Princess Kiyohime was nervous. After Takeshi had brought all of them together and she’d said her tiny apology to her sister she should have felt better. Ike still felt guilty though and wanted to talk to her sister. She still considered Iki the big sister even if she had grown taller. Iki had always been more of everything, more mature, more graceful, and far more forgiving. The girl’s speckled chest tightened as her mismatched paws carried her to the beaches surrounding the palace.

Ike was never really any good at the sentimental or thoughtful gifts her sister went through lengths to make. Her brain was so fuzzy with emotions Shuriken brought nothing but herself to the moonlit beach. Tanto her akita had been sent earlier to give Iki her message, come meet her on the beach once the moon rose. She didn’t know how to tell her sister how sorry she really was, or if she would ever make up for allowing jealousy to eat at her the way it had. Ikigai never deserved her ire.

She sighed softly and deflated under the weight on her shoulders as dual toned eyes fell to her paws. The ocean rolled up onto the sand in front of her and offered kindly to sweep away her problems with its swaying grasp. There was so much on her mind these days, it made her resent having to grow up.


"Kiyohime Shuriken Ōritsu Abraxas"

Ikigai had received the invitation to meet her sister at the beach. It was a little surprising, but it wasn't unwelcome. The rift between them had been a sore spot for a long while, but it had been pushed aside in lieu of their father's abandonment. Receiving the quick apology during Takeshi's reveal had helped, but the sisters needed to air their grievances. Perhaps this is why Ike had invited her out.

The pale princess, smallest of the bunch, went without any of her trappings today. No headdress, no kimono, no jewelry or anything. She was simple and pure Ikigai as she made her way out to the beach. Ike was there waiting and Iki could almost see a cloud of negative emotion surrounding her much larger sister. Without speaking, Iki moved to her sister, seating herself in the sand. She sat close, but not close enough to touch. Silver pools looked out over the sea. She had been invited here, so she was content to sit quietly until Ike was able to say what she needed to say. It never crossed Iki's mind that this would be anything other than a reconciliation.

"Speech"

Kiyohime looked out over the ocean but her gaze was farther away even than the horizon as everything weighed heavily upon her. Her new rank, their father leaving, her shame at what she had done to her sister. Being so undeserving of everything she had. Her thoughts were obvious in her posture, she was far from disguising her true emotions. Thankfully she wasn’t left alone for very long when the sound of Iki’s paws in the sand alerted her to her presence. She didn’t move for a long moment as her sister came to sit beside her. There was room between them, indicative of the rift that had formed between them.

A soft sigh left her as her dual toned gaze shifted to her sister’s features. "Hey, Iki.” She greeted her softly, obviously not as moved on from their brief apology."Um.. I just.. I really wanted to tell you how sorry I was.” She began, taking in a deep breath and returning her gaze to the horizon. "I was way out of line, I’ve been so jealous and immature. I’m just so so sorry….” Tears filled her eyes and it became obvious she wasn’t just speaking about what she did that day when Iki had gifted her that headdress. She was sorry for much more, their father leaving, a rank she didn’t deserve, just everything.

"Kiyohime Shuriken Ōritsu Abraxas"