More disgust quickly filled the modern Auset. It hadn't been until Takumi guided her eyes away that she had even began to gaze away. She'd tried before ... but hadn't been able to. It was so horrifying ... but the abrupt urge to slap her former self had grown so strong. But she didn't for two reasons. One, it was supposed to be impossible. Two, on the rare chance it
would work .... she did not want to be in front of this man, regardless of what form. A third came as they both woke up in the Infirmary. Her trembling hands were still around Takumi and as she followed his gaze, she found Akane.
Impossible! We get out of one Hell only to .. ?! Her head shook no ... she didn't want to assume the worst. Not yet. She may very well regret it ... but she spoke,
A-akane I ... " She realized she wasn't sure what to say after. 'I'm sorry' was definitely not true ... nothing was leaving. Oh gods ... she was about to be at
her mercy now wasn't she? That began to fade away when she did turn and saw the usually proud - sadistic even - Blue's face ... tear-stricken.
A low chuckle left Akane as she noted both Takumi and Auset holding one another.
"...Heh, sorry though I must say Irony and Fate both have intriguing ways of showing up. Seriously though .... " Her head shook in an affirmative nod to Eri. She didn't really like it .... but he
did deserve to hear this. He would have found out eventually anyways.
"...It's over. You don't need to stress yourself anymore. Kenji's gone ... dead."
It hadn't been until Auset looked around again until she noted Hana was here. Before the scene she had just finished watching, she remembered the other Ra student had been missing.
"Wait so ... how .... ?" And then a massive migraine hit her all at once, making her hit her head.
Everything came back to her; all her memories - past and present.
"...." Akane bit down on her lower lip, glancing down in shame. She didn't want to say this; especially with Eri conscious. But they hadn't seen everything after having left the Infirmary, only hints at most.
"Not long after you two left .... I was given orders from Kenji. In hopes to get the journal back, he wanted me to duel Eri. I allowed him a chance to choose the wager. He .... he chose his memory. Hana's mind was a wreck ... between that and her wounded ankle, it all but gave away it had been her that stole the journal. So I took her back to Kenji in the Principal's Office. It hadn't been until he tried to order me to find and duel you - and put my soul up as a price - that I finally got my wake up call."
She paused, waving her hand in annoyance.
"Go on and laugh if you're gonna. I know I fucking deserve it .... for everything." Giving each a few minutes, she wasn't amazed when Auset refused to. She was waiting for Takumi to more anyways. Regardless of whether he did or not, she continued,
"So ... I confronted him before he could finish choking Hana out. And ... well ... we had our last duel. I'm .... I'm assuming anyways that he's dead. His body didn't return ... it just .... vanished along with the shadows."
She had noted the hint Eri made by making room on the bed; but now that he heard the truth, she felt even more unworthy to accept. Rather, she had been shakily remaining standing up the entire time. Fear ... of rejection from Eri, being disowned even by him, was easily felt swimming in her mind. Even though Hitoshi had forgiven her, how could
they?! She'd nearly damn well turned them both ... left them to remain buried alive ... caused as much pain to them both as she did everyone else. Hitoshi, Eri, Hana .... how could she deserve any form of forgiveness?
The migraine had seemed to get a bit worse as she spoke but when she finished, it mostly faded away. Managing to glance up to Akane, she smiled softly at her.
"...Truly? It's over?" Her head bowed in appreciation.
"Thank you. You don't begin to understand what you've done ... but know it was definitely the right thing."
She blinked, taken aback at how easily Auset had seemed to forget everything.
"....Bu-but!" A raised hand from Auset hinting for her to stop made her, for once.
"It is not my place to judge; that is Anubis's. Alas, I do not follow him though. Moreover though, Kenji knew the price when you two dueled .... it is a permanent risk once you initiate it. It wasn't really murder but arrogance. After all, he must have been very certain he'd win to put up such stakes. True, his deck was powerful ... but now we've both seen it can be beaten."
Akane's head lowered more, giving a weak nod. That had been the easy part. Now ... now she turned shakily to Eri, her main concern.
"I ... will understand if you don't want to see me anymore." She murmured weakly, her body and voice shaking more by this point.