Crimson Snow; Seraphim and Tracy's encounter

Why were things turning out like this? Seraphim didn't even intend for the two to fight, but Tracy was so adamant about it that she went with it. And what once was supposed to be a simple punishment against Tracy for being so gung-ho about this all turned into a major dissapointment. Tracy still had let her emotions get in the way of the fight, and put way too much pride around to keep her focus. Thus, Seraphim made sure to punish her for it, and now it had all just gone too far.

'I didn't mess up in training her, did I?' Seraphim thought as she went to retrieve the first aid kit, never regaining her smile as she tried to figure out what had made her like this. 'Maybe.. she's been training with someone else?' On her own, Seraphim always got lost in her thoughts, and more often than not, they turned out for the worse as she often assumed the worst, and in this case, she had been doing just that. What could she say? She just... worried too much, she didn't want to see Tracy stray from her path, and yet right before Seraphim's eye, that was exactly what was happening...

Eventually, after two minutes, Seraphim came back, clutching a small first aid kit as she reached Tracy, silently approaching the bench without a word before taking hold of Tracy's hand. She didn't even bother to clean her wound, did she? Sighing, Seraphim grabbed the water bottle, and without warning, she dumped some of it on Tracy's wound, probably stinging a bit before Seraphim took a cloth and started to pat it down to clean it.

Tracy remained silent as Seraphim cured her hand. The redhead was actually thinking that that wound was what caused all of this. A wound she got in the last part of her training. Tracy wasnt paying attention at the actual situation at all. She started to remember about these last days, about her training. Just to arrive to the conclusion that, because of that stupid wound, it had all gone to hell.

*Flashback*
The clock stroke 1 am. The redhead was still awake, awaiting for this moment of the day to arrive. Tracy stood up from her bed. It wasnt a surprise that she was already wearing her black skirt and white loose shirt. She silently sneaked out of the apartment, not wanting to wake Seraphim nor Alison up. She walked the dark streets of the city to the limits of the town -which werent really far from Seraphim's apartment-, where her 'personal gym' was. Well, it only had two stolen red punching bags, a blue large mat and a little box, where she saved bandages and some water, all of it surrounded by trees and stones, which hid it from the rest of the world. After 4 hours of punching and 700 sit ups, the redhead was exhausted and covered by sweat. Her fists were crushed, and her right one was even bleeding after all the punching. But... it was all because she wanted to defeat Lethe. She slowly walked to the box and took some bandages out. Being careful enough to not make herself feel much pain, she wrapped the bandages around her hand. And that was all she reached to do. Panting heavily, the redhead colapsed on the grass and passed out immediatly.

It was about 11 am when she woke up. She hurried home, thinking that Seraphim might want to kill her for escaping. After 30 minutes of running like if the devil himself was pursuing her, Tracy arrived to her destination. She slowly crawled through the window and laid herself on her bed, really tired. She didnt think her wound could get really bad, so she didnt pay much attention to it.

*End of the flashback*

Gathering the courage to look at Seraphim, Tracy lifted her head up slowly and stared at the white haired girl. " Seraphy..? " The redhead girl started. " Are you mad at me..? " That's all she wanted to know. Seraphim was the only person who cared about her in this world, and if she was mad at her, there was absolutely nothing else to live for.

There was a long silence from Seraphim that anchored the room, her gaze focused on Tracy's arm, treating this as best as she could, cleaning the wound now before she would start to bandage it again and properly. It had to be tight, and she would place some gauze under it too, just in case it bled again and to give it some padding. Her whole treatment was proving to have a strong expertise, like she knew every detail of what she was doing, and could have even qualified for being a proffesional in the aid she was giving.

But when Tracy asked her that question, looking towards her, Seraphim let out a long sigh as she stopped in the midst of bandaging, looking away for just a moment as she frowned. "..I'm angry.. but not at you." She said with a tone of dissapointment, her eyes looking a bit distance as she continued to bandage once again, being careful through the entire treatment as she did. "..Myself. I'm pissed off that I didn't notice this, and that I'm letting you slip up. You're too proud, and you're pushing yourself too much. And as your teacher.. I'm the one responsible or this. I fucked up, not you." The way Seraphim said it all, it was like she truly beleived in every word, like she was ready to take full responsability for Tracy's actions, and didn't feel even the least bit sorry for herself. She was helping Tracy bare the burden, taking it all on to herself even though she shouldn't. All she knew was that Tracy's mistake was also her own, and that she was screwing up as a teacher if she didn't see this all sooner.

Tracy looked at Seraphim curiously when she said that she was actually angry, but not at her. "Huh? Who, then?" The girl asked, her eyes didnt show any sign of happiness, but sadness. Seraphim's answer was the last thing the redhead expected, but after her short explanation, she was able to understand how she felt. 'It's all my fault... I should have stopped when I had the chance..' Tracy muttered to herself secretly as she lowered her head and looked down at the floor.

A few minutes later, once Seraphim had finishing treating her hand, Tracy'd express how she felt about all of this. "Look, Seraphy... Dont blame yourself for that.. It was my fault after all, and I cant let you suffer because of that." The girl said, slowly standing up and turning her back to Seraphim. She wouldnt be able to live in peace if every mistake she commited made Seraphim suffer so much.

