[The day after Christmas, early in the morning, and Sakura isn't in her bed.
That in itself isn't very strange. She's always an early riser (earlier than when she lived in Japan, and didn't have to contend with the nightmares), but there's no accompanying noise that follows her wakefulness: no one in the kitchen making breakfast, or taking a shower in the bathroom, or sneaking a few moments of T.V. The apartment remains dead silent.
But whenever May attempts to track the girl down, check to make sure she didn't sleepwalk herself out the door, she'll likely see a mound by the couch. A blanket fort, really, Sakura covered head to toe with one of the spare sheets.
A little strange, but hey. Maybe the spiked eggnog is still in her system.]
-May hoped it wasn't her snoring that drove Sakura into the pile. So what if she snored while drunk sleeping? That was fine, wasn't it? Or at least, she was ready to apologize for it when she reached to just sort of... pull the sheets away.-
Hey you. Whaddya want for breakfast? -She said without really looking at Sakura.-
Hey, Sakura, I asked you-- -And that's when May finally caught a glimpse. Of course in her mind, she figured Sakura just got a wild hair (ha!) to get a dye job after May had passed out last night.-
[... She loves that part about May, most days: how quickly she can take most things in stride. And the compliment is sincere, she nows that too.
It still doesn't stop her from wiping her eyes -- purple, too, though May might not realize until Sakura finally looks at her -- trying to hold back another wave of tears]
-Oh no... Oh no, she'd been crying. May's heart sank and her throat tightened, uncertain of what to do with herself for a brief moment before she settled in beside May, wrapping a strong, protective arm around her shoulders and drawing her in to her chest.-
Hey, hey hey... talk to me, girl... What's happened? -Her words are a soft whisper.-
[Sakura doesn't resist. Even if she wanted to, she's cried all her energy away, and the comfort of a hug will keep the tears at bay for another minute]
I-I woke-- I woke up like this-- [Her English stutters out of her like it always does when she's upset. The fact of it makes her curl into a tighter ball against May]
-May guessed it was just a matter of time... But their situations weren't exactly comparable. May had struggled a long time with learning to live a life with the strength she'd had, but she could at least still blend in with normal society. This...-
I get it... It's okay, though. You're still the same Sakura to me, no matter what. -She rubbed at the girl's shoulder, reaching to brush some of those tears away.-
[Sakura would be an absolute mess if she thought for a second May wouldn't see her as anything but herself. The promise is still a blessing, however, something to hold onto while she lets May dry her eyes.
Purple eyes now, the color of violets. She really wasn't kidding. And some distant part of Sakura knows this isn't about the color being ugly. On anyone else, she would've sworn it pretty. It's just--]
-- I don't want to look like her. [murmured tiredly] She didn't want this color, either, but they hurt her until it changed...
[Leaning tiredly against May.] I'm sorry. I know I'm overreacting.
-May shook her head, just petting at Sakura's shoulder.- It's not overreacting. That other you... she suffered so much, and as much as I wish I could protect you from what happened, I can't reach into that girl's life and save her... But I'm here for you, in the now, and I promise I'll never let anything like that happen to you.
It's gonna hurt, seeing that reminder, but anytime you feel like it's too much, and you wanna just cry like this... Just come running to me, okay?
[A nod: that's all she can offer for a moment. It's not that May's words don't reach her, but she's trying so hard not to burst into tears again. Even the smile she offers is breaking at the seams. But eventually, after the silence ticks on and she calms down a little bit:]
-May thought over how best to word it, eventually letting out a small sigh.- Not at all. I think it's gorgeous. But I know saying that, and knowing what this all means to you... maybe it's selfish to think you look beautiful in that color. I dunno.
["Gorgeous" is... admittedly, that's not the word that came to her mind, and for all the reasons May skates around. It's still a good enough reason to glance at the hair spilled over her shoulder, the color so different from what she's used to seeing.]
Eh, it's something I'm willing to do, is all. I really do mean I'm willing to do what it takes to make this easier for you. We ride or die, girly. -May giggled.-
[It's always hard resisting a smile when May says stuff like that. And the sentiment alone is enough to have her giggle as well, wiping her eyes again.]
Well, like I said, it would be a good color on you.
Anything for you, girl. -May gently pet at that now violet hair, letting out a sigh...
