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It took awhile for Tsui to crawl closer towards her, but she listened to everything that Orah had to say. She fought down her guilt as long as she could, until she was sitting close enough to her friend, and in truth, she couldn't blame Orah at all for her fears. She gave a sigh, allowing for some of her own fear to be seen, as she explained. "Painite scared the stripes off of me too. Back when I was a super, I made a mistake and tried to take her own. Didn't know that generals could teleport back then, and she got me good on the side here."

She point to the scars at her side, scars that Orah now shared with her, and that wiped whatever smile was trying to form off her face almost immediately. She admitted, with little to no pride to be found in her voice. "I came close to quitting myself after that. Barely made it to the hospital, and Maddy... she was pissed. And worried. I didn't blame her. But I almost wanted to quit too, back then. She scared me that much."

She wasn't lying. She simply hadn't had the courage to confess to anyone about it. She gave a shrug, and she looked to Orah. "But I didn't, because then that'd mean that monsters like her would continue to run free in this city, and I couldn't let that stop me from doing what I know I had to do. Even though she still scares me, I keep at this. To make sure no one else got hurt, like I had."

And Tsui thought she was doing a good job of that. Until now. Guilt shone in her golden eyes, and still she tried to smile and overcome it, for Orah's sake. "Except I failed. Again. I try my best, but it's never good enough it seems. I'm sorry you got hurt... it's my fault you got hurt, because you rescued me and she held a grudge. I don't blame you for not wanting to power up..."

What the hell was she saying? Tsui knew that she should have been a little stricter with Orah, tell her to suck it up, grow stronger and better from this experience. They both had a responsibility to protect this city and its citizens, but she couldn't ignore Orah's pain, or fear. She gave a sigh, "I guess I'm not that great of a Senshi after all. Everytime I think I got this whole thing figured out, something comes in and reminds me that I'm wrong."

"Nah, don't apologize to me," Tsui said, giving a heartfelt sigh and feeling as if she had seriously let Orah down. Hadn't she, though? She couldn't protect her from Painite in the end, and while she should have taken comfort in knowing that she was alive, it was hard. Tsui tried not to wallow in self-pity. This wasn't about her. This was about Orah. Her fears, her needs. Tsui had to stop being so damn selfish and do what was best for Orah. "Friends worry about their friends and it's not like you're inconviencing me or anything. Your fears are understandable..."

Perhaps letting Orah go was the right decision? As frightened of Painite was she herself was, Tsui never truly considered hanging up her hat and cleaning her hands of her work. No, she was too pigheaded and stubborn to have considered it for long. But Orah wasn't Tsui, and Tsui had to accept this. What was best for her may not have been what was best for Orah, and if that meant losing a potential ally... could she do it?

The answer was simple. No. She couldn't let Orah walk away from this. And she knew that it was going to be hard to say, but Tsui was brave. The Tiger senshi had no choice but to be brave, if not for herself, than for others as well. And that meant telling them things that they may not have wanted to hear. "But you can't hide forever, Orah. Trust me, I know a lot of Senshi and pages that tried, only to be dragged in again later. Sometimes they try to ignore the call, but in the end, they do what they feel is right. Whether it be another friend in danger, or some civilian they don't even know. They'll be called to action, and the worst feeling you could have is knowing that someone got hurt, and you didn't do enough to help them."

Tsui knew that pain a little too well, and it showed as she looked to Orah. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from Painite... that's a failure on my part, and I'll accept that. But don't hide from this for too long. Destiny City needs you, just like I needed you a few moments ago."

Motivational speaker Tsui was not, but dammit, she was willing to try. Kallichore, or Pasiphae would have been much better at this than she was, but they weren't here. Only Tsui was! If this didn't work, then perhaps there was nothing Tsui could do?

Her request was simple, and understandable, and Tsui told herself in her mind to force herself into accepting it, and as much as she wanted to push the topic and convince Orah not to give up, she didn't. She didn't trust herself to say the right words, and Tsui seldom shirked from trying, but when it came to big speeches, Tsui knew she wasn't the best. That was Pasiphae's, or Sutai's, or Kallichore's domain...

All Tsui was good for was fighting and defending others, and it seemed that she wasn't even all that great at the latter. What else could Tsui do? She gave a nod, and while her words were kind and understanding, it felt like the world had gotten a bit grayer in her mind, to see Orah go. "Sure, do whatever you need to do, Orah. Keep safe."

When Orah said she's see her around, Tsui could only nod. She wanted to stay optimistic and think that maybe Orah would come around, and maybe she was just worrying herself for nothing. But, given how things were turning out, the ordeals that Orah went through? The future was unclear, but Tsui kept a firm smile planted on her face, even if it wasn't genuine. By this time, Orah was gone, and it only took a few moments of sulking before Tsui decided it was time to leave as well. She would be back to this garden, even if it was to keep an eye on her. Just because she considered never powering up again, Orah was a friend and needed protection, and Tsui was going to give it to her.