[Kaguya]

"I know it is lucky Shade is her, I do not want to be a mindless doll on a string" her voice sounded quiets a tear falling from her left eye as she knew what fate would eventually await her, listening to his words once more she lowered her head "It almost make is seem like you are bound to me and I to you" she say in a whisper for no one but his ears to pick up "Why are you keen to them?"

[Hermes]

Because I was keen to them in the Before. Your people, of all those in this great multiverse, should understand the concept of a Before rather well...

[Kaguya]

"I understand before even if I can not remember it clearly, everyday my before becomes more and more like someone elses dream!" she stood quickly moving her hand to her chest she bowed to pay her respect and whistled "Shade" she called running deeper in the battle grounds stopping when she believed herself to be far enough away her hand going to the white crystal around her neck 'I must remember, I must not forget' she thought to herself over and over again

[Hermes]

He could have apparated to her without even a thought. It would have taken a mere fraction of his will to find her, and find what she was hiding or doing that she so desperately needed to leave.

After pondering it for a moment, he simply allowed his form to become corporeal, and leaned against the tree, closing the sockets where his eyes used to be, where now tiny flames burned.

[Kaguya]

"I refuse to become a doll, I won't be a killer by choice and there is nothing you can do to change that!" she call out looking to the heavens as if talking to a higher being, yes she was one of the few favored but she still had memories and so fight with everything she had to remain her own being, no matter how futile it was considering the end would still have the same outcome.

Sliding down the tree she brought her knees to her chest and looked to Shade "Soon my before will leave me and I won't remember... why does it hurt so much?" she would ask him her hand going to stroke his head "No I'm not giving up, I'm just wondering why I am still fighting the inevitable" her voice sounded offended as she argued with what seemed with herself

"I know... fight while I still have the will... we can deal with the aftermath later" she smiled and nuzzled shade "I'm glad one of us is thinking straight" she say her voice showing devotion to the one last thing she had holding her together, the crystal could break, be lost or taken from her, but the bond she had for him would never break and could never be taken from her as much as many would have liked it

[Hermes]

After some time, he became bored with waiting, and apparated to her.

Do you often speak to the trees? there was no mockery in his voice, he meant it.

[Kaguya]

Remaining where she was, she brought her hand to her chest and once more bowed her respect but remained quiet to his question, it was his talk on 'before' that had upset her

[Hermes]

He stared hard at her, curious as to why she was clutching her chest. He regarded Shade for a moment, then turned his gaze back to her. He then did something he had never done, not since he had covered them- He removed the veil from in front of his eyes. Twin flaming orbs shone bright, lighting the area, fire playing the shadows across the ground.

Do you see the flames? Can you see them?

[Kaguya]

She looked to him with confusion, though seen his eyes and nodded "Yes I see the flames" her eyes closing as she lowered her head, somehow she felt unworthy of seeing him, normally she would be pulling away from the light but some how she didn't from this light

[Hermes]

Look at them. Look at them and see.

He waited for her to tilt her eyes up again. He would show her the one time before he had ever conceded, he would show her his Before, and leave the memory of there even being a before burned into her.

[Kaguya]

She shook her head refusing to look into his eyes once more "I refuse" she say sternly holding onto shade, she didn't need to see, and she didn't want to his light felt warn to her, it didn't irritate her like sun light but the light from his eyes filled her with a feel of dread almost like there was something there she herself didn't want to see or remember

[Hermes]

He narrowed his eyes, and made a quick decision. She WOULD look. He grabbed her roughly by the chin, and forced her into his gaze.

I. Said. Look.

If he was going to show her, he would not be denied.

[Kaguya]

Eyes went wide perhaps with a little fear, perhaps in surprise only she knew the reason behind it as she was roughly handled her eyes going back to the now growling Shade and shook her head, she closed her eyes once more "I refuse! Please stop this" she say to him "I don't want to look, some places should never be seen this is one of them" she pleaded, though she was unsure if it would fall on deaf ears

[Hermes]

He sighed, having no option but to release her. He meant her no harm, but she apparently was too fearfull. He whispered to himself, mostly.

There is too much fear in your heart. I remember a time when you shielded me with your own person....Now you avert your eyes from mine...

He spoke up to where she could hear.

There is fear in you. I know you to be stronger. When you are stronger, I will fortify you in ways you think lost.

[Kaguya]

She open her eyes and look to him "I didn't mean to offend you" her voice whispering "Light irritates but your light doesn't, I find it warm almost familiar" she say in honesty, her eyes meeting his at least for a short time "I don't want to remember, it has nothing to do with fear... I don't want to remember just to forget once more" her voice sorrow filled as she looked down once more, it was the lose of her memories and being a will-less doll that scared her

[Hermes]

He regarded Shade again, and then laughed, a loud, big, full laugh. He hadn't laughed so since his Before, and even then not much before the end of it. He laughed like this for a good minute before finally ceasing. Corporeal again, he couldn't help it, he hugged her.

You've grown so very much. Fare well in the fights here, I would hate to find you in one of my lanterns..