Work Text:
Belle stood at the edge of her family’s property, staring at her childhood home with a storm of emotions swirling inside her. The familiar ache in her chest gnawed at her relentlessly. Memories flooded her mind—friends she had lost, her younger sisters, and her mother. Despite the years and the losses, she was grateful that her sisters and mother were still alive and well. Yet, the sound of their voices drifting from the house, with her youngest sister's unmistakable loudness followed by their mother’s familiar scolding, brought no solace.
The comfort of their voices was at war with the ache that refused to leave her chest as she gazed at the house. An orange glow from the windows cast long shadows across the yard, stopping just before the property line. Belle closed her eyes, clinging to the warmth and familiarity of home, fully aware that it was slipping away from her grasp. Her family's faces flashed in her mind, their voices and the scent of home lingering like a bittersweet melody.
This was the place where she and her sisters had grown up. They would be furious; they would also understand. Yet, their anger at the choice she was about to make felt like a heavy weight on her heart.
She had to do this—because she was the oldest, because she couldn't bear the thought of losing one of them, of a world where they didn't exist.
Tears welled up as she shook the thoughts away, but she couldn't ignore the turmoil within. Belle knew she couldn't stay any longer.
She straightened, her grip tightening on the handle of her katana, a symbol of the duty she couldn't escape. With one last, lingering look at the house, she turned away, her heart torn between duty and the deep love she harbored for her family. As she stepped into the unknown, tears threatened to fall, but she blinked them back, forcing herself to focus on her mission. Taking a deep breath, Belle ventured into the darkness, leaving behind the comfort and safety of her home, her heart caught in a tug-of-war between what she must do and what she was leaving behind.