would not see her again – and they deserved to know about her destiny.
"The truth is…", she muttered "I need to tell you that…" The words would not pass her lips. Silently she removed the pink scarf. Lulu gasped.
"What is that?", Hibiki asked anxiously.
"Thorn", answered Lulu with a dry voice.
"It can't be!" The twins were startled. "Can it?...I thought…" They had heard the stories about the Schiffs' fate and slowly they began to put the pieces together, grasping the full meaning of Lulu's words.
Eventually Saya spelled out what was on everyone's mind:
"We are not immortal."