The moments stretched on in painful silence, Akari growing more alert, and more alarmed, with each second that passed without her friend showing her face. This was not the reaction she expected, and her body tensed, the thought that it might be another trap flitting to the forefront of her mind again. After what felt like an eternity spent in tense anticipation, she heard a breath, followed by a soft rustling.
Finally, her gaze found the silver and black splotched face that looked so achingly familiar, poking out from the bushes. What she saw was even more surprising than an attack, though. This was not Asuka, not the one she knew, at least.
A stranger stared back at her, one that shared every possible trait with her friend. The same markings in the same place in the same colors. The same violet and blue eyes, but the fire in her was… Gone. Her lips twitched, but the woman’s voice stilled her from making any further assumptions. That was Askua’s voice.
"What the hell happened to you?" She wanted to rejoice in having found her, but she couldn’t quell the shock that she felt over what she saw. Her voice was pained, confused. She inhaled sharply, trying to steady herself.
"Gods, Asuka, I thought I had stumbled upon an imposter." She wasn’t sure how something like that would have worked but the change in her friend was nearly impossible to reconcile with the memories she possessed of the woman.
"Speech."
