'Revival' in C sharp

Everything that Karina had been saying since they first starting talking in the infirmary, Seraphim listened to, she took all her words seriously, having a lot of respect for the girl. But, this time as she spoke, Seraphim gave her every bit of her attention, focusing on nothing else but Karina as she explained herself, leaving Seraphim to just stand there a few feet from the couch, looking down at her friend with a very serious expression, feeling her throat tighten as she did.

What was worse was when she mentioned that the guitar was all she really had. Now that Seraphim thought about it, Alison was her only connection to her own past, and the thought of losing her terrified Seraphim. Even if she had been making new friends, and had White Gale, that was all about her life now, she still needed something to remind her of the Hell she conquered, someone to have that she could reflect on the old days with, and to just remember that the only reason she was even here now was because of her past. To say she understood how Karina felt was an understatement, she completely sympathized for her, and knew almost exactly what it was like to be in her shoes, from being called a monster, to having nothing but one last thing left in your life, and feel like youâ€re at an end.

The more she listened, the more it struck Seraphim to the core. She had no idea how much this girl had suffered, and yet all of it, Seraphim knew what it was like. She understood her pain, the agony she was going through, and just how hard it must have been. It was the kind of experiences that would drive a person mad, eating them from the inside until they were nothing but a lifeless shell. But here they both were, two women who had been through Hell and back, but still standing.

After those last words Karina said, Seraphim couldnâ€t hide it anymore. Her lips slowly turned to a soft, warm smile, as her one, crimson eye fluttered a little before it started to water. She felt a wave of emotions wash over her like a torrent, and without a second of hesitation, she threw herself forward at the couch. And just as Karina finished speaking, Seraphim wrapped her arms tightly around Karinaâ€s shoulders and bag, embracing her in the same way Karina was holding her guitar moments ago. She wouldnâ€t release the hug, holding her much tighter than the last time she hugged the girl in the infirmary, just wanting the girl to know everything would be fine. “I just want you to be happy...” A small sniffle came from Seraphim as she rested her chin on Karinaâ€s shoulder, the side of her head against Karinaâ€s, as she continued to try and hold back the urge to cry. “Youâ€re not a monster, a tool, or a weapon. Youâ€re Karina… and I donâ€t want that to change.”

Karina was about to go silent when Seraphim suddenly hugged her close, a little unsure of what to do but feeling such a warm embrace, those words.. God dammit she told herself she didn't need to cry anymore. Karina's arm started to lift and she placed her hand on the back of Seraphim's head and carefull.. She started to stroke through the girl's hair, her other hand started to rub up and down to girl's back, closing her eyes completely, restng the side of her head against Seraphim's and quietly whispered. " I forgot... What happiness was... Untill yesterday.. " She'd pull Seraphim closer with the hand on the girl's back, wanting to keep that embrace tight, finally a soft whimper came, and soon Karina coughed, her tears streaming down her cheeks, she couldn't keep it inside anymore, she should've known from the first time she cried.. Monsters didn't cry. " Y-You're making me cry.. A-Again... Please.. D-Don't worry about me.. "

Karina could say whatever she wanted about her being fine or being able to handle it by her own but she only held Seraphim tighter aganst her, refusing to let her go. Tears falling down her cheek like rain, everything that was bottled up inside her started to come out bit by bit, she couldn't stop crying anymore, now resting her injured forehead upon Karina's shoulder and whispered. " Please... Don't let go.... " She continued to stroke idly through the girl's hair, trying to soothe herself to stop crying and just try to get a breather but the more she thought about it, the harder it was to stop, Seraphim managed to punch a hole through the wall Karina had around her emotions, her mind, her memories.. Her heart. " Never.. Let go.. "

Seraphim couldnâ€t help but find her own lips starting to trembling, until finally her watery eye had shed a single tear when she heard Karinaâ€s words. Forgetting what it meant to be happy… to consider herself a monster… Seraphim had been down that course before. It was bitter, painful, and lead to nothing but self-hatred and destruction. But it felt like, at the last moment, before Karinaâ€s world had become darker than black, the two had their fateful meeting. And now, the two were locked in eachothers arms, reduced to a broken mess, seeking comfort from one another like there was nothing else left.

