écriture fatale
by crisis rain
Disclaimer: Kaichou wa Maid-sama!/Maid-sama! belongs to Fujiwara Hiro. Fiction plot & originals belong to crisis rain. No infringement intended.
The sound of water hitting the tiled marble floors was the only thing that was breaking the silence inside the exquisite hotel bathroom. A cloud of steam billowed from the bath, and Kogarashi Hisui lifted her head up to face the spray of warm water that was flowing freely from the gold-rimmed showerhead. As she stood still for a moment to soak in the warmth of her shower, Hisui gently worked her fingers through her hair, lathering it with shampoo and easing the knots that had hardened from the champagne.
Chiyo had been generous enough to lend her hotel room to help her get cleaned up from the aftermath of Koganei Hirofumi unceremoniously dumping a glass of champagne over her head. Biting her lip as she angrily recalled the haughty look on his face, she grunted before soaking her head underneath the stream of water to rinse out the shampoo. Chiyo had also taken the liberty of bringing her dress to the hotel's dry cleaning service roughly half an hour ago, and she predicts that it won't be long before the cleaning would be finished.
Turning the white ceramic knob upwards to cease the flow of water, Hisui rubbed the droplets out of her eyes and wrung her hair dry with a nearby towel. She was still slightly surprised at the luxurious hotel room that was given to her to use. Standing still and waiting for most of the water to drip off her body while she dried off, Hisui opened the shower door and stepped outside, feet touching the soft, woolen bath rug.
"Um… Hisui-san? Are you done with your shower?" A soft voice floated from outside of the bathroom door. Hisui roughly wiped her face on a spare towel, glancing towards the locked entrance. "Sorry! I'll be out in a minute. Er…" She glanced around quickly, and spotted a bathrobe folded neatly beside a pile of clean towels. 'I suppose that would do for now…' Quickly wrapping the robe over her, Hisui lightly dashed to the locked door and opened it.
Chiyo was standing by the doorway, holding a large protective nylon sheet with a clothes hanger nestled inside. A smile broke across her face. "The dress has been cleaned! I just got it back from the cleaners."
"You must let me pay you for the cleaning cost." Hisui frowned at Chiyo's generosity, a troubled look in her eyes. "You've already done so much for me… someone you've only met a mere hour ago!"
The Sakurai heiress shook her head in dismissal, before pulling Hisui's arm and leading her out to the main room. "Think nothing of it. The fee is merely pocket change compared to my family's coffers." Placing the covered dress down on the bed, she unzipped the hood and unwrapped the now pristine silk dress out of the plastic. "Oh, and by the way…" Chiyo began, but was briefly interrupted when a knock rapping loudly could be heard from the front door.
"Oh! I think they've arrived. Please wait a moment in the bathroom, Hisui-san."
Hisui quickly tightened the bathrobe around her body and dashed back inside the bathroom, closing the door shut behind her. What on earth was going on? She wondered furiously as she attempted to dry her hair faster, as Hisui was not expecting other guests would visit Chiyo's private suite during this time of the evening.
Voices floated past the bathroom door, muffled at first, but as Hisui stopped for a moment to listen, she could hear a few distinctive lines from the conversation.
"They need you on stage in fifteen minutes, Miss Chiyo."
"Thank you, I will be there soon."
Shaking her head and not thinking too much on the voices, Hisui resumed drying her hair, before picking up her clean change of clothes.
She knocked gently against the bathroom door, before opening it open a slight crack, peering outside. "Chiyo, is it alright for me to come out now?" The young woman turned around at the sound of Hisui's voice calling out for her, and she smiled softly, gesturing for her to come out. Wrapped in a bathrobe, Hisui crept out quickly, eyes darting around the room making sure that the visitor had truly left already.
"Oh! The dress!" Chiyo exclaimed, and unzipped the dry cleaner-wrapped garment, gently untangling it from the plastic before running a hand gingerly into the tresses of fabric. "Mmhm! It seems like it's all clean! You should quickly put it on before the night is over." Hisui accepted the dress from Chiyo's open hands with a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Chiyo. I really can't thank you enough." She wrapped her arms around the corset of the dress tightly. Chiyo's eyes twinkled in a smile as she looked at how Hisui clutched onto the garment.
"I can tell it means quite a lot to you. I'm happy that we managed to save such a pretty dress!" Upon glancing at her watch, Chiyo let out a soft gasp.
