[ in response to that anger, there's a quiet, steady undercurrent of emotion from xie lian - but it's of understanding. i know, it says. i believe in you. his worry for hikaru comes from a place of such genuine concern, because xie lian has been her, before. he has been young, and had the world placed on his shoulders, and he has been stubborn. the world broke him, in so many ways, to the point that he nearly lost who he was. he doesn't want to see that happen to her, either.

but, he looks away, as she starts to refocus, and looks outwards, instead, measured calm. a heart as still as water. ] ...I think that it is one that may have been gifted to someone by a Leader, in order to carry out an act this week. I don't know if it was Shima, or another party.