[ xie lian holds her hand tight, lets her grip on as much as she feels like she needs, but after she trails off, he lifts his hand to gently wipe away some of the tears at on her cheeks with his long sleeve.

how awful, for her to have experienced such a thing. how cruel the world is - xie lian has always wished it wasn't, but he has been so, so aware of its nature for far too long.

he takes the duty of holding this memory with all of the somber seriousness it requires, and feels i don't want someone to have to suffer when they only want to be with a loved one deep, deep in his core. it reminds him of a little ghost fire, all those years ago. ]

If you forget, I will remember. I will find ways to remind you, even if the event disappears from your mind, Miss Hikaru, I swear it.