[ it's cruel, to hear those words again, the words a dying mind gives a dying body to go on. yoo joonghyuk would throw her memory back at her with no remorse. the words the kanae in her mind would tell her.

she knows kanae would be fine staying dead. she knows kanae would want shinobu to find future happiness, to live her life as well as she could, to find what happiness she could in the present, but shinobu holds the dead so close to her. loss is entrenched in her every action. it is the memory of her family that drives her to be good. her dead family has always been kinder and more compassionate than she is, less angry and bitter and more willing to save anyone, even the demons shinobu hates with every fiber of her being.

I will be here.

she can't break any more promises. she can't. she can't watch more people get harmed because of her. didn't she resolve after the camp? she knows what those eyes mean, and she takes a deep breath, choking before she can exhale. ]

I'm sorry. I know you're why I'm here, but I know what you'd want me to do. Your wishes mean so much to me, Kanae. I'm sorry. I love you, Kanae. I don't want to let you go. I don't want to let you go again.

[ but she has to here, doesn't she? she's terrible at this game. she picks up her shield and rushes at kanae.

ready to break her heart again. ]

I can't choose you here.