“Karina… its okay… Iâ€m here for you now, I wonâ€t leave… I promise.” Seraphimâ€s hug only went a little tighter, just enough so it wasnâ€t uncomfortable, but never wanting to let go. Her friend was in a fit of tears now, and Seraphim knew she needed a good cry. …Everyone did. But Karina, the girl had been through so much, and beyond all of these physical wounds that needed mending, there was an inner pain that went strait to her heart that Seraphim wanted to be the one to heal. Though they only just became friends, Seraphim felt a deep connection with the girl, from experience, from understanding, and the bond they seemed to share.

Seraphim would gently tuck her hand behind Karinaâ€s head, allowing her to give a good cry into her shoulder for as long as she needed it. The feeling of Karinaâ€s hands through her hair and along her back was surprisingly gentle, and Seraphim appreciated the touch, knowing her own feelings of how much she cared were returned to her. Though right now, she was more focused on Karina than herself, feeling and witnessing every emotion pouring out of the girl like a damn had burst. And right now, Seraphim would be the person for her and shoulder to cry on, letting her shed as many tears as her broken soul needed to, as Seraphim just kept her close, not letting go just like Karina asked.

Karina started to smile, even through her sadness and the tears, that alone gave proof that Karina was improving, to be able to laugh through the sadness, the burdens she carried, it felt like a massive weight coming from her back as she held tightly onto Karina, her fingers now stroking repeatedly through Seraphim's hair, wanting to feel that she was close to her aswell as her fingers trailing up and down the girl's back. She wanted Seraphim to be there for her like she said, releasing a heavy sigh through her tears, trying to calm down from her emotional state, there was just one thing she wanted to say, something that had bothered her ever since the hospital. She always sought to make sure her feelings would not betray her again, pulling back so she could look Seraphim right in the eyes and then whispered. " ...I... You're... Important to me.. " Karina still couldn't say it clearly enough, it was still.. Too early for her.. She wanted to know everything about Seraphim before she'd say it.. She needed.. To be sure..

" Seraphim.. I want to know.. More about you.. " Karina then brought one hand up to gently cup and strokes Seraphim's cheek, trying to keep her tears at a minimum now. " I want to know who you are.. "

This was becoming just as hard to Seraphim as it was to Karina by now. Though Seraphim wasnâ€t truly crying anywhere near as much as her friend, it still brought a deep pain to her to be going through this. It was comforting though through all of this pain. The feeling of Karinaâ€s fingertips along her feather white hair, the warm, soothing sensation of her hand against her back, it really helped Seraphim feel at ease, but even so, Seraphim was more focused on Karina than herself. She hated seeing anyone like this, Hell, even if she fought Cerbera and the girl broke down to this state, she would have felt guilty. But to see a friend like this, especially one she had grown attached to so quickly, she couldnâ€t let it go without having her part in trying to help. People like Sindel, Tracy, Karina, and Alison, they were the world to Seraphim right now, and she would have fought through Hell and back again to help them.

When Karina pulled back a little though, the girl suddenly thought something was wrong. She even blinked for a moment, looking around as if to see what was the matter. But when Karinaâ€s fiery red orbs met her single, crimson eye, she knew Karina had something on her mind, and she listened close. But, when she heard Karinaâ€s deep and caring words, as much as it made Seraphim feel appreciated and cherished, it also made her uneasy. Like she was jumping into something bigger than she expected, and too soon. Maybe she was overanalyzing it, but with Megumi and what recently happened… Seraphim was trying keep a find distance away from people she knew she once had feelings for. She hadnâ€t been in contact with Phoebe lately, she hadnâ€t heard at all from Minerva, and even Tracy she had been leaving alone a little, all for the fear of wanting to get close to someone. There was Sindel too, but… she hadnâ€t seen the girl in so long, that she wanted to make up for some lost time last night, but after that, she still wanted some distance. However, now… everything seemed off. Like she was being thrown into just a little too much at once, and didnâ€t know how to handle it. But still, she tried her best.