"I know." Seraphim responded back as quick as a gunshot, still not making eye contact with Tracy as she finished up and took a seat on the bench. "I know that... but I still feel responsible." Tracy had said some inspiring words, and Seraphim was actually a little impressed to see this once reckless girl actually have something so deep to say. It actually made her kind of proud too; seeing Tracy come a long way from when they first met.

Now that she thought about it... Tracy had really come a long way. And Seraphim wasn't planning to ever remove Tracy from her life now. She had grown to a part of her 'family,' and actually lived in the same house as her. Heck, Seraphim was already making plans on surprising Tracy by buying her a bed and arranging her own little area to really call her own. The more Seraphim thought about it, the less upset she felt with herself, and she even mananged to slowly grow a little bit of a grin to the corner of her lips, regrettably laughing at her own stupidity for blaming herself.

Then, finally, she looked back up at Tracy, and softly rubbed the top of the girl's head ater she stood up and walked over the the girl, her grin directed towards her. "Yea.. you know, I guess your right. Thanks, Tracy-chan." Softly, she then pulled the girl into a hug from behind, offering her own sense of gratitude, like she wasn't just thanking her for right now, but for so many things at once. It was like Seraphim was suddenly opening up to her.

Tracy felt like an heroine after what she said. Even though she still had the mind of a child, she was definitely not the same as before. Since she met Seraphim, she couldnt avoid getting the feeling that something inside her was changing, like if something was transforming into something else. Effectively, part of her hatred became something a lot more important, which was called...Mercy. And maybe, just maybe, a little of love. And as time passed, that feeling got stronger and stronger.

The redhead closed her eyes and smirked as she felt her white haired friend's hand on top of her head. 'Thank you, Tracy-chan'. Those words... they sounded like if they really came from the bottom of Seraphim's hard. Tracy even allowed a little tear of happiness out as she heard them. And Seraphim's sudden hug definitely transformed this into one of those days that Tracy'd never forget. "You're welcome, Seraphy-chan.." The redhead whispered at Seraphim. She wanted to let her know that she'd try to be a good girl and help her in everything she could.

Keeping Tracy close for a few more moments, Seraphim felt like she too could have cried right now. But she tried to keep it bottled up, not daring to be so weak, even around Tracy. She really loved the girl like a younger sister, but she never wanted to look weak around her, or anyone at that. It was kinda amusing actually, how the two of them bouth found themselves... opening up to one another. Just as Tracy felt herself changing, so did Seraphim, she was starting to learn what it was like to take care of others again, and losing the fear to love.. to remember what it was like to care so much.

"Tracy? How about we go home. You should rest. And I have a match tomorrow too." It was a little sudden to say, but her words were delicate, nearly a whisper as she slowly let go of Tracy from the hug, finding that it might be best to return. Alison was probably home from the doctors too, and Tracy was pretty banged up too. Still, even if the training was making slow progress, Seraphim was still finding it a big success. And that's because, Tracy wasn't just getting stronger as a fighter, but a person too.

With Seraphim's hug, there was something Tracy comfirmed; she cared about her, like the sister or mother she never had the pleasure to meet. The redhead wouldnt have cared to stay in her white haired friend's embrace. It was her happy place. Then, Seraphim's question made her come back to reality. The kawai opened her eyes slowly and nodded her head. "Yeah, I need some rest. Let's go back home, Seraphy-chan.." Tracy muttered out as she was released from the hug. She took a step forward and turned back to face her white haired friend.

The red haired kawaii now could understand how Seraphim felt about her; she considered her as something much more important than as a friend. She was a member of the family now. Tracy knew it because that was what she was feeling. 'Seraphim and Alison... yes, they're my new family.' Tracy secretly said to herself, with a low volume of voice so Seraphim couldnt hear her.

Home, always a wonderful place to think about. To be with Alison, and have her newest member of the 'family,' Tracy there with them, it really helped calm her troubled soul. After taking one final glance at Tracy's wound, Seraphim gently patted Tracy's back, and turned towards the exit of the gym. She had no plans for the night, just to really rest and catch up on all her lost sleep and vanquish the stress she had built up.

"Heh.. I just hope you can survive Alison's attempt at cooking tonight, because I'm going to try teaching her that too." Seraphim admitted with a hearty chuckle, her arm casually around Tracy's shoulder as they left. This whole thing... ever since she had Tracy in her life, it felt a little more.. complete.

Tracy's eyes looked into Seraphim's. In it, she was able to see something she had never seen in anybody else's before. The true love that only a mother could have for her child. Though it was annoying to imagine herself as Seraphim's child, she knew that, if people considered the height difference between them, she looked like a baby compared to her white haired friend.

"Hey, how bad could it be?" That was all she said. She saved the rest for herself. '...Seeing you sad and not being able to help you is the worst that could ever happen to me..' Tracy muttered out softly. Seraphim would be able to hear only a murmur. She walked by Seraphim all the way back to the apartment, always smiling. She was happy to have a place where to come back at night. She was happy to have a place where her family was. She was happy to have a home.