Gran...ny? [Hinamori brow wrinkles in confusion. What... is he saying? He made her sick? Could have ki... Why is he saying these things? Even in confusion, even in fear and delusion, to imagine something like that... Her eyes stare in disbelief at his lips.]
[It couldn't be true... could it?]
[She steps back in fear, instinctively, pulling her hands up to her chest. Was it true? Had he been responsible for Granny's sickness? Was that what had happened while she was away? Had she really missed so much?]
[She can't blame him; he was just a child, and more powerful than almost anyone she knew. He couldn't have known; maybe wouldn't have even known how to stop it if he tried. No, there was no blame. Only guilt on her part, for she was the one who had left him alone. It was her fault—she had left both of them alone, to go to the Academy, to pursue... Captain Aizen... (oh if only he were here right now, he would know just what to say, he would calm me and comfort my beating heart)]
I'm so sorry, Shirou-chan; I—I wanted to learn to protect you, but to do that I had to leave, and... I never meant to leave you with the burden of caring for her all alone. I wish I had been there. I could have helped. I would have done... something. I didn't know. I... I never knew.
[And it only makes her guilt worse, to know that she never knew. She should have known. Should have asked. She had optimistically assumed that everything was alright, would be alright, if she just kept on her way; that things would work out for the best, as they always had. She steps back towards his bed, even though her whole body aches. She refuses to run away this time.]
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[It couldn't be true... could it?]
[She steps back in fear, instinctively, pulling her hands up to her chest. Was it true? Had he been responsible for Granny's sickness? Was that what had happened while she was away? Had she really missed so much?]
[She can't blame him; he was just a child, and more powerful than almost anyone she knew. He couldn't have known; maybe wouldn't have even known how to stop it if he tried. No, there was no blame. Only guilt on her part, for she was the one who had left him alone. It was her fault—she had left both of them alone, to go to the Academy, to pursue... Captain Aizen... (oh if only he were here right now, he would know just what to say, he would calm me and comfort my beating heart)]
I'm so sorry, Shirou-chan; I—I wanted to learn to protect you, but to do that I had to leave, and... I never meant to leave you with the burden of caring for her all alone. I wish I had been there. I could have helped. I would have done... something. I didn't know. I... I never knew.
[And it only makes her guilt worse, to know that she never knew. She should have known. Should have asked. She had optimistically assumed that everything was alright, would be alright, if she just kept on her way; that things would work out for the best, as they always had. She steps back towards his bed, even though her whole body aches. She refuses to run away this time.]