Eternal Storm Clip 4

From episode 27: Sanctuary

Shiori scoops sand into her palm and lets it slip through her fingers over and over again. Sighing, she asks, “How do you think Toshirou and Sora are doing?”

Kita frowns. “Is that what’s been bugging you?” she asks.

“Why didn’t you guys ever tell us?” Shiori asks. “Why didn’t you ever say anything about what you went through? Why did you let us get in so deep when you knew how dangerous it could be?”

“You know that Toki and I thought all this was over when we first brought you to the Gates,” Kita replies. “I never wanted to get you mixed up in all this.”

“I don’t think I’m cut out for this,” Shiori murmurs. “I don’t like feeling this way. I’m scared all the time. I watch my friends get hurt and I freeze up and don’t know what to do. I hate feeling like no matter what I do, they’ll slip through my fingers.” She gazes listlessly up into the star-speckled sky.

“You’re not the only one who feels that way,” Takeshi tells her. “But hopefully, this will be the last time we have to fight. ‘When the rains return to Tasogare no Ame, peace will flow from the river.’”

“Since when do you write poetry?” Kita asks jokingly.

“It’s a Water Gate proverb,” Takeshi explains. “Don’t you think it seems to be true?” A wistful half-smile takes the place of Takeshi’s frown. “Yuki believed that.”

Kita frowns. “Is that why you seem so superstitious about the rain in that place? You always get worried when it stops raining there.”

“The rains stopped there before our parents died and didn’t return until after the war stole Yuki,” Takeshi murmurs.

“Takeshi...”

“It’s my hope that this will finally be the end of it and the rains will return to Tasogare no Ame for good,” Takeshi says.

“I hope so too,” Shiori agrees.

End