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She supposed being an artwork is enough for her. She should be honored. That's what the Maestro always said. He'd put so much time and painstaking effort into shaping her, turning her into the living weapon and artwork she now was. That was a cold comfort. She'd given up her flesh into Fascia, and let all else of hers be sculpted into Albina. "A proof of concept" she'd heard the Maestro describe her as. Proof that his artwork led to a path to creating perfection for Yoshihide. Proof that the human body could be refined to such a degree.
That was all she was, and all that she should content herself to be. A shiny bauble that proved his path had meaning. A trinket that was no longer necessary now that the original he labored for was back. Fascia's sinew tightened, a quick contracting of tendons to pulse her housing. She absentmindedly ran a metallic hand over Fascia's casing, reassuring her she was there. Reassuring her she'd stay here and listen to her. That was the vow she'd made when they were first separated. That her bones and body would care for and stay with her flesh and mind. Albina would not throw away Fascia like the maestro had thrown her away.
That was all they could offer each other. The machine had known for so long that the maestro had reached as far as he could on her. That'd she'd already failed to live up to his expectation of clay. Too brittle, not like his precious Yoshihide. Too weak, not like his darling Yoshihide. Unworthy of further care, not like his daughter Yoshihide. And now the ungrateful child was back, standing in front of her.
Fascia tightened, every piece of meat bunching up in preparation. A heartbeat held for a moment, a question unvoiced by her flesh. Albina already knew the answer she'd give. Her hand opened up the armor, letting Fascia out to breath. Flesh and tendon and sinew, all locked together within her blade, all finally free. She knew the Maestro would be angry. She knew this went against her orders.
But she'd lost everything following what the Maestro wanted. And if she followed her orders, at the end of the day she'd lose everything again. So she'd listen to herself, the bit of her that still kept her emotions and mind, and follow her. Lovingly she wrapped her fingers around Fascia's handle, feeling the heartbeat thrum of acknowledgement from her as she did so. She ignored the Pinky beside her, focusing everything on the daughter she'd lost everything to for the Maestro's mad chase.
"Fascia is quite hungry."