*Sixth Firefly* : *Video*

[child_kanji]

[The video comes on to Zashiki sitting in a plain Asian-style room, in a patterned yukata. It's not very obvious where she's located, but wherever it is, it's really quiet and peaceful. Alra-chan's voice is coming from behind the D-Comm.]

I-is it on... ?

It's on. Are you sure you want to do this, Zashiki?

I'm sure...

Alright...

U-uhm... I don't know... if anyone actually remembers me. I was-- ... when people were getting their souls taken... that was me...

[she bows her head, hiding her eyes with her bangs]

I'm sorry... I'm so sorry for everything I did... I know I was under Akumaro's control, but... I-I don't... I don't want to use that as an excuse. The truth is, I willingly told him about my power. If I had never done that, he wouldn't have exploited it... and no one would have gotten hurt because of me...

I scared my friends... Watanuki-kun... Doumeki-kun... they were all worried about me. Nadeko-chan even tried to save me, b-but...

[she stops long enough to rub at her eyes with the back of her hand, but she still doesn't look up. Her shoulders are shaking noticeably.]

I'm glad everyone is okay... Watanuki-kun helped get everyone's souls back to them. Ame-chan took me away after it was all over, that's why I haven't... said anything until now.

She wasn't okay. I still don't think she is, but she keeps trying to tell me different.

I-I'm better now, Alra-chan... I don't think it's right for me to keep quiet this long. Not after what I did.

And you're still not convinced that none of this was your fault?

[Zashi looks up, teary eyed and clearly upset by this comment]

I shouldn't have told anyone about that power! It's dangerous, and I never ever want to use it again! I-- !

[she stops suddenly, starting to cough harshly.]

Zashiki...

[Alra-chan sighs, and with a mutter of 'I think we're done now...' turns the comm off]

Comments

[shinken-red.livejournal.com]

...

[ah, crying girls; here's something Takeru's not good at]

...it will, for some time, be something that is difficult to deal with. I am aware of, and understand that. Betraying those around you can be a ... difficult thing.

I am certain those close to you are merely concerned for your well being, though.

In turn, someone close to me was affected by this incident... but I bear you no ill will. It is Akumaro who should be hated, not you.

[child-kanji.livejournal.com]

You... don't?

Of course he doesn't, silly girl. He just said that...

[shinken-red.livejournal.com]

No, I don't.

What he did was orchestrated to make you and others feel these sorts of things. You did nothing more than suffer under his manipulation the same as others have before. That isn't your fault.

He has manipulated us, as well, at times. He lives only to see people suffer, and one mustn't grant him that wish, whether or not he is still here to revel in it.

[child-kanji.livejournal.com]

B-but... I told him about what I could do... I never should have! I did it once, on accident... I never wanted to do it again...

[shinken-red.livejournal.com]

He got out of you what he wanted. It's what he's GOOD at. That's all that needs to be said.

The best thing you can do to pay that back is not let your own misery defeat you.

[child-kanji.livejournal.com]

...

We're... not really sure how to do that. It'd be one thing if she was just feeling bad, but what he did to her... it almost killed her! She's still trying to recover from it...