“I care a lot about you too, and I told you, Iâ€m going to stick close, youâ€re just as important to me… I just…” The hesitation was filled in her tone, and Seraphim wasnâ€t even sure what to do just yet. But, after a little moment of silence, she just shook her head, thinking that maybe… she was thinking too much about this all, and just needed to take it easy, let things be as they were. So, her eye fixing on Karina again, she put her hand over Karinaâ€s that was on her cheek, gently stroking her thumb over the back of the girlâ€s palm. “Letâ€s just… one thing at a time… o-okay?” Then, she just couldnâ€t take it anymore, and felt like saying it right then and there, even if it did feel horrible to say it right in Karinaâ€s face. “I… I lied…” She said with hesitation, cringing just a little as she feared that Karina was going to be upset, even if the topic really wasnâ€t something she even could be angry with. “L-Last night.. you asked if I was afraid of getting close to someone…” She trailed off for a moment, only to draw a deep breath, trying to just sum up the courage to say it, feeling pathetic now, even if she was the one trying to comfort Karina, and not wanting it to be the other way around. “I.. really am afraid of it… I lost too many people that I canâ€t get back…”

Karina wasn't quite sure what Seraphim meant with only one thing at the time, looking down for a moment to wonder what to exactly say now, her attention was still on Seraphim when she heard her last words, starting to lift her head back up to stare right into her eye, then she started to show a soft, pained smile, gently stroking her own thumb in circles over that soft skin of her cheek, her lips parted to release the softest of whispers. " ..Being afraid.. Of what will ultimately change.. It wouldn't do you any good.. Everyone is afraid of something and it's.. Hard to conquer alone.. That's why people depend on others to help them.. That's why I depend on you now.. Outside the Era of Hell, it's basically just you I have now.

Karina looked over at her shiny guitar, which had fallen to the ground besides them, giving it a blank stair before she held Seraphim tightly close again, both hands now stroking up and down the girl's back, releasing a heavy sigh while her tears started to stop forming and dropping. " I hope.. You don't mind me telling me this.. But you shouldn't be afraid.. There are so many people in this world.. So many different people... I should take my own advice.. But knowing you, I've already accomplished it.. "

It was funny… but as Seraphim heard Karinaâ€s words, she couldnâ€t help but think about saying almost the same thing to her. Honestly, Seraphim had heard these words all before, quite a few actually back when she was taken into the church, where Sister Helen and Father Maxwell had orphaned her, and what few friends she still had left that didnâ€t die of disease or starvation. She lived true to them, or at least tried to, but it seemed like no matter how much Seraphim tried to just live life, find peace, and conquer her doubts, it never made her feel happy. She knew it all, just like Karina said, she shouldn't be afraid, and there was plenty more to look foward to, but every time, it felt like something shot down those ideals, clipping her wings.

“There is… one thing wrong about your statement.” Seraphim said as she leaned back a little, her hands gently sliding down Karinaâ€s back, as one rested lightly against the back of her hips, and the other returned to her side. She still found herself looking right at Karina, but she couldnâ€t continue this embrace any longer, as much as it made her feel comfort, it also felt painful, and difficult to do. No matter how much she thought about it, her mind kept making her think that the woman in front of her she was embracing was Megumi, making it harder for Seraphim to do no matter how much she wanted to hold on to her. Still, with a slow breath, she forced a pained smile, wiping her own, watery eye with the sleeve of her gray collared shirt, causing her eyepatch to get moved just slightly off center, but still covering her eye, as she finished her sentence. “Iâ€m not the only person. Now that youâ€re in White Gale… you have a new family, you wonâ€t be alone.”

