[center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKCr1bdwy0c[/youtube][/center]

[center][h1][Color=#ab89d6][i][b]Kanade[/b][/i][/color][/h1][/center]
[hr]

[color=#dcd0ff]Being near the sea felt nostalgic. The sharp taste of salt in the air, the faint, mellow scent of sun--they fed into warm, hazy memories that slowly took shape. In her mind, she could vaguely see her mother's face. Deep amber eyes stared back her with a smile as she crouched and reached out her hands. A tall man looked down at them. The sinking afternoon sun perched behind him, casting shadows across his face. All she could remember was his silhouette. She could barely remember anything about that day, but she remembered the warmth. She remembered how she felt, and slowly, inexorably the cold tendrils of loneliness slithered in to fill the void.

Five days ago she was so angry she could've rammed those mako reactors so far up Rufus Shinra's ass, his eyes would light up like a lamp post. Pumped and ready to take on the world, she was all too happy to follow Iris and join Avalance. But, for some reason, she wasn't feeling it today.

Kanade glanced at the half-empty bottle with a sigh and brought it to her lips. Liquid fire poured down her throat and she winced as it settled uncomfortably in her belly. [Color=#ab89d6][i]"I need to punch something."[/i][/color] She grumbled, knowing if she didn't find a good distraction soon, she'd have to deal with the consequences--namely herself.

Familiar names appeared before her. 

[center]
[b]« Haruto Mistuhama »[/b]
‹ Akira Ayumu ›
‹ Iris Evergarden ›
‹ Yue Lan ›
...[/center]

She didn't remember taking out her phone, but now that she looked at the contacts, she hesitated to put it back. Kanade stared at the Haruto's name for a long time, anxiety stirring inside. Her finger hovered over the call button.

[Color=#ab89d6][b]"What is wrong with me today?"[/b][/color] She whispered before letting out a frustrated sigh. 

Her phone began to ring. 

[Color=#ab89d6][b]"Hmm?"[/b][/color] At first she thought someone was calling her, but she quickly realized she had accidentally called Haruto instead.

The shock loosened her grip and her phone slipped. With lightning reflexes, she recovered it. 

[Color=#ab89d6][b]"N-no! Damnit!"[/b][/color] She shouted frantically.

Her heart hammered against her chest at the thought of her dropping it into the sea. When she looked at it again, she noticed the call connected.

[Color=#ab89d6][b]"Hi, this Haruto!"[/b][/color] A cheerful voice came out of the speaker.

[Color=#ab89d6][b]"Haruto?"[/b][/color] Her chest tightened with anticipation, and her voice came out higher than usual. 

[Color=#ab89d6][b]"Please leave a message-"[/b][/color]

Kanade's heart sank, becoming a rock lodged in her chest. She ended the call immediately. Hands trembling, the feelings of frustration and defeat finally got the best of her and she cried out in a high-pitched growl. Her face warmed as her tears began to swell.

By now she had drawn more than a few curious glances, and when she finally noticed them, her cheeks reddened. The nearby couple holding hands had begun staring at her, their brows pinched together with mutual concern. She spotted their matching rings and her lips tightened into a resentful scowl. Her glare was sharp enough to cut steel.

[Color=#ab89d6][b]"Piss off! I don't need your fuckin' sympathy."[/b][/color] Her words dripped with venom. 

The couple hurried to toward the prow of the boat, and Kanade took that as her cue to escape further into ship's passenger deck.

[center][b]
[noparse]` • . ¸ ¸ . • * ´ ¨ ` * • . ¸          ¸ . • * ´ ¨ ` * • . ¸ ¸ . • ´[/noparse]
`[s]♥[/s]´[/b][/center]

[i][b]THUD!![/b][/i]

... [i][b]THUD, THUD![/b][/i]

The darts landed just barely off center. Kanade sat casually in her chair and appraised her results. A poster of President Shinra had been spread across nearby wall and she had put so many holes in it, the President's eyes had been gouged out. She finished off the last of her mimosa, and smiled.

She felt it before she heard it. She was about to get a refill, when the pain of a loss resonated within her. Surprisingly, it wasn't her own. Sibilant whispers echoed in the back of her mind like white noise, and mixed among them was a familiar voice, quiet and distant.

[@Letter Bee]
[Color=#ab89d6][i][b]"Kanade... Kanade..."[/b][/i][/color]
Though his voice was distant, she could still feel his pain through their connection, raw and powerful.  

[Color=#ab89d6][i][b]"I can hear you, Akira. What's wrong?"[/b][/i][/color] She was genuinely worried now. This was the first time she had ever received such strong emotions when they communicated through the lifestream.
 
[Color=#ab89d6][i][b]"I need to talk to you… This has to be secret… Mother… Mom is dead. Shinra killed her when she tried to get into their HQ, and now I am all alone in Fort Condor and I don’t know what to do! Shinra’s going to attack and while I know we’ll beat them, I’ll still be stuck here. Kanade, please help - You’re the only family I have anymore!"[/b][/i][/color]

She winced, trying to choke down the agony she was sensing from him. It was crashing against her in waves. Sympathetic tears wet her eyes. It seemed like the nightmare of reality was only getting worse.

[Color=#ab89d6][i][b]"I'm on my way, Akira. I'm on a ship headed for Junon right now."[/b][/i][/color] She took a breath and concentrated on keeping the foreign emotions at bay. [Color=#ab89d6][i][b]"Just try to safe. I promise I'll be there as soon as I can!"[/b][/i][/color][/color]