It was moments like these that sort of reaffirmed her faith, as lapsed as she could be. Sakura had only been in her life for such a relatively brief amount of time, but the impact they'd had on each other was deep, and filled both of their lives with something they'd been lacking. May would still be out on the streets, in a practical sense, but more than that, she'd still be at the bottom of her soul, damned and circling the drain, unable to lift herself up any longer. She'd been ready to give up on everything. And along came an almost holy light, guided by some cosmic force, a hand that had reached out, a hand that also needed. In moments like this, when they could support one another, be the strength the other leaned upon when they needed it most...
[They are of similar faiths, though Sakura doesn't know it. Yesterday she'd attended church with her family, bowed her head, thanked the Lord, walked the motions of a familiar path. But she feels it deeply today, the warmth of it and how blessed she truly is, so quickly turned away from her despair. She doesn't think she could've endured this without May -- or no, it's much more simple.
She doesn't want to.]
Hehe, yep!
[Pulling away with a bright, amused smile, she tucks some hair behind her hair -- the first she's touched it since this morning -- and turns to lead them to the kitchen]
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12/26
That in itself isn't very strange. She's always an early riser (earlier than when she lived in Japan, and didn't have to contend with the nightmares), but there's no accompanying noise that follows her wakefulness: no one in the kitchen making breakfast, or taking a shower in the bathroom, or sneaking a few moments of T.V. The apartment remains dead silent.
But whenever May attempts to track the girl down, check to make sure she didn't sleepwalk herself out the door, she'll likely see a mound by the couch. A blanket fort, really, Sakura covered head to toe with one of the spare sheets.
A little strange, but hey. Maybe the spiked eggnog is still in her system.]
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Hey you. Whaddya want for breakfast? -She said without really looking at Sakura.-
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In fact, her head is buried in her knees and arms, face completely covered by her hair.
A lighter shade than the usual dark brown -- a completely different color, on top of that.
That really is a vibrant hue of purple.]
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Whoa... That looks so cool on you.
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It still doesn't stop her from wiping her eyes -- purple, too, though May might not realize until Sakura finally looks at her -- trying to hold back another wave of tears]
No, it's-- it's weird.
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Hey, hey hey... talk to me, girl... What's happened? -Her words are a soft whisper.-
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I-I woke-- I woke up like this-- [Her English stutters out of her like it always does when she's upset. The fact of it makes her curl into a tighter ball against May]
They changed it, and my eyes too--
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I get it... It's okay, though. You're still the same Sakura to me, no matter what. -She rubbed at the girl's shoulder, reaching to brush some of those tears away.-
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Purple eyes now, the color of violets. She really wasn't kidding. And some distant part of Sakura knows this isn't about the color being ugly. On anyone else, she would've sworn it pretty. It's just--]
-- I don't want to look like her. [murmured tiredly] She didn't want this color, either, but they hurt her until it changed...
[Leaning tiredly against May.] I'm sorry. I know I'm overreacting.
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It's gonna hurt, seeing that reminder, but anytime you feel like it's too much, and you wanna just cry like this... Just come running to me, okay?
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... Does it look bad?
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But that's the only answer I've got, I guess.
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I guess it's... not bright green, so...
[She's trying. She really is.]
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I've thought about it.
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Really?
[May with orange hair...]
I mean, I'm certain it'd be pretty on you, but you don't need to do it for me.
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Well, like I said, it would be a good color on you.
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But can I help, too?
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Hey, we can make something more Japanese style for breakfast, yeah? Like omurice or somethin'.
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[Slowly but with purpose, she bids herself to finally get off the floor. Her hand wipes at her face one more time for good measure]
I haven't had that in forever.
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You're gonna be okay...
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[Returning the hug with equal enthusiasm, burying her face in May's shoulder]
I will be.
Thank you, May-chan.
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It was moments like these that sort of reaffirmed her faith, as lapsed as she could be. Sakura had only been in her life for such a relatively brief amount of time, but the impact they'd had on each other was deep, and filled both of their lives with something they'd been lacking. May would still be out on the streets, in a practical sense, but more than that, she'd still be at the bottom of her soul, damned and circling the drain, unable to lift herself up any longer. She'd been ready to give up on everything. And along came an almost holy light, guided by some cosmic force, a hand that had reached out, a hand that also needed. In moments like this, when they could support one another, be the strength the other leaned upon when they needed it most...
... but then her stomach growled.-
A-anyways, let's get that food gotten, ye?
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She doesn't want to.]
Hehe, yep!
[Pulling away with a bright, amused smile, she tucks some hair behind her hair -- the first she's touched it since this morning -- and turns to lead them to the kitchen]