[u][b]Kuhaku Shiro - Airship prior [/b][/u]

The wind from his lungs forced their out of his chest, causing his breath to leave him. Eyes wide with shock from the sudden impact from Sapphire's screaming charge, her sharp elbow rammed into his throat prevented him from regaining the air he had just lost. A sickly choking sound clawing its way out of his vocal cords. Eyes shut as his gloved fingers grabbed at her arms, he struggled to free himself and breathe. Opening his eyes, he felt the cold metal of a gun pressed under his jaw. Stricken with sudden fear, his eyes pleaded with Sapphire, silently begging her to have a little mercy. Though, a different part of him bubbled and boiled with silent rage. How dare a fellow comrade draw her weapon on him. His very own leader, no less.

Face close to hers, he could feel her labored and ragged breathing. His mind was a flurry as to what had suddenly happened that could've caused her to lose her mind in such a way. She demanded that he give her a reason to end his life. Then, came the emotional execution. Her venomous words bit and stung him, sinking deep into his soul. She called him a disgrace. She insulted his intellect. As her white-hot daggers for words stabbed into him, her eyes blackened and he could feel a heavy aura adding to the pressure and challenge to breathe. Oddly, it felt vaguely familiar to him.

He didn't understand, he was still confused as to why Sapphire was acting so maliciously toward him. But when she mentioned how his actions caused her to lose her mother's forged weapons, he realized exactly what he had done. Lowering his hands, he would've apologized if he had the breath. He would've leapt out of the airship at that moment to retrieve her mother's precious gift to make amends with his friend. But, he couldn't. It was clear to him now, Sapphire absolutely hated him and despised him since the beginning, she was only holding back her words for his sake.

Wincing as his body impacted against the opposite side of the airship, from her shove. Shiro fell into a pathetic slump on the seat. Grasping at his throat, he painfully coughed as he sharply inhaled to refill his lungs. Opening one eye, he looked at Sapphire as she brought her hand up, bloodied. His world fractured and shattered as he knew her injury was caused by his rambunctious behavior. He had hurt a friend of his. It was his fault. For some reason, Sapphire's vision seemed to fail her as she felt around for her belongings. He thought to retrieve it for her as maybe a way to say 'sorry', but the final blow was delivered by Sapphire's last words to him.

[b]"Anyone but Shiro."[/b]

Pain wracked his heart, sapping all energy and enthusiasm from him. He desperately wished to repair what little relationship he had with his leader but it was clear that what he had accidently done to her would take a large amount of time and space to heal. Perhaps maybe even never. Tears welling up, he suddenly felt part of his body 'glued' to his seat. Turning to Gren, he slightly felt betrayed. Was he siding with her? Or was he merely doing it for his sake? So joyous was he to start his very first mission with his team, all for naught. Reaching up to grab the hood of his cowl, he pulled it tightly over his head to hide his face. Wrapping his tail around him, he curled into a tight ball and remained silent for the entire ride. His own phantoms converging around him to taunt him further. Rubbing salt into his fresh emotional wounds. Their whispers amplifying his heartbreak.

[u][b]Arrival by boat[/b][/u]

Not having spoken a word or even so much as looked at his other teammates, as the boat made landing and they were to disembark to begin their mission. Shiro found himself freed from Gren's Semblance. Sluggishly grabbing his pack to sling it behind him along with his weapons, he crawled out of the boat on all fours. With his hood remaining over his head, he crawled ahead further. Something was amiss. Lifting his head as high as he dared to manage, he sniffed at the air. Tail swaying carefully behind, his bloodshot brown eyes scanned the surrounding environment.

Turning back toward Abel and Gren, he quietly eked out a few words. [B]"B-be careful. There's something...'wrong' here. I-I don't like it. I'm g-gonna go scout ahead."[/b] Face still hidden by the dark of his hood, he turned away from them and dropped his pack on the ground. [b]"I'll...report back if I find anything..."[/b] With that, Shiro bolted forward and quickly scrambled up towards the building.

To be honest, he wanted to get away from his team. He couldn't stand being around them for much longer, having traveled here in such close proximity for such a period of time. He found himself being stifled and suffocated by the awkward atmosphere and silence. Quickly disappearing from eyesight, Shiro made his rounds around the perimeter of the buildings and the surrounding area. By his lonesome, he found himself able to breathe and relax in peace. To lament privately in his sorrow. Still deeply wounded and hurt, though probably not as hurt as Sapphire. Shiro being the one at fault for her loss of her cherished mementos of her mother. Not that he knew much at all of Sapphire and her familial relations. Quite frankly, he never heard her really speak of her own family. Shiro not one to talk, he never really had a family to begin with.