Keir Xanthior stood framed in the doorway to the archive room. Akira was frozen where she stood by the table full of documents. Askel stood off to her left looking between them. The tension was so thick any one of them could have cut it with a knife. Keir was dressed in his uniform. It was the same one he’d been wearing the day Akira said goodbye to him. Askel cleared his throat.

“Kira?” he asked half turning to his sister.

At some point, Kira had begun to cry. The tears were flowing freely down her face.

“Kira, the documents!” Askel exclaimed.

This caused her to jump slightly but she did put the documents she’d been holding down.

“It’s been a long time, Keir,” he said not taking his eyes from Akira.

“Yeah, our ship was sunk in enemy waters,” Keir replied.

“Why didn’t you write?” Kira finally demanded.

“I couldn’t,” he replied.

“Bullshit!”

She was nearly sobbing now.

“That is bullshit and you know it, Keir. I waited for a letter. Every day I waited and every day without one I thought you were lost to me forever. Now you waltz back in here as if you never left!”

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Kier looked pained as he watched her cry.

“Kira, please don’t cry. You know I hate it when you cry.”

“Good!” she shouted. “You deserve to see me cry every tear I’ve held back since the day you left!”

Keir looked to Askel for help.

“Kira, let’s go home now,” he said. “Father was asking for you, remember?”

“I don’t want to go home, Askel,” she replied with a sniffle.

“Why not?”

“It’s not the same. It’s so empty, so devoid of life without them. It’s dark and depressing and full of people and you know I can’t handle crowds.”

She began to cry again. Askel turned to glare at Keir.

“What did I do?” he asked bewildered.

“You couldn’t have chosen a worse time to come see her,” Askel spat.

“What do you mean?” Keir was thoroughly confused by the venom in Askel’s words.

“Life went on without you, Keir,” she answered. “Father had a terrible stroke that left him basically a vegetable.”

She wiped her eyes, smearing the mascara she’d applied for the funeral.

“Mother, Adan, and Nell all died just a week ago. We just burried them today.”

For a moment, Keir said nothing.

“God, Kira I’m sorry,” he finally said.

Akira had turned away to wipe her tears away but on hearing his appology she whirled to face him, anger flashing in her eyes.

“You’re sorry for what?” she demanded. “People die every day! My father’s stroke had nothing to do with you! So why the fuck are you sorry?”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to support you,” he nearly whispered. “I never should have gone.”

“You couldn’t have known any of this was going to happen, Keir.”

“Maybe not, Akira, but at least I could have been there when you needed me the most.”

“I don’t need you!” Akira snapped.

“No, of course not but no one understands what you’re doing better than I do,” Keir replied.

Akira was about to retort when Askel put his hand on her shoulder.

“Kel?” she asked.

He didn’t answer but his grip on her shoulder got even tighter.

“Kel? What’s going on?” Worry laced her voice now.

Suddenly, his grip loosened and he collasped to the ground.

“KEL!” Akira screamed.