[center]
[color=f49ac2]Sakura Level 9: 46/90[/color] 
[color=fff200]Karin Level 5: 43/50[/color] 
Location: Seiran Tunnels -> Hideout
Word Count: 697
Points Gained: 2
New EXP Balance--- [color=f49ac2]Sakura Level 9: 48/90[/color]
[indent][color=fff200]Karin Level 5: 44/50 [/color][/indent] [/center]

	
—

	Sakura stirred as Blazermate’s light overcame her. It didn’t take long for her wounds to seal cleanly and smoothly. Much nicer than the zombification process Blazermate did, for sure. Sakura opened her eyes and looked at Blazermate. 

[color=f49ac2]”O-oh! Blazermate-san. You saved me. Thank you.”[/color] Her head was clear now, though after the relief of life and health wore off, the worry and fear for Peach’s wellbeing returned. 

Karin was surprised to see Geralt lose his cool, though, Karin had missed the moment where Sakura had been so gravely injured.

	When the battle was over, and the cavalry arrived, Sakura angrily confirmed the traitor who had metamorphed Peach. [color=f49ac2]“That rotten sneak! It was her. I saw her! Here and at the gym.”[/color] She brought her clenched fists down and breathed out, Karin setting an unusually gentle hand on her shoulder.

	But whoever these Seiran Defence Force people were, they were Peach’s only hope, so Sakura and Karin were glad they existed. Even if there arrival was abrupt, to the Street Fighters it came as a big relief. Really, what could they done to help her? Seeing Peach like that had distressed Sakura to the point of irrational action. [color=f49ac2]”I couldn’t believe she could just be gone like that…”[/color] She said, rubbing her arm and staring, ashamed, at her shoes.

	[color=fff200]”It’s all right, Miss Sakura.”[/color] Karin said. [color=fff200]”I didn’t get to do much battling at the end there. Perhaps you and I could spar after dinner?”[/color] She offered.

	Sakura, still feeling blue, brightened a bit nonetheless.  [color=f49ac2]”Sounds fun.”[/color] 

—

Back at the hideout, Karin eyed Geralt knowingly, while Sakura looked at him with more concern after his speech. She caught the tail end of his furious barrage and it made her nervous. Ever since he had fused with the Orphan, Sakura had been worried and a little distant towards Geralt.

 [color=f49ac2]”And with Peach…gone, we can’t even unfuse you if we wanted too.”[/color] She said, sounding sick to her stomach. Sadly, she ate the turkey and ham sandwich in front of her. 

She thought about how Raz had helped her with her own psychic damage problem. [color=f49ac2]”Maybe Raz could- oh, man.”[/color] She began, mouth full of sandwich, before she remembered the little psychic wasn’t with them anymore, either. 

[color=fff200]”Don’t talk with your mouthful. It’s impolite.”[/color] Karin chastised without looking, tone light. Before Sakura could respond, Karin continued.

 [color=fff200]”And thank you, Mr. Goldlewis, for the meal.”[/color] She said.

[color=fff200]”I know the loss of the Princess has put a damper on things, but don’t let that distract you from the overall success of the mission. As we continue in our journey, we will find the answers we seek.”[/color] She said with absolute confidence. 
	
	[color=f49ac2]”Yeah...”[/color] Sakura said, making sure to swallow this time. [color=f49ac2]”We’re Seekers, not…Thinkers.”[/color] She said, though that sounded better in her head.

	[color=fff200]”...Indeed.”[/color] Karin responded wryly.  [color=fff200]”All this to say, we made it through the mission with only a single casualty, and it was not even a death. Our wayward allies will no doubt report back to us with their findings.”[/color]

	[color=f49ac2]”The thing we need to focus on is tracking down that sniper who shot Peach! I saw her do it.”[/color] Sakura said, righteous anger lifting her spirits. Though she didn’t mean to be dismissive of Benedict’s thoughts, questions about the motivations of whoever or whatever weren’t worth thinking about from here to Sakura.

 [color=f49ac2]”That changes everything. That’s the real mystery. The only reason we should engage with any of this political crap is to get to the bottom of that! And then I’ll make that rotten Anya eat dirt for what she did. Right after she’s done telling us everything she knows.”[/color] Sakura’s tone was resolute. 

	[color=fff200]”We’re in a district full of mind readers.”[/color] Karin said. [color=fff200]”There must be some way of tracking her, or whatever group she’s affiliated with, down. We just need a lead.”[/color] 

	[color=f49ac2]”Maybe I could go and talk to Gemma?”[/color] Sakura said. She liked the idea, but facing him after her little breakdown brought heat to her cheeks. [color=f49ac2]”She was hanging out with him when I first saw her.”[/color] With that, she sat back on her hands and knees. There wasn’t exactly a huge dining table in the hideout, so Karin and Sakura were sitting on the floor next to their respective cots. 

[color=fff200]”If all else fails, I’m sure it will not be long before we find something else to do. We will find victory as long as we continue onward.”[/color] Karin concluded. Hopefully she had succeeded in at least presenting the group with the possibility of action. And reminding everyone that their mission was ultimately a success couldn’t hurt either, right? With Peach gone, Karin felt a void in the group dynamic. Perhaps she was the one to fill it. Only time would tell.