Oh, you lured me in I couldn't sense the pain

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It was not the first time Hotaru had passed by the growing pile. She may have avoided her mother, but Shiroshika was still hers and she would do her part as princess and lasting heir to the throne. Patrols had taken her across the jagged peaks as she attempted to learn the trails. It took time, but she was coming to learn the twisting peaks, even if they would never be a permanent home...so...of course, the glint of the sun would attract her gaze when the first stones had appeared.

She had passed by early that morning, her paws taking pause as she saw the height the once small pile had grown to. The early morning shimmered from the stones, reflecting dots of sun that danced along the ground like light through leaves or the ripple of water. Hotaru had her suspicions before, but she was almost certain now what her mother had been doing here...the scent that lingered gave away the creator, but it was what left that spoke words neither she nor her mother could bare to say.

They had always been her light.

Her jaw would grow tight as she resisted the water pooling in her eyes. Deep down she knew she had been harsh, perhaps overly so, but she was mad at the world with only her mother to blame. How...could it have truly been her fault though? What was there that she could have done differently from her mother in her stupid youth? Hell, she was still stupid. Maybe it was just the one way she felt she had control for once in her life...but in doing so she had been unfair to the only family she had left. She didn't want this rift, nor the hate, nor sorrow.

How long until they could be happy again?

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She hadn't noticed her until it was too late. The pale frame reached into the corner of her vision as surprise quickly had her blink away her half-formed tears. For a moment Hotaru expected to see Sachi, but she knew who it was before her eyes landed on her mother's face. Reiko stayed silent as she pressed forward without stopping to acknowledge her and the pale princess found herself staring unsure if she was thankful or anxious for the silence.

Unprompted, her mother went to work confirming what she had theorized only moments before. There were so many amongst the pile now, each one placed with care and undisturbed. Hotaru only bit her lip as she debated if she should say something. She didn't feel like getting into another argument... but the silence nagged louder than either of them could manage. She didn't want this...and it had come to this because of her.

“...How long?” The words came softly as her voice cut short. She had intended for the question to be about the shrine, but now she couldn't find it in her to continue. Maybe it was because the question could be applied to so much more and she only found herself wanting to know the rest.

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She spun to face her, faster than the pale daughter had anticipated as she quickly averted her gaze to the stones. It was true, she was the one to start the conversation, but she wasn't sure she could look her in the eyes quite yet. Not about this and not while she held that look. She had been mad for so long. Blaming the world for all the misfortunes that had come their way and when that wasn't enough it had shifted to someone she could blame. Someone who...may have played a part in it all, but was innocent and a victim all the same...

Hotaru inhaled and exhaled just deep enough to push back to waves of emotion, but not deep enough to be visible. Her heart thrummed louder than normal filling her chest and ears as her mother's words washed over her. Months. Months squandered with foes and loss only to be replaced with growth and life. Months she had assumed were just that and nothing more in the quiet dark that haunted their minds.

For someone who had grown to be so vocal, she now found herself speechless. She had questions of course, but what good would the answers do? They were all just a grasp at hope or pleading with fates that cared little about them. Maybe they were just as alone as Haruki.

But he had to be alive.

There was still a chance he could come back. Of course her thoughts had wandered to the worst in her darkest hours, but she felt it. Surely she would know if he was gone and presently that was something she was not willing to believe. Why he hadn't returned she couldn't say, but she would pray that his absence had not been voluntary and that he may find his way back once more. However, that would beg one question she could not keep, “Is it a memory or a promise?” In the name of the fallen prince or the breath held until his returned.

She had to feel the same... otherwise, she truly did give up.

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An answer too perfect. It was the stone to crack the wall that had grown and solidified over time, but it wasn't something she wished to address presently. For a long moment, she was silent, struggling as a tear finally slipped past her just out of sight while Hotaru kept her face turned enough to hide it. “I see—” The words were forced as she attempted to keep them steady, but there were few in this world who would not miss the waiver in her voice. She had nothing left to say and much to think about. So, before her mother could catch a better look at her or try to stop her advances, she'd stand turning to make a hasty retreat.

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