Short summary: Yamuraiha's inner turmoil about her mortality and feelings for Sharrkan.
Halves of a Whole (5)
Life's Too Short
If she had a chance for a longer, better life, she would wish nothing more than to get closer to Sharrkan. Contrary to her appearance, she hated fighting with him. All she's doing is putting up an act. Every jibe, insult, push, pull, and smug smirk to bring him down hurt her too. She didn't enjoy being mean. A bitch, even. But it was all she could do to push herself away from him, to keep a distance from the man she loved. They had to remain rivals, perhaps friends, and nothing more. Love would only make the parting all the more unbearable. It'd break his heart the moment she drew her last breath.
So when she declared to everyone she fancied men with beards, she knew quite well that Sharrkan in turn fancied her, and she knew that he could never grow one. Seeing his insecurity pained her, even as she masked it under a flush on her cheeks and behind one too many cups of wine. It didn't help that Pisti and Hinahoho would try to tease her with frequent updates of Sharrkan's futile struggles. She couldn't help laughing at hearing how Sharrkan plotted to steal his own brother's lengthy goatee. Armakan Amun-Ra would be most displeased. Perhaps if Sharrkan actually trekked to Heliohapt and back, she wouldn't live long enough to see the result. The thought sobered her quicker than a bucket of ice-cold water.
'Don't fall for me, Sharrkan. Stop trying. It will only hurt us both.'