" It's hard for me.. To trust others quickly.. You just gave that.. I don't know.. I just had an immidiate feeling we were going to be seeing alot more of eachother in the future. " Karina then brought one hand behind the back of her head and rubbed it gently, trying to ignore her sadness with trying to joke with the girl though she knew she herself had trouble of even laughing. Karina started to press her back once again on the couch and rubbed both her eyes now with her knuckles, drying them so she could actually look a little more herself then this crying mess she was, though when she looked up at Seraphim she could really give her a honest smile. " But it's good to know that I'm no longer alone.. Is that what motivates you..? Knowing that there will be people waiting for you no matter what? "

Karina was actually becoming more and more curious about the members of the White Gale, if they were picked by Seraphim, then they would no doubt be just like her, which means she'd have plenty of people to have fun with and that's what Karina needed though she thought back upon how she was with Leiko the day before they went to Cerbera.. How intense it was so se eachother.. Accept eachoter.. Maybe that is what Karina truly needed, people that would accept her for who she would be, shaking her head to free herself from the other thoughts, she mumbled. " Thank you.. "

Hearing those words, how grateful Karina was, how hard of a time she had to trust people which Seraphim sympathized for, all of it. It just made Seraphim feel good inside to know she was really making a difference for someone, that she could at least make one personâ€s life a little better, even if her own felt horrible at the moment. Karina had quickly become an important person to Seraphim, and she wanted to keep the woman in her life. Seeing her wipe the tears in her eyes, Seraphim just knew there was a lot of work to be done between them, and she was going to need to spend more time with her. But she never minded that, in fact, she wanted to be here for Karina, even if Seraphim was finding it hard to say the right words, it all mattered if the two could find even a ray of happiness together.

“Youâ€re welcome, Iâ€m just glad to help a friend.” Her words soft but caring, Seraphim broke away from Karina, and fell back a little into the couch beside her. No longer looking at the kimono wearing girl, and instead strait ahead, crossing her hands on front of her chest as she nodded slowly, answering her question. “You know… there are a lot of reasons that motivate me. But… I think what you said is probably the greatest one. Friends… no, more like family to me. I fight for each and every one of them, because theyâ€ve all brought light into my life that I never want to let go of. …Even you.” A calm, dismissive sigh escaped Seraphimâ€s pink lips, closing her eye for a moment as she let this all try to pass. She was getting too emotional, and with Karina, she was still a little confused of just how she should even feel around her to begin with. So, hoping to change the subject, she pointed at the phone, giving a little grin in the corner of her lips as she made the mood a little lighter. “Hey, since thereâ€s nothing to work with for cooking, how about we order pizza? Make half of it pepperoni~”

" Ah wha? " Karina looked over at Seraphim and quickly shook her head with a grin. " Ohhh noooo. It's my house so I'm gonna be calling what we're gonna be eating! I was thinking of a pizza without pepperoni.. Maybe a pizza with alotta meat and cheese, perhaps mushrooms... Or a biiigg bowl of noodles. A good flavory too, maybe a little spicey and meat in that! " Karina was obviously teasing Seraphim, in a much better mood then before while she got back onto her feet, picking up her guitar and placing it somewhere they couldn't trip over it. She headed to the kitchen again to search through some stuff, chuckling and looking over at Seraphim. " I can already tell it'll be fun having you around! " She finally found what she was looking for, a few pieces of paper with phone numbers of local delivery stores, looking through them and walking back to Seraphim to hand them over to her, taking her seat back on the couch.

" Pick what you like, my treat. Personally I know what I'm going to order, I was craving for noodles all week! Oh there are also vegetable things on those menu things.. Just gotta see what you want.. Which reminds me.. I want to redress, I've been in this kimono for a while now and I Don't trust hospitals doing a good job. " She'd stand back up, being a bit impatient with just sitting around and headed upstairs to her room to change, waving at Seraphim. " Just shout what you want to eat! "