"What's wrong?" Hisui inquired curiously.
"Oh dear, I best be going soon… I have to go on stage for a segment on the charity ball's performance. It's nothing big, really." Chiyo smiled awkwardly, a flush filling her cheeks. "You take your time and prepare yourself for as long as you need to, Hisui-san. I hope to see you in the ballroom soon!"
Chiyo took a graceful bow, before exiting the hotel room quickly.
"She should be in Sakurai Chiyo's hotel room." Maki Kanade affirmed to his co-student council member, Arashiyama Tenryuu, as they strode quickly down the corridor. Fingers flicked past messages on his touchscreen mobile phone, and the vice-president closed his eyes with a light smile before pocketing the device.
"I hope she's as every ounce of what Igarashi-kaichou claims she is." Arashiyama replied evenly, his breathing hardening in anticipation.
The smile remained on Maki's face, and he turned his head at Arashiyama's enthusiasm. "If our student council president handpicked her specifically, you should expect no less."
Arashiyama could agree with that logic. After all, if there was one man he would acknowledge that had far better foresight than his own eyes in discerning that particular quality (that quality being the "diamond in the rough" characteristic), it would most certainly be Igarashi Tora himself. Uncomplaining in this nature, the broad-shouldered student would continue to stride alongside with the council president down the hallways all the while trying to contain his excitement with an expression of patient calm.
His settling thoughts that were finally becoming tranquil was broken by the voice of the president. "Ah, Chiyo." Coming from the opposite direction was none other than the Sakurai heiress, who looked slightly surprised to see the both of them heading whence she came from.
"T-Tora-san!" Chiyo exclaimed, a brief look of worry crossing her face. "Am I late? Have you come to fetch me?"
Tora, sensing that she was a little self-conscious at his abrupt presence and perhaps may have thought that she was causing some sort of burden, merely smiled suavely and waved a hand in dismissal. "You aren't late by any accounts. We still have a little bit of time. I've just come to run an errand with Arashiyama." Golden eyes sidled back to the taller male, who gave the young girl a curt nod. "I'll meet you back in the ballroom soon, Chiyo." His tone surprisingly gentle, and took her hand and led her so she could pass.
Chiyo let out a small breathe of relief. "Y-yes, Tora-san... I'll see you soon."
As soon as she was out of earshot, Arashiyama cupped his mouth with his hand and thoughtfully gazed back at Tora, who looked unparticular and unfazed with how easily the lies slipped past his mouth.
"Sometimes, I feel bad for Sakurai..." Arashiyama would think to himself.
Meanwhile, inside Chiyo's hotel room, Hisui had managed to brush out her hair, and stood over the blue silk-chiffon dress she had laid out on top of the bed in a triumphant stance. As she pondered over the dress once more, making sure that the stains were really removed, she finally lifted it off in satisfaction. No sooner had she unwrapped the towel off from her body and was about to zip down the dress to fit inside it, she heard the distinct sound of the hotel door unlock and swinging open.
A shriek escaped from the health representative's lips at the same time when the door flung open. Standing cockily by the doorway was Tora, arm still extended outwards from pushing against the door, and a rather aghast-looking Arashiyama at the sudden scream.
Hisui, scrambling to cover herself back up with the towel, glanced back to see who were the intruder – er, intruders – and promptly fought back the urge to blush when she realized who it was.
"Wh... what... what on earth, Igarashi Tora!" She managed to splutter out. Her grip tighten around the folds of her towel. A rampage of emotions ran through her mind, from utter humiliation to a curiously small jump of joy of being able to see him again in so long. It had been a very long time.
...But she wasn't counting on seeing Igarashi Tora again dressed like this. In fact, it would be inaccurate to say she was dressed at all.
"What on earth?" Tora would jeer back, closing the door behind him before this debacle could spill out beyond the room. "What on earth were you thinking, ruining the dress I bought you?"
Hisui fell silent, sulkily looking away. "...I'm sorry, but Chiyo helped me get it cleaned. I-If you need me to pay back for it," She hastily stood up despite still cowering behind her towel. "T-Then I'll be glad to!"
