remember me and all my falling stars | @hanmina13
kanaâs gift is drenched in her blood, fingernails clinging to the edges of it, tips dug in deep, causing brittle bites and harsh slaps of power kana is not necessarily always prepared to control, her abilities oftentimes leaving her bruised, bleeding, or wane. she had an easier time managing it when sheâd let herself drown in the darkness, when sheâd coiled in the curse of her life, swallowing down the over-sweetened taste of selfishness and brashness, how alive sheâd always felt being a little bit synonymous with the devil himself, and that maliciousness had born in her a strength the ivory council had not appreciated, an absoluteness over her abilities that she couldnât have turned off even if sheâd ever wanted to. and no, sheâd never wanted to.
but being soaked in that wickedness had also bred in her the capacity to lose everything sheâd loved, the one thing in the whole wide world that she loved, her singular, most prized title; motherhood. it had cost her too much, it had stripped her too bare, too raw, too stained, and left her unable to look at herself in the mirror for months afterwards, much less look at anyone who properly knew her. who properly loved her. sheâd shunned almost all acquaintances away, anyone whoâd be so informal as to call her by her first time, for the first year or so after coming to korea, determined to recreate herself from the soles of her heels on upwards, determined to rebrand, renew, rechristen her life from itâs shattered ashes into a kindling once more.
as such, she hadnât let anyone find her. her gifts give her the power of locating so she understands how it works better than most, warding herself or simply avoiding against any witches who had sought her outâ and she is aware there had been plentyâ keeping to the shadows, staying a step or two ahead. with a name and a reputation like the one the takedaâs had passed down to her, she knew it wouldnât be easy, but here in korea, it was easier than back in japan would have been.
but now⌠now itâs time to step into the light, she supposes. now itâs time to finally open the door and meet with eyes who know her, have known her for years, aligned their souls together despite the darkness that had brimmed in kanaâs, loved the heart in her even when theyâd all known it had gone stiff and hard and impenetrable. she inhales deeply, nervously, as she strides slowly, purposefully through the small cafe shop, her eyes stinging and sharp, her jaw set, her wardings left in the car; she feels vulnerable, unprotected, terrified, but approaches the younger woman anyway.
âmina-chan.â itâs been years since theyâve seen each other, and kana isnât sure if mina knowsâ⌠if she hates kana now. after what happened. the air burns hot in her lungs as she holds it captive in her chest, her knuckles whitening in anxiety.
The air, the ocean, even the people were all completely different than the ones back home in Busan. Japan was very different in many ways, as well as similar in other aspects too. However the sky was one and the same, when the sun rises, or when the stars would shine in the middle of the night, they all looked the same. The world kept spinning, people kept moving on with their lives, in many senses it reminded Mina to that time. Just like back then, it felt as if someone had a tight hold on her heart just waiting for the right moment to squeeze it right there.Â
Upon rumor spreading amongst their kind, one name reached the young womanâs ears, Kana. After administrating her savings, the girl was quick to take a quick trip to Japan in hopes to find her, she searched everywhere, from where it was supposed to be the crime scene, to the eldestâs house. She was not the only one, but definitely was one of the most discreet ones, whenever it felt dangerous she could only make others believe she was someone else (or simply not there) and walk away.
True, there had been years since they last spoke, not because they wanted to, but life was dragging them on different ways at that time. Kana was still one of her closest friends, and with no body found, Mina had hope. The things Kana had to deal with, by herself just kept ripping her down. After a few weeks, the girl returned disappointed back in Busan. The hand that held her heart didnât turned it into pieces, instead it embraced it in a cold frost that kept making it difficult to breathe sometimes.Â
>No magic could ease the frost away, but sheâd to manage everyday life anyway.
Thatâs why, the more she focused on work the less time she had to think on unnecessary thoughts or feelings. âWelcome!â was echoed as a new client arrived, Mina replied absent-mindedly as she was quick in clean of the tables.
A heart covered in frost managed to skip a beat, lips parted, and dark brown eyes slowly raised at such familiar voice. . . At such unique honorific. Slowly, the young witch turned towards the source, there she found her. Graceful as ever, perhaps a bit more saddened features, but just as mature and beautiful as she remembered. By now her eyes were undistinguishable turning red while trying to remain calm, Kana was right in front of her, alive.
She knew it.Raising a hand towards her lips, tears inevitably started to roll down, they barely had time to caress her cheeks. âKana-Unnieâ her voice went from calm to almost a sob at the last part as she left everything and without hesitation run to throw herself at the other and hugged her tightly, afraid that by letting go she would lost her. âIâm glad youâre alive.â she mumbled before a sob escaped her lips.Â
Surprised? Defintiely, frustrated for stopping searching for her, annoyed for the other to take this long to appear, saddened, but above all grateful. All these emotions combined together rushed Mina's soul, however one thing was stronger than all negative and good emotions, enough to forgive anything that could've upset her at another time, the love for an old friend.