21st Memory [Future-dated to Saturday Morning][Voice/Possible Action]

[whats_a_sneeze]

[It was the usual day-forgetting something, needing an ear on the matter, and then calling someone. It was when she would typically call someone like Raine, or Ginko. And when she called the Mushi-shi, it fell through.

...

It fell through?

No, that's not right. That wouldn't happen. She must've just... done something wrong.

But then it continues to not

Comments

[Private]

[goldenglasses]

[Ginko, was gone? It seemed so strange to him. Unable to really picture it.]

Sayo... do you want some company?

Re: [Private]

[whats_a_sneeze]

... Not yet. Just... give me a little time. I'm so sorry, Vash-san. [It's muffled behind her hand, as she composes herself for a reply. He was being kind, but she couldn't possibly break apart in front of someone. It wouldn't be fair to him.] I just need some time to think.

[Private]

[goldenglasses]

It's okay, I understand, but if you change your mind. Let me know.

Re: [Private]

[whats_a_sneeze]

I'm sorry.

[She bows faintly, even if he can't see it, she bows low and proper.]

Thank you. Thank you for the offer; I'll keep it in mind.

1/3?

[markofthebrave]

[This is a very not happy gasp.]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara doesn't ask Sayo if she's sure.

That would be cruel.

Instead, she crafts a filter to Ginko and watches it fall.

Her heart starts beating quickly, painfully, a staccato rhythm pushing against the confines of her chest.

She tries again. Again, the filter fails.

No.

One more time. One more time, even as the crushing weight of grief presses down against her, making it impossible for her not to believe. And one more time--

--He's really gone.

A raw sob comes from somewhere. One hand comes up to cover her mouth, and Katara finds her cheeks already wet. Oh. She's crying. Katara manages to shut the journal just as her shoulders begin to shake.]

done

[markofthebrave]

Sayo, it's Katara. [Her voice is raw, despite the water she's drunk.

This hurts.

She's not sure if the older woman will remember her - they'd only met a few times, once or twice when she'd checked on her at Ginko's request, once when Yuber and Nu had nearly killed Nami... and of course, at the Seventh Heaven. But all the same, Katara doesn't think a reintroduction would hurt. She's familiar with the particular mushi in Sayo's brain, after all. It had happened to Longshot that same week when her eyes had been consumed with darkness, and Ginko had rescued her...]

Do you need anything?

[whats_a_sneeze]

I'll be okay.

[She puts her hand to her mouth, and for a moment, closes her eyes and tries to keep herself together. She doesn't recognize the voice speaking, but she knows by the sound that it was someone, like Xion, who had loved Ginko dearly.]

I'm sorry for... meeting you under these circumstances. Again.

[She could tell. Katara knew her from a prior meeting, and she'd forgotten.]

[whats_a_sneeze]

[There's a long pause-hours long. But there's a reply nonetheless for Goemon, when he flips his journal back open at a later time.]

Thank you.