Tora raised a brow at this, but didn't say a word. Nervous that he didn't respond immediately and left to stew in her own awkward silence, Hisui's eyes sauntered over to the unknown male beside him, and quickly grabbed the fallen dress before inching towards the bathroom. "I-I'm just... I'm just going to get changed, if you don't mind me!"
Tora merely smirked as he watched her slam the bathroom door shut behind her. The sounds of her panicked rustling back into clothes paved a rather amused look on the heir's face. Glancing back at Arashiyama, he merely tilted his head, as if gauging the other boy's opinion.
"So, Arashiyama... your thoughts?"
The dark-haired male cupped his chin thoughtfully, before an excited snort came rustling out of his nostrils. "Yes. Yes, she's very good indeed. I think I can make this work."
As if on cue, Hisui stepped out of the bathroom once more; hand still resting on the handle as the other struggled to latch on the strap of her shoes at the back of her heel, in her haste to get dressed. Hair wild and untidy from her furious task of putting the dress back on made the usually neat and well-presented health representative a little out of character.
Tora would clap his hands. "Chop, chop, now. Arashiyama can't wait all day to get his hands on you."
"E-Excuse me?" Hisui would start incredulously, before noticing the looming shadow the tall male cast over her. A frozen look of fear flashed across her face. "E-Er... um..."
"Don't worry, Kogarashi Hisui, I'll make you... beautiful."
At his words, the male dramatically unbuttoned his shirt quickly with expertise, showcasing a myriad of tools he had kept hidden beneath his clothes. Shrieking at his sudden exposure, Hisui turned her face away, cheek flaming red.
"Sit still! Chin up! Back straight!" Arashiyama would bark at her, and for reasons unknown, Hisui obliged, too scared to find out if she were to disobey. Instantly she could feel the man setting to work as he applied all sorts of products to her face; his hands and brushes worked quickly to accentuate and bring forth her "beauty".
Leaning back a few times, he would glance over his work before setting right back into a flurry of motion. Tora stood back and watched in keen interest. Arashiyama never failed to impress him with his niche talent of being a closet cosmetician.
"You keep working, Arashiyama." Tora would interrupt briefly, and the other male would glance back, pausing in his work as he was brushing Hisui's cheeks with some setting powder. "I need to get to backstage in a few minutes. I'll meet you two back at the ball." He gave her a wink and a knowing smile, before briefly exiting the room.
"Wait– ack!" Hisui opened her mouth to protest but Arashiyama had promptly dusted another cloud of powder across her face, and she accidentally inhaled some in the process. The older boy looked down at her with a stern expression, dusting off the brush nearby the bathroom sink as he let her cough it out. "Kogarashi-san... I need you to stay focused, alright? President Igarashi has personally given me the task to make sure you're looking the part of a star tonight."
It was strange hearing him lecturing her, but Hisui promptly closed her mouth, allowing the male to continue his process. It was clear he knew exactly what he was doing – much more than she would know.
Arashiyama endeavoured for another small while, before pausing to glance at his finished work. "E-Eh? Are we done?" She was a little unsure at how quickly the older male worked, if not a little more surprised. He would gesture to the bathroom mirror without a word, merely a prideful grin settling on his face as he did so. As she turned around to meet her reflection in the mirror, she would see the meaning behind his merriment.
"Wh… h-how?" She would manage to splutter aloud; too scared that she might ruin his work if she got too overly emotional. "I-I-I mean… this is…"
Arashiyama glowed for a moment, reveling in satisfaction at how awed Hisui was over her transformation. "Consider this a favor done for President Igarashi. Now, you should hurry along before you make the President wait too long."
Kogarashi Sayaka glowered at the beautifully ornate red and gold envelope that sat on the dinner table beside her plate. The words "Grand Prize" embossed in a luxurious gold foil shimmered in the dimness. She would shift her happy gaze back to her husband, eyes twinkling in excitement.
"I still can't believe we won the raffle grand prize, dear! All thanks to Hisui." She would let out a small, happy laugh and clapped her hands merrily together. The envelope would contain the prize's luxurious tickets for a week-long trip to the Maldives during Golden Week, and it was all inclusive of airfare, hotel accommodations, and a range of all sorts of activities. Her husband quirked a smile as well, glancing around quickly.
"Indeed, it is. Speaking of Hisui, I haven't seen her in a while. I wonder where she's gone off to?"
Sayaka took a sip of her water, too pleased with the night's winnings to allow her motherly instinct to worry – yet. "I'm sure she's chatting with Tora-kun and some other friends. They do seem quite close, lately."
Kogarashi Katsuo wasn't sure how he felt about that particular statement from his wife. The brief memory of the Igarashi chairman's young son being startlingly concerned about Hisui's well-being during her time of hospitalization came across his mind. But he brushed it off, thinking it was just a father's natural worry of having to let go of their daughters.
The lights dimmed, signaling that attention was to be brought to the main stage. As the crowd's rambunctious chatter and laughing slowly died down, the stage lit up, and several figures made their appearance onstage. A tall and kind-looking man was the first of the several, taking up the spot behind the podium and surveyed the crowd.
"Thank you everyone for coming out here tonight. I am sincerely grateful for each and every one of you taking time out of your busy schedule to attend this event, which will be donated back to various charities for good causes."
A round of applause followed shortly after.
"As some of you may or may not know, there have been big changes regarding the Igarashi Group recently, as of late. And for myself, as the current CEO and president of the Sakurai Group, we are very lucky to count the Igarashi Group as one of our oldest business partners.
"Which is why, I am proud to announce a very happy set of news; the Sakurai Group will be merging businesses with the Igarashi Group. And from this, we were able to conceive a very happy union between two members of our families; Chiyo, if you would please?"
At his words, the bashful girl quickly entered onto the stage, joining her father's side and tried to contain the flush on her face as she glanced down at the floor.
"Please, let me share the news personally, President Sakurai." Igarashi Tora entered from stage left, approaching the man with a pleasant smile on his face. He gestured to the podium, where the Sakurai head obediently stepped down with a curt nod. As he took his place before the microphone, Tora's eyes would scan the entirety of the charity ball, as if he was searching for something.
He spotted her as she came in, slipping in quietly from the back, looking bewildered. They locked eyes for a fleeting moment.
"I'm happy to announce that Chiyo and I are engaged, and we wish for you to participate in our happiness."
Hisui tried to run down the hallways as best as she could in the pumps she wore. She was glad she couldn't outright sprint how she would normally, since she was worried that in doing so, her perspiration would mar the makeup Arashiyama had so painstakingly put so much effort into. She stopped to catch her breath, both her mind and heart racing.
'Why am I rushing?' She wondered to herself briefly as she regained a walking pace. Her rapid heartbeat was worrying. The strange heat on her face was worrying.
Trying to shake these uncertain thoughts out of her head, Hisui pressed onwards.
Hisui could hear voices from onstage floating down the corridor that connected to the main foyer, and then to the ballroom. As she rounded the corner and quickly exited to the foyer, a familiar voice on loudspeaker could be heard. 'Tora…?' Her pace quickened, and she scurried into the ballroom entrance, nearly brushing past a wait staff holding more than a couple of empty wine glasses. He shot her a withering glare before proceeding his way, but Hisui hardly noticed, as she glanced around in confusion at what was going on. She had missed most of the party at this rate, and she was afraid of sticking out like a sore thumb.
As her eyes turned to the main stage, Hisui froze as her eyes locked with his. He seemed to smile at her – it was hard to tell, he was too far away – and after his small, uncharacteristic pause, he turned to the microphone again, closing his eyes, and looking away.
"I'm happy to announce that Chiyo and I are engaged, and we wish for you to participate in our happiness."
The audience erupted in applause, along with celebratory cheers intermingling in the mix.
The roar from the audience was almost deafening, and the applause seemed to echo in Hisui's ears for an eternity as she stood there dumbfounded, staring back at Igarashi Tora who then took his place onstage beside Chiyo, who shyly gazed back at her new fiance before turning back to the audience. Camera flashes were going off. Hisui's left hand blindly reached out for the wall frame of the ballroom entrance and leaned against it, as her knees felt slightly weak in that moment.
What?
Slowly the noises around her drowned out and she closed her eyes, wondering if this was just all a dream.
A shiver ran through her body, and she let out a small gasp when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. Turning around, she was stunned for a moment to see Maki Kanade stood before her, hand extended.
"I have a message to pass onto you from the Council President."
Hisui stared back at him, trying to form a sentence. "W-What?" She could only manage out.
"He would like to meet with you in private."
Elsewhere, in the warmth of his own home, Aratake Gouki was seated by the family kotatsu and was lazily flipping through various channels on the television set that sat in the living space. Piles of winter treats and snacks sat on the kotatsu table, and he was currently in the process of peeling some mandarins for dessert. Nothing but variety shows putting on comedic and festive acts for Christmas.
"If you're watching the program right now at home, you're either already dedicated with a family or you're single!" Laughter ensued from crowd on a Christmas special game show, with its host gesturing to the camera as if breaking the fourth wall. "Single people out there, I've only got some words of advice for you: make that change tonight! Go out and confess your love! If you don't take action, nothing will happen!"
With a snort, he immediately flicked the remote to another channel, and reached the local news station. 'At least something sensible, I hope.' He thought to himself, popping a slice of mandarin orange into his mouth.
"The business conglomerate, Igarashi Group, is holding their famous annual Christmas charity ball tonight." The news anchor reports dutifully. Gouki frowned at this piece of news, suddenly reminded that Hisui was attending this very event at the moment. "The Igarashi Group, having prominent influence in the economy, as well as being based in the Kansai region, has announced rather big news regarding their relationship with long-time business partnership with the Sakurai Group."
A video was then released on the television screen, clearly one of that taken from the event live. Gouki perked up, recognizing Tora in the video immediately and leaned forwards with renewed interest.
"I'm happy to announce that Chiyo and I are engaged, and we wish for you to participate in our happiness."
The video quickly ended, reversing back to the news station and anchor. "The Igarashi Group has announced a marriage engagement between heirs Igarashi Tora and the daughter of the Sakurai Group's CEO-President, and are expecting to be following up soon with more news on their marriage in the future."
Gouki's jaw dropped.
"Gouki!" His mother's voice from the kitchen interrupted his train of thought. "What're you doing lazing around at home during Christmas?! When are you gonna shape up and find a nice girl, huh?"
He grunted angrily, regretfully getting up from the kotatsu. "It's none of your damn business, woman!"
Mother Aratake stepped out of the kitchen, wielding a kitchen knife rather threateningly despite being almost half the size of her son. "You better watch your tone, young man. Now, seeing as you don't have plans for tonight, I need you to run out to Shibuya and get some cake for your cousins and uncles who'll be visiting us tomorrow."
An outward groan came from her son, and she promptly whacked him on the head with her free hand.
"Now means now! You better hurry, Yoshinoya's starting their midnight sale soon!"
Meanwhile, another individual was tuning in to the exact same piece of news from her hospital room. Mayumi leaned back against her hospital bed, comforter wrapped around her shoulders to fight off against the December chill. Her eyes rested on the small television set she was granted from the nurses, and she tenderly watched the images of the charity ball flash before her eyes.
"Tora…" She murmured quietly, and gazed out at the window by her bedside. The bright lights of Tokyo blanketing the darkness made the city glow like fireflies in the distance. She wondered just where exactly where he was, somewhere in the murky distance.
They said that the garden was off-limits, but allowed her entry anyway, perhaps due to the presence of Maki Kanade, or perhaps the influence of Igarashi Tora – mayhaps, even both. The gardens owned by this particular hotel venue had a glass dome built over on top almost like a greenhouse, but more akin to an indoor garden where patrons could enjoy the scenery all year-long. She stood in a quiet clearing, shivering slightly in the coolness of the empty gardens, and glanced around her. Maki had instructed her to wait here, and then shortly left, presumably to go fetch his master.
Small lanterns dotted the flowerbeds and along the pathways, illuminating the flora with a gentle, golden glow. The soft gurgling of water could be heard from a nearby pond. Flowers of all sorts of colors, shapes and sizes grew verdantly in the space. It didn't ease the pounding of her heart, nor lessen the worry she felt. Hisui wasn't sure why she was feeling this particular way.
In fact, she wasn't sure what she was doing here. Sure, he wanted to speak with her – but she kept insisting to herself that they weren't close. They shouldn't be close. She already knew that he was engaged – cautionary words from his footman, Hanagata – but she wasn't expecting Chiyo was the one. Chiyo, who was so kind-hearted and gentle, and helped her in a time of need.
She should feel happy… right?
'That's right. Congratulate him on his engagement. Support his happiness.' Yes, that sounds like a plan. Hisui felt a little better, instilling a bit more calm and confidence in herself from the mental pep talk. She shouldn't get involved. She shouldn't be emotionally invested. Because… after all, there was no chance of anything happening… right?
Hisui's brow knitted upwards confusedly at the garden that surrounded her. Then what was the point of coming to speak with her privately? What was there left to say?
She wasn't so sure anymore.
Deeply occupied in her thoughts, she barely heard the footsteps that came up from behind, and suddenly felt a heavy cloth draping over shoulders. Instinct kicked in and she spun around, arm poised to whip back in retaliation, but her hand stopped short when she realized who it was. Igarashi Tora stood stiffly, still holding up what looked like her coat, leaning back just in time to avoid getting smacked in the face, with a rather amused look on his face.
"Hisui, you never learn, do you?"
Face blossoming to the shade of a tomato, she quickly withdrew her hand and yanked her coat back from him, the memory of how he walked in her almost naked still fresh on her mind. He quickly let go, not wanting to cross her further, but kept smirking as he watched her shuffle back a few awkward steps from him, still steaming red.
"Y-you wanted to talk to me?" She blurted out quickly, wanting to change the topic of conversation as quickly as she could before he could tease her mercilessly.
"Always quick to get straight to the point." Tora remarked, and stepped forwards and took the woolen coat she was fumbling in her hands into his, and properly draped it over her shoulders, making sure this time she wasn't going to knock him out of his socks. "You looked cold, so I brought your coat over. I hope you weren't waiting long."
Hisui gratefully accepted this gesture of kindness, hands pinching the coat closed to keep herself warm. "Long enough." She would fire back; her sarcastic edge resurfacing. Tora would laugh.
"Fair enough. I'm glad that you came tonight." She watched him, stunned as he placed a hand on her cheek and caressed it. This thumb rubbed the side of her temple, before gently over her left ear, feeling the crystal earring he had gifted her rolling along the ridge of his hand.
"Do you like the dress I gave you? It looks good on you." He glanced over her quickly, and rewarded her with another all-knowing smirk. Hisui frozen in place, feeling her face heat up again.
"I-It was way too expensive!" She protested in efforts to hide her embarrassment. "I-I should return this to you afterwards, it's only right –"
She stopped mid-sentence when she felt him pull her in, and her cheek pressed against his chest, feeling his warmth seep over her. Wide-eyed and confused, she tried to raise her arms to break free but his arm wrapped around her waist while his other still held her cheek before sliding behind the back of her head. "Wait–" Hisui could feel her throat choking up, trying to suppress whatever she was feeling at that moment, back in. "We can't–"
"He hurt your face, didn't he?"
His tone was hard, but carried a certain heaviness. Hisui stood still for a moment, before understanding what he meant. Was he being protective over her? "Hurt? O-Oh, I'm fine, really it's just some minor–"
Fingers curled and lifted her chin up, her face meeting his briefly before he kissed her.
Hisui's mind first registered shock, but embarrassment quickly came after. She tried to jerk back, but his arm pinned her in place. When she finally broke away in a gasp, Hisui could only look away from him; her hands trembled, resting on his chest as they tried to push the Igarashi heir away. Tora looked down at her, his face solemn for once.
"This isn't right to Chiyo." Hisui managed to whisper out, concentrating her vision on the ground beneath their feet. Tora looked irritated, quickly cupping her chin again, forcing her to look at him directly. "This isn't about Chiyo." He calmly started, but stopped when one droplet after another slid down her face.
Normally, Tora was someone who was very good at handling crying girls, being a natural charismatic charmer that he was, but the way that Hisui looked at him – her eyes clouded with confusion – made him stop and think twice about what exactly was happening. This wasn't exactly what he had imagined would happen. She stood there, gazing up at him, her face silent and unmoving save for the tears that continued to fall.
"What am I to you?"
It was a simple enough question. But he found himself unable to come to an answer. His brow slowly knitted together apprehensively, as he blankly looked down at her. She looked expectant, but it seemed that she knew the answer already.
"My toy." He finally answered.
For some reason, Hisui's heart sank. She knew she shouldn't expect anything from him. She knew better. But somewhere inside she was clinging onto that little bit of hope that it would be different. A smile cracked across her lips, tears now freely streaming down her streaked face.
"I see." The words came out in a somewhat heavy but satisfied finality, and she turned around and ran out of the garden clearing.
Tora stood silently, feeling her warmth dissipate